Mr Kellie Strom

@kelliestrom

Artist, writer, editor.

422 Folgt283 Follower361 Posts

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Mr Kellie Strom@kelliestrom· 28d

Why would a leader pick the worse choice as a minister? Abdul Rahman Al-Kawakibi: “This is the nature of all tyrants, even most people…”

Tyrants hate knowledge, not only because of its consequences, but also because knowledge has authority above all authorities. The tyrant must despise himself every time he encounters someone who is more knowledgeable than himself. A tyrant does not like to see the face of anyone who is more knowledgeable or considered a better thinker, and if he needed a physician or an engineer, he selects the stupid, the insignificant and the hypocrite. This is the nature of all tyrants, even most people, that is why they praie the modest and those who are inconsiderable and good for nothing.

Mr Kellie Strom@kelliestrom· Jun 30

Example of Nazi execution fee: Erich Knauf was a German writer executed for making jokes about the Nazi regime. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erich_K... His widow, Erna, was given a bill of 585.74 rm for the cost of proceedings against him, including his execution. www.thelooniverse.com/books/kastne... .

Image of the bill for the execution of Erich Knauf which Germany's Nazi regime presented to his widow Erna Knauf.

Mr Kellie Strom@kelliestrom· Jun 28

Colonel Blimp cartoon by David Low. Blimp is exercising in the gym and says to his companion, “Gad, sir, Garvin is right. There’s only one way to stop these bullying aggressors — find out what they want us to do and then do it.”

Mr Kellie Strom@kelliestrom· Jun 26

Three Games of Politics according to @kjephd.bsky.social The post below is about US politics, but the failure of practitioners of pluralist politics to understand the existential stakes in friend-enemy politics was also very evident in Western political responses to Assad. bsky.app/profile/kjep...

A table with three headings at the top which read: Friend-Enemy Politics, Pluralist Politics, and Technocratic Politics. The first row is titled "social ontology of politics (what is the political world made of?), the second is titled "task of politics (what do we think we're doing in politics?), the third is titled "goal of politics (what does politics generate?):"

The social ontology of politics in friend-enemy politics is a "world made up of friends and enemies. No neutrality or fairness. Identity overriding," in pluralist politics it is a "world made up of innumerable groups who must find ways to live together. Identity is central," in technocratic politics, the "world [is] composed of individuals who experience common problems. No groups, no identity."

The task of politics in the friend-enemy mode is "for the virtuous 'Us' to defeat the evil 'Them,'" in pluralist politics it is "conciliation of different groups and their competing interests," in technocratic politics it is "solving social problems."

The goal of politics in friend-enemy politics is "public tokens of 'our' domination or of enemy's defeat;" in pluralist politics it is "fair compromise;" in technocratic politics it is "effective policy."

Mr Kellie Strom@kelliestrom· Jun 20

“Walking over a beautiful Georgian house in Dublin, I picture myself in its heyday. How bored I should have been, as woman of the house, wandering around with nothing to do, in a hooped satin skirt! I would have sat for a portrait, not painted it. I would have sat under a ceiling, not designed it.”

The book Dublin Phoenix by Olivia Robertson.

Mr Kellie Strom@kelliestrom· Jun 3

In hiding after a false accusation by AI The screenshot is of an “apology” by Grok — so apologies are another inconvenient task to be handed over to AI. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...

Screenshot of a post by Grok on X, via the Guardian report.

Mr Kellie Strom@kelliestrom· May 23

Under a grey sky and next to a Baltic port where giant wind turbines are being assembled, a young family holidays on a strip of beach.

Mr Kellie Strom@kelliestrom· Apr 26

“… any successful ideology must overcome the free rider problem … to energize groups to behave contrary to a simple… individual calculus of costs and benefits … costs of enforcing the rules and property rights are enormously reduced by the simple fact that the individuals will not disobey the rules”

Book: Structure and Change in Economic History, by Douglass C North.

Mr Kellie Strom@kelliestrom· Apr 14

Nicholas Nickleby, Chapter 16.

Upon reference to the book, it appeared that the dozen secretaryships had dwindled down to one. Mr. Gregsbury, the great member of parliament, of Manchester Buildings, Westminster, wanted a young man, to keep his papers and correspondence in order; and Nicholas was exactly the sort of young man that Mr. Gregsbury wanted.
"I don't know what the terms are, as he said he'd settle them himself with the party," observed the fat lady; "but they must be pretty good ones, because he's a member of parliament."
Inexperienced as he was, Nicholas did not feel quite assured of the force of this reasoning, or the justice of this conclusion; but without troubling himself to question it, he took down the address, and resolved to wait upon Mr. Gregsbury without delay.

Mr Kellie Strom@kelliestrom· Nov 29

Professional Foul, a 1977 television play by Tom Stoppard. youtu.be/D5MYDrWGobg

Paperback book, two plays by Tom Stoppard, Every Good Boy Deserves Favour & Professional Foul.

Mr Kellie Strom@kelliestrom· Jul 31

Another animation by Peggy Jacobs Strom. vimeo.com/peggyjacobss...

Mr Kellie Strom@kelliestrom· Jul 31

Animation by Peggy Jacobs Strom. vimeo.com/peggyjacobss...

Mr Kellie Strom@kelliestrom· Jul 31

Two ceramic heads by Susanna Jacobs. www.susannajacobs.com

Mr Kellie Strom@kelliestrom· Jun 5

My cover painting for the latest Syria Notes shows Marjeh Square in Damascus, where many families have posted pictures of their missing relatives, hoping to learn something of their fate. Full issue: www.syrianotes.org/2025/05/free... Via @syrianotes.bsky.social.

Cover of Syria Notes no. 30, spring 2025.

Mr Kellie Strom@kelliestrom· Apr 26

Painting in progress. Golden fluid acrylics on Yupo paper.

Mr Kellie Strom@kelliestrom· Apr 6

Brad Holland: Clair, Slim, Dali and Me www.drawger.com/holland/?art...

Dustjacket for the first edition of The Cowboy and the Cossack, a novel by Clair Huffaker, illustrated by Brad Holland.

Mr Kellie Strom@kelliestrom· Feb 28

Niccolo Machiavelli, Discourses on Livy, Chapter 26, Insults and Abuse Generate Hate Against Those Who Employ Them, Without Profit.

Page of a book by Niccolo Machiavelli, Discourses on Livy, Chapter 26, Insults and Abuse Generate Hate Against Those Who Employ Them, Without Profit.

Mr Kellie Strom@kelliestrom· Jan 2

Harsh conditions you all suffer — my sympathies. Breakfasts at ours have been brightened recently by the arrival in our kitchen of a volume from the collected works of EC Segar.

Panel from a Popeye colour Sunday comic strip by EC Segar. Popeye receives a visit in his new cafe from his tobacco-chewing sailor friends.
First sailor: "Swell joint he's got here!"
Second sailor: "Yeah!"
Popeye: "Sure I likes it here okay, but me ol' heart's out there where the weather's rough an' the decks is wet."

Mr Kellie Strom@kelliestrom· Dec 10

With Mazen al-Hamada in London, 22 March 2017. Photo courtesy of Sana Kikhia. Sana says it well: We celebrate his courage and his love, we remember his eyes and his smile, and we will never forget all he gave us.

Friends sharing a meal with Mazen al-Hamada in London, 22 March 2017.

Mr Kellie Strom@kelliestrom· Aug 10