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Reposted by Chris Thomson

Keith W. Dickinson @keithwdickinson.bsky.social · 19h

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.

The Verge @theverge.com · May 26

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

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Chris Thomson @cbthomson.bsky.social · 21h

Glad to be on the receiving end of that new resolution, Jason.

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Chris Thomson @cbthomson.bsky.social · 21h

Sidenote: I worry that the arrival of LLMs stops us collectively being curious about why these problems of time and energy exist in the first place. 🙂

Chris Thomson @cbthomson.bsky.social · 21h

Sure. For me, the Penrose line is the antidote to thinking that somehow if we develop LLMs enough we'll end up with some sort of emergent artificial consciousness by default which I've heard from some quarters. AGI isn't an inevitability on this technology track, in other words.

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Chris Thomson @cbthomson.bsky.social · 22h

New post - Anthology responds to points raised about their Chapter 11 protection filing from last week.

If your university or college uses Blackboard, Ally, Illuminate or other Anthology products, this is important info.

inspiringlearning.jiscinvolve.org/wp/2025/10/b...

Blackboard update - response from Anthology - Inspiring learning

Martyn Rollason, Anthology Director of Customer Services EMEA responds to questions & points raised about their bankruptcy protection filing.

inspiringlearning.jiscinvolve.org

Chris Thomson @cbthomson.bsky.social · 22h

Reading this reminded me about Roger Penrose’s assertion that consciousness isn’t a computation. I know he wasn’t really talking about this but I still want it on a laptop sticker.

Alex Shevrin Venet @asv.bsky.social · 1d

wowwww this is incredibly beautiful. tagging some friends who will love this: @ladyofsardines.bsky.social @heymrsbond.com @marcusluther.bsky.social

therumpus.net/2025/10/02/h...

Human Error Is the Point: On Teaching College During the Rise of AI - The Rumpus

My syllabus is a mess of half-remembered intentions. I re-use icebreakers that I know don’t work. I forget to grade the first assignment until Week Four. I write emails that begin with “So sorry for t...

therumpus.net

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Reposted by Chris Thomson

Prof. Pam Birtill @diervilla.bsky.social · 23h

A test is assumed to be a good thing - but it centres the medical model - the diagnosis is only real if there are physiological markers. The lived experience is also vital, and we should believe patients. The test only benefits patients when it helps with treatment?

George Monbiot @georgemonbiot.bsky.social · 1d

ME/CFS is a devastating condition that has long been denied, dismissed, psychologised and underdiagnosed. Research is at last starting to catch up with it, with glimmers of hope for those who have been left untreated for so long.
There's a huge BUT coming ...🧵
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

Scientists develop first ‘accurate blood test’ to detect chronic fatigue syndrome

Research could offer hope for ME patients – but some experts urge caution and say more studies needed

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Chris Thomson

Ada Lovelace Institute @adalovelaceinst.bsky.social · 1d

Join our Oversight Board! We are looking to appoint four new members to build a diverse board with a range of skills and backgrounds.

📆 Applications close on 29 October.

www.adalovelaceinstitute.org/job/oversigh...

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Reposted by Chris Thomson

Mike Sowden @mikeachim.bsky.social · 2d

Damn. This is amazing. £325 per week, paid monthly, for 3 years - and the result was a profit for the Irish economy:
www.citizensinformation.ie/en/employmen...

Post from Threads user rodneyowl: "Ireland has declared the Basic Income for Artists scheme permanent. This will be officially announced in tomorrow’s budget. Details to follow. Congratulations to all who fought for it and the present and future artists of all sorts in Ireland. That includes me 👌We’re just comin to the end of a 3 year pilot scheme. It’s been a roaring success. For every €1 paid out to the 2000 participants, the government got €1.46 back. Can’t argue with that. Other countries are already taking note."

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Chris Thomson @cbthomson.bsky.social · 4d

The rest of the video is a really interesting look at the challenges of maintaining and updating a cherished open source application with a load of technical debt.

