Kapiti Coast

Vol. 289-4  April 28, 2025

022 090 3062


Everybody's Talking

Timeless island: On Norway's Arctic Sommary Island, locals embrace a life free from clocks. With dark winters and endless daylight in summer, they adopt routines where painting at midnight or swimming at dawn feels natural and liberating. Residents aim to eliminate formal schedules, creating a community built on freedom, spontaneity, and shared joy. Visitors often join the spirit, leaving their watches behind on a symbolic bridge to support the island's vision. While some wonder how daily activities might adjust, the idea sparks intrigue and fascination. The island's unique approach inspires others to rethink the pace, structure, and rhythm of modern life.

Pendulum proof: Lon Foucault's ingenious pendulum experiment gave the world visible evidence of Earth's rotation. In 1851, he suspended a pendulum that, as it swung, traced shifting patterns that offered proof of the planet's movement beneath it. This simple yet profound demonstration amazed the public when it was later showcased at the Pantheon in Paris, where a large brass sphere on a long cable etched lines in sand, revealing the Earth's rotation over time. Foucault's idea made a complex concept accessible, earning him widespread acclaim. Today, pendulums inspired by his work are iconic installations in science museums, swinging gracefully as a timeless testament to the Earth's perpetual motion.

Tree justice: In Australia, authorities are cracking down on illegal tree cutting with a creative solution bold signboards that block the views vandals sought to clear. These signs, placed where trees have been illegally felled, call out the destruction with messages like Trees shouldn't die for a view and Who poisoned my home? The crackdown comes in response to increasing reports of widespread tree vandalism, including mass felling incidents that have harmed local ecosystems and wildlife habitats. The tactic has drawn attention online, with many praising the effort to hold vandals accountable. It's a clever reminder that when it comes to protecting nature, shortcuts can lead to unexpected consequences.

Secret library: A hidden library uncovered behind a wall at Sakya Monastery in Tibet revealed tens of thousands of ancient manuscripts. Safely hidden for centuries, this vast collection includes Buddhist scriptures, historical texts, and writings on art, philosophy, and science, showcasing the depth of Tibetan culture and knowledge. The volumes, written in Tibetan, Chinese, Mongolian, and Sanskrit, remain largely unexplored, with some manuscripts bound in iron and written in gold letters. As researchers work to digitise and study these texts, this treasure trove offers a rare glimpse into a world of preserved wisdom, proving that history often hides in unexpected places.

Quotable Quotes

It's not the load that breaks you down, it's the way you carry it. ~ Lou Holtz

No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main. ~ John Donne

Trivia

1. What is the largest mammal in the world?

2. What astronomical term comes from the Greek word for milk?

3. Who played Princess Leia in the original Star Wars movies?

4. What is the national bird of India?

5. What novel is set on a desert planet with giant sandworms?

Your Weekly Horoscope

ariesAries (March 21 - April 19)
Are you focused on a romantic relationship? If a partner's feelings seem confusing, consider hav­ing a heartfelt conversa­tion. Try to listen carefully to their thoughts. Lucky numbers: 1, 17, 25, 26, 32, 38.
libraLibra (Sept 24 - Oct 23)
Are you experiencing a stalemate with a business or romantic partner? Treat the issue gently, as it may be in effect for a few weeks. A resolution might be delayed. Lucky numbers: 6, 8, 12, 15, 22, 29.
taurusTaurus (April 20- May 20)
Over the next six months, you may feel an intense pressure to try and transform your sense of self. Allow­ing this process to happen might be in your best long-term interests. Lucky numbers: 1, 5, 17, 30, 34, 36.
scorpioScorpio (Oct 24- Nov 21)
Over the next six months, your intuition may be picking up information that is difficult to assimilate. Develop a plan to regular­ly decompress and pro­cess it in a healthy way. Lucky numbers: 11, 13, 20, 26, 31, 37.
geminiGemini (May 21- June 21)
Ideas may come at you fast and furious early in the week. A good oppor­tunity might be among them, but give yourself a few days to sort them out before deciding. Lucky numbers: 4, 7, 18, 25, 28, 36.
sagittariusSagittarius (Nov22-Dec21)
Early in the week, you may find that your mind throws a roadblock into the way of your heart's desire. Might you be able to find a way to reconcile these two things? Lucky numbers: 7, 11, 15, 23, 26, 33.
cancerCancer (June 22 - July 22)
Your emotions may be running high mid-week, and you may be tempted to respond immediately. Perhaps first take a step back to gain more per­spective on the situation. Lucky num­bers: 3, 6, 9, 17, 21, 33.
capricornCapricorn (Dec 22- Jan 19)
Are others resisting some­thing you are trying to accomplish? Addressing their concerns may help you proceed past the obstacle and perhaps produce a better outcome. Lucky numbers: 10, 12, 14, 17, 22, 35.
leoLeo (July 23 - Aug 22)
Your gregarious and fun nature may be height­ened heading into the weekend. If you have been considering hosting a social event, this might be a good time to do so. Lucky numbers: 2, 6, 15, 17, 26, 35.
aquariusAquarius (Jan 20- Feb 18)
If you have been making some good progress on a long-term humanitarian pro­ject, expect a pause for the next six months. Use this time to make any needed adjustments. Lucky numbers: 2, 5, 7, 13, 18, 29.
virgoVirgo (Aug 23 - Sept 22)
Over the next six months, you may want to step back and review what is working, or not, in your life. Try to develop a plan to make changes for when this period ends. Lucky numbers: 7, 9, 10, 13, 19, 40.
piscesPisces (Feb 19 - March 20)
The astrological energy is set to be very intense over the next six months. Your ability to flow with events could possibly make you a role model for others at this time. Lucky numbers: 8, 13, 17, 29, 32, 40.
Lucky numbers for the week: Lucky numbers this week: This week's odds favour Leo winners with the luckiest number being 17.

Did you know

Nutmeg secrets: Nutmeg, once used medicinally for arthritis and digestion, contains myristicin, a compound that can trigger hallucinations in large amounts. Its overuse in the 19th century often led to serious health complications.

Cow steps: Despite popular belief, cows can walk down stairs but struggle due to their weight, stiff necks, and unfamiliarity with steep slopes. Their anatomy makes the task awkward, so they avoid it whenever possible. Salad story The Caesar salad wasn't named after Julius Caesar, but was created in the 1920s by chef Caesar Cardini in Tijuana, Mexico. Originally designed as a finger food, diners would dip whole lettuce leaves into the dressing.

Rule makers: Established in 1857, Sheffield FC holds the title of the oldest football club. Its members crafted the groundbreaking Sheffield Rules, laying a foundation that influenced the evolution of modern football, commonly called soccer in some countries.

Space sailors: The word astronaut combines the Greek roots astron (star) and nautes (sailor), translating to star sailor. Similarly, cosmonaut uses kosmos (universe) and nautes, both symbolising humanity's reach for the stars.

On the lighter side

The man who invented velvet made a nice pile.

Tell a man there are billions of stars in the sky, he'll believe you. Tell him the paint is wet, and he has to touch it to be sure.

Scientist: I can make a clone of anything. Investor: Here's $100. Double my money for me.

What dance does bar-b-cue do? The char-char.

What do you call a can opener that doesn't work? A can't opener.

Answers

1. Blue whale 2. Galaxy 3. Carrie Fisher 4. Peacock 5. Dune