A young artist, an old tortoise and banana cake!
 
January 29, 2022 As a literary sort, I go absolutely feral with word games. Crosswords, anagrams, those ones where you have to make as many words as possible from a set of letters ... they just scratch a very specific itch in my brain. The latest trend is Wordle, a daily word guessing game that you should definitely look into if you like that sort of thing. One charming aspect of the Wordle craze is how people have turned it into a little shared routine, trading results with friends every day and discussing the triumphs and defeats therein. Some people may find it to be a bit performative, but I think it's adorable! When humans find something they like, one of their first instincts is to share and create little communities and in-jokes with each other. It's wholesome, and frankly, in a time of division and isolation, somewhat comforting too. If there's something you'd like to see here, drop us a line. Know someone who could use a little Good Stuff? Send them a copy! We hope you love it as much as we do. Our favorites this week Get going with some of our most popular good news stories of the week  Higher and higher
 Photo credit: Mathias Falcone A spritely old fellow Next time you catch yourself thinking, "Darn, I'm old," just remember that you are still far younger than Jonathan, the oldest tortoise in the world. With 190 years under the shell, Jonathan has witnessed the rise and fall of empires. He's lived through the invention of photography, the lightbulb, the automobile, and, of course, the internet -- all while munching away on cabbage and sparing nary a thought to the rapidly changing world around him. Jonathan lives on St. Helena, a remote island territory in the South Atlantic, and has even been spotted in photographs dating back to the 1880s! He may be getting up in age even for a tortoise, but he still enjoys the finer things in life: sunbathing, fresh produce, and bisexual mating sessions with his tortoise friends, Emma and Fred. Well, well! The golden years, indeed.  Photo credit: Duncan Hines Eat up, y'all! Sponsor Content by LIVELY  6 bras that feel like no bra Ever feel like your bra is poking you more than it's supporting you? Meet 6 functional, fashionable, and (yes) affordable bras and bralettes that feel like no bra. They are so comfy, you might fall asleep in them. A round of applause for...  Photo credit: The Doodle Boy Twelve-year-old Joe Whale, also known as 'The Doodle Boy," who signed a deal with Nike for "some special projects." Joe's unique, lively style has earned him more than 119,000 Instagram followers and a solo show at a gallery in his hometown of Shrewsbury, central England. He also got a shout-out from Prince William and Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, after he drew an illustration of their royal train tour in December 2020.  A bright idea  Photo credit: Koji Fujii At first glance, the Kamikatsu Zero Waste Center in southern Japan looks almost like a work of art. But look closer, and you'll see the center's ethos at work. The structure is made from about 700 donated windows, and nearly every surface -- from the recycled glass terrazzo floors to the bookshelves made of harvest containers from a nearby mushroom farm -- contains something old that has been brought back to life. Kamikatzu became the first town in Japan to make a "zero-waste" pledge in 2016, and the center is an important part of that legacy. Here, residents can sort their waste into 45 different categories -- a key strategy that the town has used to bring its recycling rate to a staggering 80%.  You gotta see this  Image credit: Courtesy Nick Timm This discovery feels like the beginning of a very cool Lifetime movie. When Nick and Lisa Timm purchased an old building in the small town of Okanogan, Washington, they knew they were investing in history. The building served as a movie theater dating back to at least 1907. It wasn't until they began tearing away the walls, however, that they uncovered a fascinating surprise. Two 60-foot canvas murals lined the original structure, depicting lakes, trees and cabins. Overjoyed, the couple went to the Okanogan County Historical Society, which was able to dig up an account of plans for the murals from 1915. Now, the Timms plan on carefully removing, cleaning, and reinstalling the hidden works of art. The murals will make a great centerpiece for the bar and event space they're planning to open, which the couple hopes to fill with even more cool local artifacts to celebrate the area's history. Wanna get away?  What's down under down under? The Great Barrier Reef, of course. This precious wonder is the world's largest coral reef, covering nearly 133,000 square miles and providing a home for more than 1,500 types of fish, 400 kinds of hard corals and dozens of other species. It's also been endangered for years by climate change and pollution. The Australian government just pledged 1 billion Australian dollars (about $700 million) to protect the reef, which will include new climate adaptation technology, investments in water quality programs, and protections for key species. Some environmental groups say the pledge isn't enough, as larger issues like emissions remain massive threats. However, Australian citizens, celebrities, politicians and activists continue to try to find ways to revive one of the world's greatest treasures.  Hear, hear! Hope is like a road in the country; there was never a road, but when many people walk on it, the road comes into existence. To your health  Looking for some meaningful new books to recommend to your favorite kiddo? (Or read yourself -- they have no age limit!) The American Library Association has announced the 2022 winners of their Youth Media Awards; the top prizes in children's and young adult literature. This year's winners span identities and cultures with tales of trans discovery, apocalypses, adventures and celebrations of heritage.
The Newbery Medal, honoring the "most outstanding contribution to children's literature," was awarded to "The Last Cuentista" by Donna Barba Higuera
The Caldecott Medal, honoring the "most distinguished American picture book for children," went to "Watercress" by author Andrea Wang and illustrator Jason Chin.
The Coretta Scott King Book Award, honoring works that "demonstrate an appreciation of African-American culture and universal human values," was given to "Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre" by author Carole Boston Weatherford and illustrated by Floyd Cooper.
The Pura Belpré Awards, honoring Latinx writers and artists whose works "best portray, affirm and celebrate the Latino cultural experience," were given to "The Last Cuentista" by Donna Barba Higuera, "¡Vamos! Let's Cross the Bridge" by illustrator Raúl Gonzalez, and "How Moon Fuentes Fell in Love with the Universe" by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland.
The Stonewall Book Award for LGBTQ literature for young people was awarded to "Too Bright to See" by Kyle Lukoff and "Last Night at the Telegraph Club" by Malinda Lo.
Rec of the week
Brought to you by CNN Underscored  20 things our editors tested and loved in January Our team of shopping experts is constantly testing out the newest tech, the latest lifestyle gear, trending beauty launches and more. But in the last month, these are the 20 products that we tested and absolutely loved. Shameless animal video
There's always time for cute animal videos. That time is now. Don't be shy, little one! Of all the surprises one could find in an old tree, a beautiful white ermine is definitely one of the best. (Click here to view)  A newsletter for the good in life
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