A mind of her own . . .
Sunday, July 26, 2026. It's Sol's day . . . and the effects of a heat dome continues to be experienced over Green Country. Forecasts for TulseyTown indicate real temperature of 103º this afternoon with a heat index of 113º and triple digits well into the late hours tonight. Needless to say: there is an extreme heat warning in effect until evening.
What misery to be afraid of death. What wretchedness, to believe only in what can be proven. — Mary Oliver.
The mailbox this morning was groaning with the number of highly creative folks celebrating their shared birthdays. One wonders at the mysterious forces generating all these July 26th births.
Carl Jung, the Swiss psychiatrist, psychotherapist, and psychologist who founded the school of analytical psychology was born on this day in 1875. He pioneered the exploration of human personality by way of the metaphor of archetypes.
The Nobel Prize laureate George Bernard Shaw was born in1856 Portobello, Dublin, Ireland. An Irish playwright, critic, polemicist and political activist, he exerted a major influence on Western theatre, culture and politics extending 70 years from the 1880s to his death and beyond. His plays are now part of the global theatrical pantheon.
Today is also the birthdate in 1928 New York City of one of the most influential filmmakers in the history of cinema, Stanley Kubrick. The director, screenwriter, and producer, was internationally regarded with multiple laureate nominations.
Film director, screenwriter, and producer Blake Edwards (Breakfast At Tiffany's) was born in 1922 in Tulsa, Oklahoma – another of my home town creative cousins.
It's Dame Helen Mirren's birthday. The highly acclaimed British actor is 81 today, born in 1945 London, England. She's the recipient of numerous international acting laureate awards.
Another internationally recognized actor, Kevin Spacey is 66 today, born in 1959 South Orange, New Jersey.
Sandra Bullock turns 62 today. The multi-awarded acting laureate was born in 1964, Arlington, Virginia .
Mick Jagger is 83 today. The lead singer/songwriter for The Rollings Stones, was born in 1943 Dartford, Kent, England
It’s the birthdate of Aldous Huxley today. The English novelist (Brave New World) and critic was born in 1894, Godalming, Surrey, England.
On this day in,1970 the “scandalous” revue “Oh! Calcutta!” opened in London. It ran for more than ten years, clocking up 3,918 performances.
And, Jacinda Ardern is 46 today. The former Prime Minister of New Zealand (2017-2023) was born in 1980 Hamilton, New Zealand.
A mind of her own, and she uses it well.
Creator: How close can you get?
Saturday, July 25, 2026 . It's the Satyr's day . . . Extreme heat warnings are in the forecasts for Green Country today. Real temperature of 100º and an index of 113º with moderate Southerlies visit TulseyTown this afternoon. The triple digit index extends until midnight tonight. A heat dome is settling over the area and likely to keep this pattern for the next week, at least.
You're closer than you may think. – Mark Manson, Breakthrough, 7.23.26
On this day in 1965, Bob Dylan walked onstage at the Newport Folk Festival and changed popular music.
It's the birthdate of Maxfield Parrish, born in 1870 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was an illustrator and painter and perhaps the most popular commercial artist in the United States in the first half of the 20th century. If you don’ t have one of his prints, many of his images will be familiar to you.
Philosopher/writer/longshoreman Eric Hoffer was born on this day in 1902 New York City.
The first human conceived using in vitro fertilization (IVF), Louise Brown, turns 46. She was born on this day in 1978, Lancashire, England.
And, its the birthday of master saxophonist Johnny “rabbit” Hodges, born in 1906 Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1906. He joined Duke Ellington’s orchestra in 1928, and he was a soloist and mainstay of the ensemble for over 40 years until his death.
The wiggly world of life, “pee-mail,” and politics
Friday, July 24, 2026. It's Freya's day . . . Rain is in the forecasts for Green Country and TulseyTown around the noon hour. Moderate Southerlies maintain afternoon temperatures at a cooler upper 80's with a heat index in the mid 90's.
“You’re trying to straighten out a wiggly world—no wonder you’re in trouble.” – Alan Watts, You Are the Universe In Motion, Shambhala, 2026.
Today in 1911 the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu was discovered.
Jennifer Lopez is 57 today. The global superstar was born in 1969, Bronx, New York. She has built a massively successful triple-threat career as an actress, dancer, and musician.
It's the birthdate of novelist Alexandre Dumas. The author of The Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte Cristo was born in 1802 Villers-Cotterêts, France.
Poet, novelist, and mythologist Robert Graves was born on this day in 1895 Wimbledon, England.
Anglican clergyman and hymn writer (Amazing Grace) John Newton was born in 1725 London.
And, mystery novelist John D. MacDonald was born today in 1916 Sharon, Pennsylvania. He gave us the houseboat dwelling Travis McGee.
It's also the day in 1847 that Brigham Young and his fellow members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) arrived in Utah’s Great Salt Lake Valley. The influence of the Mormons on Salt Lake City, Utah and beyond can’t be overstated.
While the GOP is spreading the email about all democrats being communists, it bears recognizing that the closest thing to a communist in the U.S.A. is Donald Trump's worship of Vladimir Putin. So said Joyce Vance, Mary Trump, and Katie Phang who joined in an excellent discussion (video) posted yesterday on Civil Discourse, about life, dog “pee-mail,” politics and “communism.” Worth your time. FYI 3,000 tune in for these.