Dede Sophie

Mercedes-Benz is to build a global branded charging network for its electric car  customers, starting in the US and Canada this year and rolling it out later in Europe and China, writes Brian Byrne. Announced at last week’s CES show in Las Vegas, the system in the US is envisaged to have 2,500 chargers across 400 strategically located hubs by 2027. The German carmaker will partner with local EV charging and technology companies in the scheme, which will also utilise the Mercedes me Charge system whereby the charge unit communicates directly with the vehicle without the need for manual use of a charging card or fob. Partnering with companies that provide ‘green’ electricity will be a feature of the scheme. Mercedes-Benz intends to go all-electric wherever market conditions allow by the end of this decade. 

One of the numerous books I read last year was Kristin Hannah’s Winter Garden – a novel of mothers and daughters, times and tribulations. While the story was overall very interesting, there were aspects of it that made me terribly sad. I put it down, picked it up again, put it down again and so on. As a result, it was quite a while before I could finish this heart-wrenching story. Read more »

I Can Do It Too!: Handprint Books By Karen Baicker Illustrated by Ken Wilson-Max 18 pp ; board book, full color throughout, ages 2-4 ISBN 9780811875608 This heartwarming story reminds us how satisfying it is to grow up surrounded by love. I Can Do It Too! affirms a little girl’s growing independence as she, too, can begin to do all the things she sees her parents, relatives and neighbors do: pouring juice at breakfast, strumming a guitar, and even riding a bike! The simple cadence of text and direct-to-the-heart art result in a book as warm and generous as its message, providing reading pleasure for toddlers, older siblings, and the grown-ups who love them. Read more »