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frank squarerig

@franksqrig.bsky.social
250 followers 200 following 769 posts

retired seafarer & naval aviator. Master square rigged sail training ships from 80 to 800 GT, now consultant & maritime historian. FLY NAVY

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David Roberts @volts.wtf · 05/10/2026
Holy shit.
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Stephen Graham @stephengraham.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
I had this bit about Jeffrey Archer from the 1995 HIGNFY video memorised for whenever I needed a handy fact about him.
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What's Going on With Shipping (Sal Mercogliano) @mercoglianos.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Tanker rates, already higher than most imagined possible, just spiked again 🚢US-Europe suezmax index jumped 150% w/w to $577,792 per day; West Africa-Europe suezmax index rose 145% w/w to $567,138 per day www.lloydslist.com/LL1158620/Ta...
lloydslist.com
Tanker rates, already higher than most imagined possible, just spiked again
Crude tanker markets hit a tipping point in mid-September, surging to a new level as more crude exited the Strait of Hormuz. Over the past three days, rates crossed another tipping point, spiking even higher due to the lagged global ‘cascade’ effect
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Andrew Harrison @nndroid.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Badenoch on #R4Today claiming the Tories’ problems started with the Coalition when they “had to make compromises” and were perceived as “not proper Conservatives”. Cameron/Osbourne absolutely steamrollered the Lib Dems, got all they wanted, and left Clegg &c. as patsies. What is she on?
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frank squarerig @franksqrig.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Last pint at "Still & West"
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frank squarerig @franksqrig.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Measure of how well allied shipbulding programme was going by then that such ships could be written off without serious operational impact
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Dewie @judgedewie.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
OMG I had to check my work emails regarding an extra case in court tomorrow and I've just read this from an HR person. "on a knee to nose basis" A KNEE TO NOSE BASIS 😳
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Nina Willburger @drnwillburger.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
😁
A single-panel cartoon by Wayno (dated 5-11-16) showing a traditional Russian nesting doll (matryoshka) standing at a ticket counter. The doll wears a red headscarf, a yellow dress with a red flower, and has rosy cheeks. Behind the counter, a skeptical ticket agent in a light blue shirt narrows her eyes at the doll and asks, “One ticket… Really?”
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Dan Snow @thehistoryguy.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Churchill specifically wanted ‘corkscrew’ thinkers. He believed that the Germans were too conventional, conservative. Too ‘straight’ Geoffrey Pyke. Prolific inventor. Very beardy and weird Turing. Code breaker. Gay. Dudley Clarke. Invented SAS. Bonkers. Cross dresser
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John T Kuehn @trost1864.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
A Marxist is someone who believes all history is predetermined by iron laws of economic theory and class warfare. A Communist is someone who believes that all property should belong to the state. A Socialist is a communist who ends up in a Gulag, eventually.
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Peter Whitewood @pwhitewood.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
‘Disgraced theology professor James Orr had a PhD student cover at least six of his lectures last year, allegedly without pay and against the Faculty of Divinity’s knowledge.’
varsity.co.uk
Orr’s lectures covered by a postgrad
James Orr had a postgrad cover approximately seven lectures, allegedly without the Divinity Faculty’s knowledge
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frank squarerig @franksqrig.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
All seems sensible
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Garth Marenghi's Catbus @catbus.phd · 30/09/2026
don't bother addressing a congregation unless you're in the baroque creature pulpit
Baroque pulpit ca. 1750, rebuilt 1856, Parish church in Dobroszów.

a fanciful scaled sculpture where the serpents open mouth serves as the pulpit
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Evergreen Intel @vcdgf555.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
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Heather M. Haley @heatherhaleyphd.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
⚓️It’s publication day!📕 Feeling deeply humbled that my research appears in Ed Marolda’s edited volume with John Hattendorf, Richard Mobley, and Norman Friedman—scholars whose work shaped my understanding of Navy history and strategy. Grateful for the chance to contribute to a field built by giants.
