R(obert). J. Nello 👊🏻🇺🇸🔥
@rjnello.bsky.social
“Walter Scott has no business to write novels, especially good ones. It is not fair.” ~ Jane Austen, 1814. #5amWritersClub #writingcommunity
rjnello.com
Devon, England.
rjnello.com
Devon, England.
1/7 “Perhaps you flatter yourself they may come to America?"
That is from an autumn 1786 letter 43-year-old widower (of four years) Thomas Jefferson wrote from Paris to a married 27-year-old Anglo-Italian (Italian was her first language; her English had an Italian accent) who was home in London…
That is from an autumn 1786 letter 43-year-old widower (of four years) Thomas Jefferson wrote from Paris to a married 27-year-old Anglo-Italian (Italian was her first language; her English had an Italian accent) who was home in London…
December 12, 2025 at 8:54 AM
1/7 “Perhaps you flatter yourself they may come to America?"
That is from an autumn 1786 letter 43-year-old widower (of four years) Thomas Jefferson wrote from Paris to a married 27-year-old Anglo-Italian (Italian was her first language; her English had an Italian accent) who was home in London…
That is from an autumn 1786 letter 43-year-old widower (of four years) Thomas Jefferson wrote from Paris to a married 27-year-old Anglo-Italian (Italian was her first language; her English had an Italian accent) who was home in London…
“The Roses” wasn’t really one. Regardless, I don’t get why they just didn’t set the story here in #Devon where most was filmed - such as in #Salcombe, and down the road from us on #BlackpoolSands (pic from September) - instead of trying to pass off those English locations as California? Huh?:
December 8, 2025 at 9:14 AM
“The Roses” wasn’t really one. Regardless, I don’t get why they just didn’t set the story here in #Devon where most was filmed - such as in #Salcombe, and down the road from us on #BlackpoolSands (pic from September) - instead of trying to pass off those English locations as California? Huh?:
It is raining (again) here this morning.🌧️🤪🇬🇧 So here’s a moment of *dry* tranquility: Pausing during a cycle ride, not far from Mont Saint-Michel, France, back on September 9.🇫🇷
December 7, 2025 at 9:05 AM
It is raining (again) here this morning.🌧️🤪🇬🇧 So here’s a moment of *dry* tranquility: Pausing during a cycle ride, not far from Mont Saint-Michel, France, back on September 9.🇫🇷
A Trump-supporting relative dismissively once asked what news I watched [as it had to be “biased”]. I replied I see his “policies,” and read/listen to the bigoted, illiterate, deranged, criminal, and unpresidential, s-it coming from his mouth. Unfiltered, that told me all I needed to know about him.
December 7, 2025 at 8:03 AM
A Trump-supporting relative dismissively once asked what news I watched [as it had to be “biased”]. I replied I see his “policies,” and read/listen to the bigoted, illiterate, deranged, criminal, and unpresidential, s-it coming from his mouth. Unfiltered, that told me all I needed to know about him.
Their morale is low working for this nodding ass of a “Secretary”? Surely not?:
December 4, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Their morale is low working for this nodding ass of a “Secretary”? Surely not?:
Never before have we seen what State is being turned into under felonious idiot narcissist fascist Trump.
And shameless suck up Rubio is doing his worst to earn the title of “worst Secretary ever.”
The vast majority of career foreign service people have to want to die from sheer embarrassment.
And shameless suck up Rubio is doing his worst to earn the title of “worst Secretary ever.”
The vast majority of career foreign service people have to want to die from sheer embarrassment.
December 4, 2025 at 8:55 AM
Never before have we seen what State is being turned into under felonious idiot narcissist fascist Trump.
And shameless suck up Rubio is doing his worst to earn the title of “worst Secretary ever.”
The vast majority of career foreign service people have to want to die from sheer embarrassment.
And shameless suck up Rubio is doing his worst to earn the title of “worst Secretary ever.”
The vast majority of career foreign service people have to want to die from sheer embarrassment.
Back in 1787-88, some of the founders foresaw this very thing. George Mason would almost certainly not be shocked by the felonious Trump’s corrupt misuse of pardons. Mason writes here in objecting to the presidential pardon power:
November 29, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Back in 1787-88, some of the founders foresaw this very thing. George Mason would almost certainly not be shocked by the felonious Trump’s corrupt misuse of pardons. Mason writes here in objecting to the presidential pardon power:
*Harbor in Honfleur, September 2025.
*iPhone pic by me.😁
*iPhone pic by me.😁
November 27, 2025 at 5:14 PM
*Harbor in Honfleur, September 2025.
