Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

James Wallbank @dataknotsdesks.bsky.social · 8h

"REPUBLICANS WILL DROP $450M ON A TENT IN AN ALLIGATOR SWAMP, $1B ON A QATAR JET REFIT, $200M ON A BALLROOM, AND $5M ON GOLF... THEN CLAIM THERE'S NO MONEY FOR KIDS' CANCER RESEARCH, VETERANS, SCHOOL LUNCHES, OR ELDER MEDICAID."

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James Wallbank @dataknotsdesks.bsky.social · 21h

Interesting! One way of interpreting AI and crypto is that they're both technologies designed to be energy sinks.

In other words, their escalating demand for power, in a context characterised as a race for commercial and national dominance, isn't unfortunate necessity, it's their primary purpose.

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James Wallbank @dataknotsdesks.bsky.social · 21h

Are you implying that what he's doing right now—orientating the US military towards the occupation of US cities—is not 'real dangerous'?

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James Wallbank @dataknotsdesks.bsky.social · 22h

I realised that there was an anagram of my guess 3, which would have put the cat amongst the pigeons! (I spend far too much time thinking about this stupid game BTW!)

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James Wallbank @dataknotsdesks.bsky.social · 23h

I feel both lucky and unlucky here:

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🟨⬛🟩⬛🟨
🟩🟩🟩🟩⬛
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

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Reposted by James Wallbank

The Tennessee Holler @thetnholler.bsky.social · 2d

All facts

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James Wallbank @dataknotsdesks.bsky.social · 1d

Just one more thing…

If Steve Bannon features on an "A-List", what does the 'A' stand for?

James Wallbank @dataknotsdesks.bsky.social · 1d

Screenshot (X)

@RpsAgainstTrump

Steve Bannon: I think there are many different alternatives we'll roll out after the midterms to make sure President Trump is on the ballot in 2028. And if he's on the ballot, he'll win.

Screenshot (News Nation)

BATYA'S A-LIST INTERVIEW
STEVE BANNON JOINS "BATYA"

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Reposted by James Wallbank

Tim Bale @timbale.bsky.social · 1d

Looking forward to the BBC asking Richard (man-made climate change is 'absolute garbage') Tice, MP for the towns, about this....

"Boston and Skegness in Lincolnshire [is] projected to have about 90% of homes at risk from river and coastal flooding by 2050 – the highest proportion in the country."

Millions more homes in Great Britain at risk of flooding, investigation finds

Every constituency projected to be at greater risk, with many areas likely to be uninsurable

www.theguardian.com

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James Wallbank @dataknotsdesks.bsky.social · 2d

Everyone should be alert to the possibility of election rigging. There only may be covert attempts to rig the midterms—but there will certainly be numerous bogus, speculative, or entirely false warnings that this may happen. Confusion and controversy will be promoted.

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Reposted by James Wallbank

James O’Brien @mrjamesob.bsky.social · 2d

Oh.

The Guardian @theguardian.com · 2d

Reform UK abandoning manifesto pledge of £90bn in tax cuts, deputy leader admits

Richard Tice says party will concentrate on cutting civil service and scrapping net zero once in government * UK politics live – latest updates Reform UK’s deputy leader has admitted the party cannot deliver the £90bn in tax cuts promised in its manifesto, saying it would concentrate on public spending cuts once in government. Richard Tice said key election pledges such as lifting the income tax threshold would be an “aspiration” and that once in government Reform would concentrate on cutting the civil service and scrapping net zero. Continue reading...

www.theguardian.com

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James Wallbank @dataknotsdesks.bsky.social · 2d

Here's the trouble—there is nobody to intervene, other than the electorate.

So it's vitally important that every instance of grotesque brutality is documented and propagated—which is tricky in a media context polluted by fakery and in which "the other side" is effectively unreachable.

