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20 highly anticipated books coming in 2024 we want to read

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:39 GMT

Book lovers, rejoice: it’s winter, which means the best possible excuse to stay inside with a blanket and read the night away. We’re also approaching the New Year, so if you’re planning on making a resolution to read more books in 2024, you’ll be glad to hear that publishers have you covered.The first few months of 2024 will bring readers much to choose from, whether you’re a fan of imaginative historical fiction, memoirs about cats and the people they tolerate, essays that touch on music and sports, or short stories that will transport you to places you’ve maybe never been.See also: Sign up for our free Book Pages newsletter about bestsellers, authors and moreMake sure your fireplace is in working order, and take a look at this list of 20 forthcoming books to keep you company over the next few chilly months. “You Dreamed of Empires”Author: Álvaro Enrigue, translated by Natasha WimmerWhat It’s About: Enrigue is a bona fide literary star in his native Mexico. His latest novel to be t...

The Grinch crashes into New Hampshire music venue

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:39 GMT

Typical! The Grinch careened into a bad time in southern New Hampshire on Christmas Day.“What the?? Our brand new road sign was destroyed (again) yesterday on Christmas, along with our mailbox, walkway lights, honey stand, etc.,” The Word Barn, an Exeter, N.H., music venue, posted on its Facebook page Tuesday. “We’re amazed and so very glad no one was hurt, but imagine our surprise when we raced outside to assist and found … the Grinch?! Can’t make this stuff up.”That’s right. The Grinch!Exeter Police responded to the site of the crash — 66 Newfields Road — at a little before 6 p.m. on Christmas to find not a shining sleigh and Santa but, instead, a very beat-up silver Honda CRV on the front lawn of the music venue and a fully costumed Grinch behind the wheel.The car had significant front-end damage, a smashed windshield and a broken rear driver’s side window, according to the Exeter Police Department. The vehicle had to be towed from the scene by the New England Truck Center.The co...

Rose Parade 2024 lineup: Your guide to every float, band and equestrian unit, in order

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:39 GMT

Everything’s coming up roses for the 2024 Rose Parade — plus carnations, daisies, marigolds and many other types of flowers, too! That’s how things roll in Pasadena on New Year’s Day.With “Celebrating a World of Music: The Universal Language” as the theme, parade fans can expect lots of musical performances, including ones by Destiny’s Child icon Michelle Williams, “The Voice” champion Cassadee Pope and, in the grand finale, “American Idol” winner Jordin Sparks.What follows is a look at the floats, bands, equestrian units and more, in the order they’re expected to appear along the 5.5-mile parade route. (Note: The lineup is subject to change, even as late as the morning of the parade.)• See related: 5.5 miles of roses: The 2024 Rose Parade routePre-parade A. Sound carPre-parade B. Pace car1-a. Rose Parade Opening Spectacular, presented by Honda1-b. American HondaKeep Dreaming(Artistic Entertainment Services)As a Rose Parade presenting sponsor, the Honda float is the first one to rol...

Gretchen’s table: Mexican chiles, peppers and cheese make meatloaf amazing

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:39 GMT

Gretchen McKay | (TNS) Pittsburgh Post-GazetteYou don’t have to be fan of “Game of Thrones” to know winter is coming.The first snowflakes of the season swirled outside my window this afternoon, a sure sign fall’s temperate weather will soon be in our rearview mirror.A cozy sweater and heated car seats help to ward off the chill. But now is also the time to warm up both the body and soul with winter comfort foods like this spiced-up, cheesy meatloaf.Assertively seasoned with ancho chile powder, cumin and charred Anaheim peppers, it’s a spicy Mexican take on the favorite American diner food. Shredded cheese and a spicy-sweet chipotle glaze add even more personality.If you serve the meatloaf with mashed potatoes and a green vegetable, a little goes a long way, which means there will be leftovers for sandwiches. For a Pittsburgh twist, tuck thick slices of warm or cold meatloaf between two pieces of fresh or toasted Mancini’s Italian bread slathered w...

Social media companies made $11 billion in US ad revenue from minors, Harvard study finds

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:39 GMT

By BARBARA ORTUTAY and HALELUYA HADERO (AP Technology Writers)Social media companies collectively made over $11 billion in U.S. advertising revenue from minors last year, according to a study from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health published on Wednesday. The researchers say the findings show a need for government regulation of social media since the companies that stand to make money from children who use their platforms have failed to meaningfully self-regulate. They note such regulations, as well greater transparency from tech companies, could help alleviate harms to youth mental health and curtail potentially harmful advertising practices that target children and adolescents.To come up with the revenue figure, the researchers estimated the number of users under 18 on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, X (formerly Twitter) and YouTube in 2022 based on population data from the U.S. Census and survey data from Common Sense Media and Pew Research. They then used data ...

