Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Ali Baker

SFF Reviews @sffreview.bsky.social · 11h

That's amazing! 🥳 The SFF community is so vibrant and welcoming! Can't wait to see your chapters shine! 🌟 Keep embracing those connections! #SFF #WritingCommunity #Friendship

Ali Baker @alisonbaker01.bsky.social · 14h

Got involved with SFF fandom again, got 2 offers to write book chapters and made friends with people I’d never have met otherwise.

Conrad Hackett @conradhackett.bsky.social · 1d

Has anything great happened in your life because of social media?

1 1

Reposted by Ali Baker

The Octopus Gallery @octopusgallery.bsky.social · 14h

Good news for sewists: the paper pattern company feared lost to bankruptcy has been saved as an independent company.

craftindustryalliance.org/sewing-patte...

Sewing Patterns Rise from DGA Bankruptcy Ashes - Craft Industry Alliance

The “Big 4” sewing patterns are saved. Simplicity, McCall’s, Vogue & Butterick get new life under Rubelmann Capital.

craftindustryalliance.org

16 410 820

Ali Baker @alisonbaker01.bsky.social · 14h

I wish I still had the knees and ankles to play hockey. I’m feeling a bit smashy.

1

Ali Baker @alisonbaker01.bsky.social · 14h

@diane.dianeduane.com I met you very briefly at Dublin WorldCon. I just wanted to send you good wishes and let you know how much I enjoy your writing.

Please don’t feel any need to reply.

1 1

Ali Baker @alisonbaker01.bsky.social · 14h

Got involved with SFF fandom again, got 2 offers to write book chapters and made friends with people I’d never have met otherwise.

Conrad Hackett @conradhackett.bsky.social · 1d

Has anything great happened in your life because of social media?

4

Ali Baker @alisonbaker01.bsky.social · 14h

I don’t either. Taking care of the most vulnerable population is a public good. I don’t have children (although I am a stepmother), but of course I want children to be cared for, fed and housed. In my opinion it’s sociopathic to think otherwise.

1

Ali Baker @alisonbaker01.bsky.social · 14h

But why is that different from state schools? Or Medicare? Or public transport? Or maintaining public roads? All of these are funded via direct taxation.

1

Ali Baker @alisonbaker01.bsky.social · 14h

How do you mean? In what way does support for families with young children affect people without children? (Please note: I am a step parent but not a birth parent)

1 1

Ali Baker @alisonbaker01.bsky.social · 15h

Have you considered:
* parental leave for both parents?
* Public funding for early years childcare?
* incentives for employers to have a flexible approach to women taking a career break for maternity leave?

No? Ok, just tax women whose wombs aren’t compliant it is, then.

Holy fuck.

1 1

Reposted by Ali Baker

Jane Zacharzewski @dzyrl.bsky.social · 17h

10+years ago, I met a couple of fab women on Twitter who lived in the same city as me and also liked football, beer, vintage toys from the 80s and general silliness. We decided to meet up irl and have been friends ever since. Thank you both!
@alisonbaker01.bsky.social @cynderness.bsky.social

1 2 4

Ali Baker @alisonbaker01.bsky.social · 16h

Aww! I’m so glad we met x

2

Ali Baker @alisonbaker01.bsky.social · 1d

I’d forgotten about her!

Ali Baker @alisonbaker01.bsky.social · 1d

Yes- and it doesn’t have the class connotations of Susanna.

1

Ali Baker @alisonbaker01.bsky.social · 1d

I have a cousin called Susan. She’s in her early 50s.

1

Ali Baker @alisonbaker01.bsky.social · 1d

The Last Susan would be a great name for a short story.

3

Reposted by Ali Baker

Martin G @thatmartin.bsky.social · 2d

In 1934, it was wasn't in the top 100 names for girls but by 1944, it was the 11th most popular name, 1954-1964 it was the most popular name but by 1974 - it was 20th and by 1984, it was 82nd. This is from the spreadsheet for Top 100 names in England and Wales on the ONS. 1904-2024.

3 1 2

Ali Baker @alisonbaker01.bsky.social · 2d

Oh my! There were 3 Joannas, 2 Sarahs and 2 Nicolas in my secondary school class. There was also another Alison but she wasn’t in my class

Ali Baker @alisonbaker01.bsky.social · 2d

Hey British children’s lit pals! What is it about “Susan”? I’m British Gen X and I think it was maybe considered old fashioned by families naming their daughters in the late 60s?
But:
Susan the First Mate in the Swallows and Amazons
Susan the Queen in Narnia
Susan the sister of Colin in Garner

9 5 8

Reposted by Ali Baker

School Reading List @schoolreadinglist.bsky.social · 6d

www.walker.co.uk/michael-rose...

Spark a love of poetry this Michael Rosen Day (Thursday 13 November) with FREE resources and events and a brand new children's poetry competition. Find out more and get involved.

#MichaelRosenDay

Michael Rosen Day - Walker Books

Celebrate Michael Rosen Day Thursday 13 November 2025 We’re throwing a HUGE Poetry Party on Thursday 13 November to celebrate Michael Rosen, one of the UK’s most beloved children’s authors... READ...

www.walker.co.uk

4 5

Ali Baker @alisonbaker01.bsky.social · 8d

WHO COULD HAVE IMAGINED AFTER ALL THE WARNINGS SINCE 1999

1

Ali Baker @alisonbaker01.bsky.social · 8d

Niblings are the best! Congratulations on your new one!

Ali Baker @alisonbaker01.bsky.social · 8d

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

IMAGINE MY SURPRISE

Met officers suspended over alleged abuse of suspects and support for Tommy Robinson

BBC’s Panorama to broadcast allegations about Charing Cross station after sending evidence to police chiefs

www.theguardian.com

1 1 9

Ali Baker @alisonbaker01.bsky.social · 9d

I’m sending you much love. This is one of the worst things about being an adult. We lose people, and it sucks.

1

Reposted by Ali Baker

Natacha @natacha.bsky.social · 9d

Holding this event when 2,500,000 people have signed a petition against your new flagship policy looks a lot like group delusion.

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.
• More details
Sign this petition
2,532,187 signatures
Show on a map

4 14 53

Ali Baker @alisonbaker01.bsky.social · 9d

Internet as brand was truly the end of fun. MySpace, Facebook, and then Twitter ended the message boards thing. This podcast about the right wing appropriation of social media is very interesting. Let’s see what happens to TikTok slate.com/podcasts/icy...

Jimmy Kimmel & The Death Of Free Speech Online

How reactions to Charlie Kirk’s death are prompting us to reexamine free speech online.

slate.com

1