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𝕋𝕙𝕖 ℍ𝕚𝕤𝕥𝕠𝕣𝕪 𝕠𝕗 ℂ𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕒 ℙ𝕠𝕕𝕔𝕒𝕤𝕥

@thoc.bsky.social

5K followers 760 following 7.4K posts

Knight Errant of the Meritorious Order of Sima Qian | Show: Qing [清朝], Jiaqing [嘉慶] Era, 19th c. | Support Us & Extras: http://patreon.com/thehistoryofchina

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𝕋𝕙𝕖 ℍ𝕚𝕤𝕥𝕠𝕣𝕪 𝕠𝕗 ℂ𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕒 ℙ𝕠𝕕𝕔𝕒𝕤𝕥 @thoc.bsky.social · 4d

ATTENTION - ALL CHINAHEADS/HANDS/HEARTS, SINOPHILES, HISTORIANS, STORYTELLERS, WANDERING BARDS

It's October once again, & I'm putting out a call for any recommendations you may have for supernatural tales for my annual "Strange Tales" stories episode.

What are you favorite spooky stories from 中国?

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𝕋𝕙𝕖 ℍ𝕚𝕤𝕥𝕠𝕣𝕪 𝕠𝕗 ℂ𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕒 ℙ𝕠𝕕𝕔𝕒𝕤𝕥 @thoc.bsky.social · 46m

I really hope there’s a recording of whatever Junior-junior-junior-assistant-sub-legal-clerk they ultimately con into trying to explain “We took freedom of speech away” to the judges whenever the inevitable Bill of Rights lawsuits start dropping

𝕋𝕙𝕖 ℍ𝕚𝕤𝕥𝕠𝕣𝕪 𝕠𝕗 ℂ𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕒 ℙ𝕠𝕕𝕔𝕒𝕤𝕥 @thoc.bsky.social · 50m

“WE TOOK FREE SPEECH AWAY BECAUSE THAT’S BEEN THROUGH THE COURTS AND THE COURTS SAID YOU HAVE FREEDOM OF SPEECH”

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𝕋𝕙𝕖 ℍ𝕚𝕤𝕥𝕠𝕣𝕪 𝕠𝕗 ℂ𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕒 ℙ𝕠𝕕𝕔𝕒𝕤𝕥 @thoc.bsky.social · 16h

Eventually one would expect that mere servile venality would run into the more Institutionally Existential needs, i.e. "Do we, as the Body Congress, allow ourselves as an institution to be so thoroughly castrated & humiliated as letting this go by unchecked?"

And you certainly would think that...

Denise Wheeler @denisedwheeler.bsky.social · 22h

Reuters photographer Jonathan Ernst noticed that Bondi flipped open a file during the Senate hearing and he zoomed in.

Inside were her crib notes for attacking the senators.

The GOP now practicing Cliff's Notes Fascism

In other words, under oath Bondi was purely a performance.

Bondi senate hearing had a folder full of notes for attacking the senators

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𝕋𝕙𝕖 ℍ𝕚𝕤𝕥𝕠𝕣𝕪 𝕠𝕗 ℂ𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕒 ℙ𝕠𝕕𝕔𝕒𝕤𝕥 @thoc.bsky.social · 17h

Is "Adam O'Neal" actually just Tilly Norwood in a big rubber mask?
That's actually kind of a deep and philosophical question, and I'm not sure I went to school long enough to understand it...

Joshua J. Friedman @joshuajfriedman.com · 17h

What will the new Adam O'Neal–hosted WaPo opinions podcast sound like for the next few decades? Maybe a little something like this x.com/WashPostComm...

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𝕋𝕙𝕖 ℍ𝕚𝕤𝕥𝕠𝕣𝕪 𝕠𝕗 ℂ𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕒 ℙ𝕠𝕕𝕔𝕒𝕤𝕥 @thoc.bsky.social · 17h

No no, boys, get that circle rounder. Rounder! No not oval, nice and roundly-round!

No, none of you are going home until we get this firing squad shaped up properly! Rounder!!

