It can - at least in theory - be a good idea to have universal requirements for something that is useful in and of itself. Everyone has to do a stint in the army, because we need soldiers and that’s where we get them, or maybe because we believe that military service builds character or something. Everyone has to go to kindergarten, because kindergarten teaches things that we’re confident every student can learn and should learn and will be able to learn. The prize for teaching kids to read is “those kids can read,” and you can just stop there, you don’t need any kind of elaborate scaffolding of justification.

I am increasingly convinced that any universal requirement for something that isn’t useful in and of itself, for something that might or might not be valuable based on How the Facts Turn Out, will always prove to be a terrible idea.

Or, in briefer terms: if you’re going to base your policy decision on a claim that “Everyone Can X!,” you have to really really really mean it.

7777777awawawa7777777:

sorry everyone we won’t be seeing any men today they’ve all been bricked into their enclosure

In India, the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad in Noori & Another v. State of U.P. & 4 Others, (HC Allahabad, Feb. 23, 2026), issued an order protecting the right of unmarried interfaith couples to live together. The court said in part:

3. A large number of petitions are being filed in this Court wherein the petitioners have decided to stay together in an interfaith live-in relationship and they claim that they have an apprehension of life threat from the private respondents. The Police of concerned Districts have been approached by them, but no heed was paid....

31.  This Court does not see the petitioners herein as Hindu and Muslim, rather as two grown up individuals who out of their own free will and choice are living together peacefully and happily for a considerable time. The Courts and the Constitutional Courts in particular are enjoined to uphold the life and liberty of an individual guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution of India. Right to live with a person of his/her choice, irrespective of religion professed by them, is intrinsic to right to life and personal liberty. Interference in a personal relationship, would constitute a serious encroachment into the right to freedom of choice of the two individuals. This Court fails to understand that if the law permits two persons even of the same sex to live together peacefully then neither any individual nor a family nor even State can have objection to hetrosexual relationship of two major individuals who out of their own free will are living together. Decision of an individual who is of the age of majority, to live with an individual of his/her choice is strictly a right of an individual and when this right is infringed it would constitute breach of his/her fundamental right to life and personal liberty as it includes right to freedom of choice, to choose a partner and right to live with dignity as enshrined in Article 21 of the Constitution of India.

51.... (i) The petitioners herein are at liberty to approach the police authorities for reddressal of their grievances, in case any harm is caused by private respondents or their associates. Upon receipt of such application, the police authorities shall examine the matter and age of the petitioners and if they find any substance in the allegations of the petitioners, they will act in accordance with law for protection of life, limb and liberty of the petitioners.

(ii) The petitioners may lodge a report/complaint if anybody attempts to convert their religion against their wishes, or by any fraudulent means, force, coercion, allurement, undue influence or practice of misrepresentation....

Bar and Bench reports on the decision.

Minnesota-based Wolf River Electric makes their money installing solar panels, but they're also happy to hand out a free tip for reducing your energy bill. Noting that windows are a key source of heat loss in a home, company founder Justin Nielsen points out: "One of the simplest and most overlooked ways to keep heat in your home this winter costs almost nothing, bubble wrap on your windows."

"It sounds unconventional, but the science is solid. Bubble wrap works as an extra layer of insulation by trapping air between the bubbles, slowing down heat transfer through the glass. Windows are one of the biggest culprits for heat loss in a home, and this is a near-zero-cost fix anyone can do in minutes.

"All you need to do is cut a sheet of bubble wrap to fit your window, lightly mist the glass with water, and press it against the pane, the surface tension holds it in place with no tape or adhesive needed. It lets light in while keeping the cold out.

"It's not something I'd recommend for your main living areas, but for rooms that don't see much use during winter, a guest bedroom, a basement, a utility room, it's a genuinely effective hack. You'd be surprised how much of a difference it makes to the feel of a room and potentially your energy bill."

"Two important tips I'd give though are firstly not to overly mist your windows. Too much moisture behind the bubble wrap can cause condensation. And secondly, make sure that you lay the bubble wrap bubble side to the window.

"It seems counter intuitive, as you'd presume that the other side has more area to stick... but by doing it this way, you get an extra layer of insulation."