iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Dr Mark C. Sinclair

Admirable Women @admirablewomen.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Astronaut, neurologist, and photographer Dr. Roberta Bondar was #Canada's first female astronaut (1992). #WorldSpaceWeek 🚀 The world's first neurologist in space, she is globally recognized for her contributions to space medicine. #WomenInSTEM robertabondar.com

A formal portrait of Dr. Roberta Lynn Bondar from her 1992 NASA Space Shuttle Discovery mission (STS-42). Dr. Bondar, a board-certified neurologist and payload specialist, is centered in the frame from the waist up, smiling warmly with an approachable, confident expression. Her short, dark brown hair is styled in a soft crop. She wears a vibrant orange NASA Launch and Entry spacesuit featuring a black neck ring, a prominent circular mission patch on her right chest, and a rectangular name tag with a gold astronaut symbol on her left chest. Her hands rest gently on a dark surface in the foreground next to her matching white flight helmet, which features a large, glossy black visor. Framed closely behind her are two flags: the American Stars and Stripes on the left and the Canadian Maple Leaf on the right, symbolizing the international scientific partnership. The composition is balanced and official, radiating a proud, triumphant, and historic mood that commemorates breaking barriers for women in STEM.

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Reposted by Dr Mark C. Sinclair

StrictlyChristo 🇺🇦🌻 @strictlychristo.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Sir Ian McKellen orates 'The Stranger's Case' from 'Sir Thomas More' by Shakespeare about the Evil May Day xenophobic riot of 1517 in London. This passage was written 400 years ago, but times never change. Humanity refuses to change its unwarranted bias against 'others'.

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Reposted by Dr Mark C. Sinclair

The Green Party of England & Wales @greenparty.org.uk · 04/10/2026

Following the vote on the anti-Zionist policy at Green Party Conference, the 5 Green MPs, the Leader and Co-Deputy Leaders have issued a joint statement

A green background with white text that reads: Joint Statement As Greens, we will always uphold universal human rights. We will never tolerate any form of discrimination or harassment. We will continue to stand in opposition to genocide, ethnic cleansing, apartheid and the illegal occupation. We will continue to call out the heinous crimes of the Netanyahu government. And we will continue to work to ensure that the Green Party is an anti-racist party in every way. We know there is no conflict between supporting the rights of Palestinians and the rights of Jewish people. Signed by: Zack Polanski, Rachel Milward, Mothin Ali, Sian Berry MP, Ellie Chowns MP, Carla Denyer MP, Adrian Ramsay MP, Hannah Spencer MP

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Dr Mark C. Sinclair @markcsinclair.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

"We had the quaint notion at the time that software should be completely, absolutely free of bugs. Unfortunately it's a notion that never really quite caught on." (Mary Allen Wilkes) #coding #programming #softwaredevelopment en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Al...

en.wikipedia.org

Mary Allen Wilkes - Wikipedia

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Reposted by Dr Mark C. Sinclair

Admirable Women @admirablewomen.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Mary Allen Wilkes is a pioneering computer scientist, logic designer, and attorney. She is celebrated for writing the foundational system software for the LINC (1960s), which is widely recognized as the world's first personal computer. She was born #OTD in 1937 & is 89 today. #WomenInSTEM #CompSci

Photograph of Mary Allen Wilkes (born 1937), the pioneering computer scientist, logic designer, and attorney renowned for writing the foundational operating system software for the LINC, the world's first personal computer. She is shown from the chest up, facing slightly to her right with an open, engaging expression and a warm smile. She has short, styled white hair and wears thin, round wire-rimmed spectacles. Her attire features a layered ensemble: a dark grey or taupe turtleneck sweater paired with an open black cardigan jacket. She wears a prominent, tiered statement necklace consisting of three nested strands of oblong black, grey, and cream beads.The backdrop is an understated, minimalist office or lecture setting with pale beige walls and a dark vertical partition line visible on the left. In the lower right corner, the glossy edge of a modern laptop screen is partially visible, hinting at a professional presentation or speaking engagement. The overall composition is clean and centered, creating an approachable, intellectually distinguished mood that underscores her lasting historical significance as an elder stateswoman of computer science and law.

