Alasdair Swanson
@alasdairswanson.bsky.social
No interpersonal skills.
Films, birds, books, science and so on. Socialist, atheist, AuDHD, guitar botherer. Officially not psychotic, will probably blame Thatcher, may post pictures of cats.
Laminated with Clarifoil™
Films, birds, books, science and so on. Socialist, atheist, AuDHD, guitar botherer. Officially not psychotic, will probably blame Thatcher, may post pictures of cats.
Laminated with Clarifoil™
Pinned
Now that I'm in my 50s I realise that most conversations I have are a variation on
Them: Just be yourself
Me: OK [is self]
Them: Not like that
Them: Just be yourself
Me: OK [is self]
Them: Not like that
Added to book list. I'd also recommend looking up @moviessilently.bsky.social who is a huge champion of early movie history
Peggy Pearce plays opposite Chaplin in His Favorite Pastime. Not everyone had the career of Mabel Normand, so it's fun (for me, anyway) to have to hand a mammoth book like Slapstick Divas (Steve Massa), 600+ pages which seeks to recognise the contributions of as many women as possible to early film.
November 20, 2025 at 9:47 AM
Added to book list. I'd also recommend looking up @moviessilently.bsky.social who is a huge champion of early movie history
This is one of the two reasons I don't have any streaming services*, the other being cost.
* except Amazon Prime which I have because I use it for free delivery a lot but there's not much I want to watch on that
* except Amazon Prime which I have because I use it for free delivery a lot but there's not much I want to watch on that
What I always notice is that classic cinema and old movies are almost never on the Big Name Streamers now. Just turning up on the curated schedules on the terrestrial services, or behind studio paywalls.
If someone picks a movie for Comfort Blanket these days, it’s usually a matter of buying it.
If someone picks a movie for Comfort Blanket these days, it’s usually a matter of buying it.
November 20, 2025 at 9:29 AM
This is one of the two reasons I don't have any streaming services*, the other being cost.
* except Amazon Prime which I have because I use it for free delivery a lot but there's not much I want to watch on that
* except Amazon Prime which I have because I use it for free delivery a lot but there's not much I want to watch on that
If I may be allowed a personal moment, today is my son's 29th birthday. He has been in Japan for nearly 5 years and I miss him every day. I am also very proud of him every day.
November 20, 2025 at 9:27 AM
If I may be allowed a personal moment, today is my son's 29th birthday. He has been in Japan for nearly 5 years and I miss him every day. I am also very proud of him every day.
Reposted by Alasdair Swanson
always be there
November 19, 2025 at 4:00 PM
always be there
This is brilliant!
November 18, 2025 at 9:12 PM
This is brilliant!
I think I had an early beta-test version of that.
November 18, 2025 at 8:48 PM
I think I had an early beta-test version of that.
Something reminded me of Thomas Dolby today so here he is duetting with Adele Bertei on Whistle Test.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQ3b...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQ3b...
Thomas Dolby - Hyperactive (Live on BBC's Old Grey Whistle Test) [HD Version]
YouTube video by Thomas Dolby Official
www.youtube.com
November 18, 2025 at 12:58 PM
Something reminded me of Thomas Dolby today so here he is duetting with Adele Bertei on Whistle Test.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQ3b...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQ3b...
I *only* overshare. I know it's bad. ButI do it anyway #ThanksBrain
Do you ever find yourself oversharing with complete strangers in social settings?
#AskingAutistics #ActuallyAutistic #AuDHD
image: unknown
#AskingAutistics #ActuallyAutistic #AuDHD
image: unknown
November 18, 2025 at 12:51 PM
I *only* overshare. I know it's bad. ButI do it anyway #ThanksBrain
Reposted by Alasdair Swanson
#3157 A helpful tutorial
November 17, 2025 at 11:40 PM
#3157 A helpful tutorial
Reposted by Alasdair Swanson
'Face of the Moon.' (1797) John Russell was the finest British pastel artist of his time. One of his sitters, the astronomer William Herschel encouraged him to buy a telescope, and with this he produced a number of remarkable pastel drawings of the moon.
November 17, 2025 at 10:14 PM
'Face of the Moon.' (1797) John Russell was the finest British pastel artist of his time. One of his sitters, the astronomer William Herschel encouraged him to buy a telescope, and with this he produced a number of remarkable pastel drawings of the moon.
I love all Miyazaki's work but this moment in Kiki's Delivery Service is utterly pure distilled joy.
November 17, 2025 at 10:21 PM
I love all Miyazaki's work but this moment in Kiki's Delivery Service is utterly pure distilled joy.
Reposted by Alasdair Swanson
More Black Guardian Trilogy - Part 6! Enlightenment, TC1, 16-18th January 1983 (designer Colin Green) #DoctorWho #CGSets
After strike action in November, a planned Dalek story was axed to allow Enlightenment to use its studio. 1/6
After strike action in November, a planned Dalek story was axed to allow Enlightenment to use its studio. 1/6
December 3, 2024 at 7:53 PM
More Black Guardian Trilogy - Part 6! Enlightenment, TC1, 16-18th January 1983 (designer Colin Green) #DoctorWho #CGSets
After strike action in November, a planned Dalek story was axed to allow Enlightenment to use its studio. 1/6
After strike action in November, a planned Dalek story was axed to allow Enlightenment to use its studio. 1/6
A solution to my broken Lord of the Rings Cassette has been found.
