mercurynews--2020-11-07--Some military veterans angered by mail-in voting attacks

By Aamer Madhani and Julie Watson | Associated Press WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has held himself up as a champion of U.S. troops without rival .
Now , with his presidency on the line , he ’ s casting suspicion on a tool of participatory democracy — the mail-in ballot — that has allowed U.S. military personnel to vote while serving far from home since the War of 1812 .
The president has shouted from Twitter to “ STOP THE COUNT ” and leveled unsubstantiated charges that “ surprise ballot dumps ” after election night are helping rival Democrat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
All the while , Trump insists that military voters ’ mail-in ballots must be counted .
He even suggested on Friday — without presenting evidence — that some troops ’ mail-in ballots have gone “ missing.
” Video : What impact will military ballots have on election ?
In his dizzying effort to sow doubt about the integrity of the vote , Trump has been all over the map on mail-in voting .
The broadsides have unsettled many veterans and former military brass who saw voting by mail as a tether to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Officials at all levels including in the Congress need to say to the president ‘ Sir , you need to exercise the same patience that the rest of the nation does , ' ” said retired Navy Adm. Steve Abbot , who later served as deputy homeland security adviser in the George W. Bush administration .
Abbot is a member of Count Every Hero , a coalition of top military brass advocating for service members ’ votes to be protected and properly tallied .
He added : “ It doesn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to continue to sound this alarm .
It ’ s inappropriate.
” It ’ s unclear exactly how many mail-in military ballots remain uncounted in the undecided battleground states that will determine who will be the next president .
More than 250,000 U.S. service members cast mail-in ballots in 2016 and even more were expected to vote by mail this time .
In the 2016 presidential election , Georgia received more than 5,600 ballots from uniformed service members ; North Carolina received nearly 11,000 ; Pennsylvania nearly 7,800 and Nevada about 2,700 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Commission .
In the razor-thin election in Georgia , the secretary of state ’ s office said as many as 8,900 ballots requested by military service members and U.S. citizens abroad — in addition to thousands that had already been received and tallied — could still arrive by Friday ’ s deadline .
Trump appeared to take notice of the number of outstanding military and overseas votes in Georgia , tweeting Friday : “ Where are the missing military ballots in Georgia ?
What happened to them ?
” Twenty-eight states and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from overseas service members that arrive after Election Day as long as they are postmarked before polls close .
With Biden nearing the 270 electoral votes needed to capture the presidency , Trump has escalated his effort to sow doubt about mail-in votes that state officials are still counting .
“ It ’ s amazing how those mail-in ballots are so one-sided , too , ” Trump said in remarks at the White House on Thursday , hours after falsely stating in an all-caps tweet that any ballot received after Election Day won @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know that it ’ s supposed to be to the advantage of the Democrats , but in all cases , they ’ re so one-sided.
” In fact , the disparity is hardly surprising .
Biden and other Democrats in the leadup to Election Day urged supporters to vote early and by mail because of concerns about the coronavirus pandemic .
Trump urged his supporters to vote in person and he held the advantage in many states among those who cast their ballots in person on Election Day .
Trump campaign spokeswoman Thea @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are and should be exceptions for our military members serving our country overseas ” to ensure their ballots are counted .
But McDonald questioned why Pennsylvania election officials should be counting mail-in ballots for “ Democrats in Philadelphia who attempt to vote after Election Day.
” Kristen Clark , a voting rights advocate , said the Trump campaign ’ s suggestion to stop tallying legally cast votes for one group ( civilians ) while continuing the counting of ballots for another ( military personnel ) made no sense .
“ It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should apply to one set of voters but not to another , ” said Clark , president of the Lawyers ’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law .
Trump throughout his presidency has cast himself as a champion of military families .
He ’ s relished photo ops with Gold Star families , credited himself with reducing the number of U.S. troops deployed to “ endless wars , ” and poured new resources into the military .
But for some military families , Trump ’ s undercutting of late-arriving mail-in ballots reflects poorly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as his team has tried to clean up his broad attacks on mail-in voting .
• Trump has reportedly said he has no plans to concede • The count goes on — with Biden on the cusp of presidency • MSNBC ’ s Rachel Maddow dropped from election coverage after ‘ close contact ’ gets coronavirus “ Everybody wants the right to participate in a democracy .
That ’ s why people join the military .
It ’ s something we believe in strongly , ” said Tori Simenec , 28 , of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ served from 2016 until August of 2020 .
Mike Jason , 47 , a retired U.S. Army colonel , recalled relying on mail-in balloting through a nearly three-decade career in which he voted by mail in his home state of Florida from outposts in Afghanistan , Iraq , Germany and a series of domestic installations .
After depending on mail-in ballots as his own personal lifeline to participation in American democracy until retiring from the Army last year , he found Trump ’ s attack on the integrity of mail-in voting to be @ @

By Aamer Madhani and Julie Watson | Associated Press
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has held himself up as a champion of U.S. troops without rival. Now, with his presidency on the line, he’s casting suspicion on a tool of participatory democracy — the mail-in ballot — that has allowed U.S. military personnel to vote while serving far from home since the War of 1812.
The president has shouted from Twitter to “STOP THE COUNT” and leveled unsubstantiated charges that “surprise ballot dumps” after election night are helping rival Democrat Joe Biden “steal” the election.
All the while, Trump insists that military voters’ mail-in ballots must be counted. He even suggested on Friday — without presenting evidence — that some troops’ mail-in ballots have gone “missing.”
[vemba-video id=”politics/2020/11/06/military-ballots-keilar-elexnight-sot-vpx.cnn”]
Video: What impact will military ballots have on election?
In his dizzying effort to sow doubt about the integrity of the vote, Trump has been all over the map on mail-in voting. The broadsides have unsettled many veterans and former military brass who saw voting by mail as a tether to their civic duty when serving abroad.
“Officials at all levels including in the Congress need to say to the president ‘Sir, you need to exercise the same patience that the rest of the nation does,'” said retired Navy Adm. Steve Abbot, who later served as deputy homeland security adviser in the George W. Bush administration.
Abbot is a member of Count Every Hero, a coalition of top military brass advocating for service members’ votes to be protected and properly tallied. He added: “It doesn’t help this democracy for (Trump) to continue to sound this alarm. It’s inappropriate.”
It’s unclear exactly how many mail-in military ballots remain uncounted in the undecided battleground states that will determine who will be the next president. More than 250,000 U.S. service members cast mail-in ballots in 2016 and even more were expected to vote by mail this time.
In the 2016 presidential election, Georgia received more than 5,600 ballots from uniformed service members; North Carolina received nearly 11,000; Pennsylvania nearly 7,800 and Nevada about 2,700, according to the U.S. Elections Assistance Commission.
In the razor-thin election in Georgia, the secretary of state’s office said as many as 8,900 ballots requested by military service members and U.S. citizens abroad — in addition to thousands that had already been received and tallied — could still arrive by Friday’s deadline.
Trump appeared to take notice of the number of outstanding military and overseas votes in Georgia, tweeting Friday: “Where are the missing military ballots in Georgia? What happened to them?”
Twenty-eight states and the District of Columbia accept and count ballots from overseas service members that arrive after Election Day as long as they are postmarked before polls close.
With Biden nearing the 270 electoral votes needed to capture the presidency, Trump has escalated his effort to sow doubt about mail-in votes that state officials are still counting.
“It’s amazing how those mail-in ballots are so one-sided, too,” Trump said in remarks at the White House on Thursday, hours after falsely stating in an all-caps tweet that any ballot received after Election Day won’t be counted. “I know that it’s supposed to be to the advantage of the Democrats, but in all cases, they’re so one-sided.”
In fact, the disparity is hardly surprising. Biden and other Democrats in the leadup to Election Day urged supporters to vote early and by mail because of concerns about the coronavirus pandemic. Trump urged his supporters to vote in person and he held the advantage in many states among those who cast their ballots in person on Election Day.
Trump campaign spokeswoman Thea McDonald said the president believes “there are and should be exceptions for our military members serving our country overseas” to ensure their ballots are counted. But McDonald questioned why Pennsylvania election officials should be counting mail-in ballots for “Democrats in Philadelphia who attempt to vote after Election Day.”
Kristen Clark, a voting rights advocate, said the Trump campaign’s suggestion to stop tallying legally cast votes for one group (civilians) while continuing the counting of ballots for another (military personnel) made no sense.
“It’s an indefensible position to say state laws should apply to one set of voters but not to another,” said Clark, president of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law.
Trump throughout his presidency has cast himself as a champion of military families. He’s relished photo ops with Gold Star families, credited himself with reducing the number of U.S. troops deployed to “endless wars,” and poured new resources into the military.
But for some military families, Trump’s undercutting of late-arriving mail-in ballots reflects poorly on the commander in chief, even as his team has tried to clean up his broad attacks on mail-in voting.
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Judge Chutkan: Trump’s right to free speech ‘not absolute’ National Politics | A conservative case for disqualifying Donald Trump in 2024 “Everybody wants the right to participate in a democracy. That’s why people join the military. It’s something we believe in strongly,” said Tori Simenec, 28, of Minneapolis, a Marine 1st lieutenant who served from 2016 until August of 2020.
Mike Jason, 47, a retired U.S. Army colonel, recalled relying on mail-in balloting through a nearly three-decade career in which he voted by mail in his home state of Florida from outposts in Afghanistan, Iraq, Germany and a series of domestic installations.
After depending on mail-in ballots as his own personal lifeline to participation in American democracy until retiring from the Army last year, he found Trump’s attack on the integrity of mail-in voting to be infuriating.


