David J. DeVore
@devoretext.bsky.social
Ancient Mediterranean historian, Cal Poly Pomona. History, the human past (those 2 aren't the same), politics, some baseball. Views here not of my institution.
Pinned
The Nexus Between Conscious but Long-Deceased Narrator, Elaborated Narrative, and Events in the Distant Past | L.I.S.A. WISSENSCHAFTSPORTAL GERDA HENKEL STIFTUNG
The Jacobi Fellowship of the Commission for Ancient History and Epigraphy for doctoral students celebrates its 20 th anniversary in 2025. In this anniversary year, we will be presenting twelve former ...
lisa.gerda-henkel-stiftung.de
Interview w me just published by the Commission for Ancient History and Epigraphy, where I did a semester of research in grad school. I got to brag about @calpolypomona.bsky.social & discuss my research and teaching! lisa.gerda-henkel-stiftung.de/20_jahre_jac...
Interview w me just published by the Commission for Ancient History and Epigraphy, where I did a semester of research in grad school. I got to brag about @calpolypomona.bsky.social & discuss my research and teaching! lisa.gerda-henkel-stiftung.de/20_jahre_jac...
The Nexus Between Conscious but Long-Deceased Narrator, Elaborated Narrative, and Events in the Distant Past | L.I.S.A. WISSENSCHAFTSPORTAL GERDA HENKEL STIFTUNG
The Jacobi Fellowship of the Commission for Ancient History and Epigraphy for doctoral students celebrates its 20 th anniversary in 2025. In this anniversary year, we will be presenting twelve former ...
lisa.gerda-henkel-stiftung.de
November 26, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Interview w me just published by the Commission for Ancient History and Epigraphy, where I did a semester of research in grad school. I got to brag about @calpolypomona.bsky.social & discuss my research and teaching! lisa.gerda-henkel-stiftung.de/20_jahre_jac...
Reposted by David J. DeVore
Art. I of the Constitution gives Congress the power to make rules and regulations for the armed forces — including codes of discipline and strictures against following illegal orders. You can’t punish members of Congress for articulating those rules. Also protected by Speech and Debate Clause.
November 25, 2025 at 9:53 AM
Art. I of the Constitution gives Congress the power to make rules and regulations for the armed forces — including codes of discipline and strictures against following illegal orders. You can’t punish members of Congress for articulating those rules. Also protected by Speech and Debate Clause.
Reposted by David J. DeVore
Really important to stress that the Crown Jewels of the US higher education system were never the Ivies or elite SLACs (other countries have equivalents of these) but the well-funded, large, cheap, and excellently staffed public state university systems bringing high quality education to the masses.
One of the bragging rights that the US ed system had in the 20th century is that we didn't have education tracks. Essentially, any kid could go to a CC or state school & major in whatever they wanted to (obviously an oversimplification). I fear this aspect of the American dream is dying.
November 23, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Really important to stress that the Crown Jewels of the US higher education system were never the Ivies or elite SLACs (other countries have equivalents of these) but the well-funded, large, cheap, and excellently staffed public state university systems bringing high quality education to the masses.
My Big Trump Mamdani Wedding
♥️ This is the romcom we all needed. What should we call it?
Zo Actually
While Don was Sleeping
When Zohran Met Donny
Zo Actually
While Don was Sleeping
When Zohran Met Donny
November 21, 2025 at 10:38 PM
My Big Trump Mamdani Wedding
Reposted by David J. DeVore
Re: Larry Summers' ha ha I snuck in a claim that women are dumb and people didn't notice I'm so smart comment:
Even if we sexistly assume IQ is distributed 51-49, with 8.2 billion humans that's a minuscule difference that would be a terrible predictor of individual intelligence.
Not smart, Larry.
Even if we sexistly assume IQ is distributed 51-49, with 8.2 billion humans that's a minuscule difference that would be a terrible predictor of individual intelligence.
Not smart, Larry.
