Alex MacFarlane
@aghowes.bsky.social
Peripatetic postdoctoral scholar, researching the medieval Armenian Alexander Romance and 19th-century Caucasus cosmopolitanism. Films, trains, British. They/them.
Reposted by Alex MacFarlane
'Iran’s capital must be moved because the country “no longer has a choice,” President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Thursday in remarks carried by state media, warning that severe ecological strain has made Tehran impossible to sustain'
#Iran 🇮🇷
#Iran 🇮🇷
Iran president says capital move now a necessity as water crisis deepens
Iran’s capital must be moved because the country “no longer has a choice,” President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Thursday in remarks carried by state media, warning that severe ecological strain has mad...
www.iranintl.com
November 21, 2025 at 4:52 AM
'Iran’s capital must be moved because the country “no longer has a choice,” President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Thursday in remarks carried by state media, warning that severe ecological strain has made Tehran impossible to sustain'
#Iran 🇮🇷
#Iran 🇮🇷
Reposted by Alex MacFarlane
TRUMP [after spending 5 minutes with Zohran]: surplus value, it’s a very wonderful thing, very wonderful, and they’re stealing it. Can you believe that?
We’re going to be looking very strongly at the bourgeoisie, what they’re up to
We’re going to be looking very strongly at the bourgeoisie, what they’re up to
November 21, 2025 at 9:25 PM
TRUMP [after spending 5 minutes with Zohran]: surplus value, it’s a very wonderful thing, very wonderful, and they’re stealing it. Can you believe that?
We’re going to be looking very strongly at the bourgeoisie, what they’re up to
We’re going to be looking very strongly at the bourgeoisie, what they’re up to
Reposted by Alex MacFarlane
But enough about the group chats I'm in -
November 21, 2025 at 6:12 PM
But enough about the group chats I'm in -
The Hotel Chocolat hot chocolates with the chocolate whipped cream, I recommend them (maybe) if your body can 100% digest dairy. If not, you will walk around town afterwards taking constant damage like a poisoned Pokémon.
November 21, 2025 at 5:06 PM
The Hotel Chocolat hot chocolates with the chocolate whipped cream, I recommend them (maybe) if your body can 100% digest dairy. If not, you will walk around town afterwards taking constant damage like a poisoned Pokémon.
Reposted by Alex MacFarlane
I love LOTE by Shola von Reinhold and still think about it years after reading it. Highly, highly recommended.
November 20, 2025 at 2:45 PM
I love LOTE by Shola von Reinhold and still think about it years after reading it. Highly, highly recommended.
Reposted by Alex MacFarlane
Doctor: I’m sorry, you have Microsoft Teams Exposure…. the only cure is watching a movie from the 90s on mute at your local dive bar
November 20, 2025 at 1:56 AM
Doctor: I’m sorry, you have Microsoft Teams Exposure…. the only cure is watching a movie from the 90s on mute at your local dive bar
Reposted by Alex MacFarlane
Reposted by Alex MacFarlane
whenever the sun sets at 4:45 pm i open a window, lean out and yell "WRONG" as loud as i can. that usually buys me another hour or two of sunlight
November 17, 2025 at 9:48 PM
whenever the sun sets at 4:45 pm i open a window, lean out and yell "WRONG" as loud as i can. that usually buys me another hour or two of sunlight
Reposted by Alex MacFarlane
'The science select committee should recognise that its remit covers all of research, and conduct an inquiry into the Library, with a view to helping it recover. It could quantify the funding that is needed to properly rebuild the Library’s digital infrastructure'.
I’ve written a piece on the curious lack of media and political interest in the issues faced by our national @britishlibrary.bsky.social. This is strange given we live in a world where ideas, knowledge and research are a long-term source of innovation and insight
www.cityam.com/the-british-...
www.cityam.com/the-british-...
The British library is in crisis: why does nobody care?
The widespread indifference to the British Library's crippling cyberattack demonstrates a perilous failure to value the knowledge infrastructure vital for national prosperity
www.cityam.com
November 18, 2025 at 6:55 AM
'The science select committee should recognise that its remit covers all of research, and conduct an inquiry into the Library, with a view to helping it recover. It could quantify the funding that is needed to properly rebuild the Library’s digital infrastructure'.
Is this film boring or would I have a better sense of the plot if I could tell 3? or more? secondary characters apart: a common question for the faceblind viewer.
November 17, 2025 at 7:53 PM
Is this film boring or would I have a better sense of the plot if I could tell 3? or more? secondary characters apart: a common question for the faceblind viewer.
Reposted by Alex MacFarlane
I feel like the pope being an American cinephile is God finally rewarding Scorsese for a lifetime of devotion
November 17, 2025 at 4:35 AM
I feel like the pope being an American cinephile is God finally rewarding Scorsese for a lifetime of devotion
Silksong: it makes you lament with agony AND shout with triumph!
