Weekly News Recap: July 22, 2022

Hugo Houle, from Sainte-Perpétue, Que., pointed to the sky as he won Stage 16 of the Tour de France in honour of his late brother. (Thibault Camus/The Associated Press)

Do not worry. You have always written before and you will write now. All you have to do is write one true sentence. Write the truest sentence that you know. -- Ernest Hemingway

SOME GOOD NEWS

Cat saved with animal oxygen mask after Paddington fire (BBC) This is such great technology. "Fire crews attended a blaze in Paddington, central London ] and saved two cats from the ground floor, putting a mask on one of them. Station officer Nathan Beeby, who was at the scene, said the apparatus 'ultimately saved the cat's life'. Masks will be carried by fire trucks in Battersea, Paddington, Richmond and Hammersmith as part of a pilot scheme."
The ever-reliable $1.50 Costco hot dog combo (The Hustle) It is a crowd pleaser and...a smart move. Mustard anyone? "Hi, welcome to Costco, where an all-beef hot dog and a soda is always — under threat of death — $1.50. No, for real. Before Craig Jelinek became Costco’s CEO in 2012, he suggested to then-CEO and co-founder Jim Sinegal that the retailer raise the price of its hot dog combo as they were losing money on it, per Mental Floss. According to Jelinek, Sinegal said, 'If you raise [the price of] the XXXXing hot dog, I will kill you.' Costco now sells ~130m dogs annually. Had Costco kept pace with inflation, the combo would cost ~$4.13."
In a Twist, Old Coal Plants Help Deliver Renewable Power. Here’s How. (New York Times) #Brilliant "Across the country, aging and defunct coal-burning power plants are getting new lives as solar, battery and other renewable energy projects, partly because they have a decades-old feature that has become increasingly valuable: They are already wired into the power grid."
A self-serve grocery store helps feed a small Minnesota town (NPR) Necessity is the mother of invention. "When Alex and Caileen Ostenson moved from the Twin Cities to Evansville, Minn., five years ago to be closer to family, the local grocery store had recently closed after more than seven decades in business. The nearest town with a supermarket is 20 miles away. So in early 2020, the couple started brainstorming ideas that would allow them to operate a store in the town of 600 about two hours northwest of Minneapolis. 'We had just been hearing a lot from people, 'It would be nice if we had a grocery store back in town. That's something we really miss,' ' recalled Caileen. 'That is a staple. It's a cornerstone part of a community.' So, with help from local donations, the couple remodeled a main street storefront into a self-serve grocery store."
LEGO IS RELEASING AN INCREDIBLE SET BASED ON THE OFFICE (The Verge) I predict this will sell like wildfire. #VeryCool "Lego’s latest crossover set is one based on none other than the hit sitcom The Office. If you’re a fan of the show — and I know there are a lot of you out there — you’ll want to get out your magnifying glass because the set is chock-full of callbacks to some of the most iconic things from The Office."
Dramatic video shows rescue of baby elephant and mother (CBC) Great work! "A video obtained by Reuters showed a harrowing but successful rescue operation after a one-year-old elephant calf and its mother got stuck in a drain hole in central Thailand."
Calgary breakdancing conference celebrates b-girls from across the country (CBC) CALGARY STORY Very #Fresh "A breakdancing conference in Calgary is highlighting the talent of women and girls in the sport that's rising in international popularity. Rise of the B-Girls is a three-day conference being [...] where 16 girls from across the country are participating in breakdancing (or breaking) workshops and competitions. Kendra Melanson, a b-girl and co-director of Elementz dance studio in Medicine Hat, says breaking is still a male-dominated sport. So, a conference like this is a great opportunity for young women."
Couple, both 100 years old, celebrate 80 years of marriage (CBC) NOVA SCOTIA STORY Inspiring and lovely. "Lifelong love birds Charlie and Annie Muise get asked a lot how they've managed to stay together for 80 years. But the pair from Tusket, N.S., says there's no mysterious formula. 'Oh, there's no secret. I mean, we work hard, and that's all I can say,' Annie told CBC's Radio Maritime Noon on Monday. Charlie and Annie are both 100 years old and marked their 80th wedding anniversary on July 13. They celebrated with a party at their daughter's place, and then returned home to the house they bought together 75 years ago — for $2,000 — in Yarmouth County, near the southern tip of Nova Scotia."
'It's wonderful': Pediatric patients create art by controlling a computer with their minds (CTV) EDMONTON STORY #Amazing "Pediatric patients at the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital with restricted communication and physical control now have access to technology to help them play and make art. The technology, called a brain computer interface, or BCI, allows a direct communication pathway between the brain’s electrical activity and an external device. Users control BCI by thinking about specific things, which are translated into a command."

