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Per Ahlberg

Per Ahlberg

@perahlberg.bsky.social

5.9K followers 4.4K following 3.7K posts

Palaeontologist at Uppsala University. Early vertebrate enthusiast. Moderately effective gardener. Views my own.🇸🇪🇺🇦🇨🇦🇬🇱🇪🇺

Per Erik Ahlberg is a Swedish palaeontologist working with the earliest tetrapods. He took his Ph.D. in zoology at the University of Cambridge in 1989 under English palaeontologist Jenny Clack. He is currently professor at the Department of Organismal Biology, University of Uppsala. He has collaborated with Clack on a number of projects. .. more

Environmental science 27%

Chemistry 24%

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Per Ahlberg @perahlberg.bsky.social · 13h

Dissuade Putin from breathing.

Per Ahlberg @perahlberg.bsky.social · 13h

Interesting. Obviously a sound analysis in many ways, BUT no self-awareness of the fundamental immorality of Russia’s expansionist mindset. He seems to view the Ukraine war only as a practical fiasco, not as a moral suicide.

Per Ahlberg @perahlberg.bsky.social · 14h

I have always had the feeling that a talent for morphological research and artistic ability go hand in hand - that they use overlapping sets of cognitive abilities. You are a particularly good artist, but so many of our colleagues are at least at a good amateur standard.

Per Ahlberg @perahlberg.bsky.social · 16h

I think we all recognize that on this side of the Atlantic. The problem is that the formidable power of the US government is in their hands. If the Trump regime decides to invade Greenland, it doesn’t matter how many Americans oppose it. Danes and Greenlanders will still have to fight and die.

Per Ahlberg @perahlberg.bsky.social · 1d

Snyggt jobbat! Jag har sytt fast en lossnad ficka på min fjällräven-jacka och dekorerat en engelsk julkaka (se bilder i mitt feed). Det är så skönt, och så ovanligt, att ha tid med sånt här.

Per Ahlberg @perahlberg.bsky.social · 1d

Based on a dystopian epic poem from 1956. An English translation can be found here, if you feel insufficiently gloomed out: dn720006.ca.archive.org/0/items/ania...

dn720006.ca.archive.org

Per Ahlberg @perahlberg.bsky.social · 1d

Right. And how much of a difference does it make compared to having them in Kaliningrad? Another pathetic attempt to frighten us.

Per Ahlberg @perahlberg.bsky.social · 1d

Also, here's popular kaiju Gigan, from Godzilla vs. Gigan (1972). Look at all familiar? I smell a copyright infringement.

Gigan, a hook-handed monster with a single red eye and dragon wings.

Per Ahlberg @perahlberg.bsky.social · 1d

Indeed not, and neither was Gorbachev, but the point is that Russian leadership keeps reverting to type. Tyranny coupled with military aggression appears to be its natural state; exceptions to this prove short-lived.

Per Ahlberg @perahlberg.bsky.social · 1d

I’m sorry, this feels like a failed creature design for Jurassic Park 15 when everybody has run out of steam and just wants the franchise to die. What was evolution thinking?

Per Ahlberg @perahlberg.bsky.social · 1d

“Trump’s spiritual advisor, Beelzebub.”

Per Ahlberg @perahlberg.bsky.social · 1d

It has proved to be your undoing. The deed is done. Of course there’s still resistance, but the rule of law has pretty much ended. The regime has achieved impunity.

Per Ahlberg @perahlberg.bsky.social · 1d

Intangible, but not inedible! A very Merry Christmas to you as well.

Per Ahlberg @perahlberg.bsky.social · 1d

The Christmas cake has been cut and the texture is perfect! Neither too dry nor too soggy.

A Christmas cake cut in half, displaying the cut surfaces.

Per Ahlberg @perahlberg.bsky.social · 1d

In three years’ time, America may have invaded Greenland and/or Canada, or interfered to throw the outcome of major European elections. So no. Fuck off.

Per Ahlberg @perahlberg.bsky.social · 1d

Yes and no. He doesn’t have the populist magic touch of Trump and may thus find it more difficult to realize his evil ambitions. Also, he doesn’t have Trump’s level of sheer, dementia-driven raving insanity. I could see Trump, faced with death or ultimate defeat, launching nukes. Vance wouldn’t.

Per Ahlberg @perahlberg.bsky.social · 2d

I had a similar experience at that age with Forbidden Planet. Totally traumatized.

Per Ahlberg @perahlberg.bsky.social · 2d

Great minds think alike, it seems. By the way, did you know that the Count Magnus of the story is based on 17th century Swedish nobleman Magnus Gabriel de la Gardie? Here he is in his pre-evil-revenant days, with his wife Maria Eufrosyne:

A woman and a man in elegant 17th century dress, with lots of gold trim. The man, Magnus Gabriel de la Gardie, has long blond hair and a blond mustache.

Per Ahlberg @perahlberg.bsky.social · 2d

America needs to be told, in no uncertain terms, that an attempt to seize Greenland will be viewed as an act of war and met with deadly force. Enough is enough.

Per Ahlberg @perahlberg.bsky.social · 2d

Vampire-o-rama! Over the last 30 hours we have watched Eggers’ Nosferatu (2024), Murnau’s Nosferatu (1922; silent movie with a fantastic organ accompaniment) and Coppola’s Dracula (1992) - three tellings of the same story, each with a unique magic. A very interesting experience.

a black and white photo of a man with a hat on and a scary face .

Alt: Count Orlok from Murnau’s Nosferatu (1922) turns round to look over his shoulder. He’s bald, white-faced, with pointed ears, and wears a frock coat.

media.tenor.com

Per Ahlberg @perahlberg.bsky.social · 2d

Look at that, a whole forest-floor ecosystem!

Per Ahlberg @perahlberg.bsky.social · 2d

Wohoo! That’s splendid.

Per Ahlberg @perahlberg.bsky.social · 2d

💯!

Per Ahlberg @perahlberg.bsky.social · 3d

Well, the obvious rich friend to consider is China. Do you have any thoughts about their likely course of action?

Per Ahlberg @perahlberg.bsky.social · 3d

Isn't it? Modelled on a late 16th century instrument. Optimal for playing the Elizabethan repertoire, composers like Dowland and Holborne.

Per Ahlberg @perahlberg.bsky.social · 3d

Tell me about it! Here’s my lute. I rarely find time to play it these days, and I was never much good in the first place, but I do love this instrument.

A lute lying in a carrying case.

Per Ahlberg @perahlberg.bsky.social · 3d

At present, maybe, but he’s only the latest in a long line of raging asshats. Very few Russian leaders have been anything else. How do you explain that?

Per Ahlberg @perahlberg.bsky.social · 3d

Who plays the oud? You?

Per Ahlberg @perahlberg.bsky.social · 3d

Keeping us safe, as well as their own families.

@janetahlberg.bsky.social works as a volunteer supporting Ukrainian refugee families in Uppsala - children, mothers, grandmothers - trying to give them a little joy and relief at Christmastime. They are safe here but life is often both hard and sad.

Per Ahlberg @perahlberg.bsky.social · 3d

The tree is decorated and the table is set. Merry Christmas everyone!

A lit Christmas tree.

A table set with three-branched candles.