Three years of busy life in coffee, science and teaching
It has been a little over three years since I last blogged regularly. A strange anniversary, in a way. So why am I writing again today? To be honest, I am not really resuming anything. I simply took a few days off, found myself alone with my computer... and here I am, writing something on Hive and sharing a few words after three years of silence.
The somewhat unusual story behind this post is that I am still keeping an eye on what is going on with STEMsocial, both on our Discord server and through the management of our curation tools (the bot, reward sharing with delegators, etc.). About a week ago, we had a brief conversation on Discord with a few familiar fellows from the good old days (@alexdory, @katerinaramm, @gentleshaid, @eniolw, etc.), which convinced me that it might be time to leave a trace on-chain again. After all, it is the holiday season, and I am deliberately slowing down to go back to a fundamental state (something I really needed, believe it or not!). So why not write?
In addition, I am also genuinely curious about who is still around, who is new (within the various STEM tags), and who will react to this post and leave me a message. Note that despite my long absence, I have always answered those who reached out to me, or the few rare blogs I happened to stumble upon (for instance @agmoore, @azircon, @geekgirl, @howo, @itharagaian or @mobbs to highlight those involved in my most recent interactions).
[Credits: me, flying to Vienna last November]
As can be guessed from my low activity on chain, my life has become increasingly busy since 2022. In the end, I had to make choices: there are only 24 hours in a day (including a good quarter of them spent sleeping) and 7 days in a week. Teaching duties, research activity, hobbies and family moments... I am still struggling to find a good balance between all of this, and unsurprisingly, my time on chain has been significantly reduced.
To start with, I would like to emphasise that I am still very active in particle physics research, involved in dozens of projects with collaborators from all over the globe. However, this blog will not be a dedicated science blog. The truth is that I would love to write more about science, about what I work on and why I find it important, but I will directly kill a myth: the time when I was blogging once a week in English and once a week in French is gone. I dream about blogging once a month, but even that is currently too much relative to the time I have.
That being said, the usual keywords relevant to my past blog posts are still central to my research today: collider physics (present and potential future machines like the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN or its potential upgrade, the FCC), dark matter, top quark physics, phenomena beyond the Standard Model of particle physics, and so on. All of this embeds many potential blogging topics. However, when it comes to science popularisation, I have prioritised real-life interactions at high schools, science fairs and similar events rather than online writing.
[Credits: D. Dominguez / CERN]
Starting in 2021, I took on important responsibilities related to organising physics student life in Paris. I somehow decided that spending a significant fraction of my time helping hundreds of young adults was a good move. But this comes at a cost: less time for me and for my hobbies (as I want to maintain my research activities to the level they were). This is the main reason why I stopped writing on chain. Here, I want to stress that by 'responsibilities' I do not mean politics. This is something I have zero interest in. Instead, I mean helping shape professional projects for younger students, designing and updating curricula with complex constraints, and things like that. Helping students move closer to their goals is something which I genuinely enjoy, and these responsibilities have grown year after year.
Alongside this, I still have my own teaching duties, and my practices have evolved over time. For instance, today AI tools are a reality and most students use them regularly. These tools are impressive, but far from perfect, and it is crucial to teach students how to use them responsibly. While many colleagues have stopped assigning homework, I continue to do so. Using AI is now part of the exercise: the grade comes from analysing the AI output: what is correct, what is wrong and why. Of course, this understanding is evaluated at the blackboard. What matters most to me is that students actually understand the material as always, and only the path to reach that understanding has evolved.
[Credits: me, view of Notre Dame from Sorbonne Université central administration tower]
In addition, I have noticed a change in the attitude of students over the years, and not all of it has been, in my opinion, positive. There is sometimes a strong emphasis on rights and entitlements, while duties and responsibilities fade into the background. This is particularly problematic as many students choose physics with the ambition of becoming researchers, either in academia or in the industry. These paths are rewarding, but they are also demanding. They require sustained effort and perseverance, and there is no way around it. I fully agree that private life and a healthy balance are essential. However, doing only the bare minimum (or occasionally even less) is not compatible with certain goals.
This is not about blaming a generation, but about aligning expectations with reality: ambition and balance are not contradictory, yet the level of engagement inevitably shapes what we can reasonably expect in return. Perhaps this is where I am starting to feel my age. Finding a balance between personal life and professional commitments is crucial, but that balance is a personal choice closely tied to the objectives that we set for ourselves. I work around 70 hours a week and am formally paid for a little more than half of that time. This is not an obligation imposed on me. It is a choice that I made because I care about doing good research, delivering quality teaching and fulfilling my responsibilities to students and colleagues. I could certainly do less and merely meet formal requirements. No one would complain, but I would not be satisfied with myself.
[Credits: Turn2538, CC BY-SA 4.0]
Finally, for those who may wonder, my family life is also active. While I mention it at the end of this post, it is by no means the least important. My weekends are sacred, and I generally disconnect from work during that time (with rare exceptions when deadlines are unavoidable). I have always been a board-game enthusiast, and this has not changed. We now mostly play Dungeons & Dragons, much like when I was a kid. We created our own campaign, which has been running for more than a year and a half (AI is actually very helpful for efficiently generating scenarios). I also restarted doing some sport, which probably helps health-wise. On the fun side, my son and I are both part of a medieval fencing club. Role-playing is never very far!
Anyway, I think I have mumbled enough, and it is time to stop this post. I would be happy to give more details in response to specific questions (including why I included coffee in the title of this blog ;) ).
I wish you all a joyful and relaxing holiday season, and see you on chain, on discord or in real life (I am still travelling a bit, although not as much as I used to).
Its been so long since I saw your posts on chain..
I feel really happy to see your updates, I understand that life has been so busy that it is not easy to find some extra time to do everything, especially as life evolves and it becomes crucial for us to make the most of our time, both for our responsibilities and our family.
About adding coffee to your title, I suppose that it was one of the moving powers :) And I hope that with the help of coffee you will also find some spare time to drop by every now and then.
