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Cole Irvin’s surprise demotion shows Orioles are operating in a post-rebuild world | ANALYSIS

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:12:48 GMT

The Orioles sending Cole Irvin down to Triple-A on Friday was a surprise.Should it have been?Irvin, who the Orioles acquired in the offseason, was off to a bad start to the season. He didn’t make it through five innings in any of his three starts, allowed 15 runs in just 12 2/3 innings and uncharacteristically struggled with command and walked eight batters.The reason the move was a surprise, though, is because it’s the type of decision a team makes if its main goal is to win games — the type of mindset that is new to the Orioles under the current regime.The organization’s self-stated goal is to make the playoffs this season for the first time since 2016. But actions speak louder than words, and Irvin’s demotion could be seen as the first in-season roster move that signals the Orioles are, actually, in win-now mode.The decision to send Irvin, a 29-year-old who was last a true minor leaguer in 2019, down to Triple-A isn’t one that a rebuilding club...

Celtics vs. Hawks preview: Five things to watch as C’s begin playoff run

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:12:48 GMT

As Thursday’s practice at the Auerbach Center wrapped up – 48 hours before their NBA playoff run was set to begin – the Celtics were letting loose.On one court, Marcus Smart was tossing up half-court shots, trying to sink one while not jumping. When he made one, the Celtics point guard repositioned behind the 3-point arc to bounce a shot in, and hit one of those, too. On another court, Derrick White, Grant Williams and assistant coach Ben Sullivan were playing a game of HORSE, a common occurrence during shoot-arounds throughout the season.Just a little fun before the most important games of the season get underway.The Celtics used their painful defeat in last season’s NBA Finals as motivation during summer workouts and carried that over to the start of this season, when they played with an edge. That wore off over the course of the season. But as they begin the postseason on Saturday, that edge is back.“We’re back to (being) pissed off,” Smart said. “We’re happy and we’re smiling he...

China protests US sanctioning of firms dealing with Russia

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:12:48 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — Beijing on Saturday protested U.S. sanctions against additional Chinese companies over their alleged attempts to evade U.S. export controls on Russia, calling it an illegal move that endangers global supply chains. The U.S. Commerce Department on Wednesday put five firms based in mainland China and Hong Kong on its “entity list,” barring them from trading with any U.S. firms without gaining a nearly unobtainable special license. Washington has been tightening up enforcement of sanctions against foreign firms it sees as providing assistance to Russia in its war against Ukraine, forcing them to choose between trading with Moscow or with the U.S. A total of 28 entities from countries ranging from Malta to Turkey to Singapore were added to the list.A statement from China’s Commerce Ministry said the U.S. action “has no basis in international law and is not authorized by the United Nations Security Council.” “It is a typical unilateral sanction and a form of ‘long-ar...

Kenya deploys first earth observation satellite into space

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:12:48 GMT

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Kenya’s first earth observation satellite was launched into space Saturday after two aborted attempts earlier in the week.The African country’s Taifa-1 was among the satellites on SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket, which lifted off from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.The rocket’s launch had to be scrubbed twice previously due to bad weather.Kenya’s satellite will fly over the country every four days and gather data for agriculture, land and environment monitoring, according to the Kenya Space Agency. Data from the satellite is expected in the coming months, and the agency has set up a team of analysts. It said says the information will be distributed free to government agencies and to private companies for a reasonable fee. The satellite was developed and designed by Kenyans but manufactured at Endurosat in Bulgaria at a total cost of 50 million Kenyan shillings ($371,000).Kenyans were eager to watch the Falcon 9’s launch online. Some ...

Horoscopes April 15, 2023: Seth Rogen, play the role of a winner

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:12:48 GMT

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Emma Watson, 33; Seth Rogen, 41; Karen David, 44; Emma Thompson, 64.Emma Watson (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP) Happy Birthday: Don’t scrimp when it comes to research. Know what you want and take the necessary steps to satisfy your needs. Practice discipline in all aspects of life, and you will discover what it feels like to reach your goals frequently. Live up to your expectations by doing what’s best and suitable for you. Set the stage and play the role of a winner. Your numbers are 4, 10, 18, 22, 25, 36, 45.ARIES (March 21-April 19): Pay attention to what’s happening at home. Take the time to reach out to someone experiencing difficulties. The information you offer will lead to an educational response that applies to other aspects of your life. Personal gain is favored. 4 starsTAURUS (April 20-May 20): Control your emotions before sharing your feelings. Choosing the wrong words will cause confusion and a negative response ...

