“human beings must involve themselves in the anguish of other human beings. this, i submit to you, is not a political thesis at all. it is simply an expression of what i would hope might be ultimately a simple humanity for humanity’s sake.” ~ rod serling
When life gave a German farm 5 million pounds of potatoes, it shared the spuds for free. Named the Kartoffel-Flut (potato flood), after the highest yield in 25 years,This German farm’s potato harvest surplus prompted a massive giveaway last month. Truckloads of spuds were donated to soup kitchens, schools, zoos, churches, Ukrainian aid efforts, and distribution sites for Berlin residents.
Dubbed “the great potato rescue,” the bonanza aimed to prevent food waste after Germany’s largest potato crop in 25 years overwhelmed markets and sent costs down. So the farm, Osterland Agrar, teamed up with a Berlin newspaper and the nonprofit search engine Ecosia to set up 174 sites around the city, where people could stock up on tubers.
“At first I thought it was some AI-generated fake news when I saw it on social media,” Astrid Marz, a teacher, told The Guardian. “There were pictures of huge mountains of ‘earth apples’ with the instruction to come and get them for free!” Another local described one of the sites as having “a really party-like atmosphere,” with people helping one another haul their freebies while swapping cooking tips.
If reading this is making you hungry, check out this thorough list of potato recipes, including how to boil ’em, mash ’em, and stick ’em in a stew.
‘what I say is that, if a fellow really likes potatoes,
he must be a pretty decent sort of fellow.’
– A. A. Milne
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source credits: the guardian, nicenews, photo credit: john woitas
you know you’re a michigander/michiganian
when you use your hands as a map
to show where
you live, are going, or something is located
yep
two hands
two peninsulas.
—
‘i have an existential map. it has ‘you are here’ written all over it.’
-steven wright
the cobbler’s
been here forever
or as long as I can remember
coming here
end of long narrow hallway
in the mall
half empty half full
making a comeback
reimagined
in new ways
good news for the space
shoes still need fixing
that’s never changed
cobbler’s still here
ready to help
people know where to find him
right where he’s always been
at the end of the line
—
“i’m with you ’til the end of the line.”
-captain america, marvel comics
grandie j, gets his big role after working hard
in lots of roles in the chorus
singing and dancing on stage in ‘newsies’
grandie f, finally gets his first place win in the velodrome
where he’s been training and racing so hard!
(wonky photo from his YouTube video on race night)
—
here’s to all my grandies
taking their own paths
not giving up
doing things they love
—
“life begins when you start something, and blooms when you keep doing it.”
― michael bassey johnson, author
even though there is usually a bit more suspense and fanfare
on Groundhog Day
leading up to the prediction of when spring will arrive
this groundhog gets right to the point:
winter will continue just a bit longer
—
‘a blunt statement can be as false as any other.’
-mason cooley
*Mason Cooley (1927–2002) was an American academic and renowned aphorist, celebrated for his witty, concise, and cynical observations on life. He served as a professor of English and French literature at Columbia University and the College of Staten Island.
—
image credit: pinterest
Eva Jospin creates magical forests out of cardboard
A few panels from the Forest series–
there are 50 panels that slot together to create a maze. Tar on plywood.
‘creativity takes courage.’
-henri matisse
—
Eva Jospin, born in 1975 in Paris, is a graduate of the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts de Paris. For the past fifteen years, she has been creating meticulous forests and architectural landscapes, which she explores through various media. Whether drawn in ink or embroidered, carved from cardboard or sculpted in bronze, her works evoke Italian Baroque gardens, the rocaille decorations of the 18th century, and artificial grottos.
link to her full bio:
https://www.galleriacontinua.com/artists/eva-jospin-320/biography
—
source credit: art, artists, artwork, ann klefstad
on a cold and bright morning
at january’s end
the students organized
the townies arrived
we stood together
marched as one
—
2,000+ students and local residents gathered on the university of michigan diag in ann arbor and marched across campus and through the city to protest the administration’s use of Immigration and Customs Enforcement in michigan and across the nation.
—
‘at this crucial time in our lives, when everything is so desperate, when every day is a matter of survival, i don’t think you can help but be involved.’
-nina simone, jazz singer, pianist, and civil rights activist
—
image credit Marcin Szczepański
happy quad of moms
babies in tow
meet at the mall
to workout
dance, laugh, chant, count, sing
most of all
to enjoy time spent
in each other’s company
away from the world
outside those automatic doors
—
“friendship is a wildly underrated medication.”
—anna deavere smith
*Anna Deavere Smith (born 1950) is an American actress, playwright, and professor.
Michigan State Police troopers were called to a home in Holly Township after a miniature donkey named “Dolly Parton” wandered away from her pasture Tuesday night.
Police said the donkey escaped through an open gate, prompting Metro North troopers to respond and help residents search the area.
Troopers canvassed the neighborhood and later located Dolly walking along a roadway in the township. She was returned to her owners unharmed.
“Troopers assigned to northern Oakland County often find themselves dispatched to locate missing animals in the area,” said F/Lt. Mike Shaw. “We have located Potato the lost dog, cows along I-75 and now Dolly the miniature donkey. When you join the Michigan State Police, you just don’t know where the day will take you!”
I didn't have my glasses on.... 