Weekly News Recap: February 16, 2024

February 16, 2024 Vincent Duckworth

Weekly News Recap: February 16, 2024

A stunning image of a young polar bear drifting to sleep on an iceberg, by British amateur photographer Nima Sarikhani, has won the Wildlife Photographer of the Year People's Choice Award.

I'd rather write about polar bears than people. -- Mary Oliver

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

This scientist is integrating AI technology with over 500 African languages (CBC) #NobleMission "'Someone who speaks a minority language has to put their language aside in order to be able to get technology in English for example,' said Adebara, a programmer and scholar at the University of British Columbia's linguistics department. 'Over time their usage of the language begins to drop and that can have long-term consequences of language endangerment … we need to mitigate that.'"
CANADIAN CONTENT ViTreo's intrepid recap editor is Katia Asomaning. You can thank Katia for ensuring that this recap comes across professionally and with as little gaffs as possible. Beyond that, Katia loves to read. As a proud Black woman and in celebration of Black History Month, Katia has two books by Black authors that she recommends. Dawn by Octavia Butler ("One of the most thought provoking books I've ever read tbh, and it's part of a trilogy. Post-apocalyptic and the world building is fire. Can't recommend enough.") and The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by NK Jemisin ("There are gods and again, phenomenal world building. Ever since last year when I finally read the Broken Earth Trilogy, she has become my favourite author!"). Thanks Katia!
BHM 2024: Black Calgarian Stories (CBC) CALGARY STORY "From first person narratives to musician profiles, and community celebrations to newcomer accounts, CBC Calgary has covered a range of stories about Black Calgarians over the past year. In recognition of Black History Month 2024, we're sharing a round-up of our coverage to amplify Black experiences and voices."

SOME GOOD NEWS

Ski like a girl: Researchers reveal hidden histories of women in Nordic sport (Phys.Org) *CANADIAN CONTENT Watching my wife and my daughter ski is a joy. " 'Women were skiers; they were also leaders and builders of the ski clubs, ski industry and tourism,' says PearlAnn Reichwein, associate professor in the Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation and research team lead."*
'I never expected to have anybody help me': Local program supports seniors with pets in Calgary (CBC) CALGARY STORY "The Continued Companionship Program is an initiative that was launched by the Calgary Humane Society and the Calgary Seniors' Resource Society in late 2023. It's meant to assist senior citizens in need who may not have access to the right support system, according to Sally Johnston, Director of Community Services at the Calgary Humane Society."
VIDEO: To cope with grief, this B.C. man makes coffins (CBC) SIDNEY STORY "A Vancouver Island man has taken up an unusual hobby: Philip Thompson of Sidney, B.C., makes coffins and sells them on Facebook Marketplace. It began after the untimely death of his son overseas, he says. Unable to help with funeral preparations at the time, the woodworker found coffin-making as a means to cope with his son’s passing."
One big benefactor of the AI boom: The tiny island of Anguilla (The Hustle) "Next year, Anguilla expects 2x its windfall from the '.ai' domain rush, up to $6m per month, just from existing renewals that’ll pay out at higher rates. New domain sales, meanwhile, increased 4x in the five months following ChatGPT’s November 2022 launch."
At 116, She Has Outlived Generations of Loved Ones. But Her Entire Town Has Become Family. (New York Times) #Lovely "On Sunday, Willits hosted its annual celebration for its most treasured resident, who watched from the porch of her care home. It was raining, the beginning of another atmospheric river — what they just called downpours for most of Ms. Ceccarelli’s life — but nobody in Willits gave a thought to canceling the annual festivities."
VIDEO: An Optimists Guide to the Planet - Bloomberg (Bloomberg) Ah Jamie, good to see you doing some good in the world ;-) "An Optimist’s Guide to the Planet captures Nikolaj Coster-Waldau’s search for people across the globe who are helping drive humanity toward a brighter, more sustainable future."
‘THE MAGIC OF RAINA IS REAL’ (The Atlantic) Her cartoons are amazing. "Telgemeier’s books are well plotted, heartfelt, and beautifully drawn. She has a keen eye for the texture of kid life. In Smile, she devotes an entire page to the frantic and cruddy work of cleaning a retainer in a school bathroom after eating an ill-advised peanut-butter sandwich—and the satisfying click of popping it back into place. But what set her books apart are her vivid, candid portraits of her childhood angst: her orthodontia-induced shame; her growing awareness of her parents’ fractious marriage; the serious anxiety disorder that emerged when she was in elementary school."
Wildlife Photographer of the Year People's Choice Award winner (BBC) This image stirs up many emotions. "A stunning image of a young polar bear drifting to sleep on an iceberg, by British amateur photographer Nima Sarikhani, has won the Wildlife Photographer of the Year People's Choice Award."
VIDEO: Saskatoon family has fun skating on city street after freezing rain turns to ice (CBC) SASKATOON STORY I love Canada. "Shelley Bridgman and her daughter made the best of their icy street [that] night. Freezing rain has made roads and sidewalks slippery."

