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Mike Preston’s observations on NFL’s problem with parity, Ravens run defense, hip-drop tackles and more | COMMENTARY

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:22 GMT

The only time the NFL makes changes is when a star player suggests them or gets hurt, so maybe officials will listen to former quarterback Tom Brady after he recently criticized the league for its mediocrity.The NFL has been “average” for several years, and that makes commissioner Roger Goodell happy because every team appears to have a chance at winning the championship, which keeps fans interested.But it’s boring.The NFL can have all of this late drama with games ending in field goals, but I prefer games that are fundamentally sound and feature great quarterback matchups such as Brady versus Peyton Manning or Aaron Rodgers against Drew Brees.Those duels don’t exist now. Besides Kansas City’s future Hall of Fame quarterback Patrick Mahomes, name five great ones playing today. There are some good young quarterbacks such as Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow and Philadelphia’s Jalen Hurts. You can throw in the Ravens’ Lamar Jackson, Buffalo’...

Thanksgiving Day Stars of the Week

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:22 GMT

DIVISION 1*Dom Papa threw for 282 yards and four touchdowns as Andover defeated North Andover, 27-13.*Tate Hoffmeister rushed for 235 yards and three scores as Needham beat Wellesley, 21-7.*James Curry ran for 202 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 35 carries as Braintree defeated Milton, 33-19.*Carlos Rodrigues threw for 226 yards and three touchdowns as Everett rolled to a 56-28 win over Everett.*Darius Braithwaite ran for 172 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries as Lincoln-Sudbury beat Newton South, 35-7.*Aaron Chiocca got Methuen off and running as he took the opening kickoff to paydirt and later returned an interception for a score as Methuen handled Dracut/Innovation, 48-16.*Hayden Willen threw for 145 yards and two touchdowns, while rushing for 107 yards and three more scores as Newton North doubled up on Brookline, 42-21.*Jake Cullen completed 10-of-14 passes for 126 yards and three touchdowns, while rushing for 111 yards as Westford Academy defeated Acton-Boxboro, 35-10.*Mike...

At least 9 people killed in Syrian government shelling of a rebel-held village, the opposition says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:22 GMT

BEIRUT (AP) — Syrian government forces’ shelling of a northwestern village Saturday killed at least nine people, including six children, as they picked olives, opposition activists said.The shelling of the village of Qawqafeen, in Idlib province, is the latest violation of a truce reached in March 2020 between Russia and Turkey, who back rival sides in Syria’s 12-year conflict that has killed half a million people.Hundreds of people have been killed or wounded over the past years in violations of the truce that ended a monthslong Russian-backed government offensive on the northwestern Idlib province, the last major rebel stronghold in Syria. The shelling of the farm was reported by the Britain-based opposition war monitor Syrian Observatory for Human Rights and the opposition’s Syrian Civil Defense, also known as White Helmets.The White Helmets said it treated one woman who was wounded and handed over the bodies of the dead to their families.Idlib is home to more than 4 millio...

Feds aimed secret cybersecurity briefing at energy sector executives: memo

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:22 GMT

OTTAWA — Federal security officials have been briefing leaders of major energy and utility firms on cyberthreats, one element of a concerted government effort to underscore the serious risks to the sector.A newly disclosed Public Safety Canada memo reveals a secret-level June meeting was part of a strategy to raise awareness among company executives about the dangers from malicious cyberactivity — reaching beyond the technical experts who already know about the risks.The memo, obtained by The Canadian Press through the Access to Information Act, says the confidential discussion was co-hosted by Public Safety, Natural Resources Canada and the Communications Security Establishment, Canada’s cyberspy agency.The CSE’s Canadian Centre for Cyber Security said in an assessment this year that financially motivated cybercrime — particularly business email compromise and ransomware — was almost certainly the main cyberthreat facing the Canadian oil and gas sector.It also said the ...

Ukraine’s military says Russia has launched its largest drone attack since the start of the invasion

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:22 GMT

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia on Saturday morning launched its most intense drone attack on Ukraine since the beginning of its full-scale invasion in 2022, targeting the Ukrainian capital, military officials said. “Kyiv was the main target,” Ukrainian Air Force Commander Mykola Oleshchuk wrote on his Telegram channel. In total, Russia launched 75 Iranian-made Shahed drones against Ukraine, of which 74 were destroyed by air defenses, Ukraine’s air force said.The attack was “the most massive air attack by drones on Kyiv,” said Serhii Popko, head of the Kyiv city administration. Ukrainian air force spokesman Yurii Ihnat confirmed later that the air defenses shot down 66 air targets over the capital and surrounding region throughout the morning.At least five civilians were wounded in the hourslong assault, which saw several buildings damaged by falling debris from downed drones, including a kindergarten. The wounded included an 11-year-old child, according to Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko.I...

Hamas is set to release 14 Israeli hostages for 42 Israel-held Palestinians in a second truce swap

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:22 GMT

KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — Egyptian officials said Hamas was preparing to release 14 Israeli hostages Saturday for 42 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, as part of an exchange on the second day of a cease-fire that has allowed critical humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip and given civilians their first respite after seven weeks of war.On the first day of the four-day cease-fire, Hamas released 24 of the about 240 hostages taken during its Oct. 7 attack on Israel that triggered the war, and Israel freed 39 Palestinians from prison. Those freed from captivity in Gaza were 13 Israelis, 10 Thais and a Filipino.On Saturday, Hamas provided mediators Egypt and Qatar with a list of 14 hostages to be released, and the list has been passed along to Israel, according to a Egyptian official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not permitted to talk about details of the ongoing negotiations. A second Egyptian official, also speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the ...

50 years sober, Greg Ekbom celebrates the Day by Day Cafe he founded while still in treatment

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:22 GMT

Hooked on hard drugs, Greg Ekbom overdosed more than once, eventually landing in a hospital in a coma-like state.“When I woke up, I didn’t really know where I was,” said Ekbom, recalling the terrifying but fateful day 50 years ago that sent him on the rocky path to longtime sobriety.It started with a methadone program, which was miserable.“That was the bottom. That was the worst,” recalled Ekbom, who had dropped out of a cooking program at a remedial skills center in Minneapolis at the time. “The government was giving me drugs. You got in trouble if you didn’t show up and do your drugs everyday. It was basically to keep you from committing crimes.”Greg Ekbom, center, retired owner of the Day by Day Café, with his son John Ekbom, right and daughter Gena Ekbom, who now own the St. Paul restaurant on Friday, Nov. 24, 2023. Ekbom started the cafe as while still in recovery and created a safe and welcoming place for those in recovery. (John...

Ask Amy: Quilt maker isn’t stitching a third gift

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:22 GMT

Dear Amy: A few years ago, I offered to make a T-shirt quilt as a graduation gift for a co-worker’s oldest son.She purchased the materials, and I provided the skill and labor.She and her son were thrilled with the quilt, and she mentioned that I would have two more to go down the road for her other two sons as they graduated.I was taken aback with this expectation, but didn’t say anything.I retired soon after and had minimal contact with her.A year later, however, when her middle child was graduating, she contacted me to ask if I would make the same type of T-shirt quilt for this son, which I did.I haven’t had any contact with her since that son’s graduation.Now two years later, her last child will be graduating this upcoming spring and I am anticipating that she will contact me and expect me to make him a quilt.Even if I was an invited guest to his graduation (unlikely), I would gladly give him a reasonable monetary gift instead of providing hours of labor on a quilt, which equates...

Schram: The making of a president’s most special adviser

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:22 GMT

When Charles Hammer, a theoretical physicist at Iowa State University, dialed the Georgia telephone number he was told to call in 1975 — at precisely the time he was told to call it — he had every reason to assume he was calling the campaign office of Georgia’s little-known ex-governor who was running for president.So he was ready to introduce himself to any functionary who answered — and say he’d decided to sign on to Jimmy Carter’s longshot Iowa caucus campaign committee.“Hi, Charlie. How’s Hazel?” Surprised, Hammer recognized the soft southern drawl. It was Rosalynn Carter. He’d dialed their home phone in Plains, Georgia. He was doubly surprised when Mrs. Carter remembered his wife, Hazel. They had all met only once, very briefly, two weeks earlier in a little Iowa town called Atlantic (which is half a continent away from the ocean but right on the shore of the East Nishnabotna River). And he was surprised once more when Mrs. Carter mentioned that Hazel said she...

This holiday advice is not the best recipe for wanna-be homebuyers

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 15:58:22 GMT

Question: We are conflicted. My wife and I want to buy a Bay Area home. When home loan interest rates drop, we will home shop. The loan officer says, “Buy now.” Our realty agent wrote, “Do not postpone.” Family members instruct us to wait. Holiday gatherings are upon us. We’re facing more homebuying advice. Realty professionals stand to gain. Family members gain nothing. Experience favors our realty team. Our family members rarely buy homes.  First-time homebuyers receive conflicting advice. We have known this for years. It must be commonplace. If so, which group of advisers do we follow in our situation? Answer: First-time homebuyers are awash in solicited and unsolicited advice. That is a fact. It pays to take the conversation up another level. Real estate economists and housing trackers share thoughts and statistics thanks to the World Wide Web daily or weekly.The housing ecosystem has an overabundance of statistical harvesting. Let me prune a few words of wisdom from the housing...