Lifestyle
High winds toppled 70 trees and closed California Botanic Garden. Here’s how to help
When the Santa Ana winds stormed by means of Southern California on Jan. 21, they toppled bushes and knocked out energy in a lot of Claremont, however Lucinda McDade, govt director of California Botanic Backyard, was principally nervous about frozen seeds — embryos for the 1000’s of uncommon crops within the seed financial institution of the state’s largest botanic backyard devoted to native crops.
She heard the winds shrieking that evening and nervous that the ability outage would begin thawing the seeds, so she was up round daybreak attempting to get backup energy restored on the backyard. She knew the principle gate could be ineffective as a result of it’s power-operated.
What she didn’t count on is that 70-plus bushes and a blizzard of fallen branches, leaves and particles would make the remainder of the backyard impassable.
“The weird factor is that Claremont is normally fairly shielded from the winds. Folks will name and say ‘It’s blowing 60 mph in Fontana!’ however after I look out my window, my oak tree is waving just like the royals do, sluggish and delicate,” McDade mentioned.
However round 9 p.m. on Jan. 21 she might hear the wind tossing issues round on her patio, and it practically yanked her door off its hinges when she went outdoors to research. The facility went out and she or he made a plan to go to the backyard early the following morning — a Saturday — to verify the backup generator was working.
The luxurious evergreen cover of this uncommon Island Dwell Oak possible led to it being partially blown over through the Jan. 21 windstorm, severing its essential root so it should be eliminated.
(Ming Posa)
It wasn’t, however restoring energy to the freezer was a comparatively fast and straightforward repair, she mentioned. Cleansing up the massive fallen bushes, mountains of palm fronds and ankle-deep piles of particles has been one other matter.
The backyard has been closed because the wind storm, and McDade mentioned it should stay closed till the bushes blocking trails or threatening to fall have been eliminated.
Fortunately, two of the backyard’s most well-known bushes withstood the winds — the Majestic Oak, the oldest oak on the grounds, and the tall Boojum tree within the again reaches of the backyard.
However many different bushes have been both fully uprooted, or partially blown over badly sufficient to sever their essential roots and require their elimination, she mentioned, including that one of many saddest losses was that of a uncommon island dwell oak, which normally grows solely within the Channel Islands and elements of Santa Barbara County.
The backyard has a catalog of each tree in its 86 acres, however it may well’t freeze the acorn seeds that permit them to be replanted, McDade mentioned. “They flip to mush after they come out of the freezer,” she mentioned, so the backyard’s horticulturists should go to native stands of the broken oaks to collect extra acorns for replanting.
Backyard employees who usually work desk jobs have been out with rakes and shovels final week, clearing the walkways, she mentioned. “It appeared prefer it snowed 6 inches of leaves, branches and sticks on all the paths.”
Particles from the Jan., 21 Santa Ana windstorm coated trails at California Botanic Backyard with no less than 6 inches of fallen leaves and branches.
(Lucinda McDade)
After which there was the small mountain of palm fronds that needed to be faraway from the doorway to the executive workplace. the wind knocked out all the skirt of brown fronds on a California native fan palm subsequent to the constructing, breaking out a third-floor window, destroying a cover and blocking the principle door.
“It took no less than 4 truck masses to haul all of them away,” mentioned Amanda Behnke, California Botanic Backyard’s director of development.
McDade mentioned she hopes to reopen no less than the entrance 35 acres of the gardens within the subsequent few weeks, after the bushes are eliminated, “however proper now it appears like a conflict zone, with heavy gear operating round and bushes all around the floor.”
Volunteers will possible be wanted subsequent winter when the backyard begins replanting, however the broken bushes and crops have to be cataloged and eliminated first. The backyard doesn’t do planting within the spring or summer time as a result of the warmth can harm tender seedlings, so replanting possible received’t begin earlier than late fall or the winter, McDade defined.
Within the meantime, the massive precedence is getting the backyard secure sufficient for guests. Backyard employees might solely achieve this a lot to assist with the cleanup, Behnke mentioned. “We’ve to rent specialised arborists to securely take away these bushes — we will’t simply have volunteers operating round with chain saws — and sadly insurance coverage doesn’t cowl eradicating bushes which have fallen down.”
Heavy Santa Ana winds blew all the skirt of useless fronds off a towering California native fan palm, ripping a cover and blocking the doorway to the California Botanic Backyard places of work.
(Lucinda McDade)
The cleanup is anticipated to value no less than $100,000, and “at this level we’ve got an enormous deficit — no less than $75,000 — to getting it paid,” Behnke mentioned.
