In this time of COVID-19, some of us are glued to the TV or computer screen with pandemic news 24/7, physically distancing from the people we care about, and balancing work and other responsibilities from home or on the front lines. We may tire easily and getting active or creative can be challenging without motivation. After you have depleted Netflix, or binge-watched seasons of shows that you neglected when you were busier, completed jigsaw puzzles to find out pieces have gone astray, nurtured your sourdough starter and have run out of flour, what keeps you from going to the dark side?
If you are finding it difficult navigating this crisis, you're not alone. Here are some tips from the Government of Canada:
We are going to get through this.
Take care and be safe,
Melanie and Elizabeth
This graphic is inspired by Phil Shaw, who created a bookshelf of book titles that hold a message. Can YOU read it?
Diversions are detours, a chance to take, if not a short cut, a change of focus or direction. Below are some links to comedy, documentaries, music, and other recreational material.
You can't get away from food, we all need it to subsist. Here are some funny takes.
Warning: Language
CAROL’S MEATLOAF RECIPE | The Carol Burnett Show | YouTube
COOKING WITH CHRISTOPHER WALKEN | Funny or Die | YouTube
GREAT BRITISH BAKE OFF ARMAGEDDON | Tracey Ullman | YouTube
NAME ON CUP? | Tracey Ullman | YouTube
ROY’S FOOD REPAIR | The New Show | YouTube
THE BATTLE OF THE PBS STARS | SCTV | YouTube
THE GREAT BRITISH BOILED EGG | Tracey Ullman | YouTube
THIS IS WHY EATING HEALTHY IS HARD (TIME TRAVEL DIETITIAN) | Funny Or Die | YouTube
TOO MUCH YEAST! | I Love Lucy | YouTube
If you can find it, Pushing Daisies is worth the binge. Social distancing was essential to romance, rotten fruit made for the perfect pie, breaking into song was a way to express emotion, and the dearly departed gave the plot away. Here are some excerpts:
SEASON 1 PROMO | Pushing Daisies | Warner Bros. | YouTube
SEASON 2 PROMO | Pushing Daisies | Warner Bros. | YouTube
PROMO | Pushing Daisies | YouTube
BEE HIVE | Pushing Daisies, excerpt | YouTube
BEST RESURRECTIONS | Pushing Daisies | YouTube
OLIVE’S SONGS | Pushing Daisies, compilation | YouTube
STRESS BAKING | Pushing Daisies | YouTube
THE DREAM | Pushing Daisies | YouTube
THE ENDING | Pushing Daisies | YouTube
WE ARE SO GOING TO HELL | Pushing Daisies, excerpt | YouTube
Tracey Ulman is a gifted mimic and comic. Her sketches show off her amazing transformation into real people.
Politicians
ANGELA MERKEL SINGS “99 RED BALLOONS” | Tracey Ullman | YouTube
ANGELA MERKEL SKYPES DONALD TRUMP | National Treasured | YouTube
ANGELA MERKEL’S POKER FACE PROBLEM | Tracey Breaks The News | YouTube
ANGELA MERKEL v HER WANNABE (NICOLA STURGEON) | Tracey Ullman | YouTube
ANGELA MERKEL: WONDER WOMAN | National Treasured | YouTube
BREXIT SONG | Tracey Ullman | YouTube
IT’S NEVER AWKWARD BEING JEREMY CORBYN | Tracey Ullman | YouTube
JOHN IS FED UP WITH JEREMY CORBYN | Tracey Ullman | YouTube
MELANIA TRUMP ROBOT | The Tracey Ullman’s Show | YouTube
MERKEL | Tracey Ullman | YouTube
PRESIDENT TRUMP SAYS BRITISH PM THERESA MAY IS NOT HOT | The Tracey Ullman’s Show | YouTube
THERESA MAY SKYPES WITH DONALD TRUMP | The Tracey Ullman’s Show | YouTube
THE RUSSIANS NEED TO REPROGRAMME MELANIA TRUMP! | The Tracey Ullman’s Show | YouTube
Royalty
CAMILLA PARKER BOWLES BABYSITS PRINCE GEORGE | Tracey Ullman | YouTube
CAMILLA PARKER BOWLES SHOPS FOR ROYAL FAMILY | National Treasured | YouTube
Acting Royalty
DAME JUDI DENCH AT THE AWARDS | The Tracey Ullman’s Show | YouTube
DAME JUDI DENCH CAUSES HAVOC | The Tracey Ullman’s Show | YouTube
DAME JUDI DENCH IN THE CHINA SHOP | The Tracey Ullman’s Show | YouTube
MAGGIE SMITH: WHAT’S IN THE BAG | Tracey Ullman | YouTube
TRACEY ULLMAN AS RENEE ZELLWEGER AS JK ROWLING | National Treasured | YouTube
COMIC RELIEF | Blackadder Special | YouTube
COMIC RELIEF | Luther | YouTube
COMIC RELIEF | Rowan Atkinson is Doctor Who | YouTube
COMIC RELIEF | The Vicar of Dibley with Johnny Depp | YouTube
COMIC RELIEF | The Vicar of Dibley with Sting | YouTube
COMIC RELIEF | The Vicar of Dibley with Damian Lewis | YouTube
These audio stories from the late, great Stuart Mclean are a Studio favourite.
