@FionaCraig@mastodon.scot
@FionaCraig@mastodon.scot avatar

FionaCraig

@FionaCraig@mastodon.scot

Likes cats & science. 3 degrees, 3 ABRSM grade 5s, cycling proficiency certificate, black belt, yoga teacher, has ME.
#NoBridge

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eclectech, to photography
@eclectech@things.uk avatar

Took the 360 camera out for the first time this year. Love a tiny planet sphere.

FionaCraig,
@FionaCraig@mastodon.scot avatar

@eclectech Ahhh, one of my favourite views. And a great bowl of Cullen skink to be had on the left there ;)

FionaCraig,
@FionaCraig@mastodon.scot avatar

@eclectech Heads up for the snow capped mountain in the background on the right!

[Meall Garbh?]

craiggrannell, (edited ) to random
@craiggrannell@mastodon.social avatar

UK folks:

  • Publisher states a payment has been made + sent remittance.
  • I have not received the funds (after six weeks now) and my (UK) bank’s customer services, fraud and international teams have all stated they cannot see any payment and that I do not have a block on my account.

Any advice on what to do? I’ve never been in this situation before, and the amount of money is not insignificant. But also, the publisher appears to be very much in “we’ve paid so nothing we can do” mode now.

FionaCraig,
@FionaCraig@mastodon.scot avatar

@craiggrannell Have you received payment from this payee before?

If no, then ask them to show you via screenshot the payee set up they've used, Sort, Acc, IBAN, all of the references used, to allow you to get your bank to investigate.

If yes, then ask them to provide the above plus a full statement showing all payments made, to enable your bank to use a successful payment to help find the unsuccessful one.

Both of these should enable you to check their homework whilst (con't)

FionaCraig,
@FionaCraig@mastodon.scot avatar

@craiggrannell simultaneously making it seem like you're helping your bank with their issue.

No blame throwing. Yet.

Providing proof of payment, to the correct account, is something their finance team should be able to do in their sleep.

If they cannot, or will not, provide the above proof of payment, then you can start the process leading to Small Claims Court. As others have advised.

eclectech, to animation
@eclectech@things.uk avatar

It's #WorldPenguinDay and I am a BIG penguin fan.

Here are two that I made into a rock band in the dim and distant past.

The RAWK hoppers

#animation #penguins

An animated loop of two slightly edited rockhopper penguins (the ones with yellow spiky hair) standing on a large flat rock with an out of focus beach in the background. They both have human smiles, and eyes, and a faded anarchy symbol on their white front feathers. The one on the left plays a big rock drum kit with RAWK HOPPERS written on the front. The one on the right plays a red electric guitar.

FionaCraig,
@FionaCraig@mastodon.scot avatar

@eclectech Oooh, can you imagine the material science advances you'd need to make a functional space hopper for vacuum use? So it didn't just burst?

FionaCraig,
@FionaCraig@mastodon.scot avatar

@eclectech Does it have to be on our moon? Could be a superdense planetoid somewhere else. I mean, if I was a space faring penguin I'd travel!

FionaCraig,
@FionaCraig@mastodon.scot avatar

@NatureMC @eclectech

Or maybe these would help?

FionaCraig, to random
@FionaCraig@mastodon.scot avatar

Today some people in Scotland are getting upset that they are no longer able to be quite as publicly and loudly horrible to other people any more without potential legal consequences.

For those out of the loop...

Have an opinion? Allowed.

Threats, abuse and inciting hatred against people because of who they are?

No.

Not even those ones over there.

Legislation covers race, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, trans and intersex.

Seems like the mark of a civilised society to me!

ChrisMayLA6, to books
@ChrisMayLA6@zirk.us avatar

At the risk of reigniting a debate that has been had in my timeline in the past... here's a report of a University of Valencia that looked at over 20 paper examine the differential effects of reading digitally & on paper.

The research confirms my experience (my own & in the reading of my erstwhile students) that reading digitally is less likely to lead to long-term educational (knowledge) benefits...

@bookstodon

https://www.upmpaper.com/knowledge-inspiration/blog-stories/articles/2024/makes-you-learn/?utm_source=linkedin&utm_medium=paid_social&utm_campaign=PaperBecauseItsReal2024&utm_term=&utm_content=Image

FionaCraig,
@FionaCraig@mastodon.scot avatar

@ChrisMayLA6 @bookstodon I did a degree with the OU and was in the cohort where they stopped issuing print textbooks and went pdf only. If you wanted print you had to pay extra.

Despite students objecting and citing the research on this subject which demonstrated learning would be impaired, the OU steamrollered ahead with the change to save money.

