Homes That Sold for Around $450,000 - The New York Times

tebagbagasi.blogspot.com

Each week, our survey of recent residential sales in New York City and the surrounding region focuses on homes that sold around a certain price point, allowing you to compare single-family homes, condos and co-ops in different locales.

The “list price” is the asking price when the property came on the market with the most recent broker. The time on the market is measured from the most recent listing to the closing date of the sale.

Brooklyn | Studio

$400,000

285 Fifth Avenue, No. 2A, Park Slope

A 375-square-foot prewar co-op, with a sleeping alcove, hardwood floors, a kitchen with stainless-steel appliances and a walk-in closet in a non-doorman walk-up building.

15 weeks on the market

$400,000 list price

0% above list price

Costs $290 a month in maintenance

Listing broker Compass

---

New Jersey | 3 bedrooms, 1½ baths

$400,000

116 Vreeland Avenue, Bergenfield

An 81-year-old, 1,223-square-foot, vinyl-sided house, with a front porch, a living room that has a fireplace, a kitchen with stainless-steel appliances, a patio and an attached one-car garage, on 0.17 acres.

9 weeks on the market

$429,000 list price

7% below list price

Costs $9,622 a year in taxes

Listing broker Weichert, Realtors

---

Westchester | 4 bedrooms, 2 baths

$550,000

830 Hartsdale Road, White Plains

A 61-year-old, 1,786-square-foot, split-level house, with a living room that has a fireplace, a dining room with doors to a patio and kitchen with stainless-steel appliances, on 0.18 acres.

10 weeks on the market

$525,000 list price

5% above list price

Costs $14,541 a year in taxes

Listing broker Julia B. Fee Sotheby’s International Realty

---

Connecticut | 3 bedrooms, 2½ baths

$420,000

55 Winslow Road, Trumbull

This 48-year-old, 2,088-square-foot, raised-ranch on 0.66 acres, has a combined living and dining room, a kitchen with island seating, and a lower-level family room with a fireplace.

10 weeks on the market

$419,000 list price

Less than 1% above list price

Costs $8,249 a year in taxes

Listing broker William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty

---

Manhattan | Studio

$310,000

152 East 118th Street, No. 3F, East Harlem

This 11-year-old, 470-square-foot co-op, restricted to those with single incomes of $112,050 or combined incomes of up to $128,100, has southern exposure, a bath, and a washer and dryer in an elevator building with a gym.

23 weekson the market

$320,000 list price

3% below list price

Costs $558 a month in maintenance

Listing broker Douglas Elliman

---

Long Island | 3 bedrooms, 2 baths

$500,000

19 Eileen Avenue, Plainview

A 67-year-old, 1,026-square-foot, ranch-style house, with vinyl siding, an open kitchen with quartz counters and sliding doors to a deck, and an unfinished basement, on 0.15 acres.

18 weeks on the market

$565,000 list price

12% below list price

Costs $13,631 a year in taxes

Listing broker Douglas Elliman

For weekly email updates on residential real estate news, sign up here. Follow us on Twitter: @nytrealestate.

Let's block ads! (Why?)

"that" - Google News
May 31, 2020 at 08:26PM
https://ift.tt/2XK3DhA

Homes That Sold for Around $450,000 - The New York Times
"that" - Google News
https://ift.tt/3d8Dlvv

Pssst... That face mask isn't a coronavirus force field - CNET

tebagbagasi.blogspot.com

My local Starbucks is happy to see me, it says, as long as I wear a face mask.

Jessica Dolcourt/CNET

For the most up-to-date news and information about the coronavirus pandemic, visit the WHO website.

My local Starbucks reopened to foot traffic last week. With a sign on the door that said to come on in, I've been missed. It also said that if you're not wearing a face mask, one would be issued to you. In my county, wearing a face covering in any building is now required by order. A man followed me into the store, his face as naked as when he got out of bed. Nobody said a word. Nobody offered him a mask.

As I shop for food and supplies in my area, I can feel the mood lighten around me. The days are getting brighter and warmer. More businesses are opening. And even as the US scoots past its grimmest milestone yet -- 100,000 people confirmed dead from COVID-19 -- I can't help but feel that a false sense of security has taken hold around me, a seeming belief that wearing a face covering might keep someone from getting sick. As we face a potential second wave of coronavirus cases, this worries me. Just look at Wisconsin.

CNET Coronavirus Update

Keep track of the coronavirus pandemic.

Here's what I mean. There was the Starbucks barista in a flimsy mask who ventured beyond the plexiglass divider and leaned in to bring me my drink, our faces inches apart. Excellent service, ordinarily, but would she have done the same if we weren't both wearing a mask? Then there was the man at a jam-packed Costco who removed his face mask inside the store to take a sip from a water bottle. And another man a few feet away whose cloth mask covered his mouth only, his nostrils jutting out like binoculars. Let's not forget the woman in Trader Joe's who crossed the aisle right in front of me to grab an item from the shelf instead of waiting for me to move on, bringing our faces within spitting distance -- if it weren't for our masks, hers a cotton panel draped across her nose and mouth.

