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Yahoo
28 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
At this Oregon bar, Buddy the cat is forever employee of the month
As regulars file into Sam Bond's at 4 p.m., one special fellow is among them. Buddy the Cat has been sunning himself on the patio since 3, and now he's strolling into the bar with his tail straight in the air. Customers coo at him or stick out their hands, trying to catch his attention. But Buddy heads straight over to bar manager Andrew "Cobra" Lathrop, who picks him up and gives him a big kiss. "Sometimes people are like, 'Oh kitty!' and he walks over, then he goes right past them," Lathrop said with a laugh. "He gets a lot of love." Buddy is a Whiteaker neighborhood celebrity. He's the eternal employee of the month at Sam Bond's Garage, a regular at 20 after 4 and New Day Bakery, and a purveyor of catnip and cat food from Red Barn Grocery. June 28 marks Buddy's 14th birthday, which spurred a community gathering and outpouring of love for the aging kitty at his second annual birthday bash at Sam Bond's Garage. Buddy's owner, Mike Smith, is amazed by his cat's celebrity status. He remembers showing up to Buddy's first birthday party at Sam Bond's and hardly recognizing anyone. He was astounded that all of the people there paid a $5 cover to celebrate his cat. "One of the employees announced that I was Mike, Buddy's owner, and everyone applauded. I think that was the only applause I've ever gotten in my life," Smith said with a laugh. Smith lives in a house close to Sam Bond's. He and Buddy moved to the neighborhood two years ago, and Buddy has been making a name for himself as the cutest cat around ever since. Smith remembers hearing about one of Buddy's first appearances at Sam Bond's: Buddy walked up on the stage during a performance, sat down in front of the singer and started cleaning himself. "Every eye in the room was on him," Smith said. "The band stopped playing, and everyone was laughing." Some bars might not like this sort of interruption, but Buddy has always been welcome at Sam Bond's. Lathrop is one of Buddy's favorite people ... mostly because Lathrop feeds him and gives him treats. Lathrop said Sam Bond's has had an array of bar cats in the past, but Buddy takes the cake as customer favorite. "We used to have a cat named Sammy, and then there was a cat named Chicken, and then there was a long time where there was no bar cat," Lathrop said. "Buddy is the best; people love him. He really embodies the soul of this place." Lathrop has a special relationship with Buddy. The two show up at Sam Bond's in the morning, both with sleep in their eyes. "He knows me, so he lets me clean him up a little bit," Lathrop said. After his morning routine, Buddy wanders the neighborhood. He might stop by New Day Bakery and say hello to his owner, or find somewhere to take a nap. Usually, he comes back to Sam Bond's for the 4 p.m. opening. Bar customers always say hi to Buddy, stopping by to pet his head or snap a picture. Some people even bring him treats or catnip, trying to win his favor in the swathes of people who want his attention. Members of Buddy's inner circle are quick to pass on knowledge about him: he likes feta cheese and being pet between the ears; he hates the sound of applause. "Sometimes he'll be in here all night, some nights he's in and out," Lathrop said. "Late night, when I'm leaving here, I have to kick him out. I'm like, 'No Buddy, you can't sleep on the stage.'" Lathrop will be getting into his car at midnight and see Buddy walking to the apartments across the street. He'll go into people's homes who have their doors open to socialize a bit more before the night is over. Sam Bond's Garage's 30th anniversary is on July 17. After a tumultuous year and a brief period where Eugeneans thought the bar was going to close, Lathrop is excited to celebrate something positive. For those worried about Sam Bond's future, Lathrop advises not to fret. Though the building is for sale, he hopes the new buyer will keep the business running in a turnkey operation. Samantha Pierotti is the food, drinks and "things to do" reporter for The Register-Guard. With tips on restaurants and local happenings, you can reach her via email at spierotti@ This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Eugene's Sam Bonds Garage throws birthday party for bar cat
Indian Express
28 minutes ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Brain behind Operation Sindoor, Parag Jain appointed new R&AW chief
Parag Jain, one of the brains behind the meticulous planning of 'Operation Sindoor', has been appointed as the new Chief of the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), officials said on Saturday. The two-year tenure of Jain, an Indian Police Service (IPS) officer from the 1989 batch of the Punjab cadre, officially begins on July 1. He takes over from Ravi Sinha, who retires on June 30. The decision to appoint Jain as chief of the external intelligence agency was made by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet earlier this week, officials said. Before this, Jain was the head of the Aviation Research Centre, an organisation that deals with aerial surveillance, SIGINT operations, photo reconnaissance flights (PHOTINT), monitoring of borders and imagery intelligence (IMINT). Jain is known for his exceptional expertise in integrating both human intelligence (HUMINT) and technical intelligence (TECHINT) and is widely credited as the mastermind behind the planning of 'Operation Sindoor', providing intelligence support that enabled the armed forces to execute precise strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). India hit nine terror camps across the border and Line of Control, including the headquarters of banned terror outfits Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba on May 7. The missile strikes were guided by pinpointed intelligence gathered by a team led by Jain, officials said. With extensive ground experience in Kashmir, Jain is well-positioned to counter Pakistan's ongoing efforts to rebuild terror infrastructure in PoK. Jain also brings extensive experience in addressing neighbourhood challenges and issues related to Khalistan terror groups. He played a crucial role in Jammu and Kashmir during the 2019 reorganisation of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. Throughout his career, Jain has held several significant positions. He was promoted to the rank of Director General of Police (DGP) in Punjab on January 1, 2021, though he was on central deputation at the time. His career includes significant operational contributions during the height of terrorism in Punjab, where he served as SSP and Deputy Inspector General of Police in various districts. Jain has also served in Indian Missions in Sri Lanka and Canada. During his tenure in Canada, he monitored Khalistan terror modules operating from the soil of that country.
