A Collection of Unmitigated Pedantry
A look at history and popular culture
Fireside this week! A little break after wrapping up our look at Europa Universalis IV. The next things coming up on the blog are going to be a look at who the Romans were and who they thought they were and an extension of our examination of EU4 into one of Paradox's other titles, Victoria … Continue reading Fireside Friday: June 4, 2021
Fireside this week, since the last post in our series on pre-modern textile production is not quite done yet (I had a fair bit of other writing to get done this week). Before I dive into this week's musing, I want to note two things, in case you have missed them. First, I am opening … Continue reading Fireside Friday: March 26, 2021 (On the Nature of Ancient Evidence)
It's the first week of classes, so fireside this week. Next week, we'll dive into a short series looking at the question of the 'universal warrior,' the idea - too often repeated - that there is either a single consistent experience or personality true to all combatants to the present day. Also, for those who … Continue reading Fireside Friday, January 22, 2021
Hey folks! Fireside this week. A bit of a change-up in terms of the coming attractions. I had planned to start "Textiles, How Did They Make It?" next, but I want to do a bit more reading on some of the initial stages of textile production (that is, the production of raw flax and wool) … Continue reading Fireside Friday, November 27, 2020
Hey Folks! Fireside this week; next week, I hope to start up our next "How Did They Make It" series, focusing on iron production. I say 'hope' because COVID-19 related disruptions continue (my current university moved all classes online last week and has started moving students off campus this week) and it seems that no … Continue reading Fireside Friday, August 28, 2020
Hey folks! Fireside this week - sorry for those of you who were waiting patiently for the last post on cereal farming. I had hoped to have it ready to go, but the start of fall semester teaching has pushed that off until next week. Those who pay less attention to higher education news may … Continue reading Fireside Friday: August 14th, 2020
Hey folks! Fireside this week, as we're coming off of the end of what is now my longest post-series, the eight part series on Helm's Deep. It was a blast to write and I don't seem to have worn a hole through my DVDs in the process (though, it will surprise no one, but my … Continue reading Fireside Friday, June 26th, 2020
Hey folks! Fireside this week, but next week, to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the blog (the first post went up May 3rd) we're diving into a look at Helm's Deep in both the book and the film, to match the treatment I gave the Siege of Gondor last summer.. Operational planning, pillaging as a … Continue reading Fireside Friday: April 24, 2020
Today, I just want to talk a little about what I'm doing here on the blog and how you might want to read the posts I'm making. I'll finish up with a sense of what's in the pipeline. This is going to be less of a prepared mini-essay and a bit more of a fireside … Continue reading Miscellanea: A Brief Discussion of History and Scope, or What Am I Doing Here?