Status:
Recently I’ve been attempting to befriend a local cat. None of the cats like us, probably because we shoo’ed them away when they first tried to stalk the rabbits. But they do love the sun-traps in our garden, so whenever we go out there’s a rapid exodus of feline over the fences. But not the other day.
Above is Luna, a grumpy old tabby with a wonky eyelid. She was sitting on our lawn when I went to top up the hedgehog cafe and, for once, did not bolt. Since I was putting cat food in the cafe and she’s a cat I figured I’d give it a go. She’s definitely not friendly. She won’t let me stroke her without a swipe. She’s not particularly interested in the food. But she’s not running away. It’s a start.
Weather today was hot, which is curiously the perfect weather for someone with CFS because it just forces you to stop. And everyone else has slowed right down so they’re all on your baseline.
I noticed in the weather forecast that it’s due to be a minimum 18c tonight, but next Monday it will be a maximum 18c during the day. Hmm.
Hogwatching:
- Hedgehog Cam 13-25 May — A compilation of hedgehog activity in our garden over the last few nights. I’m trying out different camera angles with varying levels of success.
Reading:
- To understand Britain’s new politics, look no further than this Shakespearean saga in Worcestershire — I’m mildly amused that the tenor of cross-party electoral reform in this country could be defined by local councillors. I mean, god bless them but they can be a pretty variable eccentric bunch.
- The end of trans rights in the UK is the start of democratic collapse — Scary headline but the basic point stands, and this essay has all the receipts of how something that was unimaginable across the mainstream political spectrum a decade ago has become “common sense”. First they came for, and all that.
- If you let AI do your writing, I will come to your house and kill you — A nice Sam Kriss rant for a sunny afternoon.
Listening:
- Adam Buxton: Bridget Christie & Alice Boyd — Not a top tier interview - I can see why it took a couple of years to edit into shape - but always nice to hear Bridget.
- How to tax billionaires — Talking to “economist Gabriel Zucman about his decades long research on wealth inequality and discuss the pros and cons of wealth taxation policies”.