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Friday, 30 September 2022

Video: Powerful 'King' Surges in Florida’s Miami Beach Leaves Several Injured

A “king” tide, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), is a non-scientific term used to describe “exceptionally” high tides. Miami Beach Fire Rescue issued a high surf advisory for Friday until 8 p.m. local time, warning the public that it's not safe to go into the water.

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Wordle today: Here's the answer, hints for October 1

Wordle game displayed on a phone and a laptop screen

October is here, and to kick off the spooky season there's a brand new Wordle. But if you've used all your brain cells this week and are struggling with today's puzzle, never fear — we're here to help every day.

If you just want the answer, you can jump straight to the end of this article for October 1's Wordle solution. If you'd rather work through it yourself, keep reading for some tips, tricks, and clues.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Here's the answer, hints for September 30

Where did Wordle come from?

Wordle was initially created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, though it quickly spread until it became an international phenomenon. Thousands of players across the globe tackle Wordle each day, with some fans even having created alternate versions of the daily word puzzle game. These include battle royale format Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

The popularity of Wordle even reached such heights that the New York Times bought it earlier this year, while TikTok creators live-stream themselves playing it.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The goal of Wordle is to have fun, and there's no right way to have fun. Just choose whatever starting word feels right to you, and don't let anyone shame you for it. However, if you want to take a more strategic approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that will spark joy. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordles used to be available for anyone to play in glorious days gone by. Unfortunately it has since been taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times.

Is Wordle getting harder?

If you're finding Wordle too easy, you can try enabling its Hard Mode to give your brain a tougher challenge. But Wordle isn't getting any harder by itself — it's the same difficulty that it's always been. 

Why are there two different Wordle answers some days?

Wordle is a fun, collective experience specifically because everyone's solving for the same word every day. Occasionally, though, Wordle will accept two different solutions as correct on the same day. This is because the New York Times made changes to the Wordle word list after acquiring it, and sometimes swaps out words from the original list. To ensure you're getting the right answer every day, refresh your browser before you play — the site will save your streak.

Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Get out.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

Sure does.

Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

The letter... L.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL.

What's the answer to Wordle today?

Get your guesses in — it's the last call before we reveal the answer to today's Wordle!

Are you ready?

The solution to Wordle #469 is...

LEAVE.



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US House Speaker Pelosi Reportedly Stops Short of Backing Ukraine's NATO Bid

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told Politico she supported security guarantees for Ukraine but stopped short of backing its bid to join the NATO military alliance.

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US Investor: Fed Interest Rate Hike Fueling Global Recession

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The US Federal Reserve's decision to raise the interest rate again is helping to fuel a global recession, Director of Navigator Principal Investors LLC, Kyle Shostak, told Sputnik.

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Hurricane Ian slammed into South Carolina, and photos and video from the scene are harrowing

A street in Charleston, South Carolina in pouring rain

Hurricane Ian made landfall in South Carolina at 2:05 p.m. ET Friday near the city of Georgetown on Winyah Bay — marking the official start of the storm's second major assault on the U.S. mainland. Some damage was immediately visible, with at least two piers collapsing into the sea. The magnitude of the encroaching ocean has already made history, with all-time record-breaking flooding as far away as coastal North Carolina.

In terms of structures threatened by storm surge, Pawley's Island, a relatively dense coastal community, largely bore the brunt of Ian's attack during the first few hours.

The White House declared an emergency in South Carolina yesterday, as had South Carolina's governor, although no evacuations were ordered.

SEE ALSO: Save up to 55% on emergency kits, generators, and other supplies for hurricane season

As the storm's toll began to be felt locally, it was possible to witness the power of Hurricane Ian online. Several users posted photos and video of the storm surge and flooding, sharing documentation of the ongoing damage from this days-long disaster for the benefit of the public — whether they were watching for safety's sake or out of sheer curiosity. And remember: At this phase in a news story, social media documents like these are always in need of confirmation.

Videos purportedly show devastation from Hurricane Ian in Pawley’s Island

The police in Pawley's Island were evidently some of the only residents out in the storm, documenting the weather's impact. Their tweets appeared to show shockingly high storm surge.

That same Twitter account also documented the apparent collapse of the community's pier.

A South Carolina resident named Jerry Lieberman took video of what used to be a beach, after it was completely swallowed by the flood, if the video is to be believed.

Lieberman also spotted what looked like a fire elsewhere on Pawley’s Island. 

Apparent video from Myrtle Beach shows Hurricane Ian's wind damage

North Carolina meteorologist Kaitlin Wright posted footage of what appeared to be a roof being damaged by Ian's powerful winds, as documented by a videographer named Kelsey Lyons.

At Murrells Inlet, just south of Myrtle Beach, pictures by photographer Norma Coote appeared to document a dangerous flood several feet high.

Climate change is impacting hurricanes. Some of these impacts are clear, particularly more serious rainfall and historic flooding, along with higher storm surges. Other impacts, like how the relentless warming oceans are affecting how strong these storms grow, are an intensive and ongoing area of research.



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Love Cures (Almost) All? Oxytocin May Help Mend Broken Hearts, Study Finds

In a study examining “cryoinjured” hearts of zebrafish, scientists discovered a link between elevated oxytocin and the stimulation of healing. Oxytocin, the “love chemical” released in humans during sex, childbirth, and social bonding, may now have a new future in treatment plans for heart attack survivors.

