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mpallen.bsky.social
@mpallen.bsky.social
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mpallen.bsky.social
Nests of golden porridge shattered in the silky-oak trees, cobs and crusts of it, their glory-box; the jacarandas’ open violet immensities mirrored flat on the lawns, weighted by sprinklers; birds, singly and in flocks hopping over the suburb, eating, as birds do, in detail and paying their peppercorns; talk of ‘the good life’ tangles love with will however; if we mention it, there is more to say: - Les Murray, “Equanimity”
November 11, 2025 at 1:39 AM
mpallen.bsky.social
AI leading to incredible developments in American historiography
Gemini AI overview : “There were no "British" students at Harvard during the War of 1812 because the term "British" would have referred to people from Great Britain, not the colonists in America. At that time, anyone from the American colonies was technically a British subject, so Harvard students were all considered "British" in that sense, though they were colonists in the Americas. During the War of 1812, American…” :
November 4, 2025 at 6:04 PM
mpallen.bsky.social
The cover of a copy of Partisan Review from 1962.
November 1, 2025 at 12:43 PM
mpallen.bsky.social
Left: The real opening of Charlotte’s Web Right: Some AI sludge beginning “It was a bright sunny morning on the farm”
October 30, 2025 at 11:35 AM
mpallen.bsky.social
“This is a work of nonfiction. All characters and descriptions of events are the product of the author's imagination”

*whose* imagination?
Left: Copyright, 1952, by E.B. White All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of the book may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. Right: Copyright © 2025 All rights reserved This is a work of nonfiction. All characters and descriptions of events are the product of the author's imagination and any resemblance to actual persons is entirely coincidental. The information in this book expresses the author's views and opinions and does not necessarily represent the views of any organization. First published January 2025
October 30, 2025 at 11:33 AM
mpallen.bsky.social
Left: The real ToC for Charlotte’s web; example: XVIII. The Cool of the Evening Right: The AI Table of contents; example: Chapter 8: The True Meaning of Friendship
October 30, 2025 at 11:31 AM
mpallen.bsky.social
Butlerian jihad when?
Left: The cover of EB White’s Charlotte’s Web Right: The cover of something purporting to be “Charlotte’s Web by Ella Blue”
October 30, 2025 at 11:23 AM
mpallen.bsky.social
cover of the 1st ed. of ‘Arsène Lupin: Gentleman Cambrioleur by Maurice Leblanc
October 19, 2025 at 11:06 AM
mpallen.bsky.social
September 20, 2025 at 11:41 AM
mpallen.bsky.social
When my third daughter was an infant, I could place her against my shoulder and she would stick there like velvet. Only her eyes jumped from place to place. In a breeze, her bright-red hair might stir, but she would not. Even then, there was profundity in her repose. When my fourth daughter was an infant, I wondered if her veins were full of ants. Placing her against a shoulder was a risk both to her and to the shoulder. Impulsively, constantly, everything about her moved. Her head seemed about to revolve as it followed the bestirring world. These memories became very much alive some months ago when-one after another—I had bear cubs under my vest. - John McPhee, “Under the Snow”
September 4, 2025 at 1:22 PM
mpallen.bsky.social
When my third daughter was an infant, I could place her against my shoulder and she would stick there like velvet. Only her eyes jumped from place to place. In a breeze, her bright-red hair might stir, but she would not. Even then, there was profundity in her repose. When my fourth daughter was an infant, I wondered if her veins were full of ants. Placing her against a shoulder was a risk both to her and to the shoulder. Impulsively, con-stantly, everything about her moved. Her head seemed about to revolve as it followed the bestirring world. These memories became very much alive some months ago when—one after another—I had bear cubs under my vest. From “Under the Snow”
September 4, 2025 at 1:19 PM
mpallen.bsky.social
A quotation from the Boy of Winander Episode: And, when there came a pause Of silence such as baffled his best skill: Then, sometimes, in that silence, while he hung Listening, a gentle shock of mild surprise Has carried far into his heart the voice Of mountain-torrents; or the visible scene Would enter unawares into his mind With all its solemn imagery, its rocks, Its woods, and that uncertain heaven received Into the bosom of the steady lake.
June 25, 2025 at 6:09 PM
mpallen.bsky.social
A quotation from The Intimations Ode: Not for these I raise The song of thanks and praise But for those obstinate questionings Of sense and outward things, Fallings from us, vanishings; Blank misgivings of a Creature Moving about in worlds not realised, High instincts before which our mortal Nature Did tremble like a guilty thing surprised:
June 25, 2025 at 6:06 PM
mpallen.bsky.social
Text in a Google AI summary box reading: The quote "In which the a little while" refers to the title of a short poem by George Eliot called "The Little While". The poem explores themes of fleeting time and the importance of making the most of it. George Eliot, the author of 'The Little While," was a prominent Victorian writer known for her novels, particularly "Middlemarch". She chose to write under a pen name because she believed women writers were not taken seriously.
June 12, 2025 at 3:19 PM
mpallen.bsky.social
I am prepared to offer test-prep services for a reasonable fee
“A Trucker” by Thom Gunn
April 28, 2025 at 8:38 PM
mpallen.bsky.social
never believe that reading hundreds of detective novels is a waste of time. Peter Wimsey’s disquisition on the English attitude to return addresses helped me ID unknown letter writer in the archive
The Englishman, in his bluff, hearty way, is content that under such circumstances the post-office should violate his seals, peruse his correspondence, extract his signature and address from the surrounding verbiage, supply a fresh envelope and return the whole to him under the blushing pseudonym of 'Hubbykins' or 'Dogsbody' for the entertainment of his local postman. But the Frenchman, being decorous, not to say secretive, by nature, thinks it better to preserve his privacy by providing, on the exterior of the missive, all the necessary details for the proper functioning of this transaction.
February 24, 2025 at 5:29 PM