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Dr Mark C. Sinclair @markcsinclair.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

"The planetary life support systems relied upon by humans have deteriorated to their worst levels ever recorded amid ongoing pollution and habitat destruction, according to a key yet grim annual update by scientists." #climatecrisis @theguardian.com www.theguardian.com/environment/...

theguardian.com

‘Planetary boundaries’ necessary for flourishing of life have been massively breached, scientists warn

New report shows key indicators of Earth’s health are ‘outside the safe operating space’ as climate disaster looms

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Reposted by Dr Mark C. Sinclair

Admirable Women @admirablewomen.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

#OTD in 1893, New Zealand became the first self-governing country in the world to grant all adult women the right to vote in national parliamentary elections. The first election held after this milestone was in November 1893--an incredible 82% of registered female voters voted. #WomensSuffrage

This image shows a bronze bas-relief detail from the Kate Sheppard National Memorial located on Oxford Terrace in Christchurch, New Zealand. A tribute to New Zealand's women's suffrage movement, depicting prominent campaigners. From left to right, the main figures featured in the sculpture are Meri Te Tai Mangakāhia, Amey Daldy, Kate Sheppard (center next to a wheelbarrow of suffrage petitions), Ada Wells, Harriet Morison, and Helen Nicol. The monument honors the landmark 1893 Electoral Act, signed on 19 September 1893, which made New Zealand the first self-governing country in the world where women won the right to vote in parliamentary elections.

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Admirable Women @admirablewomen.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

#Poet Mary Oliver was born #OTD in 1935. Her work celebrated the natural world with simple, profound language & a sense of wonder. Perhaps America's best-selling poet, she won the #Pulitzer Prize (1984 "American Primitive") & National Book Award (1992 "New and Selected Poems"). #BookSky #poetry

Iconic black-and-white photograph of Mary Oliver, renowned American poet celebrated for her lyrical observations of nature and deep bond with dogs. Seated cross-legged on a plush couch near a bright window, she holds an open hardcover book in her lap, wearing round glasses and a simple dark turtleneck. Her expression is gentle and absorbed as she looks sideways at her fluffy white standard poodle, Percy, who stands poised on a square ottoman or cushion right beside her, ears perked and eyes fixed intently on Oliver in a moment of quiet connection and mutual regard.

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Dr Mark C. Sinclair @markcsinclair.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

“There was this man holding on to the edge of the boat. He had no strength left. I leant over, lay on my front and I grabbed his arms, and he had no strength to hold me. I looked into his face and his eyes were wide, his face was grey. He was so scared... 1/2

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Reposted by Dr Mark C. Sinclair

Larry the Cat @number10cat.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Since its foundation in 1824 the bravery of Royal National Lifeboat Institution volunteers has saved more than 146,700 lives at sea. Hundreds of those volunteers have died attempting to save others. They are the best of us.

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Admirable Women @admirablewomen.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

#CivilRights activist Claudette Colvin was born #OTD in 1939. On March 2, 1955, she was arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a bus in segregated Montgomery, AL. She was 1 of 4 plaintiffs in Browder v. Gayle that led to the ruling that Alabama bus segregation laws were unconstitutional.

A black-and-white historical composite image honors civil rights pioneer Claudette Colvin (born September 5, 1939). On the right is a head-and-shoulder portrait of Colvin as a 15-year-old girl. She faces forward with a calm, resilient expression and a slight, dignified smile. She wears thick, dark-rimmed cat-eye glasses, and her short, textured hair is styled in neat waves. Her dark sweater contrasts softly against the plain, light background. On the left side of the composition are archival clippings from a 1955 newspaper article reporting on her arrest. Bold headlines read "Girl, 15, Guilty In Bus Seat Case" and "Negro Girl Found Guilty Of Segregation Violation," detailing her conviction in juvenile court for refusing to give up her seat on a segregated Montgomery, Alabama bus. The stark juxtaposition of her bright, youthful face against the harsh segregationist headlines creates a poignant, solemn mood, underscoring her monumental bravery as a key catalyst for the Montgomery bus boycott.

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Reposted by Dr Mark C. Sinclair

SlenderSherbet @slendersherbet.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

Don't start what you can't finish.

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Reposted by Dr Mark C. Sinclair

Admirable Women @admirablewomen.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Joan Clarke: the lone female cryptanalyst in Alan Turing’s inner circle. A math genius denied her Cambridge degree for being a woman, she mastered "Banburismus" to crack Nazi U-boat Enigma keys, saving thousands of Allied lives in the Battle of the Atlantic. Died #OTD in 1996. #WomenInSTEM #WWII

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Reposted by Dr Mark C. Sinclair

Admirable Women @admirablewomen.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Christa McAuliffe was born #OTD in 1948. She was selected from >11,000 applicants to participate in #NASA's Teacher in Space Project & was to become the first teacher in space. On January 28, 1986, the Space Shuttle Challenger broke apart 73 seconds after launch, killing all onboard. #WomenInSTEM

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Dr Mark C. Sinclair @markcsinclair.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

“… it comes after years of warnings from scientists and civil society that a rapidly warming planet would make disasters more frequent, more intense and harder to predict. This is what the cost of delaying global #climate action looks like.” @sunilnpl.bsky.social www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

theguardian.com

Nepal-Tibet flood: this is the cost of not acting in the face of the climate crisis | Sunil Acharya

Nepalis and Tibetans must not pay the price – with their lives, livelihoods and money meant for education and health – for global heating caused by wealthy states, says Kathmandu-based climate policy ...

