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Krugman: Understanding Bidenomics with rich guys in a bar

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:36:26 GMT

Ten finance guys are drinking in a bar. Nine of them are Masters of the Universe — wheeler-dealers who make many millions of dollars every year. The tenth is what Gordon Gekko, in the movie “Wall Street,” called a “$400,000-a-year working Wall Street stiff.”Then the stiff leaves for a while, maybe to answer a call of nature. When he leaves, the average income of the guys still in the bar shoots up, because he’s no longer dragging that average down; when he comes back, the average drops again. But these fluctuations in the average don’t reflect changes in anyone’s income.Why am I telling you this story? Because it’s most of the story of wages in the U.S. economy since COVID-19 struck. In 2020 the average wage of workers who still had a job shot up, because those who were laid off were disproportionately low-wage service workers. Then, as people resumed in-person shopping, started going to restaurants and so on, growth in average wages was held down because those low-wage worker...

EVs less reliable, on average, than conventional cars and trucks, Consumer Reports says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:36:26 GMT

By Tom Krisher | The Associated PressElectric vehicles have proved far less reliable, on average, than gasoline-powered cars, trucks and SUVs, according to the latest survey by Consumer Reports, which found that EVs from the 2021 through 2023 model years encountered nearly 80% more problems than did vehicles propelled by internal combustion engines.Consumer Reports said EV owners most frequently reported troubles with battery and charging systems as well as flaws in how the vehicles’ body panels and interior parts fit together. The magazine and website noted that EV manufacturers are still learning to construct completely new power systems, and it suggested that as they do, the overall reliability of electric vehicles should improve.“This story is really one of growing pains,” said Jake Fisher, senior director of auto testing at Consumer Reports. “It’s a story of just working out the bugs and the kinks of new technology.”Still, Consumer Reports noted that lingering concerns about re...

California surgeon once accused of multiple sexual assaults gets probation for gun, drug charges

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:36:26 GMT

A Newport Beach surgeon once accused of drugging and sexually assaulting a series of women was sentenced to probation on Wednesday after accepting a plea deal on relatively minor drug and gun possession charges, bringing a quiet end to an at-times politically-charged but ultimately drastically pared-back criminal case.Dr. Grant Robicheaux, 43, during a hearing in a Fullerton courtroom, pleaded guilty to a felony gun possession charge and a misdemeanor drug possession count and was immediately sentenced to two years of formal probation, one year of informal probation and ordered to take part in 16 hours of drug education classes and 32 hours of community service.Philip Cohen, Robicheaux’s attorney, told reporters after the hearing that he felt vindicated by the outcome of the case, noting that Robicheaux will wake up tomorrow with a “sigh of relief” and “a large weight off his shoulders.” If Robicheaux follows the terms of his probation, the felony would be reduced to a misdemeanor a...

Four migrants who were pushed out of a boat die just yards from Spain’s southern coast

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:36:26 GMT

MADRID (AP) — Four migrants have died meters (yards) from shore in southern Spain after being forced out of the boat they were traveling in, officials said Thursday.The Spanish government press office in the southern province of Cádiz said 31 other people from the boat, including six children, survived the Wednesday afternoon incident and four were taken to a hospital.The press office said 27 passengers were forced out by the vessel’s drivers near Camposoto beach, which is where the four died. Another eight were forced off close to another beach, it added.A video shot by a man who works in the area showed migrants being pushed overboard from the boat and others in the choppy waters trying to swim to shore.Javier González, who runs a nautical company, said he and his son managed to rescue eight people. He said they and other workers helped the migrants on the beach.In a telephone message to The Associated Press, González said no police officers or marine rescue personnel took p...

French soccer league struggling with violence, discriminatory chanting and low-scoring matches

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:36:26 GMT

There’s been discriminatory chanting in the stands, a team bus pelted with stones, a game called off because of crowd trouble, and precious few goals on the field. The French soccer league is making headlines for all the wrong reasons this season. And now even the French government is calling for something to be done about it. After 13 rounds of games this season, the number of incidents is worrying officials who have been dealing with an upsurge of violence in stadiums over the past two campaigns. According to Interior minister Gerald Darmanin, more than 100 police officers were injured in soccer-related incidents last season, and 870 people were detained. And there is no sign of abatement. “There’s no other sport with this level of violence,” Darmanin said recently. In October in Montpellier, a match was stopped in added time after fans threw a firework from the stands that landed next to Clermont goalkeeper Mory Diaw. The Senegal player had to be taken off on a stretcher, b...

