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andrewr.bsky.social
Andrew Robinson (no, not Garak)
@andrewr.bsky.social
2K followers 2.3K following 11K posts
Mostly retired physics instructor, has PhD in Physical Chemistry. British Immigrant to Canada. Won some teaching awards. Dad to son with DLG-4 Synaptopathy (SHINE Syndrome). Pronouns: he/him/his. Likes tea. Bertie the Labradoodle's human.
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andrewr.bsky.social
Andrew Robinson (no, not Garak) @andrewr.bsky.social · 17d
I read the news today, oh boy.

youtu.be/53Dh-I0_m5Y?...
The Beatles - A Day in the Life
YouTube video by tuquelex
youtu.be
andrewr.bsky.social
Thunderbird One gets some decals. I also remembered to paint the wingtips blue.
Thunderbird One now with some decals on.
February 5, 2026 at 10:01 PM
andrewr.bsky.social
Coming soon. The Buccaneers.
#HistScaleModels

@bravehoundgabby.bsky.social
Two 1/72 Blackburn Buccaneer kits. The modern Airfix kit is in an enormous box, the ancient Matchbox kit is in a much smaller box.
February 5, 2026 at 8:02 PM
andrewr.bsky.social
My wife's laptop was sitting there and just "forgot" that it was a bluetooth device. Very odd. Restarting did nothing until I restarted and went into the bios. Did nothing, exited and lo and behold, we have bluetooth again. Arcane wizardry for the win.
a cartoon of a wizard holding a wand with the word magic below him
Alt: a cartoon of a wizard holding a wand with the word magic below him
media.tenor.com
February 5, 2026 at 7:07 PM
Reposted by Andrew Robinson (no, not Garak)
iandunt.bsky.social
Yes, quite. It's the biggest scandal of this administration, so far, probably. It's an average Tuesday under Johnson.
ottocr.at Chris Kendall @ottocr.at · 15h
OK this makes me extremely angry. Has everyone forgotten the massive profiteering from thousands of avoidable pandemic deaths?? The unconstitutional suspension of parliament to force through an act of nationalist destruction that cost our children their future??
peterstefanovic.bsky.social Peter Stefanovic @peterstefanovic.bsky.social · 16h
“It’s potentially the biggest political scandal of this century”

As MPs force Keir Starmer to publish files about Peter Mandelson's appointment as US ambassador Skys Beth Rigby provides a detailed summary of how we got here
February 5, 2026 at 1:40 PM
Reposted by Andrew Robinson (no, not Garak)
kirstygrainger.bsky.social
There is something quite impressive about how quickly the physics community can mobilise the media

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
UK’s £8bn research fund faces “hard decisions” as it pauses new grants
UKRI boss Ian Chapman said it had been told by the government to
www.bbc.co.uk
February 5, 2026 at 1:13 PM
Reposted by Andrew Robinson (no, not Garak)
andrews-walks.bsky.social
Buttermere valley
February 4, 2026 at 3:59 PM
Reposted by Andrew Robinson (no, not Garak)
adambienkov.bsky.social
How could I have possibly known that Peter Mandelson couldn't be 100% taken at his word, says Keir Starmer, about a man whose public nicknames include 'the Prince of Darkness' and 'the Dark Lord'
February 5, 2026 at 11:57 AM
andrewr.bsky.social
Finished the F-20. A What-if done as a Fuerza Aérea Boliviana aircraft. Completed within two twelve-hour modelling sessions.
#HistScaleModels #ScaleModels
A pointy jet fighter in sand/green/orange-red stripey camouflage. Bolivian national markings (red-yellow-green). View from front. View from starboard.
February 4, 2026 at 9:53 PM
andrewr.bsky.social
Making good progress on the Blitz build. Varnish applied and ready for final assembly.

