John T
@jtatlife.bsky.social
Dutch consultant by day, interested in world history & British politics by night. Proud Hollander
This is one of those online guys isn't it?
October 3, 2025 at 10:48 AM
This is one of those online guys isn't it?
Sir Humphrey understood
September 21, 2025 at 9:56 AM
Sir Humphrey understood
Reminded of this from 'Serenity'
![The Operative: You know, in certain older civilized cultures, when men failed as entirely as you have, they would throw themselves on their swords.
Dr. Mathias: Well, unfortunately, I forgot to bring a sword.
Dr. Mathias: [as the Operative pulls out his sword] I would put that down right now if I were you.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:mgjiuyfjenwfwujvvgn35gch/bafkreifnad3occnelr6uv5zsxjb2gwngqg6bmobggrsojmrb2hmjj6xmza@jpeg)
September 9, 2025 at 11:03 AM
Reminded of this from 'Serenity'
Strongly reminded of this line by Douglas Adams regarding his version of the universal translator
September 1, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Strongly reminded of this line by Douglas Adams regarding his version of the universal translator
From little boys to big lads in 6 weeks of summer break!
August 14, 2025 at 6:32 AM
From little boys to big lads in 6 weeks of summer break!
Soviet methods - blunt & effective
August 12, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Soviet methods - blunt & effective
More generally Europe (inc the UK) has quickly stepped up to replace the aid of the US turncoats this year, which is not bad going
August 4, 2025 at 12:10 PM
More generally Europe (inc the UK) has quickly stepped up to replace the aid of the US turncoats this year, which is not bad going
But in good ways - I liked this story, apparently offered in a letter to the Spectator. Gentlemanly conduct:
June 17, 2025 at 8:48 AM
But in good ways - I liked this story, apparently offered in a letter to the Spectator. Gentlemanly conduct:
In Pratchett's Discworld golems are the only (surviving) atheists - being ceramic they can withstand the lightning bolts the gods use to smite down the other atheists...
June 15, 2025 at 12:12 PM
In Pratchett's Discworld golems are the only (surviving) atheists - being ceramic they can withstand the lightning bolts the gods use to smite down the other atheists...
Excited to learn how an 8-0 victory could be considered 'a stoppage-time thriller'
June 10, 2025 at 9:23 PM
Excited to learn how an 8-0 victory could be considered 'a stoppage-time thriller'
Based on this BBC piece both are basically true (you more so). Dutch men prefer average height women to short, and Dutch women (very) tall men to average, compared to Americans
June 6, 2025 at 1:48 PM
Based on this BBC piece both are basically true (you more so). Dutch men prefer average height women to short, and Dutch women (very) tall men to average, compared to Americans
Yep. *This* is a defensible city (if you pull some suburb down
May 13, 2025 at 11:24 AM
Yep. *This* is a defensible city (if you pull some suburb down
Almost as good as her “if was up to me you’d all be executed” look for the press corps a couple of years back.
Kid knows how to look regal!
Kid knows how to look regal!
May 5, 2025 at 9:03 PM
Almost as good as her “if was up to me you’d all be executed” look for the press corps a couple of years back.
Kid knows how to look regal!
Kid knows how to look regal!
Yes, you can see here that the NDP survived government but not Trump's attempt to make this thing a binary referendum on whether Canada should exist or not.
April 29, 2025 at 6:09 PM
Yes, you can see here that the NDP survived government but not Trump's attempt to make this thing a binary referendum on whether Canada should exist or not.
And given the table below the Mail are never going to stop ragging on the BBC even if it went full fash.
April 22, 2025 at 11:03 AM
And given the table below the Mail are never going to stop ragging on the BBC even if it went full fash.
You've probably seen this chart but when I worked in England I had it hanging outside my door to help fellow Europeans.
The Dutch, in particular, needed a lot of convincing that it was both funny and literally true
The Dutch, in particular, needed a lot of convincing that it was both funny and literally true
April 20, 2025 at 8:11 AM
You've probably seen this chart but when I worked in England I had it hanging outside my door to help fellow Europeans.
The Dutch, in particular, needed a lot of convincing that it was both funny and literally true
The Dutch, in particular, needed a lot of convincing that it was both funny and literally true
People always find our mess of clogs at the garden door funny but they're easy to slip on and off, and mud proof
March 24, 2025 at 10:12 AM
People always find our mess of clogs at the garden door funny but they're easy to slip on and off, and mud proof
As you can see French support was less strong than UK, Nordics & Poland,
March 8, 2025 at 11:22 AM
As you can see French support was less strong than UK, Nordics & Poland,
Right? *Logically* this ad works , I guess, but on an irrational level 'defend Western civilisation against the alien hordes' posters don't tend to feature black people as the goodies.
And 'Western civilisation against alien hordes' folk are usually not thinking very rationally
And 'Western civilisation against alien hordes' folk are usually not thinking very rationally
February 21, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Right? *Logically* this ad works , I guess, but on an irrational level 'defend Western civilisation against the alien hordes' posters don't tend to feature black people as the goodies.
And 'Western civilisation against alien hordes' folk are usually not thinking very rationally
And 'Western civilisation against alien hordes' folk are usually not thinking very rationally