Caroline Smrstik

Just in time for International Women’s Day!

Story of my life, Your Grace.

Iran asks for air support. Russia flies by with a banner that says “you’re doing great”. Because fuck Russia and Iran both.

If you’re really lucky, it’s both.

My recent life choices are apparently solid. Lovely to see you again, Your Grace.

May her memory be for a blessing.

I daresay the buzzards would ignore this particular vermin.

Wow.

Mm-hmm. Fortunately my mother was not having it, and taught us all how to diagram sentences.
Another century, another country, another language: Swiss German schools adopted this philosophy and are now surprised that young adults cannot write a sentence without spelling and grammar errors.

Discovering new sports is one of the joys of the Olympics. May I recommend a Swiss specialty, Your Grace? The athletes, encumbered by skis, run up a mountain, then ski down at breakneck speed.

The people are watching you.

This is worth staying up late for, said this reader in a distant time zone.

To the point, as always.

Best news in about a decade..

not saying it not saying it not saying it not saying it have you met your husband ffs? oops said it

whoa! This is almost Swiss in its half-assery! Except that here, being right and annoying (a tactic much beloved in my family) is met with blank stares by small town officials who have their jobs by virtue of being someone’s cousin and/or living in said town for generations.

Full stop.

Also, we have better things to do with our time.

Go go go is all I can offer from here.

This was my favorite piece of news today.
Also, why do Vance and Rubin need to be accompanied by the private army (ICE) when they are in Italy for the Olympics? Isn’t that what the Secret Service does? Bad precedent.

A letter from Philip Glass, with his name at the top. "After thoughtful consideration, I have decided to withdraw my Symphony No. 15 "Lincoln" from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Symphony No. 15 is a portrait of Abraham Lincoln, and the values of the Kennedy Center today are in direct conflict with the message of the Symphony. Therefore, I feel an obligation to withdraw this Symphony premiere from the Kennedy Center under its current leadership. [signed] Philip Glass

Three cheers for Philip Glass, whose Solo Piano record has been my boon companion for decades whenever I'm painting. (I notice that Glass didn't use the current administration's name for the center in his letter.)

What Should Americans Do Now? We need a mass movement for basic decency.

The coordinated, nonviolent resistance in Minneapolis, George Packer argues, “offers a compelling answer to the question that democracy-loving Americans have asked for the past year: ‘What can I do?’”:

The boy and I are keeping our noses above the waterline, just. Thank you for your wise and encouraging words, dearest Duchess.

"They say they're coming to save us from some evil? They're talking about our neighbors who take care of us ... Alex was murdered while he was helping. Mr Rogers said look for the helpers, & right now the helpers have a target on our forehead ... Mr Rogers would be here right now too, so I'm here."

Further proof that the @nzz.ch is the world’s finest German-language newspaper: today’s front page photo. Subhead: In Davos the US President meandered from one anecdote to another and spoke primarily about himself. Chef’s kiss!

“O” happy day!
This fascinating tome from @dannybate.bsky.social finally arrived to my Swiss doorstep.
(We had to wait for the second printing, apparently.) Výborně!

Duck fat and potatoes are made for each other.

wait what

A wise decision, Your Grace.

I saw one sail past in northwest Switzerland, Your Grace. Thrilling!

Water spinach in Indonesia put me out of commission in 2006, which meant I was still in Bandung instead of Yogyakarta when the volcano erupted, so a win I guess? Wishing you a speedy regeneration!