Mat Bowles (He/Þei)
@matgb.uk
Displaced Devonian in Yorkshire, ageing goth who yawns a lot (2 sleep disorders and chronic fatigue). Never been a "real man" so a little bit NB, here for the SF, history, science and friends
Icon from Doomtown, best card game ever made
Icon from Doomtown, best card game ever made
Q: Name your fav Tom Hanks film.
Favourite? No contest
The theme song is on one of the joint first CDs I bought when I was 17 and I still listen to it fairly regularly
Favourite? No contest
The theme song is on one of the joint first CDs I bought when I was 17 and I still listen to it fairly regularly
December 9, 2025 at 3:09 AM
Q: Name your fav Tom Hanks film.
Favourite? No contest
The theme song is on one of the joint first CDs I bought when I was 17 and I still listen to it fairly regularly
Favourite? No contest
The theme song is on one of the joint first CDs I bought when I was 17 and I still listen to it fairly regularly
Reposted by Mat Bowles (He/Þei)
Read and/or own more books.
It will make you godlike.
You'll be able to fly.
Take my hand.
(wait, no, that's Blue Oyster Cult)
Books good. That's what I'm saying.
It will make you godlike.
You'll be able to fly.
Take my hand.
(wait, no, that's Blue Oyster Cult)
Books good. That's what I'm saying.
December 9, 2025 at 2:03 AM
Read and/or own more books.
It will make you godlike.
You'll be able to fly.
Take my hand.
(wait, no, that's Blue Oyster Cult)
Books good. That's what I'm saying.
It will make you godlike.
You'll be able to fly.
Take my hand.
(wait, no, that's Blue Oyster Cult)
Books good. That's what I'm saying.
Reposted by Mat Bowles (He/Þei)
That is...
A sub optimal place for an epicenter of three quakes that big in quick succession :-(
A sub optimal place for an epicenter of three quakes that big in quick succession :-(
On Japan's 1-7 scale of seismic intensity, the tremor registered as an 'upper 6' in Aomori prefecture — a quake strong enough to make it impossible to keep standing or move without crawling. In such tremors, heavy furniture can collapse and wall tiles and windowpanes are damaged
December 8, 2025 at 8:19 PM
That is...
A sub optimal place for an epicenter of three quakes that big in quick succession :-(
A sub optimal place for an epicenter of three quakes that big in quick succession :-(
Reposted by Mat Bowles (He/Þei)
PUT. SMITH. AND. JONES. ON. IPLAYER. I'm sure I've been banging this drum since I created a Twitter account.
Series 3 episode 1 of Alas Smith & Jones is a perfect half hour of sketch comedy. Some episodes would be repeated easily. Mel's on great form. youtu.be/FnHA40G20ak?...
December 8, 2025 at 12:15 PM
PUT. SMITH. AND. JONES. ON. IPLAYER. I'm sure I've been banging this drum since I created a Twitter account.
Reposted by Mat Bowles (He/Þei)
“Can I see the licence?”
“No that really will not do,
you cannot see the licence
As we’re waiting for review”.
“But I need to see the licence,
It’s what I need to do,
If I don’t see the licence,
You’ll have no review”.
“No that really will not do,
you cannot see the licence
As we’re waiting for review”.
“But I need to see the licence,
It’s what I need to do,
If I don’t see the licence,
You’ll have no review”.
December 8, 2025 at 2:58 PM
“Can I see the licence?”
“No that really will not do,
you cannot see the licence
As we’re waiting for review”.
“But I need to see the licence,
It’s what I need to do,
If I don’t see the licence,
You’ll have no review”.
“No that really will not do,
you cannot see the licence
As we’re waiting for review”.
“But I need to see the licence,
It’s what I need to do,
If I don’t see the licence,
You’ll have no review”.
Reposted by Mat Bowles (He/Þei)
I love that for her. No more wanton cruelty
"impermissibly manifested her gender critical beliefs"
impermissibly
impermissibly
December 8, 2025 at 3:14 PM
I love that for her. No more wanton cruelty
Reposted by Mat Bowles (He/Þei)
This now blocked account, "sffreviews" (@sffreview.bsky.social) is very much a bot, as I will demonstrate with four screenshots. More in the alt-text.
December 8, 2025 at 1:47 PM
This now blocked account, "sffreviews" (@sffreview.bsky.social) is very much a bot, as I will demonstrate with four screenshots. More in the alt-text.
I had a joke about Hypnos, but after a good sleep decided not to post it
I had a joke about Odysseus, but it takes a long time to hit home.
I had a joke about Narcissus but I took a long hard look at myself first
December 8, 2025 at 3:36 PM
I had a joke about Hypnos, but after a good sleep decided not to post it
Reposted by Mat Bowles (He/Þei)
One issue I will be prescriptive about: the dictionary says so, so it's true
die-hard | adjective | strongly or fanatically determined or devoted
Die Hard | noun | a Christmas movie
Die Hard | noun | a Christmas movie
December 8, 2025 at 11:08 AM
One issue I will be prescriptive about: the dictionary says so, so it's true
Reposted by Mat Bowles (He/Þei)
Further evidence that widespread covid vaccination is better for everybody.
