Daniel Martin
@fizbin.bsky.social
One of many, many people with this particular "real name".
You might know me from... IDK. College? Did we work together once? Prodigy's old math forum? debian-devel? A certain social MUSH? xoogler slack? "Making Light" comments? (he/him)
You might know me from... IDK. College? Did we work together once? Prodigy's old math forum? debian-devel? A certain social MUSH? xoogler slack? "Making Light" comments? (he/him)
Pinned
Thinking of what a writer's day job might be that'd pay comparably I've been googling median salaries for public high school teachers in different states and now I'm more depressed about the state of the world.
Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme set by @robcrank68.bsky.social is #WaterBirds, any bird that lives in or gets it food from water.
This is from our Aruba trip, it's a Royal Tern sporting a "hairdo" reminiscent of Dilbert's boss.
#birds #microfourthirds
This is from our Aruba trip, it's a Royal Tern sporting a "hairdo" reminiscent of Dilbert's boss.
#birds #microfourthirds
February 11, 2026 at 3:22 PM
Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme set by @robcrank68.bsky.social is #WaterBirds, any bird that lives in or gets it food from water.
This is from our Aruba trip, it's a Royal Tern sporting a "hairdo" reminiscent of Dilbert's boss.
#birds #microfourthirds
This is from our Aruba trip, it's a Royal Tern sporting a "hairdo" reminiscent of Dilbert's boss.
#birds #microfourthirds
Age verification?
At college, the dorm rooms were wired for landlines (no one had cell phones), but not for Ethernet. If you had a computer of your own that you could check email on, that was because it had a modem.
At college, the dorm rooms were wired for landlines (no one had cell phones), but not for Ethernet. If you had a computer of your own that you could check email on, that was because it had a modem.
Age verification?
At university, we’d have no idea who’d be out that night, so we’d just wander down to the pub in the evening and see who was there
At university, we’d have no idea who’d be out that night, so we’d just wander down to the pub in the evening and see who was there
Age verification?
We had email, but you had to walk halfway across town to the computer lab to read it
We had email, but you had to walk halfway across town to the computer lab to read it
February 10, 2026 at 12:33 PM
Age verification?
At college, the dorm rooms were wired for landlines (no one had cell phones), but not for Ethernet. If you had a computer of your own that you could check email on, that was because it had a modem.
At college, the dorm rooms were wired for landlines (no one had cell phones), but not for Ethernet. If you had a computer of your own that you could check email on, that was because it had a modem.
Today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme is #OddCouples: two different birds in one capture.
Those these are both ducks, one is a White-cheeked Pintail and one a Muscovy Duck.
#birds #photography
Those these are both ducks, one is a White-cheeked Pintail and one a Muscovy Duck.
#birds #photography
February 10, 2026 at 12:18 PM
Today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme is #OddCouples: two different birds in one capture.
Those these are both ducks, one is a White-cheeked Pintail and one a Muscovy Duck.
#birds #photography
Those these are both ducks, one is a White-cheeked Pintail and one a Muscovy Duck.
#birds #photography
Somewhere someone better at writing jokes than I am has written one about the Roman Catholic church finally admitting women to all the ministries of the church and needing to dye some of the cardinal vestments brown.
(Thoughts brought to you by birds seen outside my office window)
(Thoughts brought to you by birds seen outside my office window)
February 9, 2026 at 6:22 PM
Somewhere someone better at writing jokes than I am has written one about the Roman Catholic church finally admitting women to all the ministries of the church and needing to dye some of the cardinal vestments brown.
(Thoughts brought to you by birds seen outside my office window)
(Thoughts brought to you by birds seen outside my office window)
Good morning; @robcrank68.bsky.social has said “Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is #StareDown, birds looking right at you," so here's a shot of a house sparrow from December in NYC the day before the US East Coast started getting snow this season.
#birds #photography #microfourthirds
#birds #photography #microfourthirds
February 9, 2026 at 12:10 PM
Good morning; @robcrank68.bsky.social has said “Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme is #StareDown, birds looking right at you," so here's a shot of a house sparrow from December in NYC the day before the US East Coast started getting snow this season.
