Andy Earnshaw
@ajdearnshaw.bsky.social
Earnest musings and wry historical takes
There are special, unique people in history (good and bad) who do alter history. Without Caesar and Augustus, the Roman Empire does not become what it was in the way it was…
But those ‘Great Men’ are also born or cultures and systems that defined the decisions they could possibly make.
But those ‘Great Men’ are also born or cultures and systems that defined the decisions they could possibly make.
February 22, 2025 at 10:29 PM
There are special, unique people in history (good and bad) who do alter history. Without Caesar and Augustus, the Roman Empire does not become what it was in the way it was…
But those ‘Great Men’ are also born or cultures and systems that defined the decisions they could possibly make.
But those ‘Great Men’ are also born or cultures and systems that defined the decisions they could possibly make.
Living with #ulcerativecolitis is like trying to drive a car with handbrake a little bit on.
It works, you can do what you’re supposed to, but everything takes that bit more energy. Things move slower than they should, and bits begin to break and you’re not quite sure why.
It works, you can do what you’re supposed to, but everything takes that bit more energy. Things move slower than they should, and bits begin to break and you’re not quite sure why.
February 20, 2025 at 10:16 PM
Living with #ulcerativecolitis is like trying to drive a car with handbrake a little bit on.
It works, you can do what you’re supposed to, but everything takes that bit more energy. Things move slower than they should, and bits begin to break and you’re not quite sure why.
It works, you can do what you’re supposed to, but everything takes that bit more energy. Things move slower than they should, and bits begin to break and you’re not quite sure why.
Reposted by Andy Earnshaw
History: “Eventually the incompetent fascists invariably lose power and then society recovers in a new and stronger way”
Me: “Oh, cool, so what has to happen for the spell to be broken??”
History: “mmmm…well, that part is less encouraging.”
Me: “Oh, cool, so what has to happen for the spell to be broken??”
History: “mmmm…well, that part is less encouraging.”
February 18, 2025 at 5:16 PM
History: “Eventually the incompetent fascists invariably lose power and then society recovers in a new and stronger way”
Me: “Oh, cool, so what has to happen for the spell to be broken??”
History: “mmmm…well, that part is less encouraging.”
Me: “Oh, cool, so what has to happen for the spell to be broken??”
History: “mmmm…well, that part is less encouraging.”
Economists!
If it’s not viable to tax unrealised gains, could you tax it when unrealised gains are used as collateral?
Like, if I’ve got a million in shares and I use that as collateral for a loan, should I pay a tax (eg 20%) on all loan repayments for which that wealth is acting as collateral?
If it’s not viable to tax unrealised gains, could you tax it when unrealised gains are used as collateral?
Like, if I’ve got a million in shares and I use that as collateral for a loan, should I pay a tax (eg 20%) on all loan repayments for which that wealth is acting as collateral?
February 14, 2025 at 8:12 PM
Economists!
If it’s not viable to tax unrealised gains, could you tax it when unrealised gains are used as collateral?
Like, if I’ve got a million in shares and I use that as collateral for a loan, should I pay a tax (eg 20%) on all loan repayments for which that wealth is acting as collateral?
If it’s not viable to tax unrealised gains, could you tax it when unrealised gains are used as collateral?
Like, if I’ve got a million in shares and I use that as collateral for a loan, should I pay a tax (eg 20%) on all loan repayments for which that wealth is acting as collateral?
Reposted by Andy Earnshaw
It's #NationalHedgehogDay so we're treating you to this little fella.
An inscribed amethyst intaglio in a gold ring.
Pic = auction.apolloauctions.com
An inscribed amethyst intaglio in a gold ring.
Pic = auction.apolloauctions.com
February 2, 2025 at 12:27 PM
It's #NationalHedgehogDay so we're treating you to this little fella.
An inscribed amethyst intaglio in a gold ring.
Pic = auction.apolloauctions.com
An inscribed amethyst intaglio in a gold ring.
Pic = auction.apolloauctions.com
Watching Sporting Lisbon doing things I’ve not seen Man United do in years.
The issues we have are quite clearly because the squad is not good enough and not the coach.
The issues we have are quite clearly because the squad is not good enough and not the coach.
January 22, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Watching Sporting Lisbon doing things I’ve not seen Man United do in years.
The issues we have are quite clearly because the squad is not good enough and not the coach.
The issues we have are quite clearly because the squad is not good enough and not the coach.
This is a myth. There was an awful lot of discussion and anti-Nazi efforts in the early 30.
The Nazis made the most of a failing liberal democracy, high inflation and easy to manipulate elites. Everyone knew who they were, many tried to stop them… and lost.
The Nazis made the most of a failing liberal democracy, high inflation and easy to manipulate elites. Everyone knew who they were, many tried to stop them… and lost.
