My Virtual Reading Room

Runaway kangaroo’s hop down Alabama highway causes two-vehicle crash

The marsupial was unharmed, law enforcement said. It was shot with a tranquilizer and returned to its owner.

(there's a video in the article, take a look ;))

Promising research:

Experimental cancer drugs found to help some patients avoid surgery

(immunotherapy has really taken off in recent years)

A slightly older article, but one I'd not come across before:

She wrote to a scientist about her fatigue. It inspired a breakthrough.

(all three are from The Washington Post, and all three are gift links)

Huge rabbit rescued from kill farm is now therapy bunny, drives mini truck, from The Washington Post

“There’s just not a place that he’s not completely the center of attention,” said Josh Row, who owns rabbit Alex The Great.
~~

And wishing you an enjoyable weekend, and a Happy Easter, if you celebrate it :)

Carolyn Hax chat from Feb. 21, 2025

You can scroll down to the "Mental Health" question, and I'll also post it below


Mental Health
Guest
Feb 21, 1:03 p.m.
Just a simple question if you can get to it: How do you make yourself happy - when the world demands you to be sad?( Here's the answer: )


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
And here's the article about the seal, which was referred to in the chat:

A seal is found wandering streets of New Haven, becomes local celebrity

Spotted five miles from the water, the pup was taken to an aquarium for rehab and eventual release.

(Take a look--it has cute photos)

People:

World’s tallest and shortest women meet for afternoon tea in London


Animals:

New Hampshire shelter faces ‘enormous’ breeding problem after man surrenders nearly 1,000 mice

(via lindahoyland )

Paws up! Police find shoe thief at a kindergarten is actually a weasel


Art:


The Gravity-Defying Land Art by Cornelia Konrads

They said a bear attacked their cars. It was a human in disguise, officials say.

California’s insurance department asked a state biologist to review videos that had been submitted by people seeking payouts for vehicle damage.

Bakery owner discovers longtime customer is her biological son

Lenore Lindsey said her customer’s laugh had always reminded her of her brother’s. Now she knows why.

(spoiler: he does NOT succeed ;))

Tiny Pangolin Finally Rescued After Being Lost In The Streets

Unfocus your eyes:

mrsdelle.tumblr.com/post/129696075503/searedscallops-fabulousandwich


And a somewhat similar idea:

The Moona Lisa:

apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap240914.html


I believe the following two links came from dine and/or conuly --many thanks!

Southern grasshopper mouse: The tiny super-predator that howls at the moon before it kills, from LiveScience


Woodpecker Tongues Are Weird But Surprisingly Useful

Why does the internet love baby hippo Moo Deng? There’s a science to it, from The Washington Post

It IS a very cute little critter, do take a look ;) There's a brief video in the article.

In This Beautiful Library, Bats Guard the Books, from Atlas Obscura

The winged residents have been lurking in the stacks since the 18th century.

Something cute for your weekend :)

(I see this is 5 years old, but I'd not come across it before. I hear the lady still does variations on this act, at Ren Fairs, amongst other places)

...or, at least, I thought it was :)

Anthropological trivia from Sapiens

Did he want a cat scan? Mountain lion makes surprise visit to Arizona hospital, from USA Today

What are red sprites, blue jets, and other Transient Luminous events?, from Paul M. Smith Photography

(check out their FB page btw--amazing photos)


and three from Medium:

How to Become the Best in the World at Something

With skill stacking, you don’t need to be at the top to be extraordinary

(an interesting perspective)

We live to compete. What I learned by winning the Duolingo diamond league

Common side effects of not drinking

By rejecting alcohol, you reject something very human, an extra limb that we have collectively grown to deal with reality and with each other. Getting around without it is not painless.

(I was a bit puzzled by this one actually, but I suppose, as with many things, it depends on one's experience and social circle...)

Butterflies at a wedding

Whales rocking a boat

It’s never too late to keep bees, build a sailboat or become an artist

(all from The Washington Post)

Week in wildlife – in pictures: dormouse gets a checkup, a lucky kingfisher and a waving seal pup, from The Guardian

(via lindahoyland --many thanks!)

Kittens or puppies? Animals left at shelter turned out to be foxes — again, from The Washington Post

A teen dropped out of high school during WWII. Now 99, she just graduated, also from The Washington Post