Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

azteclady

@azteclady.bsky.social

1.9K followers 65 following 13K posts

I read, I craft, I rabblerouse, I don't blindly follow back. I block with abandon. I don't look like Rita Hayworth. I blog at https://herhandsmyhands.wordpress.com/ She/her, cis.

herhandsmyhands.wordpress.com

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

azteclady @azteclady.bsky.social · 12d

23.- I read T.E. Kinsey's #RottenToTheCore, the eight novel in the #LadyHardcastle #HistoricalCozyMystery series.

#2025Reading #RomBkBlog

Rotten to the Core, by T.E. Kinsey

Trying to keep the reading momentum going, by returning to a favorite series. Beware: while there’s less emphasis in drinking-to-get drunk, there’s still a lot of drinking; phonetic spe…

herhandsmyhands.wordpress.com

1 1

Reposted by azteclady

Keith W. Dickinson @keithwdickinson.bsky.social · 7h

Today is a day when arts degrees are worthless, but the product of those degrees is so valuable it would kill an entire industry if they were made to pay for it.

The Verge @theverge.com · May 26

Nick Clegg says asking artists for use permission would ‘kill’ the AI industry

Paul McCartne, Elton John and others signed an open letter.

buff.ly

270 5.7K 15K

Reposted by azteclady

azteclady @azteclady.bsky.social · 20h

Because, again, once these progressive writers can't easily migrate their subscriptions off the Nazi-bar, *their entire livelihood will be dependent on keeping the Nazi-bar owners happy*. How many will choose their stated principles over paying the mortgage?

(Hint: they're still on Substack.)

8/8

1 1 1

Reposted by azteclady

azteclady @azteclady.bsky.social · 20h

If this troubles you, and you are in good enough terms (aka, have a large enough platform they'll actually notice you), you may want to let them know about.

Or you may want to stop supporting the people who prop up the Nazi bar, before the platform forces them to write propaganda themselves.

7/

1 1 1

Reposted by azteclady

azteclady @azteclady.bsky.social · 20h

And you, dear reader, may be shocked to discover how many of the progressive content you read, by some very well known names with great street cred, is actually sold through the Nazi bar, passing the Nazi bar owner a share of the fee YOU pay them.

#SubstackHasANaziProblem

6/

1 1 1

Reposted by azteclady

azteclady @azteclady.bsky.social · 20h

Now, I suspect that many of the ~serious political~ writers pontificating on fascism in the U.S. are very aware of Substack's Nazi problem, which is why they hide their use of the platform behind dot com names. Luckily, there's a handy labeler that outs these stealth-Substack writers:

5/

bsky.app

1 1 2

Reposted by azteclady

azteclady @azteclady.bsky.social · 20h

Now that Substack is using Apple to process payments, their readers there will have to pay more to read their newsletter, and soon, should they decided to throttle who beyond their existing subscribers sees their writing, they won't be able to migrate those subscriptions to a different platform.

4/

azteclady @azteclady.bsky.social · Sep 1

Also: if you depend on your paid subscriptions for income, please note that your readers will have to pay more--and therefore be more likely to drop you entirely. And, soon enough, they'll also take a bigger chunk off YOUR net.

#SubstackHasANaziProblem

mail.bigdeskenergy.com/p/substack-j...

From the link in my post:

With Substack's latest launch, writers are actually ceding control of the billing relationship to Apple, which now owns and controls the subscription.
These transactions, subscriptions, and customers will no longer be accessible in their Stripe account.

(little diagram showing people/subscriptions linked to Substack, where Apple will set a 30% fee for handling payments, while Strip charges another 10% before paying the writer)

Most importantly, that means that if writers choose to leave Substack, they won't be able to port their paid subscriptions over to another platform like they could previously. This predatory platform lock-in is incredibly dangerous for writers. It strips away data and control, while locking them into the platform.

1 2 2

Reposted by azteclady

azteclady @azteclady.bsky.social · 20h

Even self-professed progressive writers with large subscriber numbers *on Substack* wrote there about the Nazi propaganda that *their* subscribers got!

