Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Simon Hildrew @sihil.net · 1d

@daviddark.bsky.social I sense that you would have an interesting and insightful reflection on Thiel's recent lectures.

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

Inside tech billionaire Peter Thiel’s off-the-record lectures about the antichrist

The political svengali and investor has been giving lectures on ‘an evil king or tyrant … who appears in the end times’

www.theguardian.com

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Simon Hildrew @sihil.net · 13d

Enjoying seeing transparent explanation of LLM usage in journalism in what seems like a great application of the technology by @porcelinad.bsky.social.

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/s...

Reading the post-riot posts: how we traced far-right radicalisation across 51,000 Facebook messages

Tracing profiles of those charged with online offences in summer 2024 helped us map a thriving social ecosystem trading far-right sentiment and political disillusionment

www.theguardian.com

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Simon Hildrew @sihil.net · 15d

I no longer read or see the Economist, but my throwaway thread on how I feared this unfolding back in 2023 has turned out to be depressingly accurate.

Simon Hildrew @sihil.net · Nov 3

I cannot believe the Economist has published this article advocating for genocide. Figuring out how to cancel our sub.

It's not like it would even going to achieve what they are claiming it will.

www.economist.com/leaders/2023...

Why Israel must fight on

Israel’s bombardment of Gaza is taking a terrible toll. But unless Hamas’s power is broken, peace will remain out of reach

www.economist.com

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Simon Hildrew @sihil.net · 15d

Petition rejecting Digital ID cards in the UK has reached 1m shortly after it was announced. Labour can't win 🤷

petition.parliament.uk/petitions/73...

Petition: Do not introduce Digital ID cards

We demand that the UK Government immediately commits to not introducing a digital ID cards. There are reports that this is being looked at.

petition.parliament.uk

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Simon Hildrew @sihil.net · 17d

“The tyranny of the veto sabotages the very reason for the UN’s existence.” - Brazilian president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/s...

Trump’s UN speech makes it clear: the world can no longer look to the US for strong leadership

US president’s speech made a mockery of UN values and highlights the need for strong anti-Trumpian alliances

www.theguardian.com

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Simon Hildrew @sihil.net · 19d

The video in this piece is terribly brilliant.

Elle @kindofnorthern.bsky.social · 19d

In case anyone here is not familiar with Arjen Lubach

www.dutchnews.nl/2025/09/dutc...

Dutch comedian goes viral with Disney satire over Kimmel sacking - DutchNews.nl

A short video satirising Disney’s decision to pull a popular talk show because of the host’s comments on the murder of Maga campaigner Charlie Kirk has gone viral for Dutch TV presenter Arjen Lubach. ...

www.dutchnews.nl

Simon Hildrew @sihil.net · 19d

I was not. You have made my night 🙏

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Simon Hildrew @sihil.net · 21d

The gaping hole in this interesting piece by @jasperjolly.bsky.social and Dan Milmo is the extent to which this extends to the OTA systems that every recent JLR car on the road connects to. Could motivated attackers have shipped malicious updates to cars?

www.theguardian.com/business/202...

Inside the Jaguar Land Rover hack: stalled smart factories, outsourced cybersecurity and supply chain woes

Being a carmaker where ‘everything is connected’ has left JLR unable to isolate its plants or functions, forcing a shutdown of most systems

www.theguardian.com

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Simon Hildrew @sihil.net · Sep 10

My opinion of Nick Clegg continues to worsen - I'm not sure I need to read this book, but I do worry about those with power who do and decide to take what he says at face value 😨

www.theguardian.com/technology/2...

How to Save the Internet by Nick Clegg review – spinning Silicon Valley

Instead of recognising that social media harms mental health and democracy, the former deputy PM and Meta executive repeats company talking points

www.theguardian.com

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Simon Hildrew @sihil.net · Sep 3

Wow. Microsoft Teams is just bad right? Is it because I'm using it on macOS via Chrome or is it just terrible?

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Reposted by Simon Hildrew

Caitlin Johnstone @caitoz.bsky.social · Aug 3

"What Was Israel Supposed To Do After October 7?" Is Asking The Wrong Question

A much more useful and interesting question is “What were Palestinians supposed to do in response to all of Israel’s abuses prior to October 7?”
www.caitlinjohnst.one/p/what-was-i...

"What Was Israel Supposed To Do After October 7?" Is Asking The Wrong Question

Listen to a reading of this article (reading by Tim Foley):

www.caitlinjohnst.one

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Simon Hildrew @sihil.net · Jul 23

www.theguardian.com/world/live/2...

The image at the top of this live blog makes me sick to my stomach. Enough is enough.

