Adrian Bowyer
@adrianbowyer.bsky.social
No worthwhile human achievement has ever been instigated on the basis of demonstrable cost effectiveness.
https://adrianbowyer.com
📍Europe
https://adrianbowyer.com
📍Europe
Pinned
Most areas of human thought are wrong because they assume they're right. Science is mostly right because it assumes it is wrong.
Most ways of achieving things fail because they assume they'll work. Engineering mostly works because it assumes things will go wrong.
Most ways of achieving things fail because they assume they'll work. Engineering mostly works because it assumes things will go wrong.
Once, on Verona railway station, our daughter (13) and I were left struggling with a mountain of luggage while her mother went off with her camera to try to find (and possibly to bribe) two (dapper, Italian) gentlemen standing/to-stand under a sign saying "Verona"...
February 14, 2026 at 9:10 PM
Once, on Verona railway station, our daughter (13) and I were left struggling with a mountain of luggage while her mother went off with her camera to try to find (and possibly to bribe) two (dapper, Italian) gentlemen standing/to-stand under a sign saying "Verona"...
Reposted by Adrian Bowyer
if you're an older person who finds words like mogg and maxxing annoying, just starting using them. people over the age of 30 have the superpower to end trends by simply adopting them
February 14, 2026 at 1:50 AM
if you're an older person who finds words like mogg and maxxing annoying, just starting using them. people over the age of 30 have the superpower to end trends by simply adopting them
Reposted by Adrian Bowyer
In the UK 133,000 hectares of agricultural land is used for bioenergy crops. If it was instead used for solar panels it would produce one fifth of the country's total electricity requirement. The bioenergy gives about one fiftieth...
Next time someone asks you about energy and land use, maybe remind them that the ~35 million acres that currently grow corn for ethanol in the US could produce ~15 PWh per year of electricity from solar photovoltaics. That's ~3.5 times more than *total annual generation from all US power plants*.
February 2, 2026 at 12:24 AM
In the UK 133,000 hectares of agricultural land is used for bioenergy crops. If it was instead used for solar panels it would produce one fifth of the country's total electricity requirement. The bioenergy gives about one fiftieth...
Reposted by Adrian Bowyer
Looking for a barn owl box to put on a tree. They seem quite expensive.
My wife: Christ! This one's got a bloody garage!
My wife: Christ! This one's got a bloody garage!
February 8, 2026 at 12:25 PM
Looking for a barn owl box to put on a tree. They seem quite expensive.
My wife: Christ! This one's got a bloody garage!
My wife: Christ! This one's got a bloody garage!
Reposted by Adrian Bowyer
Today has been a lot
It is also the anniversary of my first date with my wife!
Who wants to hear the story of the most awkward first kiss EVER
It is also the anniversary of my first date with my wife!
Who wants to hear the story of the most awkward first kiss EVER
Schitts Creek GIF
Alt: Schitts Creek GIF where he says “so awkward and cringy”
media.tenor.com
February 5, 2025 at 12:02 AM
Today has been a lot
It is also the anniversary of my first date with my wife!
Who wants to hear the story of the most awkward first kiss EVER
It is also the anniversary of my first date with my wife!
Who wants to hear the story of the most awkward first kiss EVER
An American writes...
Wait, Mary Berry and Mary Beard are two different people?
February 13, 2026 at 11:22 PM
An American writes...
For some reason his agent didn't return the call...
John Lennon tried to get Hitler on the cover of Sgt. Pepper's. David Bowie wanted to make a film about Goebbels — and owned his desk.
A new book explores rock and roll’s long and complicated infatuation with Nazi Germany.
A new book explores rock and roll’s long and complicated infatuation with Nazi Germany.
One for the Money, Two for the Shoah - Truthdig
A new book explores rock and roll’s long and complicated infatuation with Nazi Germany.
www.truthdig.com
February 13, 2026 at 11:14 PM
For some reason his agent didn't return the call...
Reposted by Adrian Bowyer
In all this talk of best Heathcliff and best Cathy on screen, everyone seems to have forgotten Terry Jones and Carol Cleveland. www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIME...
Semaphore Version of Wuthering Heights
YouTube video by Kvetch Hell
www.youtube.com
February 13, 2026 at 10:50 PM
In all this talk of best Heathcliff and best Cathy on screen, everyone seems to have forgotten Terry Jones and Carol Cleveland. www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIME...
Reposted by Adrian Bowyer
looks like someone got a label maker for their birthday
February 13, 2026 at 8:58 PM
looks like someone got a label maker for their birthday
Seems to me that this is a very big opportunity for Europe, India and China to get ahead in the patenting race.