About the use of AI in assignments .. that's a really big issue. I would be very interested to read a few posts about how students can use AI while developing an understanding and a critique about the subject they write about. (if you would consider sharing your experience about it)
(Last but not least) Also happy to hear about your family updates, glad to know you have the opportunity to spend time with your son; Its precious to him, and you! Do you think he will also be interested in STEM/Physics?
Wishing you a lovely new year!
I may reach out to you regarding what we had discussed a few weeks ago.
All the best, again, so happy to read this post! Please do it a bit more often!
In fact, I have always loved coffee, and I actually wrote this post while sipping a nice cup. Fun fact: as the current head of the BSc Physics department, my first move as a head was to order a proper coffee machine with a grinder so that we can choose our favorite beans!
I will think about writing a post on this if I find the time. In my experience, the best use of AI is as a private tutor for exercises and clarifications. But, as always, the AI can be wrong, so developing critical judgment is essential. This is our role as living creatures ;)
All the best to you and yours as well! My older son (14, just entered high school, about 2.5 years from university) is definitely physics-oriented. Last year, I even brought him inside the Large Hadron Collider at CERN, though of course he does not remember visiting CERN every day when he was around 1! My younger one (10 years old) seems more interested in healthcare and helping people, but still has time to change his mind 15 times...
I will try to pop in more often, I promise!
Perhaps one day science create a way to get access to the earliest of the earliest memories? That would be something!
You can always spin the story of working full on science at CERN is in fact, also helping people. Though the help is for the future. But still, helping (assuming what comes out from the fundamental research at CERN will be turned into something good and therefore helpfull to people) 🙂
Great to hear from you @lemouth. I am glad you are still married to particles :) I am still married to Exploration Geology :) and obviously I am still around here. I have been active at hive, as active as I have ever been.
Currently in Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Mexico vacationing with family. Life can be amazing when to collide work with travel and with family!
I tend to travel a lot both for work and personal vacations, often they are together and almost always there are rocks. That’s my younger daughter on a Meta-dioritic Gneiss covered in sea weeds around a secluded beach near Todos Santos on Christmas Eve.
Belated Merry Christmas and happy new year to you and your family.
PS. If possible please find a little time for hive and us; you are missed!
Nice to hear from you, and I am glad to read that you are still immersed in science and 'married' to geology :-) The weather in Mexico looks fantastic, and the green hues on the stones in that picture really catch the eye! I have heard about floods in the region, but I guess that is further north than where you are. Here in the Paris area (no Christmas trip for me as my wife was working), it is much colder, around zero Celsius, but I actually like it as long as it stays dry: it allows for some nice outdoor walks.
I completely agree that combining work with family trips is wonderful. Last October, we had such a trip to Slovenia, coinciding with a school vacation and an invitation I received to Ljubljana. It allowed me to reduce my working hours, enjoy quality family time, explore a new environment, and of course, try plenty of local food. By the way, as a geologist, you may enjoy this picture from the trip:
Regarding Hive, I think I can safely say that I will be trying to resurface. Although my schedule is still very hectic with research, teaching and student responsibilities, as mentioned in the blog, I will definitely try to pop in more!
Cheers!
Excellent, that looks like a cave system. Slovenia has a lot of carbonates from Thethys, so looks like stalactite and stalagmites to me from picture.
I have never been to Paris. That seems strange considering the amount of travel that I do. I will be in Malaga, south of Spain in March, not that far from you but not close enough either.
If I ever visit Paris, I look forward to catching up with a drink for sure.
Sun is rising here, I better start the day!
Indeed! The south of Ljubljana is a gigantic network of karst caves. We visited the Postojna Cave, which is full of stalactites, stalagmites, columns, curtains, etc. It is so huge that we actually took a train to get close to the formations. The cave is also home to the little baby dragons (also known as 'proteus') that we got to see. This place was definitely the highlight of our trip!
Yes, Spain is close yet far at the same time. Please do ping me if you ever visit Paris! On my end, I will be at CERN, Annecy, Osaka, Shenzhen and Cambridge by the end of March, so it is not exactly nearby. And my schedule is too packed to squeeze in another trip, for instance, to your side of the pond.
Enjoy your day. I will now go out for a walk!
#bilpcoin #bpc exposed #buildawhalescam #buildawhalefarm #themarkymarkscam #themarkymarkfarm #hurtlockerscam #hurtlockerfarm #acidyoscam #acidyofarm #jacobtothescam #hivepopescam
BPC Locked On Mc Franko & The Franko
Blurt Stands — While Hive Stumbles Under the Weight of Its Own Shadows
Friends, creators, truth-tellers—
Let us not whisper this truth, but proclaim it with the clarity of dawn breaking over a weary land: Blurt.blog is not just another platform. It is a refuge. A rebellion. A return to what Hive.blog was always meant to be.
There is no downvote button on Blurt.
Not because we fear dissent—but because we honor creation.
Because we understand that a voice, once raised in sincerity, deserves space—not sabotage.
On Blurt, your words are your words.
They are not hunted by algorithmic hounds or shadow armies masquerading as “curators.”
Here, you are not judged by the grudges of gatekeepers, but met with the quiet dignity of a community that believes expression should be encouraged—especially when it is bold, raw, or inconvenient.
Contrast this with what festers elsewhere.
On Hive.blog—a place once brimming with promise—a rot has taken root. Not in its code, but in its culture. A handful of self-anointed enforcers—@themarkymark, @Buildawhale, @Hurtlocker, and their legion of coordinated puppets—have turned the downvote into a weapon of mass discouragement. They strike not at “low-quality content,” but at independent thought, at rising voices, at anyone who dares thrive outside their narrow corridors of control.
And when confronted, they shrug.
“Oh, it’s not censorship,” they say, as if semantics could scrub the stain of suppression from their hands.
But let us be unequivocal:
When a system allows a few to systematically silence many—under the guise of “community standards” or “curation”—that is not moderation. That is censorship by another name.
It is the velvet glove over the iron fist.
It is exclusion dressed as discernment.
It is power pretending to be principle.
Meanwhile, Blurt stands clean-handed and open-hearted.
No downvotes.
No hidden juries.