Are these signs that people are becoming so comfortable wearing face masks that they feel invincible? Or is it more a function of human nature that warm weather and loosening restrictions make the invisible threat of serious disease somehow less urgent? 

I have a personal reason to be cautious, to keep from acquiring or transmitting the coronavirus. My mother. Physically fragile (please don't tell her I said that,) but a woman of inner reserves who rises to the occasion, my septuagenarian mom is a recent widow. 

Now playing: Watch this: Coronavirus lockdown: Why social distancing saves lives

5:41

Dad died on February 2 -- from cancer, not the coronavirus -- robbing Mom of her life partner for 54 years and the physical comfort of friends, at a time when seniors are urged to isolate to stay safe. Now she has my brother and me to do her shopping, help with chores, keep her company and tackle the unpleasant paperwork that must be dealt with in the wake of Dad's death. 

If Mom were to get COVID-19 and my carelessness was the cause...that's not even a sentence I want to finish.

Face masks aren't a silver bullet

Face masks caught on for a reason. With a plea for civilians to stop buying medical masks and donate the ones they had, cloth masks you can easily make at home or buy became the preferred way to cover up. But medical professionals have never promised that a face mask alone can keep you from getting sick with COVID-19 or passing it on to others.

In fact, every recommendation emphasizes the need to also socially distance and thoroughly wash your hands in addition to covering your face and mouth.

The practice of wearing a nonmedical mask in the US as a guard against the coronavirus began before the official recommendation issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A grassroots effort to do something coincided with a growing desperation within the medical community about the severe shortage of medical-grade masks like N95 and surgical masks. The surge in cases of the highly contagious COVID-19 overwhelmed hospitals, necessitating a spike in the number of N95 masks needed to protect exhausted clinicians, nurses and staff.

I'm all for businesses reopening -- responsibly. Where I live, that means wearing a face mask.

Jessica Dolcourt/CNET

Here's what we know about nonmedical face masks. They've been found to help block large particles that you might eject unknowingly through sneezing, coughing, singing, speaking and spitting. Face coverings may be more effective at protecting others from you than the other way around, though common sense dictates that you're probably better off wearing one than not. They work better when they conform to your face without gaps, but cloth coverings aren't designed to fit your face the same way that a medical-grade mask like an N95 can, and obviously the masks you make at home or buy from vendors online aren't certified by an agency the way N95s are. 

Most importantly, wearing a nonmedical face mask is no guarantee that you won't acquire or transmit the virus. It isn't a force field. It's simply one measure in a group of recommended behaviors to help lessen the spread of disease among communities, especially vulnerable populations more likely to be killed by COVID-19, like older people and those with underlying conditions.

Face masks won't be as effective if you remove them in a crowd, and expose your nose and mouth. There's no current evidence that they can block small respiratory particles containing the virus. N95 masks, meanwhile, are known to slow the spread of respiratory particles, though even they may not be able to fully stop transmission. It's possible that some behaviors could still increase your risk of acquiring or transmitting the coronavirus, say -- and I'm speculating here -- if you sit inches away from someone for several hours in an unventilated room, or attend a crowded music festival.

Look, I don't love wearing face masks, either, but I also don't want to get sick -- or unknowingly pass it along.

James Martin/CNET

Months ago, when I first wrote about the topic that cloth face masks aren't a silver bullet against getting the coronavirus (without a vaccine, there is no silver bullet), some people got angry or upset, including people I know. My friend whose mom helped make cloth masks early on, assembly-line style, to donate to hospitals (admirable work). A nurse who told me that I had no idea how desperate the situation was in hospitals (she's right). The chorus of those saying that anything is better than nothing (I don't disagree). 

There were also people who thanked me. One friend with cancer who was worried that misinformation would lead people to believe they could do anything they want as long as they wear a mask. Another friend who works in healthcare and was sick with the virus, who appreciated the distinction being made between N95, surgical masks (PDF) and cloth masks. A politician with a passion for public health and education, who wanted to share the limitations of cloth masks with constituents so they wouldn't depend on them alone to protect their health.

I'm not a virologist. I'm not a scientist. I am a concerned civilian who dutifully wears a face mask in businesses as mandated by local law. But even after it isn't, I will probably continue to wear a mask in crowded public places or with people outside my household until a vaccine becomes available -- for the sake of my mom if not for myself. A nonmedical face mask may not keep me from acquiring or transmitting illness, but if it helps me stay aware that the coronavirus is still a threat -- even when the sun is shining and I long to return to "normal" life -- I'm buying in.

