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 January 21, 2023

Happy Lunar New Year! Sunday marks the beginning of the Year of the Rabbit. The Chinese zodiac is based on a 12-year cycle, with each year represented by a different animal. Those born under the sign of the rabbit are considered to be intelligent and gentle, and this Year of the Rabbit is supposed to be one of hope and peace. Wouldn't that be nice? Here's a reference to look up your Chinese zodiac sign! 

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Our favorites this week

Get going with some of our most popular good news stories of the week

They're at the top of their game
Who's up for breaking some records? First, we have the honor of introducing Spike, who was recently deemed the world's oldest dog by Guinness World Records. The 23-year-old chihuahua mix lives in Ohio and, judging by his expression, has already seen worlds far beyond the veil. According to his owners, Spike was found abandoned and bloody in the parking lot of a grocery store. Since then, he's survived several attacks from wild animals and spends his time raging full force against the dying of the light. 

Next up, we have a new claimant for World's Biggest Pizza! To celebrate the return of its "big New Yorker" pizza, Pizza Hut collaborated with YouTube star Airrack to make a monstrous pizza inside the Los Angeles Convention Center. The 13,990-square-foot indeed smashed the existing record. As soon as the stunt was done and documented, the pizza's 68,000 slices were donated to local food banks. Save a slice for our old man Spike! He deserves it. 

Away they go
These photos of content creator Jess Stone and her German shepherd Moxie should go right next to the word "cool" in the dictionary. The stylish pair (with Stone's husband bringing up the rear) are 10 months into an epic motorcycle trip that will take them through 90 countries throughout Central America, North and South America, Africa, Europe and Asia. When Stone and her husband started planning their motorbike travels, they knew they wanted Moxie to come along. So, they designed the K9 Moto Cockpit, a motorcycle dog carrier they now manufacture in Guatemala, along with a range of outdoor dog gear, through their company Ruffly. Stone also paired up with global nonprofit Girl Up -- a girl-centered leadership development initiative, and hopes to raise $100,000 for their projects during her epic adventure. 

Raise a glass to...

Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, who is the new namesake of the former Carolinas Museum of Aviation! Sullenberger, who also belongs under "cool" in the dictionary, became an American hero when he safely landed a troubled US Airways Flight 1549 in the Hudson River. As it so happens, one of the major supporters of the aviation museum was also a passenger on that flight. "Flight 1549 changed the course of my life and gave me the ultimate gift of a second chance," Charlotte-based CEO Rick Elias said in a statement. "The Museum is a tribute to the courage of Captain Sullenberger and the entire flight crew, and my hope is that it will also inspire young innovators to change the world." The Sullenberger Aviation Museum is due to reopen in late 2023 after moving to a larger location. 

You gotta see this

Yeah, winning a World Cup is cool, but this is ART! Soccer great Lionel Messi cemented his place in history when he led Argentina to World Cup glory last year, and his fellow Argentines have found fabulous ways to celebrate him. This incredible image, etched in a cornfield, is located in Los Condores in central Córdoba province. It was sown by crop farmer Maximiliano Spinazze using an algorithm that calculated where seeds would need to be planted so that when the corn grew it created a huge visual image of Messi’s bearded visage.

Wanna get away?

Sometimes, when my husband and I get bored, we play what we call a "Google game." We think of a category that can be ranked -- most expensive MLB contracts, countries by border length, most popular candy bars, longest fantasy book series by word count, you get the idea. One of us looks up a list, the other starts guessing and, voila, it's always a fun time. In the same spirit, I'll give you a moment to ponder this one: What were the world's most powerful cities for tourism in 2022?

For context: The cities were ranked by the World Travel & Tourism Council, which analyzed where travelers spent the most money in 2022. They also took into account how much local and national governments and businesses are investing in these cities as tourist destinations. Got it? OK, take a few guesses. I'll put some scrolling lines in. 

Need a hint? There are six countries represented among the top ten cities. 

Need another? Two countries have three top ten cities each, but neither of those countries has the top city. 

Here you go! How'd you do?

1. Paris, France

2. Beijing, China

3. Orlando, Florida

4. Shanghai, China

5. Las Vegas, Nevada

6. New York, New York

7. Tokyo, Japan

8. Mexico City, Mexico

9. London, UK

10. Guangzhou, China

Who knew?

Echidnas blow bubbles to keep cool! These spiky little lumps of love are common across Australia, Tasmania and New Guinea. Along with the platypus, the echidna is one of Earth’s few monotremes, or mammals that lay eggs. Despite being one of the world’s oldest surviving species, the echidna is also thought to be sensitive to heat -- quite an unfortunate trait, given its indigenous digs. However, researchers captured infrared footage of the creatures that revealed an unusual cool-down method. They blow little snot bubbles, which burst on their noses, and the evaporation helps them avoid overheating. Cute? Cool? Maybe a little gross? All of the above! 

oh, by the way ...

Rec of the week

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Let's just make an echidna day of it. (Click here to view)

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