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The best holiday gifts match their passions

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:24 GMT

You just know Aunt Edna’s going to send you a Monopoly set this holiday without bothering to ask if you already have one. (You have six, thanks.)  And yes, someone at work is probably going to gift you another fruitcake. You’ll probably get the “I heart Chicago” mug again in a Yankee swap.Enough already with the ho-hum gifts that don’t take anyone’s personal likes, dislikes, needs, or passions into account.With almost a week and a half left till Christmas, there’s still time to order thoughtful and creative, clever, and unusual gifts for your friends and loved ones based on their interests. Here are a few ideas to make you an absolute hero this holiday.For the Wellness Pioneer: Ask any friend or family member who’s constantly pushing themselves physically — either as an occasional fitness enthusiast on up to a top tier athlete — and they’ll tell you that one of the toughest obstacles to surmount to optimal performance can be releasing tight hip flexors. Those muscles can be darn nea...

Hallelujah the Hills on deck for Sinclair show

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:24 GMT

In (roughly) a year’s time, Hallelujah the Hills will release a 52-song, four-album set — one original new song for each card in a deck.The idea is bonkers. It’s like a sonic “Apocalypse Now” or “Infinite Jest” or “General Hospital,” ridiculous, glorious, and absolutely attainable for Hallelujah the Hills’s frontman and songwriter Ryan Walsh.Walsh admits that “DECK” sounds a little like something an extremely baked musician pitches to bandmates in a tour van at 2 a.m. (only to be remembered ten years later with a, “Hey, man, whatever happened to our plan to…”).“How about 20 years? Because that’s when I came up with the idea,” Walsh told the Herald with a laugh. “I became really enamored with things like the Magnetic Fields’ ‘69 Love Songs’ and Guided By Voices’ ‘Suitcase,’ which is like four discs of songs that no one had ever heard, and the touchstone that I always talk about, the ‘Anthology of American Folk Music.’”“So the idea came easy,” Walsh added. “But then I guess it was 20 ...

Lucas: Harvard chief a good fit for Boston City Council

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:24 GMT

Claudine Gay should run for Boston City Council. She would fit right in.In fact, she could swap her job as president of Harvard University — as long she has it– to become president of the city council.As for now, Gay is safe – unlike  University of Pennsylvania president Liz Magill who resigned following the furor over her failure before Congress to recognize and address waves of antisemitism on college campuses.Gay could join in with City Councilor Tania Fernandes-Anderson and others and open council sessions with the anti-Jewish chant “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” and get applause for doing so.If there is any criticism, she could say that it’s all about the context.That aside Anderson, on behalf of the city council, presented a resolution to two New Mission High School students for leading a pro-Palestinian walkout at the school. They went on to chant the anti-Jewish slogan, the meaning of which they undoubtedly don’t know.Outgoing Cit...

Editorial: Voting rights measure serves Boston pols

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:24 GMT

Boston needs voters – citizens, non-citizens, it doesn’t matter to the City Council. Boosting low-turnout districts on election day is all that matters.That’s the backstory to yesterday’s passage of a measure granting immigrants with “legal status,” but not full citizenship the right to vote in local elections.As the Herald reported, Councilor Kendra Lara put forward a hearing order on the issue last month. Lara asserted that immigrants with “legal status” constitute more than 28% of the city population, pay on average $2.3 billion in taxes annually, and hold roughly $6 billion in “collective spending power.”“They’re not able to participate in the electoral process, in what I believe is a violation of one of our foundational American principles,” Lara said.Spending power equaling voting rights isn’t a foundational American principle. Citizenship conferring certain rights, include the right to vote, is.Legal status refers to an immigrant who ...

AP breaking stories and Nation and World news

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:24 GMT

The latest from the Associated Press right here…FILE – Asylum-seekers walk to a U.S. Border Patrol van after crossing the nearby border with Mexico, Tuesday Sept. 26, 2023, near Jacumba Hot Springs, Calif. Migrants continue to arrive to desert campsites along California’s border with Mexico, as they await processing. Congress is discussing changes to the immigration system in exchange for providing money to Ukraine in its fight against Russia and Israel for the war with Hamas. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy, File)Hunter Biden, son of President Joe Biden, talks to reporters at the U.S. Capitol, in Washington, Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2023. Hunter Biden lashed out at Republican investigators who have been digging into his business dealings, insisting outside the Capitol he will only testify before a congressional committee in public. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)Argentina’s newly sworn-in President Javier Milei, left, and his sister Karina arrive to the Colon Theater for a gal...

