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matthew du plessis

@mattduplessis.bsky.social
566 followers 358 following 4.9K posts

Holding up the sky. Stand and deliver, sky.

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matthew du plessis @mattduplessis.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Finally managed to imagine Sisyphus happy but then someone took his boulder away :(
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matthew du plessis @mattduplessis.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Lanterns has turned out to be quite the show. Hitting some very particular 90s GL buttons for me, but not the ones I was expecting.
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atlasnewspaper.bsky.social @atlasnewspaper.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
What shall we pray to, if Silicon Valley evangelists team up with the Vatican and promote coexistence with AI? Find out more in the latest issue of The Atlas — fresh off the press and sent directly to your inbox today.
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The Continent @thecontinent.org · 18/09/2026
All Protocol Observed Welcome to Issue 254 of The Continent. Social media made Mauritania’s iron ore train a daredevil adventure. Our photo essay captures the beauty of ordinary life. bit.ly/254_TC
A black-and-white photograph fills the cover of The Continent. It shows a long passenger train travelling through a vast, pale desert landscape in Mauritania. The photograph is taken from alongside the train, looking backwards along its left side. In the foreground, an arm extends through an open train window towards the landscape, with the hand and fingers reaching out into the open air. Another passenger is partly visible leaning from a window further ahead.

The railway tracks run diagonally from the lower centre of the image towards the distant horizon. The surrounding desert is largely flat and barren, with low dunes, scattered shrubs and rocky patches stretching into the distance.

At the top, a yellow-orange strip reads: “AFRICAN JOURNALISM | 19 SEPTEMBER 2026 | ISSUE 254.” Beneath it, in large white lettering, is the title “The Continent.”

On the right side of the photograph, large dark-grey text reads: “Beyond the spectacle of Mauritania’s iron train.” Below the headline is the photo credit: “FETHI SAHRAOUI / THE CONTINENT.”

The overall cover is stark and minimalist, contrasting the dark train and reaching arm with the almost white expanse of the desert.
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derek guy @dieworkwear.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
this is the kind of design costume designers make to tell you who are the bad guys in a space movie
Donald Trump posts an image on his Truth Social account. It shows a new uniform for US Space Force members, comprising of an all-black outfit with knee-high black leather boots, black cap, and minimalist looking suit.
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b𝚘օO𝚘ₒts @bootsmcgoot.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
Our identities are so fractured online. On tumblr, they'll never know your face. On instagram, they'll never know your thoughts. On bluesky, they'll never know your job. On facebook, they'll never know a dog standing in 4 coke cans is AI.
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The Continent @thecontinent.org · 04/09/2026
All Protocol Observed Welcome to Issue 252 of The Continent Egyptians were using the characters of SpongeBob and his friends to talk about their real lives in a Facebook group. In 2 weeks it gained almost two million members. Then it was shut down. bit.ly/252_TC
The cover of The Continent, Issue 252, dated 5 September 2026, is a colourful underwater cartoon.

At the top, on a yellow strip, it reads “AFRICAN JOURNALISM | 5 SEPTEMBER 2026 | ISSUE 252”. Beneath it, the newspaper’s name, “The Continent”, appears in large white letters against a bright turquoise-blue sea.

The main headline, in large white type, reads: “Egypt finds trouble at the bottom of the sea.”

The illustration is a playful underwater scene featuring characters from SpongeBob SquarePants. SpongeBob and Squidward are standing on the seabed with bows and arrows, shooting yellow-tipped arrows towards a large structure on the right.

The structure looks like a giant underwater display or board, with arrows pointing towards labels including “UNEMPLOYMENT”, “COST OF LIVING”, “MIGRATION”, “POOR HEALTH CARE”, “POWER SHORTAGE” and “POWER SHORTAGE” again. It appears to represent Egypt’s social and economic problems.

Behind the board is a large “MINISTRY OF INTERIOR EGYPT” box, with a stern-looking Egyptian official sitting behind a desk and apparently operating or controlling the board.

