God, America is complicated to navigate these days... I don't know what most of these shops are; we have McDonalds in Switzerland but I've boycotted for circa three decades (at least). Nestlé well, the headquarters are close-by but my guts have been boycotting anything processed for the last three years, so winning.
Netflix, hmmm, hardly watch anymore as there's little worth watching. Amazon Prime is disappointing over here. Spotify??? WTH? I don't even know who that guy is apart from the bad hombre made famous for being a very bad hombre recently. Apple is dodgy in our house.
Amazon. Now, there you have me, Gloria. Because getting hold of English books over here is complicated. So I rely on Amazon for my steady flow of novels, poetry books, and to support writers I meet on here. I'm also (cringe!) publishing my poetry book on KDP initially, as so many people I know are in the same position as me regarding buying books. However, I am hoping to also publish on another platform that I hope is less cringe - Ingram Spark, so if anyone has any suggestions, please share them with me asap. I understand Ingram Spark has better distribution and can get books into Waterstones etc.
I think people who are aware of what we can do to fight back are doing their part, but it's going to take a huge awakening, a revolution, a storm to fix this. So stir away, Gloria. Oh, and yes to revolution red lipstick. Beeswax and pelargonium petals.
Also, has anyone else found that companies make it difficult to cancel subscriptions? We have often had to literally cancel our credit cards and have new ones made to get out of jail free. And my husband is a (retired) lawyer.
It's not just "those" companies though. We had a small rubbish removal company that kept on billing us, and they said they couldn't cancel it, but that we had to do it through the bank. And the bank said they couldn't do it, the company had to! So we canceled the cc there, too.
Oh, the ebooks... in New Zealand, German-language books are like hens' teeth and until I break my Krimi addiction I really can't get my fix without Amazon... 😟😦
By the way, I enjoyed your post. Boycotts are not for the weak. I live in a rural area and miss the convenience of ordering online and having things delivered.
The Coke CEO made a pilgrimage to Mara Largo right after the election last fall and gifted the traitor a GOLDEN COCA COLA BOTTLE. There is a photo floating around the ether.
I am a recovering Diet Coke addict. It’s the hardest thing I have ever tried to give up.
Sparkling Mineral Water with splashes of Knudsen’s Organic Grape Juice. They make two different organic Concord grape juices, one is Concord Grape 100%
Excellent suggestion...I never thought about sparkling mineral water... you could also put flavored bitters in sparkling water...with lime or lemon slices. THANKS for the inspiration!
Oops, it’s made from Ripe, Whole, Organic Concord Grapes. The other one I’ve seen looks similar and made from concentrate. There are many flavors to choose from, Blueberry, Pear and others. I haven’t heard anything about this company being on evils side so hopefully not. These juices have sugars naturally.
And anyway for us Angelenos there is an awesome little Taco restaurant on Olympic in Santa Monica where everyone who loves tacos goes.. It doesn't look much from the outside but goodness, best tacos I ever had, and nicest staff ever 🫠
Also Gloria, Blueland has an awesome environmental-safe product imitating Clorox called Oxi Laundry Booster which is awesome, soft on our Earth
I’m based in Germany, where Gemeinwohlökonomie is a growing model—companies structured around the common good rather than shareholder profit. It hasn’t made much noise in the U.S. yet, but I know many of you are already voting with your wallet, and I thought I’d share a few alternatives I’ve come across. Nothing exhaustive—just a few openings, for when you’re staring at your screen thinking, “If not them, then who?”
Here’s where to start looking—brands that don’t leave that sour aftertaste of exploitation:
Look for: natural fibers, zero waste, ethical labor
Try:
– Pact (organic basics)
– Tonlé (made from factory scraps)
– For Days (closed-loop system)
– The Citizenry (fair wages for artisans)
💧 Water & drinks
Look for: aluminum, community impact
Try:
– JUST Water (boxed, social impact model)
– Open Water (carbon neutral, woman-led)
– Liquid Death (odd name, real mission)
💻 Tech accessories
Look for: repairability, recycled materials
Try:
– Nimble (chargers from e-waste)
– Teracube (repairable phone)
🧭 And how to spot more
Search for:
– B Corp certified
– 1% for the Planet
– worker-owned / co-op
– “carbon neutral,” “closed-loop,” “regenerative”
I use Apple because I can’t afford anything else right now. I won’t shame what stays, only notice what can shift. What I’ve learned: even one item changed is a small declaration. Even a bottle of shampoo can be a protest. And if it’s refillable, even better.
