• We took last week off for visiting, mostly to see my new granddaughter, who has got me thinking about how kids not only read books but inspire them with the things they do.

    That seems to link with the book I’m listening to at the moment – Wise Animals: How Technology Has Made Us What We Are by Tom Chatfield

    We also went to the Abba Voyage “Hologram” show in London, which was spectacular, but I was a bit distracted, trying to work out how they did it! – Let me explain how I think it works!

  • The evidence is growing and becoming clearer that short-form video – Reels, YouTube Shorts and TikTok etc – are harming the mental health of children and rewiring growing minds in a way that I think will have dramatic consequences in a few years time.

    I for one will not make and new short-form videos. Certainly not on my “Made For Kids” (MFK) channel  @drawstuffrealeasy  

    I think it is time that YouTube removed the ability to post short-form video on MFK channels and remove all shorts from the YouTube Kids app. If they don’t do it voluntarily now, I’m sure that a jurisdiction somewhere will force their hand soon.

    From my experience, having fallen down short-form rabbit holes for for lengthy periods of time myself, I’m convinced that this insidious form of media should be added to the dangerous substances list along with heroin and crack cocaine.

    That also goes for Instagram Reels and TikTok etc.

  • Watching Starship 3 launch to an amazingly successful mission, bings closer the future I imagine in my trilogy, Generation Moon https://amzn.to/43iB6RD

    I met with a class of 11 year olds recently and was surprised by the excitement they felt at the prospect of becoming inhabitants of the Moon, and for space travel generally. There are still adventurous young people around!

    I finished laying out and uploading my Olympia Stories that I showed in last weeks video  – you can see them here at amazon in the UK https://amzn.to/3IIAyL8 and here in the USA https://amzn.to/3Vgp0GC

    Now, let’s not talk about it – let’s get down to writing the third book in the trilogy!

    Feel free to comment and leave suggestions or questions.