Having just trekked about downtown Minneapolis at a conference and bumped into a few local families with kids who lived down there - I vote yes.

That’s awesome!

That clickbait title got old a long time ago. Fake authority, an attempt at control. I’m interested in a list of books that changed/affected you. Say how and why, and be succinct. Or, offer a list of “if you liked this book, here’s some books you might like.”

What we lost when we lost Self magazine The almost 50-year-old publication was a lifeline for chronically ill readers.

After Condé Nast's decision to close SELF, I spoke to chronically ill women about what the women's health site meant to them.

"We have to acknowledge chronic illness as a politically, culturally, and socially marginalized category"

Latest for @motherjones.com.

www.motherjones.com/politics/202...

The Sick Times I developed Long COVID while practicing medicine. The system had no place for me An important essay from internal medicine resident Mustafa Talat: "Medical institutions must educate staff that Long COVID is a disabling condition affecting up to 40% of healthcare workers who contracted and continue to contract COVID-19 while working in hospitals that have failed to control the spread of the virus and other pathogens."

The Sick Times @thesicktimes.org : I developed Long COVID while practicing medicine. The system had no place for me

thesicktimes.org/2026/04/17/i...

Screenshot from latest Science for ME weekly update

#LongCovid #Medsky

Endorsed! Sarah Gailey’s Hippo is a fun alt-history Western, with hippos!

New word alert! fissiparous, tending to break or split up into parts. “Leftist groups were… notoriously fissiparous.”

That moment when you realize there is a Big useful button on your phone and wonder, “Has that button been there the whole time?” but if you keep your mouth shut you will be the only one to know the extent of your obliviousness.

Cover of The Mercy of Gods by James SA Corey

Just finished the audiobook of The Mercy of Gods by James SA Corey. I loved it as much as the Expanse. Epic sci-fi in a vast alien Universe. Humanity takes a beating. Part 1 of a trilogy. Bring on book 2, just released.

This is great news! When ai implodes the communications systems, our billionaire overloads can still transmit messages to each other by robotic marathoners.

The library director along with Chef Trent, winner of Hells Kitchen Young Gina season 20, and social influencer and cookbook author Sarah Kraffty

2026 MOBookFest add

The library director and Fredbird, pointing at the camera

I’m exhausted from the 2026MOBookFest, but I feel filled to the brim with gratitude. I can’t believe how much work it is, and I can’t believe that I get paid to do this. This book festival is a celebration of Missouri books and culture, with extra attention on fun for the kids. Keep on reading!

The blue cover of true to you be Kathleen smith, and a portion of my thumb

A little light Saturday morning reading - Kathleen Smith’s “True to You,” which is very good so far. Lots of family systems insight and useful stories to illustrate the situations we all live in, in some form. Very helpful, very smart.

Master of the dark arts!

Me too!

Can confirm.

Festival tent setup in the parking lot

Just hoping it doesn’t blow away our festival tent outside of St Louis

The Vizio-Walmart TV sucks when you setup your TV. Don’t worry though, when you call for help, you get a useless AI to drive you crazy u til you ask for a human. When Things finally start working, you won’t know why. Why release a product that the setup doesn’t work?

Cat curled up on a blanket on a chair, blocking access to the computer.

Well, I definitely can’t sit down at the computer. Guess it’s bedtime.

Overhead shot of Two brother cats, a grey cat and a tabbie, curled together on a kitchen chair.

Cute mode: activate.

Not #caturday but what the hell.

A theologian is born!

Volume 1 of Lavender Jack arrived at the library. Excited to read this!

"You" can "now" "eat" "some fish" "caught" in "New York's Hudson River for the "first time" in 50 "years."

This is enraging, “medical community.” ‘Lack of recognition’, ‘underestimation.’ C’mon. If you read even one Ed Yong article from 3 years ago, you knew Long Covid was a problem.

Join us for the 2026 Missouri Book Festival at the Washington Public Library. Free Programs and Events. Fun for the Whole Family. Saturday April 18 from 9am - 2pm.

Kate Klise, keynote speaker, will speak on: Anyone Can Write a Book.

2026 MOBookFest is coming Saturday April 18, 9am-2pm. Featuring Kate Klise as our Keynote speaker! Hope to see some Missourians out there!
www.washmolib.org/o/wpl/page/m...

Tabby styled cat named Zaboo getting scritches on his favorite blanket.

I’m just here for the scritches (and soft blanket).

A yellow goldfinch on a small brach

There is an absolute party of goldfinches going on in our backyard and we are here for it.

Chocolate chip cookies on a pan, made. In the dead of night by the children while I was sleeping.

The house elves made cookies after midnight again. I kinda have to eat one as a breakfast bar, don’t I?

The cover of The Beat American Essays 2024 with Jim Tolentibo

Friday Night I read three banger works in a row in The Best American Essays 2025. So good! A good switch up for my reading. And highly recommended.

She introduced herself! That’s pretty good.

In Your Spare Time: Ursula K. Le Guin Podcast Brings Her Entire Blog to Your Ears - Reactor Yes, even the blog posts that are primarily cat photos

The first episode on In Your Spare Time is out, narrated by David Mitchell. 4 decades ago I saw Le Guin speak at a book festival in Oregon, and never again, and only now realized how lucky I was. I wish she was still with us, offering her prickly analysis of A.I.