@drmaciver.bsky.social I enjoyed your email this morning. I too am a fountain pen user who had previously never thought about the principles of operation of the cap.
It made me think of this Tim Harford post. timharford.com/2019/07/how-...
It made me think of this Tim Harford post. timharford.com/2019/07/how-...
How the Brexit debate was flushed down the drain
On a scale of one to seven, how well do you understand how a flush lavatory works? This was a question asked by two Yale psychologists, Leonid Rozenblit and Frank Keil, almost two decades ago. Befo…
timharford.com
October 16, 2025 at 9:44 AM
@drmaciver.bsky.social I enjoyed your email this morning. I too am a fountain pen user who had previously never thought about the principles of operation of the cap.
It made me think of this Tim Harford post. timharford.com/2019/07/how-...
It made me think of this Tim Harford post. timharford.com/2019/07/how-...
Has anyone got any experience of seriously using a vintage text terminal with modern Linux?
I'm giving it a go, but I'm not sure if it's really viable today. 1/
I'm giving it a go, but I'm not sure if it's really viable today. 1/
September 5, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Has anyone got any experience of seriously using a vintage text terminal with modern Linux?
I'm giving it a go, but I'm not sure if it's really viable today. 1/
I'm giving it a go, but I'm not sure if it's really viable today. 1/
It would be a small but meaningful improvement to the world if shoeboxes were built to be large enough for A4 paper. I've got lots kicking around, but they seem to be just slightly too narrow.
September 5, 2025 at 10:43 AM
It would be a small but meaningful improvement to the world if shoeboxes were built to be large enough for A4 paper. I've got lots kicking around, but they seem to be just slightly too narrow.
Reposted by Peter Russell
Reposted by Peter Russell
PyCon UK is in a couple of weeks, and it won't be the same without Michael. RIP.
September 2, 2025 at 9:24 PM
PyCon UK is in a couple of weeks, and it won't be the same without Michael. RIP.
Is it me, or is it getting harder and harder to find a beer mat in pubs these days?
Some pubs seem to want to have them on the bar (why?), but it seems increasingly common for them not to exist at all. I'm in a 'spoons and people are using menus, lottery tickets, magazines. Madness.
Some pubs seem to want to have them on the bar (why?), but it seems increasingly common for them not to exist at all. I'm in a 'spoons and people are using menus, lottery tickets, magazines. Madness.
August 23, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Is it me, or is it getting harder and harder to find a beer mat in pubs these days?
Some pubs seem to want to have them on the bar (why?), but it seems increasingly common for them not to exist at all. I'm in a 'spoons and people are using menus, lottery tickets, magazines. Madness.
Some pubs seem to want to have them on the bar (why?), but it seems increasingly common for them not to exist at all. I'm in a 'spoons and people are using menus, lottery tickets, magazines. Madness.
Despite housing atomic clocks, GPS satellites have to have their time reset every day.
Ok folks: what is your favorite fact that you share with people (maybe a bit too) eagerly?
August 20, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Despite housing atomic clocks, GPS satellites have to have their time reset every day.
Just finished watching the Toolroom Takeover playlist on YouTube, and it's fantastic. Every one of the items they made is incredible. If someone gave you any of them it would instantly become your most treasured possession.
#toolroomtakeover2025
youtube.com/playlist?lis...
#toolroomtakeover2025
youtube.com/playlist?lis...
Toolroom Takeover 2025 - YouTube
youtube.com
August 16, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Just finished watching the Toolroom Takeover playlist on YouTube, and it's fantastic. Every one of the items they made is incredible. If someone gave you any of them it would instantly become your most treasured possession.
#toolroomtakeover2025
youtube.com/playlist?lis...
#toolroomtakeover2025
youtube.com/playlist?lis...
Reposted by Peter Russell
I sometimes get asked why my terminal has reminders of tools installed on my system, so I wrote a short blog post about why and how I did this.
www.judy.co.uk/blog/using-f...
www.judy.co.uk/blog/using-f...
Using fortune to reinforce habits
www.judy.co.uk
July 23, 2025 at 6:14 PM
I sometimes get asked why my terminal has reminders of tools installed on my system, so I wrote a short blog post about why and how I did this.
www.judy.co.uk/blog/using-f...
www.judy.co.uk/blog/using-f...
My relationship with these issues is growing more nuanced as I get older.
Today I would say that most conservative values are respectable and even admirable. Fine values to live by.
It's when you try to use them as a basis for public policy that you end up with the wrong answer.
Today I would say that most conservative values are respectable and even admirable. Fine values to live by.
It's when you try to use them as a basis for public policy that you end up with the wrong answer.
