Suw
@suw.bsky.social
Writer, creative ecologist, owned by Grabbity & Copurrnicus. Currently writing an eco-sitcom podcast, Fieldwork, about four ecologists studying a rewilding project. https://fieldworkpodcast.substack.com/
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Suw
@suw.bsky.social
· Jan 11
Hello, lovely new followers! I'm Suw, and I post about whatever catches my eye. This might include, but is not limited to, volcanoes, cats, the Welsh language, science, cats, books and publishing, writing, Wrexham AFC, women in STEM, cats, crafty stuff, ecology, nature, and my various newsletters.
Coincidentally, David Epstein just published a video which beautifully explains what I'm doing with Ymestyn, and why learning needs to be a bit more challenging than what you'll get from simplistic gamified apps. #DysguCymraeg
www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMsm...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMsm...
February 10, 2026 at 4:17 PM
Coincidentally, David Epstein just published a video which beautifully explains what I'm doing with Ymestyn, and why learning needs to be a bit more challenging than what you'll get from simplistic gamified apps. #DysguCymraeg
www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMsm...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMsm...
Oh how I love launching a new paid-for service, only to have people complaining that it's not free. When I can pay my rent with likes, I'll make it all free.
February 10, 2026 at 2:50 PM
Oh how I love launching a new paid-for service, only to have people complaining that it's not free. When I can pay my rent with likes, I'll make it all free.
Reposted by Suw
I’m slightly in shock. My rant about education as industrial batch agriculture suddenly gets some affirmation from… Ofsted?
On the one hand, he's right. On the other, I *like* my cheaper holidays in termtime, so the policy question is finely balanced.
Timing of England’s school holidays is ‘pretty bizarre’, says Ofsted head
Martyn Oliver calls for debate on long summer break and whether it is sensible to sit exams during hotter months
www.ft.com
February 10, 2026 at 9:47 AM
I’m slightly in shock. My rant about education as industrial batch agriculture suddenly gets some affirmation from… Ofsted?
"I think if you demonstrate bold leadership, you can carry people with you. You can convince.” And right now, “people are very aware of the difficulties and the problems they’re having in their lives or that they see in their families and friends. People are quite thirsty. They’re thirsty for hope.”
‘I think we feel stuck’: Kate Pickett on how to build a better, fairer, less stressed society
In her new book, the co-author of The Spirit Level gathers jaw-dropping facts about the inequality crisis in the UK – and explores creative ways to address it
www.theguardian.com
February 10, 2026 at 9:16 AM
"I think if you demonstrate bold leadership, you can carry people with you. You can convince.” And right now, “people are very aware of the difficulties and the problems they’re having in their lives or that they see in their families and friends. People are quite thirsty. They’re thirsty for hope.”
Reposted by Suw
Quite a few people replying “oh but it’s obvious that birds are dinosaurs”. Yes, once you know they are. Before, perhaps not.
![Comic. [2x2 chart. Top left quadrant: seem like dinosaurs x are dinosaurs. Silhouettes of dinosaurs stegosaurus, triceratops, tyrannosaurus, velociraptor, and long-neck dinosaur. Top right quadrant: seem like dinosaurs x are not dinosaurs. Silhouettes of mosasaur, quetzalcoatlus, dimetrodon, plesiosaur, and pteranodon. Bottom left quadrant: don’t seem like dinosaurs x are dinosaurs. Silhouettes of penguin, egret, ostrich, pigeon, falcon. Bottom right: don’t seem like dinosaurs x are not dinosaurs. Silhouettes of squirrel, stapler, plant, person, and bicycle.]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:cz73r7iyiqn26upot4jtjdhk/bafkreihcxd5wcrrf5nxz3g4riglsrccbucmdns6kxrtmtj6gjgwqibp3fi@jpeg)
February 10, 2026 at 9:11 AM
Quite a few people replying “oh but it’s obvious that birds are dinosaurs”. Yes, once you know they are. Before, perhaps not.