TOP TEN STORIES OF THE WEEK

Calgary Stampede breaks ground on western heritage museum (CBC) CALGARY STORY Nice work Stampede. "Ground broke [...] at the site for a new, year-round attraction at the Stampede grounds. The SAM Centre is named after Robert Samuel Taylor, the late father of philanthropist Don Taylor, who donated $15 million to the Calgary Stampede Foundation in 2013 to create a western interpretive centre. Taylor said he's pleased to see the project get off the ground after years of delays."
Do Canadians pay too much for internet and cellphone service? (CBC) CANADIAN STORY Frankly, our cell phone bills are embarrassingly high. "Consumer advocate and wireless bill expert Mohammed Halabi helps explain why Canadian internet and cellphone bills are so high — and what consumers can do to negotiate lower prices."
Flames star Johnny Gaudreau leaves Calgary — for Ohio (CBC) CALGARY STORY Johnny, you will be missed but thank you for all the beautiful hockey you shared with us over the last ten years. "The Columbus Blue Jackets made a big splash [...] by landing star forward Johnny Gaudreau on a seven-year deal worth over $68 million US, according to multiple reports. The popular Gaudreau was snapped up as free agency officially began Wednesday, one day after Calgary general manager Brad Treliving confirmed the all-star player would not be re-signing with the Flames. Gaudreau, a fourth-round pick by the Flames in 2011, put up a career-high 40 goals, 75 assists and 115 points in 2021-22, becoming a more well-rounded player in the process." RELATED: JOHNNY GAUDREAU WRITES A HEARTFELT LETTER TO THE CITY OF CALGARY.
Mastercard Changeworks™ launches to accelerate work of Canadian not-for-profit organizations (Mastercard) CANADIAN STORY Great news Mastercard! "[Mastercard] launched Changeworks™, a social-impact program that helps Canada’s not-for-profits harness the power of technology and data to create positive change. To put this commitment into action, Mastercard has made its first anchor grant to national not-for-profit, CanadaHelps, to launch a digital transformation program for charities across Canada. Canada is home to outstanding not-for-profits delivering critical social programs and services, but many of these organizations have not been able to adequately invest in technology infrastructure and digital skills. While a majority believe digital adoption is important and the resource crunch they face could be more effectively managed through digital technology, 55 per cent of charities polled say they do not have the funding, or the skills, expertise and knowledge for digital adoption."
Across Canada, a shortage of lifeguards raises concern about the next generation of swimmers (CBC) CANADIAN STORY This is just one of many related trends where staffing is impacting our lives in these post-pandemic times. "Three times a year through the pandemic, Catherine Lechman dutifully logged onto her computer in an attempt to register her four-year-old son for swimming lessons. She tried at her home pool in the Montreal borough of Pierrefonds, at two nearby municipalities and through a private service. In each instance, the spots filled up instantly. 'Since the pandemic hit, no matter where I tried, whether I wanted to drive somewhere or pay a small amount of money or a larger amount, there was just no availability to get lessons,' Lechman said."
Hugo Houle becomes 1st Canadian to win prestigious Tour de France stage since 1988 (CBC) CANADIAN STORY So great. Congrats Hugo! "Hugo Houle pointed at the sky as he crossed the finish line well ahead of the competition in Stage 16 of the Tour de France. After finishing the hilly 178.5-kilometre stage through the Pyrenees from Carcassonne to Foix in four hours 23 minutes 47 seconds — 1:10 ahead of France's Valentin Madouas and Israel-Premier Tech teammate Michael Woods of Ottawa — Houle dedicated his historic win to his younger brother. Pierrik Houle died in December 2012 when he was hit by a drunk driver while jogging. He was 19." RELATED: Quebec cyclist celebrated as 'great champion' after prestigious Tour de France stage win.
Netanyahu Blocked Billionaire Friend's Donation to Peres Center, Witness Says (Haaretz) "Benjamin Netanyahu was angry that his billionaire friend James Packer planned to make a $3 million donation to the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation and demanded that he stop it, an aide to movie mogul Arnon Milchan told the court in the former prime minister's trial on Monday."
New theatre program in Prince George helps inmates find their voice and communicate better (CBC) PRINCE GEORGE STORY This is great. "A theatrical company in Prince George, B.C., is providing a unique opportunity for local inmates to find their voice through acting and storytelling. [Theatre] NorthWest announced its new Theatre in the Pen program in collaboration with the Prince George Regional Correctional Centre. The program is inspired by similar artistic rehabilitation programs for inmates, such as the 41-year-old 'William Head on Stage' at the William Head Institution on Vancouver Island, and the Pops in the Pen music appreciation program organized by the Prince George Symphony Orchestra."
The Critical Role of Faith-Based Organizations in Philanthropy (Good360) "While it’s true that some Americans are losing their religion, faith-based organizations (FBOs) still play a significant role in helping all kinds of communities in need, from the homeless to the hungry to the elderly. In fact, according to Giving USA’s 2021 Report, religious organizations made up the largest subsector for giving. For 2020, 28% of all donations made to U.S. charities for the year went to faith-based organizations, accounting for $131.08 billion in funding. This trend has continued despite the fact that church membership has declined dramatically in America over the past two decades, down to 50% from 70% in 1999."
Number of singles, common-law relationships and roommates rises as Canada's households evolve (CBC) CANADIAN STORY "The makeup of Canadian households is continuing to change, with alternatives to family households — such as roommates — and common-law marriages all seeing significant increases, says the latest census data release from Statistics Canada. 'In recent decades, there has been a gradual decrease in the share of households composed of only one family with no additional people,' the media release said. 'Alternatives like living alone, with roommates, or with extended family members have grown in popularity.'"

