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Tuesday, April 21st, 2026 05:49 pm
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Tuesday, April 21st, 2026 10:00 am
An otherwise boring government building turned into a one of the largest monuments to the city’s best-known residents.
Installed in the 2010s, the translucent portraits depict Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu, rendered not as painted murals but as large-scale graphic window treatments integrated directly into the building’s glazing. From the outside, the images appear as bold, high-contrast faces overlooking the city, while from within they filter daylight into the municipal offices behind them making it more bearable to work in this building.
Unlike traditional murals, the works rely on light and transparency, changing character with the time of day and weather. At certain angles, the faces dissolve almost completely, leaving only abstract patterns across the windows, while at others they reassert themselves with striking clarity.
The murals were installed in 2013 for Mandela and 2017 for Tutu, and were completely remade in 2022. The murals are 32 windows high, and 14 windows wide, covering a total of 448 windows each.
In the new version both men are wearing bright and colorful clothes. For Mandela the patterns represent different aspects of Cape Town, while for Tutu they represent anti-apartheid topics.
Tuesday, April 21st, 2026 07:26 am
anatine (AN-uh-tain, AN-uh-tin) - adj., pertaining to or resembling a duck.
If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it's anatine even if it isn't a duck. Anatine also, in a technical use, can mean pertaining to or belonging to the subfamily Anatinae, the dabbling ducks, or the family Anatidae, which includes Anatinae as well as geese and swans. Taken in the 1830s from Latin anatīnus, of ducks, from anas via its stem form anat-, a duck (which ultimately goes back to PIE root *h₂énh₂ts, a duck, because of course the PIE homeland had ducks, as they're worldwide).
Also, >quack!<
Thanks, WikiMedia!
---L.
If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it's anatine even if it isn't a duck. Anatine also, in a technical use, can mean pertaining to or belonging to the subfamily Anatinae, the dabbling ducks, or the family Anatidae, which includes Anatinae as well as geese and swans. Taken in the 1830s from Latin anatīnus, of ducks, from anas via its stem form anat-, a duck (which ultimately goes back to PIE root *h₂énh₂ts, a duck, because of course the PIE homeland had ducks, as they're worldwide).
Also, >quack!<
Thanks, WikiMedia!
---L.
Tuesday, April 21st, 2026 01:00 pm
The wrecky forces-that-be have smiled upon us once more, dear minions.
Translation?
I HAVE MORE WEDDING WRECKS.
Here's what Daisy had in mind when she ordered her mini cake and cupcake tower:
But instead...
Oooh, you guys, I feel a bucket list item coming up:
This is it! THIS IS IT.
Ahem hem hem.
Q: What's black-and-white and wrecked all over?
A: KELLY'S WEDDING CAKE.
(Sorry, Kelly.)
And finally, behold the elegant glory of the cake Kassandra ordered for a whopping $750:
Oooh, you've got good taste, Kassandra.
...but terrible luck with bakers:
o.0
Here's how I imagine Kassandra's baker dropped off the cake:
"My work here... IS DONE."
Thanks to brides Daisy E., Kelly J., & Kassandra for reminding us wedding wreckage is serious business.
*****
P.S. Since this saved my butt during a long painting day recently, I have a random product recommendation:
No Buckle No-Show Stretch Belt
This is my new favorite belt, y'all. It basically turns anything with belt loops into an elastic waist. So comfy I forget it's on, slimline so it doesn't show under my t-shirts, and NO BELT BUCKLE to dig into my belly or unbuckle for bathroom breaks. Woohoo!
You know how stretch jeans are forever sliding down when you sit or bend, so you have to keep hitching them back up? No more! I wear this with all my jeans now. It's entirely elastic, so it moves and stretches with you, zero painful digging. I HIGHLY recommend for anyone well endowed with squish in the belly area.
*****
And from my other blog, Epbot:
Tuesday, April 21st, 2026 08:56 am
TITLE: Cultivating a Greater Work
FANDOM: Star Wars: Andor
RATING: PG
PAIRING: Mon Mothma & Luthen Rael
CHARACTERS: Mon Mothma, Luthen Rael, Kleya Marki
SUMMARY: Mon Mothma and Luthen Rael in the earliest days of their collaboration.
NOTES: Written for![[archiveofourown.org profile]](https://p2.dreamwidth.org/b164c54b26e4/-/archiveofourown.org/favicon.ico)
colls for ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
space_swap 2026.
