Mark Downie
LightNews LightNews
banner
poppastring.com
Mark Downie
@poppastring.com
1.2K followers 590 following 1.1K posts
🧑🏾‍💻OSS (dasBlog)
🏢PM @ Microsoft (Visual Studio, Core AI)
🏀📖🎸
✝️

poppastring.com/blog
Posts Replies Media Videos
poppastring.com
I still do! Most days I am wearing a fitness tracker but Sundays I go analogue.
January 4, 2026 at 7:28 PM
poppastring.com
Not sure what to make of the fact that vinyl sales have long surpassed CD salez
A vinyl cover of the jazz album A kind of blue, by Miles Davis.
January 1, 2026 at 7:15 PM
poppastring.com
Merry Christmas
Bronze statue of the words LOVE
December 25, 2025 at 6:47 PM
poppastring.com
More books for Christmas! ❄️

I am fascinated by the idea that we have so conveniently frozen constitutional meaning, so my wife got me "The originalism trap" by @audrelawdamercy.bsky.social

I was also blown away by the Elizabeth Catlett exhibit at the National Gallery of Art early this year!💗
A top-down view of three books stacked on a neutral-toned carpet. The primary book in the center is "The Originalism Trap" by Madiba K. Dennie, featuring a white cover with a large red "X" made of two quill pens. Partially tucked behind it to the right is "Fear of a Black Republic" by Leslie M. Alexander, showing a blue and red cover. In the background, a large black hardcover titled "Elizabeth & Margaret" by Andrew Morton is visible.
December 25, 2025 at 1:58 AM
poppastring.com
I was gifted a digital copy of "The Bright Ages" by @mekka.mekka-tech.com and I have not stopped talking about it. My wife got me physical copies for Christmas (in the hopes of shutting me up 🥰)!

Love the work of @profgabriele.com and @lollardfish.bsky.social
Two books on medieval history lie side by side on a textured gray fabric. The left book, Oathbreakers by Matthew Gabriele and David M. Perry, features a medieval sword hilt and subtitle about a fraternal war that reshaped Europe. The right book, The Bright Ages, has a blue and gold decorative cover and a glowing review quote from the Boston Globe.
December 24, 2025 at 11:52 PM
poppastring.com
The photography is by Arch-Exist.
A modern architectural structure with a sweeping arched roof and expansive glass facade, perched on a scenic hillside surrounded by greenery. The building features a curved outdoor deck supported by cylindrical columns and tiered wooden seating inside, where people are gathered in a relaxed, open setting. An elevated wooden observation deck with a curved design, nestled into a lush green hillside. A person stands on the platform, gazing out over the dense vegetation, while the structure blends seamlessly with the natural surroundings. A contemporary interior space with a sweeping arched wooden ceiling and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the ocean. The room features tiered seating with sculptural wooden tables and chairs arranged in a semi-circle, while sunlight casts dramatic shadows across the curved surfaces. Outside, a wooden deck extends toward the water, where two people enjoy the coastal view.
December 15, 2025 at 6:02 PM
poppastring.com
This is brutal. Not a single game. #wolves #premiership
Football league table showing statistics for West Ham United, Burnley, and Wolverhampton Wanderers after 15 games, including wins, draws, losses, goal difference, and points.
December 9, 2025 at 2:35 PM
poppastring.com
Flowing architecture by Frank Gehry #RIP #Architecture
Guggenheim Museum Bilbao with curving titanium-clad forms, Louise Bourgeois’ spider sculpture “Maman” in front, and colorful balloon sculpture near entrance, set along the Nervión River with cityscape and hills in background. Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP) in Seattle with flowing, curved metallic panels in varied textures and colors, featuring a futuristic sculptural design and glass entrance marked by red “MoPOP” signage.
December 7, 2025 at 4:06 AM
poppastring.com
LIVE IN EACH SEASON AS IT PASSES BREATHE THE AIR DRINK THE DRINK AND RESIGN YOURSELF TO THE INFLUENCE OF THE EARTH. #columbusmetroparks
Exterior of a modern building featuring a stone wall engraved with a poetic quote in large capital letters: “LIVE IN EACH SEASON AS IT PASSES BREATHE THE AIR DRINK THE DRINK AND RESIGN YOURSELF TO THE INFLUENCE OF THE EARTH.” The inscription promotes mindfulness and connection to nature. Adjacent metal siding and glass doors reflect a passerby, with landscaped surroundings and contemporary architecture. Modern building with olive-green horizontal siding and large black-framed glass windows reflecting nearby trees and structures. The architecture features sharp angles and clean lines, creating a sleek, contemporary appearance in an urban setting. Autumn landscape featuring a lake surrounded by trees with vibrant fall foliage. In the foreground, large rocks and dry grass frame the scene, while a concrete structure appears on the right. The sky is mostly clear with wispy clouds, and reflections in the water hint at a peaceful, natural setting.
November 22, 2025 at 4:42 AM
poppastring.com
A beautiful autumn day in Columbus Metro Parks #quarrytrail
A pair of swans swimming on a lake A swans swimming on a lake View of a river from a bridge. Trees on the banks of the river have autumnal hue. Sky is blue with a few wisps of clouds.
November 16, 2025 at 9:10 PM
poppastring.com
What's your display resolution? Mine looks like this at 1920x1080
November 14, 2025 at 3:46 PM
poppastring.com
Architect Terry Farrell, best-known for the postmodern MI6, died recently. My favorite building is his KK100 skyscraper, which is the world's tallest building by a British #architect.

