When the news is bad.

        Perhaps it began with what we called "the funny papers" and now are called comics. The Sioux Falls Argus Leader newspaper came to out farm, a day late, by mail. Lying on my stomach on the living room carpet with the funny papers spread out before me likely gave me my start in reading the newspaper.
      Reading the papers these days is very grim as the COVID-19 virus wreaks havoc with our world. It takes courage to pay attention as illness and death, sorrow and suffering fill the pages. None of us have known a time like this.  The best antidote I know is a focus on that for which we can be grateful. Slightly inconvenienced is all I've suffered yet as I wonder what might come.
      Email brought me this list of suggestions for coping with the grim news that confronts us.
        
"Other things that are contagious and happily so, plus allow you to maintain social distancing:
Smiles
Goodwill
Calm
Patience
Laughter
Light-heartedness
Good news
Bad jokes
Songs you can’t help singing (ear worms)
Dancing
Re-framing problems 
Yawns
Cheerful teasing
Foot and elbow greetings (instead of handshakes or hugs) – which makes me think of the hokey-pokey which you could do in the lift with strangers and it’s an ear worm – double win! "   Amy G.

   Perhaps the official name of Bangkok might also bring a smile.

Bangkok is the capitol of Thailand but its real name is:

“Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Ayuthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Piman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit.”

What it means is “The city of angels, the great city, the residence of the Emerald Buddha, the impregnable city (unlike Ayutthaya) of God Indra, the grand capital of the world endowed with nine precious gems, the happy city, abounding in an enormous Royal Palace that resembles the heavenly abode where reigns the reincarnated god, a city given by Indra and built by Vishnukarn.”

But most Thai people just call it Krung Thep

Takk for alt,

Al