GPS groceries: In Australia, a grocery chain called Drakes Supermarkets is taking measures it deems necessary to prevent the theft of expensive items, particularly meat products. To combat this issue, the chain has started embedding GPS trackers in its meat packaging. If the tracker hasn't been deactivated by the cashier at the register, it will trigger an alarm when a customer leaves the store with the item. While shoppers say they understand the need for such measures, many view it as a sad sign of the times. However, the initiative has shown promise in reducing theft and ensuring that products remain available for paying customers.

Super sale: Superman comic books are certainly collectors' items, and a copy featuring Superman for the very first time, 86 years ago, has become the world's most valuable comic edition. It was recently sold at auction for US$6million. The Texas-based Heritage Auctions, which sold the comic book, said the sale price surpassed the previous record for a comic book sale. The version that broke the sales record came out in 1938 and was part of the Kansas City Pedigree collection. The previous record-holder sold for US$5.3 million in 2022. This recent landmark sale does indeed underscore the enduring legacy and immense value of vintage comic books.

Coffee race: Attention all servers in restaurants and cafes This race is tailor-made for you. In the heart of Paris, France, participants don their signature attire of crisp white shirts, black trousers, and aprons as they assemble at the starting line near Paris City Hall. Their mission? To partake in a venerable tradition dating back 110 years, known as the Course des Cafs coffee race. With precision and skill, they navigate a 1.9 km course while delicately balancing a tray bearing a glass of water, a cup of coffee, and a croissant. The challenge? To complete the race without spilling a drop and without breaking into a run, showcasing both agility and finesse in this unique competition.

One smart girl: At the tender age of four, Anthaea-Grace Patricia Dennis displayed exceptional intelligence, prompting educators to enroll her directly into second grade. By the age of six, she had progressed to grade four, as she demonstrated a remarkable pace of learning. Hailing from Canada's Ottawa Valley, this extraordinary student attained her Honours Bachelor's degree in biomedical science from the University of Ottawa at a mere 12 years old. Anthaea-Grace said she firmly believes that age should never be a barrier to achieving one's rightful place and aspirations. Her journey certainly underscores the power of determination and intellect in defying conventional expectations.

There will come a time when you believe everything is finished. That will be the beginning. ~ Louis L'amour

If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything. ~ Mark Twain

Free notices for not for profits rudy@coffeenews.co.nz

1. Historic Bridgetown, a UNESCO heritage site, is located in what island nation?

2. A frog in the larval stage of development is called a ______.

3. Who wrote the novel Mary Poppins, published in 1934?

4. She was the first woman to be prime minister of India.

5. The banana is a herb - T/F?

Tongue tradition: In North American culture, sticking your tongue out at someone is considered rude. But in Tibetan culture, it's a way of greeting others and is a sign of respect or agreement, a tradition since the ninth century.

Beatle's bite: John Lennon's molar sold at auction in 2011 for just over US$31,000. Lennon, who died in 1980, had given his tooth to his housekeeper after a dentist visit and suggested she give it to her daughter, a Beatles fan.

Big shoes: Spider-Man walked up walls because he could. But scientists at Cambridge University in England have estimated that he would have needed unbelievably huge, sticky foot pads requiring US size 114 shoes.

Good sense: In the fourth century B.C.E., Aristotle identified the human senses of sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch. Today, depending on the classifications, some scientists say we have as many as 33 senses, including the senses of balance and heat.

Handcrafted history: In the early 1500s in Paris, France, the first union of hand-knitters was established. Once the knitting machine was invented in the late 1500s, knitting by hand became more of a hobby than an occupation

Pat: Does your teacher talk to herself? Matt: Yes, but she thinks we're listening.

What can you hold without ever touching it? A conversation.

How do knights change channels? With a re-moat.

It's a small world, but I wouldn't want to vacuum it.

The "sixth sick sheik's sixth sheep's sick" is said to be the toughest tongue twister in the English language.

1. Barbados 2. Tadpole 3. P.L. Travers 4. Indira Gandhi 5. True