Chris Stokes
@nisaccom.bsky.social
Reposted by Chris Stokes
You ever stop and think about CASABLANCA? You ever stop and think about "Welcome back to the fight, this time, I know our side will win?" You ever think about a bar full of people defiantly singing La Marseillaise, played by a soundstage full of Jewish refugees? You ever think about CASABLANCA??????
February 9, 2026 at 5:44 AM
You ever stop and think about CASABLANCA? You ever stop and think about "Welcome back to the fight, this time, I know our side will win?" You ever think about a bar full of people defiantly singing La Marseillaise, played by a soundstage full of Jewish refugees? You ever think about CASABLANCA??????
Reposted by Chris Stokes
Per Wikipedia, relics of St Valentine are held by churches in Rome, Madrid, Dublin, Prague, Košice, Nováky, Chełmno, Mytilene, Savona, Roquemaure, Vienna, Balzan, and Glasgow.
A very devout mad scientist could have fun collecting them all and assembling Frankenvalentine, the Monster of Love.
A very devout mad scientist could have fun collecting them all and assembling Frankenvalentine, the Monster of Love.
February 14, 2026 at 11:57 AM
Per Wikipedia, relics of St Valentine are held by churches in Rome, Madrid, Dublin, Prague, Košice, Nováky, Chełmno, Mytilene, Savona, Roquemaure, Vienna, Balzan, and Glasgow.
A very devout mad scientist could have fun collecting them all and assembling Frankenvalentine, the Monster of Love.
A very devout mad scientist could have fun collecting them all and assembling Frankenvalentine, the Monster of Love.
'In recommendations sent to Reform, Mr 'Goldsmith urged Mr Farage to make “the patriotic case for nature”, arguing that it is “central to British heritage and identity; rebuilding it fosters pride and national resilience”.'
I said it'd be interesting to see how Ben Goldsmith advising Reform went & it seems it has come to a quick end, thnx to a backlash from farmers says the always reliable and unbiased Daily Telegraph www.telegraph.co.uk/business/202...
Thnx @inkcapjournal.bsky.social for the alert
🧵
Thnx @inkcapjournal.bsky.social for the alert
🧵
February 13, 2026 at 1:20 PM
'In recommendations sent to Reform, Mr 'Goldsmith urged Mr Farage to make “the patriotic case for nature”, arguing that it is “central to British heritage and identity; rebuilding it fosters pride and national resilience”.'
Not a bit too gamey?
February 13, 2026 at 10:21 AM
Not a bit too gamey?
'when age and failing eyesight limited his armed sorties, he preferred being addressed as "Lord Dudley’".'
#DIBLives Raised in an orphanage in Cabra, Dublin Thomas ‘Bang Bang’ Dudley ‘fired’ on the citizens of Dublin with a large brass key. Often his ‘victims’ joined in the wild-west pantomime, shooting back, clutching at ‘wounds’ & ‘dropping dead’. He was born #OTD 1906. www.dib.ie/biography/du...
February 13, 2026 at 8:42 AM
'when age and failing eyesight limited his armed sorties, he preferred being addressed as "Lord Dudley’".'
Falling into a hole. Bruckner symphonies. May never climb out. No. 3. Picked up Skrowaczewski & the Saarbrücken RSO. Seems good. Now, on Dave Hurwitz's advice, trying the long ur version. It's Georg Tintner & the Royal Scottish National. Anton never heard this version. No-one'd perform it. Too long.
February 12, 2026 at 11:43 AM
Falling into a hole. Bruckner symphonies. May never climb out. No. 3. Picked up Skrowaczewski & the Saarbrücken RSO. Seems good. Now, on Dave Hurwitz's advice, trying the long ur version. It's Georg Tintner & the Royal Scottish National. Anton never heard this version. No-one'd perform it. Too long.
Reposted by Chris Stokes
The files, found on a bygone piece of audio recording equipment, may give scientists new evidence about how humans have changed the ocean.
Oldest known whale song recordings discovered in Cape Cod archives
The files, found on a bygone piece of audio recording equipment, may give scientists new evidence about how humans have changed the ocean.
www.wbur.org
February 11, 2026 at 6:49 PM
The files, found on a bygone piece of audio recording equipment, may give scientists new evidence about how humans have changed the ocean.
Ian Chapman is taking questions after a presentation to this CaSE conference in which he carried on digging the hole he's been digging this last fortnight. Pouring oil on troubled water is not his forte.
We are excited to welcome our members and the wider R&D sector to our 2026 conference this afternoon.
