Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Jerry Fishenden @ntouk.bsky.social · 8d

"How playing a musical instrument helps children learn to read"

www.newscientist.com/article/2498...

How playing a musical instrument helps children learn to read

Learning to play an instrument has long been linked to improved reading skills among children, and we may finally understand why

www.newscientist.com

Jerry Fishenden @ntouk.bsky.social · 9d

With digital ID back in the news, I thought I'd resurface my @computerweekly.bsky.social piece from 2020—exploring what *good* citizen-centric, democratic ID might look like in place of the hype and failed approaches of the past …

Implementing a 21st century approach to digital identity | Computer Weekly

We need a better, more convenient and effective solution to identity. One that lets us manage our own identity-related data and choose where, when and with whom we share it.

www.computerweekly.com

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Jerry Fishenden @ntouk.bsky.social · 9d

gosh, what a surprise ...

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

‘Reverse Midas touch’: Starmer plan prompts collapse in support for digital IDs

Net public backing for scheme has fallen to -14% after prime minister’s announcement, according to polling

www.theguardian.com

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Jerry Fishenden @ntouk.bsky.social · 12d

… meanwhile, 23+ years ago ntouk.wordpress.com/wp-content/u...

ntouk.wordpress.com

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Jerry Fishenden @ntouk.bsky.social · 12d

GOV.UK One Login is a mess. Alongside reported security issues & missing features like delegation & support for business, it breaks the government’s identity assurance principles: it's impossible to switch easily between different One Login accounts. How did it ever pass a service assessment?

A warning message within the One Login app — stating that everything will be deleted from the app if the user logs out from one of their One Login accounts in order to log in in again with another one, breaking the government's own identity assurance principles.

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Jerry Fishenden @ntouk.bsky.social · 12d

Using AI to automate and accelerate what government currently does replicates the same mistaken approach as the “website government” mindset of the past three decades: it’s “faster horses” instead of improving how government — and democracy — works

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Jerry Fishenden @ntouk.bsky.social · 13d

Good to see the FT exposing some of the hybrid warfare we’re currently encountering

www.ft.com/content/0b35...

The Russian spy ship stalking Europe’s subsea cables

Covert operations in waters surrounding the British Isles pose a grave threat to critical infrastructure and a fresh challenge to Nato

www.ft.com

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Jerry Fishenden @ntouk.bsky.social · 17d

Here’s a brief selection of photos from my recent US road trip along the Blues Highway … a most welcome intermission from the day job :)

fishenden.wordpress.com/2025/09/23/t...

Travellin’ the Blues Highway

Images and reflections from a recent road trip up through the Great Smoky Mountains and down the Blues Highway. Great Smoky Mountains Cherokee, North Carolina First up is the capital of the Eastern…

fishenden.wordpress.com

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Jerry Fishenden @ntouk.bsky.social · 20d

Clarksdale … another great experience of the blues and its history

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Jerry Fishenden @ntouk.bsky.social · 20d

Great to have been in BB King’s Blues Club, Memphis, just a few days before the 100th anniversary of his birth

The cover page of the local free Memphis newspaper featuring BB King to celebrate 100 years since his birth

A blues band — singer, bass, guitar, piano and drums — on stage performing at BB King’s Blues Club

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Jerry Fishenden @ntouk.bsky.social · 20d

Can’t help feeling this remake of “Citizen Smith” has jumped the shark …

Sultana accuses Corbyn of 'baseless' character attacks www.bbc.com/news/article...

Zarah Sultana accuses Jeremy Corbyn of 'baseless' character attacks

Former Labour MP hits back in an escalating row between the would-be founders of new left-wing party.

www.bbc.com

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Jerry Fishenden @ntouk.bsky.social · 24d

Musical road trip, USA — Nashville, Memphis and New Orleans

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Reposted by Jerry Fishenden

transformgovtalks.bsky.social @transformgovtalks.bsky.social · 25d

🚨 6PM, WED 24 September 🚨

Join us at the MoJ or online

* Dr Moira Nicolson & Holly Marquez "Failing Forward: Why Planning for AI Disasters Unlocks Breakthrough Innovation"
* Ben Sauer "Always Be Creating Clarity: Daily habits for strategic storytelling"

luma.com/sm09nslz

Please share! Thanks 🙏

TransformGov Talks : September 2025 · Luma

Dr Moira Nicolson, Lead Behavioural Scientist (Cabinet Office) and Honorary Research Fellow (UCL) plus Holly Marquez, Senior Behavioural Scientist, (Cabinet…

luma.com

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Jerry Fishenden @ntouk.bsky.social · Aug 15

... another hot, dry Friday — feels like an ideal time for 'Waiting for the rain to come' ...

soundcloud.com/jerryfishend...

Waiting for the rain to come

A laid back, spaghetti Western inspired track ... darn, when's that rain gonna come, huh?

soundcloud.com

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Reposted by Jerry Fishenden

transformgovtalks.bsky.social @transformgovtalks.bsky.social · Aug 4

🍺🍹🍷🥛 TGT Summer Drinks!! 🥛🍷🍹🍺

Join us at 6pm on Wednesday the 27th of August at the Buckingham Arms for the first TransformGov Talks Summer Drinks.

