Susan Poupard

AI Confidential with Hannah Fry - Series 1: 1. The Boy Who Tried to Kill the Queen Revealing the story of the British teenager whose AI girlfriend encouraged him to try to kill Queen Elizabeth II. What happens when humans start having relationships with AI chatbots?

Fascinating programme on #AI and the blurred lines between between "online" and the real world. Technology means that people can avoid uncomfortable emotions, loneliness, grief, disagreements in relationships, but at what cost? www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...

Group using ice axes and crampons on snowy slope

It's absolutely full on winter conditions out there if you are heading to Scotland's mountains - and that means you need to carry and know how to use an ice-axe and crampons. If you don't, either choose a walk at lower levels, wait for the snows to melt before tackling the summits...

Lovely article on #slowtravel from Ireland to the Edinburgh book festival cultureforclimate.scot/guest-articl...

Excited for the first event in the @caltonhill.bsky.social Calton Hill Archaeology project: workshop on Saturday 31 Jan, looking at the hill from a new point of view, and learning about how photogrammetry is being used on Calton Hill for the first time
www.eventbrite.com/e/calton-hil... #Edinburgh

Overgrown rainwater runoff channels on Calton Hill Drive, Calton Hill, Edinburgh, 15 January 2026

VOLUNTEERS wanted for Friday 23 January 11.00. We are looking for helpers to clear leaf litter & sort drain. Tools provided. Please bring gloves. If possible RSVP Joe at <joe.r.murphy@gmail.com>, or just turn up on the top of Calton Hill.

Many charities in Edinburgh have received funds from the MOVEMENT for GOOD. We would really appreciate nominations as we are looking for funding right now for a number of small projects. @spurtle.bsky.social @edinburghwh.bsky.social @edinburghminute.bsky.social @edinreporter.bsky.social

Looking forward to finding out about the #geology and history of Calton Hill with @caltonhill.bsky.social & @geowalks.scot at this event next week! 🌋

"Where’s the volcano? The story of the making of Calton Hill", Tues 25 November, 6pm, online
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/wheres-the...

Memorial to the astronomer Thomas Henderson (28 December 1798 – 23 November 1844), City Observatory, Calton Hill, Edinburgh

ASTRONOMY on CALTON HILL: Saturday 6 December starting at the Portuguese Cannon at 12.45.

Please join the Trust and Prof. Andy Lawrence as he tells the history of the Astronomical Institution, Royal Observatory, Henderson & Piazzi Smyth, time ball & time gun, Maria Short, and City Observatory. 1/

Everyone with an interest in the park is invited to a public meeting this Monday at 6.30pm in Epworth Hall, Edinburgh, as the group holds its first AGM and elects a committee to take it forward.

Email me if you want to join or sign up below ⬇️

Turf laying on Calton Hill, Edinburgh, 15 May 2025

COMMUNITY ACTION to combat the EROSION EMERGENCY: Calton Hill Conservation Trust and the Café Calton have bought 180 square metres of turf for laying in front of the National Monument on 12 November. 12 VOLUNTEERS NEEDED on 12 NOVEMBER. Write <chair@caltonhilltrust.org>.

4 of the 50+ locations of graffiti & stickers that we mapped on Calton Hill today, in our @caltonhill.bsky.social volunteering afternoon. Tips for effective removal of stickers welcome!

Leaflet programme for “Make it Happen” at the Edinburgh International Festival

My first show this year of the Festival! #MakeitHappen – a brilliant satire on RBS’ role in the banking crash. Well worth seeing #EdIntFest #EdinburghInternationalFestival

The Israeli Authorities are starving civilians in #Gaza.

Among them are 1 million children.

Lift the siege: allow UNRWA to bring in food and medicines.

Volunteering on Calton Hill #Edinburgh this Friday 25 July from 2pm, for anyone who wants to help @caltonhill.bsky.social improve the condition of the hill – the weather forecast's currently looking good! ☀️

Climate change is terrifying…yet a heatwave comes and we get shown pictures of people eating ice creams on the beach 🤷 this clip shows weather events that happened during just part of the month of June; not even a full month of extreme weather 😰 #climatechaos

Holyrood Park Public Meeting - Lorna Slater MSP Join Lorna Slater MSP for Lothian Region, local community groups and stakeholders as vote on the first committee of the new Friends Of group

🏞️ Do you use Holyrood Park for commuting or leisure? Do you want to make a difference to the space and work with likeminded folk?

