Wait... This is Wholesome

Wait... There are two Facebook groups with exactly the same name?? To avoid confusion (or perhaps to compound it), here's what I experienced during my (not so brief) visit to one of them. The magic memories of grandfathers - and how to preserve them for posterity. The art of transforming a simple tablecloth into a priceless heirloom infused with generations of memories. An innovative take on work wardrobes. How a conspiracy across the generational gap can serve to save teenagers from tight and uncomfortable situations. How random strangers can share extraordinary moments in your life. Or, better yet, how misdialed texts can send good vibes to perfect strangers or reveal the hidden charms of casual acquaintances. A modern take on paid mourners. Bromance vibes. The importance of acknowledging the emotional lives of sons with the same consideration as that of daughters. How consolation can be woven into the yarn of a crochet toy. There is a common thread of kindness that runs through these posts, most of whom are curated by the group admins. Go here when you want your faith in humanity restored.

Members: 204.5k, at the time of writing

Trigger Warnings: None.

Go here to visit or join.

Related Posts

A Garden Gnome's Advice Service

Random Acts of Knitting and Crochet Kindness

Dance Accepts Everyone

PS - The other group called Wait... This is Wholesome can be found here.

Home Groan Puns

You can't describe or explain a joke. You either get it. Or you don't. Which makes it rather difficult to do the smiles this group gave me justice. I could hum along to the Age of Asparagus, for example. That's an easy one. But there are a few other musical ones which are harder to transcribe. For example, the one about different vinyl standards takes a moment to sink in, before you get, well in the groove of what it's all about (sorry, couldn't resist).Could you imagine Easter Bunny Island? Or, here's one for you: change one letter of a fairy tale hero's moniker and you've got yourself a barbeque. Or what about Sherlock Holmes as a geographer. Few topics seem to be off limits. This merry band of Punsters can find humor in accident scenes, celebrity deaths and business slogans taken way too far. Even Freddie Kruger gets to consider a new career he would be perfect for. A perfect antidote to boredom.

Members: 540.2k, at the time of writing. 

Trigger Warnings: Dark humor, puns.

Go here to visit or join. 

Related Posts:

Work Memes

A Garden Gnome's Advice Service

Savage Chickens

Egyptomania: Ancient Egypt in Modern Culture

From its rediscovery in the early 1800s, Ancient Egypt has beguiled the modern world with its visually distinct and instantly recognizable cultural legacy. Georgian and Victorian artists wasted no time to appropriate its motifs, sometimes creating anachronistic and fanciful fusions of past and present that encapsulates the spirit of Egyptomania, if not always of Egypt itself. There is, for example, a lovely early 19th century French tea service, using hieroglyphs as artistic styling, but without any knowledge of the linguistics behind the symbols. A late Victorian illustration shows an impression of statues of Sekhmet at the Temple of Mut at Karnak. A portrait of Isis by Lily Moses. One artistic impression blends Egyptian pharaoh figures with chubby cherubs. Another painting pays tribute to Khonsu, a lesser-known deity also known as "The Traveler". There are early twentieth century cigarette ads that borrow Egyptian inspiration to emulate exotic sophistication. Gilt furniture that wouldn't look out of place in a temple. Many of the images are time capsules of fragmented past comprehension. Yes, they are flawed. But they are beautiful too. 

Members: 9.5k, at the time of writing.

Trigger Warnings: Cultural Appropriation

Go here to visit or join. 

Related Posts:

Ancientology

Oddities, Curiosity, antiques & Skulls

Magnificent Traditional Costumes of the World

Actors, Actors, Actors! Wanted!

Do you need a new voice for your YouTube channel? A few faces to bring a music video to life? Collaborators on a student project? Are you keen to join a regional theatre company, but don't know where to start? Looking for an opportunity to intern as cinematographer on a film set? Or just want to put your skillset out there, in case someone might tap you for their latest project? Here's a hub for potentially making that extra-special connection that could take your career to the next level. Posts featured a diverse range of wish-lists and casting calls from different locations, although US and UK based projects dominate. Some productions make appeals for brand partners, investors or technical skills. There are also updates from members sharing recent successes and offers to help develop attention-grabbing showreels. Here and there workshops or coaching opportunities are on offer. This group is recommended interested in movies or theatre.

Members: 62.9k, at the time of writing.

Trigger Warnings: None.

Go here to visit or join. 

