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EDITION #1305 This issue 5ยข
This is day 134 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 ...

Read All About It →

Did You Know

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

  • A dime has 118 ridges around the edge, a quarter has 119.

  • Buttermilk does not contain any butter.

View More...

Latest Posts

Monday September 15, 2003

After eating an English missionary in 1867, contrite villagers in Fiji are now eating humble pie and want to say they are sorry. Reverend Thomas Baker, from Playden, East Sussex, was cooked and eaten by the people of the remote mountain village of Navatusila.

The only thing left of Mr. Baker, a clergyman with the Wesleyan Methodist Church, were his leather boots, and they even attempted to chew ...

Read All About It →

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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 ...

Read All About It →
  • Airports that are at higher altitudes require a longer airstrip due to lower air density.

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

  • A one ounce milk chocolate bar has 6 mg of caffeine.

Quips

The Vicar is on vacation. Massages can be given to the Church Secretary.

Filed Under: Church Notices


Sign seen in a bar: "Those drinking to forget, please pay in advance."

Filed Under: Signs


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


Fun Book Titles

  • The Barber of Seville
    - by Aaron Floor

  • School Meals
    - by R. E. Volting

  • Falling from a Window
    - by Eileen Dowt

  • All Aboard!
    - by Abel Seamann

  • How to Feed Elephants
    - by P. Nutts

View More: Book Titles

Good Question

  • Can you repeat the part after "Listen very carefully"?

  • What will fall on the lawn first? An autumn leaf or a Christmas catalogue?

  • Why do you need a drivers license to buy liquor when you can't drink and drive?

Filed Under: Good Question

World Firsts

  • "Stars & Stripes Weekly", the United States Armed Forces newspaper is first published.

    Friday February 8, 1918

  • Filed Under: → War


  • Richard Johnson is the 1st Vice President chosen by the United States Senate. It happened during the Van Buren administration.

    Wednesday February 8, 1837

  • Filed Under: → Politics


  • Edward of Caernarion, later Edward II, becomes the 1st Prince of Wales.

    Monday February 7, 1301

  • Filed Under: → Miscellaneous


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


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

  • When you have given nothing, ask for nothing.
    - Albanian 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

  • The 1st recorded race meet in England happens at Roodee Fields, Chester.

    Friday February 9, 1540

  • Filed Under: → Sports


  • 1st meeting of the Provisional Congress of Confederate States of America.

    Wednesday February 6, 1861

  • Filed Under: → Politics


  • Aurora Ski Club of Red Wing, Minnesota became the 1st United States Ski Club.

    Tuesday February 8, 1887

  • Filed Under: → Sports


View More: → World Firsts

Wise Words

  • It takes a village to raise a child.
    - African Proverb

  • When elephants fight, it is the grass who suffers.
    - African Proverb

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

Filed Under: Wise Words

Good Question

  • How long will a floating point operation float?

  • How come wrong numbers are never busy?

  • If fire fighters fight fire and crime fighters fight crime, what do freedom fighters fight?

Filed Under: → Good Question