Chris Samuel
LightNews LightNews
banner
chris-bloke.mastodon.acm.org.ap.brid.gy
Chris Samuel
@chris-bloke.mastodon.acm.org.ap.brid.gy
7 followers 3 following 160 posts
A Welsh/Aussie #HPC geek with lifelong interests in archaeology, history, astronomy and computing.

Cardiff -> Aberystwyth -> Malvern -> Melbourne -> Berkeley […]

🌉 bridged from ⁂ https://mastodon.acm.org/@chris_bloke, follow @ap.brid.gy to interact
Posts Replies Media Videos
chris-bloke.mastodon.acm.org.ap.brid.gy
OK OK, so not quite a mastodon, but a mammoth day here today! 🙌 Thanks to the PBS Eons folks on their Patreon I'm now the custodians of two 1/18th scale models and a 1/35th scale model of mammoths!

The project is on BackerKit […]

[Original post on mastodon.acm.org]
A photo of a 1/35th scale model of an adult woolly mammoth walking right to left, with a painted diorama behind it showing some early horses running. A photo of a pair of 1/18th scale models, one of an adult woolly mammoth and another of a calf walking left to right, dusted with snow. They're standing on a place mat on a table.
November 30, 2025 at 10:21 PM
chris-bloke.mastodon.acm.org.ap.brid.gy
Calling all palaeontologists - I think I’ve solved for once and for all why the non-avian dinosaurs went extinct!
Photo of a packaged toy in a store showing a 4x4 with oversized wheels about to run over a triceratops.
November 29, 2025 at 4:19 PM
chris-bloke.mastodon.acm.org.ap.brid.gy
Marisol's great grandfather also fought in World War 1, in the American Expeditionary Force. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for bravery and despite his wounds he refused to be evacuated until all wounded enlisted men had been evacuated first.

#ww1 #armisticeday #veteransday
A photograph of an American officer sitting in uniform in a studio, arms crossed, looking at the camera.
November 11, 2025 at 9:25 PM
chris-bloke.mastodon.acm.org.ap.brid.gy
Also remembering my late wife's grandfather who also served on the Western Front in WW1 as part of the ANZAC forces there and who stayed on after as part of the Commonwealth War Graves detachment to recover the remains of the fallen for proper burial. I […]

[Original post on mastodon.acm.org]
A colour photograph of an elderly man with short hair and wearing a grey V kneck sweater.
November 11, 2025 at 1:29 PM
chris-bloke.mastodon.acm.org.ap.brid.gy
Today is Armistice Day - these are photos of my grandfather who was part of the BEF and served in France from 1916-1918 and thankfully returned home in 1919 with just a minor injury.

Lest we forget.
Photo of a young private soldier in British WW1 military uniform. He's carrying a swagger stick and stands against a white background. Aged and wrinkled sepia photograph of a private soldier in British WW1 uniform kneeling in what looks like a magnified part of a larger group photo, the leg of the soldiers to the right and behind him are visible.
November 11, 2025 at 1:25 PM
chris-bloke.mastodon.acm.org.ap.brid.gy
Out for a walk today and came across a few crocus in flower - apparently there are some that do flower in autumn! #bloomscrolling
A photo of a crocus in flower against a background of autumn leaves.
November 2, 2025 at 10:42 PM
chris-bloke.mastodon.acm.org.ap.brid.gy
Autumn colours from this mornings walk on the edge of Philadelphia.
A photo of bright red/orange leaves on an acer of some form, with blue sky in the background.
November 2, 2025 at 2:45 PM
chris-bloke.mastodon.acm.org.ap.brid.gy
A bit of aircraft history today - BA Concorde G-BOAB ("Alpha Bravo") at LHR, seen from inside AA737 taxiing from Terminal 3 to the runway to head back to Philly. #avgeek
Photo taken out of the window (from some distance) of the tail of Concorde G-BOAB showing the tail and registration number. Photo taken out of the window (from some distance) of the nose of Concorde G-BOAB at LHR.
October 11, 2025 at 12:18 AM
chris-bloke.mastodon.acm.org.ap.brid.gy
The aircraft that did the flyover for the Eagles game today popped up again looking to be heading into the airport for the 177th Fighter Wing New Jersey Air National Guard, so presumably these were F-16C's.

