Mike Smith
@blogshank.bsky.social
Illustrator, author of The Hundred Decker Bus and others. Founded The Procrastination Society in 1988 (inaugural meeting date TBC)
Reposted by Mike Smith
For the fans of Firefox. An update to the AI story. Seems Firefox will have an AI kill switch in it.
9to5linux.com/firefox-will...
9to5linux.com/firefox-will...
Firefox Will Ship with an "AI Kill Switch" to Completely Disable all AI Features - 9to5Linux
Mozilla is working on an AI kill switch for the Firefox open-source web browser to let users completely disable all AI features.
9to5linux.com
December 20, 2025 at 8:12 PM
For the fans of Firefox. An update to the AI story. Seems Firefox will have an AI kill switch in it.
9to5linux.com/firefox-will...
9to5linux.com/firefox-will...
Reposted by Mike Smith
Creativity takes time. AI is theft.
December 15, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Creativity takes time. AI is theft.
Reposted by Mike Smith
“I am so bored by AI. One of the things I love about the theatre is AI can’t do it.”
Ethan Hawke is a dude 👌🏻
Ethan Hawke is a dude 👌🏻
December 9, 2025 at 8:36 PM
“I am so bored by AI. One of the things I love about the theatre is AI can’t do it.”
Ethan Hawke is a dude 👌🏻
Ethan Hawke is a dude 👌🏻
Reposted by Mike Smith
A mysterious black obelisk has appeared overnight outside the caves of some of the sharper pundits
December 5, 2025 at 1:06 PM
A mysterious black obelisk has appeared overnight outside the caves of some of the sharper pundits
Reposted by Mike Smith
Years ago, after doing some deep searching for vintage children's book art, I found a collector who had acquired most of the original artwork of J. P. Miller's The Brave Little Tailor, a LGB from 1953. Fantastic work. Here's the cover.
The original art is in the following 🧵...
#wardsmorguefile
The original art is in the following 🧵...
#wardsmorguefile
December 4, 2025 at 6:37 PM
Years ago, after doing some deep searching for vintage children's book art, I found a collector who had acquired most of the original artwork of J. P. Miller's The Brave Little Tailor, a LGB from 1953. Fantastic work. Here's the cover.
The original art is in the following 🧵...
#wardsmorguefile
The original art is in the following 🧵...
#wardsmorguefile
Reposted by Mike Smith
I’m not sure what to make of this survey, honestly? If you’re a young person in solidarity with Gaza, or against police killings, or you’re trans or queer, would you have reason to trust the news?
A lost generation of news consumers? Survey shows how teenagers dislike the news media
You don't have to tell Cat Murphy or Lily Ogburn about the attitudes of young people toward journalists.
apnews.com
November 30, 2025 at 1:08 PM
I’m not sure what to make of this survey, honestly? If you’re a young person in solidarity with Gaza, or against police killings, or you’re trans or queer, would you have reason to trust the news?
Reposted by Mike Smith
Our information space is dominated by a system that demands and rewards continous and immediate emotional gratification, so you can't even begin to have a discussion about complex issues. It's a bright cancer that spreads and multiplies with every interaction.
It's part of the electionification of everything, which is why we as a country are failing to have a proper conversation about our actual problems. It's bad for the left *and* the right.
It's such a bizarre framing. Labour MPs think taking 450k kids out of poverty is putting the country first! That's why they wanted it to happen! It's not because they personally benefit.
November 28, 2025 at 7:02 AM
Our information space is dominated by a system that demands and rewards continous and immediate emotional gratification, so you can't even begin to have a discussion about complex issues. It's a bright cancer that spreads and multiplies with every interaction.
Reposted by Mike Smith
long-time followers of the channel may remember that time the bbc portrayed a tory chancellor as superman
November 26, 2025 at 3:43 PM
long-time followers of the channel may remember that time the bbc portrayed a tory chancellor as superman
Reposted by Mike Smith
What’s that, Farage flails when evidence of his abysmal behaviour is put to him? How about we all jump into a Time Machine and journey back to 2011 or so, armed with this arcane knowledge
“He's very good at lobbing hand grenades towards other politicians – he's not very good at receiving them."
