Iran-US war: Four scenarios for what’s next as talks stumble Between an expiring ceasefire and a possible deal lies a range of ways in which the war could proceed, analysts say.

If the US/Israeli/Iranian war resumes, what form might it take?

“Is the spring coming?" he said. "What is it like?"...
"It is the sun shining on the rain and the rain falling on the sunshine...”
~ Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden ~
There is a chance of rain, today. The cherries are waiting!
Happy Sunday, everyone.🦋

That says it. Let all men who lack respect for other human beings take note.

A Very Old-Fashioned Novel Has Made a Star Out of a Very Young Writer

Looking forward to reading this debut novel by Swiss novelist Nelio Biedermann, which has been called 'epic, tragic and traumatic, stormy, wistful and very romantic':

Die Literatur des Realismus – Lernplattform ZEIT für die Schule Das Bürgertum hinterfragt seine überkommenen Moralvorstellungen. Doch die schnöde Wirklichkeit ist den Schriftstellern des Realismus nicht schön genug.

Ich bin immer wieder überrascht, was ich im Internet finden kann. Hier ist ein aufschlussreicher Einblick in den „Poetischen Realismus“, wie er von Theodor Fontane, Aloisia Kirschner, Lou Andreas-Salomé, und anderen Schriftstellern praktiziert wurde.

Aber warum wurden die Frauen nicht erwähnt?

Appalled to see New York's two senators on this list. The Empire State deserves better. Let's have a real primary.

Here's the publisher's page for the book:
www.simonandschuster.com/books/Lazar/...

A Very Old-Fashioned Novel Has Made a Star Out of a Very Young Writer

Looking forward to reading this debut novel by Swiss novelist Nelio Biedermann, which has been called 'epic, tragic and traumatic, stormy, wistful and very romantic':

Government Workers Say They're Getting Inundated With Religion “This has never happened before,” one government employee tells WIRED. “I have never gotten a message like this from anyone.”

“This has never happened before,” one government employee tells WIRED. “I have never gotten a message like this from anyone.”

government workers are getting inundated with religion in the office -- read @telliotter.bsky.social:

While I’m waiting for the train to Kyiv
(and it’s a bit late),
I want to remind you of the beauty of Ternopil.

Ukraine is gorgeous
and waiting for all of you after the war.

New post from Pope Leo: "God's heart is torn apart by wars, violence, injustice and lies. But our Father's heart is not with the wicked, the arrogant, or the proud. God's heart is with the little ones and the humble."

The effective federal corporate income tax rate:

1950: 50%
1990: 25%
2020: 13%

Stop asking "but how we will pay for it?" Restore the corporate tax rate.

That is how we will pay for it.

The victory of the opposition in Hungary yesterday, like the Polish election in 2023, is a victory for democracy, not just in Europe but around the world.

Martha and Rufus Wainwright sing 'Talk to Me of Mendocino', written by their mother Kate McGarrigle, with Anna McGarrigle on piano. The song was one of the stand-outs on the sisters' first album, 50 years young in 2026. I've loved it since the first day I heard it.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Z85...

Die Literatur des Realismus – Lernplattform ZEIT für die Schule Das Bürgertum hinterfragt seine überkommenen Moralvorstellungen. Doch die schnöde Wirklichkeit ist den Schriftstellern des Realismus nicht schön genug.

Ich bin immer wieder überrascht, was ich im Internet finden kann. Hier ist ein aufschlussreicher Einblick in den „Poetischen Realismus“, wie er von Theodor Fontane, Aloisia Kirschner, Lou Andreas-Salomé, und anderen Schriftstellern praktiziert wurde.

Aber warum wurden die Frauen nicht erwähnt?

A narrow brick street in a residential section of the old city. Thee is a “grandma” bike in the foreground and a slender blossoming tree to the left. The houses are small brick two story dwellings.

Good morning from Haarlem.

#GoodMorningFromHaarlem

I hope everyone who cherishes freedom, tolerance, and democracy will join me in celebrating Magyar's victory.

Given the huge early turnout in Hungary odds seem very high that Magyar wil defeat Orbán very decisively; the question in that case would be whether Orbán goes with the Ukrainian electoral interference lie he has been preparing and whether foreign actors support him.

"People" In any man who dies, there dies with him his first snow and kiss and fight. It goes with him. There are left books and bridges and pai...

For National Poetry Month, here are some poems I keep going back to, year after year. I've tried to explain why I like them and have included links to readings of the poem, if they exist, and information about the poets. Enjoy!

Iran war: Trump orders Strait of Hormuz naval blockade Trump said the US Navy would begin blockading the shipping channel "effective immediately." It comes after US and Iranian negotiators failed to reach a deal. DW has more.

BREAKING NEWS: Peace talks in Pakistan fail; US announces a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Its ships will stop any vessel known to have paid the toll now charged by Iran.

Opinion | Gaza’s Rubble Is the Grave of Our Future

Kudos to the NY Times for publishing this account of life in Gaza today by Ghada Abdulfattah, a former Fulbright scholar with an MA in public affairs from Indiana University. We Americans supported the murder of Palestinians with our money, weapons, and intelligence.

Please read this and share it.

Let's hope voters in Hungary tomorrow pull their nation back towards democracy and away from Moscow.

Image is of several books in a trash bin. Text reads: The People Who Don't Read Books Identifying as someone who categorically rejects books suggests a much larger deficiency of character.

"I am not a fan of books.” ~ Kanye West
#Booksky

Thought for the day, my friends.

Martha and Rufus Wainwright sing 'Talk to Me of Mendocino', written by their mother Kate McGarrigle, with Anna McGarrigle on piano. The song was one of the stand-outs on the sisters' first album, 50 years young in 2026. I've loved it since the first day I heard it.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Z85...

In his first 100 days, Zohran Mamdani has:

-Delivered millions in restitution for workers cheated by gig companies
-Cracked down on predatory landlords
-Launched the first stage of a universal childcare program
-Fixed thousands of potholes in NYC streets

This is what leadership looks like.

Kudos to the NY Times for covering these atrocities. The US/Israeli bombing of schools and hospitals in Iran appears to fit the definition of war crimes.

Those responsible must be brought to justice.

The Human Touch and why this is the starting point for all aesthetics

A little piece I wrote about the human touch and why it's the beginning of all aesthetics ...
simonmichelet1.substack.com/p/the-human-...

419: Sophie Calle’s The Sleepers | MoMA Collection gallery. Ongoing. Sophie Calle probes the boundaries between public and private life. In 1979 she began following people around Paris to give structure to her days. For The Sleepers, one of...

If you visit the Museum of Modern Art, have a look at Sophie Calle's 'The Sleepers'. For this work, she explored elements of the lives of 29 friends, acquaintances, and strangers that could only be learned about during sleep. My daughter Marina, a curatorial fellow at MoMA, worked on the show.