@antony-bof.bsky.social
I saw a heretical renaissance painting in Siena years ago and have never been able to find it since. It showed humanity cowering at the bottom of the picture while from up above God hurled spears at them. In between was Jesus holding up a brolly to protect humanity from God’s wrath.
February 1, 2026 at 12:13 PM
I saw a heretical renaissance painting in Siena years ago and have never been able to find it since. It showed humanity cowering at the bottom of the picture while from up above God hurled spears at them. In between was Jesus holding up a brolly to protect humanity from God’s wrath.
Lack of courage more like. The entire academic staff should walk out. Texas could then either close the University or cave. My guess is they would cave.
January 31, 2026 at 8:55 PM
Lack of courage more like. The entire academic staff should walk out. Texas could then either close the University or cave. My guess is they would cave.
They had better instal an incinerator for when the book burning starts. I gather Plato is off limits!
January 31, 2026 at 8:53 PM
They had better instal an incinerator for when the book burning starts. I gather Plato is off limits!
The Romans freed most slaves and the next generation could be full citizens. Pertinax was the son of a freed slave and became emperor in the 190s AD without a big army backing him. The next emperor, Septimus was a North African from Libya and later there was Philip the Arab from Syria.
January 31, 2026 at 8:47 PM
The Romans freed most slaves and the next generation could be full citizens. Pertinax was the son of a freed slave and became emperor in the 190s AD without a big army backing him. The next emperor, Septimus was a North African from Libya and later there was Philip the Arab from Syria.
At least POTUS has relevant experience in bankrupting casinos.
January 31, 2026 at 8:38 PM
At least POTUS has relevant experience in bankrupting casinos.
The damage having been done you can sue for the damage.
January 31, 2026 at 8:34 PM
The damage having been done you can sue for the damage.
Civil, not criminal, litigation with the added benefit that proof will be balance of probabilities and not beyond all reasonable doubt.
January 31, 2026 at 8:21 PM
Civil, not criminal, litigation with the added benefit that proof will be balance of probabilities and not beyond all reasonable doubt.
Therein lies the problem particularly as God, as reported in the old Testament, comes over on many occasions as an unpleasant being. Jesus was a very revolutionary prophet as reported in the Gospels.
January 31, 2026 at 8:19 PM
Therein lies the problem particularly as God, as reported in the old Testament, comes over on many occasions as an unpleasant being. Jesus was a very revolutionary prophet as reported in the Gospels.
Most courts will. With the apparent exception of SCOTUS most judges believe in the rule of law. Suing ICE where it has caused damage may be an effective option especially as some judges are coming to realise much ICE evidence is perjured.
January 31, 2026 at 6:06 PM
Most courts will. With the apparent exception of SCOTUS most judges believe in the rule of law. Suing ICE where it has caused damage may be an effective option especially as some judges are coming to realise much ICE evidence is perjured.
and then she was released. A claim against ICE for PTSD and other damages for suffering unnecessarily imposed?
January 31, 2026 at 6:02 PM
and then she was released. A claim against ICE for PTSD and other damages for suffering unnecessarily imposed?
Perhaps the Republicans should read the Sermon on the Mount and then they will understand that they are not followers of Jesus.
January 31, 2026 at 4:03 PM
Perhaps the Republicans should read the Sermon on the Mount and then they will understand that they are not followers of Jesus.
Chrystal nacht?
January 31, 2026 at 4:01 PM
Chrystal nacht?
But it is frightening how many Republicans in the House and the Senate clearly do not want end it, indeed appear to actively approve the end of democracy in the US.
January 30, 2026 at 5:59 PM
But it is frightening how many Republicans in the House and the Senate clearly do not want end it, indeed appear to actively approve the end of democracy in the US.
SCOTUS did not think it important that Trump stand trial for Jan 6 so that the electorate could know before the election whether candidate Trump was guilty of trying to overthrow the constitution.
January 30, 2026 at 5:11 PM
SCOTUS did not think it important that Trump stand trial for Jan 6 so that the electorate could know before the election whether candidate Trump was guilty of trying to overthrow the constitution.
