John Bull
banner
garius.bsky.social
John Bull
@garius.bsky.social
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
Pinned
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...
Reposted by John Bull
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.
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
Fun fact: Amelia Erhardt was a key contributor to the rise in popularity of the zip.

She was an early, prominent adopter.
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
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
Reposting this from my sketchbook account because I wish I could remember how I achieved this dry brush effect...
December 7, 2025 at 10:33 PM
Reposted by John Bull
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."
December 25, 2025 at 2:07 PM
Reposted by John Bull
"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
Reposted by John Bull
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. 💖
December 26, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Reposted by John Bull
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
Reposted by John Bull
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/
December 26, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Reposted by John Bull
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
Reposted by John Bull
THIS 👇
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
Reposted by John Bull
Painted a gift today. Say hi to Tom, clueless orange.
December 26, 2025 at 11:10 AM
Reposted by John Bull
December 26, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Reposted by John Bull
June 3, 2025 at 2:40 AM
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
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
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
December 26, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Reposted by John Bull
Well it’s gotta be this girl! Probably one of the best single miniatures I’ve ever done, as well!
December 26, 2025 at 12:50 PM
Reposted by John Bull
I loved how the twins turned out this year.
December 26, 2025 at 12:51 PM
Reposted by John Bull
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
I think this is one of the best minis I've ever painted. I was really pleased with this. 😊

#nerdlings #warhammercommunity
December 26, 2025 at 11:38 AM
Reposted by John Bull
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
December 26, 2025 at 9:07 AM
Welcome to the Boxing Day morning relatives tech lab.
December 26, 2025 at 10:23 AM
Reposted by John Bull
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
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