“Wonka’ a bit wonky, but worthy

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:24 GMT

In a year of “Barbie,” Harry Styles and Taylor Swift, we now get Timothee Chalamet as Willy Wonka. Wonka, of course, was created by the now problematic British author Roald Dahl in his 1964 novel “Charlie & the Chocolate Factory.” Dahl has recently been accused of antisemitism and racism.Wonka has been portrayed previously by the great Gene Wilder in “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory,” a film I have never liked, directed by documentary filmmaker Mel Stuart (“Wattstax”). More recently, Johnny Depp played Wonka in Tom Burton’s 2005 effort “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” another film I was not enthusiastic about, although at least it was deeply weird.“Wonka,” which was directed by Paul King of those pleasant enough “Paddington” films, is certainly sugary enough,  maybe too sugary. It is a prequel to “Charlie & the Chocolate Factory,” an “origin film” co-written by King and his co-writer Simon Farnaby (“Paddington 2”). Wonka first appears on the mast of a ship,...

Dear Abby: Alzheimer’s treatment needs volunteers

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:24 GMT

Dear Abby: After decades of research, I’m thrilled with the recent major progress being made in treatments for people who already have symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. I’m hoping that, one day, we will be able to prevent people from developing memory impairment and dementia.Brain changes, including the buildup of a toxic protein into amyloid plaques, begin up to 20 years before a person notices any symptoms. This “asymptomatic” stage may be the perfect time to test treatments aiming to delay or prevent symptoms before they begin.This is why we are conducting the AHEAD Study, an investigational trial of lecanemab, an FDA-approved medication for mild cognitive impairment and mild dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease. The AHEAD Study is testing whether starting lecanemab in those with amyloid plaques BEFORE symptoms start can help prevent cognitive decline.As a neurologist, a clinical researcher and someone who has seen Alzheimer’s in my own fam...

Column: Will Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen attend the Chicago Bulls Ring of Honor celebration?

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:24 GMT

The Chicago Bulls Ring of Honor provides some long overdue recognition for several of the franchise’s greatest players and coaches, along with the two Hall of Famers who already have been feted at the United Center: Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen.But now comes the hard part for the Bulls — getting Jordan and Pippen to respond to their evite with a “yes” instead of a “no” or “maybe.”No matter what happened between them, the Bulls desperately want the two biggest stars in franchise history to attend the dinner for all the Ring of Honor honorees on Jan. 11 at the United Center and at the halftime ceremony celebrating the members on Jan. 12, when the Bulls play host to the Golden State Warriors.If Pippen accepts, will Jordan send his regrets?If Jordan decides to come, will Pippen stay away?Are the Bulls better off if only one attends?It’s complicated, this Bulls reunion thing, thanks to Pippen’s harsh response to the alleged...

Australia cricketer Khawaja wears a black armband after a ban on his ‘all lives are equal’ shoes

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:24 GMT

PERTH, Australia (AP) — Australia batter Usman Khawaja wasn’t allowed to wear shoes branded with his “all lives are equal” humanitarian message, so he wore a black arm band instead Thursday on Day 1 of the series-opening cricket test against Pakistan.The International Cricket Council intervened on Wednesday after Khawaja indicated he planned to wear shoes during the match that featured messages to highlight the loss of innocent lives in the Israel-Hamas war.The ICC’s policies for international cricket prohibit displays of political or religious statements on team uniforms or equipment.Khawaja said he’d abide by the ruling to avoid individual or team sanctions, but would challenge the ICC’s stance.“ Freedom is a human right, and all rights are equal,” Khawaja said in a social media post. “I will never stop believing that.”Australia batted first in the five-day match, and Khawaja and fellow Australian opener David Warner strode to the pitch along with the Pakistan fielders...

Trevor Noah will host the 2024 Grammy Awards for the fourth year in a row

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:24 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — As the age-old adage goes, don’t mess with success. The Grammy Awards aren’t, bringing Trevor Noah back as host in 2024.Noah shared the news Wednesday night on his podcast “What Now? With Trevor Noah.” For those keeping count, the 66th Grammys will mark his fourth consecutive year of hosting duties.SZA heads into the 2024 ceremony with a leading nine nominations. “Kill Bill,” her revenge anthem cloaked in an R&B ballad, earned her nods for record of the year, song of the year, and best R&B performance. “SOS” is also up for album of the year and best progressive R&B album. The 2024 ceremony is the second time SZA has been nominated for record, album, and song in the same year.Phoebe Bridgers has the second-most nominations, with seven. Six of those are with her band boygenius. Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo, Miley Cyrus, Billie Eilish, Brandy Clark, Jon Batiste and producer Jack Antonoff also earned six.The 2024 Grammy Awards will air Feb. 4 l...