samhexum

NASA wants to fly this nuclear Dragonfly drone on Saturn's moon Titan. https://www.space.com/nasa-dragonfly-drone-titan-wind-tunnel-test-video Testing is now underway on NASA's Dragonfly rotorcraft, a nuclear-powered, car-sized aerial drone that will look for potential precursors to life on Saturn's moon, Titan. But before Dragonfly can take to the sky, NASA has to make sure it can withstand the moon's unique environment. Dragonfly's main goal is to study the complex chemistry on Titan that may give insights into the origins of life in our solar system. Equipped with cameras, sensors, and samplers, this vehicle will investigate areas of Titan known to contain organic materials, especially those regions where such materials might have encountered liquid water beneath the moon's icy surface in the past. The lander will traverse Titan's nitrogen-rich atmosphere using four dual-coaxial rotors, but to ensure that these rotors can perform under such conditions, the Dragonfly team has conducted numerous tests at NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, including operating the drone's rotors in an wind tunnel that can simulate the atmospheric conditions on Saturn's largest moon. "All of these tests feed into our Dragonfly Titan simulations and performance predictions," Ken Hibbard, Dragonfly mission systems engineer at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL), said in a NASA statement. Four Dragonfly test campaigns have conducted: Two in a 14-by-22 foot subsonic tunnel, and another two at a 16-foot Transonic Dynamics Tunnel (TDT). The subsonic tunnel is used to validate fluid dynamic models developed by mission scientists, while the variable-density heavy gas capability of the TDT is used to validate computer models in simulated atmospheric conditions Dragonfly will likely encounter on Titan. The most recent testing, held in June, involved a half-scale Dragonfly model with hundreds of test runs, said Bernadine Juliano, APL's test lead for the project. "We tested conditions across the expected flight envelope at a variety of wind speeds, rotor speeds, and flight angles to assess the aerodynamic performance of the vehicle," Juliano said. "We completed more than 700 total runs, encompassing over 4,000 individual data points. All test objectives were successfully accomplished and the data will help increase confidence in our simulation models on Earth before extrapolating to Titan conditions." Analyzing this wealth of data involves a collaborative effort, with specialists from institutions ranging from the University of Central Florida to NASA Ames Research Center in Silicon Valley. Rick Heisler from APL, who oversaw the TDT test campaigns, emphasized the value of these tests in understanding Dragonfly's rotor performance in Titan's unique atmosphere. "The heavy gas environment in the TDT has a density three-and-a-half times higher than air while operating at sea level ambient pressure and temperature," Heisler said. "This allows the rotors to operate at near-Titan conditions and better replicate the lift and dynamic loading the actual lander will experience." As the pieces of the mission come together, the enormity of the task and the historic nature of the mission is coming into focus for the team. "With Dragonfly, we're turning science fiction into exploration fact," Hibbard said. "The mission is coming together piece by piece, and we're excited for every next step toward sending this revolutionary rotorcraft across the skies and surface of Titan."