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Thursday, 29 September 2022

Family Sues Quebec Hospital for Mocking Dying Indigenous Woman - Lawyer

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The family of Joyce Echaquan, an Indigenous woman who died in 2020 at a Quebec hospital as she was mocked by the staff, restrained and left alone, is suing the hospital and the involved staff for C$2.675 million ($1.953 million), the family lawyer told Sputnik

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NASA, SpaceX Launch Feasibility Study to Give Hubble Telescope Longer Life - Officials

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - NASA and SpaceX are going to conduct a feasibility study on the possibility of boosting the Hubble Space Telescope 40 to 45 miles higher in its low earth orbit (LEO) to give it an additional period of life, senior agency and company officials told a podcast press conference.

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Lots of 65- and 75-inch 4K TVs are on sale in time for football season

Samsung QLED TV sitting in living room

UPDATE: Sep. 28, 2022, 5:00 p.m. EDT This story has been updated with the latest 4K and 8K TV deals.

  • The Samsung 85-inch Q70A QLED TV is a massive mid-range QLED that provides solid detail, shadows, and brightness for the price — $2,099.99 $3,299.99 (save $1,200)

  • The LG 65-inch NanoCell 90 4K TV has double the pixels of a 4K TV and utilizes smaller-than-usual LEDs for more precise contrast — $896.99 $1,399.99 (save $503)

  • The Hisense 65-inch U7G ULED TV is a gaming-focused, affordable QLED that's bright in sunlit rooms — $746.99 $1,099.99 (save $353)

Large 4K TVs no longer have to cost an exorbitant amount of money. These high-quality TVs featuring punchy colors, decipherable shadows, and smooth transitions are actually affordable for regular consumers. And to make them even more budget-friendly, we've gathered up the best deals on 4K and QLED TVs from top brands like Samsung, LG, Sony, and more.

SEE ALSO: What you should know about Amazon's Prime Day-style sale in October

Samsung TV deals

Samsung QLED TV with abstract green screensaver
Credit: Samsung
Our pick: Samsung 85-inch Q70A QLED TV (opens in a new tab)
$2,099.99 at Samsung (save $1,200)
(opens in a new tab)

Why we love it

Kick off football season by saving over $1,000 on a massive Samsung QLED. The Q70A Series isn't Samsung's cheapest or most expensive QLED, but it hits in all the right places for sports watching and gaming: direct backlighting with local dimming, crisp HDR, and bright quantum dot color even in sunlit rooms.

More Samsung TVs on sale

LG TV deals

LG TV with colorful beads screensaver
Credit: LG
Our pick: LG 65-inch NanoCell 90 4K TV (opens in a new tab)
$896.99 at Amazon (save $503)
(opens in a new tab)

Why we love it

In 2021, LG dropped a mid-range line of 4K TVs featuring its NanoCell technology, which amps up color depth and contrast using an extra light filter of nanoparticles. In 2022, that line is becoming more affordable. The 90 Series features full-array local dimming.

More LG TVs on sale

Sony TV deals

Sony TV with canyon screensaver
Credit: Sony
Our pick: Sony 65-inch X85K OLED TV (opens in a new tab)
$1,399.99 at Best Buy (save $500)
(opens in a new tab)

Why we love it

Compared to the slightly-cheaper X80K, the X85K has a higher native contrast ratio that deepens blacks and makes light objects pop — a nice touch in shows with dark scenes like House of the Dragon. It also features HDMI 2.1 bandwidth.

More Sony TVs on sale

Other TV deals from TCL, Vizio, and more

Hisense TV with blue and purple screensaver
Credit: Hisense
Our pick: Hisense 65-inch U7G QLED TV (opens in a new tab)
$746.99 at Amazon (save $353)
(opens in a new tab)

Why we love it

Gamers and movie watchers who spend a lot of screen time in the daylight should consider Hisense's U7G over the slightly cheaper U6G. This mid-range QLED is big, bright, and offers multiple features that high-intensity graphics require like a 120Hz panel, variable refresh rate, and auto latency mode.

More TVs from TCL, Vizio, and more on sale



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Nord Stream to Dump Unprecedented Methane Gas Levels But May Not Have 'Major' Effect, Experts Claim

On Thursday, NATO issued a strong statement on the Nord Stream breaches in the Baltic Sea, calling the damage the result of “deliberate, reckless, and irresponsible acts of sabotage.” The dissipation of the gas, which is expected by Sunday, will allow forensic investigators to examine the site for clues about what led to the explosions.

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NASA swooped over ocean world Europa and captured stunning footage

a close-up view of Jupiter's moon Europa

Beyond Earth, there are likely other oceans in our solar system.

Planetary scientists suspect Jupiter's cracked, ice-blanketed moon Europa harbors a particularly voluminous sea, some 40 to 100 miles deep. Now, for just the third time ever, a spacecraft flew by the icy moon, swooping just 219 miles from Europa's surface. The other two flybys happened over two decades ago. NASA's Juno spacecraft, famous for its dazzling views of Jupiter's roiling clouds, captured some of the clearest images of Europa ever seen, which you can see below.

But that's not all. Juno's specialized instruments penetrated through parts of Europa's ice, which is some 10 to 15 miles thick. This unprecedented data will be parsed by NASA and other researchers to reveal what lies in the icy shell, like potential pockets of water. So stay tuned, in the coming months, for what NASA found.

"Europa is of incredible interest — a high priority target for science," Scott Bolton, the Juno mission's principle investigator, told Mashable.

