Short Straws

Submitted by Captain Qalypso on

"Suppose an event has two possible explanations. The explanation that requires the fewest assumptions is usually correct. Another way of saying it is that the more assumptions you have to make, the more unlikely an explanation."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-68515515

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7cgRMY4opc&ab_channel=80%27s90%27sMusic...

https://metamodel.blog/posts/texas-heat-wave/

 

17 Comments

'Resolutions'

Submitted by Captain Qalypso on

"More than 2.5 tonnes of food, clothing, equipment and scientific experiments are due to launch atop a SpaceX rocket from Florida at 16:55 local time (20:55 GMT).

On arrival, SEN's camera payload will be prepped by the station crew and then put through an airlock to be placed on the Bartolomeo deck - a piece of exterior structure connected to the European Columbus science module."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/future/article/20240308-talking-on-the-moon-the-qu...

"On 20 July 1969 an estimated 600 million people watched a live broadcast that was both out of focus and of extremely poor quality."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOxMylotEZM&ab_channel=JohnPaulYoung

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-68579681

"Again, it's a mix of wide and narrow-angle views."

The Shackleton Crater.

"On the far side of the Moon, there is also the problem of maintaining communications with the Earth when it is no longer within line of sight. The only way to achieve this is via a relay satellite."

'Cyber Flu'

Submitted by Captain Qalypso on

"There was no point in history where absolutely nothing was censored: as time passes, the unsayable simply shifts from one topic to another."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6120QOlsfU&ab_channel=Darude

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-68647650

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DjiDuLhHpA&ab_channel=alaf22

"“It is amazing how word spreads. I’ve been trying to have a kip … and there have been loads and loads of people outside.”"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Pazt9whz0A&ab_channel=0untamed

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/mar/23/free-speech-warrio...

"In 2022, new laws permitted noisy demonstrations to be shut down, increased the length of prison sentences for damaging statues and broadened the definition of “intentionally or recklessly causing public nuisance”, a criminal offence. Police will soon be able to arrest protesters for wearing face coverings to hide their identity."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1KOH81SWgE&ab_channel=TvamArchive

"The 25 March lunar eclipse is a penumbral eclipse which occurs when the moon travels through the Earth’s shadow. It’s not a dramatic one visually (wait until next month’s total solar eclipse on 8 April for that) but it could still make an impact on your life."

Lockdown, Moi?

Just in case anyone was wondering what I was up to...

Not a Lot.

Spose I oughta do somin useful ... 

https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/24201443.eden-camp-donates-original-gre...

And Pigs might Fly.

https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/aliens-ufo-extraterrest...

"The upright creature has been visualised with two heads, three arms, and gills as well as a nose - and stands at an average of five feet tall"

Bless.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/mar/24/which-will-melt-aw...

Trollolol.

https://www.theguardian.com/global/2024/mar/23/angela-rayner-roots-rough...

"What’s the kitten’s face cushion on the sofa? “That’s a sensory pillow for MPs who need a bit of love."

https://www.who.int/data/stories/the-true-death-toll-of-covid-19-estimat...

Oh.

"“Hippo days” she calls them, when she can’t face getting dressed or applying makeup."

I'm still painting my Kitchen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IY5Ejus6kgc&ab_channel=zYxMa

Grrr...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Iafh8v7lmg&ab_channel=TheOpelkoenjas

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/apr/02/why-is-that-funny-rishi...

'Advanced Astronomy'

Submitted by Captain Qalypso on

"The prime locations are free from ground vibration, shielded from Earth’s noisy broadcast signals or profoundly cold – making them uniquely well-suited for sensitive equipment that could make observations impossible from elsewhere.

But the pristine spots, known as sites of extraordinary scientific importance (Sesis), are in danger of being ruined by an imminent wave of missions such as lunar navigation and communications satellites, rovers and mining operations, with experts warning on Monday that safeguarding the precious sites was an “urgent matter”."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZK_M_XhocXo&ab_channel=Lumen

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2024/mar/25/scientists-call-for-prot...

