Sean Grass
@gongdonkey.bsky.social
Professor, Dickensian, reader, gardener, servant of cats. Opinions expressed here are solely my own and invariably correct.
Reposted by Sean Grass
GO AND MAKE THESE CHANGES unless you are okay with gmail scanning all your emails and attached content.
If you use GMail, AI (Gemini) was turned on yesterday by default and now scans all of your content for machine learning. To turn off, go to Settings>General and scroll down. Uncheck the box for "Smart features."
There's other "Smart" add-ons as well, but that's the one that reads your content.
There's other "Smart" add-ons as well, but that's the one that reads your content.
November 20, 2025 at 10:55 PM
GO AND MAKE THESE CHANGES unless you are okay with gmail scanning all your emails and attached content.
Reposted by Sean Grass
Just received a lovely email from a listener who enjoyed my introduction to the new audiobook of Dickens's complete works....which was doubly nice to receive as I hadn't realised it had come out!
November 20, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Just received a lovely email from a listener who enjoyed my introduction to the new audiobook of Dickens's complete works....which was doubly nice to receive as I hadn't realised it had come out!
He was a fop when he ran with Hillary. Nothing new.
November 12, 2025 at 1:40 AM
He was a fop when he ran with Hillary. Nothing new.
Reposted by Sean Grass
At "Why major/minor in English?" event last night, 4 current majors were eloquent, charming, incisive & practical about why this study matters so much to them personally now & how they're getting incredible internships & insights about its value to their futures. The humanities matter y'all. #HeyMac
November 6, 2025 at 2:54 PM
At "Why major/minor in English?" event last night, 4 current majors were eloquent, charming, incisive & practical about why this study matters so much to them personally now & how they're getting incredible internships & insights about its value to their futures. The humanities matter y'all. #HeyMac
I have always disliked that book. And now I know it’s because it was a prophecy.
F. Scott Fitzgerald: In my book I invented Gatsby lifestyle as a cautionary tale
The president: At long last, we have created the Gatsby lifestyle from the classic novel The Great Gatsby
The president: At long last, we have created the Gatsby lifestyle from the classic novel The Great Gatsby
November 1, 2025 at 5:46 PM
I have always disliked that book. And now I know it’s because it was a prophecy.
Reposted by Sean Grass
The Walton family (who own Walmart) are worth over $400 billion, yet many of their employees are on SNAP.
Bezos is worth over $400 billion, many Amazon employees require SNAP.
The people who need help are not the problem.
It’s corporate greed. It’s an unwillingness to pay a living wage.
Bezos is worth over $400 billion, many Amazon employees require SNAP.
The people who need help are not the problem.
It’s corporate greed. It’s an unwillingness to pay a living wage.
October 27, 2025 at 9:08 PM
The Walton family (who own Walmart) are worth over $400 billion, yet many of their employees are on SNAP.
Bezos is worth over $400 billion, many Amazon employees require SNAP.
The people who need help are not the problem.
It’s corporate greed. It’s an unwillingness to pay a living wage.
Bezos is worth over $400 billion, many Amazon employees require SNAP.
The people who need help are not the problem.
It’s corporate greed. It’s an unwillingness to pay a living wage.
Reposted by Sean Grass
Get off X. Get off TikTok. Boycott/cancel Paramount and WB. Get off Facebook, Insta, and WhatsApp. Easy.
The richest man on earth owns X.
The second richest man on earth is about to acquire TikTok and his family could soon own both Paramount and Warner Bros.
The third richest man owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.
The fourth richest man owns The Washington Post.
See the problem here?
The second richest man on earth is about to acquire TikTok and his family could soon own both Paramount and Warner Bros.
The third richest man owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.
The fourth richest man owns The Washington Post.
See the problem here?
October 26, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Get off X. Get off TikTok. Boycott/cancel Paramount and WB. Get off Facebook, Insta, and WhatsApp. Easy.
Reposted by Sean Grass
The Victorians were right!
Vibe shift in the culture towards earnestness
October 19, 2025 at 11:05 PM
The Victorians were right!
Color me shocked.
EXCLUSIVE: Thousands of leaked messages show leaders of Young Republican groups joking about gas chambers, slavery and rape in a private Telegram chat.
Inside rising GOP leaders’ racist chats — obtained by POLITICO and spanning more than 7 months👇
Inside rising GOP leaders’ racist chats — obtained by POLITICO and spanning more than 7 months👇
‘I love Hitler’: Leaked messages expose Young Republicans’ racist chat
Thousands of private messages reveal young GOP leaders joking about gas chambers, slavery and rape.
www.politico.com
October 14, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Color me shocked.
Reposted by Sean Grass
Printing presses kept their letters in cases.
Capital letters went in the upper case.
Smaller letters went in the lower case.
This is why we say ‘UPPER CASE’ and ‘lower case.’
Ok, but what did we call them before the invention of the printing press?