More to know about face masks

The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.

Let's block ads! (Why?)

"that" - Google News
May 31, 2020 at 09:51PM
https://ift.tt/2yPxcG3

Pssst... That face mask isn't a coronavirus force field - CNET
"that" - Google News
https://ift.tt/3d8Dlvv

Five charts that track the U.S. economy as states reopen - CNBC

tebagbagasi.blogspot.com

People congregate outside a restaurant in the upper east side during the coronavirus pandemic on May 2, 2020 in New York City.

Noam Galai | Getty Images

As states gradually reopen, the U.S. economy is showing signs of life after one of the most significant downturns in history. 

Though many restrictions remain in place across the country, Americans are gaining a greater sense of normalcy as they venture out to restaurants, increase travel and buy new homes. 

These charts track five key indicators that signal a growing revival of the economy as consumers resume familiar routines and move forward from lockdown measures and business closures. 

Americans are starting to drive and walk again, though transit use is lagging

Apple Maps is often a go-to navigation app for many travelers. However, with stay-at-home orders implemented throughout the majority of the U.S. in March and April, many Americans could only venture out for essential reasons, such as a trip to the grocery store. Data from Apple shows a sharp decline in requests for directions on Apple Maps during the early stages of pandemic as lockdown measures were put in place. 

As states began to ease travel restrictions, data shows an increase in requests for walking and driving directions. With retailers, beaches, parks and other places reopening, travelers have had more places to visit these past few weeks.

However, requests for transit directions still remain at less than half of their previous levels. As employees continue to work from home and travelers remain fearful of catching the virus in crowded subway cars, buses and trains, public transportation may not be an ideal option yet for many commuters.

Diners are returning to restaurants

The restaurant industry was hit hard by the coronavirus as most states restricted their business to takeout, delivery and curbside pickup. Data from the OpenTable network shows that restaurant bookings plummeted as these regulations were put in place, and were down 100% in the last weeks of March and most of April when compared to last year. 

However, several states have allowed restaurants to reopen dining and there was a recent uptick in bookings in May, indicating that the worst of the pandemic could be over for the food service industry. These restaurants are often required to operate under new health guidelines such as capacity limitations and having to space tables six feet apart. 

Hotel occupancy rates are coming back

The pandemic dealt a serious blow to the hotel industry and the broader travel sector, as restrictions were put in place both within the U.S. and abroad. During the initial stages of the outbreak, global hospitality research company STR reported that the occupancy rate for U.S. hotels was at just over 20% in April, a steep drop from their more than 60% occupancy in February. The pandemic also prompted major hotel chains and resorts to temporarily close properties as travelers put their plans on hold. 

However, occupancy rates began to increase in April and May as people resumed travel for business and leisure, and more hotels reopened. To help keep guests safe, major hotels have enhanced their cleaning procedures and put new health protocol in place, such as requiring employees to wear masks and putting plexiglass barriers at the front desk.

Air travel is picking up, but still down significantly

With airlines clamoring for government bailouts to stay afloat, the air travel industry has been one of the most visible parts of the economy impacted by the coronavirus. The daily number of travelers passing through Transportation Security Administration checkpoints fell almost 100% year-over-year in March and April and has picked up only slightly in May, according to data from TSA screenings.

However, as travel has increased, airlines have had to adjust booking policies in order to ease customers' fears of contracting the coronavirus. Companies like American Airlines and United Airlines are alerting passengers when planes are full and are making it easier for them to switch flights. 

Home purchases are up vs. last year

As coronavirus-related restrictions ease, potential homebuyers have been able to tour open houses and resume their search for a new home. Though the singly-family home mortgage purchase index saw a more than 30% drop in April when compared to last year, it has since reversed its course, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association. The index is now up almost 10% compared to the same period last year, indicating that the home purchase market could be on its way to a quick recovery. 

Let's block ads! (Why?)

"that" - Google News
May 31, 2020 at 08:42PM
https://ift.tt/3cnMu2d

Five charts that track the U.S. economy as states reopen - CNBC
"that" - Google News
https://ift.tt/3d8Dlvv

Amazon removed racist images that appeared on some listings for headphones - The Verge

tebagbagasi.blogspot.com

Amazon says it has removed images with racist language from some listings for headphones on its UK site, The Financial Times reported. Users posted screenshots to Twitter of search results for “AirPods” and “bluetooth headphones” that appeared on the e-commerce site. Instead of photos of headphones, the search results showed images that contained the N-word.

The listings seemed to be limited to the UK site, and appeared on the pages of new Amazon sellers, most of whom had few or no customer reviews, the FT reported.

As of Sunday morning the images did not appear on Amazon’s UK site. An Amazon spokesperson told Reuters that it was removing the images “and have taken action on the bad actor.” It wasn’t clear who the bad actor is, and whether there was a security breach involved.

