Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Shane McKee @shaneir.bsky.social · 7h

Back in the early 2000s I wrote HebRead to read Hebrew compressed text files (palm pilot TealDoc/aportis doc) on the Psion 5mx. I'm trying to port it *back* to the 3mx - it works! ASCII only at the moment though...

Psion 3mx decoding a Palm Pilot "aportis doc" (tealdoc) compressed text file using my opl algorithm

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Shane McKee @shaneir.bsky.social · 9h

I've mused occasionally that a Celtic Union of Scotland & Ireland (within the EU of course) might be an interesting polity, and placate at least some Loyalists. Not sure what's in it for anyone else though ;-)

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Shane McKee @shaneir.bsky.social · 9h

I feel that France has finally turned le cornu.

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Shane McKee @shaneir.bsky.social · 17h

She sounds brilliant. More Aunty May lore please!

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Reposted by Shane McKee

Gareth Oakland 🇫🇷🏏🏉 @goakl.bsky.social · 20h

American leader wins Nobel Peace Prize.

Excellent news.

Venezuelan politician María Corina Machado wins Nobel peace prize

Leader of country’s opposition receives award after scrutiny surrounding committee and comments by Donald Trump

www.theguardian.com

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Shane McKee @shaneir.bsky.social · 22h

Agreed.

Reposted by Shane McKee

John McCafferty @jdmccafferty.bsky.social · 1d

Hedgehog, c. 1650 (Rijksmuseum)

I love its expression.

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Shane McKee @shaneir.bsky.social · 23h

The hedge is mine, I tell you, MINE!!!! Mwahahaha!

Shane McKee @shaneir.bsky.social · 23h

You know what, if this works out, next year just give it to him. But not this year.

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Reposted by Shane McKee

Faine Greenwood @faineg.bsky.social · 1d

You know how there’s been this big push towards encouraging older people to do puzzles, cognitive games, and to learn new things to keep them from succumbing to dementia?

Wonder where that’s gonna go with the rise of “outsource your cognitive functions to AI, it’ll be convenient” culture

SteveIsDamaged @steveisdamages.bsky.social · 1d

Cognition is like strength. Use is required to not just gain, but maintain. The more thinking and cognitive work we offload, the duller we become as a result.

It's like deciding you'll use a mobility scooter without need and then figuring out a year later that you can no longer walk.

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Shane McKee @shaneir.bsky.social · 23h

AI can be to the brain what zero gravity is to muscles and bones. (If we let it) bsky.app/profile/fain...

Faine Greenwood @faineg.bsky.social · 1d

You know how there’s been this big push towards encouraging older people to do puzzles, cognitive games, and to learn new things to keep them from succumbing to dementia?

Wonder where that’s gonna go with the rise of “outsource your cognitive functions to AI, it’ll be convenient” culture

SteveIsDamaged @steveisdamages.bsky.social · 1d

Cognition is like strength. Use is required to not just gain, but maintain. The more thinking and cognitive work we offload, the duller we become as a result.

It's like deciding you'll use a mobility scooter without need and then figuring out a year later that you can no longer walk.

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Shane McKee @shaneir.bsky.social · 1d

Jackie passed away in 2020 after an amazing life. www.irishamericanpeds.org/in-memoriam

IN MEMORIAM | The Irish and American Paediatric Society

www.irishamericanpeds.org

Shane McKee @shaneir.bsky.social · 1d

I was giving a presentation to the Irish American Paediatric Society, and was deeply honoured to meet Dr Jackie Noonan, a truly wonderful Irish-American Paediatric Cardiologist, who first described Noonan Syndrome as well as Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome.

Shane and Dr Jackie Noonan, 2001, Kentucky

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Shane McKee @shaneir.bsky.social · 1d

Google Photos threw up this pic of me in Kentucky in 2001... I had no idea my groupies had got there first.

Shane standing by graffiti on a wall that says "I :heart: Shane" - there's no accounting for taste...

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Shane McKee @shaneir.bsky.social · 1d

Fungi!

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Shane McKee @shaneir.bsky.social · 1d

My kingdom for a tube of Sensodyne

Jennifer Ouellette @jenlucpiquant.bsky.social · 1d

King Richard III's oral microbiome hints he had severe gum disease www.newscientist.com/article/2498...

King Richard III's oral microbiome hints he had severe gum disease

The skeleton of King Richard III, which was found beneath a car park more than a decade ago, has well-preserved teeth, allowing scientists to sequence his oral microbiome

www.newscientist.com

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Shane McKee @shaneir.bsky.social · 1d

You can also maybe even get a totally stuffed unit and use the parts to repair your main machine - it takes a bit of skill, but very doable (and a lot of fun).

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Shane McKee @shaneir.bsky.social · 1d

Psion 3as have a couple of key vulnerabilities - especially the hinges. These are fixable (JB-weld or similar epoxy, NOT superglue) but fiddly. The bridging contact in the battery compartment can also break - just bridge the batteries with tinfoil.

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Shane McKee @shaneir.bsky.social · 1d

"But Shane," you say, "how do I get into using a Psion in 2025?"

Great q. First things first - often the best unit to start with is a Psion Series 3a. Available on many re-selling e-auction sites. RRP ~£30-40. Things to watch: hinges and screens. Here's an example. www.ebay.co.uk/itm/28685985...

PSION SERIES 3a 2MB RAM~GWO~GOOD HINGES, BATTERY COMPARTMENT & TASK BAR + ACCS. | eBay UK

PSION SERIES 3a 2MB RAM~GWO~GOOD HINGES, BATTERY COMPARTMENT & TASK BAR + ACCS. IN VERY GOOD WORKING CONDITION THE BATTERY COMPARTMENT HAS BEEN REPLACED WITH A GOOD ONE WITH CENTRAL CONTACT INTACT & T...

www.ebay.co.uk

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Shane McKee @shaneir.bsky.social · 1d

Rebrand for the delightfully minimalist Psion Community website: psion.community - all (or at least many of) your needs as you rediscover the "retro" (but hugely useul) handheld computers that still have a role in 2025...

Psion Community

psion.community

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Reposted by Shane McKee

European Journal of Human Genetics @ejhg-journal.bsky.social · 1d

🚨Variants of uncertain significance #(VUS) remain a challenge in clinical genetics.
Updated recommendations highlight how to assess #splicing effects and the role of transcript studies in improving variant interpretation and counselling 🧬

Find out more ⬇️
www.nature.com/articles/s41...

RNA-based diagnostic studies in genetics: Review and guidance from a multidisciplinary French network - European Journal of Human Genetics

European Journal of Human Genetics - RNA-based diagnostic studies in genetics: Review and guidance from a multidisciplinary French network

www.nature.com

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