Because the ice-burg has many tips . . .
Friday, January 30, 2026. It's Freya's (Frigg's) day . . . and forecasts indicate a cloudy afternoon with moderate Northerlies and a cold mid 30's. Winds are to pick up a bit tonight, clearing the skies but dropping temperatures to the single digits by dawn tomorrow.
The tree which moves some to tears of joy is in the eyes of others only a green thing which stands in the way… As a man is, so he sees. – William Blake, born a month ago today in1757 London, England.
It’s FDR’s birthday. Franklin D. Roosevelt, the 32nd President of the United States, was born in 1882, Hyde Park, New York.
Today is the anniversary of Bloody Sunday, On this day in 1972 a demonstration in Londonderry Northern Ireland when a peaceful group of protesters were fired on by British troops, killing 14.
Christian Bale is 52 today. The multi-laureate awarded actor was born in 1974, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, Wales.
Vanessa Redgrave is 89 today. Another multi-laureate awarded actor, she was born in 1937, London, England.
Barbara Tuchman was born on this date in 1912, New York City. The author of The Guns of August, she was one of the foremost American popular historians in the second half of the 20th century and two time Pulizter Prize laureate.
Public outrage has given Senate Democrats a powerful lever. – Heather Cox Richardson, in Letters From An American, posted last night.
The death of civil rights in America? – Robert Reich, online, for 1.30.26
Fulton County Georgia, the tip of an ice-burg for where you live? – Joyce Vance, in Civil Discourse.
And not least: It's the birthdate of my mentor from afar and fave poet/novelist Richard Brautigan. The author of Trout Fishing in America was born in 1935 Tacoma, Washington. After “Trout” I was captivated by Willard and His Bowling Trophies and The Hawkline Monster.
Just Because
Just because
people love your mind,
doesn't mean they
have to have
your body,
too. — Richard Brautigan
The emperor wears no clothes . . .
Thursday, January 29, 2026. It's Thor's day . . . another cold front is in the forecasts for TulseyTown with Northerlies, clouds and mid 40's by afternoon. Clouds and colder tomorrow and Saturday.
The king cannot lie repeatedly and nakedly and demand to be believed. One can conclude only that if his lips are moving he is lieing. After that comes the deposing.
Speaking of royalty: Oprah Winfrey is 71 today. She was born in 1954, Kosciusko, Mississippi.
And Germaine Greer was born on this date in 1939, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Today in 1845 Edgar Allan Poe's poem “The Raven” was first published, appearing in the New York Mirror.
The Russian playwriter Anton Chekhov was born today in 1860, Taganrog, Russia.
And one of America's greatest comedians, W.C. Fields, was born today in 1880, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Birdfoot scruitinized the rain . . .
Wednesday, January 28, 2026. It's Odin's day . . . Forecasts for TulseyTown indicate thawing continuing this afternoon with moderate Southerlies and mid 40's. There could be some black ice tomorrow morning until Noon due to the wet conditions from the thaw refreezing overnight. That morning pattern could continue for some time until the snow pack disappears. Jus' sayin' …
Not everything that is faced can be changed; but nothing can be changed until it is faced. –James Baldwin, “As Much Truth as One Can Bear.” Essay in The New York Times Magazine, 1.14.1962
The murder of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis on Saturday morning at the hands of federal agents has put wind in the sails of those trying to rein in the Trump administration and has changed the course of national politics. – Heather Cox Richardson, in Letters From An American.
ICE is getting the scrutiny it deserves … but will it last? – Joyce Vance, in Civil Discourse
The abstract expressionist painter Jackson Pollock was born today in 1912, Cody, Wyoming.
It’s the birthday of the novelist Colette. The author (Gigi), actress, and journalist was born in 1873 Saint-Sauveur-en-Puisaye in the Burgundy region of France.
And, Alan Alda is 90 today. The multiple laureate actor, writer, director was born in 1936, New York City.
Birdfoot's Grampa
The old man must have stopped our car
two dozen times to climb out
and gather into his hands
the small toads blinded
by our lights and leaping,
live drops of rain.
The rain was falling,
a mist about his white hair
and I kept saying
you can’t save them all, accept it,
get back in we’ve got places to go.
But, leathery hands
full of wet brown life,
knee deep in the summer
roadside grass,
he just smiled and said
they have places go to
too.
– Joseph Bruchac, “Birdfoot's Grampa,” as Poetry Postcard No. 28, Cold Mountain Press, Austin Texas, 1975.