Reposted by Mary CJohn Scalzi @scalzi.com · 22/05/2026As a science fiction writer I really fucking resent tech bros for ruining the phrase "artificial intelligence." 80 years of it being all about cool androids and interesting computers destroyed by five years of "Spicy autocorrect making everything shittier for money." NEVER FORGIVE. 270138224174
Reposted by Mary CDuncan Weldon @duncanweldon.bsky.social · 06/04/2026My favourite Apollo programme fact. Pete Conrad - Apollo 12, the third person to ever walk on the moon - said as coming down the ladder: “Whoopee! Man, that may have been a small one for Neil, but that's a long one for me”. Even better, he said this to win a $500 bet that NASA didn’t script stuff. 2599
Mary C @maryecostello.bsky.social · 17/03/2026It’s not the worst thing in the world, but it’s inconvenient to need to log in here and the other former bluebird place to get a good range of insights and views. Not sure which has the most fair algorithm in allowing people to see what’s been said. Maybe better here. 101
Mary C @maryecostello.bsky.social · 10/03/2026Spring is happening even though the skies are mainly grey 060
Reposted by Mary CRachel Deering @racheldeering.bsky.social · 31/01/2026Tit of the Day: Himalayan Black-lored Tit 📷 Nitin Chandra 751292
Reposted by Mary Cwomensartbluesky.bsky.social @womensartbluesky.bsky.social · 29/11/2025'Blue Light' by contemporary, Brighton-based, UK painter Emma Brownjohn #WomensArt 071293
Mary C @maryecostello.bsky.social · 28/11/2025This was the portrait that made me feel positive at The National Portrait Gallery earlier this week. My dad was a member of TGWU and always said how grateful he was to his branch for support in hard and difficult times. 020
Mary C @maryecostello.bsky.social · 28/11/2025Pine marten (Leitrim) Fox (Birmingham) Peregrine falcon (Symonds Yat Rock) Badger (bucks) Snowy Owl (Witney on Wye) 000
Reposted by Mary CGlenys Norquay @glenisilla.bsky.social · 28/11/2025Today's kestrel - back in the same spot and showing us those beautifully fluffy legs 😍 Liberton #Edinburgh #birds 0292
Reposted by Mary CJustin Lewis @whenisbirths.bsky.social · 03/10/2025OUT NOW, my month-by-month guide to 1980s pop, from ABC to XTC, and from Madonna to Neneh. #IntoTheGroove, published by @eandtbooks.bsky.social. 45730
Reposted by Mary CJeremy Noel-Tod @jntod.bsky.social · 13/09/2025I think about this poem by Ian Duhig — about Jo Cox, the Labour MP assassinated by a man shouting ‘Britain first’ — every day at the moment. No other contemporary poet has looked so clearly at the political reality of the far right as a minority who must always be appeased 10656248
Reposted by Mary CSam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 14/09/2025The actual group moving most strongly to Reform are male Gen X-ers. We need more articles on how to deal with them. 86866186
Reposted by Mary CJustin Lewis @whenisbirths.bsky.social · 21/06/2025In ep 15 of #FirstLastAnything, from Sept 2022, the violinist, arranger and musical director Helen O’Hara (@oharaviolin.bsky.social) talked about her role in the remarkable saga of Dexys, her work with Tanita Tikaram and her excellent memoir What She’s Like. firstlastanything.co.uk/2025/05/20/f...firstlastanything.co.ukFLA 15: Helen O’Hara (18/09/2022)(c) Natacha Horn In the spring of 1982, the violinist Helen O’Hara had two job offers. One was to join the Bilbao Symphony Orchestra; the other was to join Kevin Rowland’s Dexys Midnight Runners as… 184
Reposted by Mary CJennifer Williams @jenwilliamsft.bsky.social · 01/09/2025Another massive part of what local govt is doing, in the same space, is competing with the home office *for the same housing* 2182
Mary C @maryecostello.bsky.social · 30/08/2025Hello Blue sky with nice cloudy sky in Manchester. Piccadilly gardens with a nice buzz. It’s a much maligned place, but better than it was in the ‘90s. 140
Mary C @maryecostello.bsky.social · 12/07/2025This Madonna set is as fabulous as I recalled from 1985, #liveaid1985. Setvthecstyle scene for that summer’s school discos. 000
Reposted by Mary CDave Haslam @davehaslam.bsky.social · 09/07/2025Next Tuesday (15th) I'm in Liverpool interviewing Kevin Rowland at this event at Rough Trade marking the publication of his autobiography - July 15th. £29 a ticket includes the book (cover price £25), which Kevin will sign at the end of the event www.visitliverpool.com/event/kevin-...visitliverpool.comKevin Rowland: In Conversation + Signing - Visit LiverpoolRough Trade Liverpool is very excited to present a conversation and signing from Kevin Rowland. This unique event celebrates the release of his autobiography 'Bless Me Father: A Life Story' vi... 0277
Mary C @maryecostello.bsky.social · 29/06/2025Question: if coupé glasses aren’t any good for sparkling drinks, what are they good for? 010
Mary C @maryecostello.bsky.social · 29/06/2025It’s quiet here. Have a lot of people gone on their holidays? Or are they at a music festival somewhere? Anyway here’s a picture from two weeks ago of the Hotspur Press before it burnt down last week. #manchester 020
Reposted by Mary CJohn Grindrod @grindrod.bsky.social · 26/06/2025The Blue Bridge, St James’s Park, is soon to be demolished. Hear Catherine Croft, Director of the Twentieth Century Society, share her memories of this modest little bridge and reveal some of its surprising secrets in the latest ep of Monstrosities Mon Amour johngrindrod.substack.com/p/monstrosit...johngrindrod.substack.comMonstrosities Mon Amour: The Blue Bridge, with Catherine Croft#8. Into St James's Park to encounter the soon to be demomished Blue Bridge with Catherine Croft, Director of the Twentieth Century Society 5255
