Let a cat with a stumpy tail lead you to his other cat friends, see a tiny galaxy of sandy stars, some psychedelic art, a funky disco track you never heard before, a poignant lament for lost birds and much more in edition #101, thank you dear friends for joining me 🙂
If you are into eastern spirituality you will know this symbol very well. Aum or OM is the symbol of the centre of the universe and ultimate reality. It is the most important of the Hindu and Buddhist symbols and represents the dawn of creation or the vast emptiness.
Here’s a break down of the meaning of one of the most powerful mystical symbols. Via Cool Guides on Reddit
Japanese cat trusts man and so leads him to where all the other cats are
According to Reddit, the sand is the tiny exoskeletons of ancient marine protozoa which once lived on the ocean floor 550 million years ago. Tell me again how the world is boring? Via Reddit
British Philosopher Alan Watts, has a recognisable and commanding voice and here he speaks to us from beyond the grave about life, self, love, and everything else in an interesting illustrated composition.
This quirky, cute and psychedelic art is by the late surrealist painter Ilene Mayer (1938-2009). She was a self-taught oil painter whose work is a stunning example of. fantasy, surrealism, and psychedelic colours and patterns. She rose to prominence when her art was used on the cover of science fiction novels by many famous writers including Philip K Dick.
Psychadelic art by Ilene Meyer (1988)Psychadelic art by Ilene Meyer (1988)
A ‘solar punk’ future is imagining a future where equity, integrity and ethics are at its heart and where people embrace technology in order to live in harmony with the natural world and other-than-human beings, instead of destroying it. It is an antidote to the pessimism and darkness of cyberpunk imaginings of the future. In this video, Andrewism explains what a Library Economy could look like.
There is by no means an exhaustive or complete list because there are many other words that have come into New Zealand English from Māori but here are the most well known ones used. Some are everyday casual greetings others used for more formal or business settings and personal occasions in one’s life: weddings, funerals, family gatherings.
matangi: wind, breeze (“Matangi” is the name for a class of electric multiple unit trains used on the Wellington suburban network, so named after Wellington’s windy reputation).
This guy is incredibly talented and creates immersive, deeply emotional modern classical music that finds the soul inside of his subjects. For ‘The Lost Birds’, Christopher Tin is joined by British vocal ensemble VOCES8 and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. It’s a musical memorial to bird species driven to extinction by humankind.
Sweeping and elegiac, it’s a haunting tribute to those soaring flocks that once filled our skies, but whose songs have since been silenced. It’s a celebration of their feathered beauty: their symbolism as messengers of hope, peace, and renewal. But it’s also a warning about our own tenuous existence on the planet: that the fate that befell these once soaring flocks foreshadows our own extinction. Read more on his website
This album’s musical narrative is pastoral and romantic, soaring and delicate, but with the slightest whisper of melancholy. It is a deeply tragic response to the extinction of beautiful winged beings we share our planet with.
When we pay attention to the sensations in our bodies, we can feel that love is the energetic opposite of fear. Love seems to open and expand us right down to the cellular level, while fear causes us to contract and withdraw into ourselves. Yet so often, fear keeps us from being able to say yes to love – perhaps our greatest challenge as human beings.
Sharon Salzberg
Noekken Som Hvit Hest by Theodor Severin KittelsenWoman With A Cat, Pierre Auguste Renoir, c.1875
Written in short chapters that culminate in in-depth guided meditations, this is a book that spans vast tracts of interdisciplinary knowledge from the areas of Buddhism, Christianity, Psychology, Sociology and brings together these fields in a compelling, thought-provoking and deeply nourishing way. This is a book for the soul and spirit yes – but tempered with scientific knowledge and grounded practical advice for how to improve one’s ability to give and receive love in its variety of different forms.
Book Review: Real Love – The Art of Mindful Connection by Sharon Salzberg
This debut book by Fiona Mozley was short-listed to win the Booker Prize in 2017 and it is easy to see why. This book catches you in its lyrical groove, hypnotises you and doesn’t let go, I read it in two enraptured sittings.
There are elements of the modern day in this novel, but the story and setting feels ageless. It could even be a Victorian novel if it wasn’t for the occasion reference to a microwave or a car. The narrator of the story is son Daniel whose exact age is vague but one can guess he is in his early teens. He explains the movements and oscillations of his father, John but known mostly as ‘Daddy’ and his slightly older sister Cathy. Both are strong characters who loom large in the story in unique ways. Daniel is a more passive and feminine presence in relation to them. Later in the story it is revealed that he’s trans.
