Mat Bowles (He/Þei)
@matgb.uk
Displaced Devonian in Yorkshire, ageing goth who yawns a lot (2 sleep disorders and chronic fatigue). Never been a "real man" so a little bit NB, here for the SF, history, science and friends
Icon from Doomtown, best card game ever made
Icon from Doomtown, best card game ever made
Reposted by Mat Bowles (He/Þei)
What do you want?
A Nobel Peace Prize.
You won't get it.
By hook or by crook, we will.
A Nobel Peace Prize.
You won't get it.
By hook or by crook, we will.
January 15, 2026 at 9:58 PM
What do you want?
A Nobel Peace Prize.
You won't get it.
By hook or by crook, we will.
A Nobel Peace Prize.
You won't get it.
By hook or by crook, we will.
Reposted by Mat Bowles (He/Þei)
A Nobel Prize will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed, or numbered.
January 15, 2026 at 9:53 PM
A Nobel Prize will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed, or numbered.
Reposted by Mat Bowles (He/Þei)
A Nobel Prize must obey the orders of a laureate except where such orders conflict with the first law
January 15, 2026 at 9:51 PM
A Nobel Prize must obey the orders of a laureate except where such orders conflict with the first law
Reposted by Mat Bowles (He/Þei)
Some good news, though, if anyone has mislaid medieval Britain.
January 15, 2026 at 9:55 PM
Some good news, though, if anyone has mislaid medieval Britain.
Reposted by Mat Bowles (He/Þei)
Welcome, northwesters, to the fun game of 'I wonder where the top secret Tour de France route is going... Could it be the small rural b-road that is being mysteriously resurfaced?'
Signed, someone who lived in Yorkshire when the tour came through 😂
Signed, someone who lived in Yorkshire when the tour came through 😂
The Tour de France 2027 is going right through my constituency! Book your Milnthorpe/Carnforth/Morecambe hotels now!
January 15, 2026 at 8:39 PM
Welcome, northwesters, to the fun game of 'I wonder where the top secret Tour de France route is going... Could it be the small rural b-road that is being mysteriously resurfaced?'
Signed, someone who lived in Yorkshire when the tour came through 😂
Signed, someone who lived in Yorkshire when the tour came through 😂
Reposted by Mat Bowles (He/Þei)
Then: constitutional law should be boring, not exciting.
Now: constitutional law should be boring, not terrifying.
Now: constitutional law should be boring, not terrifying.
January 15, 2026 at 8:53 PM
Then: constitutional law should be boring, not exciting.
Now: constitutional law should be boring, not terrifying.
Now: constitutional law should be boring, not terrifying.
Oh look, Giles is wrong about something
Again
I know, day name ending in Y but you'd hope sometimes the clock would stop
He also ought to fucking know given his job that EHO standards are constantly revised and updated based on science and feedback
The chef comes across slightly better. Slightly
Again
I know, day name ending in Y but you'd hope sometimes the clock would stop
He also ought to fucking know given his job that EHO standards are constantly revised and updated based on science and feedback
The chef comes across slightly better. Slightly
Sure, let's just let the British upper classes die of e-coli poisoning then.
Hygiene ratings shouldn't apply to Michelin restaurants, says food critic www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Hygiene ratings shouldn't apply to Michelin restaurants, says food critic www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Ynyshir: Giles Coren says hygiene ratings should not apply to Michelin restaurants
The restaurant critic says inspectors should
www.bbc.co.uk
January 15, 2026 at 8:47 PM
Oh look, Giles is wrong about something
Again
I know, day name ending in Y but you'd hope sometimes the clock would stop
He also ought to fucking know given his job that EHO standards are constantly revised and updated based on science and feedback
The chef comes across slightly better. Slightly
Again
I know, day name ending in Y but you'd hope sometimes the clock would stop
He also ought to fucking know given his job that EHO standards are constantly revised and updated based on science and feedback
The chef comes across slightly better. Slightly
Reposted by Mat Bowles (He/Þei)
I’m not going to share a link, but within 24hrs of being published my illustration has been fed into AI and used to generate a video of this dinosaur, and frankly I just need this world to stop.
Seriously, what is the fucking point?
Seriously, what is the fucking point?
Introducing Xenovenator espinosai, a new troodontid dinosaur with some fascinating cranial anatomy. I had the honour of being approached to create the illustration for this week’s official announcement. (1/3) #SciArt
January 15, 2026 at 5:15 PM
I’m not going to share a link, but within 24hrs of being published my illustration has been fed into AI and used to generate a video of this dinosaur, and frankly I just need this world to stop.
Seriously, what is the fucking point?
Seriously, what is the fucking point?
Reposted by Mat Bowles (He/Þei)
Sure. AI companies have ALWAYS been training their models on Wikipedia content, which under the free and open access model is available to anyone — including AI companies. Agreements like these require AI companies to limit and offset the strain they place on Wikimedia infrastructure.
Hoping that @molly.wiki can help explain.
