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Ben Cartlidge

@benjcartlidge

Classics. Languages. Cat. Violin.

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25.09.2023
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Latest posts by Ben Cartlidge @benjcartlidge

"there is always an oligarchy" - words of Ronald Syme I never forget

02.02.2026 21:52 πŸ‘ 5 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Someone is excited that it's #Caturday tomorrow

13.02.2026 12:53 πŸ‘ 15 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 1

"there is always an oligarchy" - words of Ronald Syme I never forget

02.02.2026 21:52 πŸ‘ 5 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Then and now the focus on individuals - Peter Mandelson and Michelle Mone - diverts attention from the real point. Our institutions, which should protect the public, just nod along with what is a kind of theft by the privileged. No one goes to prison, no one is ever held accountable.

02.02.2026 18:59 πŸ‘ 405 πŸ” 115 πŸ’¬ 7 πŸ“Œ 6
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Where could the cat be?

02.02.2026 21:50 πŸ‘ 6 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
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Be cat, do climbs; then nest and be cosy.

25.01.2026 11:55 πŸ‘ 7 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

She also got a new perch for Christmas

19.01.2026 17:57 πŸ‘ 9 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 0
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Who says black cats don't photograph well?

19.01.2026 15:44 πŸ‘ 6 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Partly an homage to Cabin Pressure

26.12.2025 10:29 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

OCTOPUS!!!

26.12.2025 08:12 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 1
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The darkness brooded on the arms of the chair

25.12.2025 19:55 πŸ‘ 6 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 0

Excellent!!

24.12.2025 18:00 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Four hundred oligarchs,
Fear, honour and interest,
A bipolar conflict
And a ΞΊΟ„αΏ†ΞΌΞ¬ ἐς Ξ±αΌ°Ξ΅α½Ά.

24.12.2025 17:57 πŸ‘ 5 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

On the ninth day of Christmas, Thucydides sent to me
Nine IR Realists
Eight toiling triremes
Seven sorry Spartans
Six truest causes
Tragic irony!

24.12.2025 17:56 πŸ‘ 11 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

because for me while yes pleasure is central to the effort, it’s a complex pleasure that can be transformative if I allow it to be, and β€œbe less ignorant” is a yearly, endlessly renewable goal

24.12.2025 17:12 πŸ‘ 217 πŸ” 9 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 2
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Nyx ruling Christmas

24.12.2025 17:56 πŸ‘ 8 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Being nursed back to health by Nyx and the power of sleepies

18.12.2025 14:13 πŸ‘ 6 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 0
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Recent Nyx, featuring help on academic tasks; sleepies; independent study of philosophy; and pure joyful posing

12.12.2025 01:43 πŸ‘ 6 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

*enters the room, cloak flapping*

β€œThis opuscule appears to me utterly remiss”

*leaves*

11.12.2025 23:28 πŸ‘ 8 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

An academic disliked an Oxford Very Short Introduction (145 pages) in his field so much that he wrote a 200 page book review attacking it. www.pierre-legrand.com/ewExternalFi...

11.12.2025 20:56 πŸ‘ 597 πŸ” 151 πŸ’¬ 77 πŸ“Œ 182

I read the stuff academics wrote and knew I could do the same or better.

22.11.2025 22:46 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

I would totally go to a clubnight called the Unlimited Tea Works

12.11.2025 21:53 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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The reckless joy of the addict

30.10.2025 12:50 πŸ‘ 8 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
Overboard! 2025 YouTube video by Classics for All

This was terrific fun - sharing my own 'bit', but do watch the whole thing!
www.youtube.com/live/T7x5syH...

12.11.2025 18:10 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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New Nyx furniture

09.11.2025 22:09 πŸ‘ 11 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 1
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The reckless joy of the addict

30.10.2025 12:50 πŸ‘ 8 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
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As always, Nyx is grateful to @noreenmasud.bsky.social for telling her papa to get silvervine

30.10.2025 12:43 πŸ‘ 6 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 0
Little dog with big hipster beard

Little dog with big hipster beard

Makes his own kimchi and likes the warm sound you only get with vinyl.

29.10.2025 19:42 πŸ‘ 918 πŸ” 200 πŸ’¬ 45 πŸ“Œ 55

Or monks. I'm sure nuns were using them sustainably.

30.10.2025 11:58 πŸ‘ 29 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Hey, those were observed from life! They went extinct for....reasons.

30.10.2025 11:43 πŸ‘ 26 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0