November 13, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Re: Larry Summers' ha ha I snuck in a claim that women are dumb and people didn't notice I'm so smart comment:
Even if we sexistly assume IQ is distributed 51-49, with 8.2 billion humans that's a minuscule difference that would be a terrible predictor of individual intelligence.
Not smart, Larry.
Even if we sexistly assume IQ is distributed 51-49, with 8.2 billion humans that's a minuscule difference that would be a terrible predictor of individual intelligence.
Not smart, Larry.
Reposted by David J. DeVore
It is genuinely hard for most people to grasp how poor the past was.
November 9, 2025 at 6:23 PM
It is genuinely hard for most people to grasp how poor the past was.
Reposted by David J. DeVore
The Roman empire built 300,000 kilometres of roads: new study.
theconversation.com/the-roman-em...
theconversation.com/the-roman-em...
The Roman empire built 300,000 kilometres of roads: new study
A new comprehensive map reveals the true scale of the ancient Roman road network – but it is still incomplete.
theconversation.com
November 8, 2025 at 4:45 PM
The Roman empire built 300,000 kilometres of roads: new study.
theconversation.com/the-roman-em...
theconversation.com/the-roman-em...
Reposted by David J. DeVore
But *fundamentally* Big Boy War is won with spreadsheets, it is won with production, it is won with research and development.
Troop training and fitness matter, but on the margins. In WWII, we buried the better men in steel; the USSR buried them in just more men.
Spreadsheets win wars.
Troop training and fitness matter, but on the margins. In WWII, we buried the better men in steel; the USSR buried them in just more men.
Spreadsheets win wars.
November 2, 2025 at 7:24 PM
But *fundamentally* Big Boy War is won with spreadsheets, it is won with production, it is won with research and development.
Troop training and fitness matter, but on the margins. In WWII, we buried the better men in steel; the USSR buried them in just more men.
Spreadsheets win wars.
Troop training and fitness matter, but on the margins. In WWII, we buried the better men in steel; the USSR buried them in just more men.
Spreadsheets win wars.
And then Alex Verdugo won the World Series...for the Dodgers: www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oPC...
November 2, 2025 at 5:34 AM
And then Alex Verdugo won the World Series...for the Dodgers: www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oPC...
Reposted by David J. DeVore
This is the sixth straight season in which a Will Smith wins a World Series:
2025: C Will Smith (LAD)
2024: C Will Smith (LAD)
2023: LHP Will Smith (TEX)
2022: LHP Will Smith (HOU)
2021: LHP Will Smith (ATL)
2020: C Will Smith (LAD)
2025: C Will Smith (LAD)
2024: C Will Smith (LAD)
2023: LHP Will Smith (TEX)
2022: LHP Will Smith (HOU)
2021: LHP Will Smith (ATL)
2020: C Will Smith (LAD)
November 2, 2025 at 4:48 AM
This is the sixth straight season in which a Will Smith wins a World Series:
2025: C Will Smith (LAD)
2024: C Will Smith (LAD)
2023: LHP Will Smith (TEX)
2022: LHP Will Smith (HOU)
2021: LHP Will Smith (ATL)
2020: C Will Smith (LAD)
2025: C Will Smith (LAD)
2024: C Will Smith (LAD)
2023: LHP Will Smith (TEX)
2022: LHP Will Smith (HOU)
2021: LHP Will Smith (ATL)
2020: C Will Smith (LAD)
Reposted by David J. DeVore
With the Dodgers forcing a Game 7, we now have 7 series that have gone the full distance this postseason
That’s two more than in any other single postseason
(And yes, there are more series these days, but 7 has been possible since ‘95 and in ‘81)
That’s two more than in any other single postseason
(And yes, there are more series these days, but 7 has been possible since ‘95 and in ‘81)
November 1, 2025 at 4:37 AM
With the Dodgers forcing a Game 7, we now have 7 series that have gone the full distance this postseason
That’s two more than in any other single postseason
(And yes, there are more series these days, but 7 has been possible since ‘95 and in ‘81)
That’s two more than in any other single postseason
(And yes, there are more series these days, but 7 has been possible since ‘95 and in ‘81)
Reposted by David J. DeVore
The Jays and Dodgers will break for Christmas Eve to share a drink in no man’s land, show each other photos of the family they left back home, before heading back to their respective trenches.
