Bailey Poletti
@baileypoletti.bsky.social
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.
Pinned
Bailey Poletti
@baileypoletti.bsky.social
· Sep 29
Medieval Authors: "Do you think the Greeks might have been the baddies?"
Roman Authors: "Do you think the Greeks might have been the baddies?"
Greek Authors (including Homer): "Do you think the Greeks might have been the baddies?"
Americans: "Look at me: I'm sacking Troy!"
Roman Authors: "Do you think the Greeks might have been the baddies?"
Greek Authors (including Homer): "Do you think the Greeks might have been the baddies?"
Americans: "Look at me: I'm sacking Troy!"
Reposted by Bailey Poletti
It's Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, here in the US, & you know what that means! A bunch of people who would have called him n----r with the hard R or tone policed his rhetoric & tactics painting erroneous mythologies about who he was & what he stood for! 😃 So here's Letter From Birmingham Jail
Letter from a Birmingham Jail - Martin Luther King Jr.
youtu.be
January 15, 2024 at 3:54 PM
It's Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, here in the US, & you know what that means! A bunch of people who would have called him n----r with the hard R or tone policed his rhetoric & tactics painting erroneous mythologies about who he was & what he stood for! 😃 So here's Letter From Birmingham Jail
Historically, I've pushed back whenever people have compared American interest in sports to a religion.
In light of recent events, it seems I must rethink my hitherto strict delineation between these two spheres.
In light of recent events, it seems I must rethink my hitherto strict delineation between these two spheres.
January 19, 2026 at 3:09 AM
Historically, I've pushed back whenever people have compared American interest in sports to a religion.
In light of recent events, it seems I must rethink my hitherto strict delineation between these two spheres.
In light of recent events, it seems I must rethink my hitherto strict delineation between these two spheres.
"Top-heavy was the ship as a dinnerless student with all Aristotle in his head."
-Moby Dick, Chapter 110
Ouch! I hate it when a punch lands that someone threw over a century before I was born. Not cool, Herman.
-Moby Dick, Chapter 110
Ouch! I hate it when a punch lands that someone threw over a century before I was born. Not cool, Herman.
January 18, 2026 at 7:39 AM
"Top-heavy was the ship as a dinnerless student with all Aristotle in his head."
-Moby Dick, Chapter 110
Ouch! I hate it when a punch lands that someone threw over a century before I was born. Not cool, Herman.
-Moby Dick, Chapter 110
Ouch! I hate it when a punch lands that someone threw over a century before I was born. Not cool, Herman.
Reposted by Bailey Poletti
it’s one of those fundamentally cursed hospitality violations that you read about in ancient texts
The more I think about this, the angrier I get. It takes a particularly virulent strain of sociopathy to sit and let hard-working people serve you a meal knowing that you plan to arrest them and send them off for deportation once they're off of work.
Really depraved shit.
Really depraved shit.
A few days ago, Fox News was whining about ICE agents getting heckled at a Mexican restaurant in Minneapolis.
Meanwhile, in the town of Willmar, ICE agents had lunch at a Mexican restaurant, waited until it closed, then confronted and arrested three workers as they left.
Meanwhile, in the town of Willmar, ICE agents had lunch at a Mexican restaurant, waited until it closed, then confronted and arrested three workers as they left.
January 18, 2026 at 12:51 AM
it’s one of those fundamentally cursed hospitality violations that you read about in ancient texts
Reposted by Bailey Poletti
I want to focus on part of this.
There's a reason Dave beats Hal. Hal, unlike Dave, is perfectly adapted to space. He does not need air, food, or water. He does not need gravity. He does not need to sleep. For all intense and purposes, he *is* the Discovery.
He could complete the mission alone.
There's a reason Dave beats Hal. Hal, unlike Dave, is perfectly adapted to space. He does not need air, food, or water. He does not need gravity. He does not need to sleep. For all intense and purposes, he *is* the Discovery.
He could complete the mission alone.
My interpretation: first, man created tools; at this time, we controlled them and this elevated us above nature. In the future of the movie, the tools (aka HAL) control us. It is only by taking control back from the tools again that Dave is able to ascend and become a higher being.
January 17, 2026 at 7:33 AM
I want to focus on part of this.
There's a reason Dave beats Hal. Hal, unlike Dave, is perfectly adapted to space. He does not need air, food, or water. He does not need gravity. He does not need to sleep. For all intense and purposes, he *is* the Discovery.
He could complete the mission alone.
