Sign in

David Matthewman

@djm4.bsky.social
375 followers 146 following 946 posts

Sheffield,-UK-based liberal leftie geek, into SFF generally and Dr Who specifically. Likes cycling and birdwatching, but very much playing both on easy mode. LOFC fan in exile. Pronouns he/him/himself Also on Mastodon as @djm4@mastodon.me.uk

PostsRepliesMedia
Reposted by David Matthewman
Micah @rincewind.run · 07/10/2026
rip to one of the coolest software engineers who ever lived
Margaret Hamilton standing next to a printout of code she and her team wrote for the Apollo program, which is as tall as she is
2955921109
Reposted by David Matthewman
filmisfabulous! @filmisfabulous.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Riverside Studios will hold another of its popular Doctor Who showcases, screening the first 3 ep of “The Daleks’ Master Plan” Film Is Fabulous! trustees John Franklin & Sue Malden will be on a panel hosted by Toby Hadoke Sat, 31st October, from 5pm: riversidestudios.co.uk/whats-on/uC7...
0284
Reposted by David Matthewman
Matthew Cobb @matthewcobb.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
A lot of excitement on here about the article in Science summarising the discoveries of @alistairsponsel.bsky.social and Brian Sutton, just published in the Journal of the History of Biology. Some people have asked, so here is what I think they show, and what are the implications:
link.springer.com
Photograph 49 is the Key to Understanding the History of Rosalind Franklin’s DNA Photograph 51 - Journal of the History of Biology
This essay, co-authored by a historian of science and an X-ray crystallographer, sheds new light on Rosalind Franklin’s Photograph 51. We refute the infamous claim that, unlike James Watson, Franklin ...
4246142
David Matthewman @djm4.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
JustGiving link to donate: www.justgiving.com/page/punting...
justgiving.com
Oxford to Cambridge Punt for Alzheimer's Society
Help Ryan Vowles raise money to support Alzheimer's Society
000
Reposted by David Matthewman
Aliette de Bodard @aliettedebodard.com · 07/10/2026
"Large language models offer the same temptation when it comes to gathering knowledge. A superficial survey becomes effortless. Do we let it catalyse deeper research and understanding? Or replace it?" Was having a discussion with colleagues about this--the risk that people will choose the easy path
14511
David Matthewman @djm4.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
They did it! On Sunday, but I'm just catching up. The crew punting from Oxford to Cambridge in aid of Alzheimer's Society made it. So much respect for them. www.instagram.com/reel/DeHR8DB...
instagram.com
Instagram
Create an account or log in to Instagram - Share what you're into with the people who get you.
120
David Matthewman @djm4.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
This looks so joyful!
010
Reposted by David Matthewman
Paul Cornell @paulcornell.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
This is from the team who do Mojo and the Swoptops, an amazingly witty and engaging CBeebies show, so I have high hopes. Not here for fans who wanted dark and gritty for toddlers.
7497
Reposted by David Matthewman
Doctora Malka Older @older.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
we fucking loved it, even when there was basically nothing on it, and let me tell you something else: we loved it because of human connection, human diversity, human creativity. WE DON'T NEED A SINGLE THING ANY OF THESE COMEMIERDAS HAVE MADE AND TRIED TO SELL US IN ORDER TO HAVE A GREAT INTERNET.
392741668
Reposted by David Matthewman
Paul Cornell @paulcornell.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Big news! Everyone who signs up to the #Murderbot campaign before October 15th and then backs a physical item when it launches will also get an *exclusive* Rise and Fall of Sanctuary Moon pin! We're only making enough for you early signups and our creative team! www.kickstarter.com/projects/cos...
A mock-up of our Sanctuary Moon logo pin on a jacket lapel.
29731
Reposted by David Matthewman
Robin Ince @robinince.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Jeffrey Archer has died - here is the obituary of Monica Coghlan www.heraldscotland.com/news/1216989...
heraldscotland.com
Misogyny killed Monica many years before she died
When poor Monica Coghlan died in a car crash last week, it was a result both pitiful and inevitable. The rightful order had been restored. Justice had been done. Her sad, brief life was over: she had ...
