There’s a lot of terrible things happening in the world today. Don’t worry I’m not all about the doom and gloom . . . just mostly.

A black police chief speaks out about the Dallas attacks. Juleyka Lantigua-Williams for The Atlantic.

Mother Jones shares President Obama’s speech at the Dallas Memorial.

Jim C. Hines offers some thoughts and links on Black Lives Matter.

Harvard study on police shootings and race offers some surprising results. The Tribunist. A friend conscientiously pointed me in the direction of a couple of other interpretations. Roland Fryer answers reader questions about his Harvard study. Amanda Cox for The New York Times. Dara Lind explains why she’s skeptical of Fryer’s study. Vox.

Henry Rollins: white America couldn’t handle what black America deals with every day. The L.A Times. My favourite bit: “I’m an educated, Caucasian, heterosexual male. Does this ensure I will have success and live the American Dream? Obviously it doesn’t, but it damn sure drops me on second base with a great opportunity to steal third.”

Locally, Paula Wharton invited the police chief to her home to talk race relations. CBC.

Scott Gilmore says that Canada’s racism problem is even worse than America’s. MacLean’s Magazine, January 22, 2015. I’d have preferred a more balanced look at the way both countries treat our Native North American peoples, or how we both treat our people of colour. Mixing it up doesn’t present either population in a way from which we could draw meaningful conclusions or find ways to take positive, supporting action.

Another  Canadian tragedy: Taliyah Marsman’s body found. CBC.

Well, this is no surprise . . . Canadians’ moral compass set differently from that of our neighbours to the south. Bruce Anderson and David Coletto present research for Abacus Data.

Let’s try for a little of the uplift, now.

Tara Isabella Burton explains why you should study theology, even if you don’t believe in god. The Atlantic.

The real story of the woman behind the Migrant Mother Depression era photos. The Vintage News.

Laurie Penny reports on life-hacks for the poor and aimless. What’s the real message behind the trend of self-care? The Baffler.

The Hurrian Hymn dates back to 1400 B.C. and it’s totally amazing 🙂 The Vintage News.

The spoon theory as explained by Christine Miserandino. ButYouDontLookSick.com

This photo of the Milky Way, taken in Namibia, looks like it was taken in the daytime. Photos are tricky. Phil Plait for Slate. He also presents evidence of a planet orbiting in a triple star system. Hubble shows us a beauty that hides a beast.

Jason Daley reports on a mission to Marianas Trench that records dozens of crazy deep sea creatures. Smithsonian Magazine.

This cyborg stingray is the coolest thing you’ll see all day. George Dvorsky for Gizmodo. Later in the week, George writes about ten predictions that should scare the hell out of you. Great fodder for SF? Methinks so!

Open Culture presents a 1965 video of Joni Mitchell performing . . . before she was Joni Mitchell.

I hope you’ve managed to pull some inspiration from this lot. I aim to be more uplifting next week. But we’ll see what fresh hell 2016 offers.

Practice gratitude. Breathe.

Be well.