Definitely feel like a lot of my peers are suddenly being weirdly conservative in a way that’s been hard to adjust to
back on the twitter days a lot of the people who moved here did posts bragging about how they never would become conservative as they aged. this prediction has borne out poorly. half of the posts here are literally complaints about why home economics is not taught in schools anymore
July 27, 2025 at 10:47 AM
My relationship with these issues is growing more nuanced as I get older.
Today I would say that most conservative values are respectable and even admirable. Fine values to live by.
It's when you try to use them as a basis for public policy that you end up with the wrong answer.
Today I would say that most conservative values are respectable and even admirable. Fine values to live by.
It's when you try to use them as a basis for public policy that you end up with the wrong answer.
Reposted by Peter Russell
📣 Got a favourite must-see Manchester spot? Tell us! 📣
PyConUK2025 is coming to Manchester — and we're putting together a blog post of our favourite things to do and explore!
🖼️ Museums, 📚 libraries, 🌿 parks and more!
💬 Got suggestions? Tell us below! 👇
#PyConUK2025 #citylife #Manchester #tech
PyConUK2025 is coming to Manchester — and we're putting together a blog post of our favourite things to do and explore!
🖼️ Museums, 📚 libraries, 🌿 parks and more!
💬 Got suggestions? Tell us below! 👇
#PyConUK2025 #citylife #Manchester #tech
June 23, 2025 at 8:30 AM
📣 Got a favourite must-see Manchester spot? Tell us! 📣
PyConUK2025 is coming to Manchester — and we're putting together a blog post of our favourite things to do and explore!
🖼️ Museums, 📚 libraries, 🌿 parks and more!
💬 Got suggestions? Tell us below! 👇
#PyConUK2025 #citylife #Manchester #tech
PyConUK2025 is coming to Manchester — and we're putting together a blog post of our favourite things to do and explore!
🖼️ Museums, 📚 libraries, 🌿 parks and more!
💬 Got suggestions? Tell us below! 👇
#PyConUK2025 #citylife #Manchester #tech
Reposted by Peter Russell
The use of the word "delve" in official congressional e-newsletters, over time, by party
aka - how to observe the effects of ChatGPT on legislative staffer work.
aka - how to observe the effects of ChatGPT on legislative staffer work.
June 5, 2025 at 7:27 PM
The use of the word "delve" in official congressional e-newsletters, over time, by party
aka - how to observe the effects of ChatGPT on legislative staffer work.
aka - how to observe the effects of ChatGPT on legislative staffer work.
Why is it that there seems to be a large and active campaign for the Oxford comma, but not for putting the el (or perhaps ells) in shan't.
June 6, 2025 at 10:27 PM
Why is it that there seems to be a large and active campaign for the Oxford comma, but not for putting the el (or perhaps ells) in shan't.
Just randomly browsing the source for the new Microsoft edit.exe. It's pretty wild, containing specialised SIMD search routines, and an implementation of Oklab colour blending. A simple application in concept, but someone obviously cares a lot about doing it well.
June 2, 2025 at 10:42 AM
Just randomly browsing the source for the new Microsoft edit.exe. It's pretty wild, containing specialised SIMD search routines, and an implementation of Oklab colour blending. A simple application in concept, but someone obviously cares a lot about doing it well.
I saw this in the cinema, and it was a real experience. The ending provoked a gasp of frustrated anticipation followed by a sad sigh from the whole audience, who then all laughed when they realised everyone else had done the same.
If you watch it you'll understand.
If you watch it you'll understand.
What We Left Behind, the documentary about the making and impact of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine is now free to watch on YouTube, if you fancy getting teary-eyed and overly emotional on a Friday morning. #StarTrek #DS9 www.youtube.com/watch?v=3u3W...
What We Left Behind: Looking Back At Star Trek: Deep Space Nine | FULL MOVIE | Documentary
YouTube video by Shout! Studios
www.youtube.com
May 30, 2025 at 3:03 PM
I saw this in the cinema, and it was a real experience. The ending provoked a gasp of frustrated anticipation followed by a sad sigh from the whole audience, who then all laughed when they realised everyone else had done the same.
If you watch it you'll understand.
If you watch it you'll understand.
1. Open the cupboard and see a cake or biscuit.
2. Think 'That would go well with a cup of tea'
3. Make a cup of tea
4. Realise I've long since finished the cake or biscuit
2. Think 'That would go well with a cup of tea'
3. Make a cup of tea
4. Realise I've long since finished the cake or biscuit
May 29, 2025 at 4:48 PM
1. Open the cupboard and see a cake or biscuit.
2. Think 'That would go well with a cup of tea'
3. Make a cup of tea
4. Realise I've long since finished the cake or biscuit
2. Think 'That would go well with a cup of tea'
3. Make a cup of tea
4. Realise I've long since finished the cake or biscuit
AI - Artificial Intelligence
BI - Business Intelligence
CI - Continuous Integration
DI - Dependency Injection
EI - Emotional Intelligence
FI - ???