A pair of famed international actors who are known from their work on the stage and on screen recently participated in a Q&A event about their upcoming play at Queens Theatre. Lupita Ferrer, a Venezuelan theater actress who has starred in movies such as “Mariana de la Noche,” “The Children of Sanchez” and “Rosa Diamante,” joined Lili Rentería, who known for her role in García Lorca’s “Mariana Pineda” and appeared in Venezuelan television series in the 1990s, participated in a Q&A session to discuss their starring roles in Queens Theatre’s production of “Casa de Muñecas 2,” which is a Spanish translation of Lucas Hnath’s Tony-nominated show, “A Doll’s House Part 2,” which received eight Tony nominations during its 2017 run on Broadway. The Oct. 19 event at Queens Theatre also featured the show’s producer and director, Juan Montero. In this sequel play, main character Nora returns home brimming with newfound confidence as a successful writer, but her husband hasn’t divorced her despite the events of the original play “A Doll’s House,” a classic from Henrik Ibsen that dates back to 1879. The sequel takes place 15 years after Nora slammed the door on her husband, feeling empowered but facing new struggles along the way. “While traveling the world and searching for plays with current, relevant content, we found this adaptation for ‘Casa de Muñecas, 2’ and I knew right then that we had to bring it to North America,” said Juan Montero, producer and director of “Casa de Muñecas 2.” “I found such vital, contemporary elements in it, such as women’s development in today’s society,” Montero added. “This story takes place in the 1890s, yet today in 2023, women are at a disadvantage despite how far we have come.” Ferrer, who has performed in countless Spanish speaking telenovela shows and has been acting since the age of 15, said she was drawn to “Casa de Muñecas 2” after reading the script. “I realized that this was a wonderful work filled with all the elements that a play should have: drama, confrontation, comedy and above all – a homage that applauds womanhood,” said Ferrer, who stars as Ann Marie in the production. Queens Theatre Executive Director Taryn Sacramone called Ferrer a “legendary actress.” “The opportunity to see her live onstage is one that her fans won’t want to miss,” Sacramone said before praising the rest of the cast, including Rentería. “The entire cast is outstanding – Lilli Rentería, who plays Nora, grew up in a theater family – I loved seeing her explore our space for the first time. She stepped onstage and started right into a monologue! Their energy is extraordinary and I’m looking forward to seeing them perform for our audiences.” The play will be performed in Spanish with open captioning in English, with showtimes scheduled from Nov. 10-12 at Queens Theatre, located at 14 United Nations Ave. S. in Flushing Meadows Corona Park. Tickets are available at the Queens Theatre website and range in cost from $32-$42.

Nothing... he listed some of the great happenings in his life... I just added the coolest one.

It's been awhile since we've had a good GG quote... Angelo: I met a beautiful young Sicilian aerobics instructor. Gorgeous eyes, angelic mouth, and a behind dat must have been made on a Saturday because even the good Lord himself would wanna take a day off to admire it! I lost my heart, and I opened my wallet, eh. All the expensive gifts and fancy dinners and weekends in Mykonos, eh. I even wore one of those-a tiny Speedo swimsuits, shows all your gingerbread and everything, eh. And she leaves me. What does a six-foot-seven-inch American basketball player got that I don't? Blanche: Well Angelo, speaking in terms of the gingerbread alone--- Dorothy: BLANCHE!!!

That's because they use holy water instead of vermouth.

And I've been portrayed by Robin Williams... Yep-- Mork, Popeye, & Me!!!

You realize that image does not show what the hell it is talking about, right?

ALL IS PEACEFUL... ALL IS CALM... OM...

Yeah, but the cheesesteaks balance it all out. If only you were lucky enough to attend games with fans who CAN'T stand up. Wouldn't that be great? Maybe you can contact the team and suggest they have such a game once a week. Sorry... being disabled can make me cranky about asinine complaints.

Oh yes it should have been. It was terrible; the only redeeming factor was lasting image it gave one of those 4 locked up for crimes against comedy in the finale, or rotating general annoyance during the run of the show.

I watched the show the whole time it aired, and liked it, but didn't love it (same thing is true for THE SOPRANOS) and have zero desire to ever re-watch it, or see new episodes. Even though I did enjoy the show, I found each of the characters annoying at some point, and it was rare that at least one of them didn't grate on my nerves over the course of a few episodes..

Former NBA center Dwight Howard has denied sexual assault and battery allegations stemming from a July 2021 incident at his Georgia residence with a man named Stephen Harper, according to a civil lawsuit obtained by The Post. An attorney for Howard, who currently plays in the Taiwanese pro basketball league, said his client is looking forward to “presenting the truth” in court. “What was a private consensual encounter was made public for profit and Mr. Howard looks forward to bringing the truth to light in a court of law,” an attorney for Howard, Justin Bailey, told ESPN. “The allegations against Mr. Howard are contested. Mr. Howard intends to present the truth…. “Despite being an easy target due to the subject matter and his status as a celebrity, Mr. Howard chose to trust in the justice system and will rely on all future court filings to speak for themselves.” Per the court documents, Howard said he engaged in “consensual sexual activity” with Harper, but denied causing any injury to Harper while they were at Howard’s home in July 2021. The encounter took place after Harper’s lawyers said in their initial filing that their client initiated communication with Howard over direct messages on Instagram in May 2021, according to ESPN. Howard also denied allegations of “intentional infliction of emotional distress” and “false imprisonment,” as stated in the civil lawsuit. Howard has asked the court to dismiss the civil lawsuit filed against him in July 2023 in Georgia. In a separate incident report obtained by ESPN, Harper went to the Gwinnett County Police Department in July 2022 — a year after the alleged incident — but no charges were filed. “This report was made following Mr. Harper being blocked on social media and after the first demand for payment was rejected,” Bailey told the outlet. Howard last played in the league in 2022 and continued his professional basketball career later that year with Taiwan’s Taoyuan Leopards. Ex-NBA star officiates wedding in Spain: ‘No better feeling’

The location was originally a movie theater; the 2nd floor is now going to be a gym. (no word on which chain) Man dies after choking on 'live octopus' dish with wriggling tentacles A South Korean man has died of a heart attack after choking on a “live octopus” dish with wriggling tentacles that was served as a local delicacy. The 82-year-old could not be revived after he choked on the dish known as san-nakji and suffered cardiac arrest Monday in the southern city of Gwangju, the Korea Herald reported. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital. Still-squirming octopus seasoned with salt and sesame oil is among the country’s most notorious delicacies, according to the outlet. International Food Expo coming to Hall of Science in Flushing Meadows Park explore the science of cooking!

I shall forever hang my head in shame.

Will Pfaadt be Pfaabulous? Will Ranger be in danger? Who cares? The NBA season is starting tomorrow!

'Can't put this in the book!' Paul Newman's 'naughty' letters to Joanne Woodward discovered by daughter Paul Newman’s daughter Melissa Newman has written a new book, “Head Over Heels: Joanne Woodward and Paul Newman – A Love Affair in Words and Pictures.”

Isn't Michael Richards still 'cancelled'? But how do you REALLY feel?

If he took 2 steps forward, he'd fall off a cliff.

I admire this woman for what she accomplished. https://www.longislandpress.com/2023/10/18/victoria-schneps-yunis-building-officially-named/ The Garden City headquarters of Life’s WORC, a nonprofit organization that has fought for the rights of special needs individuals for 50 years, was renamed the Victoria Schneps-Yunis Building on Wednesday in honor of its founder. Schneps-Yunis is also the founding president of Schneps Media, the company that publishes Long Island Press, Dan’s Papers, amNew York Metro, the Queens Courier, Brooklyn Paper and more. She founded Life’s WORC in 1971 after finding out of the deteriorating conditions at the former Willowbrook State School on Staten Island, where her daughter Lara Schneps had been. The facility was shut down after Geraldo Rivera exposed the neglect at Willowbrook with a Peabody Award-winning series. Victoria Schneps-Yunis and Geraldo Rivera. “The woman for whom this building is named is a perfect symbol of what has happened,” Rivera said. “Taking the tragedy of Lara and making Lara’s story everybody’s story. The story of love, challenge, and loss. The counterpoint to that story is the positive story. Vicki has provided an avenue I wish could be replicated in all 50 states in every country. It is the way to bring humanity and opportunity. Vicki and Life’s WORC deliver equality and opportunity and optimism. And the happy ending is as happy as it can be for any citizen, any American.” A cornerstone of what Life’s WORC does includes the building of group homes for people with special needs. The organization has dozens of group homes that replaced the warehouse-like conditions of places like Willowbrook and assists thousands of families. Politicians were in attendance for the event as well, including Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, whose office is directly across the street at the Theodore Roosevelt Executive and Legislative Building. “I will get to look out the window of my office every day and see Vicki’s name up there,” Blakeman said at the event. “Vicki Schneps is the queen of media. You all saw her entrance — we should throw rose petals next time. But I’m proud to have this institution right here in the center of Nassau County, because we have a very compassionate and kind county. We’re very proud to have Life’s WORC in Nassau County.” Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone was also in attendance. “Vicki really is the epitome of that idea that literally one person can help change the world,” Bellone said. “She inspired others around her, who also wanted to make sure that their loved ones had every opportunity. She inspired them to believe that there was something more, something better that they and their loved ones deserved. And she inspired a young journalist who shined the light on this story.” New York City Mayor Eric Adams was a guest of honor — and like Rivera, is a longtime friend of Schneps-Yunis. “When I write my book, there’s going to be a chapter on what she did to get me to become the mayor,” Adams said. “How far back our relationship goes, and how many lives she has touched. Today, we’re celebrating the harvest of a seed that was planted many years ago with a documentary that was done by Geraldo Rivera and Vicki to finally plant that seed. Today we’re seeing the fruits of the harvest as we build the name of the building as it’s named after my friend.” Schneps-Yunis recalled the journey of both Life’s WORC and Schneps Media through the decades. “It all started actually because of Geraldo, his coverage and the difference he made, and because of my lovely, beautiful ladies who we started Life’s WORC with,” she said. “When we started our activism, we were knocking on air — until Geraldo came with his cameras. People listened and people were moved. So I said, ‘Gee, that’s the press, I think I’d like to do that one day.’ And so I started with one newspaper in my living room. And, of course, today we own 92 newspapers.” She also recalled the story of her daughter, Lara. “Lara was my firstborn child,” she said. “She was my gift from God. She turned out to be a gift to the world. She led me here, where we are today. She appeared helpless, because she was brain damaged when she was born, and was a 3 month old developmentally her whole life. So she appeared to be helpless. But her existence helped thousands of people have a better life.” Schneps-Yunis also acknowledged the work of her children, who were in attendance, and her late former husband Murray Schneps, an attorney who was a driving force behind the class-action federal lawsuit that closed Willowbrook and reformed mental health care. “You are the fruits of our labor, the fruits of our journey,” she said to her children. “And I couldn’t be here without your love and your warmth and support. But Murray was a warrior. And he saw that Willowbrook could never be right. I was an advocate. And you know, we needed both of us and we were a dynamite couple where he fought in the courts. And it was the Willowbrook consent decree that we won.” The ceremony was closed out with a toast to Schneps-Yunis by Lynne Koufakis, board chair of Life’s WORC. “We just want to keep going forward,” Koufakis said. ”As Vicki said before, there’s so much that needs to be done. And all of you here today. We know you’re all here for the same reasons, and we just have to keep working together. And I know we’ll make it better.” Donations to Life’s WORC can be made here. 1970s In 1971, Life's WORC Founder Victoria Schneps-Yunis organized volunteers to picket and fight for the rights of the more than 5,000 residents at the disgraced Willowbrook State School. Vicki's advocacy work was inspired by her daughter Lara, who was diagnosed with severe brain damage at an early age and had been a resident at Willowbrook. In 1972, investigative reporter Geraldo Rivera exposed the brutal living conditions inside the Staten Island-based school, which at the time was the largest institution in the country serving children with developmental disabilities. The story helped gain national media attention which ultimately led to the closing of the school, which had fallen into disrepair following state funding cuts. WORC, as the organization was once known, went on to purchase the first group home in Little Neck, Queens, which would later be named the Rivera residence in honor of Geraldo Rivera. The first people to live in the home were children who previously resided at Willowbrook.  1980s Continuing the Life's WORC mission, the organization opened group homes across Queens and Nassau County throughout the 1980s. These new homes included Rivera, William Road, Schneps, Springfield A and B, and Nubile A and B.  1990s In the 1990s Life’s WORC’s first Day Habilitation Program, Life Links I, opened in Queens. Designed to provide enriching activities, socialization, and skill-building opportunities for teens and adults with intellectual disabilities with varying levels of support needs, Day Habilitation programs filled an important gap in services . The 1990s were also busy for Life's WORC Residential Services, opening homes across Queens and Nassau County and expanding into Suffolk County. New homes included Antonioli, Lindenhurst, Conduit A & B, Foont, Butler, Manzo, Park Avenue, and Roberts residences.  2000s The early 2000s were an important time for Life's WORC. The agency moved to a new headquarters in Garden City and opened even more homes across Queens and Long Island. In addition, we expanded the Day Habilitation Programs to include six locations in the same areas. Some of the new homes included Rosedale, Filomena, Udall Road, Laurelton, St. Albans, Claremont, Abi Zeid, Queens Village, Borer, Dix Hills, Garden City Park, 51st Street, Hauppauge, Ozone Park, Drakeford, Duke Street, Valley Stream, Holliswood and Westbury. In 2006 Life’s WORC Trust Services was established to meet the financial needs of the people we support and their loved ones to protect their assets and secure their financial futures.  2010s As the need for programs and services for people with autism rose, Life's WORC opened The Family Center For Autism (FCA) to better serve this community. The FCA opened in April of 2015, introducing an inclusive environment where people of all ages and abilities can explore a variety of activities, classes, and programs for people with special needs and their loved ones.  2020s The current decade brought new and unexpected challenges to Life’s WORC, but through it all we have continued to provide safe, quality supports and services to the 2,000 people under our care. Despite the difficulties posed by the pandemic, the staffing crisis and inflation, Life’s WORC has continued its mission to innovate and expand to support the special needs community. In the same year we celebrated our 50thanniversary, the agency was also approved for five new residences, which will bring the total to 50 homes. In addition, our newest endeavor, WORC Force Community Center, is expected to open in 2024. WORC Force will bring new skills and training programs and increased vocational and employment opportunities to the people we support and community at large. In an effort to be more inclusive and accurately represent the offerings available to the community at large, in 2023 the FCA was renamed the Family Center for Achievement. This change reflected the fact that the FCA expertise extends beyond autism to support other disabilities, and expanded offerings to those without disabilities and the community.

How Deep Should You Plant Your Spring-Flowering Bulbs? The proper planting depth for spring-flowering bulbs is important for overall plant health as well as ensuring the bulbs will bloom. Different types of flowering bulbs need to be planted at different depths, but a good general rule of thumb is to plant the bulb at three times the height of the bulb. So, for example, if a bulb is two inches from tip to base, you'd plant it six inches deep. Read in The Spruce: https://apple.news/Az6ooalmxSsuZ6DlX4XxQzQ

WHOOPSIE!!! A homeowner is mulling the next step after a company mistakenly demolished a home she owned in south-west Atlanta. Susan Hodgson said in an interview Saturday with the Associated Press that she found a pile of rubble in place of what used to be her longtime family property when she returned from vacation last month. “I am furious,” Hodgson said. “I keep waking up thinking, ‘Is this all a joke or something?’ I’m just in shock.” She said a neighbor called her while she was away and asked if someone had been hired to tear down the vacant house. “I said ‘no’ and she said, ‘Well, there’s someone over here who just demolished the whole house and tore it all down,’” Hodgson recalled. When the neighbor confronted them, Hodgson said, the workers got nasty. “He told her to shut up and mind her own business,” Hodgson said. She sent a family member over to see what was going on and who asked to see a permit. When a person in charge at the site checked his permit, Hodgson said he admitted he was at the wrong address. “It’s been boarded up about 15 years, and we keep it boarded, covered, grass cut, and the yard is clean,” she said. “The taxes are paid and everything is up on it.” Hodgson said she’s filed a report with police and has talked with lawyers but that they remain in limbo so far. “We’re still in this process of figuring out what to do,” she said. “We keep pressing in different directions to see if something is going to happen.”