Tim Smith-Laing
@timsmith-laing.com
Writer, reviewer, listener for @telegraphnews.bsky.social, @apollo-magazine.com, etc.
Senior Lecturer on Maastricht University's Executive Master in Cultural Leadship: https://maastrichtuniversity-emcl.org/
All views my own.
www.tim.smith-laing.com
Senior Lecturer on Maastricht University's Executive Master in Cultural Leadship: https://maastrichtuniversity-emcl.org/
All views my own.
www.tim.smith-laing.com
This is an awesome album. Can't believe it's finally being reissued.
Restored and remastered properly for the first time, Sister Irene O'Connor’s prescient 1973 psych-pop milestone is an all timer - tape saturated Christian hymns backed by hypnotic synth vamps and a tinny drum machine
New from Freedom To Spend, who else
boomkat.com/products/fir...
New from Freedom To Spend, who else
boomkat.com/products/fir...
November 13, 2025 at 3:58 PM
This is an awesome album. Can't believe it's finally being reissued.
Reposted by Tim Smith-Laing
Proposal: instead of pouring resources into AI, tech companies first figure out a way for people to be able to copy slides from one PowerPoint presentation to another without the formatting getting all fucked up
November 11, 2025 at 8:35 PM
Proposal: instead of pouring resources into AI, tech companies first figure out a way for people to be able to copy slides from one PowerPoint presentation to another without the formatting getting all fucked up
Reposted by Tim Smith-Laing
Giving a lecture on the drafts of The Waste Land tomorrow and all the strange and haunting lines that Eliot and Pound decided to cut
November 12, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Giving a lecture on the drafts of The Waste Land tomorrow and all the strange and haunting lines that Eliot and Pound decided to cut
Very kind of you to say so, @mlobelart.bsky.social !
If you want to read more about Franz Xaver Messerschmidt, this is as good a place as any to start: apollo-magazine.com/many-faces-f...
November 12, 2025 at 7:39 PM
Very kind of you to say so, @mlobelart.bsky.social !
Reposted by Tim Smith-Laing
I live in a country which has a socially liberal government with a large majority. In these circumstances, I ought to be able to get on with my life without too much political drama. Unfortunately, my country also has two opposition parties bent on destruction, supported by a largely rancid media.
November 12, 2025 at 11:43 AM
I live in a country which has a socially liberal government with a large majority. In these circumstances, I ought to be able to get on with my life without too much political drama. Unfortunately, my country also has two opposition parties bent on destruction, supported by a largely rancid media.
Reposted by Tim Smith-Laing
I'm sure it wasn't arson, but I am reminded of a friend whose gran had a knitting stall in a covered mini market in Redruth and had a phone call kindly suggesting she took her stock home that evening 'as there was going to be a big fire just after midnight'.
November 12, 2025 at 11:43 AM
I'm sure it wasn't arson, but I am reminded of a friend whose gran had a knitting stall in a covered mini market in Redruth and had a phone call kindly suggesting she took her stock home that evening 'as there was going to be a big fire just after midnight'.
Reposted by Tim Smith-Laing
Is anyone else also internally screaming about this BBC nonsense? I feel like someone's pumping hallucinogenic gas into my house. Nothing makes sense
November 11, 2025 at 12:13 PM
Is anyone else also internally screaming about this BBC nonsense? I feel like someone's pumping hallucinogenic gas into my house. Nothing makes sense
Reposted by Tim Smith-Laing
Anyone on the left who thinks that the BBC falling would help their politics, here and abroad, is an unbelievable fool
November 11, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Anyone on the left who thinks that the BBC falling would help their politics, here and abroad, is an unbelievable fool
Reposted by Tim Smith-Laing
John Cale has made a record with someone who wasn't even born when he made Songs For Drella, which for most artists would count as a late-career recording, but for him... long may he roll, is what I'm saying.
youtu.be/Xgp7wlBfASA?...
youtu.be/Xgp7wlBfASA?...
Charli xcx - House featuring John Cale (Official Video)
YouTube video by Charli xcx
youtu.be
November 10, 2025 at 6:43 PM
John Cale has made a record with someone who wasn't even born when he made Songs For Drella, which for most artists would count as a late-career recording, but for him... long may he roll, is what I'm saying.
youtu.be/Xgp7wlBfASA?...
youtu.be/Xgp7wlBfASA?...
Reposted by Tim Smith-Laing
TFW one of the central participants says retrospective diagnosis is impossible, & this is all speculation, but they do it anyway…
www.theguardian.com/artanddesign...
www.theguardian.com/artanddesign...
