Birb_at_Arms
@birblib.bsky.social
Skeets about history, politics, martial arts, birbs and post-Soviet space. He/Him
Reposted by Birb_at_Arms
My grandma "accidentally" set the oven to clean when my mom (her daughter) was making her "famous" meatloaf and we were forced to go out to eat instead.
Years later I asked her if she did it on purpose and she said "You've had your mother's cooking. What do you think"
Years later I asked her if she did it on purpose and she said "You've had your mother's cooking. What do you think"
yes, hello, I would like to place an order for everyone’s funniest stories of holiday food-related family grudges / drama / chaotic incidents / lore
I feel like we need this
I feel like we need this
November 25, 2025 at 12:44 AM
My grandma "accidentally" set the oven to clean when my mom (her daughter) was making her "famous" meatloaf and we were forced to go out to eat instead.
Years later I asked her if she did it on purpose and she said "You've had your mother's cooking. What do you think"
Years later I asked her if she did it on purpose and she said "You've had your mother's cooking. What do you think"
It also seems -based on known military movements - like the US invasion plan relies pretty heavily on Maduro either giving up or losing control over the Venezuelan military and getting deposed.
Which certainly *could* happen, but a plan that *requires* it is off to a pretty bad start.
Which certainly *could* happen, but a plan that *requires* it is off to a pretty bad start.
Really looks like the United States is about to launch a regime change war against Venezuela with:
-No casus belli
-No authorization from Congress
-No allies or international support
-No plan for a post-Maduro Venezuela
-No preparation for any sort of stabilization or containment of the fallout
-No casus belli
-No authorization from Congress
-No allies or international support
-No plan for a post-Maduro Venezuela
-No preparation for any sort of stabilization or containment of the fallout
November 24, 2025 at 10:33 PM
It also seems -based on known military movements - like the US invasion plan relies pretty heavily on Maduro either giving up or losing control over the Venezuelan military and getting deposed.
Which certainly *could* happen, but a plan that *requires* it is off to a pretty bad start.
Which certainly *could* happen, but a plan that *requires* it is off to a pretty bad start.
This post - from a great thread - makes an important point: Effective propaganda is usually a matter of interpretation rather than fabrication.
You *could* completely invent a story to support a narrative, but it's easier to find something that actually happened and lie about the broader context.
You *could* completely invent a story to support a narrative, but it's easier to find something that actually happened and lie about the broader context.
4/ [T-15 Months]
The first wave of stories about this make it into Western papers.
Most a tiny grain of truth somewhere deep inside them because Ukraine is a country of 40-50 million people, many of whom lost someone in the war.
At some point, somewhere, someone's gonna drunkenly punch a Russian.
The first wave of stories about this make it into Western papers.
Most a tiny grain of truth somewhere deep inside them because Ukraine is a country of 40-50 million people, many of whom lost someone in the war.
At some point, somewhere, someone's gonna drunkenly punch a Russian.
November 21, 2025 at 3:18 PM
This post - from a great thread - makes an important point: Effective propaganda is usually a matter of interpretation rather than fabrication.
You *could* completely invent a story to support a narrative, but it's easier to find something that actually happened and lie about the broader context.
You *could* completely invent a story to support a narrative, but it's easier to find something that actually happened and lie about the broader context.
Reposted by Birb_at_Arms
1/ What a Russian breaking of the ceasefire will look like, step by step.
There are far better experts on this, but I was an Australian diplomat in Ukraine in 2014 so I've seen this play out up close.
So join me, brothers and sisters, as we count down to a fullscale re-invasion.
There are far better experts on this, but I was an Australian diplomat in Ukraine in 2014 so I've seen this play out up close.
So join me, brothers and sisters, as we count down to a fullscale re-invasion.
November 21, 2025 at 2:23 PM
1/ What a Russian breaking of the ceasefire will look like, step by step.
There are far better experts on this, but I was an Australian diplomat in Ukraine in 2014 so I've seen this play out up close.
So join me, brothers and sisters, as we count down to a fullscale re-invasion.
There are far better experts on this, but I was an Australian diplomat in Ukraine in 2014 so I've seen this play out up close.
So join me, brothers and sisters, as we count down to a fullscale re-invasion.
It's wild that Star is getting so much hate for this because we can look back into the distant past of ~2014-2024 to see if the two parties behaved differently towards Venezuela, and it turns out they did.
For one thing, Trump already made a (hilariously bungled) attempt at regime change in 2020.