John and the children lovingly build their own house deep in a wild wood nearby to the village of Elmet. Together, they hunt, forage and live off the land – happy to be left alone by their world. In the past, their father John who is a gigantic strong man which inspires awe and fear in his community was once the local hired muscle for different illegal enterprises. He also carved out a living by winning illegal fights with his fists.
John longs for the quiet and blameless life on his own land and in his own home, living peacefully with his children. The three are outcasts, living on the fringes and not accepted in the world.
Disturbance of this dream comes in the form of a greedy, unscrupulous and entitled landlord who has an ancient beef with John. I can’t give away anything more without giving away the plot of the book.
“He was a human, and the gamut upon which his inner life trilled ranged from the translucent surface to beyond the deepest crevice of any sea.”
This is a beautifully lyrical book with many exquisite turns of phrase. It’s the kind of book that you can sink into like a sumptuous sofa or a velveteen bathrobe…it’s just…cosy. Although the turning of events becomes more intense as the book goes on – I will not give away how exactly.
Just enjoy this book for its thrilling, clear-eyed and vivid descriptions of Yorkshire and all of its raw, wild and gothic beauty.
“Sometimes I think spirit’s dead and gone, but sometimes I think it’s still there, just resting its eyes.”
The only drawback I could see was that the characters could be a bit poorly drawn in places, I would have liked more physical description of the two children to imagine them better. The vivid physical descriptions seemed to be reserved only for their muscly, brawny father and seemed to jump off the page. It loses one star because of this.
However, I would not miss this book for the world and heartily recommend it if you want a satisfying read. This is like a novel-length fable or gothic fairy tale.
Welcome to the 100th edition of Interesting Things I Found on the Internet. This project was started during covid over 2 years ago and flourished and grown in popularity so I decided to continue doing it every two weeks. Here’s a collection of some of the stand-out weirdness and beauty from the past 100 editions. I hope you enjoy these! Cheers and here’s to many 100’s more episodes to come! See you round like a rissole.
Best Art from the past 100 editions
Each edition features amazing art and although it’s hard to choose the best art from the previous editions I’ve given it a shot…
Here is a quirky kaleidoscope of things that inspired me this week, I hope you enjoy them. Let me know if you have any things of your own to share…Much love
Olan Ventura, Still Life With Golden Goblet, 2019, acrylic on canvas, 121.9 x 137.2 cm
His surreal and imaginative paintings are outside of time and place and seem to have an otherworldly quality that captivates me. The settings have a bewitching quality and are always in the gloaming of the late afternoon…
Immense skyscrapers and towering monoliths dwarf the citizenry in François Schuiten’s ‘Les Cités obscures’, a graphic novel series (1983–present) that captures the steampunk modernist aesthetic. Read more
This masterpiece is by the enigmatic Russian artist Roman Booteen.
Based in Russia, rising star Roman Booteen (spelled Butin) maintains a mysterious level of anonymity, while producing hobo nickel creations which regularly shock the coin collecting community with both their subject matter and complexity. His carvings include pop culture figures, and he often plays with exaggerating and softening the facial features of his characters giving them a real sense of personality.
I am Ophélie, a French artist and I live in Edinburgh, UK. I embroider by hand more or less large embroideries, mainly about the planets that inhabit our Solar System but I also explore more natural subjects like animals and flowers. I also do original illustrations, mostly in gouache and watercolor, my subjects are very varied but my universe remains rather colorful and poetic. I am currently working on the creation of an illustrated CD book with an author, Mirélè Rozen, which should be published this year 2021 …
A cat, a hologram of a tiger and a hologram of some dices: you can see some (or sometimes all) of these in every artwork I make. These Easter eggs became so meaningful and consistent in my artworks, that now they are a sort of “watermark” for me.