Individuals who need to assist ought to contemplate making a monetary donation to the backyard, McDade mentioned, after which plan on visiting often as soon as it reopens, to assist replenish its coffers.
One other manner to assist? Turn out to be a member. Annual memberships begin at $50 for people and $85 for households and supply limitless admission to California Botanic Backyard plus reciprocal admission to 300 different botanic gardens in North America, together with 35 in California.
It is a time when native crops begin blooming, so McDade is keen to open the gates. “I do know the backyard is a part of the psychic wellness plan for thus many individuals who come to stroll it each day,” she mentioned. “I received so many messages through the pandemic [when the garden was closed] from individuals saying, ‘I’ll by no means take the backyard with no consideration once more.’
“However the backyard remains to be stunning. There are massive areas that seem like nothing occurred … The interplay of the wind with the bushes is a fickle factor. It’s unhappy, however we’ll be again.”
Beyoncé performed live at halftime during the NFL game between the Baltimore Ravens and Houston Texans at NRG Stadium on Dec. 25, 2024.
Julian Dakdouk
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Julian Dakdouk
Sports fans who tuned into Netflix’s landmark streaming Wednesday of two NFL games may have felt a bit of troubling déjà vu – at first.
That’s because this crucial event – signaling the entry of the industry’s largest streaming service into the blockbuster business of professional football – kicked off with audio problems in the early moments of host Kay Adams’ opening presentation.
It was a worrying callback to problems Netflix had with its last big live event, the boxing match in November between YouTube star Jake Paul and former champ Mike Tyson when viewers struggled with blurry audio and got regularly kicked off the live stream.
Fortunately, Adams’ sound problems were quickly fixed, allowing Netflix to step up with a two-game programming event that felt like the streaming service’s version of the Super Bowl – complete with a lushly-produced halftime show for its second game featuring pop superstar Beyoncé that could stand up to any Big Game presentation.
In fact, the actual football games may have been the least impressive part of Netflix’s big day, as Super Bowl champions the Kansas City Chiefs ran over the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first game, 29-10 and the Baltimore Ravens dominated the Houston Texans on their home turf for the second contest, 31-2.
Netflix’s broadcast on Wednesday got off to a rocky start with audio problems from host Kay Adams.
Netflix
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Netflix
Stacking its teams of hosts and commentators with experienced broadcasters, Netflix delivered a mostly smooth visual presentation with lots of glitzy graphics and all the information fans needed to follow the game. The connection issues that plagued the Tyson/Paul fight seemed largely absent, at least for this viewer, particularly while watching the games in slightly delayed playback.
According to Netflix, more than 200 countries tuned in at some point during the Chiefs vs. Steelers contest, making it the second most popular live title on the streaming service.
So, it makes sense the streamer would take advantage of the occasion to shoehorn in lots of references to other Netflix products, including a pregame interview with WWE wrestler Liv Morgan to prompt the debut of WWE Raw live events next month and realistic-looking football-shaped cakes tying into the streamer’s game show Is It Cake?
There were also loads of commercials, which seemed to play even for subscribers with ad-free plans, though if you watched the games via replay, you could skip past them.
But the full games expired from Netflix three hours after the event; two programs offering highlights from each game’s plays are available to watch on demand, and the streamer says Beyoncé’s halftime show will also be offered as a standalone program to rewatch.
Queen Bey, a Houston native, certainly brought the fire to her hometown for what the streamer dubbed the “Beyoncé Bowl” halftime show. Performing songs from her album Cowboy Carter for the first time – including her reboots of “Jolene” and “Blackbird” – she was a vision in white and sequins backed by a cavalcade of dancers decked out in white cowboy hats and ace collaborators like Post Malone and Shaboozey. Her daughter, Blue Ivy, even made an appearance.
Beyoncé’s epic live performance lasted more than 13 minutes – handily overshadowing Mariah Carey’s pre-taped appearances before each game – also proving that Netflix could muster the production value and imagery to match any Super Bowl-level performer.
YouTube
Which was, ultimately, the most important point of the entire day – proving that the streaming service is ready to compete with the big dogs of broadcasting by offering glitch-free NFL games live to a subscriber base of more than 282 million accounts.
Netflix isn’t the only streamer offering live NFL games. Amazon’s Prime Video has Thursday Night Football and Peacock also offers live coverage of some NFL games. But Netflix, as the largest and most profitable streaming service, has a symbolic and substantial impact when it comes to a certain kind of programming.
With its plans to stream WWE Raw live events starting next month and a new deal to present the FIFA Women’s World Cup, Netflix is turning toward one area of television streaming services haven’t yet dominated: live sports.
What that ultimately means for the future of television – and the future of sports media – we may just be starting to learn.
