Nuclear News Roundup Aug 01, 2020
Iran's Ayatollah Khamenei dismisses nuclear talks with U.S. washingtontimes.com
August 2020
Geiger Readings for Aug 01, 2020
Latitude 47.704656 Longitude -122.318745
Ambient office = 104 nanosieverts per hour
Ambient outside = 106 nanosieverts per hour
Have you heard of daisugi?
When it comes to tree beauty, there's natural art and there's different techniques to get trees to grow in certain ways. There's an ancient pruning technique called daisugi that was invented to help people harvest lumber without having to cut down trees and it's incredible.
Fun Birthday Ideas for Virtual Parties
Back in March, we lamented the birthdays missed during shelter at home orders, but now we're all becoming accustomed to having to celebrate our birthdays from home. I remember the first birthday Zoom call we did and how everyone loved meeting our cat!
My teen's birthday is approaching in October. Zoom is definitely not the best way to celebrate a 15th birthday, but here we are approaching it and I'm trying to think of something special. Normally we have a dozen friends or so at our house with cake and lots of video games and fun.
Raising Tadpoles
My aunt has a very small wading pool she likes to get wet in during the summer, and this year she had a family of frogs hatched unexpectedly in it! She asked if we'd like to take them to "raise," or at least watch grow, at our house instead, but I wasn't sure it was a good idea.
Star Wars Desserts
May the Fourth may be over, but it's always a good time to enjoy some Star Wars. Our local drive-in aired a Star Wars marathon recently, which really raised a lot of spirits, and now we've got Star Wars treats on the brain!
These Star Wars themed macarons are the most fun way to celebrate the fandom that I've seen this year! Just look at how cute they are. I almost wouldn't want to eat them! People have been whipping up all kinds of fandom desserts and I'm here for it.
80s Zoom Parties!
It may be a while before we're really able to get together in person again, especially with so many states having little to no leadership when it comes to this virus. Why not make the best of it and try to do some of our favorite things virtually?
Virtual theme parties are one way to go, and we all know that the decor and clothing are top priority when it comes to those! A totally rad 80s theme party could be just the thing to get your mind off things and really chill with friends. Don't forget the totally awesome 80s mixtape!
Pumpkin Spice Drinks Already!
It's happening! Everywhere you turn, there's pumpkin spice latte showing up. It was in coffee pods at Target this week. It was making headlines as Swiss Miss announced that they will have PSL cocoa this year. But isn't it a bit too early?
Normally I'd say yes. Halloween is my JAM but I don't like to rush it. I like to savor it and enjoy it in the fall, and I think August is time for peaches, not pumpkins! That said, maybe 2020 is a good time to really get into the spirit a bit early.
Japanese Robot Takes a Walk
As much as I loved Voltron growing up, I don't think I'd like to see a real giant robot traipsing down the road. A giant, 60-foot tall robot is making headlines for doing just that in Japan. This "Gundam" robot is still under construction, but it's the world's tallest robot and it's a little intimidating.
Kveik Yeast Beer
Brewers in South Seattle are teaming up to create a new line of Kveik yeast beer, offering a fun way of samping a common ingredient in multiple takes of creativity. The idea is that each brewer creates a unique take on the ingredient so everyone can compare and contrast their samples.
Fun competitions like this are so vital right now when morale is low and everyone is feeling anxiety and uncertainty. It's really nice to have some novelty things to look forward to.
Zoom Book Club Ideas
Being together over zoom is better than not being together at all, and right now I'm trying to figure out how to host my book clubs on the platform. These are teen book clubs so they have to be very engaging! I'm thinking discussion questions, games, and other cool things to do while they get to see each other.
I know we're going to do book clubs for Coraline and The Lottery, but I haven't decided any beyond that. I was thinking Coraline might be good for a pictionary game.
What ideas do you have for hosting book clubs in a virtual setting? Share your ideas in the chat!
Dog Travels Dozens of Miles to Get Home
It's incredible to hear about animals who made the long journey home against the odds, which is what happened when this missing dog traveled 57 miles to her home! I know I wouldn't be able to do that on foot without a map. How about you?
Booze for a Cause
The only thing better than your favorite drink is your favorite drink with proceeds going to benefit something you care about! Lately, I really think that just getting drink kits to go and tipping well is a great cause given the hardships that so many people are facing.
Little Girl Raises Money to Save Zoo
Kids can do so much! As a parent, I know firsthand that everything a kid does has a parent or caregiver (or more!) behind them, doing a lot of background work, transportation, etc. But it's the passion of kids that really has an impact and I think keeping that passion intact is what it takes to really change the world.
This six-year-old girl raised over $200,000 to save the Oakland Zoo by making bracelets! She started with just $5 of seed money and grew from there. It's truly an amazing story.
Zoom Poetry Talks
With everyone meeting virtually during these weird times, our co-op is in the middle of planning a semester of Zoom events for the kids. I'd like to do some cool zoom poetry discussions but I wanted to know what my fellow poetry lovers thought about the idea!
If you were having a virtual poetry discussion, what would you want to include? Coffee recipes, music (which can be distracting via Zoom!), author videos, printable poems? What do you think would be most engaging for kids and teens?
Let me know of your ideas in the chat!
Grateful Dead Playlists
If you're like me, you have a soundtrack for everything in your life, whether it be cleaning, working out or even relaxing on a Sunday afternoon. But do you have a great Grateful Dead playlist to share?
Plenty of people have them, whether on Spotify, YouTube, iTunes or another medium. One of my favorites is on YouTube, but you can make your own or make one for every mood, from the hits to romance or just grooving!
Cute Kilkenny Cat Art!
Halloween is the perfect time for us cat lovers, especially if you love black cats! It's also a great time to pick up some purrfect cat art, like these cute Kilkenny cat pieces!
From ornaments to paintings, there is something for everyone and plenty of cat cuteness to stock up on Halloween decorations in general!
Where do you like to find cat art? Share it in the chat!
DIY Harry Potter Mandrakes
Making Harry Potter themed crafts is always fun, and when I saw these adorable mandrakes I knew we had to make them!
You can make Harry Potter mandrakes in a multitude of ways, but if you have some clay, foil and a pot at home, you have almost everything you need! This video shows you how to make the cute craft just in time for Halloween.
Do you like to make fandom crafts? Share your favorites in the chat!
Reusable Face Shields
Many industries are making use of reusable face shields, like this Blocc model that can even be layered over any mask of your choice. It helps to keep your germs in, others' germs out AND protects your face from your hands.
Season 19 Spoilers and Updates
September 7 is just around the corner, which means that the 19th season of Family Guy is quickly approaching! While many shows won't be able to hit their next season as quickly with virus concerns still raging on, animated shows have a leg up on them and may be able to be produced while distancing.