Author | Lightnews

Ian Cook

@iancook.xyz

270 followers 560 following 96 posts

Composer & musician. Nonprofit Salesforce architect. I make music (choir, orchestra, electronic, ambient… w/ voice, Dorico, Max, Bitwig, TidalCycles, synthesizers…). I’m also into linguistics and TTRPGs. Twin Cities, MN. He/him. https://linktr.ee/ianacook

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Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Reposted by Ian Cook

Spelling Mistakes Cost Lives @darrencullen.bsky.social · Aug 7

Did a new one

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Keith W. Dickinson @keithwdickinson.bsky.social · 29d

Today is a day when arts degrees are worthless, but the product of those degrees is so valuable it would kill an entire industry if they were made to pay for it.

The Verge @theverge.com · May 26

Nick Clegg says asking artists for use permission would ‘kill’ the AI industry

Paul McCartne, Elton John and others signed an open letter.

buff.ly

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Steve Mullis @stevemullis.net · Sep 30

Listen to what Hegseth says the U.S. military to do to “the enemies of our country” and then put them up next to Trump later on saying that, “We're under invasion from within. No different than a foreign enemy.”

We in the media need to save the euphemisms and call this what it is.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · Sep 30

Hegseth: "We unleash overwhelming and punishing violence on the enemy. We also don't fight with stupid rules of engagement. We untie the hands of our warfighters to intimidate, demoralize, hunt, and kill the enemies of our country. No more politically correct and overbearing rules of engagement."

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Tina Smith @smith.senate.gov · Sep 30

Showing up to work to avoid a shutdown is apparently a minimum threshold Republicans can’t be bothered to meet.

Photo of the House Chamber where Republicans are absent.

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Encyclopaedia Britannica @britannica.com · Sep 30

(solemnly) You've had mail.

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Kingfisher & Wombat @tkingfisher.com · Sep 14

Every pundit article: BLUESKY IS A HOTBED OF RADICALIZATION

Majority of posts in my feed: Check out this cool bug/bird/random historical personage I found!

Small but vivid minority of posts: Do you think Gritty and Alf are in a polycule or nah?

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isabeltranslates @isabeltranslates.bsky.social · Sep 13

I think this says it all!

Meme:
Mastodon user how now @brownpau@mastodon.social.
For your guidance and info I have made this D&D style alignment chart for major generative AI tools and chatbots.

Image description:
A square of three rows and three columns, listing the following AI tools/chatbots, with logos, in this order from left to right and top to bottom:
ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, Meta AI, perplexity, Grok, Copilot, deepseek, Midjourney.
All three columns are labelled "Chaotic" and all three rows are labelled "Evil"

Posted on 12 Sept 2025, 14:16.
IK boosts, 0 quotes, 1.2k favourites.

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Dale @dalegrauman.bsky.social · Sep 13

We've got Gavin Newsom et al. eulogizing a version Charlie Kirk who did not exist, Trump et al. blaming his death on leftist violence that didnt happen, and the entire media apparatus denouncing Dems for dancing on his grave, something no Dems are doing. Has The Discourse ever felt more unmoored?

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Mercedes Durham @drswissmiss.bsky.social · Sep 11

#linguistics

Grig "Punkie" Larson @griglars.bsky.social · Sep 11

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Ian Cook @iancook.xyz · Sep 12

Hey #Chicago area, kquartet.com is en route, and we're so excited! We hope to see you at one of our concerts. DeKalb Friday 7pm, downtown Saturday 4pm, Oak Park Sunday 3pm

Kaleidoscope Quartet - Minnesota a cappella quartet

Four voices. Harmony in every hue. Kaleidoscope Quartet sings a cappella music with joy, range, and soul.

kquartet.com

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Max Berger @maxberger.bsky.social · Sep 10

Charlie Kirk was a person. He might not have cared if I died, but if I don’t care that he died then I’ve already lost.

I believe in the dignity of all human beings and I want to live in a society that treats each of us as sacred and ensouled.

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Barack Obama @barackobama.bsky.social · Sep 10

We don’t yet know what motivated the person who shot and killed Charlie Kirk, but this kind of despicable violence has no place in our democracy. Michelle and I will be praying for Charlie’s family tonight, especially his wife Erika and their two young children.

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Ian Cook @iancook.xyz · Sep 10

Oh no, I paused and later resumed the episode mid-sentence and when it resumed, the GM speaking to Svetlana said something about “the feeling of warmth you get when you’re filled with Kor’s light”, and for a moment I was confused why you were doing a beer commercial 😅

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Steve Mullis @stevemullis.net · Sep 4

Rebuttal: No, it doesn't.

Thank you.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · Sep 4

Energy Secretary Chris Wright: "At its essence, artificial intelligence takes electricity and turns it into intelligence, empowering Americans."

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Ian Cook @iancook.xyz · Aug 30

Alright, time for #Daggerheart session 0 today! AND the first time we're using @foundryvtt.bsky.social!

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Captain Twinkie Bucket @phimius.bsky.social · Aug 23

I would buy this album in a heartbeat

(@fakemusic_br instagram)

#funk #acdc

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Keith Ellison, Minnesota Attorney General @keithellison.bsky.social · Aug 12

Congress, not President, has authority over DC. President has limited power under certain emergency conditions for 30 days. There’s no emergency, just Epstein distraction. Home Rule Act allows D.C. residents to elect their own leaders, controlling local affairs like public safety. DC Statehood!

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Luca @lucagalletti.bsky.social · Aug 12

Bro was flabbergasted 🤣

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In Otter News @in-otter-news.bsky.social · Jul 25

My Plans for the weekend...

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Alerts from NWS Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN (UNOFFICIAL) @mpx.nws-bot.us · Jul 12

Air Quality Alert issued July 12 at 3:15AM CDT by NWS Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
Additional Details Here.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has issued an Air
Quality Advisory for the following counties: Adams, Ashland,
Barron, Bayfield, Brown, Buffalo, Burnett, Calumet, Chippewa,
Clark, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Door, Douglas, Dunn, Eau
Claire, Florence, Fond du Lac, Forest, Grant, Green, Green Lake,
Iowa, Iron, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, Kewaunee, La
Crosse, Lafayette, Langlade, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marathon,
Marinette, Marquette, Menominee, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oconto,
Oneida, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Price,
Racine, Richland, Rock, Rusk, Sauk, Sawyer, Shawano, Sheboygan,
St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, Vilas, Walworth,
Washburn, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Waushara, Winnebago,
Wood.

WHAT...The PM2.5 AQI is expected to reach the Unhealthy for
Sensitive Groups (USG) to Unhealthy level.

WHERE...Statewide

WHEN...12:00 AM CDT Saturday July 12th through 12:00 PM CDT
Monday July 14th

Precautionary/Preparedness Actions:
Sensitive groups: Consider rescheduling or moving all activities
inside. Go inside if you have symptoms. People with asthma:
Follow your asthma action plan and keep quick-relief medicine
handy. People with heart disease: Symptoms such as palpitations,
shortness of breath, or unusual fatigue may indicate a serious
problem. If you have any of these, contact your health care
provider. Everyone else: Keep outdoor activities shorter and less
intense. Go inside if you have symptoms.

Additional Details:
Canadian wildfire smoke will impact all of Wisconsin throughout
the weekend. Initial impacts are expected for northwestern
counties starting as early as midnight Friday night, reaching
central Wisconsin by early Saturday afternoon, and southeastern
Wisconsin by late Saturday. The heaviest smoke is anticipated for
locations farther north, with periods of Very Unhealthy NowCast
AQI possible. USG to Unhealthy AQI will be more likely for
central and southeastern Wisconsin. The lowest concentrations are
expected across southwestern Wisconsin, where Moderate to USG AQI
is more likely. By Sunday, PM2.5 concentrations will be generally
lower. However, USG to Unhealthy AQI will remain possible
statewide, with higher concentrations more likely to the north.

For more information on current air quality, please see:
https://airquality.wi.gov

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Steve Koczela @skoczela.bsky.social · Jun 22

This is nothing like Iraq or Afghanistan from a public opinion standpoint. In both cases, large majorities supported military action. This time, large majorities oppose it. Chart from the great @gelliottmorris.com. www.gelliottmorris.com/p/polls-amer...

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Kumail Nanjiani @kumail.bsky.social · Jun 21

A Dem lawmaker and her husband were killed by a guy for their political views and it’s already out of the news.

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Jill Twiss @jilltwiss.bsky.social · Jun 19

I…do not think we get to call it an anomaly anymore

Eric Lipton NYT @ericlipton.nytimes.com · Jun 19

SpaceX Starship Rocket Explodes Before Test

The Starship experienced a “major anomaly” before starting its 10th flight test. Elon Musk’s giant moon and Mars rocket has a mixed record of success.

www.nytimes.com/2025/06/19/u...

SpaceX Starship Rocket Explodes Before Test

www.nytimes.com

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Will Stancil @whstancil.bsky.social · Jun 19

This framing exists because the decision is instantly obvious as one of the legal atrocities of US history, like Dred Scot, the 1870s Civil Rights Cases, Korematsu. The Times doesn’t want to say “The Supreme Court stripped rights out of law” so instead it says “Here’s why they did it to themselves”

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