Mass starvation spreading across Gaza, aid agencies warn, as pressure on Israel grows – Middle East crisis live

More than 100 aid agencies, including Doctors Without Borders, Save the Children and Oxfam, say ‘our colleagues and those we serve are wasting away’

www.theguardian.com

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Simon Hildrew @sihil.net · Jul 15

First time I’ve had an Amazon delivery stripped of the contents.

Frustratingly Amazon are unable to replace it and can only offer a refund of the 21% off price (a price that is no longer available). That’s kind of annoying given that this is a problem in their supply chain.

#firstworldproblems

Various bits of packaging laid out left to right with the Amazon envelope far left and empty torn Apple Watch packaging towards the right.

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Simon Hildrew @sihil.net · Jul 7

@jessicaelgot.bsky.social I’d really like to see some exploration into how many people who threatened to leave Massachusetts as a result of the wealth tax, actually left? Or similar wealth taxes elsewhere.

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Simon Hildrew @sihil.net · Jun 16

It seems that totaluptime.com (and the DNS service they offer) is errrr, down.

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Simon Hildrew @sihil.net · May 13

I'm more excited about the release of this later this week than I have been about any TV for a long time 🤖

Rick Miller @millrick.bsky.social · May 13

Let The Adventure Begin

@marthawells.com
#murderbot

Murderbot: Exclusive Opening Scene (2025) Noma Dumezweni, David Dastmalchian, Sabrina Wu

YouTube video by IGN

youtu.be

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Simon Hildrew @sihil.net · May 13

I'm honestly starting to wonder if we'll see the extinction of both the UK's main political parties in the next election cycle.

I didn't vote for Labour, but didn't expect them to be as hapless as the Tory government they replaced.

Who or what has this hold over Starmer? Maybe he's not sleeping. 😖

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Simon Hildrew @sihil.net · Apr 27

If you want to read something to rejuvenate you hope in humanity then cast your eyes over this: www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...

Meet the lost jewellery hunters: ‘I will be for ever grateful. It wasn’t just a ring’

Metal detecting isn’t just about searching for ancient treasure – the missing belongings of living people are just as precious. Meet the volunteers reuniting the two

www.theguardian.com

Simon Hildrew @sihil.net · Apr 25

Hey #penplotter Bluesky 👋

I won an UUNA TEK A0 pen plotter in a Christmas competition and I’ve made a video about unboxing it and using it for the first time to plot the famous Schotter.

A lot of assembly, use of vpype to generate gcode, and a floor that isn’t flat.

m.youtube.com/watch?v=VwX6...

Unboxing huge A0 iDraw V2 pen plotter / UUNA TEK Christmas competition prize!

YouTube video by Simon Plots

m.youtube.com

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Simon Hildrew @sihil.net · Apr 19

This seems like a prophetic voice in this arena; I wonder what else is in that book.

bsky.app/profile/saga...

Saganism @sagan.bsky.social · Apr 19

Right Now, most of the American can relate to this message from the 90's.

Simon Hildrew @sihil.net · Apr 19

I’ve followed the highly competent @molly.wiki for longer than I remember but I don’t think I have heard her speak until her highly articulate discussion with @racheldonald.bsky.social on Planet Critical this evening. Can recommend.
www.planetcritical.com/p/molly-white

Popping the Tech Bro Bubble | Molly White

From libraries to online, our information system is being dismantled

www.planetcritical.com

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Simon Hildrew @sihil.net · Apr 13

@teslatakedown.co.uk you should share www.carmagazine.co.uk/car-reviews/...

It’s an excellent review of the latest Tesla.

“At a glance
Pros: good battery efficiency, AWD model is properly quick, great charging network
Cons: uncomfortable ride, irritating cabin ergonomics, everyone will hate you”

Tesla Model Y (2025) review: an exercise in irritation

www.carmagazine.co.uk

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Reposted by Simon Hildrew

Tesla Takedown UK @teslatakedownuk.bsky.social · Apr 10

So @everyonehateselon.bsky.social's Tesla smashing event went well: www.theguardian.com/technology/2...

Sledgehammer-wielding Musk critics smash up Tesla in London art project

Campaign group Everyone Hates Elon organised protest with car bound for scrap heap ‘to create debate about wealth inequality’

www.theguardian.com

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Simon Hildrew @sihil.net · Apr 11

I understand and like the idea behind this, but how do you teach a science class that isn’t rooted in curiosity and explanation?
To me that is exactly what science *is*. People being curious and searching for answers in an effort to understand the world.

Simon Hildrew @sihil.net · Apr 5

A question that I honestly think is in the public interest for Kier Starmer to be asked (we live in a new normal where he is cosying up to an authoritarian leader): “what will you do when Trump insists that the UK deploys troops to help the USA invade Greenland or Canada?”