Ian Butler @drbutty.bsky.social · 03/09/2026First visit to Norwich. A few fine pubs, medieval architecture and an excellent cathedral. Windows include a shifty looking St Brice of massacre fame (on his named day, at least), plus some more modern glass ... 121
Ian Butler @drbutty.bsky.social · 06/07/2026Fantastic result against a fine Mexican team in a cauldron of a stadium. One of the best performances I've seen from an England team in a world cup. Bring on Norway. 010
Ian Butler @drbutty.bsky.social · 11/05/2026The gents' bogs in the (rather splendid) Lakes Brew Co pub in Ambleside have been papered with pages from "Cumbria" magazine circa 1950s. Try the Cumbrian recipes in these photos ... "Delicious, where did you get the recipe? I got it off a toilet wall!" 000
Ian Butler @drbutty.bsky.social · 19/04/2026St Martin's in my home city, #Canterbury, this morning - it's been maybe 40 years since I visited. In continuous use for god bothering since at least 597, and possibly built 4th Century if you believe that Bede fellow. The central part is Saxon, most of the rest (inc tower) dates to the 1300s. 020
Ian Butler @drbutty.bsky.social · 16/03/2026A visit to the #BritishMuseum confirms that the Romans must have played cricket. Here's a statue of a Roman umpire in match regalia giving a batsman out. Billy Bowden notably used the same "Roman" style to dismiss a batsman. #cricket #rome 001
Ian Butler @drbutty.bsky.social · 14/03/2026A long walk in #London today. Maybe 15 years since I last did it, and today's skyline is a bit different. Hyde Park to Marble Arch, to Buckingham Palace, to the South Bank by Westminster and on to Tower Bridge and then back over the river and on to Covent Garden. The weather brought out the crowds. 030
Ian Butler @drbutty.bsky.social · 19/02/2026Those enjoying the #Olympic #curling may (or may not!) enjoy our preprint on the rock physics of curling stones. Not quite out of the peer review process, but it should help you get to sleep after all the excitement 😃 doi.org/10.5194/egus...doi.orgWhere curling stones collide with rock physics: Cyclical damage accumulation and fatigue in granitoidsAbstract. Fatigue and damage accumulation in granitoids are classical, but poorly characterised, rock mechanics problems. We explore these phenomena by examining curling stone impacts. Curling stones ... 020
Ian Butler @drbutty.bsky.social · 17/02/2026Congratulations to the person who designed the seats in the departures area of Luton Airport. Quite astonishingly uncomfortable. 000
Ian Butler @drbutty.bsky.social · 16/02/2026Today is the birthday of the absolute Rolls Royce of fast bowlers - Michael Holding. A graceful run-up and action, searing pace, and absolute aggression. More lately one of the best commentators on the game. One of my favourite players I watched in my youth. #whisperingdeath 010
Ian Butler @drbutty.bsky.social · 12/02/2026As a geologist who likes to read about history and archaeology, it's always a pleasure to be able to contribute to research papers on those topics. 022
Ian Butler @drbutty.bsky.social · 07/02/2026Forza Azzurri! #6Nations #ItavSco A good win for Italy against Scotland in some filthy conditions in Rome. 000
Reposted by Ian ButlerJoumana Medlej @majnouna.com · 26/01/2026He was bound to drop that scarf in some time zone or other. 201399355
Ian Butler @drbutty.bsky.social · 06/01/2026I've just watched the "highlights" from the 5th Test in Sydney. Will Jack's, can't bat, can't bowl, can't field. Potts was bowling like a loose popgun. England a shambles. Travis Head and Steve Smith played well for their tons. This has been a poor #Ashes series - poor cricket and some poor pitches. 121
Ian Butler @drbutty.bsky.social · 27/12/2025York providing the scenery (and pubs) for the Xmas and New Year break. 020
Ian Butler @drbutty.bsky.social · 27/12/2025I can't get excited about England winning at the MCG, even though it's the first win on Australian soil since 2011. It's not that the #Ashes is a dead rubber, it's more that the quality of cricket from both sides at the MCG was dismal. #bbccricket #TMS 010
