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EDITION #1305 This issue 5ยข
This is day 138 of 2026

The Largest Rodent Ever

Used News Wildlife

Friday September 19, 2003

The largest rodent ever was a giant guinea pig as big as a buffalo, which lived in South America eight million years ago, researchers say this week in the journal Science.

More than twice as heavy as the previous record holder, it was more than 10 times the size of today's largest living rodent, the South American Capybara. This giant rodent grazed on grasses, which it must have eaten in large ...

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Did You Know

  • During World War II, Uncle Bens was the exclusive supplier of rice to the U.S. Armed Forces.

  • Albert Einstein was offered the presidency of Israel in 1952, but he declined.

  • Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar were both epileptic.

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Latest Posts

Saturday February 25, 2017

A good news newspaper called Good News was founded because its American proprietors believed people were tired of reading bad news. The bi-weekly paper refused to publish any bad news and only printed the good news.

After just 16 months in operation the paper closed down. But it stuck to its guns of publishing only good news to the bitter end and refused to announce its own failure - this would ...

Read All About It →

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Saturday February 25, 2017

A good news newspaper called Good News was founded because its American proprietors believed people were tired of reading bad news. The bi-weekly paper refused to publish any bad news and only printed the good news.

After just 16 months in operation the paper closed down. But it stuck to its guns of publishing only good news to the bitter end and refused to announce its own failure - this would ...

Read All About It →
  • An earthquake on December 16, 1811 caused parts of the Mississippi River to flow backwards.

  • A volcano has enough power to shoot ash as high as 50 km into the atmosphere.

  • Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar were both epileptic.

Quips

The 1991 Spring Council Retreat will be hell May 10 and 11.

Filed Under: Church Notices


This afternoon there will be a meeting in the South and North ends of the church. Children will be baptized at both ends.

Filed Under: Church Notices


Weight Watchers will meet at 7.30 pm at the Presbyterian Church. Please use the large double doors at the side entrance.

Filed Under: Church Notices


Fun Book Titles

  • The Barber of Seville
    - by Aaron Floor

  • All Aboard!
    - by Abel Seamann

  • Peek-a-Boo!
    - by I. C. Hugh

  • My Years in a Lunatic Asylum
    - by I. M. Nutty

  • How to Feed Elephants
    - by P. Nutts

View More: Book Titles

Good Question

  • If there are 52 weeks in a year, how many weeks are there in a light year?

  • Do steam rollers really roll steam?

  • If love is blind, why is Lingerie so popular?

Filed Under: Good Question

World Firsts

  • The 1st appearance of cholera happens in Edinburgh, Scotland.

    Monday February 6, 1832

  • Filed Under: → Medicine


  • The first storm warnings for ships was issued by English Admiral, Robert Ritzroy.

    Wednesday February 6, 1861

  • Filed Under: → Travel Section


  • Joe DiMaggio becomes the 1st $100,000 a year baseball player. He plays for the New York Yankees.

    Monday February 7, 1949

  • Filed Under: → Sports


Events

  • Relatives of a 91-year-old Ohio woman who died this week are giving her the last word with a sassy, occasionally profane obituary that starts with the basics, "I was born. I lived. I died.", and instructs people to "Wait the appropriate amount of time" before trying to claim her stuff.

    They wrote it in Jean Oddi's perspective, recapping the people important to her, adventures she had and her favorite activities, including playing cards and teaching her granddaughter "dirty songs".

    Thursday February 23, 2017

  • Filed Under: → Deaths


  • The man known as the 'Crocodile Hunter' died after his chest was punctured by a stingray barb while diving off Australia's northeast coast. The 44 year-old colourful personality was filming a documentary about the Great Barrier Reef when tragedy struck.

    According to friend and colleague, John Stainton, Steve Irwin swam too close to the ray while he was diving off his boat "Croc One" near Batt Reef, northeast of Port Douglas.

    Monday September 4, 2006

  • Filed Under: → Deaths


  • A father and son in Alabama were killed when they crashed into each other in a head-on collision. Jeffrey Morris Brasher and his son Austin Blaine Brasher of Bankston, Alabama, died early Saturday morning.

    Jeffrey Brasher was driving a 2006 Ford pickup and his son was driving a 2004 Chevrolet truck when they collided on a highway head-on, said Alabama State Trooper Jonathon Appling.

    Saturday February 18, 2017

  • Filed Under: → Deaths


  • Listen or thy tongue will keep thee deaf.
    - American Indian Proverb

  • Not to know is bad, not to wish to know is worse.
    - African Proverb

  • Indecision is like a stepchild. If he does not wash his hands, he is called dirty, if he does, he is wasting water.
    - African Proverb

World Firsts

  • "Monopoly" the board game goes on sale for the 1st time.

    Wednesday February 6, 1935

  • Filed Under: → Business & Industry


  • The 1st wireless message sent from a moving train to a station is received.

    Sunday February 7, 1915

  • Filed Under: → Travel Section


  • Astronomical Society of Pacific holds its 1st meeting in San Francisco.

    Thursday February 7, 1889

  • Filed Under: → Science


View More: → World Firsts

Wise Words

  • Smooth seas do not make skillful sailors.
    - African Proverb

  • If you refuse to be made straight when you are wet, you will not be made straight when you are dry.
    - African Proverb

  • When there is no enemy within, the enemies outside cannot hurt you.
    - African Proverb

Filed Under: Wise Words

Good Question

  • If there are 52 weeks in a year, how many weeks are there in a light year?

  • How come it takes so little time for a child who is afraid of the dark to become a teenager who wants to stay out all night?

  • How much deeper would the ocean be without sponges?

Filed Under: → Good Question