Documentary explores whether JMW Turner may have been neurodivergent
Programme uses artist’s sketches, drawings and watercolours to build unprecedented psychological portrait
www.theguardian.com
November 10, 2025 at 8:00 AM
TFW one of the central participants says retrospective diagnosis is impossible, & this is all speculation, but they do it anyway…
www.theguardian.com/artanddesign...
www.theguardian.com/artanddesign...
Reposted by Tim Smith-Laing
Wish the BBC was still staffed by loony lefties who'd call you a thicko in the Radio Times if you didn't like their plays.
November 10, 2025 at 7:49 AM
Wish the BBC was still staffed by loony lefties who'd call you a thicko in the Radio Times if you didn't like their plays.
Reposted by Tim Smith-Laing
We are so far through the looking glass that the man who tried to overthrow an election becomes president, the people who attacked the Capitol are turned into martyrs, & it's the BBC that gets punished - cheered on by the worst news outlets in the UK & the two most dishonest politicians of our age.
It’s not at all clear to me how the BBC can do any kind of serious journalism if its top two bosses can be forced to quit over such an obviously confected scandal. There is no substantive error here. How can the BBC report on Trump, or Farage, or anyone else, in these circumstances?
November 9, 2025 at 9:08 PM
We are so far through the looking glass that the man who tried to overthrow an election becomes president, the people who attacked the Capitol are turned into martyrs, & it's the BBC that gets punished - cheered on by the worst news outlets in the UK & the two most dishonest politicians of our age.
Post a non-religious image you think of as holy.
November 8, 2025 at 7:53 AM
Post a non-religious image you think of as holy.
Reposted by Tim Smith-Laing
Terrible all-time-embarrassing bad parent moment today walking with 3-year old:
*4WD nails it down residential road*
Me: Well that guy's a prick.
Remond: Why a prick?
Me: I shouldn't say that. He was going too fast. Want to walk along this wall?
Redmond: Yeah.
1/2
*4WD nails it down residential road*
Me: Well that guy's a prick.
Remond: Why a prick?
Me: I shouldn't say that. He was going too fast. Want to walk along this wall?
Redmond: Yeah.
1/2
November 7, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Terrible all-time-embarrassing bad parent moment today walking with 3-year old:
*4WD nails it down residential road*
Me: Well that guy's a prick.
Remond: Why a prick?
Me: I shouldn't say that. He was going too fast. Want to walk along this wall?
Redmond: Yeah.
1/2
*4WD nails it down residential road*
Me: Well that guy's a prick.
Remond: Why a prick?
Me: I shouldn't say that. He was going too fast. Want to walk along this wall?
Redmond: Yeah.
1/2
Terrible all-time-embarrassing bad parent moment today walking with 3-year old:
*4WD nails it down residential road*
Me: Well that guy's a prick.
Remond: Why a prick?
Me: I shouldn't say that. He was going too fast. Want to walk along this wall?
Redmond: Yeah.
1/2
*4WD nails it down residential road*
Me: Well that guy's a prick.
Remond: Why a prick?
Me: I shouldn't say that. He was going too fast. Want to walk along this wall?
Redmond: Yeah.
1/2
November 7, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Terrible all-time-embarrassing bad parent moment today walking with 3-year old:
*4WD nails it down residential road*
Me: Well that guy's a prick.
Remond: Why a prick?
Me: I shouldn't say that. He was going too fast. Want to walk along this wall?
Redmond: Yeah.
1/2
*4WD nails it down residential road*
Me: Well that guy's a prick.
Remond: Why a prick?
Me: I shouldn't say that. He was going too fast. Want to walk along this wall?
Redmond: Yeah.
1/2
Scared I did this. What an unforced error.
I have unfollowed people on social media who have called me Andy. It’s not my name. I am not an Andy. You might as well call me Ronald. Call people by the name they want.
Dump him, girl www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...
November 7, 2025 at 11:35 AM
Scared I did this. What an unforced error.
Reposted by Tim Smith-Laing
A fun question. In 5 years time, what looks better? The US’s enormous bet & capex on AI? Or China’s equally enormous bet and capex on renewables?
China has made cheap, clean energy available in huge quantities. The world should take the win econ.st/4oqFszB
Photo: Eyevine
Photo: Eyevine
November 7, 2025 at 7:10 AM
A fun question. In 5 years time, what looks better? The US’s enormous bet & capex on AI? Or China’s equally enormous bet and capex on renewables?