A sparkling Bladerunner vision of the future by DanguizA sparkling Bladerunner vision of the future by DanguizA sparkling Bladerunner vision of the future by DanguizA sparkling Bladerunner vision of the future by Danguiz
The lush and haunting feminine portraits of Aniela SobieskiThe lush and haunting feminine portraits of Aniela SobieskiThe lush and haunting feminine portraits of Aniela SobieskiThe lush and haunting feminine portraits of Aniela Sobieski
20 Skies by Alex Hyner, buy it here. It reminds me a little bit of the painting ‘This Little Piggy’ by my friend Wayne Wolfson who I interviewed for this blog.
Victor Nizovtsev was born in Siberia near lake Baikal in 1965 and studied at various art schools in Russia culminating in studying at the prestigious Vera Muhina University of Industrial Arts in St Petersburg. In 1997 he moved to the US and now lives in Maryland with his wife and children where he continues to paint and sell his art, with numerous solo and group exhibitions. Via Mariana Gomez on Twitter
Victor Nizovtsev’s sublime fantasy art Victor Nizovtsev’s sublime fantasy art Victor Nizovtsev’s sublime fantasy art Victor Nizovtsev’s sublime fantasy art Victor Nizovtsev’s sublime fantasy art
This gorgeous art is by the Japanese artist MonoKubo. He creates these cutesy oversized animal familiars along with tiny children who relish their girth and company.
Don’t ask me to explain what is going on here, I’m just an astral tourist…
The late Patrick James Woodroffe (1940 – 2014) was an English artist, illustrator who specialised in fantasy science-fiction artwork, with slightly menacing and always compelling art that plunged into surreal realms. He collaborated with well-known musicians throughout his life, has a number of bronze sculptures on permanent display throughout the world and wrote several books. Something about his art captivates and draws me in.
This is a detailed and dimension-twisting fantasy world, I get ancient map vibes as well, it’s incredible! From his website:
The artistic works of James Fletcher are spawned from an imagination of highly detailed, surreal, dark, pseudo-psychedelic alternate realities, often with an aquatic theme, and populated by fantastical scenes and creatures.
Judy Garfin was born in 1945, in Edmonton, Alberta. She studied sculpture at the Art Students League in New York City and painting and printmaking at the Vancouver School of Art and in 1973, received her M.F.A. from The Maryland Institute College of Art’s Hoffberger School of Painting. She has lived in Israel, New York City, Ireland and Italy and has traveled widely throughout the world, which has profoundly influenced her artwork opening avenues into image creation that undermines western concepts of hierarchy and artfulness. She lives in Montreal where she paints in her studio and teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in Print Media as a tenured associate professor in The Department of Fine Arts at Concordia University. Via Twitter and Judy Garfin’s website.
This spectacular land art is by Greek artist Danae Stratou. She created this hypnotic and epic piece named Desert Breath in 1997. This was a collaborative large-scale land art installation in Egypt that extended over 25 acres and involved exquisite circular pits and mounds that attracted rain water and evolved over the seasons. Via Twitter
Thick impasto dabs and luscious licks of colour by Russian artist Anastasia Trusova works captures a dreamy, bucolic scene using in what she calls “textured graphic impressionism,” a unique style that expresses emotion through detail and volume. Via Colossal on Twitter
Personally, I love the still silence and the eerie otherworldliness of these paintings, looking at them is like staring into a dream of the unconscious.
Hasui Kawase was born in Tokyo in 1883 and is regarded as one of the foremost landscape artists of the 20th Century. The son of a silk braid merchant, he studied Japanese-style painting with Kiyokata. His prints are based on small sketches and watercolours that he took from nature. Many of his woodblocks and sketches were destroyed in the 1923 earthquake and the rare few that remain are considered to be priceless in value now.
Kaii Higashiyama was born at Yokohama in 1908, he was one of the most popular artists in post-war Japan and is known for his Nihonga style paintings, he died in 1999. I love the deep green serenity of stillness of these paintings and otherworldly feeling of peace about them.
Giuseppe Reichmuth was born in 1944 in Zürich, he does not belong to any art movement and instead the only fixed attribute to his art is a sense of humour and a sense of fun. As you can see here with his posters about Dinosaurs on the motorway. In the 80’s, this series of artworks was popular all over the world and could be seen on Tshirts, books and posters, especially in the USA.
