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Ian McCreath

@ianmccreath.bsky.social
1.7K followers 2K following 572 posts

A personal account UK “The greatest thing you’ll ever learn, is just to love, and be loved, in return” -Eden Ahbez, Nature Boy

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Ian McCreath @ianmccreath.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
May the lights in the land of plenty, shine on the truth one day. open.spotify.com/track/2LzWqC...
open.spotify.com
The Land of Plenty
Leonard Cohen · Ten New Songs · Song · 2001
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Natalie Bennett @nataliegreenpeer.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Powerful and important letter about artificial so-called intelligence from Sheila Hayman from Minderoo Centre for Technology and Democracy, University of Cambridge, in the FT today
Margaret McGirr’s letter (“AI can lend a hand, but it will struggle to replace one”, July 21) and Chine McDonald’s guest column (“This retro revival is more than a longing for the past”, Opinion, August 7) both touch (sic) on something that should be obvious, but is carefully ignored by almost everyone in the tech world. Namely that our intelligence is embodied, evolved and biological, and inseparable from our bodies.
The brain’s job is to control the body in the world; it is the last organ to develop.
Every square centimetre of our hands (and of the rest of our skin) contains about a 170 touch sensors or nerve endings, sensitive to different kinds of touch: a slap, a burn, a caress, a hug — each of which travels to different parts of the midbrain, prompting the appropriate response. Quickly to the autonomic nervous system for something dangerous; more slowly via a different channel for something carrying meaning.
In addition to the hand’s limitless versatility, it is self-repairing, regulates its own temperature, knows without being programmed how much pressure to exert on an egg, a tennis ball or a day-old chick, and can fuse neurologically to whatever it holds.
So when we put a glass down on the table or slide a knife through an apple, we feel the table, or the apple, not the glass or handle in our hand (try it!).
Finally, and most urgently, the entire human body — including the hands — does everything on 25 or so watts of completely renewable energy: a tiny fraction of what a humanoid robot, even one of the current primitive iteration of robots, needs.
The “retro revival” is thus not cultural nostalgia.
It’s millions of years of evolution crying out to be heard, before we suppress it totally in the service of an automated — and dead — planet.
Sheila Hayman
Member of the Advisory Board, Minderoo Centre for Technology and Democracy, University of Cambridge, London NW1, UK
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Ian McCreath @ianmccreath.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
wonkhe.com/blogs/when-t...
wonkhe.com
When the academic must become the evidence
Rina Arya argues Jason Arday's death raises a wider question about the autobiographical burden placed on academics of colour who write about race
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Ian McCreath @ianmccreath.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
youtu.be/1raSUYAr0s0?...
youtu.be
Ian McKellen reads "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
YouTube video by Jeremy Neufeld
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Ian McCreath @ianmccreath.bsky.social · 06/04/2026
🌒
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Ian McCreath @ianmccreath.bsky.social · 06/04/2026
🎵The owl and the pussycat went to sea in a beautiful pea-green boat 🎵
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Russ Jones @russincheshire.bsky.social · 02/04/2026
Use this tool to find out if your local health services use Palantir software, and register your objection. It takes 30 seconds. Well done @goodlawproject.org notopalantir.goodlawproject.org/email-to-tar...
