Tim J
@timtfj.mastodon.social.ap.brid.gy
I used to play in too many orchestras, and currently play in none. I'm interested in many things, often science, language or music related.
I like words […]
[bridged from https://mastodon.social/@timtfj on the fediverse by https://fed.brid.gy/ ]
I like words […]
[bridged from https://mastodon.social/@timtfj on the fediverse by https://fed.brid.gy/ ]
RE: https://mastodon.me.uk/@slowe/115924335640992970
Long(ish), reflective thread. Well worth a read.
Long(ish), reflective thread. Well worth a read.
mastodon.me.uk
January 20, 2026 at 2:00 AM
RE: https://mastodon.me.uk/@slowe/115924335640992970
Long(ish), reflective thread. Well worth a read.
Long(ish), reflective thread. Well worth a read.
Getting a Mastodon "network error" message every time I try to open a post or profile. I'll stop trying for now and see if it's working again later.
January 18, 2026 at 3:08 PM
Getting a Mastodon "network error" message every time I try to open a post or profile. I'll stop trying for now and see if it's working again later.
Reposted by Tim J
If a person were a time traveler how might that show up in their skeleton, eg in the isotopic analysis of their teeth?
January 17, 2026 at 2:33 AM
If a person were a time traveler how might that show up in their skeleton, eg in the isotopic analysis of their teeth?
Both DeepL (via the Translate function on here) and Google Garble are translating German "herrklären"¹ as "explain", and I can't help thinking they're badly missing the point . . .
____
¹ from "herr" = "Mr, Sir, lord" and "erklären" = "explain"
____
¹ from "herr" = "Mr, Sir, lord" and "erklären" = "explain"
January 16, 2026 at 7:25 PM
Both DeepL (via the Translate function on here) and Google Garble are translating German "herrklären"¹ as "explain", and I can't help thinking they're badly missing the point . . .
____
¹ from "herr" = "Mr, Sir, lord" and "erklären" = "explain"
____
¹ from "herr" = "Mr, Sir, lord" and "erklären" = "explain"
RE: https://mastodon.social/@rperezrosario/115890925773500735
PLEASE!
Also, be aware that when you reply to a post, the language of yours is by default set to the language of the one you're replying to—which may or may not have been correctly set. So your still need to check what yours is set to.
PLEASE!
Also, be aware that when you reply to a post, the language of yours is by default set to the language of the one you're replying to—which may or may not have been correctly set. So your still need to check what yours is set to.
mastodon.social
January 15, 2026 at 2:00 AM
RE: https://mastodon.social/@rperezrosario/115890925773500735
PLEASE!
Also, be aware that when you reply to a post, the language of yours is by default set to the language of the one you're replying to—which may or may not have been correctly set. So your still need to check what yours is set to.
PLEASE!
Also, be aware that when you reply to a post, the language of yours is by default set to the language of the one you're replying to—which may or may not have been correctly set. So your still need to check what yours is set to.
Reposted by Tim J
January 14, 2026 at 2:33 PM
What can you do when someone¹ on a serious science-related radio programme says 80 °C is "ten times as warm" as 8°C?
Ten times as warm as 8°C would be about 2538 °C! You can't just ignore the 273° it takes to get up to 0 °C in the first place.
_____
¹ a physiologist, I think
Ten times as warm as 8°C would be about 2538 °C! You can't just ignore the 273° it takes to get up to 0 °C in the first place.
_____
¹ a physiologist, I think
January 15, 2026 at 1:14 AM
What can you do when someone¹ on a serious science-related radio programme says 80 °C is "ten times as warm" as 8°C?
Ten times as warm as 8°C would be about 2538 °C! You can't just ignore the 273° it takes to get up to 0 °C in the first place.
_____
¹ a physiologist, I think
Ten times as warm as 8°C would be about 2538 °C! You can't just ignore the 273° it takes to get up to 0 °C in the first place.
_____
¹ a physiologist, I think
Reposted by Tim J
The people of New York have a strange relationship to plants. We are perhaps somewhat alienated from nature, but nothing could’ve prepared me for the cabbages. When I first saw the cabbages I was angry.
They were growing in a tree box on the sidewalk in Midtown a place not a suitable place for […]
They were growing in a tree box on the sidewalk in Midtown a place not a suitable place for […]
Original post on sauropods.win
sauropods.win
January 12, 2026 at 10:05 PM
The people of New York have a strange relationship to plants. We are perhaps somewhat alienated from nature, but nothing could’ve prepared me for the cabbages. When I first saw the cabbages I was angry.
They were growing in a tree box on the sidewalk in Midtown a place not a suitable place for […]
They were growing in a tree box on the sidewalk in Midtown a place not a suitable place for […]
[Food description]
Do not underestimate the ability of #grapes and black pepper (together) to enhance a #cheese sandwich. (Though not as much as the cheese itself does, obviously).
