Dave Fernig @DaveFernig@qoto.org

Birkbeck is a unique institution and needs to be preserved against managerial and governmental vandalism

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/nov/11/the-guardian-view-on-university-cuts-jeopardising-a-precious-heritage?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Ot
#educationuk #Birkbeck #universitycuts

"There is a theory which states that if ever anyone discovers exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable. There is another theory mentioned, which states that this has already happened." (Doug Adams)

Light relief. Puffins -Sumburgh Head, Shetland, 2008
More at http://www.dcscience.net/shetlands_album/index.html

Hi! mastodon.social is being slow right now, as far as I can tell because there's twice as many people using it at the same time as ever have; I'm working on making it go fast again, but in the meantime, do remember to invite people to joinmastodon.org instead of directly to mastodon.social. People don't have to be on the same server to follow you! Thanks!

Maybe it looks nice, but it means we'll have pretty bad weather tomorrow. #Polesia #RuralLife

Petition to name baby axolotls "axolitls"

Today's law and policy post on how the contest between platforms is an example of a contest often seen

https://davidallengreen.com/2022/11/hierarchies-vs-networks-in-the-age-of-musk-and-mastodon/

Because I'm on a German server my trending topics are #keinVergessen and #niemalsVergessen. This is because 9 November is the anniversary of Kristallnacht.

These brass plates in the pavements memorialise Jewish people at what were their addresses. I saw this one in Berlin in the spring. #NeverForget

I love programming, but when people you've taught goes above and beyond what you yourself would have been able to - that's an even better feeling!

Here’s a poem called ‘You Took the Last Bus Home’.

Can anyone id this? Eastern Poland, wetland forest. #Fungi are weird, but many taste great.

Very much a newbie on Mastodon, but hoping to find a kinder, more collaborative, supportive community here.

I'm excited this week as my long-standing fascination with anatomy, etymology and art has evolved into a literary offering... Anatomical Oddities - out tomorrow!

Limited signed copies are available:
https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/Anatomical-Oddities-by-Alice-Roberts/2100000289202

Still daylight outside, so a photo from three years ago: Germany, 9th of November, eve of Kristallnacht, around the corner from my home. 👇 #Stolpersteine en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stolpersteine - I am not crying, you are. #NeverAgain #FCKNZS

"The government has backed down in its fight to keep secret a “lessons learnt” review of the Covid pandemic.

It means the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has 35 days to finally make the document public."
https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/covid-lessons-learnt-foi-battle-review-publish/

Peace. Solidarity. Dignity.
Freedom. Unity. Europe. 🇪🇺

Today, we mark the 33th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall – a decisive moment in European history.

#StrongerTogether #EUarchives

Today’s poem is called ‘An Update to My Privacy Policy’.

Over on Twitter, we post a healthy mix of politics, book promotion and tripe.
Mastodon seems like a cooler place to be, so we'll probably dial back the politics and concentrate instead on a more leisurely dive into our #books and #tripe. We've also been asked if we can provide more of an insight into the workings of the TMB. It's a deal!

A cryptobro DMed me to ask if I wanted to join his mailing list.

I spent slightly too long making this to send in reply.