October 28, 2025 at 5:56 AM
The Jays and Dodgers will break for Christmas Eve to share a drink in no man’s land, show each other photos of the family they left back home, before heading back to their respective trenches.
Zeus: Oh, who hasn’t had 135 sexual partners of both sexes, including multiple sisters, & most unconsenting?
Describe a character in Greek mythology the way someone trying to defend a politician would. I’ll start.
Oedipus: Like you’ve never had sex with someone and regretted it later
Oedipus: Like you’ve never had sex with someone and regretted it later
October 25, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Zeus: Oh, who hasn’t had 135 sexual partners of both sexes, including multiple sisters, & most unconsenting?
Define your musical taste in eight artists:
Pink Floyd
Beethoven
Nirvana
Metallica
Beatles
Gaga
Neil Young
Fauré
Pink Floyd
Beethoven
Nirvana
Metallica
Beatles
Gaga
Neil Young
Fauré
October 19, 2025 at 12:56 AM
Define your musical taste in eight artists:
Pink Floyd
Beethoven
Nirvana
Metallica
Beatles
Gaga
Neil Young
Fauré
Pink Floyd
Beethoven
Nirvana
Metallica
Beatles
Gaga
Neil Young
Fauré
Arch of Titus also celebrated a victory over insurrectionists within Roman imperial territory who were framed as foreigners for triumphalist state propaganda, it’s worth noting.
The Arch of Constantine is one of the clearest state sponsored images of civil war and Romans killing other Romans in the name of seeing them as ‘enemies within’ that survives from antiquity. But sure yeah let’s build one of those in DC right now. Sure is timely.
People think there are no Roman history emergencies, right up to the day a sitting president proposes a triumphal arch. Now suddenly everyone needs a good handle on Titus and Constantine.
October 17, 2025 at 8:32 PM
Arch of Titus also celebrated a victory over insurrectionists within Roman imperial territory who were framed as foreigners for triumphalist state propaganda, it’s worth noting.
Reposted by David J. DeVore
I feel thrown by the widespread proclamations of a glorious, lasting peace in Gaza. A lot even treats “now that it’s all over” as the unquestioned premise.
It still looks like a disaster to me. Am I way off? Are my domestic politics distorting my view? Either the consensus is wrong or I am.
It still looks like a disaster to me. Am I way off? Are my domestic politics distorting my view? Either the consensus is wrong or I am.
October 15, 2025 at 12:29 PM
I feel thrown by the widespread proclamations of a glorious, lasting peace in Gaza. A lot even treats “now that it’s all over” as the unquestioned premise.
It still looks like a disaster to me. Am I way off? Are my domestic politics distorting my view? Either the consensus is wrong or I am.
It still looks like a disaster to me. Am I way off? Are my domestic politics distorting my view? Either the consensus is wrong or I am.
August 31, 2025 at 10:38 PM
Reposted by David J. DeVore
Oregon faculty ask that we sign and share widely. actionnetwork.org/petitions/fi...
Fight Cuts, Defend Higher Education at the University of Oregon
The University of Oregon is planning to lay off an undisclosed number of faculty—including many tenured faculty—and to close units based on a projected budget deficit that was discovered late spring t...
actionnetwork.org
August 21, 2025 at 10:46 AM
Oregon faculty ask that we sign and share widely. actionnetwork.org/petitions/fi...
Reposted by David J. DeVore
“American Academy of Arts&Sciences reports 96.3% of humanities grads age 23-32 fully employed. Earnings in humanitiess comparable to social/life sciences, job satisfaction levels too. A serious mismatch bw actual employment for hum grads +general perception."
www.mellon.org/voices/human...
www.mellon.org/voices/human...
