Weekly News Recap: December 24, 2021

Weekly News Recap: December 24, 2021

Arlene Chmelyk's homemade Rudolph decoration regularly attracts negative attention from rutting white-tailed deer in her Fort Nelson, B.C., neighbourhood. (Submitted by Arlene Chmelyk)

You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something - your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life. -- Steve Jobs

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

Happy Christmas Eve! Here's to family and health over the holidays. On behalf of all of us at ViTreo, we wish all of you a bright and prosperous New Year. Stay safe. Stay sane.

SOME GOOD NEWS - CHRISTMAS-STYLE

  • Red-nose rage: Aggressive deer keep attacking this Rudolph decoration (CBC) #PoorRudolph "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer was famously left out of reindeer games. In fact, all of the other reindeer used to laugh and call him names. However, at no point in the classic Christmas song do the other reindeer head-butt and stomp the living daylights out of Rudolph. But that's what keeps happening to a Rudolph-themed decoration in Fort Nelson, B.C., where young male deer can't seem to tell the difference between a Christmas ornament and a rival buck competing for the attention of female deer."

  • Northern Michigan man delivers toys to children in Kentucky (ABC) Lovely. When those are in need, step up. "Baise left AVFlight in Traverse City Monday and flew to Howell to pick up the toys. He said he packed his caravan plane with as many toys as he could. He estimated around 1,000 toys were delivered."

  • These two B.C. women have been exchanging the same Christmas card for more than 5 decades (CBC) BRITISH COLUMBIA STORY A great Christmas story. "The pair, both in their 60s, inherited the tradition from their mothers — good friends who had worked together as secretaries at a tire company in Toronto. Crewe's parents later relocated to Lethbridge, Alta., where Crewe was born in 1959. She says Nester's mother was the first to sign the card — with Nancy's name — which she sent out in 1960."

  • How 2 Santas became friends — even though they're polar opposites in many ways (CBC) CANADIAN STORY When a Santa calls... "Gerry Ouellette knew of other Santa Clauses before the pandemic. He just didn't know any personally. When Ouellette, better known as Santa Gee, was forced to host his Santa visits online last year, he went looking for technical help on a Facebook group filled with hundreds of Santas. Santa Glen Ford responded."

MORE GOOD NEWS

  • An 88-year-old dad reunited with his 53-year-old Down syndrome son after spending a week apart for the first time ever. (@delightfulnews) Raw, unabashed love. #GrabATissue

  • Why The Matrix still resonates today (CBC) An important film on many levels and, perhaps, even more relevant today. "With the Matrix Resurrections opening in Canada on Wednesday, Jayme Poisson speaks with John Semley about why the film made such an impact then, and how its influence is still felt today. Plus, Charley Archer explains why the original movie, made by two trans women Lilly and Lana Wachowski, is an iconic piece of trans art."

  • Hit by tornado, Arkansas nursing home aides shielded residents from falling debris with their bodies (Washtington Post) "Then he got a call from the local fire chief, whose truck had been battered by the tornado, leaving him stranded. Nance rushed over to pick him up. In doing so, they saw the tornado’s path. 'I said ‘Chief, this is going right toward the nursing home,’ ' Nance said. Nance’s grandmother and his wife’s grandmother were inside. 'That’s the last grandmother I’ve got, and the last one she’s got, too,' he said. The pair rushed to the scene."

  • Wind power becomes Spain’s leading energy source for 2021 (El País) This can be done. "According to the National Integrated Energy and Climate Plan (PNIEC), released by the Spanish government last year, the installed capacity of wind turbines will almost double between now and 2030."

  • Ice Cream Man's Funeral (Twitter) The solidarity is beautiful.

  • Spider interrupts COVID-19 news conference in Australia (CBC) TRIGGER WARNING: This video involves spiders I include this in the SGN section because of the poise this politician kept while a huntsman spider crawled up her leg. "A large spider crawled up the leg of an Australian health minister during a COVID-19 news conference. The alarmed politician made it clear she doesn't like spiders, but continued speaking after the spider went away, unharmed."

