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Dressing up cats is generally not acceptable (just ask a cat), but there are exceptions to every rule. And because we’re going to get a snowstorm this weekend, allow me to share this adorable snow cat. Honestly, who doesn’t need to see this right now?

A Bundled Up Cool Cat Loves Snowy Sled Rides Provided by His Beloved Human

A cool cat named Fitz, who lives in Canada, loves to get all bundled up in a nice warm coat and his oversized “bat-eared” hat to go for snowy sled rides that are provided by his human Heidi in the winter. 

May we all be granted a measure of Fitz’s chill.

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On the off chance that you feel uninspired, or as if you lack the necessary requirements to make art, I give you Tatsuo Horiuchi. This retiree decided that he would start with what he had and go from there. 

77-Year-Old Man “Paints” Japanese Landscapes on Excel Spreadsheets

While most digital artists opt to use Photoshop or other similar digital imaging software, 77-year-old Japanese artist Tatsuo Horiuchi chooses to work with Microsoft Excel to produce his beautiful works of art. His “paintings” are remarkably intricate works that mimic traditional Japanese paintings that offer scenic views of natural landscapes rich with cultural motifs.

And the next time I think I can’t art without more (fill in the blank), I’ll remember this.

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“We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.”

― Martin Luther King Jr.

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Mondays, man. I don’t even have the energy to write an interesting intro, so it’s time for some… 

/checks roster of funny items set aside to use on days when the vroom vroom fails me

Owls in Towels!

Because they send an adorable and also hopeful message: if we try hard, we can fix what’s broken. 

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“Don’t be satisfied with stories, how things have gone with others. Unfold your own myth.”

― Rumi

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Now that Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore are back on the planet after an unexpectedly long stint at the office (in space! because they’re astronauts!), we’re left with some important questions.

Like, what changes when you’re in space, physically speaking? How challenging is it when you come back to earth? How long does it take to adjust? And what exactly happens in their “comprehensive reconditioning process”?

For the answers to all this and more, check out How astronauts like Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore adjust when back on Earth.

“I was like, laying in bed. I had to go to the bathroom and I just started pushing off my back thinking, ‘I’m going to float to the bathroom.’ And the light was out and I’m pushing up and I roll out of bed,” he says.

Hehe:)

Here’s another take on the process, from former NASA astronaut Jack Fischer: Astronaut explains what a long space mission did to his body. He answers critical questions like “Can you have a beer right away if you wanted to?”

Inquiring minds want to know! (Short answer? Yes!)

There are certain upsides, physical…

The impacts of being in space, especially for long periods of time, on the body are still being studied. During a study conducted on astronaut twins Mark and Scott Kelly, researchers found that while Scott was on the ISS, he temporarily became two inches taller.

— NPR

…and mental…

“I went around the planet every 90 minutes. I saw everyone that was, is and will be on planet Earth.”

— Leland Melvin, Astronaut, NFL Player, Children’s Book Author 

Here’s to perspective!

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Is the world on fire? Yes, often literally, but that’s not all it is. The world is also astonishingly, incredibly, heart-achingly beautiful. 

Today is the UN’s International Day of Happiness, and I’m going to celebrate by remembering that there is so much to see, to love, and to support. 

Then I’m going to go do just that. 

While we’re at it, here’s the new World Happiness Report and its ranking of countries by happiness.

A key finding: “…people are much too pessimistic about the benevolence of others. For example, when wallets were dropped in the street by researchers, the proportion of returned wallets was far higher than people expected. This is hugely encouraging.”

Well, that makes me happy!

“We don’t have to engage in grand, heroic actions to participate in the process of change. Small acts, when multiplied by millions of people, can transform the world.”

— Howard Zinn

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Hey, all you sports fans out there! Enjoying March Madness? Thank this Canadian from Almonte, Ontario.

How a Gym Teacher Invented Basketball

He thought hard, going over the philosophy of sports, considering what made games popular, grasping for how he could invent a new principle that wasn’t already steeped in tradition. And finally, he had a lightbulb moment.

“I can still recall how I snapped my fingers and shouted, ‘I’ve got it!’”

For more on Dr. James Naismith and his game, bounce on over to the Naismith Basketball Foundation.

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Title says it all. I like the idea of taxes because I like what they buy me (civilization, basically), but the paperwork is a drag. 

Here’s hoping your tax season is going faster than mine!

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Tonight, a little astronomy-related drama!

North America will have a blood worm moon this week. Here’s how you can see it

Late Thursday night or Friday early morning, North Americans with clear skies can look up to see a full moon with a beautiful reddish hue. 

What to know about March’s full “Blood Worm Moon,” a total lunar eclipse

March’s full moon, known as the Worm Moon, will pass into Earth’s shadow on the night of March 13, or early on March 14, depending on the time zone, according to NASA. This eclipse will be visible from Earth’s Western Hemisphere.

While the peak of the eclipse will happen in the middle of the night (my time, at least), we should be able to see the event begin as the red(dish) moon rises around 7pm. 

Why red? The color can vary based on the Moon’s path and the Earth’s atmosphere. The shade is measured on the Danjon Scale, which is a thing I hadn’t heard of but absolutely needed to know!

Danjon Scale of Lunar Eclipse Brightness

Earth’s atmosphere contains varying amounts of water (clouds, mist, precipitation) and solid particles (dust, organic debris, volcanic ash). This material filters and attenuates the sunlight before it’s refracted into the umbra. For instance, large or frequent volcanic eruptions dumping huge quantities of ash into the atmosphere are often followed by very dark, red eclipses for several years. Extensive cloud cover along Earth’s limb also tends to darken the eclipse by blocking sunlight. 

And for fun: Capri Sun Releases a Glow-in-the-Dark Moon Punch

Not fun but interesting: This week’s ‘blood moon’ eclipse mirrors one Christopher Columbus used to scare indigenous people in 1504

Enjoy. I’m hoping for an L3 on the Danjon scale!

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