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Noah Feldman: Supreme Court’s skepticism of student loan plan has upside for liberals

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:09:17 GMT

The future is looking grim for President Joe Biden’s signature $400 billion student debt forgiveness plan. It seems almost certain that the Supreme Court’s conservative justices will accept the state plaintiffs’ argument that they have standing to challenge the program even though it’s far from obvious how it affects them.On the merits, the justices showed interest in two alternative legal theories of why the debt forgiveness is beyond the president’s power to do without Congress. Regardless of which one the court adopts, the program seems very likely be struck down by a 6-3 vote.That sounds bad for liberals. But on closer examination, the legal result may not be such a disaster for liberal principles of legal interpretation. Leave aside whether you think that the loan forgiveness is good public policy, a question on which there is room for disagreement, even among progressives. What’s troubling the conservative justices, legally speaking, is the ...

After nearly two decades of local foie gras and duck, Au Bon Canard founders are retiring to France

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:09:17 GMT

The founders of one of the U.S.’s only foie gras producers — Au Bon Canard, based in Caledonia, Minn. — are retiring this year.Christian and Liz Gasset, who started the duck farm about 17 years ago, are moving back to Christian’s native Gascony, France, after their production season ends this spring. The couple is passing their land and the business to a younger neighbor, with whom they’ve long been close, and Christian Gasset said he’s been training him to take over foie gras production.Foie gras is made from the livers of ducks that have been fattened through a process known as “gavage,” typically translated as force-feeding, during the last few weeks of their lives. And making foie gras is an extraordinarily specialized skill: Just three companies in the U.S., including Au Bon Canard, produce it. In France, Christian Gasset learned the trade at the only school in the world, he said, that teaches the full process from duckling to dish.Of U.S. foie gras producers, Au Bon Cana...

Mushrooms take the place of chorizo in these vegetarian tacos

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:09:17 GMT

Mushrooms often get a bad rap for being slimy and too “earthy.” Yet if you’re a fan, varieties such as portobello, cremini and oyster mushrooms can help you work more vegetarian dishes into your rotating meal plan. All make excellent substitutions for beef or pork in any number of dishes because of their “meaty” flavor.Here, sliced baby bellas offer a plant-based take on Mexican chorizo for tacos. Paprika adds a smoky note, and there’s also a bit of a kick from cumin and a pinch (or two) of cayenne pepper. They’re super easy to make and also super good for you — always in season, they are naturally low-cal and a good source of antioxidants and B vitamins.Cooking note: Mushrooms soak up water like little sponges, so you don’t want to douse them to wash as you would other vegetables. All they need is a swift rub with a damp paper towel. Also, be sure to slice the mushrooms instead of cutting them into chunks — it creates more surface are...

98.3 TRY Social Dilemma: Was I Wrong To Demand My Correct Airline Seat?

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:09:17 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Today's 98.3 TRY Social Dilemma came from Maureen, and it has to do with flying. Here's her email: Get all of the latest news, weather, sports, and entertainment delivered right to your inbox! Hi Jaime, I listen to your show with my parents all the time! They have raised me well. So when I had this dilemma happen, I knew I had to email you. Recently, I was heading to Paris as part of a pre-college graduation present from my parents. My dad specifically booked a window seat for me so that I could see the lights of Paris as we landed. When I got on the plane, a little girl was sitting in my seat and her dad was in the middle seat. I looked at the dad and pointed at the window seat saying that I think it was my seat, expecting him to move his daughter. The dad did nothing. Instead, he just pointed to the aisle seat that was free, gesturing that I should take it instead. When I just stood there, the dad looked me in the eye and stated the obvious, "she's a chi...

Ask Amy: Letter-writer is no pen pal

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:09:17 GMT

Dear Amy: When my wife was a teenager, a 20-something man she knew in her social circle became obsessed with her. He kept calling her and would mainly whine about his life.He started talking about marriage, although for her he was an annoying acquaintance.She finally had enough and told him to stop contacting her. He then started in on her friends and family.When she and I became engaged, he started contacting me and my friends and family.He wrote lots of long, whiny letters about how miserable he was and how terrible she was and why can’t they just be friends.This went on for years. We have bunches of letters he wrote. Finally, he stopped writing, and we hoped he had finally moved on.But he started up again. We’re in our 60s now.His letters are the same as before, and full of delusions about how things used to be.The letters are very distressing to my wife, every time. She’s in counseling.We’ve contacted lawyers, but they’re not interested because he h...