Related Posts:

Film Locations - Then and Now

Dance Accepts Everyone

Photography Icons

DUBAI EXPATS

 If news media - particularly on YouTube is to be believed - then vibrant Dubai has become a ghost town ever since the current conflict in the Middle East began. But this Facebook Group, which functions as a support hub for foreigners living in Dubai or planning to come, presents a more complex image. One post of someone looking for a domestic worker still gets a fair amount of attention from hopefuls. There are listings for cars and apartments available for sale and rental. Particularly insightful was one thread with over a hundred comment on whether relocating to Dubai was still viable. Several commenters spoke of Dubai's culture of resilience and the general quality of living, while also expressing appreciation for the government's handling of the crisis. There are also practical threads for social get-togethers, tips for travelling to the United Emirates as a neurodiverse person or social media resources to help newcomers "make soft landings". One really important post highlighted the higher incidence of abandoned pets with the current tension in the Middle East, which places a tougher burden on animal rescues active in the region, and another made an appeal for human flight-buddies to help reunite pets being with families relocated abroad.

Members: 146.3k, at the time of writing

Trigger Warnings: None

Go here to visit or join

Related Posts: 

Workaway Europe

Art, Architecture, Places & Cultural Heritage around the World

Sunrises and Sunsets of the World

A Garden Gnome's Advice Service

Many, many years ago, at the very dawn of this blog, I featured the Garden Gnome Liberation Front, a loose organization who famously stole garden gnomes, took them on holiday and very occasionally returned them to their garden domicile. Ah, those were far more innocent times, but perhaps we need the garden gnome far more now with his wholesome world view, his apple-cheeked smile, long white beard and distinctive red hat. The group showcases a wonderful variety of artwork by illustrators such as Tony Wolf, Cornelia Haendleer, Marie Laure Viriot, Mili Weber Polina Tsymbalova, Heinrich Schlitt, Margaret Winnifred Tarrant and Linda Lammers as well as an anonymous artist or two (who certainly deserve to have been remembered) featuring gnomes and fairies at work and play. One highlight is Italian artist Antonio Lupatelli's Tarot of Gnomes and Fairies, which is beautifully conceived. There is also a selection of photographs showing off gnome statues, as they can be viewed in the Polish city, Wrocław, doing everyday things such as playing cards or enjoying an ice cream. The city has over 800 gnome figures in total. If nothing else, the merry, whimsical nature of the gnome serves as an antidote to the doom and gloom permeating current world affairs. 

Members: 17.4k, at the time of writing

Trigger Warnings: None

Go here to visit or join.

Related Posts:

Garden Gnome Liberation Front (a golden oldie)

Medieval Mirth & Jollity

Tree of Life - Depictions of Trees in Art

House Gardening Hacks

With the first signs of spring arriving unfurling in the northern hemisphere, it's time to give your green space (if you're lucky enough to have one) a little tender loving care. And if you're looking to change things around, turn over a fresh leaf perhaps, this Facebook group has plenty of innovative hacks to incorporate into your gardening routine. You will for instance learn how to create an easy-to-harvest potato tower out of recycled milk crates or grow a selection of salad greens in a barrel. You can use old egg cartons to organize bulbs for a splendid flower path or use mason jars to protect vulnerable seedlings from late frost. Make organic fertilizer from banana peels or turn your herb garden into an attractive spiral feature spread across multiple tiers. Discover the best companion plants for your tomatoes and how adding a tiny hack to your bird bath will attract more feathered friends. Here and there, you will also find household tips and wellness insights.

Members: 215.3k, at the time of writing.

Trigger Warnings: None.

Go here to visit or join. 

Related Posts: 

DIY Ponds & Water Gardens

The Phantom Planters

Tips & Tricks for Monstera Happiness

Work Memes

 Start your Monday with just a sprinkling of humor in your newsfeed. Clever puns about cops and robbers. A genius take on resume stuffing. There are Byzantian levels of ulterior motives that can be inserted into every moment and aspect of your work day. Various manifestations of stress. Wellness vs well, coffee. Mental challenges to keep your brain cells in motion. The juxtaposition between expectations and reality. Benefits debunked. Wry observations about work-life balance. Work related cat memes (why not?). The joys of anticipating a day off. Having worked weekends many years myself, it's great to see that weekend workers are also acknowledged. It's always great to see a massive Facebook Group (and this one is huge) that maintains its cohesion and identity - and the memes were enjoyable, mainly because they touch on so many aspects of work culture, with humor that feels authentic and makes you think. 

Members: 3.8 million, at the time of writing.

Trigger Warnings: None.

Go here to visit or join.

Related Posts:

IT Humor and Memes (UNCENSORED)

People Incorrectly Correcting Other People

Savage Chickens