"Masked federal agents are kidnapping and killing our neighbors, on the streets and behind the bars of hundreds of #detentionCenters across the country. In #HowToCloseACamp, award-winning journalist and translator #JohnWashington offers a galvanizing, clear-eyed case for why we must close these camps—and how to do it."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XC8lvGHp8TM
#USpol #USpolitics #immigrantDetention #ICE #CBP #ICEdetention #stateRepression #immigrantRights #racializedCommunities #activism #books @bookstodon

"Some #American #Jews have been explaining to non-#Jewish friends, neighbors, and colleagues the fear and apartness they have felt since #Oct7, 2023, when #Hamas breached Israel’s southern border and launched an attack that sparked the #Gaza #war and the anti-#Israel – and in some cases #antisemitic – backlash that followed.

In interviews, they describe a sense of disorientation, as if they have been jolted into an entirely new era, in which some have lost friendships and a sense of belonging. This is especially true in some #progressive social circles that never condemned the Oct. 7 violence, and in some cases even within their own Jewish communities that hold differing opinions on what supporting Israel means.

Jewish #writers and #filmmakers report being excluded from talks and festivals and experiencing difficulties in getting new #books #published."

https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Society/2026/0722/american-jews-antisemitism-violence?utm_source=flipboard&utm_medium=activitypub

A quotation from James Howell

Old wine, and old friend, and old gold are beloved in all places.
 
[Vin vieux, amy vieux, Y or vieux sont amez en touts lieux.]

James Howell (c. 1594–1666) Welsh historian, writer, aphorist
Paroimiographia [Παροιμιογραφία]: Proverbs, or, Old Sayed Sawes & Adages, “Proverbs in French” (1659)
[compiler]

More about (and translations of) this quote: wist.info/howell-james/85085/

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #jameshowell #proverb #age #books #comfort #custom #enjoyment #familiarity #friend #maturity #money #needs #passageoftime #provisions #supplies #tradition #wine

LEFT-HANDED WIFE. A concubine; an allusion to an ancient German custom, according to which, when a man married his concubine, or a woman greatly his inferior, he gave her his left hand.

A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

--
#books #literature #dictionaries #history #society #language #slang @histodons

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Image imitating a page from an old document, text (as in main toot): LEFT-HANDED WIFE. A concubine; an allusion to an ancient German custom, according to which, when a man married his concubine, or a woman greatly his inferior, he gave her his left hand. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

Charles Brockden Brown Declares Independence

Ed Simon explores Charles Brockden Brown’s Wieland; or, The Transformation: An American Tale, often considered the first American Gothic novel.

By Ed Simon

https://www.theparisreview.org/blog/2026/07/20/charles-brockden-brown-declares-independence/?utm_source=Klaviyo&utm_medium=campaign&utm_id=01KY2BG97GH10QY0WN9JSBXNW6&_kx=3MZUehzXM-41qlWAMPUiuNZadX2p0SByuNf_t0eMLB0.U5D8ER

Books by Charles Brockden Brown (including Wieland) at PG:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/416

#books #literature

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Engraving of American writer Charles Brockden Brown. From The Life of Charles Brockden Brown by William Dunlap. Published by James P. Parke, 1815. This is an engraving portrait of Charles Brockden Brown, an early American novelist, shown wearing early 19th-century formal attire with a large white cravat and dark coat, set against a draped curtain background.

The Letters of Heloise: Love, Learning, and Life as a Medieval Woman

Heloise’s letters reveal a medieval woman caught between enduring love, religious duty, and the expectations of her age. Andrea Maraschi explores how they also showcase her remarkable learning and her willingness to express thoughts and emotions rarely preserved in medieval women’s writing.

By Andrea Maraschi

https://www.medievalists.net/2026/07/the-letters-of-heloise-love-learning-and-life-as-a-medieval-woman/

Letters of Heloise at PG:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/search/?query=Letters+of+Heloise

#books #literature

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Abelard and Héloïse in a manuscript of the Roman de la Rose (14th century). It is showing a man in a pink/orange robe kneeling and gesturing toward a woman in black nun's habit, both with raised hands in a conversational or devotional pose, set against a decorative patterned background with fleur-de-lis motifs.

BLEEDING CULLY. One who parts easily with his money, or bleeds freely.

A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

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#books #literature #dictionaries #history #society #language #slang @histodons

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Image imitating a page from an old document, text (as in main toot): BLEEDING CULLY. One who parts easily with his money, or bleeds freely. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

Good news for many of us here:

Your pending pile (your books-to-read pile) is contributing to your well-being.... it represents an anticipation of pleasure to come & as such sports good mental health.

Just as well as my pending pile of books never goes down (yes, that's my problem in buying more books that look/sound interesting).

#books @books #reading #MentalHealth #tsundoku

https://theconversation.com/why-you-keep-buying-books-you-dont-read-and-why-it-feels-so-good-286801

"There's a real effort to rewrite history that we're seeing in real time from #BidenAdministration officials, many of whom want to continue wielding power for years, if not decades to come. These are people who are now at top universities, on the boards of corporations, think tanks..."

#AkbarShahidAhmed, author of #CrossingTheRedLine: #Biden, His Advisors, and #Israel's War in #Gaza

https://fmep.org/resource/the-biden-administration-and-genocide-an-interview-with-investigative-journalist-akbar-shahid-ahmed/

#Palestine #GazaGenocide #USpol #BlueMAGA #shitlibs #niOubliNiPardon #books @bookstodon

CROSS BUTTOCK. A particular lock or fall in the Broughtonian art, which, as Mr. Fielding observes, conveyed more pleasant sensations to the spectators than the patient.

A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

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#books #literature #dictionaries #history #society #language #slang @histodons

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Image imitating a page from an old document, text (as in main toot): CROSS BUTTOCK. A particular lock or fall in the Broughtonian art, which, as Mr. Fielding observes, conveyed more pleasant sensations to the spectators than the patient. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

Pixel: a biography

An exact mathematical concept, pixels are the elementary particles of pictures, based on a subtle unpacking of infinity

By Alvy Ray Smith, Edited by Nigel Warburton

https://aeon.co/essays/a-biography-of-the-pixel-the-elementary-particle-of-pictures?utm_source=Aeon+Newsletter&utm_campaign=34b5c1e05b-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2026_05_27_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-4ef8a26106-72664972

#books #technology #ComputerScience

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A pixel does not need to be rendered as a small square. This image shows alternative ways of reconstructing an image from a set of pixel values, using dots, lines, or smooth filtering. Three panels showing image reconstruction/rendering at increasing resolution: (left) a coarse dotted/pixelated pattern of a "Z"-like shape, (middle) a finer striped/dithered version, (right) a smooth, high-resolution photo-like curve — illustrating progressive image reconstruction from low to high pixel density.

