Author: Lisa Mungovan

Did you know it’s Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day? The engineers who invented bubble wrap first tried to sell it as wallpaper, then greenhouse insulation. It wasn’t commonly used for packaging until 1961. But I’ll bet people were popping it from the very beginning! Have a popping party! The sound’s only annoying if you’re not participating.

A group of teenagers addressed world leaders, at the World Economic Forum in Davos Switzerland last week. One speaker was 18-year-old Mohamad Al Jounde, a Syrian refugee. He built a school for other refugees, and helps them learn and heal. He’s been awarded both the International Children’s Peace Prize, and MTV’s Generation Change Award.

Many cities have High Occupancy Vehicle lanes, to encourage people to commute with a friend, and cut down on pollution and traffic. A driver in Arizona was caught in the HOV lanes, trying to claim a skeleton as his extra passenger. The police gave him a traffic violation. Carpooling is for living people!

This week in Alaska, it’s the Cordova Iceworm Festival! Iceworms live in glaciers, and function best at temperatures below freezing. They’re only a few centimeters long, and move between the ice crystals. The festival’s mascot however, is 150 feet long! The festival includes learning about iceworms, games, the Miss Iceworm Coronation, dances, and a Beard Contest.

The Netherlands are not normally a home to flamingos. But this week, a group of 6 Chilean flamingos and 1 European flamingo, were spotted at a nature reserve near Pijnacker. They apparently had not escaped from a zoo, so maybe they were simply taking a little vacation! Meanwhile, birdwatchers are enjoying the rare visitors.

Today is Green Juice Day. Smoothies made with spinach or kale, green grapes, and other fruits and vegetables, might surprise you with their deliciousness! It’s also Peanut Brittle Day. The buttery hard candy is full of peanuts, and can stick in your teeth, so you can wash it down with your healthy green juice!

19 year-old Melati Wijsen grew up in Bali. Living on an island, she’s seen the effects of plastic pollution in the ocean. Melati and her younger sister created the organization, Bye Bye Plastic Bags, to clean up the beaches. Melati spoke at the World Economic Forum in Davos Switzerland with other Teenage Change-Makers.

A stray cat named Lady in a Fur Coat, had to have her ear flaps removed, at a Wisconsin animal shelter. The employees were worried that she’d have a tough time getting adopted. Ash Collins decided to crochet a pair of pretty purple ears for Lady. The kitty has already found a forever home!

Today is Seed Swap Day! Many libraries have seed lending programs. You check out seeds, grow plants, and return some seeds the next year. Learn more about seed trading, from a website like Dave’s Garden. It’s also Visit Your Local Quilt Shop Day. Maybe they’ll have fabric, patterned with flowers you hope to grow.

Today is Opposite Day, so say the opposite of what you mean. Ice cream is horrible! I love getting tons of homework! I want to clean the toilets! Don’t forget to say, “Just kidding, it’s Opposite Day,” or you might confuse a lot of people! It’s too bad there’s no school on Saturdays.