Ian Janssen
@ianfjanssen.bsky.social
- Delaware, but Iowa born
- Dad to the best son
- Archivist
- Fishing/art/literature/poetry/music/hiking
- Aspirational motorcyclist
- Incompetent agnostic/socialist/sober
- Has a cat named Toolbox
"God has no other hands than ours."
- Dorothee Soelle
- Dad to the best son
- Archivist
- Fishing/art/literature/poetry/music/hiking
- Aspirational motorcyclist
- Incompetent agnostic/socialist/sober
- Has a cat named Toolbox
"God has no other hands than ours."
- Dorothee Soelle
The Four Horsemen (Remastered)
YouTube video by Metallica - Topic
youtu.be
November 27, 2025 at 2:02 PM
One of my weird regrets from not following through and getting my doctorate is that I'll never now have the opportunity to place that brilliant, shining, clearly best-selling monograph on an esoteric subject on my parents' shelf.
I'm serious. It's like getting your A+ exam put on the fridge.
I'm serious. It's like getting your A+ exam put on the fridge.
PROMOTE YOUR BOOKS! EVERYONE WANTS TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR PUBLISHED BOOKS!
gonna be reposting your books because hoo you made a book!
www.versobooks.com/products/303...
gonna be reposting your books because hoo you made a book!
www.versobooks.com/products/303...
November 27, 2025 at 1:11 PM
One of my weird regrets from not following through and getting my doctorate is that I'll never now have the opportunity to place that brilliant, shining, clearly best-selling monograph on an esoteric subject on my parents' shelf.
I'm serious. It's like getting your A+ exam put on the fridge.
I'm serious. It's like getting your A+ exam put on the fridge.
Franz Schubert Octet in F Major, D 803
YouTube video by Hochrhein Musikfestival Productions
youtu.be
November 27, 2025 at 8:28 AM
Sechs Lieder im Freien zu singen, Op. 41: II. Entflieh' mit mir
YouTube video by RIAS Kammerchor - Topic
youtu.be
November 27, 2025 at 8:14 AM
What a gorgeous illustration.
The red knight rides forth again.....
BL Royal MS 6 E IX; Convenevole da Prato, Carmina regia; c1335 CE; Italy (Tuscany); f.24r
BL Royal MS 6 E IX; Convenevole da Prato, Carmina regia; c1335 CE; Italy (Tuscany); f.24r
November 26, 2025 at 7:01 PM
What a gorgeous illustration.
I'm in a question-asking mood today:
What's the best text that you've read on leading the inner intellectual and emotional life during times of historical crisis?
Could be anything, ancient treatise, modern scholarship, diary, poetry, scripture, screed, whatever.
What text works for you on this?
What's the best text that you've read on leading the inner intellectual and emotional life during times of historical crisis?
Could be anything, ancient treatise, modern scholarship, diary, poetry, scripture, screed, whatever.
What text works for you on this?
November 25, 2025 at 9:07 PM
I'm in a question-asking mood today:
What's the best text that you've read on leading the inner intellectual and emotional life during times of historical crisis?
Could be anything, ancient treatise, modern scholarship, diary, poetry, scripture, screed, whatever.
What text works for you on this?
What's the best text that you've read on leading the inner intellectual and emotional life during times of historical crisis?
Could be anything, ancient treatise, modern scholarship, diary, poetry, scripture, screed, whatever.
What text works for you on this?
I will ask this with a twist:
What's a text along these lines that you've read in recent years even though you may not be Jewish or Christian?
I don't mean texts about atheism or agnosticism here, but texts about this topic that maybe held some meaning or interest for you despite your positions.
What's a text along these lines that you've read in recent years even though you may not be Jewish or Christian?
I don't mean texts about atheism or agnosticism here, but texts about this topic that maybe held some meaning or interest for you despite your positions.
what is your favorite book of Biblical scholarship or interpretation?
November 25, 2025 at 7:14 PM
I will ask this with a twist:
What's a text along these lines that you've read in recent years even though you may not be Jewish or Christian?
I don't mean texts about atheism or agnosticism here, but texts about this topic that maybe held some meaning or interest for you despite your positions.
What's a text along these lines that you've read in recent years even though you may not be Jewish or Christian?
I don't mean texts about atheism or agnosticism here, but texts about this topic that maybe held some meaning or interest for you despite your positions.
Ysaÿe - Violin sonata n°4 - Kremer
YouTube video by incontrario motu
youtu.be
November 25, 2025 at 3:49 AM
Symphony No.2 for Strings - Mieczysław Weinberg
YouTube video by Sergio Cánovas
youtu.be
November 25, 2025 at 3:46 AM
Bohuslav Martinů Cello Concerto No.2 (1945), Raphael Wallfisch
YouTube video by Ria Brezova
youtu.be
November 25, 2025 at 3:40 AM
I loathe ai (spelled with small letters to accord it no respect).
I loathe this administration.
I loathe this culture that unleashed these things.
I fear that may be too much loathing for one night.
I loathe this administration.
I loathe this culture that unleashed these things.
I fear that may be too much loathing for one night.
"the president has directed the Department of Energy to launch an AI project called the genesis mission" sounds like something out of a technothriller
www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...
www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...
Launching the Genesis Mission
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered: Section 1. Purpose.
www.whitehouse.gov
November 25, 2025 at 12:11 AM
I loathe ai (spelled with small letters to accord it no respect).
I loathe this administration.
I loathe this culture that unleashed these things.
I fear that may be too much loathing for one night.
I loathe this administration.
I loathe this culture that unleashed these things.
I fear that may be too much loathing for one night.
