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The 10 Christmas songs you love to hate the most

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:36 GMT

By AJ Willingham | CNN“Hate” is such a strong word, but we’re human enough to admit hating on things — especially Christmas songs — can be a joyous exercise. Healing, even! (And the English language has yet to produce a better word for the white-hot jolt of being exposed to Paul McCartney’s “Wonderful Christmastime” without warning.)After all, some Christmas songs seem created to be hated. Others have wormed their way so far into our brains and culture that our reactions to them are beyond our control, like a sleeper assassin being activated by a code word.When we say things like, “If I hear Michael Bublé’s gender-adjusted version of ‘Santa Baby’ one more time I’m going to run my car into a ditch,” neither the talented Bublé nor the mounds of money he makes are harmed. Rather, in a way, we are acknowledging the power of such art to affect us, whether we want it to or not.That being said, it’s impossible to create a definitive list of hated Christmas songs, and it’s certainly impossi...

Move over rotisserie chicken, Costco’s hottest item is a $2,000 gold bar

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:36 GMT

By Nathaniel Meyersohn | CNNWould you like a $2,000 gold bar at Costco with your $4.99 rotisserie chicken?Yes, Costco sells more than just toilet paper, office supplies and food items, and the company is quite effective at it. A 24-karat 1 oz. Gold Bar PAMP Suisse Lady Fortuna Veriscan was listed as sold out on Costco’s site this week and bars usually sell out hours after being posted on Costco’s website, according to chief financial officer Richard Galanti.1 oz Gold Bar PAMP Suisse Lady Fortuna Veriscan (COSTCO) The wholesale retailer began selling gold online in September and 1 oz. gold bars on Friday were going for $2,069.99, with a limit of two bars per Costco membership. According to the Costco website, the non-refundable gold comes “in a sealed black assay card” and is “individually stamped with a unique serial number.”The company sold more than $100 million worth of gold bars last quarter, Galanti told analysts during the company’s earnings call on Thursday.Related Artic...

Palo Alto power outage affecting some residents

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:36 GMT

(BCN) -- Some Palo Alto residents are experiencing power outage, the city's Utilities Department confirmed Monday morning.Crews are already addressing the power interruption, the department said in an advisory sent out around 6:50 a.m. Possible thunderstorms forecasted in the Bay Area The number of households affected by the power outage was not immediately available.Residents are advised not to call 911 or the non-emergency numbers to either the police or the fire department to report the power outage or ask questions about it since such calls may unnecessarily tie up the phone lines.Community members can get updated information on the status of the outage at www.twitter.com/PAUtilities.Copyright © 2023 Bay City News, Inc.

Maryland hospice organization helps parents navigate holidays with terminally ill children

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:36 GMT

Brian Berger is the vice president of care continuum for Hospice of the Chesapeake. (Courtesy Hospice of the Chesapeake)When a family has a child dealing with a terminal illness during the holidays, they also live with the harsh reality that their child may not be around for the next year’s festivities.Brian Berger, vice president of care continuum for Hospice of the Chesapeake in Maryland, said parents ask themselves questions like “What can I do with the time and space that I currently have?” and “What experiences can I have with my child?”He said Hospice of the Chesapeake helps parents create memory-making activities like handprints or thumbprints, or creating something together depending on the capacity and age of the child.Berger also said activities like making art pieces, writing or storytelling are options for families that live on.The organization, he said, helps parents work through the emotional aspect of having a child with a life-limiting i...

Sports on TV for Tuesday, December 19

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:36 GMT

(All times Eastern)Schedule subject to change and/or blackoutsTuesday, December 19COLLEGE BASKETBALL (MEN’S)6 p.m.ACCN — The Citadel at Notre Dame6:30 p.m.BTN — Morehead St. at IndianaFS1 — Georgetown at Butler7 p.m.BTN — Oakland at Michigan St.ESPN — The Jumpman Invitational: Florida vs. Michigan, Charlotte, N.C.ESPN2 — Virginia at MemphisSECN — W. Carolina at Vanderbilt8 p.m.ACCN — North Florida at Florida St.8:30 p.m.BTN — Nicholls St. at MarylandFS1 — Marquette at Providence10 p.m.PAC-12N — CS Northridge at UCLACOLLEGE BASKETBALL (WOMEN’S)9:30 p.m.ESPN2 — The Jumpman Invitational: North Carolina vs. Oklahoma, Charlotte, N.C.COLLEGE FOOTBALL9 p.m.ESPN — The Scooter’s Coffee Frisco Bowl: UTSA vs. Marshall, Frisco, TexasNBA BASKETBALL7:30 p.m.TNT — Memphis at New Orleans10 p.m.TNT — Boston at Golden StateNBA G-LEAGUE BASKETBALL12 p.m.ESPN2 — Winter Showcase: Capital City vs. Indiana, Orlando, Fla.1:30 p.m.NBATV — Winter Showcase: Maine vs. Austin, Orlando, Fla.2:30 p.m.ESPN2 — Wint...