There are so many well-known progressives writing about fascism on the Nazi-propaganda platform, the cognitive dissonance has to be epic indeed.
3/

azteclady @azteclady.bsky.social · Jul 29

I wonder what the many people who consider themselves progressives and antifascists, yes still use substack for their newsletter, say to themselves when this is brought to their attention.

#SubstackHasANaziProblem: it's a Nazi bar where the Nazis get a platform and a cut.

bsky.app/profile/tayl...

Taylor Lorenz @taylorlorenz.bsky.social · Jul 29

The Substack app apparently push alert promoted a Nazi newsletter to several users. Users have complained about it on Substack Notes but the company hasn’t responded. Generally push alert promos are for content a user is likely to interact with

1 1 1

Reposted by azteclady

azteclady @azteclady.bsky.social · 20h

No writer on Substack making substantial money off the platform can *not* know that the platform uses part of the subscribers' fees to fund Bari Weis and other Nazi propaganda they funnel to ALL subscribers, not only those who already subscribe to Nazi newsletters. It even made the news!

2/

azteclady @azteclady.bsky.social · Aug 7

#SubstackHasANaziProblem: they are now openly a Nazi propaganda machine, and hundreds of well known progressive writers fill Substack's coffers and feed their subscriptions.

Substack’s extremist ecosystem is flourishing

The app's recent swastika push alert was just the tip of the iceberg.

www.thehandbasket.co

1 1 1

Reposted by azteclady

azteclady @azteclady.bsky.social · 20h

After the most recent Bluesky CEO public meltdown (reported brilliantly by @nicomaramckay.com 👇🏽), I can't but think about all the progressive writers who continue to publish their newsletters through Substack's soon-to-be-walled platform.

#SubstackHasANaziProblem
1/

Bluesky’s CEO meltdown: How leadership continues to fail its most marginalized users

tl;dr: Bluesky began with genuine promise: a new social media platform where users could feel safer, but inconsistent moderation quickly…

plutopsyche.medium.com

1 5 12

Reposted by azteclady

Debbie Moon @debbiemoon.bsky.social · 5h

My theory: conservatives view the performing arts solely as a status symbol. *Their* child can afford to study art history. *They* can afford tickets to the opera. As soon as the working class can also afford these things, the activity loses all value, because its value is to mark them as superior.

1 3 23

Reposted by azteclady

Doctora Malka Older @older.bsky.social · 5h

I am still upset about the panelist I heard at the Global Media Forum a couple months ago whose title was "Microsoft Director of Journalism". Microsoft does not do journalism.

Natalia Cecire @ncecire.bsky.social · 5h

"Why would OpenAI and Microsoft spend $23 million to give 'free training' on how to use AI to teachers? Because they love teachers? No. Because they want to get their products into public schools in an attempt to cultivate the education market."

Jodi Jacobson @jljacobson.bsky.social · 21h

I maintain that we are in grave danger due not only to the trends noted by @hamiltonnolan.bsky.social in this piece, but by the failure of the Democratic party 1) to grasp these dangers and act in advance to prevent or minimize them; (1)

www.hamiltonnolan.com/p/thinking-o...

5 22

Reposted by azteclady

Pitchaya Sudbanthad @pitchaya.bsky.social · 5h

“Without mitigation, the data centers sucking up all the load is going to make things really expensive for the rest of Americans...”

AI Data Centers Are Sending Power Bills Soaring

Wholesale electricity costs as much as 267% more than it did five years ago in areas near data centers. That’s being passed on to customers.

www.bloomberg.com

6 14

azteclady @azteclady.bsky.social · 5h

I hope you can remind yourself that every writer writes at their own pace, and give yourself some grace, Caro.

1 1

azteclady @azteclady.bsky.social · 6h

Hot take: fuck "the economy", take care of the millions of people who are losing their only income in droves, and the many more millions who are seeing all their bills go up, while their wages remain the same year after year.

Reposted by azteclady

skellyton bones jensen @heykellyjensen.bsky.social · 6h

Banned Books Week banned at your library? Tell me about it anonymously.

Also, sadly, you're not alone.

skellyton bones jensen @heykellyjensen.bsky.social · 1d

Has your library curtailed or outright banned anything related to Banned Books Week this year? I'm not talking that you're doing something else (i.e., freedom to read week). I'm talking YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING related to the topic.

