Jack Lynch
@jacklynch000.bsky.social
Extinguished Perfesser of English at Ruckers–Nork; mooseophile; wine guzzler; author of many books, a few of them readable; harmless eccentric.
C18 BritLit, dictionaries, book history, fakery, life-writing, political smartassery.
https://jacklynch.net
C18 BritLit, dictionaries, book history, fakery, life-writing, political smartassery.
https://jacklynch.net
Pinned
Are you frightened?
January 4, 2026 at 12:28 AM
Are you frightened?
Reposted by Jack Lynch
is there some way I can quickly unlearn all of history so as to feel better about recent events
January 3, 2026 at 5:59 PM
is there some way I can quickly unlearn all of history so as to feel better about recent events
Thank God 2026 is nearly over! It’s been a hell of a year.
January 3, 2026 at 2:02 PM
Thank God 2026 is nearly over! It’s been a hell of a year.
Dear Leader can still recognize a giraffe like no one’s business!
Trump again says his health is “PERFECT” and claims he “ACED” his third straight cognitive exam, a test given by doctors to detect signs of dementia
January 2, 2026 at 3:53 PM
Dear Leader can still recognize a giraffe like no one’s business!
Reposted by Jack Lynch
looking through the books from 1930 that entered the public domain yesterday. Am enjoying this parodic essay that mocks moralists panicking about the promiscuity of the 1930s (from the volume "Whither, Whither, or After Sex, What?"). THE AUTOMOBILE MUST GO!
January 2, 2026 at 3:33 PM
looking through the books from 1930 that entered the public domain yesterday. Am enjoying this parodic essay that mocks moralists panicking about the promiscuity of the 1930s (from the volume "Whither, Whither, or After Sex, What?"). THE AUTOMOBILE MUST GO!
Unimpressed so far. Maybe 2027 will be better.
January 1, 2026 at 5:07 AM
Unimpressed so far. Maybe 2027 will be better.
Given what the world has done with the last ten years or so, I’m not sure I trust it with 2026. Sorry, no more new years until we’ve shown we can handle the ones we’re given.
January 1, 2026 at 4:55 AM
Given what the world has done with the last ten years or so, I’m not sure I trust it with 2026. Sorry, no more new years until we’ve shown we can handle the ones we’re given.
Reposted by Jack Lynch
An author asked for guidance on how to write a response to reader reports. My answer was pretty quick and dirty for practical reasons, but here's what I said. It ends with a link to much more thorough, helpful advice:
Responses can take the form of a letter to the editor/press . . . 1/?
Responses can take the form of a letter to the editor/press . . . 1/?
December 31, 2025 at 2:28 PM
An author asked for guidance on how to write a response to reader reports. My answer was pretty quick and dirty for practical reasons, but here's what I said. It ends with a link to much more thorough, helpful advice:
Responses can take the form of a letter to the editor/press . . . 1/?
Responses can take the form of a letter to the editor/press . . . 1/?
Trying to decide whether my next project should be solving the Birch and Swinnerton-Dyer Conjecture with ergative nouns or increasing South Asian crop yields with 1990s West Coast hip-hop.
Eric Adams Says His Next Gig Is Fighting Antisemitism With Cryptocurrency
How? Don't ask.
hellgatenyc.com
December 31, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Trying to decide whether my next project should be solving the Birch and Swinnerton-Dyer Conjecture with ergative nouns or increasing South Asian crop yields with 1990s West Coast hip-hop.
Reposted by Jack Lynch
Condolences to the guy who has devoted his entire life's study to what is now the world's second largest cog.
Medieval ship discovered off Copenhagen may be the world’s largest cog www.medievalists.net/2025/12/medi... #medieval #Denmark #archaeology
Medieval ship discovered off Copenhagen may be the world’s largest cog - Medievalists.net
A medieval cargo ship of extraordinary size has been found in the waters off Copenhagen. Built around 1410, Svælget 2 is being called the world’s largest cog, and its remarkably preserved remains are…
www.medievalists.net
December 30, 2025 at 11:22 PM
Condolences to the guy who has devoted his entire life's study to what is now the world's second largest cog.