mercurynews--2020-11-07--Sponsored: Drink up the stunning S.F. views from this contemporary condo’s rooftop deck in Telegraph

Sponsored: Drink up the stunning S.F. views from this contemporary condo’s rooftop deck in Telegraph Hill

Sweeping panoramic views of San Francisco ’ s skyline encompass postcard-worthy snapshots of some of the city ’ s most iconic landmarks , from Coit Tower to the Transamerica Pyramid with the splendor of the Bay Bridge suspended over the azure waters of the bay .
This is your next home : A sophisticated and rare gem that brilliantly shines in the City by the Bay .
This luxury Telegraph Hill condo nestled at the end of a private alleyway at 30 Prescott Court showcases a private , approximately 800-square-foot rooftop/side garden deck .
Updated in a contemporary style , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offers about 1,800 square feet of living space .
The third bedroom is a master en suite , there are two full bathrooms , radiant-heated floors for the second and third levels ( individually controlled via Nest ) , and a coveted garage space for one car .
Historically , Telegraph Hill owes its name to the semaphore , a windmill-like structure that was erected in September 1849 to signal to the rest of the city the type of ships that were entering the Golden Gate and their cargo .
In 1853 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up on the hill , replacing the semaphore .
Known as the Marine Telegraph Station , a storm destroyed it in 1870 .
Today , Telegraph Hill is one of the most desirable neighborhoods in San Francisco and considered a walker ’ s paradise ( scoring a walk score of 99 out of 100 ) .
It is close to restaurants and shopping in North Beach , the Financial District , and the Embarcadero .
Prescott Court is also known for its excellent transit score within about two blocks to most bus lines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for easy access to the East Bay and San Francisco International Airport .
The expansive and private refinished rooftop deck , a rare treat , offers an abundance of flexible space to gather with family and friends , dine alongside the breathtaking views , and steal away some peaceful moments .
With convenient access to the roof , this home ’ s top level is an open-concept design drenched in natural light with a living and dining area and a masterfully designed kitchen .
High ceilings add volume to this generous-size area that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clerestory and an integrated lighting system .
Slide open the glass doors for access to the expansive deck and inviting outdoor space on this level .
Sleek white cabinetry complements the marble counters and enormous island/breakfast bar in the chef ’ s kitchen , well appointed with a stainless sink and upgraded stainless appliances .
Featured are a Miele dishwasher and built-in steamer oven , and a Viking refrigerator and range .
The luxurious master bedroom , one level lower , also has an expansive view window and custom blinds .
Behind a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outfitted with a $ 30,000 California Closet system .
The beautifully designed bathroom showcases a dual-sink floating vanity with wall-mounted polished chrome Grohe faucets and a frameless glass-enclosed shower with a Grohe rain showerhead .
Also on this level is a bedroom with custom California Closet built-ins and a bathroom with a vessel glass sink , wall-mounted fixtures , and tub/shower combination .
The third bedroom with an en suite bathroom is located on the first level .
Price : $ 2,295,000 Where : 30 Prescott Court , San Francisco Website : www.30Prescott.com @ @ @ @ @ @ @ form sent to the listing agent .
Listing agent : Intero , James Shin , DRE # 01358693 , 650-862-7332 , James @ jsregroupllc.com www.allaboutsiliconvalley.com WWW.MEETINGWITH JAMES.COM .

Sweeping panoramic views of San Francisco’s skyline encompass postcard-worthy snapshots of some of the city’s most iconic landmarks, from Coit Tower to the Transamerica Pyramid with the splendor of the Bay Bridge suspended over the azure waters of the bay. This is your next home: A sophisticated and rare gem that brilliantly shines in the City by the Bay.
This luxury Telegraph Hill condo nestled at the end of a private alleyway at 30 Prescott Court showcases a private, approximately 800-square-foot rooftop/side garden deck. Updated in a contemporary style, the three-bedroom condo is move-in ready and offers about 1,800 square feet of living space. The third bedroom is a master en suite, there are two full bathrooms, radiant-heated floors for the second and third levels (individually controlled via Nest), and a coveted garage space for one car.
Historically, Telegraph Hill owes its name to the semaphore, a windmill-like structure that was erected in September 1849 to signal to the rest of the city the type of ships that were entering the Golden Gate and their cargo. In 1853, the first telegraph in California was set up on the hill, replacing the semaphore. Known as the Marine Telegraph Station, a storm destroyed it in 1870.
Today, Telegraph Hill is one of the most desirable neighborhoods in San Francisco and considered a walker’s paradise (scoring a walk score of 99 out of 100). It is close to restaurants and shopping in North Beach, the Financial District, and the Embarcadero. Prescott Court is also known for its excellent transit score within about two blocks to most bus lines and a half-mile to a BART station for easy access to the East Bay and San Francisco International Airport.
The expansive and private refinished rooftop deck, a rare treat, offers an abundance of flexible space to gather with family and friends, dine alongside the breathtaking views, and steal away some peaceful moments. With convenient access to the roof, this home’s top level is an open-concept design drenched in natural light with a living and dining area and a masterfully designed kitchen.
High ceilings add volume to this generous-size area that also features a wall of window, clerestory and an integrated lighting system. Slide open the glass doors for access to the expansive deck and inviting outdoor space on this level.
Sleek white cabinetry complements the marble counters and enormous island/breakfast bar in the chef’s kitchen, well appointed with a stainless sink and upgraded stainless appliances. Featured are a Miele dishwasher and built-in steamer oven, and a Viking refrigerator and range.
The luxurious master bedroom, one level lower, also has an expansive view window and custom blinds.
Behind a sliding mirrored door is a walk-through closet outfitted with a $30,000 California Closet system.
The beautifully designed bathroom showcases a dual-sink floating vanity with wall-mounted polished chrome Grohe faucets and a frameless glass-enclosed shower with a Grohe rain showerhead.
Also on this level is a bedroom with custom California Closet built-ins and a bathroom with a vessel glass sink, wall-mounted fixtures, and tub/shower combination. The third bedroom with an en suite bathroom is located on the first level.
Additional features include a Miele stacked washer and dryer, Nest thermostats, floating staircases, and ceramic tile flooring.
Price: $2,295,000
Where: 30 Prescott Court, San Francisco
Website: www.30Prescott.com Easy to show by appointment after PEAD form sent to the listing agent.
Listing agent: Intero, James Shin, DRE#01358693, 650-862-7332, James@jsregroupllc.com www.allaboutsiliconvalley.com WWW.MEETINGWITH JAMES.COM.


mercurynews--2020-11-07--Five ways Raiders can beat Chargers as AFC West gauntlet begins

