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For today, a six-word commentary on the news that in-person negotiations with Russia are once again underway, and that Ukrainian negotiators have been warned not to eat, drink or touch anything.

Russian negotiators, awaiting your Zoom invite.

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Photo by Belinda Fewings on Unsplash

I spent a little time last night working out a new recipe for the mocha tofu pudding. What’s different? Double the espresso. 

And am I using post-lunch dessert as an excuse to test the caffeine-fueled recipe results right now, on this busy busy Tuesday?

Why yes! Yes I am.

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Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

For fun today we have a short bit of free fiction from Nature‘s Futures column.

Star Corps Crew Manual Section 15-A37: On Mental Dislocation

If your parallel-universe self seems to be planning some kind of invasion, remain calm…

Good advice.

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Photo by frank mckenna on Unsplash

Slow: I’m learning a new kind of art, two dimensional design for three-dimensional objects, in this case digital race cars.

Fast: Watching actual cars in today’s F1 race.*

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I’ve always liked speed. I had motorcycles once upon a time and my favorite part of any plane ride is still the acceleration on take-off. That said, I really don’t like crashing.

Digital art is a fun, non-contact way to learn new approaches to design. I spent a lot of time today working on a new technique for metallic paint surfaces. Here’s my current favorite outfit for my virtual car.

Looks fast, I think:)

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* Still Team Hamilton!

“His grief he will not forget; but it will not darken his heart, it will teach him wisdom.”

― J.R.R. Tolkien

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Photo by Erik van Dijk on Unsplash

On this day, eons ago, the brave Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamgee fulfilled their quest to destroy the One Ring in the fires of Mount Doom. And so it was decreed that March 25th would ever after be known as Tolkien Reading Day!

What does that mean?

Today is Tolkien Reading Day! – The Tolkien Society

And as an extra bonus, J.R.R. Tolkien’s Estate Releases Treasure Trove Of Drawings And Maps.

See those maps and more here: Maps – The Tolkien Estate.

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“There, peeping among the cloud-wrack above a dark tor high up in the mountains, Sam saw a white star twinkle for a while. The beauty of it smote his heart, as he looked up out of the forsaken land, and hope returned to him. For like a shaft, clear and cold, the thought pierced him that in the end the Shadow was only a small and passing thing: there was light and high beauty for ever beyond its reach.” 

― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King

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Photo by Martin Jernberg on Unsplash

I managed to spend the whole day learning things, yay, but nothing that’s ready to share right now. I did do a load of dishes in the new dishwasher. If you (like me) have wondered what exactly goes on in there, this video is for you.

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Photo by frank mckenna on Unsplash

I spent too much of today in the news mines (and most of what I found is not great), so I thought I’d share a poem. It’s from 2016 but still relevant.

Click through and read from the beginning for best effect.

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Refugees

by Brian Bilston

They have no need of our help

So do not tell me

These haggard faces could belong to you or me

Should life have dealt a different hand

…

— Flipping the Message About Refugees, With a Poem – YES! Magazine

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Photo by Belinda Fewings on Unsplash

With Hope

Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.

— Desmond Tutu

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Photo by Emily Jackson on Unsplash

Tap into your inner Hemingway* with this (very) short story contest:

Enter the Incredible Six Word Wonder Contest 2022 – Doug Weller Writer

This is the place for you to enter your absolute best six word stories, memoirs, poems, and jokes, with the chance of winning $100, getting published, and being named the Six Word Wonder!

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* Ok, Hemingway probably didn’t write that classic six-word story, but the example (and its supposed author) occupy an established place in the heart of flash fiction.

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Photo by David Moum on Unsplash