seen in austin

likes snacking on bananas

amazing article about Magawa, an African giant pouched rat, who detects mines and explosives in Cambodia, and just won (deservedly!) a gold medal for his work:

He can search an area the size of a tennis court in 30 minutes, whereas a person with a metal detector would usually take four days to search an area of that size. When he finds a mine, he signals to his handler by scratching at the earth above it.

AND:

Described by Malen, his main handler, as friendly and hard working, Magawa has a work-life balance that is likely the envy of many a human. “He is very quick and decisive,” Malen said in a statement provided by People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals, “but he is also the first one to take a nap during a break.”

When he is not in the minefield, the two-foot-long rat likes snacking on bananas, peanuts and watermelons, and taking a spin on the running wheel.

PS CONTINUED APOLOGIES FOR THE GRUESOME GOYA-ESQUE PHOTOGRAPHS, THIS BLOG IS BROKEN BUT SO IS MY BRAIN SO I CAN’T DEAL WITH CALLING YAHOO BUT I SWEAR I WILL, SOON

good feelings

lightweight twiggy person

when searching for kneeling chairs on ebay

dedicated to the solitary soldiers keeping the grind alive

https://dancingalonetopony.tumblr.com/

but that’s not all america has to be

from laura olin:

Susan Sontag: “Let’s by all means grieve together. But let’s not be stupid together. A few shreds of historical awareness might help us understand what has just happened, and what may continue to happen. ‘Our country is strong,’ we are told again and again. I for one don’t find this entirely consoling. Who doubts that America is strong? But that’s not all America has to be.”

ps just was on a zoom meeting where someone said their organization motto was “more is more” and have you ever heard a less thrilling motto (besides MAGA). also i just figured out how to hide your video from yourself on zoom.

a fragment of celestial music

the best thing i’ve seen in a long time — smokey so sweet and smiley, aretha in soft focus, on soul train, 1979. from carina del valle schorske’s believer essay, “it’s not too late”:

Every detail in the Soul Train duet is worthy of study, but I like to run the clip back to a bit from the beginning—that first harmony—beauty so keen it even takes Aretha by surprise. She turns to Smokey, flirting:

“We should’ve been a duo!”

“I’m telling you, it’s not too late!”

things

things i’m interested in:

• basically only the nba

but also lightly:

• ron wood’s i’ve got my own album to do (no verdict yet)
• tomatoes
• do yoga with me — after all these years of doing yoga, i’m still basically a beginner. which i guess is fine? is it fine to practice something for nine years but never improve? that doesn’t sound quite right?
• my new sleep mask! after years of dreaming of waffle pillows and cloud pillows and sleeping with giant pillows on my head, i got a sleep mask and it WORKS and kind of makes me feel like someone in a rom-com, maybe a type-A person.

things i’m NOT interested in:

• mascne
• grad school
• social media
• drinking water

strong look

stumbled upon on this on youtube — strange medley, but wow what a look for cher.

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