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demiliopics2.bsky.social
James D'Emilio
@demiliopics2.bsky.social
3.4K followers 1.2K following 2.8K posts
Bronx born Medievalist, Art Historian, Hispanist, Lover of Italy and Antiquity
New site: www.jamesdemilio.com
Swept up by politics these days, but I do post photos on ancient, medieval, and Christian art. Check @capitalsandmore.bsky.social for art only.
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demiliopics2.bsky.social
In the OED, I stumbled upon this citation for the word "vetted". From the 2014 New York Times, it explains "Twitter diplomacy". It could be a thousand years ago.
Citation Details: 2014 (from the New York Times, February 5): "Twitter diplomacy...involves augmenting...the carefully scripted and vetted language of official...statements with the choppy patois of Twitter."
November 16, 2025 at 7:26 PM
demiliopics2.bsky.social
Count on the NY Times for a new angle on the Epstein sewer of power, perversion, and exploitation.
"that protected realm vanished into the mists of time" (Is that disgust, relief, or just plain nostalgia?)
Some things we only see when we can pretend they're gone and safely history. That world isn't.
The headline on the New York Times reads, "Epstein Emails Reveal a Lost New York". The article begins, "Jeffrey Epstein's recently released documents are steeped in a clubby world that is all but gone."
November 16, 2025 at 1:22 PM
demiliopics2.bsky.social
Wow, one-time Democratic VP candidate Tim Kaine votes for a deal that includes Trump obeying a law Kaine got passed and Trump signed in 2019.
Big win there!
🙄
Senator Tim Kaine explains his vote to end the filibuster, "This legislation will protect federal workers from baseless firings, reinstate those who have been wrongfully terminated during the shutdown, and ensure federal workers receive back pay, as required by a law I got passed in 2019."
November 10, 2025 at 2:01 AM
demiliopics2.bsky.social
Doubtful, NY Times, that many NY voters, from Staten Island to City Island, are really ruminating over Mamdani's ties to Jeremy Corbyn whose career is caricatured in the selective piece.
But, hey, one last try. Things like this make it hard to combat antisemitism where it may be most dangerous.
Headline on feed (above photo of former Labour leader Jeremy Corbin) reads, "Mamdani faces questions over a link to Jeremy Corbyn, a U.K. politician who was accused of antisemitism."
November 4, 2025 at 10:15 PM
demiliopics2.bsky.social
Helluva job by AI summarizing that post.
Now, multiply that waste by thousands and thousands every second.
The top line, "forest fire near Elden Springs?" is described as summarized by AI from a post below. The post (from a Facebook account, What's up Flagstaff?) reads "Forest fire by Elden Springs?"
November 4, 2025 at 9:43 PM
demiliopics2.bsky.social
IDK, target shooting and brain injury seems a deadly combination
New York Times article headline reads, "Target Shooting Could Be Causing Brain Injuries. We Measured the Danger". Opening sentence explains that "The Times tested the blast waves of several popular guns at an indoor range, and found that repeated firing could add up to potentially harmful exposure."
November 4, 2025 at 6:05 PM
demiliopics2.bsky.social
Only one contest pits two Dems against each other. Voters outside NYC choose a Democrat or a Republican. They are not choosing their Democratic candidate vs other Democrats not on the ballot.
NYTimes/Dem establishment desperate to counter Mamdani with reactionary centrist narrative.
Rigor mortis.
Subheading on the New York City elections at the New York Times says, "Contests have revolved around how Democrats should rebuild"
November 4, 2025 at 3:06 PM
demiliopics2.bsky.social
Fall colors in the morning, #Flagstaff, #Arizona
Trees with bright yellow, dull orange-brown, and, on smaller shrubs and trees, deep red leaves. A lawn and the gutters in the street are full of the yellow leaves. Pines contribute deep greens. Wispy clouds against a blue sky.
November 4, 2025 at 2:50 PM
demiliopics2.bsky.social
At the NYTimes, politics of our gilded age with no trace of irony or self-awareness
New York Times headline asks, "Which celebrities are endorsing Zohran Mamdani or Andrew Cuomo?" The article begins, "As the end nears in the mayoral race, some famous people have let their endorsements be known."