Reposted by Suw
Nearly 5GW of solar contracted in UK govt auction. Biggest ever in capacity and confirms solar as the cheapest power in Britain. More solar = lower bills.
BREAKING: UK govt auction secures 4.9GW new solar at £65/MWh and 1.3GW new onshore wind at £72/MWh, 13% and 21% below the price cap respectively.
All due online by 2029.
All due online by 2029.
February 10, 2026 at 7:51 AM
Nearly 5GW of solar contracted in UK govt auction. Biggest ever in capacity and confirms solar as the cheapest power in Britain. More solar = lower bills.
Day 27 of rain. Copurrnicus has not gone out as much as he likes to, and has turned into an annoying little shit who does nothing but scratch the carpet and chew cables, though only when I can see him, because he's just trying to annoy me.
Please, please, let it stop raining.
Please, please, let it stop raining.
February 9, 2026 at 10:29 PM
Day 27 of rain. Copurrnicus has not gone out as much as he likes to, and has turned into an annoying little shit who does nothing but scratch the carpet and chew cables, though only when I can see him, because he's just trying to annoy me.
Please, please, let it stop raining.
Please, please, let it stop raining.
Reposted by Suw
I don’t know who needs to hear this, but: You can make chocolate chip cookie dough, portion it out onto baking sheets, freeze it, and transfer the raw cookies to a container. Then bake them a few at a time, from frozen — warm homemade cookies in twenty minutes or so, whenever you want.
February 9, 2026 at 10:12 PM
I don’t know who needs to hear this, but: You can make chocolate chip cookie dough, portion it out onto baking sheets, freeze it, and transfer the raw cookies to a container. Then bake them a few at a time, from frozen — warm homemade cookies in twenty minutes or so, whenever you want.
So first Christmas of the pandemic, we put our fairy lights up and never took them down. In fact, we started to doing seasonal decorations, which other people might find twee but we love. My anniversary season decorations this year are late up, cos of my ankle, but they are at least now up.
February 9, 2026 at 9:19 PM
So first Christmas of the pandemic, we put our fairy lights up and never took them down. In fact, we started to doing seasonal decorations, which other people might find twee but we love. My anniversary season decorations this year are late up, cos of my ankle, but they are at least now up.
Right, fellow Welsh learners, I am taking the plunge: My new structured practice program is ready for early birds at just £5 pcm until 31 March. Properly learn all the grammar your course skimmed over, expand your vocabulary, and grow your confidence!
ymestyn.cymru
#dysgucymraeg
ymestyn.cymru
#dysgucymraeg
Croeso i Ymestyn - Ymestyn
Welcome to Ymestyn, where you can become fluent in Welsh through regular structured practice. Online and in-person courses and language learning apps […]
ymestyn.cymru
February 9, 2026 at 3:27 PM
Right, fellow Welsh learners, I am taking the plunge: My new structured practice program is ready for early birds at just £5 pcm until 31 March. Properly learn all the grammar your course skimmed over, expand your vocabulary, and grow your confidence!
ymestyn.cymru
#dysgucymraeg
ymestyn.cymru
#dysgucymraeg
Reposted by Suw
Clearly ‘I will not use LLMs to generate documents submitted to the court’ needs to become part of the standard retainer agreement.
Lawyer sets new standard for abuse of AI; judge tosses case
Behold the most overwrought AI legal filings you will ever gaze upon.
arstechnica.com
February 9, 2026 at 1:08 PM
Clearly ‘I will not use LLMs to generate documents submitted to the court’ needs to become part of the standard retainer agreement.
The more I learn Welsh, the more I realise how fucked up English is.
February 9, 2026 at 12:29 PM
The more I learn Welsh, the more I realise how fucked up English is.
I have already done the most important thing on my To Do List today, which is order more cocoa powder. Can't be going without my morning hot chocolate.
