Anabasis XXII: Cenotaph

There are only two weeks left in astrological winter, and so we should press on to finish our winter reading, which has now only one book left. Here we encounter a word that Xenophon gifts us that he must have known, but that turns up in no other book we have from the Greeks: "cenotaph." I'll quote the note:

"Cenotaph", i.e. "an empty tomb." The word is interesting as occuring only in Xenophon, until we come to the writers of the common dialect. Compare "hyuscyamus," hogbean, our henbane, which we also owe to Xenophon. "Oecon." i. 13, see Sauppe, "Lexil. Xen." s.vv.

The word occurs when the Greeks go back to bury the dead from the encounter with the Thracians (who are not Greek, but Asiatic). They cannot find some of the bodies, so they erect a cenotaph to them which they cover with wreaths. This followed Xenophon's careful sacrifices to determine the right time for this, another demonstration of piety on his part that once again proved out for them. 

The army meets and decides that it will punish any further suggestions that it should divide itself by death. It also restores its old officers. Cheirisophus, the former supreme commander, has died. I'll quote that note too, because it's curious.

This I take to be the meaning of the words, which are necessarily ambiguous, since {pharmakon}, "a drug," also means "poison." Did Cheirisophus conceivably die of fever brought on by some poisonous draught? or did he take poison whilst suffering from fever? or did he die under treatment?

That's true: the word that is the root of "pharmacy" or "pharmaceutical" can mean either "drug" or "poison." And so it is often the case even with true drugs, where the right dosage is efficacious and the wrong one is fatal.

Now Xenophon's devotion to sacrifice causes the army to delay marching on for several days, though provisions are running out and do run out. Yet the victims of the sacrifices are not favorable to marching; and when a division goes out to seek provisions, it loses five hundred men, a quarter of its forces. The enemies that are now besetting them fall upon their camp in the night.

The Greeks move to a natural stronghold, which I gather was by the sea, and fence off the entrances. The next day a ship arrives and brings them some goods, including more sacrificial animals. The first one of these Xenophon sacrifices is favorable to moving again. 

They meet and defeat a large enemy, dividing off 'flying columns' for flanking exercises. This enemy fights the cavalry and light troops gamely, but still is not capable of withstanding the heavy infantry. The phalanx breaks them and drives them off, and Xenophon's forces end up with the field.

Shortly thereafter Cleander of Sparta arrives with ships of war, and is anxious to become the leader of these men given their clear discipline. But again, the victims of the sacrifices do not support this, so he tells them that he can't take them home: but if they get home, to come see him.

Human canonballs

The prevailing metaphor for Act Blue this week has been rats leaving a sinking ship, but the headlong flight more closely resembles people firing themselves off the deck at ballistic speeds. Eject! Eject! Eject!

The word "whistleblower" pops up in an internal Act Blue email, then is quickly deleted. The executive suite emptied out like theatre patrons of a by-gone age swarming out for a cigarette break during intermission. One executive explained that she is taking a well-deserved rest and planning her next international adventure--to a country without an extradiction treaty, I hope.

Anabasis XXI

Once at Heraclea, they are greeted kindly and given fairly rich gifts -- including grain, wine, twenty cattle and a hundred sheep. However, the amount of food needed to feed such an army makes these gifts appear trivial to the men. Xenophon quotes one man, Lycon the Achean: 

I am astonished, sirs, that the generals do not endeavour to provide us more efficiently with provisions. These gifts of hospitality will not afford three days' victuals for the army; nor do I see from what region we are to provide ourselves as we march. My proposal, therefore, is to demand of the Heracleots at least three thousand cyzicenes.*

Another suggested they demand ten thousand. There is a division in the army over this point. They are not now among the barbarians, but are talking about threatening a Greek city to shake it down. Overall Leader Cheirisophus as well as Xenophon were opposed, as are others. So the faction that wanted to do it sent Lycon and a couple of other minor leaders in the place of the generals, and made the demand anyway. Heraclea drew its herds inside and put up its defenses, and the Ten Thousand found themselves opposed to a Greek city with Greek soldiers manning the walls. 

The army is incensed by this rebuff and divides itself, the majority choosing to follow Lycon and his deputies. Xenophon wryly notes that Cheirisophus' overarching command was terminated in only one week. 

