Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Robin Brooks

pseudonym jones @pseudonymjones.bsky.social · Jul 4

a true story from 2011

5 110 610

Reposted by Robin Brooks

neongrey @neongrey.bsky.social · 2d

all discourse aside, there is one machine with consciousness. it's printers. they are alive and conscious and they hate you and they'd take your arm clean off if you let them. never trust a printer.

130 4K 8.9K

Reposted by Robin Brooks

Don Moynihan @donmoyn.bsky.social · 20h

The elimination of USAID is a moral atrocity and all involved made a choice to enable, and then lie about, ending the lives of some of the most vulnerable people in the world.

MAE SOT, Thailand (AP) - Mohammed Taher clutched the lifeless body of his 2-year-old son and wept. Ever since his family's food rations stopped arriving at their internment camp in Myanmar in April, the father had watched helplessly as his once-vibrant baby boy weakened, suffering from diarrhea and begging for food.
On May 21, exactly two weeks after Taher's little boy died, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio sat before Congress and declared: "No one has died" because of his government's decision to gut its foreign aid program. Rubio also insisted: "No children are dying on my watch."
That, Taher says, "is a lie."

73 2.2K 4.7K

Reposted by Robin Brooks

Kathryn Salamander @transsalamander.bsky.social · 1d

Cis friends and allies: Do you see how "biological" is simply a slur when used by transphobes to demean trans people?

"Birth name" is a term we already have (not that that would be any more defensible, just less insane-sounding). "Biological" here is solely a dog-whistling cudgel against trans ppl

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 1d

Bondi: "The judge also would not refer to the defendant by his biological name -- referred to him by the pronouns."

11 140 410

Reposted by Robin Brooks

Kathryn Salamander @transsalamander.bsky.social · 1d

And you might then ask "What the fuck does biological name mean then?"

It means, quite literally, "As a fascist I consider my ability to say crazy-sounding shit without pushback a demonstration of my dominance over all out-groups, and it's my duty to demean and dehumanize trans people at all times"

3 38 190

Reposted by Robin Brooks

Kody Okamoto @kodyisover.com · 1d

Since it's now news within our immediate circles, I can share: my partner got abruptly fired from his job (we had no idea it was coming; his boss chose to circumvent the normal steps you're supposed to go through to fire him while we were in Hawai‘i).

Kody Okamoto @kodyisover.com · 4d

just kidding times two, my partner and I got blindsided by some pretty bad news the day I posted this, I'll be fully back in office and online here on Monday.

if, in the meantime, you feel like supporting me by reading Keeping Time or joining my Patreon/SubStar, that would be a welcome reprieve.

Kody Okamoto @kodyisover.com · 7d

just kidding, I'm still pretty under the weather, so I'm extending my out-of-office until Friday!

25 58 140

Reposted by Robin Brooks

Zoe TunnHELL ➡️ NYCC (Friday only!) @zoewithasword.bsky.social · 1d

Kody is one of the best people in comics. Full stop.

You won't find anyone kinder, friendly or more supportive of the comics making community. He's been one of my most reliable friends in comics for years and someone who well and truly deserves all the support in the world. Lend a hand.

Kody Okamoto @kodyisover.com · 1d

So just once again reiterating, if you wanna be a patron of my art, every dollar of your support goes really, REALLY far in making a tangible difference in my life.

patreon.com/kodyisover
subscribestar.adult/kodyisover
ko-fi.com/kodyisover

1 54 110

Reposted by Robin Brooks

Musa Okwonga @okwonga.bsky.social · 1d

“Far from comprehensive, the list does not include the thousands still buried under the rubble of destroyed buildings, as well as the war’s many indirect victims.”

Lea Ypi @leaypi.bsky.social · 1d

no words

Young lives cut short on an unimaginable scale: the 18,457 children on Gaza’s list of war dead

Every name on a list compiled by health authorities in Gaza of the child victims of Israel’s offensive

www.theguardian.com

1 62 120

Reposted by Robin Brooks

Parker Molloy @parkermolloy.com · 1d

I get that everyone thinks it's a funny little joke when Trump says nonsense about "trangender for everybody" (because really, wtf does that even mean?), but I gotta say that as a trans person, I find it absolutely fucking insane that he's constantly obsessing over trans people existing. It sucks.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 1d

Trump: "If we didn't win this election. If we had these people that were running that were ruining our country, destroying our country with their open borders and men playing in women's sports and transgender from everybody and windmills all over the place ... I'm not sure we'd even have a country."

46 420 3K

Reposted by Robin Brooks

Bookshop.org @bookshop.org · 1d

Can’t decide what to buy on Prime Day?

