John MacPherson
@johnmacpherson.bsky.social
Mostly a photographer: https://www.john-macpherson-photography.com
I sometimes write: https://www.duckrabbit.info/blog/author/j-macpherson/
Scottish Highlander, left-coast, interested in all sorts of things. I make stuff, some of it even works.
I sometimes write: https://www.duckrabbit.info/blog/author/j-macpherson/
Scottish Highlander, left-coast, interested in all sorts of things. I make stuff, some of it even works.
Pinned
I like stories. I posted this one on The Other Place and many people liked it. So I thought I'd post it here for anyone who missed it. It's about travel, but mainly it's about trust, risk & reward and a reminder that we're all strangers to others at some point. But only temporarily... 1/12
Reposted by John MacPherson
When states like Colorado passed policies requiring employers to disclose salary information in job postings, what happened?
It increased competition, and raised wages, without harming employment or changing skill requirements.
Improved functioning of markets, helped workers.
It increased competition, and raised wages, without harming employment or changing skill requirements.
Improved functioning of markets, helped workers.
November 17, 2025 at 4:41 PM
When states like Colorado passed policies requiring employers to disclose salary information in job postings, what happened?
It increased competition, and raised wages, without harming employment or changing skill requirements.
Improved functioning of markets, helped workers.
It increased competition, and raised wages, without harming employment or changing skill requirements.
Improved functioning of markets, helped workers.
For anyone with an interest in Scottish history, here's Gavin (Ring of Bright Water) Maxwell's shark fishing station on Soay (off Skye), which I photographed some 20 years ago for a project. Fascinating place. (book is worth reading) www.amazon.co.uk/Harpoon-at-V...
November 17, 2025 at 5:48 PM
For anyone with an interest in Scottish history, here's Gavin (Ring of Bright Water) Maxwell's shark fishing station on Soay (off Skye), which I photographed some 20 years ago for a project. Fascinating place. (book is worth reading) www.amazon.co.uk/Harpoon-at-V...
Reposted by John MacPherson
I wonder if anyone has explored the intersection with disability studies? My mom used a rollator and a motorized scooter, and I realized one day that skating around her town allowed me to have an intuitive sense of what would work for her and her wheels.
Reflecting on her experiences of skateboarding in Cairo, New York and other cities as a form of ‘rolling ethnography’, Alia ElKattan positions ‘seeing like a skater’ as a new way to approach urban landscapes.
Seeing Like a Skater: Skateboarding as Poetic Technology
Reflecting on her experiences of skateboarding in Cairo, New York and other cities as a form of ‘rolling ethnography’, Alia ElKattan positions ‘seeing like a skater’ as a new way to approach urban lan...
www.mediapolisjournal.com
November 17, 2025 at 3:33 PM
I wonder if anyone has explored the intersection with disability studies? My mom used a rollator and a motorized scooter, and I realized one day that skating around her town allowed me to have an intuitive sense of what would work for her and her wheels.
Reposted by John MacPherson
"Yorkshire Water was privatised in 1989 under the Water Act, launched debt-free and promoted as the start of a new, efficient era.
Today, the company carries almost £7bn in debt...."
Today, the company carries almost £7bn in debt...."
Yorkshire Water: it’s time to end the rip-off
Handing the company back to local people would return both control and value to those who need it most
yorkshirebylines.co.uk
November 17, 2025 at 11:34 AM
"Yorkshire Water was privatised in 1989 under the Water Act, launched debt-free and promoted as the start of a new, efficient era.
Today, the company carries almost £7bn in debt...."
Today, the company carries almost £7bn in debt...."
Reposted by John MacPherson
I will never get tired of watching meteorites blast new craters on the Moon.
This likely lunar impact flash appeared today. Like a space firefly. 🧪
This likely lunar impact flash appeared today. Like a space firefly. 🧪
Vous assistez, quasiment en direct à la formation d'un cratère sur la Lune, avec un impact filmé ce matin !
November 16, 2025 at 8:51 PM
I will never get tired of watching meteorites blast new craters on the Moon.
This likely lunar impact flash appeared today. Like a space firefly. 🧪
This likely lunar impact flash appeared today. Like a space firefly. 🧪
Reposted by John MacPherson
I’ve just made the mistake of flicking through the House of Bruar catalogue while suffering a Covid fever.
What in the name of Atholl is going on?👇
What in the name of Atholl is going on?👇
November 16, 2025 at 9:30 PM
I’ve just made the mistake of flicking through the House of Bruar catalogue while suffering a Covid fever.
What in the name of Atholl is going on?👇
What in the name of Atholl is going on?👇
Reposted by John MacPherson
Okay, I can't let this one go. I live in Ireland, not the UK, but the use of this image by a supposedly socialist party is so stupid and offensive, I'm going to get stuck in.
Let me explain to you why any experienced illustrator/designer could have stopped you making so many miserable mistakes. 1/
Let me explain to you why any experienced illustrator/designer could have stopped you making so many miserable mistakes. 1/
November 15, 2025 at 12:26 PM
Okay, I can't let this one go. I live in Ireland, not the UK, but the use of this image by a supposedly socialist party is so stupid and offensive, I'm going to get stuck in.