The army ends up divided into three, Lycon's Arcadian heavy infantry, Cheirisophus' loyalists, and Xenophon's division -- the smallest, but the only one that ended up with cavalry, although only forty troopers.

The Heracleots wisely sold ships to the largest faction, in order to encourage them to sail away sooner. The Arcadians sail to Thrace, where they begin raiding the Greek countryside. This does not go nearly as well as it had in the areas without Greek arms and discipline, and they begin to lose serious numbers in the raids.

Xenophon's contingent hears of this and Xenophon decides to ride to their rescue, figuring that salvaging them will give him numbers that will better ensure his own passage. Using his cavalry as skirmishers and to secure lines of communication for his light peltasts, he quickly moves up and is able to save some of the Arcadian forces. The Thracians break and withdraw at the unexpected new front. The Arcadians slip off, but Xenophon is able to link up with them the next day. As he anticipated, all was forgiven and they embraced him and his again like brothers. 

* The local currency of Cyzicus, a notable city in the area at that time. It is more famous for a feature of architecture, a north-facing hall that opened onto gardens that was a favorite of the Greeks of the city. The Romans were impressed with the design, and so Cyzicene Halls became a thing in the later period. 

A Useful Reminder

This passage is read in Orthodox churches the Sunday before Lent:

Besides this you know what hour it is, how it is full time now for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed; the night is far gone, the day is at hand. Let us then cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us conduct ourselves becomingly as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

As for the man who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not for disputes over opinions. One believes he may eat anything, while the weak man eats only vegetables. Let not him who eats despise him who abstains, and let not him who abstains pass judgment on him who eats; for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Master is able to make him stand.

Romans 13:11 through 14:4

I am still new-ish to Orthodoxy and have never been good at observing the fasts, so that second paragraph has always been a comfort for me.

Cultural Revolution

NYT: "Many Chinese See a Cultural Revolution in America." 

Amazing. We've been talking about this for years. Long enough that we were still calling it "PC" instead of "woke" when we started. Finally they're seeing how, like Mao, all the old and steady structures of our culture were being destroyed by radical, ideological activists backed by young hordes of protesters who... 

Oh, wait, no: the NYT thinks it's about Trump. Trump is Chairman Mao in this story.

Never mind. 

Lent

A good Ash Wednesday to those of you who celebrate it. Now begins Lent, a long season of suffering from attempts to be even slightly better.

The Quest for the Sangrail began on Pentecost, and I won’t question the liturgical appropriateness of that: Sir Thomas Malory was much more deeply embedded in the Catholic world than almost anyone living today. It occurs to me, though, that it well fits our American approach of Mardi Gras — the appearance of the Sangrail and the Feast associated with it — followed by Lent. The Quest was a time of great trial and suffering, when the best knights of the world tried to live up to the fullness of their faith’s demands. All suffered; most died. Three succeeded in some measure. 

Good luck. 

Consensus II

The Opinion section of the Washington Post is up to 100% noncompliance and rejection of Bezos' guidance. I wonder if he can find a buyer for a newspaper whose authors refuse to accept editorial guidance from the owners? Maybe he can get pennies on the dollar for his investment from someone who is also in alignment with that viewpoint, and doesn't want it to change. 

His problem, I guess. 

Consensus

For years it has seemed that nearly every contentious issue in U.S. politics polls at 50/50. I wondered whether that meant parties were deliberately skating close to the edge, or even whether voters and poll respondents were responding entirely at random, a coin-toss. How could a country stay divided on a knife edge on so many controversies for so many years?

I still don't have any idea, but lately there appears to have been a preference cascade. The talk of 80/20 issues may have been exaggerated, but suddenly a GOP that seemed unable to break though on any issue is garnering poll responses in the 60- and 70-percent range. Even last night's quasi-SOTU speech had an astounding impact. CBS, of all outlets, reports that with an audience composed of about half Republicans and half a mix of Democrats and Independents, President Trump won over 3/4 of his viewers. Results were similarly impressive on a range of hot-button issues from immigation to government waste to tariffs to the expulsion of Rep. Green from the chamber.

Grim's Red Seasoning

Some years ago I developed a chili powder recipe using datil pepper. 