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Dr Mark C. Sinclair @markcsinclair.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

"I did point out that collectively [the #adindustry] devoted massive resources to trying to convince the public that an oversized, dangerous lump of metal and plastic in the form of an SUV ... 1/2

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Dr Mark C. Sinclair @markcsinclair.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Are you gullible? Adrian Tchaikovsky's (@aptshadow.bsky.social) character Stig in 'The Doors of Eden' thinks so: 'You are gullible. Surrounded by people you don’t know, with your leaders even less knowable, and you are gullible. Someone says a thing to you strongly enough, you believe them...1/2

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Reposted by Dr Mark C. Sinclair

WuTangIsForTheChildren @wutangforchildren.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

Buckingham Palace band playing 9 to 5 for Dolly Parton

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Admirable Women @admirablewomen.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

We lost Dolly Parton today. 🕯️ #Music career highlights: 25 #1 songs 41 Top-10 country albums--a record for any artist 110 charted singles Composed >3,000 songs 11 Grammys Inductee, Country Music & Rock & Roll HOF 7 consecutive decades with Top 10 country albums (1968-2023) Absolute #legend

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Reposted by Dr Mark C. Sinclair

Admirable Women @admirablewomen.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

#OTD in 1932, aviator Amelia Earhart departed Los Angeles, CA, on route to Newark, NJ. She landed after 19 hours & 5 minutes and ~2,448 miles becoming the first woman to fly solo nonstop coast-to-coast across the US, setting a women’s distance record. #Aviation #AviationHistory #AVGeek

A black-and-white historic photograph of pioneering aviator Amelia Earhart (1897–1937) standing proudly in front of the nose and propeller of her aircraft. Radiating a confident and joyful mood, Earhart is posed with her hands on her hips, looking off-camera to her left with a wide, radiant smile. She wears her iconic short, tousled curls and a practical yet stylish flying ensemble: a collared blouse beneath a loosely tied, patterned silk scarf, a dark suede flight jacket with a buttoned flap pocket, and light-colored trousers secured with a wide belt. Behind her, the massive radial engine and dark fuselage of the plane frame her upper body, with a large propeller blade slicing diagonally down the left side. Two unidentified men stand blurred in the shallow-focus background, adding a sense of active airfield life. The close-up composition emphasizes Earhart’s triumphant demeanor, celebrating her legacy as the first woman to fly solo across the US and the Atlantic Ocean.

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Reposted by Dr Mark C. Sinclair

Admirable Women @admirablewomen.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

Biochemist Florence Seibert developed the Purified Protein Derivative (PPD) in the 1930s. Before her work, TB skin tests were inconsistent & unreliable. Her PPD formula was adopted as the international standard (1952) & remains in use for TB testing today. Died #OTD in 1991. #WomenInSTEM

Vintage black-and-white studio portrait of American biochemist Florence Barbara Seibert (1897–1991), shown from the shoulders up. The young woman has short, dark, wavy 1920s-style hair parted on the side, wears round wire-rimmed eyeglasses, and offers a gentle smile toward the camera. She is dressed in a light-colored blouse with a ruffled collar. A studio imprint reading “A. F. R. S. Chicago” appears in the lower right corner.

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Reposted by Dr Mark C. Sinclair

Emma Monk @monkemma.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

One of the first "outrageous" claims I saw as Jason Arday's media hounding unfolded was that he ran 30 marathons in 35 days! Wow! What a thing to claim! And the newspapers all suggested there was no evidence he actually did it. Well, they clearly didn't look very hard 🙄 🧵 1/26

Photo after Jason's final marathon taken from his archived blog showing Jason surrounded by supporters in orange charity t-shirts

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Dr Mark C. Sinclair @markcsinclair.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

They “are significant rewilding projects and provide strong evidence that nature-based solutions can protect against #wildfires. This contradicts claims by some rightwing commentators, who have blamed #rewilding for causing wildfires.” @theguardian.com www.theguardian.com/environment/...

theguardian.com

Rewilded land remains green amid drought-stricken English countryside, images show

National Trust’s Holnicote estate says restored wetlands and rivers offer proof of resilience to drought, wildfires and flooding

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Reposted by Dr Mark C. Sinclair

Zack Polanski @zackpolanski.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

Sending love to Jason Arday's family and friends. He was subject of sustained and malicious media attacks which were no doubt more vicious because he was Black. We must now reflect on the impact of a trial by some of the media and online on someone under extreme pressure.