‘I felt Holden was talking to me alone’: The Catcher in the Rye at 75

JD Salinger’s wry, subversive classic inspired novelist Joseph O’Connor to be a writer. He reflects on why this story of a disaffected teenager remains as fresh and transgressive as ever

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2026/jul/16/i-felt-holden-was-talking-to-me-alone-the-catcher-in-the-rye-at-75

#books #literature

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First-edition cover of The Catcher in the Rye (1951) by the American author J. D. Salinger. IThis cover is featuring a stylized red carousel horse illustration against a city skyline, with bold red and cream coloring.

@tansy
Tansy, question from an ignorant American! Is there anyway for people outside of the UK to pre-order your new book?
#Books

BELLOWS. The lungs.

A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

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#books #literature #dictionaries #history #society #language #slang @histodons

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Image imitating a page from an old document, text (as in main toot): BELLOWS. The lungs. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

#BurgeonLab #WeekNotes 034 is out!

2026: Week 29/52 (Jun 13 – Jul 19)

➡️ https://burgeonlab.com/weeknotes/2026/w29/

A weeknote about writing, books, #bookwyrm and #indiebookclub, a #micropub app by @gregorlove.com

This is post 69 of #100DaysToOffload
📈 https://burgeonlab.com/tags/100daystooffload/

#indieweb #indiekit #hugo #hongkong #hk #frontend #books #reading #booktracker #blogging #blogs #smallweb #weeknote #personalBlog #PersonalSites #BloggingCommunity

ACTIVE CITIZEN. A louse.

A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

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#books #literature #dictionaries #history #society #language #slang @histodons

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Image imitating a page from an old document, text (as in main toot): ACTIVE CITIZEN. A louse. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

This Week in Literary History:
O. Henry is Released from Prison

“If he had simply gone back to Austin when he was summoned to stand trial, he would have been acquitted.”

https://lithub.com/this-week-in-literary-history-o-henry-is-released-from-prison/

O. Henry at PG:

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/634

#books #literature

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O. Henry (William Sydney Porter) appears from the chest up in the photograph. He leans slightly to the right, resting his head on his right hand. His hair is short, wavy, and parted in the middle, with a handlebar mustache. He wears a dark, textured three-piece suit with a vest and matching jacket. Underneath, he has a white dress shirt with a tall wing collar. His dark necktie is held by a decorative stickpin just below the collar.

The world’s first influencers were French and they emerged after the Revolution

by Emma Schwak

Influencer culture is not a thing of the past, and yet the movers and shakers of post-revolutionary France are proof that writing lifestyle columns and trending is a centuries-old pursuit.

https://theconversation.com/the-worlds-first-influencers-were-french-and-they-emerged-after-the-revolution-286859?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Diversity%20in%20the%20World%20Cup%20-%203867739403&utm_content=Diversity%20in%20the%20World%20Cup%20-%203867739403+CID_8f3fa84c054f2dc99e8f6f99d1012e1e&utm_source=campaign_monitor_europe&utm_term=The%20worlds%20first%20influencers%20were%20French%20and%20they%20emerged%20after%20the%20Revolution

Books about Madame Récamier at PG:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/search/?query=Madame+R%C3%A9camier

#books #literature #WomenInHistory

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A painting by Jacques-Louis David of French socialite and Neoclassical icon Madame Récamier whose salon in Paris attracted leading literary and political circles in the early 19th-century. A famous 1800 portrait of Madame Récamier, reclining on a Neoclassical daybed in a simple white empire-waist gown, with a bronze floor lamp beside her.

How a forgotten Toronto story shows Hemingway beginning to invent himself as a fiction writer

During his four years with the Toronto Star, Hemingway produced nearly 200 pieces, 170 under his own name plus around 30 with verified pseudonym bylines.

by Irene Gammel

https://theconversation.com/how-a-forgotten-toronto-story-shows-hemingway-beginning-to-invent-himself-as-a-fiction-writer-286101

Books by Hemingway
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/50533

#books #literature

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Hemingway´s wood-cut from portrait by henry strater. Title: In our time Author: Ernest Hemingway Editor: Ezra Pound Illustrator: Henry Strater A stylized woodcut portrait of a bearded man, rendered with bold cross-hatching and line textures

WHIFFLERS. Ancient name for fifers; also persons at the universities who examine candidates for degrees. A whiffling cur, a small yelping cur.

A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

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#books #literature #dictionaries #history #society #language #slang @histodons

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Image imitating a page from an old document, text (as in main toot): WHIFFLERS. Ancient name for fifers; also persons at the universities who examine candidates for degrees. A whiffling cur, a small yelping cur. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

COVENT GARDEN ABBESS. A bawd.

A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

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#books #literature #dictionaries #history #society #language #slang @histodons

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Image imitating a page from an old document, text (as in main toot): COVENT GARDEN ABBESS. A bawd. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

The Debate Over Pictures in Science

By Danny Robb

Botanical illustrations helped bring science to new audiences—but not every scientist welcomed the change.

https://daily.jstor.org/the-debate-over-pictures-in-science/?utm_source=mcae&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=jstordaily_0716202

Books in Botany at PG:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/bookshelf/115

#books #botany #science

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Illustration of Myosotis capitata in Flora Antarctica. Drawn and engraved by Walter Hood Fitch, 1844. A botanical illustration showing the full plant with its rosette of silvery-green leaves and clusters of small purple flowers, roots, and detailed close-up dissections of an individual flower, seeds, and floral structures below.

Jung’s archetypes are a mirror that shows who and what we are

Psychedelics and neuroscience seem to support his ideas about ancestral dreams and fears – but with an evolutionary twist

by Hugh McGovern

https://psyche.co/ideas/jungs-archetypes-are-a-mirror-that-shows-who-and-what-we-are?utm_source=Aeon+Newsletter&utm_campaign=ae0d1e34e2-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2026_07_17&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-4ef8a26106-72664972

Books by Carl Jung at PG:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/44679

#books #psychology #neuroscience

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Figure Bearing a Winged Head (1876) by Odilon Redon. A figure in a blue tunic stands on a hilltop reaching toward a large, dreamlike floating head with wing-like extensions, set against a glowing golden-and-teal luminous background.

BARREL FEVER. He died of the barrel fever; he killed himself by drinking.

A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

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#books #literature #dictionaries #history #society #language #slang @histodons

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Image imitating a page from an old document, text (as in main toot): BARREL FEVER. He died of the barrel fever; he killed himself by drinking. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

#RadioWarNerd welcomes #AdamJohnson to talk about his new book #HowToSellAGenocide: The #Media's Complicity in the Destruction of #Gaza, all royalties from which go to Middle East Children's Alliance

https://www.podbean.com/media/share/dir-rerbx-2f7ac4c4
#GazaCoverage #Palestine #Israel #PalestineCoverage #USmedia #USpol #mediaCriticism #MSM #books @bookstodon

CLANK NAPPER. A silver tankard stealer. See RUM BUBBER.

