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Inside Malaysia’s gambit to make its pungent durian the most wanted

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Malaysia is pushing to take durian, whose powerful smell delights its lovers and repels its haters, beyond its roadside stalls and family orchards to convince fans of the spiky fruit that its varieties are worth seeking out. Devotees savor durians like wine. For Malaysian ones, the taste of their rich and creamy flesh varies widely across types. Some are prized for their sweet custard and fruity notes, others for a hint of bitterness, an alcohol tinge or even a peanut butter flavor. Malaysians’ efforts to elevate the industry can be found in the capital, ...

Conflict erupts between spender and saver

DEAR ANNIE: My husband and I have been married for 12 years, and we agree on most things. We like the same kind of vacations, have similar values and rarely argue about family. Money, however, is our recurring sore spot. I am a saver. I grew up in a household where unexpected expenses could throw everything into chaos, so having money set aside makes me feel secure. My husband grew up very differently. His parents believed that if the bills were paid, you should enjoy life while you can. A few weeks ago, we were having dinner and talking about taking a trip next spring. I mentioned ...

MRIs are generally superior to CT scan

DEAR DR. ROACH: I have a pacemaker that was installed in January 2024. This is a newer model that’s said to be safe for those who need an MRI. I have a neoplasm that was recently discovered in the parotid gland on the right side of my head. The doctors at a referral hospital attempted to do a biopsy on the mass in the center of the gland. But the biopsy failed as the tissue samples were only obtained from benign tissue surrounding the neoplasm, not from the mass. My doctor doesn’t want to attempt another biopsy, as the biopsy procedure that failed was very lengthy and lasted for ...

Bridge by Steve Becker

Safety plays take many forms, but the underlying principle is always the same: In order to protect against an unfavorable distribution of the adverse cards, declarer risks losing a trick he might not have to lose. The large family of safety plays need not be memorized. They should suggest themselves automatically when a threatening set of circumstances arises. In this deal, South sees he has only seven tricks immediately available at three notrump, and that the best source of additional tricks lies in the diamond suit. The normal way of approaching the diamonds is to cash the king and ...

Always speak very clearly to older people

DEAR HELOISE: As people age, their speech starts to slur. Consonants soften; voices become monotone. The guttural parts of sound lessen. Speaking clearly to compensate for the loss of these vocal characteristics is very helpful to older folks with tinnitus and ordinary hearing loss. (This was explained to me by an acoustical engineer.) — Andy G., in Youngstown, New York DEAR HELOISE: I very much related to the reader who wrote about enunciation. I often get people who know that I’m partially deaf and feel like they have to talk really loud, and I often tell them it’s not ...

How to report that a patient’s license needs to be revoked

DEAR DR. ROACH: A former neighbor who's experiencing a gradual cognitive decline from dementia recently received a letter from our state's DMV saying that her driver's license was being revoked because of a letter she received from her neurologist. She steadfastly maintains that she's fine and there's nothing wrong with her, although those of us who know her are very aware of her diminished capacities. Fortunately, she reluctantly moved into assisted living a few months ago and will be able to get rides provided by the facility to doctor's appointments, for shopping, etc. Eight years ...