NarblocBS
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narblocbs.bsky.social
NarblocBS
@narblocbs.bsky.social
I’m Steve Colbran, Kiwi/Aussie, living in beautiful Coogee, Sydney

retired chem academic, wannabe artist | keen art & science & politics | like adventure | hate rising greed & neglect of our planet
Pinned
📌📌 Hi

I used to make, mainly useless but sometimes pretty, molecules
#chemsky 🧪🧑‍🔬⚗️⚛️
👇1. [Os(µ6-P)(CO)18]–
(ccdc identifier: FUNKEE; DOI: 10.1039/dt9880000173)

Now, I make, useless but sometimes thought-provoking, paintings
#artist 👩‍🎨🎨🖼️
👇2. A green boat is a hard row
(910 x 1220 cm, oils on board)
Reposted by NarblocBS
Appearing today in The Week:
February 20, 2025 at 8:13 PM
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Without friends
February 20, 2025 at 11:40 AM
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In 2055 we’ll have eight #AUKUS nuclear subs able to travel 3,800 NM to the South China Sea to take on the Chinese Navy. Meanwhile, today, the Chinese Navy is sailing just 150 nautical miles off the coast of Sydney. $368B well spent? #TooLate #auspol
Three Chinese warships sailing east of Sydney being monitored, ADF says
The Australian Defence Force is monitoring three Chinese navy ships which are understood to be sailing east of Sydney.
www.abc.net.au
February 20, 2025 at 7:37 AM
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So if Russia invaded America, we should just surrender?
February 20, 2025 at 4:39 AM
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Distracted.
My @smh @theage cartoon.
February 19, 2025 at 10:05 PM
Gaza, Totally gets it wrong: Trump doesn’t give a rats arse about international law and relations… he’ll do whatever as long he and fiends* make a buck… it’s all transactional to him
bbc.com/news/videos/...
*deliberate
Can Donald Trump really take ownership of Gaza?
BBC Verify examines international law to understand if the US has the authority to "take over" the Gaza Strip.
bbc.com
February 17, 2025 at 12:12 AM
I reckon Rex is on to something…
👍😎
Peter Dutton plans to butcher the public service, DOGE style. The last time the LNP tried that they just shoveled cash to the big 4 consulting firms so we got shocking waste, corrupted governance, rampant secrecy & hopeless service. #TaxLawLeak #auspol
Peter Dutton wants to cut public service jobs in Canberra. Here’s what happened last time
There are 26,000 more APS employees than in 2022, but the bill for contractors has fallen from its Covid pandemic peak
www.theguardian.com
February 16, 2025 at 10:03 PM
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What’s happening in Sicily, Italy 🇮🇹 is absolutely extraordinary!

Mount Etna is erupting while its summit remains covered in snow—an incredible clash of fire and ice.

Here are some explorers skiing between lava flows and snowy slopes—a truly unprecedented sight! ⛷🔥❄️
February 15, 2025 at 12:29 AM
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The big physics news of the day, in case you missed it. ⚛️ 🧪

physics.aps.org/articles/v18...
An Ultrahigh Neutrino Detection Makes Waves
A new underwater neutrino experiment—for now, only partially installed—has detected what appears to be the highest-energy cosmic neutrino observed to date.
physics.aps.org
February 12, 2025 at 9:51 PM
Puerile & unhelpful… says much about journalism but also about the readership
👍😎

Most read Guardian article this am: If you thought Elon Musk was bad, look at his dreadful mini-mes and shudder for America | Emma Brockes