Let me explain to you why any experienced illustrator/designer could have stopped you making so many miserable mistakes. 1/
Let me explain to you why any experienced illustrator/designer could have stopped you making so many miserable mistakes. 1/
Reposted by John MacPherson
So to summarize, your image is packed with mistakes, uses an exploitative tech, fails to communicate a clear message, displays your ignorance, insults the people of that county, makes you look like environmental vandals and fails to describe your key demographic.
This is why you pay a designer. 7/7
This is why you pay a designer. 7/7
November 15, 2025 at 12:26 PM
So to summarize, your image is packed with mistakes, uses an exploitative tech, fails to communicate a clear message, displays your ignorance, insults the people of that county, makes you look like environmental vandals and fails to describe your key demographic.
This is why you pay a designer. 7/7
This is why you pay a designer. 7/7
Reposted by John MacPherson
Manipulated Polaroid SX-70, Greenwich Village near Houston St, Late 1980s. #Polaroid #SX-70 #Manipulated #NYC #TheVillage #Houston #Manhattan #Pasta #EastCoastKin #UrbanGaze
November 16, 2025 at 12:33 PM
Manipulated Polaroid SX-70, Greenwich Village near Houston St, Late 1980s. #Polaroid #SX-70 #Manipulated #NYC #TheVillage #Houston #Manhattan #Pasta #EastCoastKin #UrbanGaze
Yesterday crepuscular moment: twilight collie and snowball.
November 16, 2025 at 9:43 AM
Yesterday crepuscular moment: twilight collie and snowball.
Reposted by John MacPherson
SAUSAGE Life 335
internationaltimes.it/sausage-life...
Bird Guano’s
The column which believes that JR Oppenheimer and McDonalds should be equally ashamed of themselves
Colin Gibson
internationaltimes.it/sausage-life...
Bird Guano’s
The column which believes that JR Oppenheimer and McDonalds should be equally ashamed of themselves
Colin Gibson
November 16, 2025 at 6:30 AM
SAUSAGE Life 335
internationaltimes.it/sausage-life...
Bird Guano’s
The column which believes that JR Oppenheimer and McDonalds should be equally ashamed of themselves
Colin Gibson
internationaltimes.it/sausage-life...
Bird Guano’s
The column which believes that JR Oppenheimer and McDonalds should be equally ashamed of themselves
Colin Gibson
Reposted by John MacPherson
Anna Loginova aka Anna Vindront - Sit Down and Think (2025)
November 16, 2025 at 3:52 AM
Anna Loginova aka Anna Vindront - Sit Down and Think (2025)
Reposted by John MacPherson
AI-Powered Stuffed Animal Pulled From Market After Disturbing Interactions With Children futurism.com/artificial-i...
AI-Powered Stuffed Animal Pulled From Market After Disturbing Interactions With Children
FoloToy says it's suspended sales of its AI-powered teddy bear after researchers found it gave wildly inappropriate and dangerous answers.
futurism.com
November 16, 2025 at 3:57 AM
AI-Powered Stuffed Animal Pulled From Market After Disturbing Interactions With Children futurism.com/artificial-i...
Reposted by John MacPherson
Planted my first Philadelphia tree at Norris square park this morning under the guidance of my tree teacher, Petra (age 9).
November 15, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Planted my first Philadelphia tree at Norris square park this morning under the guidance of my tree teacher, Petra (age 9).
Reposted by John MacPherson
Reposted by John MacPherson
Labour pumping the accelerator in the race to the bottom.
The Danish policy confiscates jewelry from asylum seekers to cover costs.
I'm married to the daughter of a refugee and by far the most important objects in the in-laws house are the handful of pieces of jewelry her family arrived here with.
The Danish policy confiscates jewelry from asylum seekers to cover costs.
I'm married to the daughter of a refugee and by far the most important objects in the in-laws house are the handful of pieces of jewelry her family arrived here with.
Home Secretary to quadruple qualification period for settlement to 20 years for asylum seekers arriving illegally
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
Shabana Mahmood: ‘Illegal migration is tearing Britain apart’
The home secretary is planning to introduce a 20-year wait for permanent stay to end a ‘golden ticket’ for asylum seekers
www.thetimes.com
November 16, 2025 at 7:46 AM
Labour pumping the accelerator in the race to the bottom.
The Danish policy confiscates jewelry from asylum seekers to cover costs.
I'm married to the daughter of a refugee and by far the most important objects in the in-laws house are the handful of pieces of jewelry her family arrived here with.
The Danish policy confiscates jewelry from asylum seekers to cover costs.
I'm married to the daughter of a refugee and by far the most important objects in the in-laws house are the handful of pieces of jewelry her family arrived here with.
Reposted by John MacPherson
Your occasional reminder, if you’re in the UK, that it is shaping up to be a hideous bird flu season, with many wildlife casualties (including resident birds, not just winter migrants), and, however soft your heart, it is a Really Bad Idea to handle sick or ‘injured’ birds or bring them inside.