Life thrives in Earth's salty oceans. There's certainly no evidence of life on Europa, but it could harbor environments that host life (as we know it). In other words, this moon could be "habitable."

SEE ALSO: Scientists detect something really unexpected beneath Saturn's 'Death Star' moon

"It's one of few places that potentially has the conditions for habitability," Bolton emphasized. Bolton works at the Southwest Research Institute, a research organization that often partners with NASA.

NASA released its first official image from this close flyby on Sept. 29. It shows Europa's wild, icy, cracked crust in a region near the equator dubbed "Annwn Regio." The terrain is rugged and has been repeatedly fractured apart. Slushy ice, perhaps supplied from relatively warmer regions below, may have filled these cracks.

a view of Europa's icy shell
The new view of Europa taken by the Juno spacecraft on Sept. 29, 2022. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / SWRI / MSSS

"It’s very early in the process, but by all indications Juno’s flyby of Europa was a great success," Bolton said in a statement when the first image was released. "This first picture is just a glimpse of the remarkable new science to come from Juno’s entire suite of instruments and sensors that acquired data as we skimmed over the moon’s icy crust."

What's more, all of the imagery captured by Juno is made available for the public — more specifically "citizen scientists" with impressive photo skills and a keen interest in astronomy — to process. Below is an image tweeted out from professional imaging processor Jason Terry.

These new close-up images are like a treasure trove for planetary scientists. Before, they only had data from two flybys from the Galileo spacecraft, years ago. Now there's a third load of data. "It's a huge, giant leap," Bolton said.

What comes next, besides more image releases, will be observations from Juno's microwave radiometer, an instrument that can penetrate Europa's thick ice. What's down there? There could be relatively warmer regions harboring cavities full of water, noted Bolton.

"Is there life elsewhere?"

"I suspect if there's water it'll stick out like a sore thumb to us," he said.

The question that looms large is whether any life might dwell in this water, or in the seas sloshing under the ice. We don't know. We're far from any answers. But that's one of the enticing elements of exploration.

"One of the goals of exploring the solar system and universe is to see if we're alone," Bolton told Mashable. "Is there life elsewhere?"



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Over 250,000 People Took Part in Demonstrations Against Pension Reform in France - Union

PARIS (Sputnik) - More than 250,000 people across France have participated in demonstrations against pension reform and demanding a rise in the minimum wage, the French General Confederation of Labor (CGT, Confederation Generale du Travail) said on Thursday.

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Researchers Find 885 Websites Used as CIA Fronts a ‘Motivated Amateur Sleuth’ Could’ve Found

For several years, the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) managed its contacts with sources through a network of fake websites. However, after Iranian counterintelligence officers cracked their system and shared their findings with Beijing, at least two dozen CIA operatives were hounded out and killed.

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Wednesday, 28 September 2022

US Delusional to Think Moscow Won't Defend Territory That Becomes Part of Russia - Antonov

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - US politicians are delusional if they think Moscow will not defend the territories that have or may become part of Russia as a result of their residents' freely expressed popular will, Russian Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov said in an opinion-editorial piece published by the National Interest.

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Big Tech Takes Another Blow: Twitter Blasted After Major Ads Placed Next to Child Porn

Like all social media platforms, Twitter bans depictions of child sexual exploitation and suspended over one million accounts for violating that rule last year alone. However, Twitter ads have appeared next to posts soliciting child porn, resulting in major brands and advertisers pulling their campaigns away from the platform, according to media.

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Grammy-Winning American Rapper Coolio Dead at 59

Coolio began his career in the 1980s but rose to fame in 1995 with the release of "Gangsta's Paradise." The song gained increased airplay by being featured in the R-rated high school drama "Dangerous Minds." He would later go on to win a Grammy for the track in 1996.

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Wordle today: Here's the answer, hints for September 29

Woman plays Wordle on her smartphone from the living room of her home

Thursday! What a concept! And what a day to solve a fresh new Wordle. But if you've hit a wall on today's puzzle, never fear — we're here to help every day.

If you just want the answer, you can jump straight to the end of this article for September 29's Wordle solution. If you'd rather work through it yourself, keep reading for some tips, tricks, and clues.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Here's the answer, hints for September 28

Where did Wordle come from?

Wordle was initially created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, though it quickly spread until it became an international phenomenon. Thousands of players across the globe tackle Wordle each day, with some fans even having created alternate versions of the daily word puzzle game. These include battle royale format Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

The popularity of Wordle even reached such heights that the New York Times bought it earlier this year, while TikTok creators live-stream themselves playing it.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The goal of Wordle is to have fun, and there's no right way to have fun. Just choose whatever starting word feels right to you, and don't let anyone shame you for it. However, if you want to take a more strategic approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that will spark joy. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordles used to be available for anyone to play in glorious days gone by. Unfortunately it has since been taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times.

Is Wordle getting harder?

If you're finding Wordle too easy, you can try enabling its Hard Mode to give your brain a tougher challenge. But Wordle isn't getting any harder by itself — it's the same difficulty that it's always been. 

Why are there two different Wordle answers some days?

Wordle is a fun, collective experience specifically because everyone's solving for the same word every day. Occasionally, though, Wordle will accept two different solutions as correct on the same day. This is because the New York Times made changes to the Wordle word list after acquiring it, and sometimes swaps out words from the original list. To ensure you're getting the right answer every day, refresh your browser before you play — the site will save your streak.

Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

It's hot.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

Not today!

Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

The letter... S.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL.

What's the answer to Wordle today?

