Remuera/Newmarket/Ellerslie Edition

Vol. 306-3  September 21, 2026

Phone Rudy 021 421 346


Everybody's Talking

Walking aid: Toyota has revealed a new mobility device inspired by the mountain goat, trading wheels for legs to reach places standard chairs cannot. The four-legged unit carries a seated rider and moves by stepping over curbs, uneven ground, and stairs instead of rolling around them. Its legs work independently, adjusting balance as surfaces change, while sensors scan ahead to avoid obstacles. The seat shifts automatically to keep the rider level as the machine climbs or turns. Controls stay simple, using voice cues or hand grips rather than complex panels. When a trip ends, the legs fold inward, making the device compact enough for everyday transport. Designers see it as a way to extend independence without asking cities to rebuild streets.

Ice zap: On winter mornings, warming a car just to clear the glass burns time and power before the drive even starts. Researchers at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia USA, are testing a different idea that removes ice without heating it at all. Their approach sends a controlled electric charge across frozen surfaces, taking advantage of tiny electrical imbalances that naturally form inside frost. When the charge is applied, sections of ice loosen and lift away rather than melting in place. Early tests show this method can clear a significant portion of frost using far less energy than defrosters. The team plans to adapt the system for many surfaces, from vehicles to everyday equipment.

Helmet check: In Virginia USA, a campus lab compares how well helmets actually protect people. What began as a simple request to examine football gear has grown into a broad testing program covering sports, work sites, and everyday riding. Instead of guessing, the team recreates real impacts and tracks how much force reaches the head. Each activity is treated differently since falling on ice, pavement, or turf creates very different risks. The results are shared in clear ratings meant to guide shoppers, not brands. Makers pay attention because safer designs stand out. For athletes, parents, and workers, the lab turns safety claims into something measurable and easy to compare.

Library lift: In the United States, Reginald Betts turned one small moment in prison into a wide effort to bring books behind bars. While held in isolation as a teenager, a poetry book reached him through a makeshift delivery, giving him something steady to hold onto. Reading led him to write, study, and see learning as a way to move forward, even in confinement. After his release, Betts built a life around education and justice work, then started a non-profit that installs shared library spaces in prisons. These rooms are meant for reading, reflection, and connection, not just storing books. Support from donors has helped the idea spread to facilities across the country. The work centres on making books easier to reach where they're often scarce.

Quotable Quotes

"What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make." ~ Jane Goodall

"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts." ~ Winston Churchill

Trivia

1. Which television series features the fictional Roy family?

2. What is the largest ocean on Earth?

3. In Greek mythology, is Athena the goddess of wisdom, war, or the sea?

4. This country has won the most men's soccer World Cups.

5. Netflix began as a company by mailing these to customers.

Your Weekly Horoscope

ariesAries (March 21 - April 19)
It has been about six months since your birthday. If you set new goals at that time, how are they progressing? Perhaps you may consider completing one of them by week's end. Lucky numbers: 1, 2, 6, 9, 14, 17.
libraLibra (Sept 24 - Oct 23)
Your birthday month is a good time to set new goals. If you have recently been prioritising others, perhaps now it's time to develop a plan that focuses solely on you. Lucky numbers: 8, 10, 18, 28, 29, 31.
taurusTaurus (April 20- May 20)
Taurus usually relies on the information received from its physical senses. However, for the next month, be open to what your intuition tells you. Be conscious of where it leads. Lucky numbers: 2, 7, 18, 28, 30, 36.
scorpioScorpio (Oct 24- Nov 21)
This is the second week where the energy indicates your intuitive insights are dialed up. Same caution is offered, make sure others are receptive to the facts you give them. Lucky numbers: 5, 11, 16, 22, 32, 40.
geminiGemini (May 21- June 21)
The route of your intuition is usually the in-sights that you can see through your mind. For the next month, however, pay attention as well to what your gut tells you. Lucky numbers: 4, 15, 23, 28, 30, 37.
sagittariusSagittarius (Nov22-Dec21)
Your natural enthusiasm and optimism may be heightened. Be careful of making any impulsive decisions at this time, as they might come back to haunt you next Spring. Lucky numbers: 6, 8, 12, 18, 36, 37.
cancerCancer (June 22 - July 22)
Cancers are deeply intuitive but often are afraid to trust the information they receive. Next month will give you an opportunity to sharpen your skills, if you pay close attention. Lucky numbers: 7, 10, 18, 28, 33, 37.
capricornCapricorn (Dec 22- Jan 19)
Capricorns often rely on facts to make decisions. However, for the next few weeks, consider if paying attention to your intuition can add something productive to the mix. Lucky numbers: 9, 15, 24, 26, 34, 37.
leoLeo (July 23 - Aug 22)
Things may feel lucky and expansive at this moment. Carefully consider any actions you take now or you might see a reversal in fortune regarding them early next year. Lucky numbers: 7, 13, 17, 18, 33, 37.
aquariusAquarius (Jan 20- Feb 18)
Aquarius individuals are not usually overly ego centred. If your ego is getting in the way of resolving a situation, would an adjustment in your viewpoint help? Lucky numbers: 12, 15, 17, 25, 26, 30.
virgoVirgo (Aug 23 - Sept 22)
Virgo's attention to detail usually produces solid results. For the next few months, consider improvising in new ways. It may be awkward at first but helpful in the end. Lucky numbers: 7, 9, 22, 31, 39, 40.
piscesPisces (Feb 19 - March 20)
At mid-week, you may be swimming deeply in the waters of your unconscious. If things feel overwhelming, seek out the people who can pull you out of the depths. Lucky numbers: 3, 8, 12, 16, 19, 20.
Lucky numbers for the week: Lucky numbers this week: This week's odds favour Libra winners with the luckiest number being 8.

Did you know

Seafloor spine: The longest mountain range on Earth is hidden below the ocean, forming a continuous chain of volcanic ridges. Most of it stays deep underwater, with only a few small sections appearing at the surface. Silent suits During a space walk, an astronaut's suit uses low-pressure air, which is much thinner than what we breathe on Earth. With so little air moving past the lips, a whistle can't form at all, no matter how hard they try.

Sideways winter: Uranus is tilted so sharply that one side of the planet can sit in darkness for roughly 21 years at a time. This long polar night comes from its unusual angle, which gives the planet some of the most dramatic seasons in the solar system.

Hidden volcano: Jackson in Mississippi USA sits directly above the buried remains of an ancient volcano, long dormant but still shaping the ground beneath the city. The crater now lies deep below modern streets, a reminder of the region's volcanic past.

Penny pick: Portland in Oregon USA got its name from a coin flip after two founders disagreed on what to call their new settlement. One wanted to honour his hometown of Boston, while the other hoped to use the name Portland, and the winning toss decided it.

On the lighter side

What is the fastest cracker in the box? Instagraham.

I just produced a theatrical performance on puns. It was a play on words.

If you buy a bigger bed, you get less bedroom.

Exhausted hiker: I am so glad to see you! I've been lost for three days. Other hiker: Well, don't get too excited, I've been lost for a week.

A police dog is often the scenter of a drug arrest.

Answers

1. Succession 2. Pacific 3. Wisdom 4. Brazil 5. DVDs