Les Carr
@lescarr.bsky.social
60 year old nerdy guy with a job researching AI and the science of online life at the University of Southampton, and a side hustle in standup comedy.
There simply isn’t enough Banjo Beale content in the world, even with the new Ulva hotel restoration series on BBC. Can I subscribe to a dedicated Grampa-the-dog cam feed? Take my money you impetuous, ambitious, visionary pair of adopted Scots!
January 11, 2026 at 12:33 AM
There simply isn’t enough Banjo Beale content in the world, even with the new Ulva hotel restoration series on BBC. Can I subscribe to a dedicated Grampa-the-dog cam feed? Take my money you impetuous, ambitious, visionary pair of adopted Scots!
One of my favourite holiday filmed is “Spirited” with Will Ferrell. His big song, and the question the whole movie turns on, is “Am I Forever Unredeemable”. Of course, it should have been “Am I Forever Irredeemable”, which is ironically something they can never put right.
January 2, 2026 at 8:32 PM
One of my favourite holiday filmed is “Spirited” with Will Ferrell. His big song, and the question the whole movie turns on, is “Am I Forever Unredeemable”. Of course, it should have been “Am I Forever Irredeemable”, which is ironically something they can never put right.
I'm reading around on vibe coding to develop some teaching materials for my undergrads. The first book starts with a canonical example of writing an app to estimate the time to read a podcast script, based on its word count.
GENUINELY who would *write an app* to solve this problem? This is insane!
GENUINELY who would *write an app* to solve this problem? This is insane!
January 1, 2026 at 11:07 AM
I'm reading around on vibe coding to develop some teaching materials for my undergrads. The first book starts with a canonical example of writing an app to estimate the time to read a podcast script, based on its word count.
GENUINELY who would *write an app* to solve this problem? This is insane!
GENUINELY who would *write an app* to solve this problem? This is insane!
Don’t forget the reason for the season - it’s the tilt of the earth’s axis! So I’m about to watch sunrise over Stonehenge on the English Heritage YouTube channel www.youtube.com/live/FEnQmoc...
Winter Solstice 2025: Sunrise Live from Stonehenge
YouTube video by English Heritage
www.youtube.com
December 21, 2025 at 7:23 AM
Don’t forget the reason for the season - it’s the tilt of the earth’s axis! So I’m about to watch sunrise over Stonehenge on the English Heritage YouTube channel www.youtube.com/live/FEnQmoc...
Happy Christmas to all my university colleagues. www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Point of no returns: researchers are crossing a threshold in the fight for funding
With so little money to go round, the costs of competing for grants can exceed what the grants are worth. When that happens, nobody wins.
www.nature.com
December 19, 2025 at 8:36 AM
Happy Christmas to all my university colleagues. www.nature.com/articles/d41...
A Christmas film for all the bros youtube.com/shorts/jBjfk...
A Christmas Film For Male Loneliness
YouTube video by Ali Woods
youtube.com
December 19, 2025 at 8:28 AM
A Christmas film for all the bros youtube.com/shorts/jBjfk...
An responsible science reminder at Christmas www.instagram.com/reel/DSM-8yy...
Tim Blais on Instagram: "On the seventh day of Newtonmas my conscience said to me.."
In this video, we delve into the world of scientific inquiry and explore the importance of objectivity in research. By learning to critically evaluate evidence and separate fact from bias, you'll be b...
www.instagram.com
December 14, 2025 at 6:47 PM
An responsible science reminder at Christmas www.instagram.com/reel/DSM-8yy...
It’s terrible that @robinince.bsky.social has had to leave the BBC because of his public pro-trans opinions. Science comedy isn’t always funny. www.chortle.co.uk/news/2025/12...
Robin Ince forced to quit Radio 4 over pro-trans views : News 2025 : Chortle : The UK Comedy Guide
Robin Ince forced to quit Radio 4 over pro-trans views - Comic leaves Infinite Monkey Cage after pressure from bosses
www.chortle.co.uk
December 13, 2025 at 12:13 PM
It’s terrible that @robinince.bsky.social has had to leave the BBC because of his public pro-trans opinions. Science comedy isn’t always funny. www.chortle.co.uk/news/2025/12...
