ianjsimpson
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ianjsimpson.bsky.social
ianjsimpson
@ianjsimpson.bsky.social
Photos | Books | Music | Film | Comics | Libraries

Occasional reviewer for Strange Horizons

Manager in Liverpool Central Library

Lives in Macclesfield
Often in the Peak District
Reposted by ianjsimpson
Despite the headline it’s not George RR Martin personally going for them cos he’s rich and famous. It’s all of us.

The test case used his work, but it’s about the plain-as-day issue that ANY generative AI ignores and infringes copyright, by passing off.

That’s a win for basic law.
Judge rules George R.R. Martin and other authors can sue OpenAI for copyright infringement

• Said ChatGPT generated 'Game of Thrones' content similar enough to infringe copyright

• OpenAI’s motion to dismiss was denied
October 30, 2025 at 9:09 AM
Reposted by ianjsimpson
It's Banned Books Week! Here are some Horror (and adjacent) books that are often banned and/or frequently challenged. I have read most of them but I chose Bless Me, Ultima to read & enjoy. See if your public/school libraries have these books! Read Banned Books
October 6, 2025 at 1:50 PM
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What do you do when your media org is captured? You start your own.

Introducing....The Nerve!!! @thenerve-news.bsky.social

We're all-female, journalist-owned & launching next week.

Please help us build a truly independent, progressive new media!👊👊👊
Former Observer big-hitters inc @carolecadwalla.bsky.social launch new title The Nerve with redundancy payouts

After Observer sale: "We decided to launch a title that the journalists themselves would own, that would be truly independent"
pressgazette.co.uk/news/former-...
Former Observer big-hitters launch new title with redundancy payouts
Five former Observer journalists including Carole Cadwalladr have launched their own culture publication using their redundancy money.
pressgazette.co.uk
September 26, 2025 at 11:03 AM
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Mandatory ID cards are a terrible, terrible idea
iandunt.substack.com/p/id-cards-a...
September 26, 2025 at 11:33 AM
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Hi, can I interest you in some fantasy written by a nonbinary author? With trans and intersex characters? Not based on a franchise by a transphobic author!

Dragonfall, Emberclaw, and my rewritten debut, Pantomime, are out now, and I could very much use some help getting the word out about them. 💖
September 25, 2025 at 7:39 PM
And on my last day, at 12.05, my last piece of formal work is complete...
September 26, 2025 at 11:05 AM
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The Librarians review – the heroic women battling against book bans and censorship

#movies #documentaries
The Librarians review – the heroic women battling against book bans and censorship
Kim A Snyder’s documentary highlights the defenders of young readers’ rights to see their lives in print facing rightwing attacks
www.theguardian.com
September 24, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Three Shires Head, Derbyshire, Cheshire and Staffordshire

#waterfallwednesday
September 24, 2025 at 12:04 PM
In one week I'll be back in public libraries...
September 24, 2025 at 7:33 AM
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This is NOT just america. This is happening here. Local coverage of it, if you can bear the pop up ads....

www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/2548259...

#UKKidlit #Edusky
September 23, 2025 at 10:39 AM
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Public #Libraries are 'essential for more equitable access to books, texts and digital resources', a new report from Literacy Lab @edinburghuni.bsky.social on the future of books and reading notes.

blogs.ed.ac.uk/literacylab/...

#Reading
September 23, 2025 at 7:59 AM
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What the fuck. Are there any decent alternatives?
If you’re on academia dot edu, let me suggest that you strongly consider deleting your account.
September 18, 2025 at 8:35 AM
Reposted by ianjsimpson
Daily life in 2025.

#AI #Tech #JustLetMeBe #FFS
January 23, 2025 at 8:03 AM
Reposted by ianjsimpson
The Labour MP for East Thanet, Polly Billington MP, has written to the Reform Leader of Kent County Council to express her concern about Reform in Kent’s "continued endorsement of anti-science organisations and conspiracy theories" in a new motion on climate change (🧵)
September 17, 2025 at 10:02 AM
Come to Aston and do my job...

Head of Content and Digital Transformation - Jobs at Aston
jobs.aston.ac.uk/Vacancy.aspx...

Closing date: Monday 29 September 2025.

#AcademicSky #HigherEd #Skybrarians
Job Vacancy at Aston University: Head of Content and Digital Transformation
An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the dedicated and forward-thinking Library Leadership Team (LLT) at Aston University as Head of Content and Digital Transformation.In this strategic leadersh...
jobs.aston.ac.uk
September 17, 2025 at 11:23 AM
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Your occasional reminder that Ursula K. Le Guin and Philip K. Dick were in the same year in the same high school, liked each other’s writing, but never met in person.
September 13, 2025 at 6:19 AM
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My latest cartoon for @theguardian.com books.
p.s. I have a new book of cartoons out soon: www.tomgauld.com/comic-books-v2
August 31, 2025 at 3:31 PM
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My cartoon for the @theguardian.com books autumn reads special.
September 7, 2025 at 5:38 PM
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Strange Horizons published our first issue 25 years ago this month! 🎉

Thank you to everyone who has ever read, shared, submitted, donated! We wouldn't be here without you and we hope you'll continue to support us into the future!
September 16, 2025 at 10:49 AM
This accessible, local service is saving Brits £1,473 a year. www.better.org.uk/news/this-ac...

Love your #library
This accessible, local service is saving Brits £1,473 a year.
Better leisure centres, libraries, swimming pools, gyms, spas, pitches and other community spaces. Find you nearest centre and join the movement.
www.better.org.uk
September 15, 2025 at 10:14 AM
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That was "Unfunded hobbyist research", the latest single from President Malcolm Press
September 12, 2025 at 10:01 AM
2 weeks to go...
September 12, 2025 at 8:35 AM
Last summer at Lathkill Dale, Derbyshire

#waterfallwednesday
September 10, 2025 at 9:55 AM
Reposted by ianjsimpson
What might seem like a small announcement—it’s just one institution—actually carries substantial weight and has a strong symbolic meaning.

@utrechtuniversity.bsky.social, has taken another bold step: it won't renew its Web of Science license. www.uu.nl/en/news/acce...
Access to Web of Science will end on 1 January 2026
The university library has decided not to renew the licence for access to the Web of Science citation database (including Journal Citation Reports).
www.uu.nl
September 8, 2025 at 12:27 PM