Ian Butler @drbutty.bsky.social · 24/12/2025Staying in an AirBnB. Very nice, and comfortable. BUT, there are 7 (seven!) pillows on the bed, including the decorative ones that are no f****** use to man nor beast, FFS. There are only 5 coat hangers in the wardrobe. WT actual F? Why would you do that? 010
Ian Butler @drbutty.bsky.social · 09/12/2025... And that concludes this year's synchrotron based research. Four hectic beamtime sessions covering the properties of energetic materials, damage and seismicity in real and synthetic rocks, plus some weird rocks from ocean drilling. I've earned my pint of Three Brewers Porter. 010
Ian Butler @drbutty.bsky.social · 22/11/2025As it turns out, I didn't much enjoy listening to day 2 of #ashes2025 overnight. England's batters covering themselves in glory once again 🙄 100
Ian Butler @drbutty.bsky.social · 21/11/2025Just watched the #Ashes2025 highlights from day 1 in Perth. A ridiculous day of cricket. Some shocking batting by England, although fair play to Mitchell Starc's bowling. Grand, aggressive fast bowling by England to come roaring back. Looking forward to listening to day 2 on the radio overnight. 6162
Ian Butler @drbutty.bsky.social · 04/10/2025Salisbury Cathedral today - I was avoiding the fringes of Storm Amy. Spectacular architecture, and Magna Carta (did she die in vain?). 020
Reposted by Ian ButlerScott Macintyre @bibiothecarius.bsky.social · 03/10/2025Fake microscopy images generated by AI are indistinguishable from the real thing www.chemistryworld.com/news/fake-mi... #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #ChatGPT #AcademicSky #AcademicChatter #Research #Ethics #Microscopy #Nanoscience #ScholarlyPublishing #AcademicPublishing #Misconduct #Fraudchemistryworld.comFake microscopy images generated by AI are indistinguishable from the real thingMaterials scientists warn that raw data and replication studies are needed to tackle the looming threat of near-undetectable AI fraud 064
Ian Butler @drbutty.bsky.social · 16/09/2025Wainwright pub, Keswick. A pint of Sneck Lifter. Thought I'd never have one again after the Marstons vandalism of Jennings Brewery. Glad to see it back, and brewed independently. A Cumbrian classic. #camra #beer 010
Ian Butler @drbutty.bsky.social · 10/09/2025F*** me gently! ... Just asked for a 1/3 of an imperial stout (just a third, it's 14% ABV after all). Was warned that it's £9 for a third. HOW MUCH!? That's 27 quid a pint! Old codger alert, but I can recall when a fiver bought a night out (including a bag of chips). 020
Reposted by Ian ButlerJohn Burn-Murdoch @jburnmurdoch.ft.com · 09/09/2025British NIMBYism is truly a sight to behold. “We are rejecting this solar farm, because one time I saw an electric vehicle on fire, which reminded me that decades ago a coal mining disaster killed lots of children”. 1631675541
Ian Butler @drbutty.bsky.social · 09/09/2025If you make loud phone calls using speakerphone while in a pub, it could be a sign that you're a c**t. 010
Ian Butler @drbutty.bsky.social · 07/09/2025England were thrashed by SA earlier this week, and today England pulled off a record win against SA. It's like modern sides have little or no batting resilience - once a few wickets are lost, the collapse follows soon after. #bbccricket #tms #cricket #EngvSA 030
Ian Butler @drbutty.bsky.social · 02/09/2025Saw this in the latest edition of Elements. A bit harsh, I think ... Molybdenite isn't *that* boring and it's a useful high temp lubricant (where would experiment al petrology be without it?). 020
Ian Butler @drbutty.bsky.social · 09/08/2025From a pub in Brierly Hill - the Fox and Grapes. This was part of a photo montage celebrating the Baggies, including WBA greats like Cyrille Regis (among others). 1931 FA cup final ( WBA 2 Birmingham 1) ... They don't write advertising strap lines like this any more. 010
Ian Butler @drbutty.bsky.social · 14/07/2025Another reminder today that Test Cricket is the absolute pinnacle of sport. Enthralling drama through the match building to a climax on the final day. #EngvInd #cricket 010
