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Ian Randall

@epinicion.bsky.social

1.9K followers 2.3K following 1.9K posts

Archaeologist. Byzantinist. Dr. Also possibly spider from space. He/him.

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Ian Randall @epinicion.bsky.social · Nov 22

My soapbox take is that archaeologists and anthropologists should be helping to shape public policy and infrastructure development. The way we currently behave is like someone who spent their whole life studying cars and then said "Oh no, I have nothing to contribute to current car manufacturing."

Ian Randall @epinicion.bsky.social · 3h

Think you really hit it on the head with 'Misanthropy Masked As Introvertism Culture.'

Ian Randall @epinicion.bsky.social · 3h

I've always liked small talk, and this really gets to the core of it.

Chappell Ellison @chappelltracker.bsky.social · 10d

This Tumblr user summarizes something I've been feeling/doing lately. Against everything going on, it somehow feels helpful.

User homoquartz writes: as long as you smile and nod, people are satisfied. it’s just to show that you are nice and there with good intentions. we’re small in a big world and have to rely on other people to be decent to us. so we do our little human dance to each other to say, “i’m not here to hurt you. here’s something we have in common, like the weather or sports or itchy sweaters, so we both know we’re on the same team. we both agree on a basic fact, like that it is rainy or that being itchy is uncomfortable, and this proves we can get along. i’m being light-hearted and non-threatening right now."
Small talk isn't to get to know a person. It's just a greeting to affirm you're buddies in the universe. I am motivated by wanting the other person to know I am friendly, so I have gotten pretty decent at small tall when I used to hate it.

Reposted by Ian Randall

Slurmsadako MacKenzie @slurmsmackenzie.bsky.social · 11h

GenAI truly was the worst technology to come along at this moment.

An energy and water guzzler when we most urgently need to take climate action.

A disinformation machine as our journalism fails.

A bias machine as fascism takes root.

A job killer in a cost of living crisis.

Bria "tries to write a book" Horses @thevoidencore.bsky.social · 5d

The "cognitive decline and brain damage from repeat COVID infections" and "easy to use robot that makes slop and melts your critical thinking skills" is a hell of a combo in a post-fact media ecosystem

Reposted by Ian Randall

Dr. Karen Carr @quatrus.bsky.social · 1d

From Michael De Adder. @dribrats.bsky.social

Ian Randall @epinicion.bsky.social · 2d

Abbasid Baghdad

Ian Randall @epinicion.bsky.social · 4d

It's so good.

Ian Randall @epinicion.bsky.social · 5d

Nice

Reposted by Ian Randall

Lauren W. @livewildly.bsky.social · 5d

Everett, Seattle, Tacoma, et al. folks – looking for a foster family for a dog and two cats until they’re owner can find housing again. Know of anyone?

Tori Williams Douglass @toriglass.bsky.social · 5d

Long story short they’re staying in north Seattle (Everett) but need to foster their two cats and a dog until they find housing again. If you know of any pet lovers in Seattle with a little extra space, please put me in touch with them!

2/2

Ian Randall @epinicion.bsky.social · 7d

:(

Reposted by Ian Randall

Shropshire Cat Rescue @shropscatrescue.bsky.social · 7d

www.justgiving.com/campaign/scr...

Help us get a new roof before Winter

Our Shelter is currently full and we are worried about what will happen to one of the older buildings which has a damaged roof. We really need to get this fixed before the winter sets in as it will af...

www.justgiving.com

Ian Randall @epinicion.bsky.social · 8d

and they also end up paying back into the system in several roundabout ways. There are already systems in place to process them into or out of the country once they are discovered. So. . . . . really it's just racism?

Ian Randall @epinicion.bsky.social · 8d

I have yet to be given a reasonable answer as to why immigration is a problem. Legal immigrants pay into the system, so if your system is having trouble coping with the strain then that sounds to me like bad management. Illegal immigrants largely can't access that system . . . .