#birds #photography #microfourthirds
#birds #photography #microfourthirds
Repost with a photo of yours that would make a good album cover.
(This was one of the results of my final project in "Object Oriented Design" - I only had time to implement one primitive shape (sphere), but implemented intersections and both reflection and refraction)
(This was one of the results of my final project in "Object Oriented Design" - I only had time to implement one primitive shape (sphere), but implemented intersections and both reflection and refraction)
February 8, 2026 at 1:47 PM
Repost with a photo of yours that would make a good album cover.
(This was one of the results of my final project in "Object Oriented Design" - I only had time to implement one primitive shape (sphere), but implemented intersections and both reflection and refraction)
(This was one of the results of my final project in "Object Oriented Design" - I only had time to implement one primitive shape (sphere), but implemented intersections and both reflection and refraction)
The #BirdOfTheDay theme today set by @alan678.bsky.social is #posted: a bird on a post or fence.
I almost went for this shot yesterday for the "Serene" theme, but figured I had a better picture for the alt "blurred" theme.
Anyway, enjoy this Starling from back in June.
#birds #photography
I almost went for this shot yesterday for the "Serene" theme, but figured I had a better picture for the alt "blurred" theme.
Anyway, enjoy this Starling from back in June.
#birds #photography
February 8, 2026 at 11:59 AM
The #BirdOfTheDay theme today set by @alan678.bsky.social is #posted: a bird on a post or fence.
I almost went for this shot yesterday for the "Serene" theme, but figured I had a better picture for the alt "blurred" theme.
Anyway, enjoy this Starling from back in June.
#birds #photography
I almost went for this shot yesterday for the "Serene" theme, but figured I had a better picture for the alt "blurred" theme.
Anyway, enjoy this Starling from back in June.
#birds #photography
So today's #BirdOfTheDay theme from @alan678.bsky.social is "# Serenity: serene bird captures".
I couldn't find any that really said "serene" to me, so I'm going with today's alt theme: #blurred blurry captures of birds in movement.
#birds #photography
I couldn't find any that really said "serene" to me, so I'm going with today's alt theme: #blurred blurry captures of birds in movement.
#birds #photography
February 7, 2026 at 1:37 PM
So today's #BirdOfTheDay theme from @alan678.bsky.social is "# Serenity: serene bird captures".
I couldn't find any that really said "serene" to me, so I'm going with today's alt theme: #blurred blurry captures of birds in movement.
#birds #photography
I couldn't find any that really said "serene" to me, so I'm going with today's alt theme: #blurred blurry captures of birds in movement.
#birds #photography
So the *Very Good News* is that rebooting my phone made image zooming come back in the bsky app, so it isn't a broken thing in the new app version.
The bad news is the "image zooming breaks until fixed by phone restart" is an old bug in the android app that's been there for months.
The bad news is the "image zooming breaks until fixed by phone restart" is an old bug in the android app that's been there for months.
It appears that the BlueSky Android app updated to make it worse for me.
Specifically, they took away the ability to zoom into images on posts, meaning that people posting without sky text are now posting things impossible for me to read rather than merely annoying.
Specifically, they took away the ability to zoom into images on posts, meaning that people posting without sky text are now posting things impossible for me to read rather than merely annoying.
February 7, 2026 at 11:26 AM
So the *Very Good News* is that rebooting my phone made image zooming come back in the bsky app, so it isn't a broken thing in the new app version.
The bad news is the "image zooming breaks until fixed by phone restart" is an old bug in the android app that's been there for months.
The bad news is the "image zooming breaks until fixed by phone restart" is an old bug in the android app that's been there for months.
It appears that the BlueSky Android app updated to make it worse for me.
Specifically, they took away the ability to zoom into images on posts, meaning that people posting without sky text are now posting things impossible for me to read rather than merely annoying.
Specifically, they took away the ability to zoom into images on posts, meaning that people posting without sky text are now posting things impossible for me to read rather than merely annoying.
February 7, 2026 at 10:39 AM
It appears that the BlueSky Android app updated to make it worse for me.
Specifically, they took away the ability to zoom into images on posts, meaning that people posting without sky text are now posting things impossible for me to read rather than merely annoying.