This week I was reflecting that, with just a touch of salt, it would make a good seasoning like Tony Chachere's creole seasoning, but bolder even than their bold. So I added just a bit of salt, and now you can use it to season your food -- once it's salty enough, it's seasoned enough as well.

Grim's Red Seasoning

1 oz. ground New Mexican Red Pepper  (or, alternatively, guajillo molida works well too).

1 heaping tsp. cumin 

1 level tsp. Mexican oregano 

1 tsp. ground Scotch Bonnet, Datil, -or- Habanero pepper (your choice of one, not all three, but the Datil works very well here; level to heaping tsp as you prefer) 

1/2 tsp garlic powder 

1 tsp. salt

UPDATE:

My wife made me eggs and cheese-jalapeño grits for breakfast. A little of this seasoning added a lot of delicious flavor. 

The Lord Is a Man of War

I don't plan to post systematically on God Is a Man of War, but as I find interesting things I may put them here. The beginning of the book refers to the following victory song, which is quite striking.

Exodus 15:1-18

Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to the Lord, saying,
“I will sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously;
    the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea.
The Lord is my strength and my song,
    and he has become my salvation;
this is my God, and I will praise him,
    my father’s God, and I will exalt him.
The Lord is a man of war;
    the Lord is his name.

“Pharaoh’s chariots and his host he cast into the sea;
    and his picked officers are sunk in the Red Sea.
The floods cover them;
    they went down into the depths like a stone.
Thy right hand, O Lord, glorious in power,
    thy right hand, O Lord, shatters the enemy.
In the greatness of thy majesty thou overthrowest thy adversaries;
    thou sendest forth thy fury, it consumes them like stubble.
At the blast of thy nostrils the waters piled up,
    the floods stood up in a heap;
    the deeps congealed in the heart of the sea.
The enemy said, ‘I will pursue, I will overtake,
    I will divide the spoil, my desire shall have its fill of them.
    I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them.’
Thou didst blow with thy wind, the sea covered them;
    they sank as lead in the mighty waters.

“Who is like thee, O Lord, among the gods?
    Who is like thee, majestic in holiness,
    terrible in glorious deeds, doing wonders?
Thou didst stretch out thy right hand,
    the earth swallowed them.

“Thou hast led in thy steadfast love the people whom thou hast redeemed,
    thou hast guided them by thy strength to thy holy abode.
The peoples have heard, they tremble;
    pangs have seized on the inhabitants of Philistia.
Now are the chiefs of Edom dismayed;
    the leaders of Moab, trembling seizes them;
    all the inhabitants of Canaan have melted away.
Terror and dread fall upon them;
    because of the greatness of thy arm, they are as still as a stone,
till thy people, O Lord, pass by,
    till the people pass by whom thou hast purchased.
Thou wilt bring them in, and plant them on thy own mountain,
    the place, O Lord, which thou hast made for thy abode,
    the sanctuary, O Lord, which thy hands have established.
The Lord will reign for ever and ever.”

The themes of salvation of the slave and destruction of the army of the enslavers echo down the millennia, along with the theme of steadfast love for His people.

It is interesting here that God Himself destroys the Egyptian army. This sort of violence in the Old Testament never really bothered me. I feel sorry for Charioteer First Class Snuffy who was just trying to pay off his new personal hot rod chariot at the low low rate of 20% APR and have a few brews on the weekend with his army pay, but wiping out an army set on re-enslaving a people doesn't seem terribly unjust. I'm sure, though, my specific concerns will be addressed further on in the book.

Fighting Man

 What other kind of man is there? 

Prayer and Fasting

The Sunday before Lent begins is Forgiveness Sunday in the Orthodox Church. It is a day to ask everyone for their forgiveness for any offenses we may have committed against them in the past year, and a day where we also forgive everyone who has offended against us.

Ramadan began March 1st, the Eastern Church's Great Lent begins tomorrow, and Western Lent begins Wednesday. It seems that a couple billion of us will all be fasting and praying for the next month, then some of us for a bit longer. It is always a blessing to me when Eastern Pascha and Western Easter fall on the same day. Since most Christians in the US belong to the Western churches, it puts me out of synch with my Western brothers and sisters when it doesn't.