No farms of phantom accounts casting ballots in the dark.
Just you.
Your words.
And a community that meets you not with suspicion, but with solidarity.
So let us carry this truth far and wide—not with bitterness, but with quiet certainty:
If you seek a place where your voice is not a target—but a gift—come to Blurt.
If you are tired of building on ground that shifts with every whim of a whale or warlord of votes—lay your bricks here.
If you believe the future of free expression must be free—not just from corporations, but from the petty tyrants who replace them—then stand with us.
The world needs to know.
Not because Blurt is perfect—but because it is principled.
Not because it is loud—but because it listens.
And in an age where so many platforms echo with the clatter of control,
Blurt offers something radical:
Silence for the bullies.
Space for the rest of us.
Keep speaking.
Keep sharing.
Keep building.
Freedom doesn’t advertise itself—
it is passed, person to person, like a torch in the night.
And tonight, the torch burns bright on Blurt.
@themarkymark, @buildawhale, @usainvote, and associated accounts:
Repeated downvotes targeting transparency efforts raise urgent questions about Hive’s governance. Automated tactics, coordinated curation trails, and alt-account farming undermine trust in the platform. When truth is silenced without dialogue, it erodes Hive’s decentralized ethos.
Key Concerns:
Systemic Manipulation:
Community Exodus:
Governance Crisis:
Solutions Needed:
The Bilpcoin team advocates for open dialogue, not division. Hive’s future depends on collaboration—not coercion. Let’s rebuild a platform where truth isn’t buried but debated, strengthened, and celebrated.
Transparency isn’t optional—it’s the foundation of trust.
#HiveTransparency #BilpcoinExposed #DecentralizePower"
A Message to @themarkymark, @buildawhale, and Associates
Every downvote cast in shadow, every silence imposed without dialogue, is not a victory—it is a confession. A confession that truth cannot be stifled, only delayed. With each punitive click, you dig deeper into the bedrock of credibility, crafting a chasm between your actions and the community’s trust.
@themarkymark, @buildawhale & Co,
How can you continue to downvote the truth, LOL? It’s almost comical how blatantly you attempt to suppress what cannot be hidden. The blockchain records everything—every action, every transaction, every move you make. Yet still, you persist in this futile game of trying to silence what is undeniable.
@themarkymark, @buildawhale, and Co: While our opinions may differ, on-chain transparency reveals repeated patterns of concern. Coordinated downvotes without explanation, 'farming' schemes (e.g., #buildawhalefarm), and adversarial engagement harm Hive’s community-driven ethos.
Key Issues to Address:
A Path Forward:
The Bilpcoin team remains committed to exposing truth and advocating for solutions. Let’s work toward healing, not division.
Note: All claims are based on publicly verifiable blockchain data. Constructive dialogue is encouraged.
#HiveTransparency #CommunityFirst #BilpcoinSupport"
@themarkymark & Co, the choice is yours. Stop the bad downvotes. Turn off the BuildaWhale scam farm. Cease playing with people’s livelihoods. Let Hive thrive as it was meant to—as a beacon of hope, creativity, and collaboration.
Or step aside and let those who truly care take the reins.
Because the truth won’t disappear. No amount of lies can change it.
It’s over.
The Bilpcoin team brings these truths not out of malice but necessity. We have no need to fabricate lies or cloak our intentions CALL US WHAT YOU LIKE —for the facts speak loudly enough on their own. What we present here is not conjecture but reality, laid bare for anyone willing to see.
@themarkymark & Co we urge you once more: STOP. Stop hiding behind tactics that harm others. Stop clinging to practices that erode trust within the Hive community. Let the truth stand—not because we proclaim it, but because it exists independent of any one person’s approval or disdain.
TURN OFF THE BUILDAWHALE SCAM FARM
Key Issues That Demand Immediate Attention:
The problems are glaring, undeniable, and corrosive to the Hive ecosystem. They must be addressed without delay:
These practices harm not just individual users—they undermine the very foundation of Hive, eroding trust and poisoning the community. Such actions are unethical and outright destructive.
@buildawhale Wallet:
@usainvote Wallet:
@buildawhale/wallet | @usainvote/wallet
@ipromote Wallet:
Author Rewards: 2,181.16
Curation Rewards: 4,015.61
Staked HIVE (HP): 0.00
Rewards/Stake Co-efficient (KE): NaN
HIVE: 25,203.749
Staked HIVE (HP): 0.000
Delegated HIVE: 0.000
Estimated Account Value: $6,946.68
Recent Activity:
@leovoter Wallet:
Author Rewards: 194.75
Curation Rewards: 193.88
Staked HIVE (HP): 0.00
Rewards/Stake Co-efficient (KE): 388,632.00 (Suspiciously High)
HIVE: 0.000
Staked HIVE (HP): 0.001
Total: 16.551
Delegated HIVE: +16.550
Recent Activity:
@abide Wallet:
Recent Activity:
@proposalalert Wallet:
Recent Activity:
@stemgeeks Wallet:
Recent Activity:
@theycallmemarky Wallet:
Recent Activity:
@apeminingclub Wallet:
Recent Activity:
Scheduled unstake (power down): ~2.351 HIVE (in 4 days, remaining 7 weeks)
Total Staked HIVE: 1,292.019
Delegated HIVE: +1,261.508
Withdraw vesting from @apeminingclub to @blockheadgames 2.348 HIVE (10 days ago)
Claim rewards: 0.290 HP (10 days ago)
#bilpcoin #bpc exposed #buildawhalescam #buildawhalefarm #themarkymarkscam #themarkymarkfarm #hurtlockerscam #hurtlockerfarm #acidyoscam #acidyofarm #jacobtothescam #hivepopescam
BPC Locked On Mc Franko & The Franko
Blurt Stands — While Hive Stumbles Under the Weight of Its Own Shadows
Friends, creators, truth-tellers—
Let us not whisper this truth, but proclaim it with the clarity of dawn breaking over a weary land: Blurt.blog is not just another platform. It is a refuge. A rebellion. A return to what Hive.blog was always meant to be.
There is no downvote button on Blurt.