TOP TEN STORIES OF THE WEEK

Richest Women In The USA 2024 (New Trader U) "As we delve into the landscape of America’s wealthiest individuals in 2024, it’s impossible not to notice the remarkable women who are not just wealthy but also reshaping the narrative of success and influence in the US. This year’s lineup of the most affluent women is a testament to the diverse ways in which wealth can be amassed and utilized. From tech giants to retail moguls, these women are at the pinnacle of financial success and business leaders in their respective fields, setting new benchmarks for entrepreneurship and philanthropy."
Breaking down Tucker Carlson's interview with Vladimir Putin (YouTube) Smart commentary from Tim Caulfield. "As promised, we are breaking down some of the topics discussed by Russian president Vladimir Putin in his rare sit down interview with Tucker Carlson. Putin saying that Russia will fight for its interests 'to the end.' His interview with Carlson was posted online last night and viewed more than 160-million times between X and YouTube [...]. Joining us tonight to weigh in on the interview heard 'round the world is Timothy Caulfield, professor with the University of Alberta."
Calgary's historic Grand Theatre to close if sustainable business plan not found (CBC) CALGARY STORY #Ugh "The executive director of the society that operates Calgary's Grand Theatre said a feasibility plan was rejected by the building's landlord at the 11th hour, leaving the historic arts and culture hub to face an uncertain future. Erynn Lyster said the plan was focused on creating a sustainable financial future for the Grand Theatre, and centred on a resource-sharing agreement to bring theatre operations under the umbrella of Arts Commons. Lyster said they had been working on the proposal for the last two years and found out [recently] that the landlord of the Grand Theatre building, Allied Properties Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT), was no longer in support."
Examining how 'micro-breaks' could break workplace cycle of fatigue and injury (Medical Xpress) CANADIAN CONTENT "It may seem like common sense, but there is now hard evidence that short rest breaks prevent muscle fatigue and possible injury—without sacrificing productivity—for people engaged in repetitive manual labor. While working on her master's thesis in mechanical engineering, Karla Beltran measured the fatigue of study participants in a laboratory—having them move boxes as she tracked their muscle activity and movement with body sensors. In one scenario the participants worked without breaks, and in two others took short 'micro-breaks' of no more than a minute every 10 minutes to either rest or stretch."
Western University quietly renames history scholarships created by white supremacist (CBC) LONDON STORY Thanks to Larissa Groch for sharing this story. "Western University has quietly renamed six history scholarships created by a late history professor known for his white supremacist views. Kenneth Hilborn was an emeritus professor of history at Western University who taught at the school from 1961 to 1997. When he died in 2013, his estate left Western $1 million for four undergraduate and two graduate scholarships that were handed out from 2016 to 2022."
Katz Group launches court battle with Edmonton homeless organization over $5M donation (CBC) EDMONTON STORY "A subsidiary company of the Katz Group is suing a local agency that provides services to the city's homeless population for breach of contract. Ice District Corporation, which is a part of Katz Group Real Estate Inc., filed a claim in Edmonton's Court of King's Bench [...] arguing it should be off the hook for a conditional $5-million donation it promised to pay as part of Boyle Street Community Services fundraising efforts for a new location. The social agency's future home known as King Thunderbird Centre, okimaw peyesew kamik in Cree, and the cost of that relocation, is at the heart of the legal battle. According to court documents obtained by CBC News, the Katz Group alleges that it shouldn't have to make the donation because Boyle Street didn't try hard enough to fundraise on its own."
Reflections on a lifetime of scientific discovery (David Suzuki Foundation) CANADIAN STORY "I was trained to be a scientist. A book I cowrote with Tony Griffiths became the most widely used genetics text in the United States. But as I was beginning my career in Canada, I was struck by the priorities of newspapers and television. Whole sections and programs were devoted to politics, business, sports and celebrity, with columns on astrology and bridge. It reflected a huge oversight; none of these is as important to our lives as science applied by industry, medicine and the military."
Rowan House's first crowdfunding campaign sees tremendous success (Okotoks Online) OKOTOKS STORY We love Rowan House. "Rowan House Emergency Shelter recently tried a provincial fundraising program for the first time. [The] non-profit took part in the provincial 'Crowdfunding Alberta' program. Crowdfunding Alberta provides a platform for non-profit organizations to run easy and efficient fundraising campaigns. Rowan House's executive director Linette Soldan says the province also matches a portion of the funds."
Therapists Trade the Couch for the Great Outdoors (New York Times) "Dr. Schreiber-Pan is one of a growing number of therapists who are taking their therapy sessions outdoors and, in some cases, training other counselors to do the same. They say that combining traditional talk therapy with nature and movement can help clients feel more open, find new perspectives and express their feelings, all while helping them connect with the outside world."
GoFundMe Says $30 Billion Has Been Raised on Its Crowdfunding and Nonprofit Giving Platforms (U.S. News) "GoFundMe crowdfunding campaigns have generated $30 billion since 2010, the fundraising platform announced [...] as younger generations look beyond institutions to make their donations. Tim Cadogan, GoFundMe's CEO, said 150 million people have either sent or received money through the platform to date."

