Update: yesterday afternoon (I thought it was last night but I was wrong) I got this email from Verizon: Outstanding Verizon balance Pay your bill Hi Lisa, Your Verizon service has been terminated. There is still an outstanding balance on your account in the amount of $40.97. If you have already made payment, please disregard…
Book Review: _Alias Grace_, by Margaret Atwood
Image from Literary Quicksand One of the most fascinating character studies I’ve come across, for both of the MCs, Grace Marks, serving a life prison term for murder, and Dr. Jordan, the psychiatrist who has come to town to study her. For each of them, Atwood weaves an incremental web of origins and then applies…
#SLS — “If a Tree Falls” by Bruce Cockburn (1988/2005)
Bruce Cockburn As I was googling for a good song for this week’s Song Lyric Sunday prompt, I came across a Spotify playlist with over 130 songs to celebrate Arbor Day. How could I not find a good’n? I sampled a good half of the ones not familiar to me and chose this one out…
A2Z 2026 Vanth
Vanth (Etruscan) Vanth Vanth is a significant figure in Etruscan mythology, representing a unique aspect of the ancient beliefs of the Etruscan civilization. Vanth is known primarily as a psychopomp – a being whose responsibility is to escort newly deceased souls from Earth to the afterlife. This role is crucial in understanding how the Etruscans viewed death…
A2Z 2026 Urania
Urania (Greek) One of the Nine Muses The nine Muses on a Roman sarcophagus (second century AD)—Louvre, Paris The Nine Muses Nine Muses in Greek mythology were goddesses who presided over the arts and sciences. They began as nymphs, whispering inspiration to those who invoked them. Over time, they evolved into powerful goddesses, responsible for…
dVerse OLN 406 — Blue Purpled Woman
Gerard Sekoto, Woman With Downcast Eyes (1955) Blue Purpled WomanStepping away from sunshinesetting over open-air market,blue face lost in contemplation.Wishing to turn right, not left,away from grandeur’s large-knuckled fists, plate-sizedpalms that visit carefully-hidbits of now purpled flesh. Onlyhawk eyes notice my wincelifting bushels of persimmons.His lips smack at the Snoek*, distracted. Greasy fingersignore napkins, rubbing cleanon my…
Tao-Talk 