For the East, the fast is from meat, fish, dairy, and alcohol, from tomorrow until Pascha. However, in the tradition of feast days which fall on fast days, alcohol is allowed on the Sabbath and Lord's Day each week. It was suggested in services today that we also fast from controversies this Lent, and that seems a particularly good addition this year.

I have decided to read two books during this season. Some of the violence in the Old Testament has troubled me for decades, so maybe Fr Stephen De Young's short God Is a Man of War: The Problem of Violence in the Old Testament will help me at least understand it. As I love poetry, I think poet and professor Donald Sheehan's The Shield of Psalmic Prayer: Reflections on Translating, Interpreting, and Praying the Psalter will be a good balancing influence after the study of ancient wars.

There is a great deal to pray for this year. In addition to America's attempt to renew itself, which is by no means guaranteed to succeed, there are the conflicts involving Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Gaza, and many other tribulations around the world that we don't hear as much of. And then there are our civic leaders and warriors and clergy and faithful, the sick, the old, the newborn, the catechumens, the lost, the travelers by sea and land and air, and personal prayers as well.

And so, in the short time before Great Lent begins, I ask all of you for your forgiveness for any offenses I may have committed against you this past year, and I ask your prayers for me, all of you who pray. I look forward to hearing about everyone's Lenten journey, all who care to share it.

And this, too

Victor David Hanson:

Ten bad takeaways from the Zelenskyy blow-up

1. Zelenskyy does not grasp—or deliberately ignores—the bitter truth: those with whom he feels most affinity (Western globalists, the American Left, the Europeans) have little power in 2025 to help him. And those with whom he obviously does not like or seeks to embarrass (cf. his Scranton, Penn. campaign-like visit in September 2024) alone have the power to save him. For his own sake, I hope he is not being “briefed” by the Obama-Clinton-Biden gang to confront Trump, given their interests are not really Ukraine’s as they feign.

2. Zelenskyy acts as if his agendas and ours are identical. So, he keeps insisting that he is fighting for us despite our two-ocean-distance that he mocks. We do have many shared interests with Ukraine, but not all by any means: Trump wants to “reset” with Russia and triangulate it against China. He seeks to avoid a 1962 DEFCON 2-like crisis over a proxy showdown in proximity to a nuclear rival. And he sincerely wants to end the deadlocked Stalingrad slaughterhouse for everyone’s sake.

3. The Europeans (and Canada) are now talking loudly of a new muscular antithesis, independent of the U.S. Promises, promises—given that would require Europeans to prune back their social welfare state, frack, use nuclear, stop the green obsessions, and spend 3-5 percent of their GDP on defense. The U.S. does not just pay 16 percent of NATO’s budget but also puts up with asymmetrical tariffs that result in a European Union trade surplus of $160 billion, plays the world cop patrolling sea-lanes and deterring terrorists and rogues states that otherwise might interrupt Europe’s commercial networks abroad, as well as de facto including Europe under a nuclear umbrella of 6,500 nukes.

4. Zelenskyy must know that all of the once deal-stopping issues to peace have been de facto settled: Ukraine is now better armed than most NATO nations, but will not be in NATO; and no president has or will ever supply Ukraine with the armed wherewithal to take back the Donbass and Crimea. So, the only two issues are a) how far will Putin be willing to withdraw to his 2022 borders and b) how will he be deterred? The first is answered by a commercial sector/tripwire, joint Ukrainian-US-Europe resource development corridor in Eastern Ukraine, coupled with a Korea-like DMZ; the second by the fact that Putin unlike his 2008 and 2014 invasions has now lost a million dead and wounded to a Ukraine that will remain thusly armed.

5. What are Zelenskyy’s alternatives without much U.S. help—wait for a return of the Democrats to the White House in four years? Hope for a rearmed Europe? Pray for a Democratic House and a 3rd Vindman-like engineered Trump impeachment? Or swallow his pride, return to the White House, sign the rare-earth minerals deal, invite in the Euros (are they seriously willing to patrol a DMZ?), and hope Trump can warn Putin, as he did successfully between 2017-21, not to dare try it again?