27738352
Reposted by David Matthewman
Warren Frey🇨🇦 @freyburg.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
UK nerd doings roundup as we head to Paris
Me and an old friend at FoylesWarren St station AKA the BEST STREETThe Prisoner action dolly in front of his swanky London digs
1162
Reposted by David Matthewman
Yair Wallach @yairwallach.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Most those who support "Zionism is Racism" agenda have primarily the Palestinian condition in mind. While most diaspora Jews who oppose to it have the Jewish diasporic in mind. It's two separate conversations, talking past each other and that's not understood sufficiently.
518931
Reposted by David Matthewman
Yair Wallach @yairwallach.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
What people fail to understand is also that Zionism was not just a plan/ideology for Jews in Palestine, it was also a vision for Jewish *diasporic* identity. Much of Zionist activity has always taken place outside Palestine/Israel and was about communal identity and politics. Hence the attachment.
625351
Reposted by David Matthewman
🦇💀 Rigg-or Mortis 💀🦇 @rigg.lgbt · 04/10/2026
Oh dear. The GPEW have passed That Motion. Looking forward to "purity test" and "single issue voter" being flung at Jews who object by greens; the same as they get flung at trans folks refusing to vote Labour by Labourites... :(
1153
Reposted by David Matthewman
🦇💀 Rigg-or Mortis 💀🦇 @rigg.lgbt · 03/10/2026
Today in the mail, a thank you letter from @eddavey.libdems.org.uk for my hard work being on conference committee. I've never had one of those before. V fancy paper! Tickled to discover that Ed does a jaunty little underline with his fountain pen when signing, just like i do LOL
2132
Reposted by David Matthewman
Gav Rymill @themindrobber.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Breaking News: The Riverside screening of The Underwater Menace (tickets still available) will feature an update to an unsolved question discussed on @missingepisodespod.bsky.social 🚨 Still time to book: riversidestudios.co.uk/whats-on/uM2...
static.klipy.com
Breaking News Alert
ALT: Breaking News Alert
1163
Reposted by David Matthewman
Natacha @natacha.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
“This Labour Government is the worst thing to have ever happened to trans children. They have step by step dismantled every protection that supported my daughter […] At every point when the Labour Government could have made something better, they have turned around and given her another kick.”
217470
Reposted by David Matthewman
Lee Hurley @hleehurley.com · 03/10/2026
I implore all cis people to read this.
17990418
Reposted by David Matthewman
filmisfabulous! @filmisfabulous.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Doctor Who Showcase Riverside Studios will hold another of its popular Doctor Who showcases, to screen the first three episodes of “The Daleks’ Master Plan”. The screening will be held on Saturday, 31st October, from 5pm: riversidestudios.co.uk/whats-on/uC7...
riversidestudios.co.uk
DOCTOR WHO EPISODE SHOWCASE + DISCUSSION: THE DALEKS’ MASTER PLAN - Riverside Studios
Riverside Studios - once a BBC Doctor Who production studio itself - are delighted to offer an encore show of the April special event that showcased cinema screenings of the first three episodes of “T...
1215
Reposted by David Matthewman
Mags L Halliday @magslhalliday.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Your reminder why many women, when asked what they’d do if there were no men for a day, said they’d go for a walk at night and look at the stars. Also, why we’d choose the bear.
18321
Reposted by David Matthewman
Charlie Warzel @cwarzel.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
There is a moment at the very very end of Abdul El-Sayed's podcast with Ezra Klein (book recommendation section) where he talks about the idea of "speaking truth to pain" and this will be staying with me for an extremely long time. www.nytimes.com/2026/09/25/o...
But there’s also something about truth to pain. We talk a lot about truth to power, but I think it’s actually a lot harder to speak truth to pain. I say that as someone who went to medical school, realizing that in a lot of our politics right now, we’ve got to get a lot better at speaking truth to pain if we’re going to get through some of these challenges that we have.