In terms of what cures are being lost:
- Epstein-Barr virus is perhaps the major trigger for multiple sclerosis
- herpes simplex virus causes cold sores, genital herpes, infections in babies, deadly meningitis
- shingles virus causes an intensely painful disease
- Epstein-Barr virus is perhaps the major trigger for multiple sclerosis
- herpes simplex virus causes cold sores, genital herpes, infections in babies, deadly meningitis
- shingles virus causes an intensely painful disease
February 13, 2026 at 8:55 PM
Seems to me that this is a very big opportunity for Europe, India and China to get ahead in the patenting race.
Now an AI that would take online streaming and other content an strip out ALL the ads is one I'd pay for.
Ad makers will never say the quiet part loud, but they increasingly know that we're unhappy and looking for solutions.
The Only Solution Capitalism Has Is to Sell Us More Useless Junk
Ad makers will never say the quiet part loud, but they increasingly know that we're unhappy and looking for solutions.
interc.pt
February 13, 2026 at 7:39 PM
Now an AI that would take online streaming and other content an strip out ALL the ads is one I'd pay for.
Years ago I knew (socially, not otherwise...) an Olympic swimmer. She told me that when they weren't actually competing all the athletes (inc. her...) basically spent all their time shagging...
Olympians ran out of Milan's complimentary condoms just three days into the competition.
Winter Olympians Run Through Free Condoms in Record Time
Despite a smaller athlete pool, they wasted no time ransacking the free stash.
trib.al
February 13, 2026 at 6:56 PM
Years ago I knew (socially, not otherwise...) an Olympic swimmer. She told me that when they weren't actually competing all the athletes (inc. her...) basically spent all their time shagging...
Reposted by Adrian Bowyer
27 years ago today, artist John Myatt was sentenced to a year in prison for conspiracy to defraud, after painting around 200 fake works, including Chagalls and Matisses over a period of eight years, which convinced buyers despite usually being rendered in household emulsion mixed with KY Jelly 🧵
February 13, 2026 at 9:22 AM
27 years ago today, artist John Myatt was sentenced to a year in prison for conspiracy to defraud, after painting around 200 fake works, including Chagalls and Matisses over a period of eight years, which convinced buyers despite usually being rendered in household emulsion mixed with KY Jelly 🧵
I think India and China cancel each other out, then there's everyone else...
Three out of four people worldwide consider themselves religious, but rates vary a lot across countries—
Most people in the world are religious. When asked whether they identify with any religion, three-quarters of respondents choose one.
Most people in the world are religious. When asked whether they identify with any religion, three-quarters of respondents choose one.
February 13, 2026 at 4:04 PM
I think India and China cancel each other out, then there's everyone else...
Reposted by Adrian Bowyer
Palestine Action's cofounder has won his legal challenge at the High Court against the group's proscription.
Important to note that – at least for the moment – that proscription *is still in force* as the Court hasn't lifted it. So you do still risk arrest etc if you post support of the group
Important to note that – at least for the moment – that proscription *is still in force* as the Court hasn't lifted it. So you do still risk arrest etc if you post support of the group
UK ban on Palestine Action unlawful, high court judges rule
Protest group’s co-founder wins legal challenge against decision to proscribe it under anti-terrorism laws
www.theguardian.com
February 13, 2026 at 10:24 AM
Palestine Action's cofounder has won his legal challenge at the High Court against the group's proscription.
Important to note that – at least for the moment – that proscription *is still in force* as the Court hasn't lifted it. So you do still risk arrest etc if you post support of the group
Important to note that – at least for the moment – that proscription *is still in force* as the Court hasn't lifted it. So you do still risk arrest etc if you post support of the group
Reposted by Adrian Bowyer
Don't touch this plant.
(This is what touching this plant looks like)
(This is what touching this plant looks like)
February 13, 2026 at 7:48 AM
Don't touch this plant.
(This is what touching this plant looks like)
(This is what touching this plant looks like)
Reposted by Adrian Bowyer
NUDE ELON MUSK: The invisible clothes I'm wearing are a product of xAthleisure, which will roll out self-dressing outfits within two years at the latest
THE CREDULOUS PRESS: Fully Clothed Tesla Innovator Does It Again
THE CREDULOUS PRESS: Fully Clothed Tesla Innovator Does It Again
February 12, 2026 at 7:10 PM
NUDE ELON MUSK: The invisible clothes I'm wearing are a product of xAthleisure, which will roll out self-dressing outfits within two years at the latest
THE CREDULOUS PRESS: Fully Clothed Tesla Innovator Does It Again
THE CREDULOUS PRESS: Fully Clothed Tesla Innovator Does It Again
Reposted by Adrian Bowyer
Today is the birthday of Charles Darwin, the discoverer of evolution by natural selection and perhaps the most influential scientist in history. Here is a brief reflection on his life, his contributions, and his amazing family.
