With social media apps now a critical tool in communicating (mis)information, what we see and how many people we can reach has become the remit of powerful people with specific agendas, the truth not being one of them.

I had about 13k followers on Twitter back in the day, along with the all-important blue tick to confirm my celebrity status after a few television appearances. I remember enjoying a relatively healthy engagement with my many followers, a few posts doing extraordinarily well, a few maybe even went ‘viral’. I remember ‘trending’ on Twitter on two occasions, and overall the experience of being on Twitter seemed enjoyable, an effective way to engage with fans (and haters). 

After a few years, I started getting bored of social media and slowly began to abandon a regular effort to post anything. Unfortunately for me, this is almost exactly when it became really important to regularly post content, especially videos. By the time I decided to get back on the horse, the landscape of social media had changed, most importantly; the algorithm that drives it all.

It’s no secret now, the algorithm is somewhat a mystery of what get to be disseminated to the masses. There are shadow bans for certain political content that rails against human sacrifices made in the name of mythology and racism, and what is shown to us is down to the whims of whoever controls the algorithm. Our social media profiles might be a reflection of who we are, but what we are shown is entirely dependent on what the algorithm dictates. A curated serving of what we can consume, which is more often than not a serving of hate and doom. Whilst much of legacy media has been controlled by a few people and organisations, social media seemingly liberated us from them, albeit for a while, but now it seems we are back to square one. However, the cat is out of the bag these days, and efforts to democratise our newsfeeds, for the truth to reach more people, has become a frontier that is being fought for by better technologists and activists. Whilst the most popular social media platforms are now wholly compromised, a new platform called UpScrolled has emerged. The FAQ is a good place to start, and the personalities behind it all have deeply invested in building an algorithm with a moral compass, promising to be unprecedentedly more ethical than any other app we’ve engaged with before.
It’s early days, check them out here – https://upscrolled.com/en/faq/

Earlier this year, I was fortunate enough to be invited onto Mary Bourke’s new Radio 4 show ‘Who Cares?’; a show about comedians who are also carers. Onstage we might be funny and charming entertainers, but offstage a lot of our time and effort is in caring for others with significant challenges. Loved ones get very old and very frail, have life-changing accidents, and/or must endure great physical, mental and emotional challenges for which they require someone to care for them as they cannot take care of themselves any longer.

Some do care work professionally, their entire day dedicated to caring for someone else and doing many things that someone who has lost their independence can no longer do for themselves. Some, like me and the other comics on the show, are carers alongside their main careers.

I’ve been a carer for my Mum for many years, and as aging and its accompanying problems compound independence, I’ve found myself in the ever-increasing role of parenting a parent, dealing with the realities of caring for someone who has endured a stroke and now vascular dementia. I’ve not spoken about it on stage before, but after sharing my experiences with Mary, I realised that this is an important subject to talk about and share with others. Sure, there might be material in it, but as comedy often shares a space in the venn diagram alongside philosophy, this was a great opportunity to have an informal podcast chat with Mary and write some new material about my experiences. I had about a week to prepare it all, so I cobbled together some ideas and ran it through at a few clubs before the recording date, and luckily it all paid off. What really stuck out to me was how universal the experience was, I could see people in the audience from different ages and cultures acknowledge my experience as their own. It turns out that we might look and speak differently, but mums are mums for everyone.

Good mums, that is. Not all mums are good mums, but for those of us who got a good mum, we may not realise it until we are tasked with their care. They, now at the mercy of our patience, long after we took theirs for granted. Real love is organic, it emerges naturally, and we discover who we really are. Some walk away, some never leave the sides of their loved ones, all of that comes to pass when the pressure of the crucible increases.

I’m going to post the whole set that was recorded, but for now check me out on Mary’s series for BBC Sounds – Mary Bourke: Who Cares?

Humans can be loving and hurtful, compassionate and indifferent, what we’re all indoctrinated into has a huge impact on who we think we are and how we should treat others unlike us.

At the time of writing, many conflicts and immense suffering is underway, and in 2025 we can watch it all live, or presented to us in bite-sized chunks amidst a sea of light entertainment to numb us from the vicissitudes of life. We can see it all, whilst also showing the world who we are too.

What is interesting to witness is both the outpouring of compassion for those who suffer, and also the chilling indifference too, and both these responses are truly authentic, a reflection of who we are and where we are in the social evolution of what humanity is right now.

