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Dang! Academic smackdown!
Sep. 24th, 2025 09:25 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
brithistorianI was reading the June 2025 American Historical Review tonight and came across Peter Lorge's review of A History of Traditional Chinese Military Science by Huang Pumin, Wei Hong, and Xiong Jianping, translatied by Fan Hao. It's one of the most brutal academic takedowns of a book that I've ever read. I'd like to share with you the first sentence from each paragraph, which manage to convey the sense of the whole thing, with my comments afterward in brackets.
- "The field of Chinese military history in the West has grown considerably in the last couple of decades but remains extremely small." [So this book should be useful.]
- "A History of Traditional Chinese Military Science is therefore valuable if only because there isn't much else." [My comment #1 was right, but just barely.]
- "The term 'military science' is particularly problematic. [Dang! We're not even out of the title and things are already "particularly problematic!"]
- "More problematically, the authors believe that Chinese military thought — or military science, in their terms — did not change after it was established in the pre-imperial period (before 221 BCE)." [It's never a good sign when any paragraph in a review begins with "more problematically."]
- "This brings us to a deep-rooted problem in this book's scholarship." [After two paragraphs of problems, we now come to "a deep-rooted problem"? Damn!]
- "Readers unfamiliar with Chinese history, let along Chinese military history, will find the discussions of history and warfare confusing." [In other words, if you know enough to understand this book, you know too much to learn anything from it.]
- "The translation itself appears to be generally competent, although the translator is not well-versed in the deeper meanings of either the technical military terms in Chinese or in English." [It looks like he's about to let the translator off the hook, but no.]
Jimmy Kimmel's return!
Sep. 24th, 2025 10:55 ambrithistorianA. and I just watched Jimmy Kimmel's comeback monologue from last night. It was great — I'm glad to see him back. I've got to say, though: After seeing his supercut of all the time's Trump said not to take Tylenol in his press conference with RFK Jr., I feel an uncontrollable urge to take Tylenol!
drive by post
Sep. 24th, 2025 10:31 pmfred_mouseI keep thinking about making a happy post, and then there are too many moving parts and argh. Instead, you get a possible insight into my mind you didn't need. I keep reading
it also predates genAI
in the verb form related to predator, rather than date and time. I'm not sure what is eating the genAI, and I'm not sure I want to (is it silverfish? it absolutely would not surprise me if it were silverfish).
(note also that I get a giggle out of un-ionised vs union-ised)
Autism and good sense
Sep. 24th, 2025 03:07 pmdavidgillon “I’ve just got to be really clear about this: there is no evidence to link the use of paracetamol by pregnant women to autism in their children. None.
In fact a major study was done back in 2024 in Sweden, involving 2.4 million children, and it did not uphold those claims. So I would just say to people watching: don’t pay any attention whatsoever to what Donald Trump says about medicine. In fact, don’t even take my word for it as a politician. Listen to British doctors, British scientists, the NHS."
I don't always agree 100% with Wes Streeting, our Health Secretary, but he nailed it this time.
Watching stuff
Sep. 23rd, 2025 01:30 pmkomadoriHappy bisexual Visibility Day to all my beautiful bisexuals! ♥
So, I have actually been watching stuff, and I think it has lifted my mood somewhat. Here are my thoughts--I try to avoid spoilers for the most part.
Bridgerton - ( Read more... )
Interview with the Vampire - ( Read more... )
Wednesday - ( Read more... )
Apothecary Diaries - ( Read more... )
Ranma 1/2 - ( Read more... )
I have also started watching The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity, but I don't really have that much to say about it right now.
So, I have actually been watching stuff, and I think it has lifted my mood somewhat. Here are my thoughts--I try to avoid spoilers for the most part.
Bridgerton - ( Read more... )
Interview with the Vampire - ( Read more... )
Wednesday - ( Read more... )
Apothecary Diaries - ( Read more... )
Ranma 1/2 - ( Read more... )
I have also started watching The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity, but I don't really have that much to say about it right now.
Potential new fannish activity
Sep. 23rd, 2025 09:26 ambrithistorianI've aspired to be a tag wrangler at AO3 for a while, but each time they opened up applications, I haven't been able to find fandoms I wanted to apply for. They recently opened up applications again, and the fandoms they were looking for wranglers for included a lot of K-pop girl groups, including several that I have written about at length. So I put my application on the 19th and now I'm waiting anxiously to hear back (they said it could be 4 weeks, I put my application in 4 days ago, so I've go plenty of waiting to do). Fingers crossed!
FIC: Historian's room (Tempestuous Tours)
Sep. 22nd, 2025 04:31 pmduskpetersonMost of the official documents of the Koretian government are locked away or in active use, but the outer chamber of the historian's room boasts a magnificent chart of the bloodlines of the previous rulers of Koretia. You will see that there are two main bloodlines; both were cut off by wartime casualties, although the last surviving direct descendant of the second line died surprisingly recently. See the section of this book on Valouse for more details.
The Jackal's previous bloodline is unknown, but the Koretian ruler has established a new bloodline by selecting a young kinsman as his heir. The kinsmanship is dually established through a wardship and through a blood-brotherhood of an earlier generation.
