Tariffs xkcd.com/3073

He makes some good points. It could use a call to action though. Just because the chatgpt is there doesn't mean we have to use it

Same. I've been stewing about it since I found out

A stack of books on a brown shelf, next to a blue pyramid puzzle Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan Makoons by Louise Erdrich The Dream Keeper and other poems by Langston Hughes The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley

Stack of Current Reads: Still Life No. 10

#wipwednesday

I finished doing initial character building questionnaires for my 3 MCs for a new middle grade novel. Next up: some world-building questionnaires

The Annunciation in Over the Rhine, Cincinnati.

The mural is painted on the Pleasant Street Franciscan Friary and is inspired by a painting in the chapel of Our Lady of the Angels in Assisi.

Annunciation by illustrator Edmund Dulac, 1916.

Nouvelles ont couru en France Par mains lieux que j’estoye mort; Dont avoient peu desplaisance Aucuns qui me hayent a tort; Autres en ont eu desconfort, Qui m’ayment de loyal vouloir, Comme mes bons et vrais amis. Si fais a toutes gens savoir Qu’encore est vive la souris! Je n’ay eu ne mal ne grevance, Dieu mercy, mais suis sain et fort, Et passe temps en esperance Que paix, qui trop longuement dort, S’eveillera, et par accort A tous fera liesse avoir. Pour ce, de Dieu soient moudis Ceulx qui sont dolens de veoir Qu’encore est vive la souris! Jeunesse sur moy a puissance, Mais Vieillesse fait son effort De m’avoir en sa gouvernance; A present faillira son sort. Je suis assez loing de son port, De pleurer vueil garder mon hoir; Loué soit Dieu de Paradis, Qui m’a donné force et povoir Qu’encore est vive la souris! Nul ne porte pour moy le noir, On vent meillieur marchié drap gris; Or tiengne chascun, pour tout voir, Qu’encore est vive la souris!

News has traveled in France In various places that I am dead; Some were hardly displeased by this, Those who hate me unfairly; Others have been discomforted Who are loyal and love me As good and true friends. So I am letting everyone know, The mouse is still alive! I have been neither ill nor in pain, Thank God, but hale and strong, And pass the time hoping That peace, too long asleep, Will wake and by accord Give everyone cause to rejoice. So may God curse those Who are saddened to see That the mouse is still alive! Youth still holds me, But age is making the effort To take me in charge. Her attempt will fail now. I am far away from her port And wish to save my heir from tears; Praised be God in Paradise Who has given me strength and power That the mouse is still alive! No one should wear black for me, Grey can be bought more cheaply; Everyone must know it is true That the mouse is still alive!

The Mouse is Still Alive by Charles, duc d'Orléans

#poetry

Today’s poem: Carl Sandburg, “Chicago”
#lunchpoems

St. Andrew’s University in Scotland has a centuries-old legend about a student who's struggling to write an essay when the actual devil appears and hands him the essay fully written, if you were wondering how people in the past would have felt about cheating with AI.

Nun 1: A varietie of flightlesse Bird has landede on our Shores, Sister. We wish to Categoryse it. Nun 2: Very goode sister *Nuns wheel across the panel* *Nuns stare at 2 small penguins* Nun 2: Bedevilled Nun 1: Very goode sister

A stack of books on a brown shelf The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan Makoons by Louise Erdrich The Dream Keeper by Langston Hughes Death Comes to Pemberly by P. D. James

Stack of current reads

"Vykings have been Sightede on our seas Sister" "Indeede Sister "Activate Counter-Measures" "Very goode sister" *Longboat approaches island and reads sign* "St Brendan's Poor Nunnery for very Ugly Olde Poor Olde Ugly Women Who Compaine a Lot & can also Fighte" *Longboat turns away* "Very goode sister"

Happy #internationalwomensday

Today’s poem: Robinson Jeffers, “Shine, Perishing Republic”
#lunchpoems

#wipwednesday

This week I'm writing a music lesson about Hildegard von Bingen, and doing prepwork for my first middle grade novel. I keep going back and forth b/n wanting to dive in and just start drafting, and knowing the prepwork is worth doing, even if it's kinda boring

How are your projects?

Hey! If you love museums as much as I do, consider contacting your representative and urging them to help save the IMLS. Many, many museums and libraries rely on IMLS grants for exhibitions, preservation of collections, special programs, and more. www.aam-us.org/2025/03/17/u...

I'm reading Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell for the first time, and the only thing that kept me from throwing the book across the room at the end of part 2 was the fact that it's a library book

Yver, vous n’estes qu’un villain; Esté est plaisant et gentil, En tesmoing de May et d’Avril Qui l’accompaignent soir et main. Esté revest champs, bois et fleurs, De sa livrée de verdure Et de maintes autres couleurs, Par l’ordonnance de Nature. Mais vous, Yver, trop estes plain De nège, vent, pluye et grézil; On vous deust banir en éxil. Sans point flater, je parle plain. –Charles, duc de Orléans

Winter, you are nothing but a rogue; Summer is pleasant and kind, As May and April can testify, Accompanying it each eve and morn. Summer clothes fields, woods and flowers With his verdant livery, And many other colours too, As nature commands. But you, Winter, you exude Snow, wind, rain and hail; You ought to be exiled. Winter, you are nothing but a rogue. —Charles, duc de Orléans Translated by Richard Stokes

Yver, vous n'estes qu'un villain, #poetry by Charles duc de Orléans

A stack of books on a kitchen counter Red Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson Makoons by Louise Erdrich Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke

Stack of Current Reads: Still Life No. 9

I'm writing music appreciation lessons this week for our library homeschool group. This month we're listening to Mars from Gustav Holst's The Planets. Next month we'll listen to the rondeau from a Violin Concerto by Saint-Georges. I love sharing music with kids

How are your projects going?

A stack of books next to a silver Art Deco Christmas tree Red Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke

Stack of Current Reads: Still Life No. 8

Last week was supposed to be "get back to routine" but I was sick. So this week is "get back to routine." I wrote a few words today AND I figured out how to make the text in Scrivener bigger. No more squinting in split-screen!

How are your projects going?

2024 Writing Wrap-up

I ended 2024 with 198216 words. As usual, some months had a lower word count than others; but in 2024, that was more due to being busy than to mental health issues, so seeing improvement there.

Best wishes and happy 2025!

Old dreams in the back of the pantry are still good. Just scrape off the cobwebs, it's fine! -Michelle Mitsui

A little Fibonacci poem by me