  • Canaries have kids flocking to Fort McMurray barbershop (CBC) FORT MCMURRAY STORY I love this. "The birds are not only companions, but they are also improving business. 'I have a lot of families they come just to see the birds and play around with the birds,' said Safadi. Sometimes the bird will land on the customers while they're getting their hair cut. 'They're pretty much therapy birds,' said Safadi. Safadi said the animals tend to help kids relax, and draw their focus away from the haircut. He said there's been a 40 per cent increase in kids coming into the shop since they brought in the birds."

TOP TEN STORIES OF THE WEEK

  1. Canadian women play starring role in unforgettable year of sports history, triumph (CBC) CANADIAN STORY #Proud "The most-watched moment of the Tokyo Olympic Games. The most decorated Olympian of all-time. Eighteen of Canada's 24 medals in Tokyo. Canadian women were at the heart of it all in 2021. Even away from the Olympics, two of the biggest moments involved — you guessed it — Canadian women. From the soccer team's golden game to Penny Oleksiak in the pool to hockey redemption and a surprising march to a tennis Grand Slam final, here are the performances that wowed us this year."

  2. How a future U.S. president helped avert nuclear disaster near Canada's capital (CBC) CHALK RIVER STORY Yet one more reason to love Jimmy Carter. When I first saw this story emerge, I thought it was a fake. Turn's out, it's true. My mother grew up in Deep River where most of the physicists from Chalk River live. I have been to Chalk River a few times. #AmazingStory "A viral post from the Historical Society of Ottawa is illuminating a part of the region's past that few in the area — or the country — have ever heard before. Ben Weiss, co-ordinator of the society's Facebook page and speaker series, recently posted about the world's first nuclear reactor meltdown. And while Chornobyl, Fukushima and Three Mile Island often come to mind when nuclear incidents are brought up, this one happened less than 200 kilometres from the Canadian capital."

  3. AFP Names Krishan Mehta and Steve Thomas Among its 2022 Distinguished Fellows (AFP Global) CANADIAN STORY I have the privilege of knowing them both. Well deserved. Congratulations to both. "Two of Canada’s most well-loved and respected fundraising professionals—Steve Thomas, CFRE, and Krishan Mehta, Ph.D.—were honoured this week by being named among AFP’s 2022 Distinguished Fellows recipients. The Fellows program recognizes significant leadership contributions to the association and the profession. "

  4. One year in: Calgary's vaccination rollout started with a nurse (CBC) CALGARY STORY Let's hear it for science. Thank you science. "Since the precious COVID-19 vaccine vials landed in the province a year ago, the arms of Albertans have been jabbed with more than seven million doses. In Calgary, registered nurse Tanya Harvey was the first. Now, 72 per cent of the total population is fully vaccinated, and nearly 78 per cent has had at least a single dose. Some are now waiting for booster shots, and the rollout for children's vaccines has begun."

  5. SAIT using autonomous robots to clean main campus (CTV) CALGARY STORY First: cool. Second: What could go wrong? ;-) "SAIT has started using autonomous robots to clean the floors at its main campus. The robots are from Brain Corp, an artificial intelligence (AI) company, and contracted to SAIT for use through Calgary-based Bee Clean, Canada’s largest janitorial services provider. In a Tuesday news release, Bee Clean said the robots will help maintain a 'safe and clean' environment for students by scrubbing 58,000 square feet daily on the main campus."

  6. For the 1st time, a spacecraft has 'touched' the sun, NASA confirms (CBC) "A NASA spacecraft has officially 'touched' the sun, plunging through the unexplored solar atmosphere known as the corona. Scientists announced the news [...] during a meeting of the American Geophysical Union. 'Our #ParkerSolarProbe has touched the sun,' read a tweet from the space agency's official account. 'For the first time in history, a spacecraft has flown through the sun's atmosphere, the corona.'"