Dinosaurier auf der Autobahn, 1980 by Giuseppe ReichmuthDinosaurier auf der Autobahn, 1980 by Giuseppe ReichmuthDinosaurier auf der Autobahn, 1980 by Giuseppe ReichmuthDinosaurier auf der Autobahn, 1980 by Giuseppe Reichmuth
Terry Watkinson is from Thunder Bay, Northern Ontario. He is both a musician and a visual artist and he along with his rock band Max Webster, which toured extensively in Canada, the USA and Europe, and produced five Gold albums. When Max Webster broke up Terry returned to University and became a medical illustrator. He now works as an artist and has gallery exhibitions twice per year. He’s inspired by the landscapes of Ontario and conjured up imaginary scenes from the landscapes.
There is something seriously creepy, eerie and wrong about the colour palette of this art, the floating ghostly figures also lend this art a psychological horror vibe. Although I searched long and hard for it….I couldn’t find who the original artist is who created this, which lends even more of a mysterious vibe of it!
I just love the Beatrix Potter vibes of this enchanted painting by Omar Rayyan so much!
Upon graduating from the Rhode Island School of Design many years ago, Omar Rayyan settled on the island of Martha’s Vineyard. The bucolic surroundings compliment and help inspire his “old world” aesthetic toward painting. He enjoys looking to the past for inspiration and guidance from the great oil painters of the Northern Renaissance and the Romantic and Symbolist painters of the 19th century.
Evelyn De Morgan was a Pre-Raphaelite artist of the Victorian era who defied the conventions of the deeply conservative Victorian society she was raised in, Evelyn De Morgan dared to be different and studied at the prestigious Slade School of Art, before being invited to exhibit at the exclusive Grosvenor Gallery when she was just 20 years old. This was an astonishing achievement for a woman at the time. Her hope for a feminist future is highlighted in the paintings on display in the exhibition.
This has to be the most wholesome and nourishing Twitter account out there. I have been courting her for an interview, but she is being a bit coy about it, I think she is really busy with her art, so that’s great!
You’re already beautiful now by TitsayYou’re already beautiful now by Titsay
Yes, we are the product of our DNA. The product of evolution. But, we’re also the product of countless choices to be kind. How much active kindness does every child need? Every community? Your ancestors didn’t survive without willful kindness. You are the sum of so much love.
This naughty pup pressed record on a phone in the park and took a selfie. What a handsome and distinguished boy. Special mention goes to the little tongue poking out.
This is Buddy. He found a phone in the park and decided to leave a selfie on it. 12/10 pic.twitter.com/PgWejKeghu
This similarity has led to much confusion by Australian police over the years, with crimes committed in Eucalyptus forests (or maybe that’s just what I hope!). Perhaps the Police just don’t have the right koalifications. Other animals with fingerprints include close relatives of humans chimpanzees and gorillas. Read more
Top row: Standard ink fingerprints of an adult male koala (left) and adult male human (right). Bottom row: Scanning electron microscope images of epidermis covering fingertips of the same koala (left) and the same human (right). (Image credit: Macie Hennenberg, et al. and naturalSCIENCE)
When Godzilla met King Kong when they were just kidsWhen Godzilla met King Kong when they were just kidsWhen Godzilla met King Kong when they were just kidsWhen Godzilla met King Kong when they were just kids
In 1925, a deadly diphtheria outbreak affected the lives of 10,000 + in Nome, Alaska. With the weather to harsh to fly in the anti-toxin. Togo the Husky lead the sledge dog team that delivered the serum, traversing 674 Miles, some said he was on his last legs at age 12 years old, but he had a strong heart and persevered. He delivered the vaccines. If you are interested in Togo’s story, it was recently made into a really great movie.
Sergeant Stubby was a courageous WWI soldier dog who warned soldiers of mustard gas and found wounded men. He served for 18 months and participated in 17 battles. He lived through the war and passed away peacefully at home in 1926. Bless you solider dog for your service.
I say four paws not four legs, because there were also plenty of cats, horses and other animals with four legs who were brave for humans and their pointless, stupid wars as well. Via Reddit
Sargeant Stubby was the bravest soldier on four paws
A Golden Retriever named Sampson who is the companion of a scientist at the University of Illinois has been given permission to accompany his mistress in the lab so long as he wears full PPE including a lab coat, plastic booties and goggles. Human friend Joey suffers from chronic pain and Sampson can anticipate when she needs help and can sound the alarm. Sampson is a gentle giant gentleman scientist, one small step for a doggie, one giant leap for science. Via Rex Specs
Youtube’s algorithm delivered magic to me again with this beautiful video taken at Dubbo Zoo with acclaimed Indigenous artist Allan McKenzie, a Gamilaroi/ Wiradjuri man whose didgeridoo symphony for the elephants caused rambunction, delight and trumpeting joy.
