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Russia mutiny revives stagnant talk of increasing Ukraine aid in Congress

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:54 GMT

The turmoil in Russia is giving Ukraine’s allies on Capitol Hill new ammunition in the fight to secure more weapons and aid for Kyiv.It’s still unclear what the brief mercenary rebellion will mean for Russia and Ukraine, but lawmakers argue the schism between Vladimir Putin and Wagner Group chief Yevgeny Prigozhin is a sign Western-supplied weapons are working, and that Washington needs to navigate skepticism in Congress to keep the tap open.Bipartisan pressure to spend more on the military was already brewing in Congress, and specifically on more aid to Ukraine, even if that means breaking the debt limit deal that capped defense funding at the administration’s request of $886 billion. On Friday, hours before Prigozhin’s forces charged into Russia, the Senate Armed Services Committee released its version of the defense policy bill and called on President Joe Biden to seek more money for Ukraine.“I would hope what [the Wagner rebellion] does is reinforce to members of Congr...

Vinyl Me, Please brings subscription model to record collecting

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:54 GMT

Sly Stone made a lot of essential releases. But what was his one “Essential” – capital “e” – record?It’s Andrew Winistorfer’s job to decide, and then share the news with the vinyl collecting world. As the senior music and editorial director for Vinyl Me, Please, Winistorfer curates the company’s monthly record clubs.Winistorfer and the team at VMP lovingly and meticulously put together vinyl reissues that subscribers eagerly await – the five subscription categories are Essentials, Classics, Hip-Hop, Country and Rock. In case you are wondering, Winistorfer picked Sly’s 1970 LP “There’s A Riot Goin’ On” for July’s Essential release.“This is obviously an essential record, it’s his masterpiece,” he told the Herald. “I’m constantly pinching myself that I get paid to be like, ‘Hey, what are we doing with Sly and the Family Stone?’”Vinyl Me, Please started in 2013 with a dozen subscribers who were happy to have fellow music junkies send them monthly mailings of great records. In months, VM...

Cookie cups a sweet finish to July 4 celebrations

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:54 GMT

Whether they include an intimate barbecue with a friends or a massive block party with everyone from the neighborhood, there’s a strong chance that food will be part of the July 4 party.As various menu items will hit the grill, hosts and hostesses may wonder which desserts to serve to make their events complete. While there is seemingly nothing more American than apple pie, cookies also can be sweet ways to help wrap up the festivities. Sugar cookies are a universal favorite, and in this recipe for “Fourth of July Cookie Cups,” they’re shaped into cups filled with a buttercream frosting.Enjoy this star-spangled showcase, courtesy of “Live Well, Bake Cookies” (Rock Point) by Danielle Rye.TAG GOES HEREFourth of July Cookie CupsINGREDIENTSNonstick cooking spray, for greasing the pan1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled1 teaspoon cornstarch1/2 teaspoon baking powder1/4 teaspoon salt1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened3/4 cup granula...

Cavanaugh & James: Mass. patients need choices, not roadblocks

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:54 GMT

Expectant mothers need quick access to care when labor begins, but their options are dwindling in Massachusetts. If UMass Memorial Health receives regulatory approval to close its Leominster maternity ward on Sept. 22, the shutdown would continue an alarming trend.Birth centers, midwifery practices and hospital obstetric units have disappeared across the state in recent years, along with behavioral health and primary care clinics. Policymakers have vowed to intervene to stop the bleeding, but proposed solutions are upside down.Rather than making it easier for health care investors to launch and run new facilities in Massachusetts, state lawmakers want to make it harder for existing providers to close. One measure, S.736/H.1175, would extend the mandatory wait time to shut down “essential health services” from six months to one year — not counting 30 days of advance notice for hospital staff, labor unions and local officials.Before filing any of this paperwork and starting the clock,...

Quick chili noodles for an easy summer burn

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:54 GMT

Ever have one of those days where you just don’t feel like cooking, but also aren’t keen on eating out or ordering in? In summer, there’s just so much fun stuff to do outside the house that shopping for and preparing a multi-course can feel even more like a chore.If we’re going to be honest, I’d much rather be on my bike or taking a hike at the end of a workday.But what if you could whip up a bowl of the world’s tastiest vegetarian noodles in 10 minutes or less?If your kitchen is well-stocked with Asian pantry ingredients — think staples such as soy and fish sauces, Shaoxing wine and toasted sesame oil — this dish is for you. It only takes as long to prepare as it does to chop some green onions and ginger and measure out a few condiments. In other words, it’s both fast and easy, not to mention budget-friendly.The homemade chili oil sauce is definitely on the spicy side, so if you don’t like to break into a sweat at mealtime, add half a...

