Author Archives: peNdantry

About peNdantry

Phlyarologist (part-time) and pendant. Campaigner for action against anthropogenic global warming (AGW) and injustice in all its forms. Humanist, atheist, notoftenpist. Wannabe poet, writer and astronaut.

Lord of the Dance

Posted on January 31, 2023 by peNdantry

I have no post prepared for this week (too much to do, too little time). Esme posted this gem a short while ago; I’d noted it for a ‘reblog’ for an occasion such as this, but her post doesn’t have … Continue reading →

Posted in ... wait, what?, art, Just for laughs, Music, Phlyarology, Reblogs | Tagged , | 5 Comments

Who wrote Robert Heinlein’s ‘The Door into Summer’?

Posted on January 24, 2023 by peNdantry

That’s obviously a trick question. Or is it? If there are any of Heinlein’s novels I’ve not read, I’m not aware of them. His mid-1950s yarn ‘The Door into Summer‘ is one of my favourites, and speaks to me in … Continue reading →

Posted in ... wait, what?, art, Critiques, People, Rants, Science Fiction | Tagged , | 11 Comments

Illustrating exponential growth using movement towards a target, revisited

Posted on January 17, 2023 by peNdantry

The greatest shortcoming of the human race is our inability to understand the exponential function. Professor Albert Bartlett (1923–2013) Back in May, I used a series of photos taken at regular intervals along a footpath in an attempt to illustrate … Continue reading →

Posted in ... wait, what?, Communication, Core thought, Education, GCD: Global climate disruption, People, perception, Phlyarology | Tagged , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Greta Thunberg says, “Enough is enough!”

Posted on January 15, 2023 by peNdantry

The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good people to do nothing. Me, Just now† I received an email today, imploring me to sign yet another petition. Those tend to have little effect, but, still, we … Continue reading →

Posted in balance, Biodiversity, Climate, Core thought, Environment, GCD: Global climate disruption, People, Strategy | Tagged , , , , , | 10 Comments

Does absolute power corrupt absolutely?

Posted on January 10, 2023 by peNdantry

It began with the forging of the Great Rings.Three were given to the elves; immortal, wisest and fairest of all beings.Seven to the dwarf lords; great miners and craftsmen of the mountain halls.And nine: nine rings were gifted to the … Continue reading →

Posted in balance, Computers and Internet, Core thought, Flash fiction, Science Fiction | Tagged , , , , | 10 Comments

The day I broke the machine

Posted on January 3, 2023 by peNdantry

I read an article on The Conversation the other day about a new prototype chatbot called ‘ChatGPT‘, and decided to shoot the breeze with it. It didn’t go well…. Are you alive? No, I am a computer program designed to … Continue reading →

Posted in ... wait, what?, Computers and Internet, consciousness, Just for laughs, perception, Phlyarology | Tagged , , , , , , | 18 Comments

Another year, another few bonsai pictures (2022)

Posted on December 27, 2022 by peNdantry

This past year, I’ve continued my habit of snapping a shot of my dwarf horse chestnut tree at the beginning of each month. This tree, which I planted as a conker in 1986, is now 58% of my age – … Continue reading →

Posted in Bonsai Diary | Tagged , , , , | 16 Comments

Feasons Bleatings

Posted on December 25, 2022 by peNdantry

Originally posted on Esme's Cloud:
I know, it’s been a while, but here I am so shush. 2022 has been truly horrifying, have something giddy for the day. ? Felicitations for One and All Tiny Tim! (not the disturbing…

Posted in Reblogs | 5 Comments

[SOLVED – finally!] Windows 10 installation has failed

Posted on December 13, 2022 by peNdantry

The beginning of the end (of Windows 8.1 – and my sanity) If you have a PC running on Windows 8.1, you currently have less than a month to do something about that, because Microsoft support for it ends on … Continue reading →

Posted in ... wait, what?, Computers and Internet, Phlyarology, Tech tips | Tagged , , , , , , | 20 Comments

Captain Kirk wants us to NOT go beyond the Final Frontier

Posted on December 9, 2022 by peNdantry

I really don’t have time for this – too much else to do – but there’s very little that can possibly be more urgent. William Shatner, AKA Captain Kirk of the USS Enterprise, emailed me (well, OK, not personally, it … Continue reading →

Posted in balance, Biodiversity, collaboration, Communication, Core thought, Environment, People, Strategy | Tagged , , , , , , | 13 Comments