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Keith

@keithcowans.bsky.social
160 followers 276 following 1.4K posts

A space for books, art, film, comedy, the world, the universe. Manager and co-owner of @thebookvault.bsky.social‬, Barnsley. "Empathises with chickens", Andy Zaltzman, The Bugle.

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Keith @keithcowans.bsky.social · 12/10/2026
I always defend the BBC against charges of political bias, on the whole they get it right. Then you look at the broadcasting and writing of Justin Webb and wonder how he still employed by them.
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Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 11/10/2026
There is 73% support in Britain for the principle of refugee protection - including in the UK - while 20% are opposed to this. The peak of support was 2022 at 80% (largely because the images from Ukraine had more impact than images from the Channel that year, though boats + migration were high)
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Keith @keithcowans.bsky.social · 11/10/2026
Low tech? CDs and vinyl from my stereo setup sound vastly better than the best streaming option.
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Keith @keithcowans.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
This is our bookshop, and here is @imcmillan.bsky.social with a poem from his new collection Red River Valley. It is #bookshopday today, support indie bookshops and visit them, say hello, wherever you may be. #booksky
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Keith @keithcowans.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
This is our bookshop, and here is @imcmillan.bsky.social with a poem from his new collection Red River Valley. It is #bookshopday today, support indie bookshops and visit them, say hello, wherever you may be. #booksky
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Keith @keithcowans.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
Again, commentators and pundits (not you!) breathless for drama. The result wasn't bad, seems to be around what people were expecting. Though unless he gets a grip on other issues, that is where the party's troubles lie.
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Dan Snow @thehistoryguy.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
This a million times. People of colour being dragged on to debate maniacs about imaginary labels & race science is an abomination. proper ‘how German are you’ Nazi shit Note that people like me with white migrant parentage never asked to defend our identity Englishness. Is. A. Made. Up. Thing
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Keith @keithcowans.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
Was about to click on the second when the third popped up. By the way, are keeping an eye on the weather?
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Keith @keithcowans.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Same when I worked in arts education. "£1 donation towards materials" on public events was mainly because people reacted more positively and were more engaged in something that wasn't free.
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Keith @keithcowans.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
The failure of the third amendment explicitly protecting Jewish members who attend synagogue also removes all excuses that the party has any moderation on this attitude.
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Keith @keithcowans.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
I look forward to Polanski and all Green MPs being asked to justify this. And in one or two cases, their absence from this debate.
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Keith @keithcowans.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
New on bandcamp, the only Melt Banana album I didn't already own. Probably the best band I've seen live. #musicsky #bandcampfriday meltbananaofficial.bandcamp.com/album/charlie
meltbananaofficial.bandcamp.com
Charlie, by MELT-BANANA
14 track album
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Keith @keithcowans.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
I agree at times the two strands seemed a bit mismatched in tone as much as anything in the earlier episodes, though things do come more together as the series goes on.
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Keith @keithcowans.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Slim 'lil' Dorrit
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Keith @keithcowans.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
That account is something. Looking at the feed they want continued stagnation and paucity of direction, criticising anything Burnham has said just because. More housing, booo. Even attempting to tackle social care, booo. Vague attempts to improve growth, etc.
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Michael Spicer @michaelspicer.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Most TV is just this now.
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Keith @keithcowans.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
I'm really worried that a political party leader still thinks, all these months on from when you first said this, that encouraging a shortage will magically help with supply. Yes it's an issue for cost of living, no this is not a sensible action.
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Keith @keithcowans.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Whatever the exact figures that come to light, the principle that lower migration would lead to losses has been included in govt/obr's own forecasts. This isn't an unknown issue, yet they have chosen to stay on this path.
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Keith @keithcowans.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
No. Programming a tool to interact with what can display as responses in emotional terms is still programming. Even if you state this is not peer-reviewed, it is embarrassing that you are publishing this.
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Keith @keithcowans.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
To make clear, the UK should rejoin. The referendum was a stupid idea carried out badly. The arrogance of politicians who think they can tell the EU from the outside to reform, in what ever ways suit their agenda, is one of the main stumbling blocks as to why rejoin won't happen.
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Keith @keithcowans.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
How about Super Highly Intelligent Tech?
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Keith @keithcowans.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
I do wish allegedly serious news sources would stop doing this. It didn't 'go rogue'. It is a bit of tech which is badly designed, implemented, managed.
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Keith @keithcowans.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Pass. He's OK at best when I've heard him on panel pods, and OK on humour. My long-standing view on culture, music, and extended into podcasts, is that blandness wins. Many people who aren't massively interested in e.g. politics look for an easy listen. See also The Rest is Dreary Shite stable.
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Dan Snow @thehistoryguy.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
England is a made up thing. It has no basis in the ineluctable laws of nature. Its extent is defined by Edward II getting his arse handed to him. Athelstan conquering York. The Welsh of Cumbria were incorporated, the Welsh of Gwynedd were not. It is a political idea, an aspiration - not taxonomy.
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Sam Freedman @samfr.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
The difference between the performance of immigrants in England and Western Europe is staggering. (20 pts equals a year of learning.) I looked at this in detail in the post - it can't be explained away by language or relative advantage of different immigrant communities. There is a policy factor.
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Keith @keithcowans.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Yes, I know! IRL defence spending needs to go up, though I understand the Treasury's reluctance given how spectacularly bad the MoD is at spending money. Though Healey has 'gone native' in double-quick time in his change of tack. I was really meaning the show.
