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Last time we talked about opening the bidding when partner does not have a five-card suit. The bridge gurus came up with an interesting convention to handle just this situation. Called the “convenient minor” convention, partner would open one club or diamond, bidding the longer and stronger suit. If partner is 4-4 in the minors, then partner opens one diamond - this allows partner to respond two clubs at the next opportunity. And, if partner is 3-3 in the minors, then partner opens one club. This allows YOU to bid one diamond if that is your best suit.

The other day, while Junior was sitting around doing homework, he asked a question about the Japanese internment during WWII. And as I proceeded with an explanation and comments about how horrible and shameful it was, he turned to me solemnly and said, “Were any of your friends sent away?”

The typical American spends more than 34 hours a week viewing live television, according to a Nielsen Rating survey done last year. In addition to that, your average American spends three to six hours a week watching video-recorded programs. More people are watching video content on their smartphones, too, as these devices become popular.

The California Homeowner Bill of Rights became law Jan. 1, 2013 to ensure fair lending and borrowing practices for California homeowners. The laws are designed to guarantee basic fairness and transparency for homeowners in the foreclosure process. Key provisions include:

Is there nothing sacred in this world? So many things that we took for granted are now just fading memories. You know, like necker’s knobs on our steering wheels; 78 and 45 RPM phonograph records; even using clothes pins to fasten playing cards to the fork of our Schwinns so they protruded into the spokes and  made it sound like we were riding a motorcycle. All these are gone. And we’ve learned to live with those changes, I guess.