Crash, Boom, Bang

“Damn! Damn! Damn! Every year he forgot. Well, no. He never forgot. He just put the memories away like old silverware that you didn’t want to tarnish. And every year they came back, sharp and sparkling, and stabbed him in the heart. And today, of all days...”

For anyone who's confused today, I won't spoil/explain what the 25th of May is in the Discworld fandom, because I think a big part of what's special about it is the way the plot unfolds in the book.

What I will explain though is that it'll make sense when you reach a book called Night Watch, which is the 29th book in the overall series and the 6th book in the City Watch subseries. If you haven't got that far yet, just take your time and enjoy the series! If you want to start with the City Watch stories then the first book you should check out is Guards! Guards!

as long as you smile and nod, people are satisfied. it’s just to show that you are nice and there with good intentions. we’re small in a big world and have to rely on other people to be decent to us. so we do our little human dance to each other to say, “i’m not here to hurt you. here’s something we have in common, like the weather or sports or itchy sweaters, so we both know we’re on the same team. we both agree on a basic fact, like that it is rainy or that being itchy is uncomfortable, and this proves we can get along. i’m being light-hearted and non-threatening right now.”

small talk isn’t to get to know a person. it’s just a greeting to affirm you’re buddies in the universe.

Got the link via @finalducc

Ugandan entrepreneurs Sandra Namboozo (26) and Samuel Muyita (28) have scooped both the People’s Choice and Community Healers awards at the prestigious 2025 Young Inventors Prize, organised by the European Patent Office (EPO). The duo was recognised for their groundbreaking innovation, Karpolax—a biodegradable sachet that preserves fruit freshness without refrigeration. The invention impressed both the public and an independent jury. The sachet, placed inside fruit packaging, emits a blend of plant-based volatile organic compounds derived from cloves, lemongrass, eucalyptus, and wintergreen. These compounds suppress ethylene emissions to slow ripening and protect against mould, fungi, and bacteria.

In pilot trials conducted with the National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO), Karpolax extended the shelf life of mangoes from 11 to 33 days. The technology has also been tested successfully on bananas, apples, and oranges.

The innovation offers a critical solution for smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa, where cold storage facilities are often unavailable or unaffordable.

Since its launch in 2020, Karpolax has supported over 100 farmers, 20 exporters, and 250 vendors, helping prevent the spoilage of more than one million tonnes of fruit. The sachets are now being adapted for use with pineapples, capsicum, and berries.