CAT IN THE CAR | Stuart Mclean | YouTube
DAVE AND THE SOURDOUGH STARTER | Stuart Mclean | YouTube
DAVE COOKS A TURKEY | Stuart Mclean | YouTube
DAVE CROSSES THE BORDER | Stuart Mclean | YouTube
DAVE VERSUS THE FLU | Stuart Mclean | YouTube
HARRISON FORD’S TOES | Stuart Mclean | YouTube
ODD JOBS | Stuart Mclean | YouTube
SAM IS HOME ALONE | Stuart Mclean | YouTube
THE CHECKOUT LINE | Stuart Mclean | YouTube
THE CRUISE | Stuart Mclean | YouTube
THE PHONE MESSAGE | Stuart Mclean | YouTube
THE YOGA RETREAT | Stuart Mclean | YouTube
Looking to expand your recipe portfolio? Here are some simple recipes that use a few ingredients that may already be in your pantry and fridge/freezer.
20 RECIPES FOR AN EXTRA-SPECIAL QUARANTINE DINNER PARTY WITH YOUR IMMEDIATE FAMILY | Martha Stewart | April 15, 2020
89 RECIPES WITH 5 INGREDIENTS OR FEWER—SERIOUSLY | Bon Appétit | March 23, 2020
COVID-19 AND THE BASIC SHELF COOKBOOK | Canadian Public Health Association
EASY RECIPES TO COOK WHILE YOU’RE SELF-QUARANTINED | New York Times | April 20, 2020
FREE ACCESS: THE 50 AMERICA’S TEST KITCHEN RECIPES YOU NEED | America’s Test Kitchen
HOW TO COOK FOR PASSOVER WITH NO SPECIALTY INGREDIENTS | Chabad.org | Kosher Cooking
RECIPES FOR ALL TASTES AND OCCASIONS | Hello Fresh
Here are some recipes requested by our members who sampled them at our socials. While some are not exactly COVID-19 fare, they are easy to make and share when sharing is a thing again.
ANTIPASTO | Submitted by Millean Kung
CASHEW-NUT LOAF | Submitted by Laura Wiese
CASHEW DIPPING SAUCE | Submitted by Elizabeth Beecham
CHILI | Submitted by Laura Wiese
DATE SQUARES | Submitted by Elizabeth Beecham
DOUGH THREE WAYS (dumplings, cobbler, scones) | Submitted by Elizabeth Beecham
HOLIDAY HAM | Submitted by Elizabeth Beecham
ORANGE ALMOND FLOURLESS CAKE | Submitted by Elizabeth Beecham
TAMARI CREAM GRAVY | Submitted by Laura Wiese
TERIYAKI SAUCE AND MARINADE | Submitted by Laura Wiese
WILD RICE CASSEROLE | Submitted by Marty Brent
Fellow member, Sylvia Fantin, adopted a vegan lifestyle for better wellness. She has generously shared some simple recipes which are easy to incorporate into everyone's diet without making any drastic changes. This is the information presented in M2020-18ZL | Zoom | Vegan cooking with Sylvia Fantin.