[Translator's note: With his usual reticence, the Ambassador fails to cite plainly his own connection to Koretia's royal line. That connection is mentioned often in Empty Dagger Hand.]
Recent things
Sep. 21st, 2025 09:37 pmyuuago+ Posted the fic I've been agonizing over for ages, hooray. Writing that was like pulling teeth but it seems to have actually turned out rather well.
+ Today was Race Day. I participated in the 3k; didn't actually run, but speedwalking. It was fun, but I am very exhausted. Might walk the 5k next year; we'll see. Or maybe I'll do 3k again but actually try to jog bost of it.
+ Skipped out on judo all week because of a headcold.
+ I've been trying to make some attempts to talk to people in fandom a little more. It's super hard, though. I feel like there are fewer opportunities for casual interaction than there used to be. Or maybe I'm just disappointed that so many people I used to know have moved on, and also frustrated by the current platforms (I miss when journal format was primary, that worked really well for me). ...Anyway, I'm taking what opportunities do come up, at least, trying to think of conversation topics and so on. And come to think of it, maybe I should use this as motivation to finish and post more fics - people tend to be more talkative when I'm more visible.
+ Received two PMs on tumblr from people looking for someone to roleplay with. I was kind of surprised - one of them was from somebody I've never interacted with, and this kind of cold-calling is a totally different approach from how it was done back when I actually played. Anyway, I actually do miss roleplaying a lot, but the thought of doing it anywhere other than Dreamwidth feels kind of weird. (And now I am reminded of all the old threads that will never be finished because my partners dropped off the face of the internet).
+ The past few weekends have been so busy and I'm honestly pretty cranky that I haven't had time to do any more paintings. I swear next week I will work on the two that I've already started. e_e
+ Vaguely contemplating a trip to Charlottetown next year, probably around September. I've been to PEI before, but not Charlottetown, so it'll be nice to go somewhere completely new. Kind of thinking about combining with a trip to Halifax too - it's been ages since I was last in Nova Scotia. Anyway, we'll see. Meanwhile, I'm starting to really look forward to my trip to Edmonton in November.
+ Today was Race Day. I participated in the 3k; didn't actually run, but speedwalking. It was fun, but I am very exhausted. Might walk the 5k next year; we'll see. Or maybe I'll do 3k again but actually try to jog bost of it.
+ Skipped out on judo all week because of a headcold.
+ I've been trying to make some attempts to talk to people in fandom a little more. It's super hard, though. I feel like there are fewer opportunities for casual interaction than there used to be. Or maybe I'm just disappointed that so many people I used to know have moved on, and also frustrated by the current platforms (I miss when journal format was primary, that worked really well for me). ...Anyway, I'm taking what opportunities do come up, at least, trying to think of conversation topics and so on. And come to think of it, maybe I should use this as motivation to finish and post more fics - people tend to be more talkative when I'm more visible.
+ Received two PMs on tumblr from people looking for someone to roleplay with. I was kind of surprised - one of them was from somebody I've never interacted with, and this kind of cold-calling is a totally different approach from how it was done back when I actually played. Anyway, I actually do miss roleplaying a lot, but the thought of doing it anywhere other than Dreamwidth feels kind of weird. (And now I am reminded of all the old threads that will never be finished because my partners dropped off the face of the internet).
+ The past few weekends have been so busy and I'm honestly pretty cranky that I haven't had time to do any more paintings. I swear next week I will work on the two that I've already started. e_e
+ Vaguely contemplating a trip to Charlottetown next year, probably around September. I've been to PEI before, but not Charlottetown, so it'll be nice to go somewhere completely new. Kind of thinking about combining with a trip to Halifax too - it's been ages since I was last in Nova Scotia. Anyway, we'll see. Meanwhile, I'm starting to really look forward to my trip to Edmonton in November.
They checked it
Sep. 21st, 2025 05:37 pmazurelunaticThe worst part of colonoscopy prep turned out to be the sheer number of trips to the bathroom, which knotted up my legs something fierce. The second worst part was the taste of the solution, even with added flavorings. It was salty! (I got the huge jug rather than the Miralax version. Miralax at least isn't salty.) Next time, probably either green unsweetened Kool-Aid or lemonade Crystal Lite or whatever.
( Off topic for FFA )
I did make the planned gallon of orange jello, but since it was a little late for me to actually eat it, I put mandarin orange slices in it. Since that's often part of Belovedest's lunch. Today I packed it into smaller boxes to help with that effort and to decrease the crowding in the fridge.
I got a slight nap after everything was about finished. The split prep schedule meant that I started the second half around 12:30 am. Appointment check in time 6 am.
The distance in the facility wasn't super bad, although we brought my chair just in case. (Speaking of the chair, I have decked it out with retroreflective tape and electroluminescent wire. It looks much safer. The cup holder went on Friday.)