I was fortunate to have a visual impairment that meant I got free print on demand textbooks as an accommodation.

Lazarou, to UKpolitics
@Lazarou@mastodon.social avatar

Hey, many of us are thinking of it and being shouted at by desperate Reply Guys isn't going to stop us from thinking it.

FionaCraig,
@FionaCraig@mastodon.scot avatar

@Lazarou You can even sing it to the old advertising jingle:

"Keir's Labour, Tories in disguise!"

ChrisMayLA6, to sciencefiction
@ChrisMayLA6@zirk.us avatar

I have now completed the nine volume books series The Expanse by James A Corey, and what a ride it has been.

Its quite an extraordinary feat of sustained (coherent) imagination & I would thoroughly recommend it to anyone who likes world-building SF.

With its multi-viewpoint narrative strategy but also with it central core of crucial characters, this is space opera of the highest quality.

And the finale is wonderfully pleasing in plotting terms!

Its been a joy!


@bookstodon

FionaCraig,
@FionaCraig@mastodon.scot avatar

@ChrisMayLA6 @bookstodon You've reminded me that I really need to read the final instalment. Which means re-reading the previous 8 because it's been a while!

craiggrannell, to random
@craiggrannell@mastodon.social avatar

This idea to mess with school holidays keeps coming up. I don’t see the value in moving two weeks off from summer to typically gloomy and colder autumn and winter months. It’d also put overseas summer breaks well beyond more people because prices would skyrocket. https://www.theguardian.com/education/2024/feb/26/school-summer-holidays-half-term-england-calendar-nuffield-foundation-report

FionaCraig,
@FionaCraig@mastodon.scot avatar

@craiggrannell Instead of tinkering, I'd be radical: four 10 week terms with a 3 week holiday at the end of each, UK wide - get rid of current four system chaos.

Week 1 starts first Monday in January.

Exam season second term. Most universities would be starting toward the end of third term, so plenty of marking/clearing time.

3/4 holiday periods would be in fair weather.

Term-time only contracts would be easier to sell to employers.

I'm sure there would be cons too, but it's an idea!

clacksee, to UKpolitics
@clacksee@wandering.shop avatar

Way back in the dawn of time (2022), we had a local election in the London Borough of #Lewisham. I took to Twitter (which was the fashion at the time), to pillory the candidates. My tweets caused a bit of a ruckus. Ultimately, they got me name checked by the #DailyHate and a bunch of far-right websites.

Anyways, guess what time it is! That's right it's Lewisham mayoral election time! And that means I've read the manifestos so you don't have to.

#ukpolitics #lbl #localelections

FionaCraig,
@FionaCraig@mastodon.scot avatar

@clacksee Yes! By definition a settlement is mutually agreed, it's not a contest therefore there is no winner.

It didn't reach court, so it wasn't contested there either, therefore no winner exists.

It's just a completely misleading statement, straight out of Trump-speak.

On an election leaflet. Which could be reported. And might result in them all having to be withdrawn.

Now that'd be a win.

FionaCraig, to random
@FionaCraig@mastodon.scot avatar

Leaked schematic of the latest lunar lander design

JackTheCat, to random
@JackTheCat@mastodon.scot avatar

Petition calls for 'offensive' Edinburgh Castle cafe to be renamed | The National

https://www.thenational.scot/news/24113388.petition-calls-offensive-edinburgh-castle-cafe-renamed/

FionaCraig,
@FionaCraig@mastodon.scot avatar

@JackTheCat Link direct to petition: https://www.change.org/p/rename-red-coat-cafe-at-edinburgh-castle-to-honour-scottish-history?signed=true

ChrisMayLA6, to random
@ChrisMayLA6@zirk.us avatar

Finnish demographer Anna Rotkirch (interviewed in FT), suggests that

'children do not fit into many millennials’ life plans. Once it was a sacrifice not to have children; now starting a family means sacrificing independence. “In most societies, having children was a cornerstone of adulthood. Now it’s something you have if you already have everything else. It becomes the capstone”.

Or, perhaps, the young look at the world we've bequeathed them & don't want in inflict it on their children?

FionaCraig,
@FionaCraig@mastodon.scot avatar

@ChrisMayLA6 As well as 'the state of the world' I'd add that most people want basic housing, financial and employment stability before having children, so as to be able to provide for them for ~18 years.

Housing is less likely to be owned or on a lifetime social lease.

Work is less likely to be permanent, with associated benefits.

The cost of living crisis is in full swing, including childcare.

It's precarity, not life plans which are at issue.

garius, to Futurology
@garius@mastodon.me.uk avatar

Delighted Every commissioned me to write this.

