The weekly weird

Man transforms Sao Paulo with 40,000 trees over 20 years

Helio da Silva, a retired business executive, spent two decades planting over 41,000 trees, creating Tiquatira Linear Park — a 3.2-km-long, 100-metre-wide green space in Sao Paulo. Once a neglected riverbank, this urban oasis now thrives between two major roads, providing greenery and fresh air to the bustling city. Starting in 2003, da Silva’s solo effort turned a dilapidated area into a flourishing community park.
By 2020, he had planted over 25,000 trees with an 88% survival rate, attracting 45 bird species. Da Silva spends around $7,000 annually on his initiative and plans to reach at least 50,000 trees. Now celebrated as a local hero, he continues to plant trees every Sunday, helping transform the area into a beloved community space complete with gyms, playgrounds and benches.
World’s smallest Rubik’s cube unveiled

Japanese toymaker MegaHouse has introduced the world’s smallest Rubik’s Cube, measuring just 0.19 inches per side and weighing 0.33 grams, priced at $5,320.
Created to mark the Rubik’s Cube’s 50th anniversary, this tiny aluminium cube was developed with precision-cutting experts to ensure it functions like the original. Available for pre-order on MegaHouse’s website, the mini–Rubik’s Cube is expected to ship next April, making it a unique collector’s item.
Farmer’s 2471-pound pumpkin wins world record

Travis Gienger from Nowthen showcased his 2,471-pound pumpkin, dubbed Rudy, at the Pumpkin Weigh-Off competition in Half Moon Bay, California, where it was declared the heaviest in the contest.
This victory marks Gienger’s fourth top win at the Safeway World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off. In the 2023 contest, he had set a Guinness World Record with his 2,749-pound pumpkin named Michael Jordan, which also took the top spot.
Bubble tea beef noodles, anyone?

A Vietnamese restaurant, Yu Tang, has gone viral for its controversial new dish: bubble tea beef noodles. Recently launched, the restaurant features a mix of vegetable broth, black tea and fresh milk, served with noodles, tapioca pearls, and corned beef.
Reactions have been mixed, with some Vietnamese content creators describing the taste as bizarre and lacking the sweetness typical of milk tea.
Vlogger Duc Anh commented that while the noodles aren’t as bad as expected, they are tasteless and the flavours don’t connect well.
Despite the mixed reviews, the dish has sparked interest on Vietnamese social media.
Published in Dawn, Young World, November 9th, 2024