dfphil
@dfphil.bsky.social
Scientist, jazz-lover and New Englander.
Another picture from Las Palmas in the Canary Islands from a decade ago. Telescopes are to my left as I take this picture. On our first trip we stayed in a vacation rental at the sea just to the right of what is visible and drove up the mountain every day.
February 2, 2026 at 1:24 AM
Another picture from Las Palmas in the Canary Islands from a decade ago. Telescopes are to my left as I take this picture. On our first trip we stayed in a vacation rental at the sea just to the right of what is visible and drove up the mountain every day.
Celebrating Joshua Redman’s birthday by listening to the first of his albums I ever bought: Spirit of the Moment from 1995 with Peter Martin (p) Christopher James Thomas (b), and the subtly unstoppable Brian Blade (d).
February 1, 2026 at 5:37 PM
Celebrating Joshua Redman’s birthday by listening to the first of his albums I ever bought: Spirit of the Moment from 1995 with Peter Martin (p) Christopher James Thomas (b), and the subtly unstoppable Brian Blade (d).
A picture from the European Northern Observatory on La Palma in the Canary Islands taken almost twelve years ago. The GTC, the Large Canary Islands Telescope, is the large dome in the image. (I’m in it for the sunset, though)
January 28, 2026 at 1:40 AM
A picture from the European Northern Observatory on La Palma in the Canary Islands taken almost twelve years ago. The GTC, the Large Canary Islands Telescope, is the large dome in the image. (I’m in it for the sunset, though)
Tonight’s drink is called “In Cold Blood” and is equal parts rye, sweet vermouth, and cynar. (I ran out of sweet vermouth over the weekend and the storm has kept me from getting more. This has Punt y Mes instead. Perhaps En Sangre
Fria)
Fria)
January 26, 2026 at 11:41 PM
Tonight’s drink is called “In Cold Blood” and is equal parts rye, sweet vermouth, and cynar. (I ran out of sweet vermouth over the weekend and the storm has kept me from getting more. This has Punt y Mes instead. Perhaps En Sangre
Fria)
Fria)
Los Hombres Calientes in New Orleans just shy of ten years ago. (I had no idea who was performing at this club in New Orleans. As the percussionist tunes up his beer bottle and launches into the intro to Watermelon Man my eyes lit up. Oh!)
January 24, 2026 at 4:07 PM
Los Hombres Calientes in New Orleans just shy of ten years ago. (I had no idea who was performing at this club in New Orleans. As the percussionist tunes up his beer bottle and launches into the intro to Watermelon Man my eyes lit up. Oh!)
Sunday night of a long weekend drink is a modified version of Yesterday Today Amaro. Recipe calls for rye, cynar, Averna, Benedictine. It tasted unbalanced so I added some sweet vermouth which helped.
January 18, 2026 at 9:49 PM
Sunday night of a long weekend drink is a modified version of Yesterday Today Amaro. Recipe calls for rye, cynar, Averna, Benedictine. It tasted unbalanced so I added some sweet vermouth which helped.
Tonight’s cocktail is an old standby: the Last Word. It’s equal parts gin, Maraschino Liquor, Green Chartreuse, and lime. I’m always skeptical of equal parts drinks (how can that be balanced?) and that’s a lot of Maraschino. It’s yummy though. Don’t tell Death & Co that I added a garnish
January 17, 2026 at 9:47 PM
Tonight’s cocktail is an old standby: the Last Word. It’s equal parts gin, Maraschino Liquor, Green Chartreuse, and lime. I’m always skeptical of equal parts drinks (how can that be balanced?) and that’s a lot of Maraschino. It’s yummy though. Don’t tell Death & Co that I added a garnish
Meanwhile we are sitting around working (or in my case goofing off) listening to Die Walküre from Wagner’s Ring Cycle. When the actual Ride of the Valkyries started, I giggled. Not sure if that’s a bugs bunny reaction, an Apocalypse Now reaction or a Caltech reaction
January 10, 2026 at 10:07 PM
Meanwhile we are sitting around working (or in my case goofing off) listening to Die Walküre from Wagner’s Ring Cycle. When the actual Ride of the Valkyries started, I giggled. Not sure if that’s a bugs bunny reaction, an Apocalypse Now reaction or a Caltech reaction
Tonight’s drink is a Mulled Boulevardier: bourbon (Taconic Distillery), mulled sweet vermouth (leftover from last week’s mulled Negroni) and Campari served on the rocks in vintage glassware
January 10, 2026 at 9:57 PM
Tonight’s drink is a Mulled Boulevardier: bourbon (Taconic Distillery), mulled sweet vermouth (leftover from last week’s mulled Negroni) and Campari served on the rocks in vintage glassware
See a bridge, post a bridge
January 4, 2026 at 3:10 PM
See a bridge, post a bridge
I'll go with Borges's "The Library of Babel" or any Borges collection containing it.
