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How traditional clothing, other textiles carry thousands of years of history to DC — and around the world

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 06:33:42 GMT

Clothing is one of our most basic needs, along with food and shelter — but textiles are also important symbols of identity.In honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, WTOP is spotlighting the significance of textiles in many Asian cultures — from the sacred thread in India to the appliqué designs of Hokkaido — and efforts in the D.C. area to help preserve these ancient art forms.Textiles are “usually the primary way that people communicate who they are,” said Lee Talbot, a curator at The George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum. The Textile Museum, located in the Foggy Bottom area of D.C., is an almost 100-year-old institution focusing on handmade woven materials of non-Western peoples, including Indigenous Peoples of the Americas, Asia, Africa and the Pacific islands.Its collection of some 25,000 textiles date back to 3,000 B.C. Talbot said the museum uses the collection as a way to introduce visitors to non-Western cultures.“...

Woman arrested after driving slingshot erratically in Miami Beach

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 06:33:42 GMT

A woman driving a slingshot goes on a collision course in Miami Beach hitting anything in her path.“I heard a crash,” said a man. Another video showed a banged-up slingshot and the person believed to have been behind the wheel bolting from the car.Mitch Novick owner of Sherbrooke Hotel described what happened just before that.“I went out on the terrace and I heard commotion on Collins, so I walked over put the camera on video and there she was crashing her slingshot repeatedly into whatever it was,” said Novick It was a wild Sunday morning in Miami Beach.Detectives accused Adriana Sofia Alcover-Nazario of driving erratically and hitting other cars along the way at different locations in Miami Beach earlier in the day.She ended up in front of a coffee shop where detectives said her driving didn’t get any better.“In watching this I thought oh no I hope she doesn’t make her way and destroy my pillars, my historic railing and damage the building...

Pots and pans symphony: South Florida’s unique tradition of celebration and protest

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 06:33:42 GMT

The sound of clanking pots and pans reverberates through the streets, echoing a vibrant tradition that is deeply rooted in the diverse culture of South Florida. It’s music to our ears because when the pots and pans come out, we know the Miami Heat cooked up another win, but where did the tradition originate from?This auditory spectacle, known as ‘cacerolazo’ in Latin American countries, has become a symbol of celebration and protest for the local community. From medieval France to the streets of Miami, the origin of this culinary symphony can be traced back to its historical significance.The concept of using pots and pans as instruments of protest dates back to medieval times in France. During that era, demonstrators would take to the streets, banging on their cookware to voice their discontent and demand change. Fast forward to modern times, and the pots and pans have become a powerful tool for social movements and expressions of unrest, like when the masses in Fr...

Only 25% of sunscreens offer broad-spectrum protection without ‘troublesome’ ingredients, report says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 06:33:42 GMT

(CNN) — Eeny, meeny, miny, moe — choosing a sunscreen for summer used to be child’s play. Today, market shelves are packed with dozens of options, each promising to be better than the others at protecting skin from the sun’s harmful rays.However, most sunscreen options contain one or more of a dozen chemicals the US Food and Drug Administration said should be researched by manufacturers before the ingredients can be considered GRASE or “generally regarded as safe and effective,” according to a new analysis.“We found only 25% of sunscreens on the market offer good broad-spectrum protection without troublesome chemical ingredients,” said Emily Spilman, Healthy Living Science program manager for the Environmental Working Group, a non-profit consumer advocacy group that has investigated sunscreen products for 17 years.This year’s report, entitled “EWG 17th Annual Guide to Safer Sunscreens,” was released Tuesday.The 2023 report has some good news too, for both people and the planet. Use ...

Warming Up Again This Week

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 06:33:42 GMT

What a weekend we just had! Despite the chilly breeze yesterday, the weekend was a fantastic one overall featuring some nice outdoor activity weather, including that great beach day we had Sunday. The breeze today is still onshore, however, it won’t be as strong as yesterday. That means after the chilly start to the day, we’ll warm up nicely for a comfortable afternoon as highs head for the mid 60s at the coast to the low to mid 70s inland. A bit of haze will be in the sky (actually some smoke) from the Nova Scotia wildfires. That’ll filter the sun a bit at times, but overall, it’s another solid day. Dry weather prevails again tomorrow with temps warming back up into the low to mid 80s inland, 70s coast. We continue that warm-up into the end of the week as Thursday pushes up to near 90 inland, and likely low 90s Friday. While it’ll be hot inland, temps along the coast do run cooler with sea breezes as coastal temps push into the 70s to near 80. The pat...