So Falcon's, not Eagles. Someone get whoever arranged this an ornithologist, stat. 😉 #avgeek
Screenshot of ADSB Exchange showing the aircraft that did the flyover apparently heading into the airport for the 177th Fighter Wing New Jersey Air National Guard.
September 21, 2025 at 5:17 PM
chris-bloke.mastodon.acm.org.ap.brid.gy
After a dozen or so flyovers here at ~2800 feet they headed off into the city at low level for the start of the Eagles game. Still no idea what aircraft they were. 🙂 #avgeek
Screenshot of ADSB Exchange showing military aircraft heading towards the Eagles game in the city for a flyover.
September 21, 2025 at 5:07 PM
chris-bloke.mastodon.acm.org.ap.brid.gy
Currently being buzzed in Chestnut Hill by a pair of military aircraft in close formation doing racetracks to the north of Philly. Presumably stooging around waiting for the time to do a flyover of the Eagles game today. Random hex ID so no ID. https://globe.adsbexchange.com/?icao=~27a10e
Screenshot of ADSB Exchange showing the flight path of a pair of military aircraft in close formation doing oval shape "racetracks" to the north of Philadelphia. Flying at (currently) 2,800 feet and 367 knots.
September 21, 2025 at 4:38 PM
chris-bloke.mastodon.acm.org.ap.brid.gy
I sense a theme to Glossika tonight, but I can't quite put my finger on it. Oh well, I think I'll stay in.
#welsh #cymraeg 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿
Glossika trying to teach me Welsh. English: He'd rather not go out tonight. Welsh: Byddai'n well ganddo beidio â mynd allan heno. Glossika trying to teach me Welsh: English: Zhirong would prefer not to go out. Welsh: Byddai'n well gan Zhirong beidio â mynd allan. Glossika trying to teach me Welsh: English: Jessica would rather not go out. Welsh: Byddai'n well gan Jessica beidio â mynd allan.
August 16, 2025 at 5:20 AM
chris-bloke.mastodon.acm.org.ap.brid.gy
The fuel reduction goats are back on the Berkeley Hills, hooray! They arrived about a week ago and have been munching their way through this part of Tilden Park to reduce the fuel for fires as they get moved from area to area. There is a big white dog that's […]

[Original post on mastodon.acm.org]
A photo of an area of Tilden Park on the Berkeley Hills showing an electric fence with part of a large herd of goats visible inside it (there's also a specially trained dog here, not in view, that defends the herd). The grass inside the fence is notably shorter than the grass just outside it. There are trees in the distance and a sign in front that reads: CAUTION Electric Fence - AREA CLOSED National Parks Fuel Break Goat Grazing Program Do not Feed Goats Keep Dogs on Leash For more information call 510-690-6605. East Bay Regional Park District. A photo of a white goat with horns walking from left to right but with its face turned to the camera in interest. Behind it there is a large, old, felled, tree trunk on its side which, shortly after this picture was taken, the goat will use to scratch itself on. The foreground has short grass but in the background there are taller straggly bushes and goats behind them munching on the grass.
August 9, 2025 at 6:07 PM
chris-bloke.mastodon.acm.org.ap.brid.gy
@futurebird @sabik *cough* 42 *cough*
August 3, 2025 at 4:32 PM
chris-bloke.mastodon.acm.org.ap.brid.gy
Where’s AC/DC when you need them?
(Yes, I’ve got an earworm after seeing this)
A sun on a railway brush in Chestnut Hill in Philadelphia saying “Danger: High Voltage”.
August 1, 2025 at 1:09 PM
chris-bloke.mastodon.acm.org.ap.brid.gy
Them: "Play Geoguessr! See the world! Learn new things!"