For one thing, Trump already made a (hilariously bungled) attempt at regime change in 2020.
What if the political ideology of the people in charge of the armed forces impacts who gets bombed? Does anyone think Kamala Harris would declare war on South American fishermen? Could perhaps having people who think brown people are subhuman in charge of our military impacted matters?
What about the rights of LGBT people getting bombed?
November 20, 2025 at 11:27 PM
It's wild that Star is getting so much hate for this because we can look back into the distant past of ~2014-2024 to see if the two parties behaved differently towards Venezuela, and it turns out they did.
For one thing, Trump already made a (hilariously bungled) attempt at regime change in 2020.
For one thing, Trump already made a (hilariously bungled) attempt at regime change in 2020.
What do you think - illiterate or just ignorant?
November 20, 2025 at 9:35 PM
What do you think - illiterate or just ignorant?
This is an interesting thread about violent crime in the UK, but I think there's a broader point to make about the limitations of civilian marksmanship. It is common to assume that populations in possession of large numbers of firearms will be good at shooting, but this often isn't the case.
in fairness a lot of this is that even when they do have guns UK gangsters are really shit at shooting.
November 4, 2025 at 2:38 PM
This is an interesting thread about violent crime in the UK, but I think there's a broader point to make about the limitations of civilian marksmanship. It is common to assume that populations in possession of large numbers of firearms will be good at shooting, but this often isn't the case.
Reposted by Birb_at_Arms
̶n̶o̶ ̶g̶o̶d̶s̶ ̶n̶o̶ ̶m̶a̶s̶t̶e̶r̶s̶
no bedtimes no tradeoffs
no bedtimes no tradeoffs
November 2, 2025 at 7:06 PM
̶n̶o̶ ̶g̶o̶d̶s̶ ̶n̶o̶ ̶m̶a̶s̶t̶e̶r̶s̶
no bedtimes no tradeoffs
no bedtimes no tradeoffs
I think my favorite animals are the ones that:
A) are very small
B) absolutely do not consider this fact before picking a fight
A) are very small
B) absolutely do not consider this fact before picking a fight
November 2, 2025 at 10:24 PM
I think my favorite animals are the ones that:
A) are very small
B) absolutely do not consider this fact before picking a fight
A) are very small
B) absolutely do not consider this fact before picking a fight
Reposted by Birb_at_Arms
Bluesky Discourse Alignment Compass
September 11, 2024 at 10:38 PM
Bluesky Discourse Alignment Compass
A really nerdy reading of this is to see Hornet as a very compelling portrayal of a warrior-aristocrat. She is a member of the elite whose status is justified by her skill at arms as well as her ancestry, like a knight or samurai in our world.
I've been pleasantly surprised by the writing in Silksong. Hornet has some great lines, most of which involve her telling NPCs in beautiful prose that she intends to kill their God. It's the kind of short, punchy writing that directs the player's imagination without getting bogged down in details.
October 28, 2025 at 2:31 PM
A really nerdy reading of this is to see Hornet as a very compelling portrayal of a warrior-aristocrat. She is a member of the elite whose status is justified by her skill at arms as well as her ancestry, like a knight or samurai in our world.
I've been pleasantly surprised by the writing in Silksong. Hornet has some great lines, most of which involve her telling NPCs in beautiful prose that she intends to kill their God. It's the kind of short, punchy writing that directs the player's imagination without getting bogged down in details.
October 28, 2025 at 5:25 AM
I've been pleasantly surprised by the writing in Silksong. Hornet has some great lines, most of which involve her telling NPCs in beautiful prose that she intends to kill their God. It's the kind of short, punchy writing that directs the player's imagination without getting bogged down in details.
I think it codes as naive to modern people when they read about pre-modern value systems that emphasize personal morality and virtue in politicians and public figures.
We understand now that no amount of personal virtue can balance out the cruelty of an unfair system.
But is that the whole story?
We understand now that no amount of personal virtue can balance out the cruelty of an unfair system.
But is that the whole story?
October 25, 2025 at 6:14 PM
I think it codes as naive to modern people when they read about pre-modern value systems that emphasize personal morality and virtue in politicians and public figures.
We understand now that no amount of personal virtue can balance out the cruelty of an unfair system.
But is that the whole story?
We understand now that no amount of personal virtue can balance out the cruelty of an unfair system.
But is that the whole story?
