Gourmet fare for Space Station astronauts, and more

Gourmet fare for Space Station astronauts

Astronauts aboard the International Space Station, accustomed to choking down unpalatable freeze-dried meals, are now dining on braised veal cheeks with wild mushrooms, white bean purée, Swabian potato soup, and plum compote. These and other delicacies were created by award-winning German chef Harald Wohlfahrt, who was asked by the space station’s administrators to cook up some tasty new alternatives for the crew. “I felt sorry for the astronauts,” said Wohlfahrt. “Their food tasted like it should be fed to a cat.”

Safe touchdown for plane with stuck landing gear

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United Airlines Flight 634, arriving in Newark, N.J., from Chicago, was in trouble. Approaching the airport on Jan. 10, the cockpit crew was able to deploy the plane’s nose gear and left wheels, but the right wing’s landing gear remained stuck in the wheel well. Frantic efforts to release it failed. Finally, after warning the 48 passengers to brace themselves, the pilots brought the 68-ton Airbus in for a safe landing. “I heard a little bit of a grinding sound, but the plane didn’t veer,” said Chicago businessman Jim Wiman. “It stayed straight and came to a stop. It was a great landing. There were certainly a lot of ‘attaboys’ going around.”

New York cab driver returns $21,000 left by tourist

A New York City cab driver has returned more than $21,000 in cash and jewelry that an Italian tourist left in his taxi. On Christmas Eve, Mohammad Asadujjaman drove Felicia Lettieri of Pompeii to Penn Station to catch a train. After Asadujjaman realized that she had left her purse behind, he drove 50 miles to a Patchogue, Long Island, address that was in her purse. Finding no one home, he left a note with his phone number. When a grateful Lettieri called him later, he went back to return her lost items, refusing to accept any reward. “I’m needy,” he said, “but I’m not greedy.”