@dso-m45.bsky.social

@dso-m45.bsky.social

2225 Followers 1096 Following

Current affairs | evolutionary algorithms & machine learning | astronomy | fountain pens | SF Dev (PD1/PAB/SCA) || Runner & CS Prof IRL. Grüßt euch. 🏃‍♂️📚🟧🔭🚲✒ 🇺🇦 Mundus sine caesaribus.

When people say they love academia for its "flexibility," I just think of a quote from a friend of one of my grad school profs: "In academia, you work 18 hours a day. BUT you can work ANY 18 hours of the day that you want."
Two snippets, one saying "Customer reviews require account verification", the other "Your request to see more reviews has been sent. You'll receive an email within 5 business days"
AQI index gauge showing 395 Hazardous
Reading is the quietest form of rebellion against ignorance.
Imported 0 out of 401 events. Some of the events in this file were not imported because ...
Picture of Trump in a referee uniform with the text: FIFA appoints new referee for the USA v Belgium game ...
Parody of a famous Andrew Wyeth painting of a woman on the ground in a field looking into the distance. Except she's looking at the ferris wheel on the mall in DC at the "great american state fair".
A note left by the Iranian soccer team: “From the ancient Persia of thousands of years ago to the civilized Iran of today, the spirit of Iran remains alive and steadfast,” said words handwritten in blue ink on one side of plain white paper. “We came to Los Angeles with pride, competed with honor, and leave with dignity. “Thank you, Los Angeles, for your hospitality,” the note continued. “And thank you to every Iranian who gave their heart, voice and soul for Iran throughout these 180 minutes.” “May peace, respect and friendship prevail among all nations,” the note concluded.
Shows an older runner along a road, sort of bent over, with a speech bubble containing: "Starting to run in your 60s is a great way to meet people. Today I met 1 paramedic, 2 nurses and almost Jesus."
Ceasefires are always good news. Especially if they lead to a just and lasting peace. But this momentary relief cannot make us forget the chaos, the destruction, and the lives lost. The Government of Spain will not applaud those who set the world on fire just because they show up with a bucket. What's needed now: diplomacy, international legality, and PEACE.
(Blue) Earth setting behind the (brown) moon
Display of the Wordle grid with a question
It is quite obvious that the human race has made a queer mess of life on this planet. But as a people we probably harbor seeds of goodness that have lain for a long time waiting to sprout when the conditions are right. Man's curiosity, his relentlessness, his inventiveness, his ingenuity have led him into deep trouble. We can only hope that these same traits will enable him to claw his way out. Hang onto your hat. Hang onto your hope. And wind the clock, for tomorrow is another day. E. B. White Letter to Mr. Nadeau 30th March 1973
It is quite obvious that the human race has made a queer mess of life on this planet. But as a people we probably harbor seeds of goodness that have lain for a long time waiting to sprout when the conditions are right. Man's curiosity, his relentlessness, his inventiveness, his ingenuity have led him into deep trouble. We can only hope that these same traits will enable him to claw his way out. Hang onto your hat. Hang onto your hope. And wind the clock, for tomorrow is another day. E. B. White Letter to Mr. Nadeau 30th March 1973
Screenshot of the site: ASA NASA Official: Michelle Wolverton Orion is centered. Orion's solar array wings are unfurled and swept back. Earth is in the far-distance in the center, lit from the right. The Moon Artemis Real-time Orbit Website is in the far-distance in the lower left, lit from the right. On-screen overlays read: Distance to Earth: 115648 mi. Distance to the Moon: 150877 mi. Velocity: 3473 mph, Mission Elapsed Time: 1D : 22H : 49M
Hello, World NASA astronaut and Artemis II Commander Reid Wiseman took this picture of Earth from the Orion spacecraft's window on April 2, 2026, after completing the translunar injection burn. Image Credit: NASA/Reid Wiseman https://www.nasa.gov/image-detail/fd02_for-pao/
a bunch of text that looks like JSON
The Claw and Bubble Nebulae Image Credit & Copyright: Richard Whitehead Text: Keighley Rockcliffe (NASA GSFC, UMBC CSST, CRESST II) Explanation: What unexpected things do you see when you look up at the night sky? Today’s image resembles an abstract painting, with large swaths of color strewn across a cosmic canvas seemingly without design. Despite the image's abstract nature, the human mind finds patterns, identifying a large claw reaching up towards a floating bubble. Embedded within these seemingly random structures are the physical laws that govern how light and matter interact. The Claw (Sh2-157) and Bubble (NGC 7635) Nebulae glow colors that are mapped to the yellow and blue shown, indicating the presence of hydrogen and oxygen ionized by the intense light emitted from stars several times the mass of the Sun. This image depicts both the chaos and structure of astronomical processes, showing that a common thread between art and science is to look for the unexpected.