Why has Farage struggled to shake off school racism allegations, and is there an even bigger storm brewing for Reform UK?
www.thenewsagents.co.uk/article/fara...
Why has Farage struggled to shake off school racism allegations, and is there an even bigger storm brewing for Reform UK?
www.thenewsagents.co.uk/article/fara...
Farage fails to address racism claims: ‘He’s thin-skinned, and it’s getting thinner all the time’ | The News Agents
Nigel Farage, who is facing resurfaced allegations of making racist comments at school, now says he “never directly racially abused” anyone – following a previous outright denial by Reform UK. What…
www.thenewsagents.co.uk
November 25, 2025 at 4:09 PM
What’s that, Farage flails when evidence of his abysmal behaviour is put to him? How about we all jump into a Time Machine and journey back to 2011 or so, armed with this arcane knowledge
Reposted by Mike Smith
Paris! I’ll be signing at La Rubrique à Bulles (110 Boulevard Richard Lenoir) on Friday 5th December, 5-7pm. Please come along!
I’ll then be at Le Salon de la BD (Halles des Blancs Manteaux) on Saturday 6th & Sunday 7th. Copies of Bohème à Paris, written by @andicomics.bsky.social, will be at both.
I’ll then be at Le Salon de la BD (Halles des Blancs Manteaux) on Saturday 6th & Sunday 7th. Copies of Bohème à Paris, written by @andicomics.bsky.social, will be at both.
November 25, 2025 at 10:19 AM
Paris! I’ll be signing at La Rubrique à Bulles (110 Boulevard Richard Lenoir) on Friday 5th December, 5-7pm. Please come along!
I’ll then be at Le Salon de la BD (Halles des Blancs Manteaux) on Saturday 6th & Sunday 7th. Copies of Bohème à Paris, written by @andicomics.bsky.social, will be at both.
I’ll then be at Le Salon de la BD (Halles des Blancs Manteaux) on Saturday 6th & Sunday 7th. Copies of Bohème à Paris, written by @andicomics.bsky.social, will be at both.
Reposted by Mike Smith
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
November 25, 2025 at 9:26 AM
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
Reposted by Mike Smith
‘The Porter’ (1972)
This was the first piece of Ladybird artwork I ever bought. It drew me in.
Artist: John Berry
This was the first piece of Ladybird artwork I ever bought. It drew me in.
Artist: John Berry
November 25, 2025 at 8:12 AM
‘The Porter’ (1972)
This was the first piece of Ladybird artwork I ever bought. It drew me in.
Artist: John Berry
This was the first piece of Ladybird artwork I ever bought. It drew me in.
Artist: John Berry
Reposted by Mike Smith
Well, this is absolutely excellent!
🚨 Episode 1 of Obsolete is live in 15 minutes! 🚨
I hope you enjoy it, and have a happy #DoctorWhoDay
Link below...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOSP...
I hope you enjoy it, and have a happy #DoctorWhoDay
Link below...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOSP...
OBSOLETE - Episode 1: The Summons (Dalek Fan Series | Full Episode)
YouTube video by Dalek 63•88
www.youtube.com
November 23, 2025 at 10:40 AM
Well, this is absolutely excellent!
Reposted by Mike Smith
"Does Danish politics prove that the UK Labour Party needs to become more Green?"... not coming to a BBC report near you
November 19, 2025 at 3:17 PM
"Does Danish politics prove that the UK Labour Party needs to become more Green?"... not coming to a BBC report near you
Reposted by Mike Smith
Happy 40th birthday to Bill Waterson’s ‘Calvin and Hobbes’. A work of consummate, stubborn, human, and more-than-human art.
