At least 84 people have been killed in Nice, France after Tunisian Mohamed Bouhlel, 31, drove a large truck through a crowd of people gathered along the beach to take part in Bastille Day celebrations. The rampage ended after police killed Bouhlel in what some referred to as a barrage of bullets. Images of the scene are macabre. And witness accounts are gruesome, troubling. No terrorist group has claimed responsibility yet for what happened Thursday night. France has vowed to extend its state of emergency and will be putting thousands of police reservists on the streets. Bastille Day is France’s independence day. [Source: National Post]
Canadian farmers among the most stressed in the world
According to a mental health survey conducted by the University of Guelph, Canadian Farmers are more stressed, anxious, burned out, and depressed than farmers from other parts of the world. “We are not invincible, but we feel we must be,” commented one farmer in the survey Guelph distributed. “What makes me the most upset is that I have everything I dreamed of — love, family and a farm — and all I feel is overwhelmed, out of control and sad,” said another. Many of the 1,100 surveyed indicated they would seek help if they felt it was necessary. Others, however, would not seek help fearing the stigma associated with mental illness. It’s unclear what conditions unique to Canada are driving these findings. [Source: Manitoba Cooperator]
Patrick Brazeau returns to Senate
Remember Patrick Brazeau? I’m sure you do. Well, he returned to work in the Senate Thursday. The Crown has withdrawn the expense fraud and breach of trust charges against him. Brazeau told the reporters stuffed into his office that many of his personal improprieties were part of a downward spiral set off by the accusations that mounted against him. In 2015, Brazeau pleaded guilty to cocaine possession and simple assault. This month, he pleaded not guilty to refusing a breath test, according to the Globe and Mail. He has enrolled in therapy for personal reasons, but hasn’t provided more detail. Brazeau was suspended in 2013, along with fellow senators Mike Duffy and Pamela Wallin, after Senate audits identified potentially fraudulent activity. Brazeau is seeking compensation for his time off the Senate payroll. [Source: Globe and Mail]
James Newman builds room-sized computer that only plays Tetris
A UK-based software engineer, James Newman, has spent the last three years and about $51,000 USD building a computer the size of an average bedroom that only plays Tetris. It’s slower and more basic than most desktop computers. Newman built the computer piece by piece because, a: he’s a giant nerd; and b: he wanted to construct something large enough to educate people on how each individual piece works together to form what we know as a computer. See video below. [Source: YouTube and Neatorama]
Check out Winnipeg’s Living Prairie Museum this weekend
This weekend, if you haven’t already, visit the Living Prairie Museum (see featured image) located 2795 Ness Avenue in Winnipeg. It’s a gem. And this Sunday they are hosting a Monarch Butterfly Festival from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. The museum itself is 30 acres of tall grass prairie reserve. The unique area of Winnipeg was discovered in 1968 by a group from the International Biological Program, who surveyed numerous sites across Manitoba to locate prairie pant communities. Only a few of the areas they found were undisturbed. Oddly enough, one of those areas was in a residential area of Winnipeg. The museum is home to more than 160 species of prairie grasses and wildflowers. According to stats located at the museum, only 1/20th of 1 per cent of original tall grass prairie remains in Manitoba. Stop in at the interpretive centre for more information.
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