“There is a new form of active solidarity with the poor that started in Italy and apparently now also in Spain. Someone pays for 7 cups of coffee but only drinks 3. The 4 that are paid but not consumed then are (according to google translate) ‘pending’. People who cannot afford coffee can come to the cafe and ask for a pending coffee. The same is done with food.” [Interpretation by Josephine Bosma via Rosapoo].
[Update: Apparently this is an actual established Italian tradition called a “Caffè sospeso” – a “coffee in suspense” – that has been revived due to distressing economic conditions. Hat tip to Neural Revue for the added info.]
There’s new rumors swirling in various tech + political circles that Mark Zuckerberg is running his grey matter ragged by:
“…exploring the formation of a political advocacy group that would focus on topics such as immigration, the economy, education and scientific research funding, according to a person familiar with the matter. Zuckerberg is considering establishing the group with others in the technology community, according to the person, who asked not to be identified because the plans haven’t been made public.”
Public or not, am I the only one to be substantially scared by such potential dabbling by the CEO of a social networking site in all manner of things political, socio-economic, and research-based [which is instead usually reserved for incompetent and bumbling politicos]?
You know when you read an article that reports on information you’ve known for years, and you find yourself sitting smugly going “Well, DUH!?”. Then read on, vainglorious [but infinitely wise] comparative psychologists:
New research shows that we have grossly underestimated both the scope and the scale of animal intelligence. Primatologist Frans de Waal on memory-champ chimps, tool-using elephants and rats capable of empathy.
