James Bethel James Bethel

Swans in any season are not Bohr-ing

Tuesday, October 7, 2025. It's Tiw's day . . . Forecasts for TulseyTown indicate moderate Northerlies and much cooler conditions today and tomorrow. Today, mostly cloudy and mid 70's.

Don’t be afraid of what you are feeling. You don't have to act on it. Open to what is.

The Nobel Prize in Physics for 2025 has been awarded to three U.S. university based professors.

Speaking of Nobel physics … today is the birth date of Niels Bohr. The Nobel Prize laureate physicist was born in 1855 Copenhagen, Denmark.

Today is the birthday of the prolific naturalist, novelist poet, and essayist Diane Ackerman who turns 77 today. The author of A Natural History of the Senses and The Zookeeper's Wife among many – as in many others – was born in 1948 Waukegan, Illinois

Sherman Alexie is 59 today. The Native American novelist, short story writer, poet, screenwriter, and filmmaker was born on the Spokane Indian Reservation in 1966 Wellpinit, Washington,

It's also the birthday of Yo-Yo Ma. The celebrated French-born American cellist turns 70 today. He was born in1955, Paris, France.

If you didn’t already know:

Trump doesn’t like data. He eschews facts. He wants investors and consumers — and everyone else — to be in the dark, because then he can lie without fear of factual contradiction. He can create even more of a fantasy world. He can pretend that he’s been wildly successful even when he’s been a terrible failure. – Robert Reich, Turning Out the Lights, online 10.7.25

Trump isn't alone in his distaste of facts, data, and reality. His on again/off again bro-pal Vladimir Putin is 73 today. The Russian president was born in 1952, Leningrad, Russia, U.S.S.R. [now St. Petersburg), Russia.

What Washington needs is four feet of snow and two weeks of minus-40 lows and let the gentleman sit in his Evil Office and think these things through more clearly. – Garrison Keillor, The Perils of a Summer September, online 10.3.25.

The Swan of any season . . .

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James Bethel James Bethel

Reading banned books by moonlight . . .

Monday, October 6, 2025. It's the Moon's day . . . and it's a big one. The Harvest Moon rises over Tulseytown tonight starting about 10:45 pm. It’s the first of three Supermoons in 2025 – October, November and December – and will be the largest and brightest full Moon of the year. The weatherfeather promises another 90º day for TulseyTown today with some clouds showing up this afternoon. Today's light and varying breezes are to become Northerlies overnight bringing a significantly cooler day tomorrow.

From nothing, everything. – Victoria Wohl, writing in Aeon, 10.5.25

For the first time in 80 years baby Aspen trees are flourishing in Northern Yellowstone. Reintroduced wolves appear to be helping rebalance the ecosystem.

Trump and his enablers want violent confrontations to justify their illegal moves. I urge you not to fall into their trap. But do peacefully demonstrate on October 18 — in every town and city across America. – Robert Reich, “The Mad King's Television” online 10.6.25

The Week Ahead. The Supreme Court gets back to work. – Joyce Vance, Civil Discourse, 10.6.25

My healing is a party everyone is invited to. – Sophie Strand, Make Me Good Soil, 10.4.25

It's banned books week. Celebrate your library.

When All The Books Are Gone

In the future, when all the books are gone,

people will walk around crying,

just sobbing, loudly, endlessly, on the city streets,

not knowing why, knowing only they are missing

something, something for which they have

no name. Meanwhile . . .

Jessy Randall, “When All The Books Are Gone,” Rattle, #88, Summer 2025, 9.15.25,

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James Bethel James Bethel

Big Bird in the trees . . .

Sunday, October 5, 2025. It's Sol's day . . . and two more days of near 90's are in the TulseyTown forecasts including bright sunshine and moderate Southeasterlies.

The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) went on the air today in 1970.

Kate Winslet celebrates her 50th today. The multi award lareate actor was born in1975, Reading, Berkshire, England.

The national trauma. – Robert Reich, Sunday Thought, online 10.5.25.

Religion cannot work from a calculator without losing its very method, mind, foundation, and source. – Fr. Richard Rohr, Meditation, The Center for Action and Contemplation, 10.5.25.

The trees! In the trees!

for Vincent...and Kate

What moulting is to birds, humans experience

hard times. This period of moulting can

last a good while, even beyond

recoverable.

Not to be done in public, this

rarely lends to cheerful entertainment

or socially appropriate

smiles.

It is possible to emerge renewed

but between then and then it's rather

a matter of making oneself

scarce.

I've taken VanGogh's path to an active

melancholy rebelling against the fork at yesterday's road

signpost that read “This way to stagnant

despair.”

While there may be clouds this morning

and the weatherfeather always sees more rain

methinks East winds blow hope and aspiration

into browning leaves.

– jab

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