Bailey Poletti
@baileypoletti
PhD in medieval apocalyptic history, esp. 900-1100, but I try to read broadly. Trying my hand at fiction. All prophecies my own (and most likely wrong). He/him.
Just finished reading The Odyssey to my 9yo. She thought it "good". That's sufficient praised afaic. Tomorrow, as a treat, we might watch the best adaptation of Homer's epic together.
Nash: "Everyone, I'm begging you, stop falling for obvious ragebait." Everyone: [keeps falling for obvious ragebait] Nash:
Look. No one here needs to hear "America has had a lot of problems and has long been hypocritical and full of itself," but Come On! I'm not saying we've lived up to any version "a city on a hill," but we've at least understood it to be connected to dreams of universal human welfare. Fuck this BS.
"Bruch der Gefäße (Breaking of the Vessels)" by Anselm Kiefer, 1990. First time I saw this was on a field trip to the St. Louis Art Museum (grade school?). I'd never seen art like it before. I didn't understand what Kristallnacht was then, but I never hear about it now without thinking of this.
"Veiled Woman" by Antonio Corradini (1668 – 1752), located at the Louvre, Paris. When I saw this in person, I just gaped. I didn't know someone could do such a thing. (Note: it might not have been *this* statue, but it was one at the Louvre showcasing the same technique with the stone veil)
To myself: "Alright, that's enough discourse. I'm going back to reading for fun." Fun:
I know the Guardian isn't perfect but [chef's kiss] great framing.
It would be preferred (even desirable) in a democracy for *every* person who holds the office of POTUS, upon the completion of their term (never to exceed 8 years) to be summarily sentenced to life in prison and be fined the entirety of the lifetime earnings than for anything close to this.
Give me your favorite Non-Trek performance from a Star Trek actor. This is a bit cheating, as it's a twofer. Or, IYKYK, a threefer.
In the same way that *I* cancelled my trip to hang out with Keanu Reeves because *I* didn't think it was worth my time. But I'm not stingy! He, too, can call me whenever he wants. www.theguardian.com/world/2026/a...
It's Friday again and Trump says the war is going well actually... It's Friday again and Trump says the war is going well actually... It's Friday again and Trump says the war is going well actually... It's Friday again and Trump says the war is going well actually... It's Friday again and...
Drop your crime fighting Catholics. (Or, I guess, justifiable-crime committing Catholics)
Some medieval scholars thought that when Good Friday and the Annuncuation aligned, the world might end. Less well known was that when Easter Sunday and First Contact Day coincided, there would be reborn a true man and true Vulcan who might bridge the gap between humanity and the cosmos. He is risen!
It's been ages since I've watched any, but I'll vote Sister Monica Joan from Call the Midwife.
Remember when tech marketed itself as good and reliable in contrast to empty promises of fantastic panacea?
Every Western Civilization™️ proselytizer always conveniently forgets to mention how just about everyone in the so-called canon hated -- absolutely loathed -- half the other people in the canon (without even touching on religion). Plato: "Forms are real." Aristotle: "Screw you, no they aren't."
A friend got me interested in Warhammer 40K last year and gifted me a few things to assemble and paint. Mind, I haven't played a minute of the game, but the craft side of things alone has been very enjoyable (and I'm not a crafty person usually).