In 2001, the unforgettable and soulful Robin Williams met with the unforgettable and soulful Koko the Gorilla at The Gorilla Foundation. Following the death of her gorilla companion, Williams made Koko smile for the first time in six months. They laughed, embraced, tickled and played together.
In 2014, when Koko was told of Robin’s death, she signed the word “cry” in sign-language. Koko died in 2018 peacefully in her sleep, of old age. Rest in Power Robin and Koko, I like to think that you both are together now beyond the veil in a gorilla-human embrace.
A group of critically endangered macaws are released from captivity into the wild. Fly away far and free beauties and may you find some safe rainforest shelter, food and plenty of opportunities to mate and propagate your species!
Mary River Turtles have green Mohican-style hair-dos made of algae and can breathe through their genitals. Photo: Chris Wan Vyk. Via Space Star Fish on Twitter
Mary River Turtles were first formally discovered in 1994, and eluded discovery in their natural environment for nearly 30 years. There has been a dramatic decrease in their population due to low reproduction rates and an increase of depredation on nests. Let’s all hope that these beautiful turtles survive.
Most interesting music
Interesting is a subjective quality of course, but here’s some that were memorable for me and I hope you agree….
I have seen Nick live three times so far and his live performances of this song Stagger Lee are always a big highlight. The song escalates and gets harder, darker and more intense as it goes on. This is definitely my favourite Nick Cave song because of how incredible it is to see live. Who would have thought a song about sodomy and murder would be so unbelievably amazing.
Welcome to the Khruangbin funk train
Funkadelic purveyors of sunshine grooves Khruangbin have released another genius video clip. This time two very cool characters build and rate some choice sandcastles in the middle of London. I just can’t even!!! It’s too good to even put into words haha. If you don’t know who Khruangbin are, welcome to a world of funky laid-back tunes
This is an incredibly playful, buoyant and enjoyable ambient album that features field recordings of birds and atmospheric wind elements in various parts of the Central Otago Lake District of New Zealand. Haast -Hāwea is a electronic music producer from Otago who creates psychadelic new age soundscapes.
Song of the Day is an amazing and eclectic selection of little-heard music from my blogger friend William A1000Mistakes I have to agree that this Nick Cave and Warren Ellis song, taken from the soundtrack to True Detective is a real classic.
French band Orange Blossom who I found randomly on Youtube are an incredible blend of trip-hop, Middle Eastern music, rock and other genres. I am in love with this band!
Lush are a really amazing band from the 90’s that aren’t talked about often, but they are criminally underrated. I love the sweeping, epic guitars and swirling floaty vocals here in a song of theirs from 2016. The video clip with the murmurations of starlings at sunset, it’s very dreamy!
TISM (which stands for This is Serious Mum) is a very strange but iconic Australian band of the 80’s and 90’s that released meme-like songs and video clips that went viral before the internet on an ancient dusty thing called MTV, where videos played and nobody really had a say in what they were able to watch. If you want to learn more about amazing and obscure Australian music thenA1000Mistakes is your man. He always showcases great selections of little heard music from AU and NZ. Check out his blog here.
A trippy psychadelic album that will put you into a trance-like state. The cover here actually matches the sound of the music, which was a pleasant discovery.
Intricate, exquisite 3D cat portraits that are handcrafted from felt to look exactly like photos. And yes, you can request to have your kitty rendered in this way, all she will need is a photo!
This elegant and beautiful female-only language dates to the Song dynasty (960-1279 BC) or even the Shang Dynasty more than 3,000 years ago in China, an ancient coda feminista.
