When AI Gets Creepy
Pick Of The Week — 16th July 2025
This newsletter is a curated cornucopia featuring some of the best of Medium and Substack, and the wider world, rumoured to exist outside of these platforms.
Please note that in view of the impact of AI on the writing community, Eco has a stringent “No AI-content” policy, and will seek to actively avoid any articles we consider to be partly or fully generated by AI, and not feature authors believed to be using it in this way again. We are fully committed to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion. In support of our aims and objectives, 10% of earnings from this series will be donated to Greenpeace.🌈
This newsletter is currently published free on Substack, but if you would like to support us, please do pay to subscribe.
Sponsors — a link to donors and paying Substack subscribers 🦄 will appear here:
Ecosia; The Environmental Transport Association; Mary Grindeland; Writer Chick With A Ukulele
Pick of Medium — (advisory allergy note — may contain poetry)
Sponsors – a link to donors and paying Substack subscribers 🦄 will appear here:
Ecosia; The Environmental Transport Association; Mary Grindeland; Writer Chick With A Ukulele
Pick of Medium – (advisory allergy note – may contain poetry)
Ashen Thilakarathna discovers some disturbing facts about the behaviour of AI technology:
Never mind AI, Pia Medha understands men:
https://medium.com/activated-thinker/how-to-really-understand-men-5c4d6e3a1940
Martin Heiland-Sperling analyses the rise and fall cycle of digital platforms:
Mary Cappelli is feeling “sangry”:
Maria Rattray takes a hike:
https://mariarattray.medium.com/my-intuitive-reaction-to-walk-with-her-b27c066471c3
Shagufta Irfan urges sensible limits on being helpful:
https://medium.com/activated-thinker/being-helpful-is-a-strength-being-used-is-not-e4e5d8d7541c
Guy Nave considers current US immigration policies in historical context:
It’s always a case of just three more books for Adela Valcikova:
https://medium.com/@adelavalcikova/ill-read-three-more-books-about-life-before-i-start-living-it-36ec5a458993
Ral Joesph keeps positive with a pinch and a punch:
https://medium.com/planet-ral/she-called-me-a-mad-woman-1c019159ce63
Anne the Vegan reviews the stumbling progress of the liberation of women in the US:
https://medium.com/bouncin-and-behavin-blogs/the-matriarchy-is-drowning-f7dcc8c32ba5
Ayushi Verma shares a tradition:
https://medium.com/introvert-diary/every-day-the-first-chapati-disappears-heres-why-18972ea7615c
Bin Jiang provides some highlights and insights from his “Write A Catalyst” publication:
https://medium.com/write-a-catalyst/it-happened-on-write-a-catalyst-675df689f727
Kiran Bilal reflects on generational grudges:
https://medium.com/write-a-catalyst/generational-grudges-we-only-meet-at-funerals-now-025f766eee4b
Dr Seema Patel craves the better things in life:
https://medium.com/write-a-catalyst/the-sunset-watching-i-crave-for-2733d1ca1011
Zahier Adams ponders the daily dose:
https://medium.com/readers-club/927-articles-later-the-reality-of-writing-every-day-0a654917ede2
Shanti CK shares a Covid diary and a reading list:
https://medium.com/@chelliahshanti/looking-back-on-my-desperation-when-covid-lockdown-hit-us-0cc8ab97afbb
Trista Signe Ainsworth appreciates the small things:
https://medium.com/optimism-and-light/small-moments-of-noticing-857715c1235b
Attia Parveen has a moment:
Lukman Aufbau shares some short lines in a long read:
https://medium.com/@LukmanAufbau/184-best-one-liner-and-why-they-work-2024-dfce9d80b40c
Zulie Rane suggests why writers should choose Medium over Substack:
https://medium.com/blog/medium-versus-substack-six-reasons-writers-pick-medium-4c27b0501669
Take your blood pressure tablets. Spelunking saviour Tony Stubblebine writes about how he got out of a hole:
https://medium.com/the-coach-life/fell-in-a-hole-got-out-381356ec8d7f
Tip of the week –
Katja Groesser shares her productivity tips for Substack success:
https://substack.com/home/post/p-166737933
Pick of Substack:
Benjamin Antoine considers the state and future of Substack:
https://substack.com/home/post/p-162806305
Carlo Zeno swims with sharks (contains poetry and the “f” word):
Marcus Musick makes history:
