NationStates

I'm sensing a lot of coronavirus anxiety in NSG - so here's an attempt at an antidote.

This is a thread for posting and discussing nothing but good news, or something that's cheered you up recently. It doesn't need to be national or international news of any particular significance; it can just be something that makes you happy. It doesn't even have to be sunshine, daisies, or lollipops. Come to think of it, in the wrong hands lollipops could be creepy.

Discussion of coronavirus or any topic relating to COVID-19 is specifically banned in this thread (though we'll usually let pass things like 'while I was in quarantine, this really made me smile'; we're happy that something made you smile while you were quarantined). You will also do your best to stay positive and supportive about things that cheer other people up.

(Yes, yes.... I know there's no thread ownership in NSG, but assume that I'm openly abusing my moderator powers in order to help cheer you up; you will be happy whether you like it or not, dammit; if it doesn't work, I'll just lock the thread).

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So, to get us started.....

Last night I watched the film Mindhorn, about a washed-up actor who once played an Isle of Man-based detective with a truth-detecting bionic eye in a terrible 1980s television programme, and has to recreate his most famous role in order to help solve a murder.

It's passingly amusing, but I did really like setting the start of the climactic chase sequence at a deliberately crap island parade; I laughed. It was a rare film of its type where the end of the film was likely better than the opening (though there were good early cameos from Kenneth Branagh and Simon Callow). So for 80 minutes this cheered me up tremendously.

What's cheered you up lately?

There's a dog named Bear here in Australia who rescues koalas in danger and he's the most energetic dog I've ever seen. He also wears little socks.

That certainly made me smile.

Well, some good news on this end (Not sure if an offhanded mention of quarantine is outlawed)

Being cooped up for the past few weeks has made me play a ton of games I used to when I was younger, such as Terraria and Reus, and games that I picked up but kinda left to dust for a while (Such as Stellaris and Cosmoteer)

I've enjoyed both a new layer of nostalgia in the former games and fun multiplayer shenanigans in the latter games, and now some friends are talking about setting up an MC server(Which may or may not devolve into a creative-mode memefest as the last one did)

Albrenia wrote:There's a dog named Bear here in Australia who rescues koalas in danger and he's the most energetic dog I've ever seen. He also wears little socks.

That certainly made me smile.

Are the little socks fireproof?

I remember being impressed by the rescue dogs that Metropolitan Police used in the Grenfell Tower disaster. Seems you can train dogs to do just about anything including wearing ... they weren't even socks. More like boots.

Nobel Hobos 2 wrote:Are the little socks fireproof?

I believe so, and also super tough so he doesn't hurt his paws on rough ground and pokey things which are often in the areas he works.

Most of the dogs require scat to scent and follow, but he's got like a super nose and only needs the smell of koala fur and he can find them even when they're thirty feet up a tree.

Sadly he can't quite climb yet, so he just sits under the tree, looking up, and looking fucking thrilled to be there.

My tablet finally listening to me,i completed reading a big book about history and i can draw goodly.

The last couple days I’ve spent a ton of time talking to and playing games with my friends online, not something I’ve done in the past few months a lot of due to school and homework usually taking up most of my time.

Albrenia wrote:

Nobel Hobos 2 wrote:Are the little socks fireproof?

I believe so, and also super tough so he doesn't hurt his paws on rough ground and pokey things which are often in the areas he works.

Most of the dogs require scat to scent and follow, but he's got like a super nose and only needs the smell of koala fur and he can find them even when they're thirty feet up a tree.

Sadly he can't quite climb yet, so he just sits under the tree, looking up, and looking fucking thrilled to be there.

I'm not sure I want dogs climbing trees, maybe leave that the rescue goannas?

Not sure if this qualifies as good news, but I just remembered that the Teletubbies exist

Australian rePublic wrote:Not sure if this qualifies as good news, but I just remembered that the Teletubbies exist

Any thing is good news if you think it’s good news

Australian rePublic wrote:Not sure if this qualifies as good news, but I just remembered that the Teletubbies exist

Who was your favorite?

Purple Rats wrote:

Australian rePublic wrote:Not sure if this qualifies as good news, but I just remembered that the Teletubbies exist

Who was your favorite?

I don't remember, but something's telling me Lala

Australian rePublic wrote:Not sure if this qualifies as good news, but I just remembered that the Teletubbies exist

The important thing is that they make you happy.

The Archregimancy wrote:

Australian rePublic wrote:Not sure if this qualifies as good news, but I just remembered that the Teletubbies exist

The important thing is that they make you happy.

