https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/oct/27/a-leaderless-revolution-has-swept-serbia-the-world-should-be-watching?

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/26/world/europe/serbia-election-vucic-nationalist-populists.html

👏👏👏

Not all perfect, but its heartening to see youth and other coalitions come together in Serbia, Brazil and realise where the real fight needs to be fought. Ideological differences and debates are important, but fighting bigotry and fanaticism in all its forms is key.

#serbia #balkans #elections

I think these tech bros (and her) want to make it seem completely normal to do horrifying and dystopian things like the things mentioned below.
But from what I've heard from some people living in Silicon Valley, these tech pros actually limit tech exposure for their own kids, but are happy to treat other people and their feelings as products; essentially gaslighting people to reveal all corners of their life, while keeping their loved ones shielded from its effects
#slop #aislop #siliconvalley

We do(!) need good (public) education! I think its simply coming down to this in a lot of countries, be it Europe, India, Nepal or anywhere else. Well funded and managed education, healthcare and basic infrastructure CANNOT be given in the hands of profit makers. However mighty the government may seem, it always catches up.

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/26/opinion/india-modi-students-protests.html?unlocked_article_code=1.LlE.awA6.HOmlDU63jw4p&smid=url-share

#india #protests #democracy

#humour #memes

A similar goal led Pranjal to come up with Gaia. He went to a boarding school, and much of his time was spent in the library. “It used to rain a lot. You know that musty smell of books in a closed library?” he asks, admitting that the floral yet smoky scent won't be for everyone. He doesn’t say if the memory is happy or sad. Just that the smell takes him back to the moment."

Unknowingly, our olfactory sense paints memories in our minds and hearts, locked even to us until we sense them again

Having the scent of rain in a bottle is something hard to imagine, but the city of Kannauj in India does it, year after year. Along with this special scent, they also bottle some of the finest perfumes in the world made out of rose, sandalwood, and local flowers.

https://indianexpress.com/article/express-sunday-eye/why-kannauj-indias-perfume-capital-smells-nothing-like-youd-expect-10935759/?ref=hometop_hp

#perfume #india #history

Cat cuddles. Took some time to get her to like us, but she enjoyed it.😊
#catsofMastodon #catsOfFediverse #caturday

When Patchakuti tires of playing and sleeping in the bath he has a shelf above the radiator to stretch out on and he is long.

#Caturday

#poetry #books #bookstodon

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/10/21/books/emily-dickinson-poem-i-dwell-in-possibility.html?unlocked_article_code=1.K1E.9xRb.wuAyK-BMHIss&smid=url-share

Dickinson's poetry is such a goldmine; sometimes hard to understand, rarely a simple, straightforward meaning, and always a relishable challenge to your intellect, and yet words that make you pause just with their honesty and depth.

#poetry #emilydickinson #writing

Rain. Trees. Flowers. Soil. The scent of all of this together.

#rain #trees #petrichor #soil

Can anyone tell me why when I try to apply auto alt text to a photo all I get is a long list of strangeness?
And, how do I correct this?
Thanks in advance 🙂

https://www.theguardian.com/wellness/ng-interactive/2026/oct/21/lessons-from-hospice-workers-life-death?

Loved this.

#death #endoflifecare #cancer

Going back to its roots.
#trees #plants #nature

https://sightlessscribbles.com/posts/the-colonization-of-confidence/

Loved this writing, LLMs just may be ok for emails (they miss nuance even there), but a lot of the metaphors this article uses are apt for what LLMs are for creativity. People are likely to keep using them because of their sheer ubiquity, but anyone with a simple understanding of human thought and writing is able to discern patterns of AI writing.

#education #writing #LLMs

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/19/style/barbara-palvin-victorias-secret-postpartum.html?

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/19/style/victorias-secret-fantasy-bra-sexy.html

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/19/magazine/penelope-cruz-acting-career.html

Deeply disturbing: Blatant sexism and objectification coming back and being celebrated again...
But the story about Penelope Cruz's work is brilliant, shows what women can do when they have the chance and privilege to explore what's beyond their looks. Haven't seen a lot of Cruz's work, but just a peek inside her creative thought process is so intriguing.

#gender #feminism #victoriassecret

WOW! Sometimes, the New Yorker cartoons just outdoes itself, even by its own good standards.

https://edition.cnn.com/2026/10/19/europe/finland-puppies-livestream-scli-intl?

Just what we need.

#dogsofmastodon #dogs #puppies