Author | Lightnews

MatthewParis

@matthewparis.bsky.social

78 followers 54 following 320 posts

I'm a fan of the 13th century chronicler known as Matthew of Paris. I also post images/videos of birds and animals that visit my birdbath and sometimes, my amateur photos of the night sky. You might know me as "Michael".

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MatthewParis @matthewparis.bsky.social · 7d

4/4

I was surprised by both the accuracy of the statement, but also somewhat put off by the sassy critique of my search term and a lack of accurate results.
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Sigvatr the Skald wrote Bersöglisvísur (‘verses of plain-speaking’), as a warning/reprimand to a young King Magnus in the 11th century.

MatthewParis @matthewparis.bsky.social · 7d

3/4

"plain spoken skald" is a contradiction in terms. Skalds, the poets of the Viking Age, were known for using complex and elaborate figurative language, while "plain spoken" refers to simple, direct communication.

MatthewParis @matthewparis.bsky.social · 7d

2/4
So I added "skald" to the query ("plain speaking verses skald") hoping the new word would focus on Norse texts. The AI answer came up with this interesting opinion...

MatthewParis @matthewparis.bsky.social · 7d

Sometimes when searching Google, I forget to turn off AI results. In this case I was looking for a Norse poem called "Outspoken Verses" (which failed). So I tried "plain speaking verses" and got a lot of random trash about how to write. 1/4

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MatthewParis @matthewparis.bsky.social · 8d

#birds In case you wanted some face-time with a starling, here you go. No idea what it's saying, but it is very interested in whatever is going on...

MatthewParis @matthewparis.bsky.social · 8d

#birds - An early morning bath - to start the day clean!

MatthewParis @matthewparis.bsky.social · 8d

#birds some starlings sitting still so you can see them...

Two (probably young) starlings sit on the edge of a shallow stone bird-bath. The background is lit by late afternoon sun coming in under the fence.

MatthewParis @matthewparis.bsky.social · 8d

#birds Last week - the starlings were all over the place... I think this is ten separate birds - arriving and departing...

Reposted by MatthewParis

Dr James O'Donoghue 🪐 @interplanetary.bsky.social · Nov 17

Light speed is fast, but space is vast...

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MatthewParis @matthewparis.bsky.social · 20d

I've had a skunk a number of times on my garden-cam. They are really cute!

MatthewParis @matthewparis.bsky.social · 28d

Here's another "starling" video from earlier today...

MatthewParis @matthewparis.bsky.social · 28d

#birds A robin takes a bath - turn up the audio a bit to hear the splashing. The morning light really makes it a lovely scene.

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MatthewParis @matthewparis.bsky.social · 28d

#birds Two robins - facing off - are unexpectedly interrupted.

MatthewParis @matthewparis.bsky.social · 28d

#birds Starlings are now passing thru on their way south.

MatthewParis @matthewparis.bsky.social · Sep 24

I did a little more looking online - skimming image search results. Amusingly, Google AI appeared in the search results saying it was a "Common Raven" - which looks all wrong. I'm inclined to agree with you about it being a starling. The smoothness of the profile does match the images. Thanks!

MatthewParis @matthewparis.bsky.social · Sep 24

Interesting thought. Most of the birds have left the area - headed for warmer climes. Starlings do come last in that transition, but my initial impression is that it is a larger bird, e.g., a Mourning Dove. I'll poke around and see if I can find similar images online...

MatthewParis @matthewparis.bsky.social · Sep 23

#birds Captured by accident by my web-cam. Beautiful symmetry! Have no idea who this is...

Shadowed outline of a bird framed against a blue sky with hints of foliage and roof-tops for context.

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MatthewParis @matthewparis.bsky.social · Sep 21

I see some of the places you get credit, but I see lots of places that take stuff - repost it without attribution, and that part is... not nice to see. I appreciate all the work you do to put up those photos, they are great! ... So I'm an appreciative fan!

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MatthewParis @matthewparis.bsky.social · Sep 19

Sorry that places like Bored Panda exist. It's effectively thievery. Your images and videos are really delightful!!!

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MatthewParis @matthewparis.bsky.social · Sep 19

xkcd.com/3144

MatthewParis @matthewparis.bsky.social · Sep 18

Like - WOW! Neat opportunity well seized! Thanks for sharing - we all got to watch - now comes the emergence sometime in the future!

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MatthewParis @matthewparis.bsky.social · Sep 15

#birds These are frames I snipped from this morning's video from the Friends Of Big Bear Valley YouTube channel.

All compliments are due to the team there that tracks the local wild-life.

Raptor - backlit by sunrise.

A raptor sitting on a stump - backlight by the morning sun.

A raptor sitting on a stump - backlight by the morning sun - something to the left has captured it's attention - so it is looking to the left.

Raptor departs from a high stump - wings spread - backlit by the morning sunlight.

Wings fully spread - the raptor is on a dive to whatever captured it's attention. Wings are beautifully backlit by the morning sun.

MatthewParis @matthewparis.bsky.social · Sep 10

That is a glorious image. Thanks for posting!

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MatthewParis @matthewparis.bsky.social · Sep 10

Sorry to hear this. I agree with you - sharing is the point of research, but so is acknowledgment ....

MatthewParis @matthewparis.bsky.social · Sep 6

#moon #astronomy The Moon looked lovely, so I grabbed my telescope and my phone and took a picture. That bright spot in the upper left corner is "Aristarchus Crater" (Wikipedia:
"Aristarchus_(crater)").

A picture of an almost full moon showing all the familiar details. There is a slightly "too bright" spot in the upper-left part of the moon that looks as if someone had floodlights in the crater turned on... (wink wink) but it is one of the most reflective parts of the moon, being only 450 million years old - so not worn down yet. (see Wikipedia).