"there is always an oligarchy" - words of Ronald Syme I never forget

Someone is excited that it's #Caturday tomorrow

"there is always an oligarchy" - words of Ronald Syme I never forget

Then and now the focus on individuals - Peter Mandelson and Michelle Mone - diverts attention from the real point. Our institutions, which should protect the public, just nod along with what is a kind of theft by the privileged. No one goes to prison, no one is ever held accountable.

Where could the cat be?

Be cat, do climbs; then nest and be cosy.

She also got a new perch for Christmas

Who says black cats don't photograph well?

Partly an homage to Cabin Pressure

OCTOPUS!!!

The darkness brooded on the arms of the chair

Excellent!!

Four hundred oligarchs,
Fear, honour and interest,
A bipolar conflict
And a κτῆμά ἐς αἰεὶ.

On the ninth day of Christmas, Thucydides sent to me
Nine IR Realists
Eight toiling triremes
Seven sorry Spartans
Six truest causes
Tragic irony!

because for me while yes pleasure is central to the effort, it’s a complex pleasure that can be transformative if I allow it to be, and “be less ignorant” is a yearly, endlessly renewable goal

Nyx ruling Christmas

Being nursed back to health by Nyx and the power of sleepies

Recent Nyx, featuring help on academic tasks; sleepies; independent study of philosophy; and pure joyful posing

*enters the room, cloak flapping*

“This opuscule appears to me utterly remiss”

*leaves*

An academic disliked an Oxford Very Short Introduction (145 pages) in his field so much that he wrote a 200 page book review attacking it. www.pierre-legrand.com/ewExternalFi...

I read the stuff academics wrote and knew I could do the same or better.

I would totally go to a clubnight called the Unlimited Tea Works

The reckless joy of the addict

Overboard! 2025 YouTube video by Classics for All

This was terrific fun - sharing my own 'bit', but do watch the whole thing!
www.youtube.com/live/T7x5syH...

New Nyx furniture

The reckless joy of the addict

As always, Nyx is grateful to @noreenmasud.bsky.social for telling her papa to get silvervine

Little dog with big hipster beard

Makes his own kimchi and likes the warm sound you only get with vinyl.

Or monks. I'm sure nuns were using them sustainably.

Hey, those were observed from life! They went extinct for....reasons.