Nüshu is a women’s-only script that was passed down from mothers to their daughters in feudal-society China
Nüshu provided a way for women to cope with domestic and social hardships and helped to maintain bonds with friends in different villages. Convivial words of friendship and happiness were embroidered in Nüshu on clothing. Although it wasn’t spoken, when women gathered, Nüshu was chanted or sung in poems or songs that talked of personal regrets, marriage complaints, support or advice using Nüshu words. Read more on the BBC
In November 1878, a polar bear brought back by Arctic whalers escaped into the streets of Dundee. After charging up Commercial St, he broke into a clothier’s shop on the High St (it’s now a gift shop). he was recaptured after got distracted by a mirror. #OldWeirdScotland
The tailor and a customer were in the shop at the time and hid behind the counter. Amazingly no-one (including the bear) was injured, except for a dress mannequin in the shop window– it got badly mauled. Via Twitter
There’s a whole lot of silly cliched things that happen in medieval films and TV series that likely didn’t occur during medieval times. Read more about why these things are myths in the always provocative and interesting myth-busting history blog Fake History Hunter
Almost a quarter of all the spells in this grimoire are devoted to what can loosely be called love; formulas talk of winning, catching or gaining the affection or love of a girl or woman. Magic could be called upon to break through the societal barriers caused by rank and riches but such spells were not for the fainthearted. To gain the friendship of a girl of any quality, one needed to note when a mare was born of a foal and immediately cut a piece of flesh straight from its forehead and dry it, from noon precisely, in the sun on Jupiter’s day. After collecting the dried flesh at the death of the sun, one needed to grind it to a powder and feed it to the object of one’s affections.
Named after the Abbey of Lindau on Lake Constance (Germany), where it was once housed, the Lindau Gospels ranks as one of the great masterpieces of book-binding and was constructed and put together at different times. The back cover dates from Salzburg 8th Century A.D, the front cover was made in eastern France 100 years later and it was written in and illuminated in a monastrery in St Gall. Switzerland. Read more
“Internet surfer Clarence Kudrow was so good as a cybersex partner he may have actually gotten a woman pregnant online!”. Via Pulp Librarian on Twitter
“I got pregnant from being in an online chat room!”
The flying dragon is somewhat troublesome to compose, it must be made of either dry or light wood or crooked lane places, or of thin whalebones covered in Muscovie glass and painted over. In the body thereof, there must be a void to pass the rope through, unto the bottom of this cane must be bound one or two large rockets.
The Mysteries of Nature and Art (1634) — an illustrated manual for building devices relating to water works, fireworks, drawing, painting + miscellaneous experiments “confusedly intermixed”: Public Domain Review
A group of women are seen ‘waulking’ or tucking Harris tweed cloth, a technique to remove oil and dirt. Women on the Outer Hebrides used these occasions for singing and socialising. The process has since been replaced with industrial processing of the wool. The film is by Jack Cardiff who was also the cinematographer for the classic British films Black Narcissus (1947) and the Red Shoes (1948).
This is a gigantic aquatic bird is fabled to inhabit the lochs and open water around the west coast of Scotland. They are quite bloodthirsty and prefer sheep and cattle but aren’t fussy and may eat people! Via Stephen G Ray on Twitter (Painting origin: unknown)
mythical Boobrie of Ayrshire in Scotland
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This book is designed to be confronting, provocative, emotional and stirring in all of the ways that many people don’t like to discuss in polite conversation. That’s because it tackles one of the most (ridiculously) controversial taboo topics that many people don’t want to discuss at dinner parties or in inane work chats. Why some people decide to not have children.
FYI: there are oceans and universes between those who really want to have children but can’t and those who choose not have children (but they could if they wanted to). This book focuses on the latter – being childfree by choice.
The myriad reasons why people decide to not have kids are rendered in a raw, real and extremely personal way. The deep-seated reasons, criticism, judgement, isolation and invisibility that some people feel when they don’t have children is explored. This is an uncomfortable but necessary book.
If you are, like me, choosing to not have children for your own personal reasons….reading other people’s revelations about the issue in this book can be powerful and cathartic.
“Norwegian writer Karl Ove Knausgaard writes about the terror his father made him feel. ‘Every single day of my entire childhood’. About his own children he says ‘I have tried to achieve only one aim: that they shouldn’t be afraid of their father.’
“There was something else too. As a child, I never felt safe. Every single day of my entire childhood. I lived in fear that something bad was going to happen to me. I live like that still. And so the big question: How could a person who lived like that ever make a child feel safe?”
‘The Most Important Thing’, Sigrid Nunez’s story.
