Jay Rubenstein
@medievaljay.bsky.social
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Medieval historian interested in other stuff
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medievaljay.bsky.social
So who am I and what am I doing? I am a historian of medieval Europe and am writing a book on the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem (1099-1187). It is under contract with Basic Books. The goal is to write a narrative history the incorporates cultural, religious, apocalyptic, and romantic (!) material
Reposted by Jay Rubenstein
medievaljay.bsky.social
Is it possible to write an account of the Second Crusade without using the word "fiasco"? I don't know, but I sure am going to try.
medievaljay.bsky.social
Is it possible to write an account of the Second Crusade without using the word "fiasco"? I don't know, but I sure am going to try.
Reposted by Jay Rubenstein
junoryleejournalism.com
David Simon, creator of ‘The Wire’, being interviewed by Ari Shapiro (NPR)
SHAPIRO: OK, so you've spent your career creating television without Al, and I could imagine today you thinking, boy, I wish I had had that tool to solve those thorny problems...
SIMON: What?
SHAPIRO: ...Or saying...
SIMON: You imagine that?
SHAPIRO: ...Boy, if that had existed, it would have screwed me over.
SIMON: I don't think Al can remotely challenge what writers do at a fundamentally creative level.
SHAPIRO: But if you're trying to transition from scene five to scene six, and you're stuck with that transition, you could imagine plugging that portion of the script into an Al and say, give me 10 ideas for how to transition this.
SIMON: I'd rather put a gun in my mouth.
medievaljay.bsky.social
Congratulations! Go, Pokes!
medievaljay.bsky.social
I'm trying to walk away from this thread, but it strikes me as just stunningly uncivil to attack a colleague's appearance or expression in a photograph, whatever you think about their arguments about the impact of the sixth-century plague. I had to comment.
medievaljay.bsky.social
p.s. I’ve been medieval conspiracy & conspiracy theory too. We need to swap notes
medievaljay.bsky.social
No! William Rufus just inspired a lot of amazing things.
medievaljay.bsky.social
I’m a fan of crusader cannibalism. This sounds really exciting!
medievaljay.bsky.social
If I had my way, no one would ever again use the expression “much ink has been spilled over.”
Reposted by Jay Rubenstein
alexwilcock.bsky.social
OTD 1941: The Maltese Falcon premiere
One of the greatest movies ever made.
One of the first films noir.
A tale of greed, love and betrayal.
“I couldn’t be fonder of you if you were my own son. But, well, if you lose a son, it’s possible to get another. There’s only one Maltese Falcon.”
The Maltese Falcon poster – Humphrey Bogart and Mary Astor Sam Spade holds the Maltese Falcon, casting shadows Kasper Gutman (Sydney Greenstreet) backed up by Joel Cairo (Peter Lorre) with gun and cane
Reposted by Jay Rubenstein
medievaljay.bsky.social
Rainbow, unexpected, over Camden
medievaljay.bsky.social
Won’t be water.
Be fire next time.
medievaljay.bsky.social
Rainbow, unexpected, over Camden
Reposted by Jay Rubenstein
medievaljay.bsky.social
The view from Primrose Hill this morning. Good early light
medievaljay.bsky.social
The view from Primrose Hill this morning. Good early light
Reposted by Jay Rubenstein
carinr.bsky.social
For Michaelmas, here's a fine St. Michael I hadn't seen before, in Alexander of Bremen's commentary on the Apocalypse, CUL MS Mm.5.31, fol. 78v. #medievalsky

Digitized MS here: cudl.lib.cam.ac.uk/view/MS-MM-0...
CUL MS Mm.5.31, fol. 78v CUL MS Mm.5.31, fol. 78v, detail
medievaljay.bsky.social
Love this MS. Alexander interprets Michael as representing the Emperor Heraclius, here defeating Persia.
Reposted by Jay Rubenstein
medievaljay.bsky.social
Chapter 27 (!?!) is finished. The Bosra expedition was a miraculous failure. And a bigger catastrophe, i.e., the Second Crusade, looms on the horizon (a.k.a., chapter 28).
medievaljay.bsky.social
Chapter 27 (!?!) is finished. The Bosra expedition was a miraculous failure. And a bigger catastrophe, i.e., the Second Crusade, looms on the horizon (a.k.a., chapter 28).
Reposted by Jay Rubenstein
medievaljay.bsky.social
Morning walk in Regent’s Park amid a pleasantly crisp autumn morning, I’m wondering how much longer the roses will be around
Multicolored rose beds under a splash of early morning golden sunlight Multicolored rose beds under a splash of early morning golden sunlight
medievaljay.bsky.social
Morning walk in Regent’s Park amid a pleasantly crisp autumn morning, I’m wondering how much longer the roses will be around
Multicolored rose beds under a splash of early morning golden sunlight Multicolored rose beds under a splash of early morning golden sunlight
Reposted by Jay Rubenstein
medievaljay.bsky.social
And a cameo of Ed Begley, Jr., as the officer in charge of the dogs