Graeme Macdonald
@gmacdonald.bsky.social
Literature Energy Environment Climate stuff @University of Warwick. Glasgow Dweller. Yes, they are quite far apart.
I’ve been listening to #r4today for 1 hour. I’ve heard the veneration of Shakespeare (again); Michael Gove on Roger Scruton; some coded trans bashing (again, usual names involved); immigration as the cause of economic inequality. A discussion on how to repair division recommended more high culture.
November 12, 2025 at 9:06 AM
I’ve been listening to #r4today for 1 hour. I’ve heard the veneration of Shakespeare (again); Michael Gove on Roger Scruton; some coded trans bashing (again, usual names involved); immigration as the cause of economic inequality. A discussion on how to repair division recommended more high culture.
#wato, so amidst all the defending the bbc against accusations of its left bias, an item where a formal general argues for military impunity, followed by Laffer himself arguing for tax cuts! Without an opposing view. God, they make it hard to defend them…..
November 11, 2025 at 1:41 PM
#wato, so amidst all the defending the bbc against accusations of its left bias, an item where a formal general argues for military impunity, followed by Laffer himself arguing for tax cuts! Without an opposing view. God, they make it hard to defend them…..
The gallbladdering numbnuts who complain of the BBC’s bias while lauding GBNEWS et al. The BBC are as left wing as John Major. And still they howl. Man, it’s a big slide this new popular fash….they won’t be happy until the news is read every night from a Spitfire.
November 10, 2025 at 4:15 PM
The gallbladdering numbnuts who complain of the BBC’s bias while lauding GBNEWS et al. The BBC are as left wing as John Major. And still they howl. Man, it’s a big slide this new popular fash….they won’t be happy until the news is read every night from a Spitfire.
I am going to get Glasgow City Council to make a formal bid to control this constellation. I mean weegies *controlling* the Sun. Imagine.
November 3, 2025 at 9:27 PM
I am going to get Glasgow City Council to make a formal bid to control this constellation. I mean weegies *controlling* the Sun. Imagine.
"It is advising passengers not to travel to or from destinations on the line north of Preston."
This line is the kind of statement that drives me crazy. What, are those of us with train tickets and houses "north of Preston" just to wander nomadically around the south of the country until the fix?
This line is the kind of statement that drives me crazy. What, are those of us with train tickets and houses "north of Preston" just to wander nomadically around the south of the country until the fix?
November 3, 2025 at 4:16 PM
"It is advising passengers not to travel to or from destinations on the line north of Preston."
This line is the kind of statement that drives me crazy. What, are those of us with train tickets and houses "north of Preston" just to wander nomadically around the south of the country until the fix?
This line is the kind of statement that drives me crazy. What, are those of us with train tickets and houses "north of Preston" just to wander nomadically around the south of the country until the fix?
Reposted by Graeme Macdonald
If any journalists would like a copy of Electric Wind: An Energy History of Modern Britain to review, please get in touch w me /MUP. It's a rigorous history of wind energy written for a wide audience, with plenty to say about today's energy challenges. manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk/9781526182968/
Manchester University Press - Electric wind
Electric wind - Browse and buy the Paperback edition of Electric wind by Marianna Dudley
manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk
November 3, 2025 at 3:03 PM
If any journalists would like a copy of Electric Wind: An Energy History of Modern Britain to review, please get in touch w me /MUP. It's a rigorous history of wind energy written for a wide audience, with plenty to say about today's energy challenges. manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk/9781526182968/
Gotta take my hat off to British alertness to potential issues in digital culture, as I receive a message from kid's school saying 'hey be aware there are child settings in Minecraft and Roblox!'
Like, a decade or so after the event. What next? 'Hey, there are these mobile phone things, right...'
Like, a decade or so after the event. What next? 'Hey, there are these mobile phone things, right...'
October 21, 2025 at 8:07 AM
Gotta take my hat off to British alertness to potential issues in digital culture, as I receive a message from kid's school saying 'hey be aware there are child settings in Minecraft and Roblox!'
Like, a decade or so after the event. What next? 'Hey, there are these mobile phone things, right...'
Like, a decade or so after the event. What next? 'Hey, there are these mobile phone things, right...'
As I shoot you, please know I shall return to not shooting you after I have shot you.
