iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Ali

bryan newbold @bnewbold.net · 07/10/2026

ah damn, RIP Margaret Hamilton. she took safety-critical software engineering seriously, and got people to the moon and back. news.mit.edu/2026/margare...

old photos of a woman (Margaret Hamilton) standing next to a tall stack of books (printouts of Apollo space mission software source code)

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Ali @astromaker.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

This email was sent company-wide by our HR director. I work remotely and am unlikely to encounter E** but I'm wondering whether I should respond, asking for assurances that he'll be using male/neutral facilities as he may make other staff uncomfortable in the female ones.

Hi all, please see the important announcement below from F** T**

I have some very personal news that I’d like to share with you all. I’m Transgender that means I’m actually a woman and always have been. Up until recently my name, body and demeanour did not reflect this reality. I have decided to tackle one of the last places that I have not been able to be myself fully, that being here at work. Being able to be myself properly will help me be far happier and greatly improve my quality of life. Fundamentally, I’m still me, just now I’ll be a more content and positive version of me.

I would be very grateful if you could accept me for who I am and if you can, support me while I go through this emotionally tough time. I accept that some of you will take time to adapt to my new name and pronouns and that is fine, I understand it can be challenging and mistakes will be made. Going forward please can you call me E** and use She/Her pronouns to refer to me as that is who I really am. Using this name and pronouns will go a long way to supporting me.

Thank you in advance for your support and respect.

Exx

I will finish the email saying

As you can imagine, this announcement has not been easy for E**, but she recognised that it was important to be her true self and be open with her colleagues in C**. S** and the Executive Leadership Team have whole heartedly committed to supporting E** on her journey and we are pleased that C** has an environment and culture where difficult life events and choices can be shared freely and accepted without fear of recrimination. We hope that whatever your personal views are of E**’s transition, you too will accept E**’s choices and provide her with the respect and support that she will need in the coming months. Thank you.

On a practical note, C** are supporting E** by changing her email address and system details, so please note this if you need to contact her.

If anyone has any questions or concerns relating to this please contact me.

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Ali @astromaker.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

#messier56, discovered by Charles Messier in 1779. Its about 32,900 lightyears from Earth and 84 lightyears across. #astrophotography #astronomy flic.kr/p/2sycTwB

flic.kr

M56

Explore Alistair Frith's 737 photos on Flickr!

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Ali @astromaker.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

I've been pointed to this research paper as evidence that DSDs and transgenderism are linked. academic.oup.com/jcem/article... Could someone with more experience of reading such papers have a look and say whether the research is robust and supports such a connection?

academic.oup.com

Genetic Link Between Gender Dysphoria and Sex Hormone Signaling

In this study we identified a genetic association between gender dysphoria in transgender women and polymorphisms in genes involved in sex hormone signalin

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Ali @astromaker.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

Can someone link to where JKR said she considers anything potter-related, even fan-made, endorsement of her politics? I'd like to know if the claim is true.

Image of a post by @sesmith.lol saying that "JKR explicitly said she considers anything potter-related, even fan-made, endorsement of her politics." and drawing a logical conclusion of that assertion.

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Ali @astromaker.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

The Infinite Monkey Cage is back! With 'guest presenters' Adam Rutherford (Brian Cox on tour, don't know if he'll return) and Jessica Fostekew (Robin Ince left due to irreconcilable moral/philosophical differences) It'll be different but should still be damn good. www.bbc.com/mediacentre/...

bbc.com

BBC Radio 4’s acclaimed science and comedy podcast The Infinite Monkey Cage returns with guest presenters Adam Rutherford and Jessica Fostekew

Broadcaster, author and science journalist Adam Rutherford and award-winning comedian Jessica Fostekew are stepping in as guest presenters

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Reposted by Ali

Jan van de Rieth @jvdrieth.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

Science Hivemind: Looking for Salmon Run documentary Was on BBC Not Attenborough Dramatised around story of salmon Narrated like D-Day landings, timings given like "T-24 hours" Often using freeze frame of salmon mid jump "will he / won't he make it past the bears" Showing salmon impact on ecosystem

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Ali @astromaker.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

NGC 6871 is a small, young, open cluster in the constellation of Cygnus. It has fewer than 50 members, mostly blue and white stars. It's a little over 5000 light-years away. #astronomy flic.kr/p/2srBiMA

flic.kr

NGC6871

From Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NGC_6871 NGC 6871 is a small, young open cluster in the constellation of Cygnus. The cluster has fewer than 50 members, most of which are blue and white stars. I...

