Mark Robinson

Am I the only one who increasingly often finds the headlines on AP a bit odd? Eg why 'claims' here? Is it up for debate what he thinks? (as opposed to what he things being debatable). Is it a clicks thing? Or just me being an old git? The articles are generally still good, though.

A couple of my public poetry works on display at Stellar Projects #Nightfall25 event this weekend. Rather wet the night I went! Dance as if it's not chucking it down...

Or Ray Charles? ☹️

And playing Sun City at the height of apartheid??

Earned settlement The government is consulting on how the current settlement system should be reformed and how those reforms should be implemented.

For those of you in the UK, especially if you are a UK citizen, can you please take part in the consultation on changes to Indefinite Leave to Remain (Settlement) that were just proposed by the UK government. We need as many people as possible to reject these proposals. www.gov.uk/government/c...

Nine risks caused by AI notetakers — Careful Industries AI transcription tools are not currently mature or reliable enough to be regarded as an always on, single-source of truth for meeting notes. Nine common risks, and six possible mitigations.

I've written up the findings from our work with people and organisations who have used AI notetakers in meetings, identified 9 risks and a bunch of mitigation strategies. www.careful.industries/blog/2025-11...

Leeds City Council plans £101m of savings The council plans to publish its budget proposals, including how savings will be made, in December.

“since the start of 2010 the authority had seen reductions equating to a real terms decrease in funding of £465.9m - 70% of its overall budget”

and people are wondering why the UK is “broken”

it’s not “boats” it’s austerity

“Leeds City Council plans £101m of savings”
www.bbc.com/news/article...

Sausage dogs must be worried they’ll be next.

YouTube video by Country Mile Microdisney "Birthday Girl" live in Dublin

It's Annual Birthday Girl by Microdisney Day here, to mark me listening to it when I walked home from hospital after the birth of my firstborn, 35 today. And every 13 November since.

"She was tired, it was dawn, when she heard the nurse say 'it's a baby boy'"

www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQpz...

I wrote something about men’s mental health and creative activity last year and contrasted the development of mee-mawing with men’s reactions: fishing in silence. Just as a hook into exploring difficulties men (esp in ’industrial’ jobs) have with talking therapies.

Not from her specifically, so far as I knowanyway, but from the phenomenon more generally. I read it as a powerful urge to communicate come what may.

She was great at the lost art of me-moing too.

The Verbenas - enjoyed their Peel session back in the day.

Why my great grandma was deaf as a post!

Don’t worry about having no manager today Boro fans. George Cartick’s in town. #tedlasso #utb

I learnt today that Katie Lam has written several musicals. One for the ‘oh really?’ column next time there’s an argument you’re not fully human without the arts in your life.

On the plus side I just saved myself the 6 emails over 3 months I see it took me to actually get paid the mates rates I agreed to last time

Just pulled out of guest lecture to an MA as the uni changed its terms so the fee would have been a princely £34.32, as I was building on last year's lecture. Students are mainly international paying £30,000 each. Make it make sense.
Sympathies to all stuck in the cogs of the HE industrial complex.

Louvre Thieves Given Immunity After Confirming Jewels Stolen For Purpose Of Training AI Software FRENCH POLICE have immediately ended all efforts to recover priceless Napoleon-era jewellery from the Louvre taken in a daring heist after it emerged the jewels were merely stolen for the purposes of training AI software. When …

Louvre Thieves Given Immunity After Confirming Jewels Stolen For Purpose Of Training AI Software https://waterfordwhispersnews.com/2025/10/20/louvre-thieves-given-immunity-after-confirming-jewels-stolen-for-purpose-of-training-ai-software/

Nothing against this mayor, a good one so far as I see/hear (see Private Eye for other sorts), but I hate how the mayoral model inevitably leads to "*I’m* developing a thriving creative economy in the North East". For modest grants that would have been sorted by LA arts officers when I were a lad.

For no other reason than I remembered not everyone in the world has read it, here's the book I wrote about creative resilience & creative communities, pub by @artscentres.bsky.social. Download for FREE or buy paperback to look cool on trains, in waiting rooms, in bed, etc tacticsforthetightrope.com

How much is one of those worth? shoult I have it insured?

Quiff's arguably not what it was but it's still there/back currently.

I have trans women friends who’ve been living authentically for decades - how are they going to start using the gents?
I have a tall cis female friend who’s now scared to use ladies loos because she’s been harassed several times.
This code is both cruel and unworkable.
Please write to your MP.

Young man in front of the Eiffel Tower, black and white, impressive quiff and big coat.

Post you in another era.
Go on then... 40 years ago fml. Photo by @dustysevens.bsky.social

It is always worth a look isn’t it, you just never know.

Been listening to that album a lot after the song Old Friends popped up on a playlist and rather took my breath away - lovely stuff. bo idea they were from Leeds thanks to the way streaming sucks context from music though.

You'll have finished it in no time at that pace!

I made the mistake of reading a biography of him and have never felt quite the same about the books since. I should reread some though.

touchy feely mish mosh when theatre plays soft

today in pocket theatre, i write abt when theatre plays soft. open.substack.com/pub/csvich/p...

Unfolding Theatre’s mission is to bring people together. We stand against hate. We are sad and troubled by far right protests planned in Newcastle this weekend. However, we are heartened by the actions of many people who work to build connections, understanding and support in the city.