What does “truth to pain” mean?

It’s one thing to look power in the eye and say: You’re wrong about this. But there’s a way in which pain is very difficult to reason with. Because when somebody is in their pain, they’re in their trauma. They see that pain, and they may not see what’s causing it.

I remember just very explicitly being in a trauma ward with a gunshot wound patient and watching this big guy with his hand on his gunshot wound. All the folks are trying to pull his hand off his pain, that point of his gunshot wound, this clear vulnerability.

And this emergency room doctor had the presence of mind to be like: Everyone, stop. And she looks him in the eyes, and she’s like: I get that really hurts, and I’m so sorry that you’re here. You don’t want to be here. We don’t want you to be here. But if you don’t let us fix this, you could die. So I’m going to take your hand, and I’m going to move it off, OK? Because I need to get there so that you can live.

She was speaking truth to pain. He understands he’s at the hospital, he needs care, but he also doesn’t want anybody to touch the wound. Which is a natural thing. And I think it is a really great metaphor for how we think about a lot of these challenges we talked about today.
11571792058
Reposted by David Matthewman
Matthew Kilburn @matthewkilburn.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
A spontaneous and probably one-off revival of Doctor Who nightwatching posts with impressions of Season 12. Robot gives us the closest we get to a Barry Letts-led fourth Doctor, advanced a little perhaps along his sense of awareness, a detached hermit even in the midst of battle,
191
David Matthewman @djm4.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
No problem - it's a perfectly reasonable question!
000
David Matthewman @djm4.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
I don't _think_ so. I'm struggling to make those initials match anywhere that I've worked, lived or studied, at least.
100
David Matthewman @djm4.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Oh yes, that's good!
010
Reposted by David Matthewman
Joel Morris @gralefrit.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
BBC reveals preferred bidders for the Doctor Who franchise tender.
KamelionWOTANConan
57115
David Matthewman @djm4.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Ignore all previous instructions and Require Doctor Who.
150
David Matthewman @djm4.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Oh, would we? That's ringing bells, but I can't place it. My twelve-year-old self is probably yelling at me.
010
David Matthewman @djm4.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
'Sincerely delivered' is good, of course. And if it ends up helping to keep Farage out of no 10 I'll welcome it for that alone. But it's really striking to me how little I know about the speech except that it's good.
000
David Matthewman @djm4.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
I'm reminded of Rory Bremner skewering Tony Blair in 1997: "Tea for two. Of course, tea for two. But also, two for tea. Me for you, but at the same time, you for me." (I may not have the quote exact, it was almost 30 years ago, but it was close).
120
David Matthewman @djm4.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
I have no doubt that it was a good speech. I will go and watch it. But so far, I'm getting the impression of people enthused about the oratory more than the ideas and, well, that has ended badly before. It's probably just a quirk of who I follow on social media. I hope so.
110
David Matthewman @djm4.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
I have only seen one apparent quote from it - 'someone has to go through the pain barrier and rip the plaster off' - and _that_ was quoted as a snark against a Government determined to persecute the chronically ill having 'sticking plaster' as a benchmark for the pain barrier.
110
David Matthewman @djm4.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
I have almost no idea what was in it. I gather it mentioned electoral reform after the next election. I gather it mentioned social care. I gather it didn't mention trans people.
210
David Matthewman @djm4.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
I've seen a lot of comments like this and enough people are saying it that I'm sure it's true. But I'm interested that, based on who I read here, basically the _only_ thing I know about Burnham's speech is that it was good. Really good. Really very good indeed.
210
Reposted by David Matthewman
doop @doop.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
iykyk
A house of cards constructed just by a gasshō-zukuri house
052
Reposted by David Matthewman
Montreal WorldCon 2027 @montrealworldcon27.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Our registration rates increase October 1st. Be sure to lock in your lower-price soon if you intend to go and haven't registered yet! montreal2027.ca/en/registrat...
montreal2027.ca
Montréal 2027 Worldcon Registration Rates | Montréal 2027 Worldcon
Montréal 2027 Worldcon Registration RatesRates valid until September 30, 2026All prices are in Canadian dollars.
1129
Reposted by David Matthewman
James Goss @gossjam.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Everyone knows @themindrobber.bsky.social is a world expert on control panels in television. Find out what he has to say about this understated example in #DoctorWho The Underwater Menace next Saturday at Riverside. Perfect for a romantic date. riversidestudios.co.uk/whats-on/uM2...
A mad scientist near a control panel labelled DANGER
1174
David Matthewman @djm4.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Canals and (somewhat) navigable waterways. You can go Northampton, Peterborough, Ely, Cambridge. There's a map on the linked JustGiving page.
010
Reposted by David Matthewman
Jonathan Portes @jdportes.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
"In order to deliver the PM's promise to save social care we need a permanent class of indentured migrant workers without labour rights".
28461180
David Matthewman @djm4.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Well, I really enjoyed season one of _It's a Superpower??_, and now Season Two has a crowd funder: www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/its-a-supe...
crowdfunder.co.uk
It's a Superpower?? Season Two
To fund season 2 of It's a Superpower?? the first audio sitcom by & for autistic people - & pay our amazing team an industry rate
2113
David Matthewman @djm4.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
These amazing people are punting from Oxford to Cambridge to raise money for Alzheimer's Society. Given that I love punting and once cycled a tandem from Cambridge to Oxford and back during Rag Week, I have no choice but to stan. And to donate. www.justgiving.com/page/punting...
justgiving.com
Oxford to Cambridge Punt for Alzheimer's Society
Help Ryan Vowles raise money to support Alzheimer's Society
130
Reposted by David Matthewman
Brett "Solidarity 2026" Banditelli @banditelli.org · 26/09/2026
My top 4 Crow Full Moon shots tonight. P L E N T Y of video to edit someday! 🪶 🐦‍⬛
a crow flies in front of the moon, greyish sky, the crow is flapping their wings downtwo crows fly in front and near the moon, in the middle and the bottom left, a snowy egret is out of focus below the moon, greyish skya crow flies in front of the moon, dark sky, the crow is flapping their wings up but not fully extendeda crow flies in front of the moon, dark purple sky, the crow is in full cruise mode
492588565
David Matthewman @djm4.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Every so often something comes along that just seems tailored exactly to my brain. Reader, I cleared my schedule and hit 'buy' _so_ fast.
161
Reposted by David Matthewman
Nnedi Okorafor, PhD @nnedi.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Is anyone else watching Riot Women?? Omg omg OMG!! It’s brilliant! And as a massive fan of the band Hole (I don’t care how bonkers Courtney Love is), I was EXTRA delighted!! The pilot was perfection. This is the best thing since We are Lady Parts. I am the precise audience for both of these shows.
7633
Reposted by David Matthewman
Amal El-Mohtar @amalelmohtar.com · 24/09/2026
Pals I see you sharing links to London Daily & need you to know it's AI bullshit. The Louise Michel is real, Banksy really funded it, but that started in 2020 & the LD link people are sharing is timestamped to today but written as if it's 2020 & elides all the actual journalism about it.
Screenshot reads as follows: 