There's a reason Dave beats Hal. Hal, unlike Dave, is perfectly adapted to space. He does not need air, food, or water. He does not need gravity. He does not need to sleep. For all intense and purposes, he *is* the Discovery.
He could complete the mission alone.
Reposted by Bailey Poletti
Luckily, because political education is my whole deal, I've compiled a ton of resources here you can share with others!
Let the current situation radicalize you rather than lead you to despair:
Let the current situation radicalize you rather than lead you to despair:
Resources for Collective Liberation
These are people and projects that have been essential for my own journey of unlearning capitalism.
hilaryagro.com
January 17, 2026 at 3:39 PM
Luckily, because political education is my whole deal, I've compiled a ton of resources here you can share with others!
Let the current situation radicalize you rather than lead you to despair:
Let the current situation radicalize you rather than lead you to despair:
This has big "Belgium can't stop us from going through them to invade France" energy.
Miller: Denmark is a tiny country with a tiny economy and a tiny military. They cannot defend Greenland… Under every understanding of law that has existed about territorial control for 500 years, to control a territory you have to be able to defend a territory…
January 17, 2026 at 3:28 PM
This has big "Belgium can't stop us from going through them to invade France" energy.
Reposted by Bailey Poletti
Alt text, because one would think folks would want news about a general strike to go as far as it can.
January 16, 2026 at 10:34 PM
Alt text, because one would think folks would want news about a general strike to go as far as it can.
Reposted by Bailey Poletti
every single successful general strike in US history has had union backing through the local AFL-CIO
this is the first time it’s been called for since the 1940s
this is the first time it’s been called for since the 1940s
January 16, 2026 at 9:24 PM
every single successful general strike in US history has had union backing through the local AFL-CIO
this is the first time it’s been called for since the 1940s
this is the first time it’s been called for since the 1940s
Reposted by Bailey Poletti
block immediately everyone
✅ @icegov.bsky.social has been verified by @bsky.app.
January 16, 2026 at 11:56 PM
block immediately everyone
Reposted by Bailey Poletti
My analysis of the Trump-class "battleship" is out!
(TL;DR please just build more destroyers)
www.fpri.org/article/2026...
(TL;DR please just build more destroyers)
www.fpri.org/article/2026...
The Trump-Class Battleship: Spectacle Wins Out Over Combat Power - Foreign Policy Research Institute
After finishing my last article on the inability of the US Navy to build frigates, I was hopeful that I could have a bit of a break before the next crisis in
www.fpri.org
January 8, 2026 at 3:15 PM
My analysis of the Trump-class "battleship" is out!
(TL;DR please just build more destroyers)
www.fpri.org/article/2026...
(TL;DR please just build more destroyers)
www.fpri.org/article/2026...
Officially on the List now.
From the world-leading expert on the Maya, a monumental history of a flourishing civilization across three millennia.
The Four Heavens by @davidsstuart.bsky.social arrives on March 3!
Preorder this fascinating book today: press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...
The Four Heavens by @davidsstuart.bsky.social arrives on March 3!
Preorder this fascinating book today: press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...
January 15, 2026 at 8:17 PM
Officially on the List now.
Reposted by Bailey Poletti
From the world-leading expert on the Maya, a monumental history of a flourishing civilization across three millennia.
The Four Heavens by @davidsstuart.bsky.social arrives on March 3!
Preorder this fascinating book today: press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...
The Four Heavens by @davidsstuart.bsky.social arrives on March 3!
Preorder this fascinating book today: press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...
January 15, 2026 at 7:10 PM
From the world-leading expert on the Maya, a monumental history of a flourishing civilization across three millennia.
The Four Heavens by @davidsstuart.bsky.social arrives on March 3!
Preorder this fascinating book today: press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...
The Four Heavens by @davidsstuart.bsky.social arrives on March 3!
Preorder this fascinating book today: press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...
Reposted by Bailey Poletti
Reposted by Bailey Poletti
Apparently but unsurprisingly the druids are on our side
I can't believe that this has been an option the entire time
*sets up school for raccoons against racism*
*sets up school for raccoons against racism*
January 15, 2026 at 12:16 PM
Apparently but unsurprisingly the druids are on our side
Reposted by Bailey Poletti
Neighbors standing guard over churches so that parents can have secret meetings about how to keep daycares safe. This is what's happening in the Twin Cities right now.
