If you haven’t heard of it recently, a new revision method has surfaced: doodling while revising! Scribbling, normally thought of as a casual activity, actually boosts attention and helps you memorize tedious texts or speeches, concludes a study by the University of Plymouth (England). The study asked the 40 participants to listen to a two-and-a-half-minute message including several names of places and people, while half of them did some doodling. In the end, it emerged that the latter had memorized an average of 7.5 names, compared with 5.8 for those who had remained inactive. « A simple occupation, such as doodling, may be enough to prevent him from daydreaming, without affecting his performance on his main task », announced one of the teachers.
So next time you’re revising, do it while scribbling!
Big news from the Biebers has been breaking on several social networks for a while now: Justin Bieber , 30, and his model-turned-beauty-mogul wife, Hailey Bieber , 27, confirmed they were expecting their first child with a video and series of images shared on Instagram today. In one photo, the pop superstar cradles his wife’s belly, and in another, he photographs her on a hill as she shows off her pregnancy. The Biebers married in September 2018, after a brief engagement. This will therefore be their first child.
But that didn’t stop friends, family and fans from going wild! The post attracted more than 5 million ‘likes’ within two hours of publication, and comments as warm as they were enthusiastic, including one from the singer’s short-lived ex, Sofia Richie, who is also pregnant, congratulating the couple. Has this reassured Hailey Bieber, who told the Sunday Times in 2022 that she feared a new wave of cyberstalking if she was expecting a happy event? Justin Bieber’s mum, Pattie Mallette, for her part, let her joy at becoming a grandmother burst forth. ‘I’ve been waiting for this day and now that they’ve shared it, I can finally celebrate with you all. Oh my God, I’m going to be a grandmother! Oh my God! …. Praise God!’ she exclaimed in a video on Instagram. So it’s safe to say that this long-awaited baby is a source of great joy for her family and fans alike!
That’s right! This extraordinary phenomenon took place during our 5-day weekend and didn’t interest many people! Beautiful, colourful images and a French night sky covered in a drape of pink or green hues, several evenings and nights in a row. Such observations are not common in France. Before looking back at this exceptional episode, which took place between Friday 10 and Monday 13 May, let’s start by recalling how the aurora borealis, or more generally the polar lights, are formed. Known as the ‘aurora borealis’ in the northern hemisphere and the ‘aurora australis’ in the southern hemisphere, they are closely linked to the activity of the Sun.
This luminous phenomenon is formed when the solar wind, a stream of electrically charged particles (protons and electrons) ejected by the Sun, comes into contact with the Earth’s upper atmosphere. It is generally observed in a so-called ‘auroral’ zone, located between 60 and 75 degrees latitude. In other words, in a wide band including Scandinavia, Iceland, northern Canada and Greenland, where the Earth’s magnetic field is too weak to act as a shield against these solar winds.
Within this zone, particles ejected by the Sun penetrate the upper atmosphere more easily. They collide with the gases that make up our atmosphere (oxygen, hydrogen and nitrogen) and excite their atoms. As the atoms change state, they release energy in the form of light.
Billions of collisions occur between solar particles and the gases in the upper atmosphere, all of which emit light. Several billion flashes of light are released, forming an aurora borealis in the sky. A majestic veil of light that can turn from green to red, blue or violet, depending on which atoms are stimulated. That’s why our French skies, so unaccustomed to this kind of display, surprised everyone and disappointed those who didn’t manage to see them (myself included…)
Over ten years ago, with the launch of its very first original series, Netflix established itself as the world’s leading streaming platform, offering new films, documentaries and entertainment every week, but series remain one of the main reasons for subscribing to Netflix. Among the most popular are The Crown, which ended after six seasons, House of Cards, which was the first series in Netflix’s history, and the unforgettable adventure of the girls in Orange is the New Black. Yet (surprise!) none of them are among the most viewed series in the platform’s history. Having revealed the top most popular films on Netflix, let’s move on to the most viewed series, based on the number of hours watched!
La Casa de Papel, season 3 (80 million views) If you hear the word ‘Spanish Netflix series’, you’re probably thinking of La Casa de Papel – and you’re right! In fact, it was one of the first non-English-language series to become a worldwide hit. In 5th place in this top ten is part 3 of the adventures of Tokyo, the Professor and the others, the first to be produced by Netflix. And to think that after its broadcast in Spain on Antena 3 and its low ratings, the series almost never got a sequel!
La Casa de Papel, season 5 (99 million views) The final season of La Casa de Papel, which went online on Netflix at the end of 2021, failed to dethrone the most popular season (part 4, as you’ll see below). Nevertheless, the Spanish series is also present in 4th place in this top of the most popular series on the platform and is the only series to appear three times in this ranking. The Professor would be proud!
Lupin, season 1 (99 million views) Cock-a-doodle-doo, Lupin is also in the top 3 most viewed series in the history of Netflix! Part 1 of Assane Diop’s adventures won over not just France, but the whole world, with Omar Sy approaching 100 million views in 2021. A success for this drama created by George Kay and François Uzan, which is also the only French series in this top 5
La Casa de Papel, season 4 (106 million views) The prize for the most popular season of La Casa de Papel goes to the fourth series. In these episodes, The Professor is initially convinced that Lisbon is dead. At the same time, Nairobi is seriously injured by a shot orchestrated by Alicia, while Gandia captures Tokyo. In short, there’s more action, explosions and tears. All in all, a great La Casa de Papel!
Squid Game, season 1 (265 million views) It’s THE queen of Netflix series, and not just a little! Released in September 2021, Squid Game was a veritable tidal wave on the platform, breaking all records. To date, it remains THE most viewed series in the platform’s history, and not even the number 1 series in the English-language rankings has been able to dislodge it! For the few who missed it, this Korean series follows Seong Gi-Hun, a down-on-his-luck man who is recruited to take part in a deadly game in which 456 people battle it out for a prize of 45.6 billion won (around €32 million). Violent and bloody, the drama was such a hit that Netflix decided to give it a season 2 and create a reality show based on the series.
So it’s a very good ranking, even if some series like Stranger Things or Vampire Diaries deserve to be there!
World Vegan day originated in England in 1994, when vegan animals rights activist Louise Wallis was looking for a suitable setting to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Vegan Society, her aim wasn’t only to emphasise the continued existence of a vegan assocation but also to draw attention to the fact that the word » vegan » had found its way into the English language.
Wallis set November 1st as the date, as it falls exactly between October 31st which is Halloween ans the mexican Day of the Dead, which falls on November 2nd. Since November 1st 1994, World Vegan Day as thus provided a welcome occasion for vegans in all parts of the world to celebrate and further promote veganism with all its positive aspects.
