James Bell
@sarcainian.bsky.social
(he/him) @[email protected] (Mastodon)
Web head, reader, cook, rubyist and all that.
Web head, reader, cook, rubyist and all that.
Reposted by James Bell
The hour comes round again for winter mysteries
I'm sure I missed some things, but here is my best fast crack at a roundup of the 100+ books/series/authors people recommended in this thread requesting non-cozy, kinda literary, ideally wintery mysteries that aren't police procedurals.
gist.github.com/kissane/cd8d...
gist.github.com/kissane/cd8d...
November 30, 2025 at 11:41 PM
The hour comes round again for winter mysteries
Reposted by James Bell
“And thus the heart will break, yet brokenly live on.” 🖤
It’s been a while since I’ve seen a gorgeous piece of cinema like Guillermo’s Frankenstein 🖤
#frankenstein #frankenstein2025 #guillermodeltoro
It’s been a while since I’ve seen a gorgeous piece of cinema like Guillermo’s Frankenstein 🖤
#frankenstein #frankenstein2025 #guillermodeltoro
November 25, 2025 at 7:09 PM
“And thus the heart will break, yet brokenly live on.” 🖤
It’s been a while since I’ve seen a gorgeous piece of cinema like Guillermo’s Frankenstein 🖤
#frankenstein #frankenstein2025 #guillermodeltoro
It’s been a while since I’ve seen a gorgeous piece of cinema like Guillermo’s Frankenstein 🖤
#frankenstein #frankenstein2025 #guillermodeltoro
Reposted by James Bell
“Research by Unite Students, which surveyed 1,027 parents of first-year university students across the UK, found 67% of parents use an app to track their child's location, but just 17% contact them daily.”
Gross normalisation of intrusions into #privacy. 🤯
Gross normalisation of intrusions into #privacy. 🤯
I don’t know what’s worse here, the free advertising for adult stalkerware or the Beeb normalising it as an act of family love.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Are tracking apps OK for parents to use on adult children?
An expert says parents need their children
www.bbc.co.uk
November 30, 2025 at 7:03 AM
“Research by Unite Students, which surveyed 1,027 parents of first-year university students across the UK, found 67% of parents use an app to track their child's location, but just 17% contact them daily.”
Gross normalisation of intrusions into #privacy. 🤯
Gross normalisation of intrusions into #privacy. 🤯
Reposted by James Bell
🏴 Wishing Scots all around the world a happy St Andrew's Day! 🏴
Note, you don't need to be Scottish to celebrate! How about a nice bowl of porridge for breakfast or a wee dram of whiskey at the end of your day? 🥃
📷: @tomduffinphotos.bsky.social "Saltire on the Moon"
Note, you don't need to be Scottish to celebrate! How about a nice bowl of porridge for breakfast or a wee dram of whiskey at the end of your day? 🥃
📷: @tomduffinphotos.bsky.social "Saltire on the Moon"
November 30, 2025 at 8:58 AM
🏴 Wishing Scots all around the world a happy St Andrew's Day! 🏴
Note, you don't need to be Scottish to celebrate! How about a nice bowl of porridge for breakfast or a wee dram of whiskey at the end of your day? 🥃
📷: @tomduffinphotos.bsky.social "Saltire on the Moon"
Note, you don't need to be Scottish to celebrate! How about a nice bowl of porridge for breakfast or a wee dram of whiskey at the end of your day? 🥃
📷: @tomduffinphotos.bsky.social "Saltire on the Moon"
Reposted by James Bell
Steam Locomotive the Blue Peter crossing the Forth Bridge today.
November 29, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Steam Locomotive the Blue Peter crossing the Forth Bridge today.
Reposted by James Bell
I'm one of the organisers of the Scottish Ruby User Group, and we're having a pop-up blether in Glasgow this coming Tuesday. No speakers, just socialising with whomever is around. Be lovely to see folks there if you can make it. Website: scotrug.org and meetup: www.meetup.com/scotrug/even...
Scottish Ruby User Group
scotrug.org
November 29, 2025 at 11:47 AM
I'm one of the organisers of the Scottish Ruby User Group, and we're having a pop-up blether in Glasgow this coming Tuesday. No speakers, just socialising with whomever is around. Be lovely to see folks there if you can make it. Website: scotrug.org and meetup: www.meetup.com/scotrug/even...
Reposted by James Bell
Woman Realizes Adorable Rescue Is A Coyote Pup After It Orders Dynamite Detonator Off The Internet
November 29, 2025 at 4:20 AM
Woman Realizes Adorable Rescue Is A Coyote Pup After It Orders Dynamite Detonator Off The Internet
Reposted by James Bell
Monsignor Wicks creepin on BlueSky. We’re in theaters right now - see my pinned post for a theater finder link! #WakeUpDeadMan
November 28, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Monsignor Wicks creepin on BlueSky. We’re in theaters right now - see my pinned post for a theater finder link! #WakeUpDeadMan
Reposted by James Bell
We are now further away from the theatrical release of Raiders of the Lost Ark (June 12, 1981) than it was from the year it takes place in (1936). We have reached the Indiana Jones event horizon.
November 27, 2025 at 12:49 AM
We are now further away from the theatrical release of Raiders of the Lost Ark (June 12, 1981) than it was from the year it takes place in (1936). We have reached the Indiana Jones event horizon.
Reposted by James Bell
truth coming out of her cup noodles to shame mankind
November 28, 2025 at 5:48 AM
truth coming out of her cup noodles to shame mankind
Reposted by James Bell
I collected all Ruby Black Friday deals I could find & posted them in one spot. Highlights include:
$130 off @beautifulruby.com Phlex on Rails course
$81 off @gorails.com annual subscription
+20% @joemasilotti.com Hotwire native content
Lots of @pragprog.com deals
Enjoy! 🦃🔥💰
$130 off @beautifulruby.com Phlex on Rails course
$81 off @gorails.com annual subscription
+20% @joemasilotti.com Hotwire native content
Lots of @pragprog.com deals
Enjoy! 🦃🔥💰
2025 Ruby Black Friday Deals
Save money on Ruby books, courses, and software
beautifulruby.com
November 27, 2025 at 8:58 PM
I collected all Ruby Black Friday deals I could find & posted them in one spot. Highlights include:
$130 off @beautifulruby.com Phlex on Rails course
$81 off @gorails.com annual subscription
+20% @joemasilotti.com Hotwire native content
Lots of @pragprog.com deals
Enjoy! 🦃🔥💰
$130 off @beautifulruby.com Phlex on Rails course
$81 off @gorails.com annual subscription
+20% @joemasilotti.com Hotwire native content
Lots of @pragprog.com deals
Enjoy! 🦃🔥💰
Reposted by James Bell
Is there any object that has changed less in the last 4000 years than a gaming die? There's an astonishingly human and above all social story around that profound survival.
This terracotta die comes from the ancient city of Mohenjo-Daro, one of the first urban centres in human history 🎲⠀
⠀
Gaming with dice has been a popular pastime in India for millennia, with this object dating back to 2500–1900 BCE.
🎲 Terracotta Die, 2500–1900 BCE. 2 x 2 x 2 cm. EAMd.25
⠀
Gaming with dice has been a popular pastime in India for millennia, with this object dating back to 2500–1900 BCE.
🎲 Terracotta Die, 2500–1900 BCE. 2 x 2 x 2 cm. EAMd.25
November 27, 2025 at 8:27 AM
Is there any object that has changed less in the last 4000 years than a gaming die? There's an astonishingly human and above all social story around that profound survival.
Reposted by James Bell
Ever wondered who makes WNB.rb tick? Meet the directors who keep our community thriving: Career Services, Meetups, Member Services, Partnerships, and Social Media.
Dec 2, 12pm ET.
Join us on Discord: discord.gg/2GmBb9dK
#Ruby #Leadership #WomenInTech #NonBinaryInTech
Dec 2, 12pm ET.
Join us on Discord: discord.gg/2GmBb9dK
#Ruby #Leadership #WomenInTech #NonBinaryInTech
November 26, 2025 at 11:35 PM
Ever wondered who makes WNB.rb tick? Meet the directors who keep our community thriving: Career Services, Meetups, Member Services, Partnerships, and Social Media.
Dec 2, 12pm ET.
Join us on Discord: discord.gg/2GmBb9dK
#Ruby #Leadership #WomenInTech #NonBinaryInTech
Dec 2, 12pm ET.
Join us on Discord: discord.gg/2GmBb9dK
#Ruby #Leadership #WomenInTech #NonBinaryInTech
Reposted by James Bell
The Ruby community needs to know what happened last week in San Francisco at @sfrubyconf.com last week 🙌
blog.adrianthedev.com/sf-ruby-202...
blog.adrianthedev.com/sf-ruby-202...
November 26, 2025 at 12:22 PM
The Ruby community needs to know what happened last week in San Francisco at @sfrubyconf.com last week 🙌
blog.adrianthedev.com/sf-ruby-202...
blog.adrianthedev.com/sf-ruby-202...
Reposted by James Bell
Having been mistakenly included on an electoral roll, Manchester shopkeeper Lily Maxwell voted in a by-election on this day 1867, more than 50 years before (some) women were enfranchised by the Representation of the People Act. Suffragists seized on it as a test case.
