Jim Nicell (👊🇨🇦🔥)
@jimnicell.bsky.social
Professor and former Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, McGill University, spouse of a wonder woman, father of 3 men of great character and promise, book and uranium glass addict, and devoted sustainabilist. Not on Twitter. Views are mine alone.
My family helped with a local food drive on the West Island of Montreal yesterday. We were overwhelmed with the generosity we experienced this year. Times are tough and many are rising to the occasion. Thanks to all who gave!
December 9, 2025 at 12:03 AM
My family helped with a local food drive on the West Island of Montreal yesterday. We were overwhelmed with the generosity we experienced this year. Times are tough and many are rising to the occasion. Thanks to all who gave!
Lots of die hards still bike to McGill University every day, despite the snow.
November 11, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Lots of die hards still bike to McGill University every day, despite the snow.
The words of Nikolai Ivanovich Bukharin as they appear in the 1971 biography by Stephen F. Cohen. Sounds familiar, doesn’t it?
November 8, 2025 at 3:15 PM
The words of Nikolai Ivanovich Bukharin as they appear in the 1971 biography by Stephen F. Cohen. Sounds familiar, doesn’t it?
What does his toilet look like?
October 7, 2025 at 10:10 PM
What does his toilet look like?
I rarely give a book 5 stars. The Family Roe (2021) by Joshua Prager deserves it because it is not only a very solid and engaging book, it also changed me. The story of Norma McCorvey(aka Jane Roe) is complex, as are the lives of so many others implicated in the Roe vs Wade story and legacy. #books
September 21, 2025 at 2:53 PM
I rarely give a book 5 stars. The Family Roe (2021) by Joshua Prager deserves it because it is not only a very solid and engaging book, it also changed me. The story of Norma McCorvey(aka Jane Roe) is complex, as are the lives of so many others implicated in the Roe vs Wade story and legacy. #books
In 1998, I spent 2 weeks on my honeymoon a few hundred kilometres from the North Pole. I brought along Miguel de Cervantes “Don Quixote”. To this day, I wonder if I hold the record for the northernmost reader of this book. #books
August 26, 2025 at 9:55 PM
In 1998, I spent 2 weeks on my honeymoon a few hundred kilometres from the North Pole. I brought along Miguel de Cervantes “Don Quixote”. To this day, I wonder if I hold the record for the northernmost reader of this book. #books
It's been a great trip to Manitoba. The bad news is that it is going to be longer than we expected. Due to the strike, Air Canada has given us a refund for our return plane tickets (congrats) and left it to us to figure out how to get home (sorry). No flights, trains or buses available this week.
August 18, 2025 at 12:24 AM
It's been a great trip to Manitoba. The bad news is that it is going to be longer than we expected. Due to the strike, Air Canada has given us a refund for our return plane tickets (congrats) and left it to us to figure out how to get home (sorry). No flights, trains or buses available this week.
I’m back in the Land of the Big Sky, Near Mariapolis, Manitoba, Canada. A favourite place of mine to photograph.
August 11, 2025 at 10:14 PM
I’m back in the Land of the Big Sky, Near Mariapolis, Manitoba, Canada. A favourite place of mine to photograph.
A beautiful new addition to my uranium glass collection: a John Turner & Co. biscuit jar (circa 1910-16). #uraniumglass #itglows
July 28, 2025 at 4:24 PM
A beautiful new addition to my uranium glass collection: a John Turner & Co. biscuit jar (circa 1910-16). #uraniumglass #itglows
A recent find for my collection: A cocktail shaker and 6 matching glasses. I haven’t figured out the manufacturer yet, although the shaker was sold by the Imperial Candy Co in the 1930s, likely filled with treats. #uraniumglass
June 22, 2025 at 8:41 PM
A recent find for my collection: A cocktail shaker and 6 matching glasses. I haven’t figured out the manufacturer yet, although the shaker was sold by the Imperial Candy Co in the 1930s, likely filled with treats. #uraniumglass
Took some time today on my walk to the train to smell some flowers.
June 18, 2025 at 12:27 PM
Took some time today on my walk to the train to smell some flowers.
During a Fox interview, the founder of Anduril claims that the cost of Trump's Golden Dome will "not be as expensive" and will be "much more effective" than critics believe. Would you trust this person, especially when he stands to benefit financially from contracts on this project?
June 4, 2025 at 7:22 PM
During a Fox interview, the founder of Anduril claims that the cost of Trump's Golden Dome will "not be as expensive" and will be "much more effective" than critics believe. Would you trust this person, especially when he stands to benefit financially from contracts on this project?
Metric units are logical and useful, but English units are a lot more fun. Convince me otherwise.
June 3, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Metric units are logical and useful, but English units are a lot more fun. Convince me otherwise.
Life will find a way.
June 3, 2025 at 11:51 AM
Life will find a way.
For uranium glass aficionados, here is my latest find: a pair of art deco drapery holdbacks. #uraniumglass
June 3, 2025 at 1:12 AM
For uranium glass aficionados, here is my latest find: a pair of art deco drapery holdbacks. #uraniumglass
A flying selfie on this beautiful evening.
June 3, 2025 at 1:09 AM
A flying selfie on this beautiful evening.
Can it really be 48 years already? I saw Star Wars that summer and a few years later lined up overnight in Montreal with my friends to see the opening show of The Empire Strikes Back.
May 25, 2025 at 8:06 PM
Can it really be 48 years already? I saw Star Wars that summer and a few years later lined up overnight in Montreal with my friends to see the opening show of The Empire Strikes Back.
It’s Friday, so it’s time to share something that makes me happy. These are my favourite flowers in our garden: Fritillaria imperialis, the crown imperial, imperial fritillary, Kaiser's crown, or Kurdish tulip.
May 16, 2025 at 1:33 PM
It’s Friday, so it’s time to share something that makes me happy. These are my favourite flowers in our garden: Fritillaria imperialis, the crown imperial, imperial fritillary, Kaiser's crown, or Kurdish tulip.
Well played, indeed.
May 5, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Well played, indeed.
Canada owes a debt of thanks to Jagmeet Singh, who has served as the leader of the NDP since 2017. While I haven't been an big NDP supporter, I have always seen them as Canada's consience. He has served our country with singular dedication, integrity and humanity. Thanks for everything, Mr. Singh.
April 30, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Canada owes a debt of thanks to Jagmeet Singh, who has served as the leader of the NDP since 2017. While I haven't been an big NDP supporter, I have always seen them as Canada's consience. He has served our country with singular dedication, integrity and humanity. Thanks for everything, Mr. Singh.
I've been thinking about literary characters who resemble Donald Trump and I keep coming back to "The Mule" in Azimov's Foundation trilogy. In addition to being a completely unpredictable character who shifts the course of history, there are many other similarities. #books
April 26, 2025 at 3:56 PM
I've been thinking about literary characters who resemble Donald Trump and I keep coming back to "The Mule" in Azimov's Foundation trilogy. In addition to being a completely unpredictable character who shifts the course of history, there are many other similarities. #books