The Lydian forces were defeated, and Croesus' capital, Sardis, fell into the hands of the Persians. The great empire that fell was not Persia, but Lydia itself. This misinterpretation of the oracle's prophecy led to the end of Croesus' reign and the absorption of Lydia into the Persian Empire.
The prophecy, however, did not specify which empire would fall. As Croesus crossed the Halys River and engaged the Persian forces, he soon realized the true meaning of the oracle's words.
The oracle's response was famously cryptic: "If you cross the Halys River, a great empire will fall." Interpreting this as a favorable omen, Croesus believed it predicted the downfall of the Persian Empire. Confident in the oracle's words, he amassed his army and marched into battle.
Croesus, renowned for his immense wealth and prosperous kingdom, was wary of the rising power of the Persian Empire. Seeking to secure his reign and protect his kingdom, he decided to consult the Oracle of Delphi. He wanted to know whether he should go to war against the Persians.
Alex Hall's full @bylinetimes.bsky.social analysis of #Trump's #Davos speech is available here: bylinetimes.com/2026/01/21/d...
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In the eighteenth century the rise of literacy precipitated the greatest transfer of knowledge into the hands of ordinary men and women in history and helped to destroy the old feudal order in Europe.
As literacy recedes a neo-feudal future looms.
substack.com/home/post/p-...
A dark blue background features a vertical yellow and blue strip on the left side, representing the Ukrainian flag. To the left of the Ukrainian flag is a vertical strip with five yellow stars, representing the European Union flag. The words "YOUR FREEDOM IS OUR FREEDOM" are written in bold, white uppercase letters on the right side of the image.
Today is Ukraine’s Independence Day.
We celebrate a nation and its people who are bravely resisting Russia’s war of aggression.
For their freedom. Their peaceful future.
We stand by them for as long as it takes for a just and lasting peace.
With Ukraine, unwaveringly.
Headline: Flares, fireworks and Sweet Caroline Photo of large yob showing the middle finger at a “legitimate concern”/terrorising-migrants protest in Leeds One of the extracts from the article: Protest at hotel for families There were heavy barriers outside the Park Hotel, in Chichester, where 100 anti-immigration protesters had gathered with flags, chanting "send them home". Laura Dand, a mother of two from Chichester, said she felt the city was changing. "I feel incredibly unsafe and I shouldn't have to," she said. "I don't go out in my neighbourhood alone. Women and children looked on from the hotel's window, while a patchwork banner, put up to tell protesters that "child refugees live here", had been sabotaged overnight. Faith, a counter-protester who asked not to use her full name, said many of the children living in the hotel attended local schools "On a normal evening, the courtyard in front is full of kids, it's full of children playing," she said. "They would be out playing if this wasn't happening, but they ve been told to stay inside."
This is what Farage represents. This ignorance. This racism. This hatred. This social media radicalisation.
Shame on every single politician, newspaper, hack and pundit who has helped pave the way to this vicious, stupid, nationalistic version of England.
(Times - a complicit disgrace of a paper)
Sometimes a painting will do it.
A black and white photo of Paul Dirac in his early 20s. He is looking directly at the camera, and while not smiling he does look pleased. Dirac is wearing a dark jacket and white collared shirt. His tie sports a stairstep strip pattern. Dirac has a thin mustache.
A black and white photo of Ernest Lawrence working on part of his cyclotron. Despite working in the lab he is wearing a pinstripe suit with a double-breasted jacket -- a very formal affair by today's standards, totally lab-to-evening wear. There is a white handkerchief in the breast pocket of his jacket. Lawrence his looking away from the camera, at the apparatus that he is working on. He is wearing glasses and his hair is slicked back. The apparatus appears to be two large cylinders (probably supporting magnets) with machinery situated between them.
A color photo of Roger Penrose, presumably from the late 60s or early 70s based on the butterfly collar of his light green shirt. He is also wearing a dark sport coat. His head is tilted slightly, looking at the camera. There are sun-dappled tree branches and foliage in the background.
Paul Dirac (1902, discovered the relativistic equation for fermion wave functions), Ernest Lawrence (1901, invented the cyclotron), and Roger Penrose (1931, developed global view of spacetime and much of what we know about spacetime singularities) were all born #OTD. Pretty good day for physics. 🧪 ⚛️
Occam’s Razor: Hear hooves, assume horses.
Education: “It’s probably a zebra on stilts wearing a horse costume.” open.substack.com/pub/daviddid...
Can't help but be reminded of how author Jonathan Miller schooled Enoch Powell on same.
In 1991, Belgian Mark Eyskens described Europe as an economic giant but a military worm.
Europe is now finding out that being a "military worm" - decades of poor coordination. & underinvestment in defence - has grave economic and political consequences.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
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Miliband gives ‘State of the Climate’ address to Commons.
Net Zero sceptics challenged by ‘radical truth-telling’ as Miliband addresses the Met Office’s State of UK Climate Report.
youtube.com/watch?v=HNhS...
Cheated of feature by dissembling nature.
youtu.be/QI2SufvuKw0
Very nice explanation.
🔥 DENIRO AT CANNES: “In my country we’re fighting like hell for the democracy we once took for granted… Art looks for truth, embraces diversity — that’s why we are a threat to autocrats and fascists.” 🇺🇸
youtube.com/watch?v=jSDL...
Freedom of Movement was robbed from us by a successful Russian influence operation and the worst abuses of democracy in modern British history.
Please repost if you want it restored.
Dutch, astronomer and physicist, Christiaan Huygens, was born 14 April 1629 #histsci
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