We are all part of different groups that are comprised of different genders, ethnicities, cultures, classes, religions, nationalities, political leanings etc, and those distinctions have provided a basis for our preferences, but they are not monoliths. Through sharing in spaces together, we learn about each other and the realities of our commonalities and of our conflicts.

The crimes of the past, and every crime that is committed right now cannot be reversed. Atonement becomes a laborious effort that guarantees a prolonged misery for a justice that will be a small salve and can never undo the pain of what has happened.

As we scramble to justify a moral and political position, and seek ones that might offer new solutions to old problems, where we are all going is being transformed at a primordial level that is either towards compassion or away from it, into an indifference that robs us of the higher potential of the human condition. Some truths are yet to be articulated in modern language, but the same phenomena plays out every generation. This is a manifestation of the yin and yang in people, and as that grows, we are transformed on an individual and societal level over time, under the same epochs of conflict and peace that present themselves through our actions as we all march to the divine beat of the cosmic drum.

I found this artwork by American artist Robert McCall and found it deeply inspiring. The resolution here won’t do it justice, but visit his website and zoom in, and the message it evokes is a vision of global human progress and unity into an exciting future. And that can happen for us, if we want it, but it depends on what kind of vision we nurture for ourselves as guardians of the planet and for the next generation.

I’ve watched Jaws more times than I could ever count, it was the go-to VHS tape of my early childhood, the film I could watch every day without boredom, because instead of terrifying me, I became fascinated by sharks. Along with Jaws, I would watch any and all shark documentaries, read anything about sharks, and draw sharks at every opportunity.

Widely considered one of the greatest films of all time, its production was fraught with problems, from a mechanical shark that kept malfunctioning, a sinking set, conflicts between the cast, and going over budget, somehow it was all rescued in the edit, and became the iconic masterpiece that it is deservedly renowned for.

Even though I was only a little child, I was allowed to watch Jaws, the carnage always explained away to me by my parents as ‘camera tricks’ and ‘ketchup’ for the blood. I loved the music, I loved the characters, I loved the shark, and still today I can watch the film with as much intrigue and joy. Although there are four Jaws films in total, the first is the best, the second is actually decent too and more faster-paced, the third and fourth less-so interesting.

The shark in Jaws is pretty fantastical in itself, at an almost unrealistic 25ft in length and characterised as a vindictive creature bearing a grudge, its modus operandi to simply incite terror and eat people made it the perfect one-dimensional villain amidst three very different men who are charged with the responsibility to kill it. The film is even better than the book, a novel penned by Peter Benchley who also makes a cameo in the film.

Most recently, a play about the making of Jaws featuring the actual son of Robert Shaw playing his own father has toured the world, and if you’re a Jaws fan and want to know more about the off-screen drama between the actors, it’s a great watch and ends with a chillingly accurate rendition of the Indianapolis speech.

If you’ve never seen Jaws, watch it now, don’t waste any time, it is a masterpiece in film with millions of fans around the world who love it as much as I do. And these days, the culture around sharks is one of respect, admiration and conservation about one of the most fascinating animals in the world.

“Free Palestine” has become the most controversial slogan across the world, despite it being around for decades, right now it is the political hot potato like no other. Saying “Free Palestine” aloud in the world of politics, business, entertainment et al can be met with overwhelming suppression from hostile organisations, the authorities, and state-sanctioned violence.

There is no end to the angles and resources of narrative on this topic, and by now we have heard so many repeated and regurgitated, that it becomes clear that those with the upper hand have zero interest in fixing it. Instead, the slaughter of a people continues, a hatred exacerbated and inculcated into every sphere of life so that one people perish under a violent racist persecution because of the collective apathy towards human life that is not white.

You either see the images on the news and feel no compassion, or you are enraged that such horrors are manufactured by the world powers that take your tax money to pay for an openly vindicated holocaust.

Over the years I have put on fundraisers for Palestine via the charities War on Want and Medical Aid for Palestinians, and supported others like IMET 2000 and FQMS.

I’ve marched for hours on the streets of London in the winter cold and in the summer heat alongside thousands of others from all walks of life, united by our humanity, not divided by our differences. This included survivors of the Holocaust and their children who bear witness to the one being perpetrated now, and those who acknowledge the privileges afforded to them by virtue of their birth, and use it to advocate for those who have no rights. These marches bring many different kinds of people together, compassion is universal.

