John Bull
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garius.bsky.social
John Bull
@garius.bsky.social
29K followers 1.1K following 24K posts
He/Him. Author. Historian (inc of obscure Military Holy Orders). Strategy streamer. Tech/Transport Strategist. Editor of @lonrec. Orient fan. Business/Writing: [email protected]. 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.
garius.bsky.social
Me: why does that name seem famili-

Ohhhhhh wait the guty who kept stealing my threads across multiple platforms. Then got angry when he got publicly called out for it and claimed he was "doing me a favour". Yeah fuck that guy. 😆
clancyny.bsky.social Eileen Clancy 🧿 @clancyny.bsky.social · 8h
If you have a LARGE follower count, pls know that Scott Horton is a chronic thief of posts. He also gets things very wrong and won't take posts down. No matter how nicely you ask.

Please unfollow him and do not repost.

Although he steals everything, Horton was recently verified by Bluesky.
fendersonia.bsky.social Rev. Deral "FreeLink" Fenderson @fendersonia.bsky.social · 5d
Check the words. Check the time stamps.

Fucking clown shit.
February 8, 2026 at 1:47 AM
garius.bsky.social
"Transformation"
marisakabas.bsky.social Marisa Kabas @marisakabas.bsky.social · 10h
Breaking — Will Lewis out at the Washington Post. He just sent this email to staff (shared with me by staffer):
All - after two years of transformation at The Washington Post, now is the right time for me to step aside. I want to thank Jeff Bezos for his support and leadership throughout my tenure as CEO and Publisher. The institution could not have a better owner. During my tenure, difficult decisions have been taken in order to ensure the sustainable future of The Post so it can for many years ahead publish high-quality nonpartisan news to millions of customers each day. With gratitude, Will
February 8, 2026 at 1:43 AM
garius.bsky.social
I assumed this was a comedy sketch at forst but no? Apparently not. Blink 1939 i guess.
birdrespecter.bsky.social Mr. Friendship @birdrespecter.bsky.social · 8h
Now that being a pedophile is openly accepted on the right, MAGA rappers are switching to pop punk
February 8, 2026 at 1:41 AM
garius.bsky.social
The winner of tonight's battle for the #fluffyFort is...
Black kitty curled up sleeping in a fluffy donut
February 8, 2026 at 12:34 AM
Reposted by John Bull
kendrawcandraw.bsky.social
I've been working on this book for four years and it kicks ass imo! It is coming out July 2026 so gird your fucking loins. I tried to do a money spread with the pages and it didn't work
Selfie of the author holding up a big ass stack of paper (physical proof of Real Hero Shit Harder Than It Looks) next to their head for scale
February 6, 2026 at 5:57 PM
Reposted by John Bull
dansinker.com
at this point when someone gets on substack I just assume that they know and don't care.
February 7, 2026 at 5:12 PM
Reposted by John Bull
devinheroux.bsky.social
So wonderful to see the raw emotion from Valerie Maltais as she receives her bronze medal.

At her fifth Olympics, 16 years after her debut, she wins her first individual medal.

What a moment for her.
February 7, 2026 at 4:41 PM
garius.bsky.social
That is a morning of basing complete.
20 small minis on a cutting mat, all with painted and textured bases.
February 7, 2026 at 12:55 PM
Reposted by John Bull
chthonicionic.bsky.social
After that program was made he added a larger scale railway that went right past the back of the house. This is me, petrified, driving one of his engines
Me a long long time ago at the helm of a steam train leaving the station outside Bob Symes house. My dad is sat behind me helping. This was, I think, my dad’s 65th birthday party
February 7, 2026 at 12:04 PM
Reposted by John Bull
garius.bsky.social
NERD CHALLENGE!

