How to Think Like a Roman Emperor
If you have anger issues, this one is a great tool (h/t mindyourbusiness.
Today’s lesson comes from: Musonious Rufus’s Lectures
We don”t know much about Rufus’s life, he was born between 20-30 AD. By the rein of Nero he was a leading Stoic teacher. He was banished twice under different Emperors. His most famous student was Epictetus and like him, Rufus did not write any of his own lessons. The lessons and fragments that remain were written by his students. We do not now when he died, but in 101 AD Pliny mentions him as deceased.
Disclaimer: I’m not your Supervisor. These are my opinions after reading through these books a few times.
Should daughters receive the same training as sons? Part II
5 “Come now,” I suppose someone will say, “do you expect that men should learn spinning the same as women, and that women should take part in gymnastic exercises the same as men? ” No, that I should not demand. But I do say that, since in the human race man’s constitution is stronger and woman’s weaker, tasks should be assigned which are suited to the nature of each; that is the heavier tasks should be given to the stronger and lighter ones to the weaker. Thus spinning and indoor work would be more fitting for women than for men, while gymnastics and outdoor work would be more suitable for men. Occasionally, however, some men might more fittingly handle certain of the lighter tasks and what is generally considered women’s work, and again, women might do heavier tasks which seem more appropriate for men whenever conditions of strength, need, or circumstance warranted.
Training according to what the individual is good at or suited for works better than a one size fits all program. In the Marines we used to have segregated training after boot camp for Marine Combat Training (MCT). This was a 4 week crash course of extremely basic infantry training. There were field ops and long humps(hikes) with full packs. Now it is integrated. My son said that meant all of the humps were easy for most men and the women would struggle and fall out. I don’t see how this benefits either group.
6 For all human tasks, I am inclined to believe, are a common obligation and are common for men and women, and none is necessarily appointed for either one exclusively, but some pursuits are more suited to the nature of one, some to the other, and for this reason some are called men’s work and some women’s. But whatever things have reference to virtue, these one would properly say are equally appropriate to the nature of both, inasmuch as we agree that virtues are in no respect more fitting for the one than the other.
Both sexes should be virtuous and taught basic morality in a healthy society. Understanding the differences while working on the areas they have in common would be a better way to teach.
7 Hence I hold it reasonable that the things which have reference to virtue ought to be taught to male and female alike; and furthermore that straight from infancy they ought to be taught that this is right and that is wrong, and that it is the same for both alike; that this is helpful, that is harmful, that one must do this, one must not do that. From this training understanding is developed in those who learn, boys and girls alike, with no difference. Then they must be inspired with a feeling of shame toward all that is base. When these two qualities have been created within them, man and woman are of necessity self-controlled. And most of all the child who is trained properly, whether boy or girl, must be accustomed to endure hardship, not to fear death, not to be disheartened in the face of any misfortune; he must in short be accustomed to every situation which calls for courage. Now courage, it was demonstrated above, should be present in women too. Furthermore to shun selfishness and to have high regard for fairness and, being a human being, to wish to help and to be unwilling to harm one’s fellow men is the noblest lesson, and it makes those who learn it just.
I did not have a lot of experience with girls growing up. I had 2 younger brothers and while we were taught pretty strictly about right and wrong, it was easy to see that our parents did not follow their own teachings in this regard. Once my mom got remarried it was a big adjustment as a 15 year old to live with our step dad who not only expected us to be honest, he was actually honest. I shudder to think of the type of man I might have grown into if that hadn’t happened.
8 What reason is there why it is more appropriate for a man to learn this? Certainly if it is fitting for women to be just, it is necessary for both to learn the same lessons which are in the highest degree appropriate to the character of each and supremely important. If it happens that a man knows a little something about a certain skill and a woman not, or again she knows something and he not, that suggests no difference in the education of either. But about the all-important things let not one know and the other not, but let them know the same things. If you ask me what doctrine produces such an education, I shall reply that as without philosophy no man would be properly educated, so no woman would be. I do not mean that women should possess technical skill and acuteness in argument. It would be quite superfluous, since they will use philosophy for the ends of their life as women. Even in men I do not prize this accomplishment too highly. I only urge that they should acquire from philosophy goodness in conduct and nobility of character. Now in very truth philosophy is training in nobility of character and nothing else.
It is less important for men and women to be able to explain Stoicism than it is to follow it in daily life. If a woman and a man are equally educated in philosophy and use it to ground their life, it can lead to a more successful life for both, even if they use it in different ways. My wife uses her Christian philosophy to deal with her friends when they have drama. I use Stoicism mostly to keep my anger and impatience in check.