Try: absolutely nothing, and then go support indie bookstores instead 📚

63 2.8K 7.6K

Reposted by Robin Brooks

BDS movement @bdsmovement.bsky.social · 1d

2 570 800

Reposted by Robin Brooks

Blaise Ulysse Bernard Collins @wittywebhandle.bsky.social · 1d

Bluesky's lack of a coms team does indeed give us some of these funny moments such as:

"You're aware that you are ostensibly speaking for the company with the current role you have and the subject matter you're wading into, right?

what?"

Maja Öberg @majaoeberg.bsky.social · 2d

I do find it hilarious how they immediately backtracked after this and deleted the comment

a member of bluesky saying "Yeh" in response to the above post, with a journalist responding asking to get their exact quote over the thread in which the bluesky member responds with "what" and the journalist then rephrasing the question only for the bluesky member to delete the entire thread

11 510 1.3K

Reposted by Robin Brooks

FreeLinkophant sHELLey B Woke - Living Saint of Purity🏳️‍⚧️🖤💜🤍 💛 @shelleybwoke.bsky.social · 1d

Wonder how quick the onboarding is ...
bsky.app/profile/shel...

FreeLinkophant sHELLey B Woke - Living Saint of Purity🏳️‍⚧️🖤💜🤍 💛 @shelleybwoke.bsky.social · 1d

LOL
"an experienced, strategic communicator who can craft our narrative and help steer conversation about Bluesky ... you should be equally comfortable writing a punchy post, **ghostwriting a blog post for the CEO**, or briefing a reporter on technical infrastructure.

Kevin Marks @kevinmarks.com · 2d

They're hiring a comms head, you should apply
jobs.gem.com/bluesky/am9i...

4 42

Reposted by Robin Brooks

Beedok/Fern 🏳️‍⚧️🇨🇦 @beedokfern.bsky.social · 2d

If bluesky does go up in flames, I would like to make a suggestion: maybe try making the next social media website a different colour.
I mean, the blue probably isn't the thing driving the CEOs to madness, but it's worth checking.

17 110 310

Reposted by Robin Brooks

the Mountain Goats @themountaingoats.bsky.social · 2d

the fuck is this shit

carrion🐛 @carrion.bsky.social · 2d

just don’t create a moderation list, bluesky said that’s bad

28 190 1.1K

Reposted by Robin Brooks

Ramona @alderdoodle.bsky.social · 1d

While the program will indeed be made permanent, it will also stay the same size - 2000 artists.
Is it great? Absolutely. But some people out here acting like *all* artists in Ireland are about to live their best lives.

Details are important.
www.rte.ie/culture/2025...

Mike Sowden @mikeachim.bsky.social · 2d

Damn. This is amazing. £325 per week, paid monthly, for 3 years - and the result was a profit for the Irish economy:
www.citizensinformation.ie/en/employmen...

Post from Threads user rodneyowl: "Ireland has declared the Basic Income for Artists scheme permanent. This will be officially announced in tomorrow’s budget. Details to follow. Congratulations to all who fought for it and the present and future artists of all sorts in Ireland. That includes me 👌We’re just comin to the end of a 3 year pilot scheme. It’s been a roaring success. For every €1 paid out to the 2000 participants, the government got €1.46 back. Can’t argue with that. Other countries are already taking note."

2 72 190

Reposted by Robin Brooks

Smooth Dunk @smoothdunk2.bsky.social · 2d

4 panel comic

Panel 1:
A Purple person is standing holding a clipboard. A Blue Person sits at a laptop.
Blue Person: Woohoo. I’m the CEO of a social media platform.

Panel 2:
Purple person: We should hire a PR person to interact with the public
Blue Person begins to type on laptop and says: Nope. Gonna do all that myself

Panel 3:
Purple person looks concerned and says: Really…but…

Panel 4:
Purple person: You’re such a whiny little fucking baby

49 3.9K 13K

Reposted by Robin Brooks

🦇 Killy Witches 🎃👻 @tillybridges.bsky.social · 2d

CALIFORNIANS!

you can help make our state better and safer for trans people RIGHT NOW by telling Newsom he needs to sign these bills!

We need you!

6 1K 1.1K

Reposted by Robin Brooks

Gillian Brockell @gbrockell.bsky.social · 2d

Claim: 10 cars rammed ICE
Truth: No cars rammed ICE

Claim: She boxed ICE in
Truth: ICE boxed her in

Claim: She shot a rifle at ICE
Truth: She did not have a rifle

Claim: ICE returned fire
Truth: Only ICE fired

Claim: She drove herself to the hospital
Truth: Paramedics found her

Chicago Sun-Times @chicago.suntimes.com · 2d

Body-camera video appears to contradict the government’s claim that Marimar Martinez, 30, drove toward officers before one of them opened fire at her late Saturday morning in Brighton Park, her attorney claimed.
trib.al/9Sxu9IN

Attorney for woman shot by Border Patrol claims officer said 'Do something b-----' before shooting

Body-camera video appears to contradict the government's claim that Marimar Martinez, 30, drove toward officers before one of them opened fire at her late Saturday morning in Brighton Park, her attorney claimed. A judge ordered Martinez and a co-defendant released pending trial.

trib.al

580 14K 29K

Reposted by Robin Brooks

BAKER @fuckyoubaker.bsky.social · 2d

MONDAY.
SPITE AS FUEL.

