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Austin: Doors set to shut on conservatives in federal jobs

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:29:03 GMT

When working for the government, Joe Biden is no longer content with the tried-and-true question of patriotism: “Are you with or against us?” In a shocking effort to overhaul federal hiring guidelines, the president wants to ask: “Are you with or against me?”A proposed rule governing federal hiring is, at best, a bad policy promoting left-wing loyalty over competence. At worst, it’s a stepping stone to undermining fair hiring practices and freedom of speech.In January, the Office of Personnel Management proposed changes to the federal government’s “personnel vetting investigative and adjudicative processes for determining suitability and fitness.” It explains that this refers to “a decision by an agency that an individual does or does not have the required level of character and conduct necessary” for federal employment. The public has until April 3 to file comments on these amendments before the rule is finalized.Current policy prohibits hiring applicants found to be involved in “k...

Design trends to give your home that wow factor

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:29:03 GMT

Certain homes have an undeniable wow factor. That instant appeal tends to be noticeable the moment visitors pull up to the curb, and it might be a byproduct of homeowners’ willingness to embrace the latest exterior design trends. Trends come and go, but recognition of the current fashions can help homeowners make their property stand out.The following are some recent trends in home exteriors that have helped homeowners set their properties apart.WoodNatural wood has undeniable appeal, and it hasn’t only found newfound devotion among home interior decorators. Natural wood garage doors create a sense of warmth and can set a home apart from others with steel doors, which tend to be the most popular garage door material. In addition to the garage door, natural wood entry doors and wood decks are popular ways to impart this classical, warm look to a home’s exterior.Painted brickLike natural wood, brick is a traditional material that’s both sturdy and classical. Bu...

“In Viaggio: The Travels of Pope Francis” captures changing world

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:29:03 GMT

Gianfranco Rosi ranks among this century’s most honored documentary filmmakers and the fascinating chronicle “In Viaggio: The Travels of Pope Francis” is easily among his most unique and unusual films.Rosi, 59, won the Golden Lion, the Venice Film Festival’s highest prize, which was a first for a documentary.  He won the Golden Bear, the Berlin Film Festival’s highest prize, for his Academy Award-nominated documentary “Fire at Sea” where he spent a year in Italy’s seaside town Lampedusa following an infamous 2013 migrant shipwreck.“In Viaggio” (“Traveling”) is a nearly surreal work following Pope Francis’ epic travels to 53 countries in the first nine years of his papacy. It’s practically all archival footage, in chronological order, with no commentary. Again and again and again, we see Francis standing, alone, in the Pope mobile – the bullet-proof shields removed (the only Pope to do so) – as he passes through immense, cheering crowds. On dirt roads in Africa, paved boulevards in S...

All the pieces come together for stellar ‘Tetris’

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:29:03 GMT

MOVIE REVIEW“Tetris”Rated R. On Apple+Grade: A-Superbly cast and well-acted across the board, “Tetris” streaks across the screen like nothing else released so far this year. Although it’s based on the story of the famous and popular Russian-created computer game with the four falling blocks that was loaded on every 8-bit Nintendo Game Boy sold in 1989 (and that was a lot), the film plays like a caper movie, and it’s mostly brilliant.Taron Egerton plays the real-life Henk Rogers, a Dutch-born American living in Tokyo with his wife Akemi (Ayane) and their children. Rogers and his company Bullet-Proof Software have the rights to sell Tetris in Japan. But Rogers wants the rights to sell world-wide and is willing to fly to Moscow and negotiate, illegally as it turns out, with the Soviet-era Moscow Computer Science Center company known as Elorg. The head of Elorg is the cunning and stern-looking Nikolai Belikov (a fine Oleg Stefanko). Unbeknownst to Rogers, computer-game...

Music history comes to vibrant life in ‘Spinning Gold’

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:29:03 GMT

MOVIE REVIEW“Spinning Gold”Rated R. At the AMC South Bay, AMC Liberty Tree Mall and other suburban theatersGrade: BSometimes, what you lack in polish, you make up for in enthusiasm and heart. “Spinning Gold,” a biopic about Neil Bogart, the dream-driven founder of Casablanca Records, was written and directed by Bogart’s son Timothy Scott Bogart. Neil Bogart, who had tremendous ups and downs as a record producer in the late 1960s, 1970s and early 1980s, died at age 39 when his son was 12 years old.Featuring Tony-nominated theater, film and TV actor Jeremy Jordan (TV’s “Smash”) in a role that was once offered to Justin Timberlake, “Spinning Gold” is very much like recent rock star biographies inasmuch as it begins with a boy from humble beginnings, in this case the Jewish projects of Brooklyn, where young Neil Bogatz sees his postman and degenerate gambler father Al (Jeremy Isaacs) get beaten in an alley by Italian-American loan sharks. Neil grows up to be a gambler, too.B...

