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JUNE 2024
LIONS, AND TIGERS, AND SPACE JUNK OH MY! Something New to Worry About
would “harmlessly reenter the Earth’s atmosphere.” Three years later, it did enter the atmosphere as expected, but it did not burn up before it landed, and NASA didn’t know why. “The International Space Station will perform a detailed investigation of the jettison and re-entry analysis to determine the cause of the debris survival and to update modeling and analysis, as needed,” NASA said in a statement. That doesn’t give the most confidence, especially considering that large space junk enters the Earth’s atmosphere about once a week. But injury is a very low-risk event. The European Space Agency estimates that there is a less than a 1 in 100 billion chance of an individual being injured by space debris in any given year. Tell that to Alejandro and his family, and they will remind you that “low risk” does not mean “no risk.” As Alejandro shared, “There are a lot of lessons to be learned from this event. I hope no one else has to go through this. It was really scary for our whole family, and we are just very grateful that no one got physically hurt.”
Alejandro Otera received a panicked call from his 19-year-old son while he was on vacation a couple of months ago. Something had hit their Naples, FL, home, his son told him, ripping a hole through the roof, ceilings, and floors. He was fine, though a bit shaken, but he didn’t know what to do. That was enough to cut the vacation short. Alejandro rushed home and was shocked to see the condition of the house. As he stood next to the roughly 6-inch hole in the floor in his living room, he looked up and could see through the two stories of the home straight to the blue sky outside. At first, he thought it was a meteorite, but after local sheriffs arrived to assist, he became even more confused. The sheriff pulled a metal sphere about 1.5 inches by 4 inches from the floor that weighed about 2 pounds. It was definitely not a meteorite, and the sheriff’s office called the FAA and ruled out something falling from a plane. This made them look even higher in the sky, and Alejandro called NASA. NASA collected the item and analyzed it at the Kennedy Space Center “to determine its origin.” They concluded that it was from the International Space Station (ISS). It turns out that in 2021, the ISS pitched a pallet of used lithium- ion batteries over the side to free up some space after NASA determined it
Luke is looking for new risks... in the sky.
Mark Sundahl, who has worked in space law for over 20 years, shared, “We have an international convention on liability for damage caused by outer space objects. It’s from 1972. So, we have rules in place.” Those rules outline that the launching state is absolutely liable for any damage to property or persons on the Earth’s surface. In this case, Japan brought the batteries to the ISS. But, Sundahl added, if the object in question is part of a U.S. module, “then the international law no longer applies. It becomes a domestic legal issue, and a homeowner would have to bring a tort action against the federal government.”
I have a feeling this will take a while before it is 100% wrapped up.
Besides being a curious story, I think there are some interesting connections to property management, including:
The next challenge . . . who’s going to pay for the damage?
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NEGLECTED NECESSITIES
4 Chores You Can’t Ignore
Low water pressure, on the other hand, can lead to frustration when washing dishes or bathing.
If you are a homeowner, you know home maintenance chores are never-ending and can begin to pile up — it feels like a part-time job. For many, it’s tempting to just rely on professional repair services when something breaks down, but this can be expensive. That’s why you shouldn’t ignore these simple maintenance tasks — they may present dangers to the home and its occupants. Here are four simple home maintenance tasks you shouldn’t neglect. Maintain your sump pump. If you have a basement, you likely have a sump pump, which transports water from the deepest part of your house to a designated draining point to prevent costly flooding and mold growth. These mechanisms are usually tucked away to prevent them from being an eyesore, making them easy to forget. However, routinely inspecting and performing necessary repairs on your sump pump could prevent catastrophe. Check your water pressure. There is nothing worse than expecting a nice, relaxing shower only to be greeted by a blast of water akin to one from a super- soaker wielded by an overzealous kid. When it comes to domestic comfort, water pressure makes a big difference: On one hand, if your pressure is too high, it can lead to discomfort and damaged pipes — and you’ll waste water, which means higher utility bills.
To prevent this, measure your water pressure: You want a reading of around 75 psi. If it is significantly higher or lower, replace your valves or install a pressure gauge to monitor the issue. Clear window weep holes. The bottom exterior frames of windows often feature weep holes meant to displace excess rainwater. These can get clogged, which can lead to the frames filling up with water and then leaking, causing interior water damage. The easiest way to prevent this is by clearing your windows’ weep holes at least once a year. Drain sediment from your water heater. Many of us rely on water heaters for laundry, dishwashing, and bathing. Hot water is a comfort and a necessity, but the more we use our water heaters, the more sediment collects in the bottom of the tank. To fix this, flush out the tank. Here are some easy steps to follow: • First, you need to ensure its power is off: If it is electric, shut off your electricity. If it is a gas-powered water heater, turn off the thermostat
• Turn off the supply of cold water
• Wait for the water in the tank to cool off
• Connect a garden hose to the drain valve, and put the other end of the hose somewhere the water can drain safely
• Open the drain valve
• Empty the tank, removing any excess sediment
• Then refill the tank
Keeping on top of often neglected home maintenance chores is an investment in your future. The work you put in now will pay dividends later in terms of money saved on costly repairs and lower utility bills.
