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Rob Davies @byrobdavies.bsky.social · 8h

Nothing against the reporter here but I'm not sure I see more gambling ads anywhere than I do when watching a drama on ITV.

www.itv.com/news/2025-10...

www.itv.com

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Reposted by Rob Davies

Juno Rylee Schultz @junoryleejournalism.com · 23h

David Simon, creator of ‘The Wire’, being interviewed by Ari Shapiro (NPR)

SHAPIRO: OK, so you've spent your career creating television without Al, and I could imagine today you thinking, boy, I wish I had had that tool to solve those thorny problems...
SIMON: What?
SHAPIRO: ...Or saying...
SIMON: You imagine that?
SHAPIRO: ...Boy, if that had existed, it would have screwed me over.
SIMON: I don't think Al can remotely challenge what writers do at a fundamentally creative level.
SHAPIRO: But if you're trying to transition from scene five to scene six, and you're stuck with that transition, you could imagine plugging that portion of the script into an Al and say, give me 10 ideas for how to transition this.
SIMON: I'd rather put a gun in my mouth.

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Rob Davies @byrobdavies.bsky.social · 9h

Alan Partridge saying "I must say, I'm tremendously excited by all this".

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Rob Davies @byrobdavies.bsky.social · 11h

www.theguardian.com/business/202...

Pub later-hours plan will not offset costs and wider difficulties, say landlords

Sector is sceptical over government licensing proposals given ‘ever-rising costs’ and ‘reduced consumer spend’

www.theguardian.com

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Rob Davies @byrobdavies.bsky.social · 15h

Tbh can't see either of their clubs letting go in January so it's probably no use speculating for a while.

Rob Davies @byrobdavies.bsky.social · 15h

One Semenyo/Wharton?

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Lux "Nightmare" Alptraum @luxalptraum.com · 1d

TFW you paid $1400 to see Beckett’s most famous work without knowing anything about it

One Star Review of Waiting for Godot on Broadway
I recently attended Waiting for Godot on Broadway and spent over $1,400 for two Row C seats (103 and 104). I'm a longtime admirer of Broadway productions and even hold a season pass for Shea's Performing Arts Theatre, so I came in with genuine enthusiasm and high expectations. Unfortunately, this show was unlike anything ! have ever experienced —and not in a good way.
What I encountered was not the artistry, music, or emotional storytelling I usually associate with Broadway, but instead what felt like an endless cycle of nonsensical conversation between characters who seemed trapped in their own madness. I tried-truly tried-to find meaning, symbolism, or even a thread of emotional resonance. I stayed through the first half hoping the second would offer clarity. But by intermission, it was clear: this was a waste of both time and money.
Keanu Reeves is an actor I respect greatly, but I cannot fathom why he would agree to participate in such a disjointed, inaccessible production. His talent was lost in a performance that defied reason rather than provoked insight.
To anyone considering attending: unless you are drawn to highly abstract, nearly incomprehensible theater, I strongly caution you against this show. For the average, educated, thoughtful theatergoer, it is far more frustrating than fulfilling. In my opinion, this was the single most disappointing Broadway experience I've ever had - an unfortunate waste of money and, more importantly, of time.

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Rob Davies @byrobdavies.bsky.social · 15h

Speak for yourself.

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Rob Davies @byrobdavies.bsky.social · 16h

Yeah, that's what I was saying basically. Reinforcing James' point that GenZ drinking less isn't as big a drag on pubs as some might think.

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Rob Davies @byrobdavies.bsky.social · 16h

In theory you can open late but you still need the local authority to license you (also for serving food outside, live music etc). The proposals would make that licensing process swifter and potentially shift the balance in favour of pubs. It's not a matter of saying "all pubs can open later now".

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Rob Davies @byrobdavies.bsky.social · 16h

www.theguardian.com/media/2025/o...

Richard Desmond asks for ‘generosity’ in £1.3bn National Lottery claim

Payout likely to be funded by taxpayers if media mogul wins case against gambling regulator

www.theguardian.com

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Rob Davies @byrobdavies.bsky.social · 19h

Well yes...just more pragmatic that socially interesting, I suppose!

