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Dave Andress @davidandress.bsky.social · 6m

I do adore the US conviction that there's a standard form of English into which any name can be accurately transcribed, as long as you shout one syllable.

Yuliya Komska @ykomska.bsky.social · 9m

Cras now hoar kai

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bleary @bleary.off-the-records.com · 2h

At a fringe event in Manchester one member sought to bring some hope, boasting that Keele University Conservative Society now had its biggest membership in a decade. "We now have ll members," he said.

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gailrenard.bsky.social @gailrenard.bsky.social · 2h

And let me add in helping themselves to creatìves' work without consent, AI is breaking both Copyright law and the Berne Convention. Or doesn't that worry you either, Nick?

gailrenard.bsky.social @gailrenard.bsky.social · 2h

Worse, it would kill our Creative Industries, which are our nation's soul, and bring £125 billion to the UK every year. Besides, the AI bubble is about to crash. And it's hard to take independent advice from someone who worked for Zuckerberg.

The Verge @theverge.com · May 26

Nick Clegg says asking artists for use permission would ‘kill’ the AI industry

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Centuries of Sound @centuriesofsound.bsky.social · 3h

If there's a heaven then Beckett has this framed on his desk.

Lux Alptraum @luxalptraum.com · 14h

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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Alexander Clarkson @aphclarkson.bsky.social · 3h

So much of the "OMG young uns don't party anymore" discourse never really grapples with how much more expensive it is for young uns to party than it was a decade ago

James Ball @jamesrball.com · 3h

There are reasons to think the claims that Gen Z “doesn’t drink” or even drink less than millennials did at their age aren’t true – it seems to be partly a Covid effect and partly some dodgy stats.

But I could easily believe they drink earlier and go home earlier. Pubs look *quiet* after 9pm now…

Rob Davies @byrobdavies.bsky.social · 4h

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...

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Kat Steiner🔸 @kastrel.bsky.social · 2h

I think it's telling that by far the most positive reaction I've had at inductions this year has been telling new students our chat widget is staffed by real librarians, not AI.

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Squirma (Halloween version) @eckslibris.bsky.social · 16h

An old tweet from "every day from now on jerk" @rajandelman:
The Swedish Chef is the best Muppet.
Shockingly pure in conception. Just one tall hippie's antipathy towards northern Europe. How can they fit so much disrespect in such a small felt man

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Neil Mackay @neilmackay.bsky.social · 21h

If you want to create a docile, obedient nation, first attack the arts so you deskill children of critical thinking. Once you’ve done that the people can be moulded as their rulers please. Beware this barbarism. It’s a path to demagoguery and authoritarianism

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Jack Jenkins @jackjenkins.me · 23h

For the uninitiated: The pope being this direct and explicit to U.S. bishops about how to respond to a domestic policy happening in real time is…unusual.

Joshua McElwee @joshmcelwee.org · 1d

Pope Leo told U.S. bishops visiting him at the Vatican on Wednesday that they should firmly address how immigrants are being treated by President Donald Trump's hardline policies, attendees said, in the latest push by the pontiff on the issue. For @reuters.com:

www.reuters.com

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honey i am a guy & i shrunk the kids @snowrespecter.bsky.social · 2d

Are You There God? It's Me, Maigret.

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🍂Kristy B🍂 @easterparkgazebo.bsky.social · 16h

Thank youuu! New tattoo day is best of all days.

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🍂Kristy B🍂 @easterparkgazebo.bsky.social · 18h

Was once again called 'built different' and 'something else' 💪💪💪💪

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Clinically Vulnerable Families 💙💜💗 @cvcev.bsky.social · 1d

🚨 BREAKING: Labour MPs back calls to restore NHS Covid vaccines for all Clinically Vulnerable people!

After pressure from CVF members and supporters - a rapid U-turn appears to be underway.

WELL DONE!

#KeepCovidBoosters campaign a HUGE success!