Most recently I was introduced to Ayoub in Gaza, a teenager who is enduring the destruction of his home, somehow surviving amidst the military onslaught that is wiping out his people before out very eyes. Just as we know of the Holocaust in which so many were killed, a tragedy illustrated to us by an endless supply of films and books so that we never let such a horror happen again. Yet today we watch the endless supply of live content coming from the smartphones and social media accounts of a people who too are enduring a new holocaust.

I told Ayoub that I would attend the protest in London to commemorate 77 years of the Nakba, so he asked me to print his image and take it to the protest so that others may know of his plight. Of course, I had to oblige and felt it my honour to speak up for someone whose life is partly dictated by the nation in which I am free, but he is denied his freedom.

You can support Palestinians through many different charities, I have personally worked with Medical Aid for Palestinians many times, and you can also follow Ayoub on Instagram and support his campaign.

You may not agree with me in my support, but if this were happening to you, I would not stay silent, I would advocate for your liberation. We all emerge from and belong to a myriad of identities; an ethnicity, a language, a religion, a nation, a class, a political affiliation etc, but they need not be the grounds for excusing state-sponsored violence against human beings because of political indulgence of arbitrary mythological fantasies.

Today you may have the gun, tomorrow we will have it, and the cycles of violence shall never abate until we evolve beyond these pointless wars. If you are offended by words to liberate a people from oppression and not offended by the vivid evisceration of human beings who are slaughtered by an enormous military and media machine, then perhaps these words are pointless and you’ll never understand until it happens to you.

The tide is turning…

Free Palestine.

I’ve heard many proudly claim a heritage, and extol the virtues of their people and nation, and it seems that if we all don’t have one, we are missing out. Nations are very real, so are passports and citizenships, but really only insofar that they serve a purpose to uphold a societal engine that maintains an ever-evolving culture and an economy that ultimately serves the most wealthy.

I am of Indian origin, but I was born in East Africa, and brought up in England. Today I am a British citizen, I’ve grown up in London, but I also lived in the US. My identity spans these different nations and cultures, I am not one thing, but a number of identities, I consider myself a Global Citizen. To-date I have travelled quite a bit of the world, mainly thanks to comedy.

Being able to perform stand up has opened up doors for me to visit many different nations that I might have never gone to, and stayed in fancy hotels with cart blanche privileges. And just about wherever I go, I am met with fellow comedian friends who have become an extended family and who always welcome me whenever I am in town.

INDIAN

Ethnically I am of Indian origin, and possess a native/high-standard of Hindi/Urdu as my mother tongue, because that is what I first learnt to speak at home. So when The Comedy Store had built a new club out in Mumbai back in the noughties, I was an ideal fit. There I was able to jump between English and Hindi, amazing myself and the Indian audience who considered me more English than Indian. It was a great and unique experience that I rarely get to have, it allowed me to connect with my roots in many ways, whilst making friends with budding open mic comics on the Indian comedy scene, some of whom would become very successful like my friend (and protégé ) Daniel Fernandes.

ASIAN

‘Asian’ is quite broad, and even gets me onto these gigs with fellow Chinese, Taiwanese, Korean, Japanese, Filipino, and other Indian diaspora comics!

AFRICAN

I’ve been invited to perform at both The Cape Town and Johannesburg Comedy Festivals, and even in Malawi, with my Kenyan roots a characterizing factor. There are many Indians in East and South Africa, and have been there for a few generations. However, destiny had decreed that I’d be brought up in England, and would become a British citizen, but the African audiences still welcome me nonetheless. We are all ‘children of empire’ it seems, and particularly in South Africa the vibe of oneness amongst comics spreads across the various ethnic groups that make up the nation.

BRITISH

When abroad, especially where there are a lot of British expats, a ‘British’ comedy night is put on at places like the British Clubs in Singapore and Thailand, and my presence is sometimes met with chuckles. My act remains in English, and for the most part I have been welcomed.