January 21, 2025 at 10:10 PM
This is a myth. There was an awful lot of discussion and anti-Nazi efforts in the early 30.
The Nazis made the most of a failing liberal democracy, high inflation and easy to manipulate elites. Everyone knew who they were, many tried to stop them… and lost.
The Nazis made the most of a failing liberal democracy, high inflation and easy to manipulate elites. Everyone knew who they were, many tried to stop them… and lost.
I dunno, pretty sure a certain Austrian was also often grateful from the bottom of his heart to all of his supporters who fawned over him.
January 21, 2025 at 10:07 PM
I dunno, pretty sure a certain Austrian was also often grateful from the bottom of his heart to all of his supporters who fawned over him.
Saving this here for when I’m called out for my turtleneck obsession at work
January 19, 2025 at 8:28 PM
Saving this here for when I’m called out for my turtleneck obsession at work
Reposted by Andy Earnshaw
Graffiti depicting roses and a tulip from the 16th-19th century AD Inquisition prison on Malta #NationalTulipDay
In Islam, roses represent the Prophet Muhammad and tulips the creator God, suggesting these designs were made by captive Muslims.
(£) https://buff.ly/3SrpPYf
In Islam, roses represent the Prophet Muhammad and tulips the creator God, suggesting these designs were made by captive Muslims.
(£) https://buff.ly/3SrpPYf
January 18, 2025 at 6:37 PM
Graffiti depicting roses and a tulip from the 16th-19th century AD Inquisition prison on Malta #NationalTulipDay
In Islam, roses represent the Prophet Muhammad and tulips the creator God, suggesting these designs were made by captive Muslims.
(£) https://buff.ly/3SrpPYf
In Islam, roses represent the Prophet Muhammad and tulips the creator God, suggesting these designs were made by captive Muslims.
(£) https://buff.ly/3SrpPYf
Do any other parents always need to sneeze really loudly when they’re holding their sleeping child?
January 18, 2025 at 7:44 PM
Do any other parents always need to sneeze really loudly when they’re holding their sleeping child?
Reposted by Andy Earnshaw
I, a man of wisdom, propose that the US and China should split TikTok in half. We keep Tik, they keep Tok.
But, a twist! The country that truly loves TikTok will give up the app entirely, unable to bear the sight of TikTok getting torn apart. And that country is the one that deserves to own TikTok.
But, a twist! The country that truly loves TikTok will give up the app entirely, unable to bear the sight of TikTok getting torn apart. And that country is the one that deserves to own TikTok.
January 17, 2025 at 10:53 PM
I, a man of wisdom, propose that the US and China should split TikTok in half. We keep Tik, they keep Tok.
But, a twist! The country that truly loves TikTok will give up the app entirely, unable to bear the sight of TikTok getting torn apart. And that country is the one that deserves to own TikTok.
But, a twist! The country that truly loves TikTok will give up the app entirely, unable to bear the sight of TikTok getting torn apart. And that country is the one that deserves to own TikTok.
I think in any Revolution, whether from the left or the right, is also midwifed by incompetent liberals who, if they’d just been a bit better at their job, could have steered their respective society towards a happier place.
Am I right @mikeduncan.bsky.social
Am I right @mikeduncan.bsky.social
January 18, 2025 at 12:49 PM
I think in any Revolution, whether from the left or the right, is also midwifed by incompetent liberals who, if they’d just been a bit better at their job, could have steered their respective society towards a happier place.
Am I right @mikeduncan.bsky.social
Am I right @mikeduncan.bsky.social
I think some of the best people to follow on here - if you’re interested in British archaeology - are people called Flo.
No, not Florence. Finds Liason Officers. They’re at the cutting edge of recording the incidental finds all around the country.
No, not Florence. Finds Liason Officers. They’re at the cutting edge of recording the incidental finds all around the country.
January 18, 2025 at 12:47 PM
I think some of the best people to follow on here - if you’re interested in British archaeology - are people called Flo.
No, not Florence. Finds Liason Officers. They’re at the cutting edge of recording the incidental finds all around the country.
No, not Florence. Finds Liason Officers. They’re at the cutting edge of recording the incidental finds all around the country.
Reposted by Andy Earnshaw
I've always loved the fact that the word 'sneeze' is the result of a historical accident. The original form, in the Middle Ages, was 'fnese', but someone mistook the 'f' for the long medieval 's' and wrote down 'sn-' instead.
Fneezing sounds much more like a proper, nasal sneeze.
Fneezing sounds much more like a proper, nasal sneeze.