Reposted by Tim Smith-Laing
Dear GOD if you want to save money in the asylum system
1. LET ASYLUM SEEKERS WORK
2. FAST TRACK STATUS FOR EVERYONE FROM CLEARLY UNDAFE COUNTRIES like Sudan, Syria, etc
3. Run an asylum accommodation system that is NOT FOR PROFIT #r4today
1. LET ASYLUM SEEKERS WORK
2. FAST TRACK STATUS FOR EVERYONE FROM CLEARLY UNDAFE COUNTRIES like Sudan, Syria, etc
3. Run an asylum accommodation system that is NOT FOR PROFIT #r4today
November 7, 2025 at 7:35 AM
Dear GOD if you want to save money in the asylum system
1. LET ASYLUM SEEKERS WORK
2. FAST TRACK STATUS FOR EVERYONE FROM CLEARLY UNDAFE COUNTRIES like Sudan, Syria, etc
3. Run an asylum accommodation system that is NOT FOR PROFIT #r4today
1. LET ASYLUM SEEKERS WORK
2. FAST TRACK STATUS FOR EVERYONE FROM CLEARLY UNDAFE COUNTRIES like Sudan, Syria, etc
3. Run an asylum accommodation system that is NOT FOR PROFIT #r4today
Reposted by Tim Smith-Laing
For the record, it’s always been deeply clear that Cummings is a crank and a weirdo. An enormously creepy person who never had any business in public life.
November 6, 2025 at 8:55 PM
For the record, it’s always been deeply clear that Cummings is a crank and a weirdo. An enormously creepy person who never had any business in public life.
Reposted by Tim Smith-Laing
You may remember over the summer I was photographed by Changke Li, a student at the London College of Communication in fab trousers (1). Her concept was I was walking down the street when my wig blew off. Final picture just landed (2)
November 6, 2025 at 7:59 PM
You may remember over the summer I was photographed by Changke Li, a student at the London College of Communication in fab trousers (1). Her concept was I was walking down the street when my wig blew off. Final picture just landed (2)
Reposted by Tim Smith-Laing
The *default* function of a chatbot will be the fabrication of fake information. This is baked into the core design of the product: so stuff like "please check outputs" and "ethical" AI use are just attempts to broom a tidal wave back into the sea
November 6, 2025 at 9:39 AM
The *default* function of a chatbot will be the fabrication of fake information. This is baked into the core design of the product: so stuff like "please check outputs" and "ethical" AI use are just attempts to broom a tidal wave back into the sea
Reposted by Tim Smith-Laing
There are a wide range of institutions (including several major climate advocacy groups) encouraging "responsible" and "ethical" use of generative chatbots, eg 'checking outputs'
This only worsens the harm: the people most compelled to trust ChatGPT are also the least likely to check.
This only worsens the harm: the people most compelled to trust ChatGPT are also the least likely to check.
November 6, 2025 at 9:37 AM
There are a wide range of institutions (including several major climate advocacy groups) encouraging "responsible" and "ethical" use of generative chatbots, eg 'checking outputs'
This only worsens the harm: the people most compelled to trust ChatGPT are also the least likely to check.
This only worsens the harm: the people most compelled to trust ChatGPT are also the least likely to check.
Reposted by Tim Smith-Laing
Every time a pop-up window in an application asks if I'd like to use the AI option it's like a waiter smoothly asking if sir would care to try the shit platter
November 6, 2025 at 9:43 AM
Every time a pop-up window in an application asks if I'd like to use the AI option it's like a waiter smoothly asking if sir would care to try the shit platter
One thing the youtube algorithm absolutely cannot grasp is that I will never, ever, ever, ever listen to a video called 12HR LOFI CHILL FIRESIDE BEATS AMBIENCE.
November 6, 2025 at 9:56 AM
One thing the youtube algorithm absolutely cannot grasp is that I will never, ever, ever, ever listen to a video called 12HR LOFI CHILL FIRESIDE BEATS AMBIENCE.
Reposted by Tim Smith-Laing
🎬 The arts aren’t a luxury - they’re an export.
At #Lab25, @aiannucci.bsky.social reminds us that the UK’s Creative Industries make up 6% of our economy and 7% of our workforce - the GDP equivalent of oil + car industries combined.
🎥 Watch more clips from the Creative UK Pavilion hubs.ly/Q03QVhV90
At #Lab25, @aiannucci.bsky.social reminds us that the UK’s Creative Industries make up 6% of our economy and 7% of our workforce - the GDP equivalent of oil + car industries combined.
🎥 Watch more clips from the Creative UK Pavilion hubs.ly/Q03QVhV90
November 5, 2025 at 4:58 PM
🎬 The arts aren’t a luxury - they’re an export.
At #Lab25, @aiannucci.bsky.social reminds us that the UK’s Creative Industries make up 6% of our economy and 7% of our workforce - the GDP equivalent of oil + car industries combined.
🎥 Watch more clips from the Creative UK Pavilion hubs.ly/Q03QVhV90
At #Lab25, @aiannucci.bsky.social reminds us that the UK’s Creative Industries make up 6% of our economy and 7% of our workforce - the GDP equivalent of oil + car industries combined.
🎥 Watch more clips from the Creative UK Pavilion hubs.ly/Q03QVhV90