Andy Aitken
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andykaitken.bsky.social
Andy Aitken
@andykaitken.bsky.social
830 followers 180 following 3.3K posts
Interested in everything from archaeology to zoology.
I love spending time with family, nature, reading, and watching documentaries and other TV.
Posts Replies Media Videos
Reposted by Andy Aitken
just-jack-1.bsky.social
With this regime anything is possible…
January 4, 2026 at 5:40 AM
Reposted by Andy Aitken
tomgauld.bsky.social
My books cartoon for this week’s @theguardian.com
Panel One. Two figures walk up a hill in a park. One walks in front and the other is walking a dog Front "My new year's resolution is to stop lending books" Dog-walker "Really?" Panel Two. Front, becoming agitated "It's just not worth the risk: cracked spines! Bent corners! Torn pages! Grubby fingers! Crumbs! Baths! Burglars! Rats! Children!! I can't allow such precious artefacts to fall into the careless hands of clumsy philistines!" Panel Three. Dog-walker "And how do the other librarians feel about this?" Front "Less supportive Than I'd hoped."
January 18, 2026 at 4:45 PM
Reposted by Andy Aitken
fdb.graphics
I wonder what people who write

"u" and "ur"

do with all their extra time.
🤔
January 18, 2026 at 4:51 PM
Reposted by Andy Aitken
lbflyawayhome.bsky.social
‘Footprints in the snow’
What to look for in Winter, 1959
Artist: CFTunnicliffe
Heavy snow has fallen in Woodland and two rabbits are chewing the bark of a tree in their hunger. With little food, an owl flies past hunting in daylight
January 18, 2026 at 8:21 AM
Reposted by Andy Aitken
womensartbluesky.bsky.social
Elisabetta Sirani (1638-1665), a highly prolific Italian painter, and respected teacher who founded the first art academy for women outside of a convent. Another pioneering female artist not celebrated enough in Euopean art history #WomensArt
Painting of a sitting white woman painting at an easel, looking outwards, wearing a silk dress, in a dark interior
January 17, 2026 at 6:05 AM
Reposted by Andy Aitken
codfather.bsky.social
The obviouw bullshit in the bible, why not do the right things instead of worrying about your neighbours ass 🤦
January 17, 2026 at 8:14 AM
Reposted by Andy Aitken
peterstefanovic.bsky.social
🚨By-elections to be called automatically when MPs defect to another party - lets get this to the 100,000 signatures needed

petition.parliament.uk/petitions/73...
Petition: By-elections to be called automatically when MPs defect to another party
When an MP decides they want to defect to another party a by-election should be automatically triggered to allow the constituents the opportunity have their democratic right to agree or not with their...
petition.parliament.uk
January 17, 2026 at 9:07 AM
Reposted by Andy Aitken
glasgowforeurope.bsky.social
Just leaving this here
@sheffieldforeurope.bsky.social
January 17, 2026 at 8:13 AM
Reposted by Andy Aitken
alisonfisk.bsky.social
Something beautiful for the weekend! ✨

A rare rock crystal tool made by Neanderthals between 200,000 - 40,000 years ago.

From a Mousterian level at the Merveilles rockshelter, Sergeac, Dordogne, France. 6 x 3.3 x 1.5 cm.

Musée d’Archéologie Nationale, Saint-Germain-en-Laye 📷 by me

#Archaeology
My photo shows a slightly ovoid-shaped tool knapped from yellow-tinged rock crystal. It is mounted for display against a grey background. Described as a scraper (racloir) by the Musée d’Archéologie Nationale, it measures 6 x 3.3 x 1.5 cm. It was recovered from a Mousterian (Neanderthal) level in the Abri Des Merveilles rockshelter in France. The rock shelter was excavated by the American School of Prehistoric Research for a number of seasons from 1924 onwards, led by George Grant MacCurdy who documented that this rock crystal tool (and six others) were excavated from the lower level of the shelter together with a lithic assemblage (flint handaxes, scrapers and points) identified as Mousterian i.e. associated with Neanderthals. He suggested the original source of the rock crystal was some 90 miles north of the Merveilles rockshelter “near to and beyond the headwaters of the Vézère in the direction of Limousin and Puy-de-Dome” He suggested the rock crystal was either brought to the cave, or was carried away from its source by the river Vézère and then picked up from the riverbed by neanderthals. The info label at the Musée d’Archéologie Nationale reads: ‘Neanderthals were the first to show their interest in non-utilitarian objects: collection and transport of fossils and minerals, use of dyes such as ochre or haematite, choice of aesthetic raw materials for cut tools, such as rock crystal from Sergeac or opal jasper from Fontmaure’
January 17, 2026 at 9:56 AM
Reposted by Andy Aitken
womensartbluesky.bsky.social
'An Islington View,'
by Melissa Scott-Miller,
UK painter known for her London streetscapes #UnlockingWomensArt
Painting of a cityscape with large buildings, roads and multistorey buildings on the horizon
January 17, 2026 at 10:27 AM
andykaitken.bsky.social
Withdrawal from some of these is inexcusable. A lower form of human I can't think of.
January 15, 2026 at 9:46 PM
Reposted by Andy Aitken
drrjwarren.bsky.social
This.
greenparty.org.uk The Green Party of England & Wales @greenparty.org.uk · 3d
There’s nothing extreme about wanting a functioning NHS, a fair distribution of wealth, and a liveable planet.
Graphic featuring Zack Polanski speaking at a podium, gesturing with his right hand. A quote on the left reads: “Farage warned just now against ‘a worrying extreme left-wing voice in this country.’ Hmmm. This from a climate denying, Trump loving, NHS selling, corporate stooge who’s been a genuine threat to Britain for decades.” Below the quote: “Zack Polanski – Green Party Leader.” Green Party branding appears at the bottom along with the tagline “Real Hope. Real Change.”
January 15, 2026 at 6:27 PM
Reposted by Andy Aitken
drrjwarren.bsky.social
#ArtDD2026
Avocet portrait

From a lovely 📷 by @helenbennett.bsky.social with thanks.