November 26, 2025 at 8:42 AM
Having been mistakenly included on an electoral roll, Manchester shopkeeper Lily Maxwell voted in a by-election on this day 1867, more than 50 years before (some) women were enfranchised by the Representation of the People Act. Suffragists seized on it as a test case.
Reposted by James Bell
Happy World Linguistics Day! Celebratory days take off when groups of people decide to make them happen so... let's see how many different locations we can get world linguistics day wishes from this year!
November 26, 2025 at 7:33 AM
Happy World Linguistics Day! Celebratory days take off when groups of people decide to make them happen so... let's see how many different locations we can get world linguistics day wishes from this year!
Reposted by James Bell
The next asset pack for Draw Steel is coming soon!
This time it will include four fullbody dwarves!
A little sneak peak below:
This time it will include four fullbody dwarves!
A little sneak peak below:
November 25, 2025 at 7:53 PM
The next asset pack for Draw Steel is coming soon!
This time it will include four fullbody dwarves!
A little sneak peak below:
This time it will include four fullbody dwarves!
A little sneak peak below:
Reposted by James Bell
RIP Sean Connery you would have loved saying this headline
Sex cardigans: can the Wicked sequel make bulky knits strangely alluring?
Sex cardigans: can the Wicked sequel make bulky knits strangely alluring?
It’s not the sexiest of garments. It arguably looks more like a discarded fishing net. And yet it has cast a spell over the internet
www.theguardian.com
November 25, 2025 at 7:25 PM
RIP Sean Connery you would have loved saying this headline
Reposted by James Bell
Here's a preview of my illustration for @novamali.bsky.social and @damesprod.bsky.social's Villainess! We have 48 hours to go for the kickstarter! www.kickstarter.com/projects/nov...
November 25, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Here's a preview of my illustration for @novamali.bsky.social and @damesprod.bsky.social's Villainess! We have 48 hours to go for the kickstarter! www.kickstarter.com/projects/nov...
Reposted by James Bell
So hey, I wrote a book!
So Rugby, What's That? is a grand adventure through all things rugby- From the great game's origins over a thousand years ago, to Ilona's USA and Siya's Springboks, stopping off at Jonah, Johnny, and the endless joy along the way!
Pre-Order NOW at sorugbywhatsthat.co.uk
So Rugby, What's That? is a grand adventure through all things rugby- From the great game's origins over a thousand years ago, to Ilona's USA and Siya's Springboks, stopping off at Jonah, Johnny, and the endless joy along the way!
Pre-Order NOW at sorugbywhatsthat.co.uk
November 25, 2025 at 5:00 PM
So hey, I wrote a book!
So Rugby, What's That? is a grand adventure through all things rugby- From the great game's origins over a thousand years ago, to Ilona's USA and Siya's Springboks, stopping off at Jonah, Johnny, and the endless joy along the way!
Pre-Order NOW at sorugbywhatsthat.co.uk
So Rugby, What's That? is a grand adventure through all things rugby- From the great game's origins over a thousand years ago, to Ilona's USA and Siya's Springboks, stopping off at Jonah, Johnny, and the endless joy along the way!
Pre-Order NOW at sorugbywhatsthat.co.uk
Reposted by James Bell
really good series on durable execution and workflows jack-vanlightly.com/blog/2025/6/...
Coordinated Progress – Part 1 – Seeing the System: The Graph — Jack Vanlightly
At some point, we’ve all sat in an architecture meeting where someone asks, “ Should this be an event? An RPC? A queue? ”, or “ How do we tie this process together across our microservices? Should it ...
jack-vanlightly.com
November 25, 2025 at 11:47 AM
really good series on durable execution and workflows jack-vanlightly.com/blog/2025/6/...
Reposted by James Bell
This week @madridrb.com is back! @karreiro.bsky.social will tell us about his experience at Shopify building Ruby gems that talk to Rust code!!
Again, Lingokids will be hosting the event in their offices, and we'll stream in Twitch, too!
Register here www.madridrb.com/events/novem...
Again, Lingokids will be hosting the event in their offices, and we'll stream in Twitch, too!
Register here www.madridrb.com/events/novem...
madridrb.com
November 24, 2025 at 10:15 AM
This week @madridrb.com is back! @karreiro.bsky.social will tell us about his experience at Shopify building Ruby gems that talk to Rust code!!
Again, Lingokids will be hosting the event in their offices, and we'll stream in Twitch, too!
Register here www.madridrb.com/events/novem...
Again, Lingokids will be hosting the event in their offices, and we'll stream in Twitch, too!
Register here www.madridrb.com/events/novem...