Thirty years ago, Switzerland felt like it was at the cutting edge of science and technology—innovative, precise, and ahead of the curve. But somewhere along the way, it got complacent. It rested on its past achievements and stopped pushing forward, especially when it came to environmental responsibility. The glaciers were already melting ffs.

In contrast, during 12 years in Oregon, I saw and felt real progress—conscious efforts to rethink energy, reduce waste, invest in green infrastructure, and build a more sustainable culture from the ground up. Things moved. People cared.

Coming back to Switzerland after that, it was striking how little had changed. The same habits, the same systems, the same quiet resistance to transformation. In many ways, it felt like the country had fallen behind—not in knowledge or resources, but in mindset. That cautious stability, once a strength, now feels like a barrier to meaningful action—especially in a world that’s already late in addressing climate change.

Now the glaciers are gone

That is a fun fact!

What Whisker likes today might not be appealing to him tomorrow, and he will ask for it in 2 months when you thought he didn’t like it. Don’t get me started on which brands he favors depending on which direction the wind blows. That being said, I got mine to eat his wet food by mixing pumpkin purée for human babies with it. It worked for almost an entire week.

Tried to order a croissant at a gas station in Oregon once — I lived there, but my French accent turns croissant into a whole performance.

The Mexican woman behind the counter couldn’t see what I meant (glass case + clutter) or understand, we both laughed a lot, and I ended up with the croissant and a breakfast burrito.

Could’ve been worse.

That innocent creature has another cat curled and sleeping on his tummy (I thought there were 2 cats at first quick glance)

Condolences to your poor butt btw.

Aww, I hear so much love and attention in your words. I enjoyed your answer.

BOMBA CALABRESE. Sorry, I can’t say it in lowercase. It’s just crushed peperoncini and oil. Yummmmm I put it on pizza, in soup, curry, stew, I dip my cheeses and fingers in it.

Cholula for eggs but it’s hard to find around here.

I’ll be on the lookout for Valentina as it’s been brought up often in this thread.

Does it not lead to toes snatching when sleeping?

I have so many toys for that cat. I wish mine were as… let’s say passionate about wine as I am.

Ohhh, we play the bathrobe rope tie too! He likes to play fetch with crumbled receipts, hide my slippers, and sometimes work on adobe audition although sometimes it gets boring.

deleted by creator

Those bathroom products could be mine. Are you a freezy hair/curly hair hopeful person?

Ms. Bellum

This cat looks like a Disney princess. She’s so dainty! Well, aside from the plant mantle.

In the canton of Fribourg in Switzerland, kids go door to door and sing to receive a little bit of change. I don’t know where exactly why or when it started but I moved from one canton to the other when I was a kid and opening the door over and over for people sining in front of you was a surreal experience my first year. The following, I went singing myself :)

It’s not the absence of youth that makes women less beautiful. It’s the absence of representation.

Men at 45: “distinguished.” Women at 45: “expired.” It’s not biology—it’s storytelling. We don’t see ugly old men as ugly—we see them as powerful, confidant, sexy. We don’t see aging women at all.

That’s not nature. That’s propaganda

Blergh

So the regional theocracy-for-hire ships missiles to the kleptocratic corpse dragging half the world down with it, aimed at the last place still bothering to resist. And the golf course messiah/antichrist? Dead silent, obviously.

He lifts his paw when he poops

It could also be that the training is going for federal agencies that have been “legally” required to eliminate “gender” from any training materials.

I didn’t think of that. All of those are good points.