Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Rook Lafetra @rooklafetra.bsky.social · 6d

I'm so grumpy right now that I just spent a couple minutes pondering blocking half of Bluesky versus just deleting my account, so I think it's time for a social media break.

Seeya in a week or so.

11

Reposted by Rook Lafetra

Mallory Moore @sexabolition.blog · 10d

Safety Advice:

I keep seeing young trans people on social media talking about therapists disrespecting their pronouns and parents telling them that the therapist has a right to their beliefs.

I want to be clear: you have a right to the therapy room being a safe supportive space for YOUR growth.

33 360 1.5K

Reposted by Rook Lafetra

Tim Onion @bencollins.bsky.social · 6d

Thank you Vanity Fair for printing this incredible subhed.

www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/st...

The Onion Wants an Oscar for Jeffrey Epstein: Bad Pedophile—Coming to a Theater Near You
And Onion CEO Ben Collins knows just how to sell this 20-minute mockumentary to the Academy: “Do you like pedophiles? I don’t think you do. You know what you could do to prove it?”

34 720 5.2K

Reposted by Rook Lafetra

Jacqueline Sweet @jsweetli.bsky.social · 6d

Wait, Tyler Cowen has been writing about how to find virgins since 2009 while he was a professor at George Mason University

240 740 2.7K

Reposted by Rook Lafetra

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

Another reason we can't "just get private bookmobiles to schools to get kids banned books" is that this isn't about the books. It's about the fundamental rights to democratic spaces that represent a whole community.

Right now, judges are chipping away at *our* rights.

bookriot.com/parnell-vs-e...

Another Judge Chips Away at Library Patron First Amendment Rights

A District Court judge rules that neither library patrons nor authors have First Amendment rights when it comes to library collections.

bookriot.com

4 69 160

Rook Lafetra @rooklafetra.bsky.social · 6d

His headshot was a jumpscare. I really wasn't expecting a man in his sixties to proudly declare he wants to look atAI virgins.

1

Rook Lafetra @rooklafetra.bsky.social · 6d

I was picturing a young incel saying this, but knowing it's a man in his sixties makes it so much grosser.

1 2

Rook Lafetra @rooklafetra.bsky.social · 6d

Tyler Cowen wants to look at virgins onscreen.

2 7 27

Rook Lafetra @rooklafetra.bsky.social · 6d

I call out the backdoor, "Pepper! You dingus!"

Slowly, defiantly, a Labrador tail rises from within the water trough and begins to wag.

5

Reposted by Rook Lafetra

BillyZane420 @hillary.pizza · 6d

"We were there for Harvey Milk. you think we're not still here for our trans sibs?"

Is some Gangster shit.

1 3 8

Reposted by Rook Lafetra

Chris Wightman 🧟‍♂️ @wymancr.bsky.social · 6d

From the early polling, I don't think Democrats are going to back down without real concessions. "Republicans would rather go on vacation than fix the problem of people losing insurance or suffering rate hikes" actually appears to be an effective message.

4 36 200

Reposted by Rook Lafetra

Damnèd Screamvens @thehighsign.bsky.social · 6d

Oh so I get mayo on my book & I'm a slob, but the publishing industry does the same thing and they're pulling off a marketing coup?

7 100

Reposted by Rook Lafetra

United Farm Workers @ufw.bsky.social · 6d

"Daisy" is working in the raisin harvest. "My job is to pick the grapes and place them on paper on the ground to dry and become raisins. This work is very difficult. The temp in Madera this day was 98°. We just have to endure it as there is no shade to protect us." #WeFeedYou

17 150 530

Reposted by Rook Lafetra

Mark Harris @markharris.bsky.social · 6d

As some of you know, for 4 years I've been working on a book about the last 80 years of popular culture as a flashpoint for the gay rights struggle. Sometimes I've wondered who it's for. Then yesterday a young gay man, maybe 23, asked me if Stonewall happened because everyone was in NYC for Pride. >

30 230 1.7K

Rook Lafetra @rooklafetra.bsky.social · 6d

It's frustrating trying to get people - doctors, family members - to grasp that chronic illness and disability aren't linear.

I know I am overall improving, but improved isn't cured and doesn't mean there aren't bad days.

I could do so much last week. Today, I can barely think or get out of bed.

2 7

Reposted by Rook Lafetra

Leah McElrath @leahmcelrath.bsky.social · 6d

Many “gifted programs” are basically enrichment programs for smart kids from literate families. As such, they do tend to concretize class and race divisions.

However, there are truly gifted children who learn very differently. Unfortunately, enrichment programs alone usually don’t meet their needs.

