Hiking the Levada, the water system of Madeira Island, high up in its mountain source. Everywhere, clusters of white wild garlic.

On a Monday, let’s make it a long weekend with the mighty sweet Peggy Sage!

A couple of lying sacks of manure.

His whole career with Trump is based on hideous lies.

Today, a miracle of social media & literature. 8 years ago in Prague, we met a smart Shanghai HS grad, seeking Kafka sites. We were tourists together & then virtual friends. Today at lunch— in Funchal, Madeira— she & her Parisian bf, at the next table. They’re into Murakami. Gelato for everyone!

Okay, Meta— according to the LibGen search site in @theatlantic.com, you’ve mined my stuff thoroughly for your AI confabulations: whole books (one of them twice?), plus individual stories, essays, book reviews, more. Phew. Good luck to anyone trying to somehow yank that into coherent shape.

Disgusting & inhuman.

Horrifying destruction.

Opinion | The End of the University as We Know It The Trump administration’s attacks on universities will lead to the permanent diminishment of vital American institutions.

“The real wound ran deeper: the quiet, creeping sense that something larger — the very idea of the university as a place of free inquiry — was slipping away.” @meghanor.bsky.social in the NYTimes, extended & essential reading on higher education under DT: www.nytimes.com/2025/03/16/o...

Black Medal of Honor recipient removed from US Department of Defense website Page honoring Charles C Rogers for his Vietnam war service is now defunct with letters ‘DEI’ added to website address

“He was wounded three times while leading the defense of a base.” For this the man won a Medal of Honor— but the current administration has scrubbed his website & labeled him a “DEI medal.” Shame on their shriveled racist souls. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

Inhuman & cruel.

Disgusting.

For your Saturday: Peggy Sage, happy & jumping!

Inhuman & cruel.

Federal Cuts Prompt Johns Hopkins to Cut More Than 2,000 Workers The university, a leader in scientific research, has been hard hit by the Trump administration’s cuts, which will slash at least $800 million from its budget.

One of the greatest research institutions in the world— also my alma mater— gutted by a pinheaded disgrace who claimed it “was run by ‘radical left lunatics’ and that is was riddled with ‘tremendous fraud.’” www.nytimes.com/2025/03/13/u...

Destructive for our entire quality of life.

Throwback, thinking of my friends attending AWP in LA next week-- I won't be joining you, alas-- but here’s AWP-LA in 2016, with great folks like @readandbreathe.bsky.social & more— plus one of my books.

Horrifying. Write, call, resist.

The uplift of a long walk around the neighborhood.

Education Department Fires 1,300 Workers, Gutting Its Staff

“…effectively gutting the agency that manages federal loans for college, tracks student achievement and enforces civil rights laws in schools.” This administration is destroying what’s best about America. Call, write, resist. www.nytimes.com/2025/03/11/u...

Gahh! That’s “Martyrdom of…’

Over in Naples, they have the last painting of #Caravaggio, "Martyrdom off St. Orsola." A haunting piece, never quite finished, currently on loan in Rome-- & preparing the painting for the move, experts discovered three faces below the surface, early drafts. Great works remain endless.

…som-e…

Oh, man! The weekend got by me without sharing som sweet Peggy Sage!

Pointless cruelty.

Compliments again!

Inhuman & destructive.

Hateful toxic smear of a man.

For #InternationalWomen’sDay, I could’ve selected a good 50 worth celebrating— but here’s just five.

Trump’s Canadian tariffs include lumber. He is pushing to cut down American trees instead. | CNN President Donald Trump is promising to unleash the US timber industry by allowing companies to raze swaths of federally protected national forests.

“Clearcutting national forests will pollute the air & water, endanger wildlife & exacerbate climate change. ‘This will unleash the chainsaws & bulldozers on our beautiful, irreplaceable federal forests.’” The latest destructive idiocy out of our orange toxin. Resist! www.cnn.com/2025/03/06/c...