Specifically, they took away the ability to zoom into images on posts, meaning that people posting without sky text are now posting things impossible for me to read rather than merely annoying.
Wait, is this ad for Kalshi somehow trying to imply that it would be a good idea to bet on the Spartans winning at Thermopylae?
I guess it's easier for them if they deliberately court customers who don't understand how odds work.
I guess it's easier for them if they deliberately court customers who don't understand how odds work.
February 7, 2026 at 3:42 AM
Wait, is this ad for Kalshi somehow trying to imply that it would be a good idea to bet on the Spartans winning at Thermopylae?
I guess it's easier for them if they deliberately court customers who don't understand how odds work.
I guess it's easier for them if they deliberately court customers who don't understand how odds work.
For #ForestFriday I don't have anything recent because it's just too cold to be about in the woods, so here's something from warmer times on a tropical desert Island.
Cactus forests are the native flora of Aruba. Palm trees only happen in tourist areas where people water them.
#Aruba 📷
Cactus forests are the native flora of Aruba. Palm trees only happen in tourist areas where people water them.
#Aruba 📷
February 6, 2026 at 10:43 AM
For #ForestFriday I don't have anything recent because it's just too cold to be about in the woods, so here's something from warmer times on a tropical desert Island.
Cactus forests are the native flora of Aruba. Palm trees only happen in tourist areas where people water them.
#Aruba 📷
Cactus forests are the native flora of Aruba. Palm trees only happen in tourist areas where people water them.
#Aruba 📷
The main theme for #BirdOfTheDay set by @alan678.bsky.social today is #birds&berries any capture that includes both.
It was frigid here this past Sunday morning (13°F / -11°C) but the American Robins were out, including this borb collecting breakfast.
#birds #photography
It was frigid here this past Sunday morning (13°F / -11°C) but the American Robins were out, including this borb collecting breakfast.
#birds #photography
February 6, 2026 at 9:24 AM
The main theme for #BirdOfTheDay set by @alan678.bsky.social today is #birds&berries any capture that includes both.
It was frigid here this past Sunday morning (13°F / -11°C) but the American Robins were out, including this borb collecting breakfast.
#birds #photography
It was frigid here this past Sunday morning (13°F / -11°C) but the American Robins were out, including this borb collecting breakfast.
#birds #photography
So tell me, is it unprofessional to begin the title of a bug ticket with "Figure out WTF is up with"?
February 5, 2026 at 4:38 PM
So tell me, is it unprofessional to begin the title of a bug ticket with "Figure out WTF is up with"?
Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme from @robcrank68.bsky.social is #Pigeons&Doves.
Here's an Eared Dove from Aruba.
#birds #Columbidae
Here's an Eared Dove from Aruba.
#birds #Columbidae
February 5, 2026 at 2:33 PM
Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme from @robcrank68.bsky.social is #Pigeons&Doves.
Here's an Eared Dove from Aruba.
#birds #Columbidae
Here's an Eared Dove from Aruba.
#birds #Columbidae
The #BirdOfTheDay theme today from @alan678.bsky.social is #BackyardBirds, birds you see close to home.
When I first started using the Merlin app, the first birdcall I learned was of the Northern Cardinal.
Cardinal Borb here was outside my home office window yesterday.
#birds #photography
When I first started using the Merlin app, the first birdcall I learned was of the Northern Cardinal.
Cardinal Borb here was outside my home office window yesterday.
#birds #photography
February 4, 2026 at 12:16 PM
The #BirdOfTheDay theme today from @alan678.bsky.social is #BackyardBirds, birds you see close to home.
When I first started using the Merlin app, the first birdcall I learned was of the Northern Cardinal.
Cardinal Borb here was outside my home office window yesterday.
#birds #photography
When I first started using the Merlin app, the first birdcall I learned was of the Northern Cardinal.
Cardinal Borb here was outside my home office window yesterday.
#birds #photography
Which branch do you want?
My most recent immigrant ancestor, AFAIK, was drawn by the promise of cheap Midwestern farmland and a better overall deal than could be found back in Sweden.
