Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Tom Rank

Jo Wolff @jowolff.bsky.social · 2h

Yes AI is having an effect on me. I’m getting closer to buying a fountain pen than I’ve been for decades.

Reposted by Tom Rank

Jo Kershaw @mthrjo.bsky.social · 2h

Sed contra: Advent is traditionally a time for contemplating death, judgement, heaven, and hell, and thus a Kendal Mint Cake Advent Calendar is far more seemly than most of the “little treat” type of Advent Calendars.

Jay Hulme @jayhulmepoet.bsky.social · 2h

I keep getting adverts for a Kendal Mint Cake Advent Calendar, and as someone who has choked down vast quantities of Kendal Mint Cake while dangerously close to hypothermia, on an exposed cliff in a storm, desperately inching towards a safe place to stop and camp... I cannot think of anything worse.

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Alice Lilly @aliceolilly.bsky.social · 3h

OR on a similar theme, you could go and visit all of the bits of Leeds that over the decades have been proposed to be part of tram networks that still don’t exist

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Reposted by Tom Rank

Fiona 📎 @lucidwhim.bsky.social · 7h

This article by the Sunday Times reveals how reading is in decline and how 1 in 8 children in the UK do not own a book! Even worse is the appalling fact that less than half of under 5s are read to frequently.

Please read the article and help Get Britain Reading.

Join The Sunday Times Get Britain Reading campaign

Reading for fun transforms lives, but we’re losing the habit. A stellar group of authors — from Ian McEwan to Marian Keyes — agree with us: it’s time to act

www.thetimes.com

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Reposted by Tom Rank

Hetan Shah @hetanshah.bsky.social · 13h

This is such a clever idea on taking kids to museums/galleries
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...

Nadia from London has an idea that sounds such fun you'll be booking a day out asap.
"I've always loved museums," she says,
"but they can be overwhelming for children. For decades now, I've done something called 'playing postcards'
We do
the museum backwards, visiting the gift shop first. Each child gets to choose three postcards. Then they take it in turns to find that particular artwork in the museum and give us a little information about the piece from the details on the postcard, or from any gallery plaque. At the end of this treasure-hunt-style activity, we vote for our favourite in the cafe."

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Reposted by Tom Rank

Jo Wolff @jowolff.bsky.social · 9h

In the superb Handel/Hendrix house in Mayfair. They let me dress up as both at once. As they point out, they are celebrating two immigrants to London

Me sitting wearing a blue frock coat with gold decorations.

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Reposted by Tom Rank

Lynn Becker @cmgiulini.bsky.social · 21h

After spending 43 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit, evidence hidden by the prosecution reversed his conviction. Rather than finally enjoying freedom, ICE abducted him for deportation

Depraved.

www.miamiherald.com/news/local/i...

He was wrongfully imprisoned for 43 years. Moments after being released, ICE took him

Subramanyam “Subu” Vedam now faces deportation.

www.miamiherald.com

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Dan Kaszeta FRHistS @dankaszeta.bsky.social · 13h

It’s second Sunday of the month and it’s my turn again. I’m running Captain Dan’s laundry for homeless/destitute migrants, refugees, asylum seekers.

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Reposted by Tom Rank

Dan Kaszeta FRHistS @dankaszeta.bsky.social · 13h

The world is being unkind to many. Do as we do and fight back with kindness where you can.

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Reposted by Tom Rank

Prem Sikka @premnsikka.bsky.social · 15h

High street slot machine shops, owned by Merkur, are paying their staff bonuses linked to how much gamblers lose.

Companies chase profits by spreading misery, exploiting vulnerable people

Gambling Commission must shut down these parasites.

High street slot machine shops pay staff bonuses linked to how much gamblers lose

Exclusive: MPs and campaigners condemn ‘appalling’ reward scheme for Merkur venue managers

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Tom Rank

National Association for the Teaching of English @natefeed.bsky.social · 14h

At NATE, we’re creating an LGBTQ+ Working Group to provide resources so English teachers, department and MAT leads, exam boards and publishers feel confident in diversifying their curricula to include texts with Queer themes or characters. www.nate.org.uk/2025/09/03/w... #NATE

Why don’t we teach more Queer texts in the English classroom? - National Association for the Teaching of English

Matt Ingram reflects on a charged classroom moment and the lingering shadow of Section 28 to ask: why are Queer texts still marginal in English? I want to start with a...

www.nate.org.uk

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Reposted by Tom Rank

Pavilion Theatre @paviliontheatre.bsky.social · 16d

🍎 Theatre meets food in My English Persian Kitchen by Hannah Khalil

From the story by Atoosa Sepehr this is a true tale of one woman’s journey to rebuild her life after losing everything. Featuring live cooking on stage, with the audience tasting the results.