VEGANIZING YOUR LIFE (with pictures) | Sylvia Fantin | Click to view/download
VEGANIZING YOUR LIFE (text only) | Sylvia Fantin | Click to view/download
Video modules:
1 | EASY-PEASY PIZZA | Vimeo
2 | HUEVOS | Vimeo
3 | VEGAN PATTIES | Vimeo
4 | HALLOWEEN SOUP | Vimeo
5 | BIRYANI | Vimeo
6 | PROTEIN BARS | Vimeo
7 | WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE TIME | Vimeo
8 | SUNDAY MORNING EGGLESS BITES | Vimeo
9 | PORK ROAST OF A SORT | Vimeo
10 | PAD THAI | Vimeo
11 | GREENS AND MARINATED TOFU | Vimeo
THE VEGETARIAN STARTER GUIDE | Click to view/download
While we go through this thing, there are moments when we literally cry over spilt milk and laugh over the puppy chewing on toilet paper. Whatever your tastes, we hope you find some for your own internal soundtrack. And if you don’t, let us know. Listen responsibly.
1 JOHN 4:16 | The Mountain Goats | YouTube
A LITTLE WHY | Yellow Days | YouTube
ALL BY MYSELF | Eric Carmen | YouTube
ALL OF US | Sam Roberts Band | YouTube
ALL STAR | Smash Mouth | YouTube
ALL THESE THINGS THAT I’VE DONE | The Killers | YouTube
ALONE | Heart | YouTube
AM I BLUE | Kevin Conroy as Batman | YouTube
BACK TO BLACK | Amy Winehouse | YouTube
BEST DAY EVER | Mack Miller | YouTube
BETTER DAYS | OneRepublic | YouTube; Fundraiser: YouTube
BLESSED | Elton John | YouTube
BLINDING LIGHTS | The Weeknd | YouTube
BLOOD OF EDEN | Peter Gabriel, ft. Sinead O’Connor | YouTube
BLUE | Joni Mitchell | YouTube
BOBCAYGEON | The Tragically Hip | YouTube
BREATHING | Metric | YouTube
BROKEN | Whitehorse | YouTube
CAN’T STOP THE FEELING | Justin Timberlake | YouTube
CLASSIFIED | Good News, ft. Breagh Isabel | YouTube
CLOCKS | Coldplay | YouTube
COLOURS | Black Pumas | YouTube
CONSTANT CRAVING | k.d. lang | YouTube
CRAZY | Patsy Cline | YouTube
‘CROSS THE GREEN MOUNTAIN | Bob Dylan | YouTube
CRYING | Roy Orbison and k.d. lang | YouTube
DIFFERENT NAMES FOR THE SAME THING | Death Cab For Cutie | YouTube
DON’T LET IT BRING YOU DOWN | Neil Young | YouTube
EMMYLOU | First Aid Kit | YouTube
EVERY DAY & EVERY NIGHT | Tosca | YouTube
FAMILY AFFAIR | Mary J. Blige | YouTube
FEVER DREAM | mxmtoon | YouTube
FIDDLER’S GREEN | The Tragically Hip | YouTube
FLAWLESS | George Michael | YouTube
FOUND A CURE | Ashford & Simpson | YouTube
GET ME | Justin Bieber, ft. Kehlani | YouTube
GHOST TOWN | First Aid Kit | YouTube
GONE GONE GONE | Robert Plant and Alison Krauss | YouTube
GOOD RIDDANCE (TIME OF YOUR LIFE) | Green Day | YouTube
HAPPY | Pharell Williams | YouTube
HELPLESSNESS BLUES | Fleet Foxes | YouTube
HO HEY | The Lumineers | YouTube
HOME | Michael Bublé | YouTube
I LIVED | OneRepublic | YouTube
I SAY A LITTLE PRAYER | Aretha Franklin | YouTube
I TRY | Macy Gray | YouTube
I WALK ON GUILDED SPLINTERS | Dr. John | YouTube
I WANT TO BREAK FREE | Queen | YouTube
I WILL WAIT | Mumford & Sons | YouTube
IF YOU THINK THIS IS REAL LIFE | Blossoms | YouTube
(IN MY) SOLITUDE | Billie Holiday | YouTube
IN TWENTY YEARS OR SO | Father John Misty | YouTube
ISLAND IN THE SUN | Weezer | YouTube
ISOLATION | Crowded House | YouTube
ISOLATION | Joy Division | YouTube
IT’S ALL COMING BACK TO ME NOW | Céline Dion | YouTube