Me: Er... "Kgakatsi Lobola Sheep Funeral Parlour" ? #geoguessr
A screenshot from Geoguessr (that uses Google Streetview) somewhere in South Africa showing a business sign that says "Kgakatsi Lobola Sheep Funeral Parlour" with a picture to the left of some sheep and a photo to the right of a rather large cow.
July 25, 2025 at 6:25 AM
chris-bloke.mastodon.acm.org.ap.brid.gy
Oh come on Glossika, make up your mind... #welsh #cymraeg 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿
Screenshot of Glossika trying to teach me Welsh. English: I'd prefer to sit on the floor. Welsh: Byddai'n well gen i eistedd ar y llawr. A screenshot of Glossika trying to teach me Welsh. English: I'd rather stand than sit. Welsh: Byddai'n well gen i sefyll nag eistedd. Screenshot of Glossika trying to teach me Welsh: English: I'd rather sit on the floor. Welsh: Byddai'n well gen i eistedd ar y llawr.
July 20, 2025 at 5:48 AM
chris-bloke.mastodon.acm.org.ap.brid.gy
Drama at Glossika in this mornings Welsh lesson. Calling all cars... 🚔 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿
A screenshot of Glossika trying to teach me Welsh. The first sign of trouble. English: Gustavo took my bike without asking Welsh: Cymerodd Gustavo fy meic heb ofyn. Glossika trying to teach me Welsh - the plot thickens English: My key has been stolen Welsh: Mae fy ngoriad wedi cael ei ddwyn. Glossika trying to teach me Welsh - drama intensifies English: Somebody has stolen my keys Welsh: Mae rhywun wedi dwyn fy ngoriadau.
July 3, 2025 at 1:08 PM
chris-bloke.mastodon.acm.org.ap.brid.gy
TIL that the Cymraeg/Welsh for the English word "parties" is "partïon" and that the i with the diaeresis (ï) is pronounced separately to the following o, so it's pronounced "party-on". 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 🥳
July 1, 2025 at 12:40 AM
chris-bloke.mastodon.acm.org.ap.brid.gy
Bird brain is not the insult you think it is - a Coopers hawk in West Orange NJ appeared to have learned how humans pressing the cross walk button meant a longer than normal queue of cars would build up; This meant it could fly down the opposite side of the […]

[Original post on mastodon.acm.org]
Aerial photo showing the street in question and the path the Coopers Hawk took making its attack once the queue of cars had got to in front of house 8. That meant that from its vantage point in the tree in front of house 11 it could not be seen by the flock in front of house 2 and so it could fly down the opposite side of the road unseen before staging its attack. It only landed in the tree in front of 11 when it heard the signal indicating that someone had pressed the button.
June 21, 2025 at 8:43 PM
chris-bloke.mastodon.acm.org.ap.brid.gy
Big thunderstorm came through last night here in Philadelphia, now I know why there was a fire engine at the end of the street…
A tree having a rest on its side after a heavy night. It’s lying across a small Philadelphia street with its head on de-energised power lines.
June 20, 2025 at 12:09 PM
chris-bloke.mastodon.acm.org.ap.brid.gy
Glossika being topical in its teaching.
A screenshot of Glossika trying to teach me Welsh. The English says: "There's been a big increase in the cost of living" The Welsh says: "Bu cynnydd mawr mewn cost byw."
June 15, 2025 at 1:50 PM
chris-bloke.mastodon.acm.org.ap.brid.gy
One of these things is not like the other, Glossika..

English: It was more crowded than usual
Welsh: There were a lot of people on the bus
#cymraeg #welsh 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿
Glossika trying to teach me Welsh, except this time the English it gives me is: It was more crowded than usual. Whilst the Welsh it gives me is: Roedd llawer o bobl ar y bws Which means: There were a lot of people on the bus
June 14, 2025 at 7:01 AM
chris-bloke.mastodon.acm.org.ap.brid.gy
Black headed grosbeak on the feeder on Sunday. There's a family visiting it, including a young one they feed. Problem is they're very skittish, hard to get a good photo of them! #bird #nature
Photo of a black headed grosbeak, a bird with a black head, large beak, orange front and neck and mostly black back with some white mottling. It's on the left hand side of a bird feeder looking outwards.
June 12, 2025 at 2:22 AM