Around the Year in 52 Books discussion

Times are tough these days. Whether you're seeing the light at the end of the tunnel or just starting the journey, we all need a little escape.

So this thread is dedicated to inspirational news stories, funny images, or anything that will add a bit of positive vibes to everyone's day.

New Stories... because the news isn't always awful
This hiking ferret has summited 11 of Colorado's highest peaks

Meet the veterinarian who gives free medical care to pets of the homeless

Man Launches ‘Uber Eats-Style’ Service That Rescues Surplus Event Food and Delivers it to Charities

15 Things That Will Make You Smile Even If It Feels Like The Whole World Is Panicking Right Now

And the just plain random

To "snirtle" means to laugh with snorts.

In Ankara, Turkey, sanitation workers created a public library out of books they found while collecting garbage. It contains over 6,000 books.

Giraffes give birth while standing up. Their babies must drop more than five feet (1.5 meters) to the ground as they're born.

A moonbow is a rainbow produced by moonlight rather than direct sunlight.

Italians are singing on their balconies together every night! It’s amazing to watch the videos. They’ve found a way to keep their community together while containing the spread :)

I also saw a brief video of an exercise trainer/teacher leading a group from a rooftop...and all the people in apartments around the roof were doing the routine on their balconies.

Never knew there was such a thing as a moonbow. Very cool.

All schools and all non-critical public functions in Denmark closed since thursday. Lots of publishers and authors are now giving free access to their e-books and learning resources to help the kids' learning and reading from home.

And tonight my neighbourhood in Copenhagen had a sing-together from windows and balconies inspired by Italy.

...and we're going to do it every day at the same time, so it will probably spread.

I love this. I will try & contribute daily. My escape today was my face to face book club that meets at a brewery did meet today. I was really looking forward to it & was glad we got to visit. My other daily escape is I have been watching Harry Potter movies on Sci/Fi.

going to sound stupid, but i learned to set up a group for my senior center book club online and learned how to meet online on zoom next week. When you are seventy it was a lot to learn, but I was able to get them up and hooked in over the phone. Quite a job, but I am proud of that accomplishment. A chance to make my brain work.

Ann wrote: "going to sound stupid, but i learned to set up a group for my senior center book club online and learned how to meet online on zoom next week. When you are seventy it was a lot to learn, but I was ..."

My kids use zoom as part of their online schooling, it's such an awesome platform!

As you probably know , in the Britain our schools are staying open but there is talk that over 70's will be told to stay at home. This will isolate a lot of the elderly. So if the virus doesn't get them, they could starve to death unless neighbours are willing to help them. I feel this is totally disgusting!

Ann - if your 70 year olds are anything like my 70+ year old husband, that was quite an accomplishment! Luckily I use Zoom at work, and we even had a face to face via zoom staff meeting on Friday.
Technology can drive you nuts, but also it can do amazing things.

I applaud you Ann. I hope there are people over here who can help our elderly as you have done.

Happy Monday!

A lot of us are waking up to a much different work week. But that’s okay, we’re all in this together!

Third grader starts organization to save unwanted pet pigs

A cut above: Why this Delaware principal opened a barbershop inside his school

18 Dog Posts From This Week To Serve As Bright Beacons Of Hope And Floofiness


If you’re already a bit bored... here’s 100 useful things you can do to kill boredom if you're quarantined at home because of coronavirus

And your random fact of the day:
A baby puffin is called a "puffling."

I just heard a nice story on the radio. There is a web site for high school students to post themselves singing songs from their canceled plays. Since schools are closed this gives them a platform to perform.

Check out this little guys paintings, and the great work he is using them for here.

28 Funny Book Memes for People Who Love to Read

My favorite is #3 because I can't get enough of Game of Thrones right now ;-)

Also #23 made me LOL, because a college friend of mine asked to have a few of my books for her shelves for exactly this reason and that was definitely my face !!

I just listened to a really fun and interesting podcast episode, Reply All, The case of the missing hit. Check it out! It’s a true story about a guy who remembers a pop song from his childhood that nobody else does, and the investigate.

Guided Meditation in case anyone needs a 15 minute escape from reality.

If you didn't see this one circulating on social media, the Shedd Aquarium took their penguins out for a stroll throughout the aquarium to visit other animals since there were no visitors: https://twitter.com/shedd_aquarium

This is from my local news. I worked for the Phams for years, and I helped them pack lunches for students who had a few days without a meal while our school system set up emergency breakfast and lunches for kids out of school. (And it features a former student of mine who I had in my summer camp class when she was in pre-k... and she's now a freshman!)

https://www.katc.com/news/lafayette-p...

Found this in another GR group, quite funny 😅

https://lithub.com/the-first-lines-of...

ZeeJane just posted pictures of bunnies that she is fostering!
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Hilde, that was so good! I didn’t think anything was going to too Moby-Dick, but then I read the last one and actually snorted. 🤣

Sherri wrote: "I just heard a nice story on the radio. There is a web site for high school students to post themselves singing songs from their canceled plays. Since schools are closed this gives them a platform ..."

Yes, actress Laura Benanti started this and Lin-Manuel Miranda also supports it.

