Last night I had an injection of pure joy. It involves someone else's family, so it wouldn't be appropriate to post too much about it here, but I will just say this: I love newborn babies. They're like little aliens or angels, suddenly thrown blinking into our strange atmosphere, not knowing what to do or how to do any of it...and every time I get to see one or brush my hand against impossibly tiny baby fingers (clenching and unclenching in mid-air), I feel like there's a bubble of joy pressing against the inside of my chest, trying to get out.

And in celebration and honor of little miracles and happiness, I will post a news item that made me ridiculously pleased (via Alex Dally MacFarlane): The War Studies Department of King's College, London (experts in war and conflict) is playing a football (soccer) tournament against the Peace Studies Department of Bradford University (multi-ethnic, with a woman player on the team) - and the Peace Studies Department is, so far, the winner! It may not be a victory that has any effect on our current international situation, but it did make me very happy. :)