But also, do not underestimate the power of #tomato to mask the flavour of grapes. It's a waste of grapes to use […]
Do not underestimate the ability of #grapes and black pepper (together) to enhance a #cheese sandwich. (Though not as much as the cheese itself does, obviously).
But also, do not underestimate the power of #tomato to mask the flavour of grapes. It's a waste of grapes to use […]
Original post on mastodon.social
mastodon.social
January 12, 2026 at 2:08 AM
Reposted by Tim J
Today it was a couple of minus degrees outside but the wind made it feel twice as cold.
I spent all daylight hours outside anyway. And I was rewarded by meeting some really cool birds.
Like this happy jay. ❄️
I spent all daylight hours outside anyway. And I was rewarded by meeting some really cool birds.
Like this happy jay. ❄️
January 11, 2026 at 9:13 PM
Today it was a couple of minus degrees outside but the wind made it feel twice as cold.
I spent all daylight hours outside anyway. And I was rewarded by meeting some really cool birds.
Like this happy jay. ❄️
I spent all daylight hours outside anyway. And I was rewarded by meeting some really cool birds.
Like this happy jay. ❄️
There are two kinds of people, and every actual person combines the two in some proportion or other.
January 7, 2026 at 12:04 AM
There are two kinds of people, and every actual person combines the two in some proportion or other.
Groceries arrived. My 300g head of broccoli actually weighs 846g (well over 1¾ lb). I wouldn't be surprised if the trunk¹ weighs more than half a pound on its own.
_____
¹ I hesitate to call it a mere stalk.
_____
¹ I hesitate to call it a mere stalk.
January 6, 2026 at 4:40 PM
Groceries arrived. My 300g head of broccoli actually weighs 846g (well over 1¾ lb). I wouldn't be surprised if the trunk¹ weighs more than half a pound on its own.
_____
¹ I hesitate to call it a mere stalk.
_____
¹ I hesitate to call it a mere stalk.
Reposted by Tim J
A watched backup never completes, but it does crash the moment you look away
January 5, 2026 at 4:38 AM
A watched backup never completes, but it does crash the moment you look away
Need to book groceries. Don't want to book groceries. Booking groceries has become an hour-long battle to get the website to (i) respond, and (ii) respond correctly, on my phone. Typically, adding each item takes a minute or more.
(Example: tapping to add the item *might* add it. Or it might […]
(Example: tapping to add the item *might* add it. Or it might […]
Original post on mastodon.social
mastodon.social
January 4, 2026 at 11:07 PM
Need to book groceries. Don't want to book groceries. Booking groceries has become an hour-long battle to get the website to (i) respond, and (ii) respond correctly, on my phone. Typically, adding each item takes a minute or more.
(Example: tapping to add the item *might* add it. Or it might […]
(Example: tapping to add the item *might* add it. Or it might […]
Well. I've just muted someone for the simple reason that their display name includes a blinking character. Maybe their actual posts are wonderful, but all I see is the perpetual blinking, so the text might as well not be there.
January 2, 2026 at 10:45 PM
Well. I've just muted someone for the simple reason that their display name includes a blinking character. Maybe their actual posts are wonderful, but all I see is the perpetual blinking, so the text might as well not be there.
A propos of nothing: "En Folkefiende" (the original) seems to me a much more satisfying title for Ibsen's play than "An Enemy of the People".
(I think this every time I look something up in https://naob.no and they quote a line from from it as an example.)
(I think this every time I look something up in https://naob.no and they quote a line from from it as an example.)
NAOB
naob.no
January 1, 2026 at 3:59 AM
A propos of nothing: "En Folkefiende" (the original) seems to me a much more satisfying title for Ibsen's play than "An Enemy of the People".
(I think this every time I look something up in https://naob.no and they quote a line from from it as an example.)
(I think this every time I look something up in https://naob.no and they quote a line from from it as an example.)
Every year has a Feb 29th. But most years, we call it March 1st.
December 30, 2025 at 8:37 PM
Every year has a Feb 29th. But most years, we call it March 1st.
Obvious realisation: #norwegian -tøy and #german -zeug often correspond (e.g. verktøy, Werkzeug) and look as if they should be related. (Not sure how to check zeug, but -tøy is from words like Old Danish tyg: see https://naob.no/ordbok/t%C3%B8y_2 .)
Further realisation: I realised this a few […]
Further realisation: I realised this a few […]
Original post on mastodon.social
mastodon.social
December 30, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Obvious realisation: #norwegian -tøy and #german -zeug often correspond (e.g. verktøy, Werkzeug) and look as if they should be related. (Not sure how to check zeug, but -tøy is from words like Old Danish tyg: see https://naob.no/ordbok/t%C3%B8y_2 .)
Further realisation: I realised this a few […]
Further realisation: I realised this a few […]