Everybody’s Talking

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Snap-together homes: A Belgium-based company, Gablok, has created an innovative do-it-yourself home-building kit inspired by LEGO bricks. The system uses insulated wooden blocks made from compressed wood and resin to form a home’s structure, requiring no construction expertise or adhesives. Assembly is simple, involving just a screwdriver, ladder, and clear instructions, with some homes built in under a week. While the kit covers the structural shell, foundations and finishing are additional. The design also allows homeowners to easily expand or reconfigure their living spaces, adding flexibility.

Ancient settlement: Skara Brae, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is a remarkably preserved Stone Age village in the Orkney Islands, Scotland, that offers a fascinating glimpse into prehistoric life. Dating back over 5,000 years, the site was revealed by a powerful storm in 1850 after being buried beneath sand dunes for centuries. Its stone-built dwellings, linked by paved alleys, were ingeniously designed with built-in furniture crafted from local stone, due to the absence of trees. The residents relied on cattle, sheep, and shellfish for sustenance and adorned themselves with beads and pendants fashioned from animal bones and teeth. Games using dice suggest a lively community spirit.

Endless waves: In Puerto Malabrigo, Peru, Chicama boasts the world’s longest surfable wave, captivating surfers with its unparalleled length and perfection. This famed point break delivers thrilling rides stretching up to 2.5 miles (4 km), with five distinct sections, each offering unique challenges and speeds. The wave, sculpted by a perfectly positioned headland, forms under the influence of southern swells and offshore winds. While the ride is exhilarating, the physical demands are immense, as paddling back to the lineup is impractical. Instead, surfers return by walking or taking a boat. With its mesmerizing rhythm of endless waves, Chicama is a must-visit for those chasing the ultimate surfing experience.

Subterranean serenity: Below the surface of London, England, AIRE Baths London offers an immersive wellness experience infused with history. Built under the former home of Peter Pan author J.M. Barrie, this candle-lit spa invites visitors to soak in thermal pools inspired by ancient Greek and Roman rituals. From steaming hot baths to icy plunges, each pool offers a unique sensation, while a salt bath mimics the buoyancy of the Dead Sea. Guests can even indulge in a soak infused with antioxidant-rich wine. Vaulted brick ceilings and dim lighting create a tranquil retreat from the city above. Even Peter Pan himself might have paused his adventures for a soak in these enchanted waters.

Quoteable Quotes

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“It’s all a question of imagination. Our responsibility

begins with the power to imagine.”

—Haruki Murakami

“The finest kind of friendship is between people who expect

a great deal of each other but never ask it.”

—Sylvia Bremer

What’s Happening

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Trivia

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1. Bumble bees don’t make honey—T/F?

2. She was the first female Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

3. The first crossword puzzle was published in 1913, 1933, or 1953?

4. Who created the cartoon dog Snoopy?

5. The Edsel car was manufactured by General Motors, Ford, or Volkswagen?

Trivia answers at the bottom of the page!

Your Weekly Horoscope

Sponsored by:  Tall Oaks Advisors

Lucky numbers this week: This week’s odds favor Pisces winners with the luckiest number being 34.

Did You Know...

Sponsored by: Tall Oaks Advisors

Dotted genius: At just 15, Louis Braille invented the Braille system by simplifying an earlier writing method used by the French military. His six-dot code became universal, allowing blind readers to navigate the world through touch.

Selfless squirrels: Red squirrels show remarkable care by adopting orphaned relatives, ensuring their shared genes live on. Even when resources are limited, they make room for family, showing one way that nature balances survival with generosity.

Biodiversity leader: Earth’s most biodiverse country, Brazil set aside vast protected areas to safeguard ecosystems. The country used national strategies and conservation efforts to preserve countless species and promote sustainable practices.

Isolated life: Tristan da Cunha is the most remote, inhabited place on Earth, accessible by a lengthy sea voyage. This tiny, South Atlantic Ocean farming community rests on a volcanic island, surrounded by rugged terrain and diverse wildlife.

Puzzle twist: When Ernő Rubik scrambled his newly invented Rubik’s Cube, he had no idea how to solve it. First it was a design experiment, then a perplexing challenge. When he cracked the code a month later, the beloved puzzle was born.

On the Lighter Side

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Artificial snow produces snow fakes.

I suffered for months with this ringing in my ears until I got an unlisted ear.

Rich: “Why do you work so hard?”

Mitch: “I’m too nervous to steal.”

Knock! Knock! Who’s there? Mint. Mint who? I mint to tell you sooner that I was coming over.



Why do people dip bread into melted cheese? Because they have fonduing it!