"There go the people, I must follow them, for I am their leader"

These, and their comrades still growing outside, are the spiky survivors of the horrid little critter garden incursion of 2025. My belief that there is no such thing as too many cucumbers is about to be severely tested.

Lament from the keeper of Ilchester Gaol, 1821: "Tom Paine’s works had been assiduously introduced even into the upper debtors’ ward, and the general topics of conversation were now, either skepticism on the bible, reflections on the state, or infuriated debates and cries of radicalism for ever!"😀

Another NY Times Headline that could have been written by the Pitchbot. Breathless speculation about his “tone.” How about “ Desperate to avoid responsibility for the effects of his own policies, Trump makes empty promises of reform.” There, fixed it for you.

Hey fellow terminated #NEH fellows @nehgov.bsky.social @altnehgov.altgov.info Sharing my #NEH Appeal of Termination, which I uploaded into the eGMS system. Mine is for an individual fellowship. Another example below. It is recommended that if you were terminated you get an appeal in today.

In Trenton, N.J. FDR presides over yet another battle against Fascism

My NEH grant has been terminated. For the "reasonable cause" that it is an urgent priority for the administration to terminate it. I was so proud to get it. I am now proud to be in the company of the others who are also losing it. Please tell me we are suing?

New essay assignment idea for #earlymodern courses: Describe the difference between Tr*mp and Mariann Edgar Budde as if you were a Puritan preacher. Your grade depends on how accurately you identify the Anti-Christ. Xtra credit for mentioning Popery, Tyranny, Gospel, False Church & Idolatry.

Reposting this relic of the more hopeful time right before Nov 5. I canvassed 6 times in PA. The warning signs were there. But I won't forget the solidarity either, among volunteers and with the voters we met. We need to hang onto that. If you knocked on doors you are my people. Always 💙

In honor of myself and the hundreds of people volunteering to knock on doors, I made up a Canvassing for Kamala Bingo game card.

Looking for paleographic help from early modernists on the middle line. I hope you can blow up the image. The line reads "he hoped to have shortly ___ shares of the papists' estates." secured? secret? something else?

Early modern people, for all their now-deemed-silly ideas about hot and cold humours, had a better grasp of human biological diversity than the mob piling up on Imane Khelif.
From Aristotles Masterpiece (1684) on what causes a child to be male or female.

It looks like NYT online have now changed the headline. This is what I got when I clicked on it.