Geiger Readings for Oct 10, 2020
Latitude 47.704656 Longitude -122.318745
Ambient office = 93 nanosieverts per hour
Ambient outside = 111 nanosieverts per hour
October 2020
The First In Line For A Vaccine
As a vaccine is rapidly developed to help us combat Covid-19, people are starting to wonder who will be first to get it. Obviously there won't be enough vaccines for everyone all at once as they are distributed, so the top priority has to go to... someone.
Being A Grammar Nazi Is Oppressive
Why would anyone want to be a Nazi of anything, soup, grammar or otherwise? While rules of grammar don't apply as much in poetry, it's still important to point out to those who say they're irritated by incorrect grammar and spelling--or who even call out other people on their use of either--that grammar privilege is a thing.
Holiday Games Wish List
This winter is sure to be a challenging one with lots of time at home, so I know we're going to want to play lots of games. I've been eyeballing some fun-looking games and I'd love to know what you are considering!
Halloween Romantic Reads
In my book club, lots of readers are asking for suggestions for great fall romance reads. Most want something spooky and romantic, which is one of the most fun genres that exists, but general fall romance is also welcome. This is one of those years where you really just want some fun, cozy reads with happy endings!
Scaredy Cat: The First Horror Movie For Cats!
Temptations cat treats released the first horror movie for cats today! Dubbed Scaredy Cat the Movie, it's really much more entertaining for humans than cats.
Demi Lovato Releases "Commander in Chief"
Most Americans are so ready to get someone in office who doesn't embarrass us on a daily basis, cares about the entire nation rather than his or her base, does something--anything--about this pandemic and united the country to move forward on everything from global warming to social justice to mask mandates. Demi Lovato is no exception and says that she doesn't care if her new song, "Commander In Chief," turns any of her fans away from her.
Elvira Stays Home But Doesn't Cancel Halloween
We're almost to Halloween and Elvira has created a really fun video about not cancelling the holiday from the Queen of Halloween herself! It's a really fun video that pokes fun at everything from the pandemic to Tiger King to the scary thing with the orange face. It's a parody of one of my favorite 80s hits, Madonna's "Holiday."
She's right, though: we don't have to cancel Halloween just because we're at home. Here are some fun ideas that we are either doing or considering:
Wild! Weird! Wonderful! Maine
Author Earl Brechlin has penned a new book called Wild! Weird! Wonderful! Maine, a collection of 300 true stories about oddities in the state. They range from crytpid creatures to ghastly ghost stories, UFOs to simple weird local traditions, and it looks like a really fun read.
How do frogs see the world?
Have you ever stuck your head into one of those animal-shaped heads that give you the same view of a fly or a bee? Our local nature center has a couple of these and they are really fun to check out. Many animals see the world differently than we do, and frogs are a prime example.
Keeping Your Spirits Up
The effects of this pandemic aren't only taking a toll in terms of the terrible body counts in so many states as many simply ignore social distancing and mask advisories. They've also affected many of us in terms of mental health.
All Shapes Are Good Shapes
It's hard to love your body as a woman living on Earth. I get it. Everywhere you look, you're being shamed, compared, judged. There are ads for diets and shapewear and every product under the sun trying to get us to change, and for what?
New Ways to Display Plants
A friend of mine is hanging a ladder in her home to hang plants and I am SO green with plant envy! I keep trying to find a place to do the same but fail when I remember how the cats could get into it. Her ceilings are higher than mine so her pets can stay safe much more easily.
Yes, Cat Purring is Beneficial to Us
Every time a cat purrs near me, I get sleepy. If my cat sleeps next to me, I rest easier and longer. I thought it might just be cat magic--after all, they had to domesticate us to where we're willing to feed them and clean out their poop boxes and even go as far as dubbing them gods somehow! It turns out that there's a more scientific explanation.
Cougar Mama Tells Hiker Off
It may not be as bad as trying to take selfies with a bear or moose only to be gored or killed in the process, but it's pretty close. A hiker shared a video of a cougar chasing after him, appearing mightily angry and fierce, and kept filming even as she made it clear that he wouldn't have long to live if he came any closer.
Election Crafting
No matter where you fall on the political spectrum, it's no secret that crafters have become more politically active lately--or is it vice versa? From themed crochet hats to embroidered art, I've seen so many interesting political crafts lately that have been very impressive!
Arif Zahir Cast As Cleveland
We've all been waiting excitedly to discover who the new voice of Cleveland on Family Guy might be and our wishes have been answered with this announcement: Arif Zahir has been cast as the beloved character! Zahir is a newcomer who has impersonated Cleveland on YouTube. Can you imagine doing that for fun and getting the opportunity to do it for real?
Rules For Exploring Abandoned Places
Remember when we were kids and we'd hold our breath when we passed a graveyard, lest our souls be stolen from our bodies as we breathed? How about when we kept our toes beneath the covers when we slept to avoid being captured by The Thing Under the Bed? Somehow we all knew these rules, even if no one had ever told us, but apparently there are a lot more rules to know when it comes to graveyards!
The Best 80s Frontman
My kiddo is almost 15 and has been raised on a steady stream of 80s music and movies alongside current pop culture. While the kid knows just about every line of Back to the Future and more Madonna songs than I do, sometimes it's just not possible to transfer some of the experiences into present day--like the 80s cuties I had plastered over my walls from magazines.
Virtual Events In Seattle
Seattle has always been on the cutting edge of American culture, whether it's waking up to the important issues of our time or simply developing the best food trucks in the nation. That's why it should come as no surprise that there are plenty of great virtual events in the city to do during the pandemic.