And while they’re at it, it’s downright rude to ask about her condition, or about how she’s centralized power at the Commission, or what she has planned for her second mandate in general. Trust the process, they say, let go of your inner child’s fears and choose to believe. Or maybe that was the life coach I watched on YouTube. It’s sometimes hard to tell the difference.
There’s one appointment von der Leyen did not need to cancel because of her health: U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration. That’s because she was never invited — unlike Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni who is desperately trying to live up to the expectations of being the EU’s chief Trump whisperer. Or at least ring-kisser.
As the world continues down the path of chase, at least there’s one country we can always count on to cheer us up: Ireland.
The better half of the British Isles has a new tourist attraction: Dublin’s Shrine of the Sacred Cherry Tomatoes of Drumcondra, or Cherry Tomato Bridge for short. (Note to my editors: I know you’re wondering why I’m writing about this. I could argue it reflects an important truth about the role of social media in the media-political ecosystem but, seriously, pleeeeeeaaaase let us have this one fun thing before we go back to doomscrolling.)
If you’re wondering what it is, just read the name. It’s a bridge, with tomatoes. It was probably built by people, but I have a theory involving tomato fairies I won’t go into today.
Whatever its true origins (tomato fairies), it’s a wonderful thing. Some tomatoes have faces, some googly eyes, others have pictures or little statues holding them. This is humanity, or tomatity, at its best.