Passed a middle school a few minutes ago. Hundreds of students protesting ICE.
Middle school students.

I’m seeing posts from people (outside of MN) about how US citizens should carry their passports.

And let me say that *inside* MN, we are calmly responding to requests with: “No, I don’t have to show you any documentation.”

Because that’s how you protect everyone, regardless of immigration status.

Jesus.

www.startribune.com/ice-raids-mi...

Thank you ‪🙏‬

١٢- إنَّ في الشَّرِّ خِيَارًا ​الخير : يجمع على الخيار والأخيار ، وكذلك الشر يجمع على الشِّرار والأشرار : أى أن فى الشر أشياء خيارا . ومعنى المثل - كما قيل - بعض الشر أهون من بعض ، ويجوز أن يكون الخيار الاسم من الاختيار : أى فى الشر ما يُخْتار على غيره .

No. 12

"Even in evil there is choice"

inna fi sh-sharri khiyāran

This means that when it comes to bad stuff, there are lesser evils to choose from.

Photo of a clay cuneiform tablet fragment shown from the front, back, and sides. There is a small ruler at the bottom that is 5km long showing that the fragment is about 8-9cm wide

If someone performed witchcraft against you in ancient Mesopotamia, it could lead to all sorts of horrors, like illness and social isolation.

There were professionals trained in rituals and prescriptions to address those ills. This ritual uses 15 stones that eventually get worn as a necklace.

Rob Reiner either made your favorite movie, or made somebody you know’s favorite movie. If you’re a Californian, he’s also part of the reason you or your friends can get married. He has changed more lives for the better than this asshole commenting on him ever did.

Front cover of 'Transcendence for Beginners' a book by Clare Carlisle, published by Fitzcarraldo Editions.

Back cover of 'Transcendence for Beginners' a book by Clare Carlisle, published by Fitzcarraldo Editions.

A review in @theguardian.com piqued my interest in 'Transcendence for Beginners' by Clare Carlisle. The preview on @fitzcarraldoeds.bsky.social isn’t representative. There's much more to the book. I skimmed through a copy in a bookshop and was intrigued to read more. Don’t expect a systematic intro

Greek Citizenship under Arsacid Rule Nabel, Jake. 2025. The verb empoliteuō and Greek citizenship under Arsacid rule. Classical Journal 120(3). 249–276. The primary translation for the ancient Greek verb ἐμπολιτεύω in several dictionaries is "to be a citizen, have civil rights." That definition is untenable. The connotations of ἐμπολιτεύω for citizen status are usually indeterminate, but where they are clear, the verb has the opposite meaning and refers to non-citizens rather than citizens.

Greek Citizenship under Arsacid Rule

Nabel, Jake. 2025. The verb empoliteuō and Greek citizenship under Arsacid rule. Classical Journal 120(3). 249–276. The primary translation for the ancient Greek verb ἐμπολιτεύω in several dictionaries is "to be a citizen, have civil rights." That definition is…

Photo of a page from a book by J. Nicholas Reid and Klaus Wagensonner called “Letters from Old Babylonian Kish”. The page shows a drawing of a cuneiform tablet that is 16 lines long, as well as the bottom of the tablet which has two lines, and the left edge which also has two lines of cuneiform. There is a small ruler to the right of the bottom portion of the tablet showing scale of 1cm, which means the tablet is about 4-5cm wide. At the top of the page is the text number in the book, which is 6, and the museum identifier, which is BM103081.

Photo of a page from a book by J. Nicholas Reid and Klaus Wagensonner called “Letters from Old Babylonian Kish”. The page shows a drawing of a cuneiform tablet that is 16 lines long, as well as the top edge of the tablet which has two lines. There is a small ruler to the right of the bottom portion of the tablet showing scale of 1cm, which means the tablet is about 4-5cm wide. At the top of the page is the text number in the book, which is 6, and the museum identifier, which is BM103081.

Most of this letter from a man named Etel-pî-Marduk, written sometime between 1900 and 1600 BCE in ancient Babylonia, is about barley, silver, and donkeys. But it ends on a surprising note.

“My tooth hurts so much. Send a bandage!”

Tablet drawing by J. Nicholas Reid.

Samsi, “Queen of the Arabs”, and Her Fight Against Assyria - The Ancient Near East Today The women referred to in Assyrian inscriptions as “Queen of the Arabs” have been a passing footnote in Neo-Assyrian history — until now. Here is the story of one of them.

Ancient Assyrian kings didn’t just go to war with other kings.

They battled queens of the Arabian peninsula, including the formidable Queen Samsi who may even be depicted on a lost stone relief mid-battle on the back of a camel. Fascinating piece by Ellie Bennet anetoday.org/samsi-queen-...

Photo of a fragment of a clay tablet shaped a bit like a diamond. Although it is only a fragment, the cuneiform text on it is well-preserved. There is a vertical line down the centre which indicates it once had at least two columns. The colour is reddish brown

“Do not bend your neck for that which cuts necks.”

A Sumerian proverb, as relevant today as it was thousands of years ago.