Everybody’s Talking

Sponsored by: Colleen Johnston – Independent Medicare Insurance Agent

Hedgehog hotel: In a small Scottish town, a couple turned spare rooms and outbuildings into a place where injured hedge- hogs can recover before returning to the wild. What began as caring for a few animals at home grew as neighbors learned there was somewhere local to bring hedgehogs in trouble. The pair added space, equipment, and volunteers, reshaping their property to handle many animals at once. They now manage daily feeding, cleaning, and basic health checks, sending animals to vets only when specialized care is needed. Along the way, they’ve also taught residents how gardens and roads affect hedgehog safety. The effort has helped many European hedgehogs that might not have survived otherwise.

Crop robot: In Osaka, Japan, researchers are teaching farm robots to slow down and think before grabbing a tomato. Instead of rushing in, the machine scans how each fruit sits among the stems and leaves. It weighs which direction offers the cleanest path, rather than guessing blindly in tight spaces. When one angle doesn’t work, the robot can shift and come in from the side, much like a person adjusting their hand. This approach cuts down on plant damage and wasted effort. The system treats harvesting as a set of small choices instead of a single move. Over time, it could let robots handle fruit while people focus on the trickier parts of the job, saving time and improving efficiency overall.

Ancient shave: In England, a roughly 2,000-year-old iron razor from Roman times is drawing attention by offering a glimpse into everyday grooming long ago. The tool, shaped to fit a finger or hang from a belt, shows how men removed stubble before modern blades existed. For many Romans, a smooth face was tied to status and city manners, especially among wealthier families. Coins and statues from the period often show leaders without beards, reflecting this preference. Shaving also carried risk, since barbers worked close to the throat in tense political times. Beyond daily use, the first full shave marked a formal step into adulthood. Today, the razor stands as a rare reminder of personal care in the ancient world.

Denim portraits: In Orlando, Florida (U.S.), an artist is giving old jeans a second life by turning them into detailed portrait art. Small denim pieces are cut and sorted by color, then placed together to form faces and animals. Instead of paint, the work relies on natural color changes in the fabric, which adds texture to each image. Every piece is made by hand, so no two art-works can be exactly the same. The subjects include familiar public figures as well as wildlife, all built from everyday clothing. By reusing worn fabric, the artist shows how simple materials

can become lasting artwork. The process also highlights care, reuse, and steady effort behind each finished piece.

Quoteable Quotes

Sponsored by: Colleen Johnston – Independent Medicare Insurance Agent

“You can’t stop the waves, but you can learn to surf.”

— Jon Kabat-Zinn

“There is no innovation and creativity without failure. Period.”

— Brené Brown

What’s Happening

Sponsored by: Colleen Johnston – Independent Medicare Insurance Agent

Trivia

Sponsored by: Colleen Johnston – Independent Medicare Insurance Agent

1. The Leaning Tower of Pisa is located in this country.

2. The planet Saturn is best known for its prominent system of these.

3. Abraham Lincoln was born in this state in 1809.

4. Which NFL team plays its home games at Lambeau Field?

5. What country has more lakes than any other country in the world?

Trivia answers at the bottom of the page!

Your Weekly Horoscope

Sponsored by: Colleen Johnston – Independent Medicare Insurance Agent

Lucky numbers this week: This week’s odds favor Pisces winners with the luckiest number being 3.

Did You Know...

Sponsored by: Colleen Johnston – Independent Medicare Insurance Agent

Backup hero: During production of Toy Story 2, an animated sequel film, a large part of the project was accidentally deleted. The movie survived because an employee on maternity leave had a working copy at home, which allowed the team to restore it.

London calling: The Great Fire of London in 1666 destroyed much of the city but fortunately killed very few people. It did, however, reshape the city’s architecture for centuries.

Sweet roots: The first recorded recipe for chocolate comes from the Aztecs. They mixed ground cacao beans with spices and water to create a bitter, energizing drink.

Head turner: Sloths can turn their heads almost completely around. With extra neck vertebrae, they rotate 270 degrees to spot predators without moving their slow bodies.

Day at the beach: The world’s largest sandcastle was over 100 feet (30 m.) tall. Built in Germany in 2019, it included turrets, bridges, and even a small sand moat.

On the Lighter Side

Sponsored by: Colleen Johnston – Independent Medicare Insurance Agent

Knock! Knock! Who’s there? Jewel. Jewel who? Jewel be sorry!

Why do eggs come in cartons? So they don’t egg-scape.

How is a crossword puzzle like an argument? One word leads to another.

What is one thing you can never catch? A breeze.



Doorman: Your car is at the door, sir.

Car owner: Yes, I hear it knocking.