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The grass that’s greener in drought-stricken B.C. might have been painted

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 14:00:54 GMT

VANCOUVER — What’s the secret of a lush-looking lawn in Metro Vancouver, where watering is banned amid a brutal drought?It might not be surreptitious sprinkling. Instead, it might be paint.  Tyler Basham, owner of Tinted Turf Grass Solutions, was giving a residential lawn in Maple Ridge an instant makeover on a recent morning, spray-painting the brown expanse and turning it a luxuriant green.“I know it might sound a little silly at first, but then when you started looking at it and that kind of transformation from the start to finish, it’s one of those phenomenal things,” said Basham, wielding a spray wand and wearing a white plastic backpack filled with green paint. Lawn watering was prohibited in Metro Vancouver’s 23 local authority regions on Aug. 4, with the ban in place until Oct.15. Some homeowners are looking for alternatives including spray-painting or artificial turf, but others are embracing the golden look.British Columbia is experiencing wha...

Northwest Territories starts plans to lift evacuation as wildfire battle sees shift

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 14:00:54 GMT

YELLOWKNIFE — Fire-weary Northwest Territories is preparing for tens of thousands of people to return home after a much-needed win in the battle against a blaze that was threatening Yellowknife. The status of a wildfire located 17 kilometres from the city’s edge was changed to “held” Monday after a weekend of cooler temperatures and a small amount of rain helped firefighting efforts. City officials say while the development is a major turn in the fire fight, it’s not safe for people to come back to the territorial capital. Sheila Bassi-Kellett, Yellowknife’s city manager, says there will be multiple phases to lifting the evacuation order.Essential personnel will return first, she says, and grocery stores, gas stations and hospitals will need to have supplies and staff before everyone else can come back. She says it’s been a really challenging time but people in Yellowknife are resilient. Jessica Davey-Quantick, a wildfire information officer, says there has been good news in the wil...

Daily horoscope for August 29, 2023

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 14:00:54 GMT

Moon Alert: There are no restrictions to shopping or important decisions today until 11 p.m. EDT tonight (8 p.m. PDT). The Moon is in Aquarius.Happy Birthday for Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023:You are imaginative, analytical and resourceful. You can put a new spin on things to make the best of what you have. This is a marvelous year when you will reap the benefits of all your hard work. You may attain power and leadership. Expect a promotion, an award and acknowledgement!ARIES(March 21-April 19) ★★A friend or a member of a group might surprise you today, or say or do something that catches you off guard. Beware knee-jerk reactions. Don’t lose your cool. You also might meet someone new who is unusual and intriguing. Tonight: Tolerance.TAURUS(April 20-May 20) ★★★Be prepared for something unexpected today. Very likely, a parent, boss or a person in authority will do or say something that catches you off guard. They might criticize you. They will surprise you. Knowing this ahead of time, ...

Production of manufactured goods up by 5% in 2022

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 14:00:54 GMT

Following two successive decreases, including a 7% fall in 2020, the EU’s production of manufactured goods has been recovering and growing. The EU’s industrial production went up 8% in 2021 compared with 2020 and then continued its upward trend with a 5% increase in 2022 compared with 2021.Between 2012 and 2014, the EU’s production decreased slightly before starting a gradual increase until 2018. In 2019, the value of sold production registered a small decrease, then dropped more sharply in 2020 due to the pandemic's effects. The outbreak of COVID-19 and related containment measures widely introduced by the EU countries had a significant impact on the EU’s industrial production in 2020, but 2021 and 2022 showed increases in production in all the industrial activity groups.In nominal terms, the EU’s value of sold production jumped from €5 209 billion in 2021 to €6 179 billion in 2022, indicating a 19% increase.This information comes from data on the production of manufactured goods p...

Harriette Cole: Our marriage is just one long fight. How do I fix this?

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 14:00:54 GMT

DEAR HARRIETTE: I just had a huge fight with my husband for the gazillionth time.Related ArticlesAdvice | Harriette Cole: I let my college-age daughter fly by herself. Was I a bad mom? Advice | Harriette Cole: He ignored my warnings. Now the IRS wants to talk to him. Advice | Harriette Cole: I’m fuming over this anonymous note about my teen Advice | Harriette Cole: My son says he’ll never forgive me for selling his inheritance Advice | Harriette Cole: Should I tell the truth about why I ditched them on our trip? The arguments all seem to blur together after a while. We say the same things, yell about the same topics and resolve nothing.The next day, he always acts like nothing happened, but it is hard for me to let go of the fact that he was cussing me out or belittling me the day before. He says I interrupt him all the time and blame him for everything.I don’t see his side at all, and ...

Miss Manners: Is the fundraising tactic of my child’s school tacky or smart?

