jon w

Rather than presenting this (in my opinion, weak) pseudo-economic case, wouldn't it be better to make a normative case for the non-economic value of the arts and the role of artists towards the public good?

Of course, I'm not against using public money to make people happier BUT can/should we measure improvements in wellbeing in that way?

And goes the claim that the Irish gov't received €1.46 for each €1 spent mischaracterise what's really going on?

Arts funding is a public good but BIIIIIIIIG side eye for some of these claims.

The biggest "profit" for the Irish economy was that it made the recipients about €80 million happier.

I don't have any opinions about anything any more. All I want is for everyone to stop talking like fucking morons.

"an artists"? 🙄🙄

Ed Sheeran’s Pollock homage has energy but no feeling or truth Abstract art like this gives all abstract art a bad name, just meaningless concoctions that avoid proper scrutiny

Being an artists is about "suffering and madness" while "completely covered in paint"

🙄

www.theguardian.com/music/2025/j...

It's up: this week's Ersatz Thursday Quiz. thursdayquiz.glitch.me/quiz-2025-06...

I've just got to redo the score table because MrsTim posted a late score.

cc @katarazzi.bsky.social @markosp.bsky.social

If you see this post an image you saved because it made you laugh

Week 2 without the Guardian Thursday Quiz. I'm trying to stay calm but the panic is rising.

Remembering that time in 2007 when I invented the beard.

What can we learn about Leo XIV from looking at his namesake predecessors? Well, here are two Leo XIII "facts" (disclaimer: they're from a brief look at Wikipedia).

1. He was concerned with social justice issues

2. He enjoyed "the cocaine-infused wine tonic Vin Mariani"

#wokepope #cokepope

At least this upstart (anti-)Pope has the best Roman numeral.

Very happy that I have, once again, been elected as the new Pope.

Olive - You're Not Alone (POLO LILLI Bootleg), by POLO LILLI track by POLO LILLI

We live in the best of all possible worlds. polo-lilli.bandcamp.com/track/olive-...

2-Step Beyond (Madness Bootleg) 2 ---- STEP ---- BEYOOOOOOOND FREE DL Bandcamp for the g8 h8rs: https://polo-lilli.bandcamp.com/track/2-step-beyond

This 160 Madness bootleg by POLO LILLI... What a time to be alive. soundcloud.com/polo-lilli/2...

Country diary: A fishing reel, digital noise … the grasshopper warbler is a bird for every age | Richard Smyth Whitley Bay, North Tyneside: Denied the chance of seeing this elusive bird for centuries, we’ve had to make do with analysing its extraordinary call

Went for a walk, wrote about it. www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Two picture panel from Miss Congeniality where one of the models is asked her favorite date and she replies April’s 25th

It’s April 25th!

Not sure I see it, but I'll take it!

Go read (or listen to) some of what Richard wrote. He's very good at it.

I am a glutton

two donuts is not enough. three donuts is too many.

my home

don't forget

hope you found dinner

A warning sign on a stand in the lobby of a building that says 'Attention couriers! Do not leave parcels in the lobby. All deliveries must be brought to the 1st floor'. There is a large parcel next to it.

Post a warning.

But that's four books... 😶‍🌫️

Post a warning.

Masaccio’s Virgin and Child

Masaccio’s Virgin and Child except I’ve drawn glasses on everyone

I don’t wish to alarm anyone but if you draw glasses on Masaccio’s Virgin and Child it’s Michael Caine holding a tiny Chris Evans being serenaded by the Proclaimers

A reminder that music is good. You should listen to some.

The dust and the lungs was all I could think about... 😩