My university students interviewed me about LLMs and this is the key frame that they chose on YouTube.
November 27, 2025 at 2:50 PM
My university students interviewed me about LLMs and this is the key frame that they chose on YouTube.
Some physics humour for your timeline: Heisenberg, Schrödinger and Ohm in a car…
vm.tiktok.com/ZNRJWJRN7/
vm.tiktok.com/ZNRJWJRN7/
TikTok - Make Your Day
vm.tiktok.com
November 26, 2025 at 5:31 AM
Some physics humour for your timeline: Heisenberg, Schrödinger and Ohm in a car…
vm.tiktok.com/ZNRJWJRN7/
vm.tiktok.com/ZNRJWJRN7/
Recent anecdotal evidence* shows it’s impossible not to feel happy when listening to this clip
*listening to it on a rainy Monday morning
youtu.be/CLP15B43uNA
*listening to it on a rainy Monday morning
youtu.be/CLP15B43uNA
It Feels Like Christmas - Fall Out Boy
YouTube video by piggy
youtu.be
November 24, 2025 at 9:10 AM
Recent anecdotal evidence* shows it’s impossible not to feel happy when listening to this clip
*listening to it on a rainy Monday morning
youtu.be/CLP15B43uNA
*listening to it on a rainy Monday morning
youtu.be/CLP15B43uNA
Enjoy Christmas Science Comedy cheer with Dr Paul Conway explaining the Moral Psychology of Santa's Naughty List! Our professional comedy headliner is a cancer scientist that The Guardian described as "deliciously funny".
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/southampto...
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/southampto...
Southampton Science Comedy!
A December evening of science-themed stand-up comedy, stories, and silliness from some of Southampton’s funniest and nerdiest people!
www.eventbrite.co.uk
November 24, 2025 at 8:48 AM
Enjoy Christmas Science Comedy cheer with Dr Paul Conway explaining the Moral Psychology of Santa's Naughty List! Our professional comedy headliner is a cancer scientist that The Guardian described as "deliciously funny".
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/southampto...
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/southampto...
My iPhone’s FaceID is refusing to recognise me today and my ego is taking it badly.
November 19, 2025 at 12:31 PM
My iPhone’s FaceID is refusing to recognise me today and my ego is taking it badly.
A bit of musical science comedy for your timeline - what could be better? vm.tiktok.com/ZNdEgoqU2/
TikTok - Make Your Day
vm.tiktok.com
November 16, 2025 at 8:17 AM
A bit of musical science comedy for your timeline - what could be better? vm.tiktok.com/ZNdEgoqU2/
Calling all Women in STEM!
November's Southampton Science Comedy features women in STEM who rap, control AIs and electrocute men - because science! Come along and bring your friends!!
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/southampto...
November's Southampton Science Comedy features women in STEM who rap, control AIs and electrocute men - because science! Come along and bring your friends!!
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/southampto...
Southampton Science Comedy!
An November evening of science-themed stand-up comedy, stories, and silliness from some of Southampton’s funniest and nerdiest people!
www.eventbrite.co.uk
October 31, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Calling all Women in STEM!
November's Southampton Science Comedy features women in STEM who rap, control AIs and electrocute men - because science! Come along and bring your friends!!
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/southampto...
November's Southampton Science Comedy features women in STEM who rap, control AIs and electrocute men - because science! Come along and bring your friends!!
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/southampto...
Southampton Science Comedy is back this week, on Thursday 16th October. Get your tickets to see the brilliant Farah Sharp perform with researchers and students from @unisouthampton.bsky.social
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/southampto...
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/southampto...
Southampton Science Comedy!
An October evening of science-themed stand-up comedy, stories, and silliness from some of Southampton’s funniest and nerdiest people!
www.eventbrite.co.uk
October 12, 2025 at 6:58 AM
Southampton Science Comedy is back this week, on Thursday 16th October. Get your tickets to see the brilliant Farah Sharp perform with researchers and students from @unisouthampton.bsky.social
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/southampto...
