Fraxinus
@nefooglewitzer.bsky.social
Historian, writer, book-hoarder, enjoyer of: video games, tabletop games, anime, reading, music. Slightly obsessed with Warhammer 40k.
Pronouns: He/him.
Pronouns: He/him.
...I have an S in my name and I don't know what it stands for."
Sorry, I love seeing people talk about Grant because I don't think he gets as much recognition as he should. I'm sure you probably already knew most of this but I wanted to share for others who might not know the full story.
Sorry, I love seeing people talk about Grant because I don't think he gets as much recognition as he should. I'm sure you probably already knew most of this but I wanted to share for others who might not know the full story.
October 3, 2026 at 9:23 PM
...I have an S in my name and I don't know what it stands for."
Sorry, I love seeing people talk about Grant because I don't think he gets as much recognition as he should. I'm sure you probably already knew most of this but I wanted to share for others who might not know the full story.
Sorry, I love seeing people talk about Grant because I don't think he gets as much recognition as he should. I'm sure you probably already knew most of this but I wanted to share for others who might not know the full story.
...assumed his middle name was Simpson (his mother's maiden name).
Almost immediately the other cadets at West Point started making jokes and calling him Uncle Sam Grant, and "Sam" because a nickname that stuck with him among military friends.
At one point he quipped to his wife Julia "You know...
Almost immediately the other cadets at West Point started making jokes and calling him Uncle Sam Grant, and "Sam" because a nickname that stuck with him among military friends.
At one point he quipped to his wife Julia "You know...
October 3, 2026 at 9:22 PM
...assumed his middle name was Simpson (his mother's maiden name).
Almost immediately the other cadets at West Point started making jokes and calling him Uncle Sam Grant, and "Sam" because a nickname that stuck with him among military friends.
At one point he quipped to his wife Julia "You know...
Almost immediately the other cadets at West Point started making jokes and calling him Uncle Sam Grant, and "Sam" because a nickname that stuck with him among military friends.
At one point he quipped to his wife Julia "You know...
Grant is my favorite historical character and something of a personal hero. I love this story.
For those who may want more detail, he just went by Ulysses because he hated the name Hiram, and the person who his father badgered into recommending him for West Point didn't know him personally and...
For those who may want more detail, he just went by Ulysses because he hated the name Hiram, and the person who his father badgered into recommending him for West Point didn't know him personally and...
October 3, 2026 at 9:20 PM
Grant is my favorite historical character and something of a personal hero. I love this story.
For those who may want more detail, he just went by Ulysses because he hated the name Hiram, and the person who his father badgered into recommending him for West Point didn't know him personally and...
For those who may want more detail, he just went by Ulysses because he hated the name Hiram, and the person who his father badgered into recommending him for West Point didn't know him personally and...
I would argue that this applies to any medium where authors change and where there is limited oversight from above. Black Library novels come to mind.
September 30, 2026 at 2:05 AM
I would argue that this applies to any medium where authors change and where there is limited oversight from above. Black Library novels come to mind.
I was gonna say, if someone didn't know what a table was, this would be very unhelpful.
September 21, 2026 at 4:57 PM
I was gonna say, if someone didn't know what a table was, this would be very unhelpful.
Aaand he blocked me. Makes sense.
September 14, 2026 at 11:23 PM
Aaand he blocked me. Makes sense.
You're arguing with yourself at this point, because when did I ever mention iron or steel?
What do you think we're discussing here?
Literally all I'm talking about is the degree of cross-cultural contact.
What do you think we're discussing here?
Literally all I'm talking about is the degree of cross-cultural contact.
September 14, 2026 at 11:00 PM
You're arguing with yourself at this point, because when did I ever mention iron or steel?
What do you think we're discussing here?
Literally all I'm talking about is the degree of cross-cultural contact.
What do you think we're discussing here?
Literally all I'm talking about is the degree of cross-cultural contact.
I have found as a general rule the more ego you bring into a conversation the less productive it will generally be; and besides, this is an argument from authority fallacy.
I also happen to be qualified in history, that doesn't mean either of us are immune to being wrong.
I also happen to be qualified in history, that doesn't mean either of us are immune to being wrong.
September 14, 2026 at 10:59 PM
I have found as a general rule the more ego you bring into a conversation the less productive it will generally be; and besides, this is an argument from authority fallacy.