https://substack.com/home/post/p-168124225
Yana Bostongirl reflects on the two platforms, Medium and Substack, and how they compare:
Susan Fourtané reaches for the sky:
Rashida Beal considers the wider benefits of sport:
https://substack.com/@rashidabeal/note/p-168398278
Philip Ogley comments on early risers:
The wider world:
A recent ceremony involving King Charles shows his continued love of environmental issues support for indigenous people:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0l4jppyjzjo
UK drivers are being offered incentives to go electric:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn5kpkypxp6o
A BBC undercover investigation reveals very dubious practices by some estate agents:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvg81l57x53o
Political News
The UK’s lurch to the right is impacting local councils and their environmental policies:
AI News
AI may already be damaging the employment prospects of young people:
https://observer.co.uk/news/business/article/uk-graduates-lose-out-as-ai-fills-entry-level-jobs
Entrepreneur’s Corner
Jo Barnes offers advice on monetising expertise:
https://substack.com/home/post/p-167796307
Life Hack of the Week –
Enjoy the journey urges Ripton Green:
https://medium.com/write-a-catalyst/happiness-lies-in-the-journey-not-the-destination-f4a3f1fd350a
Quote of the Week:
“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.”
- Henry David Thoreau
Joke of the Week:
(Health warning — swallow coffee before reading)
For supercilious soup savourers:
I’m writing a book about all the things I should be doing. It’s called my oughtobiography.
My phone has this cool app that shows me what I look like as an old person. It’s called… a camera.
I’m on the couch, hiding from exercise. If anyone asks… I’m in the fitness protection programme.
Someone stole my favourite dictionary. Now I’m at a loss for words.
Did you hear about the restaurant on the moon. Great food but no atmosphere.
I’m not a fan of one-pound coins. But then I do hate change.
I’ve been thinking of taking up meditation. I figure it’s better than sitting around doing nothing.
I’ve just burnt my Hawaiian pizza. I guess I should have put in on Aloha temperature.
The local blacksmith passed away and I inherited his dog. As soon as my back was turned he made a bolt for the door.
I tried to go large with Medium. Turned out the earnings were small.
Few of my household are normal. Even the doors are unhinged.
Did you know?
Carol Finch shares some fascinating facts about gladiators:
One-Minute Facts: Gladiator Sweat
The real thing?
The story of Ray Davies changing the lyrics in “Lola” from “Coca-Cola” to “cherry cola” is a classic example of art running into advertising rules — with a twist of British bureaucracy. In the original 1970 version of The Kinks’ hit “Lola,” the lyric went:
“You drink champagne and it tastes just like Coca-Cola.”
The BBC, which had strict rules against broadcasting songs with brand names (to avoid any suggestion of advertising or product placement), refused to play the track in its original form. Mentioning “Coca-Cola” was considered a violation of their policies.
Ray Davies was already in the U.S. on tour when he found out. So he flew all the way back to London, just to re-record one word — changing “Coca-Cola” to “cherry cola” — and then flew back to continue the tour.
This act has become somewhat legendary. With the new line — “cherry cola” — the song got BBC airplay and went on to become a massive hit. Ray Davies later joked about the ordeal in interviews, noting how absurd it was to have to make the change, especially given that “Lola” is about a man unknowingly falling for a transgender woman — a far more provocative theme at the time than a soft drink reference!
Word of the Week: Kismet
Kismet — fate or destiny. The word comes from the Arabic word ḳismat, meaning division, portion, or lot.
Clip of the Week: drone footage of a red kite
Red kite filmed mid-flight by drone over Norfolk countryside
The bird of prey, filmed from a safe distance, is seen gliding effortlessly over the fields.
As always, thank you for reading, and enjoy your day.
Thanks for the shout out, John : )
“No AI-content” policy and abusing AI by incompetent people pretended to be experts.