Amazon did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Verge on Sunday.

Let's block ads! (Why?)

"that" - Google News
May 31, 2020 at 09:28PM
https://ift.tt/2zMcaZi

Amazon removed racist images that appeared on some listings for headphones - The Verge
"that" - Google News
https://ift.tt/3d8Dlvv

Tom Yamachika: About All That Federal COVID Money - Honolulu Civil Beat

tebagbagasi.blogspot.com

Stay Up To Date On The Coronavirus And Other Hawaii Issues

Sign up for our FREE morning newsletter and face each day more informed.

Sorry. That's an invalid e-mail.

Thanks! We'll send you a confirmation e-mail shortly.

Let's block ads! (Why?)

"that" - Google News
May 31, 2020 at 05:01PM
https://ift.tt/2TUZiXG

Tom Yamachika: About All That Federal COVID Money - Honolulu Civil Beat
"that" - Google News
https://ift.tt/3d8Dlvv

Trump Takes Credit For Space Launch That Got Its Start A Decade Ago - KUOW News and Information

tebagbagasi.blogspot.com

Shortly after NASA astronauts blasted off from U. S. soil for the first time since 2011, President Trump painted a dire picture of what the space agency had looked like when he first came to office.

"There was grass growing through the cracks of your concrete runways — not a pretty sight, not a pretty sight at all," he said at NASA's enormous Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, where he had come to watch two astronauts launch to orbit in a vehicle owned and operated by SpaceX.

"With this launch, the decades of lost years and little action are officially over," he said. "Past leaders put the United States at the mercy of foreign nations to send our astronauts into orbit — not anymore. Today we once again proudly launch American astronauts on American rockets — the best in the world — from right here on American soil."

Actually, it was two past presidents who put NASA on the path to this SpaceX launch, though it would be hard to know that from listening to the post-launch speeches.

"Today is the culmination of three and a half years of renewed leadership in space," said Vice President Pence, who called the launch "a tribute to the vision and leadership of a president who, from the very first days of this administration, was determined to revive NASA and American leadership in human space exploration."

The groundwork for sending NASA astronauts up on a commercial space vehicle, however, goes back more than a decade. It proceeded steadily under both Republican and Democratic administrations.

"This is a program that demonstrates the success when you have continuity of purpose going from one administration to the next," said NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine in a recent preflight briefing.

In 2006, under President George W. Bush, the space agency started a program to get commercial companies to begin delivering cargo to the international space station.

The idea was to save money for taxpayers by having NASA buy delivery services rather than own and operate its own cargo ships. This would also provide a financial incentive for the private sector to develop new spacecraft that could be used both by NASA and by other paying customers.

The plan worked. In 2012, an unoccupied, robotic SpaceX capsule successfully docked with the International Space Station — a first for a commercially owned and operated spaceship.

Having companies take astronauts to the outpost was a natural extension of this cargo program. NASA announced its commercial crew program in 2010, under President Barack Obama.

Companies that received initial funding for developing spaceships that could serve as space taxis included Blue Origin, Boeing, Paragon Space Development Corporation, Sierra Nevada Corporation and United Launch Alliance.

In 2014, NASA selected SpaceX and Boeing to transport its astronauts, awarding them contracts worth $6.8 billion. A year later, the agency named four astronauts who would eventually fly in these spaceships — including Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley, the two crew members assigned to the SpaceX test flight that launched on Saturday.

The shift to commercial crew transportation services in 2010, coming just as the agency's 30-year-old space shuttle program was winding down, marked a real change for NASA. Many were skeptical, especially in Congress. Bridenstine credits former NASA administrator Charles Bolden, who served under President Obama, for his efforts to make it happen.

"Charlie Bolden did just yeoman's work in order to get this program off the ground, to get it going, and here we are all these years later, having this success," said Bridenstine in that preflight briefing.

The space program has historically united people across political divides, he noted, adding that the same will be true for this unprecedented SpaceX launch.

"It's not just going to unite Republicans and Democrats, it's going to unite the world. The whole world is going to be watching this particular launch, and all of our international partners are very interested," said Bridenstine.

He also, however, gave credit to his boss. "President Trump has been a massive space advocate. He promised to launch American astronauts on American rockets. He promised to create a moon program," said Bridenstine. "He's done both of those and he's backed it up with his budget requests, not just with the words."

But when Bridenstine recently tweeted that "Under President Trump's leadership, we are once again launching American astronauts on American rockets from American soil," one astronaut took issue with that statement, pointing out that the commercial crew program had started in 2010, years before Trump took was elected.

"I am thankful for the continued support from you and the Administration, but if there is a President to thank for this milestone, it's @BarackObama," tweeted Garrett Reisman, a former NASA astronaut who spent years working for SpaceX and has served as a consultant for the company.

The Trump administration has told NASA to return humans to the surface of the moon by 2024, the last year of what would be a second Trump administration if the president is reelected. That deadline is seen as an unrealistic long shot by many in the space community.

The moon effort was being spearheaded by Douglas Loverro, the head of human spaceflight at NASA. But last week, he was forced to resign, because of what he said was a mistake he had made earlier this year in effort to fulfill the mission. [Copyright 2020 NPR]

Let's block ads! (Why?)

"that" - Google News
May 31, 2020 at 11:13AM
https://ift.tt/3gzW7yt

Trump Takes Credit For Space Launch That Got Its Start A Decade Ago - KUOW News and Information
"that" - Google News
https://ift.tt/3d8Dlvv

Minneapolis businesses, including some that were damaged, are standing in solidarity with protesters - CNN

tebagbagasi.blogspot.com

In Minneapolis, where former police officer Derek Chauvin has been charged in Floyd's death, demonstrators have voiced their anger in chants and on placards. But the protests have also led to outbreaks of violence.

Hundreds of businesses in the state's Twin Cities -- Minneapolis and St. Paul -- were damaged or looted during four days of unrest.

Yet some of those business owners are still voicing their support for protesters.

Their restaurant burned, but they're standing tall

In the midst of the protests and violence in Minneapolis stood a popular local restaurant: the Gandhi Mahal.

Ruhel Islam, the business owner who immigrated from Bangladesh 24 years ago to escape state violence, started his business nearly 13 years ago. It burned to the ground during the unrest Thursday night.

When he found out, Islam said he only had one response: "Let my building burn. Justice needs to be served and those officers need to be put in jail."

His daughter, Hafsa Islam, said her family went from their normal routine of making curry to transforming their restaurant into a safe haven for injured protesters who needed first aid.

"We were worried about business, of course, but we were more worried about the protesters," she said. "All of Tuesday and Wednesday we took in hundreds of injured people. By Thursday night, it felt too dangerous to be there."

As the evening raged on, Hafsa said locals did their best to protect Gandhi Mahal by standing in front of it, but within hours, its windows were broken and by morning their restaurant had turned into ashes.

Despite the loss of their business and their stance against violence, Hafsa said they were standing in support of protesters and their cause.

"This isn't about the business, this is about us, this is about George Floyd and all of the people whose lives have been taken wrongfully because of police brutality," she said. "We are fighting for justice in such an unjust system."

Since Gandhi Mahal burned down, more than $79,400 has been raised for the business. While some of the money will be used to rebuild the Bangladeshi eatery, the rest will go towards helping other local uninsured businesses that have been damaged, Hafsa said.

Islam added that the city cannot expect peace until it solves the root of the problem, which he said is police brutality.

"I grew up in a Third World country surrounded by the violence I'm seeing now," he said. "I don't want to see it here. I don't want a police state traumatizing its people. It's time to make a change. We can't make any more excuses for police. This is America. We are here for justice."

They transformed their bookstore into a safe space

Moon Palace Books, a bookstore and restaurant in Minneapolis, was one of the many businesses caught in the middle of the protests. But instead of turning people away, owner Jamie Schwesnedl and his wife, Angela, decided to transform their business into a safe space.

Schwesnedl hung an "Abolish the Police" sign in a window and refused to allow officers to use their parking lot and outdoor space as a staging ground.

"We were not going to allow them to prepare or do something like that on our property," Schwesnedl told CNN.

The couple transformed their space into a "harm free zone," where people set up medic stations for injured protesters to wash out tear gas and clean their wounds.

The bookstore, which had windows broken and was vandalized with graffiti, is one of the many businesses standing in support of protesters, "no matter what."

"People are furious, and rightly so," Schwesnedl said of the community's ongoing issues with police. "There's no government organization or person in the city actually listening to people, hearing their pain and their anger, and addressing their concerns."

"I don't know what the hell is going on, but it should not be the job of small business owners to keep our customers and our neighbors and our community safe from the police, and yet here we are."

They're using their tattoo parlor to inspire protesters

A tattoo parlor in Minneapolis did not waste any time to show its support for protesters.

Emi Nijiya, the owner of Jackalope Tattoo, told CNN they decided to board up the shop on Friday and spray supportive messages across the storefront.

Using spray paint, Nijiya, their wife, and coworkers covered the shop with slogans and quotes to inspire protesters. Among them was Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous words: "A riot is the language of the unheard."

"I think a lot of people think that these riots are not part of our history and that they don't do anything," Nijiya said. "This was our way of saying yes, this is justified and it is something we should be fighting for. We need to be fighting for change."

While Nijiya said they knew protesters could still damage their parlor, it did not change their stance on the protests.