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 14:00:54 GMT

DEAR MISS MANNERS: What is the etiquette of maintaining anonymity when making financial donations? Should a polite donor always check the “I prefer to remain anonymous” box?Related ArticlesAdvice | Miss Manners: Will foreigners just assume I’m a nuisance? Advice | Miss Manners: I won’t be going on the cruise. How do I explain my absence? Advice | Miss Manners: Can I poke them if they sleep during my son’s performance? Advice | Miss Manners: He insists on the grandchildren using this ridiculous name Advice | Miss Manners: We cleared dinner, and then this guest walked in I was surprised to see a packet from my children’s school arrive in the mail that listed the names of parents who had donated to a fund and the amount they had contributed. Is this tacky, or a smart fundraising tactic?GENTLE READER: Both.Miss Manners understands that many people want their contributions ...

Dear Abby: I want to leave my wife but I’m afraid she’ll hurt somebody if I do

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 14:00:54 GMT

DEAR ABBY: I have been married to the same woman for 35 years. She has been an alcoholic for the last 20.Related ArticlesAdvice | Dear Abby: I’m sick of explaining I have a plain phone, not an expensive toy Advice | Dear Abby: She sat in our backyard and refused to join us for dinner Advice | Dear Abby: I never thought the driver would be so stupid, but I was stuck with him Advice | Dear Abby: Do I owe an apology to the restaurant owner after this blow-up? Advice | Dear Abby: Was it illegal what she did with my brother’s body? She has done four stints in rehab facilities. She comes out healthy for a while, then starts drinking again. She hasn’t yet realized that she can’t drink one glass of wine and stop there. It seems to get worse each time.We work together, and I have had to take all her hours away because she’s not reliable. I’m holding on to our job and taking car...

DC Jazz Fest rocks 12 venues citywide, culminating with weekend at The Wharf

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 14:00:54 GMT

toggle audio on and off change volume download audio WTOP's Jason Fraley previews the DC Jazz Fest (Part 1) $(function () { $('.wtop-audio-container .fa-play').on('click', function(){ var audio_filename = $('div.wtop-audio-file').data("mp3-url"); ga('send', 'event', 'Audio', 'play', audio_filename); }); }); Get ready for five toe-tapping days with 120 concerts in over 12 venues in the nation’s capital.The 19th annual D.C. Jazz Festival returns this Wednesday, Aug. 30, through Sunday, Sept. 3.“If you’re looking for something to do over Labor Day weekend, come to D.C. Jazz Fest,” Sunny Sumter, preside...

Braves take on the Rockies after Acuna’s 4-hit game

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 14:00:54 GMT

Atlanta Braves (85-45, first in the NL East) vs. Colorado Rockies (49-82, fifth in the NL West)Denver; Tuesday, 8:40 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Braves: Charlie Morton (13-10, 3.37 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 157 strikeouts); Rockies: Peter Lambert (3-4, 4.92 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 62 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Braves -261, Rockies +214; over/under is 12 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Atlanta Braves take on the Colorado Rockies after Ronald Acuna Jr. had four hits against the Rockies on Monday.Colorado has a 28-34 record at home and a 49-82 record overall. Rockies hitters have a collective .402 slugging percentage to rank ninth in the NL.Atlanta is 41-23 in road games and 85-45 overall. Braves hitters have a collective .501 slugging percentage to lead MLB.The matchup Tuesday is the sixth time these teams match up this season. The Braves hold a 5-0 advantage in the season series.TOP PERFORMERS: Ryan McMahon has 26 doubles, three triples, 22 home runs and 67 RBI for the Rockies. Charlie Blackmon is 1...

San Francisco Giants and Cincinnati Reds play in game 2 of series

Published Sun, 23 Feb 2025 14:00:54 GMT

Cincinnati Reds (68-65, third in the NL Central) vs. San Francisco Giants (68-63, third in the NL West)San Francisco; Tuesday, 9:45 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Reds: Brandon Williamson (4-3, 4.08 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 82 strikeouts); Giants: Alex Cobb (6-5, 3.74 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 117 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Giants -163, Reds +139; over/under is 8 runsBOTTOM LINE: The San Francisco Giants play the Cincinnati Reds, leading the series 1-0.San Francisco is 68-63 overall and 37-30 at home. The Giants have a 35-11 record in games when they did not give up a home run.Cincinnati has gone 37-31 in road games and 68-65 overall. The Reds have the sixth-ranked team on-base percentage in the NL at .325.Tuesday’s game is the sixth time these teams match up this season. The Giants are ahead 3-2 in the season series.TOP PERFORMERS: Wilmer Flores has 20 doubles and 19 home runs while hitting .296 for the Giants. LaMonte Wade Jr is 6-for-36 with two home runs over the past 10 games.Spen...