Get your guesses in — it's the last call before we reveal the answer to today's Wordle!

Are you ready?

The solution to Wordle #467 is...

SCALD.



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Biden Sees Dead People

US President Joe Biden asked if a congresswoman who died last month was in the room at a White House food insecurity conference on Wednesday. The late Rep. Jackie Walorski died in a car crash that also claimed the lives of two of her staffers, and made headlines this August – prompting a personal note of condolence from the Bidens.

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Pardon Me! Two Planes Involved in Minor Collision at Heathrow Airport - Photos

Passengers are being asked to check the status of their flights as emergency services were at the scene on Wednesday evening after an Icelandair plane and a Korean Air plane had a minor collision on the airfield, which is currently being investigated.

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At Least Six Injured After Shooting at California School, Authorities Say

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - At least six individuals were injured on Wednesday after a shooting took place at an Oakland school campus in California, the Alameda County Sheriff's Office confirmed.

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Tuesday, 27 September 2022

US Air Force Reportedly Set to Test Its Aircraft Laser Weapon in Flight Next Year

In January 2019, Lockheed Martin received a contract to integrate the Airborne High Energy Laser (AHEL) with the AC-130 aircraft. But it is still uncertain at the moment what the program's long-term prospects will be, and its fate might depend on the results of the 2023 tests.

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Hugh Jackman is returning as Wolverine in 'Deadpool 3'

Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds at the premiere of 'The Adam Project.'

Hugh Jackman is rebinding his skeleton with adamantium and returning as Wolverine in Deadpool 3. After all, if you're the best there is at what you do, why stop doing it?

Deadpool actor and superfan Ryan Reynolds has tweeted out a video not only announcing a Sept. 6, 2024 release date for the third film in the offbeat Marvel superhero series, but also revealing that Jackman has joined the project to reprise his role as Canada's angriest little weeb.

"Hard keeping my mouth sewn shut about this one," wrote Reynolds, referencing Deadpool's unfortunate venture into body horror in 2009's X-Men Origins: Wolverine. In the accompanying video, he plays it pretty straight until a special guest wanders into the background.

Jackman's last outing as Wolverine was the critically acclaimed Logan in 2017, which took a decidedly melancholy look at the end of a superhero’s bloody career. It’s been even longer since Jackman’s James Howlett and Reynolds’ Wade Wilson have shared the screen, appearing together only once in X-Men Origins: Wolverine.

The reunion of these two stab-happy Canadian superheroes isn't the only significant milestone that Deadpool 3 will achieve. The film will mark the Merc with a Mouth's official admission to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, after Marvel's parent company Disney acquired Deadpool's production company 21st Century Fox in 2019.

As such, Jackman's return means Deadpool 3 will now also be Wolverine's introduction to the world of Thor and Thanos. I'd also rescind my retirement if it meant I got to be part of the MCU. Considering how much Marvel's recent films have been playing with alternate universes, it won't be surprising if the existing characters are woven into the MCU's mythos in their entirety.

Of course, no details are yet forthcoming about exactly how big of a role Jackman will play in Deadpool 3. For all we know, he could just pop in for 10 seconds during Marvel's signature after-credits gag. Though considering Marvel tends to like to keep those bits a surprise, there's a good chance everyone's favourite tiny hairy man will be featured during the film proper.

Deadpool 3 is currently scheduled for release Sept. 6, 2024.



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Report: White House Preparing for Departure of Treasury Chief Yellen After Midterms

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - White House officials are quietly preparing for Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen to depart from the administration after the midterm elections, Axios reported.

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Chronically Unhappy? It Could Be Killing You, Study Finds

If you’ve ever been told by a doctor you have the “body of someone half your age,” you might be happier – no, really. In the fields of gerontology and anti-aging meds, there’s a distinction between biological age, or the condition of our cells, and chronological age. New research suggests that happiness correlates to remaining “young’’ for longer.

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Videos: US Airports Close, Millions Told to Evacuate as Hurricane Ian Barrels Toward Florida

In 2021, Hurricane Ida hit Louisiana, causing upwards of $75 billion in damages. Now, two weeks after Hurricane Fiona devastated portions of the Caribbean and eastern Canada, photos of sandbags shoring up sidewalks and lining exterior doors are circulating as the Tampa Bay area prepares for Hurricane Ian – this season’s second named hurricane.

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Videos: Massive Blaze Breaks Out in Philadelphia, Nearly 100 Firefighters Responding

Officials have reported that no injuries have been linked to the fire; however, the public is urged to steer clear as firefighters work to stop the flames.

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Monday, 26 September 2022

Owners of the ‘100 Million Dollar Deli’ Hit With Multiple Securities Fraud Charges

Your Hometown Deli, in Paulsboro, NJ, had annual revenue of less than $40,000, but its parent company had a market value stock price of over $100 million, despite holding no other significant assets.

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Mike Franken Denies Allegations of Kissing Female Staffers and '1950s Interactions'

Franken, 64, is Iowa’s Democratic Senate nominee running against incumbent Republican Chuck Grassley, 89, and has recently outraised the Republican senator, but a recent poll shows Grassley---who still holds more cash---leading Franken by nearly nine points. A recent scandal surrounding Franken may sink his poll numbers even lower.

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American Women Now Account for 50.7% of US Labor Force - Poll

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - Women in the United States have overtaken men regarding employment over the past three years and now comprise slightly more than half of the college-educated work force, the Pew Research Center said.