Al menos tres personas murieron y otras resultaron heridas tras tiroteo en Jerusalén, según autoridades locales

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:36:26 GMT

Autoridades israelíes en el lugar de un tiroteo en Jerusalén el 30 de noviembre. (Foto: Ronen Zvulun/Reuters)Al menos tres personas murieron y seis resultaron heridas tras un tiroteo en Jerusalén este jueves, según las autoridades locales.“Los terroristas son del este de Jerusalén. Iban armados con un fusil M-16 y una pistola. Llegaron con un coche y abrieron fuego contra los civiles”, dijo este jueves el jefe de la Policía, Doron Turgeman.Turgeman añadió que los atacantes fueron abatidos por dos soldados y un civil.Una de las víctimas fue declarada muerta en el lugar de los hechos por el servicio de rescate Magen David Adom, y otras dos fueron declaradas muertas en el hospital Shaare Zedek.En una actualización separada, la Unidad del Portavoz de la Policía de Israel dijo que los atacantes abrieron fuego contra civiles en la estación de autobuses aproximadamente a las 7:40 am hora local de este jueves.El lugar del ataque ha sido acordonado y se está llevando a cabo una b...

Dortmund gaining confidence in Bundesliga after Champions League success. But Leverkusen is up next

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:36:26 GMT

BERLIN (AP) — Borussia Dortmund’s success in the Champions League is giving it confidence it can recover its faltering Bundesliga campaign.Dortmund defeated AC Milan 3-1 away on Tuesday to reach the knockout stage of Europe’s premier competition despite a poor start to what many regarded as the toughest group with big-spending Paris Saint Germain and Newcastle.The German team lost 2-0 at PSG in its first game, followed up with a scoreless draw with Milan at home, but recovered with back-to-back wins over Newcastle before Tuesday’s win in Italy.“It’s a real statement to qualify from the group already in the fifth match-day,” Dortmund sporting director Sebastian Kehl said. “Not many believed we could do it.”Part of the reason for that is Dortmund’s patchy form in the Bundesliga so far this season. The team ended a run of three games without a win in the league last weekend with a 4-2 victory over Borussia Mönchengladbach, but had looked set for more disappointment after finding itself...

Baking Connections: How DC is fueling the craze for pastries with an Asian twist

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:36:26 GMT

This is part one of “Baking Connections,” a series on three local bakers and the popular baked goods with Asian flavors they are bringing to the D.C. region.D.C.-area bakers are expanding the palates of pastry lovers by introducing them to baked goods infused with Asian flavors — from pandan coconut doughnuts and black sesame mochi rolls to matcha almond croissants.This bakery niche became incredibly popular nationwide during the COVID-19 pandemic and has been gaining steam in the D.C. area since. WTOP spoke to three bakers who have concocted modern twists on classic recipes and, along the way, built on their unique pastry education to take Asian-inspired baking in completely different directions.The ArtistAt Rose Ave Bakery in Woodley Park, the pastries are artfully displayed behind a glass counter: from the Spam musubi croissants beautifully drizzled with unagi sauce, stuffed with caramelized spam and sprinkled with furikake, to the perfectly sugar-dusted doughnuts with ever-chang...

Tribute band recreates the Beatles' 1964 Red Rocks show

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:36:26 GMT

DENVER (KDVR) — The Beatles' first American tour rocked the U.S. in 1964. Now, a band is recreating the experience, which is just about the closest you can get to seeing the iconic Beatles performance at Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre. 1964 The Tribute is a band that pays homage to the Beatles. Using 38 years of research, they captured the essence of the Beatles in the early 60s with period instruments, vintage costumes, hairstyles, mannerisms and voices. They play songs from the pre-Sgt. Pepper era. Full list of concerts at Red Rocks in 2024, so far The band is performing at Red Rocks because it's one of only four original concert sites still remaining from the Beatles' tour in 1964. During their first American tour, their Red Rocks show wasn't a huge hit. This was the only concert on that tour that didn’t sell out.Only three-fourths of the seats sold. Tickets went for $6.60, according to the amphitheater. 10 of the most notable performances at Red Rocks Now, you get a chance ...

Colorado Springs woman has 68 pet tarantulas and counting

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 20:36:26 GMT

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KXRM) — For many families, a bark or meow greets them at the front door. For one household in Colorado Springs, there are multiple pets inside that are much quieter, but will immediately get your attention.Liz Lopez was determined to conquer her arachnophobia and began to research all things about tarantulas. Soon after, she was confident enough to confront her phobia and adopt her very first pet tarantula. "I bought my very first tarantula back in August of 2020 in my local reptile shop down at Scales 'N Tails," Lopez said. "She is an Arizona Blond Tarantula (Aphonopelma chalcodes) that I still own today." Biden visits Boebert’s district to reject Republican criticism of green policies Research brought reassurance, and that first spider would start the pack and pave the way for many more. "I wanted to overcome my fear. Of course I did research, plenty of research, first before buying one," Lopez explained.Liz Lopez got her first spider to help her get...