“I won’t shame what stays, only notice what can shift.”
Jay, I heartily agree! We can only do what we can do. For years now, I’ve cut out fast food, read labels to see who makes products and where, and am now engaged in non-engagement with Amazon, FB, etc. plenty of alternative online bookstores (books in Eng are hard to come by where I live).
Cassie, yes, they exist. In Germany and across Europe, a concept called Gemeinwohlökonomie—the Economy for the Common Good—is slowly taking root. It’s not a brand or a label, but a model: businesses that measure success not by profit, but by how much they contribute to human dignity, ecological sustainability, social justice, democratic participation, and transparency.
It’s a mindset shift—away from extraction, toward contribution.
You in the U.S. might not have heard of it, but the B Corp movement comes close. Certified B Corps also commit to values beyond profit: fair labor, climate action, and community benefit. It’s not perfect, but it points in the same direction. If a product carries a B Corp label, chances are it leans more toward the common good than corporate greed.
This isn’t about perfection. It’s about alignment. Even a small switch can carry weight.
Amongst the most well known B Corps are Nespresso and Ben&Jerry's. They have to re-audit every year and are only being certified when the reach quite high goal.
Roxy, I am glad this provided som ideas. I know there are many B Corps in the US. https://usca.bcorporation.net/ you also might want to search for Stakeholder Economy as a key word. That is probably the nearest equivalent to our Gemeinwohlökonomie. Co-op's are also often a good starting point.
>B Corps Do More Than Business
> They create an economy that works for all of us — including you! Spread > the love and let us know why you love #BCorp.
Cassie, I am not associated, and a one point in my career 3 years back explored if I could actually let the company I owned becoming a B Corp. All the other German certifications where not quite suitable. I even started the process and than I became ill and .... now it's history. But I did indeed had been very interested about different forms of doing business, as the one we where set on, no longer felt aligned with myself. So I explored all the different economies that have emerged in the last couple of years.
Nespresso is owned by Nestlé and I do my best to not buy anything from Nestlé because they do business with farms that use child slave labor. It's hard to get away from Nestlé not because they are that good, but because they have so many products that are not well marked as Nestlé products.
LadyOfBooks, you're absolutely right—Nestlé owns not only around 60% of the major food labels but now also holds about 60% of the major nutritional supplement brands. And yet, a B Corp is a B Corp. Their compliance, regulation, and verification processes are incredibly demanding. Certification requires full traceability of the supply chain, including adherence to B Corp standards such as fair wages, no child labor, and more.
While some of Nestlé’s countless subsidiaries may still engage in questionable business practices, B Corp–certified companies are not among them. Nestlé has grown into one of the top three food conglomerates in the Western world. However, due to their headquarters being in Switzerland, they’re not directly entangled with the U.S. oligarchy or DT and his circle—though I’m sure shares are held across the board.
I hear and understand your concerns, and I try to stay aware of these dynamics myself. At the same time, I prefer not to generalize or cast blanket suspicion over an entire company or group. I choose a more differentiated lens.
We don’t spend money on alcohol. Maybe beer or a random bottle of wine but it’s not our thing. I drink socially and Crystal doesn’t drink alcohol at all because it tastes like cough syrup.
OK, Gloria, I'll give you my spiel. Challenge to anyone who can top this:
1. I'm on NO social media at all. Never have been, never will be. I don't consider Substack to be a social media platform -- but it does have its niche which I notice many people frequent. They're not 'posters' per se, but just use the chat function. Not a criticism, but just sayin'.
2. I don't have an iPhone and never had one. Unless all banks, credit cards demand mobile internet access, I'll never have one. What do I have? A small black phone/phone. It suffices. I have a desktop computer at home. That works nicely for me.
3. At 80 yrs. old, I use no make-up except eyeliner at bottom of eyes. Can't have little pig eyes, can we? I don't dye my hair -- used to. But now, too much trouble, white hair looks, well, nice.
4. I've come to accept myself and my age. I've had my time in the sun, so don't fret over younger women having theirs. I do have a confession, however. Since I live in Thailand, I'm surrounded by handsome young Thai men. And I do have one friend who helps me walk -- he's 50, but like all Asians, looks like he's 30. I do admit to fantasies. Let's just leave this one be....
