Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
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NEWS OF THE WEIRD by CHUCK SHEPPARD If an asteroid is ever on a collision course with Earth, it is feasible that the planet could be saved by firing paintballs at it, according to an MIT graduate student whose detailed plan won this year's prize in a United Nations space council competition, announced in October. White paint powder, landing strategically on the asteroid, would initially bump it a bit, but in addition would facilitate the sun's photons bouncing off the solid white surface. Over a period of years, the bounce energy would divert the body even farther off course. The Chuck Sheppard already identified asteroid Apophis, which measures 1,500 feet in diameter and is projected to approach Earth in 2029, would require five tons of paintball ammo. [MIT press release, 10-26-2012] The Litigious Society Samuel Cutrufelli, 31, filed a lawsuit in October in Sacramento County, Calif., claiming that Jay Leone, 90, "negligently" shot him. Cutrufelli had burglarized Leone's home in Greenbrae, unaware that Leone was home. When Leone reached for one of his stashed handguns, Cutrufelli shot him in the jaw and then pulled the trigger point-blank at Leone's head, but was out of bullets. Leone then shot Cutrufelli several times, which Cutrufelli apparently felt was entirely unnecessary. [Marin Independent Journal, 10-23-2012] In October, the former captain of the Italian cruise ship Costa Concordia (on which 32 people died after it ran aground in January 2012) filed a lawsuit against Costa Cruises for "wrongfully" firing him. Francesco Schettino is awaiting trial for manslaughter, accused of sending the ship dangerously close to shore on a personal lark, and was also charged with abandoning ship, since he was spotted in a lifeboat in the midst of passengers' escape. (Schettino said he wound up in the lifeboat only because he "slipped" and fell in.) [Reuters via Los Angeles Times, 10-13-2012] China's legal system apparently is growing to resemble America's. A well-covered (but incompletely sourced) story from Chinese media in October reported that Mr. Jian Feng won the equivalent of $120,000 in a lawsuit against his well-to-do wife for deceiving him and subsequently giving birth to what Feng thought was an ugly baby. Feng discovered that his wife had had cosmetic surgery — and thus was not, genetically, the beauty that he married but, in reality, plain-looking. [RIA Novosti (Moscow), 10-28-2012] COPYRIGHT 2011 CHUCK SHEPHERD WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM WEEKLY HOROSCOPES BY HOLIDAY ADVICE GODDESS ARIES (March 21-April 19) What was once useful to you has lost its practical application. But don't toss it just yet. There's something to be said for the symbolic meaning of things. Just maybe the item has turned into a kind of talisman to remind you of what you've done and who you've been. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) For the more difficult tasks of your week, it would be a mistake to rely on self-will. Your will could actually get in the way of your happiness and success. Besides, you're not the most objective judge of what's going on in your life right now. TAURUS (April 20-May 20) Friendships are like flowers. Some are annuals, adding beauty and color only for a season. Others are perennials that come back regularly for the most part. Even the perennials have times when they lie dormant, though. This is just part of the cycle. SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21) You shouldn't be perfect. For that matter, you shouldn't be anything other than you, doing the best you can with what you have. You'll bring all you can to the table. If it works, great. If not, you'll learn and try again. GEMINI (May 21-June 21) It is helpful is to note a person's nature and think about what that might mean to you. Also, beware of the one who loves you the way shadows love the sun. If you shine your light with intensity, this one will disappear. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Complete strangers will profoundly influence you this week, but don't make the mistake of thinking that their words are wiser and better than those of your close loved ones. It is easy to attribute special qualities to those you don't know well. Two years ago, after dating a wonderful lady for a year, I married her and moved in with her. The problem is her 23-yearold son. He lives with us, has never held a job, doesn't go to school, and does nothing but eat, sleep, and poop. I've worked since I was 14, my wife and I both work hard now, and it's grating to have such laziness always in my face. My wife knows this and says he's been trying to get a job for more than two years. (He shows no signs he's looking.) I'm starting to feel played by my wife. How long should I put up with this? — Thinning Patience For the Week of December 9, 2012 The Son Almost Never Rises Of course it grates on you, providing free room and board to an adult man CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) You'll feel whose main source of income is birthday driven to clear out some of your unused becards from grandma. longings before the year is up. Perhaps these And yes, you've been played — not words by Lao-tzu in the Tao Te Ching will by your wife, but by what economists guide your efforts: "The sage never tries to store things up. The more he does for others, call "optimism bias." This is the human the more he has. The more he gives to others, predisposition to believe things will LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) While deeply involved the greater his abundance." work out for the best and to gloss over in your own scene, it'll be hard to achieve a helpful level of objectivity. Besides, you don't AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Good thing worrisome details, like how your wife's know what you're capable of. You need a direcyou don't believe that love should always layabout son would suddenly become tor. Someone who sees your star potential will make you happy. Make yourself happy, and industrious at give you suggestions you'd be wise to follow. accept the contributions of others as a bonus. something besides VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Just as someone PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) Your work on a being a role model who grew up deaf would not know the sound of key relationship will be healing. By accepting for moss. a violin, someone who grew up without certain a person or situation entirely, you can finally Your wife has nurturing doesn't know the value of guidance let go of the resentment or hurt you've expeand encouragement. You may have a sense of rienced and lose your desire for retribution confused coddling Amy Alkon loss this week. or compensation. with love — maybe By Holiday Mathis for 23 years or maybe since feeling guilty about getting a divorce. After years of goright-ahead mommying, it's no small task to inspire your step-slug to expand his life goals beyond napping more, watching more interesting porn, and trying all the varieties of Doritos. (The guy standing in the traffic median holding a sign asking for spare change shows more autonomy and dignity. At least he wrote a message on a piece of cardboard and is ambulatory.) Give your wife props for trying to be a good mother, but explain that by supporting the kid as she has been, she's actually holding him back. He may not get his ideal job (video game tester or human slipcover), but he'll get on Another season struggling with glasses and contacts? the road to self-sufficiency by flipping the h In the time it might take you to find your glasses in the burgers or bagging groceries if it's either that or sleeping in a doorway. Propose morning, you can have CustomLasik at that she gives him 30 days to get a Cape Fear Eye Associates. roommate situation and tells him she'll This year, give the GIFT of SIGHT. pay two months of his rent while he jobFree Consultation • 24 Month No Interest Plans hunts and gets working, and then he's on his own. Propose that she also acts like 4 Locations to better serve you she means it, but be prepared for him to Serving Fayetteville, Sanford and surrounding area for over 25 years test her and for her to cave. Ultimately, J. Wayne Riggins, O.D., M.D. you need to decide whether you'd rather S. Scott Stapleton, M.D. • Sheel B. Patel, M.D. Miles W. Whitaker, M.D. • Cynthia Toth, M.D. live with La-Z-Boy than without your Beatrice Brewington, M.D. • Chad Tisdale, O.D. wife. If push comes to nap, it may come Edward Kenshock, Jr., O.D. • John Krempecki, O.D. to that — assuming you're unsuccessful 1726 Metro Medical Dr., Fayetteville www.CapeFearEye.com 1629 Owen Dr., Fayetteville with various passive-aggressive measures, 1816 Doctors Dr., Sanford like installing a coin slot on the bathroom, 910.672.5017 1902 N. Sandhills Blvd., Aberdeen refrigerator, and cable TV. CANCER (June 22-July 22) One song title suggests "Love Hurts." Another insists that "The First Cut Is the Deepest." You know the pain of love firsthand, but experience has also taught you that it won't last. You'll help someone less experienced go through the healing process. Wishing for Clear Vision Experience You Can Trust Amy Alkon all rights reserved. DECEMBER 12-18, 2012 UCW 23