Peter Hewitt
@petehewitt.bsky.social
Opinionated medicinal chemist. Prize-winning photographer. Extremely moderate.
For the record though I don't see Djokovic winning this in five sets. He's got to turn the third set around or realistically he's got not chance.
You've got to expect that Alcaraz is going to wear Djokovic down, which would be very much the natural order of things for a young man playing against a young one. But over the years I don't know how many times we've all seen Djokovic apparently dead on his feet then Lazarusing a break of serve.
February 1, 2026 at 10:41 AM
For the record though I don't see Djokovic winning this in five sets. He's got to turn the third set around or realistically he's got not chance.
You've got to expect that Alcaraz is going to wear Djokovic down, which would be very much the natural order of things for a young man playing against a young one. But over the years I don't know how many times we've all seen Djokovic apparently dead on his feet then Lazarusing a break of serve.
February 1, 2026 at 10:17 AM
You've got to expect that Alcaraz is going to wear Djokovic down, which would be very much the natural order of things for a young man playing against a young one. But over the years I don't know how many times we've all seen Djokovic apparently dead on his feet then Lazarusing a break of serve.
(complimentary)
If the EU created a social media platform, replies to your posts would take 20 working days to process. It would go offline after 5:30pm (CET), as well as on weekends, public holidays, and pretty much all of August.
First of all, the EU would not call this platform something as tidy as 'W'.
It would be called the European Erasmus Digital Citizen Plus (the EEDCP), and you can only tweet in the format of an European Citizens' Initiative.
It would be called the European Erasmus Digital Citizen Plus (the EEDCP), and you can only tweet in the format of an European Citizens' Initiative.
January 29, 2026 at 8:02 PM
(complimentary)
Mute obvious engagement farmers on sight.
If you’re over 30, quote this with some life advice 🤌🏼
January 29, 2026 at 8:01 PM
Mute obvious engagement farmers on sight.
I've been staring at the Bluesky prompt "What's up?" for a good five minutes, trying to think of a joke reply that incorporates a malapropism as spectacular as Vance's, but my imagination has failed me here.
Vance on the economy:
"You don't turn the Titanic around overnight"
"You don't turn the Titanic around overnight"
January 22, 2026 at 7:24 PM
I've been staring at the Bluesky prompt "What's up?" for a good five minutes, trying to think of a joke reply that incorporates a malapropism as spectacular as Vance's, but my imagination has failed me here.
This is absolutely wonderful, and you should make sure to read it.
*From “Who Goes Nazi?” by Dorothy Thompson, Harper’s, 1941 (read it, it will blow your mind) harpers.org/archive/1941...
Who Goes Nazi?, by Dorothy Thompson
harpers.org
January 19, 2026 at 8:17 PM
This is absolutely wonderful, and you should make sure to read it.
It's twenty seconds until it's cold enough for your hands to stick to the shaker, and depending on the drink it might still not be properly diluted at that point.
Bartenders, that cocktail is mixed after a couple of seconds. Stop dicking around shaking it for a full minute.
January 17, 2026 at 11:08 PM
It's twenty seconds until it's cold enough for your hands to stick to the shaker, and depending on the drink it might still not be properly diluted at that point.
I don't know how you find these absolute naifs who are apparently politically engaged and yet somehow still shocked to discover that Jenrick is an unprincipled opportunist. It's like being surprised at Boris Johnson saying something untrue.
‘I have lost a friend’: Tories in Jenrick’s constituency shocked by defection to Reform
‘I have lost a friend’: Tories in Jenrick’s constituency shocked by defection to Reform
While voters in Jenrick’s Newark constituency were mixed on the decision, members of the local Conservatives felt betrayed
For Sam Smith, Thursday began as an ordinary day. The Conservative councillor was preparing for a budget scrutiny meeting at the Reform-led Nottinghamshire county council hall, where he is leader of the opposition, when he received a message from long-time friend Robert Jenrick.