Gloria, my friend, thanks much for your comment. But don't be envious of me. I suspect your life has been quite full as well -- differently so, but as full or fuller. At 80, I'm happy just to have what I have and to be what I am. It's been a long road -- as I'm quite sure you know -- to acceptance. Please feel free to communicate with me if you care to. I'd consider it an 'honor.'
Nice article! My sentiments exactly. Chewy is fast with food and meds - try it. Hope they are ok to buy from. Amazon was actually easy for me. Have not stepped forth into fast food in quite awhile - and I do make my bread. I will wander into some of these stores to slap a Putin/Trump love sticker on something.
Excellent piece this evening, Gloria,we could all benefit from your Boycott list or Dead to Me. Brilliant idea, Thank you, and will reStack ASAP 💯👍🇺🇸💙💪
She’s not in a plastic tube. She’s not tested on bunnies or made by billionaires in boardrooms who think feminism is a marketing strategy. No—she’s hand-poured by a queer herbalist in a mossy hut tucked behind a collapsing library. She’s beeswax-free (the bees unionized), palm oil-free (no orangutan evictions), and she comes in a tiny tin you can reuse to hide secrets or cyanide, depending on the day.
The shade?
Revolution Red.
Goes with protest boots, silk scarves, and whispered resistance.
Stays on through kiss, coffee, and coup.
And when the world burns down—again—she’ll still be in your pocket.
Because darling, the last ethical lipstick isn’t a product.
I am definitely working on it. I cannot, do not want to, comply with all, because it would erase some life lines to childhood friends in South America. Yet, I am not ruling it out. I may come to the realisation that most of them are unrequited love friendships that are undeserving of ignoring this noncompliance to your list on my part. Yes, I am talking about FB and WhatsApp. (Grunt.)
God, America is complicated to navigate these days... I don't know what most of these shops are; we have McDonalds in Switzerland but I've boycotted for circa three decades (at least). Nestlé well, the headquarters are close-by but my guts have been boycotting anything processed for the last three years, so winning.
Netflix, hmmm, hardly watch anymore as there's little worth watching. Amazon Prime is disappointing over here. Spotify??? WTH? I don't even know who that guy is apart from the bad hombre made famous for being a very bad hombre recently. Apple is dodgy in our house.
Amazon. Now, there you have me, Gloria. Because getting hold of English books over here is complicated. So I rely on Amazon for my steady flow of novels, poetry books, and to support writers I meet on here. I'm also (cringe!) publishing my poetry book on KDP initially, as so many people I know are in the same position as me regarding buying books. However, I am hoping to also publish on another platform that I hope is less cringe - Ingram Spark, so if anyone has any suggestions, please share them with me asap. I understand Ingram Spark has better distribution and can get books into Waterstones etc.
I think people who are aware of what we can do to fight back are doing their part, but it's going to take a huge awakening, a revolution, a storm to fix this. So stir away, Gloria. Oh, and yes to revolution red lipstick. Beeswax and pelargonium petals.
Also, has anyone else found that companies make it difficult to cancel subscriptions? We have often had to literally cancel our credit cards and have new ones made to get out of jail free. And my husband is a (retired) lawyer.
Love, Francesca xx
I’ve had the same issue with canceling! I too have had to totally cancel the card in order to avoid paying and paying and paying…
It’s a scam and illegal as hell.
It's not just "those" companies though. We had a small rubbish removal company that kept on billing us, and they said they couldn't cancel it, but that we had to do it through the bank. And the bank said they couldn't do it, the company had to! So we canceled the cc there, too.
Gloria, I've DMed you! Just so you know :)
It’s mad, isn’t it. Corruption!!!!
Oh, the ebooks... in New Zealand, German-language books are like hens' teeth and until I break my Krimi addiction I really can't get my fix without Amazon... 😟😦
Of course you are still fabulous! It takes a lot of moxey to stir storms.
Ha! Or a bit crazy! 🤪
But insanity is what makes life so much fun.😁
By the way, I enjoyed your post. Boycotts are not for the weak. I live in a rural area and miss the convenience of ordering online and having things delivered.
I’m 99.9% Irish from the Dublin area. Imagine how stubborn and fiery my personality is.
I pity anyone who would ruffle your feathers. lol
Not pretty. Not pretty at all.
