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Alvarez has 3 RBIs, Brown solid as Astros beat Rangers 8-2

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:38 GMT

HOUSTON (AP) — Yordan Alvarez played just two games in spring training while dealing with a sore left hand. That limited work certainly hasn’t slowed Houston’s slugger early this season. Alvarez doubled with three RBIs to back up a strong start by rookie Hunter Brown and help the Astros to a 8-2 win over the Texas Rangers on Saturday night. Alvarez tied the game with a two-RBI double in the third, and his bases-loaded walk started the scoring in a five-run seventh that pushed the lead to 8-2. He leads the majors with 20 RBIs and joins Lance Berkman (2002) as the only players in franchise history to have 20 RBIs in the first 15 games of a season. “The biggest thing is just all the work that I put in,” Alvarez said in Spanish through a translator. “Unfortunately, in the offseason and spring training I wasn’t able to work the bat a lot. But I tried to keep myself prepared physically … and I think now we’re seeing some of the results there.”Brown (2-0) allowed five hit...

Bear scare: North Carolina man in shock after encounter with an equally startled bear

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:38 GMT

(CNN) — Bears are a common sight in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, but one got a little too close for comfort for a man outside his Asheville home this week.David Oppenheimer was relaxing outside Tuesday when he heard an alarm sound from his motion detector.“I looked behind me and didn’t see anything,” Oppenheimer told CNN, “But about a minute later, the bear came along and was practically in front of me.”Doorbell video shows the exact moment Oppenheimer and the bear make eye contact, both appearing equally as startled by the other.From his lounge chair, Oppenheimer gripped a pillow as his body froze until the bear ran off a few seconds later.The bear, who Oppenheimer believes to be relatively young, retreated quickly, making a small sound before dashing away.“My eyeballs certainly got a stretch,” Oppenheimer joked.This jump scare wasn’t the first time these two encountered each other.Oppenheimer said the same bear h...

Dear Abby: Long friendship broken by caring act

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:38 GMT

Dear Abby: I am heartbroken over the loss of my best friend of more than 30 years. “Barb” and I met in college. We live and are raising our families in the same city and are godmothers to each other’s children. My children and hers have grown up together and are best friends.My friendship with Barb ended abruptly about six months ago at my daughter’s wedding. Barb had a lot to drink at the reception. When she was ready to go home, my son and I walked out with her and quietly told her we would give her a ride home. Barb was adamant about driving herself home, although we knew she was too drunk to get there safely. We eventually had to physically take away her keys so she couldn’t drive herself. This was done away from the party so as not to make a scene. Barb finally agreed, but during the drive she announced that our friendship was over. I assumed she would call me in the next couple days, embarrassed about her behavior, and everything would be good aga...

Child wants to be a vegetarian – is that OK?

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:38 GMT

Children and adolescents who follow a vegetarian eating plan tend to consume more fruits and vegetables and less sweets, salty snacks, and saturated fat than their nonvegetarian peers. They also tend to be at lower risk for obesity and overweight.In the past, experts worried that following a vegetarian diet, which tends to be low in saturated fat and animal protein and high in fiber, folate, vitamins C and E, carotenoids and some phytochemicals, would lead to nutritional deficiencies in children.Today, we know that’s generally not the case with well-planned vegetarian eating plans that include enough of the following nutrients:Protein. Children who follow a vegetarian plan tend to get enough protein variety and quantity. Regularly eating legumes (beans, peas, lentils, peanuts and soy) helps ensure they’ll get enough. Vegan children and adolescents may need to eat more of these foods than nonvegan children, because plants don’t always have the same level of protein found ...

Cam Neely reflects on building of a juggernaut, girds for playoff run

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:38 GMT

Facing a roomful of skeptical faces on the eve of the season last October, Bruins team president Cam Neely professed his confidence in the hockey team over which he presides.With both Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci – the 1-2 punch at center and organizational pillars of the past 15 years – deciding to return, Neely said there was a strong “one more run” vibe in the room.But even Neely didn’t see this coming. He did not see a team that was about to have arguably the greatest regular season in the NHL’s 105-year history.“I really did feel that we were a playoff team and, when we got healthy, I felt we were a very good hockey club,” said Neely in a conversation with the Herald as the regular season was winding down. “So that’s probably where I got my confidence. But I didn’t anticipate (65) wins.”The 2022-23 Bruins will be thrown on the historical heap of statistical oddities with the 1995-96 Red Wings and 2018-19 Lightning if they don’t win their last ...

