Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Meghan Flaherty @msmeghanbean.bsky.social · Apr 30

Come through!

Rodge Glass @rodgeglass.bsky.social · Apr 29

Delighted I'm returning to @bozzybookfest.bsky.social next weekend. Chairing several events @sarasheridan.bsky.social Juano Diaz & Charlie English, I'm also discussing my book Joshua in the Sky with @msmeghanbean.bsky.social ↘️↘️↘️. Whose life gets to be remembered, when we record real lives? And how?

Boswell Book Festival @bozzybookfest.bsky.social · Apr 29

The traditional biography details a full life of achievements.

Joshua in the Sky from @rodgeglass.bsky.social instead memorialises the author's nephew, Joshua, who lived for just 3 hours.

This is is a journey through loss and an exploration of the nature of biography itself. bit.ly/Bozzfest

1

Meghan Flaherty @msmeghanbean.bsky.social · Apr 28

"I wonder if there might not be another idea of human order than repression, another notion of human virtue than self-control, another kind of human self than one based on dissociation of inside and outside. Or indeed, another human essence than self."

Anne Carson, "The Gender of Sound"

2

Meghan Flaherty @msmeghanbean.bsky.social · Apr 7

Had the enormous honour of being a part of this series, in some incredible company.

Brian Gresko @briangresko.bsky.social · Apr 5

Day 76 of 100 Days of Creative Resistance: Meghan Flaherty on Uncertainty

mailchi.mp/585ac3e60764...

@writingco-lab.bsky.social

100 Days of Creative Resistance graphic featuring a quote from Meghan Flaherty which reads “Maybe we need art more than ever now; maybe we don’t. I’ll keep making mine, sure. I’ll keep living, steeped, bloated in words. But what I really mean to say is that I plan to listen more.”

3 6

Reposted by Meghan Flaherty

RSPB @rspb.bsky.social · Apr 1

WORLD-FIRST: Ground-breaking research published today in the Ornithologist Journal has, for the first time, translated common UK bird vocalisations into equivalent phrases in the human language.

The results tell us a lot!

Extracts below... 🧵

The front cover of a scientific journal titled Ornithologist, dated 1 April 2025. The main headline reads: “BIRDS: DECODED - Groundbreaking New Science.” Below that, a subheading says: “What are the UK’s birds really saying? Pioneering new research provides the answers.”

220 1.4K 4.9K

Meghan Flaherty @msmeghanbean.bsky.social · Mar 18

Ten degrees in Glasgow and the kids are *sunbathing*

2

Meghan Flaherty @msmeghanbean.bsky.social · Mar 11

My dreams are getting super meta these days. The other night I actually dreamt that I couldn’t sleep.

1 1

Meghan Flaherty @msmeghanbean.bsky.social · Mar 11

There’s also Kalewater Cottage in the Borders, and @arvonfoundation.bsky.social down south.

1

Meghan Flaherty @msmeghanbean.bsky.social · Mar 10

@covepark.bsky.social and Moniack Mhor. Both in Scotland. Both beyond nourishing.

1 1

Meghan Flaherty @msmeghanbean.bsky.social · Feb 28

Likewise! x

2

Meghan Flaherty @msmeghanbean.bsky.social · Feb 28

Hard agree! x

1

Meghan Flaherty @msmeghanbean.bsky.social · Feb 25

I’ve lived several lifetimes this week and it’s only Tuesday.

1

Meghan Flaherty @msmeghanbean.bsky.social · Feb 18

Pisces season, dreams: teeth popping out, anthropomorphic holly branches, waters breaking, and, in a meta twist, not being able to sleep.

2

Meghan Flaherty @msmeghanbean.bsky.social · Jan 30

We obviously needed another hour. 🌳

1

Reposted by Meghan Flaherty

Guy Shrubsole @guyshrubsole.bsky.social · Jan 29

A "potential" 0.43% increase in GDP *by 2050* - in return for torching the UK's climate leadership and adding vast amounts of carbon to the atmosphere - is simply not worth it.

No third runway. Grow the green economy, not airports.

www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...

Rachel Reeves confirms backing for third runway at Heathrow – UK politics live

The chancellor says she wants plan for runway brought forward by summer and criticises Conservatives for not acting to build runway

www.theguardian.com

5 44 140

Meghan Flaherty @msmeghanbean.bsky.social · Jan 29

Happy birthday! 🎂🥂

1

Meghan Flaherty @msmeghanbean.bsky.social · Jan 29

Today I returned my children's woefully overdue library books. Naturally, I thought of Grace Paley and @rodgeglass.bsky.social. (hashtag: sycamores)

2

Meghan Flaherty @msmeghanbean.bsky.social · Jan 29

So glad you enjoyed it! A team effort for sure. 📚✨🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Meghan Flaherty @msmeghanbean.bsky.social · Jan 21

This is such an important point.

“It might be true that all human cultures tell inventive stories, but that isn’t enough to claim that there is a single definition of ‘fiction’ that can be applied transculturally.”

Hannah Kim @thisishannahkim.bsky.social · Jan 20

If you need a distraction today-- check out my new piece for Aeon!

I say there's no universal definition of fiction b/c how "fiction" is understood depends on a culture's metaphysics. Philosophy of fiction has been taking Greek metaphysics for granted. I say we branch out.

aeon.co/essays/befor...

4

Meghan Flaherty @msmeghanbean.bsky.social · Jan 8

Meanwhile, this weird miracle of winter light.

photo of a grey windowshade backlit by sunlight to make a moon shape, with the shadow of a vine across.

4

Meghan Flaherty @msmeghanbean.bsky.social · Dec 31

3

Meghan Flaherty @msmeghanbean.bsky.social · Dec 28

For me, it was the drum corps guy (choir director’s son) and the “knee pit erogenous zone.”

Mara Wilson @marawilson.bsky.social · Dec 28

Just remembered that when I was 13 my most sexually experienced friend swore that there was a “pressure point” on your ring finger knuckle that, if rubbed, made you “instantly horny”

We all told her it was bullshit, but I remember being careful not to rub my knuckles after that, just in case

2 2 50

Meghan Flaherty @msmeghanbean.bsky.social · Dec 23

Turns out, my kids think the words are “tender and wild” and that just about tracks.

3

Meghan Flaherty @msmeghanbean.bsky.social · Dec 21

Back on my bullshit, in the bleak midwinter. Merry happy all the things, my dears.
open.substack.com/pub/msmeghan...

a certain Slant of light

"Heavenly Hurt, it gives us – / We can find no scar, / But internal difference – / Where the Meanings, are – "

open.substack.com

1 2

Meghan Flaherty @msmeghanbean.bsky.social · Dec 20

Personally, I feel like Eartha Kitt forgot a verse.

Meghan Flaherty @msmeghanbean.bsky.social · Dec 20

Do we think Santa can do book deals for Christmas?

1 2