Missy Elliott’s “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)” has flown all the way to Venus. NASA said it took 14 minutes for the 1997 hip-hop hit to go 158 million miles from Earth to the evening star — Elliott’s favorite planet. It marked the second song ever transmitted into deep space (the first was, fittingly, the Beatles’ “Across the Universe” in 2008). We hope any ETs up on Venus are having a good dance sesh.
Beginning in 2025, a new provision will allow people with Medicare prescription drug coverage to pay their out-of-pocket costs in monthly installments, rather than all at once. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released additional guidance on the program, called the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan, earlier this week. “No one should have to choose between paying for medicine or putting food on the table,” Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra previously said. He added: “We are easing the burden by allowing payments to be spread out over time. HHS will continue tackling high health care costs on all fronts so that every American can benefit from access to life-saving medicines.” The program is part of the Inflation Reduction Act, which also includes another health care provision taking effect next year: Those with Medicare drug coverage will have their out-of-pocket prescription drug costs capped at $2,000. Click here for a fact sheet on the payment plan, and here for tips on choosing Medicare drug coverage.
Together With Blue Circle Foods
Upgrade Mealtime With Next Level Sustainability
If you’ve been meaning to put more seafood on the table at home for health and environmental reasons, Blue Circle Foods is your new best friend. The employee-owned company is committed to sustainability and innovation, redefining the seafood industry with its eco-friendly approach to aquaculture and wild-caught fishing practices. With an impressive record of taking less than half a pound of fish out of the ocean for every pound of Atlantic Salmon produced, and emitting eight times less greenhouse gases than beef, Blue Circle offers a healthier, more sustainable choice. Plus, you’ll find more than just standard fish fillets on offer: The brand sells salmon breakfast links, a range of salmon sausages, salmon burgers, and much more. Nice News readers can get 20% off their first order with code BCFWELCOME20.
Alcohol is a staple at most comedy clubs, but Boston’s SoBar Comedy has all of the laughs and none of the liquor. The new venue, from veteran comedy club owners John Tobin and Norm Laviolette, serves up nonalcoholic beers, wines, and mocktails, taking a cue from the growing sober curious movement. Tobin and Laviolette started noticing that younger audience members weren’t drinking as much at their other clubs, and decided to create a space dedicated to that subsect. “We just look at it as we want, whoever you are, and however you enjoy comedy, we want to make sure that we got a place for you, and that’s it,” Tobin told WBUR. SoBar, billed as the country’s first sober curious comedy club, also carries appeal for performers. Corey Manning, who headlined and hosted opening night last month, has been sober for nearly 30 years and said he enjoys not having to worry about drunk audience members or awkwardly declining a beverage from a fan. Plus, his abstinence is often an aspect of his performances, which can be particularly impactful with a sober crowd. “One of the things that I also started trying to do is work that material into my set, because sometimes I hit home with someone in the audience,” Manning said.
Sports
In the Exclusive World of Youth Soccer Clubs, a DC Nonprofit Is Leveling the Playing Field
Courtesy of DC Eleven
When Pierre Hedji was growing up in Benin, West Africa, he would rush to school early to get in a game of soccer with friends before the bell rang, then hurry through his homework in the afternoon and play until dark. He participated in street tournaments with the neighborhood kids on the weekends, working hard to earn his spot and competing for the “glorious prize of raw cashews.” Today, Hedji’s bringing the lessons he learned as a child to a new generation of sports enthusiasts through his Washington D.C.-based nonprofit soccer club, DC Eleven. “That tenacity is what we aim to instill in our young players, the hunger for the game, the thirst to improve, and the respect and admiration for the game that makes it all worth it,” he tells Nice News. Sometimes viewed by parents as pipelines to college sports scholarships and eventually the global stage, soccer clubs are often expensive, exclusive domains. But with a philosophy centered on leveling the playing field, DC Eleven is different. Families that can afford to pay full price do, and those who can’t simply contribute what they’re able to.Read our Q&A with Hedji and learn more about the club.
🇫🇮 A novel sand battery in Finland is heating homes, businesses, and even a municipal swimming pool.
Inspiring Story
Right place, right time
Claire Cerbie, a registered nurse, was waiting for her flight at a North Carolina airport when she noticed a man nearby showing signs of a heart attack — and swiftly sprung to action to save his life. “A ‘thank you’ is not enough,” the man, Ken Jeffries, said.
Photo of the Day
Jacob W. Frank / @yellowstonenps
It’s images like this that remind us we truly do belong among the wildflowers. Taken off of Beartooth Pass in Yellowstone National Park, the photo is also a timely reminder of the importance of our public lands, given that this week marks 78 years since the Bureau of Land Management was formed.
Blue Circle Foods Sells Salmon You Can Feel Good About
The salmon and other seafood from Blue Circle Foods have a feel-good quality: They’re sustainably sourced and free from sugar, GMOs, artificial colors, and antibiotics. The company is a leader in low-impact aquaculture, elevating animal welfare, and reducing ocean pollution — click below to see the seafood products.*
