News + current events
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We Have Liftoff: First U.S. Lunar Lander in 50+ Years Heading to the Moon
United Launch Alliance’s (ULA) Vulcan Centaur soars into space on January 8, 2024, for its maiden voyage, carrying Astrobotic’s Peregrine Lunar Lander. The mission, called Cert-1, will also carry on board the cremated remains of several people associated with the original “Star Trek” series, including creator Gene Roddenberry and cast member Nichelle Nichols, who portrayed the character Uhura. Roddenberry’s ashes have been launched into orbit before. ( GREGG NEWTON/AFP via Getty)
It streaked through the Florida predawn sky, putting the spacecraft on a roundabout route to the moon that should culminate with a first landing attempt on Feb. 23.
https://www.breitbart.com/science/2...er-in-more-than-50-years-heading-to-the-moon/
Moon landing: 'No chance' of soft lunar landing for US mission after critical failure
Astrobotic Technology has abandoned its moon landing mission after a propulsion system failure caused the spacecraft carrying its Peregrine lander to lose fuel
In addition to the NASA payloads, the Peregrine lander is carrying the remains of several "Star Trek" cast members and the DNA of President John F. Kennedy, Sky News reported.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/fox-new...time-fuel-running-us-mission-critical-failure
That sucks - but I think this means that future launches should abstain from carrying Star Trek ashes - years back, Scotty's ashes were lost in another rocket mishap...
https://greekreporter.com/2024/01/04/2-5-million-gold-found-hidden-tank-bought-ebay/
Gold Worth $2.5 Million Found Hidden in Tank Bought on eBay
A military enthusiast bought a tank on eBay recently and discovered $2.5 million of gold bars hidden inside in one of the most unexpected and intriguing places where gold has been found.
The 62-year-old, who runs Tanks-a-Lot on his farm in England, told the Daily Mail: “I regret handing it in. I should have at least got a finders’ fee for it but I got absolutely nothing.”
Gold Worth $2.5 Million Found Hidden in Tank Bought on eBay
A military enthusiast bought a tank on eBay recently and discovered $2.5 million of gold bars hidden inside in one of the most unexpected and intriguing places where gold has been found.
Man regrets handing in the gold found in the tank from eBay
Stunned by the discovery, Mead handed the gold to the authorities. Now, seven years later, he has admitted he wished he had kept the hidden booty.The 62-year-old, who runs Tanks-a-Lot on his farm in England, told the Daily Mail: “I regret handing it in. I should have at least got a finders’ fee for it but I got absolutely nothing.”
Zara, a four-year-old girl originally from the Czech Republic, has set a new record by reaching the base camp of Mount Everest. Accompanied by her father and seven-year-old brother, Zara has reportedly become the youngest girl to ever achieve this feat at the age of four years and five months.
An Instagram account under her brother's name confirmed the success on Jan. 7, and added that the family is currently making their weeks-long return from the base camp. The total length of the family's expedition to and from the base camp will cover approximately 270 kilometers, with a cumulative elevation gain of more than 20,000 meters.
The challenging journey exposed the team to harsh conditions, including temperatures as low as -25 degrees Celsius at the Everest base camp. The expedition faced accommodation challenges in hostels with minimal amenities, including cold rooms with temperatures dropping to -11 degrees Celsius.
Despite these conditions, Zara's father, David Šifra, emphasized the importance of careful acclimatization, monitoring blood oxygen saturation, and progressing gradually.
Zara, who has been raised in the demanding environment of rural Malaysia, showcased exceptional physical conditioning. The family's unique approach to Zara's upbringing involves imitating the traditional lifestyles of local tribes.
From an early age, Zara has walked 5-10 kilometers daily with cumulative elevation gains of 300-600 meters, and walked a total of over 2,200 kilometers in the jungle in 2023. The family's dedication to physical and mental development prepared Zara for the demanding trek in the Himalayas.
"Little Zara never bathes in warm water, on the contrary, she adds ice, which is probably why the cold didn't cause her any problems," stated Zara's brother Saša on the Instagram profile.
"During the march, there was no problem, thanks to her very good physical condition, little Zara even outpaced hundreds of other trekkers, with a few exceptions."
Residing in Malaysia, Zara is a citizen of the Czech Republic and Canada, and speaks Czech, Chinese, and English. Her family's unconventional approach to parenting has sparked discussions about the physical and mental capacities of young children.
https://www.expats.cz/czech-news/ar...ecomes-youngest-to-reach-base-camp-at-everest
@BlueC
Insurers ask NC to hike homeowners rates by 42.2%
North Carolina homeowners are bracing for a rate hike after insurers asked the state to approve an average increase of 42.2%.
www.wral.com
North Carolina homeowners are bracing for a rate hike after insurers asked the state to approve an average increase of 42.2%.
The North Carolina Rate Bureau made the request, claiming the industry is losing money insuring homes in the state.
In 2020, the NCRB asked for a 24.5% increase. That proposal was ultimately negotiated down to 7.9% following discussions with Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey.
That was the last time homeowners rates went up. Since then, NCRB Director Jarred Chappell says, inflation has hit the industry pretty hard.
