Dr. Stuart McCunn
@stubacca01.bsky.social
PhD Classics, book addict, inveterate film buff
Opposition to the “Catholic” Church = Protestantism apparently? Like, what else do the Armenian Church (Christ is both fully human and fully divine) and the Cathars (Christ was fully divine and his humanity was an illusion) share with Protestantism?
December 7, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Opposition to the “Catholic” Church = Protestantism apparently? Like, what else do the Armenian Church (Christ is both fully human and fully divine) and the Cathars (Christ was fully divine and his humanity was an illusion) share with Protestantism?
They also had the ideal of repaying the community through charity and public works. Yeah, it was self-promotional, but that is not a bad expectation.
The modern robber barons think they contribute to society as “job providers” simply by being rich and that we owe them. These are not the same.
The modern robber barons think they contribute to society as “job providers” simply by being rich and that we owe them. These are not the same.
December 7, 2025 at 6:44 AM
They also had the ideal of repaying the community through charity and public works. Yeah, it was self-promotional, but that is not a bad expectation.
The modern robber barons think they contribute to society as “job providers” simply by being rich and that we owe them. These are not the same.
The modern robber barons think they contribute to society as “job providers” simply by being rich and that we owe them. These are not the same.
Letting the pedos win is official WH policy now tbf.
December 6, 2025 at 3:07 AM
Letting the pedos win is official WH policy now tbf.
A part of me suspects this is them thinking they’re playing three-dimensional chess. If they reject Trump’s case on this it “proves” they’re still nonpartisan. Although a 5-4 decision in favor where 4/9 judges think they are Judge Dredd is not notably less bad to my mind.
December 5, 2025 at 11:21 PM
A part of me suspects this is them thinking they’re playing three-dimensional chess. If they reject Trump’s case on this it “proves” they’re still nonpartisan. Although a 5-4 decision in favor where 4/9 judges think they are Judge Dredd is not notably less bad to my mind.
I hate the death penalty too, but in a world where war criminals will get pardoned as an act of policy to encourage further crimes I find myself forced to question that. There are certain moral stances that are unquestionably right, yet can only work in a society bound by law and common decency.
December 5, 2025 at 10:00 PM
I hate the death penalty too, but in a world where war criminals will get pardoned as an act of policy to encourage further crimes I find myself forced to question that. There are certain moral stances that are unquestionably right, yet can only work in a society bound by law and common decency.
That is to say, leadership is still presenting itself as eager to capitulate or cede points to Republicans and that is where people look to assess the state of the party. But cracks are showing as moderate but sane members get radicalized under pressure and they will increasingly set the tone.
December 5, 2025 at 9:56 PM
That is to say, leadership is still presenting itself as eager to capitulate or cede points to Republicans and that is where people look to assess the state of the party. But cracks are showing as moderate but sane members get radicalized under pressure and they will increasingly set the tone.
I don’t think people are imagining leadership’s efforts to keep a lid on it. They want a return to an imagined “normal” where they control the narrative. But once those plugs are removed (say when a new nominee is chosen) I think people will be astounded at how quickly all that energy gets released.
December 5, 2025 at 9:52 PM
I don’t think people are imagining leadership’s efforts to keep a lid on it. They want a return to an imagined “normal” where they control the narrative. But once those plugs are removed (say when a new nominee is chosen) I think people will be astounded at how quickly all that energy gets released.
Mercy and reconciliation for anyone who abandons the regime over its countless evil deeds. In the long run we want this to be a story of how everyone was always against this. But nothing but death or prison to the traitors and murderers who actively defiled our civilization.
December 5, 2025 at 6:52 PM
Mercy and reconciliation for anyone who abandons the regime over its countless evil deeds. In the long run we want this to be a story of how everyone was always against this. But nothing but death or prison to the traitors and murderers who actively defiled our civilization.
It’s bullshit to historians, very much an issue to literature scholars. I suspect Old English works better as a linguistic descriptor, while Anglo-Saxon makes more sense as an ethnic term since it emphasizes blending. But that seems too nuanced a take for those who want war.
December 4, 2025 at 2:52 PM
It’s bullshit to historians, very much an issue to literature scholars. I suspect Old English works better as a linguistic descriptor, while Anglo-Saxon makes more sense as an ethnic term since it emphasizes blending. But that seems too nuanced a take for those who want war.
Don’t last nearly as long either. I have a 2012 Civic with over 200,000 miles on it. Previous car was a 1992 Accord and it was dying after maybe half that. My semiserious complaint is that this means I’ll never get to have a new car with ApplePlay and bluetooth because this one will never die.
December 4, 2025 at 2:40 PM
Don’t last nearly as long either. I have a 2012 Civic with over 200,000 miles on it. Previous car was a 1992 Accord and it was dying after maybe half that. My semiserious complaint is that this means I’ll never get to have a new car with ApplePlay and bluetooth because this one will never die.
