John Bull
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garius.bsky.social
John Bull
@garius.bsky.social
27K followers 1.1K following 23K posts
He/Him. Author. Historian (inc of obscure Military Holy Orders). Strategy streamer. Tech/Transport Strategist. Editor of @lonrec. Orient fan. Business/Writing: business@longformist.co.uk. Agent: @pastpreservers.bsky.social
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garius.bsky.social
John Bull @garius.bsky.social · Mar 10
The latest in my history of home computers is live. Covers the era of Commodore, Atari and Jack Tramiel.

He was a brutal manager. But also an Auschwitz survivor, and that shaped him, and his legit drive to build a better world.

This warning from him hit home, right now.

every.to/the-crazy-on...
One day in 1982, Michael Tomczyk, who had led the project to develop the Commodore 64, found himself sitting in Jack Tramiel’s office. Tomcyzk had just returned from a trade show in Hanover, Germany. During the course of their conversation, Tomczyk mentioned how impressed he’d been with the Autobahn highway network on the way there. "I built that road," Tramiel told him matter-of-factly. “Jack went on to explain that during World War II as a teenager he had been selected to work on the road gangs,” Tomczyk remembered. “He said that it was one way to survive, because they had to feed the people that did that kind of hard labor, or they wouldn't work. ‘We built good roads,’ he said.” Tramiel had never hidden the horrors in his past. He was proud that he had helped build a better future through Commodore and Atari. However, the longer he lived, the more concerned he became that people would forget what that future had cost. And that which is forgotten can be repeated. "You know," Tramiel said once, "it's hard to believe it really happened. But it can happen again. In America. Americans like to make rules, and that scares me. If you have too many rules you get locked in a system. It's the system that says this one dies and that one doesn't, not the people. That's why I don't hate the German people. Individuals, yes. Rules, yes. But not all Germans.
Reposted by John Bull
troyg.bsky.social
I am also, by the way, calling for a TV movie/series/docudrama/footsteps-of Pompey because he is the key figure in the decades after Sulla and he is just very interesting.

He didn’t leave battle memoirs like Caesar did, and his end is more sad than Shakespearean. But this is my tragic guy.
troyg.bsky.social Troy Goodfellow @troyg.bsky.social · 9h
I watched the first episode of this BBC series this morning, and these shows are often very amusing.

It’s adequate, leans anti-Caesarean, good cast of proper historians talking heads. Tom Holland is the one with the most time, but why is pol Rory Stewart doing the Cato bits?
Julius Caesar: The Making of a Dictator (TV Mini Series 2023) ⭐ 6.9 | Documentary, History
Julius Caesar: The Making of a Dictator: With Janet McTeer, Ian Hanmore, Alex Brockdorff, Rosie Jones. He came. He saw. He conquered. The tale of an ambitious power-grab that turned to tyranny. How Ju...
m.imdb.com
December 26, 2025 at 10:42 PM
garius.bsky.social
Fun fact: Amelia Erhardt was a key contributor to the rise in popularity of the zip.

She was an early, prominent adopter.
adapalmer.bsky.social Ada Palmer @adapalmer.bsky.social · Nov 7
Behold the zipper’s first upgrade in over a century. YKK, the Japanese company that makes about half the world’s zippers, has created a zipper that removes the traditional fabric tape, creating a lighter, more flexible, lower-impact closure. buff.ly/5UV5gnr
#ShareGoodNewsToo
The Zipper Is Getting Its First Major Upgrade in 100 Years
By stripping away the fabric tape that’s held zippers together for a hundred years, Japanese clothing giant YKK is designing the future of seamless clothing.
buff.ly
December 27, 2025 at 12:12 AM
garius.bsky.social
Day four.

I have begun to recognize the names of actors in the opening credits for Hallmark Christmas films.

Send help.
December 26, 2025 at 9:26 PM
Reposted by John Bull
hbtyson.bsky.social
Reposting this from my sketchbook account because I wish I could remember how I achieved this dry brush effect...
An acrylic painting on cream paper. A quadrupedal creature rests on a blue and tan rocky clifftop. The creature’s pale body and long tail contrasts against a dark sky.
December 7, 2025 at 10:33 PM
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jenlucpiquant.bsky.social
Looking for a Christmas miracle for a kitty (aging parent situation) for Baltimore pals: (1/2)

""My mom can no longer keep Angelo (alas!!!) and we are looking to rehome him. Angelo is a total sweetheart. He is 6 years old, gentle, playful, friendly, and a lovebug."
sweet-faced tabby cat sitting at a table with front paws on the edge of the table.
December 25, 2025 at 2:07 PM
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dsquareddigest.bsky.social
"tell me we didn't just fire a dozen $500,000 missiles at a $200 camel"

"sir, no evidence of any camel present, sir!"
December 26, 2025 at 7:17 PM
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littlerecordgirl.bsky.social
This may be a boring story for most, but when I was wee I dreamed of owning a Beauty and the Beast tea set. I'd stare at them in the Disney Store in the 90s, but they were too expensive for my single parent mum and I.

