My most watched YouTube clip of all time is this, in which Harlan Ellison dismantles the idea that artists should ever do unpaid work "for publicity". "...*I* should do a freebie for Warner Bros?! What are Warner Bros?! Out with an eye patch and a tin cup?! FUCK NO!!!"

"It all comes down to the government’s appetite––or not––to back regulatory reform & fund an effective enforcement regime." Nils Pratley on Labour's inadequate response thus far to the water crisis. We need a regulator that strikes fear into boardrooms. theguardian.com/business/nils-…

Rewatching ‘The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau’ for The Metropolitan has reminded me of just how futuristic '70s France looked from '70s Britain - something I talked about a bit when I wrote about Jean-Michel Jarre buff.ly/3s8NW6U

“Worldwide more than 21 of Earth’s 37 major aquifer systems are on the verge of collapse due to depletion. For their and our well-being, it is urgent we begin to imagine them differently.” Sunaura Taylor excellent on the vital, undersung work of aquifers. orionmagazine.org/article/aquife…

A good pal just sent me a lovely pic of this well-devoured ‘Witch’, which he read and then passed onto four family members.

Hang on, I know this one. Were the cops friendlier to this crowd because no one was hoying rocks and burning wheelie bins at them while doing nazi salutes??

Arts funding

The Eagles - Hotel California 🎵🎶 Reimagined on the Traditional Chinese Guzheng | Moyun

She's so amazing.

“My Tesla keeps veering to the far right” From the new Private Eye, in shops now.

Rarely seen archive photo of Samuel Beckett back when he was a member of Oasis. The third Gallagher. #oasis2025

👏👏👏 All hail Private Eye Magazine, all hail Private Eye Magazine 👏👏👏 #FloodTheStreets

Let's not forget that it is within the powers of big bands to keep tickets affordable, rein in resales and exorbitant fees and generally kick Ticketmaster's arse for its venal behaviour – as demonstrated by Robert Smith. Many simply choose not to. theguardian.com/music/2023/mar…

"19 English beaches where swimming no longer safe amid sickness and diarrhoea warning." Hey not to worry the Environment Agency stop testing bathing water quality at the end of the month until next May at which point you'll have absolutely no idea if you swimming in sh*t or not. Woohoo!

William Faulkner, read read read

Exciting news! Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl will have its World Premiere at the AFI Institute's AFI FEST next month. Directed by Nick Park and Merlin Crossingham, the film will screen on October 27th at the iconic TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles. #AFIFEST

It's Mixtape week in The Metropolitan, which means I've created my usual 10 song playlist of what I've been listening to this month buff.ly/3Z8lGzl