Stewart Parsons
libraryfiend.bsky.social
Stewart Parsons
@libraryfiend.bsky.social
Founder of Get It Loud In Libraries www.loudinlibraries.com cool programme of doorstep library gigs with future BRIT & Grammy winners. Born to live in Scotland. Lover of music, books, libraries, radio, dogs, PNE & wife Elizabeth. A BEM, no less.
Pinned
I have long enjoyed writing to my literary heroes. No more so than as a romantic book-mad 20year-old, pre library employment. Muriel Spark was quick to recommend the library as a source for her further reading faves to save me 'dipping into my dole'. How I treasure this letter #libraries
Peak BBC News.
We interrupt tributes to Jesse Jackson to bring you your daily dose of racism.

Thanks, Beeb. Respectfully handled.
February 17, 2026 at 2:43 PM
Reposted by Stewart Parsons
So when thousands of women (and children) were being duplicated--including in non-consensual AI porn--it was no big deal. But it took "only a 15-sec clip" of these two famous white men to draw outrage and fear. Gotcha. Cool cool.
It took only a 15-second clip of Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt duking it out on a crumbling rooftop — made by A.I. with a two-sentence prompt and the click of a button — to draw swift outrage, and sizable fear, from Hollywood.

"It’s nothing short of terrifying," one scriptwriter said.
Why an A.I. Video of Tom Cruise Battling Brad Pitt Spooked Hollywood
A 15-second clip created by an artificial intelligence tool owned by the Chinese technology company ByteDance appears more cinematic than anything so far.
nyti.ms
February 16, 2026 at 8:36 PM
Reposted by Stewart Parsons
Staggering that 24% of voters in this advanced country continue to believe in a bunch of entitled bigots with unworkable policies, whose very ideas put us in the abject chaos we are in. Truly God awful idiots, and I make no apology for saying that.
YouGov Reform 24% (Reform + Cons 42% on the right) fits genereal pattern: Reform 2026 < Reform 2025.

Westminster Voting Intention:
REF: 24% (-3)
LAB: 19% (=)
CON: 18% (=)
GRN: 17% (+1)
LDM: 13% (-1)
SNP: 3% (=)
OTH: 4% (+2)

Via @YouGov, On 15-16th February,
Changes w/ 8-9 February.
February 17, 2026 at 9:17 AM
Reposted by Stewart Parsons
Bookseller Scrambles To Hide All The Classics After Seeing Emerald Fennell Approaching Door https://theonion.com/bookseller-scrambles-to-hide-all-the-classics-after-seeing-emerald-fennell-approaching-door/
February 16, 2026 at 5:00 PM
Enjoying ' How To Get To Heaven From Belfast': the dialogue is whipsmart, bickering, brilliance and the relationships between the three main friends warm & engaging. But I think I would enjoy it more if it was less disjointed & trippy. A great watch all the same but more conventionality would help.
February 17, 2026 at 9:00 AM
It is a truth universally acknowledged that book lovers in Dumfries and Galloway seek out a copy of 'Five False Herrings' by Dorothy L Sayers when holidaying in the area.
Emmer: "It's a false herring for these guys to suggest, 'Oh, we now we need a judicial warrant,' because they know that that's going to delay any enforcement of the actual administrative warrant."
February 17, 2026 at 8:25 AM
Reposted by Stewart Parsons
False herrings for my real friends,

...

...

...

...

I don't know where to take this one, sorry.
Emmer: "It's a false herring for these guys to suggest, 'Oh, we now we need a judicial warrant,' because they know that that's going to delay any enforcement of the actual administrative warrant."
February 17, 2026 at 3:22 AM
Breathtaking.
February 17, 2026 at 8:18 AM
Reposted by Stewart Parsons
February 16, 2026 at 6:14 PM
Blossoms playing St Helens Library for Get It Loud In Libraries almost 10 years ago - some gig. Pics: We Heart Tech
February 16, 2026 at 4:06 PM
Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em
Name this shitcom.
February 16, 2026 at 12:55 PM
Reform UK are social, moral and cultural vandals.
February 16, 2026 at 12:11 PM
It does help.
February 16, 2026 at 10:03 AM
Defacing library books with style.
Sorry for defacing your book, Fraser Valley Regional Public Library
February 16, 2026 at 9:18 AM
Reposted by Stewart Parsons
In an incredibly dark time for politics and politicians, it’s just immensely refreshing to see someone who clearly believes he can bring joy and hope to others during his time in office. It’s such a rare thing.
Everyone in the world comes to get married at the NYC Marriage Bureau. Last week, the Mayor stopped by to officiate a few of those ceremonies. 
 