MUSLIM

I have got to perform in ‘Muslim’ countries like the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Malaysia, where censorship is a big deal. I have been censored in all these countries, oftentimes due to a misunderstanding. In these countries, the dominant ethnic group owns the Muslim identity, and me as a British-Asian, can be seen as a bit of an outsider to the faith identity. As these countries are still getting used to stand up comedy and the realties of satire in public spaces, especially about important topics, I have had to err in favour of caution, especially after I have been discreetly warned in these countries by the secret police who pop in to watch the shows with their distinctly inexperienced sense of humour.

Outside of Muslim countries, in places like Belgium and The Netherlands, I was introduced by the godfather of English comedy in that neck of the woods; Nigel Williams, to the local Muslim comedians who are mostly of Moroccan and Turkish origin. As they too were venturing into comedy and performing in Flemish/Dutch but also wanted to expand into English, our faith identity was a grounds for our bonding. So many years later, we have a ritual to eat Adana almost every night during my stints over there.

Over the years I have performed quite a few times in Belgium, The Netherlands, India, Singapore, Malaysia, Canada, East and South Africa. Hong Kong and China. And whenever I go to these places, I am met by comrades, my extended comedy family from many different backgrounds. Over the years, we’ve not only gigged together, but travelled the world together, eaten together after shows late into the night. Especially in Singapore and Malaysia, where we can sit on plastic furniture, eat street food in the street, and take cabs home because the cost of living in the east allows for such experiences without the prohibitive costs we know in the west.

MAN OF THE WORLD

These experiences make me feel really grateful that I am able to meet and mix with so many different groups of people, there is a pleasant overlap  where we can all share with each other and enjoy each other’s company. These are the experiences that make life feel fulfilling, the quality of the relationships with others with whom you get along, and it is the world of stand up comedy that made that possible for me.

Maybe, it’s less important where we’re from, and more important where we can go together.

Every religion has some sort of ritual of observation and abstinence, and upholding these can indicate one’s religiosity, which becomes a badge of honour amongst others in our communities. There is seemingly no end of rituals and ideals to observe and uphold, from how we outwardly appear in public with hats, headscarves, symbolic jewellery et al, to how much of our time is devoted to prayer and attendance in a house of worship. These are all very important in the grand social dynamics of being part of a group, however what becomes clear, none of these guarantee any form of personal integrity.

Our reputations precede us, and how any of us would be described by others would vary vastly between those who may love us and those who may loathe us. Wearing the right religious garment, observing the seemingly compulsory rituals on time may build one’s reputation, but is of no indication as to whether one is renowned for keeping their word when and where it matters most.

Not everyone who belongs to the same religious identity gets along, in the modern world it is easy to learn that the virtues of integrity are not exclusive to any group, and that people with integrity exist across all identities.

Religion is a fascinating social phenomenon that permeates all human endeavour, it is at the foundation of all civilisations. Despite how insignificant the mythology seems to be in modern times, where science and rationalism are readily engaged, the religious narrative is still a functional component of our identities and cultures. However, affiliation to any religion is of no way an indication of one’s integrity, that can only be assessed by the quality of the bonds of those we interact with.

As a man in his forties, having lived life this far where the naivety of youth has been thoroughly purified by the unforgiving vicissitudes of real human life, I have met many very religious people who seemingly uphold all the rules and regulations of their faith, but whose tempers and words were quickly exposed as less than exhibitive of the sagely qualities expected from such religious observance. And too, I have met those with little or no religious affiliation, yet whose compassion and integrity has been exemplary.

It’s easy to wear the badge and tell everyone about it, it’s much harder to live consciously of our own shortcomings, and endeavour to be the quality of character someone else need us to be, particularly those who find themselves at the mercy of our integrity.

Pre-internet conspiracy theories were a real treat, and often involved an eccentric acquaintance or an over-sharing cab driver who would offer a passionate insight into an alternative narrative to a popularly accepted account of a world event. In the 90s, it was mostly about faked moon landings, the JFK assassination, the Roswell incident, and Area 51.

Then the internet hit puberty, developed video streaming and social media, and conspiracy theories began a new age in alternative ‘information’. Now, so many conspiracy theories are available to us, each of them vying for our attention and affiliation through numerous charismatic orators, many whom fiend on evoking fear and inspiring the reclaiming of a supposed power like the charlatans they are.

