When Parents Misbehave
Pick Of The Week – 14th October 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.🌈
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Sponsors – a link to donors and paying Substack subscribers 🦄 will appear here:
Ecosia; The Environmental Transport Association; Mary Grindeland; Writer Chick With A Ukulele; Adéla Valčíková; Rob Moir;
Pick of Medium – (advisory allergy note – may contain poetry)
When parents misbehave: Carol Finch highlights parental bullying-
https://medium.com/the-parenting-portal/school-bullying-doesnt-just-happen-to-kids-1542c2ef41da
Robin Wilding spills the beans on men, and there is algebra involved:
https://medium.com/@robin_wilding/28-secret-things-men-do-but-dont-talk-about-f97e97e33db4
Martin Heiland-Sperling ponders plagiarism:
https://medium.com/technical-excellence/are-we-all-content-thieves-21616360df14
Dr Seema Patel explores frugal art:
https://medium.com/dancing-elephants-press/frugal-art-ec01fd6b72ec
Adéla Valčíková shares a creepy tale for the spooky season:
https://medium.com/no-instructions/room-28-2aa535f48c2e
Anu Maheshwari discovers a superfood:
Michael Burg pushes some boundaries (note - contains profanity):
Martin Heiland-Sperling goes to auction:
https://medium.com/a-trip-to-self/your-story-goes-to-auction-e313df4e55c3
Tip of the week –
Remove your invisibility cloak with this tip from Wes Pearce:
https://substack.com/home/post/p-175911378
Pick of Substack:
Walter Rhein advises how writers should respond to censorship:
James Marriott highlights a worrying decline in literacy:
Lawrence Winnerman tackles modern corporate culture:
As American democracy appears to be crumbling before our eyes, Christopher Armitage wonders what can be done:
Ali Hall explains the features of an HSP (highly sensitive person)
Peter Murphy explores the impact of AI on teachers:
Bette A Ludwig explores the use of AI in education:
The wider world:
Once seen as a wonder material, plastic is now killing us:
Pine Martens are expanding their range in the UK:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cdjz4yk3nrko
Coral reefs seem doomed according to the latest report on their condition, as the world warms:
An attempt to agree a UN plastic reduction treaty has descended into chaos:
The Green Party in England has seen a sharp growth in membership under its new leader, Zack Polanski:
Wildlife charities are reporting a problem with catapults:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5y30lr7rnvo
This article explains why swarms of ladybirds have appeared recently in the UK:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/articles/c87yv9197jro
On growing up in the shadow of a nuclear power plant at Sellafield (the toxic radioactive site formerly known as Windscale):
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/oct/07/whitehaven-sellafield-europe-oldest-nuclear-site
The Princess of Wales (UK) has warned of the dangers of too much screen time for family life:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckgek62l6pzo
National Parks in England appear under threat from proposals to boost economic growth:
Ultra-processed foods have a high environmental cost:
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/oct/08/ultra-processed-foods-environment-impact
Some tech titans are busy prepping for the apocalypse:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cly17834524o
A new volcanic island has revealed the resilience of life:
Political News
A group of Birmingham (UK) residents is pushing back against a rising tide of racism:
This article considers how the European Union should respond to new US tariffs:
A young reporter explains their experience of the Gaza conflict:
The flag debate continues in the UK, now shifting to Scotland:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clyxqknx7jqo
Tech News
Some Japanese teenagers are attempting to limit smartphone usage:
Life Hack of the Week –
On a trend for selfish self-help books!:
How to tackle the Autumn blues:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c7492e5x7jzo
Quote of the Week:
“Flags are bits of coloured cloth that governments use first to shrink-wrap people’s minds and then as ceremonial shrouds to bury the dead.” - Arundhati Roy
Joke of the Week:
(Health warning – swallow coffee before reading)
What’s the word for a joke without a punchline?
My teacher told me not to worry about spelling, because in the future, there will be autocorrect. And for that, I am eternally grapefruit.
My wife said: “I can think of 14 reasons to leave you, plus of course, your obsession with tennis.” I replied: “That’s 15, love”.
A slice of apple Pie in Jamaica is $2.00. It is $2.50 in the Bahamas. These are the pie rates of the Caribbean.
My family has a long line of failed magicians. Two of my three brothers are illusionists. I also have two half-sisters.
(with thanks to David Marlow for this one)
Eco Tip Of the Week
Nature is good for us, according to this feature:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvg0yvdjgn5o
Did you know?
Carol Finch crunches some more facts:
https://medium.com/@carol.finch1/one-minute-facts-ww2-carrot-propaganda-c76c000f0c58
Word of the Week:
Meraki - a Greek word that means doing something with soul, creativity, love and passion. It is often used to describe artistic activities or hobbies, and is sometimes considered untranslatable into English.
Clip of the Week:
Hare coursers run for it:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/c0l78ngnygeo
As always, thank you for reading, and enjoy your day.
Editor’s comment: It is noted that the authors featured above have not consented in advance to their inclusion - I have assumed that authors appreciate a mention and sharing of your work – but if you do not wish to be featured please let me know and apologies.