Chris Smith
@spyhistorian.bsky.social
Historian. Spies, signals intelligence, Second World War. Social and Cultural history. History of humour. Insults = 🚫
*sigh*. I don't see why you struggle to find this difficult to follow. Perhaps you would better follow it via a graph? Perhaps finger painting?
November 21, 2025 at 12:13 PM
*sigh*. I don't see why you struggle to find this difficult to follow. Perhaps you would better follow it via a graph? Perhaps finger painting?
That is not what the Nazis did, though, is it?
November 17, 2025 at 9:32 AM
That is not what the Nazis did, though, is it?
This part specifically (below). I don't think people like Thiel or even Musk, with his Nazi salutes and Nazi promoting platform and AI, fit under the Nazi label. But they are a part of the same "family" or genus of ideologies.
November 13, 2025 at 1:40 PM
This part specifically (below). I don't think people like Thiel or even Musk, with his Nazi salutes and Nazi promoting platform and AI, fit under the Nazi label. But they are a part of the same "family" or genus of ideologies.
I see the $1bn legal threat has put the frighteners on the BBC. This headline is very weak.
November 12, 2025 at 7:03 PM
I see the $1bn legal threat has put the frighteners on the BBC. This headline is very weak.
November 6, 2025 at 7:59 PM
How does she know he wasn't wearing this?
November 5, 2025 at 8:58 PM
How does she know he wasn't wearing this?
The ceasefire is fragile, is it? Err...
October 29, 2025 at 2:55 PM
The ceasefire is fragile, is it? Err...
Be sexy and respect the fallen.
October 27, 2025 at 3:53 AM
Be sexy and respect the fallen.
True story: I chatted about a book idea with a mate in a pub, we decided it was a good idea while drunk. I wrote a really badly penned email to the publisher while still drunk. They got back and said they loved it, could I write a proposal?
I didn't get round to it, they sent me a contract anyway.
I didn't get round to it, they sent me a contract anyway.
October 17, 2025 at 10:14 AM
True story: I chatted about a book idea with a mate in a pub, we decided it was a good idea while drunk. I wrote a really badly penned email to the publisher while still drunk. They got back and said they loved it, could I write a proposal?
I didn't get round to it, they sent me a contract anyway.
I didn't get round to it, they sent me a contract anyway.
Excellent. Missing from your discussion of codebreaking is the tech developed in that, but also in codemaking. Tech in both arenas absolutely outclassed the Axis at the higher grade. From 1940, variants of Enigma was routinely broken. SIGABA and Typex were not. The SZ42 led to Colossus computers.
October 17, 2025 at 5:53 AM
Excellent. Missing from your discussion of codebreaking is the tech developed in that, but also in codemaking. Tech in both arenas absolutely outclassed the Axis at the higher grade. From 1940, variants of Enigma was routinely broken. SIGABA and Typex were not. The SZ42 led to Colossus computers.
I know Reform doesn't do serious policy, but this is pathetic. This is for the local council elections. How exactly is a Reform council going to 'secure our borders'? Moreover, two of these policies, ending net zero subsidies and energy self-sufficiency, are mutually exclusive. Utterly unserious.
September 24, 2025 at 5:25 PM
I know Reform doesn't do serious policy, but this is pathetic. This is for the local council elections. How exactly is a Reform council going to 'secure our borders'? Moreover, two of these policies, ending net zero subsidies and energy self-sufficiency, are mutually exclusive. Utterly unserious.
Piers Morgan is a disgrace. He brought Andrew Tate on his ridiculous YouTube channel to spew lies about "left wing violence" being significantly worse than the right. The man is an alleged sex trafficking rapist! And he is brought on to spread misinformation about violence?
Facts:
Facts:
September 18, 2025 at 9:19 AM
Piers Morgan is a disgrace. He brought Andrew Tate on his ridiculous YouTube channel to spew lies about "left wing violence" being significantly worse than the right. The man is an alleged sex trafficking rapist! And he is brought on to spread misinformation about violence?
Facts:
Facts:
On holiday in Greece before term starts. I'm enjoying the frantic work emails about meetings I'm not going to, drinking beer far too early and reading @profgsheffield.bsky.social's excellent primer on the First World War. I'm planning a textbook myself, this is how it's done. Argumentative & crisp.
September 9, 2025 at 8:41 AM
On holiday in Greece before term starts. I'm enjoying the frantic work emails about meetings I'm not going to, drinking beer far too early and reading @profgsheffield.bsky.social's excellent primer on the First World War. I'm planning a textbook myself, this is how it's done. Argumentative & crisp.
In honour of you, Nemo: my not Cowl I'm dojng this evening (though there are leaks), in Aberystwyth. My partner disapproves.
September 1, 2025 at 6:34 PM
In honour of you, Nemo: my not Cowl I'm dojng this evening (though there are leaks), in Aberystwyth. My partner disapproves.
Does anyone take anything she says seriously? South Park captured just how unserious she is perfectly.
August 31, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Does anyone take anything she says seriously? South Park captured just how unserious she is perfectly.
I dunno, sexy stuff.
August 27, 2025 at 9:24 AM
I dunno, sexy stuff.
Why are politicians and journalists still on Xitter? It is absolutely dead, save actual Nazis and porn-bots. The tweets of John Rose, the weirdo Republican (who, aged 42, met a 17 year old high schooler and later married her) are a good example.
Xitter engagement vs Threads:
Xitter engagement vs Threads:
August 26, 2025 at 7:28 AM
Why are politicians and journalists still on Xitter? It is absolutely dead, save actual Nazis and porn-bots. The tweets of John Rose, the weirdo Republican (who, aged 42, met a 17 year old high schooler and later married her) are a good example.
Xitter engagement vs Threads:
Xitter engagement vs Threads:
@dorianlynskey.bsky.social and @iandunt.bsky.social's Origin Story pod on Enoch Powell (1969) put me onto The Rise of Enoch Powell by Paul Foot. Replace Powell and Sandys with Farage and Jenrick, and update the policies, and this spot-on criticism of 1960s Labour could perfectly apply in 2025.
August 25, 2025 at 11:24 AM
@dorianlynskey.bsky.social and @iandunt.bsky.social's Origin Story pod on Enoch Powell (1969) put me onto The Rise of Enoch Powell by Paul Foot. Replace Powell and Sandys with Farage and Jenrick, and update the policies, and this spot-on criticism of 1960s Labour could perfectly apply in 2025.
She aggravated the initial crime once she realised she was in trouble by stating that she would lie about it and her mental health to the police, and she has a long history of racist bile. From the sentencing:
August 23, 2025 at 11:16 AM
She aggravated the initial crime once she realised she was in trouble by stating that she would lie about it and her mental health to the police, and she has a long history of racist bile. From the sentencing:
I know that this always happens and has happened a lot recently, that victims of state violence are blamed. But I still couldn't help but gasp at this letter printed in Ohio's The Plain Dealer, 28 May 1970, commenting on a faculty statement on the Kent State Massacre earlier that month.
August 21, 2025 at 3:34 PM
I know that this always happens and has happened a lot recently, that victims of state violence are blamed. But I still couldn't help but gasp at this letter printed in Ohio's The Plain Dealer, 28 May 1970, commenting on a faculty statement on the Kent State Massacre earlier that month.
You write:
"all schools should bring in effective bans for all pupils on "un-Islamic activities" like dance classes."
What the MCB report actually states is a little less Mullar Omar:
"all schools should bring in effective bans for all pupils on "un-Islamic activities" like dance classes."
What the MCB report actually states is a little less Mullar Omar:
August 19, 2025 at 3:59 PM
You write:
"all schools should bring in effective bans for all pupils on "un-Islamic activities" like dance classes."
What the MCB report actually states is a little less Mullar Omar:
"all schools should bring in effective bans for all pupils on "un-Islamic activities" like dance classes."
What the MCB report actually states is a little less Mullar Omar:
I'm equally offended that Turing isn't required reading for classes about coding and that Bede isn't down for 21st-century US politics. Madness.
August 17, 2025 at 1:39 AM
I'm equally offended that Turing isn't required reading for classes about coding and that Bede isn't down for 21st-century US politics. Madness.
People on the other place are very upset that artificial butter is being made out of oxidised carbon and hydrogen to ultimately produce Triglycerides. This is a bit like being freaked out by the prospect of consuming sodium chloride (NaCl) or Malic Acid (C₄H₆O₅).
August 10, 2025 at 6:35 AM
People on the other place are very upset that artificial butter is being made out of oxidised carbon and hydrogen to ultimately produce Triglycerides. This is a bit like being freaked out by the prospect of consuming sodium chloride (NaCl) or Malic Acid (C₄H₆O₅).