@ianmackereth.bsky.social
<cackles in Nerd>
February 5, 2026 at 4:24 AM
<cackles in Nerd>
A trend sent up nicely by Terry Pratchett, with Assassins "inhuming" their victims. (mansplain: if "exhuming" means "removing a body from a grave" ...)
February 5, 2026 at 4:21 AM
A trend sent up nicely by Terry Pratchett, with Assassins "inhuming" their victims. (mansplain: if "exhuming" means "removing a body from a grave" ...)
As an engineer in a sales company, I learned how to handle those group tasks in training courses. I'd use the time while the wannabe-alphas butted heads to decide who was in charge to study and solve the task. Then let the "boss" take credit for my carefully-suggested solution. Less ego, easy life.
January 31, 2026 at 8:04 AM
As an engineer in a sales company, I learned how to handle those group tasks in training courses. I'd use the time while the wannabe-alphas butted heads to decide who was in charge to study and solve the task. Then let the "boss" take credit for my carefully-suggested solution. Less ego, easy life.
I remember learning about Class A amplifiers in Electronics 101 and the lecturer suggesting how to choose a bias current. The A-grade students with no prior experience were most upset that they couldn't just write down a fixed answer, because "it depends" on what tradeoff you need to make.
January 18, 2026 at 12:25 AM
I remember learning about Class A amplifiers in Electronics 101 and the lecturer suggesting how to choose a bias current. The A-grade students with no prior experience were most upset that they couldn't just write down a fixed answer, because "it depends" on what tradeoff you need to make.
THANKYOU! As a retired engineer, I appreciate the acknowledgment that you sometimes _need_ complicated precision, even if only to know whether your allowances are actually safe.
January 18, 2026 at 12:22 AM
THANKYOU! As a retired engineer, I appreciate the acknowledgment that you sometimes _need_ complicated precision, even if only to know whether your allowances are actually safe.
Open a transcribing audio recorder of choice, then play the quotable bit of audiobook. Still need cleaning up, but the bulk of the words should be there.
January 3, 2026 at 12:21 PM
Open a transcribing audio recorder of choice, then play the quotable bit of audiobook. Still need cleaning up, but the bulk of the words should be there.
Where my dream of a white(hot) Christmas is coming true! 40C forecast today in Perth.
December 24, 2025 at 10:49 PM
Where my dream of a white(hot) Christmas is coming true! 40C forecast today in Perth.
I barely have any eyebrows (my usual story is that they were burned off too often during my pyromaniac childhood.)
When I drew some on for amdram acting, it took quite a while before my cast-mates were able to look at me without giggling. I move them A LOT, apparently, just invisibly.
When I drew some on for amdram acting, it took quite a while before my cast-mates were able to look at me without giggling. I move them A LOT, apparently, just invisibly.
December 10, 2025 at 12:57 PM
I barely have any eyebrows (my usual story is that they were burned off too often during my pyromaniac childhood.)
When I drew some on for amdram acting, it took quite a while before my cast-mates were able to look at me without giggling. I move them A LOT, apparently, just invisibly.
When I drew some on for amdram acting, it took quite a while before my cast-mates were able to look at me without giggling. I move them A LOT, apparently, just invisibly.
I deliberately bought a cheap 5W charger for my bedside, since the phone has all night to charge anyway. Slower charging might not make much difference to battery life, but it probably helps... If I need to emergency charge, USB it is.
December 7, 2025 at 5:46 AM
I deliberately bought a cheap 5W charger for my bedside, since the phone has all night to charge anyway. Slower charging might not make much difference to battery life, but it probably helps... If I need to emergency charge, USB it is.
Analgas used to be the name of an Australian company that sold liquid nitrogen and the like to labs using it for various analysis equipment. I can't believe that nobody in that naming decision noticed the problem...
November 21, 2025 at 2:37 AM
Analgas used to be the name of an Australian company that sold liquid nitrogen and the like to labs using it for various analysis equipment. I can't believe that nobody in that naming decision noticed the problem...
Mind you, there's something to be said for low-power chargers. I use a cheap 5W one for my Pixel to charge at bedtime, just to keep it cooler.
