some small distractions by Shuli J. '22, MEng '23

there is a LOT going on in the world right now — perhaps most prominently for you, oh reader of this post, MIT EA decisions (which come out tomorrow/Saturday at pi time). but we’re not going to talk about any of that here! sometimes you just need a break from the stress, a place where you can briefly forget about the things you can’t change and focus on the good that this world has to offer. this post is that place. here are some good things i have seen  recently, in no particular order at all. come, weary traveler of the world (or at least the internet), and rest your eyes and mind.

hug machine: hug machine. very simple. come get hug <3

baby seal: much like this baby seal, i am a potato whose corporeal form is simply a shapeless jelly. perhaps this describes you as well?

small animal skateboarding: at first i thought this was a pig. now i’m thinking it’s a chihuahua…? i’m also slightly suspicious that this is fake because how can a small animal be so good (but maybe i’m just jealous 🤔)

this guy who loves chips: never has anyone ever been so excited by chips. like, actually, this man is losing his damn mind in a way you have to see to believe. let his happiness infect you!!!

maze being flooded: my housemate found this gif, which is very meditative and also somehow also has a really cool death-metal vibe. two things you never thought you’d find together huh

cat taking sled ride: also courtesy of my housemate! oh to be a small, very very confused cat, hurtling down a stairwell…

puppy for hanukkah: you only have to appreciate one of {hanukkah, daveed diggs rapping, children and puppies} to truly enjoy this fricking hilarious… disney song? i didn’t even know disney made songs that weren’t in movies!

bill wurtz’s website: remember that guy who made history of japan? his website is just like you would think it would be, knowing that it was made by the history of japan guy, and it is an incredible rabbit hole.

cj’s awesome post about clicker games: there are so many and all of them look so inviting (and so open to you losing several weeks of your life to them)

round owls: SO many round owls! exactly as described.

trains play pachebel’s canon: courtesy of paolo, this video is excellent for lovers of both trains and pachebel’s canon. (personally, the canon always reminds me of the last class of 6.031, when it played while my professor stood on a table and gave a stirring speech about software construction, so this video made me very nostalgic.)

um, i’m not sure what this is but it sure is cute: to be totally honest,  cj sent this to me and i don’t fully understand it. but i think it’s like, a cartoon of an axolotl’s journey through the world? it is very cute!

If you have a fun, cute, or interesting link you’d like to share, feel free to put it in the comments :)

There are a lot of bad things in this world, but there’s a lot of good too. I hope that after this post a few of those good things are now burning a little brighter in your mind. All of us bloggers, from all around the world, are sending love and support to you this week. <3