IT’S MY HOUSE | Diana Ross | YouTube
IT’S MY LIFE | Talk Talk | YouTube
IT’S THE END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT (AND I FEEL FINE) | R.E.M. | YouTube
I’VE SEEN THAT FACE BEFORE (LIBERTANGO) | Grace Jones | YouTube
JUSTIFIED & ANCIENT (Minions version) | The KLF with Tammy Wynette | YouTube
KILLING TIME IS MURDER | Whitehorse | YouTube
KINGS AND QUEENS | Ava Max | YouTube
KRYPTONITE | 3 Doors Down | YouTube
LAY YOUR HEAD ON ME | Major Lazer, ft. Marcus Mumford | YouTube
LEAN ON ME | Avril Lavigne, Bad Child, Bryan Adams, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Command Sisters, Dan Kanter, Desiire, Donovan Woods, Fefe Dobson, Geddy Lee, Jann Arden, Johnny Orlando, Josh Ramsay, Jules Halpern, Justin Bieber, Marie-Mai, Michael Bublé, Olivia Lunny, Ryland James, Sarah McLachlan, Scott Helman, Serena Ryder, Shawn Hook, TIKA, The Tenors, Tyler Shaw, Walk Off The Earth | YouTube
LEFT AND LEAVING | The Weakerthans | YouTube
LET’S DANCE | David Bowie | YouTube
LIBERTANGO | The Swingle Singers | YouTube
LIFE DURING WARTIME | Talking Heads | YouTube
LIFE IN A GLASSHOUSE | Radiohead | YouTube
LIVING IN A GHOST TOWN | The Rolling Stones | YouTube
LOSING MY RELIGION | R.E.M. | YouTube
LOST | Michael Bublé | YouTube
LOVE IS ALL | The Tallest Man on Earth | YouTube
LOVE SHACK | The B-52’s | YouTube
MAD WORLD | Gary Jules and Michael Andrews | YouTube
MANGO DI BANGO | Tosca | YouTube
MOVIES | Weyes Blood | YouTube
MY FIRST | Tosca | YouTube
NICE TO MEET YA | Niall Horan | YouTube
NO JUDGEMENT | Niall Horan | YouTube
ONE | Aimee Mann | YouTube
ONE WEEK | Barenaked Ladies | YouTube
OUR DAY WILL COME | Amy Winehouse | YouTube
OUR HOUSE | Madness | YouTube
OUT OF THE WOODS | Justin Rutledge | YouTube
PORK AND BEANS | Weezer | YouTube
PRAYING FOR TIME | George Michael | YouTube
RAINBOW CONNECTION | Kermit the Frog | YouTube
RESCUE ME | OneRepublic | YouTube
SAVE YOUR TEARS | The Weeknd | YouTube
SHINY HAPPY PEOPLE | R.E.M. | YouTube
SILENCE | Delerium, ft. Sarah McLachlan | YouTube
SKYFALL | Adele | YouTube
SLEDGEHAMMER | Peter Gabriel | YouTube
SMILE | Nat King Cole | YouTube
SMOOTH | Santana, ft. Rob Thomas | YouTube
SO I’M GROWING OLD ON MAGIC MOUNTAIN | Father John Misty | YouTube
SONG FOR THE LONELY | Cher | YouTube
SPEAK NOW | Leslie Odom Jr | YouTube
SPLENDID ISOLATION | Warren Zevon | YouTube
STARDUST | Nat King Cole | YouTube
STEPPIN’ OUT | Joe Jackson | YouTube
STORYBOOK LOVE | Mark Knopfler and Willy DeVille | YouTube
SUCH A SHAME | Talk Talk | YouTube
SYMPATHY FOR THE DEVIL | Rolling Stones | YouTube
TAKE FIVE | Dave Brubeck | YouTube
TAKE THE LONG WAY HOME | Faithless | YouTube
TAKE THE LONG WAY HOME | Supertramp | YouTube
TEARS OF GOLD | Faouzia | YouTube
THE BITCH IS BACK | Elton John | YouTube
THE FIRST TIME I EVER SAW YOUR FACE | Sinead O’Connor and Christy Moore | YouTube
THE GHOST OF TOM JOADS & DO RE MI MEDLEY | Elvis Costello and Mumford & Sons | YouTube
THE GREAT ESCAPE | Patrick Watson | YouTube
THE LAZY SONG | Bruno Mars | YouTube
THE LONG ROAD | Mark Knopfler | YouTube
THE PRAYER | Celine Dion and Josh Groban | YouTube
THE SKY IS A NEIGHBORHOOD | Foo Fighters | YouTube
