Friendly mental health nudge:

Between today's SCOTUS news and tomorrow's "super" Tuesday, this is going to be a pretty election-heavy news cycle, with a lot of tension and tons of speculation.

If you're in a position to act politically, awesome. Best wishes in the fray!

If you're not, think about how you want to manage your media intake for the next couple of days.

Will it help to stay apprised of every late-breaking analysis and poll?

Or will spacing out your check-ins serve you better?

Well, the decision is up.

https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/slipopinion/23

Nothing gives you clarity like seeing how people *don't* show up when something goes wrong.

The uncle who sends multiple 20-min VMs about his life? Radio silent after my last reply, in which I mentioned my job loss.

Ditto with a friend who expressly asked me to tell him how last week's meeting went. Silence since Thurs.

And a fellow who always sends me a long Sunday email couldn't be bothered to put in a word responding to my news.

Sometimes I just serve as a sounding board. 🙃 Call me ELIZA.

And we’re live with the new schedule for #BetterWorldsTheory!

Today’s Monday Media Review reflects on the madness depicted in some of Werner Herzog’s films, to offer a brief reflection on how we’re coping with the madness of our own, tense times today.

Remember: the first three pieces each week will be briefer and free to read. Thursday’s deep-dive is for paid subscribers.

I hope this way there'll be something for everyone.

Today? That something is mad penguins. 🐧🙃

https://mlclark.substack.com/p/on-penguins-herzog-and-delusions

What are the most useful bots you've seen online?

I've seen a few grammar, spelling, & expression bots pop up whenever a common term is misspelled or misused in a post on some sites. They're simple, nonjudgmental explainers, by and large.

But my favourites are the mental health bots, which pop up with useful links to resources when text suggesting suicidal ideation or depression is posted.

What other decent use cases have you seen for such bots, in our general landscape of digital mediocrity?

🙂 Follow me for more old-timey swears, like:

Hot dog!
Egad
Gadzooks
Golly gee
Consarnit
Gee whiz
Fudge
Bird feathers
Plus my personal favourite...
Shaving cream. 🙂

And in Spanish--
Ay, caracol (snail, instead of saying "carajo", a vulgar word for penis used as commonly as, ah, "fudge" in English)
Miércoles (Wednesday, used instead of "mierda", excrement, when around kids)

Morning, team.

Currently hydrating before a run, and taking in the 4 a.m. calm of the world.

Barring the stress I'm sure a lot of folks are feeling around SCOTUS at 10 a.m., it's going to be a good day, dagnabbit. 👍🏻

All right.

Early to bed, early to rise.

Gentle thought:

What we do online is usually *not* the site of our greatest activism.

But we can sure add a lot more hurt to the world via how we communicate online, if we try.

May we always strive for greater integrity in our words and actions--knowing that we'll never be perfect; knowing that other people won't be perfect either; and knowing, too, how desperately many just want to see us all derailed.

Be kind. Be kind. Be kind.

😃 I WAS WRONG.

THE RAIN HAS COME.

I NEED TO GO BE WITH MY RAIN PEOPLE FOR A BIT.

BY WHICH I MEAN RAINDROPS.

TTFN!

(@LiseL understands!)

My phone camera can never pick up how beautifully broody my mountain looks at times. Right now the air is light and breezy, and the mist on my mountain is mocking me with a reminder of the full rainstorm we need and aren't getting (yet?!). 🤨

#CantStayMadThough