This story references a character and storylines from The High Republic novels, but it isn't necessary to have read those to read this story.
AO3 link
FANDOM: Star Wars: Andor
RATING: PG
PAIRING: Mon Mothma & Luthen Rael
CHARACTERS: Mon Mothma, Luthen Rael, Kleya Marki
SUMMARY: Mon Mothma and Luthen Rael in the earliest days of their collaboration.
NOTES: Written for
space_swap 2026.This story references a character and storylines from The High Republic novels, but it isn't necessary to have read those to read this story.
AO3 link
Tuesday, April 21st, 2026 09:56 am
Tuesday. Sunny and cold. Haven't gotten the trash out yet, but I've got time.
There have been at least a dozen rescue vehicles going screaming down the road in the last ten minutes, all heading south, and now it's quiet. Too quiet.
. . . yeah.
The book club met yesterday afternoon at Holy Cannoli and engaged in a wide-ranging discussion, some of it . . . and there goes another one, the second attack wagon I've seen . . . some of it, as I was saying, about Theo of Golden, which found a more appreciative audience among the other two-thirds of the gathered readers than it found with me. Next book: A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles.
I finished formatting the Fey Duology yesterday. This does not mean it's ready for release, but that it's formatted. Formatting is a looooonnnngggg job, but not the only job. I'll be getting back to the tasks remaining on the road to publication, eh. Thursday-ish.
Today? Is chores. I have two numbers for folks who fix dishwashers, so I'll be making phone calls, and washing dishes, and changing out cat fountains. Also need to sit with Googlemaps and make sure I have my directions for Northern Solstice Alpaca Farm, since I'm not just going out for a ride, and happen to go by the alpacas, which is a handy place to pull over and take in the view.
This evening is craft group. Tomorrow morning, as above, the Great Alpaca-ing.
But, first? Breakfast. There must be something in this house for breakfast...
What did you have for breakfast?
Tuesday, April 21st, 2026 09:17 am
Tuesday, April 21st, 2026 11:58 am
Central Banks Buying and Selling Gold in 2026
See visuals like this from many other data creators on our Voronoi app. Download it for free on iOS or Android and discover data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources.
Key Takeaways
- Poland is the largest gold buyer in 2026 so far, adding over 20 tonnes.
- Emerging markets are driving most purchases as geopolitical risk rises.
- Russia and Turkey are among the biggest sellers, reflecting fiscal and currency pressures.
Central banks are taking diverging paths on gold in 2026.
While countries like Poland, Uzbekistan, and China are adding to their reserves, others, including Russia and Turkey, are selling to manage economic pressures. The split highlights gold’s dual role as both a geopolitical hedge and a source of liquidity.
This chart shows net changes in central bank gold reserves by country so far as of end of February, based on data from the World Gold Council.
Poland Leads Global Gold Buying in 2026
Poland is leading global gold accumulation in 2026, adding over 20 tonnes, more than any other central bank so far this year. This purchase is part of a broader multi-year plan to reach 700 tonnes, reflecting heightened security concerns on NATO’s eastern flank.
Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan follow closely behind, continuing a steady trend of gold accumulation among Central Asian economies.
| Country | Net Change in 2026 (Tonnes of Gold) |
|---|---|
 Poland | 20.23 |
 Uzbekistan | 16.48 |
 Kazakhstan | 6.51 |
 Malaysia | 4.98 |
 Czechia | 3.36 |
 China | 2.18 |
 Cambodia | 1.69 |
 Indonesia | 1.51 |
 Serbia | 0.99 |
 Philippines | 0.46 |
 El Salvador | 0.29 |
 Singapore | 0.20 |
 Malta | 0.12 |
 Mongolia | 0.08 |
 Egypt | 0.06 |
 Qatar | 0.02 |
 Mexico | -0.02 |
 Belarus | -0.05 |
 Kyrgyzstan | -1.07 |
 Bulgaria | -1.88 |
 Turkey | -8.08 |
 Russia | -15.55 |
Diversification Away From Dollar Reserves
The freezing of roughly $300 billion in Russian central bank assets in 2022 marked a turning point for global reserve management.
In response, countries like China and several Central Asian economies have accelerated gold purchases, treating bullion as a reserve asset that sits outside the reach of foreign governments. Unlike foreign currency reserves, gold is not subject to foreign jurisdiction, making it attractive in a fragmented geopolitical landscape. Smaller buyers, such as Cambodia and Serbia, are also gradually increasing their allocations.
