Who couldn’t use a little comedic relief during finals?

Happening in the World: In the midst of severe bleaching of the Great Barrier Reef, scientists have begun to look far and wide for help with mapping the reef. Their newest strategy is to request that tourists and divers–anyone who plans to be visiting the reef–submit the photos they take in order to develop a more comprehensive picture of the reef (BBC).

Happening in the US: Ellen Degeneres recently announced that she has tested positive for COVID-19. She reports feeling fine, but her show has been paused and will remain so until January (The New York Times).

Happening in New York: Since the start of the pandemic, there has been a 63% increase in shootings at bodegas as well as a 222% increase in the number of burglaries. Bodegas have been relied upon to offer staple foods at convenient hours, especially in New York. However, with the increasing crime rate, for some store owners, staying open feels unsafe, especially for Hardik Parekh, who watched his co-worker get shot and killed by someone who had previously stolen from his bodega in New York. Parekh said that “the death of his co-worker changed his perspective forever.” Parekh, whose store used to be open 24 hours each day, has limited his hours because he does not feel safe anymore (The New York Times).

Happening in the Community: Third Wheel Improv and comedian, Arvin Mitchell, are co-hosting a comedy show on Tuesday, December 15th from 7:00-8:00 pm EST. Registration is required and you can learn more here.

Dog Fact of the Week: While dogs can release heat through their tongues, they actually sweat through the pads of their feet (MSPCA).

Coral Reef via Bwog Archives