Ask Amy: Do I owe allegiance to my bullheaded husband?

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:12:48 GMT

Dear Amy: My husband and I have been married for more than 40 years. He has always had strong likes and dislikes.A few years ago, we relocated to be closer to our son and his family.Until recently I didn’t realize how much my husband dislikes our son’s mother-in-law, “June” (she lives nearby, also).This past year my husband has refused to attend holiday functions if she is there. Of course, this puts a strain on me. Nobody – including June – knows how he feels (only me).He usually makes up an excuse, and I go by myself.I can’t let my son know because it would not only hurt him but also hurt and offend our daughter-in-law, whom we love.I have become extremely unhappy and bitter with my husband regarding his feelings.Do I need to choose between him and family? Sad in FloridaDear Sad: You do not need to choose between your husband and your family. I give you full permission to live your life and enjoy your relationships, however you have them and however you want to.If your husband wan...

Harriette Cole: How do I tell him we’ll never be housemates?

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:12:48 GMT

DEAR HARRIETTE: I had planned on moving in with a friend of mine in the next few months, but I lost hope for our move-in plans due to my friend’s lack of participation.He has all these excuses, but I don’t like excuses. I see them as a sign of incompetence.I decided to take matters into my own hands and move away without notifying him until I had everything in place. Now I’m feeling a little guilty because I told him we could try again in a few months, but now I don’t really have the desire to move in with him at all.I wanted to preserve our friendship. He is still sending me apartment options and asking me when I think I’ll move back. What should I do?Not Coming BackDEAR NOT COMING BACK: Right now you are being passive-aggressive. You have to face your decisions and speak up to let him know the truth.Related ArticlesAdvice | Harriette Cole: Do I have to reveal my history with my friend’s new crush? Advice | Harriette Co...

Powering down: Germany’s last nuclear plants in final hours

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:12:48 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — Germany began winding down its three remaining nuclear power plants Saturday as part of a long-planned transition toward renewable energy.The shutdown of the reactors Emsland, Neckarwestheim II and Isar II, agreed to more than a decade ago, was being closely watched abroad.Other industrialized countries, such as the United States, Japan, China, France and Britain, are counting on nuclear energy to replace planet-warming fossil fuels. Germany’s decision to stop using both has met some skepticism, as well as unsuccessful calls to stop the shutdown. Public pressure in Germany, stoked by nuclear disasters at Three Mile Island, Chernobyl and Fukushima, put pressure on successive German governments to end the use of a technology that anti-nuclear activists argue is unsafe and unsustainable.Environmental groups planned to mark the day with celebrations outside the three reactors. Small, closed-doors ceremonies inside the plants were also organized.Defenders of atomic en...

Police search for missing 3-year-old Oliver Williams

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:12:48 GMT

A statewide Amber Alert has been issued for missing 3-year-old Oliver Williams of Miami. The Amber Alert describes Oliver as being 3 feet tall, 30lbs, with black hair and brown eyes. He was last seen in the area of NW 3rd Avenue and 15th Street in Miami. Oliver is believed to be wearing a green and yellow shirt with a brown fake belt on it that reads “TMNT” for “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles”, black-and-green shorts, and multicolored Crocs.https://twitter.com/MiamiPD/status/1647179337551020034?cxt=HHwWhIC8gay4-tstAAAAOliver may be in the company of an unknown black male who was last seen wearing a baseball cap and an orange shirt. They may be traveling in a 2018, gray Hyundai Santa fe, FL tag number 34BGWE.Anyone with information is asked to call the Miami Police Dept. at: 305-603-6370

Steamy and Dry Saturday

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 16:12:48 GMT

Following a historic amount of rainfall in parts of Broward County earlier this week and days and days of heavy rain, we will finally and thankfully see a break from the rain this Saturday. Rain chances will be low at a 20% chance with only a stray afternoon and evening shower or storm possible. A southeast wind that will be dominant today should protect us from the rain, keeping most — if not all — of the afternoon rain activity over rural sections of South Florida. Instead, the day will feature sunny to partly cloudy skies with hot conditions. Highs will be about 5F above average into the upper 80s at many locations. Even a couple areas could top off at 90F.Unfortunately, rain does return to the picture on Sunday. The day should begin on a mostly dry and bright now but afternoon showers and thunderstorms are expected to develop inland and push toward the east coast metro during the later half of the day. Rain chances will be higher at a 50% chance and some heavy rain w...