November 14, 2025 at 10:46 PM
Silksong: it makes you lament with agony AND shout with triumph!
I HAVE UNLOCKED THE SHORTCUT LOOKS LIKE WINNING'S BACK ON THE MENU
Honestly a bit underwhelming doing it so late in the game. Onwards! I will complete that coral gauntlet... one day...
November 14, 2025 at 8:59 PM
I HAVE UNLOCKED THE SHORTCUT LOOKS LIKE WINNING'S BACK ON THE MENU
good times good times #LetterboxdFriday 📽️ #LastFourWatched
November 14, 2025 at 2:46 PM
good times good times #LetterboxdFriday 📽️ #LastFourWatched
Reposted by Alex MacFarlane
seeing a lot of people talking about borders and thought i'd cut right to the quick: we have duties to those we share our lives with, those we share our communities with, and those we share this existence with. the only role of the nation is to blind us to these
"my least woke opinion is---"
That's enough. We've had enough people indulging in the "thrill of a little conservatism", as a treat. Of considering reactionary thought to be a salacious and taboo in a world descending into reactionary mania.
Give me your MOST woke opinions. We're bringing it back.
That's enough. We've had enough people indulging in the "thrill of a little conservatism", as a treat. Of considering reactionary thought to be a salacious and taboo in a world descending into reactionary mania.
Give me your MOST woke opinions. We're bringing it back.
November 14, 2025 at 10:08 AM
seeing a lot of people talking about borders and thought i'd cut right to the quick: we have duties to those we share our lives with, those we share our communities with, and those we share this existence with. the only role of the nation is to blind us to these
Reposted by Alex MacFarlane
In line with much other research, the article *does* find that trans kids are more likely to experience bullying than many of their peers. But screen time is not the problem - transphobia is.
November 14, 2025 at 10:34 AM
In line with much other research, the article *does* find that trans kids are more likely to experience bullying than many of their peers. But screen time is not the problem - transphobia is.
Reposted by Alex MacFarlane
Thinking about Brianna Ghey while reading this article on screen time and bullying. Labour are using her name to push for a crackdown on phone use among teens.
But this research indicates increased screen time does *not* correlate with increased bullying for trans kids - unlike their cis peers.
But this research indicates increased screen time does *not* correlate with increased bullying for trans kids - unlike their cis peers.
Developmental Effects of Screen Time on Gender Diverse Student’s Experiences of Bullying Victimization
We used a large state-wide sample of adolescent students in 8th, 10th, and 12th grades (N = 58,689) to examine the predictive value of screen time on bullying victimization, as well as its interact...
www.tandfonline.com
November 14, 2025 at 10:31 AM
Thinking about Brianna Ghey while reading this article on screen time and bullying. Labour are using her name to push for a crackdown on phone use among teens.
But this research indicates increased screen time does *not* correlate with increased bullying for trans kids - unlike their cis peers.
But this research indicates increased screen time does *not* correlate with increased bullying for trans kids - unlike their cis peers.
Reposted by Alex MacFarlane
"What is certain, and felt instinctively by almost everybody, is that things cannot go on in their present way" – The Times, May 1975
“It is difficult to imagine a previous period when such an all-pervasive hopelessness was exhibited at all levels of British life” – Professor Stephen Haseler, 1975
“It is difficult to imagine a previous period when such an all-pervasive hopelessness was exhibited at all levels of British life” – Professor Stephen Haseler, 1975
November 14, 2025 at 9:13 AM
"What is certain, and felt instinctively by almost everybody, is that things cannot go on in their present way" – The Times, May 1975
“It is difficult to imagine a previous period when such an all-pervasive hopelessness was exhibited at all levels of British life” – Professor Stephen Haseler, 1975
“It is difficult to imagine a previous period when such an all-pervasive hopelessness was exhibited at all levels of British life” – Professor Stephen Haseler, 1975
Reposted by Alex MacFarlane
I truly believe that Wes Streeting has the ideas, the charisma, and the likeability to be an even more historically hated Prime Minister than Keir Starmer
November 13, 2025 at 1:45 PM
I truly believe that Wes Streeting has the ideas, the charisma, and the likeability to be an even more historically hated Prime Minister than Keir Starmer
Reposted by Alex MacFarlane
Reposted by Alex MacFarlane
Well, it's a little clearer now why billionaires are so invested in technology that produces better written emails.
November 12, 2025 at 10:23 PM
Well, it's a little clearer now why billionaires are so invested in technology that produces better written emails.
Gorgeous!!
November 12, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Gorgeous!!
Reposted by Alex MacFarlane
Tunic Fox illustration for the box containing bonus stuff in the Deluxe edition of Tunic: Design Works!
November 12, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Tunic Fox illustration for the box containing bonus stuff in the Deluxe edition of Tunic: Design Works!