The Raiders reach the midway point of the season Sunday with a three-game stretch during which they can stand up and be counted as legitimate playoff contenders and a factor the AFC West .
The last time the Raiders won their division was 2002 , their third title in three years .
And even with a win in the bank against four-time defending division champion Kansas City , it ’ s an outside shot at best for 2020 , given the Raiders ’ 4-3 record and with the Super Bowl champion Chiefs at 7-1 .
With the next three games @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can at least lay claim to the most likely second playoff team ahead of the Los Angeles Chargers and Denver Broncos .
First up are the Chargers at SoFi Stadium , followed Denver and the Chiefs , with the latter two games at Allegiant Stadium .
The Chargers are a dangerous 2-5 in that they ’ ve shown the ability to build big leads only to fritter them away .
For four straight games , the Chargers have lost after leading by at least 16 points — an NFL record for heartbreak .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ means the Chargers are due .
“ I don ’ t look past the Chargers at all , ” Gruden said .
“ They had the Buccaneers down 24-7 .
They had the Saints down 20-3 .
They had the Chiefs beat .
They had them third-and-20 and lost the game .
.
.
we ’ re just trying to figure out how to put our best foot forward again .
It ’ s a great opportunity , but if we look any farther ahead than tomorrow , we ’ re not very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what Gruden does , as well as the occasionally unpredictable nature of division games — including his first NFL win as a rookie in 2014 .
“ I ’ ve been on an 0-10 team when we beat the Chiefs , ” Carr said .
“ When you ’ re in the division , at any moment someone can beat somebody .
You have to have a great week and bring it on game day .
Because of you don ’ t , you know each other too well.
” Five ways the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ halfway to 10 wins at the midway point of the season : Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert , the sixth pick in the draft out of Oregon , is running neck and neck with Cincinnati ’ s Joe Burrow as the NFL ’ s Offensive Rookie of the Year .
His numbers measure up to those of Carr other than having three more interceptions .
The Raiders need to confuse Herbert with coverages and jump-start a meager pass rush that has just seven sacks in seven games .
“ He ’ s got a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a lot of deep balls , ” Raiders defensive coordinator Paul Guenther said .
“ He ’ s been acting like a veteran player .
He ’ s got a lot of good guys around him to get the ball to as well.
” It will be up to cornerbacks Trayvon Mullen and Nevin Lawson to deal with wide outs Keenan Allen and Mike Williams , and linebacker Cory Littleton and the Raiders safeties will have their hands full with tight end Hunter Henry .
Herbert trusts his receivers , and there should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ minus-4 turnover margin is something that must be improved if they hope to contend .
Carr operated well in the brutal Cleveland conditions of high winds , frozen rain and snow , playing it safe as any pass more than 10 yards downfield was a turnover waiting to happen .
He won ’ t have to dial it back like that again until possibly Dec. 6 in New Jersey against the Jets .
The next four games ( and seven of the last nine ) are indoors .
It ’ s time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Henry Ruggs III wasn ’ t a factor against Cleveland because of the weather , and eager to make amends for being called out by Gruden for not getting open against Tampa Bay .
Bryan Edwards , a fellow rookie who has been out since Week 3 with a high ankle sprain , will return .
Along with tight end Darren Waller , slot receiver Hunter Renfrow and veteran Nelson Agholor , that ’ s a lot of targets for Carr to get busy against .
Waller has 45 receptions , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yards per catch .
The Chargers were lit up by Denver ’ s Drew Lock in their last loss .
It ’ s also likely that Joey Bosa , the Chargers best pass rusher , will be out because of concussion symptoms .
That enables the blocking schemes to concentrate on Melvin Ingram , who can attack from anywhere .
Even if the Raiders have a good day passing the ball , they ’ re at their best with something approaching a 50-50 split .
There probably won ’ t be a repeat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Josh Jacobs isn ’ t likely to carry it 31 times .
The only back that has carried the ball more than Jacobs is Derrick Henry , and Gruden should be looking for opportunities to integrate Devontae Booker and Jalen Richard with more frequency .
A lot of what happens with the Raiders depends on the availability of Kolton Miller .
Miller has started all 39 games in his NFL career and hasn ’ t missed a snap in the last 29 , but he didn ’ t practice all week with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out and the tackles are Sam Young and Brandon Parker , the more the Raiders can run the better .
The Raiders held Cleveland for 223 yards and at least partially had the weather to thank for it .
With the seven-of-nine finish in terms of indoor games coming up , there will be no help from the weather gods .
The Raiders have been reasonably stout against the run aside from the Week 3 debacle in New England .
Other than that , it ’ s tough to find an area where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Raiders ’ defense going forward .
Even their lone takeaway against Cleveland came with linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski trailing a play and causing a fumble which came after a gain .
It ’ s not as if the Raiders have spent much time winning big at the line of scrimmage and residing in the backfield of the opponent .
More and more the Raiders have been banking on Johnathan Abram as their defensive heartbeat .
A big play or three would make a huge difference against the Chargers .
Still grumbling about the Raiders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Clemson defensive end Clelin Ferrell in the 2019 draft ?
A guy who ’ s been OK at times but hasn ’ t jumped off the page as a difference-maker ?
Put it aside for a week .
Against the Chargers , Ferrell has looked like that guy .
• What to expect from Antonio Brown in Buccaneers ’ game vs. Saints • NFL strips Raiders of draft pick , levies huge fines over repeat coronavirus violations , per reports In two games as a rookie , Ferrell logged 3 1/2 sacks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 20 games in the NFL , Ferrell has one sack .
With Maurice Hurst out with an ankle injury , Ferrell may be needed more at defensive tackle than at end .
And it doesn ’ t matter , really .
He ’ s been trained from the outset to play both outside and inside .
He may not ever live up to anyone ’ s expectations as the fourth pick in the draft , but if he keeps dominating against the Chargers , that ’ s all that matters in Week 9 @

The Raiders reach the midway point of the season Sunday with a three-game stretch during which they can stand up and be counted as legitimate playoff contenders and a factor in the AFC West.
The last time the Raiders won their division was 2002, their third title in three years. And even with a win in the bank against four-time defending division champion Kansas City, it’s an outside shot at best for 2020, given the Raiders’ 4-3 record and with the Super Bowl champion Chiefs at 7-1.
With the next three games coming within the division, the Raiders can at least lay claim to the most likely second playoff team ahead of the Los Angeles Chargers and Denver Broncos.
First up are the Chargers at SoFi Stadium, followed by Denver and the Chiefs, with the latter two games at Allegiant Stadium.
The Chargers are a dangerous 2-5 in that they’ve shown the ability to build big leads only to fritter them away. For four straight games, the Chargers have lost after leading by at least 16 points — an NFL record for heartbreak.
To Raiders coach Jon Gruden, that means the Chargers are due.
“I don’t look past the Chargers at all,” Gruden said. “They had the Buccaneers down 24-7. They had the Saints down 20-3. They had the Chiefs beat. They had them third-and-20 and lost the game . . . we’re just trying to figure out how to put our best foot forward again. It’s a great opportunity, but if we look any farther ahead than tomorrow, we’re not very smart.”
Raiders quarterback Derek Carr sees what Gruden does, as well as the occasionally unpredictable nature of division games — including his first NFL win as a rookie in 2014.
“I’ve been on an 0-10 team when we beat the Chiefs,” Carr said. “When you’re in the division, at any moment someone can beat somebody. You have to have a great week and bring it on game day. Because if you don’t, you know each other too well.”
Five ways the Raiders can beat the Chargers and be halfway to 10 wins at the midway point of the season:
1. Control Justin Herbert
Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert, the sixth pick in the draft out of Oregon, is running neck and neck with Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow as the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year. His numbers measure up to those of Carr other than having three more interceptions.
The Raiders need to confuse Herbert with coverages and jump-start a meager pass rush that has just seven sacks in seven games.
“He’s got a strong arm, he’s hit a lot of deep balls,” Raiders defensive coordinator Paul Guenther said. “He’s been acting like a veteran player. He’s got a lot of good guys around him to get the ball to as well.”
It will be up to cornerbacks Trayvon Mullen and Nevin Lawson to deal with wideouts Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, and linebacker Cory Littleton and the Raiders safeties will have their hands full with tight end Hunter Henry.
Herbert trusts his receivers, and there should be opportunities for takeaways. The Raiders’ minus-4 turnover margin is something that must be improved if they hope to contend.
2. Re-establish the passing game
Carr operated well in the brutal Cleveland conditions of high winds, frozen rain and snow, playing it safe as any pass more than 10 yards downfield was a turnover waiting to happen.
He won’t have to dial it back like that again until possibly Dec. 6 in New Jersey against the Jets. The next four games (and seven of the last nine) are indoors.
It’s time for the Raiders to stretch their legs.
Henry Ruggs III wasn’t a factor against Cleveland because of the weather, and eager to make amends for being called out by Gruden for not getting open against Tampa Bay. Bryan Edwards, a fellow rookie who has been out since Week 3 with a high ankle sprain, will return. Along with tight end Darren Waller, slot receiver Hunter Renfrow and veteran Nelson Agholor, that’s a lot of targets for Carr to get busy against.
Waller has 45 receptions but can do better than an anemic 8.3 yards per catch.
The Chargers were lit up by Denver’s Drew Lock in their last loss. It’s also likely that Joey Bosa, the Chargers best pass rusher, will be out because of concussion symptoms. That enables the blocking schemes to concentrate on Melvin Ingram, who can attack from anywhere.
3. Keep it balanced
Even if the Raiders have a good day passing the ball, they’re at their best with something approaching a 50-50 split. There probably won’t be a repeat of the 45-carry effort against the Browns and Josh Jacobs isn’t likely to carry it 31 times. The only back that has carried the ball more than Jacobs is Derrick Henry, and Gruden should be looking for opportunities to integrate Devontae Booker and Jalen Richard with more frequency.
A lot of what happens with the Raiders depends on the availability of Kolton Miller. Miller has started all 39 games in his NFL career and hasn’t missed a snap in the last 29, but he didn’t practice all week with an ankle sprain. If Miller is out and the tackles are Sam Young and Brandon Parker, the more the Raiders can run the better.
4. Defensive progress
The Raiders held Cleveland for 223 yards and at least partially had the weather to thank for it. With the seven-of-nine finish in terms of indoor games coming up, there will be no help from the weather gods.
The Raiders have been reasonably stout against the run aside from the Week 3 debacle in New England. Other than that, it’s tough to find an area where you can be really confident about the Raiders’ defense going forward. Even their lone takeaway against Cleveland came with linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski trailing a play and causing a fumble which came after a gain. It’s not as if the Raiders have spent much time winning big at the line of scrimmage and residing in the backfield of the opponent.
More and more the Raiders have been banking on Johnathan Abram as their defensive heartbeat. A big play or three would make a huge difference against the Chargers.
5. The Ferrell factor
Still grumbling about the Raiders spending a No. 4 overall pick on Clemson defensive end Clelin Ferrell in the 2019 draft? A guy who’s been OK at times but hasn’t jumped off the page as a difference-maker?
Put it aside for a week. Against the Chargers, Ferrell has looked like that guy.
In two games as a rookie, Ferrell logged 3 1/2 sacks against the Chargers. In his other 20 games in the NFL, Ferrell has one sack.
With Maurice Hurst out with an ankle injury, Ferrell may be needed more at defensive tackle than at end. And it doesn’t matter, really. He’s been trained from the outset to play both outside and inside. He may not ever live up to anyone’s expectations as the fourth pick in the draft, but if he keeps dominating against the Chargers, that’s all that matters in Week 9.


