Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Megan "Cryptic" Danvers @megandanvers123.bsky.social · 2d

Can confirm. Everyone with early access is losing their GODDAMN MINDS!!! Y'all. Ain't. Ready!

✨ Star @ LBX ✨ @thestarfishface.bsky.social · 2d

Hey did you guys know... that Patreon gets to see pages a month in advance...

You could read 8 more pages right now... www.patreon.com/c/castoff

Here's some testimonials straight from the comments section of last night's update 🙂

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Reposted by Megan "Cryptic" Danvers

the double bi @ladysummoner.bsky.social · 2d

You procrastinate, and then you write the fucking paper the way the gods and nature intended. Several hours before it's due, high off either caffeine, nicotine, sugar, drugs, and PANIC.

Fuck AI.

Dane 🔜 NYCC AA L-34 @monkeyminion.com · 3d

I wrote a 15 page report on heraldic symbolism in medieval armor and weapon design for my art history class the night before it was due (8am class). Made up 90% of it (only found one book for reference) and got an A. GenAI could fucking never.

wrote 20 pages on Faulkner's The Bear four hours before final papers were due on trucker pills and coffee and cigarettes and got an A, fuck you.
You people couldn't hang with real slackers.
finn
wokeupchic • 4d
It's fuck Al till your homework due in 25 minutes

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Reposted by Megan "Cryptic" Danvers

Jón Kristinsson @jonkk.bsky.social · Sep 2

Every time someone opens their mouth to hype AI, just google “name of person/company invests in AI” and you’ll *always* find something. Every time.

Jón Kristinsson @jonkk.bsky.social · Sep 2

👇 The reason:

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Reposted by Megan "Cryptic" Danvers

Ian Cameron (Picture a bunch of ace flags here)! @iantheimancameron.bsky.social · 3d

Here's mine:

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Megan "Cryptic" Danvers @megandanvers123.bsky.social · 5d

For Castoff it's a tie between Arianna, Liam, and Sage. It depends on who's getting the most screentime at any given moment.

For D&D it's Verity for design but Lapis/Laz for character but also honorary mention for DAVE!!!!!!!

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Megan "Cryptic" Danvers @megandanvers123.bsky.social · 5d

My answer is yes to both as well. Does liking the color purple make you predisposed to liking Dr. Pepper or vice versa?

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ToonHive @toonhive.bsky.social · 7d

Kimberly Hébert Gregory, the voice of Nicole Williams in ‘Craig of the Creek’, has sadly passed away at the age of 52.

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Chanda Prescod-Weinstein 🌌 @chanda.blacksky.app · 12d

THEY CLOSED PUBLIC POOLS RATHER THAN SWIM WITH BLACK PEOPLE

YOU ARE DEALING WITH THE SAME GROUP OF PEOPLE AS THE FOLKS WHO DID THIS

PLEASE WAKE THE FUCK UP

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Reposted by Megan "Cryptic" Danvers

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez @aoc.bsky.social · 10d

We believe healthcare is a right for every American.

But starting today, millions of people will be notified that they are being priced out of their insurance thanks to Republican policies.

Enough is enough. The GOP may shut down the government, but we will stand tall for YOU.

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Phil Lewis @phillewis.bsky.social · 11d

Jane Goodall, ethologist and conservationist, has died. She was 91

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Megan "Cryptic" Danvers @megandanvers123.bsky.social · 12d

And I still don't even know how many POV shifts because I'm not done writing it yet.

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Megan "Cryptic" Danvers @megandanvers123.bsky.social · 12d

Maybe I should just split "scene 5" into what normal people would consider scenes instead. That might help make scene 5 less daunting.

Though that might mean chapter 2 winds up with 10 scenes instead of 6 because there are a few POV shifts in this one "scene".

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Megan "Cryptic" Danvers @megandanvers123.bsky.social · 12d

Scene 5 alone is 17 comic pages so far and I haven't even finished writing it or thumbnailing what I have written yet.

Like I left off thumbnailing the script at 5.3 script pages. I have since written another 5 script pages and I'm still not done.

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Megan "Cryptic" Danvers @megandanvers123.bsky.social · 12d

I'm at 64 pages for chapter 2 and I've only thumbnailed the first 4.5 scenes out of 6 and technically scene 5 as I'm writing it is more like 3 or 4 scenes in a trenchcoat.

I judge scenes by what is happening moreso than where we are. Scene 5 is the action scene so it is loooong.

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Megan "Cryptic" Danvers @megandanvers123.bsky.social · 12d

Currently writing a script for a comic I'm working on (nothing drawn yet, let alone posted) and I'm thinking this might end up being longer than the previous chapter I wrote.

Previous chapter ended up being 91 pages when I thumbnailed the scenes.

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Reposted by Megan "Cryptic" Danvers

Preeti Chhibber @runwithskizzers.bsky.social · 12d

Every entertainment outlet should be using this same language about the “performer” computer

Alex Zalben @azalben.bsky.social · 12d

SAG-AFTRA has released a statement on Tilly Norwood, the AI "performer," saying:

“To be clear, 'Tilly Norwood' is not an actor, it’s a character generated by a computer program that was trained on the work of countless professional performers — without permission or compensation."

