Melanie Dymond Harper
@meldh.bsky.social
Digital certificates, crypto (that's _cryptography_, not anything currency-related), drumming, singing, photography, foxes. She/her. All opinions mine.
Reposted by Melanie Dymond Harper
Hey all, do I have any UK based concept artists following me (or who knows anyone) who would be up for a long term 22 month contract working on Dragonwilds at Jagex? Remote with a very occasional day in office in Cambridge. Development experience and fantasy genre work is a must. Mid level role.
November 27, 2025 at 12:43 PM
Hey all, do I have any UK based concept artists following me (or who knows anyone) who would be up for a long term 22 month contract working on Dragonwilds at Jagex? Remote with a very occasional day in office in Cambridge. Development experience and fantasy genre work is a must. Mid level role.
Reposted by Melanie Dymond Harper
After hearing the Chancellor deliver yesterday’s Budget, I couldn’t leave the Chamber without voicing my disappointment on behalf of the hospitality businesses and working people in Epsom and Ewell who were let down yet again by this government.
November 27, 2025 at 1:07 PM
After hearing the Chancellor deliver yesterday’s Budget, I couldn’t leave the Chamber without voicing my disappointment on behalf of the hospitality businesses and working people in Epsom and Ewell who were let down yet again by this government.
Reposted by Melanie Dymond Harper
“Also for legal reasons, we’re not able to tell you what that line is.”
From a media law perspective: BS.
There is no "legal" reason for not publishing that line.
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...
From a media law perspective: BS.
There is no "legal" reason for not publishing that line.
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...
BBC tells staff they cannot quote Trump line removed from Reith Lecture
Journalists not allowed to repeat Rutger Bregman’s corruption claims against US president in coverage of edit
www.theguardian.com
November 27, 2025 at 1:32 PM
“Also for legal reasons, we’re not able to tell you what that line is.”
From a media law perspective: BS.
There is no "legal" reason for not publishing that line.
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...
From a media law perspective: BS.
There is no "legal" reason for not publishing that line.
www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...
Reposted by Melanie Dymond Harper
IT AM A SPACE SHIP
'The dig team at the Ness, one of the most important Neolithic sites in the British Isles, are not revealing what they believe the find to be until more work is done.
But they say it is like nothing else ever found at the site – and may not even be Neolithic.'
But they say it is like nothing else ever found at the site – and may not even be Neolithic.'
'Extraordinary discovery' at Orkney's Ness of Brodgar Neolithic site
Archaeologists are to resume digging at the site after 3D radar technology uncovered a mystery find.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 27, 2025 at 1:38 PM
IT AM A SPACE SHIP
Reposted by Melanie Dymond Harper
Nigel Farage has spent £1m taking out adverts in the papers to distract from the Nathan Gill Russian bribe scandal.
We can't let him buy himself out of this. We need an investigation into Russian influence in our politics.
We can't let him buy himself out of this. We need an investigation into Russian influence in our politics.
November 27, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Nigel Farage has spent £1m taking out adverts in the papers to distract from the Nathan Gill Russian bribe scandal.
We can't let him buy himself out of this. We need an investigation into Russian influence in our politics.
We can't let him buy himself out of this. We need an investigation into Russian influence in our politics.
Reposted by Melanie Dymond Harper
I wish I was surprised. Buried in this Budget is a plan to slash the Digital Services Tax, giving a multi-billion tax cut to US tech giants and the likes of Elon Musk.
That's right, cutting taxes for the world's richest man while hiking them for millions of hard-working Brits.
That's right, cutting taxes for the world's richest man while hiking them for millions of hard-working Brits.
November 27, 2025 at 9:30 AM
I wish I was surprised. Buried in this Budget is a plan to slash the Digital Services Tax, giving a multi-billion tax cut to US tech giants and the likes of Elon Musk.
That's right, cutting taxes for the world's richest man while hiking them for millions of hard-working Brits.
That's right, cutting taxes for the world's richest man while hiking them for millions of hard-working Brits.
Reposted by Melanie Dymond Harper
Just saw a super femme fitness tracker device marketed to men to gift to women with “know her better than she knows herself” and can we just say absolutely fucking not?
November 27, 2025 at 2:40 PM
Just saw a super femme fitness tracker device marketed to men to gift to women with “know her better than she knows herself” and can we just say absolutely fucking not?
