Duncan

You know that thing women do, when they tuck their hair behind their ears?

Or, you know, exist?

Beautiful. Women are beautiful, always.

I was awoken by birds this morning.

But, I wasn't even annoyed, because it was so lovely?

I'm not a bird expert but, I'm sure they're a new kind in the area probably — based on the season?

Nature. There's a world beyond my being annoyed.

I watched the Netflix doc on Epstein, and it is wild how he *got to* get away with being such a vile person for so long.

It's no wonder the systems & structures related to his acts are fighting & distracting so vehemently.

I feel a sincere sense of solicitude for the survivors.

If you're observing Ramadan, I hope that it is to you what your mind and soul need at this point in time.

To the rest of us, whatever our religious and/or philosophical bent: let us, too, be mindful of- and constructively compassionate in how we engage with the world around us.

Love.

Yup.

I don't observe Valentine's Day — but, if *you* do, as an idea, it is meant to be based in the concept of love.

So, I hope that if you do [observe it] — it is that for you. In a sincere way.

We can all do with sincere love right about now, yeah?

Cum'on? Makes sense.

Doesn't it?

When years from now you see, what seems to *should* be ordinary things — not.. being that?

It'd have been important to know this: nothing happens in a vacuum.

I can respect that.

I've been rewatching The Office (US) and with the everything of everything right now, it's so comforting?

I'm glad it got created.

Donald Trump doesn't just happen.

And, he doesn't continue to be what he chooses to be, by himself.

There are actual human beings and, systems & structures allowing and enabling it, because of vested interests.

It is intellectually lazy to afford him this much credit.

At various moments in time, we're experiencing life at different levels of difficulty.

Yours isn't worse. Mine isn't worser.

They're different. And, that's okay. It's, still real.

And, it's okay to feel.

I've now had just about enough of the heat of this South African Summer.

What the fuck does it think it is?

South African?

Cappuccino Pavlova I am inordinately proud of this, and am not ashamed to say so. I have long been a pava-holic but this is my first venture into a fruit-free (though far from fruitless) version. The instant espresso p...

My message is short and sweet: Cappuccino Pavlova is #RecipeOfTheDay! www.nigella.com/recipes/capp...

Reminder: vaccines work.

I've been seeing versions of the "Board of Peace" being illustrated.

And, on *that* basis, they do the job: cartoons are a form of art.

But, also: I don't want us to detach from reality.

These are real human beings [with vested interests] *choosing* to be obsequious minions.

I'm glad the court got to the bottom of this.

At every level of progress in society, nothing gets done without women.

Nothing about life *is*, without women.

It is therefore not only unconscionable but simply idiotic to disregard the concept of equality as if you're currently in the 1950s.

The first Nobel Peace Prize was officially awarded in 1901.

In 2026, a petulant, enabled & coddled president has coerced his way to ''accepting'' the award.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee had to officially make it clear that this is not how things work.

This is where we're at.

Despite what's generally regurgitated by our society: Mental healthcare, *is* [part of] healthcare.

If you didn't take care [get to?] of yourself in the ways that you needed today, that's okay.

You get to choose to do so tomorrow, again. (Whatever that means to- and for you.)

Constructively search for the beauty in this world.

Find it. (Allow it to find you, too.)
And, then: hold onto it.

It matters that you do.

It matters that you know that the beauty that You put out into this world, matters.

Go.

One day, when it’s safe, when there’s no personal downside to calling a thing what it is, when it’s too late to hold anyone accountable, everyone will have always been against this.

— El Akkad

It's a despairing time to be alive.

Got me thinking: as a kid, when I was in public with my (late) mom, I had to emotionally prep for folks stopping her to chat.

Me, being me, it used to be irksome, but as an adult, now — something that brings me comfort: her humanity & laugh.

Another thing about Maduro capture — this isn’t the work of fools, which means serious military people, and not just trumps dumb and dumber collection of idiots — went along with this. I’m so tired of seeing media frame this as just a Trump thing - this is maybe the most American thing he’s done.

Ever since Iraq, there's been a running joke on the Internet, whenever oil is discovered somewhere on the planet — that it is "about to receive some democracy".

And, over the past 48 hours the cloak of amusement has just been completely removed through Venezuela, hasn't it?

Assuming they first had to get a feel for what folks' reactions would be, huh?

Now, to do some more █████████ — before releasing the next batch, right?

This made me chuckle.

‘Carol’ as in ‘Christmas carol’ originally referred to dances performed in the round.

It later referred to the song of merriment that accompanied said dances.

‘Carol’ is your mom’s friend who sells labradoodle sweaters on Etsy.

Just checked this, and it's true.

Disappointing indeed.

Bananas.