May 2020

The Human Attention Span Is Now Shorter Than The Goldfish's Attention Span

Goldfish have been ridiculed for their measly nine-second attention spans for years, but now we can't really say anything about it anymore, since our own attention spans have dwindled down to a mere eight seconds. That is so worrisome, especially given how the last study proved that our attention spans were 12 seconds.

Poems For Ahmaud

NPR is calling on people to write poems about Ahmaud Arbery after Pulitzer Prize winner Jericho Brown penned his piece, "Bullet Points." Some are saying that by writing poems, we can help make sense of what happened, while others say it's a good way to share what happened and raise awareness of violence directed against Black people every single day.

Cool Underwater Hotels

Right now, many of us are living vicariously through our computers, especially when it comes to travel. That's why it's so great to find so many weird and even creepy places around the world to check out online. Some are even giving tours that you can take from home, which is a fantastic way to experience travel when you can't actually leave your house much.

Incredible Macaron Art

Macarons are one of my all-time favorite desserts. I love to try new flavors, especially if they are seasonal, cereal-themed, fandom-themed... My family bought me a lovely set of tea cakes for Mother's Day that included a delightful strawberry macaron and I love the plain flavors like that, too!

Creepy Crafters Online Store is Coming!

Have you heard of the Creepy Crafters online shop? Coming soon to an Internet browser near you, it's like an Etsy for all things creepy, and I'm super excited to see what it's going to be like! Know as the Horror Marketplace for all things Halloween and Horror, it's going to feature lots of artists who already sell on Facebook and Etsy, giving us a place to find them all at once.

A Real, Live Kermit the Frog!

If you always thought that Kermit the frog looked a little more realistic than puppet, now you can say, "I told you so!" Scientists found a frog that looks just like Kermie, complete with his super bright green tone and horizontal pupils, in Costa Rica. The picture really looks like Kermit!

The Hyalinobatrachium dianae is a type of glass frog, which is why it's so dang pretty and shiny-looking. This means you can see through its skin, which you can't do with Kermit, but that's a good thing, since the inside of the puppet version is a hand, which would totally ruin his image.

Sustainable Menstrual Products

Whether you want to save money, have a smaller footprint on the environment or really just avoid shopping, you may be interested in more sustainable menstrual products. In my house, we've switched to reusable pads, which are much more comfortable and washable, but many people with a uterus prefer the menstrual cup, which is simple to use but not the best choice for every body.

Enjoy "Dark Star" For Nearly An Hour!

Many Grateful Dead fans know that "Dark Star" is their longest jam session. Lots of fans aren't into these lengthy performances but many fans love them, and if you do, this can definitely be a nice way to veg out and relax for nearly an hour. At 48 minutes, "Dark Star" could be just what you need to shake off some negative vibes and get back to enjoying your day.

Face Shields That Purify The Air

Science and innovation, alongside good old common sense and logic, are our best friends when it comes to treating a pandemic, and it turns out that there are face shields that perform much better than the masks our health professionals are currently wearing. The BioVYZR looks like a futuristic space suit, but it's an air filtration face shield that has anti-fogging technology, a fan, and a battery pack.

How Humans Staying Home Helps Wildlife

There are so many stories going around about how animals are faring with humans sheltering at home, and along with the positive news about the environment recovering in some areas without human pollution, it's my favorite thing to read about right now. One of the most recent ways I've read that sheltering in place is benefiting animals is the way it may be saving sea animals.

Yardzee

If you're playing a lot of games with family at home lately or with friends over zoom, have you tried any jumbo outdoor games or yard games to spice it up a bit? These games are fun ways to change things a bit and even get a little goofy while you enjoy some fresh air with your game time.

Staying Hydrated At Home

Whether you're working from home, homeschooling or just spending more time at home than usual, if you're like me you might be indulging in way too much stuff to drink that doesn't exactly hydrate! For me, this means a constant stream of coffee, which I'm trying to cut back on, but I've also been drinking diet soda, tea, a bit of mead or wine here and there... and not much water.

Make Some Cat-Shaped Bread!

Staying at home may cause much stress, but it's also brought out the creativity among so many people that it reminds us what a creative species we are to begin with. Can you imagine what humans could do if we all had time to be bored on a regular basis? I maintain that's the one thing geniuses who've changed the world had in common (besides sheer curiosity)--time on their hands to experiment!

Any Good News

It's not easy to feel good about the state of the world lately, but plenty of hopeful people are trying their best to share the best news that they find. If you haven't watched John Krasinski's Some Good News report on YouTube yet, you're in for a treat! It's funny and moving and I cry every week but in a good way. Give it a shot if you're feeling down today.

GISH Returns!

If you're familiar with GISH, you already know that it's an annual week-long week of madness where participants raise money for charity and participate in bizarre artistic endeavors. There is crafting, wearing of vegetables and fruits (I once wore a beret I made out of frozen raspberries...), and all kinds of shenanigans. You make friends from all over the world and have an exhausting but fabulous time.

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