6. If there is a cease fire, a commercial deal, a Euro ground presence, and influx of Western companies into Ukraine, would there be elections? And if so, would Zelenskyy and his party win? And if not, would there be a successor transparent government that would reveal exactly where all the Western financial aid money went?

7. Zelenskyy might see a model in Netanyahu. The Biden Administration was far harder on him than Trump is on Ukraine: suspending arms shipments, demanding cease-fires, prodding for a wartime, bipartisan cabinet, hammering Israel on collateral damage—none of which Westerners have demanded of Zelenskyy. Yet Netanyahu managed a hostile Biden, kept Israel close to its patron, and when visiting was gracious to his host. Netanyahu certainly would never before the global media have interrupted, and berated a host and patron president in the White House.

8. If Ukraine has alienated the U.S. what then is its strategic victory plan? Wait around for more Euros? Hold off an increasingly invigorated Russian military? Cede more territory? What, then, exactly are Zelenskyy’s cards he seems to think are a winning hand?

9. If one views carefully all the 50-minute tape, most of it was going quite well—until Zelenskyy started correcting Vance firstly, and Trump secondly. By Ukraine-splaining to his hosts, and by his gestures, tone, and interruptions, he made it clear that he assumed that Trump was just more of the same compliant, clueless moneybags Biden waxen effigy. And that was naïve for such a supposedly worldly leader.

10. March 2025 is not March 2022, after the heroic saving of Kyiv—but three years and 1.5 million dead and wounded later. Zelenskyy is no longer the international heartthrob with the glamorous entourage. He has postponed elections, outlawed opposition media and parties, suspended habeas corpus and walked out of negotiations when he had an even hand in Spring 2022 and apparently even now when he does not in Spring 2025.

Quo vadis, Volodymyr?

That's about it

Bonchie sums it up on X:

Overnight, the discussion has shifted from "Trump ambushed Zelensky" to "Yeah, Zelensky was rude, but so what?" Progress, I guess.

But that still misses the point. Zelensky's interjection to make clear he has no intention of negotiating a ceasefire is what blew up the deal.

I don't want to see Ukrained overrun, but if Zelenskyy won't negotiate a ceasefire that calls for Russia keeping the eastern territories and Crimea, then I guess he'd better roll the dice with whatever virtue-signaling European or Europhile countries are willing to get serious with money and men.

Exactly What I Wanted!

Now that’s marketing. 

Anabasis XX: Diplomacy

Today we've had quite a display of how diplomacy can lead to an honest and forthright exchange of views, rather than the 'formalized lying in formal wear' that we more usually observe from the professionals. 

The Myriad have a great example for us in today's reading of how diplomacy was done right in the old days. I'm going to quote more of the text than usual because it is a short section that is very charming.

After this, whilst waiting, they lived partly on supplies from the market, partly on the fruit of raids into Paphlagonia. The Paphlagonians, on their side, showed much skill in kidnapping stragglers, wherever they could lay hands on them, and in the night time tried to do mischief to those whose quarters were at a distance from the camp. The result was that their relations to one another were exceedingly hostile, so much so that Corylas, who was the chief of Paphlagonia at that date, sent ambassadors to the Hellenes, bearing horses and fine apparel, and charged with a proposal on the part of Corylas to make terms with the Hellenes on the principle of mutual forbearance from injuries. The generals replied that they would consult with the army about the matter. 

This is a promising start to peace talks. Both sides are hurting to a greater or lesser degree, so both sides are motivated to consider a peace proposal. The army has a problem it needs to solve -- adequate supplies -- and their enemies have a problem they need to solve -- not being subject to raids. There's an obvious solution: provide tribute on a temporary basis until the Myriad leaves the area in return for a cessation of raiding. The generals have instituted a democracy, however, in which the officers are subject to the discipline of the enlisted as well as vice-versa (if you read through the conflicts in yesterday's reading, you'll have seen some generals being fined by vote of the assembled army for one reason and another). So this proposed treaty is a matter the army will vote upon as well.

And in the best Ancient Greek style, they do it following a symposium held with the embassy. Notice that, unlike with the Persians, the Greeks respect the truce and cause no harm to those who are under their hospitality. 

