What Do These Four Stories Have In Common? Absolutely Nothing!

1. According to the website Nameberry, which tracks trends in names, there is a noticeable trend of parents giving their newborn boys weapon-inspired names. Names such as Wesson, Caliber, Shooter and Trigger first appeared in the 2000s, but have gained popularity in recent years. Other names included Dagger, Cannon, Hunter, Maverick, Magnum, Pistol, Mace and Gunner. Parents living in the so-called "red states" are more likely to choose gun-themed names for their children, according to the website. Do you know anyone who has given their newborn a weapon-inspired name?

2. Hershey Canada is discontinuing Cherry Blossom, the novelty candy that consists of a syrupy maraschino cherry encased in milk chocolate with bits of coconut and peanut. The company made the announcement January 17, and will stop production in early 2025. It was first produced in the 1890s by the Lowney Company's Canadian subsidiary before a series of acquisitions eventually landed it in the hands of Hershey Canada in the late 1980s. Have you ever had a Cherry Blossom?

3. Sikkim, India is the world's first fully organic state. The state government began the transition in 2003 and officially declared Sikkim 100% organic in 2016. Their goal was to preserve the local environment and biodiversity, ensure a healthier life for its citizens, and reduce the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. They achieved all these goals in only 13 years. They have even replaced plastic water bottles with bamboo ones, and to ensure a complete reduction of plastic bottles, a check for plastic bottles in every tourist vehicle has been issued. Do you think our countries could ever achieve the goal of being 100% organic?

4. A shopping mall and office complex in downtown Montreal is being criticized for using the popular children's song Baby Shark to discourage unhoused people from loitering in its emergency exit stairwells. The "catchy" children's song — versions of which have been viewed and streamed hundreds of millions of times online — was playing from speakers in at least one of the mall's stairwells, on a loop and at various speeds, for over a year now. Do you think this is an innovative way or tortuous to discourage unhoused people from using the stairwells as sleeping places?