lyorn | Network

Posted by Bret Devereaux

https://acoup.blog/2026/05/29/gap-week-may-29-2026/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gap-week-may-29-2026

Hey folks! I had a few other projects that I really needed to get finished this week, which left me with limited time to put a blog post together. My plan for next week is something for the worldbuilders out there, a sort of ‘guide’ to different kinds of army structures, drawing on a number of the series we’ve done looking at different ways armies could be raised.

That said, I don’t want to leave you with nothing to read on a Friday so here are some suggested things:

From Kiran Pfitzner (‘Dead Carl’), an older essay of his I found interesting, “The Kaiser and a ‘Mediocre Man’ Theory of History: A Case Study in the Historical Importance of Incompetence.” We’ve never done a full take-down of Thomas Carlyle style ‘great man’ history here (we should, at some point), but one of the real objections to it is that not only is history often shaped by impersonal forces (so not singular leaders at all), but often history is shaped not by ‘great men’ but by greatly incompetent men in positions of leader (a possibly which Carlyle’s ‘heroic’ great man theory does not really permit).

He also had a wonderful more recent essay, “Rights and Righteousness: From ‘The War People’ to ‘A People at War,’” which builds off of a discussion of The War People (recommended here back in February!) to think more broadly about how armies are shaped by conditions of service and how and why those conditions evolved from the 17th century into the 20th. Perhaps most on point is the reminder he offers that just because the resources for war expanded from the 18th century to 1945 does not mean they will so expand forever.

I also really liked James’ meditation on the Melian Dialogue in Thucydides and how it should be understood today, “American Melos.” The Melian Dialogue is one of those very famous passages in Thucydides that is often taught in isolation – often in political science contexts – where the removal of the context Thucydides assumes his reader knows (because they had all lived through it) really warps and undermines the passage. I think we probably ought to do a second ‘Trip Through’ Thucydides focused on the Dialogue at some point; maybe soon.

So we’ll be back next week with something more substantive!

https://acoup.blog/2026/05/29/gap-week-may-29-2026/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gap-week-may-29-2026

https://acoup.blog/?p=35360

nnozomi posting in

senzenwomen

Kamichika Ichiko was born in 1888 in Nagasaki, where her father was a doctor of Chinese medicine; the baby of five children, she grew up in poverty after the deaths of her father and oldest brother. She finished higher elementary school in 1904 and started working as a teacher’s aide, leaving her job in only three days to go back to school herself. She was eventually able to graduate from the Tsuda Eigaku Juku girls’ school in Tokyo (housekeeping for the painter Takehisa Yumeji and proofreading for literary magazines to make ends meet meanwhile). Tsuda Umeko herself reminded Ichiko that she wouldn’t learn to speak English from books alone, and had her move in with one of the American English teachers, which did wonders for Ichiko’s English-speaking abilities.

While still a student she became involved with Hiratsuka Raicho’s Bluestockings, publishing translations in the magazine; although employed as a teacher at a girls’ school up north in Hirosaki, she lost her job when her association with the Bluestockings was discovered. Returning to Tokyo, she worked with Otake Kokichi and others to found a new women's literary journal called Saffron.

In 1914 Ichiko became a reporter for a Tokyo newspaper (her English skills meant that she was assigned to foreign policy issues, rather than the usual women’s beat), which led to her involvement with the leading socialists of the time. She began a relationship with the anarchist Osugi Sakae (who seems, for good or ill, to have been one of those men who just has something going on regardless of all the good reasons not to get involved with him). “Oh, was that you?” he said at their first meeting. “The Eigaku Juku girl nibbling a roast sweet potato with her head buried in Modern Thought—" Osugi, a believer in free love who was already married to the long-suffering Hori Yasuko, did not keep secrets from Ichiko when he also became involved with the younger writer Ito Noe. “Independence, living separately, freedom!” he said. “If you’re not comfortable with it, it’s because your ideology is still immature.” Ichiko held out until 1916, when she tracked Osugi and Noe down at the Hikagejaya Inn and stabbed him, in what became the famous Hikagejaya Incident. She was sentenced to two years in prison for attempted murder (Osugi survived, to be murdered along with Noe by state terrorism in 1923).