I also happen to be qualified in history, that doesn't mean either of us are immune to being wrong.
I also happen to be qualified in history, that doesn't mean either of us are immune to being wrong.
...and the distances across which connection was made.
You're being awfully hostile and inferring a lot that I never said.
You're being awfully hostile and inferring a lot that I never said.
September 14, 2026 at 10:57 PM
...and the distances across which connection was made.
You're being awfully hostile and inferring a lot that I never said.
You're being awfully hostile and inferring a lot that I never said.
But to describe the Americas as "the melting pot" of human history is simply incorrect. If we were to choose a single area to be "the melting pot" it would surely be either the Mediterranean, the Middle-East, or some part of Asia, just in terms of the number of different cultures that interacted...
September 14, 2026 at 10:56 PM
But to describe the Americas as "the melting pot" of human history is simply incorrect. If we were to choose a single area to be "the melting pot" it would surely be either the Mediterranean, the Middle-East, or some part of Asia, just in terms of the number of different cultures that interacted...
...civilizations in the slightest. The Inca still had a massive empire, advanced roads, amazing earthquake-resistant stone architecture, and the Qipu system of record-keeping. The Mayans, along with North American civilizations like the Hopewell, achieved astonishing feats of astronomy.
September 14, 2026 at 10:55 PM
...civilizations in the slightest. The Inca still had a massive empire, advanced roads, amazing earthquake-resistant stone architecture, and the Qipu system of record-keeping. The Mayans, along with North American civilizations like the Hopewell, achieved astonishing feats of astronomy.
The term "melting pot" implies many different cultures intermixing and sharing ideas, knowledge, etc. This happened in Europe, the Middle-East, North Africa, and Asia *far more* than it happened in the pre-Columbian Americas. This is not intended as a slight towards the indiginous American...
September 14, 2026 at 10:54 PM
The term "melting pot" implies many different cultures intermixing and sharing ideas, knowledge, etc. This happened in Europe, the Middle-East, North Africa, and Asia *far more* than it happened in the pre-Columbian Americas. This is not intended as a slight towards the indiginous American...
Firstly, the term "dark ages" is pretty unpopular in academic circles these days. But you're right that the Islamic world was by far more advanced in most regards than contemporary European societies.
However, I never claimed otherwise so I'm not sure what point you're even trying to argue?
However, I never claimed otherwise so I'm not sure what point you're even trying to argue?
September 14, 2026 at 10:53 PM
Firstly, the term "dark ages" is pretty unpopular in academic circles these days. But you're right that the Islamic world was by far more advanced in most regards than contemporary European societies.
However, I never claimed otherwise so I'm not sure what point you're even trying to argue?
However, I never claimed otherwise so I'm not sure what point you're even trying to argue?
...advanced networks of trade and were undoubtedly interconnected, it was nothing compared to, say, the Middle East (from Alexander the Great to the Silk Road to the Mongols and beyond).
September 14, 2026 at 9:24 PM
...advanced networks of trade and were undoubtedly interconnected, it was nothing compared to, say, the Middle East (from Alexander the Great to the Silk Road to the Mongols and beyond).
Actually, one of the things that makes the history of the Americas unique is that they were considerably less of a "mixing pot" than almost anywhere else (barring, I guess, Australia).
Pre-Columbian American civilzations had essentially no contact with any other continent. While they had...
Pre-Columbian American civilzations had essentially no contact with any other continent. While they had...
September 14, 2026 at 9:21 PM
Actually, one of the things that makes the history of the Americas unique is that they were considerably less of a "mixing pot" than almost anywhere else (barring, I guess, Australia).
Pre-Columbian American civilzations had essentially no contact with any other continent. While they had...
Pre-Columbian American civilzations had essentially no contact with any other continent. While they had...
At least Sevatar clowning on his failure of a father is lore-accurate.
September 1, 2026 at 4:51 PM
At least Sevatar clowning on his failure of a father is lore-accurate.
Insane take, honestly. As a Thousand Sons player, they are far more distinct from CSM in terms of playstyle than Deathwatch are from SM.
August 28, 2026 at 6:24 PM
Insane take, honestly. As a Thousand Sons player, they are far more distinct from CSM in terms of playstyle than Deathwatch are from SM.