Network, chat and put the world to rights - we'd love you to join us.

lu.ma/sdzpnfl9

TransformGov Talks : Summer drinks · Luma

Join us in person for a casual summer evening catch-up and chance to socialise with your fellow government transformers.

lu.ma

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Reposted by Jerry Fishenden

Jerry Fishenden @ntouk.bsky.social · Jul 9

“Digital Government at the Crossroads”—in this article for the Cambridge Journal of Law, Politics, and Art I explore why ‘digital government’ needs a rethink and reset to help democracies learn smarter, react faster, and adapt better to the growing challenges they face

Digital Government at the Crossroads

Introduction Governments have launched a series of ambitious digital strategies over recent decades to improve how they operate and interact with citizens. However, many of their anticipated benefits ...

www.cjlpa.org

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Jerry Fishenden @ntouk.bsky.social · Jul 9

“Digital Government at the Crossroads”—in this article for the Cambridge Journal of Law, Politics, and Art I explore why ‘digital government’ needs a rethink and reset to help democracies learn smarter, react faster, and adapt better to the growing challenges they face

Digital Government at the Crossroads

Introduction Governments have launched a series of ambitious digital strategies over recent decades to improve how they operate and interact with citizens. However, many of their anticipated benefits ...

www.cjlpa.org

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Reposted by Jerry Fishenden

transformgovtalks.bsky.social @transformgovtalks.bsky.social · Jul 2

🚨 6PM, WED 16 July 🚨

Join us for the eighth TGT at the MoJ or online, with:

* Andrew Knight, Head of UK Government's Policy Design Community
* Emilia Hogarth, Head of Communities - Transforming Public Procurement, Cabinet Office

lu.ma/6hvitdyr

Please share! Thanks 🙏.

TransformGov Talks : Seventh event · Luma

Speakers Antonio Weiss on his new book, "AI Demystified" Becky Miller, Defra, on designing policy with complex evidence live stream will be here : …

lu.ma

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Reposted by Jerry Fishenden

Jerry Fishenden @ntouk.bsky.social · Jun 18

my guest article for the Digital Government Network giving some insights into my book 'Fracture. The collision between technology and democracy—and how we fix it'

digitalgov.network/fracture-col...

Fracture: The Collision Between Technology and Democracy—and How We Fix It - Digital Government Network

Drawing on over thirty years of digital transformation initiatives to explore how governments can get their mojo back—and learn smarter, react faster, and adapt better.

digitalgov.network

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Jerry Fishenden @ntouk.bsky.social · Jun 18

my guest article for the Digital Government Network giving some insights into my book 'Fracture. The collision between technology and democracy—and how we fix it'

digitalgov.network/fracture-col...

Fracture: The Collision Between Technology and Democracy—and How We Fix It - Digital Government Network

Drawing on over thirty years of digital transformation initiatives to explore how governments can get their mojo back—and learn smarter, react faster, and adapt better.

digitalgov.network

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Reposted by Jerry Fishenden

transformgovtalks.bsky.social @transformgovtalks.bsky.social · Jun 12

🚨 6PM, WED 25 June 🚨

Join us for the seventh TGT at the MoJ or online, with:

* Antonio Weiss on his new book, "AI Demystified"
* Becky Miller, Defra, on designing policy with complex evidence

lu.ma/jkd8jbzu

Please share! Thanks 🙏.

TransformGov Talks : Seventh event · Luma

Speakers Antonio Weiss on his new book, "AI Demystified" Becky Miller, Defra, on designing policy with complex evidence live stream will be here : …

lu.ma

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Jerry Fishenden @ntouk.bsky.social · Jun 12

A few snaps of the local birdlife here in #Shetland

A puffin stands on a cliff edge looking out to sea

Two hungry gulls sit on a van’s roof at the back of a fish and chip shop

A gannet in flight, a piece of seaweed on its beak for building its nest

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Jerry Fishenden @ntouk.bsky.social · May 31

Back with the tammie norries … as the excellent Wikipedia entry tells us: “they breed in muckle colonies on seawart cleuchs or islands, nestin in craggy scores or in bourie ben the yird”

Reposted by Jerry Fishenden

The Associated Press @apnews.com · May 20

BREAKING: George Wendt, who played a beloved barfly on "Cheers" and found another home onstage, dies at 76.

George Wendt, who played a beloved barfly on 'Cheers' and found another home onstage, dies at 76

George Wendt, an actor with an Everyman charm who played the affable, beer-loving barfly Norm on the hit 1980s TV comedy “Cheers,” has died. He was 76.

bit.ly

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Reposted by Jerry Fishenden

bryanglick.bsky.social @bryanglick.bsky.social · May 13

Another one for the digital identity crowd...

The government’s GovUK One Login digital identity system has lost its certification against the government’s own DIATF trust framework for digital identity systems. Read the full story here:

www.computerweekly.com/news/3666238...

Gov.uk One Login loses certification for digital identity trust framework | Computer Weekly

Computer Weekly has learned that a key technology supplier to One Login chose to allow its certification to lapse, and as a result One Login has also been removed from the accreditation scheme.

www.computerweekly.com

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