Library Cat Outlasts Councilman Who Wanted Him Gone

Browser is a library cat that lives in White Settlement Public Library near Fort Worth, Texas. In 2016, the gray tabby was evicted from the library by the local municipality, provoking an international backlash that resulted in a unanimous decision permitting him to say. Browser was originally adopted by the library to control rodents, but later became a popular mascot of the library. Then, City Councilman Elzie Clements, who claimed that “City Hall and City businesses are no place for animals,” made a motion to remove Browser from the library. Mayor Ron White claimed the motion to remove the cat was in response to a City Council member not being permitted to bring his puppy to City Hall. The White Settlement City Council took up the issue of what to do with Browser, with Clements being the lone vote to get rid of the favorable feline. In response to the eviction decision, a petition to permit Browser to remain in the library attracted over 12,000 signatures worldwide, and Mayor White received over 1,500 emails advocating for Browser to be permitted to remain in the library. On July 1, 2016, White Settlement City Council unanimously voted to reverse its earlier eviction decision. Browser was subsequently dubbed by the mayor as "Library Cat for Life." On December 13, 2016, Clements again tried to sway the City Council to vote to remove Browser, claiming “I’m a council member and I can put anything I want on the consent agenda,” but the motion didn't pass. This would be the last meeting attended by Councilman Clements as an elected official. He was subsequently defeated during his re-election bid in November 2016, and died on January 1, 2022. Browser is still at the library.

 

 

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Canal-Leaping Pole Vaulters Aim For the Sky in the Netherlands

What has a giant stick, superior upper body strength, and can cross a canal in a single bound? If you answered “fierljepper,” you’re right! There are a lot of letters in the word, so here’s the breakdown. Fier-ljep-pen — pronounced "feer-LYEP-en” — means “far leap.” The goal of fierljeppen is to get as far as possible from the starting point while crossing a canal. Sounds easy, right? Not really. It’s a sport that was born out of necessity. Farmers in the 1200s began the practice when they decided that instead of going around the water, they would go over it. Today, bridges and roads that have been built over the years have reduced the need for fierljeppen as a method of transportation. By launching themselves through the air at the mercy of a stick, the Dutch turned it into a competitive sport in 1975. So, how do you fierljep? To begin, fierljeppers sprint like mad 50-65 feet towards a canal. When they reach the canal, they grab hold of a large pole (polsstok) and push it into the bottom of the muddy water. Relying on brute force and gravity, they rapidly climb and attempt to control the pole midair as it begins to swing to the opposite side. If successful, fierljeppers land gracefully on the other side of the canal on a soft bed of sand. If unsuccessful, well……. So how far is a far leap? When fierljeppen began, leapers would jump around 32 feet. Thanks to a better understanding of the sport and changes in pole material, the world record distance for fierljeppen is now 72.8 feet. Today there are over 600 registered jumpers in the Netherlands, with various clubs springing up all over the world.

 

 

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How a Ball Boy is Being Blamed for Breaking Wimbledon’s AI-Powered Line Judge

A Wimbledon ball boy has been blamed, as Wimbledon’s new AI-powered line-calling system suffered yet another error, prompting calls to “stop the machines.” Taylor Fritz and Karen Khachanov’s quarter-final clash was halted when the process called out a phantom “fault” — despite the ball being about 3 feet inside the baseline. This is the latest gaffe the technology has made since coming in for this summer’s tournament to replace the 147-year-old tradition of line judges calling the shots. On this occasion, the technology failed because a ball boy was not off the court surface when Fritz began his serve, so it failed to recognize that play had begun. Umpire Louis Azemar-Engzell had to suspend play and make a call to the referee’s office. It was determined that the first game of the fourth set had to be replayed. While some called for the ball boy to face blame for the mishap, Russia’s Khachanov, who went on to lose the match by 3 sets to 1, has called for traditional line judges to be brought back.

 

 

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The Trendy Paint Color Renovation Experts Are Steering Homeowners Away From

Millennials have had a hard time getting on the property ladder, but those who have managed it are being advised not to squander their first investment by bringing in their Pinterest and Instagram aesthetics. Young homeowners are increasingly harking back to the 1970s by painting their bathrooms avocado green. The retro hue may be nostalgic for many, taking them back to the their parents’ or grandparents’ homes, but experts warn that it’s not a safe investment. Realtors and renovation experts have cautioned that such a unique color could put off prospective homebuyers when it comes time to sell the property. “Avocado green can quickly become tiring, to the point where you might hate going into your own bathroom,” said Rick Berres of remodeling company Honey Doers. He suggests for those with their hearts set on avocado green to start small with some towels, a bath mat, or a shower curtain before plunging head-first into a full bathroom makeover in the color.

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