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Create the Cottage-Styled Home of Your Dreams THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE A VINTAGE HOME
down, savor everyday beauty, and find solace in the embrace of home.
Designing a home aesthetic is like painting a canvas with the brushstrokes of personal style and creativity. It transforms your spaces into a sanctuary of your design. One home decor style that has been on the rise recently is cottagecore. What is cottagecore? Cottagecore is a design style that encourages a simpler and more rural lifestyle. Its design characteristics include vintage and handcrafted clothing, candles, rustic furniture, and needlework. Cottagecore also encourages learning homesteading skills that promote self- sufficiency, including vegetable gardening, baking from scratch, and raising backyard chickens.
You can incorporate cottagecore in your home. To remake your home using a cottagecore aesthetic, look for decor with garden motifs such as butterflies, flowers, mushrooms, and landscapes. You can toss colorful bouquets in wicker baskets to enhance the look. Adding vintage-inspired art in old-timey frames will automatically transport
your home. You will feel a sense of calm by collecting beautiful vintage kitchenware that represents berry picking or gardening. To find furniture that blends with the cottagecore aesthetic, try looking at estate sales or antique stores for things that fit your specific cottagecore theme. Don’t be afraid to refurbish or repair old or damaged furniture, either. The do-it-yourself work required fits the theme of cottagecore perfectly. Designing a home is undoubtedly an art form; every corner of our home becomes a chance to showcase memories and the things we love most using our own unique design preferences.
The cottagecore aesthetic is a captivating homage to simplicity, nature, and nostalgia, evoking visions of idyllic rural life and a callback to simpler, less tech-dominated times. Handmade crafts infuse spaces with warmth and character, while elements of whimsy and folklore add a touch of enchantment. In a fast-paced world filled with modern conveniences, cottagecore invites us to slow
... continued from Cover
1. Strange things happen sometimes, and you must address them and move forward. 2. Low risk is not no risk, and you need to be prepared for the outlier events. 3. Make sure you have solid insurance and are aware of your coverage exclusions (including space junk).
HOMEMADE DOLE WHIP Inspired by ThePioneerWoman.com
Here’s to hoping very low-risk events don’t happen to you or your property!
Ingredients
• 1 tbsp lime juice • Pinch of sea salt
• 3/4 cup pineapple juice • 1 cup vanilla ice cream • 2 cups frozen pineapple
P.S. — Speaking of how low risk isn’t “no risk,” I learned an Oklahoma resident named Lottie Williams was struck in the shoulder by a lightweight piece of material in 1997 that experts linked to the reentry of the upper stage from a Delta II rocket. It was a glancing blow, and the air helped slow down the piece of debris, so she escaped serious injury.
Directions
1. In a high-powered blender, combine all the ingredients. Blend on medium-high speed until smooth, stopping to push the pineapple chunks down into the blender as needed. 2. Transfer to a bowl; cover and freeze for 30 minutes. 3. Scoop and serve. Alternatively, transfer to a piping bag fitted with a large star tip, then pipe into small serving bowls. (This method will make it look like it came out of a soft serve machine.)
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INSIDE
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Lions, and Tigers, and Space Junk, Oh My!
2
Often-Forgotten Home Maintenance Issues
3
Cultivate the Cottagecore Aesthetic in Your Home
Homemade Dole Whip
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Transform Your Kitchen Into a Cozy Cafe
DISCOVER CAFECORE
COMBINING INTERIOR DESIGN WITH COFFEE AND COMFORT
There are few better feelings than sitting around a table with friends — a steamy mug of coffee in hand — reminiscing at your neighborhood cafe. The fond memories, nostalgic decor, and inviting warmth make your local coffee shop an environment you want to visit routinely. Now, a new design aesthetic that gained steam on Pinterest, called Cafecore, aims to bring those feelings home.
Coffee enthusiasts are decorating their kitchens with the Cafecore aesthetic, which includes accessories for caffeine cravers, colorful furniture, brewing stations, and coffee table books. More than just matching the look, the design style also calls for matching the vibe. Accompany your morning brew with soft jazz or acoustic instrumentals and the pleasant, lingering smell of a scented candle to help tie it all together.
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