David J. DeVore
@devoretext.bsky.social
Ancient Mediterranean historian, Cal Poly Pomona. History, the human past (those 2 aren't the same), politics, some baseball. Views here not of my institution.
Pinned
The Nexus Between Conscious but Long-Deceased Narrator, Elaborated Narrative, and Events in the Distant Past | L.I.S.A. WISSENSCHAFTSPORTAL GERDA HENKEL STIFTUNG
The Jacobi Fellowship of the Commission for Ancient History and Epigraphy for doctoral students celebrates its 20 th anniversary in 2025. In this anniversary year, we will be presenting twelve former ...
lisa.gerda-henkel-stiftung.de
Interview w me just published by the Commission for Ancient History and Epigraphy, where I did a semester of research in grad school. I got to brag about @calpolypomona.bsky.social & discuss my research and teaching! lisa.gerda-henkel-stiftung.de/20_jahre_jac...
Reposted by David J. DeVore
this is my #1 advice to grad students: anyone can reproduce jargon; the bigger flex is being able to make the argument in straightforward prose. clarity is indicative of deep thought and engagement. even chatGPT can write word salad.
i strongly, strongly believe that good writing is downstream of clear thinking and a strong understanding of the subject matter at hand. without fail, tortured writing comes from writers who don’t know and can’t think clearly about anything.
Oh man! This paragraph is brutal. The best thing about this review is it's not trying to be mean. It's just listing how bad the writing is.
December 3, 2025 at 7:36 PM
this is my #1 advice to grad students: anyone can reproduce jargon; the bigger flex is being able to make the argument in straightforward prose. clarity is indicative of deep thought and engagement. even chatGPT can write word salad.
Reposted by David J. DeVore
No offense to any of you who want to talk about this, but enough: It's not going anywhere. This is the system in which you must win. Wishcasting won't solve it.
The winner-take-all nature of the electoral college is ridiculous. The sensible answer is a proportional distribution of electoral votes based on a candidate’s votes in that state, but that is essentially the same as direct vote so why have an electoral college?
December 1, 2025 at 4:06 AM
No offense to any of you who want to talk about this, but enough: It's not going anywhere. This is the system in which you must win. Wishcasting won't solve it.
Reposted by David J. DeVore
There isn't much of 2025 left, but Susanna Elm's new book promises to be the book of the year!!
The Importance of Being Gorgeous: Gender and Christian Imperial Rule in Late Antiquity
That cover is gorgeous, and it's open-access so you can just download it!
The Importance of Being Gorgeous: Gender and Christian Imperial Rule in Late Antiquity
That cover is gorgeous, and it's open-access so you can just download it!
December 1, 2025 at 7:53 AM
There isn't much of 2025 left, but Susanna Elm's new book promises to be the book of the year!!
The Importance of Being Gorgeous: Gender and Christian Imperial Rule in Late Antiquity
That cover is gorgeous, and it's open-access so you can just download it!
The Importance of Being Gorgeous: Gender and Christian Imperial Rule in Late Antiquity
That cover is gorgeous, and it's open-access so you can just download it!
Reposted by David J. DeVore
Apparently she offered to cover other people's shifts so they could go home to their families for the holiday.
www.cnn.com/2025/11/27/u...
www.cnn.com/2025/11/27/u...
Two National Guard members were tasked with serving the nation. One is dead as the other fights for his life after shooting | CNN
On a day when many families gather across the country to give thanks, a National Guard member’s family is mourning her death after an ambush-style shooting in Washington, DC, as her colleague fights f...
www.cnn.com
November 28, 2025 at 2:09 AM
Apparently she offered to cover other people's shifts so they could go home to their families for the holiday.
www.cnn.com/2025/11/27/u...
www.cnn.com/2025/11/27/u...
Reposted by David J. DeVore
New data reveals 26% of Americans are not celebrating Thanksgiving this year due to the expense.
42% of Americans plan to host a scaled-down celebration because of costs.
42% of Americans plan to host a scaled-down celebration because of costs.
November 27, 2025 at 2:30 PM
New data reveals 26% of Americans are not celebrating Thanksgiving this year due to the expense.