9 12 89

Reposted by Rook Lafetra

Leah McElrath @leahmcelrath.bsky.social · 6d

We need to distinguish better between true giftedness and merely being smart and from a literate family. Many children who are truly gifted have spiky profiles of ability. They are highly advanced in some areas while needing support in others (including socialization). Many are also on the spectrum.

Aaron Ross Powell ☸️ @aaronrosspowell.com · 6d

My wife is an elementary gifted ed specialist. The idea that gifted kids either don't exist or don't benefit from gifted education services is both wrong and harmful to those kids. Phasing out gifted programs is stupid. www.nytimes.com/2025/10/02/n...

Mamdani Says He Would Phase Out N.Y.C. Gifted Program for Early Grades

www.nytimes.com

7 28 140

Reposted by Rook Lafetra

Jamal abu hashem🇵🇸 @jamalzuhir.bsky.social · 22d

Here is Jamal from Gaza whose family lost everything and he is trying with all his might to rebuild their lives and help them with the crazy costs in Gaza and travel outside Gaza when the crossings open. I hope you support us. Your little support, even if it is $5

chuffed.org/project/1389...

Help Jamal’s family leave the war zone and rebuild their life!

Hi my loves! My name is Caroline, and I created this fundraiser to help Jamal support his family as they fight to survive the genocide in Gaza, evacuate to safety, and eventually rebuild their lives f...

chuffed.org

2 190 130

Rook Lafetra @rooklafetra.bsky.social · 6d

This is the silliest thing but last night I dreamed your black dog my black dog were besties. I think this might be a sign I've been spending too much time on Dogsky.

1 1

Reposted by Rook Lafetra

Aaron Reichlin-Melnick @reichlinmelnick.bsky.social · 6d

When a state or local law enforcement official violates your rights, you can sue for money damages. When a federal official violates your rights — you largely cannot, thanks to a quirk of the law and the Supreme Court's decision not to find an inherent cause of action to sue under the Constitution.

audreyii_fic @audreyii.bsky.social · 6d

What are the legal options here, either for the individuals or local/state officials? Can they sue? Can someone be prosecuted?

20 220 990

Reposted by Rook Lafetra

Marisa Kabas @marisakabas.bsky.social · 6d

NEW—US Department of Education sent out standard Out of Office language to employees on Wednesday in light of shutdown. Later yesterday, workers tell me they found someone had updated their auto-responses without consent to a new one blaming Democrats.

Version of original on left, updated on right:

Thank you for your email. There is a temporary shutdown of the U.S. government due to a lapse in appropriations. I will respond to your message as soon as possible after the temporary shutdown ends. Please visit ED.gov for the latest information on the
Department's operational status.
Thank you.

Thank you for contacting me. On September 19, 2025, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 5371, a clean continuing resolution. Unfortunately, Democrat Senators are blocking passage of H.R. 5371 in the Senate which has led to a lapse in appropriations. Due to the lapse in appropriations I am currently in furlough status. I will respond to emails once government functions resume.

190 2.7K 5.9K

Reposted by Rook Lafetra

Stellaween? @antlervel.vet · 6d

Once again: Hegseth is the exact type of guy The Art of War was written for, which means he will never read it

Stella Sacco
@antlervel.vet
It's really funny that The Art of War is treated as this like alpha male book when it's clearly meant to be read by ancient Chinese failsons because it's all "please don't forget you have to feed your troops" and "if someone asks if you're going to attack them consider lying about it"

69 960 3.7K

Reposted by Rook Lafetra

Matt Strabone @mattstrabone.bsky.social · 6d

This is an extraordinary finding. Municipalization can work.

How much could a city-run utility save San Diegans? $130 billion, a new analysis finds

A city study from two years ago concluded that a municipal power agency could at best save up to $8 billion over the first 20 years and $15 billion over 30 years.

www.sandiegouniontribune.com

17 150 550

Reposted by Rook Lafetra

United Farm Workers @ufw.bsky.social · 6d

An irrigator in Mettler, CA is making sure that the irrigation system in a newly planted field is functioning properly. It's important that it delivers water to every single plant. #WeFeedYou

And irrigator out in a truck where he is making sure the irrigation pipes in a newly planted field are working correctly

3 32 210

Reposted by Rook Lafetra

Pedro Iniguez @pedroiniguez.bsky.social · 7d

Happy to announce that I have won the Elgin Award for Mexicans on the Moon in the full-length book category. The Elgin Award is the Science Fiction and Fantasy Poetry Association's highest award for speculative poetry. Truly an honor. Much love!

41 34 210