EU Cohesion Policy: €160 million for the development of water and wastewater infrastructure in Iași County, Romania

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:09:17 GMT

The Commission has approved a contribution of more than €160 million from the Cohesion Fund for larger and better sewage networks in Iași County.Cohesion and Reforms Commissioner Elisa Ferreira (pictured) said: “This new major project will improve access to water and sewerage in Iași County. It is a concrete example of how Cohesion Policy improves the life of citizens on the ground. The project will enhance public health and the quality of life of the county's population through clean drinking water and adequate collection and treatment of wastewater leading to less pollutants in the soil, groundwater and rivers.”The project will lay 256 km of main pipes and 312 km of a distribution network for water supply. It will also build 23 water treatment facilities, 43 water storage tanks and 50 pumping stations of which 43 will be located on the network and seven within treatment facilities. Finally, it will construct 230 km of discharge pipes, 536 km of gravity sewers and four new wastewat...

Single family residence sells for $1.8 million in San Ramon

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:09:17 GMT

1733 Campanula Drive – Google Street ViewA spacious house built in 2004 located in the 1700 block of Campanula Drive in San Ramon has new owners. The 2,466-square-foot property was sold on Feb. 10, 2023. The $1,750,000 purchase price works out to $710 per square foot. The property features four bedrooms, four bathrooms, an attached garage, and two parking spaces. The unit sits on a 4,900-square-foot lot.Additional houses have recently been purchased nearby:On Star Jasmine Drive, San Ramon, in November 2022, a 2,406-square-foot home was sold for $1,810,000, a price per square foot of $752. The home has 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.A 2,627-square-foot home on the 1800 block of Hollyview Drive in San Ramon sold in August 2022 for $1,950,000, a price per square foot of $742. The home has 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms.In September 2022, a 2,064-square-foot home on Asterbell Drive in San Ramon sold for $1,850,000, a price per square foot of $896. The home has 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. 

Horoscopes March 9, 2023: Juliette Binoche, take a position of leadership

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:09:17 GMT

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Bow Wow, 36; Brittany Snow, 37; Matthew Gray Gubler, 43; Juliette Binoche, 59.Brittany Snow (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/AFP/Getty Images) Happy Birthday: Take pride in what you do, and the response you get will help you expand your interests. Gravitate toward positive people and suggestions that lead to lifestyle changes that save money and encourage you to distance yourself from complex partnerships. Take a position of leadership, and keep the momentum flowing throughout the year. Control emotional mishaps and exaggeration. Your numbers are 13, 18, 27, 34, 36, 42, 62.ARIES (March 21-April 19): Make your intentions clear, and you’ll get the answers you need to carry on with your plans. Changing your location or trying something new will lead to new friendships and suggestions that can help you improve your lifestyle. Make partnerships your priority. 3 starsTAURUS (April 20-May 20): Let your performance be your marketing tool. The more precis...

Word Game: March 9, 2023

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:09:17 GMT

TODAY’S WORD — NOISIEST (NOISIEST: NOY-zee-est: Most clamorous.)Average mark 20 wordsTime limit 25 minutesCan you find 24 or more words in NOISIEST? The list will be published tomorrow.YESTERDAY’S WORD — CAMELLIA call calm came camel cell claim clam clime acme mace mail male malice mall meal mica mice mile mill email lace laic laical lama lame lice lilac lime llamaTo purchase the Word Game book, visit WordGameBooks.com. Order it now for just $5 while supplies last!RULES OF THE GAME:1. Words must be of four or more letters.2. Words that acquire four letters by the addition of “s,” such as “bats” or “dies,” are not allowed.3. Additional words made by adding a “d” or an “s” may not be used. For example, if “bake” is used, “baked” or “bakes” are not allowed, but “bake” and “baking” are admissible.4. Proper nouns, slang words, or vulgar or sexually explicit words are not allowed.Contact Word Game creator Kathleen Saxe at [email protected].

Bridge: March 9, 2023

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:09:17 GMT

When I studied voice way back in another life, I was taught how to “embellish” notes in the baroque style: add ornamentations to supplement the vocal line and show off the vocalist’s technique. Something similar can happen in dummy play: Declarer can embellish his basic line of play to get an extra chance.At today’s 3NT, South won the first spade with the jack and led the Q-J of clubs. West played low, of course, so South next tried the ace and a low diamond.West won and led another spade to the king, and South led another low diamond. He hoped for a 3-3 break, but it wasn’t to be. He took only eight tricks.OVERTAKINGSouth can embellish his play: He leads a low diamond at Trick Two. South wins the spade return and cashes the ace of diamonds, dropping West’s queen. South then leads the queen and jack of clubs, overtaking with dummy’s king.No ace appears, but South can lead a third diamond toward his jack, winning two diamonds, two clubs, two ...