Computer science lecturer, film and SF geek, gaming nerd (particularly the #TravellerRPG), manned spaceflight aficionado (but nothing Musky). cis, he/him. Born at 327.5 ppm.https://bsky.app/profile/nick.gark.nethttps://bsky.app/profile/nick.gark.net/post/3mvdoqeddcc2eA couple of impulse buys during an exam board last week turned up today - and now I own a comptometer and an Odhner arithmometer that my students can play with on my history of computing module. Now looking out for a Burroughs calculator.12 Sep 2026 18:14 +0000at://did:plc:qnzmjg35ym4o7yvrcizaxxtu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvdoqeddcc2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/nick.gark.net/post/3mv6ol7gloc2cI’ve just realised that this is the same Lewis Page that used to write for The Register a decade ago. Given that his stablemate Orlowski ended up in Spiked, I shouldn’t be surprised, but yet here I am. [contains quote post or other embedded content]10 Sep 2026 18:28 +0000at://did:plc:qnzmjg35ym4o7yvrcizaxxtu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mv6ol7gloc2chttps://bsky.app/profile/nick.gark.net/post/3mu7e67j4yc26The US government is being run by 14yo edgelords. This is just pure cringe.29 Aug 2026 07:29 +0000at://did:plc:qnzmjg35ym4o7yvrcizaxxtu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mu7e67j4yc26https://bsky.app/profile/nick.gark.net/post/3mu52qj6ohc2xRegarding unilateral changes to long-established hydronyms, I’m quite surprised that there hasn’t been a campaign to rename sewage works. “The Donald J. Trump Wastewater Treatment Plant” has a nice ring to it, and is especially fitting given that both are full of shit.28 Aug 2026 09:35 +0000at://did:plc:qnzmjg35ym4o7yvrcizaxxtu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mu52qj6ohc2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/nick.gark.net/post/3mtvipckuxc27Best Star Trek crew, wrong answers only. [contains quote post or other embedded content]25 Aug 2026 09:24 +0000at://did:plc:qnzmjg35ym4o7yvrcizaxxtu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtvipckuxc27https://bsky.app/profile/nick.gark.net/post/3mtgfjd62sk2dI shall be stealing this analogy for OAuth when I come to teach it again this coming semester. (I like my existing slides, but it’s a fiddly protocol and anything that makes it easier for students to understand is fine by me) edshare.soton.ac.uk/21143/ [contains quote post or other embedded content]19 Aug 2026 09:17 +0000at://did:plc:qnzmjg35ym4o7yvrcizaxxtu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtgfjd62sk2dhttps://bsky.app/profile/nick.gark.net/post/3mtf4lf5d5c2iPaul Simon - The Rhythm of the Saints. Still a cracking album 36 (!) years later. [contains quote post or other embedded content]18 Aug 2026 21:04 +0000at://did:plc:qnzmjg35ym4o7yvrcizaxxtu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtf4lf5d5c2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/nick.gark.net/post/3mtepvt7sks2fCouldn’t really be anything else. [contains quote post or other embedded content]18 Aug 2026 17:17 +0000at://did:plc:qnzmjg35ym4o7yvrcizaxxtu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtepvt7sks2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/nick.gark.net/post/3mtcfrv3bls2hFor me, it’s the early-60s library in Upminster, where I grew up. Despite the unprepossessing exterior (I wish they hadn’t glazed in the porch), it was light and airy inside with a mezzanine at the front of the building that let you look down over the book stock. [contains quote post or other embedded content]17 Aug 2026 19:11 +0000at://did:plc:qnzmjg35ym4o7yvrcizaxxtu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtcfrv3bls2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/nick.gark.net/post/3mtbbkblkck2pThe response to @sainsburys.bsky.social claiming a 99.98% accuracy for their facial recognition system should be to ask them to give the formal definition of accuracy, and then to state the rate of Type I (false positive) and Type II (false negative) errors. [contains quote post or other embedded content]17 Aug 2026 08:22 +0000at://did:plc:qnzmjg35ym4o7yvrcizaxxtu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtbbkblkck2phttps://bsky.app/profile/nick.gark.net/post/3mrb3yreix22zOi! Goffick! Shoes off the bed! [contains quote post or other embedded content]22 Jul 2026 19:53 +0000at://did:plc:qnzmjg35ym4o7yvrcizaxxtu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrb3yreix22zhttps://bsky.app/profile/nick.gark.net/post/3mq7xop5yu22pThe score is now one-all in the mischaracterisation of UK vs US cuisine; this is presumably revenge for the “UK food has no flavour” taunts. Shenandoah is the only part of Appalachia that I’ve visited, but I would have thought that seaweed was not a common ingredient. [contains quote post or other embedded content]09 Jul 2026 15:38 +0000at://did:plc:qnzmjg35ym4o7yvrcizaxxtu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mq7xop5yu22phttps://bsky.app/profile/nick.gark.net/post/3mq5scqdzos2oI’m stepping down from my admin role of 20 years - an unprecedented innings, and a role I greatly enjoyed. My loading for it was about 2.5 hours per week, but it took far more in practice. My replacement is getting a day and half per week, plus two deputies. It’s a compliment of sorts.08 Jul 2026 18:56 +0000at://did:plc:qnzmjg35ym4o7yvrcizaxxtu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mq5scqdzos2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/nick.gark.net/post/3mq5mezxhns2oHe is not the real Count Binface; he inherited the costume from the previous Count Binface. The man he inherited it from was not the real Count Binface either - his name was Cummerbund. The real Binface has been retired for fifteen years and is living like a king in Patagonia. [contains quote post or other embedded content]08 Jul 