After her release in 1919, she married (a man called Suzuki Atsushi about whom not much seems to be known), had three children, and concentrated on writing, founding a women’s literary magazine with Suzuki and taking part in Hasegawa Shigure’s Nyonin Geijutsu and the left-wing Tane maku hito. She and Suzuki divorced in 1936.

After the war, Ichiko worked in various organizations for women’s rights and democracy. In 1953 she was elected to the National Diet as a Socialist Party representative, remaining in office on and off until 1969 and helping to pass the 1957 Anti-Prostitution Act while there [from Tanaka among my sources, whose book was published in early 1957: “even the most fond among us could hardly believe that the human-flesh capitalism continuing since the Tokugawa period will give way without a fight, and at this important moment in time it is encouraging to have Kamichika Ichiko holding down her seat as a lone woman in the Diet”].

In 1970 she sued to prevent the showing of a movie about the Hikagejaya Incident, and lost on the grounds that the events were “common knowledge." In the same year, she received the national Order of the Sacred Treasure Second Class. She died in 1981 at the age of ninety-three.

Sources
Tanaka
Mori 1996
https://ameblo.jp/yama-chan1/entry-12764066012.html (Japanese) Contains a character map from a drama about the Hikagejaya Incident, showing just how complicated it was, as well as photos of Ichiko at various ages

starandrea

Yay Daphne had a calm and successful dental visit today! I held her while she got her "pre-med" sedation and sat with her in my lap until she was sufficiently sleepy, and I told her a long made-up story about all her blankies and her snacks and her friend Ace.

Then she went off to her procedure while I went to the grocery store to buy a bunch of soft food and new toys, and also a butterfly balloon because I love balloons and it's pretty. The store didn't have a self-checkout (??) and when a cashier rang me out they said, "Is it the dog's birthday?" I was impressed they guessed dog, since I had cat treats, dog food, two cat toys and one dog toy, along with three bottles of milk (for me).

An hour and a half later the vet texted me to say Daphne had done great, now has 13 fewer teeth, and would be ready to come home in two hours. Daphne walked out under her own power, on two leashes "for security" they told me, and immediately went back to sleep in my arms. (Apparently she was already "a bit grumpy" and didn't want them to touch her, so they told me that I could take her bandage off myself whenever. She wasn't super excited about me doing it either, but I'm used to her anxiously gnawing on me.)

She slept most of the afternoon, but she did eat a little chicken and even played with Ace for a few minutes. When it was time for her evening pain med she happily accepted a soft sheba cat stick (torn into tiny pieces) so now we know what she'll be getting in place of her usual bedtime chew stick.

( pictures )

nnozomi posting in

guardian_learning

部首
辶 part 4
还, still/to return; 这, this; 进, to go forward ( pinyin )
https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?cdqrad=162

词汇
诚实, honest (pinyin in tags)
https://mandarinbean.com/new-hsk-4-word-list/

Guardian:
这条命是我还你的, this life is what I’m returning to you
[no 诚实]

Me:
你还有个机会。
诚实的人比较倒霉。

musesfool

So here is a thing that happened this week: I have a monthly set of subscription deliveries from Amazon - stuff like dish soap, razor cartridges, paper towels, etc. - and it usually gets delivered the last Tuesday of the month, which was this week. I also had another book I ordered for Baby Miss L since the party got postponed to this weekend. Over the weekend, I get an email that my stuff has shipped. And then on Tuesday, instead of my stuff arriving, I get several emails saying everything in the package was undeliverable and is being refunded. So I check and my credit card has indeed been refunded. Most of it wasn't super necessary, so it was annoying but fine, but I did want the book (How to Catch a Star, recommended by

justwontbreak), so I reordered it. I got an email this morning that it had been delivered, and when I went down to the package room, there it was...along with another box from Amazon, containing all the items from my order which had been "undeliverable" and refunded. It wasn't banged up or in bad shape at all, so I don't even know what happened, but I got my stuff, and now I have 2 copies of the book for Baby Miss L (one can stay with the grandparents or be given away, I don't even care). *hands*

