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Jonathan Bromley

@bromleyj.bsky.social

95 followers 230 following 1K posts

Lapsed physicist, retired nerd, choral music fanboy, drools over wilderness landscapes. Prone to extreme grumpiness in the presence of scientific illiteracy. Husband and fond supporter of a stellar Parkinson's advocate.

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Jonathan Bromley @bromleyj.bsky.social · 6h

Maybe just one or two numbers, to please your many fans in the sciencey-nerd community?

Me being serious for a moment: I look at all those little miniature flying robots, and wonder just for a moment how one might engineer - build - such a thing, and then my brain says "too hard" and switches off.

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Jonathan Bromley @bromleyj.bsky.social · 6h

If you can promise me it contains some serious stuff on the energy budgets of flying insects, I'll buy a copy of your Flight book right now. That anything[*] so small can do so much on so little is surely one of evolution's greatest marvels.

[*] Insects, not your book, obvs.

Jonathan Bromley @bromleyj.bsky.social · 6h

For the same reason that I struggle to get legitimate emails (from our Parkinson's group website) delivered to Apple email users, viz: Apple"s software is absurdly opinionated and offensively self-satisfied.

Sorry, Apple people. You won't budge me on this.

Jonathan Bromley @bromleyj.bsky.social · 6h

Unsolicited wick pic.

A tea light (votive candle), its wick aflame.

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Jonathan Bromley @bromleyj.bsky.social · 16h

what, has he taken his clothes off again?

Jonathan Bromley @bromleyj.bsky.social · 19h

'Sahel of a bad joke.

Jonathan Bromley @bromleyj.bsky.social · 22h

It is Prime real estate, obviously.

Jonathan Bromley @bromleyj.bsky.social · 1d

Ferocious infusion?

[Context: I'm scarred for life because 50 years ago I saw a sign at a scrap metal dealer in Birmingham offering "non-ferrocious metals"]

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Jonathan Bromley @bromleyj.bsky.social · 1d

May I suggest that you rename your lab "Department of War"? That should drum up some interest.

Jonathan Bromley @bromleyj.bsky.social · 1d

Bloody hell. How do they think you pronounce the first monastic office of the day? And what about those death-trap Swedish paraffin-and-meths-powered camping stoves?

Someone, somewhere, is taking the mickey.

Jonathan Bromley @bromleyj.bsky.social · 1d

Jonathan Bromley @bromleyj.bsky.social · 2d

He's innocent and I have convincing evidence. At the scene there was some dough, fermenting because of the mouldy jar cover beneath - proving it was done by a different musty lid.

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Jonathan Bromley @bromleyj.bsky.social · 2d

Please join me in celebrating the fifth anniversary of this, perhaps the finest piece of multi-tracking to come out of Covid.

Sadly @samaracello has not made the move here (she's on Insta and X).

youtu.be/TQgjFlmuNaM

Thomas The Tank Engine for 7 Cellos (and percussion...)

YouTube video by Samara Ginsberg

youtu.be

Jonathan Bromley @bromleyj.bsky.social · 2d

Wytham (village near Oxford). Pronounced "White-um", or if you're a true Oxfordshire native, something like "Woytm".

Merriam-Webster @merriam-webster.com · 2d

What’s the word where you’re from that, when pronounced exactly as it looks, identifies a tourist immediately?

Jonathan Bromley @bromleyj.bsky.social · 2d

I have SO many questions about alternative use cases for cassock-concealed bottles. Not sure the flip-top lid offers sufficient versatility.

Jonathan Bromley @bromleyj.bsky.social · 2d

Bouncer at the masochists' night club:
- Show me your credentials.

Customer:
- I follow Paul Eggleston.

Bouncer:
- no worries mate, you're in.

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Jonathan Bromley @bromleyj.bsky.social · 2d

You could perhaps point out that she cancelled Wednesday, which makes it harder to find staff on duty. On the other hand, perhaps you prefer most of your skin to remain intact.

Jonathan Bromley @bromleyj.bsky.social · 3d

Looks like there's a REALLY BIG magnet behind that guy.

Jonathan Bromley @bromleyj.bsky.social · 3d

This. It wasn't as lively or rewarding as Nerdy Usenet, though. (Usenet, Grandpa?)

Jonathan Bromley @bromleyj.bsky.social · 3d

The Frideswide legend is so gloriously badass.

Take that, Algar, you randy bastard! Gives a whole new meaning to the schoolyard insult "makes you go blind!"

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Jonathan Bromley @bromleyj.bsky.social · 3d

Please let it all be true!

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Jonathan Bromley @bromleyj.bsky.social · 3d

I'm the addressee. It was sent by an eBay vendor, and RM tracking records the fact that he dropped it off on Sunday morning at a parcel shop, only a few hours after I paid for it. No news since.

Our local posties are great, and I'm sure I will get it safely as soon as it's loaded on their van...

Jonathan Bromley @bromleyj.bsky.social · 3d

I love it! Shame they couldn't find an inflatable giant kitten for the anniversary.

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Jonathan Bromley @bromleyj.bsky.social · 3d

Sigh.

It would appear that Royal Mail's service "Tracked 48" is a reference to how many days it will take to arrive. No sign of life from RM tracking, more than 2 working days after it was posted.

I know RM is not the only sub-par delivery service (will the real Evri please stand up?) but...

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Jonathan Bromley @bromleyj.bsky.social · 3d

I hope someone somewhere is compiling the LOFO[*] Hall of Shame so that future historians can chart the atrophy and ultimate collapse of our society's cultural life.

[*] Lev's Oh Fuck Off.

Lev Parikian @levparikian.bsky.social · 3d

Oh fuck off

Badenoch: Curb students taking 'rip-off' degrees such as English
The performing arts, sociology and anthropology are among the subjects the Conservatives would like to cut