I'm beginning to think tech bros might not understand the concept of satisfaction gained via effort.

Playwright & artist John Byrne (1940–2023) was born #OTD, 6 Jan. An extraordinary talent, best known for the SLAB BOYS trilogy & TUTTI FRUTTI & YOUR CHEATIN’ HEART, he also designed album covers for Gerry Rafferty & the set for THE CHEVIOT, THE STAG & THE BLACK BLACK OIL A 🎂🧵 #art #theatre 1/8

"How many greying celebrities mouth progressive platitudes with real confidence and how many because of a dread of seeming out of touch?" asks James Marriott in a column for The Times. In his defence he's very young, and probably doesn't remember Rock Against Racism, Red Wedge, Artists United-

44 years ago Look-In asked pop stars what they thought of The ABBA Groop

On this day in 1962, the fourth episode of Comedy Playhouse (The Offer) was broadcast. Galton & Simpson didn't think it could be developed into a series but the Head of Light Entertainment, Tom Sloan, thought otherwise.

Your regular reminder: The UK government continues to do most of its public messaging on X, where Grok's child porn and just about every other form of damaging material from which the restrictive Online Safety Act was meant to protect us are just a few clicks away ...

New blog post! A quick look back and a brief update on bookish plans for 2026... www.paulcarnahan.com/post/get-you... #BookSky #NewBooks #WhatToRead #MustRead

I only found out there was a Audible sale after seeing my bookscan numbers for The Unlikely Pursuit of Mary Bennet suddenly jump by several hundred 🤣 nobody tells me anything. So, grab a copy for 99 cents if you've got a US account! The narrator (Clare Corbett) does an absolutely cracking job.

This is lovely. What a dreamboat he was 🖤 #PhilLynott youtu.be/m5UJO4pn0ZY?...

Your last chance to see the Outsiders exhibition in its current form will be at Street Level Photoworks, Glasgow in April/May. That isn’t the end though as I’m developing a powerful new exhibition on homelessness, in collaboration with another photographer, which will be shown in Leeds in 2027.

Aspiring authors Q & A with a roundly respected industry titan. Go go go.

New blog post! A quick look back and a brief update on bookish plans for 2026... www.paulcarnahan.com/post/get-you... #BookSky #NewBooks #WhatToRead #MustRead

A female pheasant joined the local pigeons to snap up some birdseed in our back yard - and must’ve told her boyfriends, because two males turned up the next day. (Not the best pics, I know. I didn’t want to disturb them while they were eating).

Sad news via Instagram - Ingeborg Pertwee, mother of Sean, widow of Jon, has died.

On this day, January 3, 2021: A beautiful walk up Alva Glen and one of my favourite photos of my much-missed pal Magnus.

When I worked in public libraries the amount of parents who asked me "What should my children be reading?" always surprised me. I surprised them more by replying "Whatever they want." The more you tell children what to read, the more they push against it.

I interviewed Paul McCartney at Abbey Road in 2005. As I was leaving, after also speaking to Nigel Godrich, I passed the studio canteen. George Martin (born 100 yrs ago today) was in there, quietly eating his lunch. Like he'd never left the place. It was a thrill to spot him in his natural habitat.

Reminder: The UK government is still on Twitter, where much of this material (along with all the other stuff the Online Safety Act is meant to protect us from) is freely available.

i’d like to just say the popular social media generating CSAM is also the leading platform for bigots to claim without evidence that trans people are a danger to children

Shitbuckets from the other place I'd completely forgotten about until they turn up being shitbuckets over here, no.375: John Rentoul.

And of course it’s tradition on an author’s birthday to buy their books direct from their brilliant indie publishers so they can all retire to their garrets in Paris. @beardedbadgerbooks.bsky.social @renardpress.com www.beardedbadgerpublishing.com/online-store... renardpress.com/books/saltbu...

Evie, Nell and Lily dialling the cuteness up to 11.

Your new year read awaits! 'Part time-travel tale, part emotional rollercoaster, this is a beautiful read.' Well, who am I to argue with Amazon reviewer Kat K and her five-star rating for 'How Soon is Now?'? Out now in print, on Kindle and on Audible! #BookSky www.amazon.co.uk/How-Soon-Now...

