Nice Stuff #10

Some links to start off your weeks ...

Welcome to What’s Helping Today, a newsletter about the everyday work of staying alive on earth — written by author and journalist Sandy Ernest Allen.

Hey folks,

Today is World AIDS Day …

Here’s a wayback link for a feature I helped edit, twelve years years ago, about the holiday’s founder …

This is the book I happened to be reading as COVID first began … six years ago now:

It has remained on my mind given COVID hasn’t ended, of course … and because as a trans and queer person I feel so intensely these days my government — and the mainstream press’ — apathy towards my life and future.

I also wanted to share this beautiful memorial of Alice Wong …

Otherwise, today’s post will be short, mostly links to some more Nice Stuff …

This was unsurprisingly fantastic …

LOL:

You ever think the guy with the Tiny Desk just wants to get back to work?

Jaya Saxena (@jayasaxena.com)2025-12-01T13:08:43.770Z

Loved this headline about peoples’ love of axolotls …

A good reflection on ‘good neighboring’ …

Also appreciated this reflection on rest …

I liked seeing this coverage of the benefits of urban farms …

What a great idea for a series …

I always love seeing headlines like this …

And like this …

And like this …

Finally: A newly discovered array of undersea wildlife just dropped …

Thanks to those who’ve given recently to my Buy Me a Coffee — especially the suggested amount of $5 a month or more. Sustaining contributors: If you have opinions about what perks I might offer you in return, please let me know via this super short new survey …

In case you missed it, here was my latest Dear Sandy column from over the weekend … in which I responded to a trans reader wondering how to re-find the will to live …

Sending love,
Sandy

p.s. What’s Helping Today: Still eating pie and other leftovers from this weekend’s Not Thanksgiving …

bowl of leftovers by the fire, feat. fried Brussels sprouts, roasted delicata squash, cranberry sauce and sausage stuffing I made with home-baked sourdough …

Thanks for reading What’s Helping Today, a newsletter by me — author and journalist Sandy Ernest Allen. If you were forwarded this message, What’s Helping Today is free; you can subscribe here.

If you like my work: Again, please consider supporting me via my Buy Me a Coffee. My suggested amount of $5 a month (or more!) will get you access to perks (perks TBA!) … Your help in supporting my work is greatly appreciated!