I really wish more people could deal with this in a healthy way (take up a combat sport, become poor, have bruises all the time)
like 80% of the current political landscape is explained by (primarily men in) the pmc thinking their lives are too soy and bourgeois
October 24, 2025 at 3:00 AM
I really wish more people could deal with this in a healthy way (take up a combat sport, become poor, have bruises all the time)
"I like the idea of being a dictator, don't get me wrong. I used to think being a king would be cool, but I got talking to Charles and apparently a Kings has to give the crown to their firstborn son? Couldn't be me."
Trump on No Kings: "This is not a king. They're referring to me as a king. I'm not a king."
October 17, 2025 at 1:19 PM
"I like the idea of being a dictator, don't get me wrong. I used to think being a king would be cool, but I got talking to Charles and apparently a Kings has to give the crown to their firstborn son? Couldn't be me."
I dunno about that, chief
October 15, 2025 at 2:13 PM
I dunno about that, chief
When your boss says you definitely have to watch the entirety of a video and must not, under any circumstances, make fun of it, you just know it's a really important and not at all ridiculous video.
NEW: Pentagon officials are forcing staff to watch Pete Hegseth's "Warrior" speech he forced generals to listen to.
Officials are even "testing" staff to see if they watched — and are threatening consequences if they lie about watching it or if they mock it, sources tell @swin24.bsky.social and I.
Officials are even "testing" staff to see if they watched — and are threatening consequences if they lie about watching it or if they mock it, sources tell @swin24.bsky.social and I.
The Pentagon Is Ordering Staff to Watch Hegseth’s ‘MAGA Garbage’ Speech… Or Else
Defense Department sources tell Zeteo that staff have been warned that if they don’t watch or read the speech, or if they speak negatively of it, they could face severe consequences.
zeteo.com
October 15, 2025 at 1:48 AM
When your boss says you definitely have to watch the entirety of a video and must not, under any circumstances, make fun of it, you just know it's a really important and not at all ridiculous video.
It's hard to think of reasonably well-known Italian public figures *less* deserving tbh. Mussolini and Cadorna are the only ones who come to mind.
name an italian more worthy of an american holiday than columbus
October 13, 2025 at 1:56 PM
It's hard to think of reasonably well-known Italian public figures *less* deserving tbh. Mussolini and Cadorna are the only ones who come to mind.
Paulus Hector Mair, who was hanged for stealing money to pay for elaborately illustrated books about sword fighting (look, whomst among us...) also appears to have known at least one black person.
October 10, 2025 at 4:23 AM
Paulus Hector Mair, who was hanged for stealing money to pay for elaborately illustrated books about sword fighting (look, whomst among us...) also appears to have known at least one black person.
I think Norway should lean into this by creating a Nobel War Prize, nominating Trump for it, and then giving it to someone else.
The Guardian- The US president may impose tariffs, demand higher NATO contributions or even declare Norway an enemy, analyst says, if on Friday he is not awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. www.theguardian.com/world/202...
Norway braces for Trump’s reaction if he does not win Nobel peace prize
US president may impose tariffs, demand higher Nato contributions or even declare Norway an enemy, analyst says
www.theguardian.com
October 10, 2025 at 3:30 AM
I think Norway should lean into this by creating a Nobel War Prize, nominating Trump for it, and then giving it to someone else.
It is sort of encouraging to me that the general expectations of autism have gone from the Rainman-era "non-functional adult with a slight chance of super powers" to a much more reasonable "sometimes awkward, likes trains, puts a ton of effort into niche hobbies."
I don’t exactly how to phrase this, but like… is autism that bad???? Like, why is it such a source of fear??? Of course there are challenges but you can be autistic and have a rich, fulfilling life! Many people do! I don’t understand the preoccupation.
October 9, 2025 at 8:53 PM
It is sort of encouraging to me that the general expectations of autism have gone from the Rainman-era "non-functional adult with a slight chance of super powers" to a much more reasonable "sometimes awkward, likes trains, puts a ton of effort into niche hobbies."
I need to remember to do an April Fools bit where I pretend a new edition of Ledall Roll's manuscript was found that had "4/5, ask for Bess" next to every play.
On the other hand, Ledall Roll wrote his book in English, but I have no idea what he's talking about. Put a woman's name and a rating out of five next to any of his "chases" and he could be reviewing his favorite brothel for all anyone knows.
October 9, 2025 at 6:33 PM
I need to remember to do an April Fools bit where I pretend a new edition of Ledall Roll's manuscript was found that had "4/5, ask for Bess" next to every play.