John Shields
@avochie.bsky.social
Practical, evidence-informed conservation in the UK and Zambia, and calcium carbonates without the carbon @longcliffe. Fan of German wirehaired pointers, unlike Kristi Noem.
I can't remember if I ever shared this on here, but on or around his anniversary I'm reminded of my finest photograph of Boatswain, an arch poseur among dogs:
"Wanderer, above the sea of Dog", after Friedrich.
"Wanderer, above the sea of Dog", after Friedrich.
November 20, 2025 at 9:15 AM
I can't remember if I ever shared this on here, but on or around his anniversary I'm reminded of my finest photograph of Boatswain, an arch poseur among dogs:
"Wanderer, above the sea of Dog", after Friedrich.
"Wanderer, above the sea of Dog", after Friedrich.
Reminds me of this - actually covering his eyes like a teenager when I opened the curtains
October 6, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Reminds me of this - actually covering his eyes like a teenager when I opened the curtains
We've all been exposed to different Kirks. It is v possible that a lot of people simply never saw his racist, misogynist, etc side. What I think is extraordinary is that - now people have had time to look at him and his legacy - ppl are still determined on hagiography. Newsflash: Mandela he wasn't.
September 15, 2025 at 12:12 PM
We've all been exposed to different Kirks. It is v possible that a lot of people simply never saw his racist, misogynist, etc side. What I think is extraordinary is that - now people have had time to look at him and his legacy - ppl are still determined on hagiography. Newsflash: Mandela he wasn't.
Sharing this video as it's one I often return to for a moment of calm.
Walking round the edge of a frozen swamp in Northern Sweden in January 2023, I saw these guys just wandering across. There's a brutal side to the Arctic in winter, of course, but it's also a place of simplicity, and peace.
Walking round the edge of a frozen swamp in Northern Sweden in January 2023, I saw these guys just wandering across. There's a brutal side to the Arctic in winter, of course, but it's also a place of simplicity, and peace.
September 9, 2025 at 6:07 AM
Sharing this video as it's one I often return to for a moment of calm.
Walking round the edge of a frozen swamp in Northern Sweden in January 2023, I saw these guys just wandering across. There's a brutal side to the Arctic in winter, of course, but it's also a place of simplicity, and peace.
Walking round the edge of a frozen swamp in Northern Sweden in January 2023, I saw these guys just wandering across. There's a brutal side to the Arctic in winter, of course, but it's also a place of simplicity, and peace.
Just copying the top results of a (not signed in) couple of searches on YouTube from Zambia yesterday.
This is the diet of online content people are currently being exposed to.
This is the diet of online content people are currently being exposed to.
September 5, 2025 at 6:35 AM
Just copying the top results of a (not signed in) couple of searches on YouTube from Zambia yesterday.
This is the diet of online content people are currently being exposed to.
This is the diet of online content people are currently being exposed to.
Yes the BBC was referring to protests 'erupting' like it was the Arab Spring or something. [Cuts to tumbleweed]
These were my (signed out) YouTube search results from Zambia this morning. I don't think I'm overstating this or personifying too much: it genuinely feels orchestrated.
These were my (signed out) YouTube search results from Zambia this morning. I don't think I'm overstating this or personifying too much: it genuinely feels orchestrated.
September 4, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Yes the BBC was referring to protests 'erupting' like it was the Arab Spring or something. [Cuts to tumbleweed]
These were my (signed out) YouTube search results from Zambia this morning. I don't think I'm overstating this or personifying too much: it genuinely feels orchestrated.
These were my (signed out) YouTube search results from Zambia this morning. I don't think I'm overstating this or personifying too much: it genuinely feels orchestrated.
I see the YouTube algorithm is really fostering love for the UK right now. These were the non-signed-in results, searching from Zambia this morning.
September 4, 2025 at 1:34 PM
I see the YouTube algorithm is really fostering love for the UK right now. These were the non-signed-in results, searching from Zambia this morning.
This is exactly my issue, as that may well have been what people at his resort in Greece *were* talking about. Logging out of YouTube and typing in the following searches gets me these results from here in Zambia.
September 4, 2025 at 1:32 PM
This is exactly my issue, as that may well have been what people at his resort in Greece *were* talking about. Logging out of YouTube and typing in the following searches gets me these results from here in Zambia.
We're talking about this small Eurasian principality, yes? This one based around Moscow and Novgorod?
September 2, 2025 at 12:40 PM
We're talking about this small Eurasian principality, yes? This one based around Moscow and Novgorod?
Meanwhile, ref their one argument...
August 29, 2025 at 7:14 AM
Meanwhile, ref their one argument...
My dog and I used to play a great reflex game, where - paw-to-paw - we'd wait to grab the ball, the winner being the one who moved second but still got it. He'd get so annoyed when he lost, and it usually descended into a play fight.
August 4, 2025 at 7:03 AM
My dog and I used to play a great reflex game, where - paw-to-paw - we'd wait to grab the ball, the winner being the one who moved second but still got it. He'd get so annoyed when he lost, and it usually descended into a play fight.
I don't suppose an African tour is planned for all your listeners (by longitude, more directly) down under?! There are some diehard wangs here...
July 19, 2025 at 10:07 AM
I don't suppose an African tour is planned for all your listeners (by longitude, more directly) down under?! There are some diehard wangs here...
And to demonstrate my point, this is a photograph from two days ago. The tie His Majesty is wearing is that of the Royal Company of Archers, whom he is here inspecting.
July 3, 2025 at 6:29 AM
And to demonstrate my point, this is a photograph from two days ago. The tie His Majesty is wearing is that of the Royal Company of Archers, whom he is here inspecting.
I bought my dog an actual painting for Christmas. No miserable shite is going to guilt me into thinking that was anything other than a spectacular use of my money
June 3, 2025 at 7:39 PM
I bought my dog an actual painting for Christmas. No miserable shite is going to guilt me into thinking that was anything other than a spectacular use of my money
These AI images from the White House are rather reminiscent of Saddam Hussein's fantasy murals
May 6, 2025 at 4:59 AM
These AI images from the White House are rather reminiscent of Saddam Hussein's fantasy murals
This is AMAZING.
For reference, this is how I set up my New Year's Eve celebrations in 2016.
For reference, this is how I set up my New Year's Eve celebrations in 2016.
March 21, 2025 at 3:33 AM
This is AMAZING.
For reference, this is how I set up my New Year's Eve celebrations in 2016.
For reference, this is how I set up my New Year's Eve celebrations in 2016.
This fellow should watch his hand gestures. Easy to get cancelled.
March 9, 2025 at 9:16 AM
This fellow should watch his hand gestures. Easy to get cancelled.
It's awful isn't it. Just can't get enough
March 7, 2025 at 10:45 PM
It's awful isn't it. Just can't get enough
My darling Zesca was looking angelic this morning, trotting in to the living room for breakfast. And then I went out to find that (she's on heat) she'd bitten out housekeeper's dog (stitches required) and killed a poor galago. I mean, ffs
March 1, 2025 at 12:03 PM
My darling Zesca was looking angelic this morning, trotting in to the living room for breakfast. And then I went out to find that (she's on heat) she'd bitten out housekeeper's dog (stitches required) and killed a poor galago. I mean, ffs
It's actually amazing how far back the "Tesla Handshake" goes. This footage is from the 30s!
February 28, 2025 at 5:39 AM
It's actually amazing how far back the "Tesla Handshake" goes. This footage is from the 30s!