October 19, 2025 at 7:52 PM
As I shoot you, please know I shall return to not shooting you after I have shot you.
What's amusing, from Scotland, about the current discourse on here re Burnham's Prince-over-the-canal manoeuvres is the North-South, London-Manchester fretting and flyting.
"Man from INVERNESS pitches bid to be FIRST MINISTER!!" just doesn't have the same torque. Like, get over it.
"Man from INVERNESS pitches bid to be FIRST MINISTER!!" just doesn't have the same torque. Like, get over it.
September 25, 2025 at 10:11 AM
What's amusing, from Scotland, about the current discourse on here re Burnham's Prince-over-the-canal manoeuvres is the North-South, London-Manchester fretting and flyting.
"Man from INVERNESS pitches bid to be FIRST MINISTER!!" just doesn't have the same torque. Like, get over it.
"Man from INVERNESS pitches bid to be FIRST MINISTER!!" just doesn't have the same torque. Like, get over it.
the shit that floods the zone is pretty endless, gotta say.....
September 23, 2025 at 4:24 PM
the shit that floods the zone is pretty endless, gotta say.....
Reposted by Graeme Macdonald
An actual quote from the Secretary of State for Business and Trade
Too often people go to university to ‘explore research and knowledge’
Look forward to Wes S saying 'too often people go to hospital to have operations' or Heidi Alexander saying 'too often people go to the station to catch a train'
Too often people go to university to ‘explore research and knowledge’
Look forward to Wes S saying 'too often people go to hospital to have operations' or Heidi Alexander saying 'too often people go to the station to catch a train'
September 19, 2025 at 10:25 AM
An actual quote from the Secretary of State for Business and Trade
Too often people go to university to ‘explore research and knowledge’
Look forward to Wes S saying 'too often people go to hospital to have operations' or Heidi Alexander saying 'too often people go to the station to catch a train'
Too often people go to university to ‘explore research and knowledge’
Look forward to Wes S saying 'too often people go to hospital to have operations' or Heidi Alexander saying 'too often people go to the station to catch a train'
Will 'Migrant Deportation Watch' replace 'Spring Watch' in the nation's captivated hearts?
truly deranged stuff going on here
truly deranged stuff going on here
September 19, 2025 at 6:50 AM
Will 'Migrant Deportation Watch' replace 'Spring Watch' in the nation's captivated hearts?
truly deranged stuff going on here
truly deranged stuff going on here
We are now at the stage where the BBC - THE BBC - is reporting 'a second migrant is being removed back to France.' Accompanied by photograph of the plane. This is a sign of media derangement and tells you all about how this issue reached such levels of toxicity.
September 19, 2025 at 6:44 AM
We are now at the stage where the BBC - THE BBC - is reporting 'a second migrant is being removed back to France.' Accompanied by photograph of the plane. This is a sign of media derangement and tells you all about how this issue reached such levels of toxicity.
Reposted by Graeme Macdonald
We can build a people's railway for the 21st century 🛤️
September 12, 2025 at 10:10 AM
We can build a people's railway for the 21st century 🛤️
The word “civil” doing a lot of heavy lifting rn. A reminder: you can be “civil” in delivery, in tone, style, comportment. What matters is the ‘civility’ of content. To emphasise the civility of the former at the cost of focus on the latter - esp. when it is extreme - is political. And strategic.
September 12, 2025 at 8:00 AM
The word “civil” doing a lot of heavy lifting rn. A reminder: you can be “civil” in delivery, in tone, style, comportment. What matters is the ‘civility’ of content. To emphasise the civility of the former at the cost of focus on the latter - esp. when it is extreme - is political. And strategic.
If the BBC wants to push a neutral reporting line that Kirk was a free speech warrior, fine. But we should hear more *actual quotations* from the range of extreme views of Kirk - because they were extreme. The summaries given are not representative. #r4today
September 11, 2025 at 7:36 AM
If the BBC wants to push a neutral reporting line that Kirk was a free speech warrior, fine. But we should hear more *actual quotations* from the range of extreme views of Kirk - because they were extreme. The summaries given are not representative. #r4today
"Speaking to the You Tube channel Harry Cole Saves the West"
News. 2025.
News. 2025.
September 10, 2025 at 9:04 AM
"Speaking to the You Tube channel Harry Cole Saves the West"
News. 2025.
