Fraser MacDonald
@frasermacdonald.bsky.social
Geographer, historian.
No one should be posting on that site. It isn't complicated.
One example of how Grok is being used to target women. Swedish Deputy Prime Minister Ebba Busch being sexualised, degraded, and humiliated step-by-step by Grok. All the images accurately reflect the prompts provided.
January 5, 2026 at 7:23 PM
No one should be posting on that site. It isn't complicated.
Has Britain’s standing in the world ever been lower than this?
Starmer asked to respond to Trump breaking international law and seizing the leader of another sovereign nation replies that it is his "responsibility" to have a good relationship with the US President.
"I have stepped up that responsibility [and] I do get on with President Trump," he tells the BBC
"I have stepped up that responsibility [and] I do get on with President Trump," he tells the BBC
January 3, 2026 at 5:29 PM
Has Britain’s standing in the world ever been lower than this?
This week’s ingredients:
* water
* coffee grounds
* neighbour’s pet bedstraw
* shredded Christmas wreath
* kitchen and food waste
* manuscript drafts
* water
* coffee grounds
* neighbour’s pet bedstraw
* shredded Christmas wreath
* kitchen and food waste
* manuscript drafts
January 3, 2026 at 3:09 PM
This week’s ingredients:
* water
* coffee grounds
* neighbour’s pet bedstraw
* shredded Christmas wreath
* kitchen and food waste
* manuscript drafts
* water
* coffee grounds
* neighbour’s pet bedstraw
* shredded Christmas wreath
* kitchen and food waste
* manuscript drafts
Reposted by Fraser MacDonald
The BBC keeps calling the imperialist actions of the US 'unprecedented'; I wonder if they know anything about the history of Latin America in the last 200 years or so.
January 3, 2026 at 12:45 PM
The BBC keeps calling the imperialist actions of the US 'unprecedented'; I wonder if they know anything about the history of Latin America in the last 200 years or so.
At least one pair now in Duddingston, Edinburgh.
Rapid expansion of ring-necked parakeets in UK sparks concern
Bird organisations say more research on the species needed to control impact on other wildlife
www.theguardian.com
January 2, 2026 at 1:06 PM
At least one pair now in Duddingston, Edinburgh.
Last of this year’s light from a cherished Edinburgh view.
December 31, 2025 at 6:28 PM
Last of this year’s light from a cherished Edinburgh view.
Forty years ago, in late December 1985, The Bangles released Manic Monday, written by Prince under the pseudonym ‘Christopher’.
Treat yourself 🎧
Treat yourself 🎧
The Bangles - Manic Monday (Official Video)
YouTube video by TheBanglesVEVO
youtu.be
December 29, 2025 at 9:14 AM
Forty years ago, in late December 1985, The Bangles released Manic Monday, written by Prince under the pseudonym ‘Christopher’.
Treat yourself 🎧
Treat yourself 🎧
Welcome to The Future
another robot highlight for 2025: man wearing humanoid mocap suit kicks himself in the balls
December 28, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Welcome to The Future
Reposted by Fraser MacDonald
Some of these redactions are almost like modern art
December 19, 2025 at 10:05 PM
Some of these redactions are almost like modern art
It's the scales that will make this an iconic photograph.
Well, there's a photo I never expected to see in my life. Noam Chomsky palling around with Steve Bannon.
December 12, 2025 at 10:23 PM
It's the scales that will make this an iconic photograph.
Mind-blowing how little impact the spycops scandal has had on public life despite the courage of these women.
139 undercover cops spied on antifascist and other activists.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
139 undercover cops spied on antifascist and other activists.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Undercover police officer who deceived woman showed ‘sadistic tendencies’ spycops inquiry told
Activist says treatment of her by Mark Jenner, with whom she had five-year relationship, left her devastated
www.theguardian.com
December 9, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Mind-blowing how little impact the spycops scandal has had on public life despite the courage of these women.
139 undercover cops spied on antifascist and other activists.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
139 undercover cops spied on antifascist and other activists.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Reposted by Fraser MacDonald
No idea what is and isn’t beyond the pale any longer
December 8, 2025 at 9:32 PM
No idea what is and isn’t beyond the pale any longer
At last, some properly rigorous reporting on the vampiric management consulting behind proposed cuts at Edinburgh Uni.
Grab some garlic, read and weep.
Grab some garlic, read and weep.