I personally enjoy the more supernatural conspiracy theories, as some of the more social/religious ones are really awful and inspire a corrosive hatred of specific groups. Ultimately, they serve to foment division and excuse violence, a mechanism that humanity should really be putting away now in the modern age. So, to keep this fun and light, here are some of my favourite conspiracy theories –

EARTH

The Earth is flat, or it could be hollow, or just a hologram! It appears there are a number of competing conspiracy theories about the shape of the planet. The official narrative is that the Earth is an ‘oblate spheroid’ or ‘round’ for our convenience. However, according to a seemingly increasing number of people, the Earth is a particular kind of flat. The Earth is supposedly like a disk, with the edges surrounded by an ice-wall that either no-one or only a few know what is beyond. Or the Earth is in fact hollow, with an entire ecosystem and advanced civilisation living in the interior. Either way, the South Pole is a fixture in these accounts, as it may serve as the gateway to the great unknown of what is beyond, and that’s why all the world’s governments are united in not exploring that region in order not to get lasered by the advanced peoples who don’t want our underdeveloped violent mitts on their soil. Last of all, the world and all of reality may just be a hologram, emitted by a signal from the hexagonal poles of Saturn and further amplified by our moon, which is in fact a hollowed-out space station, all courtesy of extra-terrestrials that may or may not be a collusion by the interdimensional ‘Greys’ and shapeshifting ‘Reptilians’ who have interbred with prominent human dynasties in order to rule over the rest of us. Google it, it’s lots of fun, if not utterly terrifying, which is apparently what ‘they’ want in order to feed-off the fear we emit. Lucky for me, I laugh, which seems to keep them all at bay.

ALIENS

Human abductions by extra-terrestrials has been a well-documented phenomenon since at least the 1960s, and there is no shortage of books and films of accounts that have made a few people famous and wealthy, if not ridiculed and outcast. Apparently, UFOs have been depicted and reported in human stories for hundreds of years, but after world war 2 and particularly the exploding of the atomic bomb, UFO sightings have seemingly increased, as reported by a number of people including military personnel, pilots, and oftentimes probably a lot of liars.

The most popular alien seems to be the classic ‘Grey’; an emotionless drone that can render any person unconscious and immobile, an experience only to be recalled later with an unnerving memory.

There are many more, including more humanoid ones that may be taller, with more distinct features. Some of them seem to be benevolent, and some not as much. Stories of contact with extra-terrestrials varies, involving individuals, couples, and even entire groups who witness a phenomenon, which can never be verified as fact. Yet the impact definitely changes the experiencers for the rest of their lives.

A simple internet search will reveal many stories and personalities, and it’s obvious that there are many characters whose seemingly competent articulation on such matters, is an exciting and dishonest form of employment. But for others, it was all very real…

CRYPTIDS

The Loch Ness Monster, Big Foot, and Chupacabra have probably been the most famous examples of cryptids. They are not supernatural like ghosts, they are not creatures from other planets or dimensions, they are supposedly undiscovered creatures on Earth that have evaded capture. I want to believe they are real, because it would be exciting to discover an actual dinosaur, plesiosaur-like reptile in Scotland, or a hairy ape-like biped in the forests of North America, or the blood-sucking vampiric creature of Brazil. There probably are lots of interesting creatures that are still to be discovered, but surely anything as big as the three aforementioned cryptids, would have been quantified as real a long time ago. There are many more claims out there, including mermaids, underground humanoids, and less excitingly, big cats in the English countryside. But never enough to really satiate our appetites, so at least we have movies about these things which is probably the best and safest way to entertain such notions.

COMEDY

The realm of satire and comedians themselves are mostly sceptical and non-believing, however, every now and then, I’ve spoken to a comic who’s had a supernatural experience. These stories are mostly kept out of most green rooms, but in safe spaces, where instant ridicule isn’t on the cusp of finishing a sentence, a fascinating story awaits. A story that never concludes the way we need it to, but leaves us all open to the wonders and mysteries of life for the ongoing adventure it is, as we careen through a universe at the hands of a divine cosmic algorithm that is always many more dimensions ahead of us and the tiny little brains we were gifted with.