Ian Butler @drbutty.bsky.social · 26/06/2025In a viking themed pub in York (Valhalla) ... The signs on the stairs are obviously in case Odin pops in for a draft of mead. The poor old bugger's got no depth perception, after all. Far less H&S back in the 8th C. 010
Ian Butler @drbutty.bsky.social · 24/06/2025England win by 5 wickets ... But what a test match. Only the third game in history in which both sides have scored more than 350 in each innings. Brilliant by both sides, but ultimately India didn't have the bowling to back up Jasprit Bumrah. #EngvInd #bbccricket #tms 120
Ian Butler @drbutty.bsky.social · 01/06/2025#EngvWI Joe Root, arrives at the crease at 2-2, still there are 312-7. England are Donald-Ducked without him. Rooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooot!!!!! 000
Reposted by Ian ButlerScott Bryan @scottygb.bsky.social · 17/05/2025The BSL during Finland was sensational #Eurovision 6343921188
Ian Butler @drbutty.bsky.social · 16/05/2025Why did the polar bear have a saucepan? Experience: I fought off a polar bear with a saucepan www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...theguardian.comExperience: I fought off a polar bear with a saucepanI pulled back the tent flap and there it was, an arm’s length away. So I reached for the closest weapon to hand – my mother’s old porridge-encrusted pot 041
Ian Butler @drbutty.bsky.social · 30/04/2025Our new paper doi.org/10.1016/j.jc... on hydrogen/brine flow in #geological porous media is out and open access. Time resolved 2D and 3D imaging at the Diamond Light Source synchrotron reveals Haines jumps, intermittent flow and variable H2 connectivity during two phase flow. 010
Ian Butler @drbutty.bsky.social · 12/04/2025Superb spring day in #Edinburgh, so time for a visit to the Botanics in the sunshine. 040
Ian Butler @drbutty.bsky.social · 21/03/2025New online our group's latest paper using X-ray microtomographic data to study shear band formation in porous sandstone doi.org/10.1016/j.js.... Congratulations to Claudia Elijas-Parra, the lead author, who started this as an internship project. 010
Ian Butler @drbutty.bsky.social · 15/03/2025England just shaded it in Cardiff by 68 points to 14. Good to see England take their chances - sorry to see Wales so weak in so many aspects of the game. #WalvEng #6N 000
Ian Butler @drbutty.bsky.social · 18/02/2025Good to visit the British Museum today - lots of good stuff and nice to see the Assyrian palace friezes open again. Unfortunately the new son et lumiere effects detract from rather than enhance the presentation for me. 000
Ian Butler @drbutty.bsky.social · 17/02/2025Enjoying a pint* of beer after just shy of a week working on I13 at the Diamond Light Source. It's bloody lovely (the beer not the beamline, obviously). 🍺 010
Reposted by Ian ButlerNatalia (娜塔莉) @wrycritic.bsky.social · 24/01/2025Dearc sgiathanach, one of the largest well-preserved pterosaurs from the Jurassic, now fully analysed! The description of this toothy Scottish fella, hot off the press, hit BMC E&E. But what does it tell us about pterosaurs? 🤔 bmcecolevol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.... 10362106
Ian Butler @drbutty.bsky.social · 20/01/2025Coming up for one week spent at the Diamond Light Source (I12 JEEP) doing X-ray microtomography experiments to look at the dynamic failure of rocks at elevated pressure. Using our unique acoustic emission controlled x-ray transparent triaxial cell, Mjölnir. #geology #rockphysics #tomography 010
Ian Butler @drbutty.bsky.social · 03/01/2025This cold can do one - started as a low grade snuffle and cough before Xmas, but exploded on New Year's Eve to a full-on streamer with a cough that reminds me to not gargle razor blades. Pulled a muscle in my right shoulder coughing, and turned myself inside out at least once. #manflu 010
Ian Butler @drbutty.bsky.social · 26/12/2024Great Pultney Street, Bath, today- plaque commemorating William Smith's gaff (he of geological map fame), just down the street from where William Wilberforce hung out, and over the road from Louis Napoleon's (the third) former pied a terre. #geology #Bath 020