notopalantir.goodlawproject.org
Say no to Palantir in the NHS
NHS England is rolling out software to run our health records from Palantir - fight back
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Ian McCreath @ianmccreath.bsky.social · 02/04/2026
Just when you start to hope government are making better decisions for the UK future, you read an article like this. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
theguardian.com
UK looks to relax planning rules for factory farms after industry lobbying
Exclusive: documents chronicle years-long campaign to make it easier to build intensive livestock units
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Ian McCreath @ianmccreath.bsky.social · 28/03/2026
youtu.be/TmyjzvQv5bA?... A plea. Build a bridge, shine a light #Flea #Honara #NoKings #Together 28.03.26
youtu.be
Flea - A Plea (Official Music Video)
YouTube video by Flea
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The Guardian @theguardian.com · 25/03/2026
A moment that changed me: I thought my Parkinson’s was the end of my life, but dancing changed everything
theguardian.com
A moment that changed me: I thought my Parkinson’s was the end of my life, but dancing changed everything
The moment I stepped into English National Ballet’s studio, I stopped being just a patient. Among fellow spirits, I have rediscovered my sense of joy and agency
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Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 18/03/2026
OSSOFF: Your statement says that as a result of last summer's airstrikes, Iran's nuclear program was 'obliterated.' Correct? GABBARD: Yes O: The WH stated war was launched to 'eliminate the imminent nuclear threat' G: The only person who can determine what's an imminent threat is POTUS O: False
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Ian McCreath @ianmccreath.bsky.social · 18/03/2026
why am I not surprised 😞
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Ian McCreath @ianmccreath.bsky.social · 17/03/2026
Sounds like it’s been edited mid sentence. Prob worth seeking out the full clip.
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We're Right Here @right-here.org · 25/02/2026
How neighbourhood governance can help us beat the far right.
 Misbah Malik, @hopenothate.org.uk 👉 www.right-here.org/how-neighbou... Reading list 🧵3/10
right-here.org
How neighbourhood governance can help us beat the far right - We're Right Here
We’re Right Here is a monumental ground-up campaign for community power.
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Politics UK @politicsuk.com · 10/03/2026
🚨 WATCH: Labour MP Charlotte Nichols reveals she was raped as an MP as she opposes the jury trial reforms "I waited 1,088 days to go to court. We've been told [by the Government] that if we have concerns about this Bill, it's because we've not been raped"
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Peter Kay @theonlypeterkay.bsky.social · 08/03/2026
Put Trump’s criticism of Starmer and other democratic leaders against his consistent syrupy praise for authoritarian, brutal leaders. Starmer is in good company. Just remind yourself how Trump praises authoritarian antidemocratic leaders in this thread. It’s an eye opener 🧵 1/
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Ian McCreath @ianmccreath.bsky.social · 08/03/2026
youtu.be/0yvX_SAzkmQ?...
youtu.be
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Joy (Title Video)
YouTube video by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
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Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 06/03/2026
Obama: "We are living in a time where it can be hard to hope. Each day we wake up to some new assault on our democratic institutions. Another setback to the idea of the rule of law ... but this man - Rev. Jesse Jackson - inspires us to take a harder path ... bc if we don't step up, nobody else will"
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War Child UK @warchilduk.bsky.social · 05/03/2026
As violence escalates across the Middle East, it is children who are paying the highest price. Right now, our teams are responding with emergency support for vulnerable, traumatised children and their families. 🔗 Please support our response: bit.ly/4rSsAnN Children deserve safety. Everywhere.
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War Child UK @warchilduk.bsky.social · 06/03/2026
𝗛𝗘𝗟𝗣(𝟮) - the new collaborative album from War Child Records - is OUT NOW: bit.ly/4re0qCq Every purchase, stream and share of 𝗛𝗘𝗟𝗣(𝟮) helps support our work with children facing unimaginable circumstances around the world. We are so grateful to everyone who helped bring this album to life.
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The Guardian @theguardian.com · 17/12/2025
A moment that changed me: a pigeon fell out of the sky – and she led me to a secret underground rescue network
theguardian.com
A moment that changed me: a pigeon fell out of the sky – and she led me to a secret underground rescue network
I had no idea what to do with the injured bird I named Belinda. But suddenly 3,000 Mancunians were happy to help, giving me a whole new appreciation of my home town
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Ian McCreath @ianmccreath.bsky.social · 16/12/2025
youtu.be/cfKYImFP_Pw?...
youtu.be
Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds - Bright Horses (Official Lyric Video)
YouTube video by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
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Ian McCreath @ianmccreath.bsky.social · 16/12/2025
Yes my hypothetical question works both ways. Would Labour supporters vote Green if the hypothetical election was a choice between Green and Reform as only possible winners? How strong is personal conviction & party allegiance vs pragmatism of avoiding a government even further away from core values
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Ian McCreath @ianmccreath.bsky.social · 16/12/2025
Thanks, understand why people may prefer a Green over Labour govt. Maybe too soon to ask but interested whether that vote would change at a hypothetical GE where only Labour or Reform can win?Would people still vote Green froma deep personal conviction knowing outcome would be an actual Reform govt?