(I don't count, since I "immigrated" when my parents moved back to the US where they were born and raised)
My most recent immigrant ancestor, AFAIK, was drawn by the promise of cheap Midwestern farmland and a better overall deal than could be found back in Sweden.
(I don't count, since I "immigrated" when my parents moved back to the US where they were born and raised)
Genuinely curious: If your family is American, what brought them here?
Mine: religious nuttery & primogeniture
Mine: religious nuttery & primogeniture
February 3, 2026 at 12:30 PM
Which branch do you want?
My most recent immigrant ancestor, AFAIK, was drawn by the promise of cheap Midwestern farmland and a better overall deal than could be found back in Sweden.
(I don't count, since I "immigrated" when my parents moved back to the US where they were born and raised)
My most recent immigrant ancestor, AFAIK, was drawn by the promise of cheap Midwestern farmland and a better overall deal than could be found back in Sweden.
(I don't count, since I "immigrated" when my parents moved back to the US where they were born and raised)
Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme from @robcrank68.bsky.social is #Reflections, and I just don't have many of those. I'll try to get some more once everything melts around here.
I do have this far-distance shot of a Great Egret, but this is really pushing the limit of my gear.
#birds #microfourthirds
I do have this far-distance shot of a Great Egret, but this is really pushing the limit of my gear.
#birds #microfourthirds
February 3, 2026 at 12:16 PM
Today's #BirdOfTheDay theme from @robcrank68.bsky.social is #Reflections, and I just don't have many of those. I'll try to get some more once everything melts around here.
I do have this far-distance shot of a Great Egret, but this is really pushing the limit of my gear.
#birds #microfourthirds
I do have this far-distance shot of a Great Egret, but this is really pushing the limit of my gear.
#birds #microfourthirds
Whoo! Getting above freezing today!
...and then staying well below for a week. I should make sure all the slush is scrapped away before it refreezes.
...and then staying well below for a week. I should make sure all the slush is scrapped away before it refreezes.
February 3, 2026 at 11:33 AM
Whoo! Getting above freezing today!
...and then staying well below for a week. I should make sure all the slush is scrapped away before it refreezes.
...and then staying well below for a week. I should make sure all the slush is scrapped away before it refreezes.
Today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme from @alan678.bsky.social is #openbeak: birds with beak open.
This Yellow Warbler from Aruba just perched near where I was already photographing other birds and sang his little heart out.
#birds #photography #mocrofourthirds
This Yellow Warbler from Aruba just perched near where I was already photographing other birds and sang his little heart out.
#birds #photography #mocrofourthirds
February 2, 2026 at 11:43 AM
Today’s #BirdOfTheDay theme from @alan678.bsky.social is #openbeak: birds with beak open.
This Yellow Warbler from Aruba just perched near where I was already photographing other birds and sang his little heart out.
#birds #photography #mocrofourthirds
This Yellow Warbler from Aruba just perched near where I was already photographing other birds and sang his little heart out.
#birds #photography #mocrofourthirds
So apparently one of the possible collective nouns for #robins, especially for American Robins in winter, is a "Worm" of Robins.
Here's one, whatever you call it, in 13°F weather (-11°C)
#birds #photography #microfourthirds
Here's one, whatever you call it, in 13°F weather (-11°C)
#birds #photography #microfourthirds
February 1, 2026 at 10:29 PM
So apparently one of the possible collective nouns for #robins, especially for American Robins in winter, is a "Worm" of Robins.
Here's one, whatever you call it, in 13°F weather (-11°C)
#birds #photography #microfourthirds
Here's one, whatever you call it, in 13°F weather (-11°C)
#birds #photography #microfourthirds
Today's alternate #BirdOfTheDay theme from @robcrank68.bsky.social is #ShortLeggedBirds.
Even standing up, a Dark-eyed Junco is a short legged bird, and when perched the legs just disappear.
#birds #microfourthirds
Even standing up, a Dark-eyed Junco is a short legged bird, and when perched the legs just disappear.
#birds #microfourthirds
February 1, 2026 at 1:20 PM
Today's alternate #BirdOfTheDay theme from @robcrank68.bsky.social is #ShortLeggedBirds.
