Nick Gibbins
@nick.gark.net
Computer science lecturer, film and SF geek, gaming nerd (particularly the #TravellerRPG), manned spaceflight aficionado (but nothing Musky). cis, he/him.
I suspect that there's a non-trivial overlap between the set of lamppost flag-hangers, the set of those who do not attend Remembrance Sunday services, and the set of those who complain when a parade stops them from driving their cars.
November 9, 2025 at 12:25 PM
I suspect that there's a non-trivial overlap between the set of lamppost flag-hangers, the set of those who do not attend Remembrance Sunday services, and the set of those who complain when a parade stops them from driving their cars.
Out with my scout group this morning for Remembrance Sunday, and was discussing with my fellow leaders the possibility next year of parading from the nearby gurdwara to the church (interfaith ftw).
November 9, 2025 at 12:25 PM
Out with my scout group this morning for Remembrance Sunday, and was discussing with my fellow leaders the possibility next year of parading from the nearby gurdwara to the church (interfaith ftw).
I mean, it’s not exactly a common surname, but somehow the merest twinkle of an inkling had never intruded upon my (apparently) rather thick skull.
What a maroon. What a ultramaroon.
What a maroon. What a ultramaroon.
bugs bunny is standing in the desert with a cactus in the background and says `` what a maroon '' .
Alt: Bugs Bunny is facepalming at my stupidity.
media.tenor.com
November 9, 2025 at 8:51 AM
I mean, it’s not exactly a common surname, but somehow the merest twinkle of an inkling had never intruded upon my (apparently) rather thick skull.
What a maroon. What a ultramaroon.
What a maroon. What a ultramaroon.
And yes, I too had several friends who worked for him over the years at Sanger, and they all had nothing but good to say about him.
November 9, 2025 at 8:40 AM
And yes, I too had several friends who worked for him over the years at Sanger, and they all had nothing but good to say about him.
OMFG. I had no idea they were related!
(I’m clearly a little short on the uptake)
(I’m clearly a little short on the uptake)
November 9, 2025 at 8:38 AM
OMFG. I had no idea they were related!
(I’m clearly a little short on the uptake)
(I’m clearly a little short on the uptake)
tbh, the bear is looking rather more stressed than you are.
November 7, 2025 at 2:43 PM
tbh, the bear is looking rather more stressed than you are.
A short but eventful trip in a tumbril?
November 7, 2025 at 2:37 PM
A short but eventful trip in a tumbril?
I once managed to show reel 3 of Terminator 2 in place of reel 3 of Terminator. Took a while to realise what was wrong…
November 6, 2025 at 7:38 PM
I once managed to show reel 3 of Terminator 2 in place of reel 3 of Terminator. Took a while to realise what was wrong…
I now recognise our rookie error.
November 6, 2025 at 1:48 PM
I now recognise our rookie error.
It’s all fun and games until your 2yo takes the lid off their emotional support marker in bed.
November 6, 2025 at 1:13 PM
It’s all fun and games until your 2yo takes the lid off their emotional support marker in bed.
Also, wasn’t your infamous “A Night in Casablanca” instead of “Casablanca” mixup of one Ken Troy’s mistakes?
November 6, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Also, wasn’t your infamous “A Night in Casablanca” instead of “Casablanca” mixup of one Ken Troy’s mistakes?
But (from my experience at Warwick), we tended to use Ken for 35mm and Filmbank for 16mm. It feels unlikely that there were 35mm prints of Flesh Gordon.
November 6, 2025 at 1:00 PM
But (from my experience at Warwick), we tended to use Ken for 35mm and Filmbank for 16mm. It feels unlikely that there were 35mm prints of Flesh Gordon.
But it doesn’t answer the most important question: Troy or Filmbank?
November 6, 2025 at 12:25 PM
But it doesn’t answer the most important question: Troy or Filmbank?
I think that “think” is wishful thinking on your part.
November 5, 2025 at 7:40 AM
I think that “think” is wishful thinking on your part.
