Andrea Kaston Tange
@aktange.bsky.social
Victorianist & lit professor, gardener, lover of quirky details. Writing sporadically at https://andreakastontange.com
Pinned
Andrea Kaston Tange
@aktange.bsky.social
· Jul 16
![Reading Scenario Experiments. This series of prompts is designed to get you thinking about how the setting for reading affects concentration, comprehension, and even the existential experience of reading. Every week, one of the following prompts will appear on the syllabus. I encourage you to try all of them that you are able. How does a different reading setting affect your mood? Your receptiveness to the prose? Your pleasure or difficulty reading? What are the particular impacts of changing your lighting or surroundings? What do you notice about yourself and about the work you are reading during this experiment?
1. read by candlelight (use a small lamp in dorms where no candles are allowed!)
2. read for one hour without checking any devices, answering texts, etc.
3. walk out into nature (climb a tree, sit on a rock, grab a spot in a hammock) and read
4. host a reading night with friends & food (sit in companionable silence, reading without chatting)
5. read aloud a chapter to someone else
6. climb into bed at night and read by flashlight under the covers for at least 30 minutes, as if you’ve already been told “lights out” as a kid
7. reread a chapter and see what new things you notice the second time through
8. change your ambient-noise level: add music if you normally read in the quiet; or read without music if you are normally a music-listener
9. read with a sketchpad at hand and sketch scenes, characters, or other elements from the story
10. practice focused listening: have someone read to you
11. make yourself a special, fancy snack on a real plate to nibble while eating: pay attention to the cooking or arranging or choosing of ingredients to make it especially appetizing first
12. make tea (even if you’re not usually a tea drinker), and read and sip
13. invent a new reading scenario for yourself, or repeat the one you liked the best from this term
[writing assignment using these prompts follows; text character limit prevents inclusion of it in full]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:rfs7afx6ue4mknbhhpnrzkyz/bafkreiel77b25truczj372qokmg5p3apa2dphux3jtplpz3dv35jul6wdu@jpeg)
Here you go! I'll write some new ones for this semester too. They loved them. The "read without your phone or screens in the room" was a revelation, and many of them decided to keep doing it. They had NO IDEA (& were horrified) how often they interrupt themselves to look at a phone for no reason.
Thaler's post (click it for graph showing striking decreases in science spending) immediately under yet another repost of this fantastic letter to London Times. And I'd just like to say: can we PLEASE have a Democratic candidate who knows we need a massive reinvestment in US arts & humanities too?
December 2, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Thaler's post (click it for graph showing striking decreases in science spending) immediately under yet another repost of this fantastic letter to London Times. And I'd just like to say: can we PLEASE have a Democratic candidate who knows we need a massive reinvestment in US arts & humanities too?
Reposted by Andrea Kaston Tange
Adding alt text to this because this is fucking amazing and everyone deserves to read it.
December 2, 2025 at 9:28 AM
Adding alt text to this because this is fucking amazing and everyone deserves to read it.
Reposted by Andrea Kaston Tange
firefox AI and slop disablers from tumblr for the people from local hero mckitterick. Tried it on my end and the browser is significantly faster now
(copy paste-able in the alt text)
(copy paste-able in the alt text)
December 2, 2025 at 3:47 AM
firefox AI and slop disablers from tumblr for the people from local hero mckitterick. Tried it on my end and the browser is significantly faster now
(copy paste-able in the alt text)
(copy paste-able in the alt text)
Reposted by Andrea Kaston Tange
December 2, 2025 at 8:48 AM
APPLICATIONS DUE THIS FRIDAY! It's going to be wonderful. You should apply!
If you or anyone you know would be interested in a GREAT Victorian studies conference in the spring, here's the CFP. Proposals due Dec 6. Especially let anyone within driving distance of Cincinnati know! The lovely @nathankhensley.bsky.social will be keynote speaker. midwestvictorian.org/conference/
Conference
“The Underground: Prohibition, Abolition, Expression”2026 Call for Papers April 10-12, 2026, hosted by Xavier University, Cincinnati, Ohio. Baker Street Station on the Metropolitan Railway, 1863 &#…
midwestvictorian.org
December 2, 2025 at 12:30 AM
APPLICATIONS DUE THIS FRIDAY! It's going to be wonderful. You should apply!
Reposted by Andrea Kaston Tange
Sigh. This administration is seriously the worst.
If you’re looking for it, please be sure to check out @waybackmachine.bsky.social.
web.archive.org/web/20251012...
If you’re looking for it, please be sure to check out @waybackmachine.bsky.social.
web.archive.org/web/20251012...
December 2, 2025 at 12:20 AM
Sigh. This administration is seriously the worst.
If you’re looking for it, please be sure to check out @waybackmachine.bsky.social.
web.archive.org/web/20251012...
If you’re looking for it, please be sure to check out @waybackmachine.bsky.social.
web.archive.org/web/20251012...
So many bathrooms* when all you need is a front door.
*many without baths, but don't worry, the laundry room has two of them
*many without baths, but don't worry, the laundry room has two of them
December 2, 2025 at 12:02 AM
So many bathrooms* when all you need is a front door.