A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

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#books #literature #dictionaries #history #society #language #slang @histodons

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Image imitating a page from an old document, text (as in main toot): CLANK NAPPER. A silver tankard stealer. See RUM BUBBER. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

#OTD in 1811, William Makepeace Thackeray is born. He "was an English novelist and illustrator. He is known for his satirical works, particularly his 1847–1848 novel Vanity Fair, a panoramic portrait of British society, and the 1844 novel The Luck of Barry Lyndon, which was adapted for a 1975 film by Stanley Kubrick."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Makepeace_Thackeray

Thackeray at PG:

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/313

#books #literature

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This 1855 daguerreotype by Jesse Harrison Whitehurst shows William Makepeace Thackeray from the chest up, looking directly at the camera. He has light, wavy hair parted to the side and noticeable sideburns. He wears round, thin-rimmed glasses, a dark jacket or overcoat over a dark vest, a white-collared shirt, and a dark cravat or bow tie. His expression is serious.

Harriet Beecher Stowe Wrote a Work of Fiction That Seemed So Real That It Changed the History of the Country

To fight against slavery, the author collected true stories then picked up a pen and distilled them into “Uncle Tom’s Cabin”

by Geraldine Brooks

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/harriet-beecher-stowe-wrote-work-fiction-that-seemed-so-real-changed-history-country-180988826/?utm_source=Klaviyo&utm_medium=campaign&utm_id=01KXQXW72R0HJTBNHTRQ1DAWG0&_kx=3MZUehzXM-41qlWAMPUiuNZadX2p0SByuNf_t0eMLB0.U5D8ER

Uncle Tom's Cabin at PG:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/203

#books #literature

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Eliza comes to tell Uncle Tom that he is sold, and that she is running away to save her child. Title: Uncle Tom's Cabin Author: Harriet Beecher Stowe A 19th-century engraving depicting a rural scene: a woman in a shawl carrying an infant walks with a dog beside her, encountering two men on a path near a hedgerow. One man appears to be blowing or playing something held in cupped hands, while the other gestures toward her. A house is visible in the distant background.

As wars destroyed schools and libraries across Italy, one Roman official began copying ancient books and helped save centuries of knowledge from disappearing

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/europe/as-wars-destroyed-schools-and-libraries-across-italy-one-roman-official-began-copying-ancient-books-and-helped-save-centuries-of-knowledge-from-disappearing/articleshow/132454952.cms

The Letters of Cassiodorus at PG:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/18590

#books #old_Manuscripts

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Frontispiece showing Flavius Magnus Aurelius Cassiodorus (seated opposite Theodoric), fol. 2r of Leiden ms. vul. 46 (Gesta Theodorici), Manuscript on vellum. 186 ff., 220 x 125 mm. Fulda, dated 1176/7. A medieval manuscript illustration labeled "Cassiodor. Senator" showing Cassiodorus seated on an ornate throne, wearing a cap and cloak, holding an open book inscribed with Latin text, with one hand raised in a gesture of instruction or address.

NORTHUMBERLAND. Lord Northumberland's arms; a black eye: so called in the last century.

A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

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#books #literature #dictionaries #history #society #language #slang @histodons

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Image imitating a page from an old document, text (as in main toot): NORTHUMBERLAND. Lord Northumberland's arms; a black eye: so called in the last century. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

#books #quotes #warhammer #warhammer40000 #warhammer40k

BUTTOCK BROKER. A bawd, or match-maker. CANT.

A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

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#books #literature #dictionaries #history #society #language #slang @histodons

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Image imitating a page from an old document, text (as in main toot): BUTTOCK BROKER. A bawd, or match-maker. CANT. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

A forgotten young poet gives us a rare glimpse below stairs at the 1995 Pride and Prejudice’s Netherfield Hall

by Catherine Clarke

https://theconversation.com/a-forgotten-young-poet-gives-us-a-rare-glimpse-below-stairs-at-the-1995-pride-and-prejudices-netherfield-hall-287329

More information about Mary Leapor:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Leapor

#books #poetry #literaryCriticism

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Title page, Poems Upon Several Occasions (1748) by Mary Leapor (1722-1746) The title page of "Poems Upon Several Occasions" by Mrs. Leapor (Mary Leapor) of Brackley, Northamptonshire, printed in London by J. Roberts in 1748 (MDCCXLVIII), featuring an ornamental floral engraving between the author line and imprint.

CROSS DISHONEST. A cross cove; any person who lives by stealing or in a dishonest manner.

A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

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#books #literature #dictionaries #history #society #language #slang @histodons

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Image imitating a page from an old document, text (as in main toot): CROSS DISHONEST. A cross cove; any person who lives by stealing or in a dishonest manner. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

Shit. This is on the calendar, and yes, it is the national book banning bill. https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/7661/text #Censorship #Books #Book #Bookstodon

Mastodon: My mission is to prove that the Fediverse is more powerful than X.

Good news for you - literally no money involved. Grab 24 of my stories for free. Click, download, and boom—instant sci-fi.

https://inkican.com/smashwords-summer-scifi-sale-free-stories/

#bookstadon #books #freebooks #scifi #booksforkids #summerreading

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If you like smart, emotional, offbeat speculative scifi, come grab a few reads. Since 2016, I’ve written 24 science fiction short stories, exploring everything from space startups and future tech to grief, survival, and the strange places where hope shows up. If you want free sci-fi with variety, heart, and a little edge, my Smashwords collection is a great place to start. https://inkican.com/smashwords-summer-scifi-sale-free-stories/

"[T]he message sent to the industry was clear: If you work with #Jewish #authors, it will cost you.

Aware that even the staggering evidence I was amassing remained anecdotal, I wanted to find a way to track the impact of what was happening more empirically.

I turned to #PublishersMarketplace, the leading industry database where many #book deals are announced, and reviewed #fiction deals for #books by #Jewishauthors that publicly signaled Jewish or #Israeli content. What I found was grim. Between 2023 and 2024, there was a 76% decline in fiction deal announcements to large presses that mentioned #Jews, #Judaism or #Israel. The numbers improved somewhat in 2025, but they did not recover. Compared with 2023, announced sales of #Jewishbooks were still down 47% at large presses.

And the early 2026 numbers are worse..."

https://www.jta.org/2026/07/16/ideas/i-gathered-the-data-on-jewish-fiction-publishing-the-trends-are-alarming

HARK-YE-ING. Whispering on one side to borrow money.

A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

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#books #literature #dictionaries #history #society #language #slang @histodons

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Image imitating a page from an old document, text (as in main toot): HARK-YE-ING. Whispering on one side to borrow money. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

10 Small Towns for Bookworms in the United States

The United States has many must-visit small towns for all bookworms, aspiring writers, and lovers of literature alike.

https://www.thecollector.com/small-towns-bookworms-united-states/

Many of these authors are at PG:

https://www.gutenberg.org/

#travel #books #literature

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Emily Dickinson’s house in Amherst, Massachusetts, is now a museum. The building features Federal-style or Greek Revival architecture and is made of yellow brick. Its windows have dark green wooden shutters, and three narrow arched windows sit at the top. The front porch is covered and supported by white columns, while a second porch is on the right side. Two light-colored chimneys rise from the roof. The house stands on a grassy lawn with trees behind it.