"A lot of the material costs that go into home repair and the labor to do the repairs – the cost of that has changed pretty drastically in that time," he said.
He added that climate change is making storms more intense, yet more and more people are moving to coastal areas and building more expensive properties.
The NCRB is asking to almost double the insurance rates for beach communities. The average yearly insurance bill in that area would go from $5,626 to $11,196.
In Wake and Durham counties, the bureau is asking for a rate increase of 39 percent. The average yearly bill for home insurance in those counties would go from $1,293 to $1,797.
Jason Tyson, spokesman for the state Department of Insurance, said experts will go through the proposal and work with the rate bureau to negotiate a lower increase.
"The Rate Bureau has the right to request that, and we have the right to knock it down," he said. "We have the right to negotiate with them on behalf of North Carolinians who are trying to count every penny."
Homeowners and other state residents have a say, too. The request will undergo a mandatory public comment period. There are four ways to provide comments:
- A public comment forum will be held to listen to public input on the North Carolina Rate Bureau’s rate increase request at the North Carolina Department of Insurance’s Jim Long Hearing Room on Jan. 22 from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Jim Long Hearing Room is in the Albemarle Building, 325 N. Salisbury St., Raleigh, N.C. 27603.
- A virtual public comment forum will be held simultaneously with the in-person forum on Jan. 22 from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The link to this virtual forum will be: https://ncgov.webex.com/ncgov/j.php?MTID=mb3fe10c8f69bbedd2aaece485915db7e
- Emailed public comments should be sent by Feb. 2 to: [email protected].
- Written public comments must be received by Kimberly W. Pearce, Paralegal III, by Feb. 2 and addressed to 1201 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, N.C. 27699-1201.
North Carolina is the only state that decides insurance rates this way.
People who spoke to WRAL News couldn’t believe it.
"I think that’s absolutely ridiculous, especially when you don’t use your insurance all the time," said Renee Gresham.
Pablo Peralta said, "It’s too much money. Forty-two percent is crazy."
https://www.wral.com/story/insuranc...e-increase-for-homeowners-insurance/21224408/
Insurers ask NC to hike homeowners rates by 42.2%
North Carolina homeowners are bracing for a rate hike after insurers asked the state to approve an average increase of 42.2%.
www.wral.com
North Carolina homeowners are bracing for a rate hike after insurers asked the state to approve an average increase of 42.2%.
The North Carolina Rate Bureau made the request, claiming the industry is losing money insuring homes in the state.
In 2020, the NCRB asked for a 24.5% increase. That proposal was ultimately negotiated down to 7.9% following discussions with Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey.
That was the last time homeowners rates went up. Since then, NCRB Director Jarred Chappell says, inflation has hit the industry pretty hard.
"A lot of the material costs that go into home repair and the labor to do the repairs – the cost of that has changed pretty drastically in that time," he said.
He added that climate change is making storms more intense, yet more and more people are moving to coastal areas and building more expensive properties.
The NCRB is asking to almost double the insurance rates for beach communities. The average yearly insurance bill in that area would go from $5,626 to $11,196.
In Wake and Durham counties, the bureau is asking for a rate increase of 39 percent. The average yearly bill for home insurance in those counties would go from $1,293 to $1,797.
Jason Tyson, spokesman for the state Department of Insurance, said experts will go through the proposal and work with the rate bureau to negotiate a lower increase.
"The Rate Bureau has the right to request that, and we have the right to knock it down," he said. "We have the right to negotiate with them on behalf of North Carolinians who are trying to count every penny."
Homeowners and other state residents have a say, too. The request will undergo a mandatory public comment period. There are four ways to provide comments:
- A public comment forum will be held to listen to public input on the North Carolina Rate Bureau’s rate increase request at the North Carolina Department of Insurance’s Jim Long Hearing Room on Jan. 22 from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Jim Long Hearing Room is in the Albemarle Building, 325 N. Salisbury St., Raleigh, N.C. 27603.
- A virtual public comment forum will be held simultaneously with the in-person forum on Jan. 22 from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The link to this virtual forum will be: https://ncgov.webex.com/ncgov/j.php?MTID=mb3fe10c8f69bbedd2aaece485915db7e
- Emailed public comments should be sent by Feb. 2 to: [email protected].
- Written public comments must be received by Kimberly W. Pearce, Paralegal III, by Feb. 2 and addressed to 1201 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, N.C. 27699-1201.
North Carolina is the only state that decides insurance rates this way.
People who spoke to WRAL News couldn’t believe it.
"I think that’s absolutely ridiculous, especially when you don’t use your insurance all the time," said Renee Gresham.
Pablo Peralta said, "It’s too much money. Forty-two percent is crazy."
https://www.wral.com/story/insuranc...e-increase-for-homeowners-insurance/21224408/
that's the beauty of insurance...people don't have the option to not buy it, so the insurance company will never find a breaking point. The damage will hit current homeowners who will have to sell for less as most buyers set their price range according to the monthly payment.
4 dead in Arizona hot air balloon crash
Jan. 14 (UPI) — Four people were killed and another is in critical condition after a hot air balloon crash in the Arizona desert Sunday morning, the Eloy Police Department said.