Sloan holding ‘Steady’ with catchy hooks 30 years on

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:38 GMT

For the Canadian band Sloan, there are endless possibilities in writing harmony-driven, intensely catchy, three-minute pop songs. Enough possibilities in fact to keep the same lineup going for 30 years and counting.“Playing in a band is something I’ve wanted to do since I was very young,” says singer/guitarist Jay Ferguson, who hits Brighton Music Hall with the band on Wednesday. “Each time we make a record, I still don’t feel that I’ve become cynical about enjoying what I do. There’s a lot of people who turn what they love into their career, and it turns them off to what they loved about it — like people in record companies who have to sit and listen to demo tapes all day, or someone who loves to ski and becomes a ski instructor. We’ve never been like that.”Sloan’s new album “Steady” doesn’t pass four minutes on any of its 12 tracks, and the hooks keep coming even when the lyrics get mournful. “I think a little restriction is a good thing,” Ferguson says. “With a smalle...

Biden owns botched Afghanistan withdrawal: Letters to the editor

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:38 GMT

Pointing fingersBiden wants to rewrite the history books on the shameful withdrawal of the U.S. from Afghanistan.  A brief document created by the his administration’s National Security Council with input from Biden himself is quick to blame President Trump.  Biden owns the botched withdrawal.  He left $80 billion worth of weapons, ammunition, and vehicles behind.  Our troops left the Bagram Air Base in the middle of the night without telling our Afghan allies.  President Trump had left a detailed plan for an orderly withdrawal with specific criteria  that the Taliban had to adhere to or the withdrawal would stop.  This plan was thrown out by Biden.  Former Marine Sgt. Vargas-Andrews spoke at a congressional hearing on the withdrawal and said, it was a “catastrophe” and an “inexcusable lack of accountability.” Biden’s blame game is Joe’s weapon of choice.  I’m tired of it.Donald HoughtonQuincySchool shootingsThere is an urgent need to develop new means to protect our students ...

Ex wants $$, and to take baby to Greece

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:38 GMT

Q. I am a German citizen living and working in the U.S.  I had a relationship with a former colleague who was here from Greece but returned there.  Six months ago, I had a baby here who is a U.S. citizen but also has rights to German and Greek citizenship.  I listed him on the birth certificate.  When she was born, he and I were getting along.  He signed the papers so I was able to get her a U.S. passport to take her to Germany over Christmas.Things have gone downhill recently.  He is not working and insists that I have to pay him child support because he needs to maintain a home for her to spend time in with him.  His mother calls me almost daily demanding that I let my daughter spend the summer in Greece.  The father wants to come here and visit but wants me to pay for all of his travel including visiting relatives in Los Angeles and Chicago.I am concerned he is going to come here to visit, get our daughter a Greek passport and leave the country with her.  Can I do anything to pre...

Jacob loves rap music & video games

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:38 GMT

Jacob, who likes to go by Jake, is an athletic teenager. Jake enjoys engaging in activities like fishing, swimming, and basketball. He also has shown interest in lacrosse and martial arts. Jake is performing at grade level and enjoys spending time with his peers at school.His social worker feels he would do best in a family with at least one female. Jake would do well with older children in the home or children similar in age. He would do best in a home that is active and has clear expectations.Can I Adopt?If you’re at least 18 years old, have a stable source of income, and room in your heart, you may be a perfect match to adopt a waiting child. Adoptive parents can be single, married, or partnered; experienced or not; renters or homeowners; LGBTQ+ singles and couples. As an adoptive parent, you won’t have to pay any fees, adoption from foster care is completely free in Massachusetts.The process to adopt a child from foster care includes training, interviews, and home visits to dete...

Put a local spin on Record Store Day

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:12:38 GMT

Record Store Day is April 22. You can celebrate locally at Newbury Comics and Vinyl Index and Somerville Grooves and a dozen other record shops. Want the local connection to go a little deeper? Go to a Boston area shop and buy one of these three RSD-exclusive releases with a Boston connection (and one that has nothing to do with our city but is too good not to pick up).“Live & Dangerous Boston 1976,” Peter ToshEverybody knows the Wailers. Everybody should know Word, Sound and Power.After Peter Tosh split from Bob Marley’s outfit – he had too many great songs of his own to record – Tosh formed backing band Word, Sound and Power. This 1976 concert from Boston, available for the first time on vinyl, is a testament to that band’s might and malleability. On a collection of Tosh’s recently written gems, his musicians stretch and contract, build towers of rock and wallow in fat, loose reggae grooves.When Tosh does a tender tune such as “Why Must I Cry,” the band sits back. When he boom...