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𝕋𝕙𝕖 ℍ𝕚𝕤𝕥𝕠𝕣𝕪 𝕠𝕗 ℂ𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕒 ℙ𝕠𝕕𝕔𝕒𝕤𝕥 @thoc.bsky.social · 17h

Greg "Hotwheels" Abbott: "No Guard can match the training, skill, and expertise of the Texas National Guard."

The "Elite" TX Natl Guard in question, reporting for nuggies:

Wesley Morgan @wesleymorgan.bsky.social · 23h

Don’t think these Texas National Guard guys are going to be chasing any immigrants around Chicago on foot

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𝕋𝕙𝕖 ℍ𝕚𝕤𝕥𝕠𝕣𝕪 𝕠𝕗 ℂ𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕒 ℙ𝕠𝕕𝕔𝕒𝕤𝕥 @thoc.bsky.social · 17h

So, we've apparently arrived at the "ICE Plays Target-Practice With Priests Imploring Them to Find Their Better Natures" phase of Trump 2.0...

Kurt @flglchicago.bsky.social · 20h

Here’s video of the incident

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𝕋𝕙𝕖 ℍ𝕚𝕤𝕥𝕠𝕣𝕪 𝕠𝕗 ℂ𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕒 ℙ𝕠𝕕𝕔𝕒𝕤𝕥 @thoc.bsky.social · 19h

Thanks for the heads-up, Ken. Really appreciate it.

Hey, good luck with your secret infiltrations!

4 8 31

𝕋𝕙𝕖 ℍ𝕚𝕤𝕥𝕠𝕣𝕪 𝕠𝕗 ℂ𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕒 ℙ𝕠𝕕𝕔𝕒𝕤𝕥 @thoc.bsky.social · 22h

May the record note that nowhere in that shrill, piercing tongue-flailing did Blondi ever say, “No, there are no such photos”

… which is, of course, the answer unto itself.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 1d

NOTABLE -- Pam Bondi refuses to answer direct questions about if the FBI has incriminating photos of Trump with half-naked young women, but instead deflects from them by attacking Sen. Whitehouse

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𝕋𝕙𝕖 ℍ𝕚𝕤𝕥𝕠𝕣𝕪 𝕠𝕗 ℂ𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕒 ℙ𝕠𝕕𝕔𝕒𝕤𝕥 @thoc.bsky.social · 1d

Marjorie awakens. She's standing beside her own bed, looking down at her body. She has died.

"Marjorie," echoes a voice from the still darkness, "It's time."

A doorway that was not there opens. Sulfurous stink and unendurable heat issue forth... and something else... is that... a mariachi band??

Ron Filipkowski @ronfilipkowski.bsky.social · 2d

Bad Bunny rolling into the Super Bowl with a demonic sexual performance in Spanish.

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𝕋𝕙𝕖 ℍ𝕚𝕤𝕥𝕠𝕣𝕪 𝕠𝕗 ℂ𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕒 ℙ𝕠𝕕𝕔𝕒𝕤𝕥 @thoc.bsky.social · 1d

Thanks! Your sounds lovely! No lanterns here this year, but I woke up about 2:30 and saw the full moon right at its apex. I call that a win

𝕋𝕙𝕖 ℍ𝕚𝕤𝕥𝕠𝕣𝕪 𝕠𝕗 ℂ𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕒 ℙ𝕠𝕕𝕔𝕒𝕤𝕥 @thoc.bsky.social · 1d

My favorite part of Pod Save America every week is when The Boys transition out of the latest story of the atrocities happening in Portland/Chicago, & launch straight into their next segment of Tommy Vietor whining once again about how BlueSky is so mean to him.

𝕋𝕙𝕖 ℍ𝕚𝕤𝕥𝕠𝕣𝕪 𝕠𝕗 ℂ𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕒 ℙ𝕠𝕕𝕔𝕒𝕤𝕥 @thoc.bsky.social · 1d

“It could raise conflict-of-interest…”

You needed a to consult a legal expert to determine that??