November 18, 2025 at 10:38 AM
Happy 40th birthday to Bill Waterson’s ‘Calvin and Hobbes’. A work of consummate, stubborn, human, and more-than-human art.
Reposted by Mike Smith
I do not understand authors, broadcasters, voice artists, YouTubers, ANY creative artists using quick and cheap AI for their cover images and not realising: it will be you next.
November 18, 2025 at 8:11 AM
I do not understand authors, broadcasters, voice artists, YouTubers, ANY creative artists using quick and cheap AI for their cover images and not realising: it will be you next.
Reposted by Mike Smith
Is the Telegraph finally acknowledging that Thatcher wrecked British society?
November 14, 2025 at 10:42 AM
Is the Telegraph finally acknowledging that Thatcher wrecked British society?
Reposted by Mike Smith
If we're talking about bias, why do BBC politics programmes, from Politics Live to the Laura Kuennsberg Show, still always begin with a look at the newspaper front pages, which are overwhelmingly biased in one direction. Helps frame the entire news agenda and debate in their favour
November 11, 2025 at 1:09 PM
If we're talking about bias, why do BBC politics programmes, from Politics Live to the Laura Kuennsberg Show, still always begin with a look at the newspaper front pages, which are overwhelmingly biased in one direction. Helps frame the entire news agenda and debate in their favour
Reposted by Mike Smith
Reposted by Mike Smith
Dutch libraries have invented an AI chatbot that can recommend books to you
You know what else can recommend books to you
~a fucking librarian~
You know what else can recommend books to you
~a fucking librarian~
October 27, 2025 at 9:54 AM
Dutch libraries have invented an AI chatbot that can recommend books to you
You know what else can recommend books to you
~a fucking librarian~
You know what else can recommend books to you
~a fucking librarian~
I've never had a good experience with any Microsoft software.
October 23, 2025 at 7:10 PM
I've never had a good experience with any Microsoft software.
Reposted by Mike Smith
The bus-stop (1956)
(Vignette from ‘Tootles the Taxi’)
Artist: John Kenney
(Vignette from ‘Tootles the Taxi’)
Artist: John Kenney
October 20, 2025 at 7:17 AM
The bus-stop (1956)
(Vignette from ‘Tootles the Taxi’)
Artist: John Kenney
(Vignette from ‘Tootles the Taxi’)
Artist: John Kenney
Reposted by Mike Smith
From Facebook.
I was thirty when I first accessed the Internet, forty when I first had a smartphone and Social Media. And both were such incredible discoveries, making life easier, and adding friends, and communities, and insights, and learning, and information, from all over the world...
I was thirty when I first accessed the Internet, forty when I first had a smartphone and Social Media. And both were such incredible discoveries, making life easier, and adding friends, and communities, and insights, and learning, and information, from all over the world...
October 22, 2025 at 6:20 AM
From Facebook.
I was thirty when I first accessed the Internet, forty when I first had a smartphone and Social Media. And both were such incredible discoveries, making life easier, and adding friends, and communities, and insights, and learning, and information, from all over the world...
I was thirty when I first accessed the Internet, forty when I first had a smartphone and Social Media. And both were such incredible discoveries, making life easier, and adding friends, and communities, and insights, and learning, and information, from all over the world...
Reposted by Mike Smith
If anyone needs me I will be in the museum, lying down next to the bog bodies.
October 13, 2025 at 5:58 PM
If anyone needs me I will be in the museum, lying down next to the bog bodies.
Reposted by Mike Smith
Today is a day when arts degrees are worthless, but the product of those degrees is so valuable it would kill an entire industry if they were made to pay for it.
Nick Clegg says asking artists for use permission would ‘kill’ the AI industry
Nick Clegg says asking artists for use permission would ‘kill’ the AI industry
Paul McCartne, Elton John and others signed an open letter.
buff.ly
October 8, 2025 at 10:29 AM
Today is a day when arts degrees are worthless, but the product of those degrees is so valuable it would kill an entire industry if they were made to pay for it.