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Ali @astromaker.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

#Messier 2, in the constellation Aquarius, is one of the largest #globular #clusters known. It's about 37,500 light years away, 12.5 billion years old and contains about 150,000 stars. Image taken from Gloucestershire, UK #Astronomy flic.kr/p/2srvuAe

flic.kr

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messier_2

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Ali @astromaker.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

Albereo, at the head of Cygnus, the Swan. A binary star (though whether it's a true binary is debated). Famous for the contrasting colours cased by the different temperatures of the two stars. #astronomy #astrophotography #stars flic.kr/p/2srZmk5

flic.kr

Albereo

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Reposted by Ali

Sam Paechter @fluffanecdote.bsky.social · 14/02/2026

Have I told you about my dog? Let me tell you about my dog. She's like a child to me. And she was born on 11th May. I take her into the play park – you know, the bit that says NO DOGS 1/

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Reposted by Ali

Tim Janicke @timjanicke.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

Nothing really new in here but recent debates have prompted us to offer further clarification on the topic building on the excellent previous contributions including: doi.org/10.1002/bies... doi.org/10.1016/j.cu... doi.org/10.1007/s105...

doi.org

Biological sex is binary, even though there is a rainbow of sex roles

Leading science journals increasingly adopt a view considering sex as a graded spectrum rather than binary. Thereby, they confuse operational definitions of sex, sexual differentiation, and variable ...

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Ali @astromaker.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

My 2nd #astronomy #sunspot #sketch. Everything has moved to the right since my previous one on Sunday. AR4475 has disappeared round the edge and AR4477 and AR4478 have merged.

A sketch of the sun in white light, showing active sunspot regions.

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Ali @astromaker.bsky.social · 28/06/2026

Thought I'd try my hand at astronomical sketching. Easiest subject at this time of year is probably the sun in white light. So here it is.

Photo of an observing log from 28/06/2026, including a sketch of the sun in white light showing 5 active regions. Below the sketch is another silhouette of the sun with the regions labelled: They are AR4475, AR4477, AR4478, AR4479 and AR4480.

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Ali @astromaker.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

My in-laws thought #tiptoe was a true story. I personally believe if the events in the final scene had happened any time in the last 50+ years there would have been nationwide outrage and it would shame the nation for decades.

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Ali @astromaker.bsky.social · 24/05/2026

Tonight's moon, both before and after sunset

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Ali @astromaker.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

Someone's added me to the list 06.05.1933. I'm guessing they're waving a favourite nasty accusation around but I'm struggling to find the significance of that specific date

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Reposted by Ali

Brian Bilston @brianbilston.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

Here’s a poem called ‘Life of a Naturalist’.

Life of a Naturalist

it’s his birthday
and the sloths are up early for once
the flamingos line up in pink, long-legged salute
the birds of paradise parade in their finest
the elephants blow their trumpets
the blue whales gush with joy
the gorillas act out stories of his visits
the lions lay off the wildebeest for one day
and stand together on the Serengeti plain
the lyre birds sing his voice in tribute
the seals cannot stop clapping
and the ostriches urge us
to listen to him
and not bury our heads in the sand

Brian Bilston

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Reposted by Ali

K.Flynnx (St.) @kflynny369.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

I’m actually excited about David Attenborough reaching 100 years. If any human being deserves to live forever, he is the one.

static.klipy.com

David Attenborough on Wildlife Challenges

ALT: David Attenborough on Wildlife Challenges

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Ali @astromaker.bsky.social · 24/04/2026

An interesting response to what I thought was a reasoned contribution to a thread started with a meme conflating people with DSDs into the trans debate. Trying to figure out where @2024fighter got the idea my language was violent (or "bike"/vile?)

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Ali @astromaker.bsky.social · 17/04/2026

Baroness Falkner being very clear on Woman's Hour on BBC Radio 4 today.

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Ali @astromaker.bsky.social · 16/04/2026

Saw this on Facebook. No responses on this one, but lots on the page I saw, none of which seemed to understand the fundamental difference! www.facebook.com/bielders/pos...

facebook.com

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Reposted by Ali

NASA | ESA Space Updates @nasaupdates.bsky.social · 11/04/2026

#Artemis II 🚀 All four astronauts greet the crew onboard the USS John P. Murtha after a successful splashdown

Image Credit: NASA

Image Description: All four astronauts greet the crew onboard the USS John P. Murtha after a successful splashdown

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Ali @astromaker.bsky.social · 08/04/2026

Just looking at the news this morning and it seems to me that yesterday was TACO Tuesday. Damn, we had burgers!

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Reposted by Ali

Brian Bilston @brianbilston.bsky.social · 01/04/2026

Today’s poem is called ‘How Hard It Is to Be the Moon’.

How Hard It Is to Be the Moon

How hard it is to be the moon.
I hang palely in the sky,
while all else shines and sparkles
and the shooting stars go by.

And on Earth, the useless poets
scribble words in praise of me
for recital by young lovers,
gazing moonstruck at the sea.

For a time I had some company –
but then the visits stopped.
Magnificent desolation
is carved deep into my rock.

The tides sweep in and out once more.
That’s the way things always are.
The Earth goes about its business.
I float alone, among the stars.

Brian Bilston

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Ali @astromaker.bsky.social · 31/03/2026

I maintain that arguing a position when there is no conceivable evidence that would persuade you to change that position (as demonstrated by avoiding stating such evidence) implies you have a religious belief akin to flat earth or young earth creationism. Exhibit 'A':

Conversation with @eruanion.bsky.social where, in response to a request for them to consider what evidence they might require before they changed their mind, they go on a bit of a rant:

"See, that is the problem with your argument. You THINK you have some sort of evidence you are correct. Except, the science you claim to know and enjoy says there isn't. Meanwhile, the science DOES support my position.
Additionally, YOU make the claim they are still the sex they changed from. Which, scientifically, isn't true. I bet you also wouldn't know a Trans-woman from a Cis-woman unless someone flat out told you. Also, you have yet to actually make any kind of point TO change my mind. You haven't been trying, you have just been confirming your own bias.