""You have to constantly talk, which isn't a problem for me," she said. "It's when your feet start to hurt and you rock side to side. But I absolutely love it.""

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-68631692

"So what are these ghostly particles and why was a new approach needed to detect them?

The current theory of particle physics is called the Standard Model. It says that everything in the Universe is made up of a family of 17 particles - well known ones such as the electron and the Higgs boson - as well as the lesser known but wonderfully named charm quark, tau neutrino and gluon."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cy47g4FtiSU&ab_channel=Happi3r

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-68653311

Meanwhile:

"Archaeologists have concluded that they could have been Amazon women who lived 4,000 years ago. These fearsome women were famed for their male-free society and their prowess on the battlefield, particularly with a bow and arrow."

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2024/mar/24/truth-behind-the-myths-a...

'First Contact'

Submitted by Captain Qalypso on

"In a year when general elections were due in the UK and the US, as well as an Olympics in Paris and the men’s football Euros in Germany, listening to callers was going to be more important than ever, she said."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-68673420

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyHNryKojDY&ab_channel=Movieclips

https://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/winter-visits.htm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_oFL_b719g&ab_channel=decay21450

https://www.theguardian.com/media/2024/mar/28/bbc-radio-5-live-chief-hei...

Tomorrow is Another Day...

forgot to put me bin out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKC6UsetwN4&ab_channel=Movieclips

"Sand or cat litter (road salt is not permitted in the park)"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0IWFgsFrCA&ab_channel=Isaac.CVideoDataBase

"Young people are now banned from walking the streets of the Alice Springs CBD without a "lawful purpose" between 6pm and 6am, after the Northern Territory government declared an "emergency situation" in the town."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001xm5f?at_mid=J9qO0EvV8f&at_campaign...

"Sometimes, one song is all you need."

https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2024/mar/28/sex-mozart-and-chanting-...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1fiOJDXA-E&ab_channel=FreddieMercurySolo

Sleep Tight.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/events/e33n3d/play/p0hmlyyx

Oh.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-04-05/how-can-workplaces-get-employees-...

lol

"However, Mr Mogford said the rain also led to an increase in feral cats."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akcbz-1C8rA&ab_channel=JackBrien

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-04-05/central-rock-rat-found-at-narwiet...

Forgot the Goldfish... ;-0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hM_y3KqIr3s&ab_channel=The80sQuadrant

'Extreme Ends'

Submitted by Captain Qalypso on

"Sightings of marsupial moles usually occur only a few times each decade."

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2024/apr/09/silver-coin-boom-in-medi...

"The burrowing animals live within sand dunes in isolated deserts and spend very little time on the surface.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-L9gXDjQIY&ab_channel=Mis-Teeq-Topic

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-68720246

""I go along to farmers' doors with my portfolio of previous finds and show them what I do and ask them for permission to detect on their land," he said.

"You try to make yourself presentable, you put gel in your hair and wash your car and turn up in nice clothes."

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/apr/09/can-you-smell-what...

"“Quite often they end up in museums very close to where they were discovered and that’s particularly important because it helps shed light on local history for people.”"

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-68659675

Ooops...

"Under the current definition, an item is treasure if it is at least 300 years old and made at least in part of precious metal, such as gold or silver, or part of a hoard. This will be amended to cover exceptional finds of at least 200 years old, regardless of the type of metal they are made of.!"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIO6ZjlvvB0&ab_channel=NOWSCARING

Bugs Bunny.

https://www.gazetteherald.co.uk/news/24288508.keane-duncan-labour-slams-...

I particularly liked this bit ...

“This eye-watering spending spree, drawn up on the back of a fag packet, will leave a black hole in the mayoral budget and potentially bankrupt the new mayoral authority.”

