Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

David Bryant @23daves.bsky.social · 2h

Marketing emails touting a new product and asking "Where's yours?" - I only ever hear this in the voice of Nathan Barley, so you're doing nothing to persuade me.

2

David Bryant @23daves.bsky.social · 2h

We're missing two NME Indie Charts for the blog - 10th May and and 17th May 1986.
It's probably not the end of the world if we don't get to cover them as the number one probably stays the same throughout, but if anyone does have those editions of the paper on file somewhere, I'd love to see scans.

1 1 1

Reposted by David Bryant

Emma Jacobs @emmavj.bsky.social · 5h

If Tommy robinson was a journalist he wouldn’t have thousands in cash and a flash car

8 28 180

David Bryant @23daves.bsky.social · 16h

Halfway through and hugely enjoying it. Astonishing how Justin covers all facets of eighties music, from pop to soul to "world music" to even Microdisney, and somehow makes it all cohere. Each entry packs a lot of vital information and trivia so concisely, entertainingly and effectively. Do get it.

Justin Lewis @whenisbirths.bsky.social · 11d

OUT NOW, my month-by-month guide to 1980s pop, from ABC to XTC, and from Madonna to Neneh. #IntoTheGroove, published by @eandtbooks.bsky.social.

Cover of
INTO THE GROOVE: THE 1980s:
THE ULTIMATE DECADE IN MUSIC HISTORY
by Justin Lewis (me)

'An epic compendium of stories and trivia from the 80s music scene'

1 5 16

Reposted by David Bryant

Mark Watson @watsoncomedian.bsky.social · 18h

Novels should be reviewed widely and in depth like albums and films; there should be a mainstream Sunday night TV show devoted to novels; the book-buying market should be skewed violently towards fiction. In 2025 these are all unhinged opinions.

Rachel Feder @rachelfeder.bsky.social · 1d

Tell me your most unhinged literary opinion, as a little treat

15 17 180

David Bryant @23daves.bsky.social · 19h

The lovely thing about this is that I actually know the kind of "posh" West Midlands situations and places Stewart Lee is referring to here, and three years ago I wouldn't. The Jaguar/Landrover dominance of Leamington Spa is a very big thing...
youtu.be/grwFKnSHMOU?...

STEWART LEE (Pt2) How Adoption Affected His Psyche, Early Comedy Influences & Growing Up in Solihull

YouTube video by Class Clown Podcast

youtu.be

3

David Bryant @23daves.bsky.social · 21h

Would anyone know what these mushrooms growing in my garden are? They’re right by an old tree stump. Not thinking of consuming them, just worried about the daft dog getting her beard around them if they’re poisonous.

2

Reposted by David Bryant

Plashing Vole @plashingvole.bsky.social · 23h

With thanks to @pressfuturist for remembering that it was Littlejohn v Self, not Bushell v Self, a literary conversation of the ages.

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1390...

3 8 19

David Bryant @23daves.bsky.social · 23h

There's a naiveté at the heart of a lot of this stuff - an assumption the CEO will find out and change tack because he/she cares most about their lowest paid staff.

1 1 5

David Bryant @23daves.bsky.social · 1d

Evergreen political campaigning observation - if you want to take ordinary people on your journey with you, hassling receptionists and blocking customer service phone lines should only be done if there is no other alternative. These people are described as being "in the firing line" for a reason.

1 2 5

Reposted by David Bryant

Reece Dinsdale @reecedinsdale.bsky.social · 1d

Like I never met John Thaw. 👀

21 120 500

David Bryant @23daves.bsky.social · 1d

Essential thread for those interested in the toiletry motions of literary giants.

Coates is Odd This Day @oddthisday.bsky.social · 7d

So, happy 362nd anniversary to this entry from the Diary of Samuel Pepys – who had gone to bed the three previous nights “in some pain”, “in great pain”, and “beginning to be troubled with wind as I used to be”

Diary of Samuel Pepys, 7 October 1663: I did keep my bed; and my pain continued on me mightily, that I keeped within all day in great pain, and could break no wind nor have any stool after my physic had done working. So in the evening I took coach and to Mr Hollyards, but he was not at home; and so home again. And whether the coach did me good or no I know not, but having a good fire in my chamber, I begun to break six or seven small and great farts; and so to bed and lay in good ease all night, and pissed pretty well in the morning, but no more wind came as it used to do plentifully, after it once begun, nor any inclination to stool.

4

Reposted by David Bryant

Alan Smith @mralanjohnsmith.bsky.social · 1d

Sometimes people talk about possible electoral outcomes of different voting systems as the pros and cons. To me, that's like the voting system choice equivalent of gerrymandering. We should be looking at what system best reflects the breadth of views across the country. Better democracy is the aim.

Electoral Reform Society @electoralreform.bsky.social · 1d

Nobody can predict the next election. But you can choose a system that behaves predictably – one that translates votes into seats in a consistent, transparent way.

