Isn't lovely how little has changed?! Notice in the bottom right corner the makeup "compact" with six pigments and a protective lid! Above it the funny thing like a thumb is the pestle of a mortar for grinding fine powders. BM 1861,0523.2
"Online Rent-a-Sage" Bret Devereaux
@bretdevereaux.bsky.social
Ancient & military historian specializing in the Roman economy and military. PhD from UNC History. More impressive credential is that I have beaten both Dark Souls and Elden Ring. Blogs at acoup.blog
This is the way.
"Online Rent-a-Sage" Bret Devereaux@bretdevereaux.bsky.social · 12h agoI think the best thing about federalism is that I don't actually have to care very much about a senate primary in another state. I hope Michiganders get someone they like, I don't need to have an opinion! Meanwhile, here in NC, @roycoopernc.bsky.social looks to be in a very strong position.
I think the best thing about federalism is that I don't actually have to care very much about a senate primary in another state. I hope Michiganders get someone they like, I don't need to have an opinion! Meanwhile, here in NC, @roycoopernc.bsky.social looks to be in a very strong position.
I think Washington's feint at Staten Island in 1781 before almost dead-sprinting down to Yorktown while Henry Clinton doesn't figure out Washington is gone in Sept 2, by which point Washington was in Philadelphia and Cornwallis was probably already well-caught short of naval rescue.
The Amazing Prizzini@amazingprizzini.bsky.social · 13h agoWhat is your favorite historical trick in war?
When I think of Homer, I think of the Homer statue at the University of Virginia—and the fact that for over 25 years, Ted Lendon has been making students (including me, once) learn how to march in a phalanx on the lawn. ⚔️
I know it’s so pedantic, but I hate it when people throw toga parties and then wear a Greek chiton off Amazon with, like, a gold meander pattern. That’s why I always teach my students how to tie a proper bedsheet toga—because Rome.
Think I've about hit the end of a run through X4: Foundations and I'm struck by two things: 1) there needs to be a genre descriptor grouping X4 and Bannerlord because they speak to similar fantasies and 2) the first person perspective makes for some remarkable screenshots.
As an aside, this is also how you know the United States is still a democracy. Autocracies hoard the treasure but spend blood freely. When Trump thinks he can spend a few divisions to salve his ego as Putin has, instead of just some missiles, you will know the republic died some time ago.
Pye Wacket@jackindabox22.bsky.social · 22h agoThe desire to spend treasure over blood has been a hallmark of US military policy since WW2. Certainly this admin is particularly cowardly and hates losses moreso than any other, but the treasure over blood impulse plays to US strengths anyway.
You know, I should resent the new UNC system syllabus policy because it is basically there as an intrusion into academic freedom, to provide bad-faith ammunition against 'woke' professors... ...but I actually resent it because it means I have to submit my syllabi early and so my summer ends early.
...this is such a hilarious send up of all of the baroque stratagems and tricks that show up in ancient military literature (thinking both Mediterranean and China), I love it.
Brian O'Connor@johnnybesad.bsky.social · yesterdayOk, I haven't been remotely keeping up with House of the Dragon, but I just saw a scene clip that not only includes a spiked-ball-and-chain flail (not a completely fake weapon, but a very rare one), but also a company-sized unit successfully 'playing dead' while being walked over for an ambush.
Absolutely the case that interceptor stocks are dangerously low, but strike munitions (Tomahawks, JASSM, etc) stocks are much deeper and behind that when air defense is shut down is, as I understand it, functionally infinite supply of JDAMs.
@qm61.bsky.social · 2d agoAre you sure about the statement that the US has a “LOT” of conventional weapons available ? Greater than 60% of Patriots and THAAD have been used. A conventional assault would initiate retaliation that the US cannot negate, and conventional assault weapons are significantly depleted.
This is exactly right. This fact is the core of the 'Iranian overplay / mutual ruin' scenario: Iran can't actually do a lot of damage to the USA, but it can burn the GCC. So the scenario the matters is Trump decides 'not our bacon in the fire' and lets the region burn instead of taking the L.
Sharon 🪳🌹@sharonk.bsky.social · 2d agoright, but it would primarily be GCC states facing the blowback
Remarkable the degree to which the IRGC is just not going to let Trump walk away with anything he can call a win. I scoffed a little bit when some security experts said that basically 'humiliation of enemies' was an Iranian regime pattern in terms of aims, but that doesn't seem far off.