November 14, 2025 at 11:33 AM
Mind you, there's something to be said for low-power chargers. I use a cheap 5W one for my Pixel to charge at bedtime, just to keep it cooler.
There are so many novels published in the late 60s/early 70s that compare themselves to Dune... Sort of how so many cosy crime novels now have covers that look curiously similar to The Thursday Murder Club.
November 1, 2025 at 12:45 PM
There are so many novels published in the late 60s/early 70s that compare themselves to Dune... Sort of how so many cosy crime novels now have covers that look curiously similar to The Thursday Murder Club.
As an Aussie, I'd take this as a wonderfully positive wish!
October 23, 2025 at 4:21 AM
As an Aussie, I'd take this as a wonderfully positive wish!
United States v. Eichman makes this unenforceable. I'm always bemused by the hand-on-heart-tears-in-eyes at Old Glory types, who happily break the Flag Act with their Stars and Stripes hats, t-shirts, and underpants!
October 4, 2025 at 9:14 AM
United States v. Eichman makes this unenforceable. I'm always bemused by the hand-on-heart-tears-in-eyes at Old Glory types, who happily break the Flag Act with their Stars and Stripes hats, t-shirts, and underpants!
She'd said that "See, my father really hated my mother because she was white. But he also loved her. But I think she loved his being black much more than she loved him." Take away that colour difference and the union probably wouldn't've happened.
September 30, 2025 at 4:01 AM
She'd said that "See, my father really hated my mother because she was white. But he also loved her. But I think she loved his being black much more than she loved him." Take away that colour difference and the union probably wouldn't've happened.
Finally got to this, after listening to the original audiobook. On Adrian's comment about UKLG's assumption that the mixed-race lawyer's not surviving the grey-skin alteration, it wasn't unconscious racism from her, it was based on an earlier stated opinion from Heather 1/2
September 30, 2025 at 4:00 AM
Finally got to this, after listening to the original audiobook. On Adrian's comment about UKLG's assumption that the mixed-race lawyer's not surviving the grey-skin alteration, it wasn't unconscious racism from her, it was based on an earlier stated opinion from Heather 1/2
Do you know, I don't think I ever have...
September 22, 2025 at 4:33 AM
Do you know, I don't think I ever have...
My first LP! Later scratched into uselessness by my toddler nephew.
September 7, 2025 at 6:38 AM
My first LP! Later scratched into uselessness by my toddler nephew.
I get these using get_iplayer and they're the full-length versions, but only available after the broadcast time. Seems inconsistent, but I'm just happy to have them!
August 16, 2025 at 9:39 AM
I get these using get_iplayer and they're the full-length versions, but only available after the broadcast time. Seems inconsistent, but I'm just happy to have them!
I was told by an Aussie music industry insider that there was already some filtering being applied. Perennials like Dark Side of the Moon, Rumours and such are often ordered in occasional bulk shipments by retailers and, if a few happen to order at the same time, an old record would shoot to No. 1
August 9, 2025 at 3:33 AM
I was told by an Aussie music industry insider that there was already some filtering being applied. Perennials like Dark Side of the Moon, Rumours and such are often ordered in occasional bulk shipments by retailers and, if a few happen to order at the same time, an old record would shoot to No. 1
One moment stood out as redemptive of the franchise to me: when Lex is realising that he's been definitively beaten, Superman's expression is one of compassion, not gloating. THAT'S Superman. (For me, Reeves going back to hurt that redneck was a worse moment than Cavill killing Zod.)
August 5, 2025 at 2:11 PM
One moment stood out as redemptive of the franchise to me: when Lex is realising that he's been definitively beaten, Superman's expression is one of compassion, not gloating. THAT'S Superman. (For me, Reeves going back to hurt that redneck was a worse moment than Cavill killing Zod.)
As others have said, they should release "Groundhog Day 2" and then just show the original!
August 3, 2025 at 3:15 AM
As others have said, they should release "Groundhog Day 2" and then just show the original!
You can also download BBC content using get_iplayer (but only when it's been broadcast, not just on Sounds. e.g. this ep not until at 10:00 today)
August 2, 2025 at 5:49 AM
You can also download BBC content using get_iplayer (but only when it's been broadcast, not just on Sounds. e.g. this ep not until at 10:00 today)