The seabed contains coral, seaweed and familiar cartoon underwater buildings, including SpongeBob’s pineapple house. The overall image is bright, humorous and deliberately absurd, using the SpongeBob world to satirise Egypt’s domestic troubles. At the bottom left is the credit: “ILLUSTRATION: YEMSRACH YETNEBERK.”
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Mollie Goodfellow @hansmollman.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Oh no how will the worst person you know make content
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The Onion @theonion.com · 03/09/2026
Brad Pitt Drops Last Name In Solidarity With Family
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Coda Story @codastory.com · 01/09/2026
1/ Mathematics has long been considered the foundation of human knowledge. Now large language models are getting better at solving some puzzles. Mathematicians must decide if, and how, they will work with this new technology.
codastory.com
As mathematicians grapple with AI, divisions are multiplying - Coda Story
Mathematics has long been considered – not least by mathematicians – to be the foundation of human knowledge. Now large language models are getting better at solving some puzzles. Mathematicians must ...
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HOPE not hate @hopenothate.org.uk · 31/08/2026
And the biggest howler: Reform’s geniuses in Kent were apparently able to repaint a fence, trim the verge, plant grass seed (and get it to grow instantly), redo the pavement and repave the road all so quickly that the car in the top-right corner didn’t move an inch! Amazing!
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Brandon Wolff @defjamforcutie.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
One of the beaglemancers was doing hexes at the park again
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matthew du plessis @mattduplessis.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
In this week’s edition of The Atlas, a… #kdrama review? via @atlasnewspaper.bsky.social
Who you gonna call?

Is South Korea banishing the ghosts of injustice, or swapping them out for a brand new batch of vengeful spirits?

Spooky in Love finished its run this
weekend past, capping off the
overdue return to the drama limelight
by Extraordinary Attorney Woo’s Park
Eun-bin. 

It also likely marks the very
last time a popular kdrama formula
ever gets to see the light of day.
Park is Cheon Yeo-ri, a woman
haunted by past trauma. 

Literally: after her fiancé saves her from
drowning, but dies in her place, she is
visited by restless spirits of the dead
– and helps them find peace, mainly
by solving crimes. 

Yeo-ri is aided (and serenaded) by Ma Gang-uk, a
dashing prosecutor who, under South
Korea’s justice system, doesn’t just get
to prosecute cases in court, but also do
the detective work himself.

Played with golden-retriever
energy by Yang Se Jong (My Country:
The New Age), Gang-uk investigates,
interrogates, cuts through red tape,
and prosecutes in court. Combining
investigation and prosecution is
usually associated with autocracies –
but it’s long been a key part of South
Korea’s justice system.

Until now. The National Assembly
passed a series of bills this year,
splitting the investigative prerogative
out from the prosecutions service and
bringing the justice system in line
with the separation of powers familiar
to Western democracies.

This is meant to sever the perceived
link between the concentrated
power of the prosecutors’ office and
decades of corruption and political
shenanigans. 

Critics say prosecutors
have used (and been used for) their
prerogative to conduct a sort of
legal blackmail – digging up dirt
on opponents and then “choosing”
whether or not to prosecute. 

In 2009,
former president Roh Moo-hyun was
driven to suicide after leaving office
by a brutal prosecution campaign that
by some accounts was revenge for
trying to water down these powers.
You might suppose this year’s
reform would therefore be popular.