2026 17:10 +0000at://did:plc:qnzmjg35ym4o7yvrcizaxxtu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mq5mezxhns2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/nick.gark.net/post/3mp6acij3nk2jThere is nothing quite so depressing as a conversation with an old and dear friend who has thoroughly AI-pilled themselves and is now convinced that they’ve discovered (with the help of an LLM) a Theory of Everything that will upend all physics.26 Jun 2026 05:41 +0000at://did:plc:qnzmjg35ym4o7yvrcizaxxtu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mp6acij3nk2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/nick.gark.net/post/3mowtnshtfc2sMe, packing my bag before leaving the house for work: there’s no point lugging around an umbrella today, is there?23 Jun 2026 07:06 +0000at://did:plc:qnzmjg35ym4o7yvrcizaxxtu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mowtnshtfc2shttps://bsky.app/profile/nick.gark.net/post/3molhddkhbk2zThe mature lime tree outside our house is now in full bloom. Not only is the air full of its scent, but there’s also a pronounced hum from the hundreds and hundreds of bees that are harvesting nectar from it.18 Jun 2026 18:27 +0000at://did:plc:qnzmjg35ym4o7yvrcizaxxtu/app.bsky.feed.post/3molhddkhbk2zhttps://bsky.app/profile/nick.gark.net/post/3mogmp7guuc2bThree-way split between: * Usenet before the Eternal September * LiveJournal before it was sold to the Russians and * Cheeseplant’s House[1] before it got shut down. [1] orchid.warwick.ac.uk:2001 as ane fule kno. [contains quote post or other embedded content]16 Jun 2026 20:19 +0000at://did:plc:qnzmjg35ym4o7yvrcizaxxtu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mogmp7guuc2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/nick.gark.net/post/3mnhiiogo4c2aTired: Who would win - the Hulk or the Thing? Wired: Who would win - Mr Blobby or Gritty?04 Jun 2026 11:12 +0000at://did:plc:qnzmjg35ym4o7yvrcizaxxtu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mnhiiogo4c2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/nick.gark.net/post/3mnelraj4zk2jThe aftermath of last night’s riot in Southampton. Certainly doesn’t look like a peaceful protest. (photo by my friend Chris WINOBS)03 Jun 2026 07:32 +0000at://did:plc:qnzmjg35ym4o7yvrcizaxxtu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mnelraj4zk2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/nick.gark.net/post/3mndiwqfdfs2nI guess we’re going to be listening to helicopters and sirens all night here - and we’re a mile and a half from the ongoing riot in Southampton. It’s going to be a long summer.02 Jun 2026 21:09 +0000at://did:plc:qnzmjg35ym4o7yvrcizaxxtu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mndiwqfdfs2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/nick.gark.net/post/3mnbzg2sgns2xDrop some Wings 🛩️🪽 [contains quote post or other embedded content]02 Jun 2026 06:58 +0000at://did:plc:qnzmjg35ym4o7yvrcizaxxtu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mnbzg2sgns2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/nick.gark.net/post/3mn3ka3ioq224Took a break from marking to dabble in a first attempt at leatherworking. Quite pleased with the results.30 May 2026 17:11 +0000at://did:plc:qnzmjg35ym4o7yvrcizaxxtu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mn3ka3ioq224https://bsky.app/profile/nick.gark.net/post/3mmnvybej722uThere’s been much criticism of the NYT for its reporting of SpaceX’s latest flight, but I think that we should just acknowledge that the rocket made “an awkward gesture in a moment of enthusiasm” and then move on.25 May 2026 07:04 +0000at://did:plc:qnzmjg35ym4o7yvrcizaxxtu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmnvybej722uhttps://bsky.app/profile/nick.gark.net/post/3mmgft5kuk22hMy favourite TTRPG Classes: 1. My character is [three hours of intricate yet superfluous character background deleted] 2. I am Bob McBob. 3. Remind me again how you roll to hit. 4. What’s the name of the fifteenth bar customer and what’s his backstory? 5. I roll to seduce the Great Old One. [contains quote post or other embedded content]22 May 2026 07:26 +0000at://did:plc:qnzmjg35ym4o7yvrcizaxxtu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmgft5kuk22hhttps://bsky.app/profile/nick.gark.net/post/3mmgdkkdbgc2hTime for my story about the time that I was the only customer in a bookshop when Bill Gibson was doing a signing, and yet we failed to do anything but smile shyly at each other… 1/8 [contains quote post or other embedded content]22 May 2026 06:45 +0000at://did:plc:qnzmjg35ym4o7yvrcizaxxtu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmgdkkdbgc2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/nick.gark.net/post/3mmf72ycrd22jIntroduce yourself with 10 bands/artists you've seen live. All About Eve The Divine Comedy Fairport Convention Front 242 John Otway The Proclaimers Psychic TV Steeleye Span Norma Waterson and Martin Carthy The Wonderstuff [contains quote post or other embedded content]21 May 2026 19:52 +0000at://did:plc:qnzmjg35ym4o7yvrcizaxxtu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmf72ycrd22jhttps://bsky.app/profile/nick.gark.net/post/3mlw6gs4rk22pUp, Down, Strange, Charm, Top and Bottom. [contains quote post or other embedded content]15 May 2026 20:31 +0000at://did:plc:qnzmjg35ym4o7yvrcizaxxtu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlw6gs4rk22phttps://bsky.app/profile/nick.gark.net/post/3mlszbd54ck2p"Under the agreement the institutions would merge by the end of summer 2027, and be known as King’s College London." That's a takeover, not a merger. We're going to be seeing a lot more of this kind of thing. https://www.theguardian.com/education/2026/may/14/kings-college-london-to-merge-with-cranfield-university14 May 2026 14:21 +0000at://did:plc:qnzmjg35ym4o7yvrcizaxxtu/app.bsky.feed.post/3mlszbd54ck2p