Living in a rural area in lovely but shopping is HARD. Yes, boycott where you can but I am also are diehard believer in practicality.
I’m a child of the 60’s and Scott’s Irish stubborn. I will go to great lengths to prove a point. lol
I remember my red haired grandfather’s temper and you are correct, it is not pretty. God bless the Irish. 🥰
Well, shit. The Arby's Chicken Salad was a decent option on the road. 🤷🏼♀️
The rest... not a problem.
Trader Joes breaks my heart.
I'll stick with Obagi for skincare.
I wont be renewing my Prime. Dont miss Facebook AT ALL.
Diet Coke and Rite Aid Pharmacy are IN! And so is TJ Maxx. WHEW!
But the truth is, for me, for the last month or so, I'm only buying consumable like food and wine
and hitting consignment shops. I will not aid this racist, hateful country. They've been able to buy my soul with corporate greed.
The Coke CEO made a pilgrimage to Mara Largo right after the election last fall and gifted the traitor a GOLDEN COCA COLA BOTTLE. There is a photo floating around the ether.
I am a recovering Diet Coke addict. It’s the hardest thing I have ever tried to give up.
Nooooooooo!!!! CRAP! I'm gonna miss those fuzzy Diet Coke chemicals. 😭 You know if nothing else, we'll all be healthier.
But, NOT HAPPIER!!
🥵
😂😂😂😂 Truth. It's not the same at all, but Vernor's Ginger Ale is refreshing.
Sparkling Mineral Water with splashes of Knudsen’s Organic Grape Juice. They make two different organic Concord grape juices, one is Concord Grape 100%
Juice and Not made from Concentrate
That sounds yummy!😋
I’m so glad.
Excellent suggestion...I never thought about sparkling mineral water... you could also put flavored bitters in sparkling water...with lime or lemon slices. THANKS for the inspiration!
Oops, it’s made from Ripe, Whole, Organic Concord Grapes. The other one I’ve seen looks similar and made from concentrate. There are many flavors to choose from, Blueberry, Pear and others. I haven’t heard anything about this company being on evils side so hopefully not. These juices have sugars naturally.
A most enlightening & epic list..much appreciated..
Side note: .quit getting prescriptions at Rite Aid because they would only give me generic crap changed to online company Springmeds..
Thanks for the tip! More, please.
Will do.
I can't abandon my Mac....
but I loved Chipotle and never reallyTaco Bell...
And anyway for us Angelenos there is an awesome little Taco restaurant on Olympic in Santa Monica where everyone who loves tacos goes.. It doesn't look much from the outside but goodness, best tacos I ever had, and nicest staff ever 🫠
Also Gloria, Blueland has an awesome environmental-safe product imitating Clorox called Oxi Laundry Booster which is awesome, soft on our Earth
Thank you for the recommendation. I love the name “Blueland.” I wish we were living in Blueland!
We shall soon again .. 😉
I’m based in Germany, where Gemeinwohlökonomie is a growing model—companies structured around the common good rather than shareholder profit. It hasn’t made much noise in the U.S. yet, but I know many of you are already voting with your wallet, and I thought I’d share a few alternatives I’ve come across. Nothing exhaustive—just a few openings, for when you’re staring at your screen thinking, “If not them, then who?”
Here’s where to start looking—brands that don’t leave that sour aftertaste of exploitation:
🧴 Personal care
Look for: refillable, zero-waste, woman-owned
Try:
– Plaine Products (refillable, plastic-free)
– HiBAR (solid shampoo/conditioner)
– Ethique (climate-positive bars)
– Dr. Bronner’s (activist soap)
☕ Coffee & tea
Look for: direct trade, regenerative, co-ops
Try:
– Equator Coffees (women-led)
– Counter Culture Coffee
– Tiny Footprint Coffee (carbon-negative)
– Rishi Tea (organic, transparent)
🥫 Groceries & pantry basics
Look for: B Corp, co-ops, fair trade
Try:
– Equal Exchange (worker-owned)
– Thrive Market (online, with a give-back model)
– Seed + Mill (woman-owned tahini + halva)
– Wildgood (vegan ice cream)
🧼 Household cleaning
Look for: refill stations, toxin-free, community-led
Try:
– Blueland (tablet refills)
– Branch Basics (non-toxic)
– Common Good (bulk refill)
👚 Clothing & home textiles
Look for: natural fibers, zero waste, ethical labor
Try:
– Pact (organic basics)
– Tonlé (made from factory scraps)
– For Days (closed-loop system)
– The Citizenry (fair wages for artisans)
💧 Water & drinks
Look for: aluminum, community impact
Try:
– JUST Water (boxed, social impact model)
– Open Water (carbon neutral, woman-led)
– Liquid Death (odd name, real mission)
💻 Tech accessories
Look for: repairability, recycled materials
Try:
– Nimble (chargers from e-waste)
– Teracube (repairable phone)
🧭 And how to spot more
Search for:
– B Corp certified
– 1% for the Planet
– worker-owned / co-op
– “carbon neutral,” “closed-loop,” “regenerative”
I use Apple because I can’t afford anything else right now. I won’t shame what stays, only notice what can shift. What I’ve learned: even one item changed is a small declaration. Even a bottle of shampoo can be a protest. And if it’s refillable, even better.