The danger of choosing a voting system that works for you today

We all have a party we lean toward. Maybe we’ve stuck with them for decades, maybe our loyalties shift with the times. But when it comes to how we elect our parliament, our choices sho

buff.ly

4 11

David Bryant @23daves.bsky.social · 1d

The dog has just destroyed another television set because a squirrel appeared on it. The second time this has bloody happened (although last time it was because a cat appeared behind Benedict Cumberbatch).
#ShouldHaveCalledHerKeithMoon

1 1 27

David Bryant @23daves.bsky.social · 1d

You can’t even use a toilet cubicle these days without being exposed to the culture wars. At least this is the oldest form of social media argument I suppose.

Toilet wall scrawl saying “Stop the fuckin boats before it’s too late” with boats crossed out and replaced with billionaires.

1 2

Reposted by David Bryant

Phil Norman @mrphilnorman.bsky.social · 1d

Joss Ackland's clunky backchat.

1 2 9

Reposted by David Bryant

Phil Norman @mrphilnorman.bsky.social · 2d

The Crezz - Thames's expensive and doomed attempt to create a middle class soap, covering the doings of the residents of a Kensington crescent who all have frightfully fancy interior design.
open.substack.com/pub/historyo...

Isla Blair's frightfully chic split level chrome and glass pad.

Nicholas Ball sleeps in his postmodern pilchard tin bed.

The token gay couple's Italian restaurant-style abode.

5 18 46

Reposted by David Bryant

David Bryant @23daves.bsky.social · 2d

Also featured lower down those charts- The Fall, New Order, Icicle Works, Bogshed and Butthole Surfers. New Order’s single is their first non- import release not to reach the indie number one slot.

David Bryant @23daves.bsky.social · 2d

Blog update: on w/e 2nd November 1985 The Cult reached number one in the NME Indie Charts with "Rain", a National Top 20 hit which has lived in the shadow of "She Sells Sanctuary" since. It's, er... really nothing like as memorable in general.

indienumber1s.blogspot.com/2025/10/69-c...

69. The Cult - Rain (Beggars Banquet)

All the singles to top the NME Indie Charts since its launch in 1981, complete with an overview of the other music in the charts each week.

indienumber1s.blogspot.com

1 4 8

David Bryant @23daves.bsky.social · 1d

I had this record on my eBay wants list for ages, until I realised that I probably didn't actually need to own it - I wasn't going to DJ with it and I obviously wasn't going to listen to it more than a couple of times.
Still, though, the pure absurdity of it. And the helpful practical aspects.

Vintage Obscura Radio @vintageobscura.net · 1d

Max Bygraves - Decimalisation [UK, Pop, Novelty] (1970) A catchy tune that had the purpose of teaching the people of the UK on how to convert their old currency system to the new decimalised one
https://redd.it/104w6ob
https://youtu.be/ncZihiuztvg

Max Bygraves - Decimalisation [UK, Pop, Novelty] (1970) A catchy tune that had the purpose of teaching the people of the UK on how to convert their old currency system to the new decimalised one

youtu.be

3

David Bryant @23daves.bsky.social · 1d

"Crystal" is one of their best singles for me. It pulls in two different directions beautifully - euphoria on one hand then a really eerie atmosphere underneath.
I'll even defend "Music Complete" to a degree. Loved it for the first few listens but it hasn't stood up to subsequent revisits.

3 4

David Bryant @23daves.bsky.social · 2d

I’ve completely lost my copy of that album. Loaned a long time ago and never returned, I fear.

2 1

Reposted by David Bryant

Carole Cadwalladr @carolecadwalla.bsky.social · 2d

NEW: The British politician, his Russian intelligence handler & a Kremlin plot against the US & Ukraine.

My new piece about Nathan Gill and Nigel Farage for @thenerve_news in which we ask:

Why, even now, is no-one asking questions?

t.co/BUTtpK9C4S

62 1.3K 1.9K

David Bryant @23daves.bsky.social · 2d

Also featured lower down those charts- The Fall, New Order, Icicle Works, Bogshed and Butthole Surfers. New Order’s single is their first non- import release not to reach the indie number one slot.

David Bryant @23daves.bsky.social · 2d

Blog update: on w/e 2nd November 1985 The Cult reached number one in the NME Indie Charts with "Rain", a National Top 20 hit which has lived in the shadow of "She Sells Sanctuary" since. It's, er... really nothing like as memorable in general.

indienumber1s.blogspot.com/2025/10/69-c...

69. The Cult - Rain (Beggars Banquet)

All the singles to top the NME Indie Charts since its launch in 1981, complete with an overview of the other music in the charts each week.

indienumber1s.blogspot.com

1 4 8

David Bryant @23daves.bsky.social · 2d

Blog update: on w/e 2nd November 1985 The Cult reached number one in the NME Indie Charts with "Rain", a National Top 20 hit which has lived in the shadow of "She Sells Sanctuary" since. It's, er... really nothing like as memorable in general.

indienumber1s.blogspot.com/2025/10/69-c...

69. The Cult - Rain (Beggars Banquet)

All the singles to top the NME Indie Charts since its launch in 1981, complete with an overview of the other music in the charts each week.

indienumber1s.blogspot.com

1 5 15

David Bryant @23daves.bsky.social · 2d

An incredibly cheap sounding number one, too. The choir, chimes and thumps and bumps sound like something you would hear on a CD from a Cathedral gift-shop rather than a proper hit single.

2