The wonderful vast . . .
Tuesday, August 4, 2026. It's Tiw's day . . . 100 degree heat is back in the forecasts for Green Country and TulseyTown today. Another humid Okieland Summer day with sun, some clouds, with a mid-afternoon index of 104º.
The Great Way is always present, though its presence is hard to see. Sound and form, words and speech are themselves part of the Great Way. The realm of reality is as vast as Cosmic Space. It is the knowing mind of sentient beings that is small. – Pao-chih
Today is the 65th birthday of author Barack Obama, our 44th President. He was born in 1961 Honolulu, Hawaii.
It's also the birthdate of jazz musician Louis Armstrong, born in 1901 in “The Battlefield,” near Storyville, New Orleans.
Poet and essayist Percy Bysshe Shelley was also born on this day, in 1792 Field Place, Sussex, England.
And, Poet Laureate and educator Robert Hayden was born in 1913 Detroit, Michigan.
The $1.776b Slush Fund Isn't As Dead As Senators Cornyn And Tillis Seem To Be Willing To Believe. – Joyce Vance, in Civil Discourse.
The stink should cling to any candidate he's supporting. – Robert Reich, The Stink of Musk. 8.3.26
The heat of forgiveness. . .
Monday, August 3, 2026. The heat returns to Green Country this Moon’s day. Moderate Southerlies bring bright sunshine, humid mid 90's and indices in the upper 90's for TulseyTown's afternoon.
The Week Ahead. – Joyce Vance, in Civil Discourse.
Today is the birthdate of poet Hayden Carruth, born in 1921 Waterbury, Connecticut.
British crime novelist P.D. James, born Phyllis Dorothy James, was born on this day in 1920 Oxford, England.
Today is the 85th birthday of Martha Stewart, born in 1941, Jersey City, New Jersey.
It's the date of the premier of Clint Eastwood's revisionist western Unforgiven. It later won four Academy Awards, including best director for Eastwood, and best picture. He also starred in the drama,
Emergency Haying
Coming home with the last load I ride standing
on the wagon tongue, behind the tractor
in hot exhaust, lank with sweat,
…
my arms strung
awkwardly along the hayrack,
cruciform.
…
my body hangs from twisted shoulders, suspended
on two points of pain in the rising
monoxide, recall that greater suffering.
...
My eyes
sting with sweat and loveliness. And who
is the Christ now, who
if not I?
…
– Hayden Carruth, read the complete poem,“ Emergency Haying” from Toward the Distant Islands: New & Selected Poems, Copper Canyon Press. 2006.
The reality of paradox . . .
Sunday, August 2, 2026 . It's Sol's day . . . at 8 a.m. Forecasts for Green Country indicate one more day of respite from Sol's heat hammer. Moderate Northerlies continue into TulseyTown with 80's and the afternoon index in the low 90's.
Paradox is the nature of the mystical path. – Mirabai Starr.
Today is the birthdate of James Baldwin, born in 1924 New York City. The essayist, novelist, and playwright was one of the most important voices of the 20th century, and remains relevant today.
Isabel Allende is 84 today. The magical realism Chilean/American author was born on this day in 1942 Lima, Peru.
It's the 62nd birthday for Mary-Louise Parker. The multi-laureate actor was born in 1964 Columbia, South Carolina. Personal note: My son Charlie studied in the same class with Ms. Parker at the North Carolina School of the Arts.
It's Carroll O'Connor's birthdate. The All In The Family actor (Archie Bunker) was born in 1924 Manhattan, New York City
The Academy Award laureate, among many international acting awards( Lawrence of Arabia), actor Peter O’Toole was born in 1932 Leeds,West Yorkshire, England.
Sixty years ago Friday, on July 30, 1966, Medicare and Medicaid went into effect. Heather Cox Richardson posted a reminder of its now historic cornerstone of American society and the greed underlying the present repugnant Republican attack to destroy it.
AI Has Already Entered The ‘Loss Of Control’ Transition – Nathan Gardels, NOËMA, 8.1.26 (contains excellent video interview).
Real Patriotism. – Robert Reich, Sunday Thought.
Saturday Night: a personal reflection from Joyce Vance, in Civil Discourse.