'Mini Moons'

Submitted by Captain Qalypso on

"“Under these conditions … the object may become a temporary moon of Earth,” he said, adding it would happen to the asteroid in question starting next week and last about two months."

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/sep/19/mini-moon-asteroid

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlcFgg6fiU4

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/sep/19/evening-standard-l...

"The distant and cold Voyager 1 spacecraft did a clever thruster trick to help it phone home."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99p35Dk8EV4

"Engineers at JPL plan to keep the Voyager twin spacecraft running until at least the 50th anniversary of the mission in 2027."

https://www.livescience.com/space/space-exploration/nasa-s-voyager-1-pro...

"Have you ever wondered how fast your daily ride is? Now is your chance to find out!"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sduM3VEhRcU

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2024/sep/18/huge-plasma-jets-spotted...

"Very soon the only constellations we will see will be human-made."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy4dnr8zemgo

'The Rational News'

Submitted by Captain Qalypso on

"... the magazine has always been perfectly pitched somewhere between The X-Files and a parish council newsletter."

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/sep/28/fortean-times-maga...

Hmmm ...

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/sep/26/nazca-lines-peru-new-geogl...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abifktfBNgg

lol

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2022/mar/31/morbius-review-ludicrously-...

Eeek..

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/cz04z0155kko

'Space Permitting'

Submitted by Captain Qalypso on

"An Illustrated History of All World Events Ever, Space Permitting. We caught up with the amateur historian and presenter turned author to chat ghosts, politics and Monster Munch …"

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clylvz1ppdmo

"Dickens is a ghost now. Shakespeare is a ghost. Everything that gets taught for GCSE is written by a ghost"

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn4y7q2dyndo

"I think you should stop teaching reading at the point that a child is able to read. Otherwise the child will find it a bit patronising."

https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2024/sep/28/philomena-cunk-history-w...

"There isn’t a BBC cafe any more: everything’s been turned into a meeting room named after a Del Boy or a Teletubby or whatever."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tto_nmsND_o

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp3w4nld5e3o

'Terms of Endearment'

Submitted by Captain Qalypso on

"A noble mention as well to “pet” in the north-east. And don’t get me wrong, I’ll take any term of endearment from anyone, and be very grateful for it, but I’d rather be someone’s duck than someone’s anything else."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn8jdwxdl5no

"You can find them begging to turn back time, so that they can have a second chance to make things better. To do something relatively sane for the first time in ages."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ph-B_dLZhKM

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/oct/10/love-bab-pet-duck-...

'An Irritating Game'

Submitted by Captain Qalypso on

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/oct/09/spent-whole-life-s...

"Stargazers have been told to look to the west just after sunset, which is 6.13pm in London. The comet’s tail, thought to be about 18m miles long, will be a prominent feature."

lol

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c07n0rem29po

They must have renamed Germany, Dorset...

Hmmm ...

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2024/oct/11/what-women-can-teac...

"This stuff could be hardwired...."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cpqzxy9ew4qo

Elvis has not left the building.

'Unaffordable & Irrelevance'

Submitted by Captain Qalypso on

"No one could quite work out what was going on. Tory backbenchers looked pained. A rare feelgood opportunity had gone begging. Labour MPs couldn’t believe their luck. In a way it was quite reassuring to see that Sunak had a serious side. After all, he had never shown much interest in international relations when he was prime minister."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp9535mndexo

"There again, I seem to be about the only person in Westminster who wasn’t offered a freebie – or maybe I was, and just deleted the email as I really wasn’t that bothered. Three hours is a long time to stand up and watch a dot move about on stage."

