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Book Review: Alice McDermott’s ‘Absolution’ captures America with Vietnam War in the background

Published Sat, 08 Feb 2025 11:20:46 GMT

Living in Western diplomatic privilege with cooks and maids and drivers, the women in the new novel “Absolution” spend their days attending luncheons, lectures and cocktail parties as the Vietnam War rumbles in the background. It’s 1963 Saigon, but the wives of ambitious American attorneys and engineers are focused on writing clever letters with French phrases to be slipped into light blue airmail envelopes and the daily dressing rituals that include girdles, stockings and white dress shields fastened with tiny gold safety pins. Alice McDermott’s ninth novel perfectly captures the manner and mood of that era and the constricted lives that women led as “helpmeets” for their husbands. McDermott won the National Book Award for her novel “Charming Billy.”In “Absolution,” Irish American newlywed Tricia is just 23, proud of her handsome engineer husband who is on loan to the Navy and hoping they can quickly start a family during their time in southeast Asia. Tricia soon meets ...

Think scam calls are bad now? Experts warn growing use of AI will make problem worse

Published Sat, 08 Feb 2025 11:20:46 GMT

TORONTO — A company that specializes in detecting spam phone calls says it expects generative artificial intelligence to drastically change the way call recipients are targeted, including the potential for scammers to tailor their attacks to specific people.Jonathan Nelson, director of product management for Seattle-based Hiya, says Canadian telecommunications companies and their customers should be wary of a likely influx in calls that use AI to fool the caller within the coming years.This could include speech augmentation to remove a scammer’s accent, automation to replace the role of a human scammer with that of a robot and technology that can frequently alter spam call scripts, making them less recognizable to the recipient.He also warns of voice cloning technology being paired with automation to mimic a human, making them sound identical to a specific person that the call recipient knows.Nelson spoke to Canadian telecommunications industry stakeholders Wednesday on the fi...

Swifties to find out if they’ve won Vancouver’s ticket lottery

Published Sat, 08 Feb 2025 11:20:46 GMT

Taylor Swift fans are about to find out if their wildest dreams are going to come true, as the results of Ticketmaster’s Vancouver lottery are released Wednesday.Demand for Swift’s ‘The Era’s’ tour is so big that a lottery system has been used for most of her shows. Hopeful attendees have to register for a code, which is required to purchase tickets.Swift has three concerts scheduled for Vancouver — all in December 2024. The dates come on the heels of previously announced five shows in Toronto.Ticketmaster says it uses the code system to “ensure more tickets get into the hands of concertgoers.”“Verified Fan requires registration to help filter out buyers looking to resell tickets, and instead get them to fans who want to attend the show,” the ticket service said.But Ticketmaster might end up the anti-hero, as it explains that not everyone who registered may be able to buy tickets.“Tickets will be sold on a first-come,...

4 California men linked to Three Percenters militia convicted of conspiracy in Jan. 6 case

Published Sat, 08 Feb 2025 11:20:46 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Four California men linked to the “Three Percenters” militia movement have been convicted charges including conspiracy and obstruction for their roles in the Jan. 6, 2021 riot at the U.S. Capitol. Erik Scott Warner, 48, of Menifee,; Felipe Antonio Martinez, 50, of Lake Elsinore,; Derek Kinnison, 42, of Lake Elsinore,; and Ronald Mele, 54, of Temecula, were found guilty on Tuesday after a trial in Washington’s federal court, according to prosecutors.They were convicted of conspiracy and obstruction of an official proceeding — the joint session of Congress in which lawmakers met to certify President Joe Biden as the winner of the 2020 election. Attorneys for Martinez and Warner declined to comment, and emails seeking comment were sent to an attorney for Mele. Kinnison’s lawyer, Nicolai Cocis, said he is disappointed with the verdict and they are considering all available legal options. “Mr. Kinnison is a patriotic citizen who wanted to show his supp...

Elected officials raise alarm about ‘terrifying’ rise in antisemitism in Canada

Published Sat, 08 Feb 2025 11:20:46 GMT

Federal politicians are raising the alarm about what they say is an increase in antisemitism in Canada after a Montreal-area synagogue and a local Jewish organization were hit with firebombs this week.Liberal MP Anthony Housefather told reporters this morning he has never seen a time when Jewish Canadians felt as scared as they do now.Housefather says the firebombing, which caused minor damage to the synagogue he attended as a child, is not something that can be taken lightly.As the Israel-Hamas war enters its second month, he is calling on police to “crack down” on hate speech and crimes.Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said today the country is seeing a “terrifying” rise in antisemitism, including threats of violence aimed at Jewish establishments.He said both Jews and Muslims in Canada have been targeted by expressions of hate and violence, calling the acts unacceptable.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2023.The Canadian Press

