IGO March 26 News Extra
There’s plenty happening on IGO this month! We’ve just launched lots of groups for members to explore and get involved in — so do take a look and join the conversations.
A quick reminder that the membership renewal period ends on 31 March, so please don’t forget to renew to keep enjoying everything IGO has to offer.
And finally, we’d love to hear from you — send us your news and updates by email so we can share them with the community in future newsletters:
New group – black history
Frank, Group leader says, Black History is important at all kinds of levels from the individual, personal to the global. It is a huge area so we in the group will have to work out collectively what we want to choose to share and explore.
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New group – professional cycling fans
Janet Group Leader says, Do you follow professional cycling?
Perhaps you watch major road races, such as the Tour de France, or one-day classics like Paris-Roubaix or Strade Bianche. Following the road racing calendar through the year, we will preview races and discuss results. We'll talk about riders, teams and tactics. Group members might wish to lead on specific topics and guest speakers will occasionally attend as well.
Maybe you are new to watching pro-cycling and want to find out more about this fascinating sport. How does a cycling team work together to win races?
You are welcome to join the group - no bike needed!
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New group – carbon footprint personal matters
The group will help us avoid the frustrations we can have when we try to reduce the carbon emissions that we are personally responsible for. This includes evaluating the options, managing the required changes and adjusting to the new technology that we may have adopted.
Examples are a home insulation project, a heatpump installation, solar panels, a battery electric vehicle, a home energy storage, etc.
As our government embarks on a very fast process of decarbonisation, much information is being made available, as well as significant support including financial.
So this group would need core members that have taken some steps and could share their journey to help others.
It could be a series of sessions that others that have personal examples that they would like to share could present on. The idea would be to learn how individuals were able to take charge and change something significant, while avoiding drastic or painful lifestyle changes.
And potentially the sessions could allow some time for a surgery style q&a.
Join via Beacon
New group – shared reading
A Shared Reading group brings people together to read aloud, reflect, and discuss literature in real time, creating a warm, inclusive space for connection and conversation. Inspired by initiatives like those run by the Derby Book Festival, this format welcomes participants of all backgrounds to engage with short stories, poems, or excerpts from longer works, guided by a facilitator who reads aloud and gently steers discussion.
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New group – psychedelic basement
A group to explore psychedelic music from the 1960s to the present day, maybe also looking at films featuring the music and literature around the subject. Group members will nominate tracks to listen to, possibly on a pre-arranged theme which might be particular performers, producers, instruments, time periods, genres of music, countries or whatever the group decides on. Let's see where it goes!
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New groups – Canva
A new Canva Project group and a new Canva course group have been set up as there are lots of people waiting. There is also room for new members.
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New groups – what to watch
This is a group to discuss/share interesting programmes group members have come across. May include TV, radio, podcasts, movies, other? Hoping to make it informal and fun.
Editor comment: Here are my recent watches
- TV – only connect; politics live; newsnight
- NETFLIX – series, the beast in me, homeland - still only on series 5 of 8
- SKY SPORTS – tennis, Katie Boulter in Merida Mexico; darts Bunting winning on Thursday night in Belfast
- YOUTUBE – Mick Miller, comedian Jamie Oliver’s recipes
- PODCAST – the rest is politics
- Wish list for films – Nuremberg starring Russell Crowe and I Swear
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New group – NotebookLM mutual support group
The informal mutual self help and support group, for users of Google NotebookLM and those creators and members who look to be. It is for anyone who provides research, content and material for their groups.
This group communicates through a private WhatsApp group, helping each other by sharing ideas, learning, knowledge, solutions, developing best use and anything that can improve the quality of created resources.
NotebookLM – a powerful and readily mastered Google app – will readily produce audio overviews, animated video overviews, mind maps, subject reports, flash cards, quizzes, infographics, slide decks (converting to PowerPoint) and data tables, on any theme – for this type of use it is free – subscription options are available, and considered unnecessary for the purposes outlined here - is cloud based and does not require use of the user’s device for the processing.
Those interested will be asked to briefly outline current and/or proposed use of NotebookLM.
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Quiz time
- What happens to the river in Chicago on 17th March each year?
- In March 1834 the Tolpuddle martyrs were sentenced to deportation to Australia - what was their offence?
- Which theoretical physicist was born in Germany 14th March 1879 and became an American citizen in 1940?
- In March 1956 the then Queen laid the foundation stone of which new cathedral?
- Who became the first British PM in April 1721?
- Name the titles of the 5 Beatles’ songs which filled the first 5 places in the US Singles chart on 4th April 1964?
Answers at the end
- 400g/14oz spaghetti
- 150–200g/5½–7oz kale, large stalks removed and roughly chopped
- 100g/3½oz salted, roasted peanuts
- 1–2 garlic cloves, to taste
- 4 tbsp finely grated Grana Padano, Parmesan or vegetarian alternative, plus extra to serve
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- salt and freshly ground black pepper
Method
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Cook the spaghetti according to packet instructions in a saucepan of boiling, lightly salted water. Drain, reserving some of the pasta cooking water, and return the pasta to the saucepan.
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Meanwhile, place the kale, peanuts and garlic in a blender or food processor and blitz until very finely chopped. Add the cheese, olive oil and a ladle of the pasta cooking water to the blender and whizz again to make a creamy sauce. Season with salt and pepper.
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Mix the pesto into the spaghetti and stir over a medium heat for 1–2 minutes until the sauce has warmed through. Divide between bowls and serve with extra cheese and a good grinding of black pepper.