James Bethel James Bethel

Everything is never finished . . .

Saturday, April 18, 2026. It's the Satyr's day . . . moderate Northerlies are forecast for Green Country today, bringing a cool, sunny afternoon to TulseyTown. Mid 60's are indicated. The winds are to ease and become Southerly overnight, bringing Spring warmth for the next ten days, at least. Some rain chances are in that long term forecast.

When I am, I am not.

When I am not, I am.

– Rumi

Today in 1906 an earthquate destroyed most of San Francisco, California.

It's the birthday of Albert Einstein, born in 1879, Ulm, Württemberg, Germany.

And, in 1775 Paul Revere took his famous ride.

Sorting out the facts . . . Iranian officials’ interpretation of events continues to be quite different from Trump’s characterization of “a deal.” Iran rejected Trump’s claim that it had agreed to hand over its uranium stockpile, and also said that the strait was open for commercial vessels—not military ships—but would close again if the U.S. blockade continued. Iran’s top negotiator, speaker of parliament Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, posted on social media that Trump had made seven claims in an hour, and all seven of them were false. – Heather Cox Richardson, in

Letters From An American.

We make the world around us resemble the world within us. Based on our focus, ugliness is everywhere or beauty abounds. – Brian McLaren, “An Inward Migration,” Meditations, at The Center For Action and Contemplation.

What Work Is

. . . this small thing I think of as my work,

this homely piecemeal borrowing of words,

does nothing, and has not to date diminished

the price of every business hour I shirk,

and its rewards

are long delinquent, and it’s never, never finished.

– Matthew Buckley Smith, “What Work Is,” from The Soft Dark Stars, 2025 Rattle Chapbook Prize Winner.

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James Bethel James Bethel

That frantic feel in the air is not from Canada . . .

Friday, April 17, 2026. It's Freya's day . . . Forecasts for Green Country and TulseyTown indicate a cloudy day with strong gusty Southerlies developing this afternoon. The weatherfeather says chances for thunderstorms increase to 100% this evening and overnight.

The Canada Act establishing Canada's constitution was proclaimed by Queen Elizabeth II today in 1982, making Canada wholly independent.

One of America's very best private liberal arts colleges – Hampshire College in Amherst -- is closing its doors after the Fall 2026 semester. Founded in 1965 Hampshire opened its doors to students in 1970. The collge has a surprisingly rich roster of alumni, especially given its small size and unconventional, self-directed academic model. Its graduates span film, literature, business, science, and politics. It's most famous alum is documentary film maker Ken Burns.

Today is the birthdate of Thornton Wilder. The novelist and playwriter was born in1897 Madison, Wisconsin.

The Game of Thrones premiered on this day in 2011 on HBO.

Congress is back in session, and there is a frantic feel in the air. – Heather Cox Richardson, in Letters From An American.

ICE is busy whitewashing the worst of what is taking place. – Joyce Vance, in Civil Discourse.

“EMILY: "Does anyone ever realize life while they live it...every, every minute?"

STAGE MANAGER: "No. Saints and poets maybe...they do some.”

― Thornton Wilder, Our Town.

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James Bethel James Bethel

The inner voice does not speak in clichés.

Thursday, April 16, 2026. It's Thor's day . . . morning clouds are forecasted to part from TulseyTown by around the Noon hour. Moderate Southerlies are to bring a slight rain chance with mid 80's for a warm Spring day to all of Green Country.

April 14, 1865 – Heather Cox Richardson, in Letters From An American.

This world has revealed itself to be radically out of balance. The poison of the patriarchy has brought us perilously close to the edge of global annihilation. We all need the Divine Feminine. – Mirabai Starr, “In Which An Older White Guy Teaches Me To Worship The Goddess,” on substack, 4.14.26

Forgiveness, repentance, repair – Maria Popova, in TheMarginalian.

Scarcity dictates what’s meaningful. When you are alone, a relationship feels meaningful. When you’re in a relationship, time to yourself feels meaningful. When you are overworked, time off feels meaningful. When you have plenty of downtime, work feels meaningful. The scarcity never gets solved, it simply changes form. – Mark Manson.

The changing form of scarcity is above our heads. The number of satellites is escalating and headed for a cataclysmic mess that could end space exploration. Full stop. Musk is leading the way to this potental disaster. But he's not alone.

Impeach him now. – Robert Reich, We Are In Great Danger, on substack this morning.

Today is the birthdate of essayist and short-story writer Carol Bly, born Carol McLean in 1930 Duluth, Minnesota.

Sociable people have the most trouble hearing their unconscious. They have trouble getting rid of clichés because clichés are sociable. – Carol Bly

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