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Gasoline and diesel prices spike overnight

NEW YORK (AP) — The average price for a gallon of gasoline jumped 11 cents overnight in the U.S., and drivers in Europe waited in line to fill their tanks with fuel, as war engulfed the Middle East and shipments of oil and gas were stranded in the Persian Gulf. Depending on the duration of the war, the pain of higher prices could increase in the coming weeks, and may be felt more heavily in areas reliant on imports. “Right now, the worst of it is centered on Europe, because Europe is a net importer,” said Susan Bell, senior vice president of commodity markets at Rystad Energy. ...

Parents creating picky and fussy eaters

It’s not my fault that my kids are picky eaters, I learned today. But it’s my fault if I don’t fix it. That’s what I gleaned from a recent article by Helen Zoe Veit, the author of a forthcoming book called “Picky: How American Children Became the Fussiest Eaters in History.” Children are not naturally picky, Veit tells us in her piece. Not at all. In fact, children are voracious eaters of vinegar and raw oysters and tiny crabs still in the shells. They are not engineered to demand Lunchables, then only eat the cheese out of the package and the second you cave and buy 10 ...

Ripple effects

Having covered the Rev. Jesse Jackson for more than a half-century, I have an insider’s understanding of why thousands of people lined up to wait patiently last week in Chicago to pay their final respects to the departed civil rights icon. Jackson knew when and how to defy power, but he also knew how to cajole the powerful to make room at the table for the excluded. Of all the memories I have gathered in the past 50 years, one stood out on this solemn occasion: Black Expo, an annual convention put on by Jackson’s Operation Breadbasket for several years in the late 1960s and early ...

Horoscope

The Sugar Moon rises when sap begins to travel, slow sweetness lifting through the trees. It’s an old name from an observant world, one that noticed how light and labor conspire to make life so sweet. This moon speaks of delicious reward, of patience paying off in golden ways. What you’ve been tending starts to taste like a natural dessert — subtle, earned and worth the wait. ARIES (March 21-April 19). You don’t always want to update. The decor feels like home, you know the operating system, you’re used to the look, and the old way worked just fine. But in today’s case, ...

Hints From Heloise

Make the bed simply and quickly Dear Heloise: Regarding the widower who doesn’t like walking around the bed to center the top sheet, here’s a simple solution that saves time and steps: Get a permanent marker in a color that is similar to your bedding. Make two small guide marks — one at the top edge (which is covered when the sheet folds) and another halfway down the side. Use these marks to quickly line up the sheet, avoiding trips around the bed. If you live alone, a couple of small inch-long marks on the mattress edge shouldn’t bother anyone. They’ll be hidden once the ...

Spring break planning leads to broken feeling

Dear Annie: Spring break is coming, and instead of feeling excited, I feel like I’m bracing for impact. We have school-aged kids, and every year this week turns into a mix of pressure, money stress and hurt feelings. Some families we know are doing big trips — skiing, the Caribbean, Disney, you name it. My kids hear about it at school and come home with that look that says, “Why aren’t we doing something like that?” I try to stay upbeat, but it stings, especially because I work hard and still feel like I’m coming up short. Here’s the bigger issue: My spouse and I ...