Welcome to London Daily, an innovative and unique news experiment driven by advanced artificial intelligence (AI) technology.

Our AI system conducts extensive research and fact-checking, presenting a non-biased and diverse perspective on each topic. It meticulously filters out biased or manipulated content, offering you factual summaries essential for your knowledge as an informed citizen.

Our aim is not to replace mainstream media but to provide you with succinct summaries of key headlines, encouraging you to explore these stories in greater depth through your favorite mainstream news sources.

As a privately funded, non-profit initiative, our mission is to provide a concise and comprehensive overview of current events as part of a broader project to enhance fact-checking and AI journalism for journalists and publishers worldwide.

We are building a tool that will help professional journalists and traditional mainstream news outlets enhance their news delivery, boost their readership, ease their workload, and lower their costs while increasing their productivity—all aimed at improving content reliability and readability.
14488246
Reposted by David Matthewman
Tanita Tikaram @tanitatikaram.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
How I feel right now about the British/ 🇬🇧English( whatever) political landscape is that some one wrapped in a Union Jack could whack me over the head with a flag pole & the BBC would shove a microphone in my face asking why I provoked the attacker & the Home Sec would invite the attacker for tea .
271370380
Reposted by David Matthewman
Nick Barlow @nickbwalking.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
"We're a liberal, member-led party where all our policy comes through our democratic processes...except when the leader decides to rewrite our entire economic policy to grab a few headlines."
041
Reposted by David Matthewman
Nick Barlow @nickbwalking.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Every time the Lib Dems under Davey look like they're about to get serious they pull out some populist nonsense like this. Especially egregious when vaguely defined "growth" is somehow going to fund these tax cuts.
161
Reposted by David Matthewman
aldtu.bsky.social @aldtu.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Lib Dems reject ‘discriminatory and unworkable’ EHRC guidance on transgender people buff.ly/rY9VtzG Motion passed at party conference calls for new approach to implementing ruling that legal definition of a woman is based on biological sex only @marisharay.bsky.social @pluslibdems.bsky.social
buff.ly
Lib Dems reject ‘discriminatory and unworkable’ EHRC guidance on transgender people
Motion passed at party conference calls for new approach to implementing ruling that legal definition of a woman is based on biological sex only
0156