Thomas Beck
@tomfodw.bsky.social
Historian of 19th & 20th century Russia/Europe (mostly pre-1921); science fiction author & fan; lover of cats, dogs, chocolate, books, movies, television, baseball, soccer, ice hockey, cricket, Hawaii.
Follow my Substack! https://thomasbeck.substack.com
Follow my Substack! https://thomasbeck.substack.com
they declare their principles in advance before they know the outcomes.
November 15, 2025 at 7:51 PM
they declare their principles in advance before they know the outcomes.
aka 95% of bagels made outside New York or Montreal
November 15, 2025 at 7:50 PM
aka 95% of bagels made outside New York or Montreal
the incoherence on both sides is blithering
November 15, 2025 at 7:49 PM
the incoherence on both sides is blithering
Homer Simpson: “There will be no comeuppances!”
November 15, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Homer Simpson: “There will be no comeuppances!”
the whole point of being a conservative supreme court justice is completely ignoring the effects of your rulings on ordinary people’s lives. it’s kind of a point of pride among them.
November 15, 2025 at 7:47 PM
the whole point of being a conservative supreme court justice is completely ignoring the effects of your rulings on ordinary people’s lives. it’s kind of a point of pride among them.
Tsar Vladimir the Last
November 15, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Tsar Vladimir the Last
nothing new. under Reagan, Bob Strauss complained about ultra liberal Democrats who thought you should get the death penalty for coming up short on affirmative action quotas.
November 15, 2025 at 7:33 PM
nothing new. under Reagan, Bob Strauss complained about ultra liberal Democrats who thought you should get the death penalty for coming up short on affirmative action quotas.
authoritarian personality —kiss the ass of those above you, kick the ass of those below.
November 15, 2025 at 6:46 PM
authoritarian personality —kiss the ass of those above you, kick the ass of those below.
the coach has to ask whether to go for it on 4th and short.
November 15, 2025 at 6:33 PM
the coach has to ask whether to go for it on 4th and short.
Many people do care what “faith leaders” say, so it’s useful (if nothing else) for them to be on our side.
November 15, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Many people do care what “faith leaders” say, so it’s useful (if nothing else) for them to be on our side.
in early 1989, i read a science fiction novel set 20–30 years later in which the Cold War was still consuming the world.
Eight months later the Berlin Wall came down.
Eight months later the Berlin Wall came down.
November 15, 2025 at 6:24 PM
in early 1989, i read a science fiction novel set 20–30 years later in which the Cold War was still consuming the world.
Eight months later the Berlin Wall came down.
Eight months later the Berlin Wall came down.
“The leopards are never supposed to eat MY face!”
November 15, 2025 at 6:22 PM
“The leopards are never supposed to eat MY face!”
outstanding book. equally worth reading is Goodyear’s “President Garfield.”
November 15, 2025 at 6:18 PM
outstanding book. equally worth reading is Goodyear’s “President Garfield.”
all of these is like being asked to name your least favorite intestinal parasite.
November 15, 2025 at 5:54 PM
all of these is like being asked to name your least favorite intestinal parasite.
MAGA doesn’t understand high finance. They do understand (they think) THEIR money going to THOSE people. They have been propagandized into thinking that poor scary brown people are getting all the benefits. Of course, if you point out that most people on welfare are white, they won’t believe you.
November 15, 2025 at 5:47 PM
MAGA doesn’t understand high finance. They do understand (they think) THEIR money going to THOSE people. They have been propagandized into thinking that poor scary brown people are getting all the benefits. Of course, if you point out that most people on welfare are white, they won’t believe you.
if he were innocent he’d be selling copies
November 15, 2025 at 4:39 PM
if he were innocent he’d be selling copies
a likely result from indiscriminate packing too many people into them. and then neglecting them.
November 15, 2025 at 4:38 PM
a likely result from indiscriminate packing too many people into them. and then neglecting them.
he didn’t invent it—we’ve been calling her that for years.
November 15, 2025 at 4:36 PM
he didn’t invent it—we’ve been calling her that for years.
i think there need to be prisons, but fewer and smaller—for the worst of the worst, as it were. however, the proliferation of prisons has an economic structure that will be difficult to overcome—rural communities that depend on prison jobs, private prison companies, guards unions, etc.
November 15, 2025 at 4:28 PM
i think there need to be prisons, but fewer and smaller—for the worst of the worst, as it were. however, the proliferation of prisons has an economic structure that will be difficult to overcome—rural communities that depend on prison jobs, private prison companies, guards unions, etc.
rates can change. until we commit to a Ukrainian victory, we don’t dare make any assumptions.
November 15, 2025 at 1:54 PM
rates can change. until we commit to a Ukrainian victory, we don’t dare make any assumptions.
why i’m glad i’m a historian.
November 15, 2025 at 4:45 AM
why i’m glad i’m a historian.