November 17, 2025 at 5:28 PM
A solution to my broken Lord of the Rings Cassette has been found.
Reposted by Alasdair Swanson
My favourite thing about that era was the car that you could "win" on 3-2-1.
It was a year's free rental of the car, after which you either bought it off YTV at market rates or handed it back to them, to stay within IBA prize rules.
It was a year's free rental of the car, after which you either bought it off YTV at market rates or handed it back to them, to stay within IBA prize rules.
November 17, 2025 at 4:01 PM
My favourite thing about that era was the car that you could "win" on 3-2-1.
It was a year's free rental of the car, after which you either bought it off YTV at market rates or handed it back to them, to stay within IBA prize rules.
It was a year's free rental of the car, after which you either bought it off YTV at market rates or handed it back to them, to stay within IBA prize rules.
Reposted by Alasdair Swanson
The Duke of Wellington’s cone has been replaced by a pigeon wearing a tiny cone reading a newspaper.
Scots will understand this fun nonsense 🤣
Scots will understand this fun nonsense 🤣
November 17, 2025 at 3:17 PM
The Duke of Wellington’s cone has been replaced by a pigeon wearing a tiny cone reading a newspaper.
Scots will understand this fun nonsense 🤣
Scots will understand this fun nonsense 🤣
I am stealing this graphic
November 17, 2025 at 5:01 PM
I am stealing this graphic
Laughton later reprised his role, apparently on purpose, in "Abbott and Costello meet Captain Kidd" in 1952.
Swashbuckling adventures with #CharlesLaughton #RandolphScott #BarbaraBritton in...
⛴️ CAPTAIN KIDD (1945) 3:45pm #TPTVsubtitles Our ☕ brew and 🍪 biccies matinee!
⛴️ CAPTAIN KIDD (1945) 3:45pm #TPTVsubtitles Our ☕ brew and 🍪 biccies matinee!
November 17, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Laughton later reprised his role, apparently on purpose, in "Abbott and Costello meet Captain Kidd" in 1952.
I assume they'll be entirely redacted except for the words "Clinton" and "Obama" (possibly written in sharpie)
November 17, 2025 at 10:14 AM
I assume they'll be entirely redacted except for the words "Clinton" and "Obama" (possibly written in sharpie)
Reposted by Alasdair Swanson
'Rain on Princes Street,' is one of a small number of Fururist pictures Stanley Cursiter painted in 1913 which capture the sensation of modern life: people, colours, objects, and sounds - these works brought him major critical attention at home.
November 17, 2025 at 7:43 AM
'Rain on Princes Street,' is one of a small number of Fururist pictures Stanley Cursiter painted in 1913 which capture the sensation of modern life: people, colours, objects, and sounds - these works brought him major critical attention at home.
Reposted by Alasdair Swanson
Jupiter again. I love it when the big moons all spread out like this. Can't get my head around how fast they move.
November 16, 2025 at 11:21 PM
Jupiter again. I love it when the big moons all spread out like this. Can't get my head around how fast they move.
Me: the nice thing about physical media is you're not beholden to the vagaries of streaming services for your Sunday afternoon classics.
Also me:
Also me:
November 16, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Me: the nice thing about physical media is you're not beholden to the vagaries of streaming services for your Sunday afternoon classics.
Also me:
Also me:
Eric Idle has long refused to release or even much discuss RWT. He says it reminds him of a bad time in his life but it may also be that on viewing it you realise he's the least memorable performer in it.
From @ericidle.bsky.social & Neil Innes' brilliant & criminally overlooked/unavailable RUTLAND WEEKEND TELEVISION, here's a truncated glimpse of George Harrison's Christmas 1975 guest appearance runner, where he didn't want to perform a song - He really just wanted to play a pirate...
November 16, 2025 at 9:15 AM
Eric Idle has long refused to release or even much discuss RWT. He says it reminds him of a bad time in his life but it may also be that on viewing it you realise he's the least memorable performer in it.
Reposted by Alasdair Swanson
Reposted by Alasdair Swanson
Just misread a headline about Andrew and Sarah Ferguson’s children as “Beatrice and Eugenics” and thought that family is so dark.
November 15, 2025 at 10:06 AM
Just misread a headline about Andrew and Sarah Ferguson’s children as “Beatrice and Eugenics” and thought that family is so dark.
Watching Tron for a bit this morning (I only have an hour) and realising yet again how utterly beautiful it is. I particularly love how colourful the real world is compared to the more limited palette of the computer world and Dillinger's office.
Shot on 70mm, baby!
Shot on 70mm, baby!
November 15, 2025 at 10:01 AM
Watching Tron for a bit this morning (I only have an hour) and realising yet again how utterly beautiful it is. I particularly love how colourful the real world is compared to the more limited palette of the computer world and Dillinger's office.
Shot on 70mm, baby!
Shot on 70mm, baby!