I am looking from the outside and I can’t say that I think there is a good chance of free and fair mid-term elections. And remember it seems clear that many Republican representatives would not put their seats at risk to support democracy.
January 30, 2026 at 5:08 PM
I am looking from the outside and I can’t say that I think there is a good chance of free and fair mid-term elections. And remember it seems clear that many Republican representatives would not put their seats at risk to support democracy.
Aah but if your instructions were to delay for 6 weeks while the evidence was bowdlerised……
January 30, 2026 at 5:04 PM
Aah but if your instructions were to delay for 6 weeks while the evidence was bowdlerised……
It was a disgraceful failure of the US legal system that Trump did not stand trial for 6 January. The electorate were entitled to know before they voted whether Trump was guilty of trying to over throw the Constitution. And SCOTUS carries part of the responsibility for that.
January 29, 2026 at 9:38 PM
It was a disgraceful failure of the US legal system that Trump did not stand trial for 6 January. The electorate were entitled to know before they voted whether Trump was guilty of trying to over throw the Constitution. And SCOTUS carries part of the responsibility for that.
The rank and file ICE people should be allowed to slink back unless they have actually killed someone. Those in charge should be subject to criminal investigation.
January 29, 2026 at 9:33 PM
The rank and file ICE people should be allowed to slink back unless they have actually killed someone. Those in charge should be subject to criminal investigation.
People like Trump are always accusing others of doing what he is actually doing. This is because he thinks that if he does something everyone else would do it if they could. He doesn’t understand that most of us are better people than he is.
January 29, 2026 at 6:30 PM
People like Trump are always accusing others of doing what he is actually doing. This is because he thinks that if he does something everyone else would do it if they could. He doesn’t understand that most of us are better people than he is.
I have read and enjoyed Domination (and the Bible). I do think Prof Roberts undervalues the importance of faith in most pre modern European lives. Someone like Bishop Wilfred of Northumbria was a Prince Bishop and status was important to him but he also had faith.
January 28, 2026 at 6:47 PM
I have read and enjoyed Domination (and the Bible). I do think Prof Roberts undervalues the importance of faith in most pre modern European lives. Someone like Bishop Wilfred of Northumbria was a Prince Bishop and status was important to him but he also had faith.
I have always struggled with atheism: a positive believe in nothing. Agnosticism, yes, indeed I am an agnostic.
January 28, 2026 at 6:39 PM
I have always struggled with atheism: a positive believe in nothing. Agnosticism, yes, indeed I am an agnostic.
But Jesus was a Jew too. Indeed it is hard to read the synoptic gospels except on the basis that Jesus saw himself as a Jewish prophet and not the saviour of the gentiles.
January 28, 2026 at 3:24 PM
But Jesus was a Jew too. Indeed it is hard to read the synoptic gospels except on the basis that Jesus saw himself as a Jewish prophet and not the saviour of the gentiles.
I am not sure that you are right. I suspect that Trump believes that he is no worse than the rest of who just pretend to be better and are good at not getting caught. Thus he judges others actions on the basis that their standards of behaviour are the same as his.
January 28, 2026 at 6:47 AM
I am not sure that you are right. I suspect that Trump believes that he is no worse than the rest of who just pretend to be better and are good at not getting caught. Thus he judges others actions on the basis that their standards of behaviour are the same as his.
I look at that photo and it makes me, a 75 year old retired lawyer, want to cry.
January 26, 2026 at 2:20 PM
I look at that photo and it makes me, a 75 year old retired lawyer, want to cry.
In an authoritarian state, and the US probably is currently an authoritarian state for these purposes, if you are a friend of the authority the law does apply to you, if you are not a friend then you are guilty and can be prosecuted at the authority’s whim.
January 26, 2026 at 2:09 PM
In an authoritarian state, and the US probably is currently an authoritarian state for these purposes, if you are a friend of the authority the law does apply to you, if you are not a friend then you are guilty and can be prosecuted at the authority’s whim.