*

Current Mood: confused
Current Music: Prayers for Rain - the Cure

mecurtin posting in

fandom_checkin

This is your check-in post for today. The poll will be open from midnight Universal or Zulu Time (8pm Eastern Time) on Thursday, May 28, to midnight on Friday, May 29 (8pm Eastern Time).

Poll #34662 Daily check-in poll

Open to: Access List, detailed results viewable to: Access List, participants: 15

How are you doing?

I am OK
12 (80.0%)

I am not OK, but don't need help right now
3 (20.0%)

I could use some help
0 (0.0%)

How many other humans live with you?

I am living single
5 (33.3%)

One other person
7 (46.7%)

More than one other person
3 (20.0%)

Please, talk about how things are going for you in the comments, ask for advice or help if you need it, or just discuss whatever you feel like.

oursin

Or, doing those things I ought to have done/been doing already, maybe.

Well, not quite that, but it was one of those days when after several days of flopping around feeling that not much was getting done and general apathy not entirely attributable to the weather I actually -

Rang the dental practice to reschedule my hygienist appointment because now Condoms Are Go it's less convenient than it was.

Okay, this only came up yesterday anyway: a younger scholar got in touch (prompted by former colleague) over thing they are doing and hoping for input if not actual collaboration from me, and I am not sure about collaboration but feel I could advise, and maybe, blurb or something?

Also, is yonks since was in contact with former colleague so emailed them.

While I was on email roll contacted person i/c archive I did research in some while ago and am contemplating doing a piece on fruits of my research about any constraints on quoting the material.

Sat down to beginning writing what I am intending saying about the Powerpoint slides for Condom Talk.

Did some updates for website.

Had some technical communications re talk.

Phew.

otw_news_feed

Posted by an

https://www.transformativeworks.org/otw-signal-may-2026/

https://www.transformativeworks.org/?p=284817

Every month in OTW Signal, we take a look at stories that connect to the OTW’s mission and projects, including issues related to legal matters, technology, academia, fannish history and preservation issues of fandom, fan culture, and transformative works.

In the News

The Archive of Our Own (AO3) has officially exited open beta! Following the OTW’s April 2 announcement, numerous outlets recapped the news, highlighting this milestone and its significance.

Archive of Our Own, widely known as AO3, has officially come out of beta after 17 years, closing a long chapter in the history of one of the internet’s most popular fan fiction websites. The platform first launched in open beta in 2009 under the nonprofit Organization for Transformative Works. Back then, it was a much smaller space, with just 347 registered accounts and 6,598 fan-created works. – The Economic Times

In [the] announcement, the team reminisced about its early days and how volunteers had to manually send out invitations to prospective writers. – Engadget

Portalitc/Europa Press, via Notimérica, summarized AO3’s growth since its 2009 launch: “From the 347 accounts they had at the beginning, in February [2026] they reached 10 million registered users and 17 million published fanworks” (translated from Spanish). Mezha noted that “since then, the platform has undergone many changes and received many new features”. Geo News elaborated:

During the beta era, the platform introduced features like a tagging system and downloads in multiple formats, including EPUB, MOBI, PDF, and more. … Moreover, AO3 also improved its privacy setting[s], enabling creators to [limit] access [to their works], and introduced “Orphaning”, which lets authors leave their work online even after deleting their account.

Many articles also outlined what this change means for users—and for the site itself.

