Matt Ballantine
@ballantine70.bsky.social
Sociologist. Musician. Technologist. Dad.
Current side project: randomthebook.com
Current side project: randomthebook.com
Some #weeknotes at the end of a very sociable week...
mmitii.mattballantine.com/2025/12/12/w...
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mmitii.mattballantine.com/2025/12/12/w...
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Weeknote 760: Socialised
This week I have learned: It’s so nice to catch up with people. I’ve had half a dozen events this week, catching up with friends, colleagues and some of those folk who are both. I’…
mmitii.mattballantine.com
December 12, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Some #weeknotes at the end of a very sociable week...
mmitii.mattballantine.com/2025/12/12/w...
@weeknotes-bot.bsky.social
mmitii.mattballantine.com/2025/12/12/w...
@weeknotes-bot.bsky.social
Another window opens on Random the Advent Calendar experiments.randomthebook.com/adventcalend...
Today's window is number 2, and it comes with a free snowflake simulator!
Today's window is number 2, and it comes with a free snowflake simulator!
December 7, 2025 at 8:15 AM
Another window opens on Random the Advent Calendar experiments.randomthebook.com/adventcalend...
Today's window is number 2, and it comes with a free snowflake simulator!
Today's window is number 2, and it comes with a free snowflake simulator!
Here's a thing that @sonofsuntzu.bsky.social and I made.
Pre-orders open soon.
More details at randomthebook.com
Pre-orders open soon.
More details at randomthebook.com
December 6, 2025 at 5:47 PM
Here's a thing that @sonofsuntzu.bsky.social and I made.
Pre-orders open soon.
More details at randomthebook.com
Pre-orders open soon.
More details at randomthebook.com
A very fun week. Here are the #weeknotes
mmitii.mattballantine.com/2025/12/05/w...
@weeknotes-bot.bsky.social
mmitii.mattballantine.com/2025/12/05/w...
@weeknotes-bot.bsky.social
Weeknote 759: PM
This week I have learned: it was a wonderful experience to be able to talk about something important on BBC Radio 4’s PM programme this week. I wrote a piece about the value of jury service a…
mmitii.mattballantine.com
December 5, 2025 at 2:38 PM
A very fun week. Here are the #weeknotes
mmitii.mattballantine.com/2025/12/05/w...
@weeknotes-bot.bsky.social
mmitii.mattballantine.com/2025/12/05/w...
@weeknotes-bot.bsky.social
Day 2 of Random the Advent Calendar, and we open window 11... experiments.randomthebook.com/adventcalend...
If you squint, 11 is 2 in Roman numerals. These kinds of coincidences are what happens when you really get into randomness.
Anyway, today we explore why we stick cash into Christmas Puds!
If you squint, 11 is 2 in Roman numerals. These kinds of coincidences are what happens when you really get into randomness.
Anyway, today we explore why we stick cash into Christmas Puds!
December 3, 2025 at 8:01 AM
Day 2 of Random the Advent Calendar, and we open window 11... experiments.randomthebook.com/adventcalend...
If you squint, 11 is 2 in Roman numerals. These kinds of coincidences are what happens when you really get into randomness.
Anyway, today we explore why we stick cash into Christmas Puds!
If you squint, 11 is 2 in Roman numerals. These kinds of coincidences are what happens when you really get into randomness.
Anyway, today we explore why we stick cash into Christmas Puds!
From Monday the windows of Random the Advent Calendar will be opening in, obviously, a random order.
Get ready for tales of chance and serendipity that happen at Christmas...
experiments.randomthebook.com/adventcalend...
Get ready for tales of chance and serendipity that happen at Christmas...
experiments.randomthebook.com/adventcalend...
Random the Advent Calendar
experiments.randomthebook.com
November 29, 2025 at 9:43 AM
From Monday the windows of Random the Advent Calendar will be opening in, obviously, a random order.
Get ready for tales of chance and serendipity that happen at Christmas...
experiments.randomthebook.com/adventcalend...
Get ready for tales of chance and serendipity that happen at Christmas...
experiments.randomthebook.com/adventcalend...
@cbgb72.bsky.social NOTE:
Another submission to reopen this thread: Bentley Rhythm Ace.
I've got a 7pm submission deadline, so of course I'm messing around here until it's so time critical it actually just gets done (journalists are a weird bunch). So...
Name a band where their one good song is truly excellent but everything else they do is just, well, not.
Mansun - Wide Open Space
Name a band where their one good song is truly excellent but everything else they do is just, well, not.
Mansun - Wide Open Space
November 27, 2025 at 10:18 PM
@cbgb72.bsky.social NOTE:
Blaming increased racism on migration is itself racist. It places the blame on some of the victims.
November 18, 2025 at 11:43 AM
Blaming increased racism on migration is itself racist. It places the blame on some of the victims.
Interesting observation from one of my dinner guests last night: how baby British people can accurately draw the British flag?
It's not like it's got complicated animals on it. Yet I'd bet most people can't.
We are a very strange nation. All these ideas of patriotism, and yet...
It's not like it's got complicated animals on it. Yet I'd bet most people can't.
We are a very strange nation. All these ideas of patriotism, and yet...
