Gertrude's rose . . .

Monday, February 3, 2025. It's the Moon's day … Another pre-Spring day here in TulseyTown with moderate to strong Southerlies and upper 70's. Northerlies this evening are forecast to bring clouds and slight rain chances along with cooler temperatures as the rollercoaster “normal” continues in Okieland February.

Our minds are probably not our brains. And they may not be in our bodies. What if they were leakier and wider? – Sophie Strand on Make Me Good Soil.

Creatives' Dates

Gertrude Stein was born on this day in 1874, Allegheny City [now in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She penned the line “A rose, is a rose, is a rose.”

It's also the birth date of Felix Mendelssohn. The composer, pianist, musical conductor, and teacher was born in 1809 Hamburg, Germany.

And Nathan Lane celebrates his 69th today. The stage, film, and television actor was born in 1956, Jersey City, New Jersey

In addition to today's dates, the Mailbox was overflowing with political chatter. Some of the better:

Throughout now-president Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign, it was clear that his support was coming from three very different factions whose only shared ideology was a determination to destroy the federal government. Now we are watching them do it. – Heather Cox Richardson, in Letters From An American.

Meanwhilst, capitalist greed continues to eat away at our brains.

Even the Supreme Court may be less than thrilled by the prospect of Elon Musk controlling their purse strings. As of today he has unfettered access. What can we do? That’s the question on everyone’s lips as we start the week. Joyce Vance's “Week Ahead” gets a start on it.

The Hebrides are a chain of islands off the West coast of Scotland. They are, IMO, among the most wildly beautiful, mythic, ancient places on earth. Mendelssohn thought so, too.

Mendelssohn: Overture 'The Hebrides' | Sir John Eliot Gardiner