More Stressed Chameleon
@mark-nicol.bsky.social
Working on being a calmer chameleon - but it comes and goes.
East Lothian dad and software engineer - working at the UK ATC
(Likes dad jokes, old computers and space. Would like to write better docs but never seem to have the time)
East Lothian dad and software engineer - working at the UK ATC
(Likes dad jokes, old computers and space. Would like to write better docs but never seem to have the time)
One of those fascinating wee corners of history via Substack Weekender . Why the FSA great depression photo archives contain these photos with a missing black circle.
substack.com/redirect/196...
substack.com/redirect/196...
Hole-Punched History
In the FSA archives, photos of The Great Depression are marred by an empty black void, forever obscured by the perfunctory click of a hole-punch.
substack.com
September 20, 2025 at 3:50 PM
One of those fascinating wee corners of history via Substack Weekender . Why the FSA great depression photo archives contain these photos with a missing black circle.
substack.com/redirect/196...
substack.com/redirect/196...
Reposted by More Stressed Chameleon
🔊Calling #Edinburgh! One of the world's largest telescopes twinned with the world's biggest camera is about to embark on a 10yr mission to survey the Universe! Join us in Dynamic Earth's Planetarium as we unveil the 1st Rubin images🥳🔭🏴
🗓️: 23rd Jun@15:30-17:00
£5🎟️ dynamicearth.org.uk/event/rubin-...
🗓️: 23rd Jun@15:30-17:00
£5🎟️ dynamicearth.org.uk/event/rubin-...
We are T–10 days from NSF–DOE Rubin Observatory's First Look! 🚨
This reveal of Rubin's first images is just a preview of what's to come as Rubin prepares to #CaptureTheCosmos for the next ten years! 🔭🧪
Here are 6 things you need to know before the big day🎬
🧵
This reveal of Rubin's first images is just a preview of what's to come as Rubin prepares to #CaptureTheCosmos for the next ten years! 🔭🧪
Here are 6 things you need to know before the big day🎬
🧵
June 14, 2025 at 8:32 AM
🔊Calling #Edinburgh! One of the world's largest telescopes twinned with the world's biggest camera is about to embark on a 10yr mission to survey the Universe! Join us in Dynamic Earth's Planetarium as we unveil the 1st Rubin images🥳🔭🏴
🗓️: 23rd Jun@15:30-17:00
£5🎟️ dynamicearth.org.uk/event/rubin-...
🗓️: 23rd Jun@15:30-17:00
£5🎟️ dynamicearth.org.uk/event/rubin-...
Reposted by More Stressed Chameleon
The amazingly talented photographer @tomduffinphotos.bsky.social and I turned my #StrawberryMoon skeet-thread into a piece for the 🏴 #Edinburgh Reporter. Check out Tom's many superb photos and don't forget, #DoLookUp tonight! 🔭
🗞️: theedinburghreporter.co.uk/2025/06/look...
🗞️: theedinburghreporter.co.uk/2025/06/look...
June 11, 2025 at 7:31 PM
The amazingly talented photographer @tomduffinphotos.bsky.social and I turned my #StrawberryMoon skeet-thread into a piece for the 🏴 #Edinburgh Reporter. Check out Tom's many superb photos and don't forget, #DoLookUp tonight! 🔭
🗞️: theedinburghreporter.co.uk/2025/06/look...
🗞️: theedinburghreporter.co.uk/2025/06/look...
What if we containerised the teams rather than the software?
New portacabin arrives on site.
New portacabin arrives on site.
May 30, 2025 at 6:57 AM
What if we containerised the teams rather than the software?
New portacabin arrives on site.
New portacabin arrives on site.
Work goals for today
May 30, 2025 at 6:41 AM
Work goals for today
Reposted by More Stressed Chameleon
🥳 This is proper EXCITING people!! Mark June 23rd in your diary for the world wide release of the first images from the wonderful and amazing Vera Rubin Observatory. 🔭🧪
Join the celebration at a Rubin Watch party near you!
👉: rubinobservatory.org/news/rubin-f...
Join the celebration at a Rubin Watch party near you!
👉: rubinobservatory.org/news/rubin-f...
