Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Tom Conley @tomjconley.bsky.social · 6h

Kill it and we'll all be happier

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.

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Tom Conley @tomjconley.bsky.social · 6h

Here too!!

Janet French @jantafrench.bsky.social · 1d

Elections Alberta has approved a citizen-initiated petition application to gather signatures in support of the proposal to end public funding to independent/private schools.

Calgary teacher Alicia Taylor says she brought it forward because it could help improve funding for public schools. #AbEd

Alberta teacher prompts petition on province's private school funding | CBC News

If high school chemistry teacher Alicia Taylor gets her wish, Albertans will vote in a referendum on whether to end public funding for independent schools.

www.cbc.ca

Reposted by Tom Conley

Michael Pettis @michaelpettis.bsky.social · 6d

4/8
A much more plausible reason is the 10-fold surge in oil prices during the 1970s, not because the cost of energy rose (in fact many countries in Latin American produced and even exported oil) but rather because of its impact on capital flows.

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Tom Conley @tomjconley.bsky.social · 21h

#1003GIR

Michael Pettis @michaelpettis.bsky.social · 6d

1/8
Eduardo Porter argues in this FT piece that Latin America's import substitution industrialization (ISI) in the 1960s and 1970s "ended in a massive debt crisis that ushered in a period of economic decline known across the region as the “lost decade”."
www.ft.com/content/2f9d...

Going back to the 1970s won’t save Mexico

Embracing protectionism to prevent Chinese dumping and appease Trump will fail — just like import substitution did

www.ft.com

Tom Conley @tomjconley.bsky.social · 21h

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Tom Conley @tomjconley.bsky.social · 22h

The passive has been doing a lot of work in the Middle East

Jennifer Kretchmer @dreamwisp.bsky.social · 1d

Because it feels relevant as we continue to evaluate the media and our representatives’ statements, my favorite way to identify the active vs. passive voice.

A post by Rebecca Johnson:
“I finally learned how to teach my guys to ID the passive voice. If you can insert "by zombies" after the verb, you have passive voice.”

A tumblr respond from mightymur:
“The final, brilliant word on passive voice.
"She was killed [by zombies.]"<--passive
"Zombies killed [by zombies] her." <-- active”

Tom Conley @tomjconley.bsky.social · 22h

Tom Conley @tomjconley.bsky.social · 23h

It's fascism innit

James O’Brien @mrjamesob.bsky.social · 23h

Lords Heseltine & Kinnock seem more alive to these self-evident truths than most members of the Commons. Similarly, I find thinkers with direct lived experience of far right dictatorship, Greeks of a certain age for example, crystal clear about what’s happening now.

BBC Newsnight @bbcnewsnight.bsky.social · 1d

“You described Reform and other parties across Europe today as among the 'right wing equivalents of the fascists in the 1930s'. Why?”

“Because that’s what they are”

@vicderbyshire.bsky.social asks Lord Heseltine about remarks he made at Conservative Party Conference.

#Newsnight

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Reposted by Tom Conley

Rachel Withers @rachelwithers.bsky.social · 1d

The fact Wong thinks she can just snark her way out of this is a sign of how normalised the relationships between politicians and lobbyists have become.

Like, of course the PM shouldn't be president of a registered lobby group that sells corporate members access to politicians? No shit??

Crikey @crikey.com.au · 1d

Independent Senator David Pocock and Labor's Penny Wong clashed in Senate estimates yesterday over whether the Parliamentary Sports Club could be considered a lobby group, as reported in Crikey last week. The club is registered as such, and lists Responsible Wagering Australia as one of its clients.

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Tom Conley @tomjconley.bsky.social · 23h

The end result of the culture wars - the dumbing of America

Albert Pinto @70sbachchan.bsky.social · 1d

China — here is stem cell therapy breakthrough in treating severe diabetes

US under trump — WiFI radiation opens up your blood brain barrier … VaCcINes aRE bAd www.nytimes.com/2025/06/20/h...

Tom Conley @tomjconley.bsky.social · 23h

Case in point - mainstream media has failed Australians - pusillanimous in the face of Genocide

Andy Fleming @slackbastard.bsky.social · 1d

😀👍

'SBS staff remain unable to use the word Palestine in news reporting despite federal recognition of the state last month as tensions over reporting on the conflict in Gaza remain high in newsrooms across the country two years after the October 7 massacre.'

www.theage.com.au/business/com...

SBS staff sworn off naming Palestine despite federal recognition

SBS staff remain unable to use the word Palestine in news reporting despite federal recognition of the state last month as tensions over reporting on the conflict in Gaza remain high.

www.theage.com.au

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Reposted by Tom Conley

Wiley @wileyfuller.bsky.social · 1d

They're just pissed off that MySpace was a failure and got beaten by fb.