"We fully support people who are rioting and protesting for the cause and fighting for those lives, but we do not support what is being done by white supremacists and people outside the state coming in just to cause chaos and make this movement like something different than it is," Nijiya added.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and other officials said on Saturday that violence in Minneapolis was being fueled by outsiders and that vandals are largely nonresidents of the cities with no interest in Floyd's death. The governor estimated only 20% of protesters there are Minnesotans.

"We will always stand with the protesters," Nijiya said, before adding that businesses could afford to lose money but "we can't afford to lose these people's lives."

Let's block ads! (Why?)

"that" - Google News
May 31, 2020 at 11:24AM
https://ift.tt/2Bj3PwD

Minneapolis businesses, including some that were damaged, are standing in solidarity with protesters - CNN
"that" - Google News
https://ift.tt/3d8Dlvv

Analyst Not Buying Report That Clowney Turned Down Big Browns Offer - Browns Nation

tebagbagasi.blogspot.com

Cleveland Browns Nick Chubb Nike Game Jersey Giveaway!Read More

Let's block ads! (Why?)

"that" - Google News
May 31, 2020 at 05:29AM
https://ift.tt/2BfMdBH

Analyst Not Buying Report That Clowney Turned Down Big Browns Offer - Browns Nation
"that" - Google News
https://ift.tt/3d8Dlvv

Democratic And Republican Presidents Supported The NASA - SpaceX Partnership - NPR

tebagbagasi.blogspot.com

President Trump, Vice President Pence and Karen Pence view the SpaceX flight to the International Space Station at Kennedy Space Center, Saturday in Cape Canaveral, Fla. Alex Brandon/AP hide caption

toggle caption

Alex Brandon/AP

Shortly after NASA astronauts blasted off from U. S. soil for the first time since 2011, President Trump painted a dire picture of what the space agency had looked like when he first came to office.

"There was grass growing through the cracks of your concrete runways — not a pretty sight, not a pretty sight at all," he said at NASA's enormous Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, where he had come to watch two astronauts launch to orbit in a vehicle owned and operated by SpaceX.

"With this launch, the decades of lost years and little action are officially over," he said. "Past leaders put the United States at the mercy of foreign nations to send our astronauts into orbit — not anymore. Today we once again proudly launch American astronauts on American rockets — the best in the world — from right here on American soil."

Actually, it was two past presidents who put NASA on the path to this SpaceX launch, though it would be hard to know that from listening to the post-launch speeches.

"Today is the culmination of three and a half years of renewed leadership in space," said Vice President Pence, who called the launch "a tribute to the vision and leadership of a president who, from the very first days of this administration, was determined to revive NASA and American leadership in human space exploration."

The groundwork for sending NASA astronauts up on a commercial space vehicle, however, goes back more than a decade. It proceeded steadily under both Republican and Democratic administrations.

"This is a program that demonstrates the success when you have continuity of purpose going from one administration to the next," said NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine in a recent preflight briefing.

In 2006, under President George W. Bush, the space agency started a program to get commercial companies to begin delivering cargo to the international space station.

The idea was to save money for taxpayers by having NASA buy delivery services rather than own and operate its own cargo ships. This would also provide a financial incentive for the private sector to develop new spacecraft that could be used both by NASA and by other paying customers.

The plan worked. In 2012, an unoccupied, robotic SpaceX capsule successfully docked with the International Space Station — a first for a commercially owned and operated spaceship.

Having companies take astronauts to the outpost was a natural extension of this cargo program. NASA announced its commercial crew program in 2010, under President Barack Obama.

Companies that received initial funding for developing spaceships that could serve as space taxis included Blue Origin, Boeing, Paragon Space Development Corporation, Sierra Nevada Corporation and United Launch Alliance.

In 2014, NASA selected SpaceX and Boeing to transport its astronauts, awarding them contracts worth $6.8 billion. A year later, the agency named four astronauts who would eventually fly in these spaceships — including Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley, the two crew members assigned to the SpaceX test flight that launched on Saturday.

The shift to commercial crew transportation services in 2010, coming just as the agency's 30-year-old space shuttle program was winding down, marked a real change for NASA. Many were skeptical, especially in Congress. Bridenstine credits former NASA administrator Charles Bolden, who served under President Obama, for his efforts to make it happen.

"Charlie Bolden did just yeoman's work in order to get this program off the ground, to get it going, and here we are all these years later, having this success," said Bridenstine in that preflight briefing.

The space program has historically united people across political divides, he noted, adding that the same will be true for this unprecedented SpaceX launch.

"It's not just going to unite Republicans and Democrats, it's going to unite the world. The whole world is going to be watching this particular launch, and all of our international partners are very interested," said Bridenstine.