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Reposted by James Wallbank

Farrukh @implausibleblog.bsky.social · 3d

BBC News explain that because of Brexit, Brits will be photographed and have their fingerprints taken when going into the EU, as the UK now is a third country

BBC News forget to explain that the UK helped create these rules when we were part of the EU because we wanted stronger border control

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James Wallbank @dataknotsdesks.bsky.social · 2d

I don't mean to say that this means that electronic communications are necessarily bad—they're a double-edged sword. Everything that they can distribute, they can also centralise. The decision to make connectivity asymmetric (i.e. you can download more than you can upload) was profoundly political.

James Wallbank @dataknotsdesks.bsky.social · 2d

This is the context, not simply of UK politics, but of EVERYTHING. Information Technology can, more accurately, be thought of as Centralisation Technology—over the last few years it has served to centralise manufacturing, political influence, money, cultural prominence, even conversation itself!

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Reposted by James Wallbank

Max B 💙 🔶 🇺🇦 🇬🇧 🇪🇺 @maxbrockbank.com · 3d

When regional chairmen of Deform UK Ltd resign, they do it with feeling.

Sent to Fartrage by Patrick Sargent
Former Chairman, Middlesbrough & Thornaby East Branch
Former Parliamentary Candidate (2024) for Middlesbrough & Thornaby East
Former Interim Regional Director (North East)

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James Wallbank @dataknotsdesks.bsky.social · 3d

I thought it was by ABBA!

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James Wallbank @dataknotsdesks.bsky.social · 3d

The one advantage that the protesters have is that, they, like the Portland Frog, sound like normal, aware, concerned Americans. Not conspiracy nuts, macho sad-sacks, borderline psychopaths or racist hicks. It's important to see that the "win" in these circumstances is for hearts and minds.

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James Wallbank @dataknotsdesks.bsky.social · 3d

The objective, I fear, is to provoke a citizen backlash in order to spread fear and boost poll numbers. Sooner or later, one of these ICE goons will be pelted with rocks or otherwise subject to retaliation. Cue martyrdom, stirring martial music, talk show appearances, further repression, etc. etc.

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James Wallbank @dataknotsdesks.bsky.social · 3d

This is a profound collective reassignment of time and attention. Each of us, in odd minutes of chatter each day, were creating a shared sense of society and values. Now that's been redirected, from the arbitrary people in our neighbourhood or on our commute, to remote strangers with whom we agree.

James Wallbank @dataknotsdesks.bsky.social · 3d

You're right, Peter. I suspect that it's not even the content of 'internet culture' that's the main driver—it's the structure.

Here we are, forming a circle of agreement, amplifying each other's ideas. But we're NOT meeting face-to-face, chatting, including people with whom we sometimes disagree.

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Reposted by James Wallbank

Prof Christina Pagel @chrischirp.bsky.social · 5d

After a long pause, I've just done another England Covid & NHS update as we head into the autumn/winter season.

TLDR: we're in a significant Covid wave now, the NHS is stretched, get boosted if you're eligible.

christinapagel.substack.com/p/england-is...

England is now experiencing a significant Covid wave, after 10 months of relative quiet

The latest Covid situation in England and a look at where NHS services are as we head into winter

christinapagel.substack.com

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Reposted by James Wallbank

BK. Titanji @boghuma.bsky.social · 3d

The thing that is most devastating to me about the ongoing evisceration of the public health infrastructure in the U.S right is how little awareness of what's going on the majority of people in the general public have and the impact this will have on their health and safety.

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James Wallbank @dataknotsdesks.bsky.social · 4d

Posted without comment.

A caltrop made from two pieces of sharpened steel tube, bent and welded together. A tiny hole through the joint facilitates airflow.

Reposted by James Wallbank

Prem Sikka @premnsikka.bsky.social · 4d

Thanks

Govts of Australia, Bermuda, Canada, Cayman, China, France, Germany Italy, Japan, Korea, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Qatar, Singapore, Spain, UAE, US would like to thank UK for letting their entities own UK infrastructure.

Vast profits exported, Britons stare at sewage in rivers.

If the government wants economic growth it must bring essential industries into public ownership

Successive governments clobber households and small businesses by hiking interest rates to manage inflation, but don’t inconvenience corporations.

leftfootforward.org

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