Good Day! 🌞 

Sorry for getting this one out a little late today. Hope you are having a good lunchtime!

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Nature is full of mysteries! One of those is the The Crooked Forest in Poland: A mysterious group of approximately 400 trees in Poland's Krzywy Las, or "Crooked Forest," are known for their uniquely bent trunks. The reason behind their J-shaped growth remains unknown…

Here is a short video of the crazy looking trees:

Innovation

Flying Cars… Sort Of

Movies from the late 20th century like to show a future full of flying cars. Sadly, we don’t have any flying cars yet… but we might have the next best thing.

The Ryse Recon, built by Ryse Aerotech, has emerged as a pioneering vehicle in personal air mobility. This personal helicopter, or more accurately, an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, is designed to democratize the skies, offering an unparalleled blend of convenience, efficiency, and sustainability.

Design and Features

The Ryse Recon distinguishes itself with its intuitive design, prioritizing ease of use, safety, and practicality. Unlike conventional helicopters, the Recon is built around the principles of electric propulsion, enabling it to offer a cleaner, quieter, and more cost-effective solution for individual air travel. Its compact size and vertical takeoff and landing capabilities allow it to operate in areas with limited space, making it an ideal choice for short to medium-distance commutes.

One of the most striking features of the Ryse Recon is its user-friendly interface. Designed with the non-professional pilot in mind, it employs advanced automation technologies to simplify navigation and flight controls. This approach not only lowers the barrier to entry for personal air travel but also enhances safety by reducing the potential for human error.

The Vision for the Future

The introduction of the Ryse Recon into the market is more than just the launch of a new product; it represents a forward-thinking vision for the future of transportation. Ryse aims to not only provide a novel mode of travel but also to inspire a shift towards more sustainable and efficient urban mobility solutions. By pioneering in the personal eVTOL space, the Ryse Recon sets the stage for a future where flying vehicles are a common and accessible means of transportation for the masses.

Challenges and Opportunities

As with any groundbreaking technology, the Ryse Recon faces its share of challenges, including regulatory hurdles, public acceptance, and the ongoing development of supporting infrastructure, such as vertiports (landing pads). However, these challenges also present opportunities for innovation, collaboration, and policy development to ensure the safe and integrated operation of personal eVTOLs within urban environments.

Who is it For?

For now, the target demographic are not your average suburban family.

Private Landowners, farmers and those with expansive properties could make the best use of it. The Ryse Recon offers a quick and convenient way to oversee land, crops, and livestock, significantly reducing the time and effort required for property management and surveillance.

Another potential use is for Emergency Responders and Law Enforcement. Its agility and ability to quickly cover difficult terrain could make it suitable for rapid response scenarios, search and rescue operations, and law enforcement surveillance, providing an aerial advantage in critical situations.

Of course, there is always the recreational users. Adventure enthusiasts and recreational users looking for a unique flying experience. Being easy to use and not requiring a flying license is a very attractive proposition for many I am sure.

Check out this awesome video showing the Ryse Recon in action!

Environment

Superbowl 58 Was 100% Solar Powered

The biggest sports event this year adopted a sustainable approach, taking advantage of its desert location. 621,000 solar panels powered the Allegiant Stadium, the venue for Superbowl VXIII and the Las Vegas Raiders.

The stadium secured a 25-year deal with NV Energy to source power from a solar farm, capable of supplying electricity for 60,000 homes beyond game days, according to CBS News.

Given Las Vegas's 300 sunny days annually, the solar initiative makes practical sense. Apart from solar power, the Allegiant Stadium implements sustainability measures like recycling turf rubber pellets, collecting restaurant food scraps for livestock, and composting grass clippings.

The stadium features an efficient roof reducing the need for air conditioning, along with various systems for energy efficiency like low-energy lighting, lighting control systems, and air handling units.

The standout aspect is the stadium's reliance on 100% renewable electricity from solar energy. U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm, after inspecting the electrical room, emphasized the reliability of renewable power in a facility of this scale, highlighting its potential for other communities.

Culture

WWII Veteran Preserves Historic Note

Bernard Morgan, a centenarian and former Royal Air Force codebreaker, holds a unique World War II artifact – a decoded telex signaling the end of the German war. The note, revealing the surrender, was deciphered by Sergeant Morgan in 1945, making him the youngest RAF sergeant to land in Normandy in 1944. Celebrating his 100th birthday recently, Morgan, adorned in his D-day uniform, shared the historic note, stressing the importance of understanding the wartime sacrifices for today's freedoms.

Having offered copies to museums, Morgan has decided the original telex will be a family heirloom. His commitment to preserving history and ensuring the younger generation appreciates wartime sacrifices is evident. Stationed in Germany in May 1945, Morgan received the coded message on his Typex machine, detailing the surrender's terms.

The note, kept secret for 50 years due to signed secrecy documents, described the surrender of all German personnel, equipment, and machinery without destruction. Morgan reminisced about the celebrations that followed the news, highlighting the necessity of secrecy until the final confirmation of Germany's surrender.

Despite offers from prestigious museums like the Imperial War Museum in London and Manchester, Morgan remains steadfast in his decision to keep the original telex within the family.

In Morgan's own words, "I am always keen for the younger generation to know exactly what went on during the War and to appreciate the sacrifice that our lads made so that we can enjoy the freedoms we have today."

World News

Archaeologists Discover an Ancient Blacksmith’s Workshop

A routine planning application in Britain has led to the discovery of an ancient British blacksmith's workshop in Wittenham Clumps, Oxfordshire. The workshop, dating back to around 771 BC, provides valuable insights into ironworking during Pre-Roman England. The findings include over 10,000 artifacts showcasing the extensive use of iron, including evidence of crafting complex items like swords and large cartwheels.

The workshop, or smithy, is believed to have belonged to a master blacksmith, given the sophisticated tools and materials found. Notably, the site features a well-preserved tuyere, a metal tube used to blow air into the furnace. Gerry McDonnell, an archaeometallurgical specialist, highlighted the rarity of finding such an ancient and intact tuyere as well as its significance in the context of Iron Age ironworking.

The size of the hearth at the discovered smithy indicates a specialized operation, distinct from typical village blacksmiths. The larger hearth suggests a focus on forging substantial items like swords or cartwheels, requiring advanced skills and resources. Iron, being more abundant than bronze, quickly gained mastery among craftsmen once smelting techniques diffused across England.

The unexpected discovery occurred when the charity Earth Trust, which owns the land, sought to redevelop its visitor center, prompting an archaeological survey. DigVentures, a social archaeology venture, conducted the excavations, revealing not only the remains of the building but also internal structures, hearth lining, and the rare specialist tuyere.

Nat Jackson, DigVentures Site Director, expressed excitement about uncovering direct evidence of the ancient blacksmith's activities. The artifacts, including iron bars and fragments, provide a comprehensive picture of the blacksmith's workshop. The excavations, carried out from unveiled an Iron Age settlement with roundhouses, an Iron Age pantry, and evidence of ceremonial activities, along with a later Roman villa containing the remains of a small Roman pet dog.

Mind Stretchers
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Five people were eating apples, A finished before B, but behind C. D finished before E, but behind B. What was the finishing order?

Yesterday’s Answer:
Sleep! 💤 

Chris Hostetler got his answer in first!

Be the first to send us the correct answer for today’s mind stretcher for a shout-out with the answer tomorrow. Just send us the answer and your name to [email protected]

If you have any uplifting stories and experience you might want to share, send those over to [email protected] for the chance to be featured.