A study on 1.7 million people in Hong Kong shows superior hybrid immunity to Covid in people who got vaccinated before infection vs. people who got infected first. "Our findings are a direct rebuttal to arguments for natural immunity," the authors write. doi.org/10.1016/j.va...
Redirecting
doi.org
December 8, 2025 at 1:03 AM
Further evidence that widespread covid vaccination is better for everybody.
Reposted by Mat Bowles (He/Þei)
I don't know why I haven't made this before now.
July 26, 2025 at 4:51 AM
I don't know why I haven't made this before now.
Reposted by Mat Bowles (He/Þei)
this is a good excuse to post my all time favorite Star Trek meme
December 7, 2025 at 6:15 PM
this is a good excuse to post my all time favorite Star Trek meme
Reposted by Mat Bowles (He/Þei)
Yeah, there was a brief period during covid where I got to participate in the excitement of new releases and it was nice not to be completely spoiled for new movies & to be a part of the discussion when they dropped.
Which doesn't mean I'm pro-streamer. Just, you know. Nuance exists.
Which doesn't mean I'm pro-streamer. Just, you know. Nuance exists.
I mean, screw monopolies. But as someone who avoids movie theaters for disability reasons I actually agree that exclusivity periods for films are bad for consumer choice
Watching in theaters being a different experience is not an argument for exclusivity. It's the opposite.
Watching in theaters being a different experience is not an argument for exclusivity. It's the opposite.
December 7, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Yeah, there was a brief period during covid where I got to participate in the excitement of new releases and it was nice not to be completely spoiled for new movies & to be a part of the discussion when they dropped.
Which doesn't mean I'm pro-streamer. Just, you know. Nuance exists.
Which doesn't mean I'm pro-streamer. Just, you know. Nuance exists.
The shot with the bear leaning out the window
"Yes? Can I help you?"
"Yes? Can I help you?"
this is the best thing I have ever seen!!!!! thank you @annehelen.bsky.social
Photos: When the Polar Bears Move In
The photographer Vadim Makhorov, while recently cruising on the Chukchi Sea, noticed a group of polar bears that were taking shelter inside an abandoned research station on Russia’s remote Kolyuchin I...
www.theatlantic.com
December 7, 2025 at 5:30 PM
The shot with the bear leaning out the window
"Yes? Can I help you?"
"Yes? Can I help you?"
Reposted by Mat Bowles (He/Þei)
You can either go via the search page or it's at the end of Season 9 in the classic Who listings.
For my fellow Whovians, if you’re trying to watch the special, re-edited version of #DoctorWho and The Sea Devils this morning, it looks like you have to search for it on iPlayer. I typed in “The Sea Devils” on the Search page. I hope you enjoy. 🐟
December 7, 2025 at 12:52 PM
You can either go via the search page or it's at the end of Season 9 in the classic Who listings.
Apparently this is an actual quote by the actual Prime Minister
When I first read it I assumed it was a parody with him being The Pub Landlord or a Daily Mail Comments bore
We're being governed by an uncurious buffoon who sounds like a pub bore
When I first read it I assumed it was a parody with him being The Pub Landlord or a Daily Mail Comments bore
We're being governed by an uncurious buffoon who sounds like a pub bore
[wearing my sickos t shirt whilst smiling so wide im like Jack Nicholsons Joker] oh wow, that sounds sooooo bad
December 7, 2025 at 3:32 PM
Apparently this is an actual quote by the actual Prime Minister
When I first read it I assumed it was a parody with him being The Pub Landlord or a Daily Mail Comments bore
We're being governed by an uncurious buffoon who sounds like a pub bore
When I first read it I assumed it was a parody with him being The Pub Landlord or a Daily Mail Comments bore
We're being governed by an uncurious buffoon who sounds like a pub bore
Before he became one of the biggest names in literary SF, John Scalzi was a movie critic, and this post is a pretty good demonstration of why he was good at it
Trading Places is/was an excellent film, it's a royal shame that Landis is such an utter shit
Trading Places is/was an excellent film, it's a royal shame that Landis is such an utter shit
Today in the December Comfort Watches: Trading Places, a tale of disparate classes coming together during the holiday season to do what's important: Punish rich dickheads! Also, remembering Eddie Murphy's rise as a generational talent in comedy:
whatever.scalzi.com/2025/12/06/t...
whatever.scalzi.com/2025/12/06/t...
The December Comfort Watches 2025, Day Six: Trading Places
Trading Places takes place within the holiday season, with two of the big moments happening on Christmas and New Year’s Eve; does this make it a holiday movie? I suppose it might, although un…
whatever.scalzi.com
December 7, 2025 at 1:18 AM
Before he became one of the biggest names in literary SF, John Scalzi was a movie critic, and this post is a pretty good demonstration of why he was good at it
Trading Places is/was an excellent film, it's a royal shame that Landis is such an utter shit
Trading Places is/was an excellent film, it's a royal shame that Landis is such an utter shit
Reposted by Mat Bowles (He/Þei)
Seems fine, mild even?