January 18, 2025 at 11:13 AM
I've always loved the fact that the word 'sneeze' is the result of a historical accident. The original form, in the Middle Ages, was 'fnese', but someone mistook the 'f' for the long medieval 's' and wrote down 'sn-' instead.
Fneezing sounds much more like a proper, nasal sneeze.
Fneezing sounds much more like a proper, nasal sneeze.
Week 2 of Important Sites to Me:
Binchester Roman Fort
This is where I learnt to excavate and survey archaeological sites.
Binchester is a cavalry fort in County Durham, a couple of days ride from Hadrians Wall. It monitored the local population and supported the main fort. 🧵
Binchester Roman Fort
This is where I learnt to excavate and survey archaeological sites.
Binchester is a cavalry fort in County Durham, a couple of days ride from Hadrians Wall. It monitored the local population and supported the main fort. 🧵
January 12, 2025 at 10:57 AM
Week 2 of Important Sites to Me:
Binchester Roman Fort
This is where I learnt to excavate and survey archaeological sites.
Binchester is a cavalry fort in County Durham, a couple of days ride from Hadrians Wall. It monitored the local population and supported the main fort. 🧵
Binchester Roman Fort
This is where I learnt to excavate and survey archaeological sites.
Binchester is a cavalry fort in County Durham, a couple of days ride from Hadrians Wall. It monitored the local population and supported the main fort. 🧵
Top megalithic photography right here.
Callanish Standing Stones, Isle of Lewis, Scotland. #photography #Scotland
January 9, 2025 at 11:12 PM
Top megalithic photography right here.
Uffington Castle, an Iron Age Hillfort in the appropriately named Vale of the White Horse on the strange place where Wiltshire, Berkshire and Oxfordshire meet.
It’s a fine example of an Iron Age hillfort but is notable for sitting just above the Uffington Horse.
#hillfortwednesday 🏺
It’s a fine example of an Iron Age hillfort but is notable for sitting just above the Uffington Horse.
#hillfortwednesday 🏺
January 8, 2025 at 6:33 PM
Uffington Castle, an Iron Age Hillfort in the appropriately named Vale of the White Horse on the strange place where Wiltshire, Berkshire and Oxfordshire meet.
It’s a fine example of an Iron Age hillfort but is notable for sitting just above the Uffington Horse.
#hillfortwednesday 🏺
It’s a fine example of an Iron Age hillfort but is notable for sitting just above the Uffington Horse.
#hillfortwednesday 🏺
The centrist, classical liberal within me believe deeply in institutions. I think our issues will not be solved from the left or the right, but imaginative ideas from the centre.
In the spirit of that: what institutions are needed for the modern world?
In the spirit of that: what institutions are needed for the modern world?
January 8, 2025 at 2:21 PM
The centrist, classical liberal within me believe deeply in institutions. I think our issues will not be solved from the left or the right, but imaginative ideas from the centre.
In the spirit of that: what institutions are needed for the modern world?
In the spirit of that: what institutions are needed for the modern world?
First book to be finished in 2025 and it is a 5/5. This is how to write non-fiction. Unafraid of detail, but with easy to understand language and short punchy chapters.
Amazing story, that gives you a lot of information without ever leaving you feeling bogged down.
Amazing story, that gives you a lot of information without ever leaving you feeling bogged down.
January 5, 2025 at 10:38 PM
First book to be finished in 2025 and it is a 5/5. This is how to write non-fiction. Unafraid of detail, but with easy to understand language and short punchy chapters.
Amazing story, that gives you a lot of information without ever leaving you feeling bogged down.
Amazing story, that gives you a lot of information without ever leaving you feeling bogged down.
Here’s my proposal to academic journals: paywall your articles for 2 years, after which point make them open access.
Your primary source of income (academic institutions) will still pay to keep up to date, but general users will visit your website so much more. Maybe you could even use ads!
Your primary source of income (academic institutions) will still pay to keep up to date, but general users will visit your website so much more. Maybe you could even use ads!
January 5, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Here’s my proposal to academic journals: paywall your articles for 2 years, after which point make them open access.
Your primary source of income (academic institutions) will still pay to keep up to date, but general users will visit your website so much more. Maybe you could even use ads!
Your primary source of income (academic institutions) will still pay to keep up to date, but general users will visit your website so much more. Maybe you could even use ads!
Parenthood is ending a 2 week holiday exactly as tried as when it began.
January 5, 2025 at 6:48 PM
Parenthood is ending a 2 week holiday exactly as tried as when it began.
Turns out giving a world class coach time on the training field can improve football teams.
#livmanunited #liverpool #manchesterunited
#livmanunited #liverpool #manchesterunited
January 5, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Turns out giving a world class coach time on the training field can improve football teams.
#livmanunited #liverpool #manchesterunited
#livmanunited #liverpool #manchesterunited