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Boom! NASA just slammed into an asteroid and filmed the crash

the asteroid Dimorphos

While most folks were sitting down for supper, NASA tried to move a space mountain.

Beyond sight for backyard stargazers, a spacecraft the size of a vending machine self-destructed by ramming into a harmless asteroid shortly after 7 p.m. ET Monday. The high-speed crash was part of the U.S. space agency's Double Asteroid Redirection Test, or DART.

The moment of impact marked the first time in history humans have attempted to alter the path of an asteroid, a flying chunk of rubble left over from the formation of the solar system about 4.6 billion years ago. Most of the time, these ancient rocks pose no danger to Earth, including Dimorphos, the one NASA just used for target practice. But at least three have caused mass extinctions, the most infamous of which wiped out the dinosaurs.

Stegosaurus didn't have NASA.

"We are changing the motion of a natural celestial body in space. Humanity has never done that before," said Tom Statler, program scientist. "This was the substance of fiction books and really corny episodes of Star Trek from when I was a kid, and now it's real."

SEE ALSO: Vigilant amateur asteroid hunters keep watch for menacing space rocks

NASA broadcasted the $330 million carefully orchestrated collision, giving viewers a deer-in-headlights experience. Through a camera on the spacecraft, the team of scientists and engineers, as well as the general public, were able to watch a 525-foot rock grow from a mere dot of light to a boulder blotting out the whole frame. The feed almost unfolded in real time, with perhaps just a 45-second delay, delivering an extreme closeup of an event happening 6.8 million miles away.

For the last four hours of the spacecraft's life, it flew on autopilot, guiding ever closer to certain doom. The spacecraft, about 1,300 pounds, carried no explosive devices on its back. Its "weapon" was its own body and the sheer force of plowing into an asteroid at 14,000 mph.

The images beamed down to the mission operations center at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory in Maryland abruptly cut out after the metal box met its demise.

The first planetary defense exercise — at least the impact part of it — was successful. But whether DART was truly a triumph, able to shove the asteroid off its trajectory, won't be known for some time.

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DART heading toward Dimorphos
NASA won't know if the DART spacecraft was successful in moving an asteroid's orbit for likely weeks after the collision. Credit: NASA / Johns Hopkins APL / Steve Gribben

A planetary defense scheme

Scientists have likened the mission to running a golf cart into the Great Pyramid of Giza. If it worked, the spacecraft's whack left a crater behind, but didn't blow the asteroid to bits. The LICIACube, a toaster-sized spacecraft supplied by the Italian Space Agency, will fly by the disaster site three minutes later and take pictures of the damage.

NASA chose Dimorphos for the mission because it was an ideal specimen for tracking the results of DART's hit. It has likely had the same orbit, looping around a larger asteroid, Didymos, for thousands of years — perhaps until now.

"This was the substance of fiction books and really corny episodes of Star Trek from when I was a kid, and now it's real."

Millions of space rocks orbit the sun. The majority are in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, but occasionally rocks get nudged into the inner solar system, relatively closer to Earth.

There are currently no known asteroids on an impact course with our planet. Scientists are, however, keeping a vigilant eye on 30,000 large objects out there and estimate there could be 15,000 or so more waiting to be discovered. Using powerful telescopes, these astronomers are currently finding around 500 new sizable space rocks in Earth's solar system neighborhood each year.

"An asteroid impact is an extremely rare event. Maybe once a century is there an asteroid that we would really worry about and want to deflect, and only maybe once in 1,000 years an asteroid the size of Dimorphos, on average," said Lindley Johnson, planetary defense officer for NASA.

But even smaller rocks can cause immense destruction. An impact by an asteroid some 100 to 170 feet wide would destroy a place like Kansas City. An undetected meteor exploded over Chelyabinsk, Russia, in February 2013, causing an airburst and shockwave that affected six cities and injured 1,600 people. The rock was just 60 feet across, according to NASA.

Astronomers will use ground-based telescopes to study Dimorphos after the impact and take new measurements. The asteroid is known to travel around its companion every 11 hours and 55 minutes. Scientists hope the spacecraft shaved off about 10 minutes from its usual orbit.

It could take weeks to confirm. But proving the space program has the technology to shove an asteroid out of the way could one day lead to a future mission to thwart an asteroid — decades in advance of a potential problem.

"So that we don't ever have to worry about that one anymore," Johnson said.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.



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Former FTC Officials Are ‘Certain’ Agency is Investigating Twitter

Peiter Zatko is a legendary ethical hacker who first rose to fame in the 1990s when he exposed several security flaws, including code injection and side-channel attacks. He later worked for DARPA, Google, and Twitter. In August, he accused Twitter of ignoring serious security vulnerabilities.

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8 of the best automatic dog feeders to keep your BFF fed on time

Dog using dog feeder.

As much as we all love our dogs, there are times when we unfortunately have to leave them home alone. Whether you have to stay late at work one night, or your dog walker calls in sick, it can be tough on both you and your dog to be apart — especially when your pup’s dog bowl is empty and their tummy is rumbling. But there's one thing we can do to help make life a little bit better for them: get them on a regular feeding schedule with the help of an automatic feeder.

Are automatic feeders good for dogs?

Eating at the same time every day is healthy for your dog. It allows them to feel taken care of and secure, making the separation from you a little easier. Regular schedules also help prevent pet obesity because it allows you to control their caloric and nutritional intake every day.

Most dogs need to eat at least twice a day, but some dogs have medical issues or special dietary needs — and if you’re late feeding them, it can affect their health.