January 14, 2026 at 4:58 AM
Neighbors standing guard over churches so that parents can have secret meetings about how to keep daycares safe. This is what's happening in the Twin Cities right now.
Thair-Gollin self-reflects constantly and is, almost without expection, always wrong. This is more because the biggest problem he sees in himself (but no one else does -- they have their own list) and tries to fix are things better accepted than fought against.
Tell me more about your #AwesomeCharacters
Let's talk self-reflection. How good is your character at assessing their flaws?
Do they usually have a good sense of how they are coming across to others?
If not, which way are they usually wrong?
#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts
Let's talk self-reflection. How good is your character at assessing their flaws?
Do they usually have a good sense of how they are coming across to others?
If not, which way are they usually wrong?
#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts
January 14, 2026 at 2:41 AM
Thair-Gollin self-reflects constantly and is, almost without expection, always wrong. This is more because the biggest problem he sees in himself (but no one else does -- they have their own list) and tries to fix are things better accepted than fought against.
Reposted by Bailey Poletti
The number of people on here who seem determined to argue in the replies that homophobia isn’t part of this crisis is a sign that homophobia is in fact a central part of this crisis
I think it matters that Renee Good was a lesbian and i think im gonna permanently distrust everyone who frontloads the "she was a mother" without acknowledging the lesbian part for the rest of my life.
January 12, 2026 at 3:46 PM
The number of people on here who seem determined to argue in the replies that homophobia isn’t part of this crisis is a sign that homophobia is in fact a central part of this crisis
Y'all need to look into the history of breakfast cereal's relationship to masculinity. It's wild.
It‘s real 😵💫
January 12, 2026 at 2:34 AM
Y'all need to look into the history of breakfast cereal's relationship to masculinity. It's wild.
I see this and think, "Yeah, they missed a lot. . . . Or did I?"
2026’s refresh rate is wild I go do some chores and like 14 major world events have happened
January 12, 2026 at 1:43 AM
I see this and think, "Yeah, they missed a lot. . . . Or did I?"
-Ships and submarines
-Golden Age of Sail
-Architecture
-English Civil Wars, Regicide, Protectorate, Restoration
-French Revolution
-Early-modern printing
-Marine biology
-Physical disabilities
-Alienation
-Political zealotry
Still working on it . . .
-Golden Age of Sail
-Architecture
-English Civil Wars, Regicide, Protectorate, Restoration
-French Revolution
-Early-modern printing
-Marine biology
-Physical disabilities
-Alienation
-Political zealotry
Still working on it . . .
What have you done for research for your latest book/wip? #WritingPrompt
January 12, 2026 at 1:26 AM
-Ships and submarines
-Golden Age of Sail
-Architecture
-English Civil Wars, Regicide, Protectorate, Restoration
-French Revolution
-Early-modern printing
-Marine biology
-Physical disabilities
-Alienation
-Political zealotry
Still working on it . . .
-Golden Age of Sail
-Architecture
-English Civil Wars, Regicide, Protectorate, Restoration
-French Revolution
-Early-modern printing
-Marine biology
-Physical disabilities
-Alienation
-Political zealotry
Still working on it . . .
I say that but, personally, I think Finnish (not Scottish) is what fantasy dwarves sound like.
I mean, just listen to this and tell me you wouldn't follow 13 strangers across the world to retake mounds of gold from a murderous dragon!
youtu.be/XRdCsEVFd4I?...
I mean, just listen to this and tell me you wouldn't follow 13 strangers across the world to retake mounds of gold from a murderous dragon!
youtu.be/XRdCsEVFd4I?...
January 12, 2026 at 12:30 AM
I say that but, personally, I think Finnish (not Scottish) is what fantasy dwarves sound like.
I mean, just listen to this and tell me you wouldn't follow 13 strangers across the world to retake mounds of gold from a murderous dragon!
youtu.be/XRdCsEVFd4I?...
I mean, just listen to this and tell me you wouldn't follow 13 strangers across the world to retake mounds of gold from a murderous dragon!
youtu.be/XRdCsEVFd4I?...
Free tip: study Finnish.
I figure you've probably read orlanidhuill.com/2019/08/24/d...
Do Fantasy Writers Think Irish is Discount Elvish?
A popular cousin of the “terrible English accent by an American actor in a fantasy movie” is the “this elvish thing is kinda Irish but only whatever I remember about Ireland from that one Wiccan gi…
orlanidhuill.com
January 12, 2026 at 12:23 AM
Free tip: study Finnish.