British Columbia has become the first jurisdiction in Canada to make prescription contraception free to all residents. This includes oral hormone pills, contraceptive injections, intrauterine devices, subdermal implants and the morning-after pill. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/free-contraception-bc-budget-2023-2024-1.6763392

Hive mind query for my #Agile community friends: I'm feeling the itch to write/assign an article about agile-meets-database development. What needs to be said on this topic? ("Nothing, really" is a perfectly fine answer. I'm brainstorming.)

TIL the Japanese word "Tsujigiri" -- the term for trying out your newly acquired sword by decapitating a random passer-by.

The ability to manage any size cable bundle, from a couple of 22AWG wires to a fistful of heavy power cables, is often considered a lost art. https://www.thebroadcastbridge.com/content/entry/12400/the-lost-art-of-lacing-cable

There are four keys to success: don't spray herbicides or insecticides; do provide habitat; do provide a food source; and focus on native species. https://modernfarmer.com/2018/05/the-best-plants-to-attract-pollinators-by-region/

To be honest, I never got into the movie. It has its moments, and several lines that have stood the test of time, but... not my thing. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/the-big-lebowski-25-anniversary-jeff-bridges-1235335996/

A large black-and-white cat named Gacek has become the top-rated tourist attraction in the Polish city of Szczecin, with over 1,000 Google reviews giving the animal a near-perfect average rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars.
https://notesfrompoland.com/2023/02/09/cat-becomes-polish-citys-top-rated-tourist-attraction

“I distrust those people who know so well what God wants them to do to their fellows because it always coincides with their own desires.”--Susan B Anthony

“Flipping the proverbial bird is a God-given, charter-enshrined right that belongs to every red-blooded Canadian.” https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/mar/10/giving-the-middle-finger-is-a-god-given-right-canada-canadian-judge-rules

In the last year, 1.7 million books were self-published. The typical self-published author sells about five copies. https://www.tonerbuzz.com/blog/how-many-books-are-published-each-year/

LEGO's latest and largest Lord of the Rings-themed set: a 6,167-piece model of Rivendell, set to retail for $500 USD. https://www.openculture.com/2023/02/lego-releases-the-most-elaborate-lord-of-the-rings-set-a-6167-piece-rivendell.html

Trolls were one of the hottest toys of the 20th century — twice. But the original inventor only made a sliver of the proceeds. https://thehustle.co/how-the-inventor-of-the-troll-doll-missed-out-on-a-fortune/

Van Leeuwen Ice Cream and Hidden Valley Ranch have partnered on a limited-time offering of a ranch-flavored ice cream. https://www.fastcompany.com/90863284/van-leeuwen-hidden-valley-ranch-ice-cream

Jumbo introduced these “slow lanes” back in summer 2019 as part of a wider initiative called One Against Loneliness, launched by the Dutch government. https://mymodernmet.com/dutch-supermarket-slow-lanes-kletskassa/

Charles Daniels took intimate pictures of his friends the Rolling Stones, Hendrix and others – but few have seen the light of day until now https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2022/apr/05/rock-photography-charles-daniels-rolling-stones

An agreement has been reached to commence works on the United States' first high-speed rail network, Brightline West, connecting Las Vegas and Los Angeles. https://interestingengineering.com/transportation/on-track-a-bullet-train-from-las-vegas-to-los-angeles-by-2027

Joni Mitchell, recovering mightily from a brain aneurysm and sounding fabulous, sings Gershwin’s “Summertime” at the Gershwin Awards https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmoHBPJkGAk

"We asked bibliophiles, with libraries ranging from 300 to 3,000, about their displaying and organizing strategies."
3,000? Is that _all_?! https://www.washingtonpost.com/home/2023/03/03/how-to-organize-books/

A half-century ago, Pink Floyd unleashed a classic that still lingers on the Billboard charts and in college dorms to this day. But what’s the legacy of the blockbuster album? What’s legacy, anyway? https://www.theringer.com/music/2023/3/1/23617038/pink-floyd-dark-side-of-the-moon-legacy-anniversary-50th

In their December 1930 issue, Marinetti published the Manifesto of Futurist Cooking, where he declared pasta to be “an absurd Italian gastronomic religion” and called for its abolition. https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/italian-futurist-pasta