May 23, 2025 at 4:27 PM
🥳 This is proper EXCITING people!! Mark June 23rd in your diary for the world wide release of the first images from the wonderful and amazing Vera Rubin Observatory. 🔭🧪
Join the celebration at a Rubin Watch party near you!
👉: rubinobservatory.org/news/rubin-f...
Join the celebration at a Rubin Watch party near you!
👉: rubinobservatory.org/news/rubin-f...
Thanks coffee, I couldn't have summed up my work mood any better.
May 22, 2025 at 9:01 AM
Thanks coffee, I couldn't have summed up my work mood any better.
A long read and a rewarding one. How the Business Idiot culture has messed up everything about work and life in pursuit of sound bites and vibes.
Newsletter: We are in the era of the Business Idiot, where middle management has seized power, breeding out true meritocracy and value-creation in favor of symbolic growth and superficial intelligence. This piece ties together everything I've ever written.
www.wheresyoured.at/the-era-of-t...
www.wheresyoured.at/the-era-of-t...
The Era Of The Business Idiot
Fair warning: this is the longest thing I've written on this newsletter. I do apologize.
Soundtrack: EL-P - $4 Vic
Listen to my podcast Better Offline. We have merch.
Last week, Bloomberg profiled ...
www.wheresyoured.at
May 22, 2025 at 6:34 AM
A long read and a rewarding one. How the Business Idiot culture has messed up everything about work and life in pursuit of sound bites and vibes.
Fresh breakfast muffins made by my lovely wife - loves x
What a lovely way to start the weekend.
What a lovely way to start the weekend.
May 17, 2025 at 8:09 AM
Fresh breakfast muffins made by my lovely wife - loves x
What a lovely way to start the weekend.
What a lovely way to start the weekend.
This run of nice weather really is lovely. Hope it lasts through the weekend.
Whatever you are doing today as George says "it is going to take patience and time to do it right" 😀
Whatever you are doing today as George says "it is going to take patience and time to do it right" 😀
May 16, 2025 at 7:28 AM
This run of nice weather really is lovely. Hope it lasts through the weekend.
Whatever you are doing today as George says "it is going to take patience and time to do it right" 😀
Whatever you are doing today as George says "it is going to take patience and time to do it right" 😀
Reposted by More Stressed Chameleon
It’s the time of year when you might find a baby bird and want to help. Most often (and slightly counterintuitively) it’s best to do nothing. Here’s a useful guide.
May 15, 2025 at 3:06 PM
It’s the time of year when you might find a baby bird and want to help. Most often (and slightly counterintuitively) it’s best to do nothing. Here’s a useful guide.
Sure is a mighty fine place to be ...
May 15, 2025 at 8:17 AM
Sure is a mighty fine place to be ...
Achievement of the day. I've been limited to one dad joke per team meeting.
If I'd known I wouldn't have wasted it on a crack about quantum computing working and not working at the same time.
If I'd known I wouldn't have wasted it on a crack about quantum computing working and not working at the same time.
May 14, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Achievement of the day. I've been limited to one dad joke per team meeting.
If I'd known I wouldn't have wasted it on a crack about quantum computing working and not working at the same time.
If I'd known I wouldn't have wasted it on a crack about quantum computing working and not working at the same time.
Reposted by More Stressed Chameleon
Ask not for whom the bell tolls
OK, this is wild.
In September 2023, geophysicists across the world started monitoring a very odd signal coming from the ground under them.
It was picked up in the Arctic. And Antarctica. It was detected everywhere, every 90 seconds, as regular as a metronome, for *nine days*.
What the HELL?
1/
In September 2023, geophysicists across the world started monitoring a very odd signal coming from the ground under them.
It was picked up in the Arctic. And Antarctica. It was detected everywhere, every 90 seconds, as regular as a metronome, for *nine days*.
What the HELL?
1/
May 13, 2025 at 5:34 AM
Ask not for whom the bell tolls
Morning. Good skies on the way to the office. Almost makes up for the climb.
May 9, 2025 at 7:42 AM
Morning. Good skies on the way to the office. Almost makes up for the climb.