Mellon Foundation
The Mellon Foundation makes grants to actively unlock the power in the arts and humanities that helps connect us all.
www.mellon.org
August 1, 2025 at 3:20 PM
“American Academy of Arts&Sciences reports 96.3% of humanities grads age 23-32 fully employed. Earnings in humanitiess comparable to social/life sciences, job satisfaction levels too. A serious mismatch bw actual employment for hum grads +general perception."
www.mellon.org/voices/human...
www.mellon.org/voices/human...
This is true *unless* you have a Roy Moore situation--i.e. if Mamdani has said or done something that's absolutely toxic across the political spectrum.
But I haven't seen Mamdani say or do any such thing. (I don't think his nuance on the term "intifada" qualifies; nor do his proposed policies.)
But I haven't seen Mamdani say or do any such thing. (I don't think his nuance on the term "intifada" qualifies; nor do his proposed policies.)
As someone who’s been a Democrat for only six weeks, I think this is such an important point. We’re either a big tent, or we aren’t. And if we are a big tent, that means progressives unite around a moderate nominee, and moderates unite around a progressive nominee. Period.👇
July 21, 2025 at 11:46 PM
This is true *unless* you have a Roy Moore situation--i.e. if Mamdani has said or done something that's absolutely toxic across the political spectrum.
But I haven't seen Mamdani say or do any such thing. (I don't think his nuance on the term "intifada" qualifies; nor do his proposed policies.)
But I haven't seen Mamdani say or do any such thing. (I don't think his nuance on the term "intifada" qualifies; nor do his proposed policies.)
I hear this from colleagues all the time.
I've long taught speedreading skills for busy students. But many don't even do that.
I've long taught speedreading skills for busy students. But many don't even do that.
July 17, 2025 at 5:53 PM
I hear this from colleagues all the time.
I've long taught speedreading skills for busy students. But many don't even do that.
I've long taught speedreading skills for busy students. But many don't even do that.
Reposted by David J. DeVore
Up from Harmut Leppin at BMCR, a review of an edited volume reflecting on scholarship, and scholars, under the Nazis:
bmcr.brynmawr.edu/2025/2025.07...
bmcr.brynmawr.edu/2025/2025.07...
The betrayal of the humanities: the university during the Third Reich – Bryn Mawr Classical Review
bmcr.brynmawr.edu
July 3, 2025 at 5:46 PM
Up from Harmut Leppin at BMCR, a review of an edited volume reflecting on scholarship, and scholars, under the Nazis:
bmcr.brynmawr.edu/2025/2025.07...
bmcr.brynmawr.edu/2025/2025.07...
Reposted by David J. DeVore
Indiana Jones will be played by a rotating cast of three adjuncts who answer to two different associate deans
Disney Reportedly Planning Full Reboot of the INDIANA JONES Franchise
Disney Reportedly Planning Full Reboot of the INDIANA JONES Franchise
It looks like Indiana Jones might actually be headed for the reboot treatment. According to a recent report from DisInsider , Disney and Lucasfilm are considering a full relaunch of the iconic adventure...
buff.ly
July 2, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Indiana Jones will be played by a rotating cast of three adjuncts who answer to two different associate deans
Reposted by David J. DeVore
Here's a cool idea. Hire a robot to train for sports for you. And then describe that training for you. Then you go play the sport.
You'll lose, immediately, like a fucking clown, because you didn't actually train.
This is that, with learning.
You'll lose, immediately, like a fucking clown, because you didn't actually train.
This is that, with learning.
June 25, 2025 at 7:23 PM
Here's a cool idea. Hire a robot to train for sports for you. And then describe that training for you. Then you go play the sport.
You'll lose, immediately, like a fucking clown, because you didn't actually train.
This is that, with learning.
You'll lose, immediately, like a fucking clown, because you didn't actually train.
This is that, with learning.
Reposted by David J. DeVore
Five things to remember about war:
June 22, 2025 at 4:28 AM
Five things to remember about war: