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.
Polystyrene foam in Molotov cocktails?
Can you think of examples where people use technologies differently from what the developers intended, whether unintentionally or as an act of resistance?
February 16, 2026 at 12:59 AM
Polystyrene foam in Molotov cocktails?
Reposted by Adrian Bowyer
The Higgs boson demonstrated the central magic of science: that we can write down an equation and it can predict something never before suspected in the real world. Peter Higgs in 1964 predicted the Higgs and there, 48 years later, at the LHC, there it was! www.hive.co.uk/Product/Marc...
December 4, 2024 at 2:47 PM
The Higgs boson demonstrated the central magic of science: that we can write down an equation and it can predict something never before suspected in the real world. Peter Higgs in 1964 predicted the Higgs and there, 48 years later, at the LHC, there it was! www.hive.co.uk/Product/Marc...
Reposted by Adrian Bowyer
This is the Gov looking for your input on the BBC. It takes a while to complete (15/20 mins) but it’s pretty comprehensive and covers most aspects.
Please share. I’m surprised many people haven’t seen it yet.
www.gov.uk/government/c...
Please share. I’m surprised many people haven’t seen it yet.
www.gov.uk/government/c...
Britain’s Story: The Next Chapter - BBC Royal Charter Review, Green Paper and public consultation
www.gov.uk
February 15, 2026 at 6:19 PM
This is the Gov looking for your input on the BBC. It takes a while to complete (15/20 mins) but it’s pretty comprehensive and covers most aspects.
Please share. I’m surprised many people haven’t seen it yet.
www.gov.uk/government/c...
Please share. I’m surprised many people haven’t seen it yet.
www.gov.uk/government/c...
Reposted by Adrian Bowyer
I realise this marriage proposal is out of the blue, but I saw you use a plural possessive apostrophe correctly on social media.
February 15, 2026 at 7:22 PM
I realise this marriage proposal is out of the blue, but I saw you use a plural possessive apostrophe correctly on social media.
Unhappy the time that needs heros.
😭😭😭 a community member just handed this off to a patroller in our neighborhood
February 15, 2026 at 7:56 PM
Unhappy the time that needs heros.
Reposted by Adrian Bowyer
As for my favourite spoonerized business name, it will never not be this furniture showroom in New Zealand...
July 22, 2025 at 10:42 AM
As for my favourite spoonerized business name, it will never not be this furniture showroom in New Zealand...
Haven't really seen much Olympics, but I just caught a medal ceremony, which left me with just one question: WTF IS WITH THE CUDDLY TOY?
February 15, 2026 at 7:10 PM
Haven't really seen much Olympics, but I just caught a medal ceremony, which left me with just one question: WTF IS WITH THE CUDDLY TOY?
Phrases that fall into desuetude and then suddenly re-emerge decades later #278: "piping hot".
February 15, 2026 at 6:34 PM
Phrases that fall into desuetude and then suddenly re-emerge decades later #278: "piping hot".
Reposted by Adrian Bowyer
Exhausted and dehydrated, I slowly walk the last few steps. “This has to be it,” I think to myself. Taking a deep breath, I close my eyes and turn the handle, whispering a little prayer as I step through. I open my eyes and the last trickle of hope leaks away. I am still in IKEA.
February 15, 2026 at 2:34 PM
Exhausted and dehydrated, I slowly walk the last few steps. “This has to be it,” I think to myself. Taking a deep breath, I close my eyes and turn the handle, whispering a little prayer as I step through. I open my eyes and the last trickle of hope leaks away. I am still in IKEA.
Always entertaining to read a good hatchet job. This is a long way along the road towards the very definition* of that term.
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* The late Clive James's review of Princess Daisy for the LRB, which you can read here: www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v0...
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* The late Clive James's review of Princess Daisy for the LRB, which you can read here: www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v0...
February 15, 2026 at 12:37 PM
Always entertaining to read a good hatchet job. This is a long way along the road towards the very definition* of that term.
---
* The late Clive James's review of Princess Daisy for the LRB, which you can read here: www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v0...
---
* The late Clive James's review of Princess Daisy for the LRB, which you can read here: www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v0...
One of the things about the #ClimatEmergency is that it is unfolding slowly when compared to people's memories and sense of time.
In ten years we will have forgotten that we used to take raspberries, strawberries & blueberries in winter, or - who knows? - at any time, for granted.
In ten years we will have forgotten that we used to take raspberries, strawberries & blueberries in winter, or - who knows? - at any time, for granted.
🍓🫐 Noticed a shortage of raspberries, strawberries & blueberries on the supermarket shelf? You could soon.
🇪🇸 🇲🇦 Devastating storms in Spain & Morocco – where we get most of our winter berries – have destroyed polytunnels, flooded farms. 150,000 have been evacuated in 🇲🇦 🧵1/3
🇪🇸 🇲🇦 Devastating storms in Spain & Morocco – where we get most of our winter berries – have destroyed polytunnels, flooded farms. 150,000 have been evacuated in 🇲🇦 🧵1/3
February 15, 2026 at 12:14 PM
One of the things about the #ClimatEmergency is that it is unfolding slowly when compared to people's memories and sense of time.
In ten years we will have forgotten that we used to take raspberries, strawberries & blueberries in winter, or - who knows? - at any time, for granted.
In ten years we will have forgotten that we used to take raspberries, strawberries & blueberries in winter, or - who knows? - at any time, for granted.
Has it run out of condoms?
the guesthouse i am staying in has a model ski resort in the corner of the dining room…
February 15, 2026 at 12:07 PM
Has it run out of condoms?
Reposted by Adrian Bowyer
A romance cartoon for the @theguardian.com
February 15, 2026 at 10:30 AM
A romance cartoon for the @theguardian.com
Misread. Thought bear was called Franz Schwimmer.
Franzi Schimmer captured this Grizzly bear in Brooks Falls, Alaska just floating along, tippy-tapping down the river, browsing the salmon.
Prior to hibernation, up to 40% of a bear's body mass is fat, which is less dense than water (~0.9 g/cm^2), so the murder-monster is also a floaty-boaty.
Prior to hibernation, up to 40% of a bear's body mass is fat, which is less dense than water (~0.9 g/cm^2), so the murder-monster is also a floaty-boaty.
February 15, 2026 at 10:41 AM
Misread. Thought bear was called Franz Schwimmer.
TBH I have never heard of either.
One of the great compensations, no - delights, of growing old is not having to pay the slightest attention to this shit.
One of the great compensations, no - delights, of growing old is not having to pay the slightest attention to this shit.
This has livened up my Sunday morning, someone insisting that not recognising the stars of a moderately-popular Hulu reality show is the same as never having heard of Bad Bunny, the most streamed musical artist in the world
some lady got so mad at everyone who never heard of the mormon reality show woman that she's gone on a blocking spree and this is the sort of drama that politics has robbed from us, more deathmatches over strangers not knowing your fav TV star, that is what society needs
February 15, 2026 at 9:39 AM
TBH I have never heard of either.
One of the great compensations, no - delights, of growing old is not having to pay the slightest attention to this shit.
One of the great compensations, no - delights, of growing old is not having to pay the slightest attention to this shit.
Would pay to watch.
To be fair, this is every Friday and Saturday night in Brighton.
February 15, 2026 at 9:33 AM
Would pay to watch.
I know someone who lives just down the road. They say that the resulting traffic jams can be a real pain in the arse.
February 15, 2026 at 9:32 AM
I know someone who lives just down the road. They say that the resulting traffic jams can be a real pain in the arse.
Reposted by Adrian Bowyer
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"...
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...