First in the pink, second in the stink.
So you’re into sloppy seconds….
Are you sure about that?
I thought it was one in the pink, two in the stink.
You never First back to front.
Never.
I had 2 older sisters, no brothers, and just one male cousin we saw with any regularity. Not sure what the long-term effects of such a family makeup would be, but I imagine it means something.
We interrupt this broadcast for an important announcement.
It’s not too late to obtain a rare and highly coveted Glibertarian pin absolutely free of charge. Here’s an example on my going-out-of-Vermont hat:
https://www.glibertarians.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/style_suggestion-600×450.jpg
The only downside is you need to provide me enough information for the U.S. Postal Service to deliver a small package. I don’t need a real name but I do need a real address.
How to convey said information is now a little bit of a challenge. The “other” forum, which required a login, has been down for awhile. There I created a discussion with my contact information. I’m not willing to post my e-mail address here.
A few years ago The Powers That Be agreed to serialize some stuff I wrote a few decades earlier:
https://www.glibertarians.com/2023/01/the-secret-history-of-vermont/
It wasn’t new to the Internet. The original is on my extraordinarily dated web site. A search of the title will find it and from there a page with my contact information is readily found. If you want a pin send me a letter, text, or e-mail.
And now, back to our regularly scheduled program.
1) you can create a free Proton account as a semi-throw away: https://proton.me/
2) pin aside, that is a handsome cap – my Vermonster neighbor would covet that.
I found that hat on the side of a road. It’s now the one I bring when traveling.
I announced the Glib pins almost a year ago:
https://www.glibertarians.com/2025/09/free-as-in-beer/
O the side of the road as in someone lost it, or as in someone with a roadside stand selling them?
Someone lost it, not too far from my cabin. I thought one of my neighbors would mention they lost a hat but never heard anything so I washed it and started wearing it.
You’re a braver man than I.
Wearing someone else’s hat isn’t something I’d do with a known owner, let alone a mystery chapeau.
The Glibs pins are very nice. Highly recommended.
+1
Concur.
Glib pins are awesome.
Thanks again Richard.
They only want to free us from the dead hand of late stage capitalist neoliberalism
Those who think democratic socialists are just impatient young liberals should check out the DSA’s new program. It reads like a communist fairy tale.
First, they’ll toss capitalism (aka private enterprise) on history’s scrap heap. Americans won’t have to worry about the cost of living anymore, because the socialist superstate will pay for everything — food, schooling, healthcare, transportation and “social housing.” In this collectivist utopia, the government will own all major companies (eat your heart out, President Trump), tax wealth aggressively and guarantee jobs for all.
Socialists will open our borders to all who want to come, phase out police and prisons, revive the Green New Deal and outlaw fossil fuels, pass reparations, champion trans rights and lift restrictions on “gender-affirming” care.
All this will require an entirely new political system. The DSA proposes to scrap the Constitution, get rid of the Senate, the presidency and the Supreme Court, and vest all governing power in the House. Say goodbye to all those annoying checks and balances!
Come, comrades. Let us link arms and march valiantly into the glorious future.
It’s cute that the writer thinks the Dems will have an appealing agenda if only they kicked the commies to the curb. Is “slightly less communist that those assholes” really all that appealing?
The Dems biggest policy problem right now is that they have absolutely nothing other than “if OMB is fer it, we’re agin’ it”.
^^This. My local primary ads were all about standing up to Trump, even for state and local offices that have zero ability to do jack or shit about national issues
A helpfully hopeful reminder: This is how weak the Dems bench *is.* This is the best they got. They’re losing control of their party, predictably, and neither side has a like-able, well-spoken person to attack or defend the status quo of Team Blue.
I anticipate the DSA Putsch is ‘necessary’ for people to start feeling pain and resentment. A voice to speak for “MAGA” folk, as in: America First, don’t start wars, end Dems’ Kultur Kampf with immigration, DEI and transing kids. JD Vance is a good speaker, good at controlling the camera and conversation. I know less about Rubio, frankly, particularly of his ability to appeal to The People.
My father’s side only has boys. We apparently have to ‘import’ (domestic) women. I have an older bro who has three sons and no daughters; Dad has a younger one, and’s Dad’s father was an only child. Don’t now off the top of my head, further back. Mom has one older bro. (Interesting man, he, though I don’t know him too well. (His step-grandson is Chase DeLauter, doing well for the Cleveland Indians.)
Dad’s also has Asperger’s and knowingly has ZERO comprehension of women. Mom, correct, knows he sees women as saints or whores, just typical, binary(!), non-understanding. He admits it, at least. We joke it would’ve been massively interesting if they had a daughter. it may have changed many things. Also may not have. Likely would’ve depended on her personality, esp growing up with Dad, on how she woulda turned out, diving into his ‘rough ‘n tumble’ fatherhood as he reacted to how different girls are.