November 4, 2025 at 3:12 AM
demiliopics2.bsky.social
Can we finally say, "Enough of this shit!"?
This election is in New York City, in the United States of America.
Do we allow ourselves to be bullied into being silent about the degree to which our politics is explicitly shaped by the interests of one, and only one, foreign gov't?
It's outrageous.
New York Times headline: "If Elected, How Might Mamdani Use Mayoral Power in Ways that Affect Israel" The story begins, "Zohran Mamdani's opposition to Israel's treatment of Palestinians could influence New York City's investments, his appointees and city policing tactics."
October 31, 2025 at 5:47 PM
demiliopics2.bsky.social
1/Mamdani was one of TEN Africana Studies majors among a few hundred graduates.
Critics who allege falsely that colleges "steep students in leftist dogma", are disingenuous. They aim to eliminate such perspectives from even the tiniest corners of the curriculum where one may find them, with effort.
New York Times headline of an article reads, "What Zohran Mamdani Learned as an Africana Studies Major at Bowdoin". The lede begins, "The mayoral candidate has said his education was formative. But critics say that his degree exemplifies how colleges steep students in leftist dogma."
October 28, 2025 at 7:57 PM
demiliopics2.bsky.social
Snapshots of fluttering fall #foliage on our street in #Flagstaff, #Arizona
Row of trees along a neighborhood street beginning to turn yellow and orange. One small maple is completely red. Tall, dark pine trees in the background provide contrast. Red maple leaves in movement in an unsharp picture.
October 20, 2025 at 2:36 AM
demiliopics2.bsky.social
Tuna with Mediterranean mix tonight.
Cast iron pan on gas stove with three pieces of tuna and a mix of chopped tomatoes, peppers, Kalamata olives, celery, onion, potato, and spices.
October 19, 2025 at 3:09 AM
demiliopics2.bsky.social
Inflatable costumes, huge flag, and lots of creative signs at very large #Flagstaff rally for #NoKings #Protest
#Arizona
@azindivisible.bsky.social @indivisprescott.bsky.social
@kyratangren.bsky.social
@coconinodemocrats.bsky.social
Colorful cartoon like image with hooded KKK figures in background; a Hitler-like caricature of Trump with his wave of hair, a fool's crown, and a Nazi salute; and a figure in a MAGA hat also giving a Nazi salute with "Republican, MAGA, ICE" written on his shirt. Protesters holding a variety of signs, including "No Kings" signs with crowns, and one in the foreground that reads, "Does this ass make my country look small?". It is paired with a caricature of Trump golfing, dressed in white, and sporting an extraordinarily large ass. Really, just the absolute largest ass. None like it. One sign reads, "Radicalized by basic decency." Another held by an orange inflatable tyrannosaurus Rex reads, "Stop the circus. We need leaders, not clowns," in bright rainbow colored capital letters
October 19, 2025 at 12:11 AM
demiliopics2.bsky.social
Very large crowd, festive atmosphere, and orange pumpkin heads to pierce at #Flagstaff #NoKings rally in #Arizona
@azindivisible.bsky.social @indivisprescott.bsky.social @kyratangren.bsky.social
@coconinodemocrats.bsky.social
Large figure of the Statue of Liberty Musicians in the drum circle surrounded by crowd with many signs Large flag unfurled and, behind it, the crowd fills the City Hall lawn Pumpkins with orange tufts pierced by sticks with political slogans
October 18, 2025 at 11:37 PM
demiliopics2.bsky.social
Ready for #NoKings #Flagstaff, #Arizona
Made in the basement with love...for America
Sign says No Trump, No Dictators, with intersecting words, like a crossword, "Petty" "Liar" "Corrupt" "Lawless" "Ridiculous"
October 18, 2025 at 7:41 PM
demiliopics2.bsky.social
No, it's not that the GOP is smarter or that Democrats don't have what it takes.
It's that a party, like the GOP, that wants to strip the public sector, cut taxes, privatize services, and eliminate regulations may have an advantage in a government shutdown.
Title of Op Ed in New York Times by Newt Gingrich, "There's Only One Way to Win a Shutdown. Democrats Don't Have What It Takes" Says it's a four minute read, nah, don't spend that much time.