Regular feeding schedules can also make your life easier as well. After all, a dog that eats on a schedule poops on a schedule — meaning you’re less likely to come home to an accident. Regular eating also helps you notice if something is wrong with your dog’s health because often the first sign that your pup is sick is a lack of appetite.

SEE ALSO: 8 of the best dog beds to help your canine rest easy

This is where automatic dog feeders come in handy. They will allow you to set up a routine that keeps your dog fed at the same time every day — regardless of whether you’re home or not to give them their favorite dry food.

Plus, some dog feeders allow for portion control, so you can decide exactly how much or how little pet food gets dispensed, whether you have a little dog or a large dog with a big appetite. If your dog tends to eat too quickly, you can also program a smart auto feeder to dispense food in small increments over a period of time to make sure they don’t gobble down their meal too quickly.

What types of automatic feeders are there?

There are four main types of automatic dog feeders: gravity feeders, programmable models that release a set amount of food at a set time, plate feeders, and smart feeders that can be controlled from your phone.

We left gravity feeders out from this list because they don't really automatically feed your pet. This type of feeder is basically designed to keep the food bowl full at all times, refilling whenever your pup eats so their dog bowl is never empty. This is essentially a recipe for keeping your dog overfed, which isn't great for your pup's health because it can lead to obesity and other health issues.

The other three types are better options for automatic feeding. Programmable models with a timer allow you to select the amount of food and dispensing time. Plate feeders require you to portion out the food into multiple compartments (which gives you control over the exact amount) and then they rotate to reveal one section at a time. Smart feeders give you full remote control, allowing you to set feeding times, amounts, and more through a smartphone app. You can even dispense pet food if you’re running late and forgot to schedule the feeder before you left the house.

SEE ALSO: 6 of the best dog beds to help your pup rest easy

What kind of food can you put in an auto feeder?

It depends on what kind of automatic dog feeder you’re using. Most pet feeders can dispense dry kibble and round or small-ish treats with no issue.

However, programmable plate feeders can also serve wet food to your pup because they have lids that seal the plate of food until feeding time. You’ll have to remember to fill these plate feeders each morning before you leave the house though.

How to train your dog to use an auto feeder

Chances are, if your dog is food motivated, training them to use an automatic feeder shouldn’t be too difficult. In fact, the sound of the feeder dispensing food might be music to their ears, waking them from a dead sleep to run over for their dinner.

But if your pup is fearful of loud or unfamiliar noises, as some shelter dogs tend to be, you might need to desensitize them to the feeder over a period of time.

A good way to do this: feed them in their regular dog bowl, but put the automatic pet feeder right next to the bowl. This will get them used to seeing it.

Then, once the presence of the food dispenser no longer bothers them, program it to just dispense their favorite treat around the same time as mealtime while you’re around. This will help them get used to the meal while you’re home and realize that good things — aka treats — come from it.

Eventually, remove their old bowl and just feed them from the automatic feeder, even when you’re around.

SEE ALSO: GPS dog trackers that help you keep tabs on your pet around the clock

What to consider when choosing an auto dog feeder

Take stock of your current feeding schedule and routine. Are you usually rushing home to feed your pup? Do they prefer smaller meals throughout the day or 1-2 large meals? Are you a fan of digital systems vs. automatic timers that release food? Is having a manual option important? Do you have multiple dogs to feed? Is your dog a large breed? And does your dog prefer dry dog food or wet food (or both)? The answers to these questions will all impact which automatic dog feeder is best for you and your pup.

For example, if your dog won’t touch dry food, then you’re better off with a plate feeder because it can seal off and keep wet food fresh. But if your dog is all about the kibble, a programmable might be better. Smart feeders that can be controlled through apps, meanwhile, are great if you tend to forget to do things (like program a feeder) in the morning or if your schedule is unpredictable.

Bonus features are good to take into account, too! Some dog feeders come with a whole host of other perks to make being apart easier for both of you — from video cameras, to phone status updates, to fun food games that keep your dog entertained.

You should also consider your dog's diet before pulling the trigger on an automatic feeder. If your pooch needs to lose a few pounds, relying on an automatic pet feeder that portions food out by itself isn't the best option. Many feeders tend to release a bit more than the programmed amount, so it's easy for a dog to eat more than the recommended serving size. The solution to avoid overfeeding with an automatic feeder is to get one that allows you to pre-portion your dog's food, like the PetSafe EatWell 5-Meal Automatic Pet Feeder.

So, what is the best automatic dog feeder?

Whether you’re just looking for help to keep your dog fed every day or you want something special that delivers more, there are plenty of options out there. Peep our top picks for 2022 below.



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Sunday, 25 September 2022

Who's who in 'House of the Dragon': The Targaryen family tree

The Targaryen family tree

Once upon a time in the fantasy land of Westeros, a clan of fireproof, dragon-riding blondes took over the Seven Kingdoms and committed a shocking amount of direct sibling incest. They were House Targaryen, and they ruled for centuries until one of their descendants fumbled the bag and let Robert Baratheon usurp the throne. Then came the story of Game of Thrones… and we all know how that turned out.

House of the Dragon turns back the clock to the weird old days of Targaryen rule — more specifically, the period before and during a civil war called the Dance of the Dragons. Needless to say, there are a lot more Targaryens around in this time than there were during Thrones, and remembering who’s related to who is a lot harder in this show. Don’t worry though, we got you. Not only do we have what the Targaryen family tree looked like at the start of Season 1, but also we've got the update to keep things straight after the Episode 6 time jump.