When she started dating folk, that woulda been, I’m guessing, a mighty powerful Light Switch moment, likely of extreme protectiveness he really didn’t have with me and Colin. Difference between me and bro: I happily dove into Dad’s parenting style, as I’m distinctly His Son. (Colin’s got the good bits of Dad’s spectrum, particularly ‘focus,’ but focused on totally different things.)
Despite my adventures, I fall ‘neatly’ into my parents’ footsteps, professionally and regarding interests. Colin, the only business owner in the family, went into ‘left field’ with programming in the ’90s onward and really did go out on his own with his life, distinctly different than ‘us,’ who’ve all written professionally (at some point).
Dad w a daughter? Or me growing up with a sister? (Get your head outta that gutter!) That obviously woulda been a huge game changer. Also important in my childhood: Colin’s 6yrs older and we never went to the same school at the same time. We were far enough apart, where he was a half-parent to me and we hung out all the time growing up until we were about 12/18yo. There was never any direct competition and zero conflict.
I do not mean that women should possess technical skill and acuteness in argument. It would be quite superfluous, since they will use philosophy for the ends of their life as women.
They run rings around us, logically.
*rhetorically
Women are great at saying a lot and a little all at once.
They make fine academics in that regard.
If Democrats let these bougie Bolsheviks hijack their agenda, they’ll lose more ground with authentic working-class voters. But socialists aren’t wrong about one thing: Washington Democrats are too comfortable with the political status quo.
Democrats urgently need fresh blood and new ideas for structural changes aimed at reviving upward mobility for non-college Americans, controlling immigration and crime, financing elections and restoring the government’s capacity to experiment and adapt to new technological and social conditions.
“Bougie bolsheviks” rates a golf clap.
So what you’re really saying is the Democratic party needs to jettison its base and start over with a better class of dupes. Good luck in your future endeavors.
Democrats are fucked. The younger members have gone full blown commie. There is no Obama waiting in the wings who is just a creation of the machine politics of some blue hellhole who will do the usual for them.
It’s commies voting for commies and it was all created by their incredible need to shield Black Jesus from any and all criticism and their full embrace of identity politics as the central tenant of their faith.
But we’re kind of all fucked in return because we are all stuck living with the commies and they do hold positions of power in institutions across the country being the nepo babies of the upper class for the most part.
The Democrats have repeatedly put themselves on the 20 side of 80-20 issues. This would ordinarily seem to make Republican victory assured, but fortunately the Republicans repeatedly avoid taking the 80 side of those issues and instead stand around with palms up claiming that there is nothing they can do before compromising to give the Democrats their 20% popular win.
instead stand around with palms up claiming that there is nothing they can do before compromising to give the Democrats their 20% popular win.
The popular Maine and Alaska vote.
Yeah, not even mainstream Democrats have had the slightest interest in any of that for decades.
Stoic since losing Escrow Processing, I’ve applied as a State Eligibility Consultant to dole out Indiana benefits. The description looks in my wheelhouse. Will search more today and hopefully find more opportunities to throw my hat into. Key things I’m looking for:
**Full-time, meaningful work that provides an opportunity for advancement
$18/hr min if chance of advancement (Meijer is $16.30)
$20 would be outstanding, $22 really wouldn’t require advancement (for now)
Keeping myself slightly sane by throwing it down with Crazy, I’ve got a ‘date’ to watch Hail Mary with Crazy-Ex (Yasmina, or Yaz, I’ll call her) at her place. She paid me back the $150 I floated her and we’ve both said we’re looking for human contact, both kinda lost in the weeds. As of last night, at her suggestion, we’re gonna watch her now “Favorite Movie” at her place, and at my suggestion, we’re gonna go to the store together to get snacks, etc. It’ll feel good to be with around a human and just ‘be’ without being around work or family. (I still don’t have any ‘friends’ Stateside. Working on it. *frump*) Massive dopamine upside.
*hand on heart* I will not INITIATE any tom-foolery or tup-tuppery! I absolutely will not resist, though I think for long-term on-the-side fun, it’s best if tonight is an enjoyable time with us without ANY sexual intention getting in between us. Just two old ‘friends’ unwinding together, and we both have difficulty doing such. (She’s also in a difficult spot, but she’s got her own place back again.)
She’s a huge Yankees fan and started a podcast a few years back. It didn’t take off, but she’s also pretty bi-polar in her interests and projects. She’s also very ‘intelligent,’ but in the ultra-hardcore Lefty way and her on-paper intelligence dwarfs ‘reason’ or ‘principles.’
