Anonymous asks:

What would you study if not Classics/archaeology?

Well, when I was a kid I wanted to be a palaeontologist. I sort of wrote that off as unrealistic when I was in high school, but actually, now that I’m a real archaeologist and dig stuff up and do proper scholarly research, honestly I do think I probably could have pulled it off if I’d kept going with biology and geology. Evolutionary history is a fascinating rabbit hole. I’m not sure I’d have the patience for taxonomic debates, though. I mean, people can literally spend years arguing about whether a single jawbone represents a new species or not.

Monstarfunk asks:

you don’t like oranguru??? why is it the stalker pokémon??

I didn’t say I didn’t like Oranguru, but it is indisputably the Stalker Pokémon.

Go to Tapu Village and check out the oasis area with the caravans. Next to the oasis, there is a man who will confide in you that he “[feels] like someone’s eyes are burning into the back of [his] head” and that it’s “giving [him] the creeps!” Directly behind him, hiding behind an old oil drum, is an Oranguru. Watching him. Just… watching.

Anonymous asks:

In your opinion, what Pokémon best represent each type and what they’re all about? So like, what’s the most representative Normal-type, Ice-type, Dragon, Ghost, Fairy, Ground, and so on?

Hmmm… wellllll, I’m going to hedge my bets by saying that there are several types, like Normal and Ground, where I don’t know “what they’re all about” and I’m honestly not sure a convincing answer exists, perhaps not even in the minds of Game Freak’s designers, but let’s give it a shot… Continue reading “Anonymous asks:” →

Anonymous asks:

What book(s) on comparative mythology would you recommend to a beginner?

To be honest, I’ve not read a book on comparative mythology that I’ve liked all that much. It’s a good idea in principle but one that lends itself to overreaching, and making some strange comparisons between cultures that have little in common. Actually, you’ll probably not do yourself a huge disservice by just bingeing a few Wikipedia articles, and as a university teacher I’m not supposed to say that but, well, it has a mix of the actual content of myths and interpretation of them, and can generally point you to respectable books and articles that will tell you more if you’re interested. Just don’t take anything it says on the interpretive side as the gospel truth, and you’ll be fine.

Anonymous asks:

what’s the ideal place for you to live in in each region?

I like the mildness of maritime climates (leaving New Zealand has given me a lot of opportunities, but damn, the rest of the world has hot summers and cold winters, and I miss the ocean), and the convenience of medium-sized cities. Places like Slateport City (which, incidentally, has some of my favourite music in the games), Fuchsia City, Olivine City, or Sunyshore City (the clean energy is a nice bonus). Places that are near to interesting archaeological sites are also a draw, like Violet City, the town on Six Island in Sevii, or Geosenge Town. Opelucid City might be interesting, with its past/future schizophrenia. I’d take basically anywhere in Alola, probably Malie City given a choice.

Anonymous asks:

How do you reckon Ghost Pokémon feel (or would feel) about Ho-oh’s death-defying, life-bringing power, particularly those who are explicitly ghosts like Yamask, Phantump, and Gengar? How would Cubone feel if it knew there’s a Pokémon that might be able to bring its mother back? Would Ho-oh’s power turn Shedinja into a new Nincada, or Ninjask? How does it relate to Xerneas and Yveltal? There’s so much potential for Ho-oh’s revival power that I feel is greatly underexplored in the series…

Hmmmm…

Interesting. There’s probably a lot you can do with that. There’s a great deal we don’t know about Ho-oh’s resurrection power and its limits, which I would assume other Pokémon don’t know either. Continue reading “Anonymous asks:” →

Anonymous asks:

Do you have a huge school debt?

Not really. In New Zealand we have something we like to call a functioning educational system, so my undergrad degree was maybe 1/5 the cost of an equivalent US qualification, and I have a full scholarship in my US PhD program.

Anonymous asks:

what are your views on ledian and how can you make him (i really see ledian as a him) good or actually viable? because i, for one, was disappointed back when i was playing the gen 2 games for the first time because i thought ledian’s whole “ladybug that punches things with its four boxing glove arms” design was awesome.

Better stats.

I mean, that’s a dull cop-out answer, but… like… that has to be step one. The boxing/punching thing seems to be a fairly important element of Ledian’s design, but they gave him an attack stat that’s outclassed by baby seals, some caterpillars, seaweed, and f&#%ing Bidoof. Continue reading “Anonymous asks:” →

Anonymous asks:

Are you a feminist?

Well, I don’t generally call myself one, because I don’t really know anything about the history of feminist thought and don’t have any active role in any gender equality organisations. I feel like saying “I’m a feminist” would be taking credit for something that I don’t have much to do with. But, I mean, if you’re just asking whether I think gender equality is a good thing… well, yeah.