I'm guessing you're not a fan

Arkeyana wrote:Well, some good news on this end (Not sure if an offhanded mention of quarantine is outlawed)

Being cooped up for the past few weeks has made me play a ton of games I used to when I was younger, such as Terraria and Reus, and games that I picked up but kinda left to dust for a while (Such as Stellaris and Cosmoteer)

I've enjoyed both a new layer of nostalgia in the former games and fun multiplayer shenanigans in the latter games, and now some friends are talking about setting up an MC server(Which may or may not devolve into a creative-mode memefest as the last one did)

I've amended the OP to specifically allow mention of 'things that cheered me up while I was in quarantine'. We want people in quarantine to be able to share what cheers them up too.

This one of mine is related to the current lockdown over here; as a result of me having more free time to myself, I've finally been uploading factbooks from projects that I frequently set aside - so there's that.

I think it's a good thing.

Australian rePublic wrote:

The Archregimancy wrote:
The important thing is that they make you happy.

I'm guessing you're not a fan

No, no, no.... you read to much into that brief sentence. I was only referencing the 'not sure if this qualifies as good news' at the start of your post, to which I followed up with 'The important thing is that they make you happy'.

I have no strong feelings on the Teletubbies either way, and am pleased they make you happy.

The Archregimancy wrote:

Australian rePublic wrote:I'm guessing you're not a fan

No, no, no.... you read to much into that brief sentence. I was only referencing the 'not sure if this qualifies as good news' at the start of your post, to which I followed up with 'The important thing is that they make you happy'.

I have no strong feelings on the Teletubbies either way, and am pleased they make you happy.

I see. Carry on

A happy story from my run today.

I drove to a trackhead not far away, where I could park within sight but safely distant from houses (I don't want my car broken into or stolen, which rules out most other trackheads) and went for a run on the trail there. Very unusually, I met people: two young women about 19, with a dog. That could have been awkward but they didn't seem threatened by me so we managed to pass at a distance. Their dog was friendly so I talked to him, though I avoided touching him.

I finished my run and came out to my car, just as another car pulled up. It turned so it was parked ready to drive away, which is neither good nor bad but did give me a hint they weren't looking for a quiet place to kiss or do drugs (they'd park the other way around to reduce being seen). All of this is in advanced time of dusk, and I figured out it must be someone come to pick up the girls I'd seen. The person didn't get out of their car to ask me though, which I thought was odd. Very likely a woman on her own.

I started my car and pulled it around at a fair distance (10 metres) and wound down the window. But calling out and waving I couldn't get the woman to wind down her own window. All I wanted was to reassure her that I'd see her girls, and roughly how long they might be to arrive. But she was plainly too scared for that.

I drove home, but I couldn't stop thinking about that poor woman. It was getting dark, and a person (without a dog) could get properly lost on that trail which winds around and has branches and loops. Another thing bothered me too: if the girls did get lost or just did a naughty staying-out to spite mum thing, she might call the cops and (if she had my license plate which why wouldn't she) I might get investigated as a suspect.

This wouldn't be a happy story at all if it ended there! In fact I'd be worried sick. But I simply got a torch and phone, and got back in my car. Drove back to the trackhead, ready to do a citizen search if necessary, or answer police questions if necessary. But the happy ending is, the woman in her car had gone. The girls must have made their way back, got a chewing out from Mum, and it was all good.

We went for a drive last night. Ended by the river. Walked around for a bit as there weren’t any people around. The weather was incredibly nice and pleasant. We stayed there around thirty minutes and had a relaxing time. The sky was so clear we could see so many stars. It was lovely.

Darn it, I should have thought of this!

you will be happy whether you like it or not, dammit

You know that doesn't have any effect on me, Arch!

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My quiz got delayed to next Thursday and it's online! So... I don't have to write up a reference sheet and more time for my studies.

One of my homework got extended to tomorrow! ^^

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I wish you all a great day ahead! ♥

My baby nephew is continuing to develop in leaps and bounds, if the photos are any indication, so that's good.

Valentine Z wrote:I wish you all a great day ahead! ♥

From my backwoods timezone, that would be "I wish you all a good night in bed" but the same to you anyway!

Great idea for a thread, Arch! I feel we could all use more positivity right now.

Managed to stumble across a rerun of Frasier this morning. It was one of my favourite episodes, so that cheered me up for half-an-hour.

Ive gotten back into painting my miniatures last few days, which has made be incredibly happy as im pleased with the progress ive made on them. Should have a full squad finished today

Small happiness but it checks out.