“Joyce’s love for her is unconditional, Joanna knows that, but, really, unconditional love has a huge flaw. If you love me no matter what, who I actually am doesn’t matter. If someone loves your essence, your very being, what can you do to make them love you more or love you less? Nothing: there is no space. So the only option left to you is to continually prod at that unconditional love, to test it and stretch it, to mock it even. And it’s not just that. There is a further problem with unconditional love, isn’t there? Because what if you don’t love yourself? What if, like Joanna, you obsess over your flaws and weaknesses, you constantly update the balance sheet of your own personality and find it wanting? Well, then the unconditional love of a parent is a sign that they simply don’t know you. If they truly knew you, their love would be peppered with caveats. “I love you, but….”
"― Richard Osman, The Impossible Fortune
"
However, he also warned about the "immense" energy needs of AI, which made up 1.5% of the world's electricity consumption last year, external, according to the International Energy Agency.
A fabulous link to the past via Michael - thank you so much!!
“I expect to pass through this world but
once. Any good, therefore, I can
do, or any kindness that I can show to any
fellow-creature, let me do it now. Let me not
defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way
again.”
"Attributed to William Penn."
The steady decline of our right to protest is just one more indicator of a backsliding democracy.
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Describing what he witnessed as "sobering," Mr George stated: "The
International Court of Justice has deemed Israel an apartheid state. I
don’t feel qualified to make such a judgment, but I can confirm I
witnessed extreme segregation and discrimination."
He added: "There are broadly two communities of people, living unequal
lives – one with rights, freedoms, and access to services; the other
with restrictions, no right to vote for the government controlling their
lives, and daily hardship."
...
He stressed that achieving peace requires addressing this inequality:
"Seeking peace after decades of conflict can only work if it benefits
both Israelis and Palestinians.
“Achieving this will require political change and herculean diplomatic effort. Peace can’t come until this inequality ends."
Mr. George proposed a "Two-Stage Solution" as a necessary foundation for future peace:
1. Full democratic rights – votes for all
2. A truth and reconciliation process.
In remembrance of 15 Palestinian paramedic emergency workers killed by Israeli troops in southern Gaza 23 March 2025
11 April 2025"My heart and soul died when Rifaat was killed," says Hajjah Umm Mohammed, the mother of a Palestinian paramedic who was one of 15 emergency workers killed by Israeli troops in southern Gaza last month.
Rifaat Radwan, 23, was travelling in a Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS) ambulance in a convoy of emergency vehicles when it came under fire on the outskirts of Rafah on 23 March.
"I never expected him to be killed, especially since the area was classified as 'green', meaning safe and open to ambulances," she adds.