More Ron Swanson than Elon Musk, Altair inventor Ed Roberts created the PC industry. Then, at the height of his wealth and influence, decided to walk away.

This is his story.

If you enjoy it, share it and let Every know!

https://every.to/p/the-secret-father-of-modern-computing

FionaCraig,
@FionaCraig@mastodon.scot avatar

@garius And for the avoidance of doubt, he means share the link, not copy-paste the entire article into your own posts, peeps ;)

cstross, to random
@cstross@wandering.shop avatar

Why scientists are making transparent wood

The material is being exploited for smartphone screens, insulated windows, and more.

“I truly believe this material has a promising future,” says Qiliang Fu, a wood nanotechnologist at Nanjing Forestry University in China

https://arstechnica.com/science/2023/12/why-scientists-are-making-transparent-wood/

"Wood nanotechnologist". I'm just going to leave that here and tiptoe away quietly …

FionaCraig,
@FionaCraig@mastodon.scot avatar

@cstross AAAARGH. This sounded excellent until that paragraph. Limonene brings me out in blisters! NHS Lothian dermatology nurse apologised to me for what their patch tests had done to my back!

It'd be like something from a Laundry novel. Bob can't figure out why he's itchy all the time, turns out to be allergic to cthulloid polymers.

FionaCraig, to random
@FionaCraig@mastodon.scot avatar

Why yes, I am ready for my close up!

Garwboy, to random
@Garwboy@ohai.social avatar

At the airport

There's the usual police security presence, with the black body armour and machine guns
They have dogs with them too
But... they're spaniels. Very excited ones. Who aren't on a lead, so they're being very friendly and cute with everyone
It's SERIOUSLY undermining any intimidating impression the cops are trying to go for

FionaCraig,
@FionaCraig@mastodon.scot avatar

@Garwboy It's when they go quiet and wait that you need to worry!

cstross, (edited ) to random
@cstross@wandering.shop avatar

DO NOT BOOST THIS I DON'T NEED MORE ANSWERS

So ... our 42" Panasonic TV (mostly used by @feorag) turns out to be over 12 years old and only does 1080p. We probably want a 4K screen in our near future, as a dumb display for the 4K Apple TV box. Can go to 55", maybe larger (we need to measure the niche). Won't touch Samsung, Sony, or anything that refuses to work without an internet connection. How are LG these days?

FionaCraig,
@FionaCraig@mastodon.scot avatar

@cstross @feorag

We do love our LG TV, it's a nice 55", takes the 4K from our Apple TV no problems via HDMI.

We've not used it without internet, so I'm not 100% sure if it would be happy to just work without dialling home to the mothership.

But it would definitely be worth checking that. This is our second LG in a row, and we're very happy.

CultureDesk, (edited ) to random
@CultureDesk@flipboard.social avatar

We don’t know how to get off a plane like decent human beings. That’s according to a recent article on Thrillist.com. The story was inspired by a post on X that described how three “zoomers” eschewed the customary waiting for their turn and rushed toward the front of the plane after landing. So, what is the correct way to disembark? https://flip.it/3gabYV

FionaCraig,
@FionaCraig@mastodon.scot avatar

@CultureDesk Maybe this varies by country, but on flights full of UK people, what tends to happen is about 50% of people on the aisle will get up, completely clogging the aisle. They then act as human shields to allow each row to exit in turn. It's almost as if there's a cultural imperative at work to prevent queue jumping. But it has been 4 years since I flew, so who knows what's changed!

FionaCraig, to random
@FionaCraig@mastodon.scot avatar

Posting this blog link because it's a lovely pice of mortality stats explanation.

It explains why 'get covid and live longer' was a glaring example of the lack of comprehension at the head of government during the early pandemic.

Also contains a handy 'how long might you live' widget for the curious.

https://covidactuaries.org/2021/07/20/get-covid-and-live-longer/

FionaCraig, to random
@FionaCraig@mastodon.scot avatar

It's remembrance poppy season in the UK.

The white poppy can be worn to remember all, civilians and combatants, who have died in war, and simultaneously to show you want an end to war.

https://shop.ppu.org.uk/collections/frontpage/products/poppies-5-pack

I shall be wearing one this year, for the first time.

I will also be making my usual donation directly to PoppyScotland, to support their work with veterans.

ZachWeinersmith, (edited ) to random
@ZachWeinersmith@mastodon.social avatar

What's more correct:

A) She was choosing what band's t-shirt to wear.
B) She was choosing what band t-shirt to wear.

FionaCraig,
@FionaCraig@mastodon.scot avatar

@ZachWeinersmith I'd have gone for which not what, but this could be a Scots vs other English user thing.

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