42% of Americans plan to host a scaled-down celebration because of costs.
42% of Americans plan to host a scaled-down celebration because of costs.
Interview w me just published by the Commission for Ancient History and Epigraphy, where I did a semester of research in grad school. I got to brag about @calpolypomona.bsky.social & discuss my research and teaching! lisa.gerda-henkel-stiftung.de/20_jahre_jac...
The Nexus Between Conscious but Long-Deceased Narrator, Elaborated Narrative, and Events in the Distant Past | L.I.S.A. WISSENSCHAFTSPORTAL GERDA HENKEL STIFTUNG
The Jacobi Fellowship of the Commission for Ancient History and Epigraphy for doctoral students celebrates its 20 th anniversary in 2025. In this anniversary year, we will be presenting twelve former ...
lisa.gerda-henkel-stiftung.de
November 26, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Interview w me just published by the Commission for Ancient History and Epigraphy, where I did a semester of research in grad school. I got to brag about @calpolypomona.bsky.social & discuss my research and teaching! lisa.gerda-henkel-stiftung.de/20_jahre_jac...
Reposted by David J. DeVore
Art. I of the Constitution gives Congress the power to make rules and regulations for the armed forces — including codes of discipline and strictures against following illegal orders. You can’t punish members of Congress for articulating those rules. Also protected by Speech and Debate Clause.
November 25, 2025 at 9:53 AM
Art. I of the Constitution gives Congress the power to make rules and regulations for the armed forces — including codes of discipline and strictures against following illegal orders. You can’t punish members of Congress for articulating those rules. Also protected by Speech and Debate Clause.
Reposted by David J. DeVore
Really important to stress that the Crown Jewels of the US higher education system were never the Ivies or elite SLACs (other countries have equivalents of these) but the well-funded, large, cheap, and excellently staffed public state university systems bringing high quality education to the masses.
November 23, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Really important to stress that the Crown Jewels of the US higher education system were never the Ivies or elite SLACs (other countries have equivalents of these) but the well-funded, large, cheap, and excellently staffed public state university systems bringing high quality education to the masses.
My Big Trump Mamdani Wedding
♥️ This is the romcom we all needed. What should we call it?
Zo Actually
While Don was Sleeping
When Zohran Met Donny
Zo Actually
While Don was Sleeping
When Zohran Met Donny
November 21, 2025 at 10:38 PM
My Big Trump Mamdani Wedding
Reposted by David J. DeVore
Re: Larry Summers' ha ha I snuck in a claim that women are dumb and people didn't notice I'm so smart comment:
Even if we sexistly assume IQ is distributed 51-49, with 8.2 billion humans that's a minuscule difference that would be a terrible predictor of individual intelligence.
Not smart, Larry.
Even if we sexistly assume IQ is distributed 51-49, with 8.2 billion humans that's a minuscule difference that would be a terrible predictor of individual intelligence.
Not smart, Larry.
November 13, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Re: Larry Summers' ha ha I snuck in a claim that women are dumb and people didn't notice I'm so smart comment:
Even if we sexistly assume IQ is distributed 51-49, with 8.2 billion humans that's a minuscule difference that would be a terrible predictor of individual intelligence.
Not smart, Larry.
Even if we sexistly assume IQ is distributed 51-49, with 8.2 billion humans that's a minuscule difference that would be a terrible predictor of individual intelligence.
Not smart, Larry.
Reposted by David J. DeVore
It is genuinely hard for most people to grasp how poor the past was.
November 9, 2025 at 6:23 PM
It is genuinely hard for most people to grasp how poor the past was.
Reposted by David J. DeVore
The Roman empire built 300,000 kilometres of roads: new study.
theconversation.com/the-roman-em...
theconversation.com/the-roman-em...
The Roman empire built 300,000 kilometres of roads: new study
A new comprehensive map reveals the true scale of the ancient Roman road network – but it is still incomplete.
theconversation.com
November 8, 2025 at 4:45 PM
The Roman empire built 300,000 kilometres of roads: new study.
theconversation.com/the-roman-em...
theconversation.com/the-roman-em...
Reposted by David J. DeVore
But *fundamentally* Big Boy War is won with spreadsheets, it is won with production, it is won with research and development.