This is the family tree as it exists at the start of House of the Dragon. Only the most relevant children in each generation are included, since fully outlining the dozens of rogue cousins, usurpers, minor monarchs, and temporary heirs would literally take longer than just watching the first episode. 

The Targaryen family tree, illustration by Mashable.
The Targaryen family tree in all its incestuous branches. Credit: Ian Moore / Mashable

Aegon “The Conqueror” Targaryen and Rhaenys Targaryen

If there’s one dead Targaryen the people on Game of Thrones mentioned most (besides the Mad King and Rhaegar), it’s Aegon “The Conqueror.” He founded the royal line by taking over the majority of the Seven Kingdoms and uniting them under his rule. Aegon also married both of his sisters, Rhaenys and Visenya, according to the extremely nasty family tradition of keeping their bloodline “pure” — a word which here means “dragon-riding and potentially insane.”

Incest: Siblings. 

Relevant children: Aenys Targaryen

Aenys Targaryen and Alyssa Velaryon 

First of all, it’s pronounced “Ennis.” Be nice. His wife Alyssa was a Velaryon, so the Velaryon family has had skin in the game (of thrones) since the foundation of the Targaryen dynasty. 

Incest: First cousins, which is the genetic equivalent of a rando off the street for this family.

Relevant children: Jaehaerys Targaryen and Alysanne Targaryen

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Jaehaerys “The Old King” Targaryen and Alysanne Targaryen

Paddy Considine, Sian Brooke, Michael Carter, Steve Toussaint, and Eve Best as the Targaryen family in "House of the Dragon."
Jaehaerys Targaryen (center) with Viserys Targaryen, Aemma Arryn, Rhaenys Targaryen, and Corlys Velaryon. Credit: Ollie Upton / HBO

As far as sibling incest goes, these two are actually…kind of sweet? They were supposed to be married off to other families but ran away to elope together because they loved each other from childhood. (Yeah, nope. Still bad.)

Jaehaerys and Alysanne ruled well together and their reign was a golden age for the Targaryens. They also had tons of kids but only four of them really mattered in the long term. 

Incest: Siblings.

Relevant children: Aemon, Baelon, Alyssa, and Daella — in that birth order.  

Aemon Targaryen and Jocelyn Baratheon (not pictured)

Aemon was the firstborn surviving son and heir of Jaehaerys I Targaryen. He married a Baratheon, which seems like it would be not super incest-y, but that Baratheon was also his aunt. Aemon died before his father, passing the role of heir down to his younger brother Baelon.

Incest: Whatever a guy marrying his parents’ shared half-sister is. 

Relevant children: Rhaenys Targaryen

SEE ALSO: How 'House of the Dragon' is different from George R.R. Martin's 'Fire and Blood'

Baelon Targaryen and Alyssa Targaryen

Ah, so we’re back to marrying our siblings. Baelon had two sons with his sister Alyssa and became the new heir after his brother Aemon died. Then he died, leaving Jaehaerys and Alysanne with exactly zero eligible sons to inherit the throne directly. 

Incest: Siblings. Again. 

Relevant children: Viserys and Daemon Targaryen

Daella Targaryen and Roderick Arryn (not pictured) 

Daella Targaryen married young and unfortunately died giving birth to her first and only daughter, Aemma. 

Incest: Absolutely none, which is quite a shock. 

Relevant children: Aemma Arryn

Rhaenys Targaryen and Corlys Velaryon

Steve Toussaint as Lord Corlys Velaryon, Eve Best as Princess Rhaenys Targaryen in "House of the Dragon."
Steve Toussaint as Lord Corlys Velaryon, Eve Best as Princess Rhaenys Targaryen in "House of the Dragon." Credit: Ollie Upton / HBO

Rhaenys is the firstborn child of Aemon Targaryen and eldest granddaughter of Jaehaerys and Alysanne. She’s married to Corlys “The Sea Snake” Velaryon in a love match that consolidates a ton of the realm’s wealth and power into one badass mega-family. 

However, her claim to the Iron Throne (as well as the claim of her son Laenor) was passed over in favor of her younger cousin Viserys. Was that a bad move? Tune in to find out!

Incest: Super distant cousins, to the point where it’s a wash.

Relevant children: Laenor and Laena Velaryon (not pictured, they’re important later)

Viserys Targaryen and Aemma Arryn

Paddy Considine and Sian Brooke as Viserys Targaryen and Aemma Arryn in "House of the Dragon."
Paddy Considine and Sian Brooke as Viserys Targaryen and Aemma Arryn in "House of the Dragon." Credit: Ollie Upton / HBO

The king and queen at the start of House of the Dragon are Viserys and Aemma, the children of Baelon and Daella Targaryen, respectively. They have one daughter, Rhaenyra, and hope to have a son, mainly because in the absence of a son the throne might pass to Viserys’ brother Daemon.

Now, to bring this full circle: Remember the part about Targaryen blood purity meaning “dragon-riding and potentially insane?” That’s Daemon to a T. And the T is for Targaryen.

Incest: First cousins.

Relevant children: Rhaenyra Targaryen

SEE ALSO: 'House of the Dragon' time jump: Here's what the characters look like now


The Targaryen Family Tree from Episode 6 onward

How’s it going? Everybody having fun? Is everyone keeping the dragon names straight? Are we agreed on who the MVPs are of each episode? Good. 

