Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Andrew Smith @intheologus.bsky.social · 18h

Interesting to see this is happening at Glasgow almost the same time the Conlanging Gathering #Kopikon is happening at Edinburgh.

Prof. Dimitra Fimi @dimitrafimi.bsky.social · 1d

I’m teaching a seminar on “Constructed Languages in Fantasy Fiction” in a couple of weeks, in which #Tolkien will feature heavily, for a course in our new Masters in Global Communications. This is for my students + everyone fascinated by conlangs + artlangs!
dimitrafimi.substack.com/p/creating-i...

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Andrew Smith @intheologus.bsky.social · 19h

Juice Media 2026 - Making New Zealand Woke Kiwi C*nts Again!

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Andrew Smith @intheologus.bsky.social · 21h

"All self-respecting river kingdoms have vast supernatural plagues, but the best the Old Kingdom had been able to achieve in the last hundred years was the Plague of the Frog*.
(*It was quite a big frog, however, and got into the air ducts and kept everyone awake for weeks)" - Terry Pratchett.

The Oregonian @oregonian.com · 22h

Things are happening at Portland's ICE facility tonight.

Read more of our protest coverage here: www.oregonlive.com/crime/2025/1...

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Andrew Smith @intheologus.bsky.social · 1d

Temperature reads 18 degrees Celsius and I thought foursquare had started in the quad, it's just at the kicking of a rugby ball state at the moment.

Andrew Smith @intheologus.bsky.social · 1d

I am familiar with those dance moves and do them just about every time!

George Penney @georgepenney.bsky.social · 1d

Two women (50s?) almost bump into each other in the biscuit* aisle.
One goes one way, the other accidentally copies.
She then goes the other, the other accidentally copies. They laugh.
The first says: Want to dance?"
"I think we already are!" (5)

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Andrew Smith @intheologus.bsky.social · 1d

The Old People’s Ukulele Orchestra broke me.

The Daily Show @thedailyshow.com · 1d

The following is REAL footage from Portland, 2025. Viewer discretion is advised.

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Andrew Smith @intheologus.bsky.social · 1d

The gates to the Otherworld are open at Halloween, closed at Guy Fawkes and then we may enter the season of light.

George Penney @georgepenney.bsky.social · 2d

A man (70s?) is studying a Christmas lights display in a hardware store.
He mumbles.
He grumbles.
He scowls.
He turns to an employee (50s?) and says: "WHY NOW?!"
Employee bows and says: "For your personal entertainment mate. It did the job for at least five minutes there. You're welcome." (2)

Andrew Smith @intheologus.bsky.social · 2d

AI, emulate Canadian politeness!
"After you."
"No, after you."
"No, after you."
"No, after you."
"No, after you."
"No, after you."
"No, after you."
"No, after you."
"No, after you."
"No, after you."
"No, after you."
"No, after you."
"No, after you."
"No, after you."
"No, after you."
"No, after you."

Andrew Smith @intheologus.bsky.social · 3d

When your own loyalist polling company cannot disguise the fact that you are being eaten alive.

Foxy @foxylustygrover.bsky.social · 3d

Curia Poll - Carried out between 1 and 5 October

Labour: 31.2⬇️2.6%
National: 29.6%⬇️3.5%
Greens: 12%⬆️1.3%
NZ First: 10.6%⬆️2.5%
ACT: 6.6%⬇️0.1%
Te Pāti Māori: 4.4%⬆️0.1%

Centre-left bloc 61 seats - Centre-right 59 seats

PPM
Chris Hipkins: 20.9%⬆️3.2%
Christopher Luxon: 19.8%⬇️1.9%
#NZPol

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Andrew Smith @intheologus.bsky.social · 3d

So the Rupture has already happened and Jesus is fully recovered and feeling now, I hope.

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Andrew Smith @intheologus.bsky.social · 3d

I would guess that people like Kemi Badenoch pick up on the theme that Great Women and Men can change their societies; without picking up on the themes of insight, and the compassion and anger for justice that Pratchett repeatedly injects into those characters.

Rhianna Pratchett @rhi.bsky.social · 3d

Dad’s books are full of empathy, common sense, and a healthy suspicion of the powerful. But at its heart his work is also about how systems keep people poor while pretending it’s their own fault. So I hope Kemi’s taking notes as well as reading the jokes.