*many without baths, but don't worry, the laundry room has two of them
*many without baths, but don't worry, the laundry room has two of them
Reposted by Andrea Kaston Tange
Meet two heroes of our times.
December 1, 2025 at 11:30 PM
Meet two heroes of our times.
I'm going to take a walk every day in December, I've promised myself, because it's far too easy to become a recluse in Minnesota winter. And I'm going to send you a picture to share my winter delight. Today, rabbits are going for a walk too.
December 1, 2025 at 11:01 PM
I'm going to take a walk every day in December, I've promised myself, because it's far too easy to become a recluse in Minnesota winter. And I'm going to send you a picture to share my winter delight. Today, rabbits are going for a walk too.
This is a fantastic thread. (iykyk) And may I respectfully add St. Paul:
December 1, 2025 at 9:52 PM
This is a fantastic thread. (iykyk) And may I respectfully add St. Paul:
Thanks to @annakornbluh.bsky.social for starting a December writing accountability and support group. I spent 90 minutes today typing in corrections from the print out that I have marked up in red pen for myself. Day one of thirty-one, in the books. #AcaDecaWriteathon
December 1, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Thanks to @annakornbluh.bsky.social for starting a December writing accountability and support group. I spent 90 minutes today typing in corrections from the print out that I have marked up in red pen for myself. Day one of thirty-one, in the books. #AcaDecaWriteathon
💯
We need to know who is vulnerable among us and how we can protect them so they can continue to do their work with integrity.
This is not a "grading essays on controversial topics" problem.
This is a "protecting our colleagues from bad actors" problem.
This is not a "grading essays on controversial topics" problem.
This is a "protecting our colleagues from bad actors" problem.
December 1, 2025 at 8:35 PM
💯
Lit professor here: What's your favorite book?
What’s the worst question someone can ask after you tell them your profession? For linguists, it’s definitely “how many languages do you speak?”, but I’m curious what else is happening to the rest of y’all out there?!
December 1, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Lit professor here: What's your favorite book?
What is the best unit of measure, and why is it "lashings"—as in, "I like my coffee with lashings of cream."
December 1, 2025 at 4:41 PM
What is the best unit of measure, and why is it "lashings"—as in, "I like my coffee with lashings of cream."
Reposted by Andrea Kaston Tange
This is a thrilling list of books that deserve attention and love. Small press publication is thriving.
If you only look at one year-end "best of" books list, make it this thoughtful one of underrecognized gems from @literaryhub.bsky.social lithub.com/100-notable-...
100 Notable Small Press Books of 2025
The idea of 100 Notable Small Press Books was born November 2024, after The New York Times’s annual 100 Notable Books list featured eighty-two books from the Big Five publishing houses (Pengu…
lithub.com
December 1, 2025 at 2:23 PM
This is a thrilling list of books that deserve attention and love. Small press publication is thriving.
Reposted by Andrea Kaston Tange
Senator Kelly is correct.
Plus a Public Service Announcement:
KEY section of Department of Defense's Law of War Manual is 18.3.2.1.
The VERY rule on the "requirement" to refuse illegal orders gives as its paradigmatic example of what is "clearly illegal:
"orders to fire upon the shipwrecked."
Plus a Public Service Announcement:
KEY section of Department of Defense's Law of War Manual is 18.3.2.1.
The VERY rule on the "requirement" to refuse illegal orders gives as its paradigmatic example of what is "clearly illegal:
"orders to fire upon the shipwrecked."
November 30, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Senator Kelly is correct.
Plus a Public Service Announcement:
KEY section of Department of Defense's Law of War Manual is 18.3.2.1.
The VERY rule on the "requirement" to refuse illegal orders gives as its paradigmatic example of what is "clearly illegal:
"orders to fire upon the shipwrecked."
Plus a Public Service Announcement:
KEY section of Department of Defense's Law of War Manual is 18.3.2.1.
The VERY rule on the "requirement" to refuse illegal orders gives as its paradigmatic example of what is "clearly illegal:
"orders to fire upon the shipwrecked."
This is a delightful thread. And one I'm bookmarking as such a great example for my students of the kind of research digging that is necessary to pull together a complete story.
Eleven years ago, I wrote to Tom Stoppard to ask about this coup de théâtre from 1949. It took me down an unexpected rabbit hole - in memory of Stoppard, here's what I found.
November 30, 2025 at 3:50 PM
This is a delightful thread. And one I'm bookmarking as such a great example for my students of the kind of research digging that is necessary to pull together a complete story.
Reposted by Andrea Kaston Tange
but does not include data 🤔
Internal memo at the FDA claims 10 deaths in children as a result of Covid vaccines — but does not include data
Explosive story by @by-cjewett.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/28/h...
Explosive story by @by-cjewett.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/28/h...
F.D.A. Attributes 10 Children’s Deaths to Covid Vaccines
www.nytimes.com
November 29, 2025 at 3:59 AM
but does not include data 🤔
Reposted by Andrea Kaston Tange
Arizona is reporting a 16% increase in child fatalities from infectious disease in 2024.
About 1/3 of the deaths were from vaccine-preventable disease.