mercurynews--2020-11-07--Word Game: Nov. 7, 2020

Word Game: Nov. 7, 2020

Can you find 50 or more words in RHAPSODY ?
The list will be published Monday .
To purchase the @ @ @ @ @ WordGameBooks.com .
Order it now for just $ 5 while supplies last !
1 .
@ @ @ @ @ or more letters .
2 .
Words that acquire four letters by the addition of @ @ @ @ @ as “ bats ” or “ dies , ” are not allowed .
3 .
@ @ @ @ @ a “ d ” or an “ s ” may not be used .
For @ @ @ @ @ ” is used , “ baked ” or “ bakes ” are not allowed , @ @ @ @ @ “ baking ” are admissible .
4 .
Proper nouns , slang words , or @ @ @ @ @ are not allowed .

TODAY’S WORD — RHAPSODY (RHAPSODY: RAP-sa-dee: Excessive enthusiasm in speech or writing.)
Average mark 32 words
Time limit 45 minutes
Can you find 50 or more words in RHAPSODY? The list will be published Monday.
YESTERDAY’S WORD — LUMINARY lain lair liar limn limy liny lira lunar ulna unarm
unlay urinal mail main mainly manly many marl marlin maul miry mural myna inlay inly
nail nary airy alum alumni amir army rail rain rainy rani rimy ruin yarn
To 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 kzsaxe@gmail.com.


mercurynews--2020-11-07--Horoscopes Nov. 7, 2020: Lorde, take advantage of whatever comes your way

Happy Birthday : Take advantage of whatever comes your way .
Keep moving forward at warp speed until you catch up and feel confident that you can start something new and exciting without feeling stressed about what you ’ ve left undone .
Anything less than progress and completion will weigh you down .
Settle differences , and free yourself from mistakes or grievances .
Your numbers are 2 , 7 , 15 , 22 , 31 , 35 , 46 .
ARIES ( March 21-April 19 ) : Pay attention to the ones you love .
Nurturing meaningful relationships @ @ @ @ @ @ @ working toward a common goal .
Speak from the heart , and you will gain respect and get the go-ahead to initiate positive change .
5 stars TAURUS ( April 20-May 20 ) : Check your motives before you leap into action .
Consider what it is you are trying to prove or obtain .
When uncertainty sets in , sit tight and wait .
Look inward and work on personal growth .
2 stars GEMINI ( May 21-June 20 ) : Focus on what you can accomplish .
Use your intelligence , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can help you gain access to what you need to forge ahead .
Make peace , love and happiness priorities .
Romance and self-improvement are favored .
4 stars CANCER ( June 21-July 22 ) : Take better care of yourself .
Think before you act , or you may end up in a dispute with someone you love .
Moderation will be necessary if you want to avoid criticism .
Work on self-control , not trying to control others .
3 stars LEO ( July 23-Aug. 22 ) : Do what makes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t like the changes you make , you might want to question your relationship .
Sharing your beliefs , interests and goals will be essential if you want to avoid negativity .
Fitness and self-improvement are favored .
3 stars VIRGO ( Aug. 23-Sept. 22 ) : Take part in a movement to bring about positive change .
Stand up for your rights , but don ’ t cross a line that puts you or your reputation in jeopardy .
An unexpected encounter will change the way you move forward .
4 stars @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Follow your heart , spend time with someone you love , and find a way to improve the way you live .
Taking care of your responsibilities will help ward off complaints from someone who can influence your lifestyle .
Romance is on the rise .
4 stars SCORPIO ( Oct. 23-Nov. 21 ) : Make a change for the right reason .
Refuse to let your emotions dictate what you do or how you treat someone you love .
Compassion and understanding will help pave the way to a peaceful future .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
2 stars SAGITTARIUS ( Nov. 22-Dec. 21 ) : Take more time figuring out what you want to do , how to spend money , budgeting your cash flow and ways to keep your family close and safe .
Choose to protect what ’ s yours , and make staying healthy a priority .
Romance is in the stars .
5 stars CAPRICORN ( Dec. 22-Jan. 19 ) : Stop worrying about what others do and implement the changes necessary to make your surroundings and lifestyle comfortable and convenient .
Take facts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your emotions dictate what you do or say .
Focus on progress , not discord .
3 stars AQUARIUS ( Jan. 20-Feb. 18 ) : Take care of your responsibilities and financial well-being .
Make decisions for the right reason , not because someone is pressuring you to pick sides .
The past will reveal the truth about the future .
Stick to the facts , and choose wisely .
3 stars PISCES ( Feb. 19-March 20 ) : Look for interesting new ways to take care of money , health or contractual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pay off when dealing with controversy or individuals trying to sell you something questionable .
Look for solutions that benefit everyone .
3 stars Birthday Baby : You are sensitive , flexible and passionate .
You are questioning and persuasive .

