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Alison

@finger-post.blog

1.4K followers 340 following 2.6K posts

I write about the Franklin Expedition and other parts of history heavy on the “doomed” and “ill-fated” side of things. I also enjoy petting cats in Victorian cemeteries. Humanitarian. She/They. #MDANT. #NUJ. #NoTerfs. https://finger-post.blog

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Alison @finger-post.blog · Jun 12

A couple of years ago, underwater archaeologists working on the #FranklinExpedition wrecks told me that one of my articles had helped them to identify an object in Captain Francis Crozier's cabin on HMS Terror. Their site has been updated with images - and a credit! 🥹
parks.canada.ca/lhn-nhs/nu/e...

A screenshot from a page of artefacts recovered or located on the wrecks of HMS Erebus and HMS Terror by the Underwater Archaeology Team of Parks Canada.

The image shows a large wooden circle with the letter D on its right hand side. The object is heavily silted. It is located in the cabin of Captain Francis Moira Rawdon Crozier of HMS Terror.

Where was this artifact found?
These sizeable circular wooden artifacts have not been recovered. They were observed during remotely operated vehicle exploration of Captain Crozier’s cabin on Terror in August 2019. Similar circular wooden artifacts have been observed aboard Erebus.

What material is this artifact made of?
These artifacts appear to be made of four layers of wood stacked or laminated together. What appears to be a white letter “D” is visible on the upper surface of one of the artifacts.

What was this artifact used for?
These artifacts are believed to be part of a declination magnetometer, an instrument used to study the Earth’s magnetic field by measuring the horizontal angle between a magnetic needle and true or geographic north. Image 2 shows a declination magnetometer, from the Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, Vol. 18 (1848).

What do we know about this artifact?
Research into terrestrial magnetism was a major component of the expedition’s scientific mandate. The magnetic instruments sent aboard Erebus and Terror are listed in copies of letters from Lieutenant C. J. B. Riddell, found in The National Archives of the United Kingdom. Item 5 under “Declination Magnetometer” is a “Large circle and stand marked D.” Excerpts from these letters can be found on the blog maintained by researcher Alison Freebairn, whose work helped archaeologists identify these artifacts.

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Reposted by Alison

Ben Miller @extinctmonsters.bsky.social · 49m

What would it be like if cats and whales changed places? My partner sent me these pictures from a Russian children’s book and I can’t stop thinking about the little whale drinking from a saucer. 🐋

Illustration of a giant cat in the ocean with birds landing on it. Below, a tiny indoor house whale laps from a saucer

A tiny whale curled up on a bed. Above, tiny whale is silhouetted climbing in a fence at night

Giant sea cat amidst some ships with Russian text. Above, a small wall pounces at some mice, landing on its flippers

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Alison @finger-post.blog · 1h

Someone in this bar is dressed up as Steve Irwin complete with large inflatable crocodile and I am questioning so many of my recent choices.

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Alison @finger-post.blog · 6h

It is my solemn duty to report that a Big Ship is not stuck.

Image shows a blue sea under a deep sky that is many shades of blue. There are two palm trees. Between them is a deceptively small-looking ship that is actually really massive. It is under weigh and therefore not stuck.

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Reposted by Alison

Keith W. Dickinson @keithwdickinson.bsky.social · 9h

Today is a day when arts degrees are worthless, but the product of those degrees is so valuable it would kill an entire industry if they were made to pay for it.

The Verge @theverge.com · May 26

Nick Clegg says asking artists for use permission would ‘kill’ the AI industry

Paul McCartne, Elton John and others signed an open letter.

buff.ly

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Alison @finger-post.blog · 21h

[this comment has been deleted as it may be deemed offensive by the weak, impoverished academic publishers who in no way make squillions off the back of unpaid people, and then have the audacity to sell said writers' work to genAI without their consent]

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Reposted by Alison

Tom @zenithedtom.bsky.social · 1d

Currently the three highest polling parties in the UK are, in order: fash; a party trying to appease fash; and a party aspiring to be fash. It’s not great tbh

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Alison @finger-post.blog · 1d

"I fear for my loved ones. But every day, I pick up my camera, because their stories must be told."
www.ifrc.org/article/fron...

On the front lines of humanity: The unwavering dedication of Palestine Red Crescent Society volunteers and staff | IFRC

The unwavering dedication of Palestine Red Crescent Society volunteers and staff.

www.ifrc.org

Reposted by Alison

Pookleblinky @pookleblinky.bsky.social · 2d

Final Destination movie but instead of Death being sentient it's the Cat Distribution System.