The MP’s message to the Newark Conservative Association’s group chat queried what local pubs they could visit to oppose Labour’s hike on business rates. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
January 17, 2026 at 11:13 AM
I don't know how you find these absolute naifs who are apparently politically engaged and yet somehow still shocked to discover that Jenrick is an unprincipled opportunist. It's like being surprised at Boris Johnson saying something untrue.
Tonight's drink is a Waterlily, which on this occasion I have made using the less dry proportions (1:1:1:1 gin:lemon juice: crème de violette: triple sec). Maybe a little sweet for my tastes but very tasty all the same.
January 16, 2026 at 9:35 PM
Tonight's drink is a Waterlily, which on this occasion I have made using the less dry proportions (1:1:1:1 gin:lemon juice: crème de violette: triple sec). Maybe a little sweet for my tastes but very tasty all the same.
I regret to inform you that I am currently, out of necessity, using Samsung software.
January 14, 2026 at 9:21 PM
I regret to inform you that I am currently, out of necessity, using Samsung software.
I *could* imagine a "large flat white" that is made with three espresso shots (instead of two) and a proportionally increased quantity of milk. But the whole point of a flat white is that it is neither a latté nor a cappuccino nor a macchiato nor anything else; the texture and proportions matter.
My petty gripe: a large flat white is an oxymoron – a bastardisation of the drink Australia gave the world
My petty gripe: a large flat white is an oxymoron – a bastardisation of the drink Australia gave the world
The integrity of the flat white is being diluted by size inflation. It’s a sign that most people have no idea what they really want at all
www.theguardian.com
January 14, 2026 at 7:43 PM
I *could* imagine a "large flat white" that is made with three espresso shots (instead of two) and a proportionally increased quantity of milk. But the whole point of a flat white is that it is neither a latté nor a cappuccino nor a macchiato nor anything else; the texture and proportions matter.
Thread. This matches my experience of using LLMs as a general scientific reference. Often superb at retrieving something you have half-forgotten or weren't sure existed; prone to misunderstanding things; sometimes just outright lies. Gemini has got pretty good at generating relevant links, though.
Random nerd thread on LLMs and legal research .
LLMs remain dangerous for legal research - often very good, but prone to hallucinations, particularly when asked to find something that doesn't exist.
LLMs remain dangerous for legal research - often very good, but prone to hallucinations, particularly when asked to find something that doesn't exist.
January 13, 2026 at 8:58 PM
Thread. This matches my experience of using LLMs as a general scientific reference. Often superb at retrieving something you have half-forgotten or weren't sure existed; prone to misunderstanding things; sometimes just outright lies. Gemini has got pretty good at generating relevant links, though.
I'm starting to have to mute accounts on here for spamming AI slop "funny animal videos". This place is not like the other places, and I want to keep it that way.
January 12, 2026 at 9:16 PM
I'm starting to have to mute accounts on here for spamming AI slop "funny animal videos". This place is not like the other places, and I want to keep it that way.
I am absolutely flailing around in Elden Ring, not using any guides or advice, just following my nose around, going wherever, dying over and over. Totally bewitching, unmatched sense of adventure.
January 12, 2026 at 12:14 AM
I am absolutely flailing around in Elden Ring, not using any guides or advice, just following my nose around, going wherever, dying over and over. Totally bewitching, unmatched sense of adventure.
If you are exporting chocolate to America, you literally have to add vomit flavouring, otherwise they won't eat it, because they think vomit-flavoured chocolate is normal.
This is a statement of fact, not a value judgement, but I think it's worth bearing in mind when Americans opine about food.
This is a statement of fact, not a value judgement, but I think it's worth bearing in mind when Americans opine about food.
British Teen Returning From Semester In U.S. Regales Friends With Tale Of Food That Tastes Good
British Teen Returning From Semester In U.S. Regales Friends With Tale Of Food That Tastes Good
LONDON—Delighting his schoolmates as he weaved a rich tapestry of life in the United States, newly returned British exchange student Ethan Rowe, 15, reportedly regaled his friends Tuesday with stories...
theonion.com
January 11, 2026 at 8:13 PM
If you are exporting chocolate to America, you literally have to add vomit flavouring, otherwise they won't eat it, because they think vomit-flavoured chocolate is normal.