Iran’s state media claims UN watchdog closes two lines of inquiry on nuclear program

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 06:33:42 GMT

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran’s state-run news agency claimed Tuesday that international inspectors had closed off two lines of inquiry they had over Tehran’s nuclear program ahead of a scheduled quarterly report by the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog. The Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency, however, did not respond to questions over the report published by Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency. Citing “knowledgeable sources,” IRNA said that the IAEA had closed off its inquiry over the recent discovery of traces of uranium enriched up to 83.7% purity. A quarterly IAEA report in March said inspectors found the particles in Iran’s underground Fordo nuclear site, further raising nonproliferation concerns as weapons-grade material is enriched to 90%.Iran had blamed “unintended fluctuations” for the discovery at Fordo nuclear site. The Islamic Republic has been producing uranium enriched to 60% purity — a level which nonproliferation experts say Tehran does n...

Japanese court says government’s policy against same-sex marriage is unconstitutional

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 06:33:42 GMT

TOKYO (AP) — A Japanese court ruled Tuesday that the government’s policy against same-sex marriage is unconstitutional, in a closely watched decision that supporters say is a step toward marriage equality.The Nagoya District Court in central Japan, however, rejected a request by a male couple that the government pay them 1 million yen ($7,100) each in compensation for the unequal treatment they face because the current system does not recognize them as legally married. The ruling is the second that found that the government’s denial of same-sex marriage violates the constitution, while two other decisions did not. The rulings can be appealed to the Supreme Court. In his ruling, Judge Osamu Nishimura said the current system that excludes same-sex couples with no legal protection for their relationship is unconstitutional and there is no room for government discretion, Kyodo News reported.Supporters cheered outside the court, waving rainbow flags and holding signs saying, “Anoth...

Danish government wants to spend $20.6 billion on defense over 10 years

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 06:33:42 GMT

COPENHAGEN,Denmark (AP) — Denmark’s centrist government said Tuesday that it wants to invest some 143 billion kroner ($20.6 billion) in the country’s defense over the next decade, citing a “serious threat picture.”The government has an ambition to reach NATO’s target of spending 2% of gross domestic product on military budgets by 2030, in part as a response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.“We are at a historic turning point in defense and security policy. There is war in Europe, and we can no longer take peace for granted,” acting Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen told a press conference, calling it “an ambitious plan.” “The threat picture can change quickly. We see this not least with the war in Ukraine,” Lund Poulsen said. Kristian Søby Kristensen with the the Center for Military Studies at the University of Copenhagen, said that what the government presented was “an economic frame” which was “a starting point for talks” with other political parties before a decisi...

Four Toronto streets crack CAA’s top 10 worst roads in Ontario. Here’s the list

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 06:33:42 GMT

Four well-known Toronto streets have cracked this year’s lamentable top 10 worst roads in Ontario, according to the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA).The CAA’s backgrounder, aptly titled 20 Years of Worst Roads, is described as “a platform for Ontarians to make our roads safer by helping different levels of government understand what roadway improvements are important to citizens and where they need to be made.”Barton Street East in Hamilton, Ont., was marked as the worst road in 2023, while Toronto had the most provincial streets (four) on the top 10 list.The Top 10 CAA Worst Roads in Ontario:1. Barton Street East, Hamilton2. Eglinton Avenue West, Toronto3. County Road 49, Prince Edward County4. Carling Avenue, Ottawa5. Finch Avenue West, Toronto6. Laclie Street, Orillia7. Steeles Avenue East, Toronto8. Aberdeen Avenue, Hamilton9. Lakeshore Boulevard East, Toronto10. Hurontario Street, MississaugaThe Hamilton, Ont. road first appeared on the CAA’s ...

No kidding: California overtime law threatens use of grazing goats to prevent wildfires

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 06:33:42 GMT

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Hundreds of goats munch on long blades of yellow grass on a hillside next to a sprawling townhouse complex. They were hired to clear vegetation that could fuel wildfires as temperatures rise this summer.These voracious herbivores are in high demand to devour weeds and shrubs that have proliferated across California after a drought-busting winter of heavy rain and snow.“It’s a huge fuel source. If it was left untamed, it can grow very high. And then when the summer dries everything out, it’s perfect fuel for a fire,” said Jason Poupolo, parks superintendent for the city of West Sacramento, where goats grazed on a recent afternoon.Targeted grazing is part of California’s strategy to reduce wildfire risk because goats can eat a wide variety of vegetation and graze in steep, rocky terrain that’s hard to access. Backers say they’re an eco-friendly alternative to chemical herbicides or weed-whacking machines that are make noise and pollution.But new state la...