CELEBRITIES BORN ON THIS DAY: Lorde, 24; Adam DeVine, 37; Yunjin Kim, 47; Joni Mitchell, 77.
Happy Birthday: Take advantage of whatever comes your way. Keep moving forward at warp speed until you catch up and feel confident that you can start something new and exciting without feeling stressed about what you’ve left undone. Anything less than progress and completion will weigh you down. Settle differences, and free yourself from mistakes or grievances. Your numbers are 2, 7, 15, 22, 31, 35, 46.
ARIES (March 21-April 19): Pay attention to the ones you love. Nurturing meaningful relationships will bring you closer together and encourage working toward a common goal. Speak from the heart, and you will gain respect and get the go-ahead to initiate positive change. 5 stars
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Check your motives before you leap into action. Consider what it is you are trying to prove or obtain. When uncertainty sets in, sit tight and wait. Look inward and work on personal growth. 2 stars
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Focus on what you can accomplish. Use your intelligence, skills and the people you know who can help you gain access to what you need to forge ahead. Make peace, love and happiness priorities. Romance and self-improvement are favored. 4 stars
CANCER (June 21-July 22): Take better care of yourself. Think before you act, or you may end up in a dispute with someone you love. Moderation will be necessary if you want to avoid criticism. Work on self-control, not trying to control others. 3 stars
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Do what makes you happy. If someone doesn’t like the changes you make, you might want to question your relationship. Sharing your beliefs, interests and goals will be essential if you want to avoid negativity. Fitness and self-improvement are favored. 3 stars
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Take part in a movement to bring about positive change. Stand up for your rights, but don’t cross a line that puts you or your reputation in jeopardy. An unexpected encounter will change the way you move forward. 4 stars
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Follow your heart, spend time with someone you love, and find a way to improve the way you live. Taking care of your responsibilities will help ward off complaints from someone who can influence your lifestyle. Romance is on the rise. 4 stars
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Make a change for the right reason. Refuse to let your emotions dictate what you do or how you treat someone you love. Compassion and understanding will help pave the way to a peaceful future. Make peace, love and happiness priorities. 2 stars
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Take more time figuring out what you want to do, how to spend money, budgeting your cash flow and ways to keep your family close and safe. Choose to protect what’s yours, and make staying healthy a priority. Romance is in the stars. 5 stars
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Stop worrying about what others do and implement the changes necessary to make your surroundings and lifestyle comfortable and convenient. Take facts into consideration, and refuse to let your emotions dictate what you do or say. Focus on progress, not discord. 3 stars
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Take care of your responsibilities and financial well-being. Make decisions for the right reason, not because someone is pressuring you to pick sides. The past will reveal the truth about the future. Stick to the facts, and choose wisely. 3 stars
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Look for interesting new ways to take care of money, health or contractual matters. The experience you have will pay off when dealing with controversy or individuals trying to sell you something questionable. Look for solutions that benefit everyone. 3 stars
Birthday Baby: You are sensitive, flexible and passionate. You are questioning and persuasive.
Visit Eugenialast.com, or join Eugenia on Twitter/Facebook/LinkedIn.


Bridge: Nov. 7, 2020

Cy the Cynic says an effective approach to problem-solving is to pick easy problems .
Most of the “ card-placing ” techniques that experts use are easy in principle .
In today ’ s deal , South ’ s “ balancing ” jump to two spades is “ intermediate , ” showing a good six-card suit and opening-bid strength .
North ’ s raise to game is bold .
West leads a diamond , and declarer sees three heart losers and a possible trump loser .
Should South try a club finesse with the queen to get a heart discard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trumps will win ?
South should reason that if West held the A-K-Q of hearts , his opening lead would have been a high heart , not a diamond .
So East is marked with a heart honor , but since he didn ’ t respond to West ’ s opening bid , West has both black-suit kings .
At Trick Two , South should cash the ace of trumps .
When no king appears , he leads a club to the queen next .
Is that reasoning so hard ?
You hold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 9 7 3 D 10 4 2 C K J 5 .
You open one heart , your partner responds one spade , you bid 1NT and he jumps to three spades .
What do you say ?
ANSWER : Your partner ’ s second-round jump in his own suit is invitational to game , not forcing .
If he held a hand such as A Q 10 6 5 4 , 6 5 , A K , 8 7 6 , he would have bid game on his own .
Since you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your bidding has suggested , pass and hope partner takes nine tricks .

My “Simple Saturday” columns often treat logical thinking.
Cy the Cynic says an effective approach to problem-solving is to pick easy problems. Most of the “card-placing” techniques that experts use are easy in principle.
In today’s deal, South’s “balancing” jump to two spades is “intermediate,” showing a good six-card suit and opening-bid strength. North’s raise to game is bold. West leads a diamond, and declarer sees three heart losers and a possible trump loser.
Should South try a club finesse with the queen to get a heart discard? Should he hope a finesse in trumps will win?
OPENING LEAD
South should reason that if West held the A-K-Q of hearts, his opening lead would have been a high heart, not a diamond. So East is marked with a heart honor, but since he didn’t respond to West’s opening bid, West has both black-suit kings.
At Trick Two, South should cash the ace of trumps. When no king appears, he leads a club to the queen next. Is that reasoning so hard?
DAILY QUESTION
You hold: S K 7 H A Q 9 7 3 D 10 4 2 C K J 5. You open one heart, your partner responds one spade, you bid 1NT and he jumps to three spades. What do you say?
ANSWER: Your partner’s second-round jump in his own suit is invitational to game, not forcing. If he held a hand such as A Q 10 6 5 4, 6 5, A K, 8 7 6, he would have bid game on his own. Since you have no strength over and above what your bidding has suggested, pass and hope partner takes nine tricks.
West dealer
Both sides vulnerable
NORTH
S 10 5 4
H 8 5 2
D K J 8
C A Q 8 2
WEST
S K 7
H A Q 9 7 3
D 10 4 2
C K J 5
EAST
S 9 6
H K 4
D 9 7 6 5
C 9 7 6 4 3
SOUTH
S A Q J 8 3 2
H J 10 6
D A Q 3
C 10
West North East South
1 H Pass Pass 2 S
Pass 4 S All Pass
Opening lead — D 2
(C)2020 Tribune Content Agency, LLC.


mercurynews--2020-11-07--Ask Amy: My parents think my sister is a helpless damsel. They don’t know what she has done.

Dear Amy : My younger sister is 20 years old , and lives with her boyfriend .
This is a crisis for my religious parents .
They believe her boyfriend is a “ bad influence , ” and that my sister needs to be rescued from him .
They say that because I ’ m her sister , I should talk to her about it .
Now , they ’ re guilt-tripping me , saying that I don ’ t care about her .
What my parents do not know is that my sister began the affair with her boyfriend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two pre-school-aged kids at home .
I do not want to tell my parents these details .
But I ’ m having a hard time dealing with their lifelong belief that my sister needs to be coddled .
My sister has always been very good at looking out for Number One .
• Ask Amy : Why do strangers ask me this personal question ?
• Ask Amy : I think their dog is racist .
What should I do ?
• Ask Amy : I worry I gave her bad advice about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ m middle-aged and frumpy , so why do men always hit on me ?
• Ask Amy : I want to educate my boyfriend ’ s dad on how selfish he ’ s being How can I subtly let my parents know it ’ s ridiculous to view her as someone who needs to be rescued ?
Dear No Longer : You don ’ t need to be subtle with your folks .
You should tell them , “ I think my sister is trying to live her own life .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ is making her own choices .
If you want to talk to her , you should get in touch with her to tell her how you feel.
” The lack of subtlety should run in your sister ’ s direction , too .
She is quite young , and yes , as her older sister , you could be helpful by simply telling her that you care about her and are available to her , but that she will have to work on her relationship with your parents independently .
If you granted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ making possibly poor longer-term choices , you would keep the door cracked open .
You should not lie to your folks on her behalf , but — if you decided out of spite to volunteer the fact that she has made a move that is certainly immoral ( in their eyes ) — what greater purpose would it serve ?
It is possible that their parental coddling indirectly led to this current state of affairs .
You should feel some sense of relief that they didn ’ t do this to you .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ married next summer !
My fiance and I were talking about our wedding plans , and he has what I think is a nice idea , but we ’ re not sure how to tactfully pull it off .
With all of the financial stress that COVID has brought to so many people , we don ’ t want our guests to feel obligated to bring us a gift .
We would just like them to come and celebrate with us .
We could say , “ No gifts , please ” on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hand , we have family and friends that I know would say , “ But I want to get you a gift , ” and would insist on doing so .
How can we politely balance wanting to be considerate to all parties ?
Dear Awkward : Many couples decide to have “ no gifts ” weddings , for a variety of reasons , and you are right some guests ( especially family members ) won ’ t comply with that directive .
On a card separate from your invitation ( not on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ No gifts , please .
Your presence at our celebration is your gift to us .
However , if you are inclined , we would be honored by a donation to the Food Depository , which helps feed families displaced by the Pandemic ” ( obviously , you would choose your own favorite cause ) .
If people bring or send you a gift , accept it graciously and thank them promptly .
Dear Amy : I was a dispatcher/supervisor for 10 years and spent another 25 years scheduling the City @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bus system before I retired .
In that capacity , I would meet new drivers in groups for about an hour and talk to them about schedules .
I always asked them to tell me how they ’ d define a safe driver .
I used to tell these newly hired city bus drivers that a “ good driver ” is one who doesn ’ t make his or her passengers nervous .
Setting aside all of the safety data you presented to “ Anxious Wife ” about her husband ’ s dangerous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lousy driver and a jerk who should otherwise adjust his driving habits to suit her .
Dear Colin : Many people did not like my data-heavy answer to “ Anxious Wife , ” which demonstrated just how dangerous tailgating is .
I wish I had presented your wisdom instead !
Thank you for sharing it with us , now .
You can email Amy Dickinson at askamy @ amydickinson.com or send a letter to Ask Amy , P.O .
Box 194 , Freeville , NY 13068 .
You can also follow her on @ @ @ @ @ @

