@mark-nicol
Working on being a calmer chameleon - but it comes and goes. East Lothian dad and software engineer - working at the UK ATC (Likes dad jokes, old computers and space. Would like to write better docs but never seem to have the time)
Illustration shows large text, HSLA, above smaller text, Hubble Spectroscopic Legacy Archive. Jagged rainbow-colored lines appear behind HSLA. The background is gray with various astronomical targets in black.
Astronomers: Get more robust data! A new version of the Hubble Spectroscopic Legacy Archive is now live: https://bit.ly/4pKxQs3
From βAI canβt do your job. It can help you do your job, but that does not mean it is going to save anyone money.β to βAI is the asbestos in the walls of our technological society, stuffed there with wild abandon by a finance sector and tech monopolists run amok.β a refreshing take by Cory Doctorow
One of those fascinating wee corners of history via Substack Weekender . Why the FSA great depression photo archives contain these photos with a missing black circle.
substack.com/redirect/196...
πCalling #Edinburgh! One of the world's largest telescopes twinned with the world's biggest camera is about to embark on a 10yr mission to survey the Universe! Join us in Dynamic Earth's Planetarium as we unveil the 1st Rubin imagesπ₯³ππ΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώ
ποΈ: 23rd Jun@15:30-17:00
Β£5ποΈ dynamicearth.org.uk/event/rubin-...
The amazingly talented photographer @tomduffinphotos.bsky.social and I turned my #StrawberryMoon skeet-thread into a piece for the π΄σ §σ ’σ ³σ £σ ΄σ Ώ #Edinburgh Reporter. Check out Tom's many superb photos and don't forget, #DoLookUp tonight! π
ποΈ: theedinburghreporter.co.uk/2025/06/look...
You have my empathy on that one. Last one of those I listed to had curious pauses and ways of pronouncing the text - including what sounded like 'In Tranent' based services
Seems a bit pointless restricting it to EEC. The subset of people who will bother to change browser for searches can't be that significant - or else Microsoft are doing a lousy job of convincing people to choose Bing/Edge given what a low bar Google search is nowadays.
That is one of my favourite all time Bloom County jokes.
Have you heard about the Corduroy Pillows?
....
They are making headlines
Yellow portacabin on the back of a lorry being carefully moved into place behind the lodge at the ROE.
What if we containerised the teams rather than the software?
New portacabin arrives on site.
Sign on the side of a skip that says "Level Load and then on a separate line "No Fires"
Work goals for today
π₯³ This is proper EXCITING people!! Mark June 23rd in your diary for the world wide release of the first images from the wonderful and amazing Vera Rubin Observatory. ππ§ͺ
Join the celebration at a Rubin Watch party near you!
π: rubinobservatory.org/news/rubin-f...
Cappuccino with two dark patches that look a bit like cursed or haunted eye sockets.
Thanks coffee, I couldn't have summed up my work mood any better.
A long read and a rewarding one. How the Business Idiot culture has messed up everything about work and life in pursuit of sound bites and vibes.
She is that! And then some
Fresh breakfast muffins made by my lovely wife - loves x
What a lovely way to start the weekend.
Blue sky seen through an archway the inscription on the arch reads: "THIS ARCH IS ERECTED 12th SEPTEMBER 1888 TO COMMEMORATE THE WORK & CHARACTER.OF GEORGE HARRISON Kt. MP. LLD WHOSE LIFE WAS DEVOTED TO THE PUBLIC GOOD BORN 1812 : DIED I885" Never realised the beatles were that long ago.
This run of nice weather really is lovely. Hope it lasts through the weekend.
Whatever you are doing today as George says "it is going to take patience and time to do it right" π
An infographic with information on what to do if you find a baby bird. Is it visibly injured? If yes, contact an animal welfare organisation. If no: does it have feathers? If yes, itβs a fledgling. If itβs in immediate danger, move it to a sheltered spot nearby. If no, do nothing. If it doesnβt have feathers, itβs a nestling. If you can see a nest, put it back in the nest. If not, contact an animal welfare organisation.
Itβs the time of year when you might find a baby bird and want to help. Most often (and slightly counterintuitively) itβs best to do nothing. Hereβs a useful guide.
Screenshot from merlin app showing western house-martin as the spotted bird
Sure is a mighty fine place to be ...
Achievement of the day. I've been limited to one dad joke per team meeting.
If I'd known I wouldn't have wasted it on a crack about quantum computing working and not working at the same time.
Ask not for whom the bell tolls
Some disappointingly mild cheese crisps in an orange packet and a plastic tupperware of pistachios
Doing our best on weak cheesy puffs and pistachios in the shadow of Hailes castle
Thats lovely - Seems like a good system to me. π Far easier to remember than the current one.
Picture of the dome of the Royal Observatory Edinburgh. Most of the photo is a blue sky with mackerel clouds.
Morning. Good skies on the way to the office. Almost makes up for the climb.
It feels like a Taskmaster prize task ...
Alex Horne voice "Tonight the contestants were asked to bring the best thing that fits inside a shopping trolley and the lucky winer will go away with 5 things that they can take home in a shopping trolley"
Has anyone done the "not so much super Hornet as sub Hornet" dad joke yet?
www.businessinsider.com/us-navy-airc...
#Astro-bluesky I am talking to 11-13 year olds next week about astronomy-related careers. If you have a cool picture of you doing your job (especially from women) be it in science, engineering, IT, business support, project management etc. I would love to have a picture to show what we do. ππ§ͺ
That is a good view. Hope you keep beating the curve for a while yet John.
Happy Astronomy Day to those that observe.
A glass of what is surprisingly a non alcohol pims substitute. After all it is work time for another hour.
Evidently, Friday starts here. Have a good weekend folks.
Wow awesome stuff @anywaythewind.bsky.social get you! It is a lovely picture.