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srdfrench.bsky.social
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@srdfrench.bsky.social

Philosopher of science in a previous life, short story writer in this one and comics and music lover in both.

Steven Richard Douglas French is an emeritus professor of philosophy at University of Leeds.

Source: Wikipedia
Philosophy 36%
Physics 21%

Reposted by Martin O’Neill

Reposted by Steven French

Lovelies, here's a shiny new episode of Starship Alexandria, in which we discuss a recommendation from @aptshadow.bsky.social : A Sword of Bronze and Ashes by Anna Smith-Spark.

There will be spoilers as we discuss the book in some depth!
starshipalexandria.com/episode-10-a...
Starship Alexandria: Episode 10 - A Sword of Bronze and Ashes
For our February 2026 episode of Starship Alexandria, Adrian puts forward the novel A Sword of Bronze and Ashes by Anna Smith Spark for Emma to consider.    Other talking points:  ...
starshipalexandria.com

Reposted by Steven French

We are delighted to announce the 15th edition of the Graduate Student Conference, hosted by the Institute of Philosophy (@kuleuvenuniversity.bsky.social). This year’s keynote speaker is Sibo Kanobana. Submit an abstract by March 6, 2026, and join us! hiw.kuleuven.be/cmprpc/event... #philsky #HPS

I saw them live a couple of years ago - wonderful!!

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🚨🚨 BREAKING NEWS: Charles has been heckled AGAIN over Andrew and Epstein, this time in Clitheroe. Expressing 'concern' isn't enough. Charles and William are complicit in a cover-up. Police investigation NOW. Royal Epstein Inquiry NOW. #NotMyKing #AbolishTheMonarchy #Epstein

Reposted by Steven French

NEW PODCAST ALERT!

In case you missed it:

The Aquarium for Lost Souls
by Natasha King @pelagicnatasha.bsky.social
read by Jenna Hanchey @jennahanchey.bsky.social

Link ⬇️
strangehorizons.com/wordpress/po...
Podcast: The Aquarium for Lost Souls
In this episode of the Strange Horizons Fiction podcast, Michael Ireland presents Natasha King's 'Aquarium for Lost Souls' read by Jenna Hanchey. Subscribe to the Strange Horizons podcast: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠…
strangehorizons.com

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I'm spending my Monday marking papers - on the upside an opportunity to check out some new music at the same time.

I've just discovered Etran de L'Aïr, a Tuareg desert blues band from Niger.

Huge energy -- confident propulsive stuff. Would recommend!

youtu.be/nkCwGCDaaZ4?...
Etran de L'Aïr - Full Performance (Live on KEXP)
YouTube video by KEXP
youtu.be

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Mornington Crescent: a rant.

Or: how a goofy word game about train stations is the key to how devout causes can ruin people's ability to have a conversation.

Stand clear of the closing doors, let's begin.

1/18

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I'm reading Bat Eater and other names for Cora Zeng by Kylie Lee Baker. Been on my TBR for a while!

Reposted by Steven French

Looking forward to reading this.
From @reaktionbooks.bsky.social

Reposted by Steven French

📌 ICYMI — The End of Morgan McSweeney: Peter Oborne on Keir Starmer’s Departing Chief of Staff

As McSweeney resigns, we re-publish Peter Oborne’s exclusive Byline Times…

https://bylinetimes.com/2026/02/08/the-end-of-morgan-mcsweeney-peter-oborne-on-keir-starmers-departing-chief-of-staff/
The End of Morgan McSweeney: Peter Oborne on Keir Starmer's Departing Chief of Staff
As McSweeney resigns, we re-publish Peter Oborne’s exclusive Byline Times reporting on how Keir Starmer's chief strategist drove Labour towards defeat by the far-right
bylinetimes.com

Reposted by Steven French

"It took decades of painstaking work at the US Naval Weapons Laboratory for her to come up with the geodesic systems that would allow the precise measurements and mapping needed for the technology – her work nevertheless transformed modern life."
Gladys West obituary
Mathematician whose work at the US Naval Weapons Laboratory was pivotal to the development of GPS
www.theguardian.com
“I’m mad I can’t understand Bad Bunny’s lyrics because they’re not in English”

my brother millions of metalheads around the world have been happily listening to incomprehensible Finnish shrieks and Japanese death grunts since we were teens, you’re just boring and racist

Wonderful story!

