--- title: Thanksgiving Good News: Taylor Swift, Comets, Pandas and Canadians description: It's been a dismal month, but here are five pieces of good news we can all be thankful for. canonical: https://time.com/3606102/good-news-5-things-to-be-grateful-for-this-thanksgiving/ author: Charlotte Alter article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2014-11-26T13:43:07.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-05-11T04:48:17.819Z og:title: Here are 5 Things to be Thankful For This Dismal November og:description: Despite Ferguson, Cosby, and ISIS, there's been some good news og:url: https://time.com/3606102/good-news-5-things-to-be-grateful-for-this-thanksgiving/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltda2105a32b370c26/69869f60e53aba29cc4d3fb8/china-panda-triplets.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1500 og:image:height: 844 og:image:alt: China-Panda-Triplets og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Here are 5 Things to be Thankful For This Dismal November twitter:description: Despite Ferguson, Cosby, and ISIS, there's been some good news twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltda2105a32b370c26/69869f60e53aba29cc4d3fb8/china-panda-triplets.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Good News! 5 Things to Be Grateful For This Thanksgiving > Sponsored content. 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Worth Your Time is TIME's culture newsletter, published Tuesdays and Saturdays to 40,000 subscribers as of August 2026. #### Who writes TIME's culture recommendations? Culture editor Eliza Berman writes Worth Your Time, drawing on TIME's critics and culture desk. #### Is Worth Your Time free? Yes. It is a free newsletter available at time.com/newsletters.  by [Charlotte Alter](https://time.com/author/charlotte-alter/)  ## Charlotte Alter Senior Correspondent Nov 26, 2014 1:43 PM UTC  Triplet panda cubs rest in an incubator at the Chimelong Safari Park in Guangzhou in south China's Guangdong province, Aug. 12, 2014. Triplet panda cubs rest in an incubator at the Chimelong Safari Park in Guangzhou in south China's Guangdong province, Aug. 12, 2014. AP  by [Charlotte Alter](https://time.com/author/charlotte-alter/)  ## Charlotte Alter Senior Correspondent Nov 26, 2014 1:43 PM UTC This November has been a serious bummer. The midterm elections were a depressing [snoozefest.](http://www.msnbc.com/morning-joe/watch/the-2014-midterms--boring-and-uncreative-342242371948) The sexual assault allegations against Bill Cosby have made [‘America’s Dad](http://www.theguardian.com/theobserver/2014/nov/23/profile-bill-cosby-rape-allegations)‘ seem more like a creepy uncle. Protests [have erupted ](http://time.com/3606892/ferguson-protests-continue-across-nation/)across the country after a grand jury decided not to indict Darren Wilson for the death of Michael Brown. American aid worker Peter Kassig was beheaded by ISIS. We lost Mike Nichols. With all that bad news, it’s hard to find anything to be grateful for this Thanksgiving. But you better come up with something quick, because sooner or later somebody is going to ask, “so what are you grateful for?” with a schmaltzy smirk. So here are five pieces of good news to celebrate as you make small talk with your aunt’s new weirdo boyfriend. 1) **The baby panda triplets in China have stayed alive for** [**100 days**](http://nypost.com/2014/11/05/chinas-adorable-panda-triplets-turn-100-days-old/)**:** The “miracle” panda cubs were born in [August](http://time.com/3107639/panda-triplets/), and they’ve all survived longer than zookeepers anticipated. Now they’re [reportedly healthy ](http://nypost.com/2014/11/05/chinas-adorable-panda-triplets-turn-100-days-old/)enough that visitors can see them. **Who to tell:** Your niece (but leave out the fact that they’re in China.) 2) **The human race has issues,** **but we landed a probe on a comet this month:** On Nov. 13, the European Space Agency’s Philae lander touched down on a comet after a 10-year, 4-billion mile journey. Since comets are made of space’s most primitive materials, scientists hope that the probe will collect valuable information that could help explain the origins of our solar system. **Who to tell:** Your grandparents who watched the Moon Landing (don’t mention the Virgin Galactic crash.) ### See the Rosetta Spacecraft's Best Photos of Comet 67P  This image shows comet 67P/CG and was acquired by the ROLIS instrument on the Philae lander during descent on Nov. 12, 2014, 14:38:41 UT from a distance of approximately 3 km from the surface. ESA/Rosetta/Philae/ROLIS/DLR/H  A 'selfie' composite image from a camera on the Rosetta mission’s Philae comet lander shows Comet 67P. ESA/Rosetta/NAVCAM  Comet 67P on Oct. 28, 2014. ESA/Rosetta/NAVCAM  Comet 67P in a photo released on Aug. 6, 2014. ESA/Rosetta/NAVCAM  Comet 67P on Sept. 26, 2014. ESA/Rosetta/NAVCAM  Comet 67P on Oct. 18, 2014 ESA/Rosetta/NAVCAM  Comet 67P on Nov. 4, 2014. ESA/Rosetta/NAVCAM  Comet 67P on Aug. 3, 2014. ESA/Rosetta/NAVCAM 3) **The Canadians are pretty nice neighbors:** After a microphone failure at the Toronto Maple Leaf’s game on Nov. 18 left our national anthem inaudible, Canadian hockey fans filled in to sing the rest of the Star Spangled Banner before the game began. **Who to tell:** Your neighbor, duh. 4) **Taylor Swift ‘s** **_1989_** **happened:** If you hate Taylor, stop reading now (and maybe do some soul searching.) Anyone with ears should admit they’re thankful for _1989._ **Who to tell:** Play _Shake It Off_ for your grandma, play _Blank Space_ for your cousin who just dumped her boyfriend, play the rest of the album for anyone who will listen. ### PHOTOS: See Taylor Swift Over the Years  