Alec Cawley
@randombler.bsky.social
Reposted by Alec Cawley
Had an intriguing editorial discussion recently: how did people in the past talk about 'minutes' when they didn't have watches or standardised times? How does that affect your thinking?
Come down an Elizabethan/Jacobean rabbit hole with me.
1/
Come down an Elizabethan/Jacobean rabbit hole with me.
1/
January 17, 2026 at 10:34 AM
Had an intriguing editorial discussion recently: how did people in the past talk about 'minutes' when they didn't have watches or standardised times? How does that affect your thinking?
Come down an Elizabethan/Jacobean rabbit hole with me.
1/
Come down an Elizabethan/Jacobean rabbit hole with me.
1/
Nice country you've got here. Pity if something were to happen to your President.
Oh dear, my Special Forces must have slipped!
We wouldn't want that happening again, would we?
Oh dear, my Special Forces must have slipped!
We wouldn't want that happening again, would we?
January 4, 2026 at 2:19 PM
Nice country you've got here. Pity if something were to happen to your President.
Oh dear, my Special Forces must have slipped!
We wouldn't want that happening again, would we?
Oh dear, my Special Forces must have slipped!
We wouldn't want that happening again, would we?
Reposted by Alec Cawley
Open up this picture fully.
Then look at the surface of Mars.
Then look up to the top right.
Spot Mars' moon Phobos high in the sky.
Then notice the bright spot beside Phobos.
That's Earth.
Then look at the surface of Mars.
Then look up to the top right.
Spot Mars' moon Phobos high in the sky.
Then notice the bright spot beside Phobos.
That's Earth.
December 30, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Open up this picture fully.
Then look at the surface of Mars.
Then look up to the top right.
Spot Mars' moon Phobos high in the sky.
Then notice the bright spot beside Phobos.
That's Earth.
Then look at the surface of Mars.
Then look up to the top right.
Spot Mars' moon Phobos high in the sky.
Then notice the bright spot beside Phobos.
That's Earth.
Reposted by Alec Cawley
lol you'll never convince me a huge part of the reluctance isn't that there's no legal way to make UBI white-only.
Lotta white people in this country are happy to lose as long as nobody Black or brown wins.
Lotta white people in this country are happy to lose as long as nobody Black or brown wins.
I wish more people didn't get mad because "why can't I have $1000 a month for nothing!"
And instead went "why not universal basic income?"
And instead went "why not universal basic income?"
December 3, 2025 at 7:49 AM
lol you'll never convince me a huge part of the reluctance isn't that there's no legal way to make UBI white-only.
Lotta white people in this country are happy to lose as long as nobody Black or brown wins.
Lotta white people in this country are happy to lose as long as nobody Black or brown wins.
Reposted by Alec Cawley
Reposted by Alec Cawley
Sometimes there's so much beauty in the world,... I feel like I can't take it. And my heart is just going to cave in.
October 11, 2025 at 2:27 PM
Sometimes there's so much beauty in the world,... I feel like I can't take it. And my heart is just going to cave in.
Reposted by Alec Cawley
🚴John Betjeman said that it was worth cycling 40 miles in a headwind to see them.
🪽The early C16th Angel Roof at St Wendreda in Cambs is adorned with over 100 oaken angels.
🪽The early C16th Angel Roof at St Wendreda in Cambs is adorned with over 100 oaken angels.
October 7, 2025 at 6:09 AM
🚴John Betjeman said that it was worth cycling 40 miles in a headwind to see them.
🪽The early C16th Angel Roof at St Wendreda in Cambs is adorned with over 100 oaken angels.
🪽The early C16th Angel Roof at St Wendreda in Cambs is adorned with over 100 oaken angels.