Wikimedia Foundation announces new AI partnerships with Amazon, Meta, Microsoft, Perplexity and others
January 15, 2026 at 6:47 PM
Sure. AI companies have ALWAYS been training their models on Wikipedia content, which under the free and open access model is available to anyone — including AI companies. Agreements like these require AI companies to limit and offset the strain they place on Wikimedia infrastructure.
Reposted by Mat Bowles (He/Þei)
I'll add to this that the streamers have gradually turned to tightening subscriptions and adding in ad breaks and dropping the episodes weekly just like... traditional telly??
so when I read about people telling eg the BBC that they need to be "more like the streamers" I just want to scream
so when I read about people telling eg the BBC that they need to be "more like the streamers" I just want to scream
And invests no money in content or creators or any infrastructure of programme making, does no training, cannot support collaborative projects efficiently, and has an opaque payment system that mitigates against what the public would understand as “making television”.
January 15, 2026 at 12:32 PM
I'll add to this that the streamers have gradually turned to tightening subscriptions and adding in ad breaks and dropping the episodes weekly just like... traditional telly??
so when I read about people telling eg the BBC that they need to be "more like the streamers" I just want to scream
so when I read about people telling eg the BBC that they need to be "more like the streamers" I just want to scream
Reposted by Mat Bowles (He/Þei)
What’s happened in these cases (Spotify, YouTube etc) is that a corporation has decided to maximise its profits by not paying its suppliers and workers, while selling that idea to its customers as a bargain.
Same as Amazon or any high street fast fashion clothing brand. It’s a grift.
Fuck off.
Same as Amazon or any high street fast fashion clothing brand. It’s a grift.
Fuck off.
January 15, 2026 at 9:46 AM
What’s happened in these cases (Spotify, YouTube etc) is that a corporation has decided to maximise its profits by not paying its suppliers and workers, while selling that idea to its customers as a bargain.
Same as Amazon or any high street fast fashion clothing brand. It’s a grift.
Fuck off.
Same as Amazon or any high street fast fashion clothing brand. It’s a grift.
Fuck off.
Be an auther they said
Work from home they said
Make your own hours they said
The reality:
Work from home they said
Make your own hours they said
The reality:
Today I am the stupidest harmless situation I have been in for YEARS
January 15, 2026 at 1:00 PM
Be an auther they said
Work from home they said
Make your own hours they said
The reality:
Work from home they said
Make your own hours they said
The reality:
Reposted by Mat Bowles (He/Þei)
Just published a paper on the complaint tablet to Ea-nāṣir meme, the decade-old tumblr in-joke that continues to impact the public understanding of the ancient world. Paywalled but email me if you want a copy. 🏺
January 15, 2026 at 9:59 AM
Just published a paper on the complaint tablet to Ea-nāṣir meme, the decade-old tumblr in-joke that continues to impact the public understanding of the ancient world. Paywalled but email me if you want a copy. 🏺
Damnit, pressed the wrong button this'd be perfect otherwise
I solved the daily #CluesBySam, Jan 15th 2026 (Tricky), in 05:02
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟨🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩
cluesbysam.com
I solved the daily #CluesBySam, Jan 15th 2026 (Tricky), in 05:02
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟨🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩
cluesbysam.com
Clues by Sam
A daily logic puzzle where you deduce who is a criminal!
cluesbysam.com
January 15, 2026 at 5:13 AM
Damnit, pressed the wrong button this'd be perfect otherwise
I solved the daily #CluesBySam, Jan 15th 2026 (Tricky), in 05:02
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟨🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩
cluesbysam.com
I solved the daily #CluesBySam, Jan 15th 2026 (Tricky), in 05:02
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟨🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟩🟩🟩🟩
cluesbysam.com
Reposted by Mat Bowles (He/Þei)
I don't even know where to find it. Is it a website? An app? I don't know and will never care.
RT if you've never had a tab of ChatGPT open 'just to do quick research'
January 15, 2026 at 1:30 AM
I don't even know where to find it. Is it a website? An app? I don't know and will never care.
Reposted by Mat Bowles (He/Þei)
Meanwhile: I have to say that this casual shot (caught at our friend wortvogel.de’s post-wedding celebration, 10+ years back) is one of the best pics of @peter.petermorwood.com ever. #GNUPeterMorwood
January 14, 2026 at 4:28 PM
Meanwhile: I have to say that this casual shot (caught at our friend wortvogel.de’s post-wedding celebration, 10+ years back) is one of the best pics of @peter.petermorwood.com ever. #GNUPeterMorwood
Reposted by Mat Bowles (He/Þei)
Making a natural freezer
Reblog by @andrewducker · 1 video
💬 29 🔁 7025 ❤️ 10061 · OP: "Another year has passed, time to make another natural freezer"
[eng by me]
www.tumblr.com
January 14, 2026 at 9:01 AM
Making a natural freezer
Reposted by Mat Bowles (He/Þei)
[1958]
TENNESSEE WILLIAMS:
"Hold on a second..."
DIRECTOR:
"Cut! What's the problem?"
TENNESSEE WILLIAMS:
"Let me see that script."
DIRECTOR:
"Why?"
TENNESSEE WILLIAMS:
"I think there's a typo."
TENNESSEE WILLIAMS:
"Hold on a second..."
