Footnotes to a Conversation, July 1, 2024
“Language is the only homeland.” – Czeslaw Milosz
Summer Reading Club – And It’s for Adults!
Why should kids have all the fun? West Vancouver Memorial Library is inviting adults to play bingo. Activities include reading a book in translation, listening to an audiobook on Libby, reading a book set in a library or bookstore, or borrowing a puzzle or activity kit. [West Vancouver Memorial Library]
Aging in Place
By 2030, almost a quarter of the Canadian population will be over 65. Many don’t want to move into retirement homes but would prefer to stay in place. Sharing a house with friends or co-living arrangements are popular, but there’s another option that I wasn’t familiar with. Some people are choosing to bring the services to them when there’s a building or neighbourhood where over 30% of the population are older adults. This could include fitness classes, lectures, or potluck suppers according to a group’s preferences. Even better would be if it included health care services. With clients grouped in one building, personal support workers would spend less time travelling and more time with clients, and individuals without a car would find it easier to see a physiotherapist or podiatrist. [CBC]
The Power of eBay
I have a friend who is a pro at buying and selling on platforms such as eBay, but Dr. Gradel, a Danish eBay user, went one step further. He unmasked the staff person who was stealing from the British Museum. In addition, Dr. Gradel has now handed back more than 360 gemstones that he believes belong to the museum. He’s still working out how much money he paid for them. [BBC]
Feisty Farts
The verb “fizzle” once meant to break wind quietly, while “feisty” originally meant “a fisting hound” – a small, snarling dog that was prone to farting. [Susie Dent, Word Perfect: Etymological Entertainment Every Day)
Footnotes to a Conversation is a weekly Monday feature covering an assortment of topics that I’ve come across in the preceding week – books, art, travel, food, and whatever else strikes my fancy. I also post occasional articles on other dates, including frequent book reviews and travel tales.
If you share my love of nature, check out EcoFriendly West, an online publication encouraging environmental initiatives in Western Canada, and Nature Companion, a free nature app for Canada’s four western provinces.