No King's demonstration Chicago, head of the march, banner reads "Chicago says No KIngs"
Lucy doing some strange thing on the sofa -- sort of the challenge version of Yoga for Cats.
MAGA was 100% correct. If I voted for Kamala Harris, our economy would tank, the national debt would triple, gas prices will skyrocket, and we would be at war with Iran. I voted for her and all of that happened. threads.com/@jho.clt
NETANYAHU: 2nd WORST AMERICAN PRESIDENT EVER
I learned something very beautiful today, In French, "bibliothèque intérieure" means your "inner library' the invisible shelf you carry inside, filled with every story that's ever shaped you. All the books you've loved, the heartbreaks you've survived, the random quotes that stuck, the memories that built you. They all live there. Quietly reminding you of who you are and how far you've come.
My cat as a kitten, curled up in a small US Postal Priority Mail box
Picture of Mullin cowering behind a chair during J6 attempted insurrection.
Alxandria OCASIO.CORTEZ REPRESENTING NEW YORK'S 14TH DISTRICT OCASIO-CORTEZ STATEMENT ON TRUMP'S COMBAT OPERATIONS IN IRAN "The American people are once again dragged into a war they did not want by a president who does not care about the long- term consequences of his actions. This war is unlawful. It is unnecessary. And it will be catastrophic. "Just this week, Iran and the United States were negotiating key measures that could have staved off war. The President walked away from these discussions and chose war instead. President Trump flippantly acknowledged the possibility of American casualties, stating "that often happens in war." "Mr. President: this was not an inevitability. This is a deliberate choice of aggression when diplomacy and security were within reach. Stop lying to the American people. "Violence begets violence. We learned this lesson in Iraq. We learned this lesson in Afghanistan. And we are about to learn it again in Iran. Bombs have yet to create enduring democracies in the region and this will be no different. "In moments of war, our Constitution is unambiguous: Congress authorizes war. The President does not. I will do my part to uphold our Constitution by voting YES on Representatives Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie's War Powers Resolution. Every member of Congress must join us in rejecting this aimless war."
Cat lying on her side, slightly out of focus, with her beans in the forground.
(I highlighted the first paragraph and the last sentence) A research into cat behavior shows that domestic cats regard humans as social peers rather than superiors, often perceiving their owners as large, awkward kittens. Far from being aloof or defiant, a cat's apparent indifference stems from a profound interspecies mismatch in social expectations. As anthrozoologist John Bradshaw explains, cats-unlike dogs-never evolved to recognize humans as dominant leaders or authority figures. Instead, they filter all interactions through an excusively feline framework. Behaviors like kneading on your lap or licking your hair are not mere displays of affection; they are the same grooming and bonding rituals cats reserve for close kin or pride members. In their eyes, we are simply enormous, somewhat clumsy fellow cats who require inclusion in the group. This absence of hierarchical deference accounts for cats' frequent disregard of commands or household rules. Treating us as equals, they follow cat-to- cat social protocols in every encounter. The "gifts" of dead prey on the doorstep or constant shadowing around the home are acts of care toward what they see as a big, furless, rather inept companion. Recognizing this mindset transforms the human-cat relationship from one based on authority and obedience to one of mutual companionship. It turns out that while many owners believe they have domesticated their cats, the cats themselves are quietly convinced they are patiently tending to their oversized, adopted family members. [Bradshaw, J. (2013). Cat Sense: How the New Feline Science Can Make You a Better Friend to Your Pet. Basic Books]
Meanwhile in the US we elevate a felon to the highest office in the land (twice). Two newspaper headlines/clippings: Former Prince Andrew Arrested in Britain Over Epstein Ties King Charles III said he supported a "full, fair and proper process" regarding the investigation of his brother Andrew Mountbatten- Windsor, adding that he backed the authorities involved. South Korean Ex-Leader Is Sentenced to Life in Prison Former President Yoon Suk Yeol was found guilty of masterminding an insurrection when he imposed martial law in 2024. It was the country's biggest criminal trial in decades.