Reposted by Mary CJustin Lewis @whenisbirths.bsky.social · 21/06/2025I do exclusive art cards (When is Births or When Was Things) for birthdays and anniversaries incorporating the recipient’s name. Some examples! Email in my bio. And thank you @mooseallain.bsky.social. 0117
Mary C @maryecostello.bsky.social · 18/06/2025Okay. This may be the best thing I’ve seen and heard here 010
Mary C @maryecostello.bsky.social · 15/06/2025How’s Bluesky land? My stream of flutters is full of serious “told you so/telling you so”. Maybe I need to add more nature accounts Local park’s contribution 020
Reposted by Mary Cwomensartbluesky.bsky.social @womensartbluesky.bsky.social · 15/06/2025'The bath' woodcut by printmaker Ellen Heck #FathersDay UK #ReframingWomenPrintmakers 029317
Reposted by Mary CSteve Peers @stevepeers.bsky.social · 14/06/2025Seagull drinks coffee, steals mug of man installing anti-bird spikes www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...bbc.co.ukCornwall seagull sips man's coffee before stealing his mugDarren Pardoe was installing anti-bird spikes in a Cornish town before the encounter. 531283261
Reposted by Mary Cwomensartbluesky.bsky.social @womensartbluesky.bsky.social · 12/06/2025The Bathers, 1927 by painter Zinaida Serebriakova #womensart 042448
Reposted by Mary CLev Parikian @levparikian.bsky.social · 07/06/2025It’s #WorldSwiftDay today. Celebrate by gorging yourself on insects and staying in the air for months on end. 109614
Mary C @maryecostello.bsky.social · 05/06/2025Anyone here see what’s just “dropped” over on birdie place by its current owner? Best that Jack D! (Summer vibes pictures I k ow that’s what this place is all about) 110
Reposted by Mary COdd This Day @oddthisday.bsky.social · 31/05/2025Today is the 91st anniversary of the last diary entry of the first man who tried to climb Everest solo. Mind you, his plan had been to crash land a plane 14,000 feet up and then stroll the rest of the way, so perhaps he wasn’t destined to succeed 426095
Mary C @maryecostello.bsky.social · 31/05/2025Bringing back Sure Start nationally, would be a great way to improve the lives of many children and families. 000
Reposted by Mary CSam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 30/05/2025I'm also not sure accusing Starmer of "treating economics like showbiz" is a good line given he couldn't do showbiz if you dressed him in sequins and put him on stage at Eurovision. 81416
Reposted by Mary CBenjamin Dreyer @bcdreyer.social · 23/05/2025DID YOU KNOW that "nom de plume," however much it looks like French (and is of course composed of French bits and bobs), is as English as spotted dick? 2219525
Reposted by Mary CChris Teague @christeague1.bsky.social · 23/05/2025Male Pied Flycatcher in Devon yesterday. #ukbirds #ukbirding 0314
Reposted by Mary CDuncan Weldon @duncanweldon.bsky.social · 23/05/2025I have a large appetite for ‘Sam Smith’s being absolutely mad’ stories.bbc.co.ukLocals shocked by pub's sudden closureA handwritten note on The Abbey's entrance says the closure was due to photos being posted online. 2417821
Reposted by Mary CGrant Feller @grantfeller.bsky.social · 23/05/2025Part of a great column by @johnthornhill.bsky.social - basically, AI is the biggest bullshitter in the room 121
Mary C @maryecostello.bsky.social · 23/05/2025Checking in on this rather weird platform. There are good accounts here and then there is the exceptionally biased Bluesky moderation. The latter makes this place somewhat laughing stock on the other place. Picture of Wet Leg to show I am making an effort in all parts of life 010
Reposted by Mary CWarrington-Runcorn New Town Development Plan @warringtonruncorn.com · 01/05/2025Projecting much? 11456
Reposted by Mary CAshmolean Museum, Oxford @ashmoleanmuseum.bsky.social · 24/04/2025This painting by Anselm Kiefer is called Heliogabal (Heliogabalus). Heliogabalus was a teenage Roman emperor, whose short reign was notorious for religious controversy and decadence. He and his mother were assassinated in 222CE and their bodies were allegedly thrown into the River Tiber. 2245
Reposted by Mary CJacquiWine @jacquiwine.bsky.social · 21/04/2025From the archive for Dorothy Baker, #BornOnThisDay in 1907, a few thoughts on CASSANDRA AT THE WEDDING, from the early days of my blog. This brilliant exploration of the defining and limiting facets of identity is one of my all-time favourite novels. 💙📚 jacquiwine.wordpress.com/2014/10/07/c...jacquiwine.wordpress.comCassandra at the Wedding by Dorothy BakerFirst published in 1962, Dorothy Baker’s Cassandra at the Wedding will certainly make my end-of-year highlights, and quite possibly my all-time highlights too — it really is that good. … 162
Reposted by Mary CNic Wilson @nicwilson.bsky.social · 21/04/2025"We heard the cuckoo for the first time yesterday." Janet Case writing a century ago in her New Forest @theguardian.com country diary. #countrydiary #naturewritingtheguardian.comCountry diary 1925: Woodland birdsong heralds the onset of spring22 April 1925: We hear the willow wren’s short song at every turn, the strident note of the wryneck and the cuckoo for the first time 0262