Years ago, anthropologist Margaret Mead was asked by a student what she considered to be the first sign of civilization in a culture. The student expected Mead to talk about fishhooks or clay pots or grinding stones.
But no. Mead said that the first sign of civilization in an ancient culture was a femur (thighbone) that had been broken and then healed. Mead explained that in the animal kingdom, if you break your leg, you die. You cannot run from danger, get to the river for a drink or hunt for food. You are meat for prowling beasts. No animal survives a broken leg long enough for the bone to heal.
A broken femur that has healed is evidence that someone has taken time to stay with the one who fell, has bound up the wound, has carried the person to safety and has tended the person through recovery. Helping someone else through difficulty is where civilization starts, Mead said
We are at our best when we serve others.”
More done on this one this afternoon. It just takes so long building up layers of colour and detail. I always think I’m close to finished but then still seem to find ages more spent on my portraits. #art#drawing#dogs
Russia has found a way to overwhelm Ukraine's air defences with Iranian drones and Chinese engines. Kyiv is bracing for its hardest winter yet.
$300bn of Russian assets sit frozen in western banks. We must now put them to work for Ukraine.
https://t.co/1VqFJydJhJ
On a packed train with my family. Couple across the aisle both alternatively playing social media videos on speakers at full volume. Managed not to say anything until the woman started playing a documentary about serial killers. I'm here with my daughter.
I politely said "please could you turn it down it's not appropriate." To which she replied "I'm sure she's heard worse at school." I said that really wasn't her call to make and in general could she please reduce the volume.
Her response "Its a public train for heavens sake".
For me that's exactly why it is anti social (and what headphones were invented for). I'm wondering which one of us is out of kilter on this?
Ps I should note she did thankfully reduce the volume and we all left it there.
One minute. That is all it takes to listen to this beautiful voice. One minute to become her voice.
Parastoo Ahmadi, one of Iran's most beloved singers, has reportedly been sentenced to 74 lashes simply for singing. Her musicians and production team face the same punishment. In the 21st century, a woman will be lashed on her body because she dared to sing.
I want to scream. I want to shout in the street and sing loud and tell everyone: this government is killing innocent people, executing them, lashing them. This is not a normal government.
So I am calling on every famous singer, every big name, every artist with a stage and a microphone: be Parastoo's voice. Sing for her until she can sing again.
#ParastooAhmadi
Just intervened to stop these five nasty thugs wearing Kingstanding Patriots tops beating up a black guy they picked on randomly by the IMAX. They’ve now headed toward the South Bank and I’ve called the @metpoliceuk who have gone off in search of them.
My cats and i are still alive in Gaza.🇵🇸
If you see this photo, please don't scroll past in silence.
Write anything - even a single dot means so much to us and reminds us that we are not alone.🥹💔🙏
They want to leave the ECHR because it will allow them to abolish the State Pension, the Minimum Wage, and paid holiday and sick leave.
It would make them tens of billions a year.
But of course they say immigration, because they can't tell you the real reason.
#r4today#LBC
@macklemore Meanwhile Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, the directors of NAZA, a documentary about Israeli soldiers’ killings of civilians in Gaza, say that the film will be available to view online for free "so that every person can watch it."
Coming in November.
What happened to me is bigger than one artist or one stage. When the billionaire class can decide which voices are allowed on stage and which ones are too dangerous to hear, everyone should be paying attention.
So we're going on tour. All proceeds will benefit organizations supporting the Palestinian people and movement.
Sign up at https://t.co/2na35y8pQ5
🚨 Phil Thompson reacts to Manchester City being found guilty on virtually all charges:
🎙️ “If these findings survive the appeal, then we have to look back at the Klopp era properly. Liverpool pushed City all the way year after year, and now people are asking what those title races would look like if the rules were broken.”
“Don’t just give them a fine and move on. If the breaches affected sporting outcomes, there have to be sporting consequences. Points deductions, transfer restrictions, whatever the rules allow it has to mean something.”
“And Liverpool? I wouldn’t simply hand them trophies because they finished second. But if the investigation establishes that City gained an unfair advantage in seasons Liverpool were competing for titles, then Liverpool deserve answers about what happens to those records. Klopp’s players earned every point they won. That history deserves to be examined properly”
Reform promised change.
South Tyneside didn’t have to wait long to discover what that shiny new word meant.
All 10 Stanley’s nurseries: closing.
So forget the slogans. Forget the sales pitch.
This is what Reform’s “standing up for working people” looks like in practice.
👇
France can no longer provide financial aid to Ukraine. It is regrettable, but we no longer have the means to do so—says Le Pen, who could win the 2027 French election.
Putin doesn't need many tanks to crush Europe. He only needs people molded from shit who will sell their souls for an ideology or a few million rubles.