Author | Lightnews

Spotify and Netflix perfected the business of distraction — and now we’re paying the price

Fay Young @fayyoung.bsky.social · 1d

Tragic

Fay Young @fayyoung.bsky.social · 2d

Monetising inattention

“In other words, these technologies help create a sort of music that no one needs to listen to, and films no one needs to watch”

Spotify and Netflix perfected the business of distraction — and now we’re paying the price via @ftweekend.com

on.ft.com/3Jrzwr2

Music and film open us up to new ways of seeing the world — but the streaming giants offer lonely visions of culture

Dutch centrist liberals under Jetten head for shock election win, exit poll says

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Fay Young @fayyoung.bsky.social · 5d

Doesn’t it feel good to get good news! I almost forgot how it feels (greetings from Scotland)

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Fay Young @fayyoung.bsky.social · 5d

This is the kind of ‘shock’ I can take.
FT is a trustworthy source and I see you’ve shared Guardian story. Now here’s BBC reporting the same
Perhaps it will catch on
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Rob Jetten's D66 party celebrates, two years after his party languished in fifth place in the last vote.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Fay Young @fayyoung.bsky.social · 5d

“We have shown…that it is possible to beat populist and extreme-right movements, and I am very eager to work with other parties to start a coalition as soon as possible”. The liberal D66 party is set to win parliamentary elections in the Netherlands, exit poll suggests

on.ft.com/49qV5Cs

Liberal D66 party set to win Dutch parliamentary elections, exit poll suggests

The far-right Freedom party is pushed into second place, survey finds

Lessons from success: how job prospects improved for the young

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Reposted by Fay Young

Mark Chadbourn @chadbourn.bsky.social · 5d

Private Eye.

Minority representation on TV causes outrage
There has been widespread
way of life and their strange
support for prominent Reform MP
customs, but Reform MPs
Sarah Pochin after she complained about the over-representation of
comprise only 0.7 percent of the
minorities on television.
House of Commons. Yet Nigel Farage is on Question Time
Said one angry viewer, "She's more than Fiona Bruce.
right. Every time you turn on
"I'm not prejudiced. Some of
the telly there's another Reform
MP being interviewed by Laura
my best friends are swivel-eyed loons, but enough is enough.
Kuenssberg."
There are too many people with
She added, "I respect their angry red faces on television."

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Reposted by Fay Young

Stephen Bush @stephenkb.bsky.social · 6d

Reform keep adding to their big pile of 30 per cent propositions, which both put them outside majority opinion but also don’t overlap that well. (The group most likely to get angry about adverts are mostly not into abortion restriction and/or anti-LGBT positioning)

Josiah Mortimer @josiah.writes.news · 6d

On Reform's Danny Kruger's reported complaints about parties being 'LGBT-supporting', a Lib Dem source says it's "disgraceful and completely unacceptable."

"Farage's MPs clearly have views that are completely out of step with modern Britain." He "must confirm if he agrees with these comments."

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Fay Young @fayyoung.bsky.social · 6d

“The government has raised employer NICs in a manner that weighs particularly heavily on sectors such as retail and hospitality which typically employ lots of youngsters.”

Visible impact in hospitality!

on.ft.com/4qy6aYF Lessons from success: how job prospects improved for the young

Youth inactivity is a problem in the UK, but we can learn from our past — and the countries that are getting it right

Starmer needs to get serious about governing — and quick

Fay Young @fayyoung.bsky.social · 7d

Starmer needs to get serious about governing — and quick

Stephen Bush FT columnist and associate editor. Writing with feeling and frustration. Hits home. So many crises gone to waste.

on.ft.com/3J52RaH Starmer needs to get serious about governing — and quick

The prime minister has to change or his party will seek a change of its own

The need to tighten UK fiscal policy is also an opportunity

Fay Young @fayyoung.bsky.social · 7d

“This government’s instincts are to be cautious. But being radical is by now the least risky course, for itself and the country. It must dare to embrace radical, pro-growth tax reforms.” Martin Wolf

on.ft.com/3WZHcno The need to tighten UK fiscal policy is also an opportunity

Keir Starmer’s government should seize the chance to make radical reforms

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Fay Young @fayyoung.bsky.social · 7d

Starting the morning and the week with our swan family. The cygnets are fairly growing. If I’m lucky I’ll snap a moment of their regular flying lessons on the pond
Hope they put on a welcoming display for our garden visitors at tye weekend
#birds #swans #scotlandsgardensscheme

This has been another year of the swan at Pond Cottage. Here the two adults are feeding with their four confident and healthy cygnets. We get through a lot of grain!
The parents are still very protective but the cygnets are very endearing. We open our wild woodland garden to visitors through Scotlands Gardens Scheme supporting Children’s Hospices Across Scotland and other charities

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Fay Young @fayyoung.bsky.social · 7d

My father had vascular dementia, often distressing but in some ways kinder than Alzheimer’s - he never failed to recognise family and friends.
His loss of memory was isolating (because he couldn’t remember daily visitors and events) he thoroughly enjoyed company and outings

Protecting imaginary countryside

Reposted by Fay Young

Rob Ford @robfordmancs.bsky.social · 10d

Read more, and become infuriated, at the link below. If you are someone who believes in defending planning regulations, you need to find ways to stop idiots abusing them to stop sensible development like this: www.kentcurrent.news/p/protecting...