Tom Kimmerer (@tomkimmerer)
Today we celebrate the birthday of Charles Darwin, who elucidated the mechanism of evolution by natural selection and wrote On The Origin of Species By Means of Natural Selection. All of modern biolog...
substack.com
February 12, 2026 at 3:56 PM
Today is the birthday of Charles Darwin, the discoverer of evolution by natural selection and perhaps the most influential scientist in history. Here is a brief reflection on his life, his contributions, and his amazing family.
Reposted by Adrian Bowyer
You may find this map shocking. The crazy imbalance even surprised me!
It’s the ratio of record highs vs record lows in each city since 2020. That’s right, in Miami there have been 115 daily record highs, but only 1 record morning low! Phoenix: 138 to 0!… 1/
It’s the ratio of record highs vs record lows in each city since 2020. That’s right, in Miami there have been 115 daily record highs, but only 1 record morning low! Phoenix: 138 to 0!… 1/
February 12, 2026 at 1:58 PM
You may find this map shocking. The crazy imbalance even surprised me!
It’s the ratio of record highs vs record lows in each city since 2020. That’s right, in Miami there have been 115 daily record highs, but only 1 record morning low! Phoenix: 138 to 0!… 1/
It’s the ratio of record highs vs record lows in each city since 2020. That’s right, in Miami there have been 115 daily record highs, but only 1 record morning low! Phoenix: 138 to 0!… 1/
It's not really surprising when people think LLM AIs are conscious, is it?
What's so amazing about Jim Henson as a puppeteer is that he could literally be explaining that Kermit is made out of felt and ping pong balls and yet Kermit still feels alive the whole time he's doing it
February 12, 2026 at 8:21 AM
It's not really surprising when people think LLM AIs are conscious, is it?
When any child dies for whatever reason as a result of war that should automatically be a war crime.
“Four of my children just evaporated,” Badran said, holding back tears. “I looked for them a million times. Not a piece was left. Where did they go?”
There are no words to adequately describe the evil here.
There are no words to adequately describe the evil here.
Israel used weapons in Gaza that made thousands of Palestinians evaporate
US-made thermal weapons burning at 3,500C caused 2,842 people to "evaporate" in Gaza, Al Jazeera investigation finds.
www.aljazeera.com
February 11, 2026 at 8:27 AM
When any child dies for whatever reason as a result of war that should automatically be a war crime.
Reposted by Adrian Bowyer
to be fair, a lot of quite senior people including the then Prime Minister were saying exactly this just before he made us have that incredibly stupid referendum.
and then a bunch of the ones who'd said it resigned from government and the others got fired.
and then a bunch of the ones who'd said it resigned from government and the others got fired.
It is so embarrassing that it has taken nearly a decade for a British minister to say this, a statement of the absolute bloody obvious
February 11, 2026 at 7:54 AM
to be fair, a lot of quite senior people including the then Prime Minister were saying exactly this just before he made us have that incredibly stupid referendum.
and then a bunch of the ones who'd said it resigned from government and the others got fired.
and then a bunch of the ones who'd said it resigned from government and the others got fired.
Reposted by Adrian Bowyer
New Preprint with @matanmazor.bsky.social: Overcoming both bias and sycophancy requires LLMs to imagine not knowing something they know. Like humans, they struggle with this. But unlike humans, LLMs can do something remarkable: they can, quite simply, *ask their counterfactual selves*.
February 10, 2026 at 5:24 PM
New Preprint with @matanmazor.bsky.social: Overcoming both bias and sycophancy requires LLMs to imagine not knowing something they know. Like humans, they struggle with this. But unlike humans, LLMs can do something remarkable: they can, quite simply, *ask their counterfactual selves*.
Reposted by Adrian Bowyer
People seem to forget that the reason the industrial revolution worked is that, however bad factories were, it was way way way better than subsistence farming
February 9, 2026 at 8:43 PM
People seem to forget that the reason the industrial revolution worked is that, however bad factories were, it was way way way better than subsistence farming
Reposted by Adrian Bowyer