SEVEN LIFE AND CAREER HACKS

Prediction Consensus: What the Experts See Coming in 2024 (Visual Capitalist) The 'Bingo Card' presentation is worth a look all by itself.
This Is What Your Napping Habit Is Actually Doing To Your Brain And Body (Huffington Post) Um...no surprise, it's all good.
Embrace Gratitude (Valet Magazine) Want to break your cycle of down thoughts? Gratitude is a great way to start.
WHAT TRENDS WILL IMPACT CHARITIES AND NONPROFITS IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2024? (Imagine Canada) CANADIAN STORY Surprise! Our sector has a skills gap.
Skill of the Week: Pick Up the 7-10 Split in Bowling (Art of Manliness) A useful skill for anyone.
VIDEO: The Science of How a Candle Burns (YouTube) Fascinating.
How Much Exercise Does Your Dog Need Every Day? (Bored Panda) Walking your dog is good for you. Knowing how much they need it is just the icing on the cake.

TOP THREE GIFTS OF THE WEEK

Marcus Family's historic $500M donation to solve Middle East water crisis and foster peace (BNN) "The Marcus family, former refugees from Nazi Germany, has donated a record $500 million to Ben-Gurion University for water research in the Middle East."
Patagonia’s innovative nonprofit made a $5.2 million donation to preserve ‘America’s Amazon’ (Fast Company) "Patagonia’s Holdfast Collective, an innovative nonprofit that uses the clothing company’s profits to support climate-focused philanthropy efforts, just made its largest gift to date: a $5.2 million grant to the Nature Conservancy in Alabama."
Colby College receives $50M donation to its financial aid program (Bangor Daily News) "Colby Vice President Matt Proto said the gift from the Lunder Foundation — one of the largest in the school’s history — will go toward a financial aid endowment that he expects will benefit thousands of families over many years."

LAST WEEK'S MOST POPULAR STORIES

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