You must not ever stop being whimsical, Mary Oliver says. (And I for one agree.)

Back atcha!!

Day 19 is Karen Solie’s latest collection, Wellwater. To be honest, I’m flummoxed that this stellar book of poetry wasn’t on the Griffin Poetry Prize list. Still shaking my head at its absence…

If you haven’t read it, just do it. Trust me on this one…

Authentic portraits of Charlotte Brontë was drawn by George Richmond in 1850

Today is Charlotte Brontë’s birthday.

Did you enjoy Jane Eyre?

Her first #novel was rejected, and the next one changed #literature. She had to hide behind a man’s name, Currer Bell, because a woman writer in the 1840s could be dismissed before anyone had even read the first page.

⏰📚💙📚🎧📚🖋️ #books

So sorry for your loss.

A reminder:

Henry VII died this day 21st April 1509. His son, Henry VIII ascends the throne.

Starmer created this crisis by sacking a qualified and competent woman.

And when he sacked career diplomat Karen Pierce to give Mandelson her job, SIX other senior women diplomats left FCDO as their careers were doomed under his government.

He's done far worse, but I'm fine if this does for him.

Federal agents detain wife of another US army member: ‘ICE is out of control’ Jose Serrano, a sergeant, said Deisy Rivera Ortega, his wife, was arrested at an immigration appointment

A US army sergeant with 27 years of military service – including deployment to Afghanistan – has said that federal immigration agents recently arrested his wife during an appointment at an El Paso, Texas, immigration office.

Librarians are amazing. You can ask them about a book you think might have been a dream, but you’re pretty sure you read when you were eleven and the cover was blue…and they’ll find it! 💙📚

A square cream plate with orange flowers on each corner with a central black text stating "Always trust uour inner witch"

Carrie Reichardt, contemporary UK artist, a figurehead for the Craftivism movement, working in murals, ceramics, screen-printing and graphic design #womensart #Monday

The public library reference desk, where you can help a child with some Lilo & Stitch coloring pages while also helping an adult with tenancy dispute forms and raging about shitty landlords.

Book bans and attempted bans remain at record highs, with 'Sold' topping the list The American Library Association says book bans and attempted bans remain at record highs. Efforts to remove titles have become more coordinated and politicized.

“Libraries exist to make space for every story and every lived experience,” ALA President Sam Helmick said in a statement. “As we celebrate National Library Week, we reaffirm that libraries are places for knowledge, for access, and for all.”

Spike Lee at the Knicks game at MSG.

#spikelee #popeleo #knicks #madisonsquaregarden

Infowars/Onion combo logo in rainbow saying “I support the onion’s hostile media takeover.”

It’s finally happened. After 18 months. Finally, a media merger you can root for.

This is just so so great! #MustWatch Go @bencollins.bsky.social

National Library Week National Library Week is an annual celebration highlighting the valuable role libraries and library professionals play in transforming lives and strengthening our communities.

Today is National Library Week.

Support the organizations that support writers. Visit your local library this week. Librarians want YOU to visit them. Check out their bulletin board. Talk to them.

www.ala.org/conferencese...

#nationallibraryweek #writingcommunity #booksky #books #writerlife

This Day in #History 1927
Actress Mae West found guilty of “obscenity and corrupting the morals of youth” in a NY stage play entitled "Sex". She is sentenced to 10 days in prison and fined $500, the resulting publicity launches her Hollywood career.

scontent-phl2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-...

‘Every time I write, I doubt myself’: Michael Rosen at 80 on deep grief, self-belief and chocolate cake The children’s author answers questions from readers, friends and writers on losing his son Eddie, surviving Covid, who he’d invite to his perfect birthday dinner and where he goes for inspiration

www.theguardian.com/books/2026/a...

Articles about Jared Kushner's diplomatic role with Iran that mention Kushner has received billions from the Saudi government (2/28-4/19):

NYT: 5 of 58
WashPost: 1 of 43
WSJ: 0 of 40
AP: 0 of 26
CNN Wire: 0 of 18
NY Post: 0 of 17
Chicago Tribune: 0 of 4
LA Times: 0 of 4
Boston Globe: 0 of 2

Trump Library Saga Takes Dark Turn: Where Did Millions in Funding Go? Four huge media conglomerates forked over $63 million in “settlements” earmarked for Trump’s presidential library. Democrats are trying to track that money—and the latest developments don’t inspire co...

SCOOP --> Paramount, Meta, and X are refusing to say what happened to their huge contributions to Trump's presidential library after Sen Elizabeth Warren raised questions about its fund getting dissolved. Ds say tens of millions remain unaccounted for.

Details here:
newrepublic.com/article/2092...

Governor Tim Walz — "We are sick of this. A weak, reckless, Idiotic president just threw us into a war nobody asked for. No threat existed. No objectives were set. No exit plan exists. This is pure fascism." #cdnpoli

Sarah Bagley.

#ResistanceRoots

Sarah Bagley was born on this day in 1806 in Candia, N.H. She was a labor leader and social reformer who spearheaded the first major union for working women in the U.S. She is best known for her activism on behalf of female mill workers in Lowell, Mass. /1

Effective 2025 federal tax rates paid by these corporations:

Alphabet: 8.01%
AT&T: 4.6%
Meta: 3.57%
General Motors: 3.09%
Amazon: 1.37%
Exxon Mobil: 1.31%
Disney: -1.57%
CVS Health: -3.88%

Income tax rate paid by the typical American: 14.5%

This is what a rigged system looks like.

Everything the Ellison family could own if Paramount buys Warner Bros:

Paramount+
CBS
CNN
Showtime
HBO
Warner Bros
TNT
TBS
MTV
DC Studios
Nickelodeon
Comedy Central
Cartoon Network
And more...

This is a rotten deal that the Trump regime has rubber stamped.

State AGs must step in and block it.

A vibrant garden path filled with tall sunflowers leads to a house, while a child plays with a toy and figures in white stroll nearby.

Monet hired six gardeners, diverted a stream, and spent 43 years building a garden in Giverny.

Why would a painter spend half his life on one landscape? The answer changed art forever. 🧵👇 #artbots #monet

The United States is destroying itself | Rebecca Solnit The daily news can’t adequately convey the administration’s sabotaging of our government, economy, alliances and environment

“The United States is being murdered, and it’s an inside job. Every department, every branch, every bureau and function of the federal government is being fatally corrupted or altogether dismantled or disabled.”

Thomson Reuters Fired Worker For Speaking Out About ICE, Former Employee Says “When I saw evidence that our products were being used to harm people and undermine the law, I did what anyone should do—I raised the alarm. Thomson Reuters’ response was to fire me.”

"I did what anyone should do—I raised the alarm. Thomson Reuters’ response was to fire me.” www.404media.co/thomson-reut...