Dear Amy: My younger sister is 20 years old, and lives with her boyfriend. This is a crisis for my religious parents.
They believe her boyfriend is a “bad influence,” and that my sister needs to be rescued from him. They say that because I’m her sister, I should talk to her about it.
Now, they’re guilt-tripping me, saying that I don’t care about her.
What my parents do not know is that my sister began the affair with her boyfriend while he was still married, with two pre-school-aged kids at home.
I do not want to tell my parents these details. But I’m having a hard time dealing with their lifelong belief that my sister needs to be coddled. My sister has always been very good at looking out for Number One.
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No Longer My Sister’s Keeper
Dear No Longer: You don’t need to be subtle with your folks. You should tell them, “I think my sister is trying to live her own life. This is what she wants. She is making her own choices. If you want to talk to her, you should get in touch with her to tell her how you feel.”
The lack of subtlety should run in your sister’s direction, too. She is quite young, and yes, as her older sister, you could be helpful by simply telling her that you care about her and are available to her, but that she will have to work on her relationship with your parents independently.
If you granted some nonjudgmental latitude for a young person making possibly poor longer-term choices, you would keep the door cracked open. You should not lie to your folks on her behalf, but — if you decided out of spite to volunteer the fact that she has made a move that is certainly immoral (in their eyes) — what greater purpose would it serve?
It is possible that their parental coddling indirectly led to this current state of affairs. You should feel some sense of relief that they didn’t do this to you.
Dear Amy: I’m getting married next summer! My fiance and I were talking about our wedding plans, and he has what I think is a nice idea, but we’re not sure how to tactfully pull it off.
With all of the financial stress that COVID has brought to so many people, we don’t want our guests to feel obligated to bring us a gift.
We would just like them to come and celebrate with us. We could say, “No gifts, please” on our invitations; but on the other hand, we have family and friends that I know would say, “But I want to get you a gift,” and would insist on doing so. How can we politely balance wanting to be considerate to all parties?
Awkward
Dear Awkward: Many couples decide to have “no gifts” weddings, for a variety of reasons, and you are right some guests (especially family members) won’t comply with that directive.
On a card separate from your invitation (not on the invitation), you could say, “No gifts, please. Your presence at our celebration is your gift to us. However, if you are inclined, we would be honored by a donation to the Food Depository, which helps feed families displaced by the Pandemic” (obviously, you would choose your own favorite cause).
If people bring or send you a gift, accept it graciously and thank them promptly.
Dear Amy: I was a dispatcher/supervisor for 10 years and spent another 25 years scheduling the City of Madison’s (Wisconsin) bus system before I retired.
In that capacity, I would meet new drivers in groups for about an hour and talk to them about schedules. I always asked them to tell me how they’d define a safe driver.
I used to tell these newly hired city bus drivers that a “good driver” is one who doesn’t make his or her passengers nervous.
Setting aside all of the safety data you presented to “Anxious Wife” about her husband’s dangerous tailgating, her husband is both a lousy driver and a jerk who should otherwise adjust his driving habits to suit her.
Colin, in Cross Plains, Wisconsin
Dear Colin: Many people did not like my data-heavy answer to “Anxious Wife,” which demonstrated just how dangerous tailgating is.
I wish I had presented your wisdom instead! Thank you for sharing it with us, now.
You can email Amy Dickinson at askamy@amydickinson.com or send a letter to Ask Amy, P.O. Box 194, Freeville, NY 13068. You can also follow her on Twitter @askingamy or Facebook.


mercurynews--2020-11-07--Harriette Cole: I don’t want her to be upset that I’m seeing her husband

DEAR HARRIETTE : My best friend and her husband are separated .
She said that she doesn ’ t want to be with him anymore , so she left him and started dating someone else .
Her husband and I have always been friends since we all went to high school together , and he recently began confiding in me since the separation .
We are spending a lot of time together , as neither of us sees my best friend often because she is dating someone new .
One thing has led to another , and now I have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ am beginning to fall in love with him .
I don ’ t know whether I should tell her , or if he should tell her .
I don ’ t want her to be upset , but this connection was out of our control , and we want to see this through .
Do you think I will lose my best friend if I pursue this true love ?
DEAR WISHFUL THINKING : While these things do tend to happen — mainly because people who spend time together often grow close — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come of this situation .
Whether it ’ s right or not , your best friend probably believes that her husband should be off limits to you , especially since you are her best friend .
• Harriette Cole : My neighbor keeps snooping in my trash .
Should I call the cops ?
• Harriette Cole : Do all men do this annoying thing or just my boyfriend ?
• Harriette Cole : Is this a new unwritten rule about dating ?
• Harriette Cole : My boyfriend says that if I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go for Trump No matter how hot and heavy it has become , I think you should pump the brakes until you have a heart-to-heart with your friend .
If you feel like you can ’ t resist being with this man , you have to tell her and risk the potential consequences of losing her friendship , at least in the short term .
Chances are , she will feel betrayed .
You can explain yourself , including saying that it wasn ’ t planned , that you two started spending time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ marriage , and things happened .
Be prepared for the worst and see what happens .
Your honesty will count for a lot .
DEAR HARRIETTE : I do a lot of motivational talks locally in my community .
I am someone who knows many people in my town , and they have expressed how inspirational I am with my insight and guidance .
Many teachers say I should speak with some of the students as a mentor or counselor , and I have done that as a volunteer for three years now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to take this more public and create a business out of it , but I don ’ t know where to begin .
Do I need an agent or manager ?
Where do I start to build my brand and trademark some of my sayings ?
Can you give any advice on how to start branding yourself ?
DEAR NEXT STEPS : You have a few options .
Do research to learn how much speakers in your field are paid .
Find out if there is a speakers ’ certification program in your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ speaking .
Start taping your speaking engagements so that you have proof of how you command an audience .
Build a social media presence for your work .
Establish a website that showcases what you do .
Ask some of the entities that have asked you to speak for free in the past to offer you an honorarium next time .
Harriette Cole is a lifestylist and founder of DREAMLEAPERS , an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams .
You can send questions to askharriette @ harriettecole.com or c/o Andrews @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kansas City , MO 64106 .

DEAR HARRIETTE: My best friend and her husband are separated. She said that she doesn’t want to be with him anymore, so she left him and started dating someone else.
Her husband and I have always been friends since we all went to high school together, and he recently began confiding in me since the separation. We are spending a lot of time together, as neither of us sees my best friend often because she is dating someone new.
One thing has led to another, and now I have started seeing her husband regularly. I am beginning to fall in love with him.
I don’t know whether I should tell her, or if he should tell her. I don’t want her to be upset, but this connection was out of our control, and we want to see this through.
Do you think I will lose my best friend if I pursue this true love?
Wishful Thinking
DEAR WISHFUL THINKING: While these things do tend to happen — mainly because people who spend time together often grow close — there is little good that will likely come of this situation.
Whether it’s right or not, your best friend probably believes that her husband should be off limits to you, especially since you are her best friend.
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Harriette Cole: I’m ashamed to tell people I forgave my childhood friend Advice | Harriette Cole: I’ve worked hard, and my poor siblings resent my success No matter how hot and heavy it has become, I think you should pump the brakes until you have a heart-to-heart with your friend. If you feel like you can’t resist being with this man, you have to tell her and risk the potential consequences of losing her friendship, at least in the short term. Chances are, she will feel betrayed.
You can explain yourself, including saying that it wasn’t planned, that you two started spending time together to mourn the demise of their marriage, and things happened. Be prepared for the worst and see what happens. Your honesty will count for a lot.
DEAR HARRIETTE: I do a lot of motivational talks locally in my community. I am someone who knows many people in my town, and they have expressed how inspirational I am with my insight and guidance. Many teachers say I should speak with some of the students as a mentor or counselor, and I have done that as a volunteer for three years now.
I have decided that I want to take this more public and create a business out of it, but I don’t know where to begin. Do I need an agent or manager? Where do I start to build my brand and trademark some of my sayings? Can you give any advice on how to start branding yourself?
Next Steps
DEAR NEXT STEPS: You have a few options. Do research to learn how much speakers in your field are paid. Find out if there is a speakers’ certification program in your town that will give you credentials for speaking. Start taping your speaking engagements so that you have proof of how you command an audience. Build a social media presence for your work. Establish a website that showcases what you do. Ask some of the entities that have asked you to speak for free in the past to offer you an honorarium next time.
Harriette Cole is a lifestylist and founder of DREAMLEAPERS, an initiative to help people access and activate their dreams. You can send questions to askharriette@harriettecole.com or c/o Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.