Markings for a "What If" aircraft of the Fuerza Aérea Boliviana

##HistScaleModels #ScaleModels
Almost completed model. It's now on wheels, and the canopy is on (not glued yet). There are three fuel tanks and two wingtip Sidewinder missiles to add on. They are beside the aircraft.
February 4, 2026 at 7:21 PM
andrewr.bsky.social
Moving along again with the F-20 blitz build. Nearly everything is ready to put together, and I will probably do decals next.
#HistScaleModels
Almost completed pointy jet fighter in sand/rust/green stripey camouflage. The canopy is ready to be added and two underwing fuel tanks are also lying by the model.
February 4, 2026 at 3:24 PM
Reposted by Andrew Robinson (no, not Garak)
ascalaphid.com
Molumbo
columbo but mole
February 4, 2026 at 9:17 AM
Reposted by Andrew Robinson (no, not Garak)
captainraz.bsky.social
First aid triage guide called Maslow's Hierarchy of Bleeds.
glempy.bsky.social Mystery John @glempy.bsky.social · 1d
An apocalypse contingency vault located on the island of Svalbard to help replenish global agriculture in the event of disaster called Maslow's Hierarchy of Seeds
samkurd.bsky.social Sam Kurd (he/him) @samkurd.bsky.social · 1d
A store selling varieties of honey wine called Maslow's Hierarchy of Meads
February 4, 2026 at 12:38 PM
Reposted by Andrew Robinson (no, not Garak)
kingsbookstore.bsky.social
it feels good knowing that absolutely $0 for this monstrosity came from me
a poster for the melanie movie with the amazon arrow as her smile
February 4, 2026 at 12:39 PM
andrewr.bsky.social
Nice to see that grade inflation and "back in my day school was difficult" was a trope back in (checks notes) 1663.
samuelpepys.bsky.social Samuel Pepys @samuelpepys.bsky.social · 1d
To Paul’s School, it being Apposition-day there. I heard some of their speeches, and they were just as schoolboys’ used to be, of the seven liberal sciences; but I think not so good as ours were in our time.
February 4, 2026 at 12:08 PM
Reposted by Andrew Robinson (no, not Garak)
lbflyawayhome.bsky.social
Ladybird cover stories.

The four seasons books.
Artist: C F Tunnicliffe
The front covers of the four ladybird books laid out in a square
February 3, 2026 at 8:09 PM
Reposted by Andrew Robinson (no, not Garak)
rachelburch.bsky.social
Willow tree at Bellever a couple of Februarys ago, #Dartmoor, #Devon #photography
Mossy willow tree and river Dart
February 3, 2026 at 12:46 PM
andrewr.bsky.social
Currently building an F-20 Tigershark in Blitzbau format (two twelve-hour sessions on consecutive days).
After six hours, I am here:
Unstarted kit and tools arranged on a mat. Aircraft is together and is painted a sand colour (RAF Light Stone). The undersides are white, but you can't see that. No canopy or wheels. There are camouflage stripes to be applied.
February 3, 2026 at 8:50 PM
Reposted by Andrew Robinson (no, not Garak)
bowlerhatscience.org
engineers are in my experience absolutely the worst crackpots because they know just enough physics that they think they can make a contribution (or outsmart Einstein). They're the ones who come up with free limitless energy and suchlike.
February 3, 2026 at 5:57 PM
Reposted by Andrew Robinson (no, not Garak)
gbosslet.bsky.social
Universities that tout the benefits of AI without advocating hard for the changes required for our planet to support AI (read: rapid shift to 100% renewable energy, strict water reclamation and reuse rules) are not helping humanity
February 3, 2026 at 4:09 PM
Reposted by Andrew Robinson (no, not Garak)
profrachelgan.bsky.social
Three weeks on. Still no response.
profrachelgan.bsky.social Prof Rachel Oliver @profrachelgan.bsky.social · 24d
Following coverage over the weekend of Sir Paul Nurse's comments that suggested that the only reason that a Fellow should be expelled from @royalsociety.org is scientific misconduct, I have written to him to explain the risks such an attitude poses of increasing sexual harassment in STEM.
Dear Sir Paul, Re: Royal Society Code of Conduct I am sure that many scientists have written to you about the specific question of Elon Musk’s Fellowship and whether, under the Royal Society’s Code of Conduct, his retaining that Fellowship is appropriate. I will not rehash these issues. Instead, as a female scientist with extensive experience of activities aiming to increase equality, diversity and inclusion in the engineering and physical sciences sector, I am writing to you (in a personal capacity) to ask you to reconsider the statements you have recently made in this context to the UK press about the Royal Society’s Code of Conduct and how it is applied. A 2018 report from the joint National Academies of the United States of America, concluded that “sexual harassment is common in academic science, engineering, and medicine” and that “greater than 50 percent of women faculty and staff and 20–50 percent of women students encounter or experience sexually harassing conduct in academia”. This report described codes of conduct that make clear that sexual harassment is unethical and will not be tolerated as a “powerful incentive for change”. The authors also noted that sexual harassment can have significant and damaging effects on the integrity of research. In my own praxis, I have found that clear and consistently-implemented codes of conduct that address these issues make female scientists and engineers safer, and allow them to focus more effectively on their research. For codes of conduct to have such a positive effect, it is vital that sanctions for actions which transgress the code are meaningful and substantial. I was hence aghast to realise that in an interview with the Financial Times published on 9/1/26, you appear to have suggested that the Royal Society “should only expel fellows if their science proved “faulty or fraudulent or highly defective””. Moreover, in a further interview with the Guardian on 11/1/26 you suggested that the code “may need to be looked at again”, with the implication that your aim would be to remove the option of sanctions on Fellows for reasons not strictly related to faults or defects in their research. I suggest that changing the Royal Society’s code of conduct so that the likelihood of serious sanctions for sexual harassment is reduced, would directly endanger women who interact with the Royal Society at events or otherwise, and would provide a licence to harass to the already powerful people on whom the Society bestows fellowship. The implications of your words - that under your leadership the only infringements of the code which are likely to receive the sanction of the Fellowship being removed are those related to research misconduct - already risk empowering harassers. You stated, in the Financial Times interview, that “there’s many bad people around, but they have made scientific advances”. Given this awareness of the possibility of bad actors in our scientific community, it is wholly irresponsible to suggest that the Royal Society would not act to sanction these people if they harass more vulnerable scientists. I am hence writing to request that you retract any suggestion that the Society’s Code of Conduct should be changed so that the only reason a Fellow might be sanctioned by the removal of their Fellowship is “faulty or fraudulent or highly defective” research. This action is necessary to safeguard female scientists, a requirement placed on the Society by safeguarding legislation and UK statutory guidance. Yours sincerely, Professor Rachel A. Oliver.
February 3, 2026 at 1:38 PM
Reposted by Andrew Robinson (no, not Garak)
martinbarrow.bsky.social
A couple who have spent the last 30 years providing "love and stability" to vulnerable young people have been awarded their town's highest honour - joining the likes of Danny Boyle, Elbow, and Keiran Trippier.

