Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Tim Causer

UCL Faculty of Laws @laws.ucl.ac.uk · 6d

Don’t miss UCL Laws' Quain Lectures in Jurisprudence with Professor Seana Shiffrin @law.ucla.edu – a rare opportunity to hear one of the world’s leading legal and moral philosophers live in London.

📅 20–24 October | 🏛️ UCL Laws
🎟️ Free to attend – book now: buff.ly/pi9UWE4

A close-up of the front of UCL's neo-classical Wilkins Building, which has steps leading up to six pillars that form part of the building's portico. A student is sitting on the steps leaning against one of the pillars, and there are two stone statues of male figures in shot.

2 2

Tim Causer @timcauser.bsky.social · 7d

Started at UCL Laws 15 years ago today. Who knows where the time goes (and increasingly goes)...

1

Reposted by Tim Causer

Jason Koebler @jasonkoebler.bsky.social · 8d

Spent many (many!) hours pulling legal explanations and apologies from lawyers who were caught using AI that hallucinated in which they explained to a judge why they used AI. The explanations are astonishing and extremely good:

www.404media.co/18-lawyers-c...

18 Lawyers Caught Using AI Explain Why They Did It

Lawyers blame IT, family emergencies, their own poor judgment, their assistants, illness, and more.

www.404media.co

15 93 270

Tim Causer @timcauser.bsky.social · 9d

Blocked at UCL, too - about to plead with my IT colleagues to restore access...

1

Reposted by Tim Causer

New-Cleckit Dominie @ncdominie.bsky.social · 13d

"For... interesting holidays".

Something about the spookily lit trees in the foreground makes this feel like the kind of poster you'd catch sight of on a mildewed wall in the early minutes of an MR James adaptation.

(SMG: collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/objects/co23...)

1930 LNER poster advertising "Dunfermline For Interesting Holidays". Spookily lit trees in the foreground and the Abbey beyond.

2 18 73

Reposted by Tim Causer

Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan @london.gov.uk · 15d

I’ve said it once, I’ll say it again.

Ignore the haters, London is the 🐐

Graphic with the headline “London is the greatest city in the world” set against a bright view of the River Thames with the Shard, Tower Bridge and the city skyline.

The text celebrates what makes London special: regularly voted the number one city in the world, incredible diversity with over 300 languages spoken, world-class transport, world leader in finance tech and life sciences, best museums and galleries many free to visit, world-leading nightlife, food sport and music for every taste, host to the world’s best sporting events, home to seven Premier League clubs, globally-ranked universities, a city where you can be yourself and love who you love, and a place for everyone.

200 1K 4.3K

Reposted by Tim Causer

Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 16d

We need more in-depth reporting on UK university finances like this. Research , research funding and their relation to teaching and teaching funding could do with a similar level of detail. Here's a sharing link for 3 non-subscribers: on.ft.com/3ImSMWa

The shadow economy behind the international student boom

A lucrative revenue stream for universities has led to an industry of unregulated agents now under scrutiny for making lofty promises

www.ft.com

1 20 38

Tim Causer @timcauser.bsky.social · 16d

Yes, they turned it into a Simmons cocktail bar in 2016 - a travesty! That's now recently closed, too

Tim Causer @timcauser.bsky.social · 16d

Anyone who frequented the Jeremy Bentham pub (d. 2016) on University Street may recognise Bentham House's newest art installation

A wooden box with a glass front sat on a table. The box contains a plastic head supposed to look like Jeremy Bentham, and is wearing a dark jacket, white shirt, and a wide brimmed straw hat

4 3 10

Reposted by Tim Causer

The Guardian @theguardian.com · 17d

Broadcaster John Stapleton dies aged 79

Stapleton, who had Parkinson’s disease complicated by pneumonia, died peacefully in hospital, his agent said The broadcaster John Stapleton, who had Parkinson’s disease complicated by pneumonia, died peacefully in hospital early on Sunday morning, his agent said. He was 79. Stapleton presented on programmes including the BBC’s Watchdog and GMTV’s News Hour. Continue reading...

www.theguardian.com

4 25 59

Reposted by Tim Causer

michael veale @michae.lv · 20d

there are often big panics around terms and condition changes that go viral, but this one seems to have distinguished itself by clickwrap contract permission to *take academics’ literal voices and use them to market the platform?*

Ordinary Notes @hystericalblkns.bsky.social · 21d

If you’re on academia dot edu, let me suggest that you strongly consider deleting your account.

The new TOC from academia dot edu.

By creating an Account with Academia.edu, you grant us a worldwide, irrevocable, non-exclusive, transferable license, permission, and consent for Academia.edu to use your Member Content and your personal information (including, but not limited to, your name, voice, signature, photograph, likeness, city, institutional affiliations, citations, mentions, publications, and areas of interest) in any manner, including for the purpose of advertising, selling, or soliciting the use or purchase of Academia.edu's Services.

3 11 25

Reposted by Tim Causer

Ewan Gibbs @ewangibbs.bsky.social · 19d

That's a Labour government minister berating university students and staff by saying that 'too often people go to university to "explore research and knowledge"'.

I'm very glad of our students who study history to explore research and knowledge.

