Marathon day in Boston 👟

Before checking, I was expecting the route to take advantage of all those big waterfront roads and take the runners past a load of landmarks, but nope - just miles and miles of suburbia!

The album sleeve for "Parklife" by Blur, cover art featuring two greyhounds with muzzle cages running towards the camera during a dog race, is propped up behind an Audio-Technica "sound burger" record player playing a gold-coloured LP.

Now playing, while I try and knock off as much admin as possible: "Parklife" by Blur

#vinyl #nowplaying

Maybe one day I'll be walking along Huntington Ave and faintly hear a male voice choir singing "Rhyfelgyrch Gwŷr Harlech", and then the banner will be vindicated.

After 10 months in the Boston area, I still haven't come across the prominent Welsh diaspora community. Never say never, though.

A large blue welcome banner with the word for "welcome" translated into multiple global languages. One of which is, for some reason, Welsh.

Spotted in CHA Cambridge Hospital: one of these is not like the others! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

Here's a somewhat scummy thing that Claude does to keep you trapped in the platform: when you export a report to markdown or PDF, the reference hyperlinks aren't included!

There's no technical reason for this, just keeping people tied to the service. 😤

Musical direction for the sopranos: "(Blissfully unaware of threat)"

All-time great musical direction in Chichester Psalms

#Bernstein

2/2

I.e. instead of the current numbering system (which started in 2001), I've been given a brand new registration number using the 1963-1982 numbering scheme!

I'm also allowed to get an old-style silver-on-black plate too which is neat […]

A small blue convertible car overlooking a scenic ocean view.

I've just finished registering Blue (pictured) in the UK!

One interesting thing: for first-time registrations of imported classic cars, the DVLA gives you a period-correct plate number. 1/2

He's got to break out the Furby organ, surely

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GYLBjScgb7o

WHAT

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/TLOcas01wGc

RE: https://fedi.lukejohns.online/@luke/116133854641269249

My therapist: the Art Nouveau cricket angel isn't real, it can't hurt you.

The Art Nouveau cricket angel:

Although the actual website is depressingly normal. My challenge to this cricket academy is to redesign their site to be just as outlandish.

#worksinprogress

An elaborate, black and white Art Nouveau line drawing of an apparently floating man with flowing black hair. His right arm is stretched to the right and he is looking past his right fingers. He is wearing fantasy mediaeval/Byzantine clothing including a large cloak, but also cricket pads. He holds a cricket bat in his left hand, resting on his left shoulder and behind his head to point also towards his right. The heavily stylised words "Rajasthan Royals" are written vertically down the length of the image on the left side.

Like this ad for the Rajasthan Royals Cricket Academy in the most recent issue. It doesn't need to go this hard!

Print - Works in Progress Magazine

One of my favourite little things about the print edition of Works In Progress magazine (you should subscribe! https://worksinprogress.co/print/ is the absurd effort put into a lot of the advert pages.

RE: https://fedi.lukejohns.online/@luke/116103463962508725

Self-quoting this new pose for all the Frankie fans out there!

#catsofmastodon

Today's hearty dishonourable mention goes to Windows 11, which has decided to restart overnight and interrupt an analysis that takes 36 hours... two nights in a row!

Don't worry, Microsoft, it's not as if I have an abstract due this week or anything 🙃

If you live or work in Vancouver, you can join OneCity for $1 to vote in the progressive primary, today only.

www.onecityvancouver.ca/jointheprogr...

Love to watch Frankie dreaming and/or getting possessed

#catsofmastodon

Of course as a clueless Brit I had no idea what was going on in the show but props to the Starlite Lounge on Inman for the fun vibes 🪩

We ended up in a place last night where they were explicitly only showing the Super Bowl for the half time show (they even had a "Benito Bowl" special menu!). Given how the actual football went it was probably the best place to be in Boston!

#superbowl #badbunny

Oh wait, it's Bandcamp Friday? I've got one of them!

https://lukejohns.bandcamp.com/album/bits-peaces

#BandcampFriday

I was impressed with all of the snow clearing here immediately after last weekend but after two days it seemed like cities just... gave up?

#boston

RE: https://fedi.lukejohns.online/@luke/115962649531602076

Here's a writeup from #UBC Orthopaedics:

orthopaedics.med.ubc.ca/luke-johnsons-research-a...

The Arthritis Society’s support was invaluable during my PhD, and this recognition will help to put Perthes’ disease, an often-overlooked orthopaedic condition, on the map.