www.itv.com/news/granada...
www.itv.com
February 3, 2026 at 11:51 AM
Reposted by Andrew Robinson (no, not Garak)
srossmktg.com
The Montreal Canadiens are playing the Minnesota Wild in Minneapolis tonight. The players have been recommended to stay in/eat at the hotel, take the team bus to the arena, and carry passports.

Perhaps we shouldn't be hosting the World Cup and the Olympics...
February 2, 2026 at 5:03 PM
andrewr.bsky.social
The arty shot. Thunderbird One in sunlight.
#ScaleModels #HistScaleModels #ThunderbirdsAreGo
Thunderbird One, with wings swept back posed in front of a sunlit window. Outside is a snowy landscape.
February 2, 2026 at 4:56 PM
Reposted by Andrew Robinson (no, not Garak)
cageyratfish.bsky.social
i love that Gurdeep is here 💕💕
gurdeep.ca Gurdeep Pandher of the Yukon @gurdeep.ca · 3d
Each time we sidestep a difficulty, we hand it the keys to our kingdom. Fear thrives on our retreat — the shadows we refuse to face stretch and distort until they dwarf the landscape of our lives.
February 2, 2026 at 3:31 PM
Reposted by Andrew Robinson (no, not Garak)
mcnees.bsky.social
Paul Dirac's paper on quantum emission and absorption of radiation was submitted to the Royal Society #OTD in 1927.

It advanced the first quantum mechanical theory of electrodynamics and is generally considered the birth of ✨Quantum Field Theory✨ 🧪 ⚛️ (1/n)
royalsocietypublishing.org/rspa/article...
Title page of "The Quantum Theory of the Emission and Absorption of Radiation" by P. A. M. Dirac. The abstract reads "The new quantum theory, based on the assumption that the dynamical variables do not obey the commutative law of multiplication, has by now been developed sufficiently to form a fairly complete theory of dynamics. One can treat mathematically the problem of any dynamical system composed of a number of particles with instantaneous forces acting between them, provided it is describable by a Hamiltonian function, and one can interpret the mathematics physically by a quite definite general method. On the other hand, hardly anything has been done up to the present on quantum electrodynamics. The questions of the correct treatment of a system in which the forces are propagated with the velocity of light instead of instantaneously, of the production of an electromagnetic field by a moving electron, and of the reaction of this field on the electron have not yet been touched..."
February 2, 2026 at 3:24 PM