A Collection of Unmitigated Pedantry
A look at history and popular culture
Hey folks! Fireside this week. I had wanted to have my post on the hoplite debate (the othismos over othismos) ready for this week, but it's not quite done, so I am shifting that to next week. So instead this week I want to outline another debate in ancient military history, the 'Roman strategy debate.' … Continue reading Fireside Friday, November 7, 2025 (On the Roman Strategy Debate)
Hey folks, Fireside this week! Next week we should be back to start looking at the other half of labor in the peasant household, everything that isn't agriculture. Also, here are some cats: Catching that perfectly timed Percy-yawn, while Ollie (below) is doing his best Percy impression with those narrowed eyes. For this week's musing, … Continue reading Fireside Friday, September 19, 2025 (On the Use and Abuse of Malthus)
Hey folks, Fireside this week! As I noted a couple of weeks ago, things are probably going to get more than a little fireside-y over the next few weeks, simply because of the start of the semester - and a semester in which I am undertaking a set of entire new preps (that is, teaching … Continue reading Fireside Friday, August 27, 2025 (On Defending History)
Hey folks, Fireside this week! The new semester is starting up next week, so things may be a little more fireside-y than usual over the next few weeks, but I do promise we will get to the end of "Life, Work, Death and the Peasant" eventually. That said, since I am teaching Latin rather than … Continue reading Fireside Friday, August 15, 2025 (On Latin Pronunciation)
Fireside this week! Originally, I was thinking I'd talk about the 'future of classics' question in this space, but I think that deserves a full post (in connection with this week's book recommendation and the next fireside's book recommendation), so instead this week I want to talk a little about foreign policy realism, what it … Continue reading Fireside Friday, June 27, 2025 (On the Limits of Realism)
Hey all, we're doing a Fireside this week! Both cats, soundly napping after a hard morning of making sure I was awake before my alarm went off. For this week's musing, I thought it might be worthwhile - this being a frequent space for military history - to offer a brief outline of professional military … Continue reading Fireside Friday, May 30, 2025 (On Professional Military Education)
Fireside this week! First off, it seems like last week's post on the Hollywood myth of archery volley fire really got out there, so if you are a new reader just joining us, welcome! If you are in to discussions of historical tactics with an eye towards correcting common myths in games and film, you … Continue reading Fireside Friday, May 9, 2025 (On Lighter Bows)
Fireside this week! I am still a bit behind after attending the annual meeting of the Society for Military History - conferences always leave me a bit tired and slow to get back to writing, even as they also stimulate my thinking - so the conclusion of our look at Rings of Power must wait … Continue reading Fireside Friday, April 4, 2025
Hey folks! Happy Valentine's Day. Fireside this week and then hopefully next week we'll start into our look at the Siege of Eregion in Season 2 of Rings of Power and also the larger Tolkien legendarium. I confess, watching the show, my suspension of disbelief fell much faster than the city did. But in the … Continue reading Fireside Friday, February 14, 2025 (On Grant Funding)
Hey folks, Fireside this week! I'm currently working on a post "On the Gracchi" taking a somewhat darker look at everyone's favorite Roman reformers (though hardly the same black takedowns Alexander and Cleopatra got) , which will hopefully be ready for next week. Trustworthy Librarian Ollie helping me work on my book sorting solution, also … Continue reading Fireside Friday, January 10, 2025