December 6, 2025 at 10:40 PM
Seems fine, mild even?
The SCALE on this
The highpoint of that big plume is ~1000ft/300m
If it was coming out of my front garden it'd be going over the windswept Bronte moors and trashing Huddersfield as it landed
It's just fucking huge
The highpoint of that big plume is ~1000ft/300m
If it was coming out of my front garden it'd be going over the windswept Bronte moors and trashing Huddersfield as it landed
It's just fucking huge
December 6, 2025 at 10:51 PM
The SCALE on this
The highpoint of that big plume is ~1000ft/300m
If it was coming out of my front garden it'd be going over the windswept Bronte moors and trashing Huddersfield as it landed
It's just fucking huge
The highpoint of that big plume is ~1000ft/300m
If it was coming out of my front garden it'd be going over the windswept Bronte moors and trashing Huddersfield as it landed
It's just fucking huge
Holy shit someone's put it all on YouTube with the Dore illustrations!
I had a recording of this off Radio 4 back in 1999, we kept it for ages but, um, it was on Minidisc...
"With my crossbow, I shot the albatross"
youtu.be/o6ZYQmIKgGY?...
John Nettles (yes, that one) is the Mariner, brilliant
I had a recording of this off Radio 4 back in 1999, we kept it for ages but, um, it was on Minidisc...
"With my crossbow, I shot the albatross"
youtu.be/o6ZYQmIKgGY?...
John Nettles (yes, that one) is the Mariner, brilliant
December 6, 2025 at 9:40 PM
Holy shit someone's put it all on YouTube with the Dore illustrations!
I had a recording of this off Radio 4 back in 1999, we kept it for ages but, um, it was on Minidisc...
"With my crossbow, I shot the albatross"
youtu.be/o6ZYQmIKgGY?...
John Nettles (yes, that one) is the Mariner, brilliant
I had a recording of this off Radio 4 back in 1999, we kept it for ages but, um, it was on Minidisc...
"With my crossbow, I shot the albatross"
youtu.be/o6ZYQmIKgGY?...
John Nettles (yes, that one) is the Mariner, brilliant
Fuck, I walk past this virtually every day, it's been on my "if I won the lottery" list of things to do since Covid/idiocy forced it closed
If you watched the Sara Cox "Back in Time" series this is where they went for the ballroom dancing lessons, sprung maple floors
Derelict for too long :-(
If you watched the Sara Cox "Back in Time" series this is where they went for the ballroom dancing lessons, sprung maple floors
Derelict for too long :-(
December 6, 2025 at 8:54 PM
Fuck, I walk past this virtually every day, it's been on my "if I won the lottery" list of things to do since Covid/idiocy forced it closed
If you watched the Sara Cox "Back in Time" series this is where they went for the ballroom dancing lessons, sprung maple floors
Derelict for too long :-(
If you watched the Sara Cox "Back in Time" series this is where they went for the ballroom dancing lessons, sprung maple floors
Derelict for too long :-(
Reposted by Mat Bowles (He/Þei)
OH MY GOD THEY SOUND LIKE ARCTIC BULLFROGS
A male rock ptarmigan (Lagopus muta) in winter plumage.
Ptarmigan is from Gaelic 'tarmachan' meaning "croaker". The p- was added when people mistakenly assumed it was a Greek word.
A bird forever warning people: "A werewolf!" (just in case of werewolves).
Ptarmigan is from Gaelic 'tarmachan' meaning "croaker". The p- was added when people mistakenly assumed it was a Greek word.
A bird forever warning people: "A werewolf!" (just in case of werewolves).
December 6, 2025 at 1:53 PM
OH MY GOD THEY SOUND LIKE ARCTIC BULLFROGS
She had help?
That books is the product of more than one person? I despair
Can I have a book deal, even with the finger brace typos I'm a better writer than that
That books is the product of more than one person? I despair
Can I have a book deal, even with the finger brace typos I'm a better writer than that
Shouldn’t this piece come with a disclaimer that, as Nuzzi said on Instagram, Lisa Taddeo “helped with the book”…?
airmail.news/issues/2025-...
airmail.news/issues/2025-...
Olivia Nuzzi and the Sport of Kings
For Lisa Taddeo, a chance encounter with R.F.K. Jr.’s bird of prey sheds new light on the controversy that launched 1,000 think pieces and journalists to eat their own.
airmail.news
December 6, 2025 at 4:40 PM
She had help?
That books is the product of more than one person? I despair
Can I have a book deal, even with the finger brace typos I'm a better writer than that
That books is the product of more than one person? I despair
Can I have a book deal, even with the finger brace typos I'm a better writer than that
Easy, probably spent as much time playing this as a kid as I do playing Civ these days
December 6, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Easy, probably spent as much time playing this as a kid as I do playing Civ these days