Xander Flatt
@xanderflatt.bsky.social
Working in local government policy, data (analysis and visualisation), and making information accessible.
Interested in film, music, art, culture, politics, sport, news and the weather.
East Lothian/Edinburgh
Nae Paseran
He/him
Interested in film, music, art, culture, politics, sport, news and the weather.
East Lothian/Edinburgh
Nae Paseran
He/him
Pinned
Xander Flatt
@xanderflatt.bsky.social
· Apr 20
"The distribution of knowledge is the key contemporary task. Knowledge empowers people. If people know the rules and are sensitised by art, humour and creativity, they are much more likely to accept change."
- Antanas Mockus
- Antanas Mockus
Leonardo DiCaprio has now switched to using Citizendium.
wikipedia turns 25 today! the last unenshittified major website! backbone of online info! triumph of humanity! powered by urge of unpaid randos to correct each other! somehow mostly reliable! "good thing wikipedia works in practice, because it sure doesn't work in theory" - old wiki adage
January 15, 2026 at 3:47 PM
Leonardo DiCaprio has now switched to using Citizendium.
Reposted by Xander Flatt
Art festival boycotts are effective because the festivals, despite all their protestations otherwise, need the participants more than the participants need them.
The reason they make financiers and the media so angry is because they're so effective and it interrupts how *they* use the arts.
The reason they make financiers and the media so angry is because they're so effective and it interrupts how *they* use the arts.
January 12, 2026 at 1:00 PM
Art festival boycotts are effective because the festivals, despite all their protestations otherwise, need the participants more than the participants need them.
The reason they make financiers and the media so angry is because they're so effective and it interrupts how *they* use the arts.
The reason they make financiers and the media so angry is because they're so effective and it interrupts how *they* use the arts.
Many Americans have, unfortunately, already done this three times.
I'd vote for the Predator.
January 9, 2026 at 8:37 PM
Many Americans have, unfortunately, already done this three times.
I think the Twilight films are actually pretty entertaining if you view them like a 70's/80's B-movie.
They are deeply flawed, and objectively awful, but there's fun to be had if you view that as a way to enjoy them rather than a reason to dislike them.
They are deeply flawed, and objectively awful, but there's fun to be had if you view that as a way to enjoy them rather than a reason to dislike them.
This place needs some Innocuous Discourse pronto. Quote this with a take that’s not political or aggressive
January 6, 2026 at 9:40 AM
I think the Twilight films are actually pretty entertaining if you view them like a 70's/80's B-movie.
They are deeply flawed, and objectively awful, but there's fun to be had if you view that as a way to enjoy them rather than a reason to dislike them.
They are deeply flawed, and objectively awful, but there's fun to be had if you view that as a way to enjoy them rather than a reason to dislike them.
Reposted by Xander Flatt
It is true, there is indeed a deep-fill steak pie of a thread about the New Year's steak pie tradition: threadinburgh.scot/2024/01/02/t...
December 31, 2025 at 10:59 AM
It is true, there is indeed a deep-fill steak pie of a thread about the New Year's steak pie tradition: threadinburgh.scot/2024/01/02/t...
The story of every RATM live tv appearance:
"Hey guys, we're going out live, would you mind NOT raging against the machine?"
"Yeah, no problem" they then rage against the machine slightly harder...
"Oh no! They're raging against the machine! Who could have foreseen this?!"
"Hey guys, we're going out live, would you mind NOT raging against the machine?"
"Yeah, no problem" they then rage against the machine slightly harder...
"Oh no! They're raging against the machine! Who could have foreseen this?!"
#EmojiSounds
#MusicChallenge
Day 2️⃣6️⃣: 🤢
Rage Against The Machine - Killing in the Name
Refusing to comply with a SICK system.
youtu.be/Qv_CLGAcaPw?...
#MusicChallenge
Day 2️⃣6️⃣: 🤢
Rage Against The Machine - Killing in the Name
Refusing to comply with a SICK system.
youtu.be/Qv_CLGAcaPw?...
Rage Against The Machine - 'Killing in the Name' [HD] | Live at Pinkpop 1993
YouTube video by Pinkpop Archive
youtu.be
December 27, 2025 at 10:34 AM
The story of every RATM live tv appearance:
"Hey guys, we're going out live, would you mind NOT raging against the machine?"
"Yeah, no problem" they then rage against the machine slightly harder...
"Oh no! They're raging against the machine! Who could have foreseen this?!"
"Hey guys, we're going out live, would you mind NOT raging against the machine?"
"Yeah, no problem" they then rage against the machine slightly harder...
"Oh no! They're raging against the machine! Who could have foreseen this?!"
Reposted by Xander Flatt
Boxing Day with fewer/no top flight fixtures could be a new lower/non-league day. Lots of more affordable local games for people to attend wherever they're spending Christmas.
December 26, 2025 at 10:17 AM
Boxing Day with fewer/no top flight fixtures could be a new lower/non-league day. Lots of more affordable local games for people to attend wherever they're spending Christmas.
"You'd be really easy to draw"
What's an insult you'll never forget?