Storm batters Northeastern US with rain and wind, knocking out power and threatening flooding

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:36 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — A storm moving up the East Coast brought heavy rain and high winds to the Northeast on Monday, threatening flooding, knocking out power to hundreds of thousands, and forcing flight cancelations and school closings.The National Weather Service predicted that up to 5 inches (13 centimeters) of rain would fall in parts of the region. More than 300,000 power outages were reported in Pennsylvania and New England, with numerous reports of trees falling on power lines. Wind gusts of up to 60 mph (97 kph) were expected to buffet southern New England coast, the weather service said.The weather service issued flood and flash flood warnings for New York City and the surrounding area, parts of Pennsylvania, upstate New York, western Connecticut, western Massachusetts and parts of New Hampshire and Maine.More than 70 flights were canceled and more than 120 others were delayed at New York-area airports, according to FlightAware. Many school districts canceled or delayed classes be...

Eric Montross, a former UNC and NBA big man, dies at 52 after cancer fight

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:36 GMT

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — Eric Montross, a former North Carolina and NBA big man, has died after a cancer fight, his family said. He was 52.The school released the family’s announcement Monday morning, saying Montross died Sunday surrounded by loved ones at his Chapel Hill home. He had been diagnosed with cancer in March, leading to him stepping away from his duties as a radio analyst for UNC game broadcasts.“To know Eric was to be his friend, and the family knows that the ripples from the generous, thoughtful way that he lived his life will continue in the lives of the many people he touched with his deep and sincere kindness,” the announcement said.Montross played for the Tar Heels under Dean Smith from 1990-94 and was a two-time Associated Press second-team All-American. He started on Smith’s second NCAA championship team in 1993 before being the No. 9 overall pick by the Boston Celtics a year later and playing in the NBA until 2002.In addition to his broadcast duties,...

Investigation finds no evidence of wrongdoing related to death of Sheffield United Women player

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:36 GMT

SHEFFIELD, England (AP) — There was “no evidence of wrongdoing” related to the death of Sheffield United Women player Maddy Cusack in September, the club said Monday following an independent investigation.Cusack, who also worked as a marketing executive at Sheffield United, died at the age of 27. The team didn’t disclose any details about Cusack’s death.An independent third party was appointed at the request of Cusack’s family to carry out a formal investigation into concerns it raised about conduct at the club.“The investigation has found no evidence of wrongdoing,” Sheffield United said in a statement. “The club is always looking for ways to evolve and will reflect on the outcomes and recommendations arising from the investigation to consider how processes and policies may be improved.”The club said will “review and expand the club-wide wellbeing support offered to our staff and to increase the learning and development opportunities for all staff around language and culture, welfa...

Rhode Island man arrested in connection to false bomb threat at FLL

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:36 GMT

Detectives from the Broward Sheriff’s Office Threat Management Unit arrested a Rhode Island man on bomb threat charges at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) on Sunday.The incident unfolded around 5:26 p.m. when BSO deputies responded to a potential bomb threat in Terminal 1 at 50 Terminal Drive. An airport employee informed authorities that Tyler Baeder said, “Call the cops, I have a bomb in my bag.”Preliminary findings indicated that Baeder made the statement in frustration after encountering difficulties with a kiosk while attempting to check into his flight. The TSA was notified and BSO deputies took Baeder into custody, subsequently evacuating the upper level of Terminal 1.BSO’s Bomb Squad and Threat Management Unit detectives were dispatched to investigate. After a thorough inspection of Baeder’s belongings, the threat was deemed false.Baeder is currently held at BSO North Broward, facing charges of false reporting concerning planting ...

Pope Francis greenlights blessings for same-sex couples

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 19:00:36 GMT

Pope Francis on Monday approved blessings for same-sex couples, marking a shift in the Catholic church’s stance toward the LGBTQ+ community.A document published by the Vatican’s doctrinal office — and signed by the pope — says that Roman Catholic priests will be allowed to bless couples “in irregular situations and same-sex couples.”The document specifies that a blessing does not officially validate the couple’s status or change “the Church’s perennial teaching on marriage.” It also emphasizes that the blessing should not occur at the same time as a civil union ceremony and can’t be performed with any clothing or gestures associated with weddings, to avoid “any form of confusion or scandal.” But it says this move “implies a real development from what has been said about blessings.”“When people ask for a blessing, an exhaustive moral analysis should not be placed as a precondition for conferring it. For, those seeking a blessing should not be r...