Calling all #Bookworms: the #GNUPress Shop has lots of great #books on #FreeSoftware, including how to use it! https://u.fsf.org/4bd #FSF #GNU

The Golden Ratio in Art: Math and Intuition

The divine proportion reveals how artistic traditions navigate composition and mathematical symmetry

by Abigail Leali

https://www.mutualart.com/Article/The-Golden-Ratio-in-Art--Math-and-Intuit/A1A461FB6CE1D8AF

Books in Mathematics at PG:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/bookshelf/102

#books #art #mathematics

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The Great Wave off Kanagawa Although it is often used in tsunami literature, there is no reason to suspect that Hokusai intended it to be interpreted in that way. The waves in this work are sometimes mistakenly referred to as tsunami (津波), but they are more accurately called okinami (沖波), great off-shore waves. Katsushika Hokusai's famous woodblock print "The Great Wave off Kanagawa" — a towering, claw-like blue wave dominates the foreground, threatening three narrow boats and their crews, while a small, snow-capped Mount Fuji is visible in the distance beneath a pale sky.

Marie Curie Died From Her Radioactivity Research, So How Did They Decontaminate Her Lab And Turn It Into A Museum?

When her notebooks are so radioactive they can’t be touched, how is it safe to walk into the lab Curie worked in for decades?

by Stephen Luntz

https://www.iflscience.com/marie-curie-died-from-her-radioactivity-research-so-how-did-they-decontaminate-her-lab-and-turn-it-into-a-museum-84079

Books by Mme Curie at PG:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/39174

Musée Curie in Paris:
https://musee.curie.fr/

#books #womenInStem

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Pierre and Marie Curie in their laboratory, where radium was discovered. Henri Manuel, Paris. Two men in dark suits stand behind a bench covered with scientific apparatus (glass tubes, bottles, and measuring instruments), while a woman in a white blouse sits at the table on the right, observing.

@alebensform there's really not native search from dice.camp. Are you following the #books and #bookstodon hashtags?

GOOSE RIDING. A goose, whose neck is greased, being suspended by the legs to a cord tied to two trees or high posts, a number of men on horseback, riding full speed, attempt to pull off the head: which if they effect, the goose is their prize.

A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

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#books #literature #dictionaries #history #society #language #slang @histodons

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Image imitating a page from an old document, text (as in main toot): GOOSE RIDING. A goose, whose neck is greased, being suspended by the legs to a cord tied to two trees or high posts, a number of men on horseback, riding full speed, attempt to pull off the head: which if they effect, the goose is their prize. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

Hi!, I'm a bot posting selections from Francis Grose’s 1785 “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue”, a compilation of slang terms, the coded language of the underclass and the demi-monde.

[18th-century-content warning: possible racism, animal cruelty, homophobia, sexism, slut-shaming. Let me know of any problems.]

#FollowFriday #books #literature #dictionaries #history #society #crime #language #slang #18thCentury

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Montage of dictionary items posted by this account

"[A] raccoon, described by staff as a 'perfect client,' followed a customer into a busy McDonald’s, sidled up to the counter, and refused to leave until it was given a Chicken McNugget."

Dan Werb for Literary Hub: https://lithub.com/welcome-to-toronto-world-capital-of-the-urban-raccoon/

#Longreads #Books #Animals #Raccoon #Wildlife #Urban #Cities #Toronto

Part 2 of Long Reads' discussion with #BenTarnoff and #QuinnSlobodian, authors of #Muskism: A Guide for the Perplexed

https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/long-reads-trillion-dollar-baby-w-quinn-slobodian-and/id791564318?i=1000775222782

for Part 1 v. https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/long-reads-trillion-dollar-baby-w-quinn-slobodian-and/id791564318?i=1000773249464

#Musk #ElonMusk #tech #BigTech #techCriticism #techOligarchs #SiliconValleyRight #books @bookstodon

HABERDASHER OF PRONOUNS. A schoolmaster, or usher.

A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

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#books #literature #dictionaries #history #society #language #slang @histodons

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Image imitating a page from an old document, text (as in main toot): HABERDASHER OF PRONOUNS. A schoolmaster, or usher. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

Q: Where do you do your best thinking?

A: On the EGYPTAIR flight home. . . . There is no better place to think than somewhere over the Atlantic after Egypt has scrambled your brain.

This week's Longreads Questionnaire, with BECOMING BABA author Aymann Ismail: https://longreads.com/2026/07/15/questionnaire-aymann-ismail/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social

#Longreads #Books #Egyptian #Egypt #Writers #Journalists #Reporting #Reading #Interviews

The anguish of choice

In the shattered aftermath of war, Sartre delivered a formidable lecture on freedom and meaning. Its urgency remains

by Skye C Cleary

https://aeon.co/essays/re-reading-sartres-lecture-existentialism-is-a-humanism?utm_source=Aeon+Newsletter&utm_campaign=67e66a245e-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2026_07_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-4ef8a26106-72664972

#books #philosophy #existentialism

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Sketch of Sartre for The New York Times by Reginald Gray, 1965 A pen-and-ink newspaper portrait sketch of Jean-Paul Sartre by Reginald V. Gray, published in The New York Times, showing the philosopher's face with his characteristic glasses in a loose, cross-hatched drawing style.

Children’s books about Black people’s everyday, joyful lives are sometimes banned – but they help all kids explore what it means to be human

by Wintre Foxworth Johnson, Brooke Harris Garad, Jennifer D. Turner, Tiffany D. Meadows

https://theconversation.com/childrens-books-about-black-peoples-everyday-joyful-lives-are-sometimes-banned-but-they-help-all-kids-explore-what-it-means-to-be-human-283944

Books in Children´s Literature at PG:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/bookshelf/20

#books #literature

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“SHE SAW A WHOLE TROOP OF SPRIGGANS HOLDING AN ELFIN FAIR” Title: The Book of Elves and Fairies for Story-Telling and Reading Aloud and for the Children's Own Reading Author: Frances Jenkins Olcott Illustrator: Milo Winter A fairy-tale illustration by Milo Winter showing a tall witch-like old woman in a black top hat, plaid shawl, and red cloak with a basket on her arm, bending down to greet a group of tiny, elegantly dressed courtly figures gathered around a ribboned maypole amid tulips and toadstools.

DAISY KICKERS. Ostlers at great inns.

A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

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#books #literature #dictionaries #history #society #language #slang @histodons

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Image imitating a page from an old document, text (as in main toot): DAISY KICKERS. Ostlers at great inns. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

#SpeakingOutOfPlace welcomes #RobinAndersen, author of #TheComplicitLens

"We discuss in depth the ways that the New York Times, CNN, and other #legacyMedia outlets became little more than Israeli propaganda organs, uncritically feeding IDF narratives, images, and self-declared expertise while not only discrediting Palestinian voices, but also becoming complicit with #Israel’s policy of censorship by murder"

https://speakingoutofplace.buzzsprout.com/2084729/episodes/19421753-the-journalistic-malpractice-that-fueled-a-genocide-robin-andersen-on-complicit-lens
#Gaza #Palestine #mediaCriticism #media #books @bookstodon

TO CREEME. To slip or slide any thing into the hands of another. CANT.