Link to the full #openaccess paper here: www.oarsiopenjournal.com/article/S2665-9131(25)00... […]

## _Canadian research breakthroughs deliver earlier diagnoses and more effective treatments with the power to change lives_ **January 26, 2026 (TORONTO)** – Arthritis Society Canada announced its Top 10 Research Advances of 2025 today, highlighting discoveries that are advancing how arthritis is diagnosed, treated and prevented. Made possible through the generosity of donors and supporters, these defining studies are accelerating progress toward better outcomes for more than 6 million Canadians living with arthritis, and the millions more at risk. “These discoveries represent innovation in action,” said Dr. Siân Bevan, Chief Science Officer at Arthritis Society Canada. “Thanks to the commitment of our donors and researchers, we are transforming these discoveries into real-world improvements for people living with arthritis – from children needing earlier treatment to women facing increased health risks beyond joint health.” ## Earlier treatment, better outcomes for children with arthritis For children with non-systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), starting biologic medication earlier can significantly improve treatment success, according to research led by Dr. Susanne Benseler at the University of Calgary, and Dr. Rae Yeung from The Hospital for Sick Children, as part of the UCAN CAN-DU and UCAN CURE consortia. The study found that 83% of children who began biologics within 6 months of their initial symptoms achieved inactive disease, compared to 57% of those who waited 13 to 24 months. With each month of delay, the odds of still having active arthritis increased by a relative 9%. These findings reveal a critical window of opportunity for early intervention and could help doctors make more informed decisions about when to initiate biologic therapy, improving the long-term outcomes for children with arthritis. This study marks a critical step towards a cure for childhood arthritis. ## Connecting osteoarthritis and heart disease in women Women with osteoarthritis (OA) face a substantially greater risk of developing cardiovascular disease, according to new research by Dr. Anthony Perruccio from the Schroeder Arthritis Institute at University Health Network. The study found that women with OA had a 90% higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease within six years, compared to women of the same age without OA. By identifying OA as a potential risk marker for cardiovascular disease in women, this research underscores the importance of earlier risk identification and aims to prevent cardiovascular disease and associated deaths in women with OA. “Systemic inflammation may be a key link between osteoarthritis and cardiovascular disease in women,” said Dr. Anthony Perruccio. “Recognizing and addressing this risk earlier could open the door to better prevention strategies and improved long-term health for women living with OA.” ## A pain-free future on the horizon Last year Arthritis Society Canada invested $7 million to drive innovative research aimed at improving arthritis care and reducing pain. From identifying critical windows for early treatment to uncovering new disease connections and potential drug targets, research advances from the past year are deepening our understanding of arthritis and bringing us closer to more personalized, effective therapies. See the full list of **Top 10 Research Advances of 2025**. ### About Arthritis Society Canada Arthritis Society Canada represents the six million people in Canada living with arthritis today, and the millions more who are impacted or at risk. Fueled by the trust and support of our donors and volunteers, Arthritis Society Canada is fighting arthritis with research, advocacy, innovation, information and support. We are Canada’s largest charitable funder of cutting-edge arthritis research. We will not give up our efforts until everyone is free from the agony of arthritis. Arthritis Society Canada is accredited under Imagine Canada’s Standards Program. For more information, visit arthritis.ca. **Media Contact:** Jenny Ng Senior Manager, Communications and Public Relations [email protected] 416-455-1182

It is a great honour for my paper on cartilage health after Perthes’ disease to be selected by Arthritis Society Canada as one of their top 10 research advances of 2025!

arthritis.ca/about-us/news-stories/ar...

In 2020, Vancouver Council voted to protect kids by making 30 km/h zones all day around schools. All the city had to do was swap out the old signs.

Nearly six years later, they're still not done.

Drop pictures of old 8-5 signs in the replies, so we can show council that they need to step it up!

Mr Burns puts up a sign in Homer's office: "Don't forget: you're here forever"

Parts of the sign have been covered with pictures of Ms Rosalind Aretha Franklin, a tuxedo cat, so it reads "Do it for her"

Bonus Frankie content

#catsofmastodon

A sketch portrait of Ms Rosalind Aretha Franklin, a tuxedo cat

Had to keep my eyes off the news for a bit so I drew Frankie

#catsofmastodon

@grids.reillywood.com

Honestly my first thought was that it could be a really nice mini workshop with plenty of natural light!

Somewhere to quarantine my mess from the rest of the apartment 😅