20 2K 4.7K

Reposted by Robin Brooks

Drop Site @dropsitenews.com · 2d

Greta Thunberg: "I could talk for a very, very long time about our mistreatment and abuses in our imprisonment. Trust me. But that is not the story. What happened here was Israel… continuing to worsen and escalate their genocide and mass destruction with genocidal intent, attempting to erase an...

17 1.4K 3.8K

Reposted by Robin Brooks

Robin Brooks @assumptionprime.bsky.social · 9d

Hey hey! Do you want a book with my trans comics in it? GREAT NEWS! robin-brooks.square.site

I'm selling signed copies of Basically How It Happened and Transphoria, as well as a couple prints!

Home | Robin Brooks

Robin draws comics, and you can buy them here!

robin-brooks.square.site

1 43 93

Reposted by Robin Brooks

Robin Brooks @assumptionprime.bsky.social · 5d

Spell X Sword Update! Page 53: spellxsword.com/comic/chapte...

party of one

3 17 72

Reposted by Robin Brooks

Alex Winter @alexwinter.com · 2d

Every large-scale platform is run by techno-fascists, that's just reality. This is the only social media I'm on because the community of good people is strong and important but it's also vulnerable to the whims of those in charge, who aren't our friends. Best to keep that in mind.

Aveta👾🇭🇹 @aliafonzy.blacksky.app · 2d

Unfortunate update: Link reached out to BlueSky and got email back now on reason.

His appeal is denied. He will remain permanently banned on BlueSky’s side.

Here are the screenshots he just sent me as of 8:22 AM EST(my time)

A screenshot of an email from the Bluesky Moderation Team with the subject line “Bluesky Account Behavior” sent at 22:15. The email states that a Bluesky account controlled by the recipient, with the handle @spacelawshitpost.me, posted a reply with an image where the alt text reads: Charlie Kirk sitting in a white T-shirt that says “Freedom.” A negative consequence follows. The email indicates this post violates Community Guidelines regarding violent or threatening speech, specifically listing threats of violence or physical harm against individuals, groups, institutions, or the general public, and incitement of self-harm or suicide.

A screenshot of an email continuation from the Bluesky Moderation Team displaying a bulleted list of Community Guidelines violations. The first bullet point describes threats of violence or physical harm as including threats or encouragement of violence against individuals, groups, institutions, or the general public. The second bullet point defines incitement of self-harm or suicide as content that encourages self-harm or suicide. The third bullet point explains wishes of harm as expressions of a desire for harm directed at a specific person or group. Below the bullets, a paragraph states that users may not use Bluesky to break the law or cause harm to others and that all users must be treated with respect. The next paragraph informs the recipient that as a result of these violations, your account has been taken down. A closing paragraph thanks the user for doing their part to keep Bluesky a welcoming and empowering place for all users and instructs them to email moderation@blueskyweb.xyz if they have questions or wish to appeal the decision. The email ends with the signature Bluesky Moderation Team.

A screenshot of an email from the Bluesky Moderation Team sent at 08:11 with the subject line Re: Bluesky Account Behavior addressed To: Hide My Email. The email reads:

Hi there,

Thank you for reaching out to appeal the takedown of your account on Bluesky. We have carefully reviewed your case, including the information you provided and the activity that led to the suspension of your account.

After investigating, we have determined that your account activity was in violation of our community guidelines, specifically promoting hateful content or being disruptive to other users. We take these guidelines seriously to ensure a safe and respectful environment for all our users.

As a result, we regret to inform you that your appeal has been denied, and your account will remain suspended. This decision is final and cannot be reversed. We understand that this may be disappointing news, but we must prioritize the well-being of our community and maintain a consistent enforcement of our policies. We encourage you to review our community guidelines to better understand the expectations we have for user behavior on our platform. Please do not create new accounts, since those will be taken down for ban evasion.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

12 530 1.6K

Reposted by Robin Brooks

Meredith Whittaker @meredithmeredith.bsky.social · 3d

📣 Germany's close to reversing its opposition to mass surveillance & private message scanning, & backing the Chat Control bill. This could end private comms-& Signal-in the EU.

Time's short and they're counting on obscurity: please let German politicians know how horrifying their reversal would be.

Signal @signal.org · 5d

We are alarmed by reports that Germany is on the verge of a catastrophic about-face, reversing its longstanding and principled opposition to the EU’s Chat Control proposal which, if passed, could spell the end of the right to privacy in Europe. signal.org/blog/pdfs/ge...

signal.org

30 1.6K 2.3K