Has anyone done the "not so much super Hornet as sub Hornet" dad joke yet?
www.businessinsider.com/us-navy-airc...
www.businessinsider.com/us-navy-airc...
A US Navy aircraft carrier in the Red Sea fight just lost a third Super Hornet. The $60 million jet went overboard on landing.
The F/A-18 tried landing on the USS Harry S. Truman but went overboard after the arrestment failed, a defense official said.
www.businessinsider.com
May 8, 2025 at 6:36 AM
Has anyone done the "not so much super Hornet as sub Hornet" dad joke yet?
www.businessinsider.com/us-navy-airc...
www.businessinsider.com/us-navy-airc...
Reposted by More Stressed Chameleon
#Astro-bluesky I am talking to 11-13 year olds next week about astronomy-related careers. If you have a cool picture of you doing your job (especially from women) be it in science, engineering, IT, business support, project management etc. I would love to have a picture to show what we do. 🔭🧪
May 7, 2025 at 10:30 AM
#Astro-bluesky I am talking to 11-13 year olds next week about astronomy-related careers. If you have a cool picture of you doing your job (especially from women) be it in science, engineering, IT, business support, project management etc. I would love to have a picture to show what we do. 🔭🧪
Happy Astronomy Day to those that observe.
May 3, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Happy Astronomy Day to those that observe.
Evidently, Friday starts here. Have a good weekend folks.
May 2, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Evidently, Friday starts here. Have a good weekend folks.
The 'after burnout' series of articles by @kvlly.com are just lovely and thoughtful and human - well worth a read:
"Progress doesn’t always feel like winning.
Sometimes it feels like not quitting.
And that counts, too."
modernleader.is/p/tiny-signs...
"Progress doesn’t always feel like winning.
Sometimes it feels like not quitting.
And that counts, too."
modernleader.is/p/tiny-signs...
Tiny signs you're making progress (even when it feels like you're not)
All wins are good wins!
modernleader.is
May 2, 2025 at 6:20 AM
The 'after burnout' series of articles by @kvlly.com are just lovely and thoughtful and human - well worth a read:
"Progress doesn’t always feel like winning.
Sometimes it feels like not quitting.
And that counts, too."
modernleader.is/p/tiny-signs...
"Progress doesn’t always feel like winning.
Sometimes it feels like not quitting.
And that counts, too."
modernleader.is/p/tiny-signs...
Reposted by More Stressed Chameleon
Kicking off the AtLAST2 kickoff! @atlastdesign.bsky.social
April 28, 2025 at 8:14 AM
Kicking off the AtLAST2 kickoff! @atlastdesign.bsky.social
Reposted by More Stressed Chameleon
Good morning Sardinia. Here at the lovely Lazzeretto di Cagliari for the ATLAST2 Telescope kick off meeting.
April 28, 2025 at 8:48 AM
Good morning Sardinia. Here at the lovely Lazzeretto di Cagliari for the ATLAST2 Telescope kick off meeting.
Reposted by More Stressed Chameleon
This is a fascinating thread about how important COBOL continues to be in banking. I know no banking or COBOL, but to a fair extent you can s/COBOL/Fortran/ s/banking/physics/ and the concept remains true. (1/2)
So, the DOGE kids intend to rewrite the social-security administration's COBOL code-base!
and they want to do it ...
... in *a few months*
I did a huge dive into COBOL a few years ago (www.wealthsimple.com/en-ca/magazi...) ...
... so let me explain why DOGE is *way* over its skis here
1/9
and they want to do it ...
... in *a few months*
I did a huge dive into COBOL a few years ago (www.wealthsimple.com/en-ca/magazi...) ...
... so let me explain why DOGE is *way* over its skis here
1/9
browse by category
www.wealthsimple.com
March 31, 2025 at 1:36 PM
This is a fascinating thread about how important COBOL continues to be in banking. I know no banking or COBOL, but to a fair extent you can s/COBOL/Fortran/ s/banking/physics/ and the concept remains true. (1/2)
After the wind and the rain East Lothian looking lovely in the sunshine this morning.
March 30, 2025 at 10:33 AM
After the wind and the rain East Lothian looking lovely in the sunshine this morning.