Troop training and fitness matter, but on the margins. In WWII, we buried the better men in steel; the USSR buried them in just more men.
Spreadsheets win wars.
Troop training and fitness matter, but on the margins. In WWII, we buried the better men in steel; the USSR buried them in just more men.
Spreadsheets win wars.
November 2, 2025 at 7:24 PM
But *fundamentally* Big Boy War is won with spreadsheets, it is won with production, it is won with research and development.
Troop training and fitness matter, but on the margins. In WWII, we buried the better men in steel; the USSR buried them in just more men.
Spreadsheets win wars.
Troop training and fitness matter, but on the margins. In WWII, we buried the better men in steel; the USSR buried them in just more men.
Spreadsheets win wars.
And then Alex Verdugo won the World Series...for the Dodgers: www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oPC...
November 2, 2025 at 5:34 AM
And then Alex Verdugo won the World Series...for the Dodgers: www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oPC...
Reposted by David J. DeVore
This is the sixth straight season in which a Will Smith wins a World Series:
2025: C Will Smith (LAD)
2024: C Will Smith (LAD)
2023: LHP Will Smith (TEX)
2022: LHP Will Smith (HOU)
2021: LHP Will Smith (ATL)
2020: C Will Smith (LAD)
2025: C Will Smith (LAD)
2024: C Will Smith (LAD)
2023: LHP Will Smith (TEX)
2022: LHP Will Smith (HOU)
2021: LHP Will Smith (ATL)
2020: C Will Smith (LAD)
November 2, 2025 at 4:48 AM
This is the sixth straight season in which a Will Smith wins a World Series:
2025: C Will Smith (LAD)
2024: C Will Smith (LAD)
2023: LHP Will Smith (TEX)
2022: LHP Will Smith (HOU)
2021: LHP Will Smith (ATL)
2020: C Will Smith (LAD)
2025: C Will Smith (LAD)
2024: C Will Smith (LAD)
2023: LHP Will Smith (TEX)
2022: LHP Will Smith (HOU)
2021: LHP Will Smith (ATL)
2020: C Will Smith (LAD)
Reposted by David J. DeVore
With the Dodgers forcing a Game 7, we now have 7 series that have gone the full distance this postseason
That’s two more than in any other single postseason
(And yes, there are more series these days, but 7 has been possible since ‘95 and in ‘81)
That’s two more than in any other single postseason
(And yes, there are more series these days, but 7 has been possible since ‘95 and in ‘81)
November 1, 2025 at 4:37 AM
With the Dodgers forcing a Game 7, we now have 7 series that have gone the full distance this postseason
That’s two more than in any other single postseason
(And yes, there are more series these days, but 7 has been possible since ‘95 and in ‘81)
That’s two more than in any other single postseason
(And yes, there are more series these days, but 7 has been possible since ‘95 and in ‘81)
Reposted by David J. DeVore
The Jays and Dodgers will break for Christmas Eve to share a drink in no man’s land, show each other photos of the family they left back home, before heading back to their respective trenches.
October 28, 2025 at 5:56 AM
The Jays and Dodgers will break for Christmas Eve to share a drink in no man’s land, show each other photos of the family they left back home, before heading back to their respective trenches.
Zeus: Oh, who hasn’t had 135 sexual partners of both sexes, including multiple sisters, & most unconsenting?
Describe a character in Greek mythology the way someone trying to defend a politician would. I’ll start.
Oedipus: Like you’ve never had sex with someone and regretted it later
Oedipus: Like you’ve never had sex with someone and regretted it later
October 25, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Zeus: Oh, who hasn’t had 135 sexual partners of both sexes, including multiple sisters, & most unconsenting?
Define your musical taste in eight artists:
Pink Floyd
Beethoven
Nirvana
Metallica
Beatles
Gaga
Neil Young
Fauré
Pink Floyd
Beethoven
Nirvana
Metallica
Beatles
Gaga
Neil Young
Fauré
October 19, 2025 at 12:56 AM
Define your musical taste in eight artists:
Pink Floyd
Beethoven
Nirvana
Metallica
Beatles
Gaga
Neil Young
Fauré
Pink Floyd
Beethoven
Nirvana
Metallica
Beatles
Gaga
Neil Young
Fauré
Arch of Titus also celebrated a victory over insurrectionists within Roman imperial territory who were framed as foreigners for triumphalist state propaganda, it’s worth noting.