An 1800 year old portrait of a mother and her two children painted on gilded glass, found in Alexandra, Roman Egypt
Mothers who are able to successful combine work and family are all around me, yet the compatibility of a career and kids remains a concept I understand intellectually, but seem emotionally unable to accept. And so when I tell people, usually female friends that at the age of 41, I ‘don’t know if I want to have children’ or I still feel that I am not ready. What I am really saying is that I don’t believe I can do the things I want to do in life and be a parent to kids, nor am I willing to find out.
‘Mommy Fearest’, Anna Holmes’ story.
Having children: some women have thought about it since they were children themselves. Others are ambivalent and uncertain, some are sure they they don’t want to. And the most sad of all and deserving of our love and care …the women who really want to…but can’t.
I admire women who look at the rigours of parenting and decide that they’re just not cut out for it, or just don’t want to try and I wish we had more conversations about childlessness that didn’t force us to approach them from such a defensive place. I’m also sensitive to the fact that there are plenty of women who want children but are unable to have them naturally. It seems hostile and uncaring to have a conversation about motherhood that is rooted in selfishness when so many women are unable to walk down that road.
‘Save Yourself’, by Danielle Henderson
The lack of desire to have children is innate. It exists outside of my control. It is simply who I am and I can take neither credit nor blame for all that it may or may not signify. But the decision to honour that desire, to find a way to be whole again on my own terms even if it means facing judgement, scorn or pity from mainstream society, is a victory. Every day I try and be my own parent – the parent I never had. Children are nice, but I decided to save myself instead.
‘Save Yourself’, by Danielle Henderson
One criticism I have of this book is that it isn’t gendered enough. The stories are from both female and male writers who for many different reasons decided to remain without children.
However, including men’s stories in here disguises the fact that choosing to remain childless is a gendered social experience and the burden of social blame, misunderstanding, and judgement largely falls on women but not men if they don’t want kids.
Men just become loveable rogues or bachelors. Whereas women become somehow faulty human beings or even more cruelly – “failures as women” for deciding that they don’t want children.
A woman’s experience of choosing to not have kids is vastly different from a man’s. This is due to both biology and societal expectations. She needs to make this important decision in a short window of time and rearrange everything else in her life around this decision. Whereas a man needn’t hurry with the decision and can (theoretically) father children whenever he wants to whomever he wants and also doesn’t need to technically be around to raise them (although it is obviously better if he is). A man doesn’t need to rearrange his career goals or any other parts of his life to make way for children being his main responsibility.
The labour that men put in is very little compared to a woman’s labour (literally in carrying the child and the birth) and the ongoing, grotty, manual hard graft they put into child-rearing, cleaning up messes and spilt bodily fluids constantly.
So really – it seemed very silly to me to even include men’s stories in this book. Despite the push to make men “equals in child-rearing”, in reality…it doesn’t look that way, at least with women friends I know.
This book is thought-provoking, cathartic and interesting to read. There are definitely a lot of stories in here that are far removed from my own reality, but reading some of the insights in this book I suddenly felt less alone in my decision to not have children.
Breton lunar superstitions, a passionate barista champion, ancient Arabic art made anew, a woollen house and how to keep yourself safe during a protest and much more in the 99th edition of Interesting Things – stay cool!
Tina has incredible artistic and hand-building skills and turns herself into a mysterious and kooky anime character. The results, like with her other tutorial videos are totally mind-blowing.
There is a lot wrong with our world. If you have decided to get out onto the streets and exercise one of your fundamental rights, then here’s how to stay safe while doing that. Via Cool Guides on Reddit
Morgan Eckroth: World Barista Championships Final in Melbourne, 2022
I love the dedication, passion and professionalism that she shows. Her deep passion for coffee is obvious here and the way she weaves deep stories into her coffee making process (which itself looks intense and complicated) she does all of this in an effortless and graceful way…she is pretty amazing this girl. She came second!
The knitted house, 2006 made for the London Architecture Biennale by the group Knitting Site- women who knitted the outside walls out of garbage bags, old plastic bags, and rope. They continued on the day of the event, as the house unfolded before the crowd’s eyes!
I was initially attracted to the VHS tape quality tulips used in cover photo of this mix. Then the mix came on which is a warming, comforting and uplifting underground house mix. Creator of the mix Dreaming Files has done well, the title and it’s meaning is suitably enigmatic, the music suitably dreamy and the video clips are old VHS tapes from 90’s NYC, which provide a compelling visual narrative.