21 Oct & 22 Oct |🎟️ buff.ly/KEEZJRs

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Reposted by Tom Rank

Alison Tomlin @alisontomlin.bsky.social · 17h

Good morning. Happy Sunday. Carry on as you are. No need to change your ICE car, gas boiler, diet, gas hob, long distance travel habits just now. There's plenty of time...

Prof. Eliot Jacobson @climatecasino.net · 1d

Your 'moment of doom' for Oct. 11, 2025 ~ Everything is fine.

"The invisible gas can be seen in streams of bubbles originating on the seafloor of Antarctica's Ross Sea ... describing the mechanism as 'seemingly widespread' throughout the region... "

abcnews.go.com/Internationa...

Researchers find methane leaking out of cracks in Antarctic seabed

One of the most potent greenhouse gas emissions has been discovered seeping out of cracks of the Antarctic sea floor, researchers have found.

abcnews.go.com

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Reposted by Tom Rank

National Association for the Teaching of English @natefeed.bsky.social · 1d

English teaching never stands still — new research, debates and approaches are emerging all the time. The NATE news page brings it all together: updates from the English community, commentary from teachers and academics and stories that matter. www.nate.org.uk/category/news/ #NATE

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Reposted by Tom Rank

National Association for the Teaching of English @natefeed.bsky.social · 1d

In our primary resources page, Pie Corbett tackles the issue of writing poetry and provides advice and examples for teachers to use in their classrooms, such as the use of poetic games to help children to enjoy the possibilities presented to them. www.nate.org.uk/2023/03/01/w... #NATE

Writing as truth-telling - National Association for the Teaching of English

Pie Corbett tackles the issue of writing poetry and provides plenty of advice and examples for teachers to use in their classrooms, such as the playful use of poetic games...

www.nate.org.uk

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Reposted by Tom Rank

Alison Tomlin @alisontomlin.bsky.social · 1d

A quick trip to Marsden to see a very old Preston pal and the jazz fest. This is the end of Standedge Tunnel, the longest, highest, and deepest canal tunnel in the UK. It's like summer out there.

The North of England Centre for Music and Arts, Standage tunnel, Marsden.

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Reposted by Tom Rank

National Association for the Teaching of English @natefeed.bsky.social · 1d

NATE is offering travel bursaries for members wishing to represent the Association at the joint IFTE/ARLE International Conference in Barcelona, taking place from 25–27 June 2026. www.nate.org.uk/2025/10/09/b... #NATE

Bursary opportunity for international conference in Barcelona — June 2026 - National Association for the Teaching of English

NATE is offering travel bursaries for members wishing to represent the Association at the joint IFTE/ARLE International Conference in Barcelona, taking place from 25–27 June 2026 An international…

www.nate.org.uk

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Reposted by Tom Rank

András Forgács W @andraswf.bsky.social · 1d

Pretty predictable

Brooke Harrington @ebharrington.bsky.social · 1d

What Thiel is saying about tax havens = what Altman is saying about copyright:

"I can't be rich unless you let me steal from you."

This is how Broligarchs differ from oligarchs of yore: the latter tried to hide their thievery; the Broligarchs trumpet their entitlement to steal as a natural right.

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Reposted by Tom Rank

Jo Kershaw @mthrjo.bsky.social · 1d

Betteridge’s Law applies here…

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Tom Rank @tomrank.bsky.social · 1d

For lesser mortals, the idea of being able to repay even £23 million, let alone £60 million, seems incredible. How the other 1% lives, eh?

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Reposted by Tom Rank

Aaron Winter @aaronwinter.bsky.social · 1d

Really looking forward to participating in this event:

Theology, Churches & the Mainstreaming of the Far Right

15 October 2025
7:00-8:30 pm
Online
Register using the QR code

Theology, Churches & the Mainstreaming of the Far Right

15 October 2025
7:00-8:30 pm
Online
Register using the QR code

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Reposted by Tom Rank

Ralph Berry @rdrberry.bsky.social · 1d

His master's voice was always in the thrall of that toxic industry .

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Tom Rank @tomrank.bsky.social · 1d

"Ms Dixon did not wish to respond to Mr Davies' comments."

Ralph Berry @rdrberry.bsky.social · 1d

www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/2553057...
He was the bookies cheerleader when he was my MP.
Good on Anna .
Kids matter more than the gambling industry

Old and new MPs clash over calls to raise gambling taxes to tackle child poverty

Shipley's MP has urged the Chancellor to increase taxes on betting companies in a bid to address child poverty - but her predecessor has accused her…

www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk

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Reposted by Tom Rank

Assistant HR Director of Antifa @sethdmichaels.bsky.social · 2d

AI HUCKSTER: "i built you a machine that reads books for you."

ME: "can you build me a machine that unloads the dishwasher for me so *i* can read a book?"

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Olivia Guest · Ολίβια Γκεστ @olivia.science · 2d

as a cognitive scientist, I can confirm we don't know how humans think

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