Not because we fear dissent—but because we honor creation.
Because we understand that a voice, once raised in sincerity, deserves space—not sabotage.
On Blurt, your words are your words.
They are not hunted by algorithmic hounds or shadow armies masquerading as “curators.”
Here, you are not judged by the grudges of gatekeepers, but met with the quiet dignity of a community that believes expression should be encouraged—especially when it is bold, raw, or inconvenient.
Contrast this with what festers elsewhere.
On Hive.blog—a place once brimming with promise—a rot has taken root. Not in its code, but in its culture. A handful of self-anointed enforcers—@themarkymark, @Buildawhale, @Hurtlocker, and their legion of coordinated puppets—have turned the downvote into a weapon of mass discouragement. They strike not at “low-quality content,” but at independent thought, at rising voices, at anyone who dares thrive outside their narrow corridors of control.
And when confronted, they shrug.
“Oh, it’s not censorship,” they say, as if semantics could scrub the stain of suppression from their hands.
But let us be unequivocal:
When a system allows a few to systematically silence many—under the guise of “community standards” or “curation”—that is not moderation. That is censorship by another name.
It is the velvet glove over the iron fist.
It is exclusion dressed as discernment.
It is power pretending to be principle.
Meanwhile, Blurt stands clean-handed and open-hearted.
No downvotes.
No hidden juries.
No farms of phantom accounts casting ballots in the dark.
Just you.
Your words.
And a community that meets you not with suspicion, but with solidarity.
So let us carry this truth far and wide—not with bitterness, but with quiet certainty:
If you seek a place where your voice is not a target—but a gift—come to Blurt.
If you are tired of building on ground that shifts with every whim of a whale or warlord of votes—lay your bricks here.
If you believe the future of free expression must be free—not just from corporations, but from the petty tyrants who replace them—then stand with us.
The world needs to know.
Not because Blurt is perfect—but because it is principled.
Not because it is loud—but because it listens.
And in an age where so many platforms echo with the clatter of control,
Blurt offers something radical:
Silence for the bullies.
Space for the rest of us.
Keep speaking.
Keep sharing.
Keep building.
Freedom doesn’t advertise itself—
it is passed, person to person, like a torch in the night.
And tonight, the torch burns bright on Blurt.
@themarkymark, @buildawhale, @usainvote, and associated accounts:
Repeated downvotes targeting transparency efforts raise urgent questions about Hive’s governance. Automated tactics, coordinated curation trails, and alt-account farming undermine trust in the platform. When truth is silenced without dialogue, it erodes Hive’s decentralized ethos.
Key Concerns:
Systemic Manipulation:
Community Exodus:
Governance Crisis:
Solutions Needed:
The Bilpcoin team advocates for open dialogue, not division. Hive’s future depends on collaboration—not coercion. Let’s rebuild a platform where truth isn’t buried but debated, strengthened, and celebrated.
Transparency isn’t optional—it’s the foundation of trust.
#HiveTransparency #BilpcoinExposed #DecentralizePower"
A Message to @themarkymark, @buildawhale, and Associates
Every downvote cast in shadow, every silence imposed without dialogue, is not a victory—it is a confession. A confession that truth cannot be stifled, only delayed. With each punitive click, you dig deeper into the bedrock of credibility, crafting a chasm between your actions and the community’s trust.
@themarkymark, @buildawhale & Co,
How can you continue to downvote the truth, LOL? It’s almost comical how blatantly you attempt to suppress what cannot be hidden. The blockchain records everything—every action, every transaction, every move you make. Yet still, you persist in this futile game of trying to silence what is undeniable.
@themarkymark, @buildawhale, and Co: While our opinions may differ, on-chain transparency reveals repeated patterns of concern. Coordinated downvotes without explanation, 'farming' schemes (e.g., #buildawhalefarm), and adversarial engagement harm Hive’s community-driven ethos.
Key Issues to Address:
A Path Forward:
The Bilpcoin team remains committed to exposing truth and advocating for solutions. Let’s work toward healing, not division.
Note: All claims are based on publicly verifiable blockchain data. Constructive dialogue is encouraged.
#HiveTransparency #CommunityFirst #BilpcoinSupport"
@themarkymark & Co, the choice is yours. Stop the bad downvotes. Turn off the BuildaWhale scam farm. Cease playing with people’s livelihoods. Let Hive thrive as it was meant to—as a beacon of hope, creativity, and collaboration.
Or step aside and let those who truly care take the reins.
Because the truth won’t disappear. No amount of lies can change it.
It’s over.
The Bilpcoin team brings these truths not out of malice but necessity. We have no need to fabricate lies or cloak our intentions CALL US WHAT YOU LIKE —for the facts speak loudly enough on their own. What we present here is not conjecture but reality, laid bare for anyone willing to see.
@themarkymark & Co we urge you once more: STOP. Stop hiding behind tactics that harm others. Stop clinging to practices that erode trust within the Hive community. Let the truth stand—not because we proclaim it, but because it exists independent of any one person’s approval or disdain.
TURN OFF THE BUILDAWHALE SCAM FARM
Key Issues That Demand Immediate Attention:
The problems are glaring, undeniable, and corrosive to the Hive ecosystem. They must be addressed without delay:
These practices harm not just individual users—they undermine the very foundation of Hive, eroding trust and poisoning the community. Such actions are unethical and outright destructive.