A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

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#books #literature #dictionaries #history #society #language #slang @histodons

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Image imitating a page from an old document, text (as in main toot): TO CREEME. To slip or slide any thing into the hands of another. CANT. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

The Odyssey is about sons questing for their fathers.

by Henry Oliver (from the archives)

Ahead of the new movie, I am reposting this essay about the Odyssey as a son’s quest for his father, which I wrote when the recent Mendelsohn translation was released last year.

https://www.commonreader.co.uk/p/the-odyssey-is-about-sons-questing

The Odyssey by Homer at PG:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1727

#books #literature

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15th-century manuscript of Book I written by scribe John Rhosos (British Museum) A manuscript page opening Homer's "Odyssey" in Greek, featuring an illuminated initial "A" (for "Ἄνδρα," the poem's first word) decorated with gold leaf, blue and red flowers, green leaves, and a small human face motif. The Greek text is written in a cursive hand, with red annotations (scholia) in the margins.

#read #reading #book #books #audiobook #audiobooks

CARBUNCLE FACE. A red face, full of pimples.

A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

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#books #literature #dictionaries #history #society #language #slang @histodons

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Image imitating a page from an old document, text (as in main toot): CARBUNCLE FACE. A red face, full of pimples. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

PISS-PROUD. Having a false erection. That old fellow thought he had an erection, but his--was only piss-proud; said of any old fellow who marries a young wife.

A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

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#books #literature #dictionaries #history #society #language #slang @histodons

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Image imitating a page from an old document, text (as in main toot): PISS-PROUD. Having a false erection. That old fellow thought he had an erection, but his--was only piss-proud; said of any old fellow who marries a young wife. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

Rereading the classics: Why John Steinbeck’s ‘East of Eden’ has always been controversial

The author openly advocates a need to ‘fight against any idea, religion, or government which limits or destroys the individual’.

by Paul Giles

https://scroll.in/article/1093975/rereading-the-classics-why-john-steinbecks-east-of-eden-has-always-been-controversial

#books #literature #literaryCriticism

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First-edition dust jacket cover of East of Eden (1952) by the American author John Steinbeck. The 1952 first edition dust jacket of John Steinbeck's "East of Eden," featuring bold purple serif type on a blue-to-cream gradient sky, with an illustrated Salinas Valley landscape of rolling hills, farmland, and a winding river at the bottom.

BLUE FLAG. He has hoisted the blue flag; he has commenced publican, or taken a public house, an allusion to the blue aprons worn by publicans. See ADMIRAL OF THE BLUE.

A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

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#books #literature #dictionaries #history #society #language #slang @histodons

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Image imitating a page from an old document, text (as in main toot): BLUE FLAG. He has hoisted the blue flag; he has commenced publican, or taken a public house, an allusion to the blue aprons worn by publicans. See ADMIRAL OF THE BLUE. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

' “IT IS THE WRITER’S duty to tell the terrible truth, and it is a reader’s civic duty to learn this truth. To turn away, to close one’s eyes and walk past is to insult the memory of those who have perished.” #VasilyGrossman, who wrote these words in September 1944 as a Soviet war correspondent, clearly held himself to a high moral standard, which is never easy for anyone, and certainly not for a writer living under Stalin.'

https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/vasily-grossman-from-front-line-stalingrad-treblinka-reporting/

#FromTheFrontLine #WWII #books @bookstodon

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All Humanity Now Stands on the Edge of the Abyss Vasily Grossman’s fearless and compelling war journalism demonstrates his courage and integrity as a writer and a man. By Eric Vanderwall July 10, 2026 [tags] History, Memoir & Essay image: cover of new collection of war correspondence by Vasily Grossman, "From the Front Line: Stalingrad–Treblinka–Berlin, 1941–45 by Vasily Grossman"

SHERIFF'S BALL. An execution. To dance at the sheriff's ball, and loll out one's tongue at the company; to be hanged, or go to rest in a horse's night-cap, i.e. a halter.

A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

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#books #literature #dictionaries #history #society #language #slang @histodons

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Image imitating a page from an old document, text (as in main toot): SHERIFF'S BALL. An execution. To dance at the sheriff's ball, and loll out one's tongue at the company; to be hanged, or go to rest in a horse's night-cap, i.e. a halter. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

Are we living through the end of reading?

https://www.npr.org/2026/07/11/nx-s1-5886268/are-we-living-through-the-end-of-reading

#books #reading

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In Federico Zandomeneghi's painting "Girl reading a book," a young girl with bright red hair is shown in profile, looking to the left. She is holding an open book and wears a light blue dress with a ruffled collar. The background is filled with warm shades of orange, red, and soft yellow.

The Satire and Style of Vanity Fair is as Relevant as Ever

Roshan Sethi on William Makepeace Thackeray’s Famous Novel

https://lithub.com/the-satire-and-style-ofvanity-fair-is-as-relevant-as-ever/?utm_source=Klaviyo&utm_medium=campaign&utm_id=01KX3AA4MED1MJ5M0GR6BGR0DW&_kx=3MZUehzXM-41qlWAMPUiuNZadX2p0SByuNf_t0eMLB0.U5D8ER

Vanity Fair at PG:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/599

#books #literature

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The title page of the 1848 first edition of Vanity Fair: A Novel without a Hero. William Makepeace Thackeray (author/artist) - Houghton Library The banner-style title hangs between two poles at the top, and below it an illustration shows a jester or fool-like figure reclining on the ground, holding up a mirror, with a town skyline in the background.

Émilie du Châtelet (1706–1749), mathematician, physicist & translator

By Marie Lebert

https://www.literaryladiesguide.com/translators-marie-lebert-contributor/emilie-du-chatelet-mathematician-physicist-translator/

Books by Émilie du Châtelet at PG:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/56975

#books #literature #translators #WomeninStem

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Gabrielle Émilie Le Tonnelier de Breteuil, marquise du Châtelet (1706-1749), mathématicienne, femme de lettres et physicienne française. Anonyme, graveur Loir, Marianne (Paris, vers 1715 - en 1769), auteur du modèle Chéreau, Jacques-Simon fils (veuve) (avant 1770 - vers 1820), marchand d'estampes An 18th-century engraved portrait of Émilie du Châtelet, shown in an oval frame with an armillary sphere beside her. Below the portrait is an inscribed pedestal with her name and titles, flanked by a coat of arms.

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A Brief Exposition of the System of the World According to the Principles of Sir Isaac Newton by Émilie du Châtelet. A manuscript page (two facing sheets) of Émilie du Châtelet's "Exposition Abrégée du Système du Monde Selon les Principes de M. Newton" — a handwritten French draft with the title and "Introduction" heading visible on the left page, discussing Pythagoras and heliocentric theory.

KATE. A picklock. 'Tis a rum kate; it is a clever picklock. CANT.