He also, however, gave credit to his boss. "President Trump has been a massive space advocate. He promised to launch American astronauts on American rockets. He promised to create a moon program," said Bridenstine. "He's done both of those and he's backed it up with his budget requests, not just with the words."

But when Bridenstine recently tweeted that "Under President Trump's leadership, we are once again launching American astronauts on American rockets from American soil," one astronaut took issue with that statement, pointing out that the commercial crew program had started in 2010, years before Trump took was elected.

"I am thankful for the continued support from you and the Administration, but if there is a President to thank for this milestone, it's @BarackObama," tweeted Garrett Reisman, a former NASA astronaut who spent years working for SpaceX and has served as a consultant for the company.

The Trump administration has told NASA to return humans to the surface of the moon by 2024, the last year of what would be a second Trump administration if the president is reelected. That deadline is seen as an unrealistic long shot by many in the space community.

The moon effort was being spearheaded by Douglas Loverro, the head of human spaceflight at NASA. But last week, he was forced to resign, because of what he said was a mistake he had made earlier this year in effort to fulfill the mission.

Let's block ads! (Why?)

"that" - Google News
May 31, 2020 at 08:07AM
https://ift.tt/2TV0Elg

Democratic And Republican Presidents Supported The NASA - SpaceX Partnership - NPR
"that" - Google News
https://ift.tt/3d8Dlvv

Trump threatens protesters with “vicious dogs.” Some note they’ve seen that before. - Vox.com

tebagbagasi.blogspot.com

President Donald Trump praised the Secret Service for their handling of a protest outside the White House Friday night and said if demonstrators had gotten closer to the residence they would have been met with “vicious dogs” and “ominous weapons” — violent imagery that Trump’s critics point out were tactics used against civil rights protesters in the 1960s.

The White House protest was one of many nationwide, in response to police brutality and racism, that broke out Friday night in the wake of the death of George Floyd, a black man who was killed by a white police officer during an arrest in Minneapolis on Monday.

Demonstrators didn’t come close to breaching the White House fence, Trump tweeted on Saturday morning, but if they had, “they would have been greeted with the most vicious dogs, and the most ominous weapons.”

“That’s when people would have been really badly hurt, at least,” he wrote.

....have been greeted with the most vicious dogs, and most ominous weapons, I have ever seen. That’s when people would have been really badly hurt, at least. Many Secret Service agents just waiting for action. “We put the young ones on the front line, sir, they love it, and....

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 30, 2020

Trump also said the Secret Service agents stationed to protect him were “just waiting for action” and, seemingly quoting a Secret Service official, wrote “‘We put the young ones on the front line, sir, they love it, and good practice.’”

Later that morning, he accused the White House protesters of being “professionally managed” and seemed to call for a counter-protest Saturday evening: “Tonight, I understand, is MAGA NIGHT AT THE WHITE HOUSE???”

Asked whether he was stoking racial tensions by pushing for a counter-demonstration, Trump refuted the suggestion.

“MAGA is make America great again. These are people that love our country. I have no idea if they’re going to be here. I was just asking,” he said, Politico reported. “By the way, they love African American people. They love black people.”

Many responded Saturday by pointing out the similarities between Trump’s “vicious dogs” threat and law enforcement response to people of color demonstrating for civil rights in the 1960s, when police used canine units to break up peaceful protests.

Yesterday, 46-1 quoted a racist Miami cop from the 60s, threatening to shoot Black people: “when the looting starts, the shooting starts.“

Today, he bragged that if protesters breached the WH fence they would’ve had “the most vicious dogs“ sicced on them, like the good ole days. pic.twitter.com/kn2a7xQBHw

— Bishop Talbert Swan (@TalbertSwan) May 30, 2020

It’s not the first time Trump has invoked civil rights-era imagery in discussing reaction to Floyd’s death. Criticizing Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and property damage incurred in the wake of protests in a tweet on Thursday night, Trump wrote “when the looting starts, the shooting starts.”

Twitter flagged the tweet for violating the site’s rules against glorifying violence.

The quote has a history of connection to racist policies.

In 1967, then-Miami police chief Walter Headley infamously used it while describing a brutal policing tactic his force planned to employ to stop crime in black neighborhoods.

Clarence Lusane of Howard University told WBUR that Headley may have picked up the term from the segregationist public safety commissioner of Birmingham, Alabama, Eugene “Bull” Connor. Connor set police dogs and fire hoses against black protesters in the 1960s.

Trump walked back the tweet on Friday, writing that his statement was “spoken as a fact, not as a statement” and was intended to explain why a man was shot and killed in Minneapolis during the unrest on Wednesday night.

Many took Trump’s second tweet referencing civil rights-era police brutality to be a clear message that he was attempting to increase racial divisions as the protests continue across the country.

Washington, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser, whom Trump falsely accused of not allowing local police to intervene in the protest outside the White House, urged the nation to “exercise great restraint even while this President continues to try to divide us.”

