The Cat Sage
@catsandstrategy.bsky.social
Historian, writer, and voracious reader of science fiction and fantasy. My wife and I have had five cats together that we spoil outrageously. He/him.
We’re losing ground with allies and partners around the world, and at the end of this administration the U.S. will be weaker on the world stage than it’s been in decades. At this point the adults in the room need to be thinking about how to strategize as a declining power.
February 7, 2026 at 7:46 PM
We’re losing ground with allies and partners around the world, and at the end of this administration the U.S. will be weaker on the world stage than it’s been in decades. At this point the adults in the room need to be thinking about how to strategize as a declining power.
Despite their blathering about lethality, Hegseth and the current set of joint chiefs are going to leave us with a less effective, less capable military. They’re flailing at the strategic level and even in the rare cases where they identify an actual problem their solutions are nonsense.
February 7, 2026 at 7:44 PM
Despite their blathering about lethality, Hegseth and the current set of joint chiefs are going to leave us with a less effective, less capable military. They’re flailing at the strategic level and even in the rare cases where they identify an actual problem their solutions are nonsense.
Terry Pratchett, as usual, had something to say about this.
January 30, 2026 at 2:41 AM
Terry Pratchett, as usual, had something to say about this.
There’s a certain peace when bad weather that’s been forecast finally arrives, like the natural order of things has somehow been restored. I can hear the ice pattering down on the roof and the windows and it’s almost a comforting sound.
January 25, 2026 at 4:00 AM
There’s a certain peace when bad weather that’s been forecast finally arrives, like the natural order of things has somehow been restored. I can hear the ice pattering down on the roof and the windows and it’s almost a comforting sound.
In brighter news, we got a new cat tree that Alexander is a big fan of and getting back into our normal routine had some playtime this morning before I went for a run. Alexander and Thomas even used the tree together… although there was some bapping a second after the last picture was taken.
January 21, 2026 at 2:37 AM
In brighter news, we got a new cat tree that Alexander is a big fan of and getting back into our normal routine had some playtime this morning before I went for a run. Alexander and Thomas even used the tree together… although there was some bapping a second after the last picture was taken.
Update on the Hertz banditry: received an email today stating that they would be refunding the gas charge plus an additional five dollars because in addition to charging more than three times the current price per gallon for gas they also charged sales tax on top of that. Literal highway robbery.
January 21, 2026 at 1:10 AM
Update on the Hertz banditry: received an email today stating that they would be refunding the gas charge plus an additional five dollars because in addition to charging more than three times the current price per gallon for gas they also charged sales tax on top of that. Literal highway robbery.
Obviously Maelle is trying to teach Anna to “parry it!”
January 19, 2026 at 7:02 PM
Obviously Maelle is trying to teach Anna to “parry it!”
I’ve been replaying Hades since the first time I played my wife didn’t get a chance to watch and I’ve unlocked everything except Sisyphus. I realized today that I missed a step so I’ve been doing the same thing repeatedly and making no progress which is actually pretty funny if you think about it.
January 18, 2026 at 6:37 PM
I’ve been replaying Hades since the first time I played my wife didn’t get a chance to watch and I’ve unlocked everything except Sisyphus. I realized today that I missed a step so I’ve been doing the same thing repeatedly and making no progress which is actually pretty funny if you think about it.
It’s the same way that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is only one of those things, except that in the case of the “Great Healthcare Plan” none of those are true.
January 18, 2026 at 4:47 PM
It’s the same way that the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is only one of those things, except that in the case of the “Great Healthcare Plan” none of those are true.
Thanks, I sent in the receipt and a note explaining where it was fueled up so hopefully that will settle it, but it’s still annoying.
January 15, 2026 at 2:07 PM
Thanks, I sent in the receipt and a note explaining where it was fueled up so hopefully that will settle it, but it’s still annoying.
It’s the worst, at one airport I saw the employee moving the returned cars sitting in a car with a lit cigarette in his mouth. The call is coming from inside the house.
January 15, 2026 at 1:54 PM
It’s the worst, at one airport I saw the employee moving the returned cars sitting in a car with a lit cigarette in his mouth. The call is coming from inside the house.
I swear those bandits at Hertz use gas pumps without pressure sensors to fill up their cars and charge you for fuel. I filled up less than a mile from the airport until the pump wouldn’t run anymore and they’re still trying to charge me for 2 gallons of gas.
January 15, 2026 at 1:31 PM
I swear those bandits at Hertz use gas pumps without pressure sensors to fill up their cars and charge you for fuel. I filled up less than a mile from the airport until the pump wouldn’t run anymore and they’re still trying to charge me for 2 gallons of gas.
Long ago during my undergrad phase I took a class about the holocaust and my way of dealing with that was downloading Wolfenstein 3D and playing through it in the evenings. It was therapeutic.
January 5, 2026 at 5:22 AM
Long ago during my undergrad phase I took a class about the holocaust and my way of dealing with that was downloading Wolfenstein 3D and playing through it in the evenings. It was therapeutic.
“Who’s this Scalzi guy?”
“Wrote Old Man’s War, Starter Villain, and Travel by Bullet. Now he’s googling about hiding money overseas.”