( The procedure wasn't bad. )
I got dressed again. I had picked a cute nightgown for the outing, black with flowers and butterflies. Instead of a coat (it's getting chilly at night) I wore my dramatic black velvet robe, the one with lace trim and bell sleeves. I received a compliment. And as soon as I proved I could stand up without excessive wobbling, we were off.
Belovedest gathered breakfast for me on our way home, and I took a much needed nap (interrupted a few times to confirm that I could be made conscious and accept hydration).
And that was that.
We did our usual Friday shopping on Saturday. I was still sore. Today my legs are thankfully feeling normal.
( Off topic for FFA )
I did make the planned gallon of orange jello, but since it was a little late for me to actually eat it, I put mandarin orange slices in it. Since that's often part of Belovedest's lunch. Today I packed it into smaller boxes to help with that effort and to decrease the crowding in the fridge.
I got a slight nap after everything was about finished. The split prep schedule meant that I started the second half around 12:30 am. Appointment check in time 6 am.
The distance in the facility wasn't super bad, although we brought my chair just in case. (Speaking of the chair, I have decked it out with retroreflective tape and electroluminescent wire. It looks much safer. The cup holder went on Friday.)
( The procedure wasn't bad. )
I got dressed again. I had picked a cute nightgown for the outing, black with flowers and butterflies. Instead of a coat (it's getting chilly at night) I wore my dramatic black velvet robe, the one with lace trim and bell sleeves. I received a compliment. And as soon as I proved I could stand up without excessive wobbling, we were off.
Belovedest gathered breakfast for me on our way home, and I took a much needed nap (interrupted a few times to confirm that I could be made conscious and accept hydration).
And that was that.
We did our usual Friday shopping on Saturday. I was still sore. Today my legs are thankfully feeling normal.
Everything's Borked
Sep. 20th, 2025 10:01 pmdavidgillonTLDR: hypermobile Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, with known immune system crossovers, turns out to have weird immune system proteins on top of all the other weirdness.
Interesting new hEDS paper I saw mentioned on FB today,
"Proteomic analysis revealed 35 differentially expressed proteins in hEDS, with 43% involved in the complement cascade and 80% linked to immune, coagulation, or inflammatory pathways. ... Cytokine profiling revealed alterations in nodal immune cell mediators in hEDS patients, supporting a model of dysregulated inflammatory response. Our findings indicate a systemic immune dysregulation, particularly involving the complement system and profibrotic cytokines, as a common feature in hEDS pathophysiology."
https://academic.oup.com/immunohorizons/article/9/10/vlaf044/8256436
The EDS Society write-up says there's another paper in the works from another team with similar results from a larger sample, and that includes people with HSD diagnoses, not just hEDS (unsurprisingly, I'm convinced the hEDS/HSD divide is bad science).
The EDS Society write-up says there's another paper in the works from another team with similar results from a larger sample, and that includes people with HSD diagnoses, not just hEDS (unsurprisingly, I'm convinced the hEDS/HSD divide is bad science).
https://www.ehlers-danlos.com/exciting-new-research-sheds-light-on-heds-biology/
Friday Five all about soulmates
Sep. 19th, 2025 09:13 pmkomadori1. Do you believe you can have more than one soulmate in life?
Yes, I do. I also believe that soulmates are made by growing together rather than found at random, but of course some people are more suitable for each other than others. Still, there is no singular perfect person out there or a missing half. I do find Aristophane's concept of soulmates to be interesting, though.!
2. Are you with that soulmate now?
Sadly, no. I'm still looking.
3. If not, how long did your relationship with your soulmate last?
This is assuming that I have met them yet, which I definitely have not.
4. Do you still think about your soulmate, if you are not together?
I think about who they could be even though we haven't met.
5. If you're not together, do you think your soulmate still thinks about you?
Again, I have not met this person or persons, but I like to imagine that there is someone out there who is looking for someone like me.
Yes, I do. I also believe that soulmates are made by growing together rather than found at random, but of course some people are more suitable for each other than others. Still, there is no singular perfect person out there or a missing half. I do find Aristophane's concept of soulmates to be interesting, though.!
2. Are you with that soulmate now?
Sadly, no. I'm still looking.
3. If not, how long did your relationship with your soulmate last?
This is assuming that I have met them yet, which I definitely have not.
4. Do you still think about your soulmate, if you are not together?
I think about who they could be even though we haven't met.
5. If you're not together, do you think your soulmate still thinks about you?
Again, I have not met this person or persons, but I like to imagine that there is someone out there who is looking for someone like me.
Book titles for the win
Sep. 19th, 2025 10:52 ambrithistorianI was reading the current issue of American Historical Review this morning and in the reviews, I came across a very clever book title. In a play on the phrase "locus of power," Samuel Dolbee named a book Locusts of Power: Borders, Empire, and Environment in the Modern Middle East.
SOTD: Say My Name, "Goldilocks Water"
Sep. 18th, 2025 10:07 pmbrithistorianThis popped up on my playlist today while I was doing some yardwork and I loved it. When I came in, I watched the video, and I loved it more: They were apparently copying Weeekly's aesthetic, which I fine with me: I can always use more of Weeekly's aesthetic, especially now that Weeekly has disbanded. Enjoy!