Quirky World: International Space Station set to be the star of the show
When the meteors reach their peak, on a moonless night tomorrow, the International Space Station will outshine the brightest stars.
Prime #meteor watching time late at night this week starting Tuesday http://t.co/v5XgXOzg8o #Perseids pic.twitter.com/bhc0SkFGhJ
— Donald McArthur (@captainbyliner) August 10, 2015
Visible across the UK, the space station will appear as a dazzling point of light moving rapidly across the sky. The Perseids make an August appearance each year, as the Earth passes through debris shed by the comet, Swift-Tuttle.
Officials in the US state of Washington want a former city employee to pay back $800 (€727) in taxpayers’ money, which she spent on cupcakes for her own farewell party.
When former Yakima human resources director, Cheryl Ann Mattia, resigned in December, she ordered $757.40 worth of gourmet cupcakes from a local cafe. City manager, Tony O’Rourke, branded the spending a “gross misuse” of taxpayer money.
Ms Mattia says the cost of the cupcakes stemmed from a misunderstanding between her and a staff member when the order was placed, but says it was a legitimate expense. Mr O’Rourke said the city could take her to a small-claims court.
They’re skills any city dweller needs: Taking strangers and noisy streets in stride; riding calmly in elevators; hopping in a cab or on the subway; ignoring tempting food. And now they are all part of the American Kennel Club’s new ‘urban canine good citizen’ test, which recognises abilities that make city living more manageable for dogs, owners and others.
About 500 dogs nationwide have passed the test, since its debut in April.
Both purebreds and mixed breeds are eligible.
Walt Disney Japan has apologised after a tweet sent from its corporate Twitter account wished readers “congratulations on a not special day”, on the 70th anniversary of the US atomic bombing of Nagasaki.
In English, the tweet conveyed “A very merry unbirthday to you!”, from a song in Alice in Wonderland. The Japanese translation described the day as “not special,” prompting sharp criticism from readers, who questioned the timing of the tweet. “Why are you offering congratulations, Disney-san?” said one.
The company offered “deep apologies for causing discomfort,” saying it would manage the Twitter account more carefully.
An Alabama family drove to Colorado to be reunited with their dog, Boozer, on Saturday, after a nine-year separation.
Boozer, now 10, had gone missing while the family was moving from Tennessee to Alabama.
KUSA-TV reports that a man who had owned Boozer, a boxer, recently moved to Denver and gave the dog to Foothills Animal Shelter in Golden on August 2. The man said he was unable to take care of Boozer.
The shelter scanned Boozer’s microchip and discovered that he was registered to Lloyd Goldston, of Alabama.
Goldston says he kept an album of Boozer and the dog was always in their hearts.
“We never forgot him,” he said.
Goldston and his two children drove 18 hours to the animal shelter, where Goldston got teary-eyed when he got to spend time with Boozer again.
“He’s beautiful. Yes you are. Yes you are,” Goldston told his pet, giving him a hug. “Hey, Boozer! Welcome back, buddy.”
When Boozer went missing, Goldston said he didn’t have time to look for him in the middle of his move to another state.
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