Even standing up, a Dark-eyed Junco is a short legged bird, and when perched the legs just disappear.
#birds #microfourthirds
Even standing up, a Dark-eyed Junco is a short legged bird, and when perched the legs just disappear.
#birds #microfourthirds
Achievement unlocked: did the 15 minutes of morning bell ringing before the service in a 20°F (-7°C) bell tower.
(Admittedly, it had warmed up a bit by the end, all the way to 23°F/-5°C)
(Admittedly, it had warmed up a bit by the end, all the way to 23°F/-5°C)
February 1, 2026 at 12:34 PM
Achievement unlocked: did the 15 minutes of morning bell ringing before the service in a 20°F (-7°C) bell tower.
(Admittedly, it had warmed up a bit by the end, all the way to 23°F/-5°C)
(Admittedly, it had warmed up a bit by the end, all the way to 23°F/-5°C)
Reposted by Daniel Martin
bsky.app/profile/fizb..., but as a follow-up, five classes in my major: (undergrad only)
- Topology
- Surreal Numbers (freshman seminar)
- Complex Analysis
- Number Theory (audited)
- Combinatorics
- Topology
- Surreal Numbers (freshman seminar)
- Complex Analysis
- Number Theory (audited)
- Combinatorics
Never mind the jobs you had, tell me five classes you took in college:
1. Gandhi, Nationalism, and Nonviolence
2. Introduction to Judaism
3. Violin (performance)
4. Classical Mechanics
5. Observational Drawing
(None of those were my major department)
1. Gandhi, Nationalism, and Nonviolence
2. Introduction to Judaism
3. Violin (performance)
4. Classical Mechanics
5. Observational Drawing
(None of those were my major department)
Never mind the jobs you had, tell me five classes you took in college:
1. African Revolutionary Movements
2. Medieval Philosophy
3. Intro to Astronomy
4. Civil Religion
5. Bible as Literature
1. African Revolutionary Movements
2. Medieval Philosophy
3. Intro to Astronomy
4. Civil Religion
5. Bible as Literature
January 31, 2026 at 2:58 PM
bsky.app/profile/fizb..., but as a follow-up, five classes in my major: (undergrad only)
- Topology
- Surreal Numbers (freshman seminar)
- Complex Analysis
- Number Theory (audited)
- Combinatorics
- Topology
- Surreal Numbers (freshman seminar)
- Complex Analysis
- Number Theory (audited)
- Combinatorics
Never mind the jobs you had, tell me five classes you took in college:
1. Gandhi, Nationalism, and Nonviolence
2. Introduction to Judaism
3. Violin (performance)
4. Classical Mechanics
5. Observational Drawing
(None of those were my major department)
1. Gandhi, Nationalism, and Nonviolence
2. Introduction to Judaism
3. Violin (performance)
4. Classical Mechanics
5. Observational Drawing
(None of those were my major department)
Never mind the jobs you had, tell me five classes you took in college:
1. African Revolutionary Movements
2. Medieval Philosophy
3. Intro to Astronomy
4. Civil Religion
5. Bible as Literature
1. African Revolutionary Movements
2. Medieval Philosophy
3. Intro to Astronomy
4. Civil Religion
5. Bible as Literature
Never mind the jobs you had, tell me five classes you took in college:
1. Marine Biology (we got to go out on a boat!)
2. The History of the Holocaust
3. Logic and Critical Thinking
4. Eastern Religions
5. The French Revolution
1. Marine Biology (we got to go out on a boat!)
2. The History of the Holocaust
3. Logic and Critical Thinking
4. Eastern Religions
5. The French Revolution
January 31, 2026 at 2:01 PM
Never mind the jobs you had, tell me five classes you took in college:
1. Gandhi, Nationalism, and Nonviolence
2. Introduction to Judaism
3. Violin (performance)
4. Classical Mechanics
5. Observational Drawing
(None of those were my major department)
1. Gandhi, Nationalism, and Nonviolence
2. Introduction to Judaism
3. Violin (performance)
4. Classical Mechanics
5. Observational Drawing
(None of those were my major department)