Matt Ballantine
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ballantine70.bsky.social
Matt Ballantine
@ballantine70.bsky.social
Sociologist. Musician. Technologist. Dad.

Current side project: randomthebook.com
And also: turkey has only been the traditional Christmas meal in the UK since the 1950s.
November 16, 2025 at 2:22 PM
Btw if you want some answers to some of those questions, I can recommend this book I've been reading recently...

atlantic-books.co.uk/book/the-uni...
The Union Jack – Atlantic Books
Known the world over as a symbol of the United Kingdom, the Union Jack is an intricate construction based on the crosses of St George, St Andrew and St Patrick. Nick Groom traces its long and fascinat...
atlantic-books.co.uk
November 16, 2025 at 12:36 PM
These symbols matter. Names and flags signify things, and yet as a nation I don't think we have common agreement about them.

And *then* some folk start banging on about immigration and nationality as if it's all perfectly clear and completely understood.

It's not.
November 16, 2025 at 12:36 PM
Most people don't understand the nature of our nation, often confusing the concepts of England, Britain, Great Britain and the UK.

Most people don't understand the flag - why no Wales? Why a St Patrick's cross when N Ireland has a St George's Cross?

Most people can't draw the flag.
November 16, 2025 at 12:36 PM
Or cracking down on it is the answer to whatever problem it is you think you have at the moment?

Either way, it's a very depressing path they are headed down.
November 16, 2025 at 10:01 AM
He had dirt on people?
November 13, 2025 at 9:49 AM
The experience of citizens' assemblies in Ireland also seems to have been broadly positive in addressing otherwise intractable problems?
November 11, 2025 at 3:17 PM
I'm currently working on a book about randomness, and we seriously underuse random selection as part of our institutions and political system. I also happened to go on jury service recently and it was life-affirming to see how 12 strangers can come together and make serious decisions.
November 11, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Try not to spin too many platelets Simon!
November 11, 2025 at 9:04 AM
For reasons of accident and randomness, my branch used to be 1, Fleet Street. They had blunderbusses in a glass case on the wall which has been bought in the 1700s in case insurgents tried to attack from South London.

They don't even appear to name a branch on my statement these days...
November 11, 2025 at 7:46 AM
You won't find that's the case at Planets!

Make sure you wear shorts.
November 10, 2025 at 6:35 AM
Sounds like an amazing trip!

Teamlabs Planets in Tokyo is one of the most amazing experiences I've had in the last few years.
November 10, 2025 at 6:23 AM
Next up on Woodsie's...
November 9, 2025 at 7:08 PM
I guess to Cumming's worldview where he is, obviously, the smartest person on the planet, there must be a reason why he's not got an important job.

In this case 'diversity hire' allows Cummings to not have to confront the idea that maybe, possibly, Cummings is not very smart after all.
November 7, 2025 at 9:24 AM
Until the bad stuff broke #PriddlarTheFiddlar
November 3, 2025 at 7:51 AM
"but nobody spotted the clues that he would go on to criminal activity until it was too late"
November 2, 2025 at 10:10 AM
I had a Nice recently. I think they contain dessicated coconut.

That's quite exotic for a British biscuit.
November 1, 2025 at 6:30 PM