Thursday, December 5th, 2024

Good Morning! 🌞 

Innovation

Flying Electric Ferry

FlyTahoe is introducing the Candela P-12 hydrofoil ferry to Lake Tahoe, offering a 30-minute cross-lake service that will cut travel time in half compared to the 20,000 daily car trips. Designed to carry skis and bikes, the 30-seat ferry uses hydrofoil technology—computer-controlled wings that lift the vessel above the water, reducing drag and energy consumption by 80% compared to traditional boats. This enables the ferry to be fully powered by renewable electricity, providing a smooth ride at high speeds while reducing pollution that threatens the lake’s clarity.

Operating year-round due to Lake Tahoe’s never-freezing waters, the ferry will provide a fast, zero-emission alternative to driving, with travel times across the lake reduced to under 30 minutes, compared to over two hours by car in winter. The service will also connect the lake’s 14 world-class ski resorts, offering a convenient, sustainable option for both tourists and locals, while helping to alleviate traffic congestion and environmental impact.

Good News

$37 Million Raised for Charity

Minnesota's annual fundraiser, Give to the Max Day, set a new record with $37 million raised in just 24 hours. The funds will go to 6,556 charities, nonprofits, and schools.

Organized by GiveMN, which launched in 2009, the event started as a collaborative effort led by the Minnesota Community Foundation and other local organizations. Its first year raised $14 million, and the event has become an annual tradition since, with thousands of organizations raising money to support local and global communities. CBS News reported on the day, including a story from the Prop Food Shelf, which had set a goal of $125,000 but was falling short. An anonymous donation of $50,000 helped push their total to $250,000 by the end of the event.

This year’s donations came from over 150,000 people across all 87 Minnesota counties, all 50 U.S. states, and 36 countries. Jake Blumberg, GiveMN's executive director, said, “What we’re seeing is an interest to support one another and come together to give.” Over the past 16 years, the fundraiser has raised $350 million.

World News

Talking Paintings

In Finland's Lakeland region, towering granite cliffs rising from the water are believed to have played a significant role in the socio-religious practices of Neolithic Finns, thanks to their unique acoustic properties. The cliffs' proximity to the water creates powerful echoes that respond dramatically to sounds, creating an almost mystical auditory effect. This natural phenomenon likely influenced the people who approached these cliffs, leading them to view the landscape as spiritually significant.

A recent study reveals that these acoustically distinctive cliffs were sites where prehistoric hunter-gatherers painted images of humans, elk, boats, drummers, and human-animal hybrids. Formed after glaciers retreated from the Finnish Lake District, the smoothed granite cliffs not only inspired awe but also created an immersive experience when combined with their reflective sounds. Archaeological evidence suggests that these people traveled to the cliffs by canoe or over ice during winter, leaving offerings and engaging with the echoes, which they may have interpreted as the voices of painted figures responding to their own.

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Mind Stretchers

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Yesterday’s Answers to the Mind Stretchers:

Head 4 cover (head for cover!) 😄 —Albert Knox got this right first! 🌞 

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