SEVEN LIFE AND CAREER HACKS

What Fitness Metrics Are Actually Worth Tracking? (Chatelaine) Turns out the best one is the hardest to track.
David Goggins’ 10 Mind Tricks to Reach Your Full Potential (Dare to Be Better) Some new, some tried and true but all with a new spin.
How To Read Technical Books Effectively (Better Programming) I have used this method for years. It works.
Cold Showers vs Ice Baths — Which is Better? (Better Humans) Brrr. But even so, I do want to try this out.
Hemingway’s Tips on Toughness, Focus, and Creativity (Change Your Mind) Hemingway is one of my favourite writers. His advice on taking breaks is just one of the tips in here.
4 Highly Rewarding Books You Can Easily Read in Under a Day (Books Are Our Superpower) I have read two of these and I definitely want to read the other two, especially the last one.
‘We don’t have a word for philanthropy’ (The Philanthropist) This is so important for fundraisers to understand. Especially on their journey of reconciliation.

TOP THREE GIFTS OF THE WEEK

U of G receives $1M donation to launch ethical AI training modules (IT World Canada) GUELPH STORY Thanks TD! "TD Bank Group has announced a C$1 million donation to the University of Guelph’s Centre for Advancing Responsible and Ethical Artificial Intelligence or CARE-AI."
The Furniture Mission receives $1 million donation from Seed for Success (Dakota News Now) This mission is awesome. "Seed for Success gifted $1 million to the Furniture Mission, helping the local nonprofit move forward with plans for a new and expanded Woodworking Shop- which allows the organization to expand its reach to provide furniture and household items to those in need. The Woodworking Shop will be located at the Furniture Mission’s new facility on the Empower Campus in [Sioux Falls.]"
'If you have cancer, this is the place to be': $1-million donation kicks off Newmarket hospital's cancer fundraiser (YorkRegion.com) NEWMARKET STORY Nice! "The radiation treatment suite at Southlake’s Stronach Regional Cancer Centre will be named after the Powell Group of Companies after the business contributed $1 million to the hospital’s cancer care fundraiser. The donation from Powell, a group of more than 20 road infrastructure companies, is the first corporate leadership gift to Southlake Regional Health Centre’s Here is Where Cancer Meets its Match campaign."

LAST WEEK'S MOST POPULAR STORIES

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Vincent DuckworthJuly 22, 2022Comment