Even though the website has only just exited open beta, it has been stable for a long time. Users will not see huge changes, but the team also promised that it will not stop improving the fan fiction portal. It says its contributors and volunteers will continue tweaking the website, and it also continues to welcome anybody who has coding knowledge to contribute their time. – Engadget

AO3 users can see exactly what [issues] coders are [working on] in an open source project on Jira. A list of all the bugs and features being worked on is posted there. – Mezha

NewsBytes observed that “one of the most noticeable changes after AO3’s exit from beta is the removal of the small “beta” label from the AO3 logo at the top of the platform.” An April Fools’ Day prank in which the OTW temporarily replaced the “beta” label with “omega” served as an “endearing goodbye,” wrote Geo News. The Economic Times noted the bittersweet edge of the change: “For many users, the word ‘beta’ had become almost inseparable from AO3’s identity.”

Reflecting on AO3’s journey through beta, The Economic Times continued:

The nonprofit site has grown from a small volunteer-driven archive into one of the internet’s most beloved creative communities. While the “beta” tag is gone, the spirit of constant improvement remains very much intact. … The [OTW’s] announcement emphasized that the change should not be seen as an endpoint. Instead, it reflects confidence in the site’s long-term stability while preserving its commitment to growth. For a platform built by fans for fans, this moment feels less like an ending and more like the beginning of its next era.

Al-Wafd described the milestone as a triumph:

AO3’s exit from beta represents a victory for the cooperatively built and community-controlled internet. It is a reminder that the platforms that users build for themselves can survive and flourish for decades, achieve success beyond their founders’ wildest expectations, and provide a safe haven for human creativity in its most interactive form (translated from Arabic).

To everyone who has been part of this journey—and to those just joining—thank you. Once again, welcome to Post-Beta AO3!

OTW Tips

Earlier this month, the OTW participated in World Password Day by sharing some tips on keeping your AO3 account secure. Here’s a quick recap of best practices to protect yourself on AO3 and others sites:

Ensure your passwords are strong and unique (your AO3 password can now be up to 72 characters long)
Regularly check haveibeenpwned.com to see if your passwords or email addresses have appeared in known data breaches
Avoid reusing the same password for multiple accounts (using a password manager will help you set unique passwords without worrying about forgetting them)

For more information on how to protect your AO3 account and to learn about the new features we’ve introduced to make AO3 accounts more secure, check out our World Password Day post!

We want your suggestions for the next OTW Signal post! If you know of an essay, video, article, podcast, or news story you think we should know about, send us a link. We are looking for content in all languages! Submitting a link doesn’t guarantee that it will be included in an OTW post, and inclusion of a link doesn’t mean that it is endorsed by the OTW.

https://www.transformativeworks.org/otw-signal-may-2026/

https://www.transformativeworks.org/?p=284817

oursin

Happy birthday,

genarti and

green_knight!

luthien

placeholder

rekishi

( You're about to view content that the journal owner has advised should be viewed with discretion. )

settiai

I've been eating a lot of pasta lately what with it being cheap and filling, and after some experimentation I've figured out the best way to make store-bought pasta and sauce (tomato-based at least) taste significantly better without adding much to the cost.

Basically, while the pasta is cooking on one of the eyes of my double burner, I put the sauce in a pan on the other and let it slowly heat up. Once the pasta finishes, I put it in the pan with the sauce, add some of the pasta water, plop in a pat of butter or some olive oil, and let it simmer on high for a few minutes. Then I sprinkle some parmesan and Italian seasoning on top and add another splash of pasta water if needed.

Once the sauce is at the consistency that I want, I transfer everything to a plate. Then I put some black pepper and more parmesan on top, drizzle it with a bit of olive oil, and call it a day. It's quick and easy, uses things that I have on hand, doesn't increase the cost of the meal very much, and makes it taste at approximately 10x better than it would otherwise.

Current Mood: accomplished

starwatcher posting in

fandom_checkin

This is your check-in post for today. The poll will be open from midnight Universal or Zulu Time (8pm Eastern Time) on Wednesday May 27, to midnight on Thursday, May 28. (8pm Eastern Time).