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Keith @keithcowans.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
I haven't seen the show, but I find it hard to imagine directions and outcomes which wouldn't promote defence spending as being a good idea?
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Keith @keithcowans.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
I liked the more live sound in shorter doses in peel sessions or 20-30 minute live sets, on getting this album the appeal was more limited. Exactly the sentiment of your last sentence.
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Ian Dunt @iandunt.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Lots of talk of growth ahead of the Budget, as if it were a baroque puzzle. Our problem is basic. It's that we no longer support the things which facilitate growth: Europe, immigration, higher education, tax simplification, policy stability. These are all choices and could stop making them anytime.
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Holger Hestermeyer @hhesterm.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
How is this news? billionaire oil person says uk needs to drill more and tax less, though, of course, he‘s actually in Monaco. And he would do more in the uk if the state subsidised him more. Dear BBC, that‘s like me saying the uk‘s problem is underpaid law profs. www.bbc.com/news/article...
bbc.com
Billionaire Manchester United owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe says he has lost confidence in UK
Ineos founder Sir Jim Ratcliffe tells the BBC he thinks the country is "on the slide" and calls for more investment in the North Sea.
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Keith @keithcowans.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Currently listening to, Who Loves The Sun, @chatpileband.bsky.social #musicsky
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Keith @keithcowans.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
The headline news on the BBC website seems to have got mixed up with Hello.
Screenshot of the live newsfeed on the BBC website home page, current headline "Charles sounded 'giddily elated' in phone call after Diana's death, her brother claims in new book."
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Alice Fraser @alicefraser.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Speaking of which, join my bloody Patreon, it’s extremely good value for money, and also you can join it for free in which case it’s even better value for no money. Patreon.com/alicefraser
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Keith @keithcowans.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Yes, there are accounts on here who do pretty much nothing else but 'look at this, isn't it awful'. Have unfollowed a few which cuts it down a little and that is the only solution - more varied follows and feed. The gap between this and my bookshop account feed is always very visible.
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Keith @keithcowans.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
That's not to say that Piddington shouldn't get the coverage it deserves, but the reports I've seen are clear on the issues and if people can't read and come to a conclusion that's their problem.
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Keith @keithcowans.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
The BBC did of course cover the three-nation thing. I read a very long summary where the three couldn't agree with each other on basics. e.g. Wales doesn't want a referendum because they know they would lose, however they do want the Barnett formula to be extended or abolished as they don't benefit.
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Keith @keithcowans.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
I wasn't aware they'd already voted. Off ya f*ck then. I believe there is precedent for an advisory referendum to be set in stone.
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Keith @keithcowans.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
If the vote goes that way, then leave means leave. Border controls & passports, surcharge on NHS use, standard tariffs and costs in and out, they have their own tax and spend to manage, if they want to work outside Piddington they are subject to the same rules as others from outside the UK, etc.
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Keith @keithcowans.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
I mean, AI is shite. I went straight from this to blocking a random 'AI chat' page on facebook (nothing to do with them) which was spamming pages with invites. It is a terrible thing in all sorts of ways. And there are dangers in the future. Just not dangers that this person can articulate.
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Keith @keithcowans.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
"I don't know what's going to happen, why it might happen, how it might happen. Please buy my book."
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Keith @keithcowans.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
No, I agree. My view is that the SFF element should not be detached from this, or other fiction where it plays a significant role. I guess I meant different people could just as easily describe Rivers as SFF or crime. Personally I go with both.
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Keith @keithcowans.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
I don't read crime books for the most part. I am reading Rivers of London. Do I think that would be the same, have the same level of interest to me without the SF stuff? No. Your argument works both ways.
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Keith @keithcowans.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
"OK", says he in his book shop, staring at the piles of replacement stock from books sold over the weekend. The biggest of which every week by some distance is SFF. And that's not even including fresh copies of Handmaid's Tale and Frankenstein which don't get put in that section.
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Keith @keithcowans.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Sage Enhances the Machine
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Keith @keithcowans.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Read this yesterday via an archive link. Always thought the ubiquitous Rajan was promoted vastly beyond his ability, I guess it's nice of him to confirm it.
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Otto English @ottoenglish.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
As the government bans social media for kids further evidence emerges that it's a minority of retired adults we should really be concerned about. www.devonlive.com/news/devon-n...
devonlive.com
Pensioners attack traffic lights over wild 'deadly weapon' claims
An online movement say that the sensors on traffic lights can cause heart attacks, brain cancer, anxiety and even sudden death
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Keith @keithcowans.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
I see England's latest two-day test match is underway #thecricket
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Keith @keithcowans.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
I very rarely make official complaints on media coverage, but this case is so obviously wrong as a personal, offensive, attack on Millband I have made an exception. After reading clips here I found it on the BBC live webfeed. You can find the official complaints link on the BBC website.
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Keith @keithcowans.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Point being, by this stage it looks like a deliberate choice. When farage is today calling for total bans on face coverings, I know he has his own motives, this is a terrible approach and attitude from Burnham.
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Keith @keithcowans.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
If nothing else, the number of mainstream people across media and elsewhere who have all been saying the same thing, I find it hard to believe that he's not aware of these comments about his absence on this.
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