British students lack ‘drive’ of their American peers, says Business Secretary | LBC

The Business Secretary has defended comments he made at a meeting with investors where he said British students lack the ‘drive’ and ‘vigour’ of their American peers.

www.lbc.co.uk

23 61 190

Reposted by Tim Causer

Chaminda Jayanetti @cjayanetti.bsky.social · 24d

Want to be clear that the predictable violence against the police wasn't the only problem with yesterday's march

It's that 100,000 angry racists gathered in London for the biggest racist march in 50 years, and anyone not white had to steer clear

The govt can't see that because they are inadequate.

37 550 1.8K

Tim Causer @timcauser.bsky.social · 26d

Cannot believe that I missed the massive Bentham bear at this week's UCL Laws graduation.

Torn between thinking it's cute versus it being nightmare fuel

Someone dressed in the same clothes as Jeremy Bentham's auto-icon, namely a dark jacket, cream shirt with a ruffle, and a wide-brimmed hat - but it's a large teddy bear

3

Reposted by Tim Causer

Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 28d

Major university merger announced. The start of a wave?

Shock university ‘merger’ announced

The Universities of Kent and Greenwich are set to ‘merge’ in a shock move affecting thousands of staff and students.

www.kentonline.co.uk

13 48 67

Reposted by Tim Causer

Anthony Moser @anthonymoser.com · Aug 27

I considered writing a long carefully constructed argument laying out the harms and limitations of AI, but instead I wrote about being a hater. Only humans can be haters.

I Am An AI Hater

I am an AI hater. This is considered rude, but I do not care, because I am a hater.

anthonymoser.github.io

130 1.3K 3.6K

Tim Causer @timcauser.bsky.social · Aug 24

"The effectiveness of brand evolution relies heavily on
originality and differentiation; if competitors were to mimic our approach, it would erode the
strategic advantage we seek to establish"

LOL

8

Tim Causer @timcauser.bsky.social · Aug 15

Diagnosed with diabetes two years ago today and still (usually) taking it in his stride

A black and white one-eyed cat, with both white front paws in front of him, sat next to a blue toy bird (which he is scared of)

8

Tim Causer @timcauser.bsky.social · Aug 12

Same - halcyon days of paying £65/week (catered) at Dunbar Hall in Aberdeen in 2000/1

1

Reposted by Tim Causer

Melissa Terras @melissaterras.bsky.social · Aug 12

Reasons I couldn’t have gone to university now include…
This is a social mobility - and social justice - issue.

Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · Aug 12

'Updating their work on the amount of money students need to get by, the Higher Education Policy Institute (Hepi) and Loughborough University researchers have estimated that first-year students in halls of residence need £418 per week to cover their living costs – including £158 on rent.' 1/3

English university degree ‘costs £90,000 over three years’

‘Traditional student experience’ off limits for most, researchers warn after estimating living costs at double available maintenance loans

www.timeshighereducation.com

3 2 18

Reposted by Tim Causer

Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · Aug 12

'Updating their work on the amount of money students need to get by, the Higher Education Policy Institute (Hepi) and Loughborough University researchers have estimated that first-year students in halls of residence need £418 per week to cover their living costs – including £158 on rent.' 1/3

English university degree ‘costs £90,000 over three years’

‘Traditional student experience’ off limits for most, researchers warn after estimating living costs at double available maintenance loans

www.timeshighereducation.com

3 13 22

Reposted by Tim Causer

Geoff Green @geoffgreen.org · Aug 8

I've seen this on Bluesky and had to try it myself. The image below was the response to the prompt: "Show me a diagram of the US presidents since Herbert Hoover, with their names and years in office under their photos" Bravo, OpenAI, bravo.

A very mistaken list of the last 12 presidents of the United States and their years in office produced by the Ph.D level scholar known as ChatGPT-5. Includes John F. Katwady, president 1991-1968; George W. bush, president 220Z-1999), and Bill Christen, president 1999-2001

450 820 3.2K

Tim Causer @timcauser.bsky.social · Aug 8

Beyond rejects the norms of spelling

Martin Paul Eve @eve.gd · Aug 8

The University of Warwick has paid a lot of money, I'm guessing, for their internet banner ads on the Guardian and elsewhere.

But they can't spell "curiosity". This isn't a US-UK variant. They just, genuinely, have a massive spelling error in their banner ads.

A banner advert for the University of Warwick, which says "Beyond ignores curiousity". This is a spelling error.

1 4

Reposted by Tim Causer

Martin Paul Eve @eve.gd · Aug 8

The University of Warwick has paid a lot of money, I'm guessing, for their internet banner ads on the Guardian and elsewhere.

But they can't spell "curiosity". This isn't a US-UK variant. They just, genuinely, have a massive spelling error in their banner ads.

110 290 1K

Tim Causer @timcauser.bsky.social · Aug 7

Furthest I've been:

N: Lerwick 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
E: Wellington 🇳🇿
S: Port Arthur, Tas 🇦🇺
W: Philadelphia 🇺🇸

Dr Dion Georgiou 🇨🇾❤️🇬🇾 @drdiongeorgiou.bsky.social · Aug 7

Furthest I’ve been:

N: Dundee 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
E: Protaras 🇨🇾
S: Miami, FL 🇺🇸
W: Honeymoon Island, FL 🇺🇸

Rob 🏳️‍🌈 @rotster.bsky.social · Aug 7

Furthest I’ve been:

N: Stockholm 🇸🇪
E: Hong Kong 🇭🇰
S: Hong Kong 🇭🇰
W: New York 🇺🇸

Also need to work on my southern hemisphere.

1