MAJUSCULE and minuscule.
Capital letters went in the upper case.
Smaller letters went in the lower case.
This is why we say ‘UPPER CASE’ and ‘lower case.’
Ok, but what did we call them before the invention of the printing press?
MAJUSCULE and minuscule.
October 10, 2025 at 1:18 PM
Printing presses kept their letters in cases.
Capital letters went in the upper case.
Smaller letters went in the lower case.
This is why we say ‘UPPER CASE’ and ‘lower case.’
Ok, but what did we call them before the invention of the printing press?
MAJUSCULE and minuscule.
Capital letters went in the upper case.
Smaller letters went in the lower case.
This is why we say ‘UPPER CASE’ and ‘lower case.’
Ok, but what did we call them before the invention of the printing press?
MAJUSCULE and minuscule.
Reposted by Sean Grass
This week in Dickens's Our Mutual Friend. Boffin and Wegg near the Bower, in a still from the 1921 Danish silent film version, direct by A. W. Sandberg. Check out the amazing Danish Silent Film website for (most of this) film and more. www.stumfilm.dk/en/stumfilm/...
September 30, 2025 at 4:13 PM
This week in Dickens's Our Mutual Friend. Boffin and Wegg near the Bower, in a still from the 1921 Danish silent film version, direct by A. W. Sandberg. Check out the amazing Danish Silent Film website for (most of this) film and more. www.stumfilm.dk/en/stumfilm/...
Reposted by Sean Grass
Got my performance review.
September 27, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Got my performance review.
1. Charles Dickens
2. The Pittsburgh Steelers
3. Why music pre-1995 was better than music since.
2. The Pittsburgh Steelers
3. Why music pre-1995 was better than music since.
1. The nineteenth-century pornography trade
2. paint
3. food trends past and present
2. paint
3. food trends past and present
list 3 things you can talk about for 3 hours with no prep
1. the feces of various species
2. lunch meat
3. sweetbreads
1. the feces of various species
2. lunch meat
3. sweetbreads
September 25, 2025 at 11:09 PM
1. Charles Dickens
2. The Pittsburgh Steelers
3. Why music pre-1995 was better than music since.
2. The Pittsburgh Steelers
3. Why music pre-1995 was better than music since.
Reposted by Sean Grass
Finished all my prep for the upcoming Dickens Day on 11 October, where the theme is Dickens and Art. I'll be talking about the use of art in Hard Times. So what does this 1842 watercolour have to do with Hard Times? A good question. You can still register to attend: www.sas.ac.uk/news-events/...
September 25, 2025 at 11:41 AM
Finished all my prep for the upcoming Dickens Day on 11 October, where the theme is Dickens and Art. I'll be talking about the use of art in Hard Times. So what does this 1842 watercolour have to do with Hard Times? A good question. You can still register to attend: www.sas.ac.uk/news-events/...
Reposted by Sean Grass
September 21, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Drones n Roses
Technologically advance a band
Aerowelder
Aerowelder
Technologically advance a band
The Flaming Liposuctions
The Flaming Liposuctions
September 22, 2025 at 12:17 PM
Drones n Roses
Ah yes, the hardcore libertarian.
Rand Paul: "People say, 'Oh, people have a right to say things.' Well, actually they don't necessarily have a right to say things. Many people have in their contract what we call a morals clause ... I think it is time for this to be a crackdown on people."
September 16, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Ah yes, the hardcore libertarian.
Sure doesn’t sound like he was mourning appropriately. Impeach?
September 16, 2025 at 11:29 AM
Sure doesn’t sound like he was mourning appropriately. Impeach?
Reposted by Sean Grass
NEW ISSUE ALERT! It's a happy day when you find the latest VPR in your mailbox. This number includes the 2024 VanArsdel and Expanding the Field essays as well as articles on asylum periodicals and the bookselling trade. Treat yourself to some delightful reading: muse.jhu.edu/issue/55567 @rs4vp.org
September 15, 2025 at 2:47 PM
NEW ISSUE ALERT! It's a happy day when you find the latest VPR in your mailbox. This number includes the 2024 VanArsdel and Expanding the Field essays as well as articles on asylum periodicals and the bookselling trade. Treat yourself to some delightful reading: muse.jhu.edu/issue/55567 @rs4vp.org
Reposted by Sean Grass
Time to break out the chart
September 12, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Time to break out the chart
Reposted by Sean Grass
September 13, 2025 at 9:23 PM
Reposted by Sean Grass
It is quite simply dishonest to describe TPUSA as a “free speech” organization and not even mention the “Professor Watchlist,” as NPR just did. Reporting on a crime does not entail adopting the victim’s views.
September 11, 2025 at 11:35 AM
It is quite simply dishonest to describe TPUSA as a “free speech” organization and not even mention the “Professor Watchlist,” as NPR just did. Reporting on a crime does not entail adopting the victim’s views.