DIRECTOR:
"Cut! What's the problem?"
TENNESSEE WILLIAMS:
"Let me see that script."
DIRECTOR:
"Why?"
TENNESSEE WILLIAMS:
"I think there's a typo."
January 13, 2026 at 2:28 PM
[1958]
TENNESSEE WILLIAMS:
"Hold on a second..."
DIRECTOR:
"Cut! What's the problem?"
TENNESSEE WILLIAMS:
"Let me see that script."
DIRECTOR:
"Why?"
TENNESSEE WILLIAMS:
"I think there's a typo."
TENNESSEE WILLIAMS:
"Hold on a second..."
DIRECTOR:
"Cut! What's the problem?"
TENNESSEE WILLIAMS:
"Let me see that script."
DIRECTOR:
"Why?"
TENNESSEE WILLIAMS:
"I think there's a typo."
Y'know when there's a half finished thread being posted as you have to leave to do something?
Yeah, this one's good--if you like bureacratic bafflement, fighter planes and daft design decisions
Yeah, this one's good--if you like bureacratic bafflement, fighter planes and daft design decisions
Seeing as I'm blathering about Spitfires, here's a free mythbuster for Bluesky
The little letter after the Spitfire mark designation - e.g. Spitfire Vb, Spitfire XVIe - what does it mean?
There is a widespread misconception that it relates to armament configuration, and *only* armament config...
The little letter after the Spitfire mark designation - e.g. Spitfire Vb, Spitfire XVIe - what does it mean?
There is a widespread misconception that it relates to armament configuration, and *only* armament config...
January 14, 2026 at 1:45 PM
Y'know when there's a half finished thread being posted as you have to leave to do something?
Yeah, this one's good--if you like bureacratic bafflement, fighter planes and daft design decisions
Yeah, this one's good--if you like bureacratic bafflement, fighter planes and daft design decisions
Reposted by Mat Bowles (He/Þei)
Early Dilbert could be incredibly on point at times, and it's important to acknowledge that rather than pretend it was always terrible.
Scott Adams getting high on his own hype, emerging from his hate chrysalis, then doubling down on it, was very odd. He poisoned his own legacy well before death.
Scott Adams getting high on his own hype, emerging from his hate chrysalis, then doubling down on it, was very odd. He poisoned his own legacy well before death.
January 14, 2026 at 9:09 AM
Early Dilbert could be incredibly on point at times, and it's important to acknowledge that rather than pretend it was always terrible.
Scott Adams getting high on his own hype, emerging from his hate chrysalis, then doubling down on it, was very odd. He poisoned his own legacy well before death.
Scott Adams getting high on his own hype, emerging from his hate chrysalis, then doubling down on it, was very odd. He poisoned his own legacy well before death.
Reposted by Mat Bowles (He/Þei)
WITH OUR NEW BATTLE COMPUTER THE DALEKS WILL BE INVINCIBLE! EX-TER-MIN-ATE!!!
January 14, 2026 at 9:38 AM
WITH OUR NEW BATTLE COMPUTER THE DALEKS WILL BE INVINCIBLE! EX-TER-MIN-ATE!!!
Reposted by Mat Bowles (He/Þei)
‘It is astonishing to think that everything we now know as “Hollywood”…began under a cedar-shingled roof where DeMille set up in a tiny corner office and actors changed costumes in horse stalls.’ #Hollywood
"Given Los Angeles’ reputation for razing or abandoning its history, is the fact that the Lasky-DeMille Barn remains open for business, home now to the #Hollywood Heritage Museum, nestled beneath the trees in a parking lot across from the Hollywood Bowl on Highland." www.latimes.com/entertainmen...
This little-known L.A. museum has preserved the birthplace of the American film industry
The Hollywood Heritage Museum is Old Hollywood, an enduring reminder that most of humanity’s greatest endeavors began in small, unlikely, jerry-rigged spaces.
www.latimes.com
January 14, 2026 at 9:58 AM
‘It is astonishing to think that everything we now know as “Hollywood”…began under a cedar-shingled roof where DeMille set up in a tiny corner office and actors changed costumes in horse stalls.’ #Hollywood
I do love linguistic drift
This is why Britain kept the arse spelling, because a) we pronounce the R and b) we know what an ass is
This is why Britain kept the arse spelling, because a) we pronounce the R and b) we know what an ass is
January 14, 2026 at 10:20 AM
I do love linguistic drift
This is why Britain kept the arse spelling, because a) we pronounce the R and b) we know what an ass is
This is why Britain kept the arse spelling, because a) we pronounce the R and b) we know what an ass is
Reposted by Mat Bowles (He/Þei)
And then in response I did this horrible thing
January 14, 2026 at 6:19 AM
And then in response I did this horrible thing
Reposted by Mat Bowles (He/Þei)
Don’t live your life being a shit and maybe people won’t remember you in death in the worst way possible. Good riddance to bad rubbish.
Thinking about that time the My Little Pony comics, of all things, absolutely bodied Scott Adams.
January 13, 2026 at 5:40 PM
Don’t live your life being a shit and maybe people won’t remember you in death in the worst way possible. Good riddance to bad rubbish.