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Oct 14 - 20, 2024
Greater Victoria Edition
Lucky snake: A beloved pet snake, missing for over a year from its home in Spennymoor, England, made a surprising return when it was spotted atop a neighbour’s garage roof. Speculation arose among locals and an animal rights officer that the snake may have been inadvertently transported by a crow, then dropped due to its weight and bulkiness. Despite the ordeal, the resilient, 3-foot-long (0.9-m) reptile managed to endure both the avian encounter and the harsh winter temperatures. Snakes, being ectothermic creatures, depend on their surroundings for warmth, making its survival all the more remarkable. Its unexpected reappearance brought immense relief and joy to its owners, who had long feared the worst.
Tone transformer: A Japanese firm has created an artificial intelligence filter that transforms angry screams into calm speech, aiming to alleviate the stress faced by call centre operators. Developed over three years, this technology detects aggressive tones and softens them into a polite voice, without altering the words being spoken. The filter works in two stages: identifying anger and then changing the intonation. Engineers trained the AI with over 10,000 voice samples from actors mimicking common angry phrases. Nearly half of the members of a Japanese union of service and other workers recently reported being on the receiving end of anger and other intimidation.
Buzz beer: Scientists at a university in Wales are revolutionizing the beer brewing process by forgoing traditional hops in favour of honey bees. These insects naturally harbour brewer’s yeast in their guts. In collaboration with researchers from the University of Namibia, the researchers extracted brewer’s yeast from naturally deceased African bees and combined it with yeast from Welsh honey bees to brew several batches of beer. Beyond offering enjoyment of the beverage, this project is exploring how the pollination of certain plants can help to develop new drugs to treat superbugs and antibiotic resistance. The scientists hope to find a brewer willing to continue producing the beer, with proceeds supporting the ongoing research.
Island hoppers: In northern Scotland’s Orkney Islands, an extraordinarily brief flight connects the islands of Westray and Papa Westray, spanning just 1.7 miles (2.7 km), which is shorter than some airport runways. This flight typically lasts around 90 seconds, although favourable winds can reduce it to under a minute, while rough conditions can extend it to nearly three minutes. The flight is served by a Britten-Norman Islander, a small aircraft with eight seats and no in-flight service. This route, often likened to a bus ride, is crucial for the island’s inhabitants, who otherwise face weather-disrupted ferry rides. Despite environmental criticisms, it remains a vital link for locals.
“Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.” - Robert Breault
“The sun himself is weak when he first rises, and gathers strength and courage as the day gets on.” - Charles Dickens
“The sun himself is weak when he first rises, and gathers strength and courage as the day gets on.” - Charles Dickens
FREE listings for non-profit community events. Please email, 25 words or less, to: events@myCoffeeNews.ca (no attachments). Deadline Mondays noon.
Anything Goes Market! New, old & interesting items. Held at
the Victoria Legion, 411 Gorge Rd., East. Admission by donation. Held
Oct. 20; Nov. 3 & 17. 10am-3pm each date. Something for everyone.
Free 6-week Harmony Workshop with Pacific Edge Chorus. Held Tuesdays, until Oct. 22, 6:30-8:30pm, at Gordon United Church Hall, 935 Goldstream, Langford. Pre-register: membership@PacificEdgeChorus.ca
Memory Café Victoria: 12-week social & arts program for people living with memory loss & their care partners. Socializing, learning & engaging in the arts. Sept. 19 - Dec. 5. Register: memorycafevictoria.org/register
All Candidates Debate for Victoria-Beacon Hill: Held October 16th at 7pm at the James Bay Community School Gym.
Free Two-part Course on Living Spirituality: ‘Beyond Happiness’ to be held Oct. 21 & 22, 6:15-7:45pm at St. Ann’s Academy Chapel, 855 Humboldt St. Learn how to be inspired, happy, grateful, true, sure, free & you! Register at 250-592-6211. Sponsored by the Sri Chinmoy Centre of Victoria.
Intuitive Arts Festival: Celebrate Spirituality, Metaphysics & Healing. 44 Exhibitors & Workshops. Nov. 2nd & 3rd, 10am-5pm at 195 Bay St. Victoria’s longest running psychic festival. www.intuitiveartsfestival.com
Gordon Head Garden Club meet Wed., Nov. 6, 7-9pm at Gordon Head Lawn Bowling club, 4105 Lambrick Way. Visitors are welcome at no charge, which includes a parlour show, raffle & speaker program.
Winter Wonders Art Show & Sale: 12 Saanich are participating on Nov 9 & 10, 11am-4pm at the Arts Calibre Academy, 2625 Artbutus Rd. Come enjoy a variety of art forms including fine art, prints, fabric art, jewelry & more.
RCL#91 Langford LA Christmas Craft Fair & Tea: Nov 17, 10am-3pm at 761 Station Ave., Langford. 36 tables of crafts, silent auction, meat draws & more. Free admission & wheelchair accessible
Operation Christmas Child Seeks Volunteers to pack a gift-filled shoebox with quality toys, school supplies & hygiene items for children around the world, ages 2-14. Details at www.samaritanspurse.occ/pack-a-shoebox
Broadview United Thrift Store is Accepting Donations: Open Wed’s, 10-6pm & Sat’s, 10am-4pm. We are collecting gently used clothing & household items through the week. 3703 St Aidans St., enter from Palo Alto Street.
