I don’t know what to tell you. When it comes to school shootings, it’s politics all the way down. There’s a reason that the US is the only developed country selling bullet-proof gear in the back-to-school section.

• Question is about explaining terrorism to kids.

• Kids go to school.

• School shooters famously also target schools.

• Kids are aware of terrorism due to the constant threat of a school shooting.

Sleep. It used to take up nearly a third of my life. Since having Long COVID, it’s closer to half my life.

Honestly, think of what we could get done if we had all that extra time…

Can personally attest to Denmark having loads of English speakers.

I encountered exactly one person in my travels there who did not speak fluent English.

I’d learned a little, so I tried to use Danish to order things, ask directions etc, and everyone replied in perfect English.

TIL

I’ll admit, I thought “I’m sure I’d have heard that before if it was true”, but it appears to be the case! It’s apparently based on a gesture Leonard Nimoy saw during a blessing as a boy.

I guess it’s like the ICXC hand shape that vicars and priests use in Christianity.

These religious leaders and their hand gestures…

Back to the Future’s “Darth Vader from the planet Vulcan” definitely threw one of these 🖖

True, but it’s happened twice in the last six presidential elections. The fact that the system allows it at all is problematic, but it’s unfortunately becoming more common, not less.

That’s exactly why so many countries around the world roll their eyes when America bangs on so much about democracy.

It’s a marketing thing. Look around the world. Find any country with the word “Democratic” in the name, and odds are you’ll find a poor excuse for a democracy.

The actual democracies in the world don’t feel compelled to keep repeating the fact.

The reality is that America is only really a democracy in the loosest sense of the world. All you need to do is look at how often the wealthiest candidate wins to see that it’s true. Or how often the person with the most votes loses. Or how unregulated lobbying actually is. Or the insane amount of power the President actually has. The power doesn’t lie with the people - it lies with the super-rich.

Sorry if that came off as really negative! America has a lot of good stuff going for it, but its implementation of democracy is not one.

If you’re thinking yoga retreats etc, I’d consider building an Earthship or two first. They’re totally eco-friendly, almost hobbit-like buildings. They fit the vibe and would give you a base of operations for future plans.

That’s my point - you can’t tell someone’s religion just by skin colour.

FWIW, there’s plenty of people with a similar colour skin who aren’t Muslim. India, for example, has a population of nearly 1.5 billion.

Unless someone tells you, or has some obvious sign, it’s bad form to assume someone’s religion from how they look.

Where did you go?