Disney is like a culture in and of itself, from the hardcore fans who make pilgrimages to the Mouse as often as they can to the rules of staying in character. The Mouse also has some really fun and cool "secrets," like the fact that their giant gingerbread houses contribute to the local ecosystem once the holiday season is over.
Hank Green fans, if you don't follow the quirky science nerd on TikTok, you definitely need to. He just made a startling revelation on his channel this week: humans are indeed lava monsters! His logic? Ice is indeed rock, as it has been confirmed by geologists. This means that melting rocks, or water, is lava, and since we're made up of water, well... you get the idea!
"Local elevated casual" is how The Craft Bar in Orlando, FL describes its atmosphere. The gastropub is known for its wide variety of excellent craft beer and local food options, from local seafood to pasture-raised beef. Hand-crafted cocktails and to-go Crowlers are also staples at this local favorite. The Craft Bar is open for both takeout and dine-in.
So many people are embracing their love of Halloween--often year-round!--and may appreciate this Halloween-themed bar that offers spooky fun throughout the whole year. Cocktails and Screams has scary decor as well as themed snacks, drinks and all the fun you could love at a place that is as creepy as it sounds.
Many people argue that a guaranteed income is the way of the future, and that human beings will not be able to survive without it. They have a valid point when we consider human growth, income inequity, how many jobs are being replaced with robots and how many jobs just don't sustain life in the modern world.
Scientists have used frogs to study many different possibilities for humans over the years, and whether you find it ethical or not, this latest study is an interesting one. Frogs who have lost limbs are being used as subjects for a new treatment that helps them regrow the limbs within 18 months. The process utilizes new technology, a device that is made from a silicone sleeve containing several different chemicals to help stimulate growth.
Taku is one of the best places to enjoy creative Japanese cuisine in Capitol Hill. The restaurant is famous for its delicious array of snacks, various nuggets, bowls and sandwiches, as well as its drink menu. Right now Taku is requiring both a negative test or proof of vaccination as well as face masks to enter, and they have carryout options available as well.
There is something magical about an ice garden. The transformative nature of snow and ice can create wondrous beauty, and shaping that beauty into something for you and your neighbors to enjoy is definitely hard yet rewarding work. The ephemeral nature of it all makes it even more special, since you know it's going to be gone before you even realize it's melting.
From the Chinese New Year to Valentine's Day, February is filled with opportunities to do some crafting. One of these opportunities is the pagan festival of Imbolc, a time when folks celebrate the goddess Brighid and the end of winter. This is a bit ironic in the modern world where winter is really getting into full swing in some areas, but it's still a wonderful time to light some candles, get cozy and get crafting.
One of the easiest ways to play games with friends today is via an app or other digital device where you can take turns playing from anywhere at any time. Yes, you can even zoom or FaceTime when you play for a more realistic game experience, but the idea behind many games is to make them as accessible as possible for convenient play.
Today in the Midwest we were hit with a winter storm that really wasn't as big as it had been hyped up to be, but was still enough to disrupt school, traffic and plenty of commutes. People were commenting on how school wasn't canceled when they were young in the 1980s unless the snow was much deeper, but really the coldness counts, too--especially when it comes to the bus routes.
When you get roasted by a show like South Park, SNL or Family Guy, the most graceful thing you can do is laugh along like you normally would at a roast. Folks who protested their mockery have only been met with more mockery in kind, so it makes sense that most people simply laugh along and don't take it personally.
Lots of great literature and poetry events are popping up in honor of Black History Month. This Black Lives Matter Poetry Slam, scheduled for February 5 in Cambridge, MA, is going to offer up several hundred dollars to the winner as not only a fun competition but a fundraiser. Eight poets in all will be competing in this "40 Acres & A Slam: a night of rhythm, rhymes, and reparations."
Over the past week I've been falling head over feet with T.J. Klune's The Extraordinairies series. These will be some of the quickest reads you'll ever experience not because they're short--the first book is over 400 pages--but because they are so fun and fast-paced that you'll be a third of the way through before you even realize it.
Fans of space and astronomy should definitely follow @astro_alexandra on TikTok for some incredibly interesting content they might be surprised to learn about. Recently the self-described space communicator gave a quick presentation about a piece of freaky phenomena that's about 63 years away from Earth. It's called HD 1897336, but people know it as "Rains of Terror" due to its extreme conditions.
The other day, I heard about Hoover, the talking harbor seal, who lived from 1971-1985. Hoover was found as an orphan and adopted by Scottie Dunning, whose brother-in-law, George Swallow, adopted him as a pet. The family set up an outdoor tent with a pond and fence and eventually learned how to mimic Swallow's speech. When he said phrases like, "Hello, there!" they would even be in Swallow's New England accent.
Tube feet are incredibly cool-looking features on echinoderm creatures. Their actual name is podia but honestly they look like alien tentacles out of this world! They're found on sand dollars, starfish, sea urchins, sea cucumbers, brittlestars and feather stars--the latter two of which I'd never even heard about.
A new form of sperm-maker birth control has been developed that looks fairly promising--as long as it's actually used. This "testicle bath" is hormone-free and ultrasound-based, using heat to temporarily modify the mobility of sperm. It lasts up to six months, takes two weeks to go into effect and was developed by a woman who had cervical cancer.
Noodles and Company have announced a new type of noodle for the carb-conscious diner. These "Leanguini" noodles have almost 60% fewer net carbs than regular noodles, which includes 30% fewer total carbs total and 44% more protein than their other noodle offerings. This may be helpful for folks hoping to cut down on some carbs this year.
Valentine's Day is less than two weeks away! Have you already decided what you'll be purchasing for your sweetie--whether it's a family member, partner, loved one or even yourself? Don't forget to look outside the box this Valentine's Day and treat the person who's always there for you--yourself!
So many companies are offering Valentine's sales, goodies and specials this month that it would be impossible to list them all, but we can share some of our favorites here. Just a few of mine include:
