Fortnightly posts on what I'm working on, observing, and reading. Four threads: software notes (mostly the AstroVia suite), astronomy notes from the backyard and the observatory, a story development diary from inside the writing, and hot topics from the wider world. Some short, some longer.
Hot topics · 23 July 2026
I was reading an article today that across most countries in the world, more countries now trust China than they trust America. The headline is real, but the word "trust" is doing more work than it looks like. In the polls this comes from (Democracy Perception Index is the one that made the round of headlines this year; Pew and ECFR run parallel numbers), respondents mostly aren't saying they like China more; they're saying they find it more predictable and less intrusive. Different question, same answer slot.
Story development diary · 22 July 2026
For a few weeks now the story writing has stopped. Not slowed, stopped. I open the file, read the last paragraph I wrote, and nothing comes. I feel slightly brain dead. And the reflex, the one I suspect most people who make things share, is to push harder. Don't stop. Stopping is how projects die.
Software notes · 23 June 2026
I use GitHub CoPilot a lot as part of my software development activities. I use the Claude Sonnet and Opus models mostly in “Agent” mode, although I have used other modes particularly for large migrations/transformations.
Astronomy notes · 17 June 2026
A working astronomer's take on the new generation of smart telescopes — what surprised me, the honest limits, and who should buy it.