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Brennan: Generational tobacco bans shun civil liberties

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:10 GMT

Under the pretext of youth smoking prevention, over-zealous anti-tobacco crusaders have finally unveiled their real endgame – the total ban on all nicotine-containing products for all people, including those who have reached legal adulthood.If advocates achieve the age-based prohibition goals they are currently pushing, then one day a retiree looking to purchase a cigar for the golf course or a trucker seeking a non-tobacco nicotine pouch will be treated like a 12-year-old trying to drive a car or purchase a beer in a pub or liquor store.The so-called “Nicotine-Free Generation” movement is, in fact, a generational sales prohibition that bans anyone born after a certain date from ever purchasing nicotine or tobacco products. The town of Brookline enacted a bylaw in 2021 that banned anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 2000 from purchasing tobacco or nicotine products in the town. Retailers sued, and their case is before the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. Despite the ongoing litigat...

Editorial: Social Security is nearing a crisis

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:10 GMT

Washington seems determined to ignore the country’s rapidly worsening fiscal picture, but sooner or later policymakers will be forced to pay attention. When they do, they’ll find that changes to Social Security are unavoidable.No doubt, any such effort will meet strong political resistance. That’s why nothing has been done for 40 years and counting. The best approach — on the merits and as a matter of political feasibility — would combine entitlement reform with fresh thinking about financial security in retirement.Thanks to relentless pressure from an aging population, Social Security is expected to exhaust its financial reserves in 2033. At that point, without offsetting action, benefits will automatically be cut by a quarter.The program’s last big overhaul, in 1983, scheduled a gradual rise in the normal retirement age from 65 to the current 67. Life expectancy will increase further over the coming decades, and longer retirements will continue to raise costs. Indexing the normal ...

‘Invisible Beauty’ captures fashion pioneer Bethann Hardison

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:10 GMT

Bethann Hardison, the pioneering activist, model, fashion icon and groundbreaker, does things her way.  And nothing illustrates that better than that she directs her own documentary about her life, “Invisible Beauty” with FrédéricTcheng.“Basically, in directing myself it’s to step out of your way, trying to act like you are not the subject,” Hardison, an energized 80, explained in a Zoom interview.“The good news is that whatever Frédéric wants to shoot, I could say, ‘OK, that makes sense.’ ‘OK, we’ll go to Mexico.’ ”“For a while,” Cheng said, “I just want to say ‘Yes’ because it is about mutual respect. In the process of making the film I became even more impressed. It’s all about each of us trying to engage in a conversation that was meaningful. Trying to just have that dialogue.“This is really about collaboration and when you put your best foot forward, trying to impress the other person. That’s when, hopefully, good things happen.”Hardison was a Black woman pion...

The importance of using your vacation time

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:10 GMT

How many employees have wished for a shorter work week, especially when it’s only Tuesday and Friday is nowhere in sight? Though many professionals wish they worked fewer days each week, those same individuals likely aren’t taking advantage of their hard-earned vacation time.According to the “2018 State of the American Vacation” report from the U.S. Travel Association, more than half of all working Americans have unused paid vacation days. According to the USTA’s Project Time Off, Americans are taking roughly one less week of vacation per year than they did in the mid-1970s, and the trend continues to decline.Workers cite several reasons for skipping vacations, including feeling an obligation to employers or worrying that taking time off may make them stack up poorly against coworkers when being reviewed for promotions or raises. However, failing to take vacation has notable consequences that should not be ignored. Here’s why individuals should ma...

Chicago White Sox hope Paul Janish — their new director of player development — can bring a ‘very unique perspective’ to team

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:10 GMT

Chris Getz had discussions in the past with Paul Janish pertaining to potential opportunities with the Chicago White Sox.For years, Josh Barfield tried to hire Janish with the Arizona Diamondbacks.“Now that we have come together, Josh (as assistant general manager) and I (as GM), we finally were able to bring Paul in to help us build a championship club,” Getz said during a video conference call Thursday.The Sox hired Janish as the director of player development. The former big-league infielder spent the last six years at Rice.“I really enjoyed my time at the college level but have always aspired to get back to the professional level in some capacity,” Janish said. “It’s hard for me to convey how much of an aligning of stars that this opportunity is for me, personally, and my family.”Janish takes over the role previously held by Getz, who became the general manager on Aug. 31.“The farm director position is a unique role that touches a ...

