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Bridge by Steve Becker

Most books on play include a section that tells you how to handle the most frequently occurring card combinations. But because many other less common combinations are not included, it becomes important to learn how to solve such problems all by yourself. Take this deal where South is in four ...

China’s imperial cuisine lives on today

BEIJING — It is said that Empress Dowager Cixi once dreamed of a pastry during the final decades of imperial China. The same treat was served to her at breakfast the following morning. Delighted, she summoned her chef and rewarded him with a silver ingot. “It was originally called ...

Memories of Tim and Elizabeth’s wedding from 11 years ago

Aug. 14, 2026, is 11 years since we prepared for our first wedding. Happy anniversary to Tim and Liz! We wish you many more happy, healthy years together! For this column I’m going to share from the columns I wrote back then. August 2015 On the day of the wedding, we serve a meal after the services and marriage, which are usually all done by noon. Then we serve a 5 p.m. supper for guests and a 7 p.m. supper for the youth and family. The bride and groom usually open their wedding gifts in the afternoon. We are renting a wedding wagon, which comes with seven stoves and two sinks, ...

DEAR ANNIE: Caregiving for mom without giving up my life

DEAR ANNIE: My father passed away earlier this year, and afterward my mother and sister moved to be closer to me. Since then, I have tried to help my mother as much as I can. I take her to doctors’ appointments, help with everyday needs and do my best to make sure she is cared for. Recently, my husband had to go out of state for work, and my children and I went with him. My mother came along for a while, but she has decided she wants to return home. My sister, who has special needs, will be going back with her. My mother is in her 70s and, thankfully, is in fairly good health. My ...