@buildawhale Wallet:
@usainvote Wallet:
@buildawhale/wallet | @usainvote/wallet
@ipromote Wallet:
Author Rewards: 2,181.16
Curation Rewards: 4,015.61
Staked HIVE (HP): 0.00
Rewards/Stake Co-efficient (KE): NaN
HIVE: 25,203.749
Staked HIVE (HP): 0.000
Delegated HIVE: 0.000
Estimated Account Value: $6,946.68
Recent Activity:
@leovoter Wallet:
Author Rewards: 194.75
Curation Rewards: 193.88
Staked HIVE (HP): 0.00
Rewards/Stake Co-efficient (KE): 388,632.00 (Suspiciously High)
HIVE: 0.000
Staked HIVE (HP): 0.001
Total: 16.551
Delegated HIVE: +16.550
Recent Activity:
@abide Wallet:
Recent Activity:
@proposalalert Wallet:
Recent Activity:
@stemgeeks Wallet:
Recent Activity:
@theycallmemarky Wallet:
Recent Activity:
@apeminingclub Wallet:
Recent Activity:
Scheduled unstake (power down): ~2.351 HIVE (in 4 days, remaining 7 weeks)
Total Staked HIVE: 1,292.019
Delegated HIVE: +1,261.508
Withdraw vesting from @apeminingclub to @blockheadgames 2.348 HIVE (10 days ago)
Claim rewards: 0.290 HP (10 days ago)
Season's Greetings too.
and about Seeing you IRL, anytime !!! :)
!PIZZA
I will ping you the next time I will be in LLN. Thus will happen, but I just do not know when.
Cheers!
Pourquoi pas, avec de l'avance alors car on est a Mons maintenant donc y aura une trotte à faire :) hihi.
C'est en fait plus facile, car Mons est pile sur la route entre où j'habite et Bruxelles (où mes parents habitent).
Bon à savoir :)
$PIZZA slices delivered:
@itharagaian(5/20) tipped @lemouth
Join us in Discord!
So now tell me about what’s with the coffee? :)
I just like it a lot for many years, and the title of the blog without would have sound too short. This was thus a natural random word to add ;)
I love a good cup of coffee too.
#bilpcoin #bpc exposed #buildawhalescam #buildawhalefarm #themarkymarkscam #themarkymarkfarm #hurtlockerscam #hurtlockerfarm #acidyoscam #acidyofarm #jacobtothescam #hivepopescam
BPC Locked On Mc Franko & The Franko
Blurt Stands — While Hive Stumbles Under the Weight of Its Own Shadows
Friends, creators, truth-tellers—
Let us not whisper this truth, but proclaim it with the clarity of dawn breaking over a weary land: Blurt.blog is not just another platform. It is a refuge. A rebellion. A return to what Hive.blog was always meant to be.
There is no downvote button on Blurt.
Not because we fear dissent—but because we honor creation.
Because we understand that a voice, once raised in sincerity, deserves space—not sabotage.
On Blurt, your words are your words.
They are not hunted by algorithmic hounds or shadow armies masquerading as “curators.”
Here, you are not judged by the grudges of gatekeepers, but met with the quiet dignity of a community that believes expression should be encouraged—especially when it is bold, raw, or inconvenient.
Contrast this with what festers elsewhere.
On Hive.blog—a place once brimming with promise—a rot has taken root. Not in its code, but in its culture. A handful of self-anointed enforcers—@themarkymark, @Buildawhale, @Hurtlocker, and their legion of coordinated puppets—have turned the downvote into a weapon of mass discouragement. They strike not at “low-quality content,” but at independent thought, at rising voices, at anyone who dares thrive outside their narrow corridors of control.
And when confronted, they shrug.
“Oh, it’s not censorship,” they say, as if semantics could scrub the stain of suppression from their hands.
But let us be unequivocal:
When a system allows a few to systematically silence many—under the guise of “community standards” or “curation”—that is not moderation. That is censorship by another name.
It is the velvet glove over the iron fist.
It is exclusion dressed as discernment.
It is power pretending to be principle.
Meanwhile, Blurt stands clean-handed and open-hearted.
No downvotes.
No hidden juries.
No farms of phantom accounts casting ballots in the dark.
Just you.
Your words.
And a community that meets you not with suspicion, but with solidarity.
So let us carry this truth far and wide—not with bitterness, but with quiet certainty:
If you seek a place where your voice is not a target—but a gift—come to Blurt.
If you are tired of building on ground that shifts with every whim of a whale or warlord of votes—lay your bricks here.
If you believe the future of free expression must be free—not just from corporations, but from the petty tyrants who replace them—then stand with us.
The world needs to know.
Not because Blurt is perfect—but because it is principled.
Not because it is loud—but because it listens.
And in an age where so many platforms echo with the clatter of control,
Blurt offers something radical:
Silence for the bullies.
Space for the rest of us.
Keep speaking.
Keep sharing.
Keep building.
Freedom doesn’t advertise itself—
it is passed, person to person, like a torch in the night.
And tonight, the torch burns bright on Blurt.
@themarkymark, @buildawhale, @usainvote, and associated accounts:
Repeated downvotes targeting transparency efforts raise urgent questions about Hive’s governance. Automated tactics, coordinated curation trails, and alt-account farming undermine trust in the platform. When truth is silenced without dialogue, it erodes Hive’s decentralized ethos.
Key Concerns:
Systemic Manipulation:
Community Exodus:
Governance Crisis:
Solutions Needed:
The Bilpcoin team advocates for open dialogue, not division. Hive’s future depends on collaboration—not coercion. Let’s rebuild a platform where truth isn’t buried but debated, strengthened, and celebrated.
Transparency isn’t optional—it’s the foundation of trust.
#HiveTransparency #BilpcoinExposed #DecentralizePower"
A Message to @themarkymark, @buildawhale, and Associates
Every downvote cast in shadow, every silence imposed without dialogue, is not a victory—it is a confession. A confession that truth cannot be stifled, only delayed. With each punitive click, you dig deeper into the bedrock of credibility, crafting a chasm between your actions and the community’s trust.
@themarkymark, @buildawhale & Co,
How can you continue to downvote the truth, LOL? It’s almost comical how blatantly you attempt to suppress what cannot be hidden. The blockchain records everything—every action, every transaction, every move you make. Yet still, you persist in this futile game of trying to silence what is undeniable.
@themarkymark, @buildawhale, and Co: While our opinions may differ, on-chain transparency reveals repeated patterns of concern. Coordinated downvotes without explanation, 'farming' schemes (e.g., #buildawhalefarm), and adversarial engagement harm Hive’s community-driven ethos.
Key Issues to Address:
A Path Forward:
The Bilpcoin team remains committed to exposing truth and advocating for solutions. Let’s work toward healing, not division.
