We have neither the procurement competence nor the industrial base to warrant spending multiple billions of pounds on arms. We could, however, very usefully invest in re-establishing a properly functional diplomatic service that is more than an international agent of the Dept of Business.

Palestinian human rights organizations have paid a heavy price for reporting and giving evidence to the ICC. Palestine's oldest HR organization al-Haq survives still, but it has lost all of its American partners and can't pay its staff because of Israeli-US sanctions on it.

#AncientBluesky #ClassicsBluesky In the Hippias Major, Plato has Hippias say (285d–e) that because the Spartans are fascinated by ancient history—the genealogies of heroes and men, the ancient foundings of poleis—he has had to research and learn this stuff thoroughly for his speeches there

Manchester results (in the 32 seats up for election): Greens: 18 (+17) Reform: 7 (+7) Labour: 6 (-24) Lib Dems: 1 (+0) BBC: "Major gains for Reform!!!1!"

This is what the Israeli Police did to an Arab Israeli Lawyer after they entered his home without a warrant and beat him unconscious. This is an Israeli citizen, beaten in his own home after they broke in without a warrant. Imagine what they do to Palestinians.

Knole, Good Friday

River Lea

France launches one-euro university meals for all students

@ralphbrooker.bsky.social might enjoy at least the John McCabe here

This stabbing happened in London last month and it was barely even mentioned.

Very nice interview on the consistently interesting Byzantium and Friends about the Dumbarton Oaks Medieval Library. www.podbean.com/ew/pb-n6vfr-...

Very interesting graduate conference on 'Styles of perception' at York. There's still time to submit! sites.google.com/view/styleso... #philosophy #perception

How have allowed a system in which a commercial bank will accrue as much revenue when someone buys a house as will the seller of the house? It’s as if we’ve allowed banks to run a tax on home buying; a tax which dwarves stamp duty.

You think you know what belief is? No! At best you have an accidentally true opinion, unless you've read Jonathan Lewis-Jong's and my edited collection, The Nature of Belief, hot off the press at OUP. (Also available open access at OUP's website.)

The Perseus Digital Library is excited to announce new developments regarding the Scaife Viewer: a long-planned movement of Scaife to Tufts IT infrastructure, first steps on the integration of morphology and dictionary tools, and the first inclusion of commentaries. Please go here to read more:

The government dodging basic safety responsibilities. "The government told the Guardian that it was up to companies to ensure their goods were safe and to act if they were found to be hazardous." #PublicHealth www.theguardian.com/money/2026/a...

“A combination of strongly held belief and uncompelling argument often betrays something philosophically deep.”

Well, this was unexpected

In next week's FitMA lecture, Justin Winzenrietz (University of Tübingen) will talk about one of the oldest Greek manuscripts of Aristotle's works, which is a unique witness of his "De anima". Remote attendance is possible! hiw.kuleuven.be/dwmc/researc...

River Lea, Bow

If we’re going to plough huge money into defence, and also want a population which has sufficient numbers of people willing to join up, we’d better fund it through land and wealth taxes.

Moves into the most heartfelt and excoriating rant against Trump. Very satisfyingly real anger from Scott Ritter. www.youtube.com/live/C4XjdkW...

Seeing as Richard Tice held the moral high-ground on Angela Rayner's tax affairs, it's only fair he holds himself to the same standards.

OUP tells me I should share this. And publicise my book. So here it goes. Please read my book. It has a pretty cover. It's cheap (for an academic book) and you can have this discount! Also please review it, somewhere fancy if possible!

A load of white guys refusing to accept the U.K. should withdraw their bases from Cyprus and what Cypriots want doesn’t matter, because Britain knows best, comparing it to Afghanistan (face palm), and they think they are the progressive ones

The Telegraph just gave a convicted criminal a two-page spread to explain why he's pumping £4 million into Reform UK. They tucked his criminal record away in the small print. So as a former financial crime specialist I’ll do their job for them👇

Why is the Labour government preparing a crackdown on protests against the illegal war it’s enabling – and the cost-of-living crisis it risks fuelling – instead of acting to stop people struggling? www.lbc.co.uk/article/iran...