Speaking of Death: Conversations about end of life well before death. Held the first Wednesday of every month, 6-7pm at Caffe Fantastico, Quadra Village.
Victoria Brass Band Seeking Players: Seniors playing at seniors facilities. Practices Mondays, 1:30-3pm. Information:
victoriabrassband@gmail.com
The Luther Court Community Health Centre offers free health programs open to everyone. Please visit: linktr.ee/luthercourtchc for more info about upcoming programs.
Love to sing? The Avalon Singers is an all-female adult community choir in Victoria. Weekly rehearsals & seasonal concerts. Visit: www.avalonsingers.com
Learn to Play Pickleball: Held at Victoria Pickleball Centre, 2950 West Shore Parkway. Choose from a one-hour introduction or a series of 6 weekly lessons at a time to suit your schedule. For more info or to register go to www.victoriapickleballcentre.com
Relax, Unwind & Have Some Fun! Memory Café Victoria is a non-profit organization dedicated to allowing you & your loved one to enjoy activities while socializing with others. A caring & welcoming venue for both people with dementia & their care partners. Info: www.memorycafevictoria.org/programs
BCSS Youth Between the Ages of 8 & 18? Have a loved one with a mental illness? Join our mental health literacy groups for education & coping strategies in your community. More info at bcssyouth.org or email manager@bcssyouth.org
1. How many toes does a rhinoceros have on each foot?
2. Phobophobia is the fear of blood, beetles, or fear?
3. Does Europe have any deserts?
4. John Cleese and Michael Palin belonged to this comedy troupe.
5. Dorothy Hamill competed in skiing in the 1976 Olympics - T/F?
2. Phobophobia is the fear of blood, beetles, or fear?
3. Does Europe have any deserts?
4. John Cleese and Michael Palin belonged to this comedy troupe.
5. Dorothy Hamill competed in skiing in the 1976 Olympics - T/F?
(see bottom for answers)
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You probably need to resist the temptation to be impulsive or to get into an argument right now. Try taking a deep breath or two and waiting for this week to pass. Lucky numbers: 2, 4, 6, 10, 29, 34.
You may find yourself out of sorts early this week. Look for the source of this irritation. If you can’t immediately resolve the situation, seek outlets to reduce your negativity. Lucky numbers: 9, 13, 32, 38, 40, 47.
Over the next few weeks, you may want to just kick back and have fun. Enjoy this time but try not to drop the ball on any important responsibilities you might have to others. Lucky numbers: 7, 8, 19, 22, 38, 45.
You may find yourself woolgathering early this week. This might feel uncomfortable for you, but try to go along with it. Important information could surface now. Lucky numbers: 7, 17, 22, 26, 28, 46.
Others may be surprised if you step outside of your pleasant demeanour this week. If you are in a stalemate with someone else, take time to explain your position to them. Lucky numbers: 10, 14, 15, 17, 30, 37.
For the next few weeks, you may feel like you want to just be a free spirit. Which responsibilities could you set down for a bit and which must you continue to fulfill? Lucky numbers: 8, 19, 23, 25, 33, 43.
Accomplishment is an important theme for Capricorns. As Pluto moves from Capricorn to Aquarius, consider what you want to achieve, in alignment with your values. Lucky numbers: 4, 18, 23, 29, 37, 40.
Sometimes Aquarians have difficulty expressing their feelings to others. The next few weeks may provide you with an opportunity to more easily open up and share. Lucky numbers: 19, 26, 27, 31, 37, 46.
Your mystical side may be in full force this week. Take advantage of creative endeavours being more easily advanced. Make adjustments to address any negative habits. Lucky numbers: 5, 17, 31, 46, 47, 48.
Sudoku Books for Adults CLICK HERE
Lucky numbers this week: This week’s odds favour Leo winners with the luckiest number being 7.
Staying warm: The small Arctic fox lives within the Arctic Circle, where the sun never rises from late September to early March. But its thick fur coat helps it maintain a body temperature near 100°F (38°C), and its tail acts as a warm blanket.
Feline festival: In New York City (U.S.), cat lovers can enjoy a selection of short films about felines at the annual New York Cat Film Festival. The films, submitted by cat owners, must showcase something essential about cats.
Feline festival: In New York City (U.S.), cat lovers can enjoy a selection of short films about felines at the annual New York Cat Film Festival. The films, submitted by cat owners, must showcase something essential about cats.
Gaga’s godsons: Elton John, one of pop music’s most successful artists, and his partner David Furnish have two sons, Elijah and Zachary. They designated the famous American singer-songwriter Lady Gaga as the boys’ godmother.
Bridal colours: In North America, brides typically wear white, symbolizing purity and simplicity. In China, the tradition is to wear red, representing luck, happiness, and celebration; white is often associated with death and mourning.
Bear origins: A.A. Milne, the author of Winnie-the-Pooh, didn’t invent the bear’s name. His son, Christopher Robin Milne, called his own teddy bear Winnie after a visit to the London Zoo, where he saw a bear named for Winnipeg, Manitoba (Canada).
Can You Spot All 10 Differences?
For answers visit www.Just4FunPuzzles.ca
Trivia Answers: 1. Three 2. Fear 3. Yes 4. Monty Python 5. False
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