Dr David Corney
LightNews LightNews
banner
dcorney.com
Dr David Corney
@dcorney.com
200 followers 450 following 150 posts
Data scientist specialising in #NLProc and #ML. Currently building tools to support fact checkers at Full Fact and globally. He/him. Londoner. Parent. More at dcorney.com

I left Twitter a few years back for Mastodon and now poking around here.
Posts Replies Media Videos
Reposted by Dr David Corney
christhebarker.bsky.social
EXCLUSIVE AUCTION ALERT
Hi everyone. Never before have I sold any signed SgtPepper framed prints but to commemorate 10 years (and the end of the project) I am auctioning off one professionally hand framed large signed print of each year starting tonight at chrisBarkerprints.co.uk
1/10
December 6, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Reposted by Dr David Corney
fullfact.org
Thanks to everyone who has contributed to this year’s Big Give Christmas Challenge so far! 🙏

We fight bad information and work to give millions of people access to good information. You can help us continue our efforts by donating at:
Fighting misinformation – Big Give
Misinformation ruins lives, damages people’s health and promotes hate. As Full Fact's team continues to fight the causes and consequences of misinformation, the rise of a harmful new narrative…
donate.biggive.org
December 5, 2025 at 7:02 PM
Reposted by Dr David Corney
mikedrucker.bsky.social
I wrote a bit for McSweeney's about Isaac Chotiner interviewing Santa Claus. Just a little something for the holiday season. Enjoy!
The New Yorker’s Isaac Chotiner Interviews Santa Claus
For several centuries, Santa Claus has been one of the most prolific mythical gift-givers in the world. Formerly known as Saint Nicholas of Myra, a...
www.mcsweeneys.net
December 4, 2025 at 7:02 PM
Reposted by Dr David Corney
mooseallain.bsky.social
www.worldofmoose.com/collections/...
Cartoon of stylised drawings of a pig seen head on (labelled Pig) and a hedge (labelled hege) seen in section. The area where they overlap forms the shape of a hedgehog. Caption: VENN DIAGRAM
December 2, 2025 at 12:53 PM
Reposted by Dr David Corney
bmhughes.bsky.social
This is actually quite brilliant, up to and including the final sentence 🔥
December 1, 2025 at 11:09 AM
Reposted by Dr David Corney
adamcorlett.bsky.social
Don't Panic: Britain is not broken. The UK can do better, but we shouldn't be too gloomy about things. If you look at the stats, there's a lot to be happy with (including how happy we are): adamcorlett.com/2025/11/30/d...
Don’t Panic: Britain is not broken – adamcorlett.com
adamcorlett.com
November 30, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Reposted by Dr David Corney
bfletcherwatson.bsky.social
Eleven years ago, I wrote to Tom Stoppard to ask about this coup de théâtre from 1949. It took me down an unexpected rabbit hole - in memory of Stoppard, here's what I found.
"Years and years ago, there was a production of The Tempest, out of doors, at an Oxford college on a lawn, which was the stage, and the lawn went back towards the lake in the grounds of the college, and the play began in natural light. But as it developed, and as it became time for Ariel to say his farewell to the world of The Tempest, the evening had started to close in and there was some artificial lighting coming on. And as Ariel uttered his last speech, he turned and he ran across the grass, and he got to the edge of the lake and he just kept running across the top of the water — the producer having thoughtfully provided a kind of walkway an inch beneath the water. And you could see and you could hear the plish, plash as he ran away from you across the top of the lake, until the gloom enveloped him and he disappeared from your view. And as he did so, from the further shore, a firework rocket was ignited, and it went whoosh into the air, and high up there it burst into lots of sparks, and all the sparks went out, and he had gone. "When you look up the stage directions, it says, 'Exit Ariel.”
November 30, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Reposted by Dr David Corney
ianvisits.co.uk
The hidden chemical attack that forced the Northern line’s extraordinary repair

www.ianvisits.co.uk/articles/the...
The hidden chemical attack that forced the Northern line’s extraordinary repair
Thirty years ago, an entire section of the Northern line had to be replaced because it was under attack from acid, and hardly anyone noticed that it was happening.
www.ianvisits.co.uk
November 25, 2025 at 7:03 AM
Reposted by Dr David Corney
naomialderman.bsky.social
Extract from my new book in the Guardian today!

www.theguardian.com/books/2025/n...
Don’t argue with strangers… and 11 more rules to survive the information crisis
Feeling overwhelmed by divisive opinions, endless rows and unreliable facts? Here’s how to weather the data storm
www.theguardian.com
November 15, 2025 at 11:49 AM
dcorney.com
At the Judgement of Solomon:
Solomon raising sword: "I'll cut this baby in two and you can have half each!"
Me, wrenching the sword from his grasp: "No, Solomon! That's a terrible idea! Let *me* cut the baby in half!"
November 12, 2025 at 9:49 AM
Reposted by Dr David Corney
fullfact.org
Grok and Google Lens AI overviews have been claiming that fake imagery shows the Huntingdon train attack.

Grok told users one AI-generated image, of an injured man lying in a carriage, “appears to be a genuine photo”.