The Arch of Constantine is one of the clearest state sponsored images of civil war and Romans killing other Romans in the name of seeing them as ‘enemies within’ that survives from antiquity. But sure yeah let’s build one of those in DC right now. Sure is timely.
People think there are no Roman history emergencies, right up to the day a sitting president proposes a triumphal arch. Now suddenly everyone needs a good handle on Titus and Constantine.
October 17, 2025 at 8:32 PM
Arch of Titus also celebrated a victory over insurrectionists within Roman imperial territory who were framed as foreigners for triumphalist state propaganda, it’s worth noting.
Reposted by David J. DeVore
I feel thrown by the widespread proclamations of a glorious, lasting peace in Gaza. A lot even treats “now that it’s all over” as the unquestioned premise.
It still looks like a disaster to me. Am I way off? Are my domestic politics distorting my view? Either the consensus is wrong or I am.
It still looks like a disaster to me. Am I way off? Are my domestic politics distorting my view? Either the consensus is wrong or I am.
October 15, 2025 at 12:29 PM
I feel thrown by the widespread proclamations of a glorious, lasting peace in Gaza. A lot even treats “now that it’s all over” as the unquestioned premise.
It still looks like a disaster to me. Am I way off? Are my domestic politics distorting my view? Either the consensus is wrong or I am.
It still looks like a disaster to me. Am I way off? Are my domestic politics distorting my view? Either the consensus is wrong or I am.
August 31, 2025 at 10:38 PM
Reposted by David J. DeVore
Oregon faculty ask that we sign and share widely. actionnetwork.org/petitions/fi...
Fight Cuts, Defend Higher Education at the University of Oregon
The University of Oregon is planning to lay off an undisclosed number of faculty—including many tenured faculty—and to close units based on a projected budget deficit that was discovered late spring t...
actionnetwork.org
August 21, 2025 at 10:46 AM
Oregon faculty ask that we sign and share widely. actionnetwork.org/petitions/fi...
Reposted by David J. DeVore
“American Academy of Arts&Sciences reports 96.3% of humanities grads age 23-32 fully employed. Earnings in humanitiess comparable to social/life sciences, job satisfaction levels too. A serious mismatch bw actual employment for hum grads +general perception."
www.mellon.org/voices/human...
www.mellon.org/voices/human...
Mellon Foundation
The Mellon Foundation makes grants to actively unlock the power in the arts and humanities that helps connect us all.
www.mellon.org
August 1, 2025 at 3:20 PM
“American Academy of Arts&Sciences reports 96.3% of humanities grads age 23-32 fully employed. Earnings in humanitiess comparable to social/life sciences, job satisfaction levels too. A serious mismatch bw actual employment for hum grads +general perception."
www.mellon.org/voices/human...
www.mellon.org/voices/human...
This is true *unless* you have a Roy Moore situation--i.e. if Mamdani has said or done something that's absolutely toxic across the political spectrum.
But I haven't seen Mamdani say or do any such thing. (I don't think his nuance on the term "intifada" qualifies; nor do his proposed policies.)
But I haven't seen Mamdani say or do any such thing. (I don't think his nuance on the term "intifada" qualifies; nor do his proposed policies.)
As someone who’s been a Democrat for only six weeks, I think this is such an important point. We’re either a big tent, or we aren’t. And if we are a big tent, that means progressives unite around a moderate nominee, and moderates unite around a progressive nominee. Period.👇
July 21, 2025 at 11:46 PM
This is true *unless* you have a Roy Moore situation--i.e. if Mamdani has said or done something that's absolutely toxic across the political spectrum.
But I haven't seen Mamdani say or do any such thing. (I don't think his nuance on the term "intifada" qualifies; nor do his proposed policies.)
But I haven't seen Mamdani say or do any such thing. (I don't think his nuance on the term "intifada" qualifies; nor do his proposed policies.)