Awoke to a dreadful question: have I been snoring in the Quiet Coach?

This morning I’ve seen Olly Robbins’s appearance before the select committee described as ‘box office’, while a commentator flagged up another key political moment with the words ‘bring the popcorn’.

That’s one of our main problems right there.

Most of us have come across George Orwell’s and of course there’s Elmore Leonard’s, but Nietzche? David Ogilvie of advertising fame? R L Stine?
If for (and me) there are no rules, are there any helpful tools or guidelines? buff.ly/wk6CBsx

Drastic Tonal Shift! Join #thefilmcrowd this Wednesday from 8pm for a dip into the archives and another chance to pay tribute to Kenneth Williams as he takes a trip around some old haunts in COMIC ROOTS from 1983!
youtu.be/3o9_seSolns?...

A teenage/20something girl in vaguely 80s clothing smoking a cigarette. She has knee high boots and fishnet tights. She has plaits and earrings. She's saying, "Aslan...? Haven't heard THAT name in a while" and is labelled SUSAN PEVENSIE: Narnia's Final Girl

Found this doodle, no memory of what prompted it. Possibly an internet chat.

“Palantir’s manifesto, which embraces AI state surveillance of citizens along with national service in the USA, is either a parody of a RoboCop film, or a disturbing narcissistic rant from an arrogant organisation,” said Martin Wrigley, a Lib Dem MP & member of the HofC science & technology SC

bsky.app/profile/patr...

(Had to delete previous post because of silly human errors).

…it’s going to be up to small presses to offer something better. They need to be absolutely clear that AI will be nowhere in their business models. Ever. Small presses books need to be the artisanal sourdough to the big four’s mass produced sliced white. /end

My sense is that the big four would commit to producing pretty much nothing but AI and celebrity fiction (or celebrity AI fiction), with a smattering of literary titles they can enter for prestigious prizes, if they felt they’d get away with it. AI is already rife in self-publishing, so… 1/

They’re slavering at the prospect of committing fully…

HUK – Our position on AI Visit the post for more.

Some hedging here, unfortunately. www.hachette.co.uk/landing-page...

Ed Miliband to double down on net zero with measures to combat Iran energy shock As fossil fuel prices soar ‘the era of clean energy security must come of age’, energy secretary will say

There is no politician - and I mean none - who is better-placed than Ed Miliband to get us through this fossil fuel-driven energy crisis.

No-one in politics understands the energy system better. That’s why the billionaire fossil press hate him

www.theguardian.com/business/202...

Every AI commercial is like "Hey AI, what goes good on a sandwich?" and then the AI is like "Have you considered... cheese?" And then the narrator is like: THE FUTURE IS HERE.

Just worked hard and enjoyably on a submission. Which means I’m invested, dammit.

Apr 18, 1593: Venus and Adonis is entered into the Stationer's Register in London. #OTD #Shakespeare
bit.ly/38AemAm

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Sign at my gym: CUSTOMER NOTICE NO HOT WATER We are experiencing problems with the water temperatures. We are currently working on this and apologise for the inconvenience caused. everyone ACTIVE Feel better

Last time it was getting dressed in the dark. This time it’s cold showers. But it’s always something. Will have to have a word with Gordon Brittas.

Ordering now…

A reminder that we did this.

(And had to pay Mirror Group Newspapers for the copyright of the text, one of the finest rights payments I’ve ever approved.)

It is a sunny #SaturdayMorning here in our part of the world so I'm very thankful for that. As is my wont each week, here's our traditional start to the day & week-end: "Interior" by Brynhild Parker from 1930: it just seems to fit the moment! #BrynhildParker #EastLondonGroup

Bloody hell. A bit of tragic catharsis to set me up for the day.

‘Simon Being Taken out to Sea for the First Time since His Father Drowned’, Skinningrove, North Yorkshire, 1983, photo by Chris Killip. Weekly ritual to prevent him becoming afraid of the sea, where the community earned its living.

Reading Graham McCann's top-notch biography of "Dad's Army".

Dark Satanic Mills on casting Sergeant Wilson - David Croft's already set on Robert Dorning, but Michael has other ideas :

"You *must* have John Le Mesurier! He *suffers* so well!"

And Michael's right, he does.

Oh, I need his book in my life!

*loathe

*novel idea 🙄

Wouldn’t that be a novelty idea for a *checks notes* Labour government?

I absolutely loath them.

Talking shop again: No. 10 scandals are damaging when the duck isn’t so much lame as running on fumes.

On 1 May the Renter’s Reform Act properly kicks in.

Irrespective of the policy merits, we have virtually no media coverage of something which fundamentally transforms renting in England.