January 2, 2026 at 3:16 AM
I'll go with Borges's "The Library of Babel" or any Borges collection containing it.
From the same evening, some Sandhill Cranes
January 2, 2026 at 12:28 AM
From the same evening, some Sandhill Cranes
The sun setting behind windmills in the California Central Valley a few years ago
January 2, 2026 at 12:26 AM
The sun setting behind windmills in the California Central Valley a few years ago
Tonight’s drink is the bourbon derby with bourbon, sweet vermouth, Grand Marnier, and lime juice
December 31, 2025 at 11:12 PM
Tonight’s drink is the bourbon derby with bourbon, sweet vermouth, Grand Marnier, and lime juice
One more pic from the top of the ridge
December 31, 2025 at 6:41 PM
One more pic from the top of the ridge
Got in a nice walk this morning tromping through the snow past old farm equipment
December 31, 2025 at 6:38 PM
Got in a nice walk this morning tromping through the snow past old farm equipment
Tonight’s #cocktail is The Black Prince from the Death and Co book. It has run, punt y mes, Averna, and orange bitters. I added an orange peel for garnish
December 29, 2025 at 11:01 PM
Tonight’s #cocktail is The Black Prince from the Death and Co book. It has run, punt y mes, Averna, and orange bitters. I added an orange peel for garnish
Tonight’s drink with @carlamiriam.bsky.social is the mulled Negroni: gin, mulled sweet vermouth, and Campari
December 26, 2025 at 11:11 PM
Tonight’s drink with @carlamiriam.bsky.social is the mulled Negroni: gin, mulled sweet vermouth, and Campari
Last year at this time (actually in mid-December) I was at the National Portrait Gallery. I didn’t want to walk all the way from where I was staying back to the National Mall but the Portrait Gallery is amazing. Here’s Audubon:
December 26, 2025 at 9:41 PM
Last year at this time (actually in mid-December) I was at the National Portrait Gallery. I didn’t want to walk all the way from where I was staying back to the National Mall but the Portrait Gallery is amazing. Here’s Audubon:
Watch out for the ducks. They’re extra hungry this time of year. Best not to antagonize them
December 26, 2025 at 9:38 PM
Watch out for the ducks. They’re extra hungry this time of year. Best not to antagonize them
Tonight’s drink is a Boston Sour: bourbon, lemon juice, simple syrup, and egg whites
December 25, 2025 at 11:16 PM
Tonight’s drink is a Boston Sour: bourbon, lemon juice, simple syrup, and egg whites
One of my Christmas break rituals is to go to the MFA in Boston. I haven’t done it the last few years but I’m there now!
December 24, 2025 at 4:22 PM
One of my Christmas break rituals is to go to the MFA in Boston. I haven’t done it the last few years but I’m there now!
The number one movie when you were ten years old will define your 2026
December 20, 2025 at 12:55 PM
The number one movie when you were ten years old will define your 2026
While the solstice is still a week away the sun is already setting later. The equation of time is weird.
December 15, 2025 at 6:57 PM
While the solstice is still a week away the sun is already setting later. The equation of time is weird.