Just for fun, here’s her podcast, and you might see why it was easy to put up with her shit. She’s exactly my type. To be fair, we legit fell head over heels w each other. (Her ‘manic’ bipolar is intoxicating, the reverse? ‘Basic Instinct’ lite.) (Dream world tonight? Have fun with flick and end the night laughing and playful. (I freely admit, I would *love*, biologically and everything else, to play with her body, tease her into remembering our time.. and for her to *wait* for another time. *cocky, purposefully silly grin*))
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOaxmVUHT44
That is a good looking hat, Richard.
All Glibs attending HH are reminded that the Glib pins are required and visibly worn. I still have 3 left over from last year for any newbies that arrives sans pin.
Thanks to Richard’s kindness there will be a bonus again this year.
Richard-
Speaking of Vermont history, howzaboot a treatise on the Green Mountain Boys?
Good idea! The actions of the Green Mountain Boys served as the catalyst of an independent Vermont.
Some people really do deserve cruel and unusual punishment.
https://apnews.com/article/wwii-memorial-vandalized-paint-bubbles-ac1f767c2bfb81f0902b1914c2dfe252
A person has been arrested in connection with vandalism at The World War II Memorial on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro announced Friday.
My immediate guess was some radical leftist who posted a video of themselves doing it. Stunning and brave.
Reading the article, it may be other random crazy person – she’s “trying to call attention to her whistleblower complaint”
Heroism
A person has been arrested in connection with vandalism at The World War II Memorial on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro announced Friday.
Pirro announced on X that her office was filing two felony charges against Melissa L. Farris. Pirro said the felony charges are “Depredation Against Property of the United States and Destruction of Veterans’ Memorials.” The offenses carry penalties of up to ten years in prison.
Farris was expected to be arraigned Friday. The Public Defender’s office said she was not yet listed in the system and had not been assigned an attorney.
The arrest followed the discovery of the vandalism, which included bubbles filling a fountain and “Clean hands dirty $” written in red paint.
“Vandalizing our World War II Memorial is a despicable attack on a sacred monument honoring the Americans who fought and died for our freedom. Those Americans include my father and grandfather,” Pirro wrote.
Another victory in the war against fascist oppression.
“Our beautiful World War II Memorial was just hit by Spray Painting Vandals,” he said on Friday on his Truth Social site. “THERE CAN BE NO GREATER INSULT TO THOSE AMERICAN HEROES WHO DIED IN WORLD WAR II.”
But I was told he said all those guys buried in Normandy were chumps.
Supposedly said “suckers” and “losers.” I can’t imagine any president saying that even in most unguarded, drunken moment. Even our future commie presidents would not be that stupid.
The actions of the Green Mountain Boys served as the catalyst of an independent Vermont.
Plus they had a bitchin’ flag
Vermont NG still uses it (and the name):
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vermont_National_Guard
The Green Mountain Boys are who usually do the Fenway fly-overs; sometimes they get a little carried away.
In the pocket of Big Steam
After he returned to office in 2025, Trump brought up steam catapults during the swearing-in of Tulsi Gabbard as his director of national intelligence and did so again in remarks to the crew of the USS George Washington, an aircraft carrier based in Japan.
“We built an aircraft carrier for $19bn, which is crazy. The price is crazy,” Trump recalled last month at the Army War College in Pennsylvania. “It had all sorts of modern-day things that were all – instead of using steam for the catapults, they used electric.
“So when I went to the ship, because I came into office and the ship was way over budget, built in Newport News [Virginia],” Trump continued. “I said: ‘I want to meet the catapulter,’ and a man came over, along with four of his assistants. And I said: ‘What’s better: electric catapult or steam?’ He’s been there for 25 years. He said: ‘Steam is better, sir. We can fix it with a hammer and a blowtorch. When the electric goes bad, I have to send to MIT to get geniuses over here.’ I said: ‘Steam is better?’ ‘Yes, sir it’s better.’”
According to the Wall Street Journal, which first reported the order, senior US navy and industry leaders “have resisted the move due to the enormous expense of tearing out such a complex system that was integral to the design” of the latest aircraft carriers.
Maybe Putin told him to delay completion of that boat.
If Gabe’s for it, I’ll at least hear him out.
Testing new avatar image. This post does not exist.
Why? Did you feel the need to change after the source of the other image became widely known?
That change would be unepic
A little bit, but more that I just felt like the old image was getting worn out.
This new one is a selfie from a backpacking trip a few years ago, out in the Three Ridges region of the Shenandoahs, run through the most excellent Xerox Hell tool.