Hardly. The changes remo…
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Bear Claw Billie (1590/5000) @bearclawbillie.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
HEY THIS IS JUST A PAINTING OF A THEATER SHOWING COYOTE VS. ACME
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matthew du plessis @mattduplessis.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
If you’ve been wondering where I’ve been and what I’ve been doing I’ve been here and I’ve been doing this. Check it out it’s rad
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atlasnewspaper.bsky.social @atlasnewspaper.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
2/ The Atlas is a monthly publication from @codastory.com and @thecontinent.org. We live in the same world. Let's read from the same page. Get your copy delivered every month — for free. If this resonates with you, help it travel.
theatlasnewspaper.org
The Atlas
Navigate the new world order with The Atlas. Published by Coda Story and The Continent. Free for humans.
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atlasnewspaper.bsky.social @atlasnewspaper.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
1/ If mathematics is the foundation of human knowledge, mathematicians are its guardians — and they're having an existential crisis. Issue 004 of The Atlas goes inside the quiet revolution in mathematics, as AI gets better at solving problems that have stumped humans for years.
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Steven Pumpkin Spice 🦇🎃 @silent0siris.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
He’s gone to the only place not yet corrupted by capitalism ❤️
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matthew du plessis @mattduplessis.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
Fair enough. Went a bit rogue there.
NYT Spelling Bee rejects ANGBAND
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BeijingPalmer @beijingpalmer.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
the entire Chinese internet has embraced what's basically a work of outsider art; a terribly animated film about a cow's dream made by a mother-son team and distributed by a former interior decoration company. It's now made millions at the box office.
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Nicholas Dawes @nicdawes.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
South Africa's top court just ended Shell's bid to start oil and gas exploration along a sensitive coast. If you are experiencing US Supreme Court-related symptoms, reading this kind of jurisprudence, grounded in core constitutional rights and responsive to current context, may exacerbate them.
saflii.org
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matthew du plessis @mattduplessis.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
Lord, I see what you have done for others…
pbs.org
France is banning unsolicited telemarketing calls starting next week
France next week will ban unsolicited telemarketing calls under a new law aimed at protecting consumers from intrusive sales pitches and shielding vulnerable people from fraudulent commercial practice...
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The Continent @thecontinent.org · 31/07/2026
All Protocol Observed Welcome to Issue 247 of The Continent Be aware of your sharing permissions. We got the spreadsheet for how Rwanda pays influencers to craft its shiny image. bit.ly/247_TC
This is the cover of Issue 247 of The Continent. It is dominated by a giant puppet master's hand reaching in from the top right. The sleeve bears the Rwandan flag, representing the Rwandan state. Four strings hang from its fingers, controlling four people below like marionettes.

Each person is absorbed in a smartphone. They are shown in different poses: one slouches while scrolling, another sits smiling at her screen, a third walks with head bowed over a phone, and a fourth hunches over a device. None appears aware that they are being manipulated.

The blue background resembles a digital network filled with faint social media logos and online symbols, including WhatsApp, TikTok, Instagram, X, email icons, hashtags and AI graphics. Scattered among them are slogans and usernames such as #VisitRwanda, #RwandaSafe, @Manzi_Patriotic and @harerimana_tittu, suggesting an organised online influence campaign.

The headline reads: "Rwanda: Like, follow, share." The words mimic the familiar prompts used on social media but, paired with the puppet strings, imply that online support for Rwanda is being directed or orchestrated rather than arising organically.

The cover is illustrated by Gado.The poster has a deep midnight-blue background, creating the feeling of quiet, safety and concentration.

At its centre is a small child reading beneath a makeshift shelter built from books. Four large books stand upright like pillars, while another open book rests across the top to form a roof, creating a cosy reading nook. The child lies on their stomach, feet crossed in the air, completely absorbed in a copy of The Continent. Their face is lit by the warm glow of a torch placed on the newspaper, suggesting they are reading late into the night.

The books forming the shelter are in shades of blue, purple and teal. One spine reads "Reading is resistance", reinforcing the poster's message that reading and access to information are acts of empowerment.

Beneath the illustration is an invitation to subscribe for free via WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram or email, followed by The Continent logo.
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Chenchen Zhang 🤦🏻‍♀️ @chenchenzhang.net · 25/07/2026
Icymi: I joined the SPRC podcast to talk about my book, digital reactionary discourse, and our own Shicha podcast & the new Chinese diaspora Episode webpage: soundcloud.com/ucl-advanced... Media file: feeds.soundcloud.com/stream/23651...
soundcloud.com
SPRC In Conversation with Dr Chenchen Zhang
Luke de Noronha is joined by Chenchen Zhang, Associate Professor in International Relations at Durham University. Chenchen’s book Easting the West: Theorizing the Postliberal Conjuncture from China, w
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The Continent @thecontinent.org · 24/07/2026
All Protocol Observed Welcome to Issue 246 of The Continent. We’ve been around for a while. But nowhere near as long as the family ruling Togo. Our investigation found what was covered as a constitutional power-grab last year came at a devastating human cost. bit.ly/246_TC
This is the cover of Issue 246 of The Continent. It is designed like an investigator's evidence board pinned over a map of Togo. A warm brown background resembles aged paper, with the long, narrow outline of the country running vertically down the right side.