There were 13 passengers in the balloon gondola, 8 of whom were skydivers, according to a statement from Eloy Mayor Micah Powell.
Powell said he was told by onlookers that after the skydivers jumped, something went wrong with the balloon, the fabric of which "was straight up and down," Powell said. "The impact was very large."
Powell said three of the victims were transported to a local hospital where they died. The fourth fatality occurred onscene.
"The details are slim as we stand here right now, " said Eloy police chief Byron Gwaltney. "Next of kin notifications are still ongoing and not everyone is local."
Relatives of one victim confirmed that 28-year-old registered nurse Katie Bartrom is among the dead. Bartrom, an outdoor and skydiving enthusiast, was from Indiana, her family said.
Eloy, about 65 miles southeast of Phoenix, is a busy spot for hot air balloon enthusiasts and is known for its balloon festivals and related activities.
Powell described Eloy as very close knit with a highly active skydiving community.
The crash happened in craggy desert scrub land about 5 miles north of town. The weather was clear and cold with temperatures in the mid-30s at the time of the accident.
"We have the world's largest drop zone," Powell said. "And when this occurs in our community, it affects us. It saddens us that we had to report this."
Powell said one of the city council members is a skydiver and that the incident hits especially close to home.
"This is sad," Powell continued. "You go up on a Sunday morning to feel the breeze, the coldness on your face, expecting to see your friends skydive out of a hot air balloon which is not uncommon and then we have a situation like this, so that's the sad part."
The National Transportation Safety Board and the FAA are on the scene and trying to determine the cause of the crash, officials said.
https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2024/01/14/4-dead-in-Arizona-hot-air-balloon-crash/4601705279999/
Yeah, I've been keeping up with that. I didn't see it mentioned in that article, but they're looking for a 99% increase on costal properties, too. It's all bullshit. I think last time in '20 they got 1/3 of what was requested.
I've got my comment finger warmed up.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/ar...dium-Texas-megachurch-paid-just-19-years.html
Megachurch pastor Joel Osteen has paid off a $100 million loan for renovations at his church in just 19 years with donations thanks to his congregation's 'faithfulness'. Osteen burst into tears as he ripped up the loan agreement on Sunday during a service at the 17,000 seat NBA stadium turned church in Houston, Texas.
Excessively farting passenger forces American Airlines flight to turn around
An American Airlines plane was reportedly forced to return to the gate due to high wind — a “disgruntled” passenger’s smelly farts.
The big stink over the flatulent flyer unfolded while a recent flight from Phoenix, Arizona, to Austin, Texas, was still on the ground, according to a viral Reddit post.
“Before most people had boarded, I observed that this man was audibly disgruntled about something, maybe hungover, rough day idk, but as soon as he sat down he was grumbling about something under his breath, like ‘f—ing hell’ or something,” user lamgalatx wrote.
After the majority of passengers had boarded, the man reportedly exclaimed: “You thought that was rude? Well how about this smell” — and proceeded to pass gas.
“(I don’t know) what provoked that comment, and while kinda funny to overhear, it was uncalled for especially coming from a grown man on an airplane nonetheless,” the user wrote.
But the excessively farting passenger’s gross behavior didn’t end there.
“The man who just purposefully farted moments ago decides to loudly and condescendingly say ‘Yeah, everybody, let’s just eat the smelliest food possible all at the same time,’” the poster wrote.
“A guy in the row over replied, ‘If you don’t like it you can fly private’ to which fartman says ‘That’s so f—ing rude,’ and another person nearby chimes in ‘I think we’d all agree you’re the rude one here,’” the witness added.
The plane was taxiing to the runway but came to a stop, according to the Redditor.
“An announcement comes over saying ‘Apologies for the interruption but we are returning to the gate, we will give you more info when we have it,’” the user wrote
“We get back to the gate and a flight attendant comes back and informs fartman that he will not be staying on this flight. He simply replies, ‘I don’t understand’ and she tells him they’ll talk about it off the plane.”
The man grabbed his bag and got off the plane.
“We all breathed a sigh of relief when he was removed, I think most ppl were on edge about what he may say or do next. The trip was only delayed by 15-30 minutes, so all in all I think American handled it swiftly,” he added.
Reddit users didn’t hold it in with their gas-related jokes.
“Maybe another flight was low on gas?” one person wrote,
“He missed an opportunity to fart on the way out and yell, ‘SMELL YOU LATER!’” another quipped.
The Post has reached out to American Airlines for comment about the big stink.
https://nypost.com/2024/01/24/news/american-airlines-plane-delayed-because-of-farting-flyer/
Meet the man who scaled one of the biggest unclimbed rock faces on EARTH: Documentary shows Alex 'No Big Deal' Honnold risking his life to become the first person to climb Greenland's Ingmikortilaq
Yet despite being joined by some of the world's best climbers, and actually putting on a harness this time, his latest project is no less death-defying.Alex has taken on Greenland's Ingmikortilaq - one of the biggest unclimbed rock faces in the world.
During the risky mission, Alex was blinded by freezing blizzards, had his face cut open by falling ice, and navigated a minefield of hidden crevasses, all before he even reached the cliff.