Birds are musicians
I’m just gonna be frank with y’all (“hi Frank!”): the last couple weeks have not felt so great in the United States of America. We are still in the midst of fighting the coronavirus pandemic with no real end in sight, families are struggling with unemployment while juggling childcare, feminism is being set back by decades as mothers in particular are forced out of the workforce, teachers are being asked to put themselves at risk returning to underfunded schools for not enough pay, white supremacists who shoot people are defended by the President, who seems to increasingly be running on an more explicitly white supremacist platform that threatens the safety of both Black and immigrant Americans, slaughterhouse workers are dying disproportionately from Covid-19 because dead animal companies have never prioritized their safety and most of the country continues to consume animals, and I feel shaky about whether the upcoming election could potentially result in an even more explosive and frightening social dynamic between those of us who care about others and those of them who, frankly, seem to wish we were dead.
Tenderly is always straddling a line between serious discussions and stories about the exploitation of animals (including humans), and being a break from all of that with recipes, photography, and the happy side of interspecies families and sanctuaries. I want to be able to be a respite, but it can be hard to provide optimism at a time when I’m not sure that optimism can be logically derived from the objective reality we’re all living through at the moment.
Still, we must survive — and remember why we are fighting for dignified and free lives for all — because life is a gift that should be about purpose and joy, not suffering for the comfort of others. And while we must keep fighting, we should also appreciate the pleasures of life while we’re here: ripe tomatoes, a long walk with a dog during sunset, laughing with friends around a fire, reading a book that expands your perspective on the world, and simply taking care of one another.
I’d love to know what’s on your mind, and ways Tenderly might be able to help provide something you’ve been looking for. Email me by replying here or just use summer@tenderlymag.com.
It was a quiet holiday week at Tenderly, but we did publish some great stories:
Imitation is the best affirmation. In appropriating birdsong for their masterpieces, the world’s most venerated musicians have validated birds’ music. Mozart had a pet starling, who he likely collaborated with to produce his music. Beethoven imitated the nightingale and the cuckoo. Vivaldi copied the goldfinch. Does birdsong only become music once a member of Homo sapiens plagiarizes it?
Macken wrote about music, birds, and what we might learn from them.
Alicia shared a nostalgic, comforting recipe for a vegan chickpea caesar wrap.
Looking to ensure that your wardrobe doesn’t contribute to exploitation or environmental destruction, but not sure where to start? We got you: a guide for busy people on buying sustainable, ethical fashion.
LOOK AT THIS PHOTOGRAPH
From the archives…
These Stunning Photographs Will Give You a New Appreciation of Nature
SPICED RUM ESPRESSO MARTINI
Maybe you need this later today as much as I do
Recipe by Laura Vincent, from The Espresso Martini, Revisited
- 1oz freshly brewed espresso or cold brew
- 1⅔ oz spiced rum of your choice
- ⅔ oz demerara sugar syrup
- Cinnamon, to garnish
Place all ingredients in a shaker, secure a second tin on top, shake vigorously and strain through a sieve into a chilled glass. I chose to serve this one on the rocks in a tumbler. Sprinkle over ground cinnamon for garnish, if you like.
Love y’all, thanks for being here
— Summer Anne Burton, Editor in Chief