Ian Randall @epinicion.bsky.social · 8d

ikr?

Ian Randall @epinicion.bsky.social · 8d

In our multi-year VtM LARP some of us tried to roleplay this, but it never really got off the ground. We were 20-30 people and most didn't have time for this perspective.

Ian Randall @epinicion.bsky.social · 8d

Why didn't you? Did you forget?

Ian Randall @epinicion.bsky.social · 8d

I genuinely don't understand why people use generative AI. Yeah, I get that it's easier, but. . . . . did you forget why you did anything in the first place? It was easier to not get that degree, not ask that question, to not make that painting or write that paper. It was easier to stay in bed.

Reposted by Ian Randall

Nina Willburger @drnwillburger.bsky.social · 8d

Models of everyday life were deposited in #Egyptian tombs. They were supposed to support the deceased in the afterlife. One of the most charming examples is the model of a #cow giving birth.
Carved in wood, painted.
Probably from Meir, #Egypt, dating c. 2040-1985 BC.

📷 Royal Ontario Museum

🏺

The photo shows a wooden model of a cow giving birth accompanied by two men. One man calms the cow while the other ensures a proper delivery.The calf emerges from his mother, licking the hand of the man.

Reposted by Ian Randall

Merriam-Webster @merriam-webster.com · 11d

We are thrilled to announce that our NEW Large Language Model will be released on 11.18.25.

Reposted by Ian Randall

Dr. Jeroen W.P. Wijnendaele @drdragases.bsky.social · 10d

*Laughs hollowly in 2025*

Reposted by Ian Randall

debhair @debhair.bsky.social · 11d

Uno de los mejores Juegos de Rol que existen, sin temor a equivocarme. Este es un mecenazgo necesario para que el proyecto salga adelante!! #lodelrol #Ttrpg
Ars Magica Edición Definitiva on @BackerKit! www.backerkit.com/c/projects/b...

Ars Magica Edición Definitiva

La edición definitiva del mejor juego de rol de magos de la historia, en castellano, con un diseño y unas ilustraciones completamente inéditas.

www.backerkit.com

Ian Randall @epinicion.bsky.social · 11d

I'm an archaeologist. Sewage systems are sexy.

Gillian Brockell @gbrockell.bsky.social · 11d

I’m a socialist mayor. Sewage systems are sexy.

Elizabeth Jacobs, PhD
@elizabethjacobs.bsky.social
I'm an epidemiologist. Sewage systems are sexy.
• Dosco Jones @doscojones.bsky.s... • 4h I'm an engineer. Sewage systems are sexy.

Ian Randall @epinicion.bsky.social · 12d

You know, there are about 12 alarming things about that sentence.

JVG 骨 @jasonv.bsky.social · 12d

Absolute all-timer sentence in today's @nytimes.com

"some legal experts have called it a crime to summarily execute civilians" says today's New York Times, continuing their long tradition of whitewashing fascism

Ian Randall @epinicion.bsky.social · 13d

Please check this incredible site out, and help save it!!

International Support Needed: Save Papoura Hill Archaeological Monument and Landscape — OurWorldHeritage Foundation for community heritage practices

Amid the construction of yet another airport in central Crete, a large and unique archaeological site was uncovered at the very top of Papoura Hill, in Pediada region. Now, the Citizens’ Committee for...

www.ourworldheritage.org

Ian Randall @epinicion.bsky.social · 14d

That little smirk. . . .

You think this is a fucking joke. You're so out of touch it's unbelievable. Think about your legacy, now that's a fucking joke. . . .

Reposted by Ian Randall

Dr Jo Ball @drjeball.bsky.social · 15d

A #Roman figurine of a lizard, carved from a single piece of hyaline quartz. It was found in a Gallo-Roman tomb in Belgium, where it was buried as part of an assortment of grave goods about 2000 years ago (📷 MFAH, Brussels) 🏺 AncientBlueSky #Archaeology #RomanArchaeology