Chris Thomson @cbthomson.bsky.social · 4d

Audacity user? New Tantacrul video explains the changes to upcoming version 4. Skip to 30min mark for all that good new feature/redesign stuff. youtu.be/QYM3TWf_G38

How We're Redesigning Audacity For The Future

YouTube video by Tantacrul

youtu.be

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Chris Thomson @cbthomson.bsky.social · 4d

Wondering what the Anthology bankruptcy protection filing might mean for your college or university? For users of Blackboard, Ally, Illuminate etc, at Jisc we’ve collated some preliminary guidance inspiringlearning.jiscinvolve.org/wp/2025/10/s...

Significant changes at Anthology - what you need to know - Inspiring learning

Anthology, makers of Blackboard have filed for voluntary bankruptcy protection to allow them to restructure. Some clarification and advice for Jisc members

inspiringlearning.jiscinvolve.org

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Reposted by Chris Thomson

ianVisits @ianvisits.co.uk · 5d

In memoriam...

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Chris Thomson @cbthomson.bsky.social · 7d

For some odd reason, I hadn’t followed you. Rectified that. Hello.

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Chris Thomson @cbthomson.bsky.social · 7d

Those rather lovely images are by Mo Eid www.pexels.com/photo/person... and Frank Cone www.pexels.com/photo/wild-f...

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Chris Thomson @cbthomson.bsky.social · 7d

Here's part 2 which explores the crazy world of the University of Banford inspiringlearning.jiscinvolve.org/wp/2025/10/l...

Little Fictions – using imagination to explore the here and now: Part 2 Inspiring learning

Part 2 - Chris explores the University of Banford, a hyperreal simulation exercise designed to help understand the human impact of permacrisis

inspiringlearning.jiscinvolve.org

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Chris Thomson @cbthomson.bsky.social · 7d

New blog post: Little Fictions – using imagination to explore the here and now.
(It's a 2 parter; double the fun!) 2 activities at a recent conference demonstrated how using creative writing & fiction could help explore complex issues in education. inspiringlearning.jiscinvolve.org/wp/2025/10/l...

Little Fictions – using imagination to explore the here and now: Part 1 Inspiring learning

Chris reflects on the use of fiction to explore real world situations and problems based on 2 conference sessions he joined recently. 1 of 2

inspiringlearning.jiscinvolve.org

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Chris Thomson @cbthomson.bsky.social · 8d

Been doing interesting things with digital technology in education? We're running 2 Connect More events a year now so there are more opportunities to tell your story to your peers across the UK and beyond. 10th Oct deadline to get your proposal in. Not long but the form is pretty light touch.

Submit your programme session ideas for Connect More - Jisc

www.jisc.ac.uk

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Reposted by Chris Thomson

Louie Stowell @louiestowell.bsky.social · 9d

The Anakin and Padme meme with alternating pics of Anakin and Padme. Anakin says We pledge a library in every primary school. Padme replies, cheerfully, With a librarian, right? Anakin merely stares at her. Now, with a look of fear, she repeats, With a librarian, right?

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Chris Thomson @cbthomson.bsky.social · 11d

It’s odd being at something like his and not know what’s going on.

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Chris Thomson @cbthomson.bsky.social · 11d

We didn’t see them where I was. A few hundred looking at the pics on the Chronicle site. They were prevented from getting to the Civic Centre by a secondary counter protest, I believe.

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Chris Thomson @cbthomson.bsky.social · 11d

Good turnout for the anti-racism demo in Toon today.

Protesters with placards gather around Grey Monument in Newcastle to protest against the far right.

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Chris Thomson @cbthomson.bsky.social · 12d

Getting ready for my compulsory UK ID photo

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Chris Thomson @cbthomson.bsky.social · 13d

I think that's what they told you so it didn't look like favouritism.

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Chris Thomson @cbthomson.bsky.social · 13d

Did they name it after you?

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