Giles Sparrow is adrift in the vortex

@gswrites

Pop science writer/editor consultant for hire, specialising in astronomy and its history. Regular nerd with @somethingwho.bsky.social

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Giles Sparrow is adrift in the vortex@gswrites· 9d

How I appear to my followers:

The 73 Yards Woman, seen from 73 yards away in the Doctor Who story, err, "73 Yards"

Giles Sparrow is adrift in the vortex@gswrites· 9d

The *charitable* interpretation is Zack didn't read past the headline to paras 2 and 3 where Burnham pivots in exactly the direction that he wants. The fact that he's gone to the trouble of screenshotting the headline to remove a link to the full story, however... www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

BBC News story on Burnham's small boats policy:

Andy Burnham has pledged his government will be "relentless" in curbing the number of people arriving in the UK on small boats.

The prime minister said progress had been made and the government was "changing the whole approach", with enforcement officers tackling people-smuggling gangs doubled on both sides of the Channel.

"People want to see this issue addressed," he said in Dover, adding: "We also need to build a system that offers safe routes for people as well, because that also takes away the selling point of the gangs."

Giles Sparrow is adrift in the vortex@gswrites· 9d

Wrapped up New Bergerac last night, lads...

"Look at that classic from a bygone era in need of repair."

Charley Hungerford and Jim Bergerac apparently looking at a dusty old Triumph Roadster - but we know better, don't we kids?

Garth Marenghi has strong opinions about writers who use subtext.

Giles Sparrow is adrift in the vortex@gswrites· 11d

Once again Imma tap the sign:

“British public wrong about nearly everything, survey shows”

Giles Sparrow is adrift in the vortex@gswrites· 13d

Good Lord, it's Prudence Kitten!

A pop-up book showing Prudence Kitten - a cat in a 50s-style gingham pinafore dress. This was Annette Mills's popular successor to the beloved Muffin the Mule on BBC children's television.

Giles Sparrow is adrift in the vortex@gswrites· 15d

I ain't reading all that.
I'm happy for U tho
or sorry that happened

Giles Sparrow is adrift in the vortex@gswrites· 16d

Bart Simpson is concerned that SpaceX Stock is the lowest it's ever been, but Homer hopes to cheer him up with some news about its future prospects.

Giles Sparrow is adrift in the vortex@gswrites· 17d

Timeline synchronicity:

Matt Damon as some guy tied to a mast. screaming, directly above Sky's post.

Giles Sparrow is adrift in the vortex@gswrites· 18d

On final approach to #DinoConUK… <Jurassic Park thene intensifies>

Lovely Sam Neill, poised to remove his sunglasses.

Giles Sparrow is adrift in the vortex@gswrites· 19d

Crystal Palace for the wonderfully restored dinosaurs last weekend, and I'm about 200 words off being officially "on top of work" for the first time in about fifteen months... Which probably means I should log off!

Lovely Sam Neill's sunglasses moment in Jurassic Park.

The Mighty Megalosaurus of Crystal Palace

Giles Sparrow is adrift in the vortex@gswrites· 20d

RETVRN

Logopolitans, from the Doctor Who story Logopolis, holding the Universe together through the mental arithmetic of Block Transfer Computation.

The General Register of Logopolis – a bunch of cloaked greybeards manually transferring numbers to early 80s computer tech. There's probably a Backrooms parallel here but I'd need to have seen it.

Overhead view of the cave-like dwellings inhabited by the mathematicians of Logopolis, with a replica of the Lovell radio telescope (err, "Pharos Project") looming above them, beaming out the signals that stop the Universe decaying into entropy. God I love Doctor Who with Big Ideas.

Giles Sparrow is adrift in the vortex@gswrites· 23d

Strong performing bear vibes. Just needs one of these...

A multi-coloured hat with a propeller on top. And all that implies.

Giles Sparrow is adrift in the vortex@gswrites· 25d

It’s the Space Year 2026, my Smart TV has access to a thousand channels and probably millions of programmes. And yet this is the best it can offer?

There’s a Terry and June marathon on, apparently. In 2026.

Giles Sparrow is adrift in the vortex@gswrites· 26d

Well they've got Sooty's attention, but since it's a 15 cert I'll have to smuggle her in.

Lying in a stupidly awkward position on her back, our tux cat Sooty twists to see who's trying to get her attention.

Giles Sparrow is adrift in the vortex@gswrites· 26d

Revising a 2009-era book on the Moon. Wanted to update an old Lunar Orbiter photo of Mare Orientale, so went looking for Artemis II pics. Left: udm14 ("disenshittified" Google) Right: the real thing Note the sources for most of the top results. I swear things didn't used to be this bad.