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Don’t count ballots after election day

This week the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a case that hinges on the meaning of Election Day — and it’s got Democrats sweating. The case, Watson v. Republican National Committee, challenges a Mississippi law that allows mail-in ballots received long after Election Day to be counted. It’s one of 14 states, including populous ones like California and New York, that allows a post-Election Day “grace period” (five business days in Mississippi but longer elsewhere) for ballots to be returned. That law is being challenged by the RNC. Taking a states’ rights ...

Economists got it right

Politicians say they can “make the economy work better.” I once believed they could. But years of reporting taught me that politicians’ attempts to “fix” the economy usually make things worse. Twenty years ago, Republicans and Democrats helped create the Great Recession by telling government-backed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to buy more peoples’ mortgages because, as President George W. Bush put it, “Owning a home is a part of (the American) dream.” But that guarantee inspired lenders to approve dubious mortgages, given to riskier borrowers. Housing prices shot ...

Hints From Heloise

How to water African violets Dear Heloise: African violets often look droopy and tired without the right light or amount of water. If your plant struggles in a desk or shadowy corner, move it to an east-facing window. These plants thrive in mild morning light but dislike the hot afternoon sun from west windows. Place the pot on a windowsill or on a table with a drainage tray. When the soil feels dry, push your finger about an inch in to check. If it’s dry, water the plant thoroughly and let excess water drain out. Let the pot sit in the tray for an hour so that the soil absorbs ...

Horoscope

Today’s aspects present a good reason to question inherited work ethics. That reflex that says effort equals virtue will be challenged. The lunar position to Jupiter suggests that sometimes the easy way is also the best way. A bit of “laziness” serves you well indeed because it shows you where you’ve been working unnecessarily. When you stop equating difficulty with value, you start to notice smarter options. ARIES (March 21-April 19). Your sweetness is noticed. A dog lingers by you. A bird holds its perch. Even the wind seems to hug you. There’s a wordless welcome from the ...

Stephen Colbert and son will co-write a ‘Lord of the Rings’ movie

NEW YORK (AP) — Stephen Colbert, famous devotee to J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle Earth, is co-writing a “Lord of the Rings” movie with his son. Warner Bros. announced early Wednesday that Colbert will script “The Lord of the Rings: Shadow of the Past” along with series veteran Philippa Boyens and Peter McGee, Colbert’s son. Producer Peter Jackson revealed Colbert’s involvement in a social media video that introduced a “very special partner” on the film. “It took me a few years to scrape my courage into a pile to give you a call, but about two years ago I did,” ...

A big birthday with an even bigger price tag

Dear Annie: My younger sister is turning 30 and has planned a birthday dinner at a trendy rooftop restaurant where the tasting menu is $165 per person — not including drinks, tax or tip. She also wants us to split the cost of a professional photographer “to capture the moment for all of us.” I want to celebrate, and the dinner does sound fun. But I just had to replace my transmission and pay an almost $2,000 dental bill. I’m in penny-pinching mode, and I think a home-cooked dinner or a less-trendy restaurant would be just as fun. I told my sister I might skip the dinner and ...