Tag Archives: NPR

Current Affairs, Film & Movies, Pleasures, Science & Health, Television, Travel

William Shatner has traveled to space in Blue Origin rocket : NPR

By Joe Hernandez, Updated October 13, 202111:08 AM ET

Blue Origin’s New Shepard lifts off from the launch pad carrying 90-year-old Star Trek actor William Shatner and three other civilians near Van Horn, Texas.
Mario Tama/Getty Images

Blue Origin’s second human spaceflight has returned to Earth after taking a brief flight to the edge of space this morning. Among the four passengers on board — there is no pilot — was William Shatner, the actor who first played the space-traveling Captain Kirk in the Star Trek franchise.

“The covering of blue. This sheet, this blanket, this comforter that we have around. We think, oh, that’s blue sky,” an emotional Shatner said after returning to earth.

Canadian actor William Shatner, who became a cultural icon for his portrayal of Captain James T. Kirk in the Star Trek franchise, speaks from the stage at the second edition of the multi-genre entertainment comic and fan convention ‘Comic Con Africa’ in Johannesburg on September 21, 2019.
MICHELE SPATARI/AFP via Getty Images

“Then suddenly you shoot through it all of the sudden, as though you’re whipping a sheet off you when you’re asleep, and you’re looking into blackness, into black ugliness.”

At age 90, Shatner is now the oldest person to fly into space.

Source: William Shatner has traveled to space in Blue Origin rocket : NPR

Current Affairs, Science & Health

Weight Gain And Obesity Up In 2020 In The U.S. : Shots – Health News : NPR

By Yuki Noguchi, September 29, 20211:01 PM ET

A Planet Fitness employee cleans equipment before a gym’s reopening in March in Inglewood, Calif., after being closed due to COVID-19. Reduced access to recreation likely has contributed to weight gain during the pandemic.
Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images

It is official: The pandemic’s effect on America’s waistline has been rough.

New data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed 16 states now have obesity rates of 35% or higher. That’s an increase of four states — Delaware, Iowa, Ohio and Texas — in just a year.

The findings confirm what several recent research studies have found: Many Americans have gained significant weight since the COVID-19 crisis started, likely fueled by an increase in sedentary behavior, stress and troubles such as job and income loss that make healthy eating harder. And those rates are rising faster among racial minorities.

Source: Weight Gain And Obesity Up In 2020 In The U.S. : Shots – Health News : NPR

Current Affairs, Memories & History, Pleasures, Science & Health

Celebrate The End Of Summer With Monday’s Harvest Moon : NPR

By Dustin Jones, September 18, 20218:57 PM ET

Last year’s harvest moon took place on Oct. 1. The lunar event is designated as the full moon occurring nearest to the autumnal equinox every year.
Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

For those in the Northern Hemisphere, summer will come to an end next Wednesday.

Slowly but surely since the middle of June, days have been getting shorter. With the arrival of the autumn equinox comes cooler weather and a change of color amongst the trees.

And Monday, two days before the official start of fall, the harvest moon.

For three days, moonrise will come shortly after sunset, but the harvest moon will reach its peak illumination at 7:54 p.m. ET Monday.

Historically this lunar event provided farmers a little extra light to harvest their crops. However, unlike the equinoxes, which take place at the same time each year, the harvest moon is the full moon closest to the autumnal equinox. Which means it can fall in September or October, according to The Old Farmer’s Almanac.

Source: Celebrate The End Of Summer With Monday’s Harvest Moon : NPR

Current Affairs, Love & Relationships, Memories & History, Pleasures

It’s National Dog Day! Here Are Some Of NPR’s Pups : NPR

August 26, 202112:50 PM ET

By Emily Alfin Johnson Twitter and Nell Clark

Baxter is riveted by NPR. Baxter, 4 months. He also likes ice cubes, cats and mommy’s socks. Baxter’s human is Barry Gordemer, a senior producer for Morning Edition.
Barry Gordemer

Happy National Dog Day!

Especially during the pandemic our pets have valiantly served as our work-from-home supervisors, jogging buddies, occasional zoom guest stars and all-around best friends.

So in celebration of National Dog Day, let us introduce you to some of Morning Edition’s radiant pups for your enjoyment (and let’s be honest — ours too!)

Source: It’s National Dog Day! Here Are Some Of NPR’s Pups : NPR

Love & Relationships, Memories & History, Politics

Veterans Can Train, Adopt Service Dogs Under New PAWS Law : NPR

By Joe Hernandez Twitter, August 26, 202111:55 AM ET

Morgan, a military service dog, stands on her hind legs for her handler before a news conference for HR 1448, Puppies Assisting Wounded Service Members (PAWS) for Veterans Therapy Act outside the U.S. Capitol on May 13.
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

A new program through the Department of Veterans Affairs aims to connect service dogs in training with veterans who have post-traumatic stress disorder.

The effort was years in the making and became a reality when President Biden signed the Puppies Assisting Wounded Servicemembers (PAWS) for Veterans Therapy Act into law on Wednesday during a ceremony attended by a bipartisan group of lawmakers.

Source: Veterans Can Train, Adopt Service Dogs Under New PAWS Law : NPR

Arts & Humanities, Film & Movies, Memories & History, Pleasures

‘Reminiscence’ Movie Depicts A Dystopian Future That’s Not Far Off : NPR

Scott Simon speaks with director Lisa Joy about her tech-noir movie “Reminiscence.” It’s set in a future Miami that’s besieged by heat and rising waters.

August 21, 20218:54 AM ET, Heard on Weekend Edition Saturday

Photo by charan sai on Pexels.com

From transcript:

SCOTT SIMON, HOST:

The film “Reminiscence” is set in a Miami of rising waters and scorching heat, where people have now flipped the clock to work at night and sleep by day. Nick, a war vet who’s now a private eye, uses a technology that floats people in a tank, so they can relive cherished memories.

(SOUNDBITE OF FILM, “REMINISCENCE”)

HUGH JACKMAN: (As Nick Bannister) You’re going on a journey, a journey through memory. Your destination – a place and time you’ve been before. To reach it, all you have to do is follow my voice.

Source: ‘Reminiscence’ Movie Depicts A Dystopian Future That’s Not Far Off : NPR