Reposted by Melanie Dymond Harper
Ada, Countess of Lovelace, daughter of Lord Byron, mathematician & a pioneer of computing; born 1815, died #OTD 1852. #WomeninStem
Painted by Margaret Sarah Carpenter 1836
UK Government Art Collection
Painted by Margaret Sarah Carpenter 1836
UK Government Art Collection
November 27, 2025 at 6:07 AM
Ada, Countess of Lovelace, daughter of Lord Byron, mathematician & a pioneer of computing; born 1815, died #OTD 1852. #WomeninStem
Painted by Margaret Sarah Carpenter 1836
UK Government Art Collection
Painted by Margaret Sarah Carpenter 1836
UK Government Art Collection
Reposted by Melanie Dymond Harper
More generally, wherever you are in the world: if you have kids’ toys, books, clothes or anything else in just-about-giftable condition that you were thinking of decluttering some time soon, please do it now, this week ideally, and get them to your local charity shop.
Hey Ottawa folks: I gave some kids' books to Twice Upon a Time and they said they've receved fewer donations than usual for this time of year. So if you have any kids' books in good condition, or time or money to spare, here's the info:
Donate - Twice Upon a Time
twiceuponatime.ca
November 24, 2025 at 8:11 PM
More generally, wherever you are in the world: if you have kids’ toys, books, clothes or anything else in just-about-giftable condition that you were thinking of decluttering some time soon, please do it now, this week ideally, and get them to your local charity shop.
Reposted by Melanie Dymond Harper
Fancy a free trip to Pompeii and a walk around the site with me? Waterstones have a prize draw for exactly that. Just pre-order my new book (UK only I think). Details here www.waterstones.com/win/talking-...
November 27, 2025 at 6:18 AM
Fancy a free trip to Pompeii and a walk around the site with me? Waterstones have a prize draw for exactly that. Just pre-order my new book (UK only I think). Details here www.waterstones.com/win/talking-...
Reposted by Melanie Dymond Harper
Good thread, very informative. NB a key reason the traditional publishers' advance/royalties finance model no longer supports most UK authors is that assumes steady backlist sales but these days publishers don't take returns on titles more than 18 months old, so high street shops don't stock them.
I'm going to do a little thread on how the money from books works for traditionally published authors because people have questions, and this is always useful info to share IMO. First, a big disclaimer that every contract is different, and there are a million factors that can change things. 1/
November 27, 2025 at 7:54 AM
Good thread, very informative. NB a key reason the traditional publishers' advance/royalties finance model no longer supports most UK authors is that assumes steady backlist sales but these days publishers don't take returns on titles more than 18 months old, so high street shops don't stock them.
Reposted by Melanie Dymond Harper
This terracotta die comes from the ancient city of Mohenjo-Daro, one of the first urban centres in human history 🎲⠀
⠀
Gaming with dice has been a popular pastime in India for millennia, with this object dating back to 2500–1900 BCE.
🎲 Terracotta Die, 2500–1900 BCE. 2 x 2 x 2 cm. EAMd.25
⠀
Gaming with dice has been a popular pastime in India for millennia, with this object dating back to 2500–1900 BCE.
🎲 Terracotta Die, 2500–1900 BCE. 2 x 2 x 2 cm. EAMd.25
November 27, 2025 at 8:01 AM
This terracotta die comes from the ancient city of Mohenjo-Daro, one of the first urban centres in human history 🎲⠀
⠀
Gaming with dice has been a popular pastime in India for millennia, with this object dating back to 2500–1900 BCE.
🎲 Terracotta Die, 2500–1900 BCE. 2 x 2 x 2 cm. EAMd.25
⠀
Gaming with dice has been a popular pastime in India for millennia, with this object dating back to 2500–1900 BCE.
🎲 Terracotta Die, 2500–1900 BCE. 2 x 2 x 2 cm. EAMd.25
Reposted by Melanie Dymond Harper
Helping victims of domestic tech abuse 🤝
A new research-led digital handbook for victims of domestic tech abuse, co-authored by Dr Maryam Mehrnezhad from @isg-rhul.bsky.social, has been launched by Surrey Domestic Abuse Partnership.
More: ow.ly/vqfY50Xxl8l
A new research-led digital handbook for victims of domestic tech abuse, co-authored by Dr Maryam Mehrnezhad from @isg-rhul.bsky.social, has been launched by Surrey Domestic Abuse Partnership.
More: ow.ly/vqfY50Xxl8l
November 25, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Helping victims of domestic tech abuse 🤝
A new research-led digital handbook for victims of domestic tech abuse, co-authored by Dr Maryam Mehrnezhad from @isg-rhul.bsky.social, has been launched by Surrey Domestic Abuse Partnership.