Relearning the Avatar is work. It’s faster to see who commented by recognizing the “face” rather than reading the name.
/whine
I fear and dislike change.
Yeah when I changed mine a few years ago I got so much shit for it I changed it back.
Tell me this site is filled with old people without telling me this site is filled with old people 😉
Get off my lawn!
Let me tell you about this terrific pair of shooting glasses with readers I just bought…
My shooting glasses are progressive bifocals.
*cries for misspent youth*
It’s days like today when I wish I was really salaried.
If I were really salaried, the fact that I’ve run out of work would mean I could just leave.
Nope, I’m hourly with no overtime, so I gotta stay.
I’d have more to do if people got back to me, or advanced the tickets I sent them, or even showed up on Fridays
I can’t imagine “running out of work”.
Distribution of responsibilities here is whacked.
I’ve held roles where I was the single person doing the job where you needed a whole team of at least 4 to stay on top of it (I learned what burnout really meant)
I’ve held this role where it’s not even enough for the people we’ve got, but 24/7 coverage means we have more people than work just so it goes back in service ASAP when issues arise.
At the moment, my role seems to be a cross between “Guy who knows things” and “Guy who knows how to figure things out”.
It’s more dignified to walk out, but sometimes, especially on Fridays, you just can’t waste the extra minute on dignity.
Appropriate post, thanks Ron. My wife’s best friend just had surgery this AM for pancreatic cancer. This is after several months of chemo in preparation for the surgery.
Unfortunately it metastasized which means they don’t continue the surgery at that point. This will put her on a different chemo which she will be on for the rest of her now far more shortened life.
My wife is devastated which now means I’m holding back the tears. F… cancer.
That sucks. Sorry to hear that.
Terrible news. So sorry to hear it.
🙁
That’s a devastating gut punch mid-surgery. Yeesh. Sorry for all.
Very sorry to hear that. Cancer took my best friend of 54 years duration Aug. 16 three years ago, less than 3 months after the initial diagnosis.
Everything about these situations sucks.
Ugh. Sorry, Sensei.
I have pulled a dusty old bicycle out of the rented storage so that slimmer me can start getting some real exercise.
I am now trying to buy parts to resurrect a fifty-year-old French racing bike. It is proving to be somewhat challenging.
The world of cycling has apparently had a few advances that make putting modern components onto an old frame somewhat problematic.
@TOK and others: Grissom is having their Air & Space Expo on Sat and Sun, Aug. 29 and 30. I’m gonna see if The Boys are interested /can go. Otherwise, I’ll stop by Peru and check it out on my own, if nothing gets in the way. Free, 9-5pm, acts start at 10am.
Saw recent pics of Peru’s flooding. It wasn’t as bad as other places, but damn. And they weren’t prepared to take all the water.
*hopeful wishes* And good on ya and Mrs.+ for helping others in your family and area.
https://grissomfss.com/event/grissom-arb-2026-air-show/
I’m assuming WW2 related?
$10M of gold found hidden in brewery cellar while laying sewage pipe
https://nypost.com/2026/08/14/lifestyle/builders-find-10-million-in-gold-during-brewery-renovation/
Naturally it’s the NYP – no context.
English and Swiss bank stamps, so yeah, WWII seems likely. Either Nazi loot that was cached for later recovery, or SOE operational funds that got lost in the shuffle…
Going to be laundered through a “charity”.
What a fucking shame.
I am now trying to buy parts to resurrect a fifty-year-old French racing bike. It is proving to be somewhat challenging.
Just go buy a fat tire mountain bike. Why punish yourself?
I have a 25-year-old Trek trailbike that the shop is overhauling right now.
But, the old road bike is far and away the most comfortable bike I have ever ridden.
And it’s a project for this winter.
The bike is a mid-70s Gitane made with Reynolds 531 steel. It is from Gitane’s golden age of Tour de France championship bikes.
Per google AI:
Bike made from Reynolds 531 steel are loved for their legendary blend of low weight, springy ride comfort, and exceptional durability. Introduced in 1935 by Reynolds Technology in England, this manganese-molybdenum alloy became the gold standard for high-performance racing and touring bikes for decades.
The frame itself is worthy of resurrection. The collection of parts I put on it in 1980 . . . not so much.
Unfortunately for them, this was not a case of finders keepers — the crew was forced to hand over the precious metals to the police, who explained to them that pocketing it was verboten.
“There are so many coins and bars — it would be almost impossible,” said Mario. “Besides, that would be theft.”
I bet the Belgian government won’t have any mamby pamby scruples about stealing it.