Reposted by Alec Cawley
Despite widespread claims, there are not many mediaeval pubs still serving. The ones that survive are all inns. The best preserved is the New Inn at Gloucester. We know from tree-ring dating that construction began in 1432 and it was first mentioned in the records in 1455 🧵
September 16, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Despite widespread claims, there are not many mediaeval pubs still serving. The ones that survive are all inns. The best preserved is the New Inn at Gloucester. We know from tree-ring dating that construction began in 1432 and it was first mentioned in the records in 1455 🧵
Angela Rayner made a mistake. I accept that she had no dishonest intent, but she got it wrong in an area in which she should been super scrupulous. She has done the honourable thing and resigned.
The question is why a dozen Tories did not resign in similar circumstances.
The question is why a dozen Tories did not resign in similar circumstances.
September 6, 2025 at 11:51 AM
Angela Rayner made a mistake. I accept that she had no dishonest intent, but she got it wrong in an area in which she should been super scrupulous. She has done the honourable thing and resigned.
The question is why a dozen Tories did not resign in similar circumstances.
The question is why a dozen Tories did not resign in similar circumstances.
One thing you can be sure of with @tkingfisher.com : you do not know what is going to happen next. Just finished the wonderfully sinuous Hemlock and Silver. After a pleasant introductory section, it goes to places far beyond my imagination. Strongly recommend.
August 28, 2025 at 9:39 PM
One thing you can be sure of with @tkingfisher.com : you do not know what is going to happen next. Just finished the wonderfully sinuous Hemlock and Silver. After a pleasant introductory section, it goes to places far beyond my imagination. Strongly recommend.
Reposted by Alec Cawley
In 1993, scientists fixed a solar-powered satellite whose onboard computer had frozen by sending it through the shadow of the moon to turn it off and on again.
August 4, 2025 at 10:47 AM
In 1993, scientists fixed a solar-powered satellite whose onboard computer had frozen by sending it through the shadow of the moon to turn it off and on again.
A family of partridges just walked past me while I sat enjoying my beer as the sun sets. A mother and four well grown chicks, about three metres away. And in the background, the music from the Battle Prom drifts over the field. A lovely evening.
August 2, 2025 at 7:02 PM
A family of partridges just walked past me while I sat enjoying my beer as the sun sets. A mother and four well grown chicks, about three metres away. And in the background, the music from the Battle Prom drifts over the field. A lovely evening.
@therestpolitics.bsky.social May I suggest that Iran does not want to build a nuclear attack system - today. They want to be as far from such a system as the US is from invading Iran. It took about 6 months of visible prep before 2003 invasion. They want to have nukes on the same timescale. 🧵
to.be
June 24, 2025 at 3:03 PM
@therestpolitics.bsky.social May I suggest that Iran does not want to build a nuclear attack system - today. They want to be as far from such a system as the US is from invading Iran. It took about 6 months of visible prep before 2003 invasion. They want to have nukes on the same timescale. 🧵
Reposted by Alec Cawley
Under the heading "Fashion items for you", Amazon has offered me a Hazmat suit and a heavy PVC rubber apron, for use amongst others by butchers.
It has a strange opinion of my dress style.
It has a strange opinion of my dress style.
June 17, 2025 at 10:39 AM
Under the heading "Fashion items for you", Amazon has offered me a Hazmat suit and a heavy PVC rubber apron, for use amongst others by butchers.
It has a strange opinion of my dress style.
It has a strange opinion of my dress style.
Reposted by Alec Cawley
“A Busy, Busy Day at the Airport”
By Ruben Bolling
Genius. Click in.
By Ruben Bolling
Genius. Click in.
June 5, 2025 at 6:18 AM
“A Busy, Busy Day at the Airport”
By Ruben Bolling
Genius. Click in.
By Ruben Bolling
Genius. Click in.
Standing in the conservatory thinking that this is exactly the right sort of rain. Steady, soaking, but not destructive.
May 27, 2025 at 10:52 AM
Standing in the conservatory thinking that this is exactly the right sort of rain. Steady, soaking, but not destructive.
It is a tradition for certain type of gentleman wearing a waistcoat to have a gold chain across it, allegedly connected to a watch.
I am wearing a waistcoat with a gold band across it. It is a USB cable connecting my phone on the left to a power bank on the right.