TRAVELING LIGHT | Leonard Cohen | YouTube
WAY DOWN WE GO | Kaleo | YouTube
WE’RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER | Sam Roberts Band | YouTube
WHAT’S GOING ON | Marvin Gaye | YouTube
WHEREVER I GO | OneRepublic | YouTube
WISCONSIN | Bon Ivor | YouTube
WISH YOU WERE HERE | Pink Floyd | YouTube
WONDERFUL | Tosca, ft. Earl Zinger | YouTube
UP THE WOLVES | The Mountain Goats | YouTube
UPTOWN FUNK | Mark Ronson, ft. Bruno Mars | YouTube
VALERIE | Mark Ronson, ft. Amy Winehouse | YouTube
VINCENT | Don McLean | YouTube
YOU’LL NEVER WALK ALONE | Marcus Mumford | YouTube
YOU’RE NOT COMING HOME TONIGHT | First Aid Kit | YouTube
While the concert venues remain shuttered, here are some inspired performances:
APPALACHIAN SPRING | TSO | YouTube
CARMINA BURANA | Flashmob Symphony Orchestra of the Volksoper Vienna | YouTube
ODE AN DIE FREUDE | Flashmob Nürnberg 2014 | YouTube
PI’S LULLABY | Life of Pi, ft. Mychael Danna & Bombay Jayashri | YouTube
THE GOLDBERG VARIATIONS | Glenn Gould plays Bach | YouTube
Remember that ’80s aerobic show, the 20 Minute Work Out? It’s back with a modern twist, on VisionTV, as Anjelica’s 22 Minute Work Out | Weekdays, 6:30 am (WTF?)
If you’d like to connect with the original, it’s on YouTube’s 20 Minute Work Out channel. Put on your legwarmers before you enter that time machine!
INTRODUCTION | 20 Minute Work Out | YouTube
This is bound to put a bounce in your step:
HIP HOP FITNESS | Instructor: Les Mills | YouTube
Lella streams | STILL MEDITATION WITH LELLA | YouTube
Susanna recommends | FAST WALKING IN 30 MINUTES | YouTube
A FOX AND A MOUSE | ESMA TheCGBros | YouTube
BAO | Pixar | YouTube
DUST BUDDIES | Ringling College | YouTube
MAN’S BEST FRIEND | ESMA TheCGBros | YouTube
PIPER | Disney Pixar | YouTube
PIPER: A JOY STORY | YouTube
THE EGYPTIAN PYRAMIDS | YouTube
Golden oldies
WHAT’S OPERA, DOC? | Bugs Bunny | YouTube
BUGS RULES | Bugs Bunny | YouTube
FRANZ LISZT | Bugs Bunny | YouTube
FACE THE MUSIC | Tom and Jerry | YouTube
We don’t endorse these products, but when the commercials are better than the programming, it’s worth the binge:
THE 100-YEAR GAME | SBLIII | NFL | YouTube
BE MORE HUMAN | Reebok | YouTube
CATS ON CHRISTMAS DAY | Temptations | YouTube
BUSTER THE BOXER | John Lewis | YouTube
DO WHAT YOU CAN’T | Samsung | YouTube
FIND YOUR GREATNESS | Nike | YouTube
FIND YOUR OWN WAY (Be More Human) | Reebok | YouTube
JUSTINO | Loteria de Navidad, Loteria nacional (Spain) | YouTube
PERSPECTIVE | Apple | YouTube
MERRY COOKING | IGA | YouTube
SPACE STATION | Macys | YouTube
WELCOME BACK (Life’s for sharing) | T-Mobile | YouTube
WELCOME HOME | Apple HomePod | YouTube
WHAT ARE GIRLS MADE OF (Believe in More) | Nike | YouTube
WHAT WILL THEY SAY ABOUT YOU? (Believe in More) | Nike | YouTube
WHEN CHRISTMAS FEELS LIKE HOME | Uber Eats and Coca Cola | YouTube
Boy, the internet is a host to a cacophony of headlines with stories just screaming for a Dear Reader. Here’s just a sampler:
ARE WE LIVING IN A COMPUTER SIMULATION? | Getpocket.com | Scientific American | Clara Moskowitz | Article
HOW TO CUT YOUR OWN HAIR AT HOME | Wired | Louryn Strampe | Article
