The Nine Muses

Mankeeping: How Shrinking Male Social Networks May Burden Women via @forbes forbes.com/sites/kimelses…

Mandy Patinkin on Gaza: A Plea to Jews youtu.be/dFjOb9DGS1w?si… via YouTube

The shunning — Jewish identity and belonging in a time of genocide in Gaza dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-0…

It's here! Over 150 calls for literary competitions & submissions incl. poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, art, photography & more - contests, literary journals, residencies, bursaries etc - open or with deadlines in August 2025. Good luck & pls share. thisiswordbox.com/wordbox-blog/w…

Olga by Bernhard Schlink review – from Prussia with love | Fiction | The Guardian theguardian.com/books/2020/nov…

Frederick Seidel, The Desert Song: granta.com/the-desert-son…

Margaret Atwood

Author Ocean Vuong on his new book The Emperor of Gladness | 7.30 youtu.be/c1THOC_OAMo?si… via YouTube

Ocean Vuong on Class, Grief, and When He Plans To Call It Quits| Fresh Air youtu.be/Xwa5wTISVRM?si… via YouTube

This commentary offers a clear, powerful statement of why freedom of speech is at the heart of democracy and must be defended, whether the speaker is Charlie Kirk or Jimmy Kimmel, MAGA supporters or MAGA opponents.

A favorite #birddivination – one of the last I made before finishing the set of 100 (which you can find, along with the story and process behind them, almanacofbirds.org)