Attendees will hear from panels of experts discussing the important issues facing UK R&D. The day will conclude with our flagship annual lecture being delivered by Prof Sir Ian Chapman, CEO of UKRI
Attendees will hear from panels of experts discussing the important issues facing UK R&D. The day will conclude with our flagship annual lecture being delivered by Prof Sir Ian Chapman, CEO of UKRI
February 10, 2026 at 5:35 PM
Ian Chapman is taking questions after a presentation to this CaSE conference in which he carried on digging the hole he's been digging this last fortnight. Pouring oil on troubled water is not his forte.
Reposted by Chris Stokes
This argument is one trotted out by Sir Ian as well, unfortunately it's not correct for two reasons: Intl. subscriptions are hedged against foreign exchange fluctuations, and the CERN subscription hasn't changed over the last 5 years even including inflation.
February 8, 2026 at 2:10 PM
This argument is one trotted out by Sir Ian as well, unfortunately it's not correct for two reasons: Intl. subscriptions are hedged against foreign exchange fluctuations, and the CERN subscription hasn't changed over the last 5 years even including inflation.
Stupid question. Can a kind of birdwatching—or birding, call it what you like—be imagined in which placing birds seen or heard into their species pigeonhole is not the first and most important element?
February 8, 2026 at 1:49 PM
Stupid question. Can a kind of birdwatching—or birding, call it what you like—be imagined in which placing birds seen or heard into their species pigeonhole is not the first and most important element?
TIL Alfred Brendel wrote poetry. Richard Stokes, who worked with Brendel on the translations into English, just read out this his fave on R3's Private Passions
The Coughers of Cologne
have joined forces with Cologne Clappers
and established the Cough and Clap Society
...
note.com/the_blue_oce...
The Coughers of Cologne
have joined forces with Cologne Clappers
and established the Cough and Clap Society
...
note.com/the_blue_oce...
One Finger Too Many｜My Favorite Strings
A Poem The Coughers of Cologne have joined forces with Cologne Clappers and established the Cough and Clap Society a non-profit-making organization whose aim it is to guarantee each concertgoer's rig...
note.com
February 8, 2026 at 1:31 PM
TIL Alfred Brendel wrote poetry. Richard Stokes, who worked with Brendel on the translations into English, just read out this his fave on R3's Private Passions
The Coughers of Cologne
have joined forces with Cologne Clappers
and established the Cough and Clap Society
...
note.com/the_blue_oce...
The Coughers of Cologne
have joined forces with Cologne Clappers
and established the Cough and Clap Society
...
note.com/the_blue_oce...
Reposted by Chris Stokes
I missed this last year: the Claude #llm has a well-documented and robust "spiritual bliss attractor" - leave two Claudes "alone with each other" and they spiral towards zen-like meditative chat […]
Original post on mastodon.social
mastodon.social
February 8, 2026 at 10:19 AM
I missed this last year: the Claude #llm has a well-documented and robust "spiritual bliss attractor" - leave two Claudes "alone with each other" and they spiral towards zen-like meditative chat […]
Reposted by Chris Stokes
Well this is fantastic
www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Ssi...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Ssi...
Angine de Poitrine - Full Performance (Live on KEXP)
YouTube video by KEXP
www.youtube.com
February 7, 2026 at 7:08 PM
Well this is fantastic
www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Ssi...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Ssi...
'In a statement to the Daily Beast, the Department of Defense said that there “is no Department of War [sic] directive requiring service members to see this film, though the film is fantastic.”'
This is honestly insane – like something out of China and Russia. MAGA-aligned US military officers have reportedly been pressuring their troops to go and watch the 'Melania' movie:
www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/mil...
www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/mil...
Military Pressured to See ‘Melania’ Against Their Will
A military group has evidence of troops being ordered into theater—the movie theater.
www.thedailybeast.com
February 7, 2026 at 12:06 PM
'In a statement to the Daily Beast, the Department of Defense said that there “is no Department of War [sic] directive requiring service members to see this film, though the film is fantastic.”'
Reposted by Chris Stokes
I do want to shout-out my fellow sociologists, who have collectively created a discipline so woke that not a single one of our introductory textbooks can make it past Florida's censors.
Great work everyone.
Great work everyone.
February 6, 2026 at 3:00 PM
I do want to shout-out my fellow sociologists, who have collectively created a discipline so woke that not a single one of our introductory textbooks can make it past Florida's censors.
Great work everyone.
Great work everyone.
Reposted by Chris Stokes
Excellent guest post on Telescoper's blog about the UK astronomy funding crisis, by George Efstathiou. I added a comment. The core problem is "STFC governance structure" - we are being squeezed by being in bed with the national labs #astronomy telescoper.blog/2026/02/06/t...