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/southampto...
Reposted by Les Carr
Brilliantly thought-provoking workshop on critical and ethical sociological engagement with LMMs in Naples this morning led by @jessogden.bsky.social @lescarr.bsky.social @sociodigfutures.bsky.social @bdfi.bsky.social #rc33 #isa #11ICSSM #Methodology
September 22, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Brilliantly thought-provoking workshop on critical and ethical sociological engagement with LMMs in Naples this morning led by @jessogden.bsky.social @lescarr.bsky.social @sociodigfutures.bsky.social @bdfi.bsky.social #rc33 #isa #11ICSSM #Methodology
I’m in Naples for the 11ICSSM conference to run a workshop on LLMs and give a paper about social scientists responses to AI with @susanjhalford.bsky.social .
September 21, 2025 at 6:06 AM
I’m in Naples for the 11ICSSM conference to run a workshop on LLMs and give a paper about social scientists responses to AI with @susanjhalford.bsky.social .
Reposted by Les Carr
Scraping tools like @digitalmethods.net Zeeschuimer, @lescarr.bsky.social WDRA are *vital* for social media research but how widely are they used? 🤔
If you use these tools or similar in your work, please reply 'teaching' 'research' 'both' 👇🏽 or via email if preferred 🤗
#AcademicSky
If you use these tools or similar in your work, please reply 'teaching' 'research' 'both' 👇🏽 or via email if preferred 🤗
#AcademicSky
September 4, 2025 at 9:14 AM
Scraping tools like @digitalmethods.net Zeeschuimer, @lescarr.bsky.social WDRA are *vital* for social media research but how widely are they used? 🤔
If you use these tools or similar in your work, please reply 'teaching' 'research' 'both' 👇🏽 or via email if preferred 🤗
#AcademicSky
If you use these tools or similar in your work, please reply 'teaching' 'research' 'both' 👇🏽 or via email if preferred 🤗
#AcademicSky
Southampton Science comedy is back in October. Get your tickets to see the brilliant Farah Sharp perform with researchers and students from @unisouthampton.bsky.social
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/southampto...
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/southampto...
Southampton Science Comedy!
An October evening of science-themed stand-up comedy, stories, and silliness from some of Southampton’s funniest and nerdiest people!
www.eventbrite.co.uk
September 14, 2025 at 7:44 AM
Southampton Science comedy is back in October. Get your tickets to see the brilliant Farah Sharp perform with researchers and students from @unisouthampton.bsky.social
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/southampto...
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/southampto...
Me: my research demonstrates the benefits of large language models for qualitative research
Also Me: The Last Teams Meeting
Also Me: The Last Teams Meeting
September 12, 2025 at 11:03 AM
Me: my research demonstrates the benefits of large language models for qualitative research
Also Me: The Last Teams Meeting
Also Me: The Last Teams Meeting
I’m just planning a computer science undergraduate training session called “friends don’t let friends vibe code” @softwaresaved.bsky.social
August 21, 2025 at 7:49 AM
I’m just planning a computer science undergraduate training session called “friends don’t let friends vibe code” @softwaresaved.bsky.social
Please stop all this “PhD-level” nonsense when talking about how much an LLM “knows”. A PhD is about being able to systematically create new knowledge. Knowing everything in that field is just a small part of the qualification.
August 10, 2025 at 5:57 AM
Please stop all this “PhD-level” nonsense when talking about how much an LLM “knows”. A PhD is about being able to systematically create new knowledge. Knowing everything in that field is just a small part of the qualification.
Who says LLMs can’t do comedy? I just tried to use ChatGPT to convert my little #edfringe spreadsheet of shows into an ICS file for my calendar. It wrote a python program with a missing import module, and blamed my data formatting. Now that’s funny!
August 3, 2025 at 10:18 PM
Who says LLMs can’t do comedy? I just tried to use ChatGPT to convert my little #edfringe spreadsheet of shows into an ICS file for my calendar. It wrote a python program with a missing import module, and blamed my data formatting. Now that’s funny!