December 26, 2025 at 1:52 PM
"You'd be really easy to draw"
For context, taking inflation, comparative purchasing power, etc into account, $32,000 isn't far off what Scrooge was paying Bob Cratchit in 'A Christmas Carol'.
Some get richer, some get Dickensian poverty wages.
Tax billionaires.
Some get richer, some get Dickensian poverty wages.
Tax billionaires.
From 2018 to 2024, the tax rate paid by eight major retailers was slashed from 30% to just 17.5%.
The CEOs of those major retailers were paid a collective $1.3 billion.
Meanwhile, the average worker at those stores was paid less than $32,000 in 2024.
Nothing trickled down.
The CEOs of those major retailers were paid a collective $1.3 billion.
Meanwhile, the average worker at those stores was paid less than $32,000 in 2024.
Nothing trickled down.
December 22, 2025 at 8:08 PM
For context, taking inflation, comparative purchasing power, etc into account, $32,000 isn't far off what Scrooge was paying Bob Cratchit in 'A Christmas Carol'.
Some get richer, some get Dickensian poverty wages.
Tax billionaires.
Some get richer, some get Dickensian poverty wages.
Tax billionaires.
"The Watergate story is dead. Bradlee says he won't run it without getting Nixon on the record"
December 22, 2025 at 7:33 PM
"The Watergate story is dead. Bradlee says he won't run it without getting Nixon on the record"
Folk get stuck on the following and 'reach' they used to have over there but, honestly, the first time I got 20+ likes on a bluesky post was more satisfying than getting 1k+ likes on twitter.
It meant more and I've never been inundated with threats from celtic fans on bluesky so that's a plus.
It meant more and I've never been inundated with threats from celtic fans on bluesky so that's a plus.
This has always been a Bluesky-first campaign. But as of today, we will no longer be using Twitter. At all.
And I'm calling on other candidates to follow suit.
And I'm calling on other candidates to follow suit.
December 22, 2025 at 7:04 PM
Folk get stuck on the following and 'reach' they used to have over there but, honestly, the first time I got 20+ likes on a bluesky post was more satisfying than getting 1k+ likes on twitter.
It meant more and I've never been inundated with threats from celtic fans on bluesky so that's a plus.
It meant more and I've never been inundated with threats from celtic fans on bluesky so that's a plus.
Reposted by Xander Flatt
3yo: “daddy’s phone is in his pocket!”
me: “that’s true!”
3yo: “why isn’t mummy’s phone in her pocket?”
me: “… buckle up, kiddo, we’re gonna discuss five hundred years of fashion and misogyny”
me: “that’s true!”
3yo: “why isn’t mummy’s phone in her pocket?”
me: “… buckle up, kiddo, we’re gonna discuss five hundred years of fashion and misogyny”
December 20, 2025 at 8:47 AM
3yo: “daddy’s phone is in his pocket!”
me: “that’s true!”
3yo: “why isn’t mummy’s phone in her pocket?”
me: “… buckle up, kiddo, we’re gonna discuss five hundred years of fashion and misogyny”
me: “that’s true!”
3yo: “why isn’t mummy’s phone in her pocket?”
me: “… buckle up, kiddo, we’re gonna discuss five hundred years of fashion and misogyny”
There is, sometimes, no greater gift you can give than cancelled plans.
You get back time and space, reduce anxiety + the mental load of carrying 5 different versions of the evening and/or every possible answer to any question around. AND it feels like a win, rather than just any other night in.
You get back time and space, reduce anxiety + the mental load of carrying 5 different versions of the evening and/or every possible answer to any question around. AND it feels like a win, rather than just any other night in.
Having introvert friends is great because even if you make plans by accident you can always be all "hey I checked the forecast and it's supposed to be really late out tonight" and then they'll be like "yeah you shouldn't be out in weather like that" and then nobody has to leave their blanket cocoons
December 19, 2025 at 5:50 PM
There is, sometimes, no greater gift you can give than cancelled plans.
You get back time and space, reduce anxiety + the mental load of carrying 5 different versions of the evening and/or every possible answer to any question around. AND it feels like a win, rather than just any other night in.
You get back time and space, reduce anxiety + the mental load of carrying 5 different versions of the evening and/or every possible answer to any question around. AND it feels like a win, rather than just any other night in.
Reposted by Xander Flatt
Using genAI in any part of your creation process is just a bad tactic. Nobody is going to buy a game they wouldn't have bought because it used AI, but many people who would have bought a game now won't.
Like, I was thinking of eventually buying BG3, but now I don't want to support Larian anymore.
Like, I was thinking of eventually buying BG3, but now I don't want to support Larian anymore.
December 16, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Using genAI in any part of your creation process is just a bad tactic. Nobody is going to buy a game they wouldn't have bought because it used AI, but many people who would have bought a game now won't.
Like, I was thinking of eventually buying BG3, but now I don't want to support Larian anymore.
Like, I was thinking of eventually buying BG3, but now I don't want to support Larian anymore.