Massachusetts employers trending toward uncertainty, but more optimistic in October: Survey

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:10 GMT

A survey of Massachusetts businesses shows they don’t quite know how to feel about the overall state of the economy.Employers have spent the year bouncing back and forth between slightly pessimistic or barely optimistic economic outlooks, and October was no outlier, according to the latest Business Confidence Index published by the Associated Industries of Massachusetts.“Massachusetts employers appear to be just as ambivalent about the state of the economy as many experts,” the association wrote. “The BCI has moved for most of 2023 in a narrow range as employers attempt to gauge an economy that has proved surprisingly resilient in the face of rising interest rates, predictions of recession, and war in both Ukraine and the Middle East.”Confidence among the surveyed businesses was up 1.4 points last month, to 51.2%, pushing sentiment back into optimistic territory after a September slump toward a negative outlook.A surprising 4.9% third quarter economic-growth announcement by th...

Dear Abby: Childhood pal ruining book club vibe

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:10 GMT

Dear Abby: I’m in a book club I started with friends 13 years ago. The 12 of us have grown close and value, appreciate and respect each other. I recently invited a childhood friend to join. She’s an avid reader.Abby, although she’s a nice person, she simply does not fit in with the group. She talks too much, tends to brag a lot and makes insensitive comments. An example: Two of us are leaving on a cruise soon, and she shared how tacky and claustrophobic she thinks those trips are. The rest of the group were appalled, and I feel awful that I introduced her into my longtime book club.On the other hand, I cannot fathom telling my childhood friend the group would prefer she not attend. I am sure it would be hurtful. A few of us are hoping you will have a solution. Please help. — Reading the RoomDear Reading: How about being completely honest? Tell your childhood friend that if she wants to remain a member of the book club, she will have to brag and talk less and ...

San Diego Wave misses Championship after loss to OL Reign

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:10 GMT

SAN DIEGO — San Diego Wave FC is out of the running for the National Women's Soccer League Championship after falling to Seattle's OL Reign in the semifinal on Sunday.San Diego closed out their second season with a 0-1 loss in front of a sold-out crowd at Snapdragon Stadium, a devastating end to a historic year for the team.At the end of the regular play, the club secured the NWSL Shield for the best season record with 11 wins, seven draws and four losses — an impressive accomplishment for a team only in its second year of existence.It came shortly after the Wave clinched a top-two seed for the first time, securing a first-round bye in the playoffs and home field advantage for a semifinal match-up. However, it was ultimately not enough to send San Diego to their first-ever Championship game.After a scoreless first half, Forward Veronica Latsko made a stunning go-ahead goal for OL Reign in the first minutes of the second. Padres’ Tatis Jr., Kim win first Gold Glove awards Despite m...

Padres' Tatis Jr., Kim win first Gold Glove awards

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:10 GMT

SAN DIEGO — Two Padres players brought home their first-ever Gold Glove awards on Sunday for outstanding defensive work this season.Fernando Tatis Jr. won the National League award in the right field, while Ha-Seong Kim earned the Padres their first utility Gold Glove. The accolades — a first for both — come after their first year in new positions, a switch brought on by shortstop Xander Boegarts' arrival.Despite missing the first 20 games of the season due to his PEDs suspension, Tatis led the Majors with 29 runs saved in 2023 after making the transition to the outfield spot. His elite arm also helped to nab 12 outfield assists, and a record of 11 outs above average."El Niño" bested Mookie Betts of the Dodgers and Lane Thomas of the Nationals, who were also finalists for the right fielder award. Betts and the Cardinals' Tommy Edman were also finalists in the utility catergory won by Kim. Customizable bricks available for purchase at Petco Park Meanwhile, Kim, who was a finalist ...

New Zealand’s ex-Premier Jacinda Ardern will join conservation group to rally for environment action

Published Fri, 21 Feb 2025 10:39:10 GMT

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will work alongside leaders from Conservation International to advocate for climate action and better treatment of the environment, the group said Monday. Conservation International said Ardern has become its sixth Arnhold Distinguished Fellow and would serve a two-year term to advocate internationally, especially on issues affecting the Pacific and Antarctica. The group said the role was considered part-time and came with a stipend.It is one several new roles Ardern has announced since unexpectedly stepping down as prime minister in January. She is also completing dual fellowships at Harvard University’s Kennedy School and writing a book on leadership.“From the beginning of my time in the New Zealand Parliament, I’ve advocated for global climate action,” Ardern said in a statement. “My passion and sense of urgency on this issue has only increased over the last 15 years, especially as I witnessed f...