Note: All claims are based on publicly verifiable blockchain data. Constructive dialogue is encouraged.
#HiveTransparency #CommunityFirst #BilpcoinSupport"
@themarkymark & Co, the choice is yours. Stop the bad downvotes. Turn off the BuildaWhale scam farm. Cease playing with people’s livelihoods. Let Hive thrive as it was meant to—as a beacon of hope, creativity, and collaboration.
Or step aside and let those who truly care take the reins.
Because the truth won’t disappear. No amount of lies can change it.
It’s over.
The Bilpcoin team brings these truths not out of malice but necessity. We have no need to fabricate lies or cloak our intentions CALL US WHAT YOU LIKE —for the facts speak loudly enough on their own. What we present here is not conjecture but reality, laid bare for anyone willing to see.
@themarkymark & Co we urge you once more: STOP. Stop hiding behind tactics that harm others. Stop clinging to practices that erode trust within the Hive community. Let the truth stand—not because we proclaim it, but because it exists independent of any one person’s approval or disdain.
TURN OFF THE BUILDAWHALE SCAM FARM
Key Issues That Demand Immediate Attention:
The problems are glaring, undeniable, and corrosive to the Hive ecosystem. They must be addressed without delay:
These practices harm not just individual users—they undermine the very foundation of Hive, eroding trust and poisoning the community. Such actions are unethical and outright destructive.
@buildawhale Wallet:
@usainvote Wallet:
@buildawhale/wallet | @usainvote/wallet
@ipromote Wallet:
Author Rewards: 2,181.16
Curation Rewards: 4,015.61
Staked HIVE (HP): 0.00
Rewards/Stake Co-efficient (KE): NaN
HIVE: 25,203.749
Staked HIVE (HP): 0.000
Delegated HIVE: 0.000
Estimated Account Value: $6,946.68
Recent Activity:
@leovoter Wallet:
Author Rewards: 194.75
Curation Rewards: 193.88
Staked HIVE (HP): 0.00
Rewards/Stake Co-efficient (KE): 388,632.00 (Suspiciously High)
HIVE: 0.000
Staked HIVE (HP): 0.001
Total: 16.551
Delegated HIVE: +16.550
Recent Activity:
@abide Wallet:
Recent Activity:
@proposalalert Wallet:
Recent Activity:
@stemgeeks Wallet:
Recent Activity:
@theycallmemarky Wallet:
Recent Activity:
@apeminingclub Wallet:
Recent Activity:
Scheduled unstake (power down): ~2.351 HIVE (in 4 days, remaining 7 weeks)
Total Staked HIVE: 1,292.019
Delegated HIVE: +1,261.508
Withdraw vesting from @apeminingclub to @blockheadgames 2.348 HIVE (10 days ago)
Claim rewards: 0.290 HP (10 days ago)
#bilpcoin #bpc exposed #buildawhalescam #buildawhalefarm #themarkymarkscam #themarkymarkfarm #hurtlockerscam #hurtlockerfarm #acidyoscam #acidyofarm #jacobtothescam #hivepopescam
BPC Locked On Mc Franko & The Franko
Blurt Stands — While Hive Stumbles Under the Weight of Its Own Shadows
Friends, creators, truth-tellers—
Let us not whisper this truth, but proclaim it with the clarity of dawn breaking over a weary land: Blurt.blog is not just another platform. It is a refuge. A rebellion. A return to what Hive.blog was always meant to be.
There is no downvote button on Blurt.
Not because we fear dissent—but because we honor creation.
Because we understand that a voice, once raised in sincerity, deserves space—not sabotage.
On Blurt, your words are your words.
They are not hunted by algorithmic hounds or shadow armies masquerading as “curators.”
Here, you are not judged by the grudges of gatekeepers, but met with the quiet dignity of a community that believes expression should be encouraged—especially when it is bold, raw, or inconvenient.
Contrast this with what festers elsewhere.
On Hive.blog—a place once brimming with promise—a rot has taken root. Not in its code, but in its culture. A handful of self-anointed enforcers—@themarkymark, @Buildawhale, @Hurtlocker, and their legion of coordinated puppets—have turned the downvote into a weapon of mass discouragement. They strike not at “low-quality content,” but at independent thought, at rising voices, at anyone who dares thrive outside their narrow corridors of control.
And when confronted, they shrug.
“Oh, it’s not censorship,” they say, as if semantics could scrub the stain of suppression from their hands.
But let us be unequivocal:
When a system allows a few to systematically silence many—under the guise of “community standards” or “curation”—that is not moderation. That is censorship by another name.
It is the velvet glove over the iron fist.
It is exclusion dressed as discernment.
It is power pretending to be principle.
Meanwhile, Blurt stands clean-handed and open-hearted.
No downvotes.
No hidden juries.
No farms of phantom accounts casting ballots in the dark.
Just you.
Your words.
And a community that meets you not with suspicion, but with solidarity.
So let us carry this truth far and wide—not with bitterness, but with quiet certainty:
If you seek a place where your voice is not a target—but a gift—come to Blurt.
If you are tired of building on ground that shifts with every whim of a whale or warlord of votes—lay your bricks here.
If you believe the future of free expression must be free—not just from corporations, but from the petty tyrants who replace them—then stand with us.
The world needs to know.
Not because Blurt is perfect—but because it is principled.
Not because it is loud—but because it listens.
And in an age where so many platforms echo with the clatter of control,
Blurt offers something radical:
Silence for the bullies.
Space for the rest of us.
Keep speaking.
Keep sharing.
Keep building.
Freedom doesn’t advertise itself—
it is passed, person to person, like a torch in the night.
And tonight, the torch burns bright on Blurt.
@themarkymark, @buildawhale, @usainvote, and associated accounts:
Repeated downvotes targeting transparency efforts raise urgent questions about Hive’s governance. Automated tactics, coordinated curation trails, and alt-account farming undermine trust in the platform. When truth is silenced without dialogue, it erodes Hive’s decentralized ethos.