Of course, the moment everyone gets comfortable with how things work in the Red Keep, House of the Dragon throws a curveball and jumps ahead 10-ish years to when Rhaenyra, Alicent, and Daemon all have children of their own. Just to make sure everyone’s caught up on all the new Targaryens, Velaryons, and other strong (ahem) contenders for our attention, here’s what the family tree looks like as of Episode 6 of House of the Dragon.

The Targaryen family tree, illustration by Mashable.
Credit: Ian Moore / Mashable

And here's how the Targaryen's branches are faring:

King Viserys Targaryen and Aemma Arryn [DECEASED]

Paddy Considine and Sian Brooke as Viserys Targaryen and Aemma Arryn in "House of the Dragon."
Credit: Ollie Upton / HBO

King Viserys and Aemma Arryn were a lovely match — up until the point he allowed his maesters to perform a C-section without her consent. Baelon, the son Aemma died to deliver, only survived his mother for a few more hours, earning the mocking moniker “Heir for a Day” from Viserys’ younger brother Daemon.

After that, Viserys named his daughter Rhaenyra his absolute heir, rather than pass the throne to Daemon. 

Incest: First Cousins

Relevant Children: Rhaenyra Targaryen, Baelon Targaryen [DECEASED]

King Viserys Targaryen and Alicent Hightower

Emily Carey and Paddy Considine in "House of the Dragon."
Credit: Ollie Upton / HBO

After the death of his beloved Queen Aemma, Viserys was pressured into taking another wife and chose Alicent Hightower, his daughter’s best friend and daughter of his Hand, Otto Hightower. Nothing says “friendship killer” like your bestie marrying your dad, right? Yikes!

Incest: None, to Viserys’ credit. That’s all he gets credit for. 

Relevant Children: Aegon, Helaena, Aemond, and Daeron Targaryen [Not born yet]

Corlys Velaryon and Rhaenys Targaryen

Steve Toussaint and Eve Best in "Hpuse of the Dragon."
Credit: Ollie Upton / HBO

Even though Rhaenys’ claim to the throne was passed over for her cousin Viserys, Corlys and Rhaenys have hella status without actually having to rule the kingdom. They’re powerful, they’re rich, and their kids have royal blood, making their bloodline ideal to marry back into the Targaryen family. 

Incest: Distant cousins

Relevant Children: Laenor and Laena Velaryon 

Daemon Targaryen and Laena Velaryon

Matt Smith and Nanna Blondell in "House of the Dragon."
Credit: Ollie Upton / HBO

After the (ahem) tragic death of his first wife Rhea Royce, Daemon Targaryen married Laena Velaryon, the beautiful daughter of his first cousin Rhaenys. Due to Daemon’s um, misbehavior at court, they were forced into exile in Pentos, where they live with their twin daughters and fly around on their cool dragons Caraxes and Vhagar.

Incest: First cousins once removed

Relevant Children: Baela and Rhaena Targaryen

Rhaenyra Targaryen and Laenor Velaryon 

Theo Nate, Milly Alcock, Eve Best, Steve Toussaint in "House of the Dragon."
Credit: Ollie Upton / HBO

Rhaenyra’s marriage to Laenor Velaryon was sort of a given, considering her unique status as a princess and future ruling queen. Only someone with the blood of the dragon would do for her, and Laenor was right there looking like a completely uninterested — I mean, clearly devoted — snack. 

Incest: Second Cousins 

Relevant Children: Officially? Jacaerys, Lucerys, and Joffrey Velaryon.

Rhaenyra Targaryen and Ser Harwin “Breakbones” Strong

Ryan Corr in "House of the Dragon."
Credit: Ollie Upton / HBO

Yeah, so Rhaenyra wasn’t exactly Laenor’s type. He wasn’t hers either. When her children were born looking absolutely nothing like their father, she insisted that they were Laenor’s legitimate sons…all while having a very close relationship with Ser Harwin Strong, the brunette son of the King’s Master of Laws. And hey, would you look at that? If you squint her kids do kind of look like…uh. Never mind.

Incest: None

Relevant Children. Jacaerys, Lucerys, and Joffrey “Velaryon”

New House of the Dragon episodes are available every Sunday on HBO and HBO Max.



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Here's the Apple Watch Ultra getting destroyed with a hammer

A hammer over an Apple Watch Ultra.

The $799 Apple Watch Ultra's biggest selling point is its toughness, with Apple calling it "the most rugged and capable Apple Watch ever." Even so, it seems not even the sturdiest watch can withstand the might of a vigorously applied hammer.

YouTuber TechRax recently got his hands on a brand new Apple Watch Ultra, unboxed it, and then proceeded to treat it like it owed him a lot of money. The Ultra withstood being dropped on its sapphire crystal face, and didn't seem fazed after being shaken about in a container full of screws — ordeals no Apple Watch should ever have to endure, Ultra or not.

However, it was the heavy hammer that was finally the watch's undoing, eventually giving up the ghost after several heavy hits that pushed the device into the board behind it — while the screen remained undamaged at that point, it also remained black and blank, so the internals clearly took those hits. TechRax then continued to pummel the Ultra until the screen was entirely smashed, just for good measure.



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Deputy Head of Italian Democratic Party Recognizes Victory of Center-Right Coalition

ROME (Sputnik) - Deputy head of the Italian Democratic Party Debora Serracchiani recognized on Monday the victory of the center-right forces led by the leader of the Brothers of Italy party, Giorgia Meloni, in the snap parliamentary elections held on Sunday.

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