“Okay, War’s full so appoint him to something in Transportation.”
“Wrote Old Man’s War, Starter Villain, and Travel by Bullet. Now he’s googling about hiding money overseas.”
“Okay, War’s full so appoint him to something in Transportation.”
January 4, 2026 at 8:18 PM
“Who’s this Scalzi guy?”
“Wrote Old Man’s War, Starter Villain, and Travel by Bullet. Now he’s googling about hiding money overseas.”
“Okay, War’s full so appoint him to something in Transportation.”
“Wrote Old Man’s War, Starter Villain, and Travel by Bullet. Now he’s googling about hiding money overseas.”
“Okay, War’s full so appoint him to something in Transportation.”
You definitely have to be careful with that, if this administration catches you doing something like that you might end up appointed as some kind of deputy cabinet official without your knowledge or consent.
January 4, 2026 at 8:06 PM
You definitely have to be careful with that, if this administration catches you doing something like that you might end up appointed as some kind of deputy cabinet official without your knowledge or consent.
To be fair, as a strategist I’m coming around to the view that we should get rid of the chief of staff of the Army entirely. We keep seeming to end up with someone who’s spent their entire career dreaming of being the next Westmoreland or Abrams who rushes to change the Army and cement their legacy.
January 4, 2026 at 5:58 PM
To be fair, as a strategist I’m coming around to the view that we should get rid of the chief of staff of the Army entirely. We keep seeming to end up with someone who’s spent their entire career dreaming of being the next Westmoreland or Abrams who rushes to change the Army and cement their legacy.
Before the current insanity we went to the Witte Museum yesterday. It’s small, but has a few really awesome fossils and an exhibit about the various biomes of Texas. The special exhibit about the ocean depths was also fun to see, and some great historical exhibits.
January 4, 2026 at 1:50 AM
Before the current insanity we went to the Witte Museum yesterday. It’s small, but has a few really awesome fossils and an exhibit about the various biomes of Texas. The special exhibit about the ocean depths was also fun to see, and some great historical exhibits.
I’m just thinking right now that I’d watch a Starwars spin off about some guy in the Imperial military who joined before the whole Palpatine thing started, has never even seen a member of the rebellion, and is just trying to do his necessary bureaucratic job as best he can until he can leave.
January 4, 2026 at 1:19 AM
I’m just thinking right now that I’d watch a Starwars spin off about some guy in the Imperial military who joined before the whole Palpatine thing started, has never even seen a member of the rebellion, and is just trying to do his necessary bureaucratic job as best he can until he can leave.
The Buckhorn Saloon and Texas Ranger Museum feels like a monument to taxidermy, with a collection of frankly bizarre artifacts and a bolted on old west and law enforcement section. Not the worst way to spend an afternoon, and a pretty solid burger.
December 31, 2025 at 4:06 AM
The Buckhorn Saloon and Texas Ranger Museum feels like a monument to taxidermy, with a collection of frankly bizarre artifacts and a bolted on old west and law enforcement section. Not the worst way to spend an afternoon, and a pretty solid burger.
I should note that the hotel I stayed at recently was near a major military installation, so a military family staying there as part of a moving out process would have been caught in this requirement.
December 29, 2025 at 4:45 AM
I should note that the hotel I stayed at recently was near a major military installation, so a military family staying there as part of a moving out process would have been caught in this requirement.
Hotels are frequently pretty bad about this. When I was traveling up to college more than 20 years ago a hotel tried to charge me an extra deposit because I was 18. A hotel I recently stayed at had a $250 deposit for locals. Just blatant discrimination.
December 29, 2025 at 4:45 AM
Hotels are frequently pretty bad about this. When I was traveling up to college more than 20 years ago a hotel tried to charge me an extra deposit because I was 18. A hotel I recently stayed at had a $250 deposit for locals. Just blatant discrimination.
Truly, the comfiest of little men. It’s a bittersweet joy to see him curling up in the basket since Freddie used to curl up in there, but someone should enjoy it.
December 29, 2025 at 3:36 AM
Truly, the comfiest of little men. It’s a bittersweet joy to see him curling up in the basket since Freddie used to curl up in there, but someone should enjoy it.
It’s a wonderful feeling to have a cat you adopted jump on the bed to cuddle against your chest. Thomas is relaxing into a very happy boy and I’m so glad we brought him home. He’s very good about playing with toys like this and not trying to eat them, in case anybody is concerned.
December 28, 2025 at 7:10 PM
It’s a wonderful feeling to have a cat you adopted jump on the bed to cuddle against your chest. Thomas is relaxing into a very happy boy and I’m so glad we brought him home. He’s very good about playing with toys like this and not trying to eat them, in case anybody is concerned.
Honestly, if you’re cold having a lion around your shoulders would be quite nice. I certainly enjoy the combination of multiple smaller cats.
December 25, 2025 at 4:59 AM
Honestly, if you’re cold having a lion around your shoulders would be quite nice. I certainly enjoy the combination of multiple smaller cats.
And if you’re not at least a little bit in love with Michelle Dockery, I don’t know what’s wrong with you.
December 25, 2025 at 4:47 AM
And if you’re not at least a little bit in love with Michelle Dockery, I don’t know what’s wrong with you.