Not to make a political point from today’s black-hole news — I would never do a thing like that — but isn’t it great what humans can accomplish when we collaborate between nations?
Far better than, say, building walls between nations, or breaking international treaties.
Congratulations to the Event Horizon Telescope team. The first ever picture of a black hole. In this case, the supermassive one at the centre of the M87 galaxy.
Parrots! In Hackney!
There were four parrots in the tree across the road. You can see three of them here. Not great photo quality, unfortunately.
My daughter tells me there was a story about them escaping from the zoo recently. I couldn’t find that, but here’s a story with much better pictures about London’s feral parrots.
I hope everyone’s not petitioned out, because we need this: To establish a Public Inquiry into the conduct of the 2016 EU Referendum.
There will be a public enquiry about Brexit and how it was mishandled, eventually. But it could be years from now. Sooner is better.
EU Citizens
It’s sad when even pro-European organisations get things wrong about us.
Last week I signed up for, and tweeted about, a programme designed to encourage people to vote in the EU parliamentary elections:
The European Parliament’s outreach team (or “institutional, non-partisan communication action”) is encouraging us to sign up at This Time I’m Voting. I will be, as I always do — assuming, of course, that we in the UK are able to. https://t.co/cB4TVpTBZ6
— Martin McCallion (@devilgate) March 25, 2019
Today I got an email from “This Time I’m Voting,” containing the following text:
If you are one of the 3.5 million EU nationals still living here in the UK
…
Therefore, whether you are British or an EU citizen
…
Last time I looked there are around 67 million EU nationals living in the UK. At least until next week, and hopefully for a long time after that. I mean, that’s kind of the point of this whole struggle we’re having, isn’t it?
The fact that (some) people in the UK fail to identify as EU citizens is partly what has got us into this mess.
Marina’s on Fire Again
Marina Hyde may have written her greatest line (so far):
the Commons decision to take the prime minister into special measures
The whole piece is, as ever, glorious.
Aw man. Ranking Roger has died. Only 56: too young.
The European Parliament’s outreach team (or “institutional, non-partisan communication action”) is encouraging us to sign up at This Time I’m Voting. I will be, as I always do — assuming, of course, that we in the UK are able to.
Ah, Carrot. You make checking the weather a joy.