Chalk Revelations

It happened in a train, near noon in the middle of July in the south of France. Which for those familiar should tell you something about how hot it was. For those unfamiliar it's pretty damn hot particularly for people like yours truly who do not take heat well.

The train was packed, which did not help the heat. I had eaten but a handful of nuts in the morning, which was a bad decision. I didn't have a seat, which isn't necessarily an issue. Usually.

But the heat and the lack of food (mostly the heat) made a bad combination. The lightheadedness fell on me like an anvil. Sudden. Heavy. I felt nauseous which was truly the worst part because is there a worse place to puke than in a packed train? I didn't think so and I still don't.

People noticed. I don't know if it was the swaying or maybe I had gone visibly pale but three different people got up to give me their seat. Or four. I don't know, but it was a lot. The rules of politeness and manners don't apply when you're afraid you're gonna puke so I very gratefully took a seat.

A woman gave me a chocolate biscuit, she said she kept this sort of thing in her bag always because her son has diabetes. Two people offered me water but I had my own which I did drink. Two other people offered me more food. A man offered me vitamins. I hesitated and he gave me the package so I could check for myself it wasn't, like, drugs. I am mildly ashamed to say that I did not hesitate for reasons of a stranger giving me medicine but because I thought the orange-flavored vitamins might not mix super well with the chocolate biscuit I was eating. For my defense, sensory issues can be bad and I already wasn't feeling well. But I did learn my lesson about trusting strangers with medicine. This one was trustworthy, but still. Man who gave me vitamins, kudos to you for making sure I knew it wasn't drugs.

People asked me if I knew what was wrong. Two older people gently chastised me for not eating enough in this weather. Several asked where I as getting off and were visibly relieved when I said my stop was soon. They kept subtly checking on me trough the train ride and several people waved goodbye when I got off.

All those strangers coming together without a second's hesitation when I felt unwell. When you think about it, that's, like, a low bar. Obviously if someone visibly wasn't feeling well I would try to help. But the way they all moved together and didn't wait for someone else to offer a seat or food or water. The way they kept checking on me. That's what I want to be like.

June 21, 2026 - Hundreds of protesters broke through fences and stormed Kakomë beach, in the south of Albania, protesting against the privatisation of public coastal areas and a controversial luxury resort project linked to Jared Kushner and the Trump family.

According to Albanian media reports, hundreds of residents from Nivice, Shen Vasil and other nearby settlements protested today on Kakome beach and dismantled parts of fences, guard huts and barbed wire, and entering the restricted coastal area, expressing public opposition to plans that involve closing off part of the protected coastline for a private tourist complex.

The protesters said that beaches belong to the people, not oligarchs, chanting slogans such as “Albania is not for sale” and “Flamingo Revolution”.

Linda Pastan, from Waiting for My Life: Poems; "What We Want"

Mythology aesthetics › Khonsu

Khonsu (Ancient Egyptian: ḫnsw) is the Ancient Egyptian god of the moon. His name is also transliterated as Chonsu, Khensu, Khons, Chons or Khonshum, and it means traveller which may relate to the nightly travel of the moon across the sky. Along with Thoth he marked the passage of time. Khonsu was instrumental in the creation of new life in all living creatures. He  has the titles Embracer, Pathfinder and Defender, as he was thought to watch over those who travel at night. As the god of light in the night, Khonsu was invoked to protect against wild animals and aid with healing. It was said that when Khonsu caused the crescent moon to shine, women conceived, cattle became fertile, and all nostrils and every throat was filled with fresh air.

by Jun Fujita

The rain, crazed like horses In the flare of lightning, has gone.

“Zeta and the Joshua Tree”

Dan Thompson

ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year

2026 COLOR CHALLENGE: MAY & RED theme: parallels