[T]hey gave them a hospitable reception, to which they invited certain members of the army whose claims were obvious. They sacrificed some of the captive cattle and other sacrificial beasts, and with these they furnished forth a sufficiently festal entertainment, and reclining on their truckle beds, fell to eating and drinking out of beakers made of horn which they happened to find in the country.

But as soon as the libation was ended and they had sung the hymn, up got first some Thracians, who performed a dance under arms to the sound of a pipe, leaping high into the air with much nimbleness, and brandishing their swords [in a theatrical dance common to that country]... 

After this some Aenianians and Magnesians got up and fell to dancing the Carpaea, as it is called, under arms. This was the manner of the dance: one man lays aside his arms and proceeds to drive a yoke of oxen, and while he drives he sows, turning him about frequently, as though he were afraid of something; up comes a cattle-lifter, and no sooner does the ploughman catch sight of him afar, than he snatches up his arms and confronts him. They fight in front of his team, and all in rhythm to the sound of the pipe. At last the robber binds the countryman and drives off the team. Or sometimes the cattle-driver binds the robber, and then he puts him under the yoke beside the oxen, with his two hands tied behind his back, and off he drives....

After this a Mysian came in with a light shield in either hand and danced, at one time going through a pantomime, as if he were dealing with two assailants at once; at another plying his shields as if to face a single foe, and then again he would whirl about and throw somersaults, keeping the shields in his hands, so that it was a beautiful spectacle. Last of all he danced the Persian dance, clashing the shields together, crouching down on one knee and springing up again from earth; and all this he did in measured time to the sound of the flute. After him the Mantineans stepped upon the stage, and some other Arcadians also stood up; they had accoutred themselves in all their warlike finery. They marched with measured tread, pipes playing, to the tune of the 'warrior's march'; the notes of the paean rose, lightly their limbs moved in dance, as in solemn procession to the holy gods. The Paphlagonians looked upon it as something truly strange that all these dances should be under arms; and the Mysians, seeing their astonishment persuaded one of the Arcadians who had got a dancing girl to let him introduce her, which he did after dressing her up magnificently and giving her a light shield. When, lithe of limb, she danced the Pyrrhic, loud clapping followed; and the Paphlagonians asked, "If these women fought by their side in battle?" to which they answered, "To be sure, it was the women who routed the great King, and drove him out of camp." So ended the night.

The next day the army accepts the peace proposal, and the embassy returns home. The Ten Thousand remain there until they feel that enough ships have been gathered, and then they take to the sea to sail away from this country (probably to the vast relief of the inhabitants). They sail to Sinope, which receives them with gifts especially of food, that being the clear lesson on how to make and keep peace with the army. 

There they are met by Cheirisophus, who had gone to his friend the admiral to get ships for the army. Well, he didn't bring them ships or anything else except fine words and a promise of future pay once they are in closer proximity. 

The army pauses for a few days after a further sailing voyage and considers a change in leadership, switching to a single general with overall command instead of several who command different sections. This is with a view toward swift action to seize a fitting prize before they reach Hellas, because they don't want to come home almost empty-handed (although given what they have been through, coming home at all is quite a prize). 

Xenophon is asked to assume the supreme command -- he tells us -- but decides not to do so following a sacrifice to Zeus in his role as the King. He is offered the command but refuses it, first on the grounds that there is a Spartan there and Spartans have proven themselves the best soldiers (i.e. in the recent Peloponnesian War). When that is not accepted, he admits that he held a sacrifice and received a vision that told him he shouldn't take the command. This argument is accepted by all. 

So instead they choose Cheirisophus, who at least has a promise of employment for them. He says they will sail on to Heraclea. Now, "Heraclea" is a city name derived from the highly popular hero Heracles, and as such is about as common a city name in the era as "Alexandria" will soon become or as "Jackson" or "Jefferson" or "Franklin" are in America. Fortunately the text mentions the legend about the mouth of Hades being reputedly near the town, so we can be sure which of the many Heracleas is intended. 

I-40 to Reopen Tomorrow

It's just going to be one lane in each direction at first, but it will accommodate standard size-and-weight tractor trailers. That will be huge for the trucking industry, which has been having to route as far north as I-81 north of Johnson City, or as far south as I-285 north of Atlanta, for loads that required interstate transit. Traversing the mountain roads with a semi is out of the question in most of this country: they're just old mule trails that have curves too tight for a big truck to make. Every now and then some cowboy tries to bring a semi across US 129, "the Tail of the Dragon," and that goes about as well as you'd imagine.

