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Russ Swan

@russs.bsky.social

Recovering journalist, universe/UK/Notts. Geek, nerd, dweeb. Fixer. Author of popular science book. Columnist @ Lab News. Motorcycles. Spaniels. Science. Engineering. Screaming into the void

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Russ Swan@russs.bsky.social · 2w ago

A day of cultural contrasts, starting with the Worst Record Covers in the World exhibition by Steve Goldman. Some are laugh-out-loud hilarious, others made me want to bleach my eyes. [1/2]

Four dubious album covers including Lionel Richie in ill-advised open-leg pose, a curious mashed image of Aretha (Franklin?), a four-piece group called Bummm! and some dude licking his guitar on an inappropriate way.Four more of the world's worst album covers including one with a sad clown on a waste tip, a bare chested hairy man carrying a flute on his shoulder as if it were a rifle, a couple called Norman Castle and Gill, the album called Boney Fingers, on which Gill's expression suggests Norman is using his boney fingers in a not altogether pleasurable way, and the accordion-playing teenage Currie Brothers with matching tartan trews, who probably suffered merciless bullying after this came out. General view of the exhibition. I haven't laughed so much in ages, but I also felt a little but sick.
Jess Zafarris@jesszafarris.com · 3w ago

Entertaining words for “cool” or “excellent” and, per the The Historical Thesaurus of English, the approximate dates they're first recorded: 1613: topgallant 1666: spanking 1776: ripping 1802: smick-smack 1828: supernacular 1838: lummy (originally probably a variation on "Lord love me") (1/2)

Russ Swan@russs.bsky.social · 4w ago

Today's pointless AI invention is this smart birdfeeder (that might actually be a surveillance cam), which removes the joy of learning about your avian visitors by identifying them for you, for only 220 of your English pounds. Yeah, fuck off.

A house-shaped lime green bird feeder with two repositories for bird seed either side of a central camera. In front is a landing tray and on the roof solar panels. I've redacted the company name and logo because I'm not in the business of promoting this kind of pointless crap (and I'm certainly not getting paid). I wonder if the whole expensive device will be bricked when the company inevitably goes tits-up (blue tits, great tits, coal tits, crested tits, whatever - tits being small songbirds that are hilariously called titmice in the land of the free because some arsehole in Pennsylvania might be offended by the similarity to the name of popular body part).
Met Office - weather and climate@metoffice.gov.uk · last mo.

Planning to watch the eclipse on Wednesday evening? The best viewing conditions are expected in the south, whilst a weather front pushing into the northwest is likely to bring cloud and some rain Check our app and website for the most up-to-date forecast where you are 🌘

Map of the UK with likelihood of clear skies on Wednesday 12 August, 6-8pm. Northern Ireland and Scotland = low to moderate. Northern England and North Wales = Good Southern England and South Wales = Excellent.