*iPhone pic by me.😁
*iPhone pic by me.😁
Trump wouldn’t have been a “loyalist.” English Canada was founded by US refugee “loyalists” after 1783 and now he wants to conquer it. Thus why Canadians hate him.
He’s “loyal” only to money. If he’d been in NY in 1776, he’d have been a “merchant” angling to sell crappy war supplies to both sides.
He’s “loyal” only to money. If he’d been in NY in 1776, he’d have been a “merchant” angling to sell crappy war supplies to both sides.
November 22, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Trump wouldn’t have been a “loyalist.” English Canada was founded by US refugee “loyalists” after 1783 and now he wants to conquer it. Thus why Canadians hate him.
He’s “loyal” only to money. If he’d been in NY in 1776, he’d have been a “merchant” angling to sell crappy war supplies to both sides.
He’s “loyal” only to money. If he’d been in NY in 1776, he’d have been a “merchant” angling to sell crappy war supplies to both sides.
On the beach here in Florida, reading a history particularly covering British and Canadian contributions to 1944’s anti-fascist (antifa) Allied invasion of Normandy, which eventually led to the ousting of the fascist occupiers of France and Northwest Europe:
November 21, 2025 at 8:16 PM
On the beach here in Florida, reading a history particularly covering British and Canadian contributions to 1944’s anti-fascist (antifa) Allied invasion of Normandy, which eventually led to the ousting of the fascist occupiers of France and Northwest Europe:
Taking off from Norman Manley Airport, Kingston, Jamaica, about 7:30 this morning. A lovely airport: No paying just to drop-off; smiling (even at 5:30am) staff checking you in; everyone wishing you a “safe journey”; and a terminal so clean it is stunning. A step back in time to when flying was fun.
November 17, 2025 at 11:57 PM
Taking off from Norman Manley Airport, Kingston, Jamaica, about 7:30 this morning. A lovely airport: No paying just to drop-off; smiling (even at 5:30am) staff checking you in; everyone wishing you a “safe journey”; and a terminal so clean it is stunning. A step back in time to when flying was fun.
On our way to the U.S. to visit my dad, we’ve stopped here in Kingston, Jamaica for a few days to see our 30-year-old nephew who is serving here as a priest. Yesterday, he booked us all a tour of Bob Marley’s House and Museum. (We paid, of course.) Really impressive. (No photos are allowed inside.)
November 16, 2025 at 3:37 PM
On our way to the U.S. to visit my dad, we’ve stopped here in Kingston, Jamaica for a few days to see our 30-year-old nephew who is serving here as a priest. Yesterday, he booked us all a tour of Bob Marley’s House and Museum. (We paid, of course.) Really impressive. (No photos are allowed inside.)
For #VeteransDay, a general worth remembering: John J. Pershing, top commander of the U.S. army in Europe during (the U.S. participation in) World War I (1917-18). He sensed the armistice today - November 11, 1918 - was a “mistake”:
![An interesting except:
Pershing opposed the November 11 armistice. Smythe notes that Pershing believed that the Germans were beaten and that the Allies should in consequence insist on unconditional surrender. Some in Washington, including [Secretary of War] Baker, saw this as the opening shot in a bid for the Presidency in 1920 and it nearly got him into trouble with [President] Wilson who took the view, shared with other Allied leaders (Foch was another notable exception) that Germany should be given moderate armistice terms. Pershing believed that the Western armies would, as a result, have to return to Germany one day "to finish the job." In that he was prescient.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ixipfa6efyqxmlcwgz6fnmkw/bafkreibzejypf3owmr6vm6cxsa5vkz43ys36vgdrhaajyqmgu3lkpmtuxu@jpeg)
November 11, 2025 at 8:20 AM
For #VeteransDay, a general worth remembering: John J. Pershing, top commander of the U.S. army in Europe during (the U.S. participation in) World War I (1917-18). He sensed the armistice today - November 11, 1918 - was a “mistake”:
U.S. President Thomas Jefferson, writing to Edward Jenner, 1806:
November 6, 2025 at 7:06 AM
U.S. President Thomas Jefferson, writing to Edward Jenner, 1806:
A pic from Nov 1, 2024. My (now late) mom bought me this print 30 years ago. It has followed me from home to home (and between countries). Looking at it, I can only think the current “president” is exactly the sort of man NONE of these men wanted near high office. #5amWritersClub #WritingCommunity
November 1, 2025 at 8:56 AM
A pic from Nov 1, 2024. My (now late) mom bought me this print 30 years ago. It has followed me from home to home (and between countries). Looking at it, I can only think the current “president” is exactly the sort of man NONE of these men wanted near high office. #5amWritersClub #WritingCommunity
Presumably that would include this guy, too. #UlyssesSGrant
October 28, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Presumably that would include this guy, too. #UlyssesSGrant
My “favorite” remains his May 4 “Meet The Press” televised threat not to rule out attacking Denmark.
