Shahnameh blacksmith
@desirepathtarjuman.bsky.social
Bike-mounted historian specializing in medieval & early modern Sino-Iranian contact and Persianate political & cultural history. YIMBY, NUMTOT, and caregiver for undemanding plants. Chicago mostly-southsider. He/him.
Reposted by Shahnameh blacksmith
happy monday! new FREE newsletter piece by me and @lollardfish.bsky.social as we talk about, well, the supposed "fall of rome" yet again. this time we revisit what's known as the "Pirenne Thesis" and how some think Islam fits in all this...
#medievalsky
buttondown.com/ModernMediev...
#medievalsky
buttondown.com/ModernMediev...
Coin Flows and the "End" of the Ancient World
Revisiting Modern Assumptions about the Past
buttondown.com
November 17, 2025 at 6:39 PM
happy monday! new FREE newsletter piece by me and @lollardfish.bsky.social as we talk about, well, the supposed "fall of rome" yet again. this time we revisit what's known as the "Pirenne Thesis" and how some think Islam fits in all this...
#medievalsky
buttondown.com/ModernMediev...
#medievalsky
buttondown.com/ModernMediev...
Reposted by Shahnameh blacksmith
My great uncle Reza fled Iran and arrived in the UK in the 70s. All he had was some Persian rugs, which he sold to start his life over. Starmer’s Labour would have denied him that chance and a huge part of my family would never have existed.
Shabana Mahmood casually saying they're gonna take migrant's jewellery off them has got me thinking about that scene in Schindler's List where the Jewish family wrap family heirlooms in bread and swallow them.
What the fuck are we?
What the fuck are we?
November 17, 2025 at 4:08 PM
My great uncle Reza fled Iran and arrived in the UK in the 70s. All he had was some Persian rugs, which he sold to start his life over. Starmer’s Labour would have denied him that chance and a huge part of my family would never have existed.
Reposted by Shahnameh blacksmith
The media participated in a years-long psyop that convinced voters Biden's actual immigration policy was Trump's and that Biden's was "open borders."
They did not tell voters that Trump's actual policy was "kidnap abuelas and put them in concentration camps"
They did not tell voters that Trump's actual policy was "kidnap abuelas and put them in concentration camps"
Pundits: Why didn't Kamala Harris run to the center on immigration?
Kamala Harris's campaign speeches:
Kamala Harris's campaign speeches:
November 17, 2025 at 2:37 PM
The media participated in a years-long psyop that convinced voters Biden's actual immigration policy was Trump's and that Biden's was "open borders."
They did not tell voters that Trump's actual policy was "kidnap abuelas and put them in concentration camps"
They did not tell voters that Trump's actual policy was "kidnap abuelas and put them in concentration camps"
Reposted by Shahnameh blacksmith
I'm not linking to the article because 1) I don't know if the woman named ever had a relationship with Larry Summers and 2) I have no idea whether it was consensual. But the fact that he's teaching 3 classes this fall, with all of this going on, and nobody has pulled him out is absolutely bonkers.
November 17, 2025 at 2:04 AM
I'm not linking to the article because 1) I don't know if the woman named ever had a relationship with Larry Summers and 2) I have no idea whether it was consensual. But the fact that he's teaching 3 classes this fall, with all of this going on, and nobody has pulled him out is absolutely bonkers.
Reposted by Shahnameh blacksmith
What this reveals is that for most people in charge right now “AI” is less useful as a technology than as a piece of language to shift a conversation in whatever direction they need it to go. In one minute it will propel a new economy; in another it’s the reason for a recession.
November 17, 2025 at 1:39 PM
What this reveals is that for most people in charge right now “AI” is less useful as a technology than as a piece of language to shift a conversation in whatever direction they need it to go. In one minute it will propel a new economy; in another it’s the reason for a recession.
Reposted by Shahnameh blacksmith
Could argue the misogyny Summers expressed both publicly while president of Harvard and in emails to Epstein says more about the culture at our most elite institutions than any of the frontpage freakouts over academia in the past few years but hey
November 17, 2025 at 12:36 PM
Could argue the misogyny Summers expressed both publicly while president of Harvard and in emails to Epstein says more about the culture at our most elite institutions than any of the frontpage freakouts over academia in the past few years but hey
Just like in the US except we don't quite have our own Labour Party.
According to all polling ever, the British public has never been more in favour of immigration than now.
migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk/resources/br...
But the British political class are determined to change that.
migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk/resources/br...
But the British political class are determined to change that.
November 17, 2025 at 1:21 PM
Just like in the US except we don't quite have our own Labour Party.