I'll speak to some pub bosses today (in between reporting from court). I suspect none will say they don't want it but none will expect it to move the needs in any way.

Business rates is the ballgame.

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Rob Davies @byrobdavies.bsky.social · 20h

Pub industry folk: What do you make of this?

I'm sure it's not unwelcome but will it make much difference?

My impression is that you're struggling to fill space until 10pm, let alone 1am.

www.theguardian.com/business/202...

Pubs to stay open until early hours in push for UK growth

Exclusive: Plans for England and Wales would help the ailing hospitality sector but have attracted criticism from health experts

www.theguardian.com

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Rob Davies @byrobdavies.bsky.social · 20h

It's definitely less of an effect than touted and/or starting to unwind. Plus pubcos and landlords are shrewd business people who have got very good at offering good low/no alcohol alternatives and other attractions (eg boardgames etc).

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Rob Davies @byrobdavies.bsky.social · 20h

On a more mundane point, i speak to a lot of people in the pubs trade and I haven't heard "later opening hours" among a long list of asks. They're struggling for custom at 10pm, never mind 1am.

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Reposted by Rob Davies

The Guardian @theguardian.com · 21h

‘The debasement trade’: is this what’s driving gold, bitcoin and shares to record highs?

Investors fear governments will not – or cannot – rein in borrowing so are putting their money elsewhere

www.theguardian.com

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Rob Davies @byrobdavies.bsky.social · 1d

That was one hell of a time to see Spurs. I went to most home matches that season and you'd go just expecting to win.

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Max Colbert @mc00.bsky.social · 1d

I feel like if you had to ban social media for any group of people for their own protection, you should probably start with people over 60.

Jacob Öberg @profjacob.bsky.social · 1d

🚨🚨 #Denmark aims to ban #socialmedia for children under 15. PM Mette Frederiksen says "We have unleashed a monster" to Danish lawmakers. 🧵https://www.politico.eu/article/denmark-mette-frederiksen-partially-ban-social-media-children-under-15/

Denmark aims to ban social media for children under 15, PM says

“We have unleashed a monster,” Mette Frederiksen tells Danish lawmakers.

www.politico.eu

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Rob Davies @byrobdavies.bsky.social · 1d

Those whom the gods wish to destroy, they first make extract supposedly publicly available information from HM Courts & Tribunal Service.

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Rob Davies @byrobdavies.bsky.social · 1d

Been trying to settle on which Discworld character Kemi is most like. I think Edward d'Eath is a decent shout. Increasingly crazed, error-prone and unstable in the pursuit of power, grabbing at any weapon in the hope of resurrecting a long dead regime.

Rob Davies @byrobdavies.bsky.social · 1d

Hmm...I actually think a lot of the early stuff is better. It deals with societal issues in more broad philosophical terms, as opposed to the more formulaic nature of the later ones, which were a bit "What if the post office/football/newspapers but Discworld".

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Rob Davies @byrobdavies.bsky.social · 2d

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Rachel Reeves clears planning blockage amid ‘good relationship’ with developer

Exclusive: Chancellor says 20,000 homes were being held up due to ‘some snails that are a protected species or something’

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Rob Davies

Rhianna Pratchett @rhi.bsky.social · 2d

Dad’s books are full of empathy, common sense, and a healthy suspicion of the powerful. But at its heart his work is also about how systems keep people poor while pretending it’s their own fault. So I hope Kemi’s taking notes as well as reading the jokes.

Paul Haine @paulhaine.bsky.social · 2d

Kemi Badenoch claiming Terry Pratchett as her favourite author is wild

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Rob Davies @byrobdavies.bsky.social · 2d

When did we go back to letting people spraying toxic sputum out of their faces travel on public transport? Must I be aggressively infected every day just to protect the value of any commercial property assets in my pension?

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Rob Davies @byrobdavies.bsky.social · 2d

Ich...nichten lichten.

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