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Admirable Women @admirablewomen.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

#OTD in 2014, Dr. Maryam Mirzakhani became the first woman & first Iranian awarded the Fields Medal, the most prestigious award in mathematics. She won for her outstanding contributions to the dynamics & geometry of Riemann surfaces and their moduli spaces. #WomenInSTEM #mathematics

A close-up color photograph of Iranian mathematician Maryam Mirzakhani (1977–2017), the groundbreaking Fields Medal winner and Stanford professor renowned as the first woman and first Iranian to receive mathematics' highest honor in 2014. Captured during the International Congress of Mathematicians (ICM) at the COEX convention center in Seoul, South Korea (August 2014), she is seated at a press conference or panel, resting her chin thoughtfully on her left hand with her elbow propped up, conveying deep concentration and quiet introspection. Mirzakhani has short dark brown hair, expressive blue-green eyes gazing slightly upward and to the side, and a subtle, contemplative expression with lightly furrowed brows and a gentle half-smile. She wears a dark blue or navy top and wears an earpiece and thin boom mic. The vibrant turquoise-blue background displays large white lettering reading "COEX Sec" (part of "COEX Seoul" or similar event branding), softly blurred behind her, with a faint shadow of her figure adding depth. This intimate portrait captures Mirzakhani's characteristic humility, intellectual intensity, and grace amid the historic moment of her Fields Medal recognition, symbolizing her profound contributions to the geometry and dynamics of Riemann surfaces and moduli spaces.

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Admirable Women @admirablewomen.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

DYK the iron in your blood was forged the heart of a supernova?🌟 Astrophysicist Margaret Burbidge was lead author of the 1957 "B²FH" paper. Along w/her colleagues, she proved how stars create the majority of elements of the periodic table. Born #OTD 1919. We are made of "star stuff."🔭 #WomenInSTEM

Margaret Burbidge (1919–2020), pioneering British-American astrophysicist and lead author of the 1957 B²FH paper that proved stars forge nearly all chemical elements beyond hydrogen and helium through stellar nucleosynthesis; her work provided the foundational evidence that we are made of "star stuff." The black-and-white photograph shows her as an woman standing indoors at an event, smiling warmly at the camera with a gentle, confident expression; she has short wavy gray hair, wears a patterned top or dress with a bold abstract floral design, layered with multiple strands of pearl necklaces, and a dark tailored coat or jacket over it, set against a plain brick wall and a partial sign in the background.

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Dr Mark C. Sinclair @markcsinclair.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

"We absolutely have to understand, and we have to understand that before we actually launch a million satellites. Not that we launch them and wait [to see] what happens." #AI #SpaceX @space.com www.space.com/space-explor...

space.com

SpaceX wants to put 1 million AI satellites in orbit. What would that do to Earth's climate?

"There seems, in my opinion, to be very little consideration for the environment."

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Admirable Women @admirablewomen.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Mary Golda Ross (b. #OTD 1908): first-known #NativeAmerican female engineer & a key pioneer of the American Space Race. A citizen of the Cherokee Nation, she spent >3 decades performing aerospace design & engineering work laying the groundwork for modern interplanetary exploration. #WomenInSTEM 🧵

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Dr Mark C. Sinclair @markcsinclair.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Enjoyed attending the #RNLI Harbour Day in Sunderland yesterday, including seeing the relatively new B class Atlantic 85 lifeboat. #SavingLivesAtSea rnli.org/news-and-med...

rnli.org

Sunderland RNLI Harbour Day promises a fun-filled family day out | RNLI

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Admirable Women @admirablewomen.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

Nuclear physicist Fay Ajzenberg-Selove evaluated & compiled data on the energy levels of light nuclei & produced ~26 major review papers--long referred to as the “nuclear scientists’ bible." 2007 Recipient, Nat'l Medal of Science for advancing #NuclearPhysics. She died #OTD in 2012. #WomenInSTEM