No president has ever threatened war on an ally. It is a clear violation of the 1949 NATO treaty and easily a “high Crime.” He should have been removed for that - if Congress functioned, of course.
No president has ever threatened war on an ally. It is a clear violation of the 1949 NATO treaty and easily a “high Crime.” He should have been removed for that - if Congress functioned, of course.
October 27, 2025 at 6:08 AM
My “favorite” remains his May 4 “Meet The Press” televised threat not to rule out attacking Denmark.
No president has ever threatened war on an ally. It is a clear violation of the 1949 NATO treaty and easily a “high Crime.” He should have been removed for that - if Congress functioned, of course.
No president has ever threatened war on an ally. It is a clear violation of the 1949 NATO treaty and easily a “high Crime.” He should have been removed for that - if Congress functioned, of course.
Pope Leo did the 10:30 Mass today in St Peter’s Square. We got there early (8:15), so got good seats to see him pass. My 4th pope in person.
Canadian guy behind us shouted playfully at him as he was driven by: “Chicago White Sox, yeah!”⚾️
No sign, though, from the Pope that he had heard that.😂
Canadian guy behind us shouted playfully at him as he was driven by: “Chicago White Sox, yeah!”⚾️
No sign, though, from the Pope that he had heard that.😂
October 12, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Pope Leo did the 10:30 Mass today in St Peter’s Square. We got there early (8:15), so got good seats to see him pass. My 4th pope in person.
Canadian guy behind us shouted playfully at him as he was driven by: “Chicago White Sox, yeah!”⚾️
No sign, though, from the Pope that he had heard that.😂
Canadian guy behind us shouted playfully at him as he was driven by: “Chicago White Sox, yeah!”⚾️
No sign, though, from the Pope that he had heard that.😂
Here in Rome, stumbled on this small roadside memorial yesterday near the Pyramid: Remembering the ANTI-FASCIST Allied liberators of the city, June 4, 1944… especially U.S. military:
October 10, 2025 at 5:30 AM
Here in Rome, stumbled on this small roadside memorial yesterday near the Pyramid: Remembering the ANTI-FASCIST Allied liberators of the city, June 4, 1944… especially U.S. military:
Made it. EasyJet from Bristol, yesterday. In Rome (for a week).
Just after 7am this morning. #Italy #buongiorno
Just after 7am this morning. #Italy #buongiorno
October 9, 2025 at 5:20 AM
Made it. EasyJet from Bristol, yesterday. In Rome (for a week).
Just after 7am this morning. #Italy #buongiorno
Just after 7am this morning. #Italy #buongiorno
I blocked the guy at the bottom because of that “take.” If something reflects your opinion, but is openly and falsely attributed to someone who did not say it, at least remove their name(s) before sharing it. We have enough trouble already with fake s-it coming from the US president himself.
October 4, 2025 at 11:14 AM
I blocked the guy at the bottom because of that “take.” If something reflects your opinion, but is openly and falsely attributed to someone who did not say it, at least remove their name(s) before sharing it. We have enough trouble already with fake s-it coming from the US president himself.
Back on October 4, 2023, at Runnymede, in Windsor, at the site of the 1215 “Magna Carta” meeting. Here King John agreed to barons’ demands for a “charter of liberties.” It is now known as the field where “rule of law” was born…
October 4, 2025 at 6:57 AM
Back on October 4, 2023, at Runnymede, in Windsor, at the site of the 1215 “Magna Carta” meeting. Here King John agreed to barons’ demands for a “charter of liberties.” It is now known as the field where “rule of law” was born…
A moment before Monday hits: On Haytor, Dartmoor, Sunday afternoon:
September 29, 2025 at 5:34 AM
A moment before Monday hits: On Haytor, Dartmoor, Sunday afternoon:
#5amWritersClub #WritingCommunity Thinking about some recent “writing advice” I had seen thrown at someone online by a “critic,” I recalled this from an old blog post (2019). How might online “writing experts” similarly now “critique” this paragraph below?: rjnello.com/2019/08/20/t...
September 26, 2025 at 6:16 AM
#5amWritersClub #WritingCommunity Thinking about some recent “writing advice” I had seen thrown at someone online by a “critic,” I recalled this from an old blog post (2019). How might online “writing experts” similarly now “critique” this paragraph below?: rjnello.com/2019/08/20/t...