Shipwreck@shipwreck75.bsky.social · 2d agoIran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) carried out an attack on a US base in Kuwait using three drones, according to a source familiar with the matter.-i24 News
It isn't the most significant event, perhaps, but I find Fletcher's decision to calmly pass command of the battle to Spruance after Yorktown was crippled at Midway one of those tests of character a great many commanders fail, which he passed.
Reconstructionist@unavaleable.bsky.social · 2d agohere's a hot take for US carrier commanders in WW2 Spruance > Fletcher > Halsey
Gaming thought of the day: a lot of games, because they're unwilling to impose much friction, miss out on the dramatic possibilities of weather. I was playing AC: Black Flag Resync'd and the new dynamic weather feels a bit wasted because storms don't really matter very much.
My backlog of games watching me fill a cart during a Steam sale
Honestly, filtering for, "the Nazis were bad, Stalin was bad, the correct side won WWII" is the easiest way to filter out 90+% of bad faith interlocutors if only everyone was honest about their views but the fascists and tankies know this and so sometimes falsify their opinions strategically.
Secretary of Defense Rock@sodrock.bsky.social · 2d agoWWII propaganda is good actually
I need to start planning in a nap after recording a podcast. For whatever reason, whenever I do a spot on one, I end up rather tired and kind of useless afterwards. I would not think talking to a camera would be so tiring, and yet.
Amusing that he puts "Oman" in quotes like he isn't quite sure if it is a real place, or a fake place Iran made up to stall negotiations.
Shipwreck@shipwreck75.bsky.social · 2d agoFool me once……
It seems relevant that the thing Isaiah is being sent to do in that passage is to deliver a prophecy of doom to his own people for having fallen away from the path of righteousness. So if these guys were like, Isaiah, that would be robustly bad news for...the United States.
Matt Thiessen@mattthiessen.bsky.social · 3d agoAmerican Christianity in one social media post.
Sure, I bet. Anyway, spin the wheel to find out who Donald "Betrayer-MacGee" Trump will betray this week? Is it you? Is it a close political ally? Is it Denmark? Is it his country? Is it you? Is it his Iranian interlocutors? Is it Bibi? Is it you? Round and round it goes.
Shipwreck@shipwreck75.bsky.social · 3d agoIsrael expected a broad U.S. strike on Iran targeting key regime vulnerabilities, including energy infrastructure. Despite disappointment when the attack didn’t materialize, Israeli officials say Washington hasn’t closed the door. A major American operation against Iran remains a live option.
I can help. Non Americans have no idea he's insane. The ones who are against him believe he's sane and choosing to harm them for reasons they can't figure out, the ones who are for him believe he's sane and choosing to help them. Both are stunned every time whenever he changes
Maybe someone has this easier to hand: I'm trying to find an instance where @mercoglianos.bsky.social makes his point that the administration should have been prepared to stop-gap shipping insurance earlier in the Iran war - it's a critique sprinkled in his videos, but I can't find an example.
Ok, that is impressively amusing.
EMILY WILSON@emilyrcwilson.bsky.social · 4d agoI cannot rest from discourse. I will see that film again tomorrow. I will drink life to the lees. Again I will enjoy greatly, will suffer greatly, both with those that love me, and in Pleasantville NY. I am become a meme. Film showing: burnsfilmcenter.org/booking/the-...
So let's just say when King Elessar decides to pronounce the Shire an autonomous region under his protection rather than, like, trying to invade it, your thought is, "oh thank Eru..."
Vituperative Erb@vituperativeerb.bsky.social · 4d agoIf you’re a Gondorian soldier your experience with hobbits is a tiny guy shows up with a wizard and is immediately taken in the Steward’s counsel. He saves Faramir when the Steward goes mad. A second tiny guy arrives with the Rohirrim and kills the Witch King. The first one then goes on campaign …
I want to be very clear about the pandemic. People died awful deaths. Dr. Fauci is a national hero. In the early days I lost colleagues my own age and younger in good health and prime of life. I attended god awful zoom funerals before anyone really knew how to host a zoom mega meetings. 1/