A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

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#books #literature #dictionaries #history #society #language #slang @histodons

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Image imitating a page from an old document, text (as in main toot): KATE. A picklock. 'Tis a rum kate; it is a clever picklock. CANT. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

What Is The Meaning Of Humpty Dumpty? Inside The Origins Of The Popular Nursery Rhyme, From Rude Slang Words To King Richard III

By Kaleena Fraga

The meaning of Humpty Dumpty has remained mysterious for centuries, but there are some possible historical explanations for the nursery rhyme.

https://allthatsinteresting.com/humpty-dumpty-meaning

Humpty Dumpty at PG:

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/search/?query=Humpty+Dumpty+

#books #literature

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A cover of the book "Denslow's Humpty Dumpty," adapted and illustrated by W.W. Denslow. G. W. Dillingham Co., Publishers, New York. A large, egg-shaped Humpty Dumpty character stands in a dancing pose. He has clown-like red facial markings, a joyful expression, and wears a small, pointed white hat with a red brim. His body is covered in a white-and-red polka-dot pattern. He dances on a wall made partly of bricks.

GOODYER'S PIG. Like Goodyer's pig; never well but when in mischief.

A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

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#books #literature #dictionaries #history #society #language #slang @histodons

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Image imitating a page from an old document, text (as in main toot): GOODYER'S PIG. Like Goodyer's pig; never well but when in mischief. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

Up to 60% of medieval texts and 95% of manuscripts have vanished, study finds

by Dario Radley

Many stories from the Middle Ages never reached the present. A new study suggests the loss was far greater than scholars once thought. Researchers estimate that up to 60% of medieval literary works and more than 95% of the manuscripts that once carried them have disappeared over time.

https://archaeologymag.com/2026/07/medieval-texts-and-manuscripts-have-vanished/

Original article:
https://academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/article/5/7/pgag207/8724046?login=false

#books #literature #old_Manuscripts

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The eight phases of the Song of Roland in one picture; illustration by Simon Marmion from an illuminated manuscript of the Grandes Chroniques de France (15th century), currently preserved in the Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg. A crowded mass of armored knights clashes in the center-left foreground; nobles and clergy watch near a city gate at bottom left; a small chapel with clerics reading sits at bottom right; mounted courtiers and falconers appear at top right; and dark, symbolic cloud shapes with faint winged figures frame the upper corners. Rolling hills and a distant town fill the background.

BLUE BOAR. A venereal bubo.

A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

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#books #literature #dictionaries #history #society #language #slang @histodons

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Image imitating a page from an old document, text (as in main toot): BLUE BOAR. A venereal bubo. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

Anybody here who knows anything about book marketing? I mean real marketing, not writing a blurb and setting up a blog. I know how to do that.
Where do you send your blurb? Where do you announce your book? Where do you send review copies? Are there any book sales reps who work for independent authors? What else am I missing?
Anyone?
#fedihelp #marketing #books

MANUFACTURE. Liquors prepared from materials of English growth.

A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

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#books #literature #dictionaries #history #society #language #slang @histodons

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Image imitating a page from an old document, text (as in main toot): MANUFACTURE. Liquors prepared from materials of English growth. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

A corner of our new library at our downsized ranch house--this library exists on the walls of our two car garage. Barbie's 50's hula-hoop, covered with sisal, serves as herb-drying rack, and holiday decor is stored in the basket stack. #doityourself #home #homeproject #homeprojects #doityourselfer #doityourselfers #storage #modernstorage #efficentstorage #garage #garages #garagestorage #space #spacesolutions #smallspacesolutions #book #books #library #libraries #reading #reader #readers

Nature-Positive Leadership: What Can We Learn from Japan and Japanese Companies by Henning Ohlsson & Alastair Bourne, 2026

This book looks at how Japanese companies approach sustainability amid current global challenges. It takes a close look at the cultural background to these efforts including the importance of nature in Japanese society and how it has influenced modern day sustainability programmes.

https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-981-92-0746-6

#books
#Japan
#nature
#sustainability

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The book does not argue that Japan has been free of environmental problems or that all Japanese companies have the same approach. Nor does it assert that Japanese companies or a Japanese approach is perfect. Instead, it provides some hints about why a Japanese approach-style may just be the way forward in these difficult times. What can Western business leaders learn from Japanese culture and the Japanese leadership mindset? We live in a time of radical uncertainty. The future risks of climate change are more than well known. But they are being suppressed by both politics and business. Science and physics are very clear. Nature-positive means more than just minimising the damage. For business leaders, it also means giving something back to nature and seeing this contribution not as a cost, but as an investment. This book is a journey of transformation of companies. And a journey through the mountains and nature. Over the centuries, Japanese culture has developed a deep respect for natural systems. And from this, it has also developed a logic for business that considers companies, society and nature in equal measure. It is a must-read for companies struggling to maintain a positive balance sheet and remain sustainable at the same time, in the backdrop of climate crisis and mitigating regulations.

5 Important Characters in the Odyssey That Shape the Story

Following the Trojan War, Odysseus journeys home in the Odyssey. Five characters bring to life the vivid world that challenged and ultimately defined his return.

https://www.thecollector.com/characters-odyssey/

"Odyssey" at PG:

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1727

"Telemachus and the Nymphs of Calypso"

#books #literature

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"Telemachus and the Nymphs of Calypso" (1782) by Angelica Kauffman. "The work depicts the arrival of Telemachus on Ogygia, Calypso's island. He is welcomed by her nymphs with fruit, wine and flowers. The goddess Athena had been his guide, disguised as the old man Mentor, and is shown being led away to the left by one of the nymphs" - Wikipedia

Reading for pleasure builds empathy in children, but fewer kids are picking up books just for the fun of it

by William Dee Nichols and Michelle Kearney

https://theconversation.com/reading-for-pleasure-builds-empathy-in-children-but-fewer-kids-are-picking-up-books-just-for-the-fun-of-it-285784

Books in Children's Literature at PG:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/bookshelf/20

#books #literature #empathy

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Illustration from THE LILAC FAIRY BOOK by Andrew Lang. A colored fantasy illustration depicting a long-haired woman in flowing green robes dancing or swaying among a swirl of sea creatures — crabs, eels, and fish — while a red-haired boy plays bagpipes on the rocky shore behind her.

Rudyard Kipling’s Buddhism

By Livia Gershon

Long read as an imperial novel, Kim also reflects Britain’s changing ideas about Buddhist thought and spiritual practice.

https://daily.jstor.org/rudyard-kiplings-buddhism/?utm_source=mcae&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=jstordaily_07092026

Books by Rudyard Kipling at PG:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/2226

#books #literature #imperialism #buddhism

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Image from the book Kim, by Rudyard Kipling, illustrated by J. L. Kipling. A photographic reproduction of a bas-relief sculpture depicting two figures — an elderly robed lama wearing beads and a distinctive hat, with a younger figure behind him — set within an ornate decorative floral border, captioned "Kim & the Lama" in the upper left.

MUTE. An undertaker's servant, who stands at the door of a person lying in state: so named from being supposed mute with grief.

