Angus Main
@angusmain.bsky.social
Technology / Creativity / Experience - Lecturer and Researcher - Cambridge and London, UK
Reposted by Angus Main
“The affordances of AI systems have the effect of eroding expertise, short-circuiting decision-making, + isolating people from each other. These systems are anathema to the kind of evolution, transparency, cooperation, + accountability that give vital institutions their purpose and sustainability.”
"If you wanted to create a tool that would enable the destruction of institutions that prop up democratic life, you could not do better than artificial intelligence." papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
How AI Destroys Institutions
Civic institutions—the rule of law, universities, and a free press—are the backbone of democratic life. They are the mechanisms through which complex societies
papers.ssrn.com
January 17, 2026 at 1:51 PM
“The affordances of AI systems have the effect of eroding expertise, short-circuiting decision-making, + isolating people from each other. These systems are anathema to the kind of evolution, transparency, cooperation, + accountability that give vital institutions their purpose and sustainability.”
Reposted by Angus Main
First date idea
January 17, 2026 at 1:37 PM
First date idea
Waterboard of Peace? Is that something?
January 17, 2026 at 9:27 AM
Waterboard of Peace? Is that something?
I’m trying to read this article about how the BBC will make exclusive content for advertising-funded YouTube, but a banner ad keeps crashing the page.
BBC Close To Agreeing Landmark Deal To Produce Shows For YouTube
deadline.com/2026/01/bbc-...
deadline.com/2026/01/bbc-...
BBC Close To Agreeing Landmark Deal To Produce Shows For YouTube
The BBC is set to produce content for YouTube under a landmark deal with the Google-owned platform.
deadline.com
January 17, 2026 at 8:23 AM
I’m trying to read this article about how the BBC will make exclusive content for advertising-funded YouTube, but a banner ad keeps crashing the page.
I saw this handmade collage on the wall of a hospital allergy clinic yesterday. It’s a get well soon message from all the wasps and bees who’s stings have landed patients in the clinic. There’s something quite endearing about it. The slightly odd language makes me think bees and wasps *did* make it.
January 17, 2026 at 8:10 AM
I saw this handmade collage on the wall of a hospital allergy clinic yesterday. It’s a get well soon message from all the wasps and bees who’s stings have landed patients in the clinic. There’s something quite endearing about it. The slightly odd language makes me think bees and wasps *did* make it.
Reposted by Angus Main
I felt like making some art last night/today and could have made something beautiful and/or meaningful but I made this instead.
It's a Barbie Yaga Malibu Dream Hut.
No regrets. Can't defeat fascism without joy.
It's a Barbie Yaga Malibu Dream Hut.
No regrets. Can't defeat fascism without joy.
January 9, 2026 at 4:20 AM
I felt like making some art last night/today and could have made something beautiful and/or meaningful but I made this instead.
It's a Barbie Yaga Malibu Dream Hut.
No regrets. Can't defeat fascism without joy.
It's a Barbie Yaga Malibu Dream Hut.
No regrets. Can't defeat fascism without joy.
Newspaper and magazine headlines, titles, and images haven’t really changed in 50 years.
Nice to see Playboy represented on the front of a Ladybird book too.
Nice to see Playboy represented on the front of a Ladybird book too.
Ladybird book in the spotlight.
The Story of Newspapers, 1969
Artist: Ron Embleton
The Story of Newspapers, 1969
Artist: Ron Embleton
January 16, 2026 at 8:40 PM
Newspaper and magazine headlines, titles, and images haven’t really changed in 50 years.
Nice to see Playboy represented on the front of a Ladybird book too.
Nice to see Playboy represented on the front of a Ladybird book too.
Why is everyone talking about an influx of people to Bluesky because X is down. It’s like a ukulele shop expecting a spike of custom because the fire alarm went off in Spearmint Rhino.
January 16, 2026 at 5:59 PM
Why is everyone talking about an influx of people to Bluesky because X is down. It’s like a ukulele shop expecting a spike of custom because the fire alarm went off in Spearmint Rhino.
Oh no. What news of Babestation?
X has stopped working
X has stopped working
www.independent.co.uk
January 16, 2026 at 3:55 PM
Oh no. What news of Babestation?
Reposted by Angus Main
Cosgrove Hall Films Archive exhibition at Sale Library is open to the public! Here's a story we posted earlier: downthetubes.net/forever-home...
Forever home unveiled for Cosgrove Hall Films’ iconic animation collection at the newly refurbished Sale Library
New permanent free exhibition opens in January 2026
downthetubes.net
January 16, 2026 at 12:45 PM
Cosgrove Hall Films Archive exhibition at Sale Library is open to the public! Here's a story we posted earlier: downthetubes.net/forever-home...
Why stop at the Nobel Peace Prize. We should give him all the chemistry and physics ones too, just to make the whole thing extra meaningful.
January 16, 2026 at 12:54 PM
Why stop at the Nobel Peace Prize. We should give him all the chemistry and physics ones too, just to make the whole thing extra meaningful.
Reposted by Angus Main
Reposted by Angus Main
i made this one earlier
January 16, 2026 at 11:22 AM
i made this one earlier
Reposted by Angus Main
Reposted by Angus Main
January 16, 2026 at 9:59 AM
Reposted by Angus Main
Trump getting his peace prize
January 15, 2026 at 11:16 PM
Trump getting his peace prize
Dutch Yoriginals
If you put Dutch in front of any word, it becomes a euphemism. Go on, try it.
January 15, 2026 at 8:59 PM
Dutch Yoriginals
This is basically saying that the food doesn’t matter in Michelin star restaurants - it’s just an expensive chef-themed dining experience.
Ynyshir: Giles Coren says hygiene ratings do not apply to Michelin restaurants
Ynyshir: Giles Coren says hygiene ratings do not apply to Michelin restaurants
The restaurant critic says inspectors should "modernise" after Ynyshir recieved a one-out-of-five hygiene rating.
www.bbc.com
January 15, 2026 at 5:57 PM
This is basically saying that the food doesn’t matter in Michelin star restaurants - it’s just an expensive chef-themed dining experience.
What a bunch of conniving morons
January 15, 2026 at 5:50 PM
What a bunch of conniving morons
I mean come on. Anyone in the office could be printing out resignation speeches for Jenrick and leaving them around the place for him to find. They were probably *all* doing it.
January 15, 2026 at 3:24 PM
I mean come on. Anyone in the office could be printing out resignation speeches for Jenrick and leaving them around the place for him to find. They were probably *all* doing it.
Where’s Shreddies of Nabisco?? Fuming.
January 15, 2026 at 1:31 PM
Where’s Shreddies of Nabisco?? Fuming.
I feel sorry for the pub who just lost a booking for their function room.
![BBC News screenshot.
• A senior Conservative MP close to Badenoch tells the BBC they had
"incontrovertible evidence" that Jenrick was about to defect including a "full [resignation] speech and media plan"](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:a7fiadvehv2vczvfjhjgqh34/bafkreibo6tirs6d4id6orpkelqbj4awteejobp5di6gad23ez5fmzztvnq@jpeg)
January 15, 2026 at 1:26 PM
I feel sorry for the pub who just lost a booking for their function room.