🔴 NEW: The University of Edinburgh has quietly paid more than £750,000 to a controversial consulting firm amid job cuts - staff say bosses ignored "repeated" questions about its role.
Read more about 'Nousferatu' 👉 www.theferret.scot/p...
Read more about 'Nousferatu' 👉 www.theferret.scot/p...
November 30, 2025 at 8:59 AM
At last, some properly rigorous reporting on the vampiric management consulting behind proposed cuts at Edinburgh Uni.
Grab some garlic, read and weep.
Grab some garlic, read and weep.
I have ‘reformed evangelical Christians’ on my timeline preaching daily about the sanctity of life and they’ll say nothing about one of their own doing murder out in the open.
November 29, 2025 at 8:13 AM
I have ‘reformed evangelical Christians’ on my timeline preaching daily about the sanctity of life and they’ll say nothing about one of their own doing murder out in the open.
It is literally baked in to C of E liturgy 🤷♂️
“He hath put down the mighty from their seat: and hath exalted the humble and meek.
He hath filled the hungry with good things: and the rich he hath sent empty away.”
“He hath put down the mighty from their seat: and hath exalted the humble and meek.
He hath filled the hungry with good things: and the rich he hath sent empty away.”
Kemi Badenoch says welfare spending is unchristian
Kemi Badenoch says welfare spending is unchristian
Kemi Badenoch says welfare spending is unchristian
www.thetimes.com
November 28, 2025 at 1:05 PM
It is literally baked in to C of E liturgy 🤷♂️
“He hath put down the mighty from their seat: and hath exalted the humble and meek.
He hath filled the hungry with good things: and the rich he hath sent empty away.”
“He hath put down the mighty from their seat: and hath exalted the humble and meek.
He hath filled the hungry with good things: and the rich he hath sent empty away.”
You’d hope that some local politicians or church leaders might show some basic leadership on this issue … anyone?
Scottish school cancels Christmas play which sympathised with Syrian child refugees after ‘racist and abusive’ messages targeting staff 👇🏴
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Scottish school cancels Christmas play after ‘racist and abusive’ messages
Show at Cauldeen primary school in Inverness had included a scene explaining hardship faced by Syrian refugees
www.theguardian.com
November 25, 2025 at 3:41 PM
You’d hope that some local politicians or church leaders might show some basic leadership on this issue … anyone?
Reposted by Fraser MacDonald
"A 10:1 pay ratio between the highest and lowest-paid staff is the bare minimum that we need. It would ensure that bosses can only raise their own salaries by also improving the salaries of their lowest paid staff too"
greens.scot/news/greens-...
greens.scot/news/greens-...
Greens plan to crack down on ‘obscene’ pay of some uni and college principals
Greens plan to crack down on ‘obscene’ pay of some uni and college principals - Times for 10:01 pay ratios to curb inequality
greens.scot
November 24, 2025 at 9:27 AM
"A 10:1 pay ratio between the highest and lowest-paid staff is the bare minimum that we need. It would ensure that bosses can only raise their own salaries by also improving the salaries of their lowest paid staff too"
greens.scot/news/greens-...
greens.scot/news/greens-...
I know you’re all wondering if my compost is still cooking in this frost and the answer is yes, it is – 70°C / 160°F – thanks for asking.
November 21, 2025 at 12:17 PM
I know you’re all wondering if my compost is still cooking in this frost and the answer is yes, it is – 70°C / 160°F – thanks for asking.
This guy.
Stirs up local ‘fear for the safety of … wives and children’ because of people fleeing persecution and terror.
Now it’s: my racism can’t be racism because no one is less racist than me.
🚮
Stirs up local ‘fear for the safety of … wives and children’ because of people fleeing persecution and terror.
Now it’s: my racism can’t be racism because no one is less racist than me.
🚮
A Scottish MP has apologised for using the term 'coloured people' – after insisting he 'can’t think of anybody less racist than me'
Scottish MP apologises for using term 'coloured people' in asylum interview
www.thenational.scot
November 18, 2025 at 1:30 PM
This guy.
Stirs up local ‘fear for the safety of … wives and children’ because of people fleeing persecution and terror.
Now it’s: my racism can’t be racism because no one is less racist than me.
🚮
Stirs up local ‘fear for the safety of … wives and children’ because of people fleeing persecution and terror.
Now it’s: my racism can’t be racism because no one is less racist than me.