I told my mother in law and she remembered. 💖
Photo of a Beauty and the Beast tea set sitting on the edge of a sofa with a red blanket on it. There's a Christmas tree in the background.
December 26, 2025 at 2:20 PM
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ceaubin.com
Today in 'wild excuses Nazis genuinely used in court to explain how they were working at a concentration camp but not doing genocide'
December 26, 2025 at 6:15 PM
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theonion.com
Cat Clinging To Side Of Christmas Tree Admits That Was Extent Of Plan https://theonion.com/cat-clinging-to-side-of-christmas-tree-admits-that-was-1849899567/
Cat Clinging To Side Of Christmas Tree Admits That Was Extent Of Plan
December 26, 2025 at 3:00 PM
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ehervas.bsky.social
For me it has to be this one:

- Kit bashed Power Axe
- Painted some NMM
- Decent custom transfers

Basically all I've learned this year.

Could be better for sure! But I'm proud of her!
December 26, 2025 at 2:59 PM
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brookenewman.bsky.social
THIS 👇
amabel.bsky.social Amabel Holland @amabel.bsky.social · Jul 31
looking up the source of quotes, whether for a book or a video script, is great for figuring out when a quote everyone "knows" and has repeated for ages is actually just weird bullshit someone else made up
December 26, 2025 at 2:03 PM
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fantasmary.bsky.social
Painted a gift today. Say hi to Tom, clueless orange.
December 26, 2025 at 11:10 AM
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rosemarymosco.com
A four-panel comic. In panel one, a female northern cardinal and winter plumage american goldfinch are sitting at a bird feeder in a grey landscape. The cardinal says "These seeds are delicious." The goldfinch replies "Mmm-hmm." In panel 2, there's a close up of the birds at the feeder, and the cardinal says "It was nice of the human to put up this feeder." The goldfinch says "Sure was." In panel 3, the cardinal says "We should return the favor." The goldfinch says "Great idea." In panel 4, there's a pullback shot of the bird feeder, and a human is staring at it and also at a large stick next to it with a pink-iced donut at the end of it.
December 26, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Reposted by John Bull
sunny2718.bsky.social
June 3, 2025 at 2:40 AM
garius.bsky.social
Be warned, my follower, the influx of Japanese artists means y'all are gonna get a lot more unamusume reposts in your feeds from me now. 😆
December 26, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Reposted by John Bull
sunny2718.bsky.social
ダイヤちゃんも食べる？
#ウマ娘 #umamusume
December 18, 2025 at 10:02 AM
Reposted by John Bull
garius.bsky.social
About this time last year i picked up a brush for the first time since i was 15 (30yrs ago). Wanted something non-screen-based to chill out with.

Been a year of slowly improving with the help of youtube. I'll never be great, but i'm happy with my level these days.

Here's my Hospitallers #nerdlings
Three space marines in white power armour with red schoulders
December 26, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Reposted by John Bull
doctorallisona.bsky.social
Well it’s gotta be this girl! Probably one of the best single miniatures I’ve ever done, as well!
A warhammer mini—a space marine captain with a notably feminine head, wielding a bolter and power fist, and painted in Crimson Fists chapter colours, mostly dark blue with mauve/red details.
December 26, 2025 at 12:50 PM
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bdullemond.bsky.social
I loved how the twins turned out this year.
December 26, 2025 at 12:51 PM
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marcnormandin.bsky.social
If you feel a little underwhelmed by the big reveal being Space Invaders, it's worth remembering just how vital that game is to... well, all of this.
December 18, 2025 at 10:18 AM
Reposted by John Bull
tari-too.bsky.social
I think this is one of the best minis I've ever painted. I was really pleased with this. 😊

#nerdlings #warhammercommunity
Dark Angels Master Lazarus from Games Workshop. His armour is dark green, the inside of his cloak is white with red trim. His sword is Non-metalic silver and the trim of his armour is non-metalic gold. He stands on a base painted like marble. He poses with his helmet in his left arm and his sword in his right. Painted by me. Back view. Dark Angels Master Lazarus from Games Workshop. His armour is dark green, the inside of his cloak is white with red trim. His sword is Non-metalic silver and the trim of his armour is non-metalic gold. His cape is purple. Painted by me. Dark Angels Master Lazarus from Games Workshop. His armour is dark green, the inside of his cloak is white with red trim. His sword is Non-metalic silver and the trim of his armour is non-metalic gold. Painted by me. Close up of the upper part of the miniature, focus the head. Dark Angels Master Lazarus from Games Workshop. His armour is dark green, the inside of his cloak is white with red trim. His sword is Non-metalic silver and the trim of his armour is non-metalic gold. Painted by me.
December 26, 2025 at 11:38 AM
Reposted by John Bull
andycruns.bsky.social
Apparently it’s Friday, weird.

This week the theme is…best of 2025.

So let’s see your best thing.

As usual I’ll repost the lot and if you like something, share it!

#Nerdlings #FindFolkFriday
Orange space dwarf stands on a rock above lava. Lightning arcs from his purple bladed power axe
December 26, 2025 at 9:07 AM
garius.bsky.social
Welcome to the Boxing Day morning relatives tech lab.
Multiple laptops on a desk
December 26, 2025 at 10:23 AM
Reposted by John Bull
troyg.bsky.social
My favorite Dykstra fact is that he sued a former teammate for defamation, but the case was dismissed with the judge saying, in effect “everyone already knows you’re a racist, sexist, homophobic asshole.”

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lenny_D...
December 26, 2025 at 3:17 AM
Reposted by John Bull
kerobou.bsky.social
ATTENTION ARTISTS AND ANY ASPIRING PIXEL ARTISTS!!!

Aseprite is on sale on Steam!! It's a Pixel art program for art/animating and I highly recommend! (I have almost 700 hours in it!) It's $13 and a one time payment for an excellent program!!
December 25, 2025 at 9:31 PM