Reposted by Dr. Stuart McCunn
No, but desperation and rage is going to make him even more extreme. If we see an attempt to violently seize control of government it will come when he feels power slipping from his grasp. Violence becomes more likely the more he fails.
December 3, 2025 at 4:43 AM
No, but desperation and rage is going to make him even more extreme. If we see an attempt to violently seize control of government it will come when he feels power slipping from his grasp. Violence becomes more likely the more he fails.
In 476, let’s say. 😜
December 2, 2025 at 2:57 PM
In 476, let’s say. 😜
And once they find out you’re an ANCIENT historian: hey, isn’t this current event/moral behavior just like what people did when the Roman Empire was collapsing?
December 2, 2025 at 2:56 PM
And once they find out you’re an ANCIENT historian: hey, isn’t this current event/moral behavior just like what people did when the Roman Empire was collapsing?
I refuse to consider a house that has any fewer than eight bathrooms, so seven’s a dealbreaker for me. Oh well.
December 2, 2025 at 4:48 AM
I refuse to consider a house that has any fewer than eight bathrooms, so seven’s a dealbreaker for me. Oh well.
I always hated the conservative self-righteous monologuing on the need to take responsibility for your actions, especially when it ignored endemic issues that led to the problem.
I hate its absence worse.
I hate its absence worse.
December 1, 2025 at 7:15 AM
I always hated the conservative self-righteous monologuing on the need to take responsibility for your actions, especially when it ignored endemic issues that led to the problem.
I hate its absence worse.
I hate its absence worse.
This was very visible during the pandemic. The horror at people unwilling to suffer the most mild of inconveniences to keep you safe was an eye opener.
December 1, 2025 at 6:46 AM
This was very visible during the pandemic. The horror at people unwilling to suffer the most mild of inconveniences to keep you safe was an eye opener.
It’s kind of amazing that Dems recognized they have a problem with sounding elitist to ordinary people and their focus groups decided to solve that by adding racism and transphobia instead of, you know, talking in ordinary language that doesn’t require an intellectual to explain what it means.
November 30, 2025 at 9:29 PM
It’s kind of amazing that Dems recognized they have a problem with sounding elitist to ordinary people and their focus groups decided to solve that by adding racism and transphobia instead of, you know, talking in ordinary language that doesn’t require an intellectual to explain what it means.
They can’t have a villain because it would be them. Running against Trump’s extreme corruption threatens their milder corruptions. Running on democratic accountability challenges their role as arbiters of politics. So they go for something bland and vague because it doesn’t threaten their status.
November 30, 2025 at 5:54 PM
They can’t have a villain because it would be them. Running against Trump’s extreme corruption threatens their milder corruptions. Running on democratic accountability challenges their role as arbiters of politics. So they go for something bland and vague because it doesn’t threaten their status.
Not in an international court. Turning him over to the Hague has a certain poetic justice to it.
November 30, 2025 at 5:02 AM
Not in an international court. Turning him over to the Hague has a certain poetic justice to it.
Is there any reason to think Trump will feel any shame at just doing it openly right now? I wouldn’t be surprised if he issued a blanket “break any law you like” pardon for all past and future crimes. The sort of things Trump fantasizes of doing to his enemies require lieutenants above the law.
November 30, 2025 at 4:58 AM
Is there any reason to think Trump will feel any shame at just doing it openly right now? I wouldn’t be surprised if he issued a blanket “break any law you like” pardon for all past and future crimes. The sort of things Trump fantasizes of doing to his enemies require lieutenants above the law.
Not just true for crime data. We really have no clue about populations for most of recorded history. Occasionally we’ll find tax records or censuses (China in particular) but even interpreting them is tough. But that doesn’t stop a lot of nonspecialists building flights of fancy off guestimates.
We Do Not Know the Population of Every Country in the World for the Past Two Thousand Years | The Journal of Economic History | Cambridge Core
We Do Not Know the Population of Every Country in the World for the Past Two Thousand Years - Volume 83 Issue 3
www.cambridge.org
November 28, 2025 at 9:29 PM
Not just true for crime data. We really have no clue about populations for most of recorded history. Occasionally we’ll find tax records or censuses (China in particular) but even interpreting them is tough. But that doesn’t stop a lot of nonspecialists building flights of fancy off guestimates.
As far as the 5th century goes, we do actually have some records through the law codes. In 367 Rome got 8 million pounds of pork through the annona. By 452 that shrank by over half. By the end of the century it was 1/10 the amount. Population decline is part of it, but they also just lacked money.
November 28, 2025 at 9:19 PM
As far as the 5th century goes, we do actually have some records through the law codes. In 367 Rome got 8 million pounds of pork through the annona. By 452 that shrank by over half. By the end of the century it was 1/10 the amount. Population decline is part of it, but they also just lacked money.