𝕋𝕙𝕖 ℍ𝕚𝕤𝕥𝕠𝕣𝕪 𝕠𝕗 ℂ𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕒 ℙ𝕠𝕕𝕔𝕒𝕤𝕥 @thoc.bsky.social · 1d

“It is not clear what is behind the move…”

I dunno, man. Looks like a straight line between 2 points to me.

Charlie Savage @charliesavage.bsky.social · 1d

C.I.A. Deputy Director Has Replaced Agency’s Top Legal Official With Himself

It is not clear what is behind the move by Michael Ellis, a Trump loyalist. A legal ethics specialist said it could raise conflict-of-interest issues.

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/06/u...

C.I.A. Deputy Director Has Replaced Agency’s Top Legal Official With Himself

www.nytimes.com

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𝕋𝕙𝕖 ℍ𝕚𝕤𝕥𝕠𝕣𝕪 𝕠𝕗 ℂ𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕒 ℙ𝕠𝕕𝕔𝕒𝕤𝕥 @thoc.bsky.social · 1d

Man... Zappa called it 40 yr ago, right down the center of the plate...

www.youtube.com/watch?v=fam5...

Zappa defines "Fascist Theocracy"

YouTube video by Paul Hinrichs

www.youtube.com

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𝕋𝕙𝕖 ℍ𝕚𝕤𝕥𝕠𝕣𝕪 𝕠𝕗 ℂ𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕒 ℙ𝕠𝕕𝕔𝕒𝕤𝕥 @thoc.bsky.social · 1d

Y'know, for an FBI Agent, you sure don't seem to know much about the MO of fascists.

There was some old poem that started like,
"First they came for..."

You should look it up. It'd be instructive.

Asha Rangappa @asharangappa.bsky.social · 3d

So here is my question. Let’s assume Miller & Co. are successful, i.e., they deport, jail, kill, all of the “undesirables.” What do they think society is like then? Like, what happens when they realize there’s still crime, drugs, and no one around to do half the jobs, from manual to skilled labor?1/

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𝕋𝕙𝕖 ℍ𝕚𝕤𝕥𝕠𝕣𝕪 𝕠𝕗 ℂ𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕒 ℙ𝕠𝕕𝕔𝕒𝕤𝕥 @thoc.bsky.social · 1d

[The War Crimes Sommelier]: "This description of war crimes does not spark joy in my heart."

Razzball @razzball.bsky.social · 1d

Ah, let's check in on what the war crimes proponent has to say

David Frum This is a genuinely useful statement. The chilly formulaic language about the 10/7 atrocity ... the intense angry passion of the denunciation of Israel's self-defense ... together they arrestingly reveal what the author cares about and what/who he does not care about.
Quote
Zohran Kwame Mamdani
@ZohranKMamdani
·
1h
My statement on the two year anniversary of October 7, 2023.
Two years ago today, Hamas carried out a horrific war crime, killing more than 1,100 Israelis and kidnapping 250 more.
I mourn these lives and pray for the safe return of every hostage still held and for every family whose lives were torn apart by these atrocities.
In the aftermath of that day, Prime Minister Netanyahu and the Israeli government launched a genocidal war: a death toll that now far exceeds 67,000; with the Israeli military bombing homes, hospitals, and schools into rubble. Every day in Gaza has become a place where grief itself has run out of language.
I mourn these lives and pray for the families that have been shattered. Our government has been complicit through it all.
This must end. The occupation and apartheid must end.
Peace must be pursued through diplomacy, not war crimes, and our government must act to end these atrocities and hold those responsible to account.
These last two years have demonstrated the very worst of humanity. We must answer it by modeling the very best: a relentless pursuit of our higher ideals and an unwavering commitment to universal human rights.

