Tuesday's smorgasbord of tasty good news nuggets to help perk things up.
Ready, Steady, Eau!
Trays of coffee and croissants were held aloft in Paris on Sunday in a revival of one of the city's traditional spectacles - a race involving waiters and waitresses from its famous cafés. Judges at the end check the amount of liquid that has spilled during the contest, which allows only brisk walking. The event began in 1914, but has not been held since 2011 due to lack of sponsors. It has been brought back in the run-up to the Paris 2024 summer Olympics. In the end, Pauline Van Wymeersch from the Café le Petit Pont and Samy Lamrous from La Contrescarpe were crowned the fastest woman and man in the Course des Cafés. They both won tickets to the Olympic opening ceremony this summer - and perhaps some newfound respect from those customers cursing about the time it takes to order up a coffee, croissant and a glass of water.
Stat of The Day
A study out of Caltech and UCLA found that there was so much jumping and dancing at Taylor Swift’s SoFi Stadium concert in Los Angeles last August that it measured as a 2.3 magnitude earthquake.
Who's Roger?
A plaque paying tribute to an “adulterous” husband has provoked amusement and intrigue after it was mysteriously placed on a park bench in England. The brass plate was installed on a wooden seat in Royal York Crescent in Clifton, Bristol, and was engraved with the words “For My Love. Husband, Father, Adulterer,” signed off with the words: “Yes, Roger, I knew.” The tribute quickly attracted attention online, and some locals attempted to identify a “Roger” within their midst, while others doubted the adulterer was real because the plaque states that he was born on Sept 6 1969 and died on Christmas Day. The search continues...
Serious Blow to Putin
Indian oil refineries have stopped accepting Russian crude oil delivered by tankers operated by Sovcomflot - Russia’s largest commercial shipping company that has been sanctioned by the U.S. - Bloomberg reports. That's good news as it will surely deal a blow to Moscow’s economy as India is one of the largest importers of its fossil fuels since the start of the Ukraine war.
How Much?
In the heart of Arandú, Brazil, history was made as a remarkable Nelore cow fetched an astonishing US$4 million at an auction. This majestic bovine, characterized by its distinctive bright white coat, loose skin, and prominent hump, has now etched its name into the annals of livestock lore. Nelore cows command exceptional value due to their prized genetic attributes. Originally hailing from the Indian district of Nelore in Andhra Pradesh, these cattle are renowned for their resilience in hot climates. Their unique features, including a reflective white fur and exceptionally large sweat glands, contribute to their ability to thrive in harsh conditions.
Love Forever
Metal detectorist Robert Edwards was searching at Carew Castle in Pembrokeshire, Wales, when he unearthed a silver thimble inches below the soil. The thimble dates to between 1682 and 1740 and officials in Wales have just designated the item as a treasure. The bottom of the thimble features a “posy” inscription, a type of engraving often found on rings that declare love or devotion. On the newly discovered thimble, capitalized letters spell out “LYKE STIL AND LOVE EVER,” which means “like enduringly, love forever.”
Supersonic
Boom Supersonic, an aviation business based in the U.S., took on an enormous project to develop the first independently developed supersonic jet in history. Now, the startup has announced that its supersonic aircraft demonstrator, the XB-1, successfully completed a flight. XB-1 uses carbon fiber composites, sophisticated avionics, digitally tuned aerodynamics, and an advanced supersonic propulsion system. The company is developing Overture, the world’s fastest airliner, which can fly at twice the speed of today’s airliners and is optimized to run on up to 100 percent sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
Just in Case...
...you haven't already heard about the British runner who made history at the weekend by becoming the first woman to finish one of the world's hardest ultra-marathons, you're in the know now. Jasmin Paris, 40, completed the Barkley Marathons in Tennessee with just 90 seconds to spare of the 60-hour cut off. The course, at Frozen Head State Park, changes every year but covers 100 miles involving 60,000ft of climb and descent - about twice the height of the Mount Everest. Only 20 people have ever made it to the end of the race within the allotted 60 hours since it was extended to 100 miles in 1989.
“A good rule to remember for life is that when it comes to plastic surgery and sushi, never be attracted by a bargain.” Graham Norton
On This Day
26 March 1927: The Mille Miglia, the famed automobile race across Italy, was inaugurated. The annual race ran from Brescia to Rome and back to Brescia - and was last contested in 1957 - took place on public roads, and its distance gave the race its name: Mille Miglia, Italian for “one thousand miles.”
Mood Booster
David Attenborough meets a very glamorous hummingbird.