Adam Minter: Our space junk problem just got a cheap solution

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:51:47 GMT

Adam Minter: Our space junk problem just got a cheap solution This month, a hunk of space junk hurtled toward the International Space Station, putting the safety of astronauts and their orbiting outpost at risk. Fortunately, the cosmic hazard was detected early and an emergency maneuver rocketed the $150 billion station out of harm’s way. Such episodes, which burn gallons of valuable propellant, cost NASA and its partners an average $1 million per incident.There must be a better way, right? For years now, scientists and engineers have been dreaming up alternatives — mainly pricey new robots that could remove rapidly multiplying space junk or shove it further into space. But what if the best solution is what they’ve been doing all along — just getting out of the way?An unusual new NASA space-junk study asked a question only an accountant could love: What’s the most cost-effective way of solving the problem? Rather than focus on whether removing junk enhances safety and sustainability, NASA wondered if the potential...

She uses nail tech skills to customize Crocs, and now she’s got a Rondo storefront

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:51:47 GMT

She uses nail tech skills to customize Crocs, and now she’s got a Rondo storefront LaTishia Bradley said she didn’t even like Crocs until she reluctantly tried on a pair her mother bought her. Now she has a business designing custom Crocs that will host its grand opening on Saturday.Located at 854 Selby Ave., TB’z Customz Boutique will sell customized shoes, accessories and casual loungewear clothing, said owner Bradley, all in an effort to give back to the community and educate the next generation of entrepreneurs.TB’z Customz Boutique got its start at the end of 2021, Bradley said, when she customized her first pair of Crocs and put them on Facebook. “I thought people were going to laugh,” she said. “Then I got an order in 15 minutes.”Bradley said she never sought out to be in the retail business and was in training to become a nail technician when her doctor advised her to take a new route due to health concerns surrounding the chemicals nail techs use.With the Crocs gifted by her mother, Bradley said she went to her nail room and used her nail tools to c...

Rensselaer County plans 'Narcan Blitz' to curb overdoses

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:51:47 GMT

Rensselaer County plans 'Narcan Blitz' to curb overdoses TROY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — Rensselaer County will continue its efforts to combat a jump in deadly overdoses with a Narcan distribution at several locations next week. The event, dubbed "Narcan Blitz," is slated for Tuesday, April 4. Throughout the day, the lifesaving drug will be available at five locations countywide. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Like other counties across the state and nation, Rensselaer County is seeing an increase in fatal opioid overdoses in 2023. So far this year, the county has seen 24 of them. At the beginning of April 2022, there had only been 11. "We are taking what we believe is a realistic approach to a growing and tragic health issue in our county," said County Executive Steve McLaughlin. "This is an important fight, as we have seen too many families lose members struggling with addiction and drug use." Construction begins on new, affordable housing in Troy Narcan Blitz locations: CDTA Park a...

98.3 TRY Social Dilemma: My ex-wife is telling people I cheated, when it was actually her

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:51:47 GMT

98.3 TRY Social Dilemma: My ex-wife is telling people I cheated, when it was actually her ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — Today's 98.3 TRY Social Dilemma has to do with divorce. Here's the email: Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! Hi Jaime. I love listening to your social dilemmas and I have a big one of my own. Recently I got divorced after 17 years of marriage. It happened because my wife was cheating on me with an acquaintance of ours. I was willing to try to work it out, but she wanted out and so we divorced. However, now my wife, or I guess I should say ex-wife is going around telling everyone that she divorced me, and even accused me of being the one who cheated. She's even writing this on social media sites. I'm so angry about it, but I don't know if I should just let it go or defend myself. Some friends are telling me to go after her, since this could hurt of my chances of getting into another relationship. Others say, let her lie all she wants, we know the truth. What do you think I should do? Thanks for your hel...

Ask Amy: Ex-spouses continue their financial entanglement

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:51:47 GMT

Ask Amy: Ex-spouses continue their financial entanglement Dear Amy: My ex-husband and I divorced in 2016. We are both in our 70s and retired. We still co-own our beautiful family home.Since 2020, my ex and I have been living in the home (in separate apartments).This has mostly been compatible. We have a young-adult son who lives nearby. He has contributed greatly to the maintenance and management of the home, which has involved renting rooms to friends and renting out an “Airbnb” suite.My ex and I have significant equity in the home. Our divorce agreement says that we are each responsible for 50 percent of the house expenses. I have been paying more to cover house expenses than my ex can afford to pay.He says I will be paid back if we sell the house. Our divorce agreement says either one of us can call for the house to be sold, and so far, neither of us have wanted to sell. We would like to leave the house to our son, but rising taxes might make it unaffordable to continue living here in the coming years.My ex also owns a condo...