Me: *tries to poach an egg*
The Egg:
The Egg:
December 17, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Me: *tries to poach an egg*
The Egg:
The Egg:
Reposted by Xander Flatt
Larian embracing AI for concept art sucks. CA is the bedrock, the foundation for art in games. It is the promise of what can be with your game. Before any art assets are made, before there is a game to play; Concept art is there to inspire and excite the team. To destroy that w/ AI slow is criminal
December 16, 2025 at 10:44 PM
Larian embracing AI for concept art sucks. CA is the bedrock, the foundation for art in games. It is the promise of what can be with your game. Before any art assets are made, before there is a game to play; Concept art is there to inspire and excite the team. To destroy that w/ AI slow is criminal
I've been revisiting The X-Files.
With modern content warnings on streaming services, starting with "contains tobacco depictions" is basically just a wee spoiler.
With modern content warnings on streaming services, starting with "contains tobacco depictions" is basically just a wee spoiler.
December 16, 2025 at 10:02 AM
I've been revisiting The X-Files.
With modern content warnings on streaming services, starting with "contains tobacco depictions" is basically just a wee spoiler.
With modern content warnings on streaming services, starting with "contains tobacco depictions" is basically just a wee spoiler.
Reposted by Xander Flatt
Everyone needs to listen to Gustav Holst's "The Planets", not for hoity-toity nerd reasons, but because every epic sci-fi movie OST for the past century has been directly lifting shit from this one specific collection of pieces, and you deserve to hear your favourite motif in its native environment.
December 11, 2025 at 8:15 PM
Everyone needs to listen to Gustav Holst's "The Planets", not for hoity-toity nerd reasons, but because every epic sci-fi movie OST for the past century has been directly lifting shit from this one specific collection of pieces, and you deserve to hear your favourite motif in its native environment.
Reposted by Xander Flatt
Lidl has put Toy Banks in stores where you can donate a gift for a child who wouldn’t otherwise have one on Christmas Day.
Must be unopened and dropped off by 15th. Wonderful thing to do if you can (and there’s loads of cheap but great toy deals online still). www.lidl.co.uk/c/christmas-...
Must be unopened and dropped off by 15th. Wonderful thing to do if you can (and there’s loads of cheap but great toy deals online still). www.lidl.co.uk/c/christmas-...
Lidl's Toy Bank Donation
We’ve brought back our Lidl Toy Bank Donation, in partnership with Neighbourly, where you can make unopened toy donations. Help share joy over Christmas.
www.lidl.co.uk
December 11, 2025 at 9:43 AM
Lidl has put Toy Banks in stores where you can donate a gift for a child who wouldn’t otherwise have one on Christmas Day.
Must be unopened and dropped off by 15th. Wonderful thing to do if you can (and there’s loads of cheap but great toy deals online still). www.lidl.co.uk/c/christmas-...
Must be unopened and dropped off by 15th. Wonderful thing to do if you can (and there’s loads of cheap but great toy deals online still). www.lidl.co.uk/c/christmas-...
Reposted by Xander Flatt
We are as far from Daft Punk’s Discovery (2001) as the samples used in it
a man in a suit and tie is reading a newspaper while wearing a futuristic helmet .
Alt: Robot in business suit looks up from reading a newspaper
media.tenor.com
January 6, 2025 at 5:50 PM
We are as far from Daft Punk’s Discovery (2001) as the samples used in it
In sports news elsewhere on the BBC website:
"Partial victory for boxer who lost by knock out, but slightly hurt opponent's fist with their face in the process"
"Partial victory for boxer who lost by knock out, but slightly hurt opponent's fist with their face in the process"
December 9, 2025 at 10:47 AM
In sports news elsewhere on the BBC website:
"Partial victory for boxer who lost by knock out, but slightly hurt opponent's fist with their face in the process"
"Partial victory for boxer who lost by knock out, but slightly hurt opponent's fist with their face in the process"
Giving people with money access to artistic talent without giving people with artistic talent access to money is theft.
McDonald's has released an AI-generated Christmas ad
The studio behind it says they 'hardly slept' for several weeks while writing AI prompts and refining the shots — 'AI didn't make this film. We did'
Comments have been turned off on YouTube
The studio behind it says they 'hardly slept' for several weeks while writing AI prompts and refining the shots — 'AI didn't make this film. We did'
Comments have been turned off on YouTube
December 9, 2025 at 10:35 AM
Giving people with money access to artistic talent without giving people with artistic talent access to money is theft.
Reposted by Xander Flatt
All happy Star Trek fans are alike; each unhappy Star Trek fan is unhappy in their own way.
December 8, 2025 at 12:23 PM
All happy Star Trek fans are alike; each unhappy Star Trek fan is unhappy in their own way.
Reposted by Xander Flatt
I once applied for a job as a proofreader/copy editor. The advert was so badly written that I assumed it was a test and sent the advert, with annotated corrections, alongside my application.
It was not a test. They were very
upset.
I did not get that job.
It was not a test. They were very
upset.
I did not get that job.
December 8, 2025 at 10:04 PM
I once applied for a job as a proofreader/copy editor. The advert was so badly written that I assumed it was a test and sent the advert, with annotated corrections, alongside my application.
It was not a test. They were very
upset.
I did not get that job.
It was not a test. They were very
upset.
I did not get that job.