February 9, 2026 at 10:04 AM
I have already done the most important thing on my To Do List today, which is order more cocoa powder. Can't be going without my morning hot chocolate.
@grabbity.bsky.social was at my desk 45 mins before me this morning. She's spark out, though, which I wish I could be.
February 9, 2026 at 9:38 AM
@grabbity.bsky.social was at my desk 45 mins before me this morning. She's spark out, though, which I wish I could be.
Reposted by Suw
Your definitive guide to the sports of the Winter Olympics
February 9, 2026 at 8:26 AM
Your definitive guide to the sports of the Winter Olympics
Reposted by Suw
One point I haven't seen in the 'I make $$ with AI romance novels - pay me $$$ to learn how says wonan' discourse. Crooks need not rely on duping actual readers. They set up bot farms so thousands of fake accounts can download their KU ebooks and 'read' the required pages to trigger a KDP payout.
February 9, 2026 at 8:27 AM
One point I haven't seen in the 'I make $$ with AI romance novels - pay me $$$ to learn how says wonan' discourse. Crooks need not rely on duping actual readers. They set up bot farms so thousands of fake accounts can download their KU ebooks and 'read' the required pages to trigger a KDP payout.
Reposted by Suw
Dear Apple, When I told you “Remind Me Later” when you suggested an upgrade to iOS 26.x, what I really meant was “Fuck off”, but that wasn’t on offer. Just so you know….
February 9, 2026 at 1:03 AM
Dear Apple, When I told you “Remind Me Later” when you suggested an upgrade to iOS 26.x, what I really meant was “Fuck off”, but that wasn’t on offer. Just so you know….
Reposted by Suw
Wasn't aware that Zaphod Beeblebrox was a key trend for Spring...
February 8, 2026 at 7:25 PM
Wasn't aware that Zaphod Beeblebrox was a key trend for Spring...
Reposted by Suw
I never noticed this either.
February 8, 2026 at 7:09 PM
I never noticed this either.
Reposted by Suw
Our new album "Twilight" is done. It'll be coming out in September. More details on our website x https://www.jesusjones.com/new-album-news-twilight/
February 8, 2026 at 6:53 PM
Our new album "Twilight" is done. It'll be coming out in September. More details on our website x https://www.jesusjones.com/new-album-news-twilight/
Reposted by Suw
It's crazy to churn out 200 books a year with A.I. Why should anyone want to read a book that you couldn't even be bothered to write?
There are so many great books that were lovingly written and rewritten and then rewritten again by people and so little time to read them all. Just ... why do this?
There are so many great books that were lovingly written and rewritten and then rewritten again by people and so little time to read them all. Just ... why do this?
I don't see how self-publishing world survives GenAI. It's going to be an absurd increase in slop books with no reason to expect any increase in paying readers.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/08/b...
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/08/b...
February 8, 2026 at 1:59 PM
It's crazy to churn out 200 books a year with A.I. Why should anyone want to read a book that you couldn't even be bothered to write?
There are so many great books that were lovingly written and rewritten and then rewritten again by people and so little time to read them all. Just ... why do this?
There are so many great books that were lovingly written and rewritten and then rewritten again by people and so little time to read them all. Just ... why do this?
Reposted by Suw
My cartoon for this week’s @newscientist.com
February 8, 2026 at 11:29 AM
My cartoon for this week’s @newscientist.com
Reposted by Suw
I've been in absolute awe at this picture for years. I didn't realise he was THAT far away from safety though!
In this photo, taken #OTD in 1984, Bruce McCandless is an *football field away from the space shuttle with no safety tether.*
No astronaut, before or since, has been that far away from their ship while in orbit. (2/n)
No astronaut, before or since, has been that far away from their ship while in orbit. (2/n)
February 7, 2026 at 8:15 PM
I've been in absolute awe at this picture for years. I didn't realise he was THAT far away from safety though!
Quite pleased with this little bit of invisible mending.
February 7, 2026 at 6:07 PM
Quite pleased with this little bit of invisible mending.