RFK Jr. wasn’t in office yet, but he’s been a leader in spreading lies for 20 years, and his influence is now wholly unchecked. Trouble ahead.
About 1/3 of the deaths were from vaccine-preventable disease.
RFK Jr. wasn’t in office yet, but he’s been a leader in spreading lies for 20 years, and his influence is now wholly unchecked. Trouble ahead.
Arizona reports increase in vaccine-preventable child fatalities
Arizona’s child fatality rate dropped in 2024, but the number of children who died from vaccine-preventable diseases increased, according to the state’s annual Child Fatality Report.
www.kjzz.org
November 29, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Arizona is reporting a 16% increase in child fatalities from infectious disease in 2024.
About 1/3 of the deaths were from vaccine-preventable disease.
RFK Jr. wasn’t in office yet, but he’s been a leader in spreading lies for 20 years, and his influence is now wholly unchecked. Trouble ahead.
About 1/3 of the deaths were from vaccine-preventable disease.
RFK Jr. wasn’t in office yet, but he’s been a leader in spreading lies for 20 years, and his influence is now wholly unchecked. Trouble ahead.
Hypothesis: the day after a holiday is often even better than the holiday bc there are tons of leftovers so meals practically fall into your plate w/no work & you can wear pj's & a sweater all day & watch a mid-afternoon movie & read books in companionable silence with your kids in the evening.
November 29, 2025 at 1:51 AM
Hypothesis: the day after a holiday is often even better than the holiday bc there are tons of leftovers so meals practically fall into your plate w/no work & you can wear pj's & a sweater all day & watch a mid-afternoon movie & read books in companionable silence with your kids in the evening.
Reposted by Andrea Kaston Tange
Every single congressional Democrat needs to be out there, right now, insisting that Pete Hegseth resign right now and announcing that he will be held accountable for committing war crimes.
If you do not demand accountability here and now, they will only become more emboldened.
If you do not demand accountability here and now, they will only become more emboldened.
Exclusive: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth gave an order to “kill everybody” in the first strike on suspected drug boats in the Caribbean. After two men survived, the mission commander ordered a second strike to comply with Hegseth’s instructions, according to two sources.
Hegseth order on first Caribbean boat strike, officials say: Kill them all
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a verbal order to kill all crew members in the Sept. 2 strike on a suspected drug boat. Navy SEALs fired a second missile.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 28, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Every single congressional Democrat needs to be out there, right now, insisting that Pete Hegseth resign right now and announcing that he will be held accountable for committing war crimes.
If you do not demand accountability here and now, they will only become more emboldened.
If you do not demand accountability here and now, they will only become more emboldened.
Reposted by Andrea Kaston Tange
Hi everybody,
It's Black Friday, a big day for us at The Onion, since we rely almost entirely on your memberships.
Our goal for 2026? More print subscribers than the Washington Post.
This is, somehow, feasible.
So sign up! A year of print is $75 for the year today. Help us do a very funny thing.
It's Black Friday, a big day for us at The Onion, since we rely almost entirely on your memberships.
Our goal for 2026? More print subscribers than the Washington Post.
This is, somehow, feasible.
So sign up! A year of print is $75 for the year today. Help us do a very funny thing.
Join The Onion
Don’t just read the news. Feel it. Be among the first to feel the news.
membership.theonion.com
November 28, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Hi everybody,
It's Black Friday, a big day for us at The Onion, since we rely almost entirely on your memberships.
Our goal for 2026? More print subscribers than the Washington Post.
This is, somehow, feasible.
So sign up! A year of print is $75 for the year today. Help us do a very funny thing.
It's Black Friday, a big day for us at The Onion, since we rely almost entirely on your memberships.
Our goal for 2026? More print subscribers than the Washington Post.
This is, somehow, feasible.
So sign up! A year of print is $75 for the year today. Help us do a very funny thing.
Reposted by Andrea Kaston Tange
"Wisconsin [Republican] governor candidate Andy Manske wants to use Al to shrink the government."
The Democrats have an easy "people first" platform to run on here--vote for me if you want to be able to talk to a person when you need help with your Medicare, car registration, hunting license, etc.
The Democrats have an easy "people first" platform to run on here--vote for me if you want to be able to talk to a person when you need help with your Medicare, car registration, hunting license, etc.
November 28, 2025 at 4:17 PM
"Wisconsin [Republican] governor candidate Andy Manske wants to use Al to shrink the government."
The Democrats have an easy "people first" platform to run on here--vote for me if you want to be able to talk to a person when you need help with your Medicare, car registration, hunting license, etc.
The Democrats have an easy "people first" platform to run on here--vote for me if you want to be able to talk to a person when you need help with your Medicare, car registration, hunting license, etc.
Breakfast of champions
November 28, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Breakfast of champions
Show me your baked goods, friends! Here's my pie #1 — an apple tart with lots of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cardamom, and a thin cheese layer (like in a danish) between the apples and the pastry.
November 27, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Show me your baked goods, friends! Here's my pie #1 — an apple tart with lots of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cardamom, and a thin cheese layer (like in a danish) between the apples and the pastry.