Peter Russell

There's only one funny programmer joke. All the rest are just insightful.

This year's PyCon UK has been cancelled, but we're looking for a Conference Director to make PyCon UK 2027 happen - could it be you? Full details of what the role involves and how to apply here: buff.ly/j4cVItY #PyCon #Python #PyConUK #Community

This is really disappointing 😞 Open letter: keepthingsopen.com

Felt cute, might delete later.

@simonwillison.net Have you ever tried your pelican benchmark with PostScript instead of SVG? I've just been playing with Gemini 3 Pro thinking and it's really good at PostScript, but it definitely can't one-shot it.

I was today years old when I realised why it's called firmware.

@drmaciver.bsky.social I enjoyed your email this morning. I too am a fountain pen user who had previously never thought about the principles of operation of the cap. It made me think of this Tim Harford post. timharford.com/2019/07/how-...

It would be a small but meaningful improvement to the world if shoeboxes were built to be large enough for A4 paper. I've got lots kicking around, but they seem to be just slightly too narrow.

PyCon UK is in a couple of weeks, and it won't be the same without Michael. RIP.

Despite housing atomic clocks, GPS satellites have to have their time reset every day.

Just finished watching the Toolroom Takeover playlist on YouTube, and it's fantastic. Every one of the items they made is incredible. If someone gave you any of them it would instantly become your most treasured possession. #toolroomtakeover2025 youtube.com/playlist?lis...

I sometimes get asked why my terminal has reminders of tools installed on my system, so I wrote a short blog post about why and how I did this. www.judy.co.uk/blog/using-f...

📣 Got a favourite must-see Manchester spot? Tell us! 📣 PyConUK2025 is coming to Manchester — and we're putting together a blog post of our favourite things to do and explore! 🖼️ Museums, 📚 libraries, 🌿 parks and more! 💬 Got suggestions? Tell us below! 👇 #PyConUK2025 #citylife #Manchester #tech

The use of the word "delve" in official congressional e-newsletters, over time, by party aka - how to observe the effects of ChatGPT on legislative staffer work.

I saw this in the cinema, and it was a real experience. The ending provoked a gasp of frustrated anticipation followed by a sad sigh from the whole audience, who then all laughed when they realised everyone else had done the same. If you watch it you'll understand.

1. Open the cupboard and see a cake or biscuit. 2. Think 'That would go well with a cup of tea' 3. Make a cup of tea 4. Realise I've long since finished the cake or biscuit

Never gets old youtu.be/M_ZRsf9sneQ?...

I've only just realised that ice-creams are included in the Sainsbury's meal deal.

here's an old school pen plot of the chip layout of a 555 timer! each mask layer is on a separate sheet of transparency film.

Thanks, I hate it.

I'm certainly not complaining, but does everyone else get a surprising amount of fox and fungus photos in their discover feeds? If not, I guess I'm lucky! I'm kinda pleased that the anatomically implausible drawings of manga girls seem to have gone now though.

I recently saw an amazing Navajo rug at the National Gallery of Art. It looks abstract at first, but it is a detailed representation of the Intel Pentium processor. Called "Replica of a Chip", it was created in 1994 by Marilou Schultz, a Navajo/Diné weaver and math teacher. 1/n

I’ve been exploring pen plotters for over 10 years (more if you count my first plotter, a Commodore 1520). What started as a curiosity has kept me engaged as a retro computing enthusiast and captivated as an artist. Lets go back in time with some of the plotters I’ve used in various ways. 🧵