Come along on Monday!

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/holyrood-p...

Betty the shark

Inside Betty’s mouth, there are two LCD displays

Betty’s side and fins made of computer keyboards

A sign reading “BETTY the SHARK an e-waste sculpture by Johnathan Elders Devouring Technology Native to Scottish Waters, the colossal basking shark swims around, endless feeding with its gaping mouth wide open. Its the perfect metaphor for our appetite for the latest tech, consuming without thinking about the consequences. Betty the Shark was made using discarded electronic waste, collected by CCL North, a company based in Irvine which processes and recycles WEEE (waste electrical and electronic equipment). BUT Not all e-waste is handled this way. Much of it is sent to countries where the handling of it is less regulated If you look in Betty's mouth, you can see footage of a worker in Coté dilvoire who is processing European e-Waste with no protective equipment and only basic tools.”

Betty the shark, made from used computer keyboards highlighting the environmental problems with e-waste. 🦈 💻 ♻️

On display at the St James Centre in Edinburgh.

Beltane Welcome to Summer

Beltane Fire Festival on Edinburgh's Calton Hill to welcome in Summer

Full photo story over here: tinyurl.com/TDBeltane

Google announces 1st and 2nd gen Nest Thermostats will lose support in October 2025 Affected units will work locally, but smart features will shut down in October.

I say this a lot to clients and here is why. Do not depend on an app to use an appliance you expect use in terms of decades. arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025...

Some lesser known cherry blossoms in North-West Edinburgh.
1. Blackhall Library
2. Ravelston Park
3. Craigcrook Road
4. Parkgrove Terrace

Bat Walk on Calton Hill #Edinburgh today (Saturday) at 8pm 🦇 caltonhilltrust.org/bat-walk-on-...

Petterson bat detector, 19 March 2025

BAT WALK on 19 April evening 20.00. Bat detecting group led by Graeme Wilson of GW Ecology — limited to 16 participants. Linked to our Inspiring Scotland @inspiringscotland.bsky.social biodiversity project. Members and donors welcome. Enquiries to <chair@caltonhilltrust.org>.

Show your support for Ukraine at the US Consulate in Edinburgh (3 Regent Terrace, Edinburgh, EH7 5BW)

Wednesday 5 March @ 18h

More info and let them know you're coming here:

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/emergency-...

#edinburgh

Looking forward to learning more about nature in Holyrood Park & Calton Hill #Edinburgh at this event with @caltonhill.bsky.social this evening 🌿

I was really disappointed to read this morning that the new murals in Coalie park, Leith have been vandalised. Along with theft of one of the new benches it seems that hopes of improving this space will be dashed by the ignorant and the malicious.
@edinburghminute.bsky.social

Enforcement of 20mph speed limits is really needed. There are far too many drivers going double that speed (and more) on residential streets all across Edinburgh.

Dugald Scott monument and the view towards Princes St in the sunshine

Gate closed on Calton Hill drive with sign saying “Authorised vehicles only”

Calton Hill drive (people in the distance walking down the road)

Enjoyed some sunshine on Calton Hill at lunchtime ☀️ – good to see the drive remains closed to unauthorised vehicles, it’s much safer and more pleasant to walk up without a stream of fast-moving vehicles

Our NINTH LITTER PICKUP is on Saturday (18 January) starting at 10.00 from outside the City Observatory on CALTON HILL. Lasting 90 minutes. Refreshments provided. All welcome — members & non-members. Write <info@caltonhilltrust.org> for more information.

I was in despair about the environmental crisis. Then I volunteered to clean up my local park ‘Instead of sobbing in front of your computer screen,’ my counsellor said, ‘go out and do something’

I can very much relate to this!
"I was in despair about the environmental crisis. Then I volunteered to clean up my local park"
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...

useful tips, thanks!