Red string stretches across the map, connecting blue drawing pins and yellow sticky notes, creating the impression of a conspiracy or criminal investigation. The notes mark key moments and locations, including "May 2024", "June 2025", "Jan 2026", "No term limits", "Takes power 2005", "Civil prison", "Main square", "Djidjolé gendarmerie", "Sylvanus Olympio hospital" and the capital, Lomé. The strings suggest these events and places are linked.

Pinned over the map is a torn newspaper clipping from *The Continent* about unofficial militias in Togo. In front of it stands an illustration of a masked gendarme in riot gear, holding a baton. His face is completely covered by a black balaclava, making him anonymous and intimidating. He wears body armour labelled "Gendarmerie", reinforcing the theme of state force and secrecy.

Partly hidden beneath the newspaper is a faded photograph of a grand colonial-era building, hinting at political power and the state.

Running down the map itself is the word "TOGO" in large, faded letters. At the top, the masthead *The Continent* appears in large white type, while a banner above it reads: "African Journalism | 25 July 2026 | Issue 246."A poster with a warm cream background features the words "Reading is resistance." in large, bold black lettering at the top.

Below the text is a colourful illustration of a person lying on their stomach reading a newspaper. Their elbows rest on the pages while their head is propped up in their hands. They wear a pink shirt and a cap, with a pair of shoes on their raised feet behind them.

The reader is sheltered beneath a roof made from the open pages of a giant book. The book is supported by two oversized upright books on either side, creating the shape of a small house or tent. The books are illustrated in soft blues, purples, greens and yellow, giving the image a warm, inviting feel.

At the bottom, the poster invites people to subscribe to The Continent for free by messaging a South African phone number on WhatsApp, Signal or Telegram, or by emailing read@thecontinent.org. The Continent appears in bold black type at the very bottom.
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The Continent @thecontinent.org · 17/07/2026
All Protocol Observed Welcome to Issue 245 of The Continent. What happens when a liberation movement delays succession for too long? Muhoozi Kainerugaba is more than an Uganda's chief internet provocateur and the president’s son. He's the heir apparent, maybe. bit.ly/245_TC
This is the cover of The Continent (Issue 245, dated 18 July 2026) featuring a satirical illustration of Uganda's General Muhoozi Kainerugaba reimagined as the Joker. The headline reads: "The heir apparent, maybe."

Muhoozi lounges casually in a large presidential-style chair beneath the Ugandan coat of arms. He wears an exaggerated Joker-inspired outfit: a purple suit, bright green shirt, oversized green bow tie, purple gloves and a light green military helmet instead of the Joker's trademark green hair. His face has been painted with a wide, unsettling red grin and heavy eye makeup, giving him the Joker's manic smile while remaining recognisably Muhoozi.

He reclines with one leg draped over the arm of the chair, projecting supreme confidence. In one gloved hand he casually twirls a revolver with a white flag tied to the barrel reading "BANG" in red letters, referencing the Joker's trick weapon. In the other hand he fans a set of playing cards, another Joker motif.A poster with a warm cream background features the words "Reading is resistance." in large, bold black lettering at the top.

Below the text is a colourful illustration of a person lying on their stomach reading a newspaper. Their elbows rest on the pages while their head is propped up in their hands. They wear a pink shirt and a cap, with a pair of shoes on their raised feet behind them.

The reader is sheltered beneath a roof made from the open pages of a giant book. The book is supported by two oversized upright books on either side, creating the shape of a small house or tent. The books are illustrated in soft blues, purples, greens and yellow, giving the image a warm, inviting feel.