Name the man, AND the episode he's working on #doctorWho #whovians
a man with proper seventies hair working on models for a dr who episode.
February 7, 2026 at 10:48 AM
Reposted by John Bull
garius.bsky.social
#lifeGoals
Bob Symes riding a small steam train in his garden
February 7, 2026 at 10:32 AM
Reposted by John Bull
garius.bsky.social
"there was no autism in my day" etc. etc.
bob symes perched next to his model railway controlling it with a radio controller
February 7, 2026 at 10:30 AM
Reposted by John Bull
garius.bsky.social
Find someone who looks at you the way Bob Symes looks at a see-saw signal.
bob symes, looking imperiously beardy, gazing lovingly at model railways furniture.
February 7, 2026 at 10:28 AM
Reposted by John Bull
garius.bsky.social
"This is an MG from 1947. I had a car like this, and I wish I still had it. Unfortunately I wrote mine off at Silverstone, some time ago."

Bob Symes. Absolute boss.

Immediately after this, he fucks off behind the country house to play with radio controlled cars.
Robert Symes, looking every inch the affable old English gentlement, by a bright red 1940s convertable sports car.
February 7, 2026 at 10:18 AM
garius.bsky.social
Your Saturday viewing.
1979: The Model World of Robert Symes | BBC Archive
YouTube video by BBC Archive
www.youtube.com
February 7, 2026 at 9:58 AM
garius.bsky.social
Roll to detect traps
Long staircase that may or may not have a tortie on it
February 7, 2026 at 9:51 AM
Reposted by John Bull
eicathomefinn.bsky.social
And more on the collaboration with the Glasgow School of Art research and digital reconstruction here. #Skystorians
February 7, 2026 at 8:58 AM
garius.bsky.social
Napoleon's two white toes. Happy #caturday
Black kitty's legs, with two very white toes.
February 7, 2026 at 9:32 AM
garius.bsky.social
He looks like a man about to offer more of a comment than a question
worldsofdrwho.bsky.social The Amazing Worlds of Doctor Who @worldsofdrwho.bsky.social · 1d
"The Master" c/o the 1971 Kellogg's Sugar Smacks "Doctor Who" badge promotion. #DoctorWho
February 7, 2026 at 9:28 AM
Reposted by John Bull
abadonx13.bsky.social
Be sure to watch the very first @mysterywrestling.bsky.social where I take on @cecilnyx.bsky.social

youtu.be/2JVVP7OBzwc?...
FULL EVENT: Mystery Wrestling 1 | Falls Count Anywhere, Grayson vs. Angels, Wheeler Yuta, Abadon
YouTube video by Evil Uno presents Mystery Wrestling
youtu.be
February 6, 2026 at 5:49 PM
Reposted by John Bull
dinahrose.bsky.social
A big crowd gathering in the Magdalen auditorium for our Lord of the Rings marathon. All three movies, extended versions, with hobbit meals and a special.mystery guest...
Real sense of anticipation.
Not sure how I'll feel by 10pm.
Crowd in an auditoroum. Theres a buzz of conversation.
February 7, 2026 at 8:20 AM
garius.bsky.social
A note for fellow Londoners: this stuff is great, and Ork's Nest often stocks it if you like giving your money to physical stores.
February 7, 2026 at 9:08 AM
Reposted by John Bull
jerijerod14.bsky.social
If you are still following my Naval attacks in the Dardanelles series here is the next part…

jerijerod14.substack.com/p/send-in-th...

The first landings of the Royal Marines and how well that went.

#ww1 #history #navalhistory
Send in the Marines
The Dardanelles attacks of 4-5 March
jerijerod14.substack.com
February 7, 2026 at 8:55 AM
garius.bsky.social
Was going to stay in bed all day but then remembered there's a cold slice of takeaway pizza in the fridge.
February 7, 2026 at 9:05 AM
garius.bsky.social
To be fair, Fan Thomas is a londoner and to us everything outside the M25 is either The North, Peterborough or Wales.

Bath would fall into the Wales category.
February 7, 2026 at 9:01 AM