Ian Randall
@epinicion.bsky.social
1.9K followers 2.3K following 1.9K posts
Archaeologist. Byzantinist. Dr. Also possibly spider from space. He/him.
Posts Media Videos Starter Packs
Pinned
epinicion.bsky.social
My soapbox take is that archaeologists and anthropologists should be helping to shape public policy and infrastructure development. The way we currently behave is like someone who spent their whole life studying cars and then said "Oh no, I have nothing to contribute to current car manufacturing."
epinicion.bsky.social
This is still one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen.
athenepallas.bsky.social
Choose #20paintings that have stayed with you or influenced you — one painting per day for 20 days, in no particular order. No explanations, no reviews, just paintings. #blueskyartchallenge #art #painting

Artist Unknown • Flora (fresco at the Villa Arianna, Stabiae near Pompeii) •
Reposted by Ian Randall
alaintruong.bsky.social
George Hoyningen-Huene, The Acropolis of Athens, 1938.
Reposted by Ian Randall
fernmonkey.bsky.social
My friend Sascha is a professional musician and he's lost a viola bow on the way to Heathrow. Please signal boost to help him get it back.
Lost viola bow on the way from Honor Oak Station to Heathrow Terminal 2. The bow slid from its bow case somewhere along the way, possibly on the train. TFL contacted already.
It weighs 68.2 grams and has got a stamped DODD next to the frog. If any info on this, please pm me.
epinicion.bsky.social
Think you really hit it on the head with 'Misanthropy Masked As Introvertism Culture.'
epinicion.bsky.social
I've always liked small talk, and this really gets to the core of it.
chappelltracker.bsky.social
This Tumblr user summarizes something I've been feeling/doing lately. Against everything going on, it somehow feels helpful.
User homoquartz writes: as long as you smile and nod, people are satisfied. it’s just to show that you are nice and there with good intentions. we’re small in a big world and have to rely on other people to be decent to us. so we do our little human dance to each other to say, “i’m not here to hurt you. here’s something we have in common, like the weather or sports or itchy sweaters, so we both know we’re on the same team. we both agree on a basic fact, like that it is rainy or that being itchy is uncomfortable, and this proves we can get along. i’m being light-hearted and non-threatening right now."
Small talk isn't to get to know a person. It's just a greeting to affirm you're buddies in the universe. I am motivated by wanting the other person to know I am friendly, so I have gotten pretty decent at small tall when I used to hate it.
Reposted by Ian Randall
slurmsmackenzie.bsky.social
GenAI truly was the worst technology to come along at this moment.

An energy and water guzzler when we most urgently need to take climate action.

A disinformation machine as our journalism fails.

A bias machine as fascism takes root.

A job killer in a cost of living crisis.
thevoidencore.bsky.social
The "cognitive decline and brain damage from repeat COVID infections" and "easy to use robot that makes slop and melts your critical thinking skills" is a hell of a combo in a post-fact media ecosystem
Reposted by Ian Randall
Reposted by Ian Randall
livewildly.bsky.social
Everett, Seattle, Tacoma, et al. folks – looking for a foster family for a dog and two cats until they’re owner can find housing again. Know of anyone?
toriglass.bsky.social
Long story short they’re staying in north Seattle (Everett) but need to foster their two cats and a dog until they find housing again. If you know of any pet lovers in Seattle with a little extra space, please put me in touch with them!

2/2
epinicion.bsky.social
and they also end up paying back into the system in several roundabout ways. There are already systems in place to process them into or out of the country once they are discovered. So. . . . . really it's just racism?
epinicion.bsky.social
I have yet to be given a reasonable answer as to why immigration is a problem. Legal immigrants pay into the system, so if your system is having trouble coping with the strain then that sounds to me like bad management. Illegal immigrants largely can't access that system . . . .
epinicion.bsky.social
In our multi-year VtM LARP some of us tried to roleplay this, but it never really got off the ground. We were 20-30 people and most didn't have time for this perspective.
epinicion.bsky.social
Why didn't you? Did you forget?
epinicion.bsky.social
I genuinely don't understand why people use generative AI. Yeah, I get that it's easier, but. . . . . did you forget why you did anything in the first place? It was easier to not get that degree, not ask that question, to not make that painting or write that paper. It was easier to stay in bed.
Reposted by Ian Randall
drnwillburger.bsky.social
Models of everyday life were deposited in #Egyptian tombs. They were supposed to support the deceased in the afterlife. One of the most charming examples is the model of a #cow giving birth.
Carved in wood, painted.
Probably from Meir, #Egypt, dating c. 2040-1985 BC.

📷 Royal Ontario Museum

🏺
The photo shows a wooden model of a cow giving birth accompanied by two men. One man calms the cow while the other ensures a proper delivery.The calf emerges from his mother, licking the hand of the man.
Reposted by Ian Randall
merriam-webster.com
We are thrilled to announce that our NEW Large Language Model will be released on 11.18.25.
Reposted by Ian Randall
Reposted by Ian Randall
debhair.bsky.social
Uno de los mejores Juegos de Rol que existen, sin temor a equivocarme. Este es un mecenazgo necesario para que el proyecto salga adelante!! #lodelrol #Ttrpg
Ars Magica Edición Definitiva on @BackerKit! www.backerkit.com/c/projects/b...
Ars Magica Edición Definitiva
La edición definitiva del mejor juego de rol de magos de la historia, en castellano, con un diseño y unas ilustraciones completamente inéditas.
www.backerkit.com
epinicion.bsky.social
I'm an archaeologist. Sewage systems are sexy.
gbrockell.bsky.social
I’m a socialist mayor. Sewage systems are sexy.
Elizabeth Jacobs, PhD
@elizabethjacobs.bsky.social
I'm an epidemiologist. Sewage systems are sexy.
• Dosco Jones @doscojones.bsky.s... • 4h I'm an engineer. Sewage systems are sexy.
epinicion.bsky.social
You know, there are about 12 alarming things about that sentence.
jasonv.bsky.social
Absolute all-timer sentence in today's @nytimes.com
"some legal experts have called it a crime to summarily execute civilians" says today's New York Times, continuing their long tradition of whitewashing fascism