Today has been the most limboesque of festive limbo days. After a week of days that felt like one Sunday after another, today didn’t feel quite like any recognisable day at all (and definitely not like a Thursday).

On this day in 1977, Louise Jameson debuted as Leela in part one of The Face of Evil by Chris Boucher

Your new year read awaits! 'Part time-travel tale, part emotional rollercoaster, this is a beautiful read.' Well, who am I to argue with Amazon reviewer Kat K and her five-star rating for 'How Soon is Now?'? Out now in print, on Kindle and on Audible! #BookSky www.amazon.co.uk/How-Soon-Now...

While it’s true that many of their online supporters are bots, this image is fake and the claim is false. There was no such GB News analysis. It’s frustrating enough when the other side does it. Stop spreading fake news, even if it aligns with our views. We are better than that.

Not much sign of post-Hogmanay mayhem for my usual January 1 photo-wander in Glasgow this morning, so I went up to the Necropolis instead. Here are a few of the things I saw - including a memorial to the author of 'Wee Willie Winkie'!

I like to head into Glasgow early each January 1 to snap a few photos of details of the Hogmanay aftermath. Might do it tomorrow, if I'm up early enough... Meanwhile, here are a few pics from previous years. Have a good one, folks!

All the best to all of my lovely Bluesky chums. Thanks for bearing with all the book spam – loads more to come in '26... ;)

If it’s okay with the rest of you, I’m kicking 2025 out at midnight and changing the locks so it can’t sneak back in.

Posting about Cribbins reminds me of meeting Des O'Connor while my nan was ill. I told him how much of a fan she was. He immediately asked her address. I hesitated. "Don't worry, I'll not send my LP. She's suffered enough." The next day, there was a hamper and flowers on her doorstep.

Thirty years ago today. The most beautiful, hopeful farewell.

As we wind up another year, here's a look back at our class of 2025. Thanks to all our readers for their continued support and enthusiasm. We have lots of exciting new books lined up for 2026 and hope you'll join us.

She was sacked just before they recorded ‘Wannabe’

Toby Morton, Southpark writer, bought this domain and the .com one. He hasn't been idle since: 🤣👏✨️ www.trumpkennedycenter.org

For 2026. Big bundle of my BBC radio work releasing on Audible and most other audio platforms, June 18th. Essentially a boxed set, if downloads came in boxes. Eight Full-Cast BBC Radio Dramas.

Make it your New Year's Resolution. But why wait for New Year...? ;) www.amazon.co.uk/How-Soon-Now...

We’ve received a letter from Nigel Farage and chums telling us ‘Scotland needs Reform’. Given the damage Nige has already brought upon our household, I can only guess at his next plan to ‘improve’ our lives. Burning down our house? Shooting our pets? Luckily, it comes with a prepaid reply envelope…

Haberdashery shop, Manchester, 1976, photo by John Bulmer.

Remembering Bernard Cribbins, born this day in 1928.

On this day 29th December 1975 “Radical new legislation” introducing a woman's right to equal pay and status came into force in the UK (Picture: A Second Picture Dictionary, artist: Eric Winter)

Rarely has this nation produced a freer or more vivid imagination. How lucky I am to see his art almost ever day as I travel through Glasgow’s west end. Happy birthday to a true visionary!

*Beloved French actor death claxon* Right, everyone, remember! Heavy on the cool photos, light on the personl qoutes.

'Unless you caught them in 1994 or 1995, they were almost always getting worse.' This is great stuff on the essential truth of Oasis, but I'd go even further: After the first couple of singles, we'd had everything we were ever going to need from Oasis.

I've always thought Jerry's mum's advice was a) weird, and b) just asking for trouble if you get the rooms mixed up and the vicar's come round for tea.

Out now in paperback, hardback, audiobook and on Kindle (free with Kindle Unlimited!). A time-travel novel like no other... 'Part time-travel tale and part emotional rollercoaster, this is a beautiful read' ✭✭✭✭✭ - Kat K, Amazon. #BookSky www.amazon.co.uk/How-Soon-Now...

Please listen to Absent Friends on BBC Radio 4 Extra today. Part One is 4.45pm (repeated at 0045) and Part Two is the same time tomorrow. It’s my acknowledgment of various folk from UK sci-fi, horror and fantasy who died this year. 4 Extra doesn’t do many home made productions, so do tune in!