Howell Harris
@trefeca.bsky.social
Retired (US, business & technology) historian. Twitter escapee. Hope this doesn't go the same way. Welsh & European. Durham resident. Gardener & cyclist.
Reposted by Howell Harris
News reports
"Henry II says he won't personally kill Becket"
"Henry II says he won't personally kill Becket"
January 21, 2026 at 7:20 PM
News reports
"Henry II says he won't personally kill Becket"
"Henry II says he won't personally kill Becket"
Thanks to Julian Zeliser for this quote of the week:
“Nip the shoots of arbitrary power in the bud, is the only maxim which can ever preserve the liberties of any people.”
John Quincy Adams, 1775
“Nip the shoots of arbitrary power in the bud, is the only maxim which can ever preserve the liberties of any people.”
John Quincy Adams, 1775
January 21, 2026 at 4:41 PM
Thanks to Julian Zeliser for this quote of the week:
“Nip the shoots of arbitrary power in the bud, is the only maxim which can ever preserve the liberties of any people.”
John Quincy Adams, 1775
“Nip the shoots of arbitrary power in the bud, is the only maxim which can ever preserve the liberties of any people.”
John Quincy Adams, 1775
Reposted by Howell Harris
"Hochman called for the “mass killing and extermination” of Palestinians, the use of nuclear weapons against Gaza… and the starvation of Palestinians"
Bit of a contrast with the people who held up pieces of paper saying "I support Palestinian Action". They're in UK prisons for terrorism.
Bit of a contrast with the people who held up pieces of paper saying "I support Palestinian Action". They're in UK prisons for terrorism.
Canada briefly detains Israeli comedian after complaints over conduct in Gaza
Guy Hochman says he was interrogated for six hours after legal group filed complaint accusing him of war crimes
uk.news.yahoo.com
January 20, 2026 at 9:51 PM
"Hochman called for the “mass killing and extermination” of Palestinians, the use of nuclear weapons against Gaza… and the starvation of Palestinians"
Bit of a contrast with the people who held up pieces of paper saying "I support Palestinian Action". They're in UK prisons for terrorism.
Bit of a contrast with the people who held up pieces of paper saying "I support Palestinian Action". They're in UK prisons for terrorism.
Reposted by Howell Harris
The Prime Minister rises to the global political moment and gives a speech of intelligence, insight and gravity.
Unfortunately for Britain, it's a different Prime Minister.
Unfortunately for Britain, it's a different Prime Minister.
January 20, 2026 at 5:51 PM
The Prime Minister rises to the global political moment and gives a speech of intelligence, insight and gravity.
Unfortunately for Britain, it's a different Prime Minister.
Unfortunately for Britain, it's a different Prime Minister.
Reposted by Howell Harris
Keir Starmer has lost @ianleslie.bsky.social spectator.com/article/keir...
January 18, 2026 at 10:41 AM
Keir Starmer has lost @ianleslie.bsky.social spectator.com/article/keir...
Reposted by Howell Harris
In May 1945, Donald P Trumpf acknowledges receipt of the Peace Prize for Germany.
January 17, 2026 at 6:23 PM
In May 1945, Donald P Trumpf acknowledges receipt of the Peace Prize for Germany.
Indeed. The worst people imaginable running the most important country in the world. Not a good combination.
The basic problem with the Trump administration isn't an ideological difference between "right" and "left". That's what they would like you to think.
The problem is that this is an administration where there are criminals in charge. All else flows from that, and nothing will patch the mayhem.
The problem is that this is an administration where there are criminals in charge. All else flows from that, and nothing will patch the mayhem.
January 17, 2026 at 4:45 PM
Indeed. The worst people imaginable running the most important country in the world. Not a good combination.
Reposted by Howell Harris
This photo was taken in 1911 using glass plate technology by Herbert Ponting who was part of Scott's Antarctic expedition,
The composition and detail are exquisite with the band of white snow/ice creating a perfect frame around the two people and the ship in the distance
Iconic imo
The composition and detail are exquisite with the band of white snow/ice creating a perfect frame around the two people and the ship in the distance
Iconic imo
January 17, 2026 at 7:12 AM
This photo was taken in 1911 using glass plate technology by Herbert Ponting who was part of Scott's Antarctic expedition,
The composition and detail are exquisite with the band of white snow/ice creating a perfect frame around the two people and the ship in the distance
Iconic imo
The composition and detail are exquisite with the band of white snow/ice creating a perfect frame around the two people and the ship in the distance
Iconic imo
Reposted by Howell Harris
Hoping for EITHER Farage to say no to the odious back-stabbing racist; OR Jenrick to say no to the odious back-stabbing racists.
But I reckon they’ll be able to find common ground.
But I reckon they’ll be able to find common ground.
January 15, 2026 at 1:08 PM
Hoping for EITHER Farage to say no to the odious back-stabbing racist; OR Jenrick to say no to the odious back-stabbing racists.
But I reckon they’ll be able to find common ground.
But I reckon they’ll be able to find common ground.
Reposted by Howell Harris
'Would I tell you a lie?'
'Yes you would, you spineless little scumbag!'
'Yes you would, you spineless little scumbag!'