Tell me about it anonymously --> tinyurl.com/banning-bbw25

Black text on a red and black background. It reads "Has your library banned events, displays, talks, or anything else related to banned books week this year? Share your story anonymously." It includes the survey link: https://tinyurl.com/banning-bbw-25

6 13

Reposted by azteclady

Steve A @stegan.bsky.social · 1d

I love this so so much. @lenikauffman.bsky.social you’ve truly outdone yourself!

Olivia Dade @oliviawrites.bsky.social · 1d

🎇 PREORDER BONUS ALERT! 🎇

If you order SECOND CHANCE ROMANCE from @lovessweetarrow.bsky.social by 11/15, you'll receive a dust jacket inspired by old-school romances, with gorgeous new artwork by @lenikauffman.bsky.social and lots more '80s-inspired fun!

shop.lovessweetarrow.com/product/seco...

The graphic has a peachy-pink background and shows the dust jacket for Olivia Dade's SECOND CHANCE ROMANCE. The dust jacket features a naked, hot, fat man on one knee embracing a pretty fat woman, whose hair flows out behind hair and whose suit jacket is falling off her shoulder.

2 3 16

azteclady @azteclady.bsky.social · 7h

May it be a good day for you, all the same.

Reposted by azteclady

Henry Mance @henrymance.ft.com · 20h

I know this is uncomfortable to admit, but there is a small area in England's second city where people are just not integrated with the rest of society. Many of them hold views that arguably go against British values.

Yes, we need to talk about the Tory conference in Manchester.

50 300 1.6K

azteclady @azteclady.bsky.social · 10h

It really is dangerous to start a KJ Charles novel late at night, with the intention of reading "just one chapter".

2 11

azteclady @azteclady.bsky.social · 10h

A bit of a wild thing, your extra-toed Steve!

azteclady @azteclady.bsky.social · 10h

OW

OW OW OW OW!!!!!

ack, damn, ow, yikes.

azteclady @azteclady.bsky.social · 10h

For your blocking consideration, transphobe @jeffryder.bsky.social

Pro-tip: if you go on about "transgender hills" and "transgender issues", substitute "human rights" instead; if you are fine with the former formulation but balk at the second, you are a transphobe and need to fix your heart.

Jeff Ryder @jeffryder.bsky.social, responding to two separate posts--both users have blocked him:
Maybe don't die on transgender hills when we need to attract independents in order to actually take back the government.
Not transgender issues. I'm not saying that it's not a valid issue. We need to attract independents to maximize our votes in 2026. If we don't win, we can't do anything to advance such causes.

1 2

Reposted by azteclady

Iron Spike @ironspike.bsky.social · 12h

The one that always gets me is that the last American born into slavery died the year John Lennon released “Imagine.”

rax ‘levon honkers’ king @raxkingisdead.bsky.social · 19h

you ever think about those real weird overlaps. like tennessee williams might have listened to the ramones

1 110 450

Reposted by azteclady

Dr. Joanna and her Evil Hellhounds @jlphistory.bsky.social · 15h

Canadian friends! This is a small thing we can do to keep reminding the federal government that we care about these issues. They can't claim it's not important if the petition gets a lot of signatures. They are OUR government and we need to hold them to account!

Dr. Kristopher Wells @drkristopherwells.bsky.social · 16h

Sign the new House of Commons e-petition calling on the Government of Canada to strengthen protections for LGBTQ+ people worldwide and reaffirm Canada’s role as a safe haven.

Thank you to MP Rob Oliphant for sponsoring this important petition.

www.ourcommons.ca/petitions/en...

14 10

Reposted by azteclady

@AuthorMsBev @authormsbev.bsky.social · 13h

Smh. futurism.com/artificial-i...

Amazon Caught Peddling AI Slop Version of Cory Doctorow That's So Ironic That We Have to Go Outside and Stare at the Sky for a Bit

The renowned tech critic's book "Enshittification" hasn't even been out for a full day, and Amazon is already selling AI-generated knockoffs.

futurism.com

7 19