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Ian McCreath @ianmccreath.bsky.social · 15/12/2025
I don’t have a party allegiance, but am interested in how people think about politics. I understand some people prefer Greens to Labour, on all sorts of levels. My question was really about what happens to that vote in a hypothetical general election where only Labour or reform had chance of power.
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Ian McCreath @ianmccreath.bsky.social · 15/12/2025
On one hand I see where the frustration would come from, but for every decision by Labour that has caused anger/ disillusionment, are there any that you think wouldn’t be worse,from your political perspective, if it was Kemi Badenock for Nigel Farage in power?
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Ian McCreath @ianmccreath.bsky.social · 15/12/2025
Would you vote for them again with a different leader/vision? Or if by not voting Labour it looked likely to usher in a far right wing government for 5 years, would you consider voting for a Kier led Labour Party then?
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Ian McCreath @ianmccreath.bsky.social · 12/12/2025
"The future can only look after itself…We hope people will accept us whether bright and breezy or feeling low. We ourselves all try to shine. If we share the love around, everyone feels safer - it's community. By helping others, I help myself' #Dementia #Wisdom via @innov-dementia.bsky.social
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Hetan Shah @hetanshah.bsky.social · 18/07/2025
‘OpenAI’s ChatGPT-4o model cited Pravda content in response to five out of seven prompts on contested subjects.’ on.ft.com/40TOF9R
on.ft.com
Disinformation warriors are ‘grooming’ chatbots
Russian hackers are exploring ways to inject propaganda into the training data of generative AI models
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neilmcrowther @neilmcrowther.bsky.social · 17/07/2025
Live more: how Greater Manchester is leading the way in offering early, preventive support to people living with dementia and their families, in partnership with @sharedlivesplus.bsky.social & @adass.bsky.social GM www.adass.org.uk/live-more-sh...
adass.org.uk
Live more: shifting support upstream for people and families living with dementia - ADASS
Bernie Enright, Executive Director of Adult Social Care at Manchester City Council and Ewan King, Chief Executive of Shared Lives Plus, discuss their exciting new initiative to help people with dement...
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neilmcrowther @neilmcrowther.bsky.social · 16/07/2025
You should read this (and not only cos I co-wrote it 🙃).
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Tom Shakespeare @tomshakespeare.bsky.social · 11/07/2025
"There is no recession of the imagination": finding point 7 of the Arts Emergency Manifesto particularly inspiring today. Also point 11: "Optimism is a weapon and if all else fails be silly".
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The New Yorker @newyorker.com · 09/07/2025
In the past two years, with surprisingly little notice, renewable energy has suddenly become the obvious, mainstream, cost-efficient choice around the world, @billmckibben.bsky.social writes.
newyorker.com
4.6 Billion Years On, the Sun Is Having a Moment
In the past two years, without much notice, solar power has begun to truly transform the world’s energy system.
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Lisa Bachelor @lisabachelor.bsky.social · 07/07/2025
Today, the Guardian’s Seascape launches a year long series on young people in England’s coastal towns. What is it about living by the sea that results in poorer outcomes for many? Our news story to launch it. More in an hour… www.theguardian.com/environment/...