Thank you to all the couples who shared their joy with us. Happy Valentine's Day, New York. 
 
 Watch the full video at Youtube.com/nycmayorsoffice
February 15, 2026 at 5:27 AM
Six foot three high or wide..?
Trump says he's six foot three (191cm).

"According to some reports", Truss is a mere 160cm.
www.leadermagazine.co.uk/articles/tal...

Is she wearing heels? He doesn't look like a big man in that picture.

#R4Today
🚨 PICTURED: Liz Truss meets with Donald Trump at his golf course in Palm Beach
February 16, 2026 at 7:45 AM
The education and cultural learning wing of Get It Loud In Libraries is a vital driver for young people seeking introductions to the creative industries. Previous students have found jobs on CBeebies, roles in music tech, and placements in universities etc
An absolute privilege to host another @loudinlibraries.bsky.social academy at #Blackpool Central Library 🧡

Never ceases to amaze me how talented and creative our young people are.
February 15, 2026 at 4:09 PM
Small kindnesses make the biggest difference.
My mother died this week. I’m not posting this for sympathy, although thank you. But I realised I was so extremely grateful for people who showed small kindnesses this week. People who let me out while I was driving to her deathbed. People who smiled when I got stuck at the self service supermarket.
February 15, 2026 at 10:20 AM
If World War 3 ever unfolds, to dull the blow, I want it to be in the middle of 6 Music's Radcliffe & Maconie so Mark can in heightened disbelief ask 'Do my ears deceive me, Stuart?' and then they will witter on until Clare Runacres confirms it, and they play another great record.
February 15, 2026 at 9:46 AM
Reposted by Stewart Parsons
Greatest scene in any movie ever because at the moment that was filmed Hitler was rampaging across Europe and a number of the extras in "Rick's" who joined in the singing were in fact refugees from Europe who had escaped his terror.
a black and white photo of a man standing in a crowded restaurant .
ALT: a black and white photo of a man standing in a crowded restaurant .
media.tenor.com
February 14, 2026 at 7:39 PM
Will do...
Give her what she really wants for Valentine’s Day: A bookshelf with a rolling ladder, a vintage bottle of Château Margaux, a basket of fresh pastries, and a candlelight meal where she can dine on the hearts of all who've wronged her.
February 14, 2026 at 3:38 PM
Mozart really should have put this to music...
Happy birthday Mozart!
February 14, 2026 at 1:25 PM
Reposted by Stewart Parsons
When Labour came to power in 1997, a staggering 283,866 people were waiting 6 months or more for an operation.

By 2007 the number was down to 199.

Just one astonishing fact I came across while recording this and it's a reminder that government really can change things - for the better.
As the rat infested Palace of Westminster literally sinks into the mud, there's talk that British parliamentary democracy might follow suit.

It's all lightness and larks in my latest for @noosphere.app

www.noosphere.app/has-britain-...
Has Britain become Ungovernable?
News direct from reporters you trust.
www.noosphere.app
February 14, 2026 at 11:03 AM
Reposted by Stewart Parsons
Good meeting with Keir Starmer in Munich.

Europe and the UK share similar challenges.

it is natural that we work closer to protect our people and common interests.

We had a successful summit last year - let's keep the momentum and deliver at the next one.
February 14, 2026 at 12:04 PM
Rancid racism and crappy politics aside, Ratcliffe gives off real WH Auden's 'face like a wedding cake that's been left out in the rain' vibes...
Gary Lineker added that Jim Ratcliffe can have a moan about immigration 'when he starts paying his taxes'.

🔥 🔥
February 14, 2026 at 11:09 AM