---

Support Vox’s explanatory journalism

Every day at Vox, we aim to answer your most important questions and provide you, and our audience around the world, with information that has the power to save lives. Our mission has never been more vital than it is in this moment: to empower you through understanding. Vox’s work is reaching more people than ever, but our distinctive brand of explanatory journalism takes resources — particularly during a pandemic and an economic downturn. Your financial contribution will not constitute a donation, but it will enable our staff to continue to offer free articles, videos, and podcasts at the quality and volume that this moment requires. Please consider making a contribution to Vox today.

Let's block ads! (Why?)

"that" - Google News
May 31, 2020 at 04:53AM
https://ift.tt/3gBEfTG

Trump threatens protesters with “vicious dogs.” Some note they’ve seen that before. - Vox.com
"that" - Google News
https://ift.tt/3d8Dlvv

Auto racing: Drivers happy that tracks are hosting practice sessions - Lewiston Sun Journal

tebagbagasi.blogspot.com

Garret Leiter’s Late Model Sportsman car sits idle at Wiscasset Speedway. Submitted photo

The green flag on the short-track racing season in Maine has yet to be waved, but a couple tracks have at least allowed a way for drivers to get their engines revving. 

Beech Ridge Motor Speedway in Scarborough and Wiscasset Speedway have both announced group practice sessions starting this week. Oxford Plains Speedway posted on its website that it is “looking to hold open practices within the coming weeks.” 

Beech Ridge will get the cars rolling first, with cars from the Thursday Thunder JV divisions holding their first open practice sessions on Thursday, June 4. Thunder varsity divisions will practice on June 5 and NASCAR Nite cars get to turn laps on Saturday, June 6. Sessions are scheduled to last between 45-60 minutes, depending on division, and are open to “weekly Beech Ridge teams inside Maine,” according to a post on the track’s Facebook page. 

In an email to the Sun Journal, Beech Ridge said it worked with the town of Scarborough and the state to create a practice schedule “responsibly and compliantly.” 

Jay native Dave Farrington Jr., the reigning Pro Series champion at Beech Ridge, said he is planning on attending the first practice session for NASCAR Nite cars, which he called “a start.” 

“As the reigning Pro Series champion at Beech Ridge, we want to be racing and should be by now. Unfortunately with the circumstances we’ve been dealt we aren’t racing, but I’m sure the Cusack family (which owns the track) is doing everything in their power to get everyone back to the race track,” Farrington said. 

Dave Farrington Jr. proceeds through the rain-soaked track at Wiscasset Speedway during the Coastal 200 in May 2019. Andy Molloy/Kennebec Journal

“You have to realize that this is more than a sport or a hobby. Stock car racing is a passion, a business and a way of life for those involved,” Farrington added. 

Dave Farrington Jr. Sun Journal file photo

Wiscasset’s practice sessions will begin on June 6, starting with Group 1 divisions. The two-hour practices will continue for Group 2 cars on Saturday, June 13, with June 20 currently scheduled as an open practice date. The track has health and safety guidelines in place relating to the coronavirus that are posted on its website. 

Garret Leiter, who lives in Livermore Falls, is preparing for his first season in Wiscasset’s Late Model Sportsman division, which is part of Group 2. 

Leiter said he is “very happy” the track is holding group practices. 

“I rented the track for a few hours a couple weeks ago to test and get some seat time. I’m happy that Wiscasset is doing division specific practices starting next week because there’s a huge difference between being fast alone and being fast with multiple cars on the track,” he said. 

New to stock cars, but with experience racing go-karts and motocross, Leiter said he is “learning to be patient with this pandemic,” but admitted that the wait has been hard. He and his team planned on traveling to compete in a race in North Carolina recently, but that was canceled because of rain. Instead, they took part in a race at Riverside Speedway in Groveton, New Hampshire. 

Garret Leiter gets out of his car at Riverside Speedway in Groveton, N.H. as Erick Leiter, front, and Jeffery Meserve check on him and the car. Submitted photo

“We placed fourth and needless to say it wasn’t worth the damages done to my car. But that’s all part of racing,” he said. “We are currently working on the car every night getting it ready for Wiscasset.” 

He’s not sure when he’ll get to race again, but Leiter said he’ll take “all the seat time I can get.” 

“We’ll be racing before we know it,” he added.

Comments are not available on this story.

« Previous

Number of eliminated college sports programs nearing 100

filed under:

Related Stories

Latest Articles

Let's block ads! (Why?)

"that" - Google News
May 31, 2020 at 03:38AM
https://ift.tt/2MffRJy

Auto racing: Drivers happy that tracks are hosting practice sessions - Lewiston Sun Journal
"that" - Google News
https://ift.tt/3d8Dlvv