Economic Times
29 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- Economic Times
NYT Strands Hints Today, June 26, 2025: Theme, answers, spangram and tips to solve puzzle
The June 26 edition of the New York Times Strands puzzle features the theme "Fowl Business," with all words related to hunted birds. The spangram is 'Game Birds.' The puzzle uses a unique word search format, where players link letters in any direction to form theme-related words. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Theme Based on Hunted Animals Today's Spangram Hints or Clues to Unravel Theme Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Answers for NYT Strands for June 26, 2025 How to Unlock Hints? How to Solve Puzzle Efficiently? Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tips to Tackle Strands Puzzles Begin with short, obvious words. Find the spangram early. Watch for common word parts like '-ing' or '-ed.' Use the day's clue for guidance. Remember to check diagonal and curved paths. FAQs The New York Times Strands puzzle for June 26, 2025 challenges players with a theme linked to animals. The twist for today's puzzle lies in identifying hunted bird species. The game includes a spangram and several theme-based words that connect in various directions. Solving the puzzle requires recognizing patterns and understanding the theme of today's Strands puzzle is 'Fowl Business.' This refers to birds that are commonly hunted. All words hidden in the grid fall under this category. The player's task is to locate and connect these bird names using adjacent letters. Words can bend or change direction within the special word in each Strands puzzle is the spangram. It captures the main idea of the day's theme. For June 26, the spangram is Game Birds. It appears horizontally in the grid. Finding the spangram early can help in locating the other hidden words that relate to clue provided for the theme is 'Fowl business.' Another clue offered to players is 'Feathery menu items.' These clues help players understand that the hidden words are birds typically seen as game meat or hunted complete list of theme words for today includes several bird species. These are all types of game birds. Each of these words uses connected letters in the puzzle grid. The list is as follows:QuailTurkeyGooseGrousePheasantPartridgeGame Birds (Spangram)Strands allows players to earn hints during gameplay. When players find three words of four or more letters that are not part of the main theme, the puzzle reveals one of the hidden theme words. Words like 'AILS,' 'BASE,' 'PAGE,' and 'RIDGE' can be used to unlock these complete the puzzle, players should start with easy-to-find words. Recognizing the spangram early helps in understanding the rest of the puzzle. Players can also spot patterns like common endings or repeated letters. Since words can bend or go diagonally, it is important to check all NYT Strands puzzle involves connecting letters in any direction to form words. Each puzzle has a specific theme and includes a spangram that spans across the grid. The spangram may begin or end anywhere. Finding it helps guide players toward other words linked to the spangram is Game Birds, and it appears horizontally in the puzzle earn a theme hint when you find three words of at least four letters that are not part of the theme.
Cambrian News
29 minutes ago
- Business
- Cambrian News
Senedd unanimously call for scrapping Barnett formula
The population-based Barnett formula – which was devised as a temporary measure in the late 1970s by Labour's Joel Barnett – is used by the Treasury in Westminster to set public spending in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Middle East
29 minutes ago
- Politics
- Middle East
OPN// Egypt condemns attacks of Israeli settlers on WB
CAIRO, June 28 (MENA) - Egypt strongly condemned the repeated attacks carried out by Israeli settlers against innocent Palestinian civilians in several towns and villages across the occupied West Bank, the most recent of which resulted in the killing and injury of a number of Palestinians in the village of Kafr Malik. Egypt affirmed that there is no doubt these systematic assaults against the Palestinian people constitute a blatant violation of international law and the four Geneva Conventions. These attacks also undermine all efforts aimed at achieving security, peace, and stability. In a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigration on Saturday, Egypt emphasized the urgent need for the international community to take action to put an end to these blatant violations and to assume its responsibility in confronting the ongoing injustices faced by the Palestinian people under the occupation. Egypt reiterated its firm position that all Israeli settlements in the occupied Arab territories are illegal and represent a major obstacle to reaching a just settlement of the Palestinian cause, added the statement. Egypt reaffirmed its full support for the brotherly Palestinian people in achieving their legitimate aspirations to establish an independent state along the June 4, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. (MENA) Y R E/M N E
