David Jordan
@davidjair.bsky.social
King's College London. Director, Freeman Air & Space Institute; military historian prone to talking about aeroplanes. Lapsed pianist & hockey player. Views here entirely my own.
I don't think even the most partisan US serviceperson (or former-serviceperson) would claim this ever included drinking contests against British personnel - noting that the RN managed to kill Oliver Reed without sustaining any casualties themselves, which ought to serve as a warning...
November 11, 2025 at 8:57 PM
I don't think even the most partisan US serviceperson (or former-serviceperson) would claim this ever included drinking contests against British personnel - noting that the RN managed to kill Oliver Reed without sustaining any casualties themselves, which ought to serve as a warning...
One of course, fails to inform them that one's students, being sensible sorts, haven't fallen for the hype, but recognise that it can form a useful assistive tool in their studies alongside other methods (thus avoiding the hallucinated reference, plagiarism, etc, etc, etc). It can be done...
November 10, 2025 at 8:50 PM
One of course, fails to inform them that one's students, being sensible sorts, haven't fallen for the hype, but recognise that it can form a useful assistive tool in their studies alongside other methods (thus avoiding the hallucinated reference, plagiarism, etc, etc, etc). It can be done...
"To complete your 'training' on ladder safety, care with kettles, and the inadvisability of leaving nuclear warheads in my office; also responding to whole mailing list emails'
November 10, 2025 at 8:50 PM
"To complete your 'training' on ladder safety, care with kettles, and the inadvisability of leaving nuclear warheads in my office; also responding to whole mailing list emails'
That's a battlefield (aka 'bottlefield') tour. A Staff Ride has educational value, including 'make sure the bus monitor can count so that an RAF officer is not left at the V-Weapons site you have just visited as part of the Staff Ride and has to be rescued by friendly tourists'.
November 7, 2025 at 11:14 PM
That's a battlefield (aka 'bottlefield') tour. A Staff Ride has educational value, including 'make sure the bus monitor can count so that an RAF officer is not left at the V-Weapons site you have just visited as part of the Staff Ride and has to be rescued by friendly tourists'.
"Like the feather pillow, he bears the impress of the last to sit upon him"?
November 7, 2025 at 8:58 PM
"Like the feather pillow, he bears the impress of the last to sit upon him"?
Indeed - the first coffee house in England was established about 120 years before the Bostonians attempted a mass tea-brewing escapade in their harbour...
November 4, 2025 at 12:52 AM
Indeed - the first coffee house in England was established about 120 years before the Bostonians attempted a mass tea-brewing escapade in their harbour...
" Officials refused to comment on the veracity of multiple rumours that many troops had begin growing beards upon learning of the Secretary of Defense's impending visit in the hope of not being compelled to meet with him."
October 28, 2025 at 9:38 PM
" Officials refused to comment on the veracity of multiple rumours that many troops had begin growing beards upon learning of the Secretary of Defense's impending visit in the hope of not being compelled to meet with him."
The way things are going he'll declare that the conflict between Australia-Hungaroring and DSC Arminia Bielefeld has ended thanks to his efforts (unless one of his cabinet members takes a break from shooting domestic pets/pretending to be in SEAL Team 6 so as to coach him through the announcement).
October 23, 2025 at 9:50 PM
The way things are going he'll declare that the conflict between Australia-Hungaroring and DSC Arminia Bielefeld has ended thanks to his efforts (unless one of his cabinet members takes a break from shooting domestic pets/pretending to be in SEAL Team 6 so as to coach him through the announcement).
Oh, sorry to read this. Many condolences to you and your family.
October 23, 2025 at 9:22 PM
Oh, sorry to read this. Many condolences to you and your family.
Unlike the perpetrators of the Wormhoudt murders of course, the leader of those responsible for the massacre ended up being tried and getting a brief but distinctly terminal meeting with Albert Pierrepoint a few years after the war.
October 22, 2025 at 2:01 AM
Unlike the perpetrators of the Wormhoudt murders of course, the leader of those responsible for the massacre ended up being tried and getting a brief but distinctly terminal meeting with Albert Pierrepoint a few years after the war.
Less drastic than Æthelstan's (alleged) dealing with the problem of his troublesome younger brother....
October 20, 2025 at 8:47 PM
Less drastic than Æthelstan's (alleged) dealing with the problem of his troublesome younger brother....
Yes. The Posey War, the Crazy Fakir rebellion, 1933 and the 1940 South Elmsall Challenge Cup (7-6 penalty shoot out against Frickley Colliery Juniors).
(I may have made some of that up)
(I may have made some of that up)
October 5, 2025 at 10:08 PM
Yes. The Posey War, the Crazy Fakir rebellion, 1933 and the 1940 South Elmsall Challenge Cup (7-6 penalty shoot out against Frickley Colliery Juniors).
(I may have made some of that up)
(I may have made some of that up)
I suspect that you'd have to ask her that question on Twitter...
October 2, 2025 at 7:22 PM
I suspect that you'd have to ask her that question on Twitter...
As an aside, sadness of the case notwithstanding, I did like the 'file image of a dog's mouth' caption which must rank as one of the OM's greatest ever bits of lazy sub-editing...
September 30, 2025 at 12:29 PM
As an aside, sadness of the case notwithstanding, I did like the 'file image of a dog's mouth' caption which must rank as one of the OM's greatest ever bits of lazy sub-editing...
Must confess I may have put 2+2 together and made 9.17984, but hadn't thought that it'd be anyone else when I first saw it.
www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/1975859...
www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/1975859...
Sheepdog Beatrice 'attacked man in Oxford city centre'
Charges were dropped against a man accused of being in the control of a dangerous sheepdog called Beatrice.
www.oxfordmail.co.uk
September 30, 2025 at 12:24 PM
Must confess I may have put 2+2 together and made 9.17984, but hadn't thought that it'd be anyone else when I first saw it.
www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/1975859...
www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/1975859...
It was in that bastion of unimpeachable information the Oxford Mail (or one of the offshoots).
September 30, 2025 at 12:22 PM
It was in that bastion of unimpeachable information the Oxford Mail (or one of the offshoots).
About 4/5 years ago, he was charged with not controlling his dog after it bit a man, but the CPS presented no evidence on the grounds of his ill-health; it was said there was no realistic prospect of his recovering sufficiently to face the court.
September 30, 2025 at 12:14 PM
About 4/5 years ago, he was charged with not controlling his dog after it bit a man, but the CPS presented no evidence on the grounds of his ill-health; it was said there was no realistic prospect of his recovering sufficiently to face the court.
The full quote to Laski might've been even more of a killer...
“I can assure you there is widespread resentment in the Party at your activities and a period of silence on your part would be welcome.”
“I can assure you there is widespread resentment in the Party at your activities and a period of silence on your part would be welcome.”
September 29, 2025 at 7:17 PM
The full quote to Laski might've been even more of a killer...
“I can assure you there is widespread resentment in the Party at your activities and a period of silence on your part would be welcome.”
“I can assure you there is widespread resentment in the Party at your activities and a period of silence on your part would be welcome.”
The Unbearable Lightness of Being John Malkovich
September 29, 2025 at 7:07 PM
The Unbearable Lightness of Being John Malkovich
Could be another egregious failure to recognise Yes, Prime Minister was satire, not a 'how to' guide...
"If he fails, at least he's tried.
If he succeeds, he's a hero.
And if he doesn't come back, he won't be missed"
[From 'Bishop's Gambit' episode, YPM, Series 1]
"If he fails, at least he's tried.
If he succeeds, he's a hero.
And if he doesn't come back, he won't be missed"
[From 'Bishop's Gambit' episode, YPM, Series 1]
September 29, 2025 at 7:04 PM
Could be another egregious failure to recognise Yes, Prime Minister was satire, not a 'how to' guide...
"If he fails, at least he's tried.
If he succeeds, he's a hero.
And if he doesn't come back, he won't be missed"
[From 'Bishop's Gambit' episode, YPM, Series 1]
"If he fails, at least he's tried.
If he succeeds, he's a hero.
And if he doesn't come back, he won't be missed"
[From 'Bishop's Gambit' episode, YPM, Series 1]
Ahead of Beatrice Webb? Good heavens!
September 28, 2025 at 12:17 PM
Ahead of Beatrice Webb? Good heavens!
Clark started losing the room early & lost it a bit more after the story (quite possibly highly embellished) of playing FAC, using Predator feed to direct A-10s to attack a lone T-64 in a village & tying up a fair amount of airborne C4ISR in the process circulated...
September 27, 2025 at 9:46 PM
Clark started losing the room early & lost it a bit more after the story (quite possibly highly embellished) of playing FAC, using Predator feed to direct A-10s to attack a lone T-64 in a village & tying up a fair amount of airborne C4ISR in the process circulated...
If I may, also worth mentioning Clare Connor, his pilot; awarded an immediate DFC at the behest of Arthur Harris who, on seeing the Hampden, regarded it as a miracle he got the aircraft back. His aircraft damaged during a raid on 3 Nov 40 & ditched; he made it into his dinghy, but died of wounds.
September 15, 2025 at 8:13 PM
If I may, also worth mentioning Clare Connor, his pilot; awarded an immediate DFC at the behest of Arthur Harris who, on seeing the Hampden, regarded it as a miracle he got the aircraft back. His aircraft damaged during a raid on 3 Nov 40 & ditched; he made it into his dinghy, but died of wounds.
Having said that, it appears to have the .303 MG turret alongside the driver's compartment, which suggests A9 (one turret either side of the driver; the A13 didn't have these)
September 11, 2025 at 1:28 PM
Having said that, it appears to have the .303 MG turret alongside the driver's compartment, which suggests A9 (one turret either side of the driver; the A13 didn't have these)