mercurynews--2020-11-07--Miss Manners: We didn’t think our neighbors’ kids would be a problem. We were wrong.

DEAR MISS MANNERS : About a year ago , we bought a home on a quiet cul-de-sac in a nice neighborhood .
We noticed that the next-door neighbor ’ s backyard had a concrete basketball half-court , but every time we came to the house for showings , inspections , etc.
, no one was ever playing basketball .
We figured it wouldn ’ t be a problem .
That was our first mistake .
Our neighbor ’ s five kids and their friends use this court on a daily basis , from sunup to sundown , each on their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ started a nightly basketball camp where dozens of kids come to play .
Inside our home , with windows and doors closed , we hear the bang of the balls being bounced and hit against the backboard , along with occasional yelling and music .
Upon moving in , we were welcomed to the neighborhood by these neighbors , and they told us to please let them know if the noise level was ever a problem .
• Miss Manners : How do I tell strangers to stop this disgusting habit ?
• @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and it didn ’ t end well • Miss Manners : I rescinded my RSVP , and the bride is angry • Miss Manners : What do I do if these unkind people show up at the funeral ?
• Miss Manners : What ’ s a nice way of saying ‘ don ’ t come to our house ’ ?
When the music level became too loud , we kindly asked them to turn it down , and they complied .
A second time , they responded that due to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be extra noise here and there , and that is part of living in a neighborhood .
Short of moving away , how can we escape all this noise without making enemies with our next-door neighbors ?
GENTLE READER : A friendly game with friends is one thing .
A full-on camp is quite another .
Especially at night .
Miss Manners suggests that you find a tactful way of questioning its legality .
“ I am so glad that the kids are able to play together , but I am afraid that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keeping us awake .
And I worry that the block association is really OK with you running it out of your home .
Perhaps you can set it for only daytime hours so that it ’ s not quite so noticeable ?
” DEAR MISS MANNERS : Is it polite to correct people who say “ real-a-tor ” instead of “ realtor , ” or “ nu-cu-lar ” instead of “ nuclear ” ?
Or is it totally inappropriate ?
I am not perfect , but these bother me .
GENTLE READER : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of nuclear codes ?
Pronouncing the words accurately oneself is the only polite way Miss Manners recommends to correct someone who is not your child , student or direct report , or who is not about to look like a fool in public .
DEAR MISS MANNERS : My wife ’ s friend came over to borrow a book .
My wife warned her in advance that our two grandchildren would be here .
The friend showed up just before lunch .
The ladies chatted for a while , but then my wife @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lunch for the kids .
After lunch , she went outside with the kids and organized a slip-and-slide .
The friend sat on our porch through all of that , finally leaving after two hours .
What would have been an appropriate way to end the visit in less time ?
GENTLE READER : “ I ’ m so sorry , but I am afraid that this isn ’ t a good time for a visit .
I promised my grandchildren my undivided attention this afternoon .
But I will be sure to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ few weeks to see what you thought of ‘ Cold Comfort Farm . '
” Please send your questions to Miss Manners at her website , www.missmanners.com ; to her email , dearmissmanners @ gmail.com ; or through postal mail to Miss Manners , Andrews McMeel Syndication , 1130 Walnut St. , Kansas City , MO 64106 .

Judith Martin, Nicholas Ivor Martin and Jacobina Martin

DEAR MISS MANNERS: About a year ago, we bought a home on a quiet cul-de-sac in a nice neighborhood. We noticed that the next-door neighbor’s backyard had a concrete basketball half-court, but every time we came to the house for showings, inspections, etc., no one was ever playing basketball.
We figured it wouldn’t be a problem. That was our first mistake.
Our neighbor’s five kids and their friends use this court on a daily basis, from sunup to sundown, each on their own practice schedule. Recently, they started a nightly basketball camp where dozens of kids come to play.
Inside our home, with windows and doors closed, we hear the bang of the balls being bounced and hit against the backboard, along with occasional yelling and music.
Upon moving in, we were welcomed to the neighborhood by these neighbors, and they told us to please let them know if the noise level was ever a problem.
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Miss Manners: She wants to turn our music festival into a get-drunk weekend Advice | Miss Manners: My rule is no gift for a second wedding, no attendance for a third When the music level became too loud, we kindly asked them to turn it down, and they complied. A second time, they responded that due to the nature of their backyard, there will be extra noise here and there, and that is part of living in a neighborhood.
Short of moving away, how can we escape all this noise without making enemies with our next-door neighbors?
GENTLE READER: A friendly game with friends is one thing. A full-on camp is quite another. Especially at night.
Miss Manners suggests that you find a tactful way of questioning its legality. “I am so glad that the kids are able to play together, but I am afraid that the thump of basketball night camp is keeping us awake. And I worry that the block association is really OK with you running it out of your home. Perhaps you can set it for only daytime hours so that it’s not quite so noticeable?”
DEAR MISS MANNERS: Is it polite to correct people who say “real-a-tor” instead of “realtor,” or “nu-cu-lar” instead of “nuclear”? Or is it totally inappropriate?
I am not perfect, but these bother me.
GENTLE READER: Are any of these people in charge of nuclear codes?
Pronouncing the words accurately oneself is the only polite way Miss Manners recommends to correct someone who is not your child, student or direct report, or who is not about to look like a fool in public.
DEAR MISS MANNERS: My wife’s friend came over to borrow a book. My wife warned her in advance that our two grandchildren would be here. The friend showed up just before lunch. The ladies chatted for a while, but then my wife had to excuse herself and start making lunch for the kids.
After lunch, she went outside with the kids and organized a slip-and-slide. The friend sat on our porch through all of that, finally leaving after two hours.
What would have been an appropriate way to end the visit in less time?
GENTLE READER: “I’m so sorry, but I am afraid that this isn’t a good time for a visit. I promised my grandchildren my undivided attention this afternoon. But I will be sure to reach out to you in the next few weeks to see what you thought of ‘Cold Comfort Farm.'”
Please send your questions to Miss Manners at her website, www.missmanners.com; to her email, dearmissmanners@gmail.com; or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.


mercurynews--2020-11-07--Dear Abby: I tell him how to be a good boyfriend, but he doesn’t learn