[Photo by Carsten Schael]
Modern high-rise skyscraper with a twisting glass and metal facade, curving dramatically at the base. The building features a geometric canopy with lights, surrounded by trees, other buildings, and a paved street with road markings.
October 3, 2025 at 2:31 AM
poppastring.com
Visual Studio 2026 has just landed! #VisualStudio2026

review.learn.microsoft.com/en-us/visual...
September 9, 2025 at 5:05 PM
poppastring.com
Why am I seeing a reference to a 9-year-old story on the front page of espn.com/nba. Slow period for the #nba I guess :)

www.espn.com/olympics/bas...
A picture of a basketball player with USA on the front of his jersey. The printed text next to the picture reads "Melo: 'Would be very happy walking away from the game' with three golds Knicks star Carmelo Anthony said that if an NBA title continues to elude him, he "would be very happy walking..." "
August 27, 2025 at 2:18 PM
poppastring.com
Watching John Wick and was reminded of the beauty of the Sacred Heart Basilica in #Paris during the closing scene.
White Gothic styled church White Gothic styled church from the side. Two people walking up the steps Interior of a Gothic style church, an image the Christ on the ceiling with arms stretched open A series of stone steps with an iron railing in the center. Trees lining the right side and buildings on the left
August 27, 2025 at 12:39 AM
poppastring.com
Well, this was exactly why I prioritized going to the National Museum of African American History & Culture in DC this year. We all assumed it would come to this. #dc #museum
Low-angle view of the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C., showcasing its bronze-colored lattice facade inspired by historical ironwork. The cube-shaped building stands against a clear blue sky, with three birds in flight on the left side, adding motion to the serene scene. Abstract portrait painting displayed on a white gallery wall, composed of vibrant dots, dashes, and splashes in blue, red, yellow, purple, and white. The face emerges from dense clusters of color, contrasted by blank areas in the background. A small placard with artwork details is mounted to the right of the painting. Vintage Boeing Stearman PT-17 Kaydet biplane suspended from a museum ceiling, painted in blue and yellow with 'ARMY' lettering and U.S. military roundels on the wings. The open cockpit, radial engine, and black propeller with red and white tips are clearly visible. Background includes aviation history displays under dim lighting. Museum exhibit panel titled 'THE PARADOX OF LIBERTY' in bold white capital letters on a black background. Above the title, a portrait of Thomas Jefferson in a yellow coat is displayed alongside text discussing the contradiction between America's founding principles of freedom and the reality of slavery. The exhibit is set in a dimly lit space with polished concrete flooring.
August 22, 2025 at 2:01 PM
poppastring.com
👀
August 20, 2025 at 7:23 PM
poppastring.com
St Chappelle has some of the best examples of Gothic stained glass in the world #paris
A tall chapel with stained glass stretching to the ceiling. A tall chapel with stained glass stretching to the ceiling. A tall chapel with stained glass stretching to the ceiling.
July 16, 2025 at 4:32 PM
poppastring.com
Bon Dia from Sagrada Familia #barcelona
Strained glass windows in a variety of colors. Light is spilling into the church.
July 7, 2025 at 3:34 PM
poppastring.com
Part of Elizabeth Catlett's exhibition in DC #art #dc
Painting of a black woman sitting at a table. Three statues of woman. The one in the foreground is facing forward and has her head titled upwards and is hugging herself.
May 30, 2025 at 5:44 PM
poppastring.com
An exhibition of Elizabeth Catlett's work - A black revolutionary artist.
A portrait of of three black women Wooden fist Crafted human Head made out of stone or ckay Crafted human made from clay
May 26, 2025 at 1:21 AM
poppastring.com
AI in Visual Studio (and even Notepad) is entirely optional. You are not obligated to use any of it, and you have the option to switch it off entirely👍🏾

#notepad #visualstudio

learn.microsoft.com/visualstudio...
Settings page for Notepad. It shows Spell check, Autocorrect and Copilot switched off. Settings page for Visual Studio installation with the Copilot option unselected.
May 23, 2025 at 1:24 AM
poppastring.com
Visited Quarry Trails Park today, the waterfall was in full flow after our recent rainfall.

I even spotted a new bird!!!

Orchard Orioles (not shown here)
#columbusmetroparks
Side view of a waterfall, surrounded by trees.
May 8, 2025 at 1:45 AM
poppastring.com
The striking mosaic of Minerva in the Library of Congress. #dc
A mosaic of roman gidess in flowing blue robe. Bathed in sunlight and holding a scroll.
May 5, 2025 at 2:25 AM
poppastring.com
Loved the ceiling of the DC #Metro station. One of my favorite examples of Brutalist #architecture.
DC Metro concrete coffered waffle vault ceiling.
May 5, 2025 at 2:15 AM