An Iranian man left this comment on my YouTube channel. This is without a doubt the single best explanation of the reality facing Iranian people today👇
"As an Iranian, I can tell you the situation is no longer just political—it's existential. We are trapped between two collapsing structures: one internal, one external. On one hand, we face a deeply dysfunctional government, led by the Supreme Leader and the Islamic Republic’s unelected institutions.
Decades of economic mismanagement, suppression of dissent, and brutal ideological control have alienated multiple generations. No one believes in reform anymore—because every attempt has either been co-opted or crushed. But here's the paradox: We are also terrified of regime collapse—because we've watched the aftermath of Western intervention in countries like Iraq, Libya, Syria, and Afghanistan. Each was promised freedom; each descended into chaos, civil war, or foreign occupation.
So no, we don't trust the U.S. or Israel. Not because we support our regime—but because we know how imperial powers treat ‘liberated’ nations in the Middle East.
Freedom, in their language, often means vacuum, fire, and permanent instability. Right now, many Iranians live with three truths at once: The Islamic Republic is morally and politically bankrupt. The alternatives offered by foreign actors are not liberation—they’re collapse.
A bad government is survivable. No government is not. We are not silent because we agree. We are cautious because we’ve learned—too well—what happens when superpowers decide to "help." In a sentence: Iran is a nation held hostage by its own regime, but haunted by the fate of its neighbors. We are stuck in a house we hate, surrounded by fires we fear more."
hey I know that everything feels bleak and barfy right now, but if it helps a little, please remember that sea stars can regenerate a lost limb and sloths can hold their breath for 40 minutes and all houseflies buzz in the key of F and otters hold hands while they sleep and penguins propose with a pebble and everything around us is actually quite magical all of the time too
Three years ago, I was at the Lemon Tree Bengaluru for the Volleyball League. And every morning I would finish breakfast & pop out to reception to pick up a copy of the TOI and the Economic Times. After watching me the first two days, this charming lady on duty would see me and immediately pick them out to give me.
One day, I just wanted the TOI, as the crossword then did not appear in the Sunday ET, and when she came with both, I told her I didn't need the ET.
She refused to understand, & didn't want to take back the other paper. And then I realized that like my darling son Neel and all in the autism spectrum, she struggled when a set routine was disrupted.
I apologized immediately, took the ET as well & was rewarded with a smile that just blew me away.
Thank you Lemon Tree Hotels for making a workplace for all. You have a supporter & customer for life
Went to the terrace to get flowers for the pooja room. But just before opening the terrace door, looked out through the window since there was a lot of movement! Saw at least 20-25 birds of all sizes, colors (Finches, Sparrows, Spotted doves, White-browed wagtails, Red-whiskered bulbuls, and crows, of course... all happily taking turns eating from the bird-feeder. Some like the Finches were on the bird-feeder, while the others were picking what had fallen off it, from the ground! It was such a serene, beautiful sight that I just stood there watching for 5 minutes and left without opening the terrace door to not disturb that peaceful gathering :) Birds are truly beautiful!!
This is Gordie. He's demonstrating what is known in the business as a sweetie pie semi-sploot. It's when you haven't quite figured out how to sit yet but are so cute it doesn't matter. 12/10
Big day today. After a medical check and some discussion… Sienna is ready for adoption.
She needs about another month of care from us to full heal but we can start looking.
Unbelievable scenes ❤️
Panda saw his first ever snow today. What a recovery considering…
🥵 Found with 24 hours to live
🇹🇭 Collapsed outside a 7-11 in Thailand
🐶 Obese and covered in leeches and ticks
🏥 He spent 2 weeks in ICU
🌴 Months of rehab
His new forever home in Scotland is ❤️
He arrived with a huge brain injury as a little baby.
We just told Stormzy that tomorrow his new mum is coming to pick him up.
Our work is very nearly done for this beautiful boy ❤️
This is so important.
I repeat.
EVERY single generic passed!
Mean drug content: 99.45% (brands: 101.35% versus generics: 99.10%)
With NO DIFFERENCE in quality!
NOW THE PRICE (MRP and price per tablet from MRP was used) SHOCKER:
Average price per tablet:
• Branded: ₹11.17
• Branded Generic: ₹9.12
• Local or Trade Generic: ₹5.74
• Jan Aushadhi: ₹2.40
That's branded drugs costing 5X MORE for the SAME medicine!
Your doctor's prescription choice could cost you tens of hundreds of rupees over your lifetime.
5/11