theguardian.com
Young people in England’s coastal towns three times more likely to have a mental health condition
They are suffering disproportionately and without help, say researchers, and unless they are given a voice, problems will continue to mount up
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Ian McCreath @ianmccreath.bsky.social · 04/07/2025
Birthday weekend this one, but 51 is a very hard age to muster much enthusiasm over. #OddNumberBias
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The King's Fund @thekingsfund.bsky.social · 04/07/2025
Missed our #10YearHealthPlan webinar earlier? Don't worry, here's some of the key takeaway from our panel and speakers on what they think the 10 Year Health plan will mean for the future of the NHS. Watch the event back here: youtu.be/nhRtMPOzbjs
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Elena Hung (she/her) @elenahung.bsky.social · 03/07/2025
Moments like these, I always come back to: "Our work continues, the fight goes on, and big dreams never die." ❤️‍🩹
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Matthew Pennycook MP @matthewpennycookmp.bsky.social · 02/07/2025
Today, we have set out our plan to kickstart a decade of social and affordable housing renewal. Here’s how we’ll do it 🧵
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Ian McCreath @ianmccreath.bsky.social · 01/07/2025
83 #DoTheRightThing #PIP news.sky.com/story/politi...
news.sky.com
Politics latest: Starmer facing key vote on welfare reforms today as dozens of MPs expected to rebel
Sir Keir Starmer faces a test of his leadership as MPs are set to vote on his welfare reforms today. Dozens of Labour MPs are set to rebel against the prime minister despite him making concessions las...
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Ian McCreath @ianmccreath.bsky.social · 30/06/2025
…but will apply to future claimants. Which could actually be anyone of us.
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Ian McCreath @ianmccreath.bsky.social · 28/06/2025
Ha I would have put money on it being so. …and yet it was so confident 😂
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Ian McCreath @ianmccreath.bsky.social · 28/06/2025
Been up your way today, Martin. Manchester uni open day with daughter. Now back home watching Neil Young live at Glastonbury with her, as I would have been with my dad, and thinking life is often bitter sweet but also special.
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Richard Humphries @richardhumphries.bsky.social · 20/06/2025
If enacted this will see the State finding new £ & staff to help people kill themselves whilst hospice care in many places is being reduced. Is that the outcome legislators intend? If not what are they going to do about the latter?
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James Ball @jamesrball.com · 21/06/2025
“Crucially, the government has decided that taking £200 a year in Winter Fuel Allowance from people on £30,000 is too politically painful. How can it defend to its own MPs taking £10,000 a year from families in much more difficult circumstances than that?” www.thenewworld.co.uk/james-ball-l...
thenewworld.co.uk
Labour’s devastating disability benefits cuts are a time bomb
Many of its own MPs won't support measures that could see some people lose £10,000 overnight
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Ian McCreath @ianmccreath.bsky.social · 21/06/2025
NHS plans to DNA test all babies to assess disease risk www.bbc.com/news/article... A story about how *every* future born citizen will have their DNA recorded & screened with AI, without one paragraph about data security or scrutiny of promised benefit? Anyone got a link to a better article?
bbc.com
NHS plans to DNA test all babies in England to assess disease risk
Scheme is part of the government's 10-year plan for the NHS in England aimed at easing pressure on services.
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neilmcrowther @neilmcrowther.bsky.social · 20/06/2025
This being the context for the Assisted Dying Bill 👇
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Helene von Bismarck @helenebismarck.bsky.social · 20/06/2025
They. Are. Sanctuaries.
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Naomi Smith @pimlicat.bsky.social · 20/06/2025
170 unhappy Labour MPs. Labour loses far more support from its own base than any it might gain from those who think benefit recipients are scroungers - they'll just bank the win and then find another excuse to hate Labour. inews.co.uk/news/politic...
inews.co.uk
Starmer's threats won't stop a rebellion on benefits cuts, Labour MPs warn
Rebels have been warned they could lose the party whip or be passed over for promotions if they do not support the welfare reforms
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neilmcrowther @neilmcrowther.bsky.social · 20/06/2025
Personal independence payment helps people to go to work makingrightsmakesense.wordpress.com/2025/03/12/p...
makingrightsmakesense.wordpress.com
Personal Independence Payment helps people to go to work, it doesn’t lock people out of jobs
“Without reform more people will be locked out of jobs, despite many wanting to work.” – UK Government commenting on an article about increased spending on Personal Independence Payment…
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Ian McCreath @ianmccreath.bsky.social · 20/06/2025
Daughters formed a folk band with her friends…off to a village fete to hear them perform tomorrow www.instagram.com/thesmokingda...
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