Put TSons up there too, if you remove models that we share with either CSM or AoS Tzeentch we have literally five non-named-character model kits (Sorcerers, Infernal Master, Rubrics, Scarabs, and Sekhetar Robots).
August 28, 2026 at 6:22 PM
Put TSons up there too, if you remove models that we share with either CSM or AoS Tzeentch we have literally five non-named-character model kits (Sorcerers, Infernal Master, Rubrics, Scarabs, and Sekhetar Robots).
I'm with the reply, this one's on her. Literally failing an open-book test.
August 22, 2026 at 6:11 PM
I'm with the reply, this one's on her. Literally failing an open-book test.
...of the poems is a mirror of the world at that time, or at least how the people a few centuries later viewed it.
And also, actual historically authentic costumes are so much cooler-looking than the generic fantasy slop that the Odyssey - and so many other historical fiction movies - are full of.
And also, actual historically authentic costumes are so much cooler-looking than the generic fantasy slop that the Odyssey - and so many other historical fiction movies - are full of.
August 16, 2026 at 4:26 AM
...of the poems is a mirror of the world at that time, or at least how the people a few centuries later viewed it.
And also, actual historically authentic costumes are so much cooler-looking than the generic fantasy slop that the Odyssey - and so many other historical fiction movies - are full of.
And also, actual historically authentic costumes are so much cooler-looking than the generic fantasy slop that the Odyssey - and so many other historical fiction movies - are full of.
...and we know for a fact that the city of Wilusa / Ilium / Troy existed, and was destroyed (and rebuilt, and destroyed again; but one destruction is pretty conclusively linked to the Bronze Age Collapse and identified with the "Trojan War").
So yes, there are cyclopes and sirens but the world...
So yes, there are cyclopes and sirens but the world...
August 16, 2026 at 4:24 AM
...and we know for a fact that the city of Wilusa / Ilium / Troy existed, and was destroyed (and rebuilt, and destroyed again; but one destruction is pretty conclusively linked to the Bronze Age Collapse and identified with the "Trojan War").
So yes, there are cyclopes and sirens but the world...
So yes, there are cyclopes and sirens but the world...
Okay, but here's the thing:
The poem, and the myth its based on, are set in fictionalized history. They are a distant echo of events that probably sort of happened. The people of Archaic and Classical Greece - the ones telling and retelling the story - certainly believed that they happened...
The poem, and the myth its based on, are set in fictionalized history. They are a distant echo of events that probably sort of happened. The people of Archaic and Classical Greece - the ones telling and retelling the story - certainly believed that they happened...
August 16, 2026 at 4:22 AM
Okay, but here's the thing:
The poem, and the myth its based on, are set in fictionalized history. They are a distant echo of events that probably sort of happened. The people of Archaic and Classical Greece - the ones telling and retelling the story - certainly believed that they happened...
The poem, and the myth its based on, are set in fictionalized history. They are a distant echo of events that probably sort of happened. The people of Archaic and Classical Greece - the ones telling and retelling the story - certainly believed that they happened...
I was never as obsessed with HP as some, but I still enjoyed it as a child and often look back on that and wonder at how oblivious I must have been to just about everything.
August 10, 2026 at 12:36 PM
I was never as obsessed with HP as some, but I still enjoyed it as a child and often look back on that and wonder at how oblivious I must have been to just about everything.
...personally say it is more "creative" than a movie like Gladiator, which - as much as I love it - is a pretty formulaic revenge story.
August 10, 2026 at 12:10 PM
...personally say it is more "creative" than a movie like Gladiator, which - as much as I love it - is a pretty formulaic revenge story.
...other, but there is so much to draw from in the breadth of human experience that it's just a matter of choosing the setting and/or period that matches your vision.
One example, HBO's Rome is generally considered one of the most accurate media portrayals of ancient Rome - I would also...
One example, HBO's Rome is generally considered one of the most accurate media portrayals of ancient Rome - I would also...
August 10, 2026 at 12:09 PM
...other, but there is so much to draw from in the breadth of human experience that it's just a matter of choosing the setting and/or period that matches your vision.
One example, HBO's Rome is generally considered one of the most accurate media portrayals of ancient Rome - I would also...
One example, HBO's Rome is generally considered one of the most accurate media portrayals of ancient Rome - I would also...