I am wearing a waistcoat with a gold band across it. It is a USB cable connecting my phone on the left to a power bank on the right.
May 9, 2025 at 9:28 PM
It is a tradition for certain type of gentleman wearing a waistcoat to have a gold chain across it, allegedly connected to a watch.
I am wearing a waistcoat with a gold band across it. It is a USB cable connecting my phone on the left to a power bank on the right.
I am wearing a waistcoat with a gold band across it. It is a USB cable connecting my phone on the left to a power bank on the right.
Reposted by Alec Cawley
These boxes are not moving. A mind-bending optical illusion by Japanese artist Jagarikin.
May 7, 2025 at 1:03 AM
These boxes are not moving. A mind-bending optical illusion by Japanese artist Jagarikin.
Reposted by Alec Cawley
These are real images of exoplanets.
Four super-Jupiters, imaged 10 times over 12 years around a star 133 lightyears away.
These are real, giant worlds, out there in the dark.
And we can see them.
Four super-Jupiters, imaged 10 times over 12 years around a star 133 lightyears away.
These are real, giant worlds, out there in the dark.
And we can see them.
May 7, 2025 at 7:57 PM
These are real images of exoplanets.
Four super-Jupiters, imaged 10 times over 12 years around a star 133 lightyears away.
These are real, giant worlds, out there in the dark.
And we can see them.
Four super-Jupiters, imaged 10 times over 12 years around a star 133 lightyears away.
These are real, giant worlds, out there in the dark.
And we can see them.
Reposted by Alec Cawley
I walked home tonight through the beautiful Brompton Cemetery, which reminded me that if you insist on doing your own research into vaccines and public health, you can go look at the headstones in any old cemetery.
So, so many people died too young from diseases that today would be preventable.
So, so many people died too young from diseases that today would be preventable.
April 30, 2025 at 7:21 PM
I walked home tonight through the beautiful Brompton Cemetery, which reminded me that if you insist on doing your own research into vaccines and public health, you can go look at the headstones in any old cemetery.
So, so many people died too young from diseases that today would be preventable.
So, so many people died too young from diseases that today would be preventable.
@therestpolitics.bsky.social D&D alignments:
China: Lawful Evil. I will do evil but endeavour to remain within the law.
Russia: Neutral Evil. I will do evil and break the law as I choose.
US: Chaotic Evil. I will do evil disregarding law and sense.
Together: The Axis of Evil.
China: Lawful Evil. I will do evil but endeavour to remain within the law.
Russia: Neutral Evil. I will do evil and break the law as I choose.
US: Chaotic Evil. I will do evil disregarding law and sense.
Together: The Axis of Evil.
April 9, 2025 at 5:06 PM
@therestpolitics.bsky.social D&D alignments:
China: Lawful Evil. I will do evil but endeavour to remain within the law.
Russia: Neutral Evil. I will do evil and break the law as I choose.
US: Chaotic Evil. I will do evil disregarding law and sense.
Together: The Axis of Evil.
China: Lawful Evil. I will do evil but endeavour to remain within the law.
Russia: Neutral Evil. I will do evil and break the law as I choose.
US: Chaotic Evil. I will do evil disregarding law and sense.
Together: The Axis of Evil.
Reposted by Alec Cawley
"... and in other news, USA is being sued by a company that will be founded some time in the future, when time travel is invented. Apparently, the company will offer 'punch a nazi' tours, with exclusive rights to 1933-45. But competitors will start to offer similar tours to USA 2025-28, and..."
March 30, 2025 at 5:27 PM
"... and in other news, USA is being sued by a company that will be founded some time in the future, when time travel is invented. Apparently, the company will offer 'punch a nazi' tours, with exclusive rights to 1933-45. But competitors will start to offer similar tours to USA 2025-28, and..."
Reposted by Alec Cawley
Can’t believe the knives are already out in the stores. The Ides of March gets more commercialized every year.
February 24, 2025 at 1:16 AM
Can’t believe the knives are already out in the stores. The Ides of March gets more commercialized every year.