Guardian Australia @australia.theguardian.com · 1d

News Corp Australia chair says social media platforms are ‘true monsters’ and ‘torment our children’

Michael Miller also says media must unite against second ‘big steal’ by tech companies seeking changes to copyright law to access content for free * Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates * Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast Social media is to blame for social cohesion issues across the globe, News Corp Australia’s executive chair, Michael Miller, has said, as he calls for media to present a united front against the platforms and AI companies seeking content for free. Miller told the Melbourne Press Club on Wednesday social media was rife with “misinformation, disinformation [and] the rabbit holes [that] they drag you down. Continue reading...

www.theguardian.com

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Tom Conley @tomjconley.bsky.social · 23h

I'd say the mainstream media in Australia has played a big role too ...

Josh Taylor @joshtaylor.bsky.social · 1d

Went to see the News Corp chair speak today. www.theguardian.com/media/2025/o...

Social media is to blame for social cohesion issues across the globe, News Corp Australia's executive chair, Michael Miller, has said, as he calls for media to present a united front against the platforms and AI companies seeking content for free.
Miller told the Melbourne Press Club on Wednesday social media was rife with
"misinformation, disinformation [and] the rabbit holes [that] they drag you down.
"And I don't think the masses are being radicalised, but I do feel that there are individuals that get consumed by single message rather than breadth of message," he said.
"Ithink the role of media is increasingly as a group to ensure that people are informed and it's based on fact."

Tom Conley @tomjconley.bsky.social · 1d

Australians may in large be conservative but I'm hopeful they look at the United States and go yeah naah fascism ain't for us

signtst @signtst.bsky.social · 2d

#auspol

Political satire poster featuring the text “Coalition Bloodbath” in bold letters with dripping red blood and smoke effects, referencing the Australian Liberal and National parties. Below, Andrew Hastie holding a shotgun is shown wearing a vest labeled “Advance — Gina on Board,” with a speech bubble reading, “What do you want me to do next Mrs Rinehart?” The lower portion of the image includes the words “Project 2028 Advance Australia.” Bullet holes appear over the party logos.

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Tom Conley @tomjconley.bsky.social · 1d

From some work I am reviewing ...

Brilliant

Tom Conley @tomjconley.bsky.social · 1d

#3012GIR

The Diplomat @thediplomat.com · 1d

Australia's new agreements with PNG and Vanuatu are widely seen as efforts to advance Australia’s strategic interests and block China’s influence in the region.

Australia and PNG Sign Defense Treaty, Agreement With Vanuatu Delayed

Will these agreements benefit Pacific Island countries as much as they benefit Australia?

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Reposted by Tom Conley

Mrs. Betty Bowers @mrsbettybowers.bsky.social · 1d

Thanks, New Yorker

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Tom Conley @tomjconley.bsky.social · 1d

#ausfas

Mark Bray @mark-bray.bsky.social · 8d

I teach a history of antifascism course @ruhistorydept.bsky.social and figured I'd start an ongoing thread this semester to share some insights from course readings and recommend some great works on antifascism.

🧵

Tom Conley @tomjconley.bsky.social · 1d

#1001GIR #1003GIR

Aida A. Hozic @hozic.bsky.social · 1d

The developing world that could not afford green transition is doing it; the world that had all the money and alleged industrial policies for greening is back to fossil fuels and militarization.

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Reposted by Tom Conley

Rex Patrick @mrrexpatrick.bsky.social · 1d

Having charged Richard Boyle for 66 offenses, tied up the courts for 6 years, spent $339,703 on external legal fees, chilled whistleblowing - with the Court refusing to convict - it’s mind-blowing the CDPP still thinks his prosecution was in the public interest. 🤷‍♂️🤦‍♂️ #auspol

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Tom Conley @tomjconley.bsky.social · 1d

Vibes.

Tom Conley @tomjconley.bsky.social · 1d

What a surprise

Keith Alexander @keithalexander.bsky.social · 2d

“We must stop expecting carbon offsetting to work at scale. […] We have assessed 25 years of evidence and almost everything up until this point has failed.”

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Carbon offsets fail to cut global heating due to ‘intractable’ systemic problems, study says

Analysis of 25 years of evidence shows most schemes are poor quality and fail to lower emissions

www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Tom Conley

Jeff Powell @powelljr.bsky.social · 1d

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

It starts with Palestine protests. But where will the crackdown on Britain’s democratic freedoms end? | Owen Jones

In making dissent a privilege, not a right, Labour is crafting a repressive toolkit. Imagine it in the hands of a Farage government, says Guardian columnist Owen Jones

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Tom Conley

Saul Staniforth @saulstaniforth.bsky.social · 1d

Can you imagine if Russia attacked and seized a UK vessel in international waters & kidnapped the people on board, including UