Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Rob MacKay @rjm.bsky.social · 7h

Since I turned forty I’ve started feeling like maybe I’m getting old.

Every time I hear about a new policy or review that is clearly designed to appease right wing oldies, it reminds me that I am, in fact, still relatively young.

Adam @abrokenbattery.bsky.social · 1d

Simon Wessely — the controversial psychiatrist once dubbed “Britain’s most hated doctor” has been appointed vice chair of Labour’s review into overdiagnosis of mental health and neurodivergence.

www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/news/controv...

Controversial professor to investigate overdiagnosis of mental health and neurodivergence for Labour

Get the benefits you're entitled to: help with personal independence payment (PIP), universal credit (UC), employment and support allowance (ESA),disability living allowance (DLA). Claims, assessments...

www.benefitsandwork.co.uk

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Rob MacKay @rjm.bsky.social · 18h

Off to Belfast next week - any food and drink recommendations greatly appreciated! We were hoping to find someone kid-friendly with live music if possible…

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Rob MacKay @rjm.bsky.social · 1d

About time I brought back the hero we all deserve, but the hero we didn’t need back then

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Rob MacKay @rjm.bsky.social · 18d

Too many to fit in this format! The food always seemed good, and the staff were always friendly. God help anyone daft enough to use the toilet there though.

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Rob MacKay @rjm.bsky.social · 18d

Fantastic piece on a takeaway I knew well during my first four years in Glasgow.

The Glasgow Bell @glasgowbell.bsky.social · 18d

Is Glasgow’s most notorious takeaway on the brink - and what’s TikTok got to do with it?
www.glasgowbell.co.uk/best-kebab-t...

The tragedy of Best Kebab

TikTok bandits, machete threats and dismal döner meat

www.glasgowbell.co.uk

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Reposted by Rob MacKay

Jane @localnotail.bsky.social · Sep 5

On the same day in the Telegraph:

The Telegraph

Rayner tax scandal - £40k tax dodge - Statement

Angela Rayner dodges £40,000 stamp duty

Deputy Prime Minister reduces tax bill for Hove flat by declaring it as her main residence

[Photo: Angela Rayner pictured at the weekend in Hove, where she has just bought a flat Credit: Dan Charity/The Sun on Sunday]

Robert Mendick Chief Reporter. Amy Gibbons Political Correspondent

29 August 2025 8:57am BST

The Telegraph

Money > Property > Second homes

How to avoid tax on your second home

From stamp duty to council tax, shield your wealth from Labour's tightening net

[Photo of houses around a bay - Areas such as Cornwall have added a premium to council tax bills for second homes Credit: iStockphoto]

Fran Ivens Senior Money Writer

29 August 2025 1:21pm BST

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Rob MacKay @rjm.bsky.social · Aug 27

Good point, but probably doesn’t cover the majority of those in the general public who aren’t fans. I’d say that’s a subsection.

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Rob MacKay @rjm.bsky.social · Aug 27

Well, fair enough if it’s personal preference. For me it’s Fosters and Kronenbourg - can’t drink them.

Rob MacKay @rjm.bsky.social · Aug 27

In what way is it a terrible lager? It’s such a widely held view but I’d like to think the article might help a few folk reconsider their stance.

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Reposted by Rob MacKay

Matthew Curtis @totalcurtis.bsky.social · Aug 27

One of the challenges we have as a publisher is balancing the narrative of supporting small independents with larger cultural impact stories that just feel ripe to be told. I think @rjm.bsky.social does a wonderful job with this long read on Tennent's Lager:

www.pelliclemag.com/home/2025/8/...

The Vertigo of Bliss — Scotland’s Inseparable Relationship with Tennent’s Lager — Pellicle

It’s a Sunday, nearly midnight, and I’m in 8 Ball–a dilapidated yet bustling pool hall above the Scotia, an out-of-the-way folk bar in Glasgow city centre. Occasionally a buzzer sounds, signalling som...

www.pelliclemag.com

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Rob MacKay @rjm.bsky.social · Jul 2

Honoured to be asked to revamp Tipple’s brand identity, and excited to use custom lettering, something that’s become a bigger part of my repertoire over the last few months.

Tipple Marketing @tipplemarketing.bsky.social · Jul 2

It’s now been a whole year since Daisy joined as co-owner of Tipple, so we thought it was the perfect time to share our new brand identity!

What do you think of our new look?

tipplemarketing.com

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Rob MacKay @rjm.bsky.social · Jun 25

Bloody @northernmonk.bsky.social scooping up the best possible script font for their brand…

Reposted by Rob MacKay

David Desi Pubs Dason @davidjesudason.bsky.social · Jun 21

Here’s a story for Bluesky and thanks to @hazelsouthwell.bsky.social please attend her pride in solidarity tonight! Or RT

Pride still triggers homophobic pub goers
When Hazel Southwell took over the Royal Oak pub in Erith, south-east London, last December she feared the locals would shun a gay woman with Georgian heritage as she thought it was a Reform heartland.
The regulars surprised her, confrontations were rare and she secured a 400K in funds
for a renovation to change the decor and
60-year-old carpet. But when Hazel had to bar one drinker for posting online hate about a Pride party at the Oak, the bigot organised a boycott of the London pub.
Hazel then feared she would lose her job because of the drop in takings.
"It was difficult to secure the huge amount of funding to be spent on the pub," Hazel says. "It's a shame people have to spoil it by willing me to fail. Before this it was heartwarming that there was such good integration with LGTBQ+ [people], with everyone playing darts."