Key Concerns:
Systemic Manipulation:
Community Exodus:
Governance Crisis:
Solutions Needed:
The Bilpcoin team advocates for open dialogue, not division. Hive’s future depends on collaboration—not coercion. Let’s rebuild a platform where truth isn’t buried but debated, strengthened, and celebrated.
Transparency isn’t optional—it’s the foundation of trust.
#HiveTransparency #BilpcoinExposed #DecentralizePower"
A Message to @themarkymark, @buildawhale, and Associates
Every downvote cast in shadow, every silence imposed without dialogue, is not a victory—it is a confession. A confession that truth cannot be stifled, only delayed. With each punitive click, you dig deeper into the bedrock of credibility, crafting a chasm between your actions and the community’s trust.
@themarkymark, @buildawhale & Co,
How can you continue to downvote the truth, LOL? It’s almost comical how blatantly you attempt to suppress what cannot be hidden. The blockchain records everything—every action, every transaction, every move you make. Yet still, you persist in this futile game of trying to silence what is undeniable.
@themarkymark, @buildawhale, and Co: While our opinions may differ, on-chain transparency reveals repeated patterns of concern. Coordinated downvotes without explanation, 'farming' schemes (e.g., #buildawhalefarm), and adversarial engagement harm Hive’s community-driven ethos.
Key Issues to Address:
A Path Forward:
The Bilpcoin team remains committed to exposing truth and advocating for solutions. Let’s work toward healing, not division.
Note: All claims are based on publicly verifiable blockchain data. Constructive dialogue is encouraged.
#HiveTransparency #CommunityFirst #BilpcoinSupport"
@themarkymark & Co, the choice is yours. Stop the bad downvotes. Turn off the BuildaWhale scam farm. Cease playing with people’s livelihoods. Let Hive thrive as it was meant to—as a beacon of hope, creativity, and collaboration.
Or step aside and let those who truly care take the reins.
Because the truth won’t disappear. No amount of lies can change it.
It’s over.
The Bilpcoin team brings these truths not out of malice but necessity. We have no need to fabricate lies or cloak our intentions CALL US WHAT YOU LIKE —for the facts speak loudly enough on their own. What we present here is not conjecture but reality, laid bare for anyone willing to see.
@themarkymark & Co we urge you once more: STOP. Stop hiding behind tactics that harm others. Stop clinging to practices that erode trust within the Hive community. Let the truth stand—not because we proclaim it, but because it exists independent of any one person’s approval or disdain.
TURN OFF THE BUILDAWHALE SCAM FARM
Key Issues That Demand Immediate Attention:
The problems are glaring, undeniable, and corrosive to the Hive ecosystem. They must be addressed without delay:
These practices harm not just individual users—they undermine the very foundation of Hive, eroding trust and poisoning the community. Such actions are unethical and outright destructive.
@buildawhale Wallet:
@usainvote Wallet:
@buildawhale/wallet | @usainvote/wallet
@ipromote Wallet:
Author Rewards: 2,181.16
Curation Rewards: 4,015.61
Staked HIVE (HP): 0.00
Rewards/Stake Co-efficient (KE): NaN
HIVE: 25,203.749
Staked HIVE (HP): 0.000
Delegated HIVE: 0.000
Estimated Account Value: $6,946.68
Recent Activity:
@leovoter Wallet:
Author Rewards: 194.75
Curation Rewards: 193.88
Staked HIVE (HP): 0.00
Rewards/Stake Co-efficient (KE): 388,632.00 (Suspiciously High)
HIVE: 0.000
Staked HIVE (HP): 0.001
Total: 16.551
Delegated HIVE: +16.550
Recent Activity:
@abide Wallet:
Recent Activity:
@proposalalert Wallet:
Recent Activity:
@stemgeeks Wallet:
Recent Activity:
@theycallmemarky Wallet:
Recent Activity:
@apeminingclub Wallet:
Recent Activity:
Scheduled unstake (power down): ~2.351 HIVE (in 4 days, remaining 7 weeks)
Total Staked HIVE: 1,292.019
Delegated HIVE: +1,261.508
Withdraw vesting from @apeminingclub to @blockheadgames 2.348 HIVE (10 days ago)
Claim rewards: 0.290 HP (10 days ago)
Salut !
Sympa de donner des nouvelles, un peu comme vous, je n'ai plus écrit depuis 2 ans je crois.
Là des querelles d'ego et des moralisateurs tels Hivewatchers détenteur d'une morale universelle qu'ils ne s'appliquent pas à eux-mêmes.
Je continue de lire le contenu publié sur le tag/fr bien que se réduisant de mois en mois.
Honnêtement, j'essaie de me tenir loin des querelles de ce genre. La vie est trop courte pour dépenser de l'énergie à cela. À l'époque, les discussions permettaient en général de résoudre les problèmes, mais les choses ont peut-être évoluées depuis. Je n'ai plus trop suivi.
En tous cas, ravi de te lire également, et de joyeuses fêtes à toi et aux tiens !
The good thing about writing when you feel like it is that there is no pressure, you do it for pleasure and necessity, for me it is like that.
The bad thing about the good is that science advances at a pace that it cannot keep up.
It's a good time to be alive and see the wonders of the universe.
greetings
Glad to see that you are still around too!
In fact, in my case it is more about deciding (firmly) to dedicate time to it, rather than any pressure at all. I have too many duties and tasks that could fit in a single day, and it is (as always) a matter of choosing which one I will place in the daily schedule.
Cheers!
Nice to "see" you again.
Virtually see at least ;)
Glad to see that you are okay and showed up to say hello! Merry Christmas!
Merry Xmas to you as well. I am still around, don't worry. Just in a stealthy inactive mode (but I can still be summoned, as you know ;) ).
Blogging takes much time, especially when you like to get the content right. Even more work and time when the usual suspects and a bunch of random people start to react 😆
As I hear from quite a few people, and also from my own experience with some of the co-workers at the office, the youngsters are quite different to the 'oldies'. Very much similar to what you mentioned. They seem to me expecting to own the whole world, but already 'tired' after a few hours of work iin a day. Expecting such is by far sufficient to play ball in the big leagues. Not saying that putting gazillion hours in work increases productivity and results, even in relative terms. Interesting to see how this works out in a few decades from now.