More: ow.ly/vqfY50Xxl8l
A new research-led digital handbook for victims of domestic tech abuse, co-authored by Dr Maryam Mehrnezhad from @isg-rhul.bsky.social, has been launched by Surrey Domestic Abuse Partnership.
More: ow.ly/vqfY50Xxl8l
Reposted by Melanie Dymond Harper
One of the most beautiful bits of english eccentricity and glorious design is coming back to Sotheby’s and should be bought by a musuem (or me) for THE NATION. www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...
Jewelled golden hare that sparked national treasure hunt set for auction
Artist and author Kit Williams hid a golden hare with clues to its precise location given in his 1979 book
www.independent.co.uk
November 27, 2025 at 9:18 AM
One of the most beautiful bits of english eccentricity and glorious design is coming back to Sotheby’s and should be bought by a musuem (or me) for THE NATION. www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...
Reposted by Melanie Dymond Harper
Musk's people infiltrated the GSA technology arm early on and demanded root-level access to computer systems, trying to circumvent normal security procedures. Here's one example where they pushed so hard they forced someone to resign rather than give in.
Why did they do this?
Why did they do this?
Musk Ally Demands Admin Access to System That Lets Government Text the Public
A worker resigned in protest rather than giving Thomas Shedd access to Notify.gov, which they said would allow him to see "all personally identifiable information moving through the Notiy system, incl...
www.404media.co
November 26, 2025 at 2:35 AM
Musk's people infiltrated the GSA technology arm early on and demanded root-level access to computer systems, trying to circumvent normal security procedures. Here's one example where they pushed so hard they forced someone to resign rather than give in.
Why did they do this?
Why did they do this?
Reposted by Melanie Dymond Harper
![Comic. Panels up to the 10-year point are grayed out. New panels since the Ten Years comic, which chronicles the first ten years of PERSON 1's journey with cancer: (1) [two people in bed] PERSON 1 (woman): One more chapter? PERSON 2 (man): Don’t we both have to get up early? PERSON 1: Nnnnnggggh PERSON 2: Sure, good point. (2) [many people wearing masks, walking while looking at graphs on their phones] (3) [birds landing on people] PERSON 2 in beanie and scarf: Hah! They like *my* seeds best. PERSON 1 in scarf holding phone with a bird sitting on it: Wait, how do I take a picture of this one? (4) [two people rowing boats with tree landscape] (5) [Person 1 carries overflowing stack of things to Person 2 in bed] PERSON 1: I brought you honey lemon tea, more pillows, a cinnamon roll, Tylenol, another blanket, a– PERSON 2: It was just Appendicitis, I’m really– PERSON 1: *It is my turn to take care of you and I am going to do it right!* (6) [Two people in car] (7) [still in car) PERSON 1: Oh my god. PERSON 2: Oh my god. (8) [car driving] PERSON 1: Pull over! PERSON 2: I am! (9) [both people get out of car] (10) [Large colored panel of aurora borealis over water with both people looking on] (11) [Person 1 sits against tree while Person 2 lies on the ground] PERSON 1: Fifteen years. No sign of the cancer. (12) I *am* having some weird symptoms. Joint pain. Fatigue. I think I’m losing my close-up vision. PERSON 2: Yeah. Me too. (13) PERSON 2: I think we’re getting old. (14) PERSON 1: I guess that’s okay. PERSON 2: It’s all I wanted.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:cz73r7iyiqn26upot4jtjdhk/bafkreihwhjblp5lyiwp63ouar7ocfea7evmckytoeo7rkfuoo4gw5rnrra@jpeg)
November 26, 2025 at 10:32 PM
Reposted by Melanie Dymond Harper
nose down ass up
that's the way we cyberstuck
that's the way we cyberstuck
November 26, 2025 at 3:58 PM
nose down ass up
that's the way we cyberstuck
that's the way we cyberstuck
Reposted by Melanie Dymond Harper
REALLY recommended read…
November 26, 2025 at 12:15 PM
REALLY recommended read…
Reposted by Melanie Dymond Harper
Space photographer Andrew James McCarthy @ajamesmccarthy.bsky.social has captured many epic images of celestial bodies, but this may be his greatest: a perfectly timed photo of a skydiving friend with the sun behind him (shot w/ equipment revealing great solar detail).
Behold "The Fall of Icarus."
Behold "The Fall of Icarus."
November 26, 2025 at 3:18 AM
Space photographer Andrew James McCarthy @ajamesmccarthy.bsky.social has captured many epic images of celestial bodies, but this may be his greatest: a perfectly timed photo of a skydiving friend with the sun behind him (shot w/ equipment revealing great solar detail).
Behold "The Fall of Icarus."