Book cover for COLD WAR STORM: the u.S. NAVY AT TGE FALL OF VIETNAM AND THE LOOMING SOVIET THREAT. The background features a dramatic, dark toned scene with USS Kirk (DE 1087) under heavy clouds. The overall design uses red tones to convey urgency and the geopolitical stakes.
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U.S. Naval Institute @usni.org · 29/09/2026
The only thing Hoser wanted was to be the best fighter pilot—and to teach others how to do it. www.usni.org/magazines/naval-histor…
usni.org
Remembering My Sea Daddies: 'Hoser' Joe Satrapa
The only thing Hoser wanted was to be the best fighter pilot—and to teach others how to do it.
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Bart⚓️ @bartgonnissen.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
1/19 Eleven years after a church picnic in New York killed a thousand people, a company picnic in Chicago killed 844 more. The ship never left the wharf. She rolled over while the band was playing, in twenty feet of water, six metres from the bank. The SS Eastland. A 🧵. #maritimehistory
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Ian Kikuchi @curatorian.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Idly noticing how many of our tech overlords can't actually be bothered to write their names.
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Ulrike Franke @rikefranke.eu · 28/09/2026
2 minutes later in my timeline bsky.app/profile/atom...
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Ulrike Franke @rikefranke.eu · 28/09/2026
Wow. Check out the European numbers on favourable views of the US versus favourable views of China….
Screenshot showing poll of how 36 countries see the US and China. Large majority has a more favourable view of China than the US including most European contries
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Cold War Conversations Podcast @coldwarpod.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
#OTD Sep 1957: A waste tank explodes at the secret Soviet Mayak plutonium complex. Radioactive material forms a 300km trail across the Urals; thousands are evacuated. Moscow hides the disaster for decades. environmentandsociety.org/arcadia/nuclea…
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Ulrike Franke @rikefranke.eu · 29/09/2026
“Estonian authorities have confirmed that the 15 August arson attack against the Estonian defence company Milrem Robotics in Tallinn was an act of sabotage ordered by Russian security services.” www.theguardian.com/world/live/2...
theguardian.com
Estonia says arson attack on ‘consistent with other acts of sabotage carried out in Europe on behalf of Russia’ - Europe live
Foreign minister summons Russia’s chargé d’affaires over attack on Milrem Robotics as security agency says incident was ‘deliberate and pre-planned’
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Prof Ben Pohl @benpohl.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
No integrity. No shame.
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Cold War Conversations Podcast @coldwarpod.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
#OTD 1983: Soviet computers report five US nuclear missiles inbound. Lt Col Stanislav Petrov judges the warning false—and is right. Satellites have mistaken sunlight on clouds for launches. At a perilous Cold War moment, human judgement may have prevented catastrophe.
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Ed Maibach @maibached.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Happy Stanislav Petrov Day He passed in 2017. As Encyclopedia Britannica puts it, “He is survived by his two children, two grandchildren, and the entire human race.” If you don't know his story, please take 3 minutes now to learn it. @gchalliance.bsky.social @docsforclimate.bsky.social
sammatey.substack.com
Happy Stanislav Petrov Day
Take five minutes to not destroy civilization
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Mark Urban @markurban.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
The USS Abraham Lincoln just arrived in Guam after more than 300 days deployed - a telling example of operational overstretch. In my latest Times Defence Decoded video I ask whether these ships have turned from a symbol of US might into one of its limitations www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTpr...
youtube.com
How America’s Aircraft Carrier Crisis Reveals A Military Decline
YouTube video by The Times
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Private Eye Magazine @privateeyenews.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Has the Royal Borough of Greenwich splashed taxpayers’ cash on a bid to silence a resident campaigning on building safety?
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Aaron Reichlin-Melnick @reichlinmelnick.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Incredible. First Secretary Mullin claimed that DHS had identified 15,903 noncitizens on Nevada’s voter roll. Then DHS officials told a skeptical Nevada, no no no, that’s just people we flagged. Here are the names of 185 people we KNOW aren’t citizens. All 185 were citizens. DHS got 100% wrong.
When the Department of Homeland Security sent Nevada a list of 185 names last month that it claimed identified noncitizens who had been improperly allowed to register to vote, state election officials got to work.
On Tuesday, the state sent a strongly worded rebuke to the federal government: Every single person on the list was a lawful citizen.
"As for the 185 individuals, our records indicate that they were citizens," Greg D. Ott, a deputy attorney general in Nevada, wrote, according to a copy of a letter sent to Department of Homeland Security officials obtained through open records requests.
"You have provided nothing of substance to suggest otherwise."Following the meeting, Ms. Vogt sent a clarifying email to Nevada officials. "I also wanted to be sure I clarified that we did not reduce the 15,903 to 185," she wrote. "We've manually reviewed some of the 15,903 and confirmed 185 are not U.S. Citizens."
Now, Nevada officials are saying even that 185 number is wrong. They also took issue with a letter D.H.S. sent them in early September, in which the agency reiterated its initial claims about nearly 16,000 noncitizens on the rolls and pressured state officials to review each case in a letter to Nevada officials in early September.
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Ian Kikuchi @curatorian.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Also today in 1916, Zeppelin L33 was forced down near Little Wigborough in Essex. As the airship descended to a forced landing the crew dumped this naval model MG08 machine gun overboard. It's now in the Imperial War Museum collection.
A German MG 08 machine gun on a table A plaque on the receiver of a machine gun reads '24.9.16 / Little Wigborough/ Top platform forward machine gun from captured Zeppelin L33'.
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Dr Gul Sen @guel-sen.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
He was the only admiral with a lion by his side! Source: Elizabeth Craven. A Journey Through the Crimea to Constantinople (London: G.G.J./J. Robinson, 1789), p. 209. E. Craven visited Istanbul, among others the grand admiral's residence in April and May 1786. #MaritimeHistory
"He is always accompanied by a lion, who follows him like a dog — The other day he suffered him to accompany him to the Divan, but the ministers were so terrified that some jumped out of the windows, one was near breaking his neck in flying down stairs, and the High Admiral and his lion were left to settle the councils of the day together." p. 209 from: Elizabeth Craven. A Journey Through the Crimea to Constantinople. In a Series of Letters from the Right Honourable Elizabeth Lady Craven, to His Serene Highness the Margrave of Brandebourg, Anspach, and Bareith by Elizabeth Craven, Baroness, 1750-1828 (London: G.G.J./J. Robinson, 1789)

MaritimeHistory
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Andy Arthur💃🏰⚓🦌 Threadinburgh 🧵 @threadinburgh.scot · 23/09/2026
In an environment of so many organisations turning to AI slop for their graphic design, *this* is how you do it. Be more cathedral. 🕍👏🏼
Advert from Edinburgh Minute: "Freelance graphic designer - 'St Mary's Episcopal Cathedral is searching for a freelance graphic designer to work with on a regular, long-term basis, for various print and digital media across the year (esp. summer and Christmas), including posters, flyers, and digital assets. "
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Bart⚓️ @bartgonnissen.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
21/x In a cemetery in Queens stands a monument over the mass grave of the unidentified dead. The last survivor, Adella Wotherspoon, was six months old that day and lost two sisters. She died in 2004, aged 100, one century after the fire.
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Prem Sikka @premnsikka.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
The Guardian joins the campaign to abolish the state pension triple-lock. Portrays it as a old v young, social security v defence spending issue. Silence on corporate welfare, tax perks of the rich, maldistribution of wealth, low govt spend on state pension, how future retirees will survive.
theguardian.com
Britain needs cash and everyone knows we should break the pensions triple lock. Where is the courage? | Gaby Hinsliff
The issue cannot be avoided any longer. Andy Burnham and his chancellor must face the fear of a pensioner backlash, and find a fair solution, says Guardian columnist Gaby Hinsliff
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John T Kuehn @trost1864.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
IF Putin doesn't like it, then it MUST be good... www.nytimes.com/2026/09/19/w...
nytimes.com
Russia Warns New U.S. Sanctions Law Would Harm Trump’s Peace Efforts
President Trump signed the legislation, named for Senator Lindsey Graham, at the White House, but he has broad leeway to waive its requirements.
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Samira Ahmed @samiraahmeduk.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
One of my Indian cousins connected to the Gurkhas, points out… “That is why there is a company (cohort of Gentlemen Cadets)in The Indian Military Academy(IMA), called Cassino Co..to remember those who lost their lives in th 2nd WW, at Cassino.” Many moving stories here www.cwgc.org/stories/stor...
cwgc.org
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Brian Dunn@briandunn.bsky.social‬ @briandunn.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
The least expensive gas on our main drag is $5.69 a gallon. The most expensive is $6.99 a gallon. Ain't gonna be driving much, if I can help it.
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Private Eye Magazine @privateeyenews.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Spencer vs Windsor From the Private Eye archive. Issue 933, September 1997.
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U.S. Naval Institute @usni.org · 19/09/2026
Rear Admiral Robert Krasner uses the 1898 Paquete Habana case and Lieutenant Commander William Bronaugh’s suicide to warn of moral injury when service members operate under uncertain legal authority. www.usni.org/magazines/naval-histor…
usni.org
A Warning Story for Our Times
Rear Admiral Robert Krasner uses the 1898 Paquete Habana case and Lieutenant Commander William Bronaugh’s suicide to warn of moral injury when service members operate under uncertain legal authority.
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James Cameron @jjjcameron.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Teaching people to analyze sources critically and independently of AI is important.
Norman Rockwell's Freedom of Speech.
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Erin L. Thompson @artcrimeprof.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
My full investigation is free to read (with a free registration) at www.himalmag.com/mary-slusser...
himalmag.com
Mary Slusser’s secret loot of Nepal’s sacred art and heritage
A US scholar made her name as an expert on Nepal’s cultural heritage – while illicitly buying sacred artefacts and smuggling them out to the United States
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Nina Baker @ninabake2.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
If ever there was a reason and example as to why building skills are survival skills, this must be it. Well done that man.
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frank squarerig @franksqrig.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Rogue state navy acts accordingly & then scores own goal🤣
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Hoodlum 🇺🇸 @nothoodlum.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
A CNN investigation reveals Russia likely provided crucial satellite information about U.S. bases, giving Tehran a major advantage in the war. And not a word from Senile Satan.
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Gerry Doyle @mgerrydoyle.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
however much you think the iran war is sapping u.s. military readiness, it's probably more than that. a free link for you, the people www.bloomberg.com/graphics/202...
bloomberg.com
The Iran Blockade’s Growing Price Tag Is Draining America’s Global Military Power
The cost of naval operations since the buildup began in January has topped $7.1 billion — not including all the US assets being used to escort tankers through the Strait of Hormuz.
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Laura Haynes👩‍🔬⚾️🐾💙 @drlaurahaynes.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Good morning 🌞 Is anyone interested?
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John T Kuehn @trost1864.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
The ball is now in Ras-Putin's court, this puts him on the spot...perhaps Trump and his two naive "diplomats" Kushner and Witkof will learn from this of Putin's disingenousness...although I doubt it...
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Helene von Bismarck @helenebismarck.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
I just finished reading this, and it really is jaw-dropping. Especially the chapters about Facebook’s relationship with China.
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Todd Kendall @alpinemigrant.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
@roberthutton.co.uk synthesis of Where Eagles and modern insanity; what's not to like?
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Jo Wolff @jowolff.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
The fallacy that University leaders pushing AI are falling into is thinking that the point of undergraduate research is to find things out. It isn't. What students find out is typically already generally known. The point of undergraduate research is to learn how to find things out.
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Erin L. Thompson @artcrimeprof.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Teaser reel for my big investigation, out tomorrow!
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