Justin Baldoni has suffered another blow amid his legal war with Blake Lively … a podcaster who recently interviewed him has removed his episode.
Elizabeth Day, who hosts the ‘How To Fail’ podcast, shared an IG statement Tuesday, explaining she had taken down the December 4 interview with Baldoni while all the “distressing allegations made against him in Blake Lively’s recent lawsuit are fully investigated.”
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Elizabeth spoke of Baldoni’s legal matter in general … saying she believes every individual has a right to a safe workplace, and every woman should have dignity in that workplace.
She wrapped up the post, saying that every form of abuse should be called out, and she salutes anyone with the the courage who does.
Baldoni’s podcast interview with Elizabeth was in-depth and personal — he spoke about his ADHD diagnosis at age 40 and also spoke of a “near breakdown” on the set of “It Ends With Us,” which he directed and starred in alongside Blake.
Looks like a lot went down BTS of the film, ’cause Blake’s filed a sexual harassment and smear campaign lawsuit against him, in what she claims is a coordinated effort to destroy her reputation. Baldoni has denied all the claims.
Shoppers walk along Fifth Avenue on Nov. 29 in New York City.
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Heather Khalifa/AP
If you’re feeling guilty for thinking about returning that unironically ugly sweater your least favorite aunt gave you this holiday season, maybe don’t. ‘Tis the season of giving — and returning, after all.
The National Retail Federation reports that returns will total $890 billion for all of 2024. Returns happen year-round, but are most prevalent during the holiday season, the organization said.
But etiquette experts caution there is a delicate art to returning, or even regifting, the presents you receive.
“When it comes to returning a gift, I think discretion is key so you never hurt the gift giver,” said Myka Meier, an etiquette expert who runs Beaumont Etiquette in New York City.
There are some things to consider before heading to the store to make a return, according to Jo Bryant, a British etiquette consultant.
“The best way to return an unwanted gift is to really examine the financial worth, and relationship with the giver. It always involves a tricky conversation, so it is best to prioritise this for more expensive gifts when it really would be [a] shame that you can’t use it, and a real waste,” Bryant wrote in an email to NPR. “You also need to know the person who gave you the gift very well to be so honest with them.”
People walk past shops on Dec. 11 in Philadelphia.
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Matt Slocum/AP
Keep quiet and return
For Meier, it’s all about discretion when it comes to returning a gift.
She and Bryant differ on whether plans for returns should be shared with the gift giver.
Meier said don’t say anything “unless they specifically ask,” she said. “For most situations, it’s better to simply thank them graciously for their thoughtfulness without mentioning the return. The focus should always be on appreciating the gesture of being given a gift, not the item itself.”
And maybe keep mum even after some time has passed, she recommends.
“I would still try to avoid ever bringing it up, but I also would not lie,” she said.
So, if that aunt who bought that ugly sweater asks how it fits two months after Christmas?
“In that case, you can kindly and tactfully explain, for instance: ‘It was such a thoughtful gift! Unfortunately, it didn’t fit quite right, so I exchanged it for something similar that I’ll use every day and always think of you!’ “
A shopper carries a Christmas-themed bag in London on Dec. 2, 2020.
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Alberto Pezzali/AP
But maybe direct honesty is more your style?
Bryant believes “honesty and tact is best.” Regardless, be sure to flatter the gift giver and heap praise on the present at the same time.
If something absolutely must be returned, instead of saying that you just didn’t like the present, give a reason for the return that is out of your control, Bryant said.
She suggested saying something like, ” ‘I loved the cashmere jumper — it is one of my favourite presents this year — but I think the size up would be more comfortable for me,’ or ‘Thank you for the crystal glass vase; we love it but my mother recently gave us one very similar. I really don’t want such a generous gift to be wasted, so I’d love it if we could look to choose something else together? You always get us the best presents and we are so lucky to get such amazing and thoughtful gift from you.’ “
To save on possible awkwardness with these kinds of exchanges, Bryant suggested that gift givers be proactive and include the gift receipt, when possible.
What are the rules on regifting?
Yes, regifting is allowable, under etiquette rules.
“But it should be done thoughtfully and carefully,” Meier said.
There are limits to what can be regifted. “If the gift was customized in any way or has sentimental meaning, it’s not something to regift,” she said.
She addresses this topic further in a post on Instagram.
Some things Meier recommends if you plan on sending that previously discussed hideous sweater to a new home:
- Make sure the gift is new, totally unused and in its original packaging
- Avoid giving this gift to someone in the same social circles. In other words: Don’t give the sweater your aunt gave you to your cousin.
- Rewrap the gift “to show effort and care, just as you would with a newly purchased gift!”
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