News. 2025.
This (once) astonishing story signals the extent to which the far right fascist culture of organised violence has been fostered, emboldened and extended by MAGA politics. Disgusting and frightening. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Anti-Islamic US biker gang members run security at deadly Gaza aid sites
BBC identifies members of Infidels MC gang hired as armed security at US and Israel-backed aid sites.
www.bbc.co.uk
September 10, 2025 at 8:33 AM
This (once) astonishing story signals the extent to which the far right fascist culture of organised violence has been fostered, emboldened and extended by MAGA politics. Disgusting and frightening. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
I know that this is niche Scottish cultural politics, Bluesky, but someone smart needs to write an essay on “The Jim Spencification Effect.” Mr Common Sense Man is here to tell you he is the one true source of left wing values by espousing very right wing ones.
What a walloper.
Niche post ends.
What a walloper.
Niche post ends.
September 8, 2025 at 5:43 PM
I know that this is niche Scottish cultural politics, Bluesky, but someone smart needs to write an essay on “The Jim Spencification Effect.” Mr Common Sense Man is here to tell you he is the one true source of left wing values by espousing very right wing ones.
What a walloper.
Niche post ends.
What a walloper.
Niche post ends.
#wato why does no-one mention the responsibility of social media companies to moderate hate speech and extreme content? They retreated from it, to farm extreme speech for profit….and they sit there benefitting from the chaos it has produced.
September 3, 2025 at 12:34 PM
#wato why does no-one mention the responsibility of social media companies to moderate hate speech and extreme content? They retreated from it, to farm extreme speech for profit….and they sit there benefitting from the chaos it has produced.
How long have you sat in front of your Union Jack today?
[...]
Admit it, you could have spent *just* a little longer, right?
Do Better.
[...]
Admit it, you could have spent *just* a little longer, right?
Do Better.
September 2, 2025 at 10:40 AM
How long have you sat in front of your Union Jack today?
[...]
Admit it, you could have spent *just* a little longer, right?
Do Better.
[...]
Admit it, you could have spent *just* a little longer, right?
Do Better.
So, in the UK, we now have:
1. Burn Baby Burn (return to fossil fuels)
2. Remigration, Warehousing, Big Racism redux
3. Worship the Flag
4. More, Bigger Weapons Now....
When are we getting:
1. ICE Equivalent?
2. All Vaccines Be The Work of The Devil?
1. Burn Baby Burn (return to fossil fuels)
2. Remigration, Warehousing, Big Racism redux
3. Worship the Flag
4. More, Bigger Weapons Now....
When are we getting:
1. ICE Equivalent?
2. All Vaccines Be The Work of The Devil?
September 2, 2025 at 9:53 AM
So, in the UK, we now have:
1. Burn Baby Burn (return to fossil fuels)
2. Remigration, Warehousing, Big Racism redux
3. Worship the Flag
4. More, Bigger Weapons Now....
When are we getting:
1. ICE Equivalent?
2. All Vaccines Be The Work of The Devil?
1. Burn Baby Burn (return to fossil fuels)
2. Remigration, Warehousing, Big Racism redux
3. Worship the Flag
4. More, Bigger Weapons Now....
When are we getting:
1. ICE Equivalent?
2. All Vaccines Be The Work of The Devil?
I am in the library early and horrified by forgetting to do my morning sit-in-front-of-the-Union-Jack session. I cannot believe there are no flags in here for me to catch-up. I must remember to ask the librarians where their flags are! Do they not have any?!
September 2, 2025 at 8:30 AM
I am in the library early and horrified by forgetting to do my morning sit-in-front-of-the-Union-Jack session. I cannot believe there are no flags in here for me to catch-up. I must remember to ask the librarians where their flags are! Do they not have any?!
Why is #WATO headlining a totally minor local political story about a Glasgow Labour Councillor “defecting” to Reform? Are we to expect this whenever any local councillor anywhere defects to another party? Hard not to be very cynical about BBC editorial policy right now….
August 28, 2025 at 12:12 PM
Why is #WATO headlining a totally minor local political story about a Glasgow Labour Councillor “defecting” to Reform? Are we to expect this whenever any local councillor anywhere defects to another party? Hard not to be very cynical about BBC editorial policy right now….