Our fact check 👇
Grok and Google Lens AI overviews claim fake imagery shows Huntingdon train attack – Full Fact
Grok told users one AI-generated image “appears to be a genuine photo”, while a Google Lens AI overview linked a video which does not show real footage of the incident to Saturday’s stabbings.
fullfact.org
November 5, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Reposted by Dr David Corney
caasbrey.bsky.social
Harvard Gazette: Gazette: “You are the mother of two In ten years you have produced three novels and two short-story collections. Can you talk about your process and how you manage work and family?” Groff: “I understand that this is a question of vital importance to a lot of people, particularly to other mothers who are artists trying to get their work done, and know that I feel for everyone in the struggle. But until I see a male writer asked that question, I am going to respectfully decline to answer it.”
November 5, 2025 at 12:19 AM
Reposted by Dr David Corney
museum.of.emilyk.art
"Tzefardea Tzedek" (Frog of Righteousness)

As soon as the Portland Frog became a meme, Jewish social media blew up with jokes about the 2nd Passover plague - tzefarde'a (frogs) - and the Rabbinical commentary around it. I knew I had to make a calligraphy piece encompassing all of it. (more in alt.)
Hebrew calligraphy in dark green stretches in lines across the image. Negative space makes room for a simple representation of an inflatable frog costume with a blue bandana. That shape consists of the English translation of the Hebrew, in a lighter green, and in much smaller text. -- Famously, the Egyptian tyrant causes Egypt to be overrun with frogs because he refuses to free the Hebrew people, but there are additional details that make this a fun one to ponder. For one, the Hebrew says "the frog came up" - ONE frog - even though the rest of the time it says "frogs." So there are a few explanations rabbis have come up with to explain this. One is that a single frog multiplied to create swarms. A more creative explanation is that there was a singular giant frog who traveled and brought destruction. Jewish social media was sharing videos of the Portland Frog protester with the caption, "One Big Frog! One Big Frog!" Of course the frog protesters did multiply, and many were seen in crowds all over the world on "No Kings" Day. This calligraphic work takes the verses addressing the frog plague and combines them to form a simple rendering of the Portland Frog protester. The frog figure itself is made up of the English translations of the Hebrew around it. At the bottom left my signature is in the shape of a lily pad.
October 25, 2025 at 11:29 PM
Reposted by Dr David Corney
tonyonodi.bsky.social
I built a free tool to try to embarrass British police into doing their job cctv.numpad.io. More info here: onodi.co/bisect/
October 17, 2025 at 10:19 AM
Reposted by Dr David Corney
fullfact.org
Google has ended its support for Full Fact.

Our fact checks are free to read but not to produce. Support independent, impartial fact checking today: donate.fullfact.org/july-rg-ask?...
Google has ended its support for Full Fact. These are critical times for anyone committed to the fight against misinformation.
October 15, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Reposted by Dr David Corney
jlimb.bsky.social
That really moving Marseillaise scene in Casablanca is now 400% more moving youtu.be/CbWgOpG1988
Casablanca - Marseillaise Scene (extended edition)
YouTube video by Jeremy Limb
youtu.be
October 11, 2025 at 9:26 PM
Reposted by Dr David Corney
drg.bsky.social
Asked lots about this piece on Chronic Lyme disease, and disappointed in the @guardian (a publication I both subscribe and contribute to) for running it. Short thread explaining the multitude of problems with it, and why I consider it irresponsible to run as is..🧵
October 6, 2025 at 4:52 PM
dcorney.com
Can asylum seekers claim benefits? Why are some housed in hotels? Do they get free treatment on the NHS? And what about free iPhones or taxis? Clear answers to these and other FAQs from @fullfact.org
fullfact.org/immigration/...
#asylumseekers #migrants
What support do asylum seekers get in the UK? – Full Fact
Can asylum seekers claim benefits, use the NHS or get a free iPhone? We’ve answered some of the most common questions we see about the support given.
fullfact.org
October 8, 2025 at 4:35 PM
dcorney.com
I've finally figured out how to use "async" in Python, in two simple steps:
1. scatter "async" and "await" liberally through the code until all the errors go away; then
2. Tell everyone you've finally figured out how to use async in Python.
October 7, 2025 at 10:54 AM
Reposted by Dr David Corney
felixsimon.bsky.social
🚨✨ Publication alert: How do people in 6 countries (🇬🇧 🇺🇸 🇫🇷 🇦🇷 🇩🇰 🇯🇵 ) use AI 🤖 and think about it in the context of information, news, and institutions?

Our new @reutersinstitute.bsky.social survey research (n ≈ 12,000) with @richardfletcher.bsky.social & @rasmuskleis.bsky.social explores this.
October 7, 2025 at 7:00 AM
Reposted by Dr David Corney
daniel-barker.bsky.social
Imagine you're at a writers' retreat with the lads and you're all showing off a draft after dinner and then your mate's girlfriend goes here is the novel Frankenstein which I just wrote
October 5, 2025 at 8:14 PM
Reposted by Dr David Corney
fullfact.org
An episode of Have I Got News for You has been removed from BBC iPlayer after a factual error: www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/n...

We fact checked the claim earlier this week: fullfact.org/technology/d...

#FactsMatter
Has Euan Blair’s company Multiverse been chosen to run the government’s new digital ID scheme? – Full Fact
Multiverse is an “upskilling company”, not a software developer, and both it and the government say there’s no truth to viral claims linking it to the scheme.
fullfact.org
October 4, 2025 at 8:15 PM
Reposted by Dr David Corney
roguestrands.bsky.social
As parents, we're supposed to remember the first time we did stuff with our kids, but the last time is equally as significant, if not more.

This poem is from Whatever You Do, Just Don't (HappenStance Press, 2023), my second full collection...
December 15, 2024 at 11:24 AM
dcorney.com
Starting soon! The CEO of @fullfact.org will be taking part in a Reddit AMA. Ask away!
www.reddit.com/r/ukpolitics...
From the ukpolitics community on Reddit
Explore this post and more from the ukpolitics community
www.reddit.com
September 29, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Reposted by Dr David Corney
jazzreads.bsky.social
So exhausting..
September 28, 2025 at 6:41 PM