Although it has its bad points, overall the internet is a marvellous invention, allowing us a breadth of knowledge and global communication that our ancestors could only have dreamed of.
And then you have days where thousands of people are glued to the fortunes of a raccoon that is stranded on the side of a building in St. Paul, Minnesota.
The little creature had climbed onto a ledge and somehow couldn't get back down, with Tim Nelson from Minnesota Public Radio News reporting that it had been there for two days without food or water. Then - to people's amazement - the racoon began climbing.... the wrong way.
Instead of coming down, it continued to climb UP the side of the UBS Building, steadily rising floor by floor, resting on ledges 20 floors up and with no way for people to rescue it, considering the windows of the building did not open.
Needless to say, people were GLUED to the wee daredevil's adventures - which are ongoing, although it began to descend in the early hours of the morning.
The latest update is that he (or she) is now ON THE ROOF, so hopefully he will be captured and kept safe... with a kick-ass story to tell their raccoon pals.
This poor raccoon apparently got itself stranded on a ledge of the Town Square office building in downtown St. Paul, likely on an errant mission to raid pigeon nests on the skyway over 7th Street. It's been there for two days now, without food or water. @mprnews pic.twitter.com/fVI5pmdCWq
— Tim Nelson (@timnelson_mpr) June 12, 2018
The #mprraccoon has arisen from his nap and is climbing again. pic.twitter.com/K1popKu2bF
— Tim Nelson (@timnelson_mpr) June 12, 2018
My picture from the 13th floor around noon. Hope he makes it down OK! #mprraccoon pic.twitter.com/gfVWysn9iO
— Ben (@Johnson88Ben) June 12, 2018
The #mprraccoon is the perfect 2018 metaphor. pic.twitter.com/rsgKwyPlHg
— Chris Geidner (@chrisgeidner) June 12, 2018
The #mprraccoon is doing a little grooming now that he's a social media star. You know, on a 23rd floor window ledge. @MPRnews pic.twitter.com/pGcwh7OJ6L
— Tim Nelson (@timnelson_mpr) June 12, 2018
Can confirm #MPRraccoon is still itchy. Got a little visit from @StPaulFireDept too! Cat food awaits it on the roof. pic.twitter.com/WeOTWmbaqz
— Evan Frost (@efrostee) June 12, 2018
St. Paul's animal control folks are noodling on #mprraccoon. Spokeswoman: they may try to put a live trap on roof to bring it down. But it'll have to make it that far on its own & as far as we can tell, the raccoon hasn't had anything to eat or drink for more than 24 hrs.
— Tim Nelson (@timnelson_mpr) June 12, 2018
For those of you worried about #mprraccoon: I've talked to wildlife experts, who say getting close to raccoon may invite attack or prompt it to leap or fall from ledge. Fire officials say they can't in good conscience risk a life putting a FF over the side of bldg for a raccoon.
— Tim Nelson (@timnelson_mpr) June 12, 2018
Having a very meta day here with the #mprraccoon. @MPRnews pic.twitter.com/NIzU0aeB2O
— Tim Nelson (@timnelson_mpr) June 12, 2018
The #mprraccoon is descending slowly. Down 2 floors in the last 5 minutes.
— Tim Nelson (@timnelson_mpr) June 13, 2018
The #mprraccoon is that little dark spot up on the building. He's coming down, one floor at a time. Four stories so far. pic.twitter.com/emHwCh8gts
— Tim Nelson (@timnelson_mpr) June 13, 2018
The #mprraccoon is climbing back UP the side of the building now. Went from 17th to 19th floor in last 5 min.
— Tim Nelson (@timnelson_mpr) June 13, 2018
The #mprraccoon has scaled the UBS building and is up on the roof.
— Tim Nelson (@timnelson_mpr) June 13, 2018
The #mprraccoon just made it to the roof! Video courtesy @DPet_KARE11News pic.twitter.com/Wb5xPsANZh
— Tim Nelson (@timnelson_mpr) June 13, 2018