Pope Francis in hospital for check-up, has agenda cleared

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:51:47 GMT

Pope Francis in hospital for check-up, has agenda cleared Pope Francis (pictured) visited Rome's Gemelli hospital to have a check up, Matteo Bruni, his spokesman, said Wednesday (29 March). This raised concerns about Pope Francis' health.According to a Vatican source, the papal diary has been cleared for continued medical testing.The Vatican did not provide any details regarding the condition of the 86- year-old pope. According to the Corriere della Sera newspaper, he suffered from "heart problems" and was transported by ambulance to hospital.Italian media cast doubts on Bruni's claim that the checkup was scheduled. They claimed that a TV interview with Pope Francis, originally scheduled for Wednesday afternoon, had been cancelled.Ansa news agency cited unnamed medical sources who said that doctors weren't concerned about the condition of the pope after their initial tests. The Vatican did not immediately comment on these reports.The pope had earlier in the day attended his weekly general audience at Vatican. He was in good health.Pope Fra...

CHP officers shoot person at homeless encampment along 405 Freeway

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:51:47 GMT

CHP officers shoot person at homeless encampment along 405 Freeway Northbound lanes of the 405 Freeway in Hawthorne were closed Thursday evening after CHP officers shot a man while responding to a fire at a homeless encampment, authorities said.The incident unfolded just before 8 p.m. when officers received a call reporting a fire near the on-ramp to the 405 at Rosecrans. When officers arrived, they encountered a person who became uncooperative and began throwing bricks at them, a California Highway Patrol spokesperson said.That’s when the suspect was shot by CHP, authorities said. Sky5 images show traffic was backed up for over a mile as officers shut down northbound lanes to investigate.405 Freeway lanes in Hawthorne shut down for a possible shooting involving California Highway Patrol officers on March 30, 2023. (KTLA)405 Freeway lanes in Hawthorne shut down for a possible shooting involving California Highway Patrol officers on March 30, 2023. (KTLA)405 Freeway lanes in Hawthorne shut down for a possible shooting involving California Highw...

Dodgers' offense hot on chilly night in 8-2 win over Diamondbacks

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:51:47 GMT

Dodgers' offense hot on chilly night in 8-2 win over Diamondbacks Will Smith went 3 for 5 and drove in three runs, James Outman homered and the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks 8-2 on Thursday night in their season opener.Julio Urías (1-0), last year’s NL ERA leader at 2.16, got the victory in his first career opening-day start. The left-hander allowed four hits and two runs in six innings. He struck out six.All three of Smith's hits went to right field in a game that lasted 2 hours, 35 minutes under new rules this season designed to speed things up.The game-time temperature was 55 degrees — 15 degrees lower than Los Angeles’ average of 70 in March. Batting practice was rained out and the tarp covered the infield. But the clouds cleared before first pitch, revealing rare snow atop the San Gabriel Mountains that frame the outfield.Fans cheer during the national anthem prior to an opening day baseball game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Arizona Diamondbacks Thursday, March 30, 2023, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Ter...

Shohei Ohtani strikes out 10 in Angels' opening loss to A's

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:51:47 GMT

Shohei Ohtani strikes out 10 in Angels' opening loss to A's Shohei Ohtani's Pitchcom machine failed him for a stretch in the first inning, so he had to improvise with a rookie catcher. “It was tough because you want to go a different pitch, but you don't have enough fingers,” O'Hoppe said in reference to Ohtani's extensive repertoire. “We got through it, luckily.”Ohtani struck out 10 over six scoreless innings in his season debut coming off the World Baseball Classic title before Oakland capitalized once he exited, with Aledmys Díaz rallying the Athletics on a tiebreaking single in the eighth for a 2-1 win over the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday night. “We got a lot of guys on base and in scoring position, we just lacked that one big hit,” Ohtani said through interpreter Ippei Mizuhara.Esteury Ruiz singled and Tony Kemp hit a tying double to start the rally against Aaron Loup (0-1).The A's hoped to get a chance once Ohtani's day was done.“He kind of dominated us a little bit with 10 punchouts,” Oakland manager Mark Kotsay said. “In doing tha...

Review: ‘Rye Lane’ is a charming rom-com to celebrate

Published Mon, 23 Dec 2024 18:51:47 GMT

Review: ‘Rye Lane’ is a charming rom-com to celebrate By Mark Kennedy | Associated PressYas and Dom meet-cute in the best possible way in the new rom-com “Rye Lane.”They’re paired up at a karaoke bar by chance and simply slay, leaving the crowd demanding more and chanting their names. The new couple recognize “an immediate, deep animal attraction.”No, not really.That’s just the made-up story Yas tells Dom’s cheating ex-girlfriend to make her jealous and signal he’s moved on. It works: Even the ex’s new lover calls it “hands-down the greatest hook-up story of all time.”How these two 20-somethings actually hook up is the subject of this sweet, down-to-earth, funny and thoughtful rom-com that shows two strangers moving though London and visibly falling in love over a matter of hours.David Jonsson is Dom, the fresh agony of being dumped and cheated on after six years visible on his broken shoulders. Vivian Oparah is Yas, also newly single, but seemingly stronger. He’s ...