Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Beta Ray Ben

@betarayben.bsky.social

3K followers 1.8K following 30K posts

Short fiction writer. Queer in his bones (menacing), not always safe for work. Nerd trash who reads too many (but not enough) comic books. White settler Canadian living on lək̓ʷəŋən territory (Victoria BC). He/him Telegram: @betarayben Discord: beta_ray_b

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

Beta Ray Ben @betarayben.bsky.social · 7d

Reintroduction thread:

Name: Ben slash Benny

Pronouns: He/Him

Location: Victoria BC (that’s in Canada)

Interests: Writing, comics, dancing, dogs, hot men, monsters, being a hater

Vocation: Non-profit communications

White man in his forties in a green hooded t-shirt. He’s got a shaved head, salt & ginger scruff and glasses. He’s smiling and leaning back against a couch.

2 1 49

Reposted by Beta Ray Ben

✨ Spiff ✨ @spiff.bsky.social · 32m

Some of the photos from my recent trip to Victoria to celebrate @dirediredocks.bsky.social birthday!

A black and white photo of a crow perched on top of a rock with a grey sky behind it.

A landscape photos of a small water taxi passing by the water during a sunset.

A close up photo of vibrant yellow flowers

A photo of my friend Joel inside a restaurant. His face is obscured by him holding up a camera and taking a photo of meat the same time.

1 2 15

Reposted by Beta Ray Ben

Ian Boothby @ianboothby.bsky.social · 33m

We're the New Yorker daily cartoon today. www.instagram.com/newyorkercar...

12 50

Beta Ray Ben @betarayben.bsky.social · 40m

THERE IS NEW PYNCHON???

Joseph Fink @planetoffinks.bsky.social · 42m

purchasing Literature

Shadow Ticket by Thomas Pynchon and Will There Ever Be Another You by Patricia Lockwood

1 2

Reposted by Beta Ray Ben

Logging On @logonlog.bsky.social · 1h

logging on

Star Trek: The Next Generation. Dr. Crusher says to Capt. Picard while working on a comatose patient - "We may lose the ability to distinguish between thought and reality."

6 25

Reposted by Beta Ray Ben

Count Davidula @dmuma.bsky.social · 1h

This is growing legs, so let me just say - we can and should fight for conversation therapy bans, but that is not victory. Victory lies not in scraping back decency and rights but in securing a pathway for queer joy for this generation and every one to come. That fight goes on.

2 11

Reposted by Beta Ray Ben

Count Davidula @dmuma.bsky.social · 23h

Just know that “conversion therapy” is three incoherent pseudoscientific ramblings standing on each other’s shoulders under a trench coat. It’s not therapeutic (it doesn’t help, does net harm), it doesn’t convert (practically no “success” documented), and it should absolutely be banned.

2 100 440

Reposted by Beta Ray Ben

Jason @jxsxpx.bsky.social · 2h

Yeah, pretty much

MiMi Aye @meemalee.bsky.social · 4d

Author and filmmaker Justine Bateman on generative AI

"They're trying to convince people they can't do the things they've been doing easily for years - to write emails, to write a presentation. Your daughter wants you to make up a bedtime story about puppies - to write that for you." We will get to the point, she says with a grim laugh, "that you will essentially become just a skin bag of organs and bones, nothing else. You won't know anything and you will be told repeatedly that you can't do it, which is the opposite of what life has to offer. Capitulating all kinds of decisions like where to go on vacation, what to wear today, who to date, what to eat.
People are already doing this. You won't have to process grief, because you'll have uploaded photos and voice messages from your mother who just died, and then she can talk to you via AI video call every day. One of the ways it's going to destroy humans, long before there's a nuclear disaster, is going to be the emotional hollowing-out of people." - author and filmmaker Justine Bateman from a piece by Emine Saner for the Guardian

4 3 24

Beta Ray Ben @betarayben.bsky.social · 2h

Ok but what was the tattoo?

1 4

Beta Ray Ben @betarayben.bsky.social · 2h

Yuuuuup.

Beta Ray Ben @betarayben.bsky.social · 2h

Lol this shot is so specifically you. 😝😘

1 2

Beta Ray Ben @betarayben.bsky.social · 2h

It really blew my mind when I saw DS9 listed as an afrofuturist show but it absolutely is, it’s an element threaded through (thinking of Sisko’s African art collection among so many other things). I think it did a better job of showing Earth as a diverse world.

1 2

Beta Ray Ben @betarayben.bsky.social · 3h

For me? It’s Sisko calling out the white washing of the Holosuite.

1 2

Beta Ray Ben @betarayben.bsky.social · 3h

What a weird fucking time to do an Ed Gein TV show.

1 14

Reposted by Beta Ray Ben

Comics Outta Context 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ @comiccontext.bsky.social · 4h

In the foreground, we see Vandal Savage. His head is turned to the right so all we see is his hair as he speaks to someone in the background who’s costume is clearly visible, but his head and his right shoulder are still hidden and shadow. Savage says, “Superman! What do you WANT here?“

5 4 36

Beta Ray Ben @betarayben.bsky.social · 3h

Badda-Bing is such a BANGER

1 1

Beta Ray Ben @betarayben.bsky.social · 4h

Of course!

Reposted by Beta Ray Ben

Eyes Without A Notintheface @notintheface.bsky.social · 5h

Yeah, purity tests like “Don’t aid and abet a “Holocaust”.

the tallest stone @talleststone.bsky.social · 6h

I hate to say it but the majority of the country is not going to die on the hill of trans rights. We can’t protect ANY groups if we can’t win a national election, so purity tests only serve to make specific groups feel triumphant. That’s not “erasing” them; it’s long-horizon strategy.

1 9

Beta Ray Ben @betarayben.bsky.social · 5h

Thinking about cute butts with the intensity of a thousand suns

1 17

Beta Ray Ben @betarayben.bsky.social · 5h

Star Trek Challenge: Tell people about yourself by listing one episode from DS9, VOY & TNG with no context.

DS9 - Far Beyond the Stars
VOY - Bride of Chaotica
TNG - Face of the Enemy

Jeffers @troublecumsround.bsky.social · 5h

Star Trek Challenge: Tell people about yourself by listing one episode from DS9, VOY & TNG with no context.

DS9 - In the Pale Moonlight
VOY - Alter Ego
TNG - Tapestry

Beta Ray Ben @betarayben.bsky.social · 5h

Hey, buddy. I’m sorry. 🫂

1 2

Reposted by Beta Ray Ben

мɑгκ @drumrollplease.bsky.social · 5h

Doing my damndest to enjoy October despite being aware of facts and information.

5 8 49

Beta Ray Ben @betarayben.bsky.social · 6h

I normally try to come up with something brand new every time but it feels like one of those weeks where I need an old standby, so I’m doing mushroom risotto with roasted vegetables and garlic.

1 1

Beta Ray Ben @betarayben.bsky.social · 6h

I am running behind and have zero energy today. Which sucks because I have work and then I have to host and cook got our supper club tonight!

2 16

Beta Ray Ben @betarayben.bsky.social · 7h

Happy birthday!

Beta Ray Ben @betarayben.bsky.social · 14h

Pug remains the monarch.