THE BEST BOARD GAMES TO PLAY WITH YOUR QUARANTINED HOUSE MATES | Ars Technica Aaron Zimmerman, Dan Thurot, Nate Anderson | Article
MARGARET ATWOOD’S LOCKDOWN DIARY: LIFE AS AN ECCENTRIC SELF-ISOLATIONIST: HOW TO MAKE FIRELIGHTERS, COMBAT SQUIRRELS AND CONDUCT A RUBBER CHICKEN CHOIR … THE AUTHOR SHARES PRACTICAL TIPS FROM LOCKDOWN IN CANADA | The Guardian | Article
MY SECRET LIFE AS A REPORTER FOR “DOLL READER” MAGAZINE | GetPocket.com | Narratively | Toni Fitzgerald | Article
THE FORGOTTEN ART OF SQUATTING IS A REVELATION FOR BODIES RUINED BY SITTING IN MUCH OF THE WORLD, SQUATTING IS AS NORMAL A PART OF LIFE AS SITTING IN A CHAIR | Getpocket.com | Quartz | Rosie Spinks | Article
THE FORGOTTEN USES OF 8 EVERYDAY OBJECTS | Getpocket.com | Mental Floss | Stacy Conradt | Article
THE KUNG FU NUNS OF KATHMANDU | npr.org | Goats and Soda | Windsor Johnston | Article
TO LIVE REMARKABLY, REPEAT THIS ONE AFFIRMATION EVERY SINGLE DAY FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE BECAUSE THE THOUGHT IS ALWAYS PARENT TO THE DEED. ASK TEDDY ROOSEVELT. | Getpocket.com |
Inc. | Jeff Haden | Article
WHAT IS IT LIKE TO BE A MAN? SOMETIMES I JUST FEEL LIKE A BAD JOKE | Getpocket.com | The Hedgehog Review | Phil Christman | Article
WHY DO PAPER CUTS HURT SO MUCH? | Getpocket.com | The Conversation | Gabriel Neal | Article
CanLit
EMPIRE OF WILD | by Cherie Dimaline | Random House of Canada (2019)
GREENWOOD | by Michael Christie | McClelland & Stewart (2019)
THE GLASS HOTEL | by Emily St. John Mandel | HarperCollins (2020)
THE WAGERS | by Sean Michaels | Random House of Canada (2019)
WAITING FOR COLUMBUS | by Thomas Trofimuk | McClelland & Stewart (2010)
ChickLit
THE DIM SUM OF ALL THINGS | by Kim Wong Keltner | HarperCollins (2009)
Fantasy
BLACK LEOPARD, RED WOLF | by Marlon James | Doubleday Canada (2020)
THE TEN THOUSAND DOORS OF JANUARY | by Alix E. Harrow | Orbit (2020)
Fiction
ALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE: A NOVEL | by Anthony Doerr | Scribner (2017)
ANTKIND: A NOVEL | by Charlie Kaufman | Random House Publishing Group (2020)
BECOMING DUCHESS GOLDBLATT | by Anonymous | Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (2020)
FLIGHTS | by Olga Tokarczuk | Penguin Publishing Group (2019)
KADDISH.COM: A NOVEL | by Nathan Englander | Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group (2020)
THE MINISTRY OF UTMOST HAPPINESS: A NOVEL | by Arundhati Roy | Penguin Canada (2018)
THE NIGHT CIRCUS | by Erin Morgenstern | Doubleday Canada (2012)
THE OVERSTORY: A NOVEL | by Richard Powers | WW Norton (2019)
Humour
FIFTY THINGS THAT AREN’T MY FAULT: ESSAYS FROM THE GROWN-UP YEARS | by Cathy Guisewite | Penguin Publishing Group (2020)
I WAS TOLD THERE’D BE CAKE | by Sloane Crosley | Penguin Publishing Group (2008)
Mystery
CITY OF DARK MAGIC: A NOVEL | by Magnus Flyte | Penguin Publishing Group (2012)
DRIVE YOUR PLOW OVER THE BONES OF THE DEAD | by Olga Tokarczuk (trans. Antonia Lloyd-Jones) | Penguin Publishing Group (2019)
SHAKESPEARE FOR SQUIRRELS: A NOVEL | by Christopher Moore | HarperCollins (2020)
THE SHADOW OF THE WIND | by Carlos Ruiz Zafon | Penguin Publishing Group (2005)
