As we all defrost and emerge into the warmer weather, there's an itch to spend time with people. Spring is a season for gathering — and there's nothing better to gather around than a cornucopia of prepared food. Enter: the potluck. In Salon, food editor Ashlie D. Stevens makes the case for organizing a potluck that's actually good (i.e., not the casserole-filled events of her youth). Read her hosting tips.
Must Reads
A win for weenies: Dachshunds are now in the top five of the AKC's most popular dog breeds
Costa Rica Now Ranked Among World's Top 5 Happiest Countries
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It's been a good few years for Costa Rica — after being listed as the 23rd happiest country in the world in 2023, it rose through the ranks to the No. 4 spot for 2026. The ranking is part of the World Happiness Report, an assessment from Oxford's Wellbeing Research Centre that looked at survey responses about quality of life from around 100,000 people in nearly 150 countries. According to Jan-Emmanuel De Neve, co-editor of the report, Costa Rica's leap in the ranking can be partly credited to its residents' focus on community. "We think it's because of the quality of their social lives and the stability that they currently enjoy," he told the Associated Press, adding, "Latin America more generally has strong family ties, strong social ties, a great level of social capital, as a sociologist would call it, more so than in other places." Many of the other top 10 spots were claimed by Nordic countries: Finland was crowned the happiest country in the world for the ninth year in a row, followed by Iceland and Denmark. Sweden and Norway took fifth and sixth place, respectively. When it comes to Finland's longtime status at the top of the list, President Alexander Stubb shared that "it helps to have a society which strives towards freedom, equality, and justice." Want to uncover more about what makes the nation happy? Visit Finland is offering a free, weeklong trip to six duos, inviting them to "Chill Like a Finn" in the country's lake district this June. Learn how to apply.
Together With Green Coffee Company
Missed the SBUX IPO? Don't Miss This
In 1992, Starbucks went public at $17 per share. Today, those original shares would be worth over $6,000 each. But while Starbucks turned coffee into an everyday luxury, its cafe-first focus left most of the coffee supply chain untouched. Green Coffee Company (GCC) is flipping the script in the coffee sector. It's Colombia's No. 1 largest coffee producer, controlling everything from seed to sale. And it's rapidly expanding across North America as we speak. Revenue skyrocketed from $1 million to $37 million in just three years. Now, the company has exclusive rights to distribute the legendary Juan Valdez® brand across North America. It's eyeing a planned public listing as early as 2027. You have days left to become a pre-IPO investor in Green Coffee Company.
This is a paid advertisement for Green Coffee Company's Regulation CF offering. Please read the offering circular at https://invest.greencoffeecompany.com/. Timelines are subject to change. Listing on the Nasdaq is contingent upon necessary approvals, and reserving a ticker symbol does not guarantee a company's public listing.
Humanity
A Humility Scholar Explains How He Became More Grounded
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This article was written by Barret Michalec, a research associate professor of nursing and health innovation at Arizona State University, for The Conversation. "Humble" is not a word my colleagues would use to describe me, especially early in my career. In fact, when word got around that I was researching humility, I suspect more than a few choked on their coffee. And even though I have spent over a decade exploring the concept as an attribute and as a practice, it wasn't until I recently reflected on my own professional challenges that I truly understood how to embrace humility. I want to share my journey, but first it is important to understand what humility is — and isn't. It's been extolled as a virtue for centuries, but it's often mischaracterized. In today's culture, it can be mistaken as a humblebrag, which disguises a boast as modesty — for example, "I really hate talking about myself, but people keep asking how I managed to run a marathon while working full time." Or it can resemble impostor phenomenon, the persistent experience of feeling intellectually or professionally fraudulent despite clear evidence of competence or success. Discover what research says about humble people.
Health
No Time to Work Out? Join the Stair Climbers
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Skipping an elevator or escalator in favor of taking the stairs can reap big benefits: Beyond boosting energy and mental health, climbing more than five flights daily can slash cardiovascular disease risk by 20%. And there's another major pro — it can be interwoven throughout your busy day in several short bursts, which research suggests is enough to lower heart disease and cancer risk. "You are working your legs. You are working your heart. You are working your lungs," pediatric pulmonologist Luis Rodriguez, who participates in stair climbing events, told the Associated Press. "You can get a lot more benefit than just walking, because gravity is working against you." If you live or work in a multi-story building, this exercise may be readily available to you. But there are plenty of other creative ways to get those steps in: Seek out parks and public parking garages with stairs, use machines like StairMasters at the gym, or try negotiating for after-hours access to local buildings with stairwells. "If you connect with the right people and tell them what they're doing and agree to the rules, it hasn't really been a problem for us," said Detroit resident and avid stair climber Carmen Erickson.
In Other News
A "colossal" coral structure in the western Pacific is now considered the largest of its kind — take a look (read more)
The FDA approved an oral psoriasis pill that may be a more convenient treatment for the skin condition (read more)
In a historic deal, WNBA players can now make up to $7 million annually and should earn $600,000 on average (read more)
Leftover wedding food inspired a new bill that requires Rhode Island caterers to send waste to compost services (read more)
Lions have food comas, too: A photographer captured a cub lazing in the sun after a big meal (read more)
Inspiring Story
How did the salamander cross the road?
Each spring in central New York, salamanders partake in a phenomenon called Big Night: They leave their burrows on rainy nights, seeking pools of rainwater and snowmelt in the hopes of courting a mate there. Many of these amphibians must cross busy roads to get to the pools, which places them at risk — so hundreds of volunteers sporting headlamps help them travel safely to the other side. "You just want to protect the salamanders, keep them breeding," a volunteer named Orchid explained. "And they're just so cute. How can you not love them, right?"
Photo of the Day
Johnny Nunez—WireImage/Getty Images
Mr. Flower Fantastic usually prefers to stay anonymous, letting his stunning creations speak for themselves — but for the New York Botanical Garden's annual orchid show, the floral artist decided to let visitors in on a core aspect of his identity: his love for his home city. Made with real and synthetic carnations, this yellow cab installation is one of his many odes to New York City, on display through April 26. See more photos from the show.
Meet the Latest Innovation From CAKES Body
Boob tape is one of thehighest performingsupport and lift solutions, yet it's almost impossible to use unless you're a trained stylist. Enter: CAKES™ Tape, the latest innovation from CAKES body. The patent-pending, ultra-thin silicone boob tape is gentle on the skin and easy to use thanks to the pre-cut, buildable strips. Plus, unlike other fabric tapes, it can be removed without oils.
"Hope is an action verb. It requires us to envision a better future, have the will [to] pursue it, and chart a path from where we are to where we want to be."
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