Plus Reform suspends councillor in misconduct row, new hope for international rail in Ashford, news in brief, and more

www.kentcurrent.news

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Fay Young @fayyoung.bsky.social · 13d

Why can’t I buy a small smartphone?

“In other words, women must now live in a world in which phone manufacturers think we have hands the size of bears and jeans manufacturers think we have hands the size of pixies”
on.ft.com/47hgVph Why can’t I buy a small smartphone?

Why can’t I buy a small smartphone?

Capitalism is not giving me what I want, but I’m not behaving like a good free market consumer myself

AI, creativity and humanity (2): Obstacles - Sceptical Scot

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Fay Young @fayyoung.bsky.social · 14d

‘Ultimately, whether “AI takes your job” isn’t up to AI. It’s just software. We need to take responsibility for actions and decisions made in the name of AI’
Confronting fears, obstacles and excuses
@dougalperman.bsky.social in 3-part series for @scepscot.bsky.social sceptical.scot/2025/10/ai-c...

"As a creative producer, my team and I are able to do more, better, faster; we’re expanding and experimenting with techniques we weren’t previously able to do. Ideas I’ve never had the time, headspace...

How is this shutdown different from other shutdowns?

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Reposted by Fay Young

The Washington Post @washingtonpost.com · 14d

President Trump has used the shutdown to lay off thousands of workers and cancel an estimated $27 billion in funding for projects in Democratic cities and congressional districts.

President Donald Trump has used the shutdown to make unprecedented changes to the federal government.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Fay Young @fayyoung.bsky.social · 14d

Fine women. Their gaze is so steady

AI, creativity and humanity (1) - Sceptical Scot

Fay Young @fayyoung.bsky.social · 16d

Note Johnny 5's impeccable taste in journals! @scepscot.bsky.social @gowdav.bsky.social thanks to a little creative manipulation by @dougalperman.bsky.social
#AI #analysis #scrutiny

scepscot.bsky.social @scepscot.bsky.social · 17d

#AI what will its real impact be on the creative sector in Scotland and what are its benefits/risks to creatives: @dougalperman.bsky.social investigates in the first of a 3-part series - MUST READ!
sceptical.scot/2025/10/ai-c...

'“I resisted ChatGPT for so long because I felt it was wrong to use it. But then I caved in and now I can’t stop!” one arts organisation CEO told me. She’s hooked, having discovered the joy of draftin...

AI, creativity and humanity (2): Obstacles - Sceptical Scot

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Reposted by Fay Young

Fay Young @fayyoung.bsky.social · 17d

Cutting through noise, fear, hype and ignorance, this 3part series by @dougalperman.bsky.social for @scepscot.bsky.social takes a cool look at #AI and why we must take control of the tools it offers if we are to protect our jobs, creativity and humanity
sceptical.scot/2025/10/ai-c...

"As a creative producer, my team and I are able to do more, better, faster; we’re expanding and experimenting with techniques we weren’t previously able to do. Ideas I’ve never had the time, headspace...

AI, creativity and humanity (2): Obstacles - Sceptical Scot

Fay Young @fayyoung.bsky.social · 17d

Hamas and Israeli government feed on each other. A very disturbing report in latest Washington Post Worldview on summary executions and retribution punishments in Gaza.
What tragic suffering inflicted on so many people.

Fay Young @fayyoung.bsky.social · 17d

Cutting through noise, fear, hype and ignorance, this 3part series by @dougalperman.bsky.social for @scepscot.bsky.social takes a cool look at #AI and why we must take control of the tools it offers if we are to protect our jobs, creativity and humanity
sceptical.scot/2025/10/ai-c...

"As a creative producer, my team and I are able to do more, better, faster; we’re expanding and experimenting with techniques we weren’t previously able to do. Ideas I’ve never had the time, headspace...

AI, creativity and humanity (1) - Sceptical Scot

Reposted by Fay Young

scepscot.bsky.social @scepscot.bsky.social · 17d

#AI what will its real impact be on the creative sector in Scotland and what are its benefits/risks to creatives: @dougalperman.bsky.social investigates in the first of a 3-part series - MUST READ!
sceptical.scot/2025/10/ai-c...

'“I resisted ChatGPT for so long because I felt it was wrong to use it. But then I caved in and now I can’t stop!” one arts organisation CEO told me. She’s hooked, having discovered the joy of draftin...

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Fay Young @fayyoung.bsky.social · 19d

My husband would enjoy this, especially the 'rocks' as he's written the biography of James Hutton. Lots of rocks and nonconformities :-)