“News To Be Enjoyed Over Coffee”

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Vol. 1 No. 3:25 March 25, 2024

Everybody’s Talking

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Get moving! People who have a hard time getting off their sofas to go out for a bit of exercise may now be able to blame their lethargy on genetics. Through a study involving rats, Canadian researcher Gregory Steinberg at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, discovered that the absence of two muscle genes drastically lowers the physical activity levels of the rats. The genes control a protein that is used during exercise to help turn food into energy. It is also known that obesity and inactivity can slow down the production of the protein controlled in those genes, but increasing activity levels can trigger its production over a period of time. The message? Get off the couch and get active!

High marks in surfing: There’s high school football and basketball, but now, for those who live in Hawaii (US), there will also be a high school surfing team. Beginning in 2013, students will be able to represent their schools in interscholastic surfing competitions. According to State Governor Neil Abercrombie, making surfing a school extracurricular activity isn’t a stretch because surfing originated in the Pacific Islands and it’s a sport that is deeply ingrained in the state’s culture and way of life. Carissa Moore, a world women’s surf champion, explained that the sport teaches perseverance and channels a person’s energy into something positive.

Not fast enough: Per-Gunner Andersson is a Swedish rally driver and is accustomed to driving cars at very high speeds. Therefore, when his wife went into labour in the middle of the night and he had to drive her to the hospital, it didn’t frighten him one bit to step on the gas. The trouble is, it didn’t matter how fast he drove – there was nothing stopping the baby from arriving before the couple got to the hospital. Andersson had to pull over at the side of the road and call an ambulance, which arrived just one minute before baby Alvin did. The good news is that mom and baby are fine.

Million for a Morgue: In Great Britain, people are voting for their favourite crime writer, hoping he or she will have a morgue named after them. It’s the “Million for a Morgue” campaign, and 10 leading authors are vying for the honour. Each vote costs 1 pound ($1.50 US) and the contest will continue until the University of Dundee, the campaign sponsor, has raised one million pounds and construction can begin on new facilities at its Center for Anatomy and Human Identification. Author Jeff Lindsay says the campaign is an opportunity to help the forensics community, to whom he owes a huge debt.

Quotable Quotes

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“Never look down to test the ground before taking your next step; only he who keeps his eye fixed on the far horizon will find his right road.”
– Dag Hammarskjold

“The saddest day hath gleams of light, The darkest wave hath bright foam beneath it, The twinkles o’er the cloudiest night, Some solitary star to cheer it.”
– Sarah Winnemucca

Trivia

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1. An Olympic gold medal was won by Cassius Clay in what year?

2. What is the text of an opera called?

3. In coffee shop slang, what does Granita mean?

4. On its maiden voyage, the Titanic held how many cigars among its provisions?

5. What do you call the study of regional geography?

▼ Trivia answers at the bottom of the page! ▼

What’s Happening

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March 4

You asked for it, and here it is: Chess Club is back at the Mary C. Moore Public Library! Drop in Thursdays from 2 to 4 p.m. in the Read & Relax Area.
Chess boards provided, just bring your best moves. Open to all ages.

Looking for a perfect venue for your 2024 events? The Lacombe Memorial Centre has you covered!
Visit 
www.lacombe.ca/lmc or call 403.782.6668 ext. 1 to learn more and make your reservation.

Red Deer Cultural Heritage Society invites you to join us for a Spring Fling Tea Event at the Cronquist House March 10 between 2 and 4 p.m. Tickets are $30 per person.
A prize will be given at the end of the event for the individual with the best spring bonnet!
Book your spot now by going to 
www.rdchs.com > Online Booking > Special Events.

Your Weekly Horoscope

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Aries (March 21 - April 20)

Your choice of words may be helpful in moving your positive influence forward. Your original ideas could reflect the essence of who you really are.
Lucky numbers: 17, 21, 28, 39, 42, 48.

Gemini (May 22 - June 21)

Continue to take your creative ideas to those who care. Your influence on the emotions of others may result in a lucrative contract.
Lucky numbers: 6, 14, 22, 34, 46, 47.

