OGN Wednesday
- 11 minutes ago
- 4 min read
Celebrating the start of April with an eclectic global collection of upbeat news nuggets.
And The Winner Is...
Four hundred years ago, a tiny common oak seed sprouted in the Lithuanian village of Rukai. Over the centuries, it’s grown into a towering tree - withstanding frigid winters, providing shade on warm summer days, and serving as a place of respite in its community, though it largely remained unknown to the world. Last week, that tree finally got its due when it took the grand prize in the 2026 European Tree of the Year contest at an award ceremony in Brussels. “The contest is not looking for the most beautiful tree, but for a tree with a story, a tree rooted in the lives and work of the people and the community that surrounds it,” a press release reads.
New Chapter
In 1918, Charlie Chaplin released his comedy Shoulder Arms and finished building the Hollywood studio where he would make nearly all his subsequent films. Since then, the landmark has been home to a recording studio and the Muppets’ headquarters. And now it’s entering its newest creative chapter, courtesy of John Mayer and director Joseph McGinty Nichol. This year, the duo announced that the space - which they purchased and renamed Charlie Chaplin Studios - is open for bookings across film, music, TV, and digital production, in hopes of preserving it as a functioning, vibrant home for artists. Hopefully also helping Los Angeles rebound from production lulls too.
New Dating Trend
Fed up with apps? The love of your life could be just one PowerPoint presentation away. That’s the bet some young singles are making at Date My Mate events around the world, where close friends take the stage at local bars and share a slide deck on why their BFF is the ultimate catch. At a recent event in London, one participant told Reuters: “It’s easier to big up your mate, especially if you know them really well.” For those who want to meet someone the good old-fashioned way but aren’t too keen on approaching a cute stranger themselves, Date My Mate offers a quirky alternative. “People are sick of swiping. They want to be in person and meet face-to-face,” said organizer Emily Churchill. “Also, I’ve noticed that friends really want to vouch for their single friends.”
150-Night World Cruise
To spend nearly half a year on a cruise ship is a life goal for some and, nowadays, travelers have more options than a breakfast buffet. At least 10 major cruise lines offer months-long itineraries that circle the globe, and the routes continue to get longer, more luxurious, more in-depth, and yes, more expensive. The all-suite, all-inclusive Regent Seven Seas has one-upped itself with its latest announcement: In 2029, the recently refurbished Seven Seas Mariner will take 700 luxury travelers to all seven continents, stopping in 70 ports, during a voyage of 150 nights. How much? Well, brace yourself: Fares start from $99,999 per guest for a Deluxe Veranda Suite, up to $344,999 per guest for a Signature Suite. The 2029 World Cruise opens for reservations today. No kidding.
Galanthus Gala
Every winter, a 220-year-old Quaker meetinghouse in Downingtown, Pennsylvania, fills with revelers who’ve traveled from all over the United States and abroad to celebrate a tiny flower. The flower is the snowdrop (or Galanthus), and this is the Galanthus Gala, an annual gathering of its ardent admirers. Appreciating the subtleties of snowdrops “slows you down,” says Jimi Blake, a gala speaker. “You have to slow down, or you won’t get anything from it.” He adds that the flowers - which can stay in bloom for weeks, through hard frosts and snows - changed his experience of winter and gave him a reason to love being at home during the cold, often isolating season.
Unbelievable Price
Everyone knows that part of the solution to mass EV adoption is to do with the price. The lower the better. The bZ7, Toyota’s new flagship EV in China (and possibly its most advanced vehicle yet), has just launched. The luxury electric sedan secured 3,100 orders within its first hour. Not that surprising when you learn that Toyota’s joint venture, GAC-Toyota, launched the bZ7 in China with a starting price of 147,800 yuan ($21,500). Wow.
By The Way
Just to let you know that if you don't click on the OGN Daily newsletter in your email in-box for 5 consecutive days, you get knocked off the mailing list. Sorry, but it's a tech thing. We over-ride it once a month - generally the last Sunday of each month. So, if you wonder why you suddenly stop receiving OGN Daily, that's why. You can, of course, just head to the website if you fancy an uplifting dose of good news. Better yet, don't get knocked off the list and wake up happy.
"When a man opens a car door for his wife, it’s either a new car or a new wife." Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
On This Day
1 April 1976: Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs found Apple Computer in the garage of Jobs' parents' house in Los Altos, California. Steve Wozniak has often described the "founding in a garage" story as "a bit of a myth," noting that no design, manufacturing, or prototyping took place there, and that it was primarily used as a place to feel at home. However, it served as the initial headquarters and assembly point for early orders.
Today's Articles
Bad Photographer? Fancy making $50,000 and enjoying an all-expenses paid trip to Iceland? They are looking for a terrible photographer. Could it be you?
“Impossible” Efficiency: Remarkable new solar cell breakthrough enables solar panels to generate more energy than they receive.
Mood Boosting Video
Rumours Confirmed: Celine Dion announces that she's back with a series of new shows.