Shows a sign in a corridor (like you would see in a hospital or doctor's office) that reads "Sub-Waiting" ...
A map of the United States with just one name on it, Minneapolis.
Alex Pretti was a Minneapolis ICU nurse who spent his lays caring for and saving others. Today, he was shot and killed by a Border Patrol Agent. Alex's life was extinguished by state violence. We must tell the truth about what is happening. My father warned us, "When evil men plot, good men must plan. When evil men burn and bomb, good men must build and bind." What we are witnessing now (masked raids, people taken without due process, vigilante, Gestapo, and slave patrol- like like tactics normalized under the color of law) is a moral crisis. Nonviolence demands more than outrage; it demands action. Congress must dismantle ICE; enact just, humane immigration policies; and ensure implementation of the policies by people who honor the humanity of Black and Brown immigrants, respect those raising their voices in support of immigrants, and seek the safety of community. The blood of those who are being kidnapped and injustly killed by agents with impunity is not only on the hands of those who pull the trigger, but on every lawmaker and every court that has the power to intervene and chooses silence. Creating the Beloved Community requires truth, accountability, and the courage to act before more lives are lost.
Cat looking out the window at someone in a bright yellow jacket clearing snow. Not that snowy today, but definitely colder than when this picture was originally taken :)
A new bedsheet on the bed with a somewhat suspicious bulge .. it's almost as if some creature was hiding underneath it ...
Graffiti at a NYC sub station that reads: "We don't want Greenland, we want Healthcare"
Picture of my kitty hiding in a box, with her tail sticking out :)
Tabby kitty blissfully unaware of the world while she is snoozing (on her back) inside her carrier.
From Twitter/X Donald Tusk @donaldtusk No-one will take seriously a weak and divided Europe: neither enemy nor ally. It is already clear now. We must finally believe in our own strength, we must continue to arm ourselves, we must stay united like never before. One for all, and all for one. Otherwise, we are finished. 2:43 AM . Jan 5, 2026 . 682.6K Views
From Twitter/X: Donald Tusk @donaldtusk No-one will take seriously a weak and divided Europe: neither enemy nor ally. It is already clear now. We must finally believe in our own strength, we must continue to arm ourselves, we must stay united like never before. One for all, and all for one. Otherwise, we are finished. 2:43 AM . Jan 5, 2026 . 682.6K Views
Image of a cat, catting :) I.e., sitting next to "2025" on a shelf and promptly pushing it off the shelf.
Tabby relaxing on her side on the bed while eyeing me :)
A table showing sun rise/set/lenght data along with the durations of the longest and shortest daylight days in Chicago, IL, USA.
My tabby relaxed on the bed after some intensive play with the blue toy spring. Unclear who won the game.
My tabby doing silly cat things by trying to twist herself on her back. Sort of looks a bit dainty :)
Shows a high of -7 C and a low of -14 C for Thursday but sunny.
5 images of the Kakuno nibs. This pens comes in EF too.
The sky over two apartment building with pink Northern Lights!
Images of ping colored northern lights over an apartment building.
Lucy pulling away the football (again, predictably) from Charlie Brown.
My kitty peacefully snoozing on a blanket, no worries in the world.
Beautiful red fall foliage along a wall with a STOP sign in the foreground.
image of the bottom of front paws of my cat -> beans :)
100-day Streak Wordle Badge
Text reads: Video unavailable The uploader has not made this video available in your country
Fall themed poster with the following text: Having the privilege to live without government assistance does not make you a better person
Nearly half of new recruits who've arrived for training at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center over the past three months were later sent home because they couldn't pass the written exam, according to the data. The academic requirement includes an exam in which officers are allowed to consult their textbooks and notes at the end of a legal course on the Immigration and Nationality Act and the Fourth Amendment, which outlines when officers can and can't conduct searches and seizures.
Picture of the destruction of the East Wing - caption reads: Andy Borowitz Yesterday at 7:15 AM . Bulldozer Demolishing White House Accidentally Unearths Epstein Files
Pictures from the rally and various signs.
Picture of my tabby on the bed, looking to the left with her paws stretched out in front.