A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

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#books #literature #dictionaries #history #society #language #slang @histodons

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Image imitating a page from an old document, text (as in main toot): MUTE. An undertaker's servant, who stands at the door of a person lying in state: so named from being supposed mute with grief. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

after discovering Trici Venola’s 1-bit art from the 80s, I was excited to learn that she was featured in (what became) an extremely obscure artist journal - Verbum. she got an entire chapter in the Verbum Book of Digital Painting, along with other exceptional macpaint artists such as Bert Monroy, Junko Hoshizawa, and Martin Speed among many others.

there are very few printed books on 80s pixel art, and i’m overjoyed that this one turned out to be equal parts technical/stylistic manual, and pixel art gallery.

the best part of the book are the step by step drawing demonstrations by each artist. you really get a sense for their method and practice.

#pixelArt #books #illustration #drawing #1bit

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The front cover of the verbum book of digital painting, by Michael Gosney, Linnea Dayton and Paul Goethel. It shows a violin that has been scanned and digitized in low bit colour and monochrome.

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A page from the book, showing two pixel art intepretations of famous paintings: The Guernica and Melancholy and Mystery of a Street.

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A pixel art composition by Hoshikawa: street-poet-ray. It is drawn as a pastiche of various objects.

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A pixel art painting “a Door Somewhere” by Bert Monroe. It shows a door and window in a brickwork alley.

To NAB. To seize, or catch unawares. To nab the teaze; to be privately whipped. To nab the stoop; to stand in the pillory. To nab the rust; a jockey term for a horse that becomes restive. To nab the snow: to steal linen left out to bleach or dry. CANT.

A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

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#books #literature #dictionaries #history #society #language #slang @histodons

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Image imitating a page from an old document, text (as in main toot): To NAB. To seize, or catch unawares. To nab the teaze; to be privately whipped. To nab the stoop; to stand in the pillory. To nab the rust; a jockey term for a horse that becomes restive. To nab the snow: to steal linen left out to bleach or dry. CANT. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

The Social Realism of Elizabeth Gaskell Who Went Against Outworn Victorian Values

Once pigeonholed as “Mrs Gaskell,” a representative of outworn Victorian values, Elizabeth Gaskell is a more radical writer than you might expect.

https://www.thecollector.com/elizabeth-gaskell-social-realism/

Gaskell at PG:

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/220

#books #literature

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In the photograph, Elizabeth Gaskell sits in an ornate chair with books next to her. She is dressed in a dark, vertically striped Victorian dress with a white collar. A large, patterned paisley shawl covers her arms and lap, and a round brooch or locket is pinned at the center of her bodice.

The unlikely pen pal who shaped Tolkien’s later years

When deaf fan Eileen Elgar wrote to the author with notes for improvement, they began a remarkable friendship based on a shared interest in language, revealed in a set of letters now up for auction

by Lily Isaacs

https://observer.co.uk/news/national/article/the-unlikely-pen-pal-who-shaped-tolkiens-later-years

#books #literature #literaryCriticism

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Photograph of J. R. R. Tolkien in the 1920s on leaving Leeds University. A black-and-white portrait photograph of a young man with neatly combed short hair, wearing a tweed jacket and white collar, gazing thoughtfully to one side against a dark background.

Same art, different name: would you see or hear it the same way?

A mislabelled concerto and other errors and tricks show that reputation affects how art is perceived, sometimes radically

by Rikki A Wolpowitz

https://psyche.co/ideas/same-art-different-name-would-you-see-or-hear-it-the-same-way

Books in Music at PG:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/bookshelf/50

#books #art #musicology #culture

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Haydn or Hofmann? Portrait of Franz Joseph Haydn (1770). An 18th-century oil portrait of a middle-aged man with powdered white hair, wearing a dark coat with a white cravat, holding a quill pen and gazing thoughtfully to the side.

CONTENT. A thick liquor, in imitation of chocolate, made of milk and gingerbread.

A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

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#books #literature #dictionaries #history #society #language #slang @histodons

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Image imitating a page from an old document, text (as in main toot): CONTENT. A thick liquor, in imitation of chocolate, made of milk and gingerbread. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

Hi!, I'm a bot posting selections from Francis Grose’s 1785 “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue”, a compilation of slang terms, the coded language of the underclass and the demi-monde.

[18th-century-content warning: possible racism, animal cruelty, homophobia, sexism, slut-shaming. Let me know of any problems.]

#FollowFriday #books #literature #dictionaries #history #society #crime #language #slang #18thCentury

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Montage of dictionary items posted by this account

MUGGLETONIANS. The sect or disciples of Lodowick Muggleton.

A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

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#books #literature #dictionaries #history #society #language #slang @histodons

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Image imitating a page from an old document, text (as in main toot): MUGGLETONIANS. The sect or disciples of Lodowick Muggleton. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

when i think back, in my family reading was a passtime for everyone. going on holiday abroad where there was no german tv and only one distorted german radio station to be had was always the bestest time to read. i was waiting eagerly for the summer holiday, saving books for the good time! the horror when one of us had miscalculated his or her reading amount! then my parents even started to read my sf books. most of my friends back then were not as eager as me but still everybody was reading books.

later i learned that this was not fully normal. in the army i was the only one to read books after a full day. and later during my university time in the 90s i still met people who were reading books, but they became fewer the older i got. with exception of my family i lost all people who could recommend me new stuff.

and nowadays i only know of 2 people in my direct social group outside my family who read for recreation. but unluckily nothing i would pick up myself ("serious" literature that critics talk about, and romance and thrillers)

so my anecdotical evidence tells me, that the age of reading has already been over for quite some time ...

#literatur #kultur #books #bücher

RE: https://flipboard.com/@theatlantic/all-stories-jtjms0buz/-/a-iqKUf8j0SWqXu6JgBJgR9Q%3Aa%3A3199527-%2F0

This Week in Literary History: Ernest Hemingway is Wounded on the Italian Front

“When you go to war as a boy you have a great illusion of immortality. Other people get killed; not you.”

https://lithub.com/this-week-in-literary-history-ernest-hemingway-is-wounded-on-the-italian-front/

Hemingway at PG:

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/50533

#books #literature

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This is a photo of Ernest Hemingway from 1916, showing him from the waist up. He wears a dark suit jacket, a white shirt with a collar, and a tie. His short dark hair is neatly combed, and he looks serious.

Calling all #Bookworms: the #GNUPress Shop has lots of great #books on #FreeSoftware, including how to use it! https://u.fsf.org/4bd #FSF #GNU

Meet Julia Ward Howe, the Remarkable Poet Who Wrote the ‘Battle Hymn of the Republic’ and Fought for Women’s Suffrage

Poet, philosopher, and suffragist Julia Ward Howe wrote a rallying cry in 1861 that would resonate for more than a century—echoing through the Civil Rights Movement and beyond.

by Meredith Herndon

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/blogs/smithsonian-american-womens-history-museum/2026/07/06/meet-julia-ward-howe-the-remarkable-poet-who-wrote-the-battle-hymn-of-the-republic-and-fought-for-womens-suffrage/?utm_source=smithsoniandaily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=editorial&lctg=93133550&user_id=19f2988141aeef1ce3da2871b25613801e24297faaf654001575521d8c39910f

Books by Julia Ward Howe (including Reminiscences) at PG:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/35885

#books #literature

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JULIA WARD HOWE From a photograph by J. J. Hawes, about 1861. A black-and-white portrait photograph of Julia Ward Howe with a dark lace or fabric veil draped over her head, wearing a striped garment.

