House and Pet Sitting (Worldwide) - "Pawhaps you wanna join?"

 Few things add more emotional/soul value to a home than the presence of a pet. Whether it's a cat, dog, bird or an assortment of farm animals, pets spell unconditional love, soft pets and... travel opportunities? Apparently one way of saving on travel accommodation is to offer your house/pet sitting services to someone in another city or country. A win-win situation where the sitter gets a free roof and the pet owner gets peace of mind. What was really touching, though, was several posters mentioning being past pet owners and missing the opportunity to bond with an animal. The group follows fairly strict guidelines regarding how you may post and seems to be well-moderated, despite also being super active. While it's difficult for me to imagine even spending a single night away from my two feline boys, I can well imagine that this platform must solve problems and create opportunities for animal lovers around the world. Remember to do your own due diligence regarding any responses you may receive.

Members: 204k, at the time of writing.

Trigger Warnings: None.

Go here to visit or join. 

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High-Protein & Low Carb Meal Ideas

Browsing through just a few threads in this wonderful Facebook group convinced me that we don't need AI for ideation. We already have something much better. Each other. And crowd-sourced suggestions can be so much richer than regurgitations from content farms. Here's how it seems to work. Ask a food-related question. What's goes good inside a grilled cheese sandwich? A sugar-free late-night snack. Which foods and beverages lower blood pressure? A high-protein alternative to eggs for breakfast? Your thoughts on a breakfast croissant? It's really great to see how much engagement posts like these draws, with some of the suggestions being really original and useful, featuring added condiments and surprise choices. You can also share your meals or recipes for public consumption. This is a food space for everyday people who love what they eat.

Members: 127.2k, at the time of writing.

Trigger Warnings: Vegans may want to give this group a miss. 

Go here to visit or join.

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The Pastel Palette

I have a love for pastels, when it comes to creating art. The easy blending of color, and soft strokes allows for a very natural brand of realism. But the eye of the artist can still grab your attention with surprising perspectives and expertly rendered details. Examples? The hairy face of a chimpanzee. The interplay of sun and shadow as reflected on a toddler's face by the sunhat she's wearing, or in a riverbed. A bird's eye view on a small plane flying over a coastal cove. A dew-fresh pod of freshly harvested peas. The sun setting on a country park. An exquisite little bird perched precariously on a tree trunk. Dreamy, likelike portraits. A cowboy and his horses, having a moment. I'm really stunned by the skill and expertise displayed within the work shared by members. 

Members: 8.8k members, at the time of writing. 

Trigger Warnings: None.

Go here to visit or join.

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Good Housekeeping Book Room

While the heart of a home is no doubt its kitchen, its soul has to be the room with the most books in it, albeit living room, bedroom, private library, reading room or even (dare we suggest) a bathroom. This is where you can nourish your inner self with a delectable menu of adventure, wild romances, everyday exploration, or even a few moments of nail-biting tension - sustenance that by-passes the palate and allows you to breathe in a different place that nevertheless feels like home. Conversation is lively in the Good Housekeeping Book Room, with reading pleasure at its heart. It is a place where you can share without judgement, the experience of having your heart broken by a book, the sense of bereavement you feel upon reaching the last page, and the joy of discovering someone else who shared your wonder of that special place. There are also booklists and announcements from authors, as well as reading lists and suggestions. A good space for readers to visit.

Members 84.2k, at the time of writing

Trigger Warnings: None.

Go here to visit or join. 

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Manhole Covers Around the World

 Most are functional, bare visible unless something goes wrong. Others act as decorative timestamps. Some are time capsules. Homage to history or popular culture. In Japan, Pokemon peeks out of the circle. In Ridgefield, Connecticut, a simple leaf design spreads across a rectangular cover. In Orihuela, Spain, a weirdly geometric pattern may recall distant Mudejar inspirations. In Montevideo, Uruguay, a sun god beams up at you. Minneapolis did one better and commissioned artist Kate K. Burke in 1992 to create a series of 11 decorative manhole covers - the three showcased here are absolutely gorgeous. In Istanbul, we see tile art incorporated. The one representing Maribor, Slovenia practically belongs on a postage stamp - it's so quaint and picturesque. Dunjiangyan, China has a selection of cute panda bears. Tromso, Norway pays tribute to reindeer. Get in on the game. See the towns and cities of the world through their manhole covers. Show your own random discoveries, while travelling or in your home town. It's surprisingly fascinating.

Members: 67.2k, at the time of writing.

Trigger Warnings: None.

Go here to visit or join. 

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Back To The Beginning - Black Sabbath's Final Concert

 

Heavy metal was born out of the industrial working-class neighborhoods of cities like Birmingham and few bands define its gritty identity better than Black Sabbath. Ozzy Osbourne grew up in abject poverty. Tony Iommi had to adapt his playing style to accommodate an industrial accident. Geezer Butler is an avid supporter of local football club Ashton Villa. Together they crafted dark hard-hitting soundscapes that birthed a new musical genre and numerous related sub-genres. Beyond the changes and controversy, their longevity as a band and in solo careers has to be admired. It is no mean feat to weather more than five decades as torchbearers for generations of metal heads. Almost a week ago, they said goodbye in a heart-felt and emotionally resonant final performance - Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne: Back to the Beginning, featuring guest performances from bands such as Anthrax, Mastadon, Pantera and Metallica. The Facebook Group shares the infectious excitement of audience members representing many different countries, but united in their love for this band and their unique legacy. There are memes, memories, and memorabilia (such as Lego edition Ozzy Osbourne). Snapshots and discussion. A mention of the millions raised for charity. 

Members: 157.1k, at the time of writing.

Trigger Warnings: None.

Go here to visit or join. 

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WEIRD MEME

There are two main reasons why I am often likely to feature one of the larger supergroups on my blog. One is moderation. I suppose a group with over a million users is always that much more tempting for scammers and spammers, making it harder to winnow out the chaff from the substance. The second reason is bland content. But on my recent visit, WEIRD MEME passed with flying colors on both counts. Virtually no AI spotted. And post upon post that makes you think deeply about your place in the universe. I had to grin at a cartoon about different outcomes for princesses who kiss frogs and a meme about insect naughty times. There were also Rackham-esque drawings featuring wild, wild potatoes, exhibits of cat-sized metal armor, memes about implied server room sentience and best yet, a suggestion for a next level mobile lockscreen. But the gut punch moment came in a sad/real conversation between a father and his young son. Hats off to the moderators for keeping this space awesome. I know it must take lots of hard work and dedication. 

Members: 3.6 million, at the time of writing.

Trigger Warnings: None.

Go here to visit or join.

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