Good Vibe #1: Powderfinger’s One Night Lonely raises more than $45oK
In case you missed it, Powderfinger reunited after ten long years on Saturday night (May 23) for a virtual reunion concert, raising money to support the music and arts industries. The One Night Lonely concert, streamed via YouTube, had an incredible response – at time of writing it has been viewed more than 540,000 times and the band has raised more than $460,000 for Beyond Blue and Support Act. The boys performed from their respective home studios (well, JC from an empty The Fortitude Music Hall), but being physically distant didn’t stop them bringing their signature Powderfinger energy. The funds – which are still growing – will help provide relief and counselling to artists, crew and music workers facing financial and/or mental health hardship due to the pandemic. You can watch the full set on YouTube and still donate or buy some merch to help the band reach their $500,000 goal.
Good Vibe #2: NASA welcomes astronauts for its first launch in a decade
Can you believe it’s been nine years since the last NASA launch? Well, this week will see the Kennedy Space Centre’s launch pad back in action, when NASA astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken commence their groundbreaking journey to the International Space Station. The historic flight will be the first attempt by a private company to send astronauts into orbit – the journey is a partnership between NASA and Elon Musk’s SpaceX. Previously only US, Chinese and Russian governments have done so. The astronauts completed their ‘dress rehearsal’ yesterday, with the launch (dependant on weather) planned for Wednesday local Florida time. The mission will see the two astronauts climb aboard the SpaceX Dragon capsule on top of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, and is designed to be a demonstration of commercial space travel. The launch is set to be quite a colour-coordinated display – the astronauts are expected to emerge from a white Tesla in sleek new white suits, to climb aboard the white capsule and rocket. Head to the SpaceX website for launch details and to watch the launch webcast – the launch window is currently set for 6:33 am AEST on Thursday May 28.
Good Vibe #3: The one year old whipping up culinary creations
We’ve all been cooking and baking up a storm in iso, trawling the internet for inspiration from our favourite celebrity chefs. If you’re seeking dinner inspo with a side of wholesome cuteness, it’s time to introduce yourself to ‘Chef Kobe’. Kobe is a one-year-old Instagram sensation, thanks to his pretty darn adorable cooking videos. The videos see the animated baby chef preparing (and playing, bashing, eating) everything from chocolate-chip cookies through to more gourmet creations like Middle Eastern steak and rice pilaf. Who ever said toddlers were fussy eaters?! The Kobe Eats account now has more than 1.5 million followers, of whom he often takes recipe suggestions from to add to his repertoire. Allow Kobe to put a smile on your dial via Instagram.
Good Vibe #4: Centenarian war veteran knighted for his fundraising efforts
Remember international hero Captain Tom Moore, the British war veteran who raised more than £32 million for NHS by walking 100 laps of his garden before his 100th birthday? Well, he has been knighted as an honorary colonel and awarded the ancient honour of the freedom of the City of London. During his virtual ceremony, Lord Mayor William Russell said, “Captain Tom, you raised the spirits of people across the country. You showed us all the importance of community spirit and brought people together during this difficult time.” The BBC reported that Captain Tom was “delighted and overawed” at the honour, saying he hopes the Queen “is not very heavy-handed with the sword, as by then I might be a rather poor old weak soul”.
Good Vibe #5: ABBA is back to save 2020
Mamma mia, could it be true?! Swedish supergroup ABBA is set to release new music this year – which is the exact energy we need for 2020. In an interview with CNBC, when asked if fans could get their hopes up for new music, Björn Ulvaeus said that we can expect some before the end of this year. Gimme, gimme, gimme! This is more than just us getting our hopes up – during the interview Björn recounted how great it was to get the band back together in the studio, saying, “it took half a minute and somehow we were back in time like we had been there yesterday as well. It was so strange”. To further solidify this news, Benny Andersson also hinted at new music for the band in February. Looks like it’s time to invest in that post-iso flared jumpsuit you’ve been eyeing off and get ready to say thank you for the music (and for all the joy they’re bringing to 2020).
Image: SpaceX, ABBA, Kobe Eats YouTube, Powderfinger YouTube