🚮
Reposted by Fraser MacDonald
It’s like Polanski has broken a spell. This is great if you care about human dignity and wellbeing but definitely threatening to those in power.
All strength to him.
All strength to him.
A Government of cowards.
Rather than tackle inequality - they've gone for pensioners, disabled people and now it's people fleeing war and persecution.
They can't get away with this.
Join.greenparty.org.uk
Rather than tackle inequality - they've gone for pensioners, disabled people and now it's people fleeing war and persecution.
They can't get away with this.
Join.greenparty.org.uk
November 17, 2025 at 11:40 PM
It’s like Polanski has broken a spell. This is great if you care about human dignity and wellbeing but definitely threatening to those in power.
All strength to him.
All strength to him.
It’s like Polanski has broken a spell. This is great if you care about human dignity and wellbeing but definitely threatening to those in power.
All strength to him.
All strength to him.
A Government of cowards.
Rather than tackle inequality - they've gone for pensioners, disabled people and now it's people fleeing war and persecution.
They can't get away with this.
Join.greenparty.org.uk
Rather than tackle inequality - they've gone for pensioners, disabled people and now it's people fleeing war and persecution.
They can't get away with this.
Join.greenparty.org.uk
November 17, 2025 at 11:40 PM
It’s like Polanski has broken a spell. This is great if you care about human dignity and wellbeing but definitely threatening to those in power.
All strength to him.
All strength to him.
If Edinburgh Uni, with no operational deficit, gets to sack 1800 people, imagine what this will signal to more fiscally challenged Scottish universities?
MSPs need to realise that this is more than a local crisis – we need urgent public scrutiny of Edinburgh’s governance.
MSPs need to realise that this is more than a local crisis – we need urgent public scrutiny of Edinburgh’s governance.
November 17, 2025 at 1:02 PM
If Edinburgh Uni, with no operational deficit, gets to sack 1800 people, imagine what this will signal to more fiscally challenged Scottish universities?
MSPs need to realise that this is more than a local crisis – we need urgent public scrutiny of Edinburgh’s governance.
MSPs need to realise that this is more than a local crisis – we need urgent public scrutiny of Edinburgh’s governance.
Covid prevents me from being on the picket line but solidarity to everyone there.
An isolated management, censured by its own academic senate, seeks to literally decimate its own staff.
Oh, and it has the third largest uni endowment in the UK.
An isolated management, censured by its own academic senate, seeks to literally decimate its own staff.
Oh, and it has the third largest uni endowment in the UK.
Pickets all over Edinburgh this morning! From Old College to King's Building, Edinburgh UCU staff are saying NO to job cuts!
November 17, 2025 at 12:44 PM
Covid prevents me from being on the picket line but solidarity to everyone there.
An isolated management, censured by its own academic senate, seeks to literally decimate its own staff.
Oh, and it has the third largest uni endowment in the UK.
An isolated management, censured by its own academic senate, seeks to literally decimate its own staff.
Oh, and it has the third largest uni endowment in the UK.
I’ve just made the mistake of flicking through the House of Bruar catalogue while suffering a Covid fever.
What in the name of Atholl is going on?👇
What in the name of Atholl is going on?👇
November 16, 2025 at 9:30 PM
I’ve just made the mistake of flicking through the House of Bruar catalogue while suffering a Covid fever.
What in the name of Atholl is going on?👇
What in the name of Atholl is going on?👇
The thing about architectural conservation is that it’s supposed to transcend the question ‘DO WE LIKE THIS?’.
It’s meant to be about preserving characteristic exemplars of style.
Is there another large exposed aggregate panel building in Scotland? I can’t think of any.
It’s meant to be about preserving characteristic exemplars of style.
Is there another large exposed aggregate panel building in Scotland? I can’t think of any.
In an open letter shared with The Edinburgh Minute, architect Malcolm Fraser, known for his work on the Scottish Poetry Library, Scottish Storytelling Centre, DanceBase and Dovecot Studios, argues against plans to demolish Argyle House: www.edinburghminute.com/three-reason...
November 15, 2025 at 6:57 PM
The thing about architectural conservation is that it’s supposed to transcend the question ‘DO WE LIKE THIS?’.
It’s meant to be about preserving characteristic exemplars of style.
Is there another large exposed aggregate panel building in Scotland? I can’t think of any.
It’s meant to be about preserving characteristic exemplars of style.
Is there another large exposed aggregate panel building in Scotland? I can’t think of any.