I may have consumed too much caffeine this afternoon, perhaps.
November 24, 2025 at 10:04 PM
I may have consumed too much caffeine this afternoon, perhaps.
See, to wade into turbulent waters here, I know there was discourse today about some ignorant pastor’s comments on women’s clothes and modesty.
My bare theological understanding is that modesty in the scriptural sense pertained more to removal of display and pomp than the length of a hemline.
My bare theological understanding is that modesty in the scriptural sense pertained more to removal of display and pomp than the length of a hemline.
Emperor Heraclius trying to carry the True Cross to Jerusalem in pomp but being obstructed by an angel until he dismounted & removed his crown.
München, Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, BSB Clm 15903; Perikopenbuch aus St. Erentrud in Salzburg; 12th c; Salzburg; p.178
München, Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, BSB Clm 15903; Perikopenbuch aus St. Erentrud in Salzburg; 12th c; Salzburg; p.178
November 24, 2025 at 10:03 PM
See, to wade into turbulent waters here, I know there was discourse today about some ignorant pastor’s comments on women’s clothes and modesty.
My bare theological understanding is that modesty in the scriptural sense pertained more to removal of display and pomp than the length of a hemline.
My bare theological understanding is that modesty in the scriptural sense pertained more to removal of display and pomp than the length of a hemline.
Seriously, what is it with American men (and it’s mainly men) of a certain age range and weird excessive nostalgia for trinkets and traces of their youth and their later iterations?
I never understood this and find it very, well, repellent when I encounter it. Grow up and read some poetry, bitches.
I never understood this and find it very, well, repellent when I encounter it. Grow up and read some poetry, bitches.
Personally, I think endlessly debating the relative qualities of the Star Wars films and shows to be about as dull an endeavor as one could endeavor to do. I mean, they have their moments, but so did Lego and Matchbox cars when I was eight.
I’m an unapologetic snob, though.
I’m an unapologetic snob, though.
November 24, 2025 at 9:52 PM
Seriously, what is it with American men (and it’s mainly men) of a certain age range and weird excessive nostalgia for trinkets and traces of their youth and their later iterations?
I never understood this and find it very, well, repellent when I encounter it. Grow up and read some poetry, bitches.
I never understood this and find it very, well, repellent when I encounter it. Grow up and read some poetry, bitches.
Personally, I think endlessly debating the relative qualities of the Star Wars films and shows to be about as dull an endeavor as one could endeavor to do. I mean, they have their moments, but so did Lego and Matchbox cars when I was eight.
I’m an unapologetic snob, though.
I’m an unapologetic snob, though.
November 24, 2025 at 8:29 PM
Personally, I think endlessly debating the relative qualities of the Star Wars films and shows to be about as dull an endeavor as one could endeavor to do. I mean, they have their moments, but so did Lego and Matchbox cars when I was eight.
I’m an unapologetic snob, though.
I’m an unapologetic snob, though.
Someday the world just is going to unite against us and decide we need a regime change …
(this is a criticism of our entire foreign policy for decades, not just Trump)
(this is a criticism of our entire foreign policy for decades, not just Trump)
Really looks like the United States is about to launch a regime change war against Venezuela with:
-No casus belli
-No authorization from Congress
-No allies or international support
-No plan for a post-Maduro Venezuela
-No preparation for any sort of stabilization or containment of the fallout
-No casus belli
-No authorization from Congress
-No allies or international support
-No plan for a post-Maduro Venezuela
-No preparation for any sort of stabilization or containment of the fallout
November 24, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Someday the world just is going to unite against us and decide we need a regime change …
(this is a criticism of our entire foreign policy for decades, not just Trump)
(this is a criticism of our entire foreign policy for decades, not just Trump)
"Row well and live, Charlie Brown."
November 24, 2025 at 12:09 PM
"Row well and live, Charlie Brown."
Anybody?
OK classicist and literary types: best modern translation into English of the poetry of Catullus?
I took a Latin class on him in college (in the 90s), and seemingly there was no such beast, everything being highly bowdlerized still. I'd hope that the intervening 30 years or so has seen progress?
I took a Latin class on him in college (in the 90s), and seemingly there was no such beast, everything being highly bowdlerized still. I'd hope that the intervening 30 years or so has seen progress?
November 23, 2025 at 10:05 PM
Anybody?
Took best son for his first driving lesson with me in one of the university parking lots. Nervous, but he did really well!
Also, we lived!
Also, we lived!
November 23, 2025 at 9:44 PM
Took best son for his first driving lesson with me in one of the university parking lots. Nervous, but he did really well!
Also, we lived!
Also, we lived!
The Clash - Straight to Hell (Official Audio)
YouTube video by theclashVEVO
youtu.be
November 23, 2025 at 3:05 PM
OK classicist and literary types: best modern translation into English of the poetry of Catullus?
I took a Latin class on him in college (in the 90s), and seemingly there was no such beast, everything being highly bowdlerized still. I'd hope that the intervening 30 years or so has seen progress?
I took a Latin class on him in college (in the 90s), and seemingly there was no such beast, everything being highly bowdlerized still. I'd hope that the intervening 30 years or so has seen progress?
November 23, 2025 at 1:13 PM
OK classicist and literary types: best modern translation into English of the poetry of Catullus?
I took a Latin class on him in college (in the 90s), and seemingly there was no such beast, everything being highly bowdlerized still. I'd hope that the intervening 30 years or so has seen progress?
I took a Latin class on him in college (in the 90s), and seemingly there was no such beast, everything being highly bowdlerized still. I'd hope that the intervening 30 years or so has seen progress?