GI - Gastrointestinal
... - ???
MI - Michigan
NI - National insurance
OI - ???
PI - Private Investigator
QI - ???
RI - Royal institution
...
BI - Business Intelligence
CI - Continuous Integration
DI - Dependency Injection
EI - Emotional Intelligence
FI - ???
GI - Gastrointestinal
... - ???
MI - Michigan
NI - National insurance
OI - ???
PI - Private Investigator
QI - ???
RI - Royal institution
...
May 25, 2025 at 8:32 AM
AI - Artificial Intelligence
BI - Business Intelligence
CI - Continuous Integration
DI - Dependency Injection
EI - Emotional Intelligence
FI - ???
GI - Gastrointestinal
... - ???
MI - Michigan
NI - National insurance
OI - ???
PI - Private Investigator
QI - ???
RI - Royal institution
...
BI - Business Intelligence
CI - Continuous Integration
DI - Dependency Injection
EI - Emotional Intelligence
FI - ???
GI - Gastrointestinal
... - ???
MI - Michigan
NI - National insurance
OI - ???
PI - Private Investigator
QI - ???
RI - Royal institution
...
We're nearing the end of the cling film. It's getting hard to pull off the roll. The box has collapsed and torn. The cutter no longer cuts. Every piece I get is ragged, the wrong size and doesn't fit the sandwich.
It's been weeks like this. To bin it would be a mercy, to it and to me.
It's been weeks like this. To bin it would be a mercy, to it and to me.
May 2, 2025 at 12:32 PM
We're nearing the end of the cling film. It's getting hard to pull off the roll. The box has collapsed and torn. The cutter no longer cuts. Every piece I get is ragged, the wrong size and doesn't fit the sandwich.
It's been weeks like this. To bin it would be a mercy, to it and to me.
It's been weeks like this. To bin it would be a mercy, to it and to me.
I've only just realised that ice-creams are included in the Sainsbury's meal deal.
April 17, 2025 at 12:01 PM
I've only just realised that ice-creams are included in the Sainsbury's meal deal.
Reposted by Peter Russell
here's an old school pen plot of the chip layout of a 555 timer! each mask layer is on a separate sheet of transparency film.
December 14, 2024 at 11:25 PM
here's an old school pen plot of the chip layout of a 555 timer! each mask layer is on a separate sheet of transparency film.
Thanks, I hate it.
ethernet? you mean the wifi cable
December 9, 2024 at 8:36 PM
Thanks, I hate it.
I'm certainly not complaining, but does everyone else get a surprising amount of fox and fungus photos in their discover feeds? If not, I guess I'm lucky!
I'm kinda pleased that the anatomically implausible drawings of manga girls seem to have gone now though.
I'm kinda pleased that the anatomically implausible drawings of manga girls seem to have gone now though.
November 25, 2024 at 8:45 PM
I'm certainly not complaining, but does everyone else get a surprising amount of fox and fungus photos in their discover feeds? If not, I guess I'm lucky!
I'm kinda pleased that the anatomically implausible drawings of manga girls seem to have gone now though.
I'm kinda pleased that the anatomically implausible drawings of manga girls seem to have gone now though.
Reposted by Peter Russell
I recently saw an amazing Navajo rug at the National Gallery of Art. It looks abstract at first, but it is a detailed representation of the Intel Pentium processor. Called "Replica of a Chip", it was created in 1994 by Marilou Schultz, a Navajo/Diné weaver and math teacher. 1/n
November 25, 2024 at 4:29 PM
I recently saw an amazing Navajo rug at the National Gallery of Art. It looks abstract at first, but it is a detailed representation of the Intel Pentium processor. Called "Replica of a Chip", it was created in 1994 by Marilou Schultz, a Navajo/Diné weaver and math teacher. 1/n
Reposted by Peter Russell
I’ve been exploring pen plotters for over 10 years (more if you count my first plotter, a Commodore 1520). What started as a curiosity has kept me engaged as a retro computing enthusiast and captivated as an artist. Lets go back in time with some of the plotters I’ve used in various ways. 🧵
November 25, 2024 at 4:00 AM
I’ve been exploring pen plotters for over 10 years (more if you count my first plotter, a Commodore 1520). What started as a curiosity has kept me engaged as a retro computing enthusiast and captivated as an artist. Lets go back in time with some of the plotters I’ve used in various ways. 🧵