Local roads have a similar problem. I mentioned NC 107 the other day; semis run down that one, but it's a near thing sometimes if you meet one. For a long time Dollar General's navigation software was routing its trucks across NC 281 up here. The VFD would have to help them back up, sometimes for miles, to get back to a road they could retreat upon successfully. These roads were built by mules, for mules.

A Pro-Trump Washington Post Opinion?

Trump dealt Russia a 'devastating blow' with mineral deal, may have effectively ended the war.

Strange thing to see in the Washington Post of all places. It's not a ridiculous argument, although the diplomatic dishonesty being engaged to smooth the peace deal in Ukraine is astonishing to watch.

UPDATE: The Post is back to its usual self today. Just a passing fever. 

Lead opinion: Donald Trump's rapidly spreading authoritarianism is the real threat to personal liberties and free markets. (Technically satisfies Bezos' order that Post opinion backs personal liberties and free markets.)

Editorial Board: Do Canada and Mexico deserve Trump tariffs? (Answer: No.)

Second op-ed: 'Tech bro Maoists' are torching the country that made them rich. (Graphic of Elon with a chainsaw).

Latest columns: 5/7 explicitly anti-Trump, 2 neutral.

I'd say that looks like open revolt against the boss.

Whitehouse Road (with Sturgill Simpson)

Some impressive guitar work by a man who could fill the Ryman easily by himself, but chose to show up as a guest at Tyler Childers' show. 

Anabasis XIX

When last we left the Ten Thousand, they were pushing their way south along the Black Sea. They had initially found a Greek city along the coast, because the Greeks like the Anglo-Saxons or the Norse-Celtic kingdoms of Norðreyjar and Suðreyjar was a thalassocracy (a word that we have from the Greeks: Xenophon's near-contemporary Herodotus used it to explain the Minoan empire). As they push southwest, they fight their way through non-Greek peoples, but eventually reach another Greek state along the coast, Sinope. This one serves as a protector for some non-Greeks that the Ten Thousand initially encounter in terms of mutual hostility. A detachment from the Greek state arrives to negotiate terms for the army's visit. The discourse between these Greeks and the Ten Thousand becomes notably more diplomatic and friendly as the Greeks realize just how powerful the Ten Thousand would be if they decided to fight.

Xenophon considers whether it might just be sensible to found a city with the Ten Thousand as its citizens; we have talked here about how they are a sort of Republic in any case, a Republic on the march. Were they to settle and take some promising country, they could defend it and support themselves in a sufficient way exactly as other states like Sparta were doing in the same period. Xenophon commissions a sacrifice and oracular reading to understand whether or not this is as promising an idea as he thinks it might be, and receives the prophecy that someone will betray him soon.

The efficacy of this prophecy turns out to be a small wonder, as the oracle himself was alarmed by the idea of city-founding and immediately betrays Xenophon by spreading rumors about his designs. This sets off a series of hearings within the army as some internal tensions that have been building in periods of danger now have a moment of peace in which they can be brought forward and resolved. Xenophon is able to convince the army that his intention in consulting the oracle was merely to decide whether the idea was promising enough to bring forward to the group, rather than an attempt to make decisions behind their backs. Some additional internal dramatics get worked out in this period, which I find less compelling than other matters and so will leave as an exercise for interested readers. 

By the way, if you follow the link "Ten Thousand" you will learn that the Ancient Greeks had a specific word for this quantity, which is the root of our word "myriad." For us that word implies a very large but nonspecific number, but for the Greeks it was a specific figure that was written: "M". Thus, in Greek the name of the army that we give in English as "the Ten Thousand" is properly "The Myriad." 

It's a more evocative term. You can easily imagine the effect on a city state of discovering that the Myriad had suddenly materialized in their vicinity, as the citizens of Sinope did, with demands they wished to make about access to markets and resources. They bring silver and would prefer to buy, and might want to charter shipping or else purchase larger supplies for a further march; but they are perilous, numerous, and disciplined.