Reposted by Shahnameh blacksmith
If you're looking for illustrations for "AI", don't use robots, glowing disembodied brains, or computer code in empty space. Here are a some alternative suggestions:
November 17, 2025 at 10:45 AM
If you're looking for illustrations for "AI", don't use robots, glowing disembodied brains, or computer code in empty space. Here are a some alternative suggestions:
Reposted by Shahnameh blacksmith
*slaps roof of history*
Just seeing how much more fascism we can fit in this decade.
Just seeing how much more fascism we can fit in this decade.
November 17, 2025 at 1:08 PM
*slaps roof of history*
Just seeing how much more fascism we can fit in this decade.
Just seeing how much more fascism we can fit in this decade.
Reposted by Shahnameh blacksmith
2028 watch: The most effective ad for Prop 50 came not from Gavin Newsom. It came from AOC.
-Super PAC Future Forward found that Ocasio-Cortez's direct-to-camera ad did better than ads featuring Newsom — Prop 50's chief cheerleader — and Barack Obama.
www.axios.com/2025/11/16/a...
-Super PAC Future Forward found that Ocasio-Cortez's direct-to-camera ad did better than ads featuring Newsom — Prop 50's chief cheerleader — and Barack Obama.
www.axios.com/2025/11/16/a...
Scoop: AOC's ad outscores Newsom's in California redistricting campaign
The report is a sign the progressive star could be a formidable opponent against Newsom — even in his home state — in a presidential primary.
www.axios.com
November 17, 2025 at 2:51 AM
2028 watch: The most effective ad for Prop 50 came not from Gavin Newsom. It came from AOC.
-Super PAC Future Forward found that Ocasio-Cortez's direct-to-camera ad did better than ads featuring Newsom — Prop 50's chief cheerleader — and Barack Obama.
www.axios.com/2025/11/16/a...
-Super PAC Future Forward found that Ocasio-Cortez's direct-to-camera ad did better than ads featuring Newsom — Prop 50's chief cheerleader — and Barack Obama.
www.axios.com/2025/11/16/a...
Reposted by Shahnameh blacksmith
There are about 1000 Epstein survivors. One thousand.
NEW: Epstein survivors release the most powerful PSA I have ever seen.
Make this go viral so every member of the House of Representatives sees it.
Make this go viral so every member of the House of Representatives sees it.
November 17, 2025 at 2:06 AM
There are about 1000 Epstein survivors. One thousand.
Reposted by Shahnameh blacksmith
Seattle's streets, working as designed by taxpayer-funded city traffic engineers; Seattle's drivers, responding to city/state/federal incentives and subsidies.
Seattle Fire is currently responding to a driver who hit a 2-year-old child and then fled the scene at Alki Avenue SW near 61st Ave SW.
Driver was last seen heading south on Alki.
Driver was last seen heading south on Alki.
November 16, 2025 at 11:17 PM
Seattle's streets, working as designed by taxpayer-funded city traffic engineers; Seattle's drivers, responding to city/state/federal incentives and subsidies.
ACTUAL fascist governments in the 1930s didn't have social media websites and apps. Checkmate libs.
November 16, 2025 at 5:20 PM
ACTUAL fascist governments in the 1930s didn't have social media websites and apps. Checkmate libs.
Reposted by Shahnameh blacksmith
Harlem Avenue could be one of the most productive city-suburban bus routes ever if we ever stopped arbitrarily designing bus routes around city/suburban boundaries
Do you ever think about how the bus route that connects with the MD-W, UP-W, Green Line, Blue Line, and BNSF, and also is almost always a Top-5 Pace ridership route, ends in a random parking lot instead of the CTA rail terminal and international airport three miles away? Because I do, often
November 15, 2025 at 10:33 PM
Harlem Avenue could be one of the most productive city-suburban bus routes ever if we ever stopped arbitrarily designing bus routes around city/suburban boundaries
Reposted by Shahnameh blacksmith
I wanted to share probably the most important sermon I’ve given and it’s while I’m being arrested. It’s torture pure and simple what happens at #Broadview. I’m ok, though I was thrown to the ground and choked with my pectoral cross. A review of the video shows I was peaceful - did I deserve this?
November 15, 2025 at 5:57 AM
I wanted to share probably the most important sermon I’ve given and it’s while I’m being arrested. It’s torture pure and simple what happens at #Broadview. I’m ok, though I was thrown to the ground and choked with my pectoral cross. A review of the video shows I was peaceful - did I deserve this?
Reposted by Shahnameh blacksmith
“Gen Z has the lowest racial resentment of any generation ever studied.”
Important work from @jakemgrumbach.bsky.social that offers a clear explanation of why there is an intense push to change school curricula to make them more white supremacist
newrepublic.com/article/2030...
Important work from @jakemgrumbach.bsky.social that offers a clear explanation of why there is an intense push to change school curricula to make them more white supremacist
newrepublic.com/article/2030...