Thank you so much for this wonderful list! Brava, Jay!
I am glad if it is helpful.
“I won’t shame what stays, only notice what can shift.”
Jay, I heartily agree! We can only do what we can do. For years now, I’ve cut out fast food, read labels to see who makes products and where, and am now engaged in non-engagement with Amazon, FB, etc. plenty of alternative online bookstores (books in Eng are hard to come by where I live).
Little *buy* little!
Companies structured on common good....ha! What a concept! I would love the mind shift that would allow that here.
Cassie, yes, they exist. In Germany and across Europe, a concept called Gemeinwohlökonomie—the Economy for the Common Good—is slowly taking root. It’s not a brand or a label, but a model: businesses that measure success not by profit, but by how much they contribute to human dignity, ecological sustainability, social justice, democratic participation, and transparency.
It’s a mindset shift—away from extraction, toward contribution.
You in the U.S. might not have heard of it, but the B Corp movement comes close. Certified B Corps also commit to values beyond profit: fair labor, climate action, and community benefit. It’s not perfect, but it points in the same direction. If a product carries a B Corp label, chances are it leans more toward the common good than corporate greed.
This isn’t about perfection. It’s about alignment. Even a small switch can carry weight.
Amongst the most well known B Corps are Nespresso and Ben&Jerry's. They have to re-audit every year and are only being certified when the reach quite high goal.
This was great info. I need to investigate further and find local or at least fair sources here in Missouri.
Let me know what you find out. ❤️
Gloria, you just need to ask what you are looking for and I'll let me fingers fly over my keyboard and deliver your search personally to your inbox.
Thanks, Jay! ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Roxy, I am glad this provided som ideas. I know there are many B Corps in the US. https://usca.bcorporation.net/ you also might want to search for Stakeholder Economy as a key word. That is probably the nearest equivalent to our Gemeinwohlökonomie. Co-op's are also often a good starting point.
>B Corps Do More Than Business
> They create an economy that works for all of us — including you! Spread > the love and let us know why you love #BCorp.
Very interesting. How are you associated with B Corps or come to learn about it?
Cassie, I am not associated, and a one point in my career 3 years back explored if I could actually let the company I owned becoming a B Corp. All the other German certifications where not quite suitable. I even started the process and than I became ill and .... now it's history. But I did indeed had been very interested about different forms of doing business, as the one we where set on, no longer felt aligned with myself. So I explored all the different economies that have emerged in the last couple of years.
Nespresso is owned by Nestlé and I do my best to not buy anything from Nestlé because they do business with farms that use child slave labor. It's hard to get away from Nestlé not because they are that good, but because they have so many products that are not well marked as Nestlé products.
LadyOfBooks, you're absolutely right—Nestlé owns not only around 60% of the major food labels but now also holds about 60% of the major nutritional supplement brands. And yet, a B Corp is a B Corp. Their compliance, regulation, and verification processes are incredibly demanding. Certification requires full traceability of the supply chain, including adherence to B Corp standards such as fair wages, no child labor, and more.
While some of Nestlé’s countless subsidiaries may still engage in questionable business practices, B Corp–certified companies are not among them. Nestlé has grown into one of the top three food conglomerates in the Western world. However, due to their headquarters being in Switzerland, they’re not directly entangled with the U.S. oligarchy or DT and his circle—though I’m sure shares are held across the board.