@saocousins.bsky.social @holnicotenh.bsky.social @stevecobbin.bsky.social @andykaitken.bsky.social @mayfieldbirder.bsky.social @indikon.bsky.social 🦉
Circular paper with painting of bird's head, looking to left, with narrow black upturned beak, black top of head and back of neck, white elsewhere. That's all!
January 15, 2026 at 6:16 PM
Reposted by Andy Aitken
lbflyawayhome.bsky.social
Other work of the Ladybird artists
Woodblock print
‘Bullfinch’
Artist: Allen Seaby
Seaby was very influenced by Japanese printing as can be clearly seen from this pared-down depiction of two bullfinches on a snow-lined tree against a blue background
January 14, 2026 at 8:20 AM
Reposted by Andy Aitken
drrjwarren.bsky.social
#ArtDD2026
Tiny barn owl

Not easy, working at such a small scale. But from a lovely 📷 by @briancondra.bsky.social with thanks.

@saocousins.bsky.social @holnicotenh.bsky.social @stevecobbin.bsky.social @andykaitken.bsky.social @mayfieldbirder.bsky.social @indikon.bsky.social
Circular paper with barn owl facing viewer. The breast and belly is white but grey with shadow, the wings around the edge are orangey brown. Heart-shaped face with black eyes brown head top.
January 13, 2026 at 6:14 PM
andykaitken.bsky.social
PFAS are linked to cancer and contaminate our water and food - yet chemical giants are lobbying to weaken protections to our health. Europe can still act. I just signed. Will you? action.wemove.eu/sign/2026-01...
Ban Forever Chemicals Now
Forever chemicals are poisoning Europe’s water, food, and even our blood. Chemical giants are lobbying to weaken protections - but people across Europe are pushing back. Sign now to ban PFAS and put h...
action.wemove.eu
January 13, 2026 at 1:15 PM
Reposted by Andy Aitken
georgemonbiot.bsky.social
I've seldom felt compelled to block people on BlueSky. But the hunger strike has mobilised some people's worst instincts: "Let them die! It's all their fault!" etc etc. It appears to trigger a deep, and deeply disturbing, inhumanity. I must have blocked 20 of them by now.
georgemonbiot.bsky.social George Monbiot @georgemonbiot.bsky.social · 5d
A number of people on this platform have been claiming that it's not up to government to shorten people's time on remand, however far beyond the statutory limit that time extends.
Well, take it from a very eminent retired judge. It is.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
Palestine Action hunger strikers are still the state’s responsibility | Letters
Letters: The power is in the hands of the DPP or the attorney general, writes Stephen Sedley. Plus Roshi Fernando on Keir Starmer’s unforgivable conduct
www.theguardian.com
January 13, 2026 at 12:30 PM
Reposted by Andy Aitken
milesking.bsky.social
Absolutely normal for a democracy to ban museum exhibitions that express “improper ideology”.

And in no way reminiscent of either Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy or totalitarian Communist Soviet Union.
January 13, 2026 at 12:24 PM
Reposted by Andy Aitken
scottzona.bsky.social
𝗕𝘂𝗹𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲 is the term we use to describe the puckered or quilted-looking pattern we see on the leaves of ‘Nero de Toscano’ kale (sometimes called “dinosaur kale” to get kids to eat it). #Brassicaceae #Botany 🌾🧪🌱
Photo of the tops of kale plants. The dark green leaves are puckered and appear quilted. Photo by Scott Zona CC BY-NC 2.0.
January 13, 2026 at 11:30 AM
Reposted by Andy Aitken
privateeyenews.bsky.social
100 Years of Pooh

From the new Private Eye, out now.

Subscribe to the Eye by midnight tonight and get the next issue delivered direct to your door.

➡️ checkout.private-eye.co.uk/SingleItem?I...
January 12, 2026 at 9:43 AM
Reposted by Andy Aitken
codfather.bsky.social
😂 Sums up the religious nonsense. The cerebrally challenge fools who believe the earth is 6,000 yrs old. 🤦We have ancient peoples burial sits older than that.
January 12, 2026 at 11:33 AM
andykaitken.bsky.social
I have just shared a Rhubarb yogurt with Logan. He's checking the pot to make sure I didn't miss any.
#gingercats

@drrjwarren.bsky.social
@saocousins.bsky.social
@stevecobbin.bsky.social
@holnicotenh.bsky.social
Logan, a ginger and white cat looking into an empty pot of rhubarb yogurt he has just helped me eat.
January 10, 2026 at 6:06 PM
andykaitken.bsky.social
There will be a line of Native Americans outside the White House and Mar-a-Largo wanting to discuss this.
January 10, 2026 at 4:39 PM
Reposted by Andy Aitken
ec.europa.eu
Today marks 80 years of the UN General Assembly.

The mission:

🛡️ Uphold world peace and security
⚖️ Promote social progress & human rights
🌏 Tackle global issues, like climate change

Back then, we chose dialogue over force.
Today, we must do the same.
The text in black on grey texture background reads: ‘80 years ago, the world chose dialogue over violence. Today, it’s still the right choice.’ The EU logo in bla in the top right corner.
January 10, 2026 at 9:35 AM
andykaitken.bsky.social
Now that's an idea...
miriam.blacksky.app Miriam IRL @miriam.blacksky.app · 8d
Greenland should change its name to Epstein island so trump starts pretending it doesn’t exists
January 10, 2026 at 2:02 PM