In honour of the late Phil Butler, a funny and kind man who I got to work with a few times. When I first met him, he told me a story I will never forget. Here’s his account of his experience –

Quite a few comics have some really good supernatural stories, maybe they’ll emerge over time, might be a good podcast series…

The news is awash with saddening and maddening information, and today’s digital landscape permits enormous fabrications and falsehoods to take flight across the world faster than ever before possible. Information does not need to be true, it just needs to be designed to be easily repeated and prey on the fears and anger of anyone susceptible to repeating them. And when enough impressionable and colluding minds repeat the falsehood, trouble is rapidly manifest. This is the immemorial technique of power wielded by those who seek to possess it without dignity of conscience.

Criminal acts that hurt others, particularly the most vulnerable in society are unanimously condemned, at least on condition that the affected fit the description of worthiness by either the prevailing majority or the agenda upheld by a monopolized media.

Crimes against children by grooming gangs characterised and politicised by their ethnic or religious identity has been a very popular angle for the racist right-wing, who would never use those parameters as distinctions when the criminal grooming gangs look like them. This opportunity to demonise a particular ethnic and/or religious group is further emboldened by government figures from similar ethnic hues but distinctly different religious affiliations, who embrace this opportunity to uphold ancient hatreds. Knowing that repeating the ethnic and religious identity of the criminals will foment more hysteria amongst the most impressionable in the populace in order to provoke the onset of a pogrom.

When confronted for their deliberately inaccurate propaganda that further endangers any social harmony, they will doggedly repeat the same lie over and over again, and never yield. The purpose of their career and their entire life is to uphold the falsehood that will empower propaganda and violence against innocent people, in their lust that one day they may hold a position of more power.

The same archetypes of bygone eras repeat in every generation, in every society. The evil must play their part, the good must do theirs. Telling liars that they are lying will only induce them to lie even more, few will ever make the transformation to truth because that takes an open heart and a clearer conscience, and that is reserved only for those who take on the difficulty to walk the honest path.

Comedians are really just modern-day philosophers, (well, the good ones are) a self-professed artist of observational satire, offering original and unexplored themes of the human condition by means of precise prose and poetry that elicits laughter from an unsuspecting audience primed for a tantalizing insight into the mind of a jester tasked with the privilege and challenge to win over a room full of strangers.

Sometimes it might just be a play on words, deconstructing the absurdity of what has become mundane, the mockery of an interesting difference, a funny face or sound effect, or pedestrian crowd work upon a fresh and naive audience compelled to see the edited magic of a social media personality in the very revealing crucible of a live environment. Whatever it is, both comedian and audience reveal each other to themselves, reflecting their interests and intellect simultaneously.

As our cultures transform through different eras, the language and themes in comedy change. What was acceptable so many years ago, might not be acceptable now, and what is acceptable now, may not be acceptable in the future. And comedians can be critical in these areas, as we can artfully push at these strong yet transient boundaries in order to uphold the much coveted idea of freedom to express ourselves, even if it means offending those who would rather not hear it. This can always cut in both directions too, and the circus of being offended keeps us all busy and maybe even entertained.

To laugh is a great joy, both mentally and physically. The phenomena of laughter, the exertion of air from one’s lungs to the universal tempo of “hahaha” is a natural high, elicited by something we find funny. It is a uniquely human experience, and anyone can experience it by means of a variety of stimuli. I personally think the funniest type of comedy is in the surreal, and in Japanese prank shows, neither of which I am involved in as an artist. Nothing is funnier than scaring the faecal matter from an unsuspecting victim of a well-designed prank. Maybe one day I’ll get to design a prank show that is at the level of the Japanese, but with modern western sensibilities leaning in favour of over-policing our safety for fear of legal action, I doubt we’ll see the quality of pranks our comedy pals in Japan have the freedom to do.

To make people laugh is a real joy, it makes a comedian feel big and clever, it can also result in fame and fortune, however even those rewards can leave a celebrated jester miserable offstage, as we’ve seen with some of the most famous comedians in the world. This reminds me that as a comedian, I have earned my place as the court jester amongst the people, but that I am also responsible for my own joy too. The modern world places an enormous levy on joy, that it must be hard-earned, only indulged-in as a result of a gruelling devotion to the demands of a capitalism that now offers less and less respite or reward for more and more joyless work.

Yet the phenomena of joy remains, the potential for laughter is always with us, and any one of us can indulge in it. It’s important that we spread the joy of laughter the best we can across the world, for the soldiers of misery are forever beating at the door of our souls each and every day. Their role in this life is to be empowered by the burden of darkness, to those of us who are blessed to bring the light of joy into this world.