The Shocking Truth About Gen Z Voters Is That They’re Pretty Great
Stop panicking: They are the most progressive generation ever, especially on race. If that surprises you, you’ve been listening to the wrong story.
newrepublic.com
November 15, 2025 at 3:25 PM
“Gen Z has the lowest racial resentment of any generation ever studied.”
Important work from @jakemgrumbach.bsky.social that offers a clear explanation of why there is an intense push to change school curricula to make them more white supremacist
newrepublic.com/article/2030...
Important work from @jakemgrumbach.bsky.social that offers a clear explanation of why there is an intense push to change school curricula to make them more white supremacist
newrepublic.com/article/2030...
Reposted by Shahnameh blacksmith
A lot of people probably won't get how finely crafted this joke is and how many layers it has, applause to Jane
November 5, 2025 at 8:51 AM
A lot of people probably won't get how finely crafted this joke is and how many layers it has, applause to Jane
Reposted by Shahnameh blacksmith
![4-panel vertical comic. (1) 100 Years Ago [two people standing next to bicycle with small car nearby] PERSON 1: It’s too dangerous riding a bike with these cars around. I should get a car, too. (2) 50 Years Ago [two people between smaller car and bigger car] PERSON 2 with short hair: Small cars are less safe in collisions with larger vehicles, so I should get a bigger one. (3) Today [two people between big car and even bigger car] PERSON 1: Everyone has huge SUVs now. If I don’t get the biggest one, I’m putting my family at risk. (4) Soon [two people next to large armored car with spiked clubs attached] PERSON 2: If I don’t install more whirling spike clubs, I’ll be destroyed by all the other drivers who...](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:cz73r7iyiqn26upot4jtjdhk/bafkreiby6can6k76yzfmv2czxs4pu2l7zie7bqbrpswi7h3ifmiadkuqvu@jpeg)
Illinois Fall foliage can be amazing sometimes. Not the blazing yellow and red of maples, but an intensely warm brown and burgundy of oaks and hickory. I&M Canal Path west of Joliet.
November 14, 2025 at 10:21 PM
Illinois Fall foliage can be amazing sometimes. Not the blazing yellow and red of maples, but an intensely warm brown and burgundy of oaks and hickory. I&M Canal Path west of Joliet.
With apologies to K-Pop Demon Hunters: "Are you ready for the shake-down?"
Mafia governance in action
"the only offer on the table was that I needed to resign by 5pm that day or the DOJ would basically rain hell on UVA... If I did not resign that day, I was told that the DOJ would extract/block hundreds of millions of dollars from UVA before they would even negotiate."
"the only offer on the table was that I needed to resign by 5pm that day or the DOJ would basically rain hell on UVA... If I did not resign that day, I was told that the DOJ would extract/block hundreds of millions of dollars from UVA before they would even negotiate."
November 14, 2025 at 3:37 PM
With apologies to K-Pop Demon Hunters: "Are you ready for the shake-down?"
Reposted by Shahnameh blacksmith
Lots of folks captioning aurora photos like "for a few minutes we didn't think about politics"
guess I'm built different, every time I'm out trying to see night sky stuff I frequently think about how much light pollution is entirely preventable with just a tiny bit of regulation
guess I'm built different, every time I'm out trying to see night sky stuff I frequently think about how much light pollution is entirely preventable with just a tiny bit of regulation
November 13, 2025 at 10:03 PM
Lots of folks captioning aurora photos like "for a few minutes we didn't think about politics"
guess I'm built different, every time I'm out trying to see night sky stuff I frequently think about how much light pollution is entirely preventable with just a tiny bit of regulation
guess I'm built different, every time I'm out trying to see night sky stuff I frequently think about how much light pollution is entirely preventable with just a tiny bit of regulation
Reposted by Shahnameh blacksmith
townes van zandt’s If I Needed You…i can’t even think of a funny post to make about it i just need to flag for you all that that song is simply the most staggeringly gorgeous little thing
November 13, 2025 at 9:26 PM
townes van zandt’s If I Needed You…i can’t even think of a funny post to make about it i just need to flag for you all that that song is simply the most staggeringly gorgeous little thing
Reposted by Shahnameh blacksmith
Tonight the Northern Lights over Chicago. Last night was a high-bar to reach, but it's rather amazing to see the aurora borealis this active this far south of the Arctic Circle
November 13, 2025 at 3:46 AM
Tonight the Northern Lights over Chicago. Last night was a high-bar to reach, but it's rather amazing to see the aurora borealis this active this far south of the Arctic Circle
Reposted by Shahnameh blacksmith
He's on a mission from God
What's from Chicago, hates Illinois Nazis, and is holy as fuck?
It's the Pope in 1982.
It's the Pope in 1982.
November 13, 2025 at 2:13 AM
He's on a mission from God
Reposted by Shahnameh blacksmith
November 12, 2025 at 3:29 AM