A black-and-white portrait photograph of pioneering nuclear physicist Fay Ajzenberg-Selove, taken in her later career years. She is seated in a cozy, book-lined study or office, surrounded by shelves of books and framed photos on the wall behind her. She has short, neatly styled graying hair and warm, intelligent eyes, wears large, round-framed glasses that accentuate her thoughtful gaze. She has a gentle, knowing smile and is dressed in a patterned blouse or dress with a polka-dot or textured dark fabric, a small brooch or pin on her collar, and a simple necklace. Her hands rest calmly in front of her as she sits slightly turned toward the camera, exuding quiet confidence, resilience, and intellectual depth. The setting highlights her lifelong dedication to science, from her groundbreaking work on light nuclei spectroscopy to her influential compilations of nuclear data, and her advocacy for women in physics despite facing significant gender barriers in academia. The image captures her as a trailblazing figure who received the National Medal of Science in 2007 and left an enduring legacy in nuclear physics.

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Dr Mark C. Sinclair @markcsinclair.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

Do you ever feel out of your depth? Adrian Tchaikovsky's (@aptshadow.bsky.social) character Stig certainly does in 'The Doors of Eden': "I don’t know, don’t ask me. I don’t make these decisions. I don’t talk to these things. I’m just a ... A servant ... 1/3

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Dr Mark C. Sinclair @markcsinclair.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

Spent lunchtime yesterday volunteering as an informal English (and maths!) teacher at the STARCH drop-in for #asylum seekers and #refugees ...1/2

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Admirable Women @admirablewomen.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

Computer scientist Frances Allen was a pioneer in the field of optimizing compilers. + 1st woman to win the Turing Award + Her research directly shaped compiler design, code optimization & automatic parallel processing Born #OTD in 1932 & died #OTD in 2020. #WomenInSTEM #CompSci

A charming black-and-white photograph of computer science pioneer Frances E. Allen (1932–2020). She is looking slightly off-camera to the right with a vibrant, joyful smile that wrinkles the corners of her eyes behind her rimless eyeglasses. She has short, wavy, light-colored hair styled in a soft crop. She wears a dark, high-necked turtleneck top or sweater and a delicate, dark drop earrings. A hint of a metallic chain necklace is visible. The soft-focus background is muted and non-distinct, emphasizing her warm expression. The lighting gently illuminates her face, highlighting her cheerful, approachable mood. Frances Allen is historically significant as a pioneer in optimizing compilers, the first female IBM Fellow, and the first woman to win the ACM Turing Award.

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Zack Polanski @zackpolanski.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

Crop yields down, our countryside scorched and over 2800 people are dead due to this summer's heatwaves. Meanwhile fossil fuel giants are raking in record profits. We must end this rampant profiteering, and cut fossil fuels from our energy mix as soon as possible.

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Dr Mark C. Sinclair @markcsinclair.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

Was inducted as a Tech Mate volunteer by Sunderland City Council yesterday. Sunderland Minster are planning to open a Digital Health Hub under the scheme to enable more #digitalinclusion in our community. www.sunderland.gov.uk/volunteer

sunderland.gov.uk

Volunteer - Sunderland City Council

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Dr Mark C. Sinclair @markcsinclair.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

As I often do on a Sunday, I worshipped at Sunderland Minster, part of the Inclusive Church network, yesterday. A verse from one song read: "But we make his love too narrow by false limits of our own; and we magnify his strictness with a zeal he will not own." ... 1/2

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Terre-Strial @terre-strial.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

The Arctic Circle just reached a temperature that once seemed almost impossible for such a frozen region: above 100°F, or 38°C … a shocking first … fragile regions are rapidly changing. Sometimes one number can tell a much bigger story … climate change is no longer distant. It’s here. It’s now.

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Dr Mark C. Sinclair @markcsinclair.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

While France, Spain and the UK burned with wildfires, South Tyneside's #climate emergency declaration was officially rescinded on Thursday by the Reform UK led council. #climatecrisis BBCNews www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

bbc.co.uk

South Tyneside Council rescinds climate emergency declaration

A Reform UK motion argues the council can improve the local environment without the official pledge.

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Dr Mark C. Sinclair @markcsinclair.bsky.social · 02/08/2026

The 'destructive scanning' of books by #AI companies is spreading across the world. "If somebody wanted to come and buy all my books and cut them up, well … I’d be unhappy at one level, but I’d be happy at another” @theguardian.com www.theguardian.com/technology/2...

theguardian.com

‘More than just objects’: Australian booksellers raise alarm over ‘horrific’ destruction of rare titles to feed AI

Secondhand booksellers believe they may have been caught up in the AI supply chain that sees old books scanned then destroyed

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