Why Russia and Turkey Are Selling Gold
On the other side of the ledger, Russia and Turkey are the largest net sellers of gold in 2026.
Russia’s gold sales point to mounting fiscal strain, as wartime spending and sanctions pressure government finances.
Meanwhile, Turkey’s reduction is driven by domestic policy, including efforts to stabilize the lira and manage local gold demand.
Learn More on the Voronoi App 
If you enjoyed today’s post, check out Mapped: Which Countries Hold the Most Gold Reserves? on Voronoi, the new app from Visual Capitalist.
Tuesday, April 21st, 2026 02:34 pm
Title: Set Apart
Fandom: Babylon 5
Author:
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
badly_knittedCharacters: Byron.
Rating: PG
Word Count: 200
Spoilers/Setting: Early season 5.
Summary: Telepaths are feared and distrusted.
Content Notes: None needed.
Written For: Challenge 513: Amnesty 85 at fan_flashworks, using Challenge 463: Apart.
Disclaimer: I don’t own Babylon 5, or the characters. They belong to J. Michael Straczynski.
.
( Set Apart... )
Tuesday, April 21st, 2026 09:24 am
We are going out of town for spring break! I expect to be back on Sunday. 🏖️
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Tuesday, April 21st, 2026 08:56 am
Tuesday, April 21st, 2026 08:07 am
How much of the universe does *science as we know it* open to us?
The Queen of Air and Darkness and Other Stories by Poul Anderson
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Tuesday, April 21st, 2026 11:04 am
Grupo Seguritech is a Mexican surveillance company that is expanding into the US.
Tuesday, April 21st, 2026 07:28 am
Tuesday, April 21st, 2026 07:13 am
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Tuesday, April 21st, 2026 12:00 pm
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Tuesday, April 21st, 2026 05:55 am
It's challenge time!
Comment with Just One Thing you've accomplished in the last 24 hours or so. It doesn't have to be a hard thing, or even a thing that you think is particularly awesome. Just a thing that you did.
Feel free to share more than one thing if you're feeling particularly accomplished!
Extra credit: find someone in the comments and give them props for what they achieved!
Nothing is too big, too small, too strange or too cryptic. And in case you'd rather do this in private, anonymous comments are screened. I will only unscreen if you ask me to.
Go!
Comment with Just One Thing you've accomplished in the last 24 hours or so. It doesn't have to be a hard thing, or even a thing that you think is particularly awesome. Just a thing that you did.
Feel free to share more than one thing if you're feeling particularly accomplished!
Extra credit: find someone in the comments and give them props for what they achieved!
Nothing is too big, too small, too strange or too cryptic. And in case you'd rather do this in private, anonymous comments are screened. I will only unscreen if you ask me to.
Go!
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Tuesday, April 21st, 2026 11:53 am
Title: without you by my side
Fandom: Star Trek: Prodigy
Rating:
Length:
Content notes: Planets background is from wallpaper access (artist unknown, not credited by source), Star Trek: Prodigy screencaps used are my own from Observer's Paradox, Last Flight Of The Protostar and Cracked Mirror. The text is selected lyrics from You & I by Rayne, working from Rob IYF & Meakz cover of it with the title Gravity, both versions are still hitting my J/C feels hard. Font used is SaltTruckToTheStars.
Author notes: This is my first time working in Pixelmator Pro on Mac and I'm still very much learning how to use it including any tips and tricks not included in Apple's documentation and I’m more used to working in Photoscape X.
Summary: Chakotay’s loneliness while on Ysida.
( without you by my side )
Fandom: Star Trek: Prodigy
Rating:
Length:
Content notes: Planets background is from wallpaper access (artist unknown, not credited by source), Star Trek: Prodigy screencaps used are my own from Observer's Paradox, Last Flight Of The Protostar and Cracked Mirror. The text is selected lyrics from You & I by Rayne, working from Rob IYF & Meakz cover of it with the title Gravity, both versions are still hitting my J/C feels hard. Font used is SaltTruckToTheStars.
Author notes: This is my first time working in Pixelmator Pro on Mac and I'm still very much learning how to use it including any tips and tricks not included in Apple's documentation and I’m more used to working in Photoscape X.
Summary: Chakotay’s loneliness while on Ysida.
( without you by my side )