She has been known to wear her glasses while showering because she can’t see the controls otherwise.
November 1, 2025 at 12:52 AM
She has been known to wear her glasses while showering because she can’t see the controls otherwise.
I have moderate myopia. My teachers noticed when I migrated to the front of the class (at age 7) but was still squinting at the blackboard.
My wife has severe myopia (about -12) and was in her teens before she realised that there were different species of birds.
My wife has severe myopia (about -12) and was in her teens before she realised that there were different species of birds.
October 31, 2025 at 8:28 PM
I have moderate myopia. My teachers noticed when I migrated to the front of the class (at age 7) but was still squinting at the blackboard.
My wife has severe myopia (about -12) and was in her teens before she realised that there were different species of birds.
My wife has severe myopia (about -12) and was in her teens before she realised that there were different species of birds.
Wait, what? Free wine on a ferry? You don’t see that on Birkenhead to Belfast.
October 30, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Wait, what? Free wine on a ferry? You don’t see that on Birkenhead to Belfast.
As for For All Mankind:
S1 is worth watching - decent art direction and design, even if the underlying alternate history (starting from the survival of Korolev in 1965) is rather implausible and some of the engineering is suspect.
The subsequent seasons become progressively more far-fetched.
S1 is worth watching - decent art direction and design, even if the underlying alternate history (starting from the survival of Korolev in 1965) is rather implausible and some of the engineering is suspect.
The subsequent seasons become progressively more far-fetched.
October 28, 2025 at 2:56 PM
As for For All Mankind:
S1 is worth watching - decent art direction and design, even if the underlying alternate history (starting from the survival of Korolev in 1965) is rather implausible and some of the engineering is suspect.
The subsequent seasons become progressively more far-fetched.
S1 is worth watching - decent art direction and design, even if the underlying alternate history (starting from the survival of Korolev in 1965) is rather implausible and some of the engineering is suspect.
The subsequent seasons become progressively more far-fetched.
Does that result in an earlier first moon landing or not? (given that a side-effect of the Apollo 1 fire was to provide some breathing space to fix the snags in the LM)
October 28, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Does that result in an earlier first moon landing or not? (given that a side-effect of the Apollo 1 fire was to provide some breathing space to fix the snags in the LM)
Also: the reason we mostly don't use them is because schools over-emphasise them, often with extensive guidance on writing them and with detailed feedback from tutors on drafts, and the students' own voices are often lost.
October 28, 2025 at 2:50 PM
Also: the reason we mostly don't use them is because schools over-emphasise them, often with extensive guidance on writing them and with detailed feedback from tutors on drafts, and the students' own voices are often lost.
I tend to agree - he assumes a level of political will that did not exist and (iirc, in Voyage at least) does not really address the effects that the tail end of the Vietnam War would have had on budgetary contraints.
Still, it's generally more plausible than For All Mankind.
Still, it's generally more plausible than For All Mankind.
October 28, 2025 at 2:40 PM
I tend to agree - he assumes a level of political will that did not exist and (iirc, in Voyage at least) does not really address the effects that the tail end of the Vietnam War would have had on budgetary contraints.
Still, it's generally more plausible than For All Mankind.
Still, it's generally more plausible than For All Mankind.
I see that you’ve steered well clear of commenting on the depiction of the UK in the Survivor’s Guide, even though it inadvertently highlighted the US-centric nature of Tw2k. Probably wise.
(and an excellent paper - will reread this evening after this morning’s quick skim over breakfast)
(and an excellent paper - will reread this evening after this morning’s quick skim over breakfast)
October 28, 2025 at 8:21 AM
I see that you’ve steered well clear of commenting on the depiction of the UK in the Survivor’s Guide, even though it inadvertently highlighted the US-centric nature of Tw2k. Probably wise.
(and an excellent paper - will reread this evening after this morning’s quick skim over breakfast)
(and an excellent paper - will reread this evening after this morning’s quick skim over breakfast)