An extract from IF WE TOLERATE THIS is today's Guardian Long Read.

www.theguardian.com/news/2026/ap...

Strongly! Though perhaps it will be more monk-like with an egg in it?

Creative industries hold upper hand in AI copyright fight Artists, musicians, writers and journalists are pushing back hard as Big Tech firms seek access to their work for training AI models

“In 2024 the UK’s creative industries contributed £145.8 billion to the economy while the entire AI sector contributed £11.8 billion.”

www.thetimes.com/article/8561...

Bravo George and best of luck for what comes next

anti-abortion groups don't see abortion as a single-issue - they are simultaneously funding & driving anti-trans, anti-LGBTQI, anti-migrant [...] efforts in the UK and transnationally. it isn't just 'what happens in the US', it's also what they've funded in Uganda, Hungary, Mexico, Poland [...] 1/

I changed my default search engine to Ecosia in all of my browsers. It's powered by Bing and - and I never thought I'd say this - it's a better search. And, as it has no AI summary, it just removes all of those tiny extra stressors from daily life.

Yes! I want to cover it with graffiti that just says "EXPLAIN YOURSELF"

Home - Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment Discover more about the music we play, our musicians and where we work.

The Orchestra of the Enlightenment do a semi-regular thing called The Night Shift with just a few of their musicians at any one time. It's based on how classical music would have originally been heard, so in pubs with drinks, at pub tables, talking and moving allowed. oae.co.uk It's really good!

Marie, this is amazing!

This is the academic version of the Severance office!

I loved that book, a said-with-love kick in the arse.

Perfect, no notes

The spy who came in with the cod

Comments are kicking off with accusations of rotten fish, trying to seduce staff members in hotels, threats of cutting motorbike brake cables and actual spying.

I am agog at the Facebook group for my hometown - fish and chip shop accused the former boyfriend of a staff member of posting bad reviews with fake names. He has responded saying the Russian owner is conducting a harassment claim against him.

Rachel in firelight and formalwear is a looming Spanish queen in a Velaquez painting.

You’re right—swallowing the bird was a half-measure. The bird did eat the spider, as planned, but now you have a bird in you. It reminds you of swallowing the spider to catch the fly. You’re seeing the pattern.

Would you like me to suggest some animals which could eat the bird?

"Tommy Robinson says he found massive stream of funding from the American evangelical right in prison."

I read it in a snow storm in a hotel in New York and that was an oddly perfect modern setting. It's such a treat.

She also sent a handwritten thank you card afterwards, which I thought was also gracious and charming.

I once interviewed Joanna Trollope at Dulwich Lit Fest. Within minutes of meeting her, she had - graciously, charmingly - extracted quite a personal story from me. Later, the event photographer asked me "did you end up telling her *everything* too?".

Would like to add that museums and art galleries seem allergic to adding their actual physical addresses too.

All my blithe assurances that "it could be fun"!

Women’s Institute will no longer accept trans women as members from April Exclusive: CEO says decision taken with ‘utmost regret and sadness’ after supreme court ruling on definition of a woman

Even people who have concerns about sport or refuge spaces would do well to justify why trans women should be excluded from the Women’s Institute or Guides. Just cruelty and spite. www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

Great culture can save lives. Literally.

Amazing letter in today’s @thetimes.com about Tom Stoppard

Porridge with pears and cinnamon. Small coffee. Small cat. Boyfriend playing the double bass upstairs, beetroot roasting in the oven. It's the first day in ages where quietly content is the ruling emotion.

It's always just Mary Webb, T'Pau and Blandings Castle. Even Houseman wasn't a local.

Getting to south London and back this evening, can confirm the Weaver line was definitely cursed

Sally Shapiro - He keeps me alive - Skatebård Remix YouTube video by skatebaard

Here we are! m.youtube.com/watch?v=j_ZX...

Such a favourite. I used to have the Skateboard mix of He Keeps Me Alive on repeat.