I hear and understand your concerns, and I try to stay aware of these dynamics myself. At the same time, I prefer not to generalize or cast blanket suspicion over an entire company or group. I choose a more differentiated lens.
Brown sugar cinnamon UNFROSTED poptarts are the best, but you have to put enough butter on top to cover all the breather holes.
I notice no alcohol is on the list, we might need it.
I keep hearing the Beatles, Revolution slow versiont
We don’t spend money on alcohol. Maybe beer or a random bottle of wine but it’s not our thing. I drink socially and Crystal doesn’t drink alcohol at all because it tastes like cough syrup.
Me either, I mostly smoke, but gf likes her beer.
We all have our likes. I know I do.
Can all of these be against democracy, or just afraid? Please send a list of the good guys.
I believe a mixture of both. I can tell you where we are shopping. Would that help?
Yes. Costcos for sure!
Yes. Thank you.
OK, Gloria, I'll give you my spiel. Challenge to anyone who can top this:
1. I'm on NO social media at all. Never have been, never will be. I don't consider Substack to be a social media platform -- but it does have its niche which I notice many people frequent. They're not 'posters' per se, but just use the chat function. Not a criticism, but just sayin'.
2. I don't have an iPhone and never had one. Unless all banks, credit cards demand mobile internet access, I'll never have one. What do I have? A small black phone/phone. It suffices. I have a desktop computer at home. That works nicely for me.
3. At 80 yrs. old, I use no make-up except eyeliner at bottom of eyes. Can't have little pig eyes, can we? I don't dye my hair -- used to. But now, too much trouble, white hair looks, well, nice.
4. I've come to accept myself and my age. I've had my time in the sun, so don't fret over younger women having theirs. I do have a confession, however. Since I live in Thailand, I'm surrounded by handsome young Thai men. And I do have one friend who helps me walk -- he's 50, but like all Asians, looks like he's 30. I do admit to fantasies. Let's just leave this one be....
You are truly amazing… which is being typed on my iPhone! LOL.
WHAT a life. I’m envious.
Gloria, my friend, thanks much for your comment. But don't be envious of me. I suspect your life has been quite full as well -- differently so, but as full or fuller. At 80, I'm happy just to have what I have and to be what I am. It's been a long road -- as I'm quite sure you know -- to acceptance. Please feel free to communicate with me if you care to. I'd consider it an 'honor.'
Nice article! My sentiments exactly. Chewy is fast with food and meds - try it. Hope they are ok to buy from. Amazon was actually easy for me. Have not stepped forth into fast food in quite awhile - and I do make my bread. I will wander into some of these stores to slap a Putin/Trump love sticker on something.
Hubert, we love Chewy.
Recycle, reuse. No tariff on second hand.
Also, some, especially elders on SS, live on the "edge."
Everything is going to become much much worse for all of us.
I laughed so hard! 🤣🤪😎
As always - a big thank you for your exquisite writing. ❤️
Thanks so much, Jane.
Excellent piece this evening, Gloria,we could all benefit from your Boycott list or Dead to Me. Brilliant idea, Thank you, and will reStack ASAP 💯👍🇺🇸💙💪
Nice
Thanks, Bob.
(But please tell me. What’s the last ethical lipstick on Earth?)
I wondered if anybody would ask about that!
Ah, the Last Ethical Lipstick on Earth?
She’s not in a plastic tube. She’s not tested on bunnies or made by billionaires in boardrooms who think feminism is a marketing strategy. No—she’s hand-poured by a queer herbalist in a mossy hut tucked behind a collapsing library. She’s beeswax-free (the bees unionized), palm oil-free (no orangutan evictions), and she comes in a tiny tin you can reuse to hide secrets or cyanide, depending on the day.
The shade?
Revolution Red.
Goes with protest boots, silk scarves, and whispered resistance.
Stays on through kiss, coffee, and coup.
And when the world burns down—again—she’ll still be in your pocket.
Because darling, the last ethical lipstick isn’t a product.
She’s a promise.
Fantastic answer!💋
You just blew me away with your answer...AGAIN!!
I am definitely working on it. I cannot, do not want to, comply with all, because it would erase some life lines to childhood friends in South America. Yet, I am not ruling it out. I may come to the realisation that most of them are unrequited love friendships that are undeserving of ignoring this noncompliance to your list on my part. Yes, I am talking about FB and WhatsApp. (Grunt.)