James Hurst
@jamesahurst.bsky.social
Inhabitant of Australia since 1967.
Flawed fan of Jesus.
Freelance proofreader and editor.
Student of archaeology at the University of Queensland.
Lover of history, art and books.
Son, brother, husband and father.
Flawed fan of Jesus.
Freelance proofreader and editor.
Student of archaeology at the University of Queensland.
Lover of history, art and books.
Son, brother, husband and father.
February 16, 2026 at 9:40 PM
February 16, 2026 at 5:41 AM
Reposted by James Hurst
We bought Article II of the United Nations Charter with the blood of a hundred million human beings, and less than a century later, it's being sold for nothing by people who don't even understand what they're doing.
i think this is what drives me nuts. people talk about how, say, the UN was founded by "starry eyed idealists" who didn't understand "reality." the truth is that the UN was founded by those who had just fought and *won* the bloodiest war in human history.
February 14, 2026 at 8:03 PM
We bought Article II of the United Nations Charter with the blood of a hundred million human beings, and less than a century later, it's being sold for nothing by people who don't even understand what they're doing.
February 14, 2026 at 11:59 PM
Reposted by James Hurst
Admiring this small silver bull holding a spouted vessel, dated as 5,000 years old. Its bull-like head and upper torso blends into a kneeling human wearing a patterned robe. Found in SW Iran, it is just 16cm (7in) high, and was probably for ceremonial use
www.metmuseum.org/art/collecti...
www.metmuseum.org/art/collecti...
February 14, 2026 at 8:16 AM
Admiring this small silver bull holding a spouted vessel, dated as 5,000 years old. Its bull-like head and upper torso blends into a kneeling human wearing a patterned robe. Found in SW Iran, it is just 16cm (7in) high, and was probably for ceremonial use
www.metmuseum.org/art/collecti...
www.metmuseum.org/art/collecti...
February 14, 2026 at 8:46 AM
Reposted by James Hurst
In today's "things I covet" 👇
Metal and leather straight-back dresser trunk, c.1890. It converted from steamer trunk to dresser so the traveler was not required to unpack.
Metal and leather straight-back dresser trunk, c.1890. It converted from steamer trunk to dresser so the traveler was not required to unpack.
February 13, 2026 at 1:04 PM
In today's "things I covet" 👇
Metal and leather straight-back dresser trunk, c.1890. It converted from steamer trunk to dresser so the traveler was not required to unpack.
Metal and leather straight-back dresser trunk, c.1890. It converted from steamer trunk to dresser so the traveler was not required to unpack.
Reposted by James Hurst
For those of you who were keeping up with the mass market mess, here is a more informative article.
Trade paperbacks cost only 30c more to make and are priced $18-20 now, where mass market paperbacks didn't sell at $12. So... there's your answer. It's about margins.
boingboing.net/2026/02/10/t...
Trade paperbacks cost only 30c more to make and are priced $18-20 now, where mass market paperbacks didn't sell at $12. So... there's your answer. It's about margins.
boingboing.net/2026/02/10/t...
The mass market paperback is vanishing
The mass market paperback — born in 1935, boomed after WWII — is vanishing from airports, drugstores, and groceries.
boingboing.net
February 11, 2026 at 8:35 PM
For those of you who were keeping up with the mass market mess, here is a more informative article.
Trade paperbacks cost only 30c more to make and are priced $18-20 now, where mass market paperbacks didn't sell at $12. So... there's your answer. It's about margins.
boingboing.net/2026/02/10/t...
Trade paperbacks cost only 30c more to make and are priced $18-20 now, where mass market paperbacks didn't sell at $12. So... there's your answer. It's about margins.
boingboing.net/2026/02/10/t...
Reposted by James Hurst
The only biosphere in the known universe capable of supporting human life is being turned into a hell planet because most of Earth's governments refuse to stop trying to satisfy the insatiable greed of a plutocracy composed of people who already have more money than they could spend in 20 lifetimes.
Point of no return: a hellish ‘hothouse Earth’ getting closer, scientists say
Continued global heating could set irreversible course by triggering climate tipping points, but most people unaware
www.theguardian.com
February 12, 2026 at 7:12 AM
The only biosphere in the known universe capable of supporting human life is being turned into a hell planet because most of Earth's governments refuse to stop trying to satisfy the insatiable greed of a plutocracy composed of people who already have more money than they could spend in 20 lifetimes.
February 12, 2026 at 10:45 PM
The party of racist dog whistling, downplaying climate change, neoliberal boosterism and other regressive social policies becomes a little more so.
www.sbs.com.au/news/article...
www.sbs.com.au/news/article...
'Smartest policy brain' or controversial deal-maker: Who is the real Angus Taylor?
From water dealings to questionable economic credentials — who is the man touted as the future Liberal Party leader?
www.sbs.com.au
February 12, 2026 at 10:30 PM
The party of racist dog whistling, downplaying climate change, neoliberal boosterism and other regressive social policies becomes a little more so.
www.sbs.com.au/news/article...
www.sbs.com.au/news/article...
February 11, 2026 at 10:24 PM
February 11, 2026 at 4:11 AM
February 9, 2026 at 11:30 PM
Reposted by James Hurst
Executed (alas!) on this day in 1587, Mary Queen of Scots. Here just seven years old and already a queen at the court of France. Drawn by Clouet.
February 8, 2026 at 2:54 PM
Executed (alas!) on this day in 1587, Mary Queen of Scots. Here just seven years old and already a queen at the court of France. Drawn by Clouet.
February 8, 2026 at 10:53 PM
Reposted by James Hurst
"If a woman fancies that she looks better or feels better in men's clothes, there is no reason why she may not indulge in so harmless a fancy."
The illustrated book of manners: a manual of good behavior and polite accomplishments by R. De Valcourt, 1866.
archive.org/details/illu...
The illustrated book of manners: a manual of good behavior and polite accomplishments by R. De Valcourt, 1866.
archive.org/details/illu...
January 8, 2025 at 11:32 PM
"If a woman fancies that she looks better or feels better in men's clothes, there is no reason why she may not indulge in so harmless a fancy."
The illustrated book of manners: a manual of good behavior and polite accomplishments by R. De Valcourt, 1866.
archive.org/details/illu...
The illustrated book of manners: a manual of good behavior and polite accomplishments by R. De Valcourt, 1866.
archive.org/details/illu...
February 7, 2026 at 10:24 PM
February 7, 2026 at 12:59 AM
Reposted by James Hurst
So Vile. When someone shows you who they are by the content of their postings, comments, life "styles" believe them. Not your projection of who they are, or your hopes, but by their words, deeds and actions.
The collapse of what was once considered the moral center of the US is disheartening.
The collapse of what was once considered the moral center of the US is disheartening.
February 6, 2026 at 7:22 PM
So Vile. When someone shows you who they are by the content of their postings, comments, life "styles" believe them. Not your projection of who they are, or your hopes, but by their words, deeds and actions.
The collapse of what was once considered the moral center of the US is disheartening.
The collapse of what was once considered the moral center of the US is disheartening.
Reposted by James Hurst
February 6, 2026 at 1:55 AM
Getting follows from accounts claiming to be desperate people from Gaza. They look fraudulent to me, I block them, and it saddens me to no end the scammers that are out there.
February 4, 2026 at 10:44 PM
Getting follows from accounts claiming to be desperate people from Gaza. They look fraudulent to me, I block them, and it saddens me to no end the scammers that are out there.
February 4, 2026 at 5:51 AM