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Schoen: House Republicans find a Speaker, but at what cost?

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:14:11 GMT

Although it took far too long – over three weeks – the United States House of Representatives is finally functioning again. Representative Mike Johnson of Louisiana, the little-known vice chair of the GOP conference, managed to win on his first floor vote.It is a welcome development for the country and for Washington’s ability to govern. Unfortunately, the selection does not guarantee that the United States will be able to swiftly come to the aid of its close allies, including Israel, as well as fund its own government and sustain domestic strength.After conservative firebrand Jim Jordan’s third failed attempt at becoming Speaker of the House of Representatives last week, the Republican conference dropped him as their nominee.This led to a new open nominating process that started with nine candidates from across the Republican spectrum and ended with moderate-leaning Majority Whip Tom Emmer as the nominee.However, within four hours, his bid was shot down by the MAGA wing of the part...

Boston Jewish Film Festival celebrates culture amid crisis

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:14:11 GMT

The 35th Boston Jewish Film Festival unfolds against the horrors of the Israel-Hamas war.Artistic Director Lisa Gossels noted, “I am profoundly sad that Lior Waitzman, the sound editor and mixer for our @mtvdocs film ‘Mourning in Lod’ was killed October 8th. Lior lived near the Gaza border, killed while riding his bicycle. He was deeply committed in his work, dedicated and professional. May his memory be a blessing.”“Mourning in Lod” is a documentary set in the Israeli city where Jews and Arabs live under strained circumstances, where in May 2021 the death of Musa, an Arab, led to the death of Yigal, a Jew whose family donated his kidney to a Christian Arab in East Jerusalem. Can these three families move from anger and grief to forgiveness?The continuing conflict in the Middle East inevitably forms a backdrop to this annual Boston celebration of Jewish culture and its people.“One thing I can say is,” Gossels said, “thanks to the power of Zoom, we have 36 guests in-person or on Zoom...

Spending Halloween with ex is no treat

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:14:11 GMT

Q. My ex really gets on my nerves. Halloween’s coming up and I don’t want to spend the evening looking at her face. It’s supposed to be my night with the kids, but she wants them at her house to trick-or-treat and I’m thinking about letting them go just because I don’t want to deal with her. What’s good ex-etiquette?A. If you have been reading this column, you know that I don’t say you have to be buddies with your ex, but you do have to learn to cordially interact with each other if the kids are going back and forth between homes. Many parents forget to put Halloween in the parenting plan. That causes all sorts of grief, so good for you for having a plan for an important day for your kids. Sadly, it sounds like navigating the plan is a problem.In order to help you “put the kids first,” (Ex-etiquette for Parents rule No. 1) I’d like to remind you of a very important distinction — it’s not “your time” with the kids, nor is it mom’s time with the kids. It’s your child’s time with you. ...

Can I reduce child support if kid is in college?

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:14:11 GMT

Q. My youngest has a full scholarship to college in California.  She loves it out there and didn’t even come home last summer.  She plans to continue to get internships in the movie business during her summers and live in LA permanently.  This year she is sophomore, living off campus.  I pay her rent out of the 529 funds that my parents set up for her since the scholarship only covered board if she lived on campus.  I also send her money from time to time to help with her expenses, but I can’t do much more because I still give her mom $500 per week for child support.  Emily is  20 and I know child support goes until at least 21 if she is still in school.I asked my ex if she would agree to stop child support so I can directly help Emily more now, but she said she and her new husband just bought a new house which has an extra bedroom for Emily so she needs the money to pay her mortgage.Is there anything I can do to reduce my child support? It seems wrong I am paying for my former wife...

‘The Gilded Age’ takes bigger strides in Season 2

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:14:11 GMT

Julian Fellowes, the Oscar-winning screenwriter who created and scripts HBO MAX’s “The Gilded Age” series, knew that for the second season of this period drama about baronial excess, the question was simple: How do you get bigger?With its large ensemble led by Carrie Coon, Cynthia Nixon and Christine Baranski, “Gilded” accurately (if fictionally) chronicles the booming 1880s period in New York City that gives the show its name.“For Season 2 we wanted to open it up a little, give more of the context, that kind of thing,” Fellowes, 74, said during a virtual Zoom press conference. “After the first series I knew I didn’t have to be nervous writing anything.”One of the surprises in Season 1 was that alongside the wealthy elite of white robber barons and industrial giants, there was a Black upper class.This season, Fellowes and his co-writer Sonja Warfield have taken Peggy Scott (Denée Benton), the young, ambitious Black secretary to Baranski’s dowager Agnes van Rhijn, down South to...

TV Q&A: Is Tom Hanks producing new WWII show?

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:14:11 GMT

You have questions. I have some answers.Q: I thought Tom Hanks was producing a World War II series about the Allied air forces, similar to “Band of Brothers” and “The Pacific.” Did this fall by the wayside?A: It’s coming. “Masters of the Air,” a nine-part drama, will arrive on Apple TV+ on Jan. 26, 2024, with two episodes, followed by weekly episodes through March 15. Coming from Hanks, Steven Spielberg and Gary Goetzman, who also produced “Band of Brothers” and “The Pacific,” the series “follows the men of the 100th Bomb Group (the ‘Bloody Hundredth’) as they conduct perilous bombing raids over Nazi Germany and grapple with the frigid conditions, lack of oxygen and sheer terror of combat conducted at 25,000 feet in the air.” It’s based on the book by Donald L. Miller.Q: I was watching, and immensely enjoying, the “Yellowstone” prequel “1923.” There looked (to me) to be eight episodes in the series. As I watched Episode 8, the end seemed premature, as there was no resolution to seve...

‘Tis the season for a pre-holiday Mt. Washington Valley escape

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:14:11 GMT

My friend Dina digs into her holiday decorating in early October. She loves to spread out the holiday vibe for as long as and as much as she can.I’m from the other camp. I want to hold onto summer, savor fall and not rush (as much as I love the ski season!) winter along by starting the holidays too soon.That said, when I want to get into the spirit of next season: I want it and I want it NOW!Luckily, there’s a way to dive head first into the holidays even minutes after the last piece of turkey is carved.A weekend trip to Mount Washington Valley (https://www.visitmwv.com) post Thanksgiving dinner (or pre) is an easy pass to all the holiday cheer you crave.Scenery, décor, amazing shopping, special meals and yes, even some snow-covered peaks are all there for the taking.Mount Washington Valley is an easy shot from Boston up 93 and the Spaulding Turnpike. You know you’ve arrived when the decorations begin: the sight of crossed skis with wreathes on telephone poles has long brought me my...

Senior dog’s kidneys failing rapidly

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:14:11 GMT

Dear Dr. John,My old dog, 14, is nearing the end of his life. Less than a week ago, I sensed something was wrong and took him to a veterinary hospital where blood tests showed that his kidney values were getting very bad. My dog had values of BUN 92, Creat 5.6, and Phosphorous of 7.7. They admitted my dog and gave him fluids and anti-nausea medication. The next day the bloodwork was repeated, and the same values were 111, 7.3, and 9.5 respectively. I was told my dog had a poor prognosis and that I could take him home for hospice and to give him fluids and more medication for nausea. I brought my dog home to be comfortable.Yesterday, my own vet repeated the bloodwork, and the same values were 158, 7.2, and 9.6. In July, the values were 29, 1.4, and 3.6. What should I do? My dog is eating a low protein diet and doesn’t seem to act that weak or abnormal. Is kidney failure reversible? S.B.Dear S.B.,The typical treatment regimen for all forms of renal failure is infusing the patient with...

Dear Abby: Relationship crumbles after weekend apart

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:14:11 GMT

Dear Abby: I met a great woman, and we have been dating for a year and a half. We talk and message every day, we have our inside jokes, and her parents love me. My mother loves her, and the sex is great. I had never felt more connected to someone, and we have spoken about marriage.I planned to surprise her with a ring this year, but things changed around my birthday. She spent that weekend away with co-workers (I agreed she should go because she doesn’t normally have time to hang out), but when she came back, things were different.We didn’t talk for two weeks, and when we did, she gave me this crazy story about taking in a friend who had been abused by her husband and sheltering her and their two kids. Then she told me she took in her biological father, with whom she had spoken only once in 30 years.After that wild story, we didn’t speak for three months. When we did, I asked her what we’re doing and what she wants. She said she wanted to break up, but didn&#...

Three wounded in shooting at Chula Vista mall

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 15:14:11 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- Three people were wounded Saturday night in a shooting at a Chula Vista shopping mall, police said.Around 7:15 p.m., officers were called to Novo Brazil Brewing at Otay Ranch Town Center, where they found three victims, Chula Vista police said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. The victims were expected to survive their injuries. ‘Friends’ star Matthew Perry dead at 54: reports "Initial indications are that the shooting was not an active shooter and was not random," CVPD said, adding that there was reportedly a dispute between two groups.Police said there no longer appeared to be an active threat to the mall or nearby neighborhoods.Check back for updates on this developing story.