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I do think service workers are often looked down upon and treated poorly. Perhaps this will change things for those who do wish to return - to be treated with respect and appreciated for their care and expertise. To make a living wage. Going out to eat is a privilege and those serving us well making the experience even more special. I have always felt a generous tip a sign of my sincere appreciation. And as corny as some feel it is, I do engage in conversations because I’m interested. I was a server at a high end restaurant when younger and I encountered all kinds of people - from the extremely rude to the kindest. I had a wonderful experience, made really good friends but also knew I didn’t want to make it a career. Especially as I got older. It’s stressful and taxing on the body.

This is wonderful! I need to see her art - even if only on screen. I listened to a young monk on YouTube the other day. It was the morning routine of monks. The first thing in the morning is deep breathing. Next is contemplating death. It’s a practice about impermanence, detachment, the preciousness of life. How important each moment is. Never knowing when it will be your last, as death does not care about your age.

Have to give them credit for a brilliant advertising idea. Yet scare tactics are manipulative, which I don’t agree with.

What a phenomenal practice! Truly great way to stay present and appreciative no matter what it is. Love it - the last time I type a exclamation point? Not a chance!

I LOVE this! Simply profound!

Exceptional writing, important topic. I will admit here that I, too, was drawn to this case after reading about it on line. What pulled me in was the irony of “presenting” one’s life on Instagram and the reality behind those pictures. Perhaps it’s the inauthentic life that is so disturbing, the compulsion to create a reality so opposite the pain and suffering one endures. I find social media disturbing, a sick obsession. But I am old and the elders of my generation seemed overly alarmed at the behavior of my 60’s generation. Perhaps it’s all normal to not understand, to feel disturbed. I want to feel hopeful.

May be worth a try. I fantasize about being a tea drinker, no added sugar or milk, but I always end up tossing the tea out - discouraged. Acquiring a taste seems like work and I’m retired. But I also dream of myself as witch - don’t they drink tea?

I would love to have a safe and effective Lyme vaccine. I have stopped walking in the woods and other natural grassy environments because of the dreaded Lyme disease, which is very difficult to treat. Taking a long course of antibiotics seems really damaging to our microbiome, which is the cornerstone of our immunity.

YIKES! I remember seeing an episode of Shark Tank where 2 women had invented a small trap that you place under your bed in any establishment where you were spending the night to see if there are bed bugs. It’s now available at Home Depot.

This was a compelling read for me but not in the sense of urgent excitement - more curious fascination. It was embarrassing, endearing, awkward, funny, sad - all rolled into one.

This is such an uplifting and positive model for prisons to follow. Love the entire premise of educating and providing platforms such as debates to further encourage an individuals capacity to change and evolve. I have always believed that prisons should be about rehabilitation. It’s the only thing that makes sense to me. I can’t wait to see the documentary as Ken Burns is the master.

I LOVED Reservoir Dogs, one of Tarantino’s best! This makes me want to see it again. I remember liking Blood Simple but would need to revisit that one. I didn’t know Wes Craven did Last House on the Left, my all time most terrifying horror movie - very realistic. I never saw Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead but if Roth is the star, I’ll check it out. And Tom Waits is a favorite also, what an original.

This novel sounds intriguing. I love the idea of a Fig Tree narrating some of the chapters.

Always good to pause, learning how to respond instead of react.

This is really shocking. Talk about potential for disaster - as dangerous as the scene of Russian Roulette in Deer Hunter. “Humanized mice.” I truly hope we get to the bottom of this. Heads should roll.

OH YES! So innocent, sweet - just what the doctor ordered. Really love this. Goes with the cool sunny weather outside my opened windows, the fresh air and all the possibilities that await me today. It’s life and I need it up close and personal since Covid. Isn’t love grand!

I agree with this premise - the cliche but often truism - be the change you wish to see in the world. Live by example in a way that is just you being you. Be authentic and keep your mouth shut unless someone asks! Living one’s truth takes introspection, dedication and mindfulness. Small steps done consistently over time becomes habit. If you are uncomfortable at first, you are heading in the right direction! Change is not only possible, it’s essential moving forward.

Thought this was hysterical because I had a feeling there was some truth to it. Nothing like a good old fashioned rant!

Got a couple of laughs from this. I have to agree, the catalogue invites mockery.

This has so many of my worst fears brought to life through interesting characters and hair raising challenges. I could not stop reading this.

What a way to start my day! Welcome Thor! I loved everything you said here and I’m over the moon you are now officially part of this imaginative team. Readup is a part of my life because it has expanded me in ways that are deep and meaningful. I’m learning things I would never have come across unless I had subscriptions to all the top quality magazines and periodicals out there. The variety of information is staggering and it has made my entire world much larger. The reading community is intelligent, thoughtful and respectful. This must grow and thrive - it has become a part of my self care!

Wow, I love this! I went to Saint Andrew’s Solarpunk Primer link and I find this entire topic exciting, the vision so hopeful. I need to investigate this more but I agree, radical imagination is key to building our sustainable future. The artwork is beautiful.

I’m glad to hear she has moved on. I was more appalled by America’s castigation of Lewinsky than her behavior. There has always been a double standard that I find infuriating. If a young college intern had sex with Jackie Kennedy, he would have been a hero and given a talk show. And, for the record, I also thought Monica really attractive and loved her beret.

A very slippery slope that we are all potentially facing.

Yikes!

Like watching a movie. Gave me a deep insight into a place and characters unfamiliar to me.

I loved this article because I loved Morris and her remarkable story. Morris insisted that she was a writer of place, not travel. Yet this author feels that assessment did not get to the root of it. “Morris’s deepest subject, it now seems clear to me, was love. Love of cities. Love of marmalade. Love of birds and exclamation points. Love of her late daughter Virginia, to whom The World of Venice is dedicated. Love of Bach. Love of kindness. Love of - well, everything.”

Gorgeous, inspiring.

I’m so done with bio hacking! No chips for me - implantable or edible.

This is such an important article. I remember reading Diet for a New America by John Robbins back in 1987. I was in college studying nutrition. This book really shook me up, so much so, that I became a vegetarian. Something I adhered to from the age of 19 up until age 50. I even raised both of my children as lacto-ovo vegetarians. However, once I was menopausal, I felt my diet was not sustainable any more. Back then there were a lot of soy alternatives but little did I know that the estrogen like affect of it was what was making me ill. I cut out all of the alternative mass produced products and added some fish, chicken and turkey once those options were available in the organic, humanely raised form. Animal farming is as horrific as this article proclaims. I do think it’s important to educate oneself as to what the practices are - it’s hair raising! And the damage to the environment is a huge factor in the desire for alternatives.