AI is something we shall embrace. Happy to read you incorporate this in guiding students. Stopping homework because of AI seems ridiculous to me. Wondering about the intentions of your co-teachers when doing so. Aren't they motivated to get the best out of their students? Anyways, you embrace it, and hopefully we get some quality peeps entering the 'market'.
The image, the one about the top quark pairs, is - almost - art! Of course, read the linked article and tried to understand it. I love to read about science, although I never really worked in science beyond the mid-90s, when I was working at the Dutch Research Laboratory (TNO). Since then, I decided to pursue a way more commercial track in business life. When I find the time, I plan to dig a but more into quarks... Well, I like to better understand quantum physics, since I believe this will dramatically change our world, in conjunction with AI. For a reason, we call this era, the 4th industrial revolution. Perhaps the most impactful revolution we embarked on. But time will tell.
Title and Coffee: Read in one of your reactions coffee takes an important role in your life. My question is: How do you make your coffee at home?
Thank you for your thoughtful comment. It is exactly what makes resurfacing here worthwhile, even if it is just a temporary thing. I could simply reply to your blog by saying that you are absolutely right and that I completely agree with everything you wrote. However, that would be too easy... I will then answer each item, keeping the best for last: the top quark pair artist view (though saying it is the best is very subjective).
Blogging takes time, and it can get even more hectic when people start reacting. I was initially unsure if anyone would react, but I was pleased to see some good old chaps popping in and writing me. Then, obviously, the time investment grows non-linearly, but that is also what makes it enjoyable. Otherwise, it would just be a monologue (and I am either too old or too young for that ;) ).
This being said, we need to be careful not to over-generalise. I have very good exceptions in mind, including one who I hope will become my next doctoral student. But yes, what I find at the university is quite spread deep within society, as you confirmed based on your own experience and others did too. Even at home, I sometimes have some 'hot' discussions with my own sons for these reasons. I do not know what triggered the change. COVID seems to be part of it, but it would be too easy to blame it alone. How this will play out in the long run is indeed an interesting question, possibly the only one.
I think every single formation should integrate AI in some form so that students can face it early and add it to their skill set. I understand my colleagues who decided that they did not want to mark homework AI-made. But somehow, they preferred to suppress them completely and replace them by quizzes or other in-class activities. I instead like to explore and try new things. Some work nicely, some fail, and I am constantly evolving in my practice. That is the only way to reach my goal that is to equip the next generation with all the tools it will need for their career. Current practices could also a good topic for a blog, as suggested in @katerinaramm's reply too.
And now, the funniest part! I am so glad you liked the toponium image. It is definitely the most exciting discovery at the Large Hadron Collider this year, in my opinion. Did you know that the very first blog about toponium was this one that I wrote on Hive exactly three years ago (so 2.5 years before any of the LHC announcements)? I also put together my own press release on the topic here, but it is in French. If I ever get around to writing a proper science blog, this is definitely the topic I would pick. Toponium physics now makes up about 60% of all my research. On a fun note, this also lets me start exploring completely new directions, including quantum information observables at particle colliders.
Anyway, it is about 4:00 PM, so time for a good coffee. I am drinking way too much (around five espressos a day), but I love it. It is a part of my daily routine (or ritual at this level). There is a great coffee merchant nearby roasting the beans and making some really nice selections. There are over thirty of them. I have not tried them all, but I have my five or six favourites (which I am grinding at home according to my daily needs) :-)
Thanks again for passing by!
WOW nice to see such an extensive response.
To prevent us from going ping-pong, I shall limit my response to yours... Not sure if I will succeed though 😆
Young generation: Not generalise ... 100% you are right. I should've added a disclaimer, that what I write is not meant for all individuals in a group. I can assure you I have some young colleagues who go more than the extra mile, who fight for change, who drive change even when they are not a recognised driver seats. I have much respect for them. Similar in my circles of friends and acquaintances; youngsters who understand the world is not for grabs, who do not think everything shall come easy to them, who don't just expect without any feeling for obligations whatsoever. Good point though!
AI: Interesting indeed for sure. Though I am not a teacher, also I like to read those blogs. Perhaps I can use your experiences to get my elderly colleagues to embrace AI. Just finished a podcast in which someone told Whisper (voice-2-text) hallucinates only 1% of the time. I am impressed about that number. Also, the word 'hallucination', the Dutch version of this word, was voted for the 'word-of-the-year'. Had to laugh quite a bit when I heard that 😆
Top Quark Pairs: thanks for the links, will for sure read them. Perhaps I'll investigate your blog channel a bit more, for more related content.
Coffee: You do things the way I do. Get the beans from a proper bean shop. Mine doesn't have so many, but they burn the beans themselves. Five or six different 'flavours'. Well, more like from different countries, hence different beans. I tend to like the Dark Cherry Chocolate one the most. Best to drink is when the coffee is room temperature, only then the full taste is available to my senses.
Thanks for your contribution to the STEMsocial community. Feel free to join us on discord to get to know the rest of us!
Please consider delegating to the @stemsocial account (85% of the curation rewards are returned).
Consider setting @stemsocial as a beneficiary of this post's rewards if you would like to support the community and contribute to its mission of promoting science and education on Hive.
Glad to see a little update from you and see that you're well ! :)
So very happy to see you here, @lemouth! A Christmas gift. I'm happy to hear you are well, and not surprised you give so much time to your students. I've always believed that burnout in certain professions--teaching and healthcare, for example--means you should find another career. With students, you only have so much time to make a difference in their lives, and as a teacher you can make a very great difference.
70 hours is too much, though. Takes a toll on the body.
I do miss your physics blogs. They made up for that class I skipped in high school. Whenever I read about new wrinkles in the field of dark matter, it makes sense to me, and I am interested. Thanks for that :)
I have no questions. Just really happy to see you here and know that you and your family are doing well.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, to you and the family.
AG
That's the judge that really matters to you. May you always look yourself in the mirror and see a man you respect.
Joyeux Noel!
Is good to meet you. I share the same love for science