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/oct/16/rishi-sunak-starmer-sta...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BAXBPHBHsE

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckgv8lwlyljo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_Y-9lgYID8

https://www.channel4.com/news/why-lithium-is-set-to-revive-cornwalls-min...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YuF4oYRktcA

"“It's the old story - if you the user, aren't paying, then the chances are that you are the product."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/2024/wallace-and-gromit-teaser-trailer

'Meteor Showers'

Submitted by Captain Qalypso on

"Since the start of the space age, we’ve had a throwaway culture – a bit like plastics in the ocean,” says Nick Shave, managing director of Astroscale UK, an in-orbit servicing company headquartered in Japan."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/cd7xqqnv5eno

“We’re putting up tens of thousands of satellites, and we’re putting up increasingly bigger satellites into low Earth orbit – bigger in terms of cross-sectional area and mass – we’re finding that we’re having perhaps some unanticipated impact on things like collision risk.”

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2024/oct/19/humanity-would-watch-hel...

"“A fashion toward ethical feeding could ensure future cats are healthier, happier and free to enjoy natural feline behaviour like climbing, jumping and lounging in the sun. We should let cats be cats.”"

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2024/oct/20/elon-musk-promises-to...

Gremlins...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/articles/cd98329yx51o

"Nomination papers must be delivered by hand to the Returning Officer at North Yorkshire Council, Town Hall, St Nicholas Street, Scarborough, North Yorkshire, YO11 2HG on any working day from the publication date of this notice but no later than 4pm on Friday 25 October 2024. If any election is contested, the poll will take place on Thursday 21 November 2024."

lol

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gd20j2Hb-0Y

https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/your-council/elections-and-voting/new-town...

Linseed Oil.

'Light or Shade?'

Submitted by Captain Qalypso on

"More to the point, nearby Acton’s derelict industrial acres are to become the Canary Wharf of the western metropolis, one of Europe’s most dynamic “new towns”. To link the Midlands to Acton rather than the British Museum and London zoo will one day seem perfectly reasonable."

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/nov/01/hs2-euston-canary-...

"While it can handle average indoor humidity, it thrives best in slightly more humid conditions."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrkD1l7IxIc

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2024/nov/01/houseplant-of-the-w...

lol

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qx_SNvHgXSA

'Zero Gravity'

Submitted by Captain Qalypso on

"Morris dancing is a form of traditional English folk dance that takes a variety of styles depending on where the group has come from."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c245nq3r29qo

"As we await take-off, any nerves I felt have been replaced by excitement, my confidence bolstered by the spacesuit I have been issued and a generous injection of antinausea medication."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWsXPy4g8Mw

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2024/nov/16/my-trip-on-zero-gravity-...

""The key things that you'd need to enjoy are moving around a lot and looking a bit funny," Sam advises aspiring beginners."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx28g1vxkreo

"However with the next supermoon not until October 2025, it's worth capturing a glimpse of this one if you can."

A 'Red-Headed' Read

Submitted by Captain Qalypso on

"He has flown straight from Texas in his Gulfstream to bask in the adulation of his new lord and master. He has also paid several hundred million dollars, plus a month of his time, to be here. But now his time has come."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwygxe102ydo

"Thomas Cromwell made himself indispensable to Henry VIII in the 1530s and – as viewers of Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light are soon to discover – ultimately that was not a great career move."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c2e71pl4yrjo

"Gavin allegedly came up with the scheme after reading a Sherlock Holmes story, The Red-Headed League. In it, Arthur Conan-Doyle's hero waits in a vault for burglars planning to tunnel in."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jp7JzaOrao

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2024/nov/16/elon-musk-donald-trum...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gB3U70zE5g

lol

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dABcmAbm-fk

'Moe’s Tavern'

Submitted by Captain Qalypso on

"A few, should the predictions get worse, may go full survivalist, filling their bunkers with tinned carrots. But their number will be small. The news cycle is hardly relaxing at the moment, the old order as frangible as digestive biscuits."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5y494xkp3yo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=733O0xJDx8o

"The tone, and length, of the announcements has varied, sometimes leaving Pope-watchers to attempt to read between the lines."

https://www.theguardian.com/science/commentisfree/2025/feb/22/the-observ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjIDkbt4Cy0

Bless his little Cotton Socks.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/feb/28/cornish-lighthouses-fog-...