Today's News

[Daisy]

If you had a spare $8m (yes, million) to spare you could have been the successful buyer of old trainers.

You probably missed the recent auction of Michael Jordan's old trainers! I certainly did. I have to be honest and say I'd never even heard of the gentleman, even though he seems to be the most famous basketball player ever and has become a billionaire in the process. I also didn't know there was a market for well-known sports people's footwear which they've worn in matches. Somehow, I don't think my old Sketchers lurking in the bottom of the wardrobe would attract any bids at all.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-us-canada-68172218

[Oma]

Some people have more money than they know what to do with.
Just think of all the good causes that could have gone too , Madness.

[Daisy]

Oma, I agree. There's so much need in the world. Also, I cannot imagine why anyone would want someone else's worn footwear. I don't get it at all!

[Daisy]

Two news items in two days! I must admit today's only caught my eye because. ...

When our DSs were very small we used to sail our little dinghy on a water-filled brick pit in a nearby village. We were a long way inland and it was convenient for a quick sail, but oh, how we hated the mud you ended up covered with! So imagine my surprise when I saw this tiny village in the news this morning!

It is a huge stretch of the imagination to see the brick pit and the tiny village of Stewartby (Bedfordshire) transformed into a Universal theme park. It's close to Woburn Safari Park, so I imagine they would welcome the extra visitors.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-68166514

[Plantaholic]

I imagine this will be popular.

[Daisy]

Plant, if it goes ahead, I'm glad I'm not still living in the area. It's largely rural with little lanes leading to little villages, and even when we lived in a nearby village there were horrendous rat runs between the M1 and the A6.

[Gemini]

Daisy, my GS1 told me about the UK Universal Studios possibility.

For myself and my family it is a very exciting idea, but as you say, not so much for the locals!

[Gemini]

Oma, I agree. There's so much need in the world. Also, I cannot imagine why anyone would want someone else's worn footwear. I don't get it at all!

I would want Dorothy's red shoes from The Wizard of Oz, were they not completely unaffordable

[Daisy]

Gem, what would you do with them? I presume you couldn't actually wear them - or am I wrong? I'm sure they'd be a talking point though.

[Gemini]

Ooh no, I can't even bear to wear those shoes at bowling places! I would display and admire them

[Daisy]

Do you have a smart toothbrush? No, not a good-looking brush, but one that sends messages to your phone about how well you are caring for your teeth? Millions of people do have them apparently. But there is growing concern about the safety of them in terms of cyber security!

Recently 3 million smart toothbrushes were reportedly hacked in a massive distributed denial of service attack (no, I don't understand the technicalities of that either!). The toothbrushes all accessed a company's website at the same time causing a massive crash. Devices like smart toothbrushes don't have the same security safeguards built into them as computers or phones, so are easier for hackers to attack.

The company reportedly hacked by the onslaught hasn't confirmed this actually took place, but of course they may just be wanting to keep it quiet.

[Gemini]

Good grief

[Daisy]

The Northern Lights have always fascinated me, but the chance of seeing them from where we live is unlikely. I would love to have been at the foot of Pen Y Fan (part of Snowdon National Park) last night to see this amazing display, or at Talacre Beach (near Prestatyn). They were also seen in South Wales, around Swansea and Rhossili Beach. I wonder if Clover was lucky enough to see them?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-68465549

[Gemini]

It must be an amazing sight!

[Daisy]

Gem, that particular display looks amazing! I've seen a very 'basic' display of a few green lights in the North of USA, and I was thrilled with that - but this one is truly spectacular.