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Sebas @ohlookbirdies.bsky.social · 2d

"anti-AI people should just learn more about it" motherfucker I know so much about it, that's why I'm anti-AI

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Stephen Bush @stephenkb.bsky.social · 1d

Jenrick being the loudest member of the Conservative party has already been a huge contributor to the poisoning of our politics. We really don't need any four-dimensional chess about him becoming leader. When it happens, it will be a terrible day for our country.

Paul Bernal @paulbernal.bsky.social · 1d

A Tory party under Jenrick might take a few of the racist votes from Reform, but they’d haemorrhage bucketloads to the Lib Dems.

So, on balance…

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Melanie D’Arrigo @darrigomelanie.bsky.social · 1d

I feel like this photo of masked, armed men pepper spraying a pastor protecting his community is going to be a defining picture of this moment in America for a long, long time.

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Dale Hennessey @dalehennessey.qwertyqwert.ca · 1d

COVID is not over...

Conor Browne @brownecfm.bsky.social · 1d

1. I've had a surprising number of conversations about Covid-19 over the past week or so, all sparked by the fact that I was, as always, wearing an FFP2 respirator. People in healthcare facilities, taxi drivers, people on trains and buses.

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Hend Amry @libyaliberty.bsky.social · 1d

Don’t listen to anyone who minimizes the threat of a government that “only” wants to tighten the authoritarian surveillance noose for “some” people. THATS ALWAYS HOW IT BEGINS YOU FASCISM ENABLERS.

Full Fact @fullfact.org · 1d

On social media and their website, the Liberal Democrats have claimed “Keir Starmer says everyone in the UK will be required to have mandatory digital ID”.

But this isn’t the case, and we can’t find any evidence the Prime Minister said it was.

Digital ID won’t be mandatory for ‘everyone in the UK’ – Full Fact

The Liberal Democrats have claimed Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said everyone in the UK will have to have digital ID, but that’s not the case.

fullfact.org

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🍂Kristy B🍂 @easterparkgazebo.bsky.social · 1d

TATTOO DAY (bonus, because you have to make this life livable etc)

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Naomi Alderman @naomialderman.bsky.social · 1d

I cannot understand what these people think the purpose of human life is?

It is *not* "pursue joy, deal justly, love well, try to understand as much and see as much of this beautiful world and of the deepness, richness and variety of human culture and experience as you can before you die"?

Tim Worthington @outonbluesix.bsky.social · 1d

How is this repeatedly made into a policy issue - by *all* parties - when the blunt fact of the matter is that grown adults who are obliged to pay for their own education, and relentlessly pursued to repay their loans, should be able to study whatever the fuck they want.

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Adam Bienkov @adambienkov.bsky.social · 1d

There may be unforeseen costs to downgrading our understanding of the national language

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Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 1d

This is Kemi Badenoch's first conference as party leader - but most in Westminster expect it to be her last. Remarkably, that would make her the party's third leader in a row to get one conference actively leading it: Sunak took over post-conf in 2022 + a caretaker overseeing leader contest by 2024

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🍂Kristy B🍂 @easterparkgazebo.bsky.social · 1d

They also hate and fear anything that might encourage critical thinking.

Otto English @ottoenglish.bsky.social · 1d

Badenoch and Co see education only as a means to a massive income in some soul destroying career.

Devoid of imagination and the power of knowledge they view life entirely through the prism of the CV.

My advice always is to study what interests you and the rest will follow

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Otto English @ottoenglish.bsky.social · 1d

Badenoch and Co see education only as a means to a massive income in some soul destroying career.

Devoid of imagination and the power of knowledge they view life entirely through the prism of the CV.

My advice always is to study what interests you and the rest will follow

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Indy @indy.bsky.social · 1d

As Prof Portes implies - I am old enough to remember when offshoring jobs was seen as a bad thing.

Jonathan Portes @jdportes.bsky.social · 1d

As for this - in other words the government would rather we offshore our operations instead of generating jobs and exports in a high productivity sector in the UK. I despair...

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