Valparaiso University student dies after stabbing at Planet Fitness; Man in custody

Published Sat, 08 Feb 2025 11:20:46 GMT

VALPARAISO, Ind. — A 24-year-old man is suspected in the stabbing death of a Valparaiso University student at a Northwest Indiana-area Planet Fitness.Valparaiso University president José D. Padilla confirmed the passing of Varun Raj Pucha on Wednesday, calling his death "an immense loss to our campus family, and an immeasurably greater loss for those close to him."According to Valparaiso police, authorities responded to the fitness center, located in the 1200 block of Strongbow Centre Drive, on Oct. 29 following reports that a man had been stabbed. The investigation led police to Jordan Andrade of Porter Township, who was initially booked on charges of attempted murder and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon. Charges are expected to be upgraded to murder.Jordan AndradePolice did not speculate on a motive, but the Northwest Indiana Times reports that Andrade had previously been diagnosed with serious mental health conditions. The newspaper adds that the stabbing took place a...

Cook County officials propose resolution focused on food insecurity

Published Sat, 08 Feb 2025 11:20:46 GMT

CHICAGO — Cook County commissioners came together Wednesday at City Hall to unveil a new resolution they’re proposing to tackle food insecurity.It is called the Food is Medicine resolution and specifically highlights the impact of you are what you eat.Cook County Commissioner Dennis Deer of the 2nd District is leading the charge and supported by five other Cook County commissioners.The resolution builds upon money already in the pot for this kind of work to the tune of about $650,000 – and adds an additional $350,000 to it to bring the funds up to a million dollars.The money would then be used for a number of things including:Building partnerships with fresh produce providers and the Illinois Restaurant Association to highlight healthy eating optionsCreating a new website where people can locate the informationCreating a campaign expressing the importance of quality food and nutrition – of which the south and west suburbs of the county have the least access to.The resolution wi...

Police in Wisconsin find alligator near Lake Michigan

Published Sat, 08 Feb 2025 11:20:46 GMT

SOUTH MILWAUKEE, Wis. (WFRV) – Alligators are known to be native to the Southeast and Gulf Coast areas of the United States — which is why officials are questioning how one ended up on a beach in Wisconsin this week.On Monday, officials with the South Milwaukee Police Department took a report of an alligator on Lake Michigan Beach in the city's Grant Park. With the help of the Milwaukee Area Domestic Animal Control Commission (MADACC), an officer with the department was able to locate and take the animal into custody safely. Florida woman says snorkel mask saved her from serious injury in gator attack The alligator is now in the care of MADACC, according to police.Alligator found on the beach of Grant Park in South Milwaukee. (South Milwaukee Police Department)Chief William Jessup of the South Milwaukee Police Department told Nexstar on Wednesday that officials have not yet determined how the 2-foot alligator ended up on the Lake Michigan beach, but he said he was grateful to the...

APD arrests man with fentanyl-laced cocaine, gun

Published Sat, 08 Feb 2025 11:20:46 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin Police arrested a man Thursday who was carrying half a kilogram of fentanyl-laced cocaine.The Austin Police Department said officers saw a vehicle in downtown Austin not following multiple traffic codes, so the officers initiated a traffic stop.Handgun and plastic bag with fentanyl-laced cocaine found on Diaz Cantu (APD photo)According to APD, the vehicle stopped and the driver, later identified as 37-year-old Jesus Diaz Cantu Jr., got out and ran, but the officers were able to catch up and detain him.APD said Diaz Cantu was carrying a plastic bag that had more than half a kilogram of fentanyl-laced cocaine, as well as a handgun.According to police, Diaz Cantu was charged with unlawful carry of a weapon, possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute and evading on foot.KXAN reached out to Diaz Cantu's attorney Wednesday. This story will be updated if a statement is received.APD said with Diaz Cantu’s arrest, the officers were able to remove ro...

Sherman ISD board blocks students from already-cast roles in 'Oklahoma!' production over students' assigned sex at birth

Published Sat, 08 Feb 2025 11:20:46 GMT

SHERMAN, Texas (KXAN) — A group of high school student actors will not be allowed their cast roles after a decision by the Sherman ISD school board just two weeks after auditions, according to reporting by Dallas NBC station KXAS.The decision, summarized, requires a student's genitals at birth to match those of whichever fictional character they were cast as in the school's production of Oscar Hammerstein II's 1943 musical "Oklahoma!"In a longer statement, Sherman ISD said it took action after a review of the script found content that it claims to be too mature for high school students: "mature adult themes, profane language, and sexual content.""The public performance of a high school musical requires the consideration and balance of a variety of factors given the fact that it is a production by students, the majority of whom are underage," the statement reads. "Unfortunately, all aspects of the production need to be reviewed, including content, stage production/props, and casting ...