January 15, 2026 at 1:15 PM
'Would I tell you a lie?'
'Yes you would, you spineless little scumbag!'
'Yes you would, you spineless little scumbag!'
Reposted by Howell Harris
Just another morning in the Twin Cities, keeping my eyes on the preschool parent signal chat to make sure none of my child’s classmates, their parents, or their teachers were kidnapped by the federal government in front of the school.
January 14, 2026 at 1:36 PM
Just another morning in the Twin Cities, keeping my eyes on the preschool parent signal chat to make sure none of my child’s classmates, their parents, or their teachers were kidnapped by the federal government in front of the school.
Reposted by Howell Harris
If the US invades Greenland and Denmark triggers Article 5 the US military should divvy up, half to do the invasion and half to defend against it #compromise
January 14, 2026 at 1:36 PM
If the US invades Greenland and Denmark triggers Article 5 the US military should divvy up, half to do the invasion and half to defend against it #compromise
Reposted by Howell Harris
Doing God's work with the new episode of Backlisted, knowing He is watching.
January 13, 2026 at 6:51 AM
Doing God's work with the new episode of Backlisted, knowing He is watching.
A very fresh story line.
At the rate we're going, Larry Ellison is going to have Paramount Pictures put out a prestige drama about the valiant officers who tracked down Anne Frank
January 12, 2026 at 7:59 PM
A very fresh story line.
Reposted by Howell Harris
He was doing his best to do his job, and the fact that he called a woman a fucking bitch shortly after he killed her should absolutely not, in any way, cast any doubt on this.
January 12, 2026 at 12:47 PM
He was doing his best to do his job, and the fact that he called a woman a fucking bitch shortly after he killed her should absolutely not, in any way, cast any doubt on this.
Reposted by Howell Harris
If you think of Trump as an absolute monarch, with no distinction between his personal wealth and power and that of the United States, things start to make a bit more sense. He's like a crap Louis XIV.
open.substack.com/pub/arthursn...
open.substack.com/pub/arthursn...
L'État, c'est moi
From Sun King to Spray-Tan King
open.substack.com
January 11, 2026 at 9:06 PM
If you think of Trump as an absolute monarch, with no distinction between his personal wealth and power and that of the United States, things start to make a bit more sense. He's like a crap Louis XIV.
open.substack.com/pub/arthursn...
open.substack.com/pub/arthursn...
Reposted by Howell Harris
Reposted by Howell Harris
Stephen Miller’s cousin 👇🏽
January 9, 2026 at 3:43 AM
Stephen Miller’s cousin 👇🏽
Reposted by Howell Harris
none of these headlines were necessary if the government had raised income tax, as most people expected and accepted was necessary.
instead, they showed their incompetence extends to economics as well as other policy areas. it's little comfort the political alternatives are worse still.
instead, they showed their incompetence extends to economics as well as other policy areas. it's little comfort the political alternatives are worse still.
January 9, 2026 at 5:18 AM
none of these headlines were necessary if the government had raised income tax, as most people expected and accepted was necessary.
instead, they showed their incompetence extends to economics as well as other policy areas. it's little comfort the political alternatives are worse still.
instead, they showed their incompetence extends to economics as well as other policy areas. it's little comfort the political alternatives are worse still.
Reposted by Howell Harris
So a CBS Evening News reporter actually did a pretty solid breakdown of the ICE murder video, talking to a former agent who details all the ways Ross messed up. And yet: It didn’t air on the actual show tonight. CBS did post it to YouTube—and it has nearly 800k views already youtu.be/6ywLEESFDu0?...
Retired ICE agent breaks down deadly Minneapolis shooting
YouTube video by CBS Evening News
youtu.be
January 9, 2026 at 7:04 AM
So a CBS Evening News reporter actually did a pretty solid breakdown of the ICE murder video, talking to a former agent who details all the ways Ross messed up. And yet: It didn’t air on the actual show tonight. CBS did post it to YouTube—and it has nearly 800k views already youtu.be/6ywLEESFDu0?...
@johnspringford.bsky.social you may enjoy these charts. I'm a record-keeper by habit, including of motoring costs over the last 20 years of the War on the Motorist. As you can see, fuel costs (c. 6,000 miles p.a.) are a relatively small % of total; &, in real terms my costs have declined by 1/4-1/3.
January 7, 2026 at 11:42 AM
@johnspringford.bsky.social you may enjoy these charts. I'm a record-keeper by habit, including of motoring costs over the last 20 years of the War on the Motorist. As you can see, fuel costs (c. 6,000 miles p.a.) are a relatively small % of total; &, in real terms my costs have declined by 1/4-1/3.
Reposted by Howell Harris
I just want people to remember that what this was was transparently obvious at the time and universally condemned. Hold on to that fact and don't let people change it under you.
January 6, 2026 at 7:17 AM
I just want people to remember that what this was was transparently obvious at the time and universally condemned. Hold on to that fact and don't let people change it under you.
Reposted by Howell Harris
A nice crazy start to the year for FCDO weekend duty rota staff
January 3, 2026 at 2:08 PM
A nice crazy start to the year for FCDO weekend duty rota staff
Reposted by Howell Harris
January 1, 2026 at 11:32 PM