SAG-AFTRA Statement on Synthetic Performer

LOS ANGELES (Sept. 30, 2025) — SAG-AFTRA has released the following statement on the announcement of “Tilly Norwood,” an A.I.-generated “actor” that is reportedly seeking representation:

“SAG-AFTRA believes creativity is, and should remain, human-centered. The union is opposed to the replacement of human performers by synthetics.

“To be clear, “Tilly Norwood” is not an actor, it’s a character generated by a computer program that was trained on the work of countless professional performers — without permission or compensation. It has no life experience to draw from, no emotion and, from what we’ve seen, audiences aren’t interested in watching computer-generated content untethered from the human experience. It doesn’t solve any “problem” — it creates the problem of using stolen performances to put actors out of work, jeopardizing performer livelihoods and devaluing human artistry.

“Additionally, signatory producers should be aware that they may not use synthetic performers without complying with our contractual obligations, which generally require notice and bargaining whenever a synthetic performer is going to be used.”

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Megan "Cryptic" Danvers @megandanvers123.bsky.social · 13d

I doubt anyone will see this but does anyone have any sci-fi webcomic recommendations that aren't romance heavy?

Bonus points for:

-Queer characters
-POC characters
-Disabled characters
-Action-packed
-Found family

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Megan "Cryptic" Danvers @megandanvers123.bsky.social · 13d

What broke my brain is finding out the first movie came out in 2007. Like what?! I thought that came out during my college years not pre-adolescence. What??? I was 10 when it came out? That doesn't sound right.

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Reposted by Megan "Cryptic" Danvers

Kara Jorgensen @authorkaraj.bsky.social · 13d

Some Latinx authors to buy instead:
Anna-Marie McLemore
Gabe Cole Novoa
Tehlor Kay Mejia
Aidan Thomas
A. E. Bross
Isabel Canas
Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Natalia Hernandez
There are many more, but those are the ones within immediate reach on my Kindle and TBR pile

Georgina Kiersten @ingloriousgigi.bsky.social · 13d

Just a reminder that Freydis Moon's new book is going to released tomorrow and that they are NOT Latinx or Mexican. They are a serial Brownfisher who loves to appropriate and steal from BIPOC people and be a cyberbully on top of that.

Please give your money to real Latinx Authors instead.

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Reposted by Megan "Cryptic" Danvers

Gail Simone @gailsimone.bsky.social · 13d

CALL YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS. Seriously, all hands on deck, this is going nowhere good and is going to be a stain on our country forever. Call, please!

PinkNews @pinknews.bsky.social · 13d

Trump threatens to shut down US government unless Democrats agree to ban all trans health care
https://www.thepinknews.com/2025/09/29/trans-care-ban-government-shutdown/?utm_content=1759153201&utm_medium=social&utm_source=bluesky

Trump threatens to shut down US government unless all trans health care is banned

The US government's looming shutdown hinges on anti-trans measures after Donald Trump refused to speak to Democrats unless they were passed.

www.thepinknews.com

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Reposted by Megan "Cryptic" Danvers

Ske-Lou-Ton 💀 @louwrites.bsky.social · 14d

✨ no gen AI ✨

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Reposted by Megan "Cryptic" Danvers

Katie Croonenberghs Art @kamakru.bsky.social · 15d

Authors, one more time:
📣 ANY use of genai will get you onto my "do not read" list.
Cover art, interior art, character pages, extras, bookmarks, ads, marketing material, website, all of it.
Using it AT ALL means you do not respect or understand the damage that genai has done and actively does.

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Megan "Cryptic" Danvers @megandanvers123.bsky.social · 15d

Night shift + busy day = one bad night

BUT

not sleeping in + morning walk + a nice relaxing shower = a good morning

SO

Good morning + one bad night + impending update to a comic I'm reading on webtoon = maybe a tolerable day

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Megan "Cryptic" Danvers @megandanvers123.bsky.social · 15d

Trying to figure out a productivity schedule you can stick to is an uphill battle of never actually sticking to the plan even when you know it'd be easy to do so.

Like yeah I COULD do this this and this with minimal effort...but doomscrolling while YouTube plays in the background is SO much easier.

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Megan "Cryptic" Danvers @megandanvers123.bsky.social · 15d

List 3 things you can talk about for 3 hours with no prep

1. Superheroes

2. My mental health and how it manifests (ie explain why my autism makes me do weird shit)

3. Cartoons I love

(I'd like to say I could talk about my stories for hours on end but realistically I'd be too nervous to do so)

A.D.🍀🦩 @adwills.bsky.social · 16d

List 3 things you can talk about for 3 hours with no prep

1. My writing. Specifically, all the scattered world building, lore, and facts about my characters.

2. One Piece

3. Berserk

(Lord of the Rings is so so close. I'm mentioning it too and breaking the rules)

Alex Larkspur 💛 Queer Fantasy @applesncinnamon.bsky.social · 16d

List 3 things you can talk about for 3 hours with no prep

1. My books! Especially the world-building and magic
2. Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit
3. The Amazing Race (my most embarrassing special interest 🙈)

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