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This would be a great time to check out our online shop and maybe pick up that graphic novel you’ve been eyeing up for a bit, just saying....

www.okcomics.co.uk

In her recent book on quantum mechanics, Emily Adlam claims I’m an advocate of QBism (I’m not), while in another book I’m reviewing, the author claims I endorse the many-worlds interpretation (I do not). Is this one of those cases where I can claim I must be doing something right?!
#philsci
#physics

Reposted by Steven French

Reposted by Steven French

i kneeled to take a sweet pic of her with her eyes closed and facing the sun and instead i instantly got a whole serving of stanley kubrick shit from someone who’s afraid of shadows, plastic bags, shoes, and her own tail.

Reposted by Steven French

Consider this your final warning, and feel free to remove yourself from the classroom if you think it'll be too much for you.

-from "The Slide" by E.W.H. Thornton, in Dec's #Penumbric at www.penumbric.com/currentissue... and pdf www.penumbric.com/currentissue...

#ShortStory #horror

Just had my first hot cross bun of the year - no Belgian chocolate, no apple and caramel, just a fruity, tasty bun, plain and simple. Does what it says on the tin. Thanks Co-op!

Reposted by Steven French

Stormbound

A bank of clouds sweep in from the South - rain following fast behind.

-
#NewZealand
-
"Look with your eyes. See with your Soul."

#Storm #Rain #Harvest #EastCoastKin #Stunday #Scape

Reposted by Steven French

It is not often that I make a 2 #FossilFriday posts but, I will make an exception. This is the skeleton of the fish Xiphactinus audax. It was found by a friend looking fossils in the Late Cretaceous (Santonian) Smokey Hill Chalk in Kansas. You think you afraid of the ocean now? You've seen nothing!

Reposted by Steven French

👀January 2026 Fiction👀

ICYMI, "A Beginner’s Guide to Summoning Demons" is a short story by @czwrites.bsky.social about growing up a target but finding ways to fight back. Also, summoning demons. Read it as a ritual of transformation.

havenspec.com/fiction/a-be...
A Beginner’s Guide to Summoning Demons, Haven Spec Magazine
"A Beginner’s Guide to Summoning Demons" by Cynthia Zhang
havenspec.com

Reposted by Steven French

We round out this week with "Grief Trawling" by Suzanne J. Willis. When you throw your nets in these waters, you'll find more than just fish:
Grief Trawling - Small Wonders
The island's fisherwomen came to the shores to haul misery and lament, hair tied back in dead men’s kerchiefs.
smallwondersmag.com

Reposted by Steven French

The first episode of the second season of my podcast, Conversations at the Center, is now available on youtube, spotify, and apple podcast. With David Wallace. #philsci
Conversations at the Center - YouTube
The Center for Philosophy of Science proudly presents our podcast! Join us and our community as we discuss philosophy, science, and so much more.! Guided by ...
youtube.com

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Reckoning reopened to submissions on February 1st! We pay @sfwa.org pro rates, we never charge fees, AND we're piloting a new/improved process for reviewing and publishing submissions, which shows every sign of making our response times MUCH faster. Please submit? Guidelines: reckoning.press/submit/

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Hey, it's Bandcamp Friday! I've put up 20 new titles on the Leo Records page, including albums by Phil Minton, Eugene Chadbourne, Lauren Newton and others! There are also a bunch of titles that went up in January that I didn't really promote at the time!
leorecords.bandcamp.com/music

Reposted by Steven French

Just accepted:

Looking for Work in Quantum Thermodynamics
– Eugene Chua

Abstract in alt text or read it here: www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/740608

#philsci #philsky

Reposted by Steven French

Found on Mastodon via @cstross.bsky.social, an LLM-generated map of Yorkshire

Reposted by Steven French

Laura Georgescu reviews David Marshall Miller and Dana Jalobeanu's The Cambridge History of Philosophy of the Scientific Revolution in #HOPOS.

Review: www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1...

Book website: www.cambridge.org/core/books/c...
The Cambridge History of Philosophy of the Scientific Revolution
Cambridge Core - History of Science and Technology - The Cambridge History of Philosophy of the Scientific Revolution
www.cambridge.org