Bench memorializes ‘Mad Men’
NEW YORK >> “Mad Men” fans can now take a selfie with Don Draper, thanks to a bench unveiled Monday featuring the fictional adman’s silhouette.
Jon Hamm, the actor who plays Draper, posed for photos on the bench outside the Time & Life Building at 1271 Avenue of the Americas in midtown Manhattan. He appeared with other cast members, January Jones, Christina Hendricks, John Slattery and Elisabeth Moss, along with the show’s creator, Matthew Weiner.
The bench is one of a number of attractions around New York coinciding with the AMC series’ final season, which begins April 5. The Museum of the Moving Image in Queens has a “Mad Men” exhibit with props, sets and costumes. Some restaurants are offering $19.69 liquid lunches this week in honor of the show.
The Time & Life Building is where the fictional ad agency in the show is headquartered.
Border collies sought to shoo geese
WASHINGTON >> The National Park Service wants to begin using border collies to chase away Canada geese that frequent the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool and other spots on the National Mall.
The agency said that it is seeking public comments on a proposed plan. Park officials say large flocks of geese leave excessive droppings. One goose can leave behind 2 to 3 pounds of feces per day. The feces cause damage to pipes and filters in the reflecting pool and create a public health hazard.
Officials say border collies have a natural instinct to round up flocks of geese and that no birds would be harmed.
Russia to resume space tourism
MOSCOW >> Russian officials say they will resume space tourism in 2018 after years of sending into space only professional cosmonauts and astronauts.
Russia had sent seven paying guests to the International Space Station since 2001 before curtailing the program in 2009. Sending a tourist has been all but impossible since 2011 when the United States shut down its Space Shuttle program and had to rely on Russian Soyuz rockets in order to get into orbit.
Russia, however, has made an exception for British soprano Sarah Brightman, who is due to blast off Sept. 1.
