Looking Sideways: 10 Things
Commentary cult heroes, a vital new series, and a live panel about the Ski Fossil Free campaign.
1. Earlier this week I was invited to the press screening of Dirty Business, a new Channel 4 drama about the UK’s ongoing water scandal. I think this is an important piece of work, and I recorded some thoughts on it that you can watch above.
2. I had a few people messaging about me use of the word ‘enshittification’ in that clip; and as coincidence would have it Cory Doctorow, the coiner of that term, was on Ezra Klein discussing it just this week.
3. As mentioned: next Thursday February 19th I am hosting a Zoom call about Ski Fossil Free’s Olympic campaign with initiators Calum Macintyre and Nikolai Schirmer.
We’ll be discussing the campaign and its aim with Greenpeace’s Russell Harvey, Creatives for Climate founder Lucy von Sturmer, Magnus Graner of 1000Skis, Erlend Eggen of Klimakultur and Olympic athlete Uqaleq Slettemark.
Sign up and learn more here.
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4. Did you know that adaptive athletes, even up to elite Paralympic level, are forced to modify their own clothing to enable them to compete and participate?
Me neither. Which is why this week I recorded a fantastic episode with designer, writer and speaker Alice Sainsbury. Alice lives with a chronic neurological condition and collaborates with global sports and outdoor brands to break down the barriers of access faced by people with disabilities.
She is also one of the people behind the new UNPARALD initiative, which launches at the Milano-Cortina Paralympics with the aim of exposing this hidden barrier to participation, and providing a community based solution.
The episode is out next week; in the meantime find out more about the campaign above or here.
5. My favourite thing about every Olympic Games is, of course, the commentary of my old pals Ed Leigh and Tim Warwood. So big up none other than Caitlin Moran, who paid homage to the pair in the Times this week.
6. Arc’teryx and Spencer O’Brien, by way of Brian Eno, with just a very nice shot of a very nice looking turn.
7. The Society of Authors has just published ‘Brave New World? Justice for creators in the age of GenAI’, a really important report on the impact of generative AI on the creative industries that calls for the implementation of a new regulatory framework to prevent the ‘decimation of the UK’s £124.6 billion creative industries sector.’
8. Many thanks to photographer and film-maker Chris Baker for sending me a copy of his ace new zine Outer Regions, a collaboration with runner Decca Faire that is ‘ a conversation about running identity shaped by contrasting landscapes’ shot in Kitzbuhel and Norfolk. I think Chris has a few copies left - DM him on Insta to get involved
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9. This week’s reading: my Joan of Arc jag continues, with the Thomas Keneally novel that Baz Luhrmann is apparently adapting for his forthcoming Joan biopic.
10. Among the widespread outrage at Jim Ratcliffe’s comments on immigration, trust Barney Ronay to have the most perceptive and vital take.
Which of these stories did you enjoy this week? Let me know ✌️
Thanks for sharing the SoA's Brave New World report in particular – of inestimable value for creatives and I'm amazed it hasn't seen more attention.