At the bottom, the poster invites people to subscribe to The Continent for free by messaging a South African phone number on WhatsApp, Signal or Telegram, or by emailing read@thecontinent.org. The Continent appears in bold black type at the very bottom.
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Chenchen Zhang 🤦🏻‍♀️ @chenchenzhang.net · 14/07/2026
many thanks to Clyde Wang for engaging with my book and raising generative questions. I really enjoyed this conversation for @madeinchinajournal.com, and I hope you do as well! madeinchinajournal.com/2026/07/14/e...
madeinchinajournal.com
Easting the West: A Conversation with Chenchen Zhang | Made in China Journal
At a time when right-wing populism appears to be rampaging through global politics, studies about its discourses and strategies remain thin and even marginal in the field of international relations. T...
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matthew du plessis @mattduplessis.bsky.social · 12/07/2026
static.klipy.com
Monty Python No It Isnt
Alt: 😒
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matthew du plessis @mattduplessis.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
If there’s one thing Joburg still does well, it’s winter sun.
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Mark Chadbourn @chadbourn.bsky.social · 27/06/2026
One of the great sources of humour is listening to things like the NYT’s The Daily podcast describing US democratic socialists as “extreme” when they’d barely make it to centre-left in Europe.
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Tom Shapira @tomshaps.bsky.social · 27/06/2026
Alfredo Alcala, master of the art AND master of the putdown
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GenAAaarghhvieve 🧟‍♀️ @gensibayan.bsky.social · 27/06/2026
Me : I cannot bear children Them: oh, I'm so sorry Me: Yours are particularly awful. Get them away from me 🤢
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Sarah Emily Duff @sarahemilyduff.bsky.social · 26/06/2026
‘The fact is that in the past Americans generally greeted emerging technologies with optimism.’ By @pkrugman.bsky.social
paulkrugman.substack.com
Why Does Everyone Hate AI?
It’s the fear, the enshittification, datacenter hostility, and the tech broligarchy
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Dr Jo Edge 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 @hagenilda.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
Screaming
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Chris Vermilion @verm.me · 21/06/2026
This headline is a real roller coaster
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Bebe Neuwirth (she/her) @bebeneuwirth.bsky.social · 21/06/2026
omg same same same
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Ramin Nasibov @nasibov.me · 20/06/2026
Another day, another stupid Excel chart.
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matthew du plessis @mattduplessis.bsky.social · 20/06/2026
Really thought I’d be a better student than I was the first time round circa the rinderpest yet here I am again up before dawn to do my overdue homework 😑
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The Continent @thecontinent.org · 19/06/2026
All Protocol Observed Welcome to Issue 244 of The Continent Goons, les miliciens, baltagiya: different names, same job. Across Africa, muscle-for-hire helps politicians wield power through intimidation and violence – all while maintaining plausible deniability. bit.ly/244_TC
This is the cover of The Continent illustrated by Gado. The headline reads: “Africa’s shadow enforcers” and features a series of figures representing political goons and online propagandists from across the continent.

Against a plain purplish-grey background, seven men are spaced out across the page, each drawn as a different archetype of political intimidation.

On the top row, one man dressed in white traditional clothing grips a club and a bloodstained machete. Next to him is a masked figure in a yellow T-shirt with a skull-and-crossbones emblem, carrying electrical cables and a heavy tool. Beside him stands a stocky man in military-style clothing with a stick resting on his shoulder. At the far right is a masked man in a green jacket holding a bloodied machete and a pair of handcuffs.

On the bottom row, an older man in a blue coat stands among scattered rocks, holding a small axe. In the centre is a heavily muscled strongman with folded arms, wearing a sleeveless orange shirt and a pistol tucked into his waistband. On the right is a young man in a blue hoodie, looking down at a mobile phone – a nod to online propagandists or “keyboard warriors”.