  7. A giant telescope is about to launch into space to explore the origins of the universe (CBC) Another amazing milestone for science and for humanity. For those who might not know, the namesake for this telescope is former NASA administrator, James Edwin Webb. James Webb was administrator during the 'Space Race' (1961- 68).

  8. Perfectly preserved dinosaur embryo found in egg (RT News) This is amazing. "A perfectly preserved fossil of a baby dinosaur curled up inside its egg has been rediscovered at the back of Chinese museum, having been mislaid for years, shedding new light on the links between Mesozoic-era creatures and birds."

  9. Indigenous women make up almost half the female prison population, ombudsman says (CBC) CANADIAN STORY "Indigenous women now account for almost half of the female inmate population in federally run prisons, says a new report from Canada's correctional investigator. Indigenous people make up about 32 per cent of the federal prison population, despite accounting for less than five per cent of the total population. Indigenous women, meanwhile, account for 48 per cent of the population in women's prisons. Federal corrections investigator Ivan Zinger called the situation 'appalling and shameful.'"

  10. Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai denies sexual assault accusation in video released online (CBC) Yet, we continue to give China a pass. We need to do better. #PowerOfTheState "Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai said on Sunday that she had never accused anyone of sexually assaulting her, and that a social media post she had made early last month had been misunderstood. Peng's well-being became a matter of concern among the global tennis community and rights groups when she appeared to allege that a former Chinese vice premier, Zhang Gaoli, had sexually assaulted her in the past. After that post, she was absent from public view for nearly three weeks."

SEVEN LIFE AND CAREER HACKS

  1. A Simple — and More Involved — Method for Calculating Biological Age (Bashar Salame) You will need some string and you will need to take off your headphones.

  2. 10 Powerful Questions to Ask Yourself Every Day (The Ascent) These are really great questions. I personally resonate with #8 and #10 but especially with #6.

  3. The Lifelong Exercise That Keeps Japanese Moving (Being Well) I have been having a really tough time regularly exercising during the pandemic. I am going to try dai-ichi.

  4. Everyday Habits That Cause You to Age Faster (Dancing Elephants) You have heard many of these before but...a reminder won't hurt. I was struck by the fact that people who mediate live longer. I am not sure if I really thought about that before.

  5. Five Basics That Separate Pro Cooks From Amateurs (Martin Edic) I love cooking. These are a great set of basics. I have always seasoned throughout and knife skills are a life skill.

  6. 5 Popular Books Recommended by Emma Watson (Better Advice) If only for the inclusion of 'The Opposite Of Loneliness', this is a worthwhile list.

  7. How To Use Science To Win At Rock-Paper-Scissors? (The Walking Temple) My gift to you. You're welcome.

TOP THREE GIFTS OF THE WEEK

  1. $5M donation means better care for Island residents at Greater Victoria hospitals (Victoria News) VICTORIA STORY Nice Christmas gift! "One family’s $5-million gift is helping Victoria Hospitals Foundation transform care for Islanders. The Lai family members say they are driven by a motto – 'Derived from Society, Giving Back to Society.' The latest donation of $5 million through the Wilson S.C. Lai Trust, does just that by giving back to society through the Royal Jubilee and Victoria General hospitals."

  2. Centraide of Greater Montreal receives $1 million donation from BMO to better understand social issues Français (Newswire) MONTREAL STORY Nice job BMO. "Centraide of Greater Montreal is pleased to announce that it is receiving a $1 million donation from BMO, a gift that will support the development of the second phase of an innovative tech project to better understand and anticipate social issues."

  3. Oxford University to build vaccines hub with £50m donation (BBC) "It will be in the new base for the Jenner Institute, which produced the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine. Serum Life Sciences donated the money, in the university's biggest-ever single gift for vaccines research. The firm is owned by the Poonawalla family, which owns the Serum Institute of India."

LAST WEEK'S MOST POPULAR STORIES

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