Taurus (April 21 - May 21)

Sympathetic companionship may not be available for you right now. You might need to break away from that familiar road of personal indulgences first.
Lucky numbers: 8, 13, 18, 23, 28, 33.

Cancer (June 22 - July 22)

Visualizing your future can often make it happen. Working and playing hard has its rewards. Use your personal leverage to establish a strong alliance.
Lucky numbers: 4, 10, 24, 34, 40, 44.

Leo (July 23 - Aug. 23)

You know how to approach people and your words may have much influence on them. Now is the time for you to assist others to reach their goals.
Lucky numbers: 35, 36, 39, 41, 46, 49..

Libra (Sept. 24 - Oct. 23)

A new contact could spark some interesting thoughts. Look past your initial reluctance and acknowledge that you may have a winning combination.
Lucky numbers: 3, 15, 18, 19, 35, 37.

Virgo (Aug. 24 - Sept. 23)

Many new ideas seem to be up in the air. Be sure to pose the right questions to help you understand the rules. Your interpretation could make all the difference.
Lucky numbers: 22, 24, 27, 31, 33, 42.

Scorpio (Oct. 24 - Nov. 22)

Take pride in how others recognize your leadership qualities. Learn the game plan
carefully and make sure to have some fun along the way.
Lucky numbers: 12, 13, 22, 23, 32, 33.

Sagittarius Nov. 23 - Dec. 21)

You just might be able to spend more time playing this week. You should try to plan for a quiet vacation away from everything stressful.
Lucky numbers: 10, 16, 20, 26, 30, 36.

Aquarius (Jan. 21 - Feb. 19)

Your creative influence could help you to find answers to the mysterious past. A strong sense of belonging might enable you to reach future goals.
Lucky numbers: 2, 15, 22, 25, 32, 35.

Capricorn (Dec. 22 - Jan. 20)

Your domestic and professional affairs could be very favourable. It might be a good time for you to make your wishes known.
Lucky numbers: 3, 11, 14, 23, 31, 44.

Pisces (Feb. 20 - March 20)

Rest and relaxation may be required both physically and mentally. Take the time to do the things that are important to you.
Lucky numbers: 4, 14, 18, 28, 32, 42.

Did you Know?

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Bean milk: Soy milk is made from soaking dry soybeans in water for three hours, grinding them and then blending and boiling the mixture. This milk, which was first produced by the Chinese as far back as AD 25, delivers the same amount of protein as milk from a cow.

Music down under: Lots of famous pop and rock groups have come from Australia. A small sampling includes the Bee Gees, AC/DC, INXS, Air Supply and Midnight Oil. Many nominations: Actress Meryl Streep has received 17 Oscar nominations during her long career in film – more than anyone else. She has won an Oscar for Best Actress three times.

Popular sound: The trumpet is an instrument used in many genres of music. If a trumpet’s metal tubes were stretched out, they would be over six feet long.

Monsters: Canada has two mythical creatures. One is the Ogopogo, a lake monster said to live in Lake Okanagan in the province of British Columbia. The Sasquatch is the other. It is reported to be a huge human-like, hairy creature that lives in the woods. 

On the Lighter Side

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A reporter was interviewing a 104-year-old woman and asked, “And what do you think is the best thing about being 104?”

She gave a smile and a simple answer: “No peer pressure.”

Pastor: “Do you spend much time wondering about the hereafter?”

Old-timer: “I’ll say! Whenever I find myself in front of the refrigerator with the door open, I have to ask myself, ‘What am I here after?'”

A deer, a skunk and a duck stopped for lunch downtown.
Who paid the tab? Not the deer – she didn’t have a buck. Not the skunk – he didn’t have a scent. So they put it on the duck’s bill.

Why does history keep repeating itself? Because we weren’t listening the first time.

Trivia answers:

1. 1960 2. Libretto 3. Latte with frozen milk 4. 8,000 5. Chorology

This edition has been brought to you by Costain Corp

© Published with permission of Costain Corp

Please note this issue was published sometime over the past 25 years. Jokes, Trivia, Stories and Quotes may be time specific or reference maybe made to events which are no longer relevant.