A stylised illustration on a beige background with the large headline: “Reading is resistance.” Below the text is a stack of colourful books arranged like a small structure. Inside the “frame” of the books, a person with short pink hair reclines comfortably while reading a newspaper, one leg stretched upward against the books. The figure is drawn in a simple, graphic style with bold outlines and muted colours. At the bottom, there’s text inviting people to subscribe to The Continent for free via WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram, or email, followed by the publication’s name.
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Michael Balazo @mbalazo.bsky.social · 13/06/2026
I’m nervous that money will spoil Elon. Let’s hope he doesn’t become rude!
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matthew du plessis @mattduplessis.bsky.social · 11/03/2026
Papageno/Papagena to the tune of the Macarena.
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Chenchen Zhang 🤦🏻‍♀️ @chenchenzhang.net · 11/06/2026
📚Introduction free to download📚 It's the official release day of my book and OUP has made the Introduction chapter free to read. academic.oup.com/book/62722/c... Take a look if you're interested in... why do I want to study ideas of 'the west' from without, why do I want to theorize the postliberal
academic.oup.com
Introduction: Constructing the West from the East
Abstract. This book is positioned at the intersection of two lines of inquiry: the co-production of hierarchical difference in world politics and reading t
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matthew du plessis @mattduplessis.bsky.social · 06/06/2026
Oh look a live-action prequel to Secret of Nimh just dropped. Like Rise of the Planet of the Apes but squeakier. 👀
iflscience.com
A Human "Language Gene" Was Inserted Into Mice And Strange Things Unfolded
The mice are still incapable of writing the complete works of Shakespeare, as far as we know.
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@ghoshworld @ghoshworld.bsky.social · 04/06/2026
If the Nobel committee won’t give Trump the Peace Prize for ending the most number of wars… maybe they’ll give it to him for ending one war the most number of times.
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matthew du plessis @mattduplessis.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
Not now Seth. Maybe tomorrow.
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Mike McMahan @mikemcmahan.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
He also wore this while recording Lower Decks.
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Jim Johnson @ineti.bsky.social · 30/05/2026
BREAKING NEWS: Mariner and Tendi have dropped out of the Freedom 250 celebration. #LLAP
static.klipy.com
Alt: Star Trek: Lower Decks Mariner and Tendi rocking out.
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b𝚘օO𝚘ₒts @bootsmcgoot.bsky.social · 30/05/2026
Social Skills Training, by Solmaz Sharif
Studies suggest How may I help you officer? is the single most disarming thing to say and not What's the problem? Studies suggest it’s best the help reply My pleasure and not No problem. Studies suggest it’s best not to mention problem in front of power even to say there is none.Gloria Steinem says women lose power as they age and yet the loudest voice in my head is my mother. Studies show the mother we have in mind isn’t the mother that exists. Mine says: What the fuck are you crying for? Studies show the baby monkey will pick the fake monkey with fake fur over the furless wire monkey with milk, without contest. Studies show to negate something is to think it anyway. I’m not sad. I’m not sad. Studies recommend regular expressions of gratitude and internal check-ins. Enough, the wire mother says. History is a kind of study.History says we forgave the executioner. Before we mopped the blood we asked: Lord Judge, have I executed well? Studies suggest yes. What the fuck are you crying for, officer? the wire mother teaches me to say, while studies suggest Solmaz, have you thanked your executioner today?
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The Continent @thecontinent.org · 29/05/2026
All Protocol Observed Welcome to Issue 241 of The Continent Africa loses $90bn a year to illicit financial flows. Cameroon officially exported just one suitcase worth of gold in 2023 — but records abroad showed more than 15 tonnes, mostly heading to the UAE. bit.ly/241_TC
This is the cover of Issue 241 of The Continent newspaper. It has a black background with an illustration centred on the flow of African gold wealth. At the top, the masthead “The Continent” appears in large white letters, with the date “30 May 2026” and “Issue 241” above it.

The illustration by Gado shows a gold bar stamped “Made in Cameroon” being tilted by a hand wearing a white sleeve with a UAE flag patch. Small gold nuggets spill from the bar like coins or grains. As the gold falls, it passes through several outstretched hands reaching up from different directions, suggesting middlemen or intermediaries taking their share. At the bottom, only a few tiny pieces reach a final pair of thin arms holding an empty bowl, symbolising ordinary people receiving very little from the country’s mineral wealth.

On the lower left, the headline reads: “Cameroon’s $300-million gold drain.” 
A stylised illustration on a beige background with the large headline: “Reading is resistance.” Below the text is a stack of colourful books arranged like a small structure. Inside the “frame” of the books, a person with short pink hair reclines comfortably while reading a newspaper, one leg stretched upward against the books. The figure is drawn in a simple, graphic style with bold outlines and muted colours. At the bottom, there’s text inviting people to subscribe to The Continent for free via WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram, or email, followed by the publication’s name.
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