Iain MacGilleBhràith
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aeonmach.bsky.social
Iain MacGilleBhràith
@aeonmach.bsky.social
I LIKE a *lot* of shit: sci & tech (my day job!), environment & energy (ecomodernism), politics (~moderate, social-liberalism), culture & language(s), outdoors (mountains, cycling/MTB, sailing), travel, nuance & irony.

I HATE black-&-white simplism!
Well yes and no: presumably for rail it really is only in Britain (not Ireland) - as with eg energy grid - whereas we saw the govt formally move us from GB car stickers to UK ones… 🤷‍♂️

And GB News? Well frankly that should be called Little England News…
December 9, 2025 at 11:52 AM
Exactly: I think they could have done this all so much subtly and classily while still pushing a soft and restrained - but actually more powerful - Britishness.
December 9, 2025 at 11:32 AM
All seems clear to me… but then when anyone asks me where I’m from my usual answer is either “well, that’s complicated” or more passive-aggressively “what do you mean by ‘from’?” 🤷‍♂️😂
December 9, 2025 at 11:30 AM
Ah yes, that’s well put; hadn’t thought of it but now you say it, that really does explain why it’s annoying… tbf given where politics is now (soundbites and froth) it’s arguable that it’s the ‘right’ approach 🤷‍♂️🤬
December 9, 2025 at 11:26 AM
2/ But I think a fair summary from Rich here:

bsky.app/profile/piba...
Oh, I'm sure there is a political aspect (ie appeal to the flag shaggers) to it

My counter balance to that is that most won't care about that, but we aren't hyper online about it so......

And also more importantly if it actually works!
December 9, 2025 at 11:21 AM
Yes I think that‘s probably a good summary!
December 9, 2025 at 11:20 AM
They’re as good at design as they are at politics. 😏
December 9, 2025 at 11:16 AM
Oh indeed; it’d just that the whole thing - the flag shagging and even this design - is so unsubtle…
December 9, 2025 at 11:15 AM
I think that’s just wrong though: while ScotRail clearly operate the majority of services in Scotland, there are intercity services to Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Inverness (west coast/Avanti & east coast/LNER operated) that will be under GBR…
December 9, 2025 at 11:13 AM
It’s not the worst, it’s a *bit* flag shaggy but on its own it would probably be fine (cf eg BA tail flag & then wing) but it’s perhaps more due to the whole wider Great British Railways thing and the general air of such artless flag shagging from this govt… 🤷‍♂️
December 9, 2025 at 11:08 AM
Thanks! I’m looking forward to my bedtime reading on Segal-Bargmann space!
December 8, 2025 at 7:13 PM
Thank you! I‘m a fairly novice baker (this year - I didn’t even bake like everyone else during Covid! 😂) and it’s remarkably simple…
December 8, 2025 at 2:27 PM
Daal is indeed great but I’ll go even more traditionally (for the UK) basic: bread. 🤷‍♂️
Flour, water, yeast, salt - that fermentation and transformation is truly miraculous. 😇

Also much more daal-like: soup.
Specifically (homemade)nScotch broth! 😋
December 8, 2025 at 1:57 PM