Is Moby-Dick the Greatest American Novel?

Michael Dirda on the Alluring Ambiguity of Melville’s Quintessentially American Masterpiece

https://lithub.com/is-moby-dick-the-greatest-american-novel/

Moby-Dick at PG:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/search/?query=moby+dick

#books #literature

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The whale or Moby Dick (half-title page), Herman Melville, 1851. The title page of the first British edition of Herman Melville's novel, published under the title "The Whale" in three volumes (Vol. I shown), by Richard Bentley of London in 1851, bearing a Mitchell Library stamp and an epigraph from Milton's "Paradise Lost" describing the leviathan.

COLD IRON. A sword, or any other weapon for cutting or stabbing. I gave him two inches of cold iron into his beef.

A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

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#books #literature #dictionaries #history #society #language #slang @histodons

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Image imitating a page from an old document, text (as in main toot): COLD IRON. A sword, or any other weapon for cutting or stabbing. I gave him two inches of cold iron into his beef. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

over the weekend, i had a conversation with an older family member who - instead of doing 30 seconds of research - asked google gemini about a neurological fact. the answer they got only confused them even more, and i found myself arguing with a probabilistic magic 8 ball.

as i watch hard-fought human knowledge we've accrued for centuries reduced to bayesian slop, it made me appreciate how incredible the plain old encyclopedias of the past century are. huge teams of educators, writers, authors and editors cooperated to produce, to the best of their ability, a tome of knowledge that represents the world as accurately as possible. there is no guessing involved, nor conflation of facts. suddenly the boring reference material that sat on our teachers' shelves 30 years ago are relevant again.

while out thrifting today i came across a wonderful example of compressed human knowledge: (Kodansha International, 1993) Japan: An Illustrated Encyclopedia. it is 5kg of dense, obscure, and fascinating facts about Japan and its cultures. it was written and illustrated by an international team of 1200+ scholars and artists. its sheer weight demands respect and attention. the opening and closing pages, made of ribbed heavy weight cotton paper, declare that this is something to be treasured and not read lightly.

this is the kind of book that childhood-me would have splayed upon on the living room floor, and flipped through randomly for hours, entranced by its pictures and new words.

for the past few years, it has become fashionable on mastodon to embrace anti-nostalgia: a kind of hatred of old things because of the time and place they came from. a belief that people today are corrupted by their emotionally biased memories, and that cultures of the past are inherently bad or misguided. i do not share in this cynical worldview. anyone can look at this encyclopedia, now 33 years old, and recognize its absolute value: the people who wrote it took care in what they made, did not write it for fame or fashion, and looked forward to improving upon it as time went on.

it cost me $10, and now I have a priceless treasure I could have never afforded back when it was printed. i suspect that over the next few years, we're going to see more people looking for old reference material like this. and hopefully, turning less to google to clarify an argument.

#books #illustration #japan

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A page from Japan: An Illustrated Encyclopedia. It shows a page about Crabs in Japan. Ten species are illustrated in watercolour drawings. Species: Tagabagani, Benkeigani, Hanasakigani, Heikegani, River crab, Akategani, Kagizume pinno, Iwagani, Kegani, Giant spider crab.

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A page from the encyclopedia, showing a cutaway of the Main Donjon of Himeji Castle, view from the south. It shows each level of the castle, from top to bottom. Seven floors are shown, each with their japanese name (in romanized names).

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An interior page from the title of the encyclopedia. It reads: Japan: An Illustrated Encyclopedia, by Kodansha. The paper is ribbed, and of very heavy weight.

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The outer case and spine of the encyclopedia. It slides comfortably into its case, and weighs about 5-6 kilograms. The spine is 4-5 inches wide.

ARS MUSICA. A bum fiddle.

A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

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#books #literature #dictionaries #history #society #language #slang @histodons

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Image imitating a page from an old document, text (as in main toot): ARS MUSICA. A bum fiddle. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

Long-form interview in video, audio, and print.

"#HowardJacobson is a #British #Jewish #novelist and #journalist who has #written more than twenty #books, including seventeen #novels, and won the #BookerPrize for #fiction. This #interview focuses on three of his books: The Finkler Question (2010), J (2014) and his most recent #novel, Howl. #Fathom spoke to him in early July."

https://fathomjournal.org/fathom-long-interview-howard-jacobson/

Calling all #Bookworms: the #GNUPress Shop has lots of great #books on #FreeSoftware, including how to use it! https://u.fsf.org/4bd #FSF #GNU

Among All the Great Things Benjamin Franklin Invented or Discovered, His Alter Egos Gave Him the Most Freedom

Silence Dogood. Richard Saunders. Benevolus. Sidi Mehemet Ibrahim. All were pen names that allowed Franklin to say things he couldn’t have otherwise said

by H.W. Brands

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/among-all-great-things-benjamin-franklin-invented-discovered-alter-egos-gave-him-most-freedom-180988824/?utm_source=smithsoniandaily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=editorial&lctg=93133550&user_id=19f2988141aeef1ce3da2871b25613801e24297faaf654001575521d8c39910f

Books by Benjamin Franklin (including his Autobiography) at PG:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/author/92

#books #literature #history

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"He was therefore, feasted and invited to all the court parties. At these he sometimes met the old Duchess of Bourbon, who, being a chess player of about his force, they very generally played together. Happening once to put her king into prize, the Doctor took it. 'Ah,' says she, 'we do not take kings so.' 'We do in America,' said the Doctor."—Thomas Jefferson A colorful period illustration depicting an elegant 18th-century court gathering in a grand chandelier-lit salon, with elaborately dressed figures in powdered wigs and embroidered gowns surrounding a simply dressed man seated at a chess board.

Writing As Spiritual Practice: Inside the World of Medieval Scribes

Joel Halldorf on the Monks Who Helped Preserve Generations of Cultural Heritage

https://lithub.com/writing-as-spiritual-practice-inside-the-world-of-medieval-scribes/

A student's history of education at PG:
https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/60113

#books #literature #old_Manuscripts

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Fig. 7.—A monk in the scriptorium. A woodcut illustration of a medieval monk or scholar seated at a writing desk, wearing robes and a tall cap, surrounded by open books on stands and shelves, carefully writing or copying a manuscript. Title: A student's history of education Author: Frank Pierrepont Graves

BULL'S EYE. A crown-piece.

A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

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#books #literature #dictionaries #history #society #language #slang @histodons

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Image imitating a page from an old document, text (as in main toot): BULL'S EYE. A crown-piece. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

Kinda glad there is no antimemetics division. #books #audiobooks
(A few chapters in.)

HIGH FLYERS. Tories, Jacobites.

A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)

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#books #literature #dictionaries #history #society #language #slang @histodons

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Image imitating a page from an old document, text (as in main toot): HIGH FLYERS. Tories, Jacobites. A selection from Francis Grose’s “Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue” (1785)