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Tips for selling a house at the highest price — and fast

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:32 GMT

As the fall home-selling season opens, real estate agents recommend that homeowners spend some time and money preparing the house for sale so that it sells promptly and at the best price.With mortgage rates toping 7%, agents say D.C.-area real estate is starting to see more balance between buyers and sellers, following a period of very aggressive buying and rapidly rising prices.“There are a lot of things that people can do, like staging a home, making sure that it’s clean, that it has a good curb appeal, that the gardens are taken care of,” said Alison McDowell, a real estate agent in the Bethesda, Maryland, office of Compass.It’s important that your property makes a really good first impression.“When you’re selling a home, you get the most traffic in the first week that house is on the market … I liken selling a house to planning a party, where you want the big reveal to go off without a hitch,” McDowell said.Research shows that careful pr...

El “efecto Mandela” describe los recuerdos falsos que muchos de nosotros compartimos. Pero ¿por qué los científicos no pueden explicarlo?

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:32 GMT

(CNN) — ¿El Sr. Monopoly usa monóculo? ¿Hay una raya negra en la cola de Pikachu? ¿Y la fruta en el logotipo de Fruit of the Loom surge de una cornucopia?Si respondió afirmativamente a alguna de estas preguntas, lo siento, está equivocado. Pero es posible que también estés experimentando el llamado efecto Mandela.La investigadora paranormal Fiona Broome acuñó el nombre en 2009 después de convencerse de que el entonces presidente sudafricano Nelson Mandela había muerto en prisión en la década de 1980. Pero Mandela no murió en prisión; fue liberado en 1990, pasó a liderar Sudáfrica y murió en 2013. Sin embargo, Broome notó que muchos otros parecían compartir la misma memoria inexacta, lo que provocó una mayor investigación.Desde entonces, han surgido recuerdos falsos más comunes, como que C-3PO de la fama de “Star Wars” es completamente dorado (tiene una pierna plateada); Jiffy como nombre de una conocida marca de mantequilla de maní (es simplemente Jif); la ortografía de un lib...

A Chinese #MeToo journalist and an activist spent 2 years in detention. Their trial starts this week

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:32 GMT

BEIJING (AP) — After two years in detention, a Chinese journalist active in the #MeToo movement will go on trial this week, along with a labor rights activist who was detained with her in 2021, one of their supporters said.China often silences activists by holding them incommunicado for a long time and then sentencing them to prison. A pretrial hearing was held on Tuesday and a trial set for Friday in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou, the supporter said, citing a family member. The supporter requested anonymity out of fear of government retaliation.Huang Xueqin, an independent journalist, helped spark China’s first #MeToo case in 2018 when she helped a graduate student go public with accusations against her Ph.D. supervisor. The other activist, Wang Jianbing, is more known for his labor rights activity but also helped women report sexual harassment.It’s not clear what got them into trouble with authorities. Both have been charged with subversion of state power, their sup...

Rockies aim to stop 5-game road losing streak, play the Padres

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:32 GMT

Colorado Rockies (56-94, fifth in the NL West) vs. San Diego Padres (73-78, fourth in the NL West)San Diego; Tuesday, 9:40 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Rockies: Ryan Feltner (0-0); Padres: Blake Snell (14-9, 2.48 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 217 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Padres -252, Rockies +205; over/under is 8 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Colorado Rockies travel to the San Diego Padres looking to stop a five-game road skid.San Diego is 40-36 in home games and 73-78 overall. The Padres have the eighth-best team on-base percentage in the majors at .328.Colorado has gone 22-54 in road games and 56-94 overall. The Rockies are 30-83 in games when they have given up at least one home run.The matchup Tuesday is the 12th time these teams match up this season. The Padres have a 7-4 advantage in the season series.TOP PERFORMERS: Juan Soto has 32 home runs, 123 walks and 100 RBI while hitting .267 for the Padres. Xander Bogaerts is 15-for-41 with five doubles, a triple, two home runs and three RBI ...

Braves aim to break skid in game against the Phillies

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:32 GMT

Philadelphia Phillies (82-68, second in the NL East) vs. Atlanta Braves (96-54, first in the NL East)Atlanta; Tuesday, 7:20 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Phillies: Cristopher Sanchez (2-4, 3.40 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 83 strikeouts); Braves: Spencer Strider (17-5, 3.78 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 259 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Braves -222, Phillies +182; over/under is 9 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Atlanta Braves come into a matchup against the Philadelphia Phillies after losing four in a row.Atlanta is 96-54 overall and 47-26 at home. Braves hitters have a collective .342 on-base percentage, the top percentage in the NL.Philadelphia is 82-68 overall and 39-37 in road games. Phillies hitters have a collective .329 on-base percentage, the third-ranked percentage in the NL.The teams match up Tuesday for the 12th time this season. The Braves are up 7-4 in the season series.TOP PERFORMERS: Ronald Acuna Jr. has 33 doubles, three triples, 37 home runs and 98 RBI for the Braves. Matt Olson is 13-for-38 wit...

Diamondbacks start 2-game series at home against the Giants

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:32 GMT

San Francisco Giants (76-74, third in the NL West) vs. Arizona Diamondbacks (79-72, second in the NL West)Phoenix; Tuesday, 9:40 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Giants: Alex Cobb (7-6, 3.62 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 130 strikeouts); Diamondbacks: Zac Gallen (15-8, 3.50 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 199 strikeouts)BOTTOM LINE: The Arizona Diamondbacks host the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday to open a two-game series.Arizona has a 41-35 record in home games and a 79-72 record overall. Diamondbacks hitters are batting a collective .252, which ranks sixth in the NL.San Francisco has a 33-42 record on the road and a 76-74 record overall. The Giants have gone 30-14 in games when they hit at least two home runs.The teams play Tuesday for the 12th time this season. The Giants are up 6-5 in the season series.TOP PERFORMERS: Ketel Marte has 26 doubles, nine triples, 23 home runs and 77 RBI while hitting .274 for the Diamondbacks. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. is 13-for-38 with three doubles and a home run over the last 10 games....

Mets bring 1-0 series lead over Marlins into game 2

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:32 GMT

New York Mets (70-80, fourth in the NL East) vs. Miami Marlins (78-73, third in the NL East)Miami; Tuesday, 6:40 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Mets: Joey Lucchesi (3-0, 2.83 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 24 strikeouts); Marlins: Braxton Garrett (9-6, 3.67 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 147 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Marlins -164, Mets +140; over/under is 8 runsBOTTOM LINE: The New York Mets lead 1-0 in a three-game series with the Miami Marlins.Miami has gone 43-33 at home and 78-73 overall. The Marlins have the eighth-ranked team ERA in the NL at 4.22.New York has a 31-44 record on the road and a 70-80 record overall. The Mets have a 48-19 record in games when they scored at least five runs.The matchup Tuesday is the ninth time these teams match up this season. The Mets have a 6-2 advantage in the season series.TOP PERFORMERS: Jorge Soler leads Miami with 36 home runs while slugging .512. Luis Arraez is 16-for-43 with four home runs and six RBI over the last 10 games.Brandon Nimmo has a .266 batting...

Cubs take 5-game losing streak into matchup with the Pirates

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:32 GMT

Pittsburgh Pirates (70-80, fourth in the NL Central) vs. Chicago Cubs (78-72, second in the NL Central)Chicago; Tuesday, 7:40 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Pirates: TBD; Cubs: Javier Assad (3-3, 3.10 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 71 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Cubs -142, Pirates +120; over/under is 8 1/2 runsBOTTOM LINE: The Chicago Cubs look to end a five-game losing streak when they play the Pittsburgh Pirates.Chicago has a 41-34 record at home and a 78-72 record overall. The Cubs have gone 40-23 in games when they did not allow a home run.Pittsburgh has a 70-80 record overall and a 32-40 record in road games. The Pirates are 52-6 in games when they out-hit their opponents.Tuesday’s game is the 11th time these teams square off this season. The Cubs are up 9-1 in the season series.TOP PERFORMERS: Cody Bellinger has a .311 batting average to lead the Cubs, and has 25 doubles, a triple and 25 home runs. Nico Hoerner is 16-for-42 with two RBI over the past 10 games.Ke’Bryan Ha...

St. Louis Cardinals and Milwaukee Brewers play in game 2 of series

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:32 GMT

Milwaukee Brewers (84-66, first in the NL Central) vs. St. Louis Cardinals (67-83, fifth in the NL Central)St. Louis; Tuesday, 7:45 p.m. EDTPITCHING PROBABLES: Brewers: Trevor Megill (1-0, 3.13 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 48 strikeouts); Cardinals: Drew Rom (1-2, 5.96 ERA, 1.77 WHIP, 18 strikeouts)FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK MLB LINE: Brewers -125, Cardinals +105; over/under is 9 runsBOTTOM LINE: The St. Louis Cardinals lead 1-0 in a four-game series with the Milwaukee Brewers.St. Louis has a 33-42 record at home and a 67-83 record overall. Cardinals hitters have a collective .327 on-base percentage, the sixth-ranked percentage in the NL.Milwaukee has an 84-66 record overall and a 39-36 record in road games. The Brewers have a 34-10 record in games when they hit two or more home runs.The matchup Tuesday is the eighth time these teams meet this season. The Cardinals have a 4-3 advantage in the season series.TOP PERFORMERS:William Contreras leads the Brewers with a .283 batting average, and has 34 doubles...

Arena Stage welcomes first Black artistic director

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:16:32 GMT

Artistic director Molly Smith retired this summer after a prolific 25-year run in the nation’s capital.Now, Arena Stage welcomes its very first African American artistic director starting this fall season.“Following in the great footsteps of the iconic Zelda Fichandler and the visionary Molly Smith, it is such a joy to be artistic director here at Arena Stage and something that in some ways feels manifested,” artistic director Hana S. Sharif told WTOP. “I remember when I was 19-years-old, saying and writing down that one day I would be artistic director of Arena Stage, so it does feel like a gift to be able to lead this company in the next phase of its life.”Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Sharif mostly grew up in Houston, Texas, discovering theater at an early age.“My mom said I was a bit of a dramatic child, so very early she put me in theater,” Sharif said. “I started writing plays when I was very young. I produced and directed by first p...