Paul Haine @paulhaine.bsky.social · 3d

Kemi Badenoch claiming Terry Pratchett as her favourite author is wild

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Reposted by Andrew Smith

David Hood @thoughtfulnz.bsky.social · 4d

By the way, thank you to @theprogressreport.co.nz for theprogressreport.co.nz/local-candid... as telling colleagues than can click on a candidates name and see any past news stories contributed about them seems to have been helpful at getting people past "I don't know enough about them"

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Andrew Smith @intheologus.bsky.social · 4d

Click on photos that contain a human.

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Andrew Smith @intheologus.bsky.social · 4d

I'm glad to see my home town has one in four voters, and Gore just under one in three voters, but my resident town Dunedin is below one in five voters. I understand the number of people standing means voters don't want to research and decide. Get those votes in!

Jessica de Heij @jdeheij.bsky.social · 4d

VOTE!

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Andrew Smith @intheologus.bsky.social · 4d

Not bad 8/10. It involved etymology and guesswork, but then, so does most language.

Nick Baker @nickbaker.digital · 5d

If you need a break from ..... all that, here is a mini-quiz I made this morning for work. No cheating - let me know if you get 10/10

forms.gle/a4vSRkU1u7wY...

The Meaning of Words Quiz 6 October

forms.gle

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Andrew Smith @intheologus.bsky.social · 5d

What was your grandfather's name? It is easy for me to check the Knox College Register.

Andrew Smith @intheologus.bsky.social · 6d

Ceiling Cat is judging you.

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Andrew Smith @intheologus.bsky.social · 7d

I just realised dog chooses a handbag and goes back to the mirror. They’re accessorising!

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Reposted by Andrew Smith

Jasmin Taylor @meshedlight.bsky.social · 7d

Ōtepoti: heads up

the rally to defend public service (due to be held on Sat 4th) has been cancelled due to the heavy rain warning

please stay warm and dry

There is going to be more opportunities to rally in future!

source: organisers update on the fb event

Jasmin Taylor @meshedlight.bsky.social · 18d

Ōtepoti:

Rally: defend our public service

Stand with firefighters, teachers, nurses and all public sector workers!

Date: Sat 4th October

March with us: 12pm museum lawn
Meet us: 1pm octagon

March starts at the Otago Museum lawn and finishes at the Octagon, where our rally will be held

event poster:

"Rally: defend our public service

Stand with firefighters, teachers, nurses and all public sector workers!

Date: Sat 4th October

March with us: 12pm museum lawn
Meet us: 1pm octagon

March starts at the Otago Museum lawn and finishes at the Octagon, where our rally will be held."

Logos for the following organisations and unions are at the top: International Socialist Organisation Aotearoa, NZEI Te Riu Roha, TEU Te Hautū Kahurangi, NZPFU, PPTA Te Wehengarua. Background of poster is white. Illustrated with a black and red photo of a person holding a placard

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Andrew Smith @intheologus.bsky.social · 7d

Never play a game of chance against a deadpan Albanian.

Tony Johansson @tonyjohansson75.bsky.social · 8d

Watching the Albanian PM Edi Rama mocking US president Trump in front of French president Macron and Azerbaijan's president Aliyev is just brilliant. This after Trump on several occasions has claimed he ended a none existing war between Albania and "Aba-baijan"
youtube.com/shorts/OEdFA...

Albanian PM: Trump Ended The Conflict Between Us

YouTube video by Al Arabiya English

youtube.com

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Andrew Smith @intheologus.bsky.social · 8d

Do crows swear by Raven?

secondlina // Lord of Crows @secondlina.com · 8d

Oh my gosh.... feathers! [2/2]

Andrew Smith @intheologus.bsky.social · 8d

Fluttering wings, in the mirror.

🦋 kris🌻⋆⋆⋆ @eviebauer727.bsky.social · 9d

Something to make you smile. This is the sweetest thing I’ve ever seen. 😊

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Reposted by Andrew Smith

Andrew Geddis @acgeddis.bsky.social · 8d

Winston Peters arriving at the Koputai port today …

(Credit Stephen Jaquiery from the OFT)

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Reposted by Andrew Smith

Madam Snazzy @moatatamaira.bsky.social · 9d

Not sure when this might get a NZ release date but seems like an edifying “fingers crossed not necessary but just in case” watch.

youtu.be/p3yq7AgrU7A

The Librarians | Official Trailer 🔥October 3🔥Documentary

YouTube video by Red Carpet Trailers

youtu.be

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Andrew Smith @intheologus.bsky.social · 9d

Daily timeline cleanser @georgepenney.bsky.social

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