This is a statement of fact, not a value judgement, but I think it's worth bearing in mind when Americans opine about food.
This is a statement of fact, not a value judgement, but I think it's worth bearing in mind when Americans opine about food.
Most of them are actually just a fanciful name for one of the real flavours. "Christmas turkey with all the trimmings" is roast chicken, "lobster thermidor" is prawn cocktail, "slow cooked gammon" is smokey bacon etc etc etc.
All novelty crisp flavours taste the same: they are just "flavouring" flavour.
January 11, 2026 at 11:58 AM
Most of them are actually just a fanciful name for one of the real flavours. "Christmas turkey with all the trimmings" is roast chicken, "lobster thermidor" is prawn cocktail, "slow cooked gammon" is smokey bacon etc etc etc.
It would help readers' comprehension if journalists were less keen to ascribe agency and motivation to chatbots. Instead of "Julia is also very into the idea", it would be more accurate to go with "As expected for a sycophantic chatbot, Julia generates responses that agree with the idea".
Lamar wants to have children with his girlfriend. The problem? She’s entirely AI
Lamar wants to have children with his girlfriend. The problem? She’s entirely AI
As synthetic personas become an increasingly normal part of life, meet the people falling for their chatbot lovers
www.theguardian.com
January 11, 2026 at 10:52 AM
It would help readers' comprehension if journalists were less keen to ascribe agency and motivation to chatbots. Instead of "Julia is also very into the idea", it would be more accurate to go with "As expected for a sycophantic chatbot, Julia generates responses that agree with the idea".
I think there's a chance that Achilles, on the new album, is the best Divine Comedy song.
January 7, 2026 at 9:09 PM
I think there's a chance that Achilles, on the new album, is the best Divine Comedy song.
*gasps* this absolutely crystallises a thought I've been half-forming much less coherently for a while now
oh my going theory for a while has been that every llm inevitably becomes a synecdoche for the entire company because the process of training them inevitably leeches the personality of the stakeholders into it
January 2, 2026 at 8:56 PM
*gasps* this absolutely crystallises a thought I've been half-forming much less coherently for a while now
Your reminder that, out of every disease you absolutely do not want to get, rabies is the all time #1, no question. If in any doubt at all - "wake up to find a bat in the room" being the classic - go and get vaccinated.
‘I need to help’: Barnsley woman’s rabies death inspires dog-vaccinating mission
‘I need to help’: Barnsley woman’s rabies death inspires dog-vaccinating mission
Robyn Thomson immunised thousands of animals in Cambodia after shocking death of her mother this summer
www.theguardian.com
January 2, 2026 at 9:14 AM
Your reminder that, out of every disease you absolutely do not want to get, rabies is the all time #1, no question. If in any doubt at all - "wake up to find a bat in the room" being the classic - go and get vaccinated.
Reposted by Peter Hewitt
What a weird name for a dog. But sorry for their loss.
October 22, 2025 at 10:08 AM
What a weird name for a dog. But sorry for their loss.
Happy New Year to you too, Tesco.
December 31, 2025 at 11:51 AM
Happy New Year to you too, Tesco.
Trying to work out what the first rule of Kerning Club is.
December 30, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Trying to work out what the first rule of Kerning Club is.
We are currently trying to arrange what the whole extended family is doing today, which is reminding me of the old saying: the more cooks, the better the broth.
December 30, 2025 at 12:36 PM
We are currently trying to arrange what the whole extended family is doing today, which is reminding me of the old saying: the more cooks, the better the broth.
Turns out that trying to unwrap the rest of an electric guitar and remove the packaging material while it's already plugged into the amp makes some pretty exotic sounds.
December 25, 2025 at 7:53 AM
Turns out that trying to unwrap the rest of an electric guitar and remove the packaging material while it's already plugged into the amp makes some pretty exotic sounds.