Hello! Welcome to another issue of Good Things. Ramadan Mubarak to all who observe, and happy belated Earth Day. I’m so glad you’re here!
I’ve finally done it, gang. I took the sourdough plunge. And we all know that doing things on your own is pointless unless you’re documenting for the gram, so I shared a few pictures to get some congratulations on what I can only assume is being a full-fledged homesteader. Naturally I have a lot to learn, and the good news is that everyone and their grandmother has different advice on sourdough. But hey - now is the time right? If I can’t figure out the science behind yeast and bread at this moment, then I never will. So while I head off to educate myself more, keep scrolling for some good things!
Good Things
I didn’t set out to create a newsletter about the upcoming “Silver Tsunami” (to quote the BBC,) but here we are. Last week I talked about aging in Japan, and this week I’m here to tell you that the future of our food is looking pretty great.
If you’ve spent any part of your life around an aging relative, you may know that nutrition becomes a problem as we grow older. This can be due to many factors (like medication, for example) but our sense of taste tends to dull and it becomes harder to chew and swallow foods. As our prognosis for long life spans continues to improve as a society, the problem of getting proper nutrition in the oldest years of life has to be solved. Enter Biozoon, a company working to 3D print the foods that we love while also making sure that they’re packed full of nutrients.
We’ve known for a while that cutting down on meat is a good idea for all of us, (that is, if we want humans to continue to thrive on this planet.) So maybe this product will become more mainstream and we’ll all get to eat 3D printed “chicken drumsticks” made of cauliflower, broccoli, and potatoes.
*Image Credit: BBC
And speaking of going vegetarian, this little buddy just might fully push me over the edge into a fully plant-based lifestyle. Crouton the Cow is the greatest account that I’ve found since @boopmynose, and if you’re looking for a little adorableness in your day, it seems like he and his farm pals are the perfect solution. Thank you to Jezebel for bringing him into my life.
We might be getting cabin fever thanks to stay at home orders, but baby leatherback sea turtles are thriving with less-crowded beaches. Beaches in Thailand that haven’t seen nests in the past 5 years are now seeing them pop up. Less foot and vehicle traffic and less trash equal a happy sea turtle population. I can only hope that someone is setting up go-pros so that we can enjoy footage of these little buddies making their way to the ocean. Hopefully David Attenborough will be available to narrate.
*Image Credit: Live Science
We’re all looking for things to watch these days, and doesn’t it seem like some of our childhood favorites take on a new tone these days? There’s something to be said about the classics, and fairy tales, and the stories we grew up with. But it can be tiring to constantly have a blind spot for problematic plot lines in movies.
Bust did us a solid and solved this problem. They rounded up a list of feminist rom coms for when we want to sit back and relax without being annoyed with the plot lines. I’ve seen and truly enjoyed half of these (Someone Great, Crazy Rich Asians, The Incredible Jessica James, and Love, Simon) and I highly recommend them all. (And when you’re finished, check out the Crazy Rich Asians book trilogy by Kevin Kwan. Really fun reads, and they made me want to book a ticket to Singapore immediately.)
Funny Things
For all the Harry Potter fans out there, science is finally falling in line. A new species of green pit viper found in India has been named after Salazar Slytherin himself, cementing J.K. Rowling’s influence in every era of study possible, I assume. This new Slytherin is called a Trimeresurus Salazar, “though they prefer it to be commonly known as Salazar’s Pit Viper.” Say no more, researchers. We are happy to oblige.
*Image Credit: People
Kids Things
Earth Day has come and gone, but there’s no better time than now to stoke a long-lasting love of the environment in our kids. Romper compiled a list of kids crafts for Earth Day that range from spreading kindness to feeding our bird friends. I almost completely dislike crafts, but when it comes to ideas like this, useful things that teach us all more about nature, I’m rifling through drawers and bins to gather supplies!
*Image Credit: Romper
And in news that makes me even more excited than my kids, Michelle Obama will be reading stories on Mondays at Noon for a few weeks, through a collaboration with PBS Kids.
If you’re looking for a resource to teach kids about Ramadan, I cannot recommend this book highly enough. It’s a beautiful story about a little girl who wants to observe Ramadan with her family by fasting, and finds that it’s harder than it looks! But her heart is what matters, and her family being together is truly heart-warming. The art is gorgeous and the story is timeless. These are Amazon affiliate links**, but you can also check Indiebound, or call your local bookstores and ask if they stock the book or would be able to order it for you.
** Purchasing an item through my Amazon affiliate link means that I earn a tiny percentage of the profits from the sale. It doesn’t change the price for you, but you should know where your dollars are going. However, I still suggest you shop small bookstores first!
Good Idea Girls
On the pod this week, we’re talking all things women-news, as well as what we’re doing to stay healthy while being cooped up in the house. Give it a listen!
Last week on Good Idea Girls, we talked about how a schedule is helping survival during this time. But this week, we’re arguing against it. Head over and check out Part II of that discussion and let us know what sort of balance you’ve found, or if you’re still looking for the right flow.
Thanks so much for spending some time reading Good Things! If you’ve enjoyed it, I’d love if you shared with a friend. If you have any feedback or ideas to share, shoot an email to hello@goodideagirls.com, or find me on Instagram @hannahpremaratne.