Taylor Swift arrives at the 2006 CMT Music Awards at the Curb Event Center at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee. John Shearer—WireImage/Getty Images  Taylor Swift arrives at the 2007 CMT Music Awards. Kevin Mazur—WireImage/Getty Images  Taylor Swift performs during the 42nd Annual Academy Of Country Music Awards held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada in 2007. Ethan Miller—Getty Images  Taylor Swift performs during the Academy of Country Music New Artists' Party for a Cause show at the MGM Grand Hotel/Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada in 2008. Ethan Miller—Getty Images  Taylor Swift performs live on MTV's "TRL" at the MTV Studios in Times Square in New York City in 2008. Gary Gershoff—WireImage/Getty Images  Taylor Swift attends the 42nd Annual CMA Awards at the Sommet Center in Nashville, Tennessee in 2008. Ed Rode—WireImage/Getty Images  Singer Taylor Swift arrives at CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, California in 2008. Jon Kopaloff—FilmMagic/Getty Images  Taylor Swift performs on Saturday Night Live in 2009. NBC/Getty Images  Taylor Swift arrives at the Brit Awards 2009 at Earls Court in London, England. Gareth Cattermole—Getty Images  Taylor Swift performs during the 44th annual Academy of Country Music Awards All-Star Jam at the MGM Grand Hotel/Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada in 2009. Ethan Miller—Getty Images  Taylor Swift performs at Madison Square Garden in New York City in 2009. Theo Wargo—WireImage/Getty Images  Taylor Swift arrives to the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. Stephen Lovekin—FilmMagic/Getty Images  Taylor Swift performs at the 43rd Annual CMA Awards from the Sommet Center in Nashville, Tennessee in 2009. Katherine Bomboy—Getty Images  Taylor Swift performs onstage at the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards held at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California in 2010. Michael Caulfield—WireImage/Getty Images  Taylor Swift drops one of her awards during the 52nd annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, California in 2010. Valerie Macon—AFP/Getty Images  Taylor Swift performs at the CMA Music Festival in Nashville, Tennessee in 2010. Rick Diamond—Getty Images  Taylor Swift performs during the Grand Ole Opry 85th birthday bash at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Tennessee in 2010. Tony R. Phipps—Getty Images  Taylor Swift performs "Back to December" at the 44th Annual CMA Awards at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee in 2010. Rick Diamond—Getty Images  Taylor Swift attends the 'Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty' Costume Institute Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in 2011. TIMOTHY A. CLARY—AFP/Getty Images  Taylor Swift performs at the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. Jason LaVeris—FilmMagic/Getty Images  Taylor Swift performs at the Radio One Teen Awards at Wembley Arena in London, England in 2012. Mike Marsland—WireImage/Getty Images  Taylor Swift performs at the Radio One Teen Awards at Wembley Arena in London, England in 2012. Mike Marsland—WireImage/Getty Images  Taylor Swift switches on the Christmas lights and performs for fans and shoppers at Westfield London in London, England in 2012. Mike Marsland—WireImage/Getty Images  Taylor Swift arrives at the 26th Annual ARIA Awards 2012 at the Sydney Entertainment Centre in Sydney, Australia. Don Arnold—WireImage/Getty Images  Taylor Swift performs on stage during the 26th Annual ARIA Awards 2012 at the Sydney Entertainment Centre in Sydney, Australia. Brendon Thorne—Getty Images  Taylor Swift performs during night 1 of the 2012 KIIS FM Jingle Ball at Nokia Theatre LA Live in Los Angeles, California. C Flanigan—FilmMagic/Getty Images  Taylor Swift in concert at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts in 2013. Barry Chin—Boston Globe/Getty Images  Taylor Swift performs while Candice Swanepoel walks the runway at the 2013 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show at the Lexington Avenue Armory in New York City. Jamie McCarthy—Getty Images  Taylor Swift performs at the Mercedes-Benz Arena on May 30, 2014 in Shanghai, China. ChinaFotoPress/Getty Images  Taylor Swift performs onstage during the 2014 American Music Awards held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on Nov. 23, 2014 in Los Angeles, Ca. Michael Tran—FilmMagic/Getty Images  Taylor Swift performs at the 2014 American Music Awards at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on Nov. 23, 2014 in Los Angeles, Ca. Christopher Polk—Getty Images  Taylor Swift performs on The Voice in 2014. NBC/Getty Images  Taylor Swift performs during the 2014 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show at Earl's Court exhibition centre on Dec. 2, 2014 in London, England. Dimitrios Kambouris—Getty Images for Victoria's Secr  Taylor Swift performs onstage during KIIS FM's Jingle Ball 2014 at Staples Center on December 5, 2014 in Los Angeles, Ca. Christopher Polk—Getty Images 5) **We reached a historic climate change agreement with China:** Since the U.S. and China make up 40% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, it’s a big deal that the two biggest polluters are committing to cleaning up the planet, especially since China has previously been unwilling to cooperate on this issue. [The fact that China](http://time.com/3582178/china-us-climate-change-deal/) is willing to work with the U.S. to curb climate change is great news for the planet. **Who to tell:** This one’s good news for the whole table. So cheer up and eat up. 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