The STFC Funding Crisis – Guest Post by George Efstathiou
The following guest post by George Efstathiou is a response to the current STFC funding crisis I blogged about here, and specifically to a letter by the Executive Chair of STFC, Professor Michele D…
telescoper.blog
February 6, 2026 at 1:06 PM
Excellent guest post on Telescoper's blog about the UK astronomy funding crisis, by George Efstathiou. I added a comment. The core problem is "STFC governance structure" - we are being squeezed by being in bed with the national labs #astronomy telescoper.blog/2026/02/06/t...
Reposted by Chris Stokes
Genius! Blackmail countries which have significant human rights concerns to take back people who often should not be being sent back and then celebrate it by threatening more countries with similar blackmail. Labour really is digging down with its xenophobic policies.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Three African countries agree to UK migrant returns after sanctions threat
The Democratic Republic of Congo, Namibia and Angola have said they will cooperate on migrant returns.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 6, 2026 at 6:49 AM
Genius! Blackmail countries which have significant human rights concerns to take back people who often should not be being sent back and then celebrate it by threatening more countries with similar blackmail. Labour really is digging down with its xenophobic policies.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Chris Stokes
Some thoughts on the select committee appearance by the boss of UKRI, Ian Chapman yesterday. It’s a long watch but can be seen here: parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/...
Thread 🧵
Thread 🧵
Parliamentlive.tv
Science, Innovation and Technology Committee
parliamentlive.tv
February 4, 2026 at 10:53 AM
Some thoughts on the select committee appearance by the boss of UKRI, Ian Chapman yesterday. It’s a long watch but can be seen here: parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/...
Thread 🧵
Thread 🧵
Reposted by Chris Stokes
trending checks out
February 2, 2026 at 1:40 PM
trending checks out
From a comparison in 2024 of the pre- & post-election job ads for UKRI CEO: 'Does Labour have big plans for changing how UKRI operates? … Under role responsibilities, we now have added “ensure that UKRI can support new forms of funding bodies.” Where did that come from?'
wonkhe.com/blogs/labour...
wonkhe.com/blogs/labour...
Labour tweaks the job ad for the next UKRI chief executive
The search for a new head of UKRI is back underway – but there are some subtle differences post-election. Michael Salmon goes line-by-line
wonkhe.com
February 2, 2026 at 5:20 PM
From a comparison in 2024 of the pre- & post-election job ads for UKRI CEO: 'Does Labour have big plans for changing how UKRI operates? … Under role responsibilities, we now have added “ensure that UKRI can support new forms of funding bodies.” Where did that come from?'
wonkhe.com/blogs/labour...
wonkhe.com/blogs/labour...
Reposted by Chris Stokes
The Simple Sabotage Field Manual (1944) invents Sharepoint.
Misfile essential documents.
February 2, 2026 at 1:36 PM
The Simple Sabotage Field Manual (1944) invents Sharepoint.
Ian Chapman was interviewed by techUK's director of technology and innovation Sue Daley in November. Worth a watch alongside his open letter. From the off, he says the policy backdrop is really clear. The government has identified that economic ... 🧵
www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQm7...
1/9
www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQm7...
1/9
Some initial reactions to the 'published on a Sunday afternoon' letter from the CEO of UKRI. 🧵
www.ukri.org/news/open-le...
www.ukri.org/news/open-le...
February 2, 2026 at 1:32 PM
Ian Chapman was interviewed by techUK's director of technology and innovation Sue Daley in November. Worth a watch alongside his open letter. From the off, he says the policy backdrop is really clear. The government has identified that economic ... 🧵
www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQm7...
1/9
www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQm7...
1/9
Must be the mother-in-law.
![Snippet from the online Oxford English Dictionary entry for spanner. It reads:
'Additional sense (2020)
'*colloquial (chiefly British). a bag (also box) of spanners and variants: used as the type of a thing which or person who is extremely unattractive, useless, stupid, etc. Frequently in similative use, esp. in to have a face like a bag of spanners: to be extremely unattractive.
'The phrase was popularized by the British comedian Les Dawson (1931-93): see quots. 1976, 1981.
'1976 That love of words was born in his [sc. Les Dawson's] childhood in the North of England... I asked him for an example. "How about this for a description of someone? He had a face like a bagful of spanners".
'Press & Journal (Aberdeen) 25 November 14/5'](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:vvmemo42dno4yqacaglx4mnb/bafkreihk6o2zbartd22w7bsksk6yhl5e7tse7rqxr6ny2n77bzyuwchsry@jpeg)
February 2, 2026 at 11:41 AM
Must be the mother-in-law.
Reposted by Chris Stokes
The open letter from UKRI last night was basically a word soup with no new information or clarity on the situation, and even more concerningly, no sincere apology for how it’s been handled and communicated to the U.K. academic community.
February 2, 2026 at 7:59 AM
The open letter from UKRI last night was basically a word soup with no new information or clarity on the situation, and even more concerningly, no sincere apology for how it’s been handled and communicated to the U.K. academic community.