November 16, 2025 at 12:36 PM
Interesting observation from one of my dinner guests last night: how baby British people can accurately draw the British flag?
It's not like it's got complicated animals on it. Yet I'd bet most people can't.
We are a very strange nation. All these ideas of patriotism, and yet...
It's not like it's got complicated animals on it. Yet I'd bet most people can't.
We are a very strange nation. All these ideas of patriotism, and yet...
Is Labour trying to follow the Conservatives into oblivion by right-winging itself?
I cannot think of a way that this strategy makes sense electorally.
I cannot think of a way that this strategy makes sense electorally.
November 16, 2025 at 12:05 PM
Is Labour trying to follow the Conservatives into oblivion by right-winging itself?
I cannot think of a way that this strategy makes sense electorally.
I cannot think of a way that this strategy makes sense electorally.
Well the first version of RandomTheBook.com is now with our proofreader...
Given our deadline is still 3 weeks away, I think this amounts to "ahead of schedule". Well done to @sonofsuntzu.bsky.social and me!
Given our deadline is still 3 weeks away, I think this amounts to "ahead of schedule". Well done to @sonofsuntzu.bsky.social and me!
Random the Book
Matt Ballantine and Nick Drage's experiment in serendipity and chance.
RandomTheBook.com
November 9, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Well the first version of RandomTheBook.com is now with our proofreader...
Given our deadline is still 3 weeks away, I think this amounts to "ahead of schedule". Well done to @sonofsuntzu.bsky.social and me!
Given our deadline is still 3 weeks away, I think this amounts to "ahead of schedule". Well done to @sonofsuntzu.bsky.social and me!
An odd week, but at least there was cake.
hweeknotesitii.mattballantine.com/2025/11/07/weeknote-755-still-waiting/
#weeknotes
@weeknotes-bot.bsky.social
hweeknotesitii.mattballantine.com/2025/11/07/weeknote-755-still-waiting/
#weeknotes
@weeknotes-bot.bsky.social
Weeknote 755: still waiting
This week I have learned: the surprisingly life-affirming experience that was Jury Service. that spending a week with barristers gets you into a different mindset when it comes to assessing what pe…
mmitii.mattballantine.com
November 7, 2025 at 3:13 PM
An odd week, but at least there was cake.
hweeknotesitii.mattballantine.com/2025/11/07/weeknote-755-still-waiting/
#weeknotes
@weeknotes-bot.bsky.social
hweeknotesitii.mattballantine.com/2025/11/07/weeknote-755-still-waiting/
#weeknotes
@weeknotes-bot.bsky.social
Reposted by Matt Ballantine
Which one is more English?
November 6, 2025 at 11:58 AM
Which one is more English?
This is not normally what's involved in being detained at His Majesty's pleasure.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Andrew in line for six-figure payout and annual stipend from king, sources say
The former prince remains under scrutiny as Buckingham Palace finalises plans for his future as a commoner
www.theguardian.com
November 1, 2025 at 10:12 AM
This is not normally what's involved in being detained at His Majesty's pleasure.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
A week in which, for one reason or another, there's been lots of waiting. #weeknotes
mmitii.mattballantine.com/2025/10/31/w...
@weeknotes-bot.bsky.social
mmitii.mattballantine.com/2025/10/31/w...
@weeknotes-bot.bsky.social
Weeknote 754: waiting
Things I have learned this week: I’ve been (separately) experiencing aspects of both the health system and the judicial system this week. Both involved extensive periods of waiting with littl…
mmitii.mattballantine.com
October 31, 2025 at 10:52 AM
A week in which, for one reason or another, there's been lots of waiting. #weeknotes
mmitii.mattballantine.com/2025/10/31/w...
@weeknotes-bot.bsky.social
mmitii.mattballantine.com/2025/10/31/w...
@weeknotes-bot.bsky.social
Tell you what. That Andy Windsor bloke seems to be losing an awful lot of stuff given he maintains he didn't do anything wrong...
October 31, 2025 at 7:45 AM
Tell you what. That Andy Windsor bloke seems to be losing an awful lot of stuff given he maintains he didn't do anything wrong...
The format of the book about Randomness that @sonofsuntzu.bsky.social and I are writing forces readers to do some work.
It's slightly depressing how many people are mildly horrified by that idea. That somehow books should be frictionless insight devices.
Randomthebook.com
It's slightly depressing how many people are mildly horrified by that idea. That somehow books should be frictionless insight devices.
Randomthebook.com
Random the Book
Matt Ballantine and Nick Drage's experiment in serendipity and chance.
Randomthebook.com
October 27, 2025 at 7:37 AM
The format of the book about Randomness that @sonofsuntzu.bsky.social and I are writing forces readers to do some work.
It's slightly depressing how many people are mildly horrified by that idea. That somehow books should be frictionless insight devices.
Randomthebook.com
It's slightly depressing how many people are mildly horrified by that idea. That somehow books should be frictionless insight devices.
Randomthebook.com
I think sometimes it needs reiterating that the Neural Networks used by computers are metaphorical Neural Networks, and not actual biological ones.
October 17, 2025 at 8:13 AM
I think sometimes it needs reiterating that the Neural Networks used by computers are metaphorical Neural Networks, and not actual biological ones.