October 1, 2025 at 3:35 AM
demiliopics2.bsky.social
"In the golden age of our democracy, this opinion might end here....the facts prove that the President himself approves truly scandalous and unconstitutional suppression of free speech [by] two...senior cabinet secretaries...Yet nothing will happen...Congress is occupied with other weighty matters."
"In the golden age of our democracy, this opinion might end here. After all, the facts prove that the President himself approves truly scandalous and unconstitutional suppression of free speech on the part of two of his senior cabinet secretaries. One would imagine that the corrective would follow as a matter of course from the appropriate authorities. Yet nothing will happen. The Department of Justice represents the President, and Congress is occupied with other weighty matters."
September 30, 2025 at 10:07 PM
demiliopics2.bsky.social
I often think of these lines in the early Christian woman Perpetua's account of her trial and jailing before her martyrdom.
We have to call things by their proper names and know where we stand.
Bigotry, ignorance and evil are just that.
(No, it isn't an analogy, just what the powerful speech evokes)
"While we were still up before the prosecutors, my father, out of love for me, came to try to shake my resolve and persuade me to change my mind. 'Father,' I said, 'You see this jar lying here, a water pot or whatever it is?' 'Yes, I do,' he replied. 'Surely it cannot be called anything other than what it is?' And he replied, 'No.' 'Well, in the same way I cannot call myself anything than what I am, namely a Christian.' My father got so angry when he heard the word Christian that he came at me as if he were going to tear my eyes out, but he just shouted at me and then left, defeated, as were his diabolical arguments."
September 30, 2025 at 7:43 PM
demiliopics2.bsky.social
We had a president, Joe Biden, who talked about the Soul of America. That didn't go too well. Voters may not put the nation's soul high among their priorities. Maybe the NYTimes headlines this because of the US link, but I hope it doesn't anchor the battle against the far right. The boat will sink.
NYTimes headline, "Starmer Describes 'Fight for the Soul' of U.K. as Populist Right Rises" Text reads: "In a speech at an annual Labour conference, the British prime minister contrasted his political project with that of Nigel Farage, whose Reform party promises mass deportations."
September 30, 2025 at 6:29 PM
demiliopics2.bsky.social
For #Michaelmas, St Michael leads the charge in the fall of the rebel #angels who dissolve into eerie abstraction.
Magnificent painting by Beccafumi in the Pinacoteca Nazionale, Siena (one of your rewards if you ever make it past the first couple of dozen rooms)
#painting #ArtHistory #museitaliani
St Michael, against a bright background, dominates the upper half of the panel as he strides forward, wings out, sword up, feet on a cloud. To each side, other flying angels wield swords as the rebel angels fall and are transformed into grotesque non-human forms and dissolved into dark abstractions. A strange figure of God the father is seen obliquely in the framing arch of the panel, arms extended, looking down, and directing the action. An abstraction of monstrous creatures and body parts in the lower part of the painting as the rebel angels lose their human forms.
September 29, 2025 at 4:10 PM
demiliopics2.bsky.social
Not really "pop culture", but Frederick II is looking good in a mural in Barletta, #Puglia
September 29, 2025 at 5:06 AM
demiliopics2.bsky.social
Making the morning omelette, carefully slicing the potatoes, and getting a kick from the hot peppers brings some focus and energy to get to work (or at least post a picture) and combat the morning cloud of depression at facing a new wave of grim news. Thankful to have the time and means to do it.
Folded omelette in cast iron pan with half-circle slices of potato and blackened bits of onion. Tiny bits of Serrano peppers and melted Cheddar cheese may also be spotted.
September 27, 2025 at 4:07 PM
demiliopics2.bsky.social
A bit of patched-up #medieval pavement at San Domenico, Narni
#FridayFragments #Umbria
White hexagons are framed by bands composed of smaller rectangular, triangular, and diamond-shaped bits of dark green and purplish veined and splotched stone. When intact, they likely resembled interlace and created a star-like pattern around the hexagons.
September 26, 2025 at 6:14 PM
demiliopics2.bsky.social
Quite a few plums down in the hailstorm, but most are hanging on...
Fingers crossed we don't have too early a freeze.
Glad I don't do this for a living, and God bless those that do.
#Flagstaff #Arizona
September 26, 2025 at 12:23 AM