Now, Good Day."

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Ali @astromaker.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

Messier 89. Not much to look at but that unassuming grey smudge is an elliptical galaxy containing about 100 billion stars, residing about 50 million light-years away Taken on 19/03/2026 from Gloucester, UK. Skywatcher Explorer 200P on EQ6 QHY163C #astronomy #astrophotography flic.kr/p/2s3J3Hq

flic.kr

M89

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Ali @astromaker.bsky.social · 20/03/2026

Messier 98. An edge-on spiral galaxy in the constellation Coma Berenices. It's about 44 million light years away and contains about a trillion stars. #astrophotography #messier #galaxies flic.kr/p/2s3cXbB

flic.kr

M98

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Reposted by Ali

VirtualAstro @virtualastro.bsky.social · 07/03/2026

I recon if you include the words #Trump #Epstein #War #immigration and other words normal people don't like using, you would get more interaction. My next post will be about when #Trump went #immigration stargazing and spotted the planet #Epstein and had to go to #war Watch it go viral!

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Ali @astromaker.bsky.social · 08/03/2026

NGC 2683: a spiral galaxy in the constellation of Lynx. Nicknamed the "UFO Galaxy", it was discovered by the astronomer William Herschel in 1788. Taken from light-polluted Gloucester using an 8-inch reflecting telescope and astronomical CCD camera. #astronomy #galaxies #NGC2683 flic.kr/p/2s1eW5j

flic.kr

ngc2683

NGC 2683, also known as the UFO Galaxy, is a spiral galaxy located in the constellation Lynx, approximately 30 million light-years from Earth. It is nicknamed the UFO Galaxy due to its shape resemblin...

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Ali @astromaker.bsky.social · 03/03/2026

On the other hand, if your whole method of government is to continually instigate new outrage to distract from the previous outrage, then this fits right in.

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Reposted by Ali

Gudule Martens @gudulemartens.bsky.social · 24/02/2026

The reaction to the guy with Tourettes proves two things: -people with Tourettes need more exposure -"just because you're offended, doesn't mean you're right" Ricky Gervais.

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Ali @astromaker.bsky.social · 05/01/2026

I've only skimmed this and sent it to my Kindle to read later but it's always entertaining to read a review of the predictions of psychics. It gives one a lovely (probably unfounded) sense of superiority.

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Ali @astromaker.bsky.social · 15/12/2025

Messier 36 (M36), also known as the Pinwheel Cluster, is an open cluster located in the northern constellation Auriga, the Charioteer. It's similar to the Pleiades but further away at around 4,100 light years from Earth. flic.kr/p/2rM1sgd

flic.kr

M36

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Ali @astromaker.bsky.social · 05/12/2025

Finally completed Day 5 of #aoc #AdventOfCode. Was briefly scuppered by an of-by-one error. Those elves and their damn inventories! adventofcode.com

adventofcode.com

Advent of Code 2025

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Ali @astromaker.bsky.social · 18/11/2025

I haven't seen the letter they did send back (is it publicly available?) but since they apologised but did not agree any payment, it seems like it could have been similar to this.

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Ali @astromaker.bsky.social · 11/11/2025

It's not £58 any more but then this was quite a while ago so it's probably about the same proportionally. And there's also now BBC3, BBC4, BBC Parliament, iPlayer and the website (and even back then they forgot to mention local radio)

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Reposted by Ali

Caitlin Moran @mscaitlinmoran.bsky.social · 11/11/2025

Love being reminded to do this every year. It's a win/win all round

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Ali @astromaker.bsky.social · 24/10/2025

I think I agree with most of this, except for your description of our central claim: It's not that gender is imaginary, It's that sex is binary, immutable, and important when defining separate spaces.

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Reposted by Ali

Dave Jorgenson @davejorgenson.bsky.social · 22/10/2025

Why does everyone keep calling it “The Epstein Ballroom?” Please stop repeating “The Epstein Ballroom” because it is not called “The Epstein Ballroom!” Don’t tell the news that it’s called “The Epstein Ballroom” and please don’t repost this!!!!!

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Ali @astromaker.bsky.social · 14/10/2025

Apologies for all the clouds in the south-west of the UK over the last few days, I've just bought a new telescope.

Photo of a 10-inch Dobsonian telescope stored in a shed.

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Ali @astromaker.bsky.social · 01/10/2025

Just saw this on Facebook. Strikes me as classic heart-warming tale of an event that never actually happened, told to drive home some moral position ("... and everyone in the carriage stood up and clapped").

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Ali @astromaker.bsky.social · 27/08/2025

Interesting read. And this section in particular: jamesbreckwoldt.substack.com/i/171896783/... I think is possibly especially salient to some of my arguments on this site.

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