ACCESS DENIED

R. 30. Pakistani married to a Turk. In pursuit of knowledge.  

[fromhersoul]

[vagisil]

the people yearn for nonplastic fabrics

[draconym]

Me: Fuck, the paper towels I want are on the top shelf.

The Sir David Attenborough That Lives In My Brain: Being smaller-than-average presents an added challenge to foraging ... but necessity is the mother of invention. A little creativity turns a baguette into a tool, and voilà--

(paper towel roll falls on my face)

Sir David Attenborough, pleasantly: Success.

[unfavorableinstigation]

Growing up, my brother and I deeply dreaded going shoe shopping. It took hours, especially if it was for winter boots. My dad would examine the stitching, the brand reliability, the temperature recommendations, every piece of information he could get his hands on, and then when he'd finally found the right brand, it was on to making absolutely dead sure they fit properly - he had a particular way of poking the toe of the boot to ensure our foot was where it was supposed to be that always drove me nuts. This was always on a weekend, and it was about the worst punishment we could imagine.

Years later, I found out that he'd spent his entire childhood on the Canadian prairies with cold feet. My grandmother just bought whatever boots looked like the best value, regardless of whether they'd keep anyone warm. They'd kept him from frostbite, probably, but never, ever comfortable.

The reason my grandmother never had a thought about this was because she was buying her kids real boots. There was a sort of magical quality about real, purpose-made boots that meant that of course they'd work, because when she was growing up on the Canadian prairies, they had the kind of no money that meant you just stuffed some newspaper into your shoes and soldiered on.

The last pair of winter boots my dad bought for me was 15 years ago, in preparation for a three-month stint living in northern Quebec in midwinter. They cost $200 then, or something like it. I've worn them every year since, driving out to the remotest locations on the Canadian prairies and never once thinking about my feet.

When I read the Vimes Boots Theory for the first time, it rang a bell that reverberated back three generations.

[fromhersoul]

[midnightmurdershow]

Planet Earth II (2016) Episode 05 “Grasslands” Directed by Chadden Hunter

[macrolit]

[unreadable]

[thenordroom]

A beautiful pink villa in the Stockholm archipelago

[compneuropapers]

Interesting Reviews for Week 41, 2025

Development of human binocular vision: An electrophysiological perspective. Norcia, A. M. (2025). Vision Research, 231, 108593.

On the origin of memory neurons in the human hippocampus. Kolibius, L. D., Josselyn, S. A., & Hanslmayr, S. (2025). Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 29(5), 421–433.

The predictive nature of spontaneous brain activity across scales and species. Dimakou, A., Pezzulo, G., Zangrossi, A., & Corbetta, M. (2025). Neuron, 113(9), 1310–1332.

[tamamita]

Remember, boycotting works. But it's not enough, Microsoft needs to own up to their complicity and completely abolish ties with the Settler state.

[julaibib]

[heartbeatsallah]

Recite Astaghfirullāh consistently and with unwavering yaqīn (certainty) that Allāh ﷻ will set all matters right for you. Remain patient, for by His permission, the doors you have long yearned to see open whether in marriage, livelihood, children, or other blessings will soon be opened for you, in shāʾ Allāh.

[unreadable]

[fromhersoul]

[analogdialog]

[medley]

https://www.instagram.com/p/CIYf0x-MXaa/