DEAR ABBY : My man of three years and I are at a crossroads .
He has gone from my boyfriend , to fiance , back to boyfriend , to friend , to “ I don ’ t know what he is now.
” He showers me with gifts and material things , which really don ’ t mean a lot to me .
I thank him often for the things he does , and I reciprocate them .
What matters more to me are simple gestures like checking to make sure I get home safely , accepting and acknowledging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Day , asking how my day was , taking me out from time to time instead of always saying he doesn ’ t want to go .
• Dear Abby : Everyone says he ’ s a stalker , but now I believe he really loves me • Dear Abby : My husband fixed my best friend ’ s computer and stole a raunchy souvenir • Dear Abby : I found pictures of my wife ’ s ex , and it ’ s stressing me out • Dear Abby : I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his father confiscated it • Dear Abby : Other people are getting out .
My Neanderthal husband wants us to keep sheltering .
I have explained to him time and time again how I want to be treated , but it goes in one ear and out the other .
I have given him chance after chance to get it right , to no avail .
I am tired of this .
It ’ s like we ’ re speaking different languages .
Is it time for me to move on ?
DEAR @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If , after three years , your man still hasn ’ t gotten the message that material things are unimportant to you , and being treated with consideration is paramount , then it isn ’ t going to happen .
He isn ’ t the man for you .
DEAR ABBY : I ’ m a 34-year-old female who still lives with her dad .
When I start a job search , he says things like , “ You ’ ve got your bachelor ’ s degree ; you ’ ll be fine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re a hard worker ; you ’ ve got this job in the bag !
” Then my hopes are raised , only to be dashed when the rejection letters arrive , which makes me feel angry and useless .
It also doesn ’ t help my confidence when Dad says things like , “ You ’ ll never be able to afford an apartment , ” or , “ Best you just stay here in town and get a job.
” I would like to leave this town someday and actually live @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rise above my dad ’ s expectations of me ?
DEAR FEELING STUCK : It will happen as soon as you stop allowing your father ’ s expectations — whether positive or negative — to affect you .
Because of the economy , many people , through no fault of their own , live in multigenerational households .
The impact on them has been emotional as well as financial .
If you can ’ t find a job in your ideal profession , take something that ’ s available .
Your future will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and while you may not have your dream job right now , the one you desire can still happen , so don ’ t give up .
DEAR ABBY : My mother has been visiting family members ’ graves each year for many years .
In the past she placed cut flowers on the graves , but recently she has begun leaving live potted flowers .
What I learned recently is , the day after a major holiday , she and her friend return to the cemetery , remove them and take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ why , her response was , “ If I don ’ t take them , someone else will.
” Am I wrong to think this is odd , or is this now a common practice I am not aware of ?
DEAR UNUSUAL : I checked with two cemeteries here in Los Angeles where I reside and asked if what your mother has been doing is common practice .
Both said they had never heard of such a thing .
Cut flowers are removed weekly from the graves after they wilt ; potted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ family to maintain when they visit .
Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren , also known as Jeanne Phillips , and was founded by her mother , Pauline Phillips .
Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O .
Box 69440 , Los Angeles , CA 90069 .

DEAR ABBY: My man of three years and I are at a crossroads. He has gone from my boyfriend, to fiance, back to boyfriend, to friend, to “I don’t know what he is now.”
He showers me with gifts and material things, which really don’t mean a lot to me. I thank him often for the things he does, and I reciprocate them.
What matters more to me are simple gestures like checking to make sure I get home safely, accepting and acknowledging my friends, acknowledging me on Mother’s Day, asking how my day was, taking me out from time to time instead of always saying he doesn’t want to go.
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IMPATIENT IN ALABAMA
DEAR IMPATIENT: Yes, it is. If, after three years, your man still hasn’t gotten the message that material things are unimportant to you, and being treated with consideration is paramount, then it isn’t going to happen. He isn’t the man for you.
DEAR ABBY: I’m a 34-year-old female who still lives with her dad.
When I start a job search, he says things like, “You’ve got your bachelor’s degree; you’ll be fine!” or, “You’re a hard worker; you’ve got this job in the bag!” Then my hopes are raised, only to be dashed when the rejection letters arrive, which makes me feel angry and useless.
It also doesn’t help my confidence when Dad says things like, “You’ll never be able to afford an apartment,” or, “Best you just stay here in town and get a job.”
I would like to leave this town someday and actually live on my own. How do I rise above my dad’s expectations of me?
FEELING STUCK IN PENNSYLVANIA
DEAR FEELING STUCK: It will happen as soon as you stop allowing your father’s expectations — whether positive or negative — to affect you. Because of the economy, many people, through no fault of their own, live in multigenerational households. The impact on them has been emotional as well as financial. If you can’t find a job in your ideal profession, take something that’s available. Your future will work itself out as the economy improves, and while you may not have your dream job right now, the one you desire can still happen, so don’t give up.
DEAR ABBY: My mother has been visiting family members’ graves each year for many years.
In the past she placed cut flowers on the graves, but recently she has begun leaving live potted flowers. What I learned recently is, the day after a major holiday, she and her friend return to the cemetery, remove them and take them home. When I asked her why, her response was, “If I don’t take them, someone else will.”
Am I wrong to think this is odd, or is this now a common practice I am not aware of?
UNUSUAL IN THE WEST
DEAR UNUSUAL: I checked with two cemeteries here in Los Angeles where I reside and asked if what your mother has been doing is common practice. Both said they had never heard of such a thing. Cut flowers are removed weekly from the graves after they wilt; potted plants are allowed to remain for the family to maintain when they visit.
Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.


mercurynews--2020-11-07--San Mateo: Teen arrested on suspicion of brandishing gun

SAN MATEO – A 16-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of brandishing a gun at the Hillsdale Shopping Center on @ @ @ @ @ The incident was reported shortly before 2 p.m. , the San Mateo Police Department said @ @ @ @ @ A witness told officers he saw the teen “ brandish a gun while intimidating a @ @ @ @ @ and arrested the teen .
He was booked into San Mateo County Juvenile Hall on @ @ @ @ @ firearm , altering a firearm serial number and carrying a loaded firearm in public , @ @ @ @ @ violation , police said .

SAN MATEO – A 16-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of brandishing a gun at the Hillsdale Shopping Center on Friday, police said.
The incident was reported shortly before 2 p.m., the San Mateo Police Department said in a news release. A witness told officers he saw the teen “brandish a gun while intimidating a shopper.”
Officers immediately found and arrested the teen. He was booked into San Mateo County Juvenile Hall on charges of carrying a concealed firearm, altering a firearm serial number and carrying a loaded firearm in public, as well as a probation violation, police said.


mercurynews--2020-11-07--San Rafael man linked to East Bay freeway shooting gets 4 years in gun case

OAKLAND — A San Rafael man who was arrested on federal ammunition charges as police investigated a freeway shooting has been sentenced to 46 months in federal prison , court records show .
Khiry Jefferson , 30 , was sentenced Friday after both prosecutors and defense attorneys agreed on the term .
The charges stem from a December 2019 freeway shooting in Oakland .
During the course of the investigation , police searched Jefferson ’ s home and found a homemade firearm and bullets , prosecutors said .
Jefferson was suspected of being the driver in a shooting where his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an East Bay freeway .
The woman later told police she was chasing Jefferson after he ’ d made off with $ 10,000 worth of gold and silver bars that belonged to her , prosecutors said .
“ Defendant has not learned his lesson from prior state court convictions , and a 46 month federal sentence will result in his longest period of incarceration , ” assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Green wrote in a sentencing memo .
“ Perhaps equally importantly , a 46 month sentence at this phase of his life will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of nearly 34 years old , a critical time in defendant ’ s life by which time one hopes the passage of time will grant him the maturity and wisdom to change the nature of his ways.
” Jefferson ’ s attorney , John Paul Reichmuth , noted in a sentencing memo that his client had a serious health problem that put him at higher risk of catching a severe COVID-19 case .
He also wrote that Jefferson had been on the receiving end of gun violence in his lifetime .
“ Mr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to homicide and been shot himself , ” Reichmuth wrote .
“ In the latter incident , a man walked up to him and shot him , seriously injuring him ; the assailant was arrested and convicted of attempted homicide .
”

OAKLAND — A San Rafael man who was arrested on federal ammunition charges as police investigated a freeway shooting has been sentenced to 46 months in federal prison, court records show.
Khiry Jefferson, 30, was sentenced Friday after both prosecutors and defense attorneys agreed on the term. The charges stem from a December 2019 freeway shooting in Oakland. During the course of the investigation, police searched Jefferson’s home and found a homemade firearm and bullets, prosecutors said.
Jefferson was suspected of being the driver in a shooting where his passenger fired shots at a woman on an East Bay freeway. The woman later told police she was chasing Jefferson after he’d made off with $10,000 worth of gold and silver bars that belonged to her, prosecutors said.
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Jefferson’s attorney, John Paul Reichmuth, noted in a sentencing memo that his client had a serious health problem that put him at higher risk of catching a severe COVID-19 case. He also wrote that Jefferson had been on the receiving end of gun violence in his lifetime.
“Mr. Jefferson has also lost several associates to homicide and been shot himself,” Reichmuth wrote. “In the latter incident, a man walked up to him and shot him, seriously injuring him; the assailant was arrested and convicted of attempted homicide.”