Tsar's Favorite Kulak

The year is 2032. You’ve just entered the Himmelschloss, a towering castle of moon- and Mars rock that forms the Germanic Empire’s biggest space museum. Walking along, you lose yourself in the walls and ceilings of gleaming Pallasite until the tour guide’s voice snaps you back to reality: “This first exhibit is the Europa Room. Everything I’m about to show you was brought back from Europa by Germanic astronauts.” As you enter the Europa Room, your eyes are drawn to the ceiling covered with Meergrösser: pearl-like objects from Europa’s oceans that bathe the room in glowing blue. Then you stop in your tracks as you lower your gaze and see a small squid-like creature swim up to the glass in front of you. The tour guide says in his detached scholarly tone, “These creatures are called Kütteln, or ‘Cuddles’ in English. Europa’s oceans hold some three trillion. Their most fascinating trait is their sheer friendliness: having evolved without predators, they can hardly understand violence, hatred, or malice.” Your breath catches as you notice the Cuddle is looking right at you. Then you hear the word “Hello!”, bright and cheerful. Or rather, you feel it. Then more “words” seem to appear inside you: “Don’t be scared! I’m just a Cuddle. We communicate with pure thought. Anyway, my name’s Alula. Do you want to be friends?” Not knowing what else to say, you’re about to answer “Yes” when Alula goes, “Yay! I’m so happy to be friends with you. You seem wonderful!” and does three little flips while flashing bright pink. Then he adds, “Let me get to know you a little better.” As his eyes gaze into yours, you can somehow feel him reaching into your soul, exploring your mind and heart and everything you are. But, you feel no judgment from him. Just a warm sensation of pure love and joy that seems to start at your heart and spread outwards to your fingers and toes. Alula senses your insecurities, but somehow you feel him “laughing” at them - a warm, friendly laugh, just like you’d laugh at a puppy splashing in its water bowl or chasing a toy. To Alula, the fact that you’d ever doubt yourself is the most endearing thing in the world, funny because it’s adorably absurd. You hear yourself thinking, “You really think that about me?”, and Alula responds, “Of course! Why wouldn't I?” Months later, you’re lying in bed late at night when you “hear” what is unmistakably Alula’s “voice,” as clear as your own thoughts. He says, “Hi! I hope I didn't startle you. I just want to talk again. Are you happy?” You remember the tour guide explaining that a Cuddle will sometimes “check in” with someone it’s bonded to, weeks or months after it’s met you. A Cuddle is always happy to talk about anything and everything, as long as it’s talking to a friend. All you have to do is “direct” your thoughts to it, and it will hear you, no matter where you are or how far apart. Anyway, do you (a) chat with Alula, maybe telling him about how life’s been lately or asking him about Europa, (b) say you don't want to be friends after all, or (c) ignore him?

Women with baby faces are not attractive

the first commercial bank in the world, The Medici Bank, opened in this building in 1397 there's a zara store now

I can’t get enough of American state capitols. They’re reminders of a time when institutions believed public buildings should inspire awe, permanence, and beauty.

Couple from Mesopotamia, 1rst half of the second millenium BCE

From the 1939 New York World's Fair. Had never seen this photo which offers the immense scale of the George Washington statue (made of plaster and wood).

It's hard to believe this animation was made 90 years ago in 1934.