The entire movie is improbable Rube Goldberg machines that end up with people acquiring cats

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Alison @finger-post.blog · 2d

My favourite Jilly Cooper story is recounted in Graham Hoyland's 2013 book Last Hours on Everest. What a trooper.

"We lay in a tent for three days in a blizzard. After the first morning we had each told our life stories, and we lay there gazing at the roof of the tent, wondering what to do next.

Luckily Mark had brought a copy of Jilly Cooper's Rivals, a breathily written romance, and Brice had a penknife. We carefully cut it up into three parts. Mark, as owner, was allowed to read it in sequence: A, B, then C. Brice got B, C, then A, but I - as the youngest - was lumbered with C, A, then B, and struggled to comprehend both the plot and the characters.

On our return Mark contacted Jilly Cooper and told her the story. She was delighted to have been able to satisfy three large men at once with only one book."

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Alison @finger-post.blog · 2d

Me, every minute of every day in 2025:

indiana jones and the last crusade movie poster with two men

Alt: Gif from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, showing Henry Jones telling Indy "This is intolerable".

media.tenor.com

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Alison @finger-post.blog · 2d

Describe your Bluesky account in one image:

The cover of the wonderful album Phantasmagoria by The Damned. The cover shows a spooky girl standing in Kensal Green Cemetery.

Alison @finger-post.blog · 2d

Thank you for not using his nom de prole.

Alison @finger-post.blog · 2d

Don’t underestimate the bad time I’m currently having, I might need you to send me all of them 😇

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Alison @finger-post.blog · 3d

Gorgeous. Needed that. Thank you.

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Alison @finger-post.blog · 3d

I love how cats, just before they leap, are furry little UXBs packed with geometry.

Image shows a beautiful and delicate little black cat (his name is Kuro) sizing up the bonnet of a white car and getting ready to spring up onto it. (He made the jump perfectly and then rolled around on the bonnet for snuggles.)

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Alison @finger-post.blog · 3d

Lazy bugger. Is he expecting her to walk over to him and cowp over into his hands boobs-first? Talk about putting in no effort to make a Temptation feel special.

Alison @finger-post.blog · 3d

Just heard a podcast host solemnly intone that an event “only exasperated the problems” and I feel I too am at a point where my problems are all exasperated.

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Alison @finger-post.blog · 3d

"Every single day, whether in Gaza, Sudan, or Ukraine, we think we have reached the worst possible point, and then the next day something even worse happens. It is, frankly, unbelievable."
wszystkoconajwazniejsze.pl/tommaso-dell...

Tommaso della LONGA: Humanitarian Law Is No Longer Taken for Granted

At the 80th UN General Assembly in New York, Tommaso della Longa, delivers a stark warning: humanitarian workers are being killed at unprecedented levels

wszystkoconajwazniejsze.pl

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Alison @finger-post.blog · 3d

It's so wild. There's spokespeople saying "we need to free up officers to deal with threats of terrorism and yet we have to pick up peaceful octogenarians and arrest them" and they're /so close/ to understanding and yet.

Alison @finger-post.blog · 3d

I thought nothing online would me angrier than the death of Google Reader and then Trove (Scottish) happened. Jesus effing kitteny Columba.

Reposted by Alison

New-Cleckit Dominie @ncdominie.bsky.social · 4d

My dad has turned up this photo from a visit "many years ago" to the Forth Bridge. I think it's taken from what he calls the howff, just below track level, used by the maintenance workers.

I guess when you're engaged in a proverbially endless task, you need a wee cup of tea once in a while.

Black and white photo showing a kettle on the sill of a very dirty window. Immediately outside the window is the very recognisable steelwork of the Forth Bridge.

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Alison @finger-post.blog · 3d

#RIPCanmore

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Alison @finger-post.blog · 3d

For the day that's in it. It was done before and we can do it again.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vv9i...

Ghosts of Cable street - The men they couldn't hang

YouTube video by Another Angry Voice

www.youtube.com

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Alison @finger-post.blog · 4d

It's smart. So many other people are showing incredible bravery in feeding themselves into this machine, when they don't have that cushion. But every image of a very old protestor being arrested is dogshit PR for the State and may the stench never wash off.

Alison @finger-post.blog · 4d

It's nice to see privilege - I own my house, I'm retired and so a criminal record won't wreck my earning potential - being used for good. I'd love to think it will make a difference too.

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