Poll #34658 Daily Check-in

This poll is closed.
Open to: Access List, detailed results viewable to: Access List, participants: 25

How are you doing?

I am OK.
12 (48.0%)

I am not OK, but don't need help right now.
13 (52.0%)

I could use some help.
0 (0.0%)

How many other humans live with you?

I am living single.
11 (44.0%)

One other person.
9 (36.0%)

More than one other person.
5 (20.0%)

Please, talk about how things are going for you in the comments, ask for advice or help if you need it, or just discuss whatever you feel like.

nnozomi posting in

guardian_learning

部首
辶 part 3
运, to transport/fate; 近, near; 返, to return to ( pinyin )
https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?cdqrad=162

语法
4.7 part 3 趟, to go and return somewhere
https://www.digmandarin.com/hsk-4-grammar

词汇
成功, success/to succeed; 成为, to become; 养成, to cultivate ( pinyin )
https://mandarinbean.com/new-hsk-4-word-list/

Guardian:
但愿你能一直幸运下去, I hope your luck will stay good
我去一趟洗手间, I'm just going to the bathroom for a moment
我会成为整个地星的英雄, I will become a hero to all Dixing.

Me:
我去一趟娘家。
你一定会成功！

starandrea

I love irises and colors and pictures, so in celebration, here are eight lovely blooms happily brightening my days right now ♥

( purple, red, white, and yellow )

oursin

What I read

Dorothy Richardson, Interim (Pilgrimage, #5) (1919) for online reading group. Less dentistry in this one, but Canadian doctors.

Vonda McIntyre, The Curve of the World - which, well, my bar for her is set high, and one does wonder if maybe she would have worked more on this had she had the time, but it was still pretty good, even if there was a bit of an air of thought-experiment about the possibilities of cultural exchanges at the period. Points for having ageing (textually indicated to be menopausing) protag, and the seafaring party includes a pregnant woman.

Mick Herron, Nobody Walks (2015), thriller set in the Slough House universe and with various known characters mentioned but a stand-alone about unrelated characters. Not bad.

On the go

Still Persuasion, but very nearly there.

Still dipping in to Violet Hunt's Tales of the Uneasy - possibly her strength lay in the creepiness lurking within human relations, because I'm not sure she's really up there with her horror contemporaries?

Up next

There's a new Slightly Foxed.

rekishi

( You're about to view content that the journal owner has advised should be viewed with discretion. )

conuly

And I slept all day, too. I'm gonna start this post, but I'll finish it when I get back from this shift, so by that time I will either be awake or even more sleepy.

Edit: I was awake! But I hung out with E all day, so.

*******************************

( Read more... )

fox

Background 1. Yesterday some emails went back and forth planning my brother's next approximately-quarterly visit to stay at my house and/but hang with my mom.

( Background 2: )

But/so that's probably why last night I had a ( terrible dream )

And then I woke up with my heart pounding.

I've got to find some kind of therapist or support group for anticipatory grief. I can't live like this for an undefined amount of time.

oursin

Happy birthday,

redroanchronicles!

The Lyorn's Den

Gap Week: May 29, 2026

Kamichika Ichiko (1888-1981)

"not to worry 'cause worry is wasteful and useless in times like these" (jewel)

第五年第一百三十八天

and nowhere shines but desolate

Daily Check-In

Crowded hours

OTW Signal, May 2026

In the News

OTW Tips

(no subject)

Dear Creator Letter

Shane's fleece jacket

Experiments in Cooking

Daily Check-In

第五年第一百三十七天

a rainbow of irises

Wednesday gets the news that Condom Talk is on again

The President's Trophy Curse strikes again

Wow, I'm sleepy from that unexpected double

dream theater

(no subject)

Profile

April 2026

Most Popular Tags

Page Summary

Style Credit

Expand Cut Tags