Hilde wrote: "Found this in another GR group, quite funny 😅

https://lithub.com/the-first-lines-of..."

Thanks for posting that, I got that email and wanted to post but didn't know how to do the link. Lit Hub has links to a variety of stories from newspapers and magazines about books. I also get a similar one called Crime Reads for mystery, police and thriller books.

Lol, glad it made you laugh, Jody! 😂 The P&P opening line is priceless!

Anyone want to see a cute little wombat in a washing machine? It made me smile

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0CCd...

Sarah wrote: "Anyone want to see a cute little wombat in a washing machine? It made me smile

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a0CCd..."

The sentence, "I need to get the clean washing in there minus wombat", is absolutely slaying me all on its own. 😂

Stop and Shop supermarket in the northeast is opening early for those over 60 to allow them time to shop without all the crowds.

Fodors is starting a #notbadnews daily column apparently and this is the first one: https://www.fodors.com/news/news/notb...

I love the dog being walked by drone lolol

Oh happy happy joy joy. Christmas movies are on Hallmark channel. Talk about escapes.

I found out today that all animals at our shelter have been placed into fosters. They’re getting new animals every day so we’re continuing to advocate and try to place the new ones but the cages were empty today 💕

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDKP0...

Laura wrote: "I found out today that all animals at our shelter have been placed into fosters. They’re getting new animals every day so we’re continuing to advocate and try to place the new ones but the cages we..."

That's great! Maybe some people will decide to adopt some fluffy friends to counteract all the social distancing.

Cross posted from another group: People are turning little free libraries into little free pantries. https://lithub.com/big-hearted-strang...

and heres the goats in PJ's that I watch with my little one:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RN50R...

Sherri wrote: "Oh happy happy joy joy. Christmas movies are on Hallmark channel. Talk about escapes."

People are putting their Christmas lights back up. I laughed. This is an easy one for me because I still haven't gotten around to taking down my Christmas tree so maybe I'll just turn it back on for the kiddos.

They're so cute, Tracy!

Sarah wrote: "They're so cute, Tracy!"

I love how bouncy they are lol. It's like they can't help themselves

Here's another that I watched the other day. It's filmed in the woods near a log that many animals use as a crossing point. So. Many. Animals. I love nature, so this particular video was very relaxing for me, especially with the sound of the water in the background.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsDU_...

Oh Tracy, I love that one with the log.

Chester Zoo is hosting a virtual day at the zoo today. They're posting live videos of the animals every hour on Facebook. The red panda cubs this morning were sooooooooo adorable!

Lizzy wrote: "Oh Tracy, I love that one with the log."

Glad you enjoyed it Lizzy!! There is a whole You tube channel for it if you want to see more :-)

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRiK...

Sarah wrote: "Chester Zoo is hosting a virtual day at the zoo today. They're posting live videos of the animals every hour on Facebook. The red panda cubs this morning were sooooooooo adorable!"

Several Zoos and Aquariums that I know of are doing this now, although I'm waiting for the girls to come home to check them out.
Our local zoo and aquarium:
Beardsley Red Panda Cams: https://www.beardsleyzoo.org/zoo-cams...
Maritime Imax movie streams: https://www.maritimeaquarium.org/imax

The Houston Zoo: https://www.houstonzoo.org/explore/we...

Also:
Virtual museum tours: https://www.travelandleisure.com/attr...
and
Virtual tours of National Parks: https://www.thrillist.com/news/nation...

Some Virtual Disney Rides: https://www.wtnh.com/entertainment-ne...

I haven't checked any of these out yet, but this is what I've found and bookmarked so far for the girlies.

Tracy wrote: "Sarah wrote: "Chester Zoo is hosting a virtual day at the zoo today. They're posting live videos of the animals every hour on Facebook. The red panda cubs this morning were sooooooooo adorable!"

S..."

San Diego Zoo also has live cams as well (https://zoo.sandiegozoo.org/live-cams) Their instagram also has many adorable videos of baby animals. My wife loves them, and often has them on in the background while she works, which means that I see way more of them than I used to know that she's working at home

Tracy wrote: "28 Funny Book Memes for People Who Love to Read

My favorite is #3 because I can't get enough of Game of Thrones right now ;-)

Also #23 made me LOL, because a college friend of mine asked to have ..."

I love #7, about checking out the books at the bookstore even with unread books at home. My wife has told me I'm not allowed to buy anymore books once all the bookshelves are full. So, I'm no longer shelving books, and am just putting them next to the bookshelves.

Steven wrote: "Tracy wrote: "28 Funny Book Memes for People Who Love to Read

My favorite is #3 because I can't get enough of Game of Thrones right now ;-)

Also #23 made me LOL, because a college friend of mine ..."

Steven I relate, LOL. I have over full bookshelves in every room and now huge stacks on my bedroom floor ;-)

Ha ha, me too!

Robin wrote: "Ha ha, me too!"

Library books are stacked on the kitchen table....forgot about those.

A boy and his pet porcupine :D

https://twitter.com/mental_floss/stat...

I wish I had pet porcupine when I was a kid.