7. Grandad YouTube video by Matt Ballantine

Some more randomness for you.

This time on wiggly careers and why I've got a set of stamps in a frame on the wall of my office...

youtube.com/shorts/PZE7g...

@laurenleek.eu you might find our book of interest (when it finally gets published...) randomthebook.com

This is a fascinating and deep dive into gambling, social third spaces, and hacking markets. Oh, and why the betting industry didn't tolerate winners.

6. Shuffle YouTube video by Matt Ballantine

Another bit of randomness for you... youtube.com/shorts/xrqmb...

Weeknote 775 – biography This week I have learned: the power of using Claude to explore my grandfather’s biography. I spent some time with my dad at the weekend, and he gave me a few more details about what grandad d…

Another set of #weeknotes for you.

mmitii.mattballantine.com/2026/04/10/w...

@weeknotes-bot.bsky.social

This is the best thing I've learned this year.

Matt Ballantine So with a book launch on the immediate horizon, I’ve started to create a series of short video stories that illustrate some of the themes we explore in Random. This one is about the Suffolk town of Dunwich. I’ve know about the story for years, as my mum was brought up a bit further north in the Lowestoft suburb of Pakefield. We would have a trip up the A12 at least a few times a year. As a kid I once found an obviously ancient metal pin on the beach at Dunwich. At the time dad worked for the University of London at Birkbeck College, just around the corner from the British Museum. So one lunchtime in a school holiday he and I went to the museum to get the pin examined by an expert. The expert’s judgement? It was a shroud pin. So whilst not an actual bone, probably other detritus from the graveyard gently crumbling into the sea. The Dunwich story isn’t directly covered in Random, but stories of both survivorship bias and also the randomness of weather patterns most certainly are. You can pre-order a copy at securityblendbooks.com

Some background to the latest video...

substack.com/profile/9062...

510 copies of our book, in big cardboard boxes, in the back of a lorry.

Random the Book is now in boxes and heading on its way to the UK. You can order a copy at securityblendbooks.com

You've seen his boss, right?

5 Dunwich YouTube video by Matt Ballantine

More randomness...

youtube.com/shorts/il3jb...

A Lockheed Martin advert for an F-35 fighter jet on LinkedIn.

I'm being shown adverts for fighter jets on LinkedIn. Not sure if this is general pr, or for personal use given (waves arm) all that's going on...

You've obviously never taken the A14 all the way to East Anglia.

Random Stories 4 - Serendipity YouTube video by Matt Ballantine

Another moment of randomness to start your week: youtube.com/shorts/u8jXl...

From now on, this is the only way I will travel:

Weeknote 773: a throw of the dice This week I have learned: I’m getting better at understanding what gives me energy and what drains me. It’s been a week where I’m probably energy neutral overall. The bigger the o…

It's an early set of #weeknotes for you...

mmitii.mattballantine.com/2026/03/27/w...

@weeknotes-bot.bsky.social

They're going to major on predictability, I betcha.

Ones taken without paying?

Weeknote 772: connecting This week I have learned: The joy to be had from conversations to explore ideas and plot paths. Today should have been the day that Random was launched. Events conspired. But it was a joy to hear t…

Weeknote time!

mmitii.mattballantine.com/2026/03/20/w...

@weeknotes-bot.bsky.social

Not on the balustrade

Yeah. You bop the guy with the remote control on the head.

a safety sign from The Royal Institution. It's a pretty clear set of "don'ts" regarding their balustrades (the railings or pillars supporting a handrail). The sign lists four specific prohibited actions to keep everyone safe: Do not lean on the balustrade. Do not climb on the balustrade. Do not sit on the balustrade. Do not drop anything over the balustrade

People were starting to wonder if the balustrade has been a good idea after all.

General Eisenhower in Bushy Park Explore the pivotal role of General Eisenhower and his staff at the heart of Bushy Park in 1944, shaping history during the Second World War..

And you can find out more about Eisenhower in Bushy Park here: www.royalparks.org.uk/read-watch-l...

Find out more at randomthebook.com

Random Stories 1: Weather or not YouTube video by Matt Ballantine

The first of a few Random Stories as we get closer to Random the Book's publication...

youtube.com/shorts/3Fyfv...

Celebrity sells

Another pointless gamification nick nack from Kindle.

Of all the things about modern technology that gets on my nerves, pointless bloody gamification is up at the top.

Energy and effort was put into creating something that I neither knew nor cared about. And it treats me like a toddler doing potty training.

"Ooh look. Matty read some books."

I've very much looking forward to showing you Random next week!

Write fewer words. Make the formats more interactive.

Weeknote 770: backtoback This week I have learned: I’m going to be upping my short-form video content as I get ready for the book to launch. Here was my first, slightly half-arsed attempt. They will improve. Talking …

Another week trundles into the distance. Therefore #weeknotes

mmitii.mattballantine.com/2026/03/06/w...

@weeknotes-bot.bsky.social

Seven small pieces of card on a hitch surface, each with a list of ingredients.

The collection of @willsh.bsky.social Artefact Cards I have in the kitchen for mini recipe reminders.