𝕋𝕙𝕖 ℍ𝕚𝕤𝕥𝕠𝕣𝕪 𝕠𝕗 ℂ𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕒 ℙ𝕠𝕕𝕔𝕒𝕤𝕥 @thoc.bsky.social · 1d

"We don't need to pay employees for their work while the government is shut down" is gonna go great.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 1d

Johnson: "It's true that in previous shutdowns, many or most furloughed employees have been paid for the time they were furloughed, but there is new legal analysis - I don't know the details, I just saw a headline - but there are some legal analysts saying that might not be appropriate or necessary"

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𝕋𝕙𝕖 ℍ𝕚𝕤𝕥𝕠𝕣𝕪 𝕠𝕗 ℂ𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕒 ℙ𝕠𝕕𝕔𝕒𝕤𝕥 @thoc.bsky.social · 1d

Moreover, both the Quit India Mvmt & the Civil Rights Mvmt of the 60 depended completely on an information environment that, quite frankly, no longer exists.

There's no Walter Cronkite to tell everyone their shared reality & garner sympathy. As their memes say, "THIS IS WHAT I VOTED FOR."

𝕋𝕙𝕖 ℍ𝕚𝕤𝕥𝕠𝕣𝕪 𝕠𝕗 ℂ𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕒 ℙ𝕠𝕕𝕔𝕒𝕤𝕥 @thoc.bsky.social · 1d

That's nice, but I don't think I'm going to be taking advice from an FBI Agent.

Also, focusing on Gandhi while ignoring the likes of Chandrasekhar Azad, Patel, & Prasad... is like lauding MLK Jr. while ignoring the likes of Malcolm X.

Asha Rangappa @asharangappa.bsky.social · 1d

We’re in a moment now where it would be worth people taking three hours to watch Gandhi, particularly the scene of the salt march. There is value to making the brutality of your opponent so plain as day that no one can argue with it. The clarity of that brought down an empire

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𝕋𝕙𝕖 ℍ𝕚𝕤𝕥𝕠𝕣𝕪 𝕠𝕗 ℂ𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕒 ℙ𝕠𝕕𝕔𝕒𝕤𝕥 @thoc.bsky.social · 1d

Aw, I like this version!

𝕋𝕙𝕖 ℍ𝕚𝕤𝕥𝕠𝕣𝕪 𝕠𝕗 ℂ𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕒 ℙ𝕠𝕕𝕔𝕒𝕤𝕥 @thoc.bsky.social · 1d

You chucklefucks bought your tickets, now you're strapped in for the whole ride. No seat-switches mid-ride, you gormless weasels.

Rolling Stone @rollingstone.com · 2d

“I voted for none of this."

Prominent influencers, including Theo Von, Joe Rogan, and Andrew Schulz, are starting to distance themselves from the president they helped propel to the White House.

Story: www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol...

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𝕋𝕙𝕖 ℍ𝕚𝕤𝕥𝕠𝕣𝕪 𝕠𝕗 ℂ𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕒 ℙ𝕠𝕕𝕔𝕒𝕤𝕥 @thoc.bsky.social · 1d

bsky.app/profile/thoc...

𝕋𝕙𝕖 ℍ𝕚𝕤𝕥𝕠𝕣𝕪 𝕠𝕗 ℂ𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕒 ℙ𝕠𝕕𝕔𝕒𝕤𝕥 @thoc.bsky.social · 1d

WHAT’S GOING ON WITH THE MOON?
✨
a thread, because everyone is confused about Mid-Autumn Festival...

𝕋𝕙𝕖 ℍ𝕚𝕤𝕥𝕠𝕣𝕪 𝕠𝕗 ℂ𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕒 ℙ𝕠𝕕𝕔𝕒𝕤𝕥 @thoc.bsky.social · 1d

Special - Mid-Autumn: Fly Me to the Moon

In other words, please be true
In other words, I love you.

megaphone.link/ARML3211113641

Special - Mid-Autumn: Fly Me to the Moon by The History of China

megaphone.link

1 1

𝕋𝕙𝕖 ℍ𝕚𝕤𝕥𝕠𝕣𝕪 𝕠𝕗 ℂ𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕒 ℙ𝕠𝕕𝕔𝕒𝕤𝕥 @thoc.bsky.social · 1d

Later, they both had a space program named after them.

Anyways, that's why there's a lady and a rabbit on the moon.

Disregard all that rubbish about tweens "hexing" the moon. Chang'e and Yutu would never allow such a thing.