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
If you thought Elon Musk was bad, look at his dreadful mini-mes and shudder for America | Emma Brockes
They are young and seizing the reins of government on their master’s behalf with an imperial swagger. It will end in many tears, says Guardian columnist Emma Brockes
www.theguardian.com
February 12, 2025 at 10:32 PM
The unraveling of science funding under Trump continues… dire consequences for academic research in the USA
🧪 ⚛️⚗️🩺🧬
“It is a misnomer to call these funds indirect costs. They are essential to the safe and ethical performance of research. The environment in which research is conducted is highly specialized and costly.” 🧪
Great editorial by @holdenthorp.bsky.social in @science.org
A direct hit
Late last week, the Trump administration set off a frenzy in the US scientific community when the National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced that indirect cost reimbursement for federally funded re...
www.science.org
February 12, 2025 at 7:17 AM
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Destroying the National Science Foundation, the crown jewel of scientific research in the US, will not make us great. This administration is working to undermine our nation in everything that it does. Tell Congress to act to save our nation. 🧪🔌💡☀️💨🔋 www.science.org/content/arti...
‘My boss was crying.’ NSF confronts potentially massive layoffs and budget cuts
Trump could propose slashing agency’s budget by two-thirds
www.science.org
February 11, 2025 at 12:25 PM
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Oopsie!

Canada has decided to tell 47 to bugger off in the best way possible.

They have basically turned down the crude oil pipes into the US and have made an agreement with China for China to buy their crude.

The US can no longer extort Canada for cheaper prices.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=yz_t...
Canada Just Opened a Backdoor for China—Unleashes New Oil Trade Route to Bypass the U.S.
YouTube video by Tech Revolution
www.youtube.com
February 10, 2025 at 4:18 PM
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3500 scientists, biologists and experts in human sexual development write to the US government saying that sex isn't binary

www.evolutionsociety.org/news/display...
Letter to the US President and Congress on the Scientific Understanding of Sex and Gender
President Donald J Trump Washington, DC Members of the US Congress Washington, DC February 5, 2025 RE: Scientific Understanding of Sex and Gender Dear President Trump and Members of the US Congr...
www.evolutionsociety.org
February 10, 2025 at 3:22 PM
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This is pretty infuriating. Just about everything Musk says here is nonsensical fantasy or garbage, but it's just laid out as if these are the insights of a genius. And this just keeps happening again and again and again.
www.theguardian.com/science/2025...
Elon Musk put a chip in this paralysed man’s brain. Now he can move things with his mind. Should we be amazed - or terrified?
An accident left Noland Arbaugh paralysed, but Musk’s Neuralink brain implant allows him to control computers with his thoughts. Is it a life-changing innovation that could help millions – or the star...
www.theguardian.com
February 10, 2025 at 9:13 PM
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Richard Marles is very happy to get a pat on the head for giving away your money. 🤦‍♂️ #AUKUS #auspol
February 8, 2025 at 2:19 AM
Cold fusion…. the quest continues driven by top scientists at leading institutions; there’s something— Fleishmann & Pons may yet be vindicated
(… and the young doubting Thomas, if you back read these letters to the Guardian, seems a tad ignorant, in need of further education)
🧪📌 ⚛️
👍😎
February 8, 2025 at 1:53 AM
Wordle 1,330 2/6*

🟩⬜⬜🟩🟨
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

Amazing (#400 since counting reset), or perhaps not, good start and I am skiing in Japan
⛷️⛷️⛷️
👍😎
February 8, 2025 at 12:35 AM
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Warning.
My @smh @theage cartoon.
February 6, 2025 at 8:36 PM
No surprises! She’s a feisty Democrat, not a stooge. Trump and the US federal electoral commission (fec)…. the bully will get probably get his way, eventually, but he’ll have to do it hard and legal… good on you Ellen 👏👏👏

ps. luv “purporting”
Received a letter from POTUS today purporting to remove me as Commissioner and Chair of the FEC. There's a legal way to replace FEC commissioners-this isn't it. I've been so fortunate to serve the American people and stir up some good trouble along the way. That's not changing anytime soon.
February 7, 2025 at 5:24 AM
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February 6, 2025 at 9:42 PM
Lawyers behaving like… lawyers — badly, trying to protect their patch, stopping AI so they can continue to charge exorbitant fees

www.abc.net.au/news/2025-02...
AI restrictions within NSW’s legal system take effect from Monday
With artificial intelligence set to be restricted in New South Wales' legal system from Monday, the state's Chief Justice has flagged his concerns over the technology.
www.abc.net.au
February 4, 2025 at 5:58 AM
STFU Christopher; stick to what you know about… there’d be wonderful silence
👍😎
February 4, 2025 at 3:08 AM