Why Are People Climbing Out of New York City Manholes?

New York City’s underground has always inspired stories about hidden tunnels, abandoned stations and even sewer-dwelling alligators, but now even people are emerging from below the streets. A video shows several people climbing out of a manhole near Penn Station and Madison Square Garden in Midtown Manhattan. At around 4 a.m., three people wearing dark overalls and headlamps emerged one after another. The group apparently left the area before police arrived. Similar scenes surfaced in Astoria, Queens, with three people wearing waders and carrying flashlights reportedly entered a manhole. The separate sightings led tabloids and social media users to label the groups “mole people,” although authorities have not said the participants were living underground. There also is no confirmed evidence that all the incidents involved the same people or were coordinated. Police now believe at least some of the people seen in earlier cases were scavenging for valuables that had fallen or washed into the sewer system. New York maintains roughly 7,500 miles of sewer pipes, and police warn that sewers can contain hydrogen sulfide, methane, and other gases capable of causing unconsciousness or death. Other hazards include contaminated water, slippery or unstable surfaces, rats, sharp objects, and sudden changes in water level. Not only is entering a sewer dangerous, police say it’s also illegal. 

 

 

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Here’s What It Means if You See Orange Lines on the Highway

You’re headed out on a road trip, or perhaps just your daily commute to work, and all of a sudden you see something peculiar on the road ahead: orange lines. Orange lines, which are relatively new, are temporary markers letting drivers know they should slow down and drive with extra caution. They’re most commonly used in construction or work zones, as well as to mark temporary traffic patterns and lane shifts. Drivers should know that the orange lines supersede all other pavement markings, including white or yellow. So, if you see orange lines, ease off the gas and be prepared for changes. You may be wondering why orange was chosen. It’s because the brightness of the orange draws more attention than the traditional white or yellow lines. Unlike signs, orange lines don't require drivers to divert their attention to read them, but instantly indicate the message that they should slow down. Several states are currently testing the orange lines, including California, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Texas, Washington and Wisconsin. It remains to be seen if orange highway lines will be implemented nationwide.

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The Worst Time of Day to do Laundry

You may be asking yourself what the best time of day to do laundry is in order to save money. A one-time look at your electricity bill can give you the answer, but the answer varies from utility to utility, season to season, and region to region. You might see “time-of-use” rates with lower “off-peak” charges and higher “on-peak” charges. The worst times of the day to do your laundry is on-peak times, when electricity rates are highest. That’s often workday evenings. Weekends are off-peak all day, but a lot depends on the season and the region of the country. Think about your weekday evening routine. You might have turned on the lights and air conditioning, opened the refrigerator a number of times, cooked on your stove, and then sat down to watch your favorite TV show. Maybe you plugged in your phone to charge, maybe even an electric vehicle — you and almost everybody else. These are peak times when your utility company has to fire up expensive “peaker” power plants to generate more electric to supply all those customers, and they’re likely to charge you more for it. It doesn’t matter if your dryer runs on 110 or 220 volts, these are not good times to add laundry to your energy demands. There’s one rule of thumb when it comes to laundry: When in doubt, do it on the weekend.

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Cinnamon Roll Buttermilk Biscuits

This recipe takes the best parts of homemade cinnamon rolls and flaky buttermilk biscuits and combines them into one easy treat. It incorporates a layer of sweet cinnamon goodness, just like cinnamon rolls. A generous amount of cinnamon is added directly to the biscuit dough, and the baked biscuits are finished with a drizzle of rich and creamy cinnamon icing. They’re tender, gooey, and bursting with all the cozy warmth of a homemade cinnamon roll.

Servings: 9

Ingredients:

• ½ cup unsalted butter, cubed

• 3 cups all-purpose flour

• 1 tbsp sugar or the equivalent sugar substitute

• 4½ tsp baking powder

• 1½ tsp salt

• ¾ tsp ground cinnamon

• ½ tsp baking soda

• 1½ cups buttermilk

Cinnamon Drizzle:

• 1 cup confectioners’ sugar

• ¼ tsp ground cinnamon

• 2-3 tbsp whole milk

Directions:

• • Preheat oven to 450º F.
• • Place butter into an 8-inch square baking pan.
• • Bake until butter has melted, 1-2 minutes.
• • Remove from oven and set aside.
• • In a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, sugar, salt, cinnamon and baking powder.
• • Stir in buttermilk until moistened.
• • Gently press evenly into prepared pan.
• • Score the top of the biscuits into 9 squares, cleaning the knife as needed.
• • Bake until golden brown, 20-25 minutes.
• • Cool in the pan or on a wire rack for 5 minutes.
• • Break or cut into 9 squares.
• • In a small bowl, combine confectioners’ sugar, cinnamon, and enough milk to achieve desired consistency. Stir until smooth.
• • Drizzle over biscuits and serve.

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