Franks: Joe Biden’s shameless use of Kamala Harris

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:29:03 GMT

The good news for President Joe Biden is that his approval rating, as reported by a recent AP-NORC poll, stands at 38%. This is his second worst rating in his presidency, slightly better than his 36% in July 2022. Yes, that is his “good” news. It should be worse.Vice President Kamala Harris’s approval numbers are even lower.If it were not for Black Americans, Biden and Harris would have far worse scores.Let’s see a poll that does not include Black Americans or one that separates suburban and rural voters from urban voters – the results would be extremely poor for Biden.Many would say that he picked Harris as vice president to motivate and lock in the Black women vote, while also helping to guarantee that once elected, no one would want to push him out of office.The normal and generally accepted prior experience for a U.S. vice president are the following: congressman, senator, governor, ambassador, Cabinet or sub-Cabinet member. Being a state’s top lawyer/attorney general is not som...

Dear Abby: Daughter nixes leaving nest, facing reality

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:29:03 GMT

Dear Abby: My 28-year-old daughter moved back home when COVID hit. She works as an influencer and also has a part-time job as a content creator. She doesn’t pay bills. My husband doesn’t want her to pay rent, etc. I feel it’s important for her to do so. She does pay for her groceries and gas.She stays in her room day and night. She used to go out with friends, but now doesn’t do anything. She says she has cyber friends. We have asked her to come out with us at times, but she refuses. Another problem is, she hasn’t gone to the doctor or dentist in a very long time. I talked with her about it, and she blamed me for not taking her. I offered to go with her, but she doesn’t do anything about it.My husband doesn’t think there is a problem, but I feel there is. I feel we have enabled her, although we didn’t mean to. Should we be charging her rent? How do we get her to become more social? How do we get her the right help so she can move forwa...

Padres drop Opening Day game to Rockies

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:29:03 GMT

SAN DIEGO (AP) — C.J. Cron homered twice and drove in five runs for the Colorado Rockies, who beat San Diego 7-2 on Thursday to dampen opening night of the most anticipated season in Padres history at chilly, wet Petco Park.Cron hit a go-ahead, three-run homer with one out in the fifth inning and added a leadoff shot in the seventh for his 17th career multi-homer game. Elehuris Montero followed with another homer off reliever Domingo Tapia. The Rockies had 17 hits, with the heart of the order collecting 10 — four by Cron and three apiece by Kris Bryant and Charlie Blackmon.Expectations are so high for the superstar-laden Padres, who made a stirring run to the NL Championship Series last year, that some in the sellout crowd of 45,103 booed when left fielder Juan Soto let Bryant's fly ball fall in for an RBI single in the sixth. There were more boos when Cron and Montero went back-to-back in the seventh.Xander Bogaerts, who signed a $280 million, 11-year free agent deal in December, w...

Hear what music Padres players have chosen as their walk-up songs

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:29:03 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- The 2023 Padres walk-up music playlist is out, with homerun-worthy songs sure to keep the Friar Faithful moving and grooving all season long.The players have carefully selected tunes that will help to identify them as they walk to home plate as batter up. For pitchers, their song will also blare through stadium speakers as they take the mound in hopes of striking out the opposing batter. Padres announce regular season broadcast schedule Whether it's a song that helps them focus on the strike zone or simply reflects their personality as an athlete and beyond, each player has chosen their tune for a reason.Here are the Padres players' walk-up songs for their strides to the plate and mound this season.-- Jose Azocar (right fielder): Azukita by Steve Aoki & Daddy Yankee; Pa' Que Retozen by Tego Calderon-- Jake Cronenworth (second baseman): Keep Their Heads Ringin' by Dr. Dre-- Luis Garcia (pitcher): Superacion by Miky Woodz-- Josh Hader (pitcher): Every Chan...

New taproom coming to Petco Park

Published Fri, 27 Dec 2024 11:29:03 GMT

SAN DIEGO -- Padres fans will be able to try out a new selection of brews at Petco Park this year.Alpine Beer is opening up its new taproom inside the Padres' ballpark, the company said in a release Thursday. Located in section 309, the craft brand's taproom offers scenic views of San Diego Bay and Coronado Bridge at its rooftop bar and patio. Hear what music Padres players have chosen as their walk-up songs “We couldn’t be more excited to open an Alpine Beer taproom at iconic Petco Park in the brand’s hometown of San Diego, California. Fans have waited all winter for the return of baseball, and we are proud to welcome them on opening day with a cold pint of our refreshing, hop-forward beers,” said Ty Gilmore, President, U.S. Beer, Tilray Brands, Inc.Alpine Beer's most popular brews include Nelson IPA, Duet IPA and the new Infinite Haze Hazy IPA. But that's not at all, the taproom's menu features house-made smoked hot links and smoked choripan sausage sandwiche...