Gaston Glock, the Austrian developer of the Glock handgun, dies at 94

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:39 GMT

Gaston Glock, the Austrian developer of the handgun that bears his name, died on Wednesday. He was 94.The Glock company announced his death, the Austria Press Agency reported. Glock, a reclusive engineer, founded the company in 1963 in Deutsch-Wagram, near Vienna. It has since expanded around the world, including a U.S. subsidiary founded in 1985.Glock handguns are used by police and some countries’ military forces, as well as private users. The weapon was significantly lighter, cheaper and more reliable than the models available when it was created.Glock said on its website that its founder “not only revolutionized the world of small arms in the 1980s, but also succeeded in establishing the Glock brand as the global leader in the handgun industry.”Berlin, The Associated Press

Prime Video makes changes as it sets launch date for showing ads in Canada

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:39 GMT

TORONTO — Amazon’s Prime Video has picked the date when it’ll begin showing commercials on its streaming service in Canada.Representatives for the company told The Canadian Press they’ve marked Feb. 5, 2024, for the launch of ad breaks within its TV and film programming, which includes action series “Reacher” and the “Mr. Dressup” documentary.The ad tier will now be the default of the retailer’s Prime membership, which includes discounts on shipping. However, subscribers can opt out of commercials by paying an additional $2.99 per month.The announcement comes as streaming companies look for new ways to boost revenue, which has led many to introduce ad tiers on their cheapest monthly plans while raising the price of ad-free packages.Prime Video, which first outlined plans to launch “limited ads” in September, says it will screen “meaningfully fewer ads than linear TV and other streaming TV providers.”Viewers in t...

High surf warnings issued for most of West Coast and parts of Hawaii; dangerous waves expected

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:39 GMT

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The National Weather Service has issued high surf warnings for much of the West Coast and parts of Hawaii, describing the waves and rip currents expected to hit certain coastlines as potentially dangerous and life-threatening.The warnings were in place Wednesday for parts of Oregon and Hawaii. The weather service warned that waves of up to 25 feet during the day could morph into “dangerously large breaking waves” of up to 35 feet along Oregon’s southern coast by night, creating hazardous conditions and the potential for significant beach erosion. In Hawaii, the agency expected high surf between roughly 20 and 30 feet and powerful rip currents to affect the northern and western shores of Niihau, Kauai, Oahu and Molokai and the north shore of Maui. It warned of ocean water surging and sweeping across beaches and potentially damaging roadways and coastal infrastructure.The high surf warning was set to be in place until Thursday night in southern Oregon...

A woman who burned Wyoming’s only full-service abortion clinic is ordered to pay $298,000

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:39 GMT

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — A judge has ordered a woman who set fire to Wyoming’s only full-service abortion clinic to pay nearly $300,000 in restitution, the full amount sought by prosecutors.Lorna Green is serving five years in prison for burning Wellspring Health Access weeks before the clinic was set to open in Casper in 2022. The fire gutted the building while it was being renovated for the new clinic and delayed its opening by almost a year.After opening this past April, Wellspring is now the only abortion clinic in Wyoming. A clinic in Jackson that provided pill abortions closed Dec. 15 due to rising costs.On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Alan Johnson ordered Green, 22, to pay about $298,000 in restitution including $240,000 to Nationwide General Insurance Company, the clinic’s insurer.Green must also pay $33,500 to the building’s owner, Christine Lichtenfels, and $24,500 to Julie Burkhart, founder and president of Wellspring Health Access. Burkhart expressed satis...

No injuries reported in 2-alarm Scarborough fire

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:11:39 GMT

No injuries have been reported after a two-alarm fire at a home in Scarborough Wednesday.Toronto fire crews were called to Knockbolt Crescent near Midland and Finch Avenues to a heavy fire. The fire has been knocked down, but crews remain on the scene at this time.Toronto Fire Service say the fire started in the garage where it was mostly contained to and did not spread to the rest of the house. There were people in the home at the time, but they evacuated from the home.There’s no word on the cause of the fire at this point.