J.R. JohnsonWait, Where’d the Weekend Go?
“Time is what we want most, but what we use worst.” ― William Penn
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Photo by Jack Sharp on Unsplash #365Ways #365Ways2026 #Thoughts
Not Today!
Those of us who support libraries, freedom, and history may find this project as fascinating as I did: The Uncensored Library.
There are a lot of ways to preserve information now, and to send a message to the future. As I mentioned here a few years ago, you can write a letter to be delivered later with FutureMe. You could bury a time capsule and register it with the International Time Capsule Society. I even wrote a story about a woman facing down the end of humanity by preserving some of its most beautiful creations for the next intelligent race.
Reporters Without Borders took a different approach. They created a virtual library inside Minecraft. Before you laugh, it’s hard to think of a better place to store and disseminate uncensored information than the world’s best-selling video game.
Providing access to independent information to young people around the world through a medium they can playfully interact with.
Here’s to knowledge, and to our future.
“We cannot shut the windows and pull down the shades; we cannot say, “I have learned all I need to know; my opinions are fixed on everything. I refuse to change or to consider these new things.” Not today. Not any more.” ― Eleanor Roosevelt
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Original photo by Leo_Visions on Unsplash #365Ways #365Ways2026 #NoKings #censorship #democracy #knowledge #meetPeopleWhereTheyAre #Minecraft #Thoughts
In Art and Life
This quote is from a musician, but I think it applies to all artists and heck, to people in general. Be you!
The only way you can move someone is by being someone. —Jacob Collier
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Photo by Federico Giampieri on Unsplash #365Ways #365Ways2026 #creativity #Thoughts #Writers #writing
Via Fiction or Fact
This is for all those who take the world and mold it, via fiction or fact, into something creative and new.
The most interesting inventions are those that haven’t worked yet. — Nathan Myhrvold
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Photo by Johnny Briggs on Unsplash #365Ways #365Ways2026 #creativity #inspiration #invention #Thoughts #Writers #writing
Best Use of a Sharpie
Today I’d like to share one of those minor household hacks that is super low stakes but has made our kitchen-related lives much easier.
Have multiple kitchen sponges? We have four: Dish, Sink, Counter and Kitty. And because I have Opinions about sponges, they are often the same brand and style. How to keep them all straight?
Wait until your sponge is dry, then write its intended use on the end with a Sharpie. (Best use of a Sharpie on record, I’m convinced.)
That’s it.
Adds a little personality and you’ll never have to wonder if you’re using the counter sponge for your cat!
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Photo by todd kent on Unsplash #365Ways #365Ways2026 #DoTryThisAtHome #IHaveThoughts #home
SFWA, Writers and the Anthropic Settlement Deadline
Today’s post is a bit particular, but if you are an author who thinks they might be eligible for the Anthropic/AI training settlement (i.e. they stole your work to train their software and now they owe you money), this may interest you!
The Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers Association has put my membership dollars to very good use by assembling an extensive guide to the settlement. If you have questions about whether you’re eligible, how to file a claim, recent updates and more, check out this series of articles from SFWA’s Advocacy Team.
Anthropic FAQ – SFWA – The Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers Association
How do I tell if I am affected?
The official List of Works is available on the Anthropic Settlement website. Search it for your name or pseudonym and any titles for which you think you may be either the legal or the beneficial owner.
Why mention this now? Because the deadline to submit claims is March 30, 2026.
And if you happen to be SFWA eligible but are not yet a member, I recommend it!
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Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash #365Ways #365Ways2026 #writing
Note to Self, Monday Edition
Creativity is abundant, it’s execution that’s scarce. — Adam Grant
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Write more, erase less! Photo by Tracey Parish on Unsplash #365Ways #365Ways2026 #WriteMoreEraseLess #creativity #Thoughts #work #Writers #writing
Humanity’s Next Top Ambassador
Are you a writer in the “1,000 words or less” space? Do you care about the future of humanity? Harbor a secret desire to be named the new Ambassador of the Human Race?
This no-fee super fun writing contest may be for you!
The aliens are coming. Or at least they told us they were.
They asked us for just one item: a written document from humanity.
This is the only thing they are going to read before they arrive.
We have no idea what the document should be, so we’re asking you.
…
We’re giving $2,000 USD to the best submission. Second and third place get $250 each.
We’re going old school here. You’ll have to physically mail in your writing, and it needs to reach us before May 15, 2026.
(I bolded that last bit because prizes are nice, but also it’s been a while since most submissions had to use the mail, and while I love the whole concept of the postal service, it does not travel at the speed of the electron.)
We’d better get writing. And I for one am going to work on cultivating a slightly more positive outlook than I may have in the past (an example I still like, but would be a poor choice in this case! We Are Mirrors).
The fate of humanity may depend on it!
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Photo by Cyrus Crossan on Unsplash #365Ways #365Ways2026 #noSubmissionFee #prizes #savingHumanityABonus #Writers #writing #writingContest
Just Luck
A brief short on what I call The Balance, used for good:
He was nervous when he left. Big day, a presentation that would be the culmination of months of work, weeks of overtime, uncounted hours of stress. It all came down to one day, and this meeting.
His grin slipped a little as he said goodbye. “Here’s hoping things work out.”
I reached out and touched his right hand, just above the silver circle I’d given him. He laughingly referred to as his magic ring. I felt a spark.
“You’ll be fine,” I said.
I could tell he wasn’t convinced, but I meant it.
My own day was a maelstrom of mishaps. I sloshed hot water on the stairs and watched helplessly as a raw egg slipped from my fingers to break over the fridge drawer, the freezer seals, and the floor. Emptying the dishwasher was a humbling lesson in the fragile properties of glass and ceramic.
That’s okay, I thought. Worth it.
He came home exhausted but happy. Everything that could go wrong, didn’t.
“Somehow,” he said.
I smiled.
“Just lucky, I guess.”
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Photo by Robert Bottman on Unsplash #365Ways #365Ways2026 #aLittleMagic #Writers #writing
Snowy Equinox
Happy Spring Equinox, everyone! (I say with some amusement, as a plow removes the latest storm’s worth of snow out front!)
This is a great image of the celestial equator, from NASA’s Astronomy Picture of the Day. (And just for fun, here it is as an online jigsaw puzzle🙂
And here’s a quick article and video with the essentials on the vernal equinox: March equinox 2026: Here’s all you need to know
The March equinox – aka the vernal equinox – marks the sun’s crossing above Earth’s equator, moving from south to north. Earth’s tilt on its axis is what causes this northward shift of the sun’s path across our sky at this time of year. Earth’s tilt is now bringing spring and summer to the Northern Hemisphere. At the same time, the March equinox marks the beginning of autumn – and a shift toward winter – in the Southern Hemisphere.
I did spot a lovely V of Canada Geese a couple of days ago, and hopefully we’ll see more signs of spring soon!
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Photo by Aaron Diaz on Unsplash #365Ways #365Ways2026 #astronomy #NASA #puzzle #Spring #vernalEquinox