Non-fiction
BEETHOVEN'S HAIR: AN EXTRAORDINARY HISTORICAL ODYSSEY AND A SCIENTIFIC MYSTERY SOLVED | by Russell Martin | Crown (2001)
NO RESERVATIONS: AROUND THE WORLD ON AN EMPTY STOMACH | by Anthony Bourdain | Bloomsbury USA (2007)
THE IMMORTAL LIFE OF HENRIETTA LACKS | by Rebecca Skloot | Crown (2011)
WHY WE SWIM | by Bonny Tsui | Algonquin Books (2020)
Self-help
THE SUBTLE ART OF NOT GIVING A F*CK: A COUNTERINTUITIVE APPROACH TO LIVING A GOOD LIFE | by Mark Manson | HarperCollins (2016)
BACH TO THE BARRE | TSO and National Ballet of Canada | YouTube
TANGO LIBRE | Argentine tango flash mob, Budapest | YouTube
UPTOWN FUNK | Old Movie Stars Dance | British Film Institute | YouTube
YOU NEVER CAN TELL | Chuck Berry | “I Want to Dance” | Pulp Fiction, Uma Thurman, John Travolta | YouTube
When the going gets tough, the tough get going … and while this is by no means an endorsement of what to do or say, it’s interesting to see what happens when you just let go:
Warning: Language
BIRDS OF PREY | Official trailer | YouTube
IF LESS GROSSMAN NEGOTIATED WITH HANS GRUBER FROM DIE HARD | Funny or Die | YouTube
I’M AS MAD AS HELL, AND I’M NOT GOING TO TAKE THIS ANYMORE | Network, Peter Finch | YouTube
INTERROGATIONS GONE WRONG | Funny or Die, Keanu Reeves | YouTube
THE KING’S SPEECH | The swearing scene, Colin Firth | YouTube
ULTIMATE DOG TEASE | YouTube
A NEW VIEW OF THE MOON | YouTube
BUTTERFLY: A LIFE | National Geographic | YouTube
ESCAPING EARTH | Morgan Freeman | YouTube
GO SEE THIS ECLIPSE | YouTube
LIFE BEYOND: Chapter 1. Alien life, deep time, and our place in Cosmic History | YouTube
SOUTH POLE | NIGHT IN ANTARCTICA | Timestorm Films | YouTube
SPECTACULAR NORWAY NORTHERN LIGHTS | National Geographic | YouTube
SYMPHONY OF SCIENCE | The Quantum World! | YouTube
THE PRECIOUSNESS OF TIME: A Stephen Hawking Tribute | YouTube
THIS CRAZY TREE GROWS 40 KINDS OF FRUIT | National Geographic | YouTube
TIMELAPSE OF THE FUTURE: A Journey to the End of Time | YouTube
TO SCALE: THE SOLAR SYSTEM | YouTube
Before he sold it to a network, John Krasinski created something special to look forward to during the COVID-19 pandemic:
SOME GOOD NEWS | Episode 1 | John Krasinski with Steve Carell | YouTube
ZOOM SURPRISE | Some Good News | Episode 2 | John Krasinski with Emily Blunt, Robert de Niro, Lin-Manuel Miranda and cast of Hamilton | YouTube
BASEBALL IS BACK | Some Good News | Episode 3 | John Krasinski with David Ortiz | YouTube
SGN PROM 2020 | Some Good News | Episode 4 | John Krasinski with Chance The Rapper, Brad Pitt, Rainn Wilson, the Jonas Brothers, Billie Eilish | YouTube
SGN POTLUCK | Some Good News | Episode 5 | John Krasinski with Martha Stewart, David Chang, Guy Fieri, Stanley Tucci | YouTube
SGN GRADUATION 2020 | Some Good News | Episode 6 | John Krasinski with Ryan Reynolds, Samuel L Jackson, Oprah Winfrey, Malala Yousafzai, Steven Spielberg, Jon Stewart | YouTube
THE OFFICE CAST REUNITES FOR ZOOM WEDDING NEWS | Some Good News | Episode 7 | John Krasinski with Emily Blunt, Emma Stone, and cast of the Office | YouTube
THE SGN COMMUNITY EPISODE | Some Good News | Episode 8 | John Krasinski | YouTube