Behold "The Fall of Icarus."
Reposted by Melanie Dymond Harper
fuck you
the memories of a generation lost because of Reagan's homophobia will not be erased
i think we should do something in DC that would make david wojnarowicz proud tbh
the memories of a generation lost because of Reagan's homophobia will not be erased
i think we should do something in DC that would make david wojnarowicz proud tbh
November 26, 2025 at 7:27 PM
fuck you
the memories of a generation lost because of Reagan's homophobia will not be erased
i think we should do something in DC that would make david wojnarowicz proud tbh
the memories of a generation lost because of Reagan's homophobia will not be erased
i think we should do something in DC that would make david wojnarowicz proud tbh
Reposted by Melanie Dymond Harper
GOOD NEWS! Researchers have developed a heteromultivalent nanogel capable of killing some of the most dangerous bacteria known to medicine- with over 99.9% effectiveness against P. aeruginosa. It also showed strong antibacterial effects against other major threats, including E. coli and MRSA.
November 26, 2025 at 5:00 PM
GOOD NEWS! Researchers have developed a heteromultivalent nanogel capable of killing some of the most dangerous bacteria known to medicine- with over 99.9% effectiveness against P. aeruginosa. It also showed strong antibacterial effects against other major threats, including E. coli and MRSA.
Reposted by Melanie Dymond Harper
Cool cool cool. Luckily no unhinged people have ever wanted to know the details of the jurors who convicted them, their family, their cult leaders, etc 😳
NEW: A trivial-to-exploit bug in jury systems used across the United States exposed jurors' sensitive personal data, such as full names, date of birth, emails, cell phone numbers, and home addresses — and potentially health data.
The bug allowed anyone to brute-force and access jurors' accounts.
The bug allowed anyone to brute-force and access jurors' accounts.
Bug in jury systems used by several US states exposed sensitive personal data | TechCrunch
An easy-to-exploit vulnerability in a jury system made by Tyler Technologies exposed the personally identifiable data of jurors, including names, home addresses, emails, and phone numbers.
techcrunch.com
November 26, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Cool cool cool. Luckily no unhinged people have ever wanted to know the details of the jurors who convicted them, their family, their cult leaders, etc 😳
Reposted by Melanie Dymond Harper
In case you missed this, the BBC edited a historian's speech about Trump to remove the claim that he's "the most openly corrupt president in US history." This came after Trump had threatened a $1 billion lawsuit.
Elite capitulation continues.
Read all about it here:
newrepublic.com/article/2036...
Elite capitulation continues.
Read all about it here:
newrepublic.com/article/2036...
Trump Angrily Threatened to Sue BBC. Then Things Took a Darker Turn.
First, British Broadcasting Corporation execs resigned after Trump complained about a segment. Now the BBC edited out a line from a historian that was critical of Trump. Where does this end?
newrepublic.com
November 26, 2025 at 12:30 PM
In case you missed this, the BBC edited a historian's speech about Trump to remove the claim that he's "the most openly corrupt president in US history." This came after Trump had threatened a $1 billion lawsuit.
Elite capitulation continues.
Read all about it here:
newrepublic.com/article/2036...
Elite capitulation continues.
Read all about it here:
newrepublic.com/article/2036...
Reposted by Melanie Dymond Harper
Trump envoy Steve Witkoff has been outed as a Russian asset. This is traitorous stuff.
Steve Witkoff helped Russia derail Ukraine’s access to Tomahawk missiles. He tipped off the Kremlin about Zelensky’s U.S. visit, giving Moscow time to arrange a call that convinced Trump to block the deal. Witkoff actively works against Ukraine’s defense, in coordination with Putin’s regime.
November 26, 2025 at 9:18 AM
Trump envoy Steve Witkoff has been outed as a Russian asset. This is traitorous stuff.
Reposted by Melanie Dymond Harper
We need to keep talking about the situation in Bernalillo County MDC, where ALL paper books--including personal possessions--were taken away from incarcerated people earlier this year. The proposed replacement is a tablet with extremely limited book options.
www.kob.com/new-mexico/p...
www.kob.com/new-mexico/p...
Paper book ban sparks independent audit of Metropolitan Detention Center
A new policy at MDC removing paper books and paper letters from inmates is under scrutiny.
www.kob.com
November 26, 2025 at 4:47 AM
We need to keep talking about the situation in Bernalillo County MDC, where ALL paper books--including personal possessions--were taken away from incarcerated people earlier this year. The proposed replacement is a tablet with extremely limited book options.
www.kob.com/new-mexico/p...
www.kob.com/new-mexico/p...