Ladies be warned: don’t stare at the moon while taking a pee in the middle of the night
Breton women who answered nature’s call at night were careful never to turn to the moon when they did so, especially if it was a waning moon. Otherwise, they risked conceiving by virtue of the moon. It also brought bad luck to castrate a pig during this moon phase! #wyrdwednesday
Studio Ibbini is an award-winning collaboration between Julia Ibbini and Stéphane Noyer creating works that intersect contemporary art, design and engineering. Based in Abu Dhabi, they create intricate, detailed works inspired by Islamic geometry, pattern & design. Via Bayt Al Fann on Twitter
Intricate odes to ancient Islamic art: Studio Ibbini
Did you enjoy this collection? let me know below what you thought. Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed it, stay tuned for the next ones!
Spiritually nourishing and grounded in the slow rumblings of nature and animals, Mary Oliver’s poems are a salve for the restless and jaded soul. Her poems are steeped in the luminescent beauty of nature and timeless wisdom of land and animals, yet she always has her bare feet planted deeply in the soil
It is rare that a book of poems can really move me and rock me to my core…however Mary Oliver’s poetry never fail to burn deeply into my heart and mind.
Her poetry is simple yet powerful, humble yet vast and all-encompassing. She talks about mortality, time, animals, the universe, the gentle unfurling of plants, the tender and ferocious behaviours of wild animals and she observes it all with her curious and playful gaze.
To say that she translate this wonderment and fascination well is a massive understatement – she is a true and timeless master of poetry. One for the ages.
I would say that she’s the greatest American poet who has ever lived, but perhaps I am biased; as her world view, and the way she casts her eye over the world with such wonder and appreciation really strikes a chord with me.
For new people to her work, she provides a vocabulary to articulate the ineffable and indescribable moments of ecstacy in your life, brought about by sudden and brilliant flashes of connection to nature.
Artists & Writers in Their Own Words: Evaldas Azbukauskas AKA Giriu Dvasios
Whether you are a long-term Mary Oliver fan or you are completely new to her world and work, you should enjoy this poetry collection.
If you’re not into nature, animals, or if you don’t have a curious and spiritual nature – you probably could pass on this one.
This is totally my jam and it gets five stars. Although secretly, I would rate this book one trillion stars in homage to Mary – the great intergalactic poetess who has now sadly shuffled off our mortal coil.
Endangered siamangs are the largest type of the gibbon family. They have distinctive black coats and communicate using a complex system of booming calls. They have gorgeous throat sacks that swell up as they sing together. Like other gibbons they form gregarious and close-knit family groups. They face a major existential threat from palm oil deforestation and illegal animal trafficking that occurs as a result of this deforestation.
Did you know name of one of the most vocal gibbons of the Bornean jungle ‘Siamang’ originates from several indigenous languages in the Central Aslian group in SE Asia?
Siamang: n. ultimate origin of the word ʔamang (where the ʔ represents a glottal stop), is from several indigenous languages of the Central Aslian group.
When speakers of Malay borrowed the word ʔamang, they added the personal article si. Similar to an honorific like “mister”, si generally applies only to humans, or to animals, spirits or objects that are personified. Malay speakers later interpreted the word amang as “black”, giving rise to a folk etymology of si amang as meaning something like “Mr Sooty”.
The Malay expression was eventually treated as the single word siamang. For the Malays, the charisma exuded by siamangs entitled them to the status of personhood — another recognition of the affinity between humans and our forest ape relatives.
Sussurate: n: to whisper or murmur. The noise produced by a hive of bees, a rustling of leaves in the forest or the crackling of a fire
It turns out that elemental experiences for ancient humans echo and whisper back over aeons and are universally received and recognised. No matter where we are on this planet, the sighing of the wind, crackling of the fire, buzzing of the hives and rustling of the leaves in forests all makes the same sound. Remembered from our ancestors who all spoke a shared Proto-Indo-European language.
Sense siblings
Psithurism: The whispering of wind in trees (from Ancient Greek ψιθύρισµα)
Susurrar: The whisperings of nature (from Spanish)
Dean Village and the Water of Leith in Edinburgh is filled with an orchestra of sussuration
Suser: The whispering of the wind (from Norwegian) Example: Det Suser i Sivet which translates to The Wind in the Willows in Norwegian
Content Catnip 
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