November 14, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Your occasional reminder, if you’re in the UK, that it is shaping up to be a hideous bird flu season, with many wildlife casualties (including resident birds, not just winter migrants), and, however soft your heart, it is a Really Bad Idea to handle sick or ‘injured’ birds or bring them inside.
Reposted by John MacPherson
Please avoid anything news-adjacent this morning and look at these nice sheep, instead. You will be happier for it.
THREAD. A collection of photographs of excellent sheep I have met on walks.
You will find the captions to each photo in the alt text.
You will find the captions to each photo in the alt text.
November 14, 2025 at 1:10 PM
Please avoid anything news-adjacent this morning and look at these nice sheep, instead. You will be happier for it.
Current Highland conditions. Snowing, fat wet flakes and probably not hanging about for long. Pretty whilst it lasts.
November 14, 2025 at 10:58 AM
Current Highland conditions. Snowing, fat wet flakes and probably not hanging about for long. Pretty whilst it lasts.
Reposted by John MacPherson
This thread is interesting about the Mars Spirit and Opportunity rovers. I had no idea that the video created received an Emmy nomination!
It's an amazing video today still.
🧪🐡🔭
It's an amazing video today still.
🧪🐡🔭
It's the Mars Exploration Rover video (aka Spirit and Opportunity). Dan Maas created this video by himself (in consultation with the PI Steve Squyres) while an undergraduate (at 16yo!), using a bunch of tech that he built himself, including significant advances to 3D animation. He won an Emmy.
November 14, 2025 at 1:25 AM
This thread is interesting about the Mars Spirit and Opportunity rovers. I had no idea that the video created received an Emmy nomination!
It's an amazing video today still.
🧪🐡🔭
It's an amazing video today still.
🧪🐡🔭
Reposted by John MacPherson
What we’ve done to the salmon: the fastest and largest animal domestication project that humanity has ever undertaken. www.vox.com/future-perfe...
What we’ve done to the salmon
The particular cruelty behind farming America’s favorite fish.
www.vox.com
November 14, 2025 at 7:11 AM
What we’ve done to the salmon: the fastest and largest animal domestication project that humanity has ever undertaken. www.vox.com/future-perfe...
Reposted by John MacPherson
This still-developing thread will make you feel more optimistic about how things could go down in the next few months… even if none of us should count our timeline improvements until they happen
I can't even fathom what January will look like, except probably very bad for the Trump regime.
Absent a major black swan event, I don't see a path to power consolidation for them at this point.
For a number of reasons, not just Epstein.
(Thread)
Absent a major black swan event, I don't see a path to power consolidation for them at this point.
For a number of reasons, not just Epstein.
(Thread)
The timetable evidently has been accelerated.
What's your new predication for when we get to January?
I'll just throw a random one out there: They do release the Epstein files but only after Trump had time to preemptively pardon himself and he tells his base he had to cause it was a Dem smear job.
What's your new predication for when we get to January?
I'll just throw a random one out there: They do release the Epstein files but only after Trump had time to preemptively pardon himself and he tells his base he had to cause it was a Dem smear job.
November 13, 2025 at 11:05 PM
This still-developing thread will make you feel more optimistic about how things could go down in the next few months… even if none of us should count our timeline improvements until they happen
Reposted by John MacPherson
The famous green snow last night in Alaska…
November 13, 2025 at 9:11 AM
The famous green snow last night in Alaska…
Reposted by John MacPherson
NYT editors put "Claudine Gay" in "top 5 featured on the New York Times homepage Dec 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 22, 25"
While they put Trump calling for Constitution's "termination" on page 15 and his chief of staff's "tyrant" warning on 12
Christopher Rufo openly bragged about the plans:
While they put Trump calling for Constitution's "termination" on page 15 and his chief of staff's "tyrant" warning on 12
Christopher Rufo openly bragged about the plans:
Chris Rufo "a total product of right-wing affirmative action and you literally would never have heard of him if he was a liberal"
bsky.app/profile/chri...
NYT front page coverage all the time!
By powerful, mediocre editors who push "meritocracy" narrative yet hired each other with legacy privilege
bsky.app/profile/chri...
NYT front page coverage all the time!
By powerful, mediocre editors who push "meritocracy" narrative yet hired each other with legacy privilege
November 13, 2025 at 12:18 AM
NYT editors put "Claudine Gay" in "top 5 featured on the New York Times homepage Dec 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 22, 25"
While they put Trump calling for Constitution's "termination" on page 15 and his chief of staff's "tyrant" warning on 12
Christopher Rufo openly bragged about the plans:
While they put Trump calling for Constitution's "termination" on page 15 and his chief of staff's "tyrant" warning on 12
Christopher Rufo openly bragged about the plans:
Reposted by John MacPherson
Well he was certainly plastered at the time.
But what’s in a word? It’s all a matter of cementics.
But what’s in a word? It’s all a matter of cementics.
November 12, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Well he was certainly plastered at the time.
But what’s in a word? It’s all a matter of cementics.
But what’s in a word? It’s all a matter of cementics.