Mary Ann Esposito’s Polenta with garden vegetables

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:54 GMT

Enjoy the best that summer vegetable gardens or your farmers market has to offer and make this inexpensive, luscious and filling creamy polenta and vegetable dish. It’s pretty to look at too!TAG GOES HEREPolenta with Garden VegetablesINGREDIENTS4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil2 large shallots, minced2 cloves garlic minced2 cups fresh corn kernels2 cups sliced cherry tomatoes½ cup dried Cruschi peppers slightly crushed (optional)*1 cup chopped red or yellow bell peppers2 cups cut into thirds cooked green beansSalt to taste1 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese plus extra cheese shavings for garnish1 cup fine grind cornmeal2 1/2 cups chicken broth2 1/2 cups whole milkSalt to tasteWhite pepper to taste2 tablespoons minced parsley2 tablespoons thyme leavesDIRECTIONSHeat the oil in a large saute pan; add the shallots and cook over medium heat until they begin to wilt. Stir in the garlic, corn kernels, tomatoes, cruschi peppers, red or yellow bell peppers and continue to cook u...

Mets GM Billy Eppler not making drastic changes despite disappointing start to season

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:54 GMT

The Mets are skidding to the end of one of the worst months of play in the Steve Cohen era. General manager Billy Eppler, the person tasked with building the most expensive roster in North American sports history, conveyed a message to the fans: Everything is going to be fine.That message isn’t likely to be received well given that everything is far from fine at this juncture of the 2023 season. Coming into Tuesday, the Mets were sitting in fourth place in the NL East, 16 games back from the Atlanta Braves and 8.5 games back in the NL Wild Card race. It’s a far cry from last season as the team was among the best in baseball until the final weekend of the regular season.But because of what the Mets did last season and what the clubhouse veterans have accomplished in the past, Eppler has come to the conclusion that no drastic actions need to be taken. Buck Showalter will remain at the helm and his coaches aren’t getting fired anytime soon either.“They deserve a...

Orioles’ offense sputters, homers hurt Tyler Wells in 3-1 loss to Reds

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:54 GMT

Orioles pitchers allowing solo home runs, in manager Brandon Hyde’s fully logical estimation, is not the worst-case scenario. Of course, he would overwhelmingly prefer they not give up home runs at all.He couldn’t get his wish Tuesday, when a pair of home runs with the bases empty provided the margin in Baltimore’s 3-1 defeat to the Cincinnati Reds, evening the series between two of baseball’s most exciting young teams. Baltimore’s offense managed only three hits, two by Jordan Westburg in his second major league game, as right-hander Tyler Wells delivered another quality start but was handed the loss thanks to Matt McLain’s sixth-inning solo shot.The Orioles’ best offensive opportunity came minutes before the skies opened above Camden Yards for a second straight night, prompting a 1-hour, 43-minute delay. After the Orioles managed a run on three walks and Westburg’s two hits off Reds left-hander Andrew Abbott, Hyde deployed many of th...

Lowry: Modern Russian politics follow a very old playbook

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:54 GMT

On the one hand, events in Russia this past weekend were stunning — the leader of a mercenary group declaring against the country’s military leadership and, for 24 hours, marching on Moscow.On the other, they were about what you’d expect in a Russia that, across the long centuries of its existence, has never managed to achieve Western standards of self-government.Everything we need to know about Russia was made clear by its brutish, cynical and incompetent invasion of Ukraine. But the blowback from the invasion in the form Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin’s brief armed revolt fills out the picture.Revolutions, attempted rebellions, assassinations and coups dot the Russian historical landscape. This isn’t unusual in old nations. What makes Russia different is that it is dealing with them to this day.England had a no-kidding war between the king and parliament … more than 350 years ago. Boris Yeltsin had a battle with the parliament that result...

Wynn: FTC needs to regain focus on fighting fraud

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:54 GMT

Americans have reaped protection from a largely unsung hero for more than a century. Safeguarded by the invisible, yet formidable, congressional mandate of the Federal Trade Commission, consumers can be confident that their government is working vigilantly to defend against fraud, deception and unfair business practices in the marketplace.As a former Energy and Commerce Committee member, I am well aware of the vital role the Federal Trade Commission plays in protecting Americans. However, my former position also makes me particularly sensitive to diversions from the FTC’s primary goal of protecting the American consumer.Having represented a district with a significant number of federal employees, I understand that the beating heart of any agency is the workers. When widespread grievances permeate an agency’s culture, it’s usually a sign that there may be an issue at hand. That’s why reports of low employee morale and high turnover rates at the FTC raise concerns about the current st...