“Complicated”? I’m not sure you can find anyone who’s not under federal indictment who has one positive thing to say about Adams’s term.
December 29, 2025 at 11:56 PM
“Complicated”? I’m not sure you can find anyone who’s not under federal indictment who has one positive thing to say about Adams’s term.
Cato the Elder is very eager to see Carthage thrive.
Trump: "Russia wants to see Ukraine succeed. It sounds a little strange but President Putin was very generous in his feeling toward Ukraine succeeding, including supplying energy, electricity and other things at very low prices."
December 28, 2025 at 11:22 PM
Cato the Elder is very eager to see Carthage thrive.
Reposted by Jack Lynch
I have been in the same room with @benzimmer.bsky.social, @jacklynch000.bsky.social, and @petersokolowski.bsky.social and it's so much fun to discuss words.
If you're traveling this weekend, download this interview with @benzimmer.bsky.social! He has DELIGHTFUL stories about:
— The origin of "hella"
— Run DMC and "drop"
— 1960s slang from cots in military barracks
— Stephen Colbert & "truthiness"
I promise you'll love it!
🎧 tinyurl.com/2d6qutrw
— The origin of "hella"
— Run DMC and "drop"
— 1960s slang from cots in military barracks
— Stephen Colbert & "truthiness"
I promise you'll love it!
🎧 tinyurl.com/2d6qutrw
December 26, 2025 at 6:35 PM
I have been in the same room with @benzimmer.bsky.social, @jacklynch000.bsky.social, and @petersokolowski.bsky.social and it's so much fun to discuss words.
"When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter...."
December 25, 2025 at 1:48 AM
"When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter...."
Tom resumed his paper-grading, and answered carelessly:
“Well, maybe it is, and maybe it ain’t. All I know, is, it suits Tom Sawyer.”
“Well, maybe it is, and maybe it ain’t. All I know, is, it suits Tom Sawyer.”
December 24, 2025 at 8:23 PM
Tom resumed his paper-grading, and answered carelessly:
“Well, maybe it is, and maybe it ain’t. All I know, is, it suits Tom Sawyer.”
“Well, maybe it is, and maybe it ain’t. All I know, is, it suits Tom Sawyer.”
Reposted by Jack Lynch
This is just a note to say
that I have eaten the falcon
in a widening gyre
and that you were probably saving for anarchy
Forgive me
it was delicious
so rough
and full of passionate intensity
that I have eaten the falcon
in a widening gyre
and that you were probably saving for anarchy
Forgive me
it was delicious
so rough
and full of passionate intensity
December 22, 2025 at 8:11 PM
This is just a note to say
that I have eaten the falcon
in a widening gyre
and that you were probably saving for anarchy
Forgive me
it was delicious
so rough
and full of passionate intensity
that I have eaten the falcon
in a widening gyre
and that you were probably saving for anarchy
Forgive me
it was delicious
so rough
and full of passionate intensity
Found on NJT. (At least I find ways to amuse myself while standing in the vestibule of a packed train because they canceled the one before it.)
December 22, 2025 at 8:47 PM
Found on NJT. (At least I find ways to amuse myself while standing in the vestibule of a packed train because they canceled the one before it.)
Paging @nushpowell.bsky.social …
S.3567
A bill to authorize the President of the United States to ...
SPONSOR: Sen. Mike Lee (R), UT
№ CO-SPONSORS: 0
STATUS: Introduced
LATEST ACTION: Senate - 2025-12-18 Read twice and referred to the Committee on ...
#Republicans
Details at congress.gov
A bill to authorize the President of the United States to ...
SPONSOR: Sen. Mike Lee (R), UT
№ CO-SPONSORS: 0
STATUS: Introduced
LATEST ACTION: Senate - 2025-12-18 Read twice and referred to the Committee on ...
#Republicans
Details at congress.gov
December 22, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Paging @nushpowell.bsky.social …
Reposted by Jack Lynch
Like the suburban developments named after whatever natural feature was destroyed to build them
It’s funny when you remember Bari Weiss called her outlet The Free Press
December 22, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Like the suburban developments named after whatever natural feature was destroyed to build them
I promise I'll try to do better.
December 22, 2025 at 4:17 AM
I promise I'll try to do better.