But the news of bigots trying to spoil this diversity sparked a huge amount of solidarity in the LGBTQ+ community and its allies with Hazel hoping that people all over London travel to Saturday's Pride event.
"The whole point of Pride is that people can celebrate themselves and feel good about themselves," said a member of the Oak's bar staff. "It's a show against bullies and people who'd rather not understand. It's the first time we've done this here and it's really important for everyone who feels like they ought to keep quiet or to live as someone else because of where they are living."
Most drinkers at the Oak are happy to show solidarity. "I'm really excited for it," a regular customer said, "it's not been done here and I hope it'll bring new people in. This pub's been waiting for a breath of life for donkey's years and you can't resuscitate it by doing the same things every week.
"Plus it'll be a proper party, what's to complain about?"

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Reposted by Rob MacKay

Brian O'Halloran @playingwithdust.bsky.social · Jun 19

This is an amazing read from The Oatmeal. Well worth a look.

theoatmeal.com/comics/plane...

It's going to be okay. - The Oatmeal

This is a comic about a plane crash.

theoatmeal.com

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Rob MacKay @rjm.bsky.social · Jun 20

His business is brain health supplements, you’d think he’d want people aware of stress and anxiety

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Reposted by Rob MacKay

Doric Studio @doricstudio.bsky.social · Jun 19

Fresh batch of Butteries are online noo.

Sizes Medium to XXXL.

Link. In. Bio. ✊

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Reposted by Rob MacKay

David Desi Pubs Dason @davidjesudason.bsky.social · Jun 20

It’s nearly the four-year anniversary of this article some say changed the narrative of the IPA. (Although breweries still shy away from the truth)

Sir Geoff Palmer died recently and he really inspired the article.

RIP Sir Geoff

www.goodbeerhunting.com/blog/2021/8/...

Meme I created based on Anakin Padme four-cell meme.

Anakin is depicted as Magic Rock Cannonball he says: Cannonball is an India Pale Ale in the true tradition, massively hopped to survive a long sea voyage

Padmé Amidala replies: ‘A voyage to where?’

Anakin: silence

Padmé Amidala: ‘To where?’

"I remember when I was getting my OBE. Just before my mother passed away. I told her there are people saying whether I should go to Buckingham Palace and take it. She said, 'We are of slave descent. People gave us nothing. Why should you not take it—you made the
empire.''
— SIR GEOFF PALMER, HERIOT-WATT UNIVERSITY

"If you go to Delhi, [British influence is] everywhere. It's [shown in] the buildings-there are many similarities from Connaught Place in Delhi to Regent Street in London, especially the part up near Piccadilly Circus. Being a Londoner, you do double-take when you see this, and you can't really put it aside. But I just hope that something like this never happens again."

Steve Sailopal

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Reposted by Rob MacKay

Frances "Are You Scared Yet" Meh @francesmeh.reviews · Jun 5

when i joined bluesky two years ago people joked that it was a posting retirement home for 38 year olds but this place has undergone such massive change since then, like the average age is now 40

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Rob MacKay @rjm.bsky.social · Jun 2

Enjoying the little individual right wing unofficial efficiency departments springing up. Super efficient.

Henry Riley @henryriley1.bsky.social · Jun 2

Reform UK’s ‘British DOGE’

- Led by 28 year old entrepreneur Nathanial Fried
- There are 5 members
- Businessman Arron Banks is an adviser
- Launched at Kent County Council today with Zia Yusuf
- Team will visit all Reform UK led councils to identify ‘wasteful spending’

@lbc.co.uk

Rob MacKay @rjm.bsky.social · May 27

Add a letter, ruin a movie.

Emission Impossible

Doric Studio @doricstudio.bsky.social · May 27

Add a letter, ruin a movie.

Panic Broom

Heather Paterson @heatherpaterson.co.uk · May 27

Add a letter, ruin a movie

Top Gurn

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Reposted by Rob MacKay

Pete Brown @petebrownbeer.bsky.social · May 27

This tool is worth an estimated £30m and speaks on behalf of a company with assets of $223 billion. The average income of an author is £7000. But if he isn't allowed to steal our work, he won’t make enough money. Why can’t people like @teamlabouruk.bsky.social see how profoundly fucked up this is?

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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Rob MacKay @rjm.bsky.social · May 7

If it’s generated by genAI it’s not evidence. We’re hurtling way past parody into farce…

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Rob MacKay @rjm.bsky.social · May 7

The absolutely crucial thing you’ve missed here is that genAI doesn’t *think* anything any more than the autocorrect on your phone does. It’s incapable of conscious thought.

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Rob MacKay @rjm.bsky.social · May 6

Me looking at your vast Batman collection

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Reposted by Rob MacKay

Eoghan Walsh @eoghanwalshbxl.bsky.social · May 6

Bollocks that the ship has sailed on refusing to use AI.

The metaverse wasn’t inevitable. 3D films weren’t inevitable.

People have agency in this www.bbc.com/news/article...

The people refusing to use AI

Worried about the environment and the loss of skills, some people are resisting the rise of AI.

www.bbc.com

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