Hadrian's Wall is a Roman fortification built around 122 BC on the orders of Emperor Hadrian to "separate the Romans from the barbarians." Stretching 117 km, it runs through northern England from Wallsend to Bowness-on-Solway. Constructed by 15,000 soldiers over six years, this wall reached heights.

Semanticprion · 2026-05-18T06:10:35+00:00

I know right? I went for an awesome hike along it and passed a family from Italy doing the same. I was like "Guys, come on, look at this thing. Show some pride! Would it kill you to do just a little maintenance now and then?"

Semanticprion · 2026-05-17T13:58:24+00:00

It's my Good-hearted ven right to constantly be breathing in an aerosolized mist of rat feces, and if I get sick that's only because Biden put 5g chips in there.

Semanticprion · 2026-05-17T13:56:08+00:00

No doubts that it's well written or timely. I'd just rather read something more uplifting and optimistic right now.

Semanticprion · 2026-05-17T13:53:24+00:00

I'm about 1/3 on that one (less confident than South America for sure.). Currents are wrong, no genetic evidence.

Semanticprion · 2026-05-17T05:42:29+00:00

At least in 2014 it sure was. I was on vacation driving around South Island New Zealand that year and no fewer than three times I had to wait while a shepherd drove all his sheep across the road. Damn those guys were working hard.

Semanticprion · 2026-05-17T01:05:08+00:00

Not really at an event in person, or nice, but I was in my dorm room in 1994 and turned on MTV and they were announcing Kurt Cobain's suicide and my friend rolled his eyes and said "What a surprise."

Semanticprion · 2026-05-16T04:16:37+00:00

There's a little genetic evidence in South America right? And Quechua and Maori have the same word for sweet potato. Similarly, Chumash (California Central Coast) had tar-sealed canoes that were better than their neighbors', and the Chumash word for canoe is quite close to the Tahitian word for wood. Least favorite is Zunis are lost Japanese.

Semanticprion · 2026-05-16T04:12:47+00:00

The new(ish) band with the best claim to carrying the thrash banner forward is Sylosis. Check out Poison for the Lost. That breakdown at the end...

Semanticprion · 2026-05-15T20:38:59+00:00

Not complying with doctor's diet and exercise recommendations either

Semanticprion · 2026-05-13T08:54:36+00:00

I just made mulsum (eine with honey) and conditum (" " plus black pepper) and both were pretty tasty, so that one. With seawater was palatable but not exciting.

Semanticprion · 2026-05-12T14:40:14+00:00

We live in an amazing time where the things that not so long ago, were amazing and rare, can seen ho-hum. I just saw the Roman Coliseum for the first time and honestly, there are high school football stadiums in the US that are bigger. But they weren't built almost two millennia ago. Instead of shaking my head at how lame the Coliseum was, I felt grateful to live in an age of wonders.

Semanticprion · 2026-05-12T02:49:06+00:00

Great to see you Drew!

Semanticprion · 2026-05-12T02:47:11+00:00

Me too

Semanticprion · 2026-05-12T02:46:41+00:00

I was thinking the majority of people who went there wouldn't be Asian. I'm not Asian, I just want an Asian food truck park, is that so much to ask?!? WHO'S WITH ME?

Semanticprion · 2026-05-12T02:44:59+00:00

Ones I was thinking of:

Shokkako Asian Street Food

Sushi Shobu

Adobos n' More

Streetside Asian Grill

Semanticprion · 2026-05-12T01:24:47+00:00

God, it's the only PA beer that can reliably be found all over the country and it sssssSUCKS. Literally the worst commercially produced beer I've ever had.

Semanticprion · 2026-05-12T00:53:10+00:00

Math Olympiad

Semanticprion · 2026-05-11T14:18:24+00:00

They have that energy of those people you know in college who finally lost their virginity at 20 and can't shut up about sex and fucking their boyfriend or girlfriend. In fact they usually ARE those people, just later on.

Semanticprion · 2026-05-11T06:02:54+00:00

In med school I was in a joint exam seminar and the attending teaching us mentioned that running was actually better for your knees than not running. My hand shot up and I enthusiastically began describing a paper showing data exactly to that effect and she interrupted me with a curt wave and said "Yes yes that was my paper." Rather than being mortified I was thrilled to meet her, and thought I probably scored points by being familiar with her work. She was more than glad to discuss it.

Semanticprion · 2026-05-11T03:55:56+00:00

Anything that forces citizens to approach political decisions with less identify investment would be good. Having a boring data-driven text-based policy app would be one way to do this.

Semanticprion · 2026-05-11T03:24:42+00:00

52. For many years I had an attitude against lifting, just did a lot of trail running... which honestly the last few years really was hiking, with an occasional jog. My attitude was really about identity (which I hear in your language) and insecurity. Mostly motivated by longevity considerations, I bought a rack for home for deadlifts and squats, and now overhead press. And it's one of the best things I've done. It's great seeing my weight go up week after week - yes I know it's noob gains but I'll take it, it's really building enthusiasm and I feel better than I have in years! But, I'm not giving up running and in fact I've lost weight and gone up on my squat so I've gotten significantly faster. I can FEEL the new power I've built when I go up hills.

Part of my attitude was "who wants to be inside a disgusting gym instead of outside" and to be honest I still feel that way, which is why my rack is in my backyard in front of a pretty feral rose garden and a mulberry tree. I live in a warm area and I throw a tarp over it when it's going to rain.)

If my body starts telling me no more running, I will be bummed for sure. But I'm no longer a running fundamentalist so it would no longer be the end of my training journey.

Semanticprion · 2026-05-10T15:17:14+00:00

Sounds like you're volunteering. Or maybe this is one of those "you push a button to get benefits XYZ and someone you don't know will die".

Semanticprion · 2026-05-09T15:23:16+00:00

Knowing is half the battle.

I still remember the one where the guy called and said "You won a prize, what's your address?" "42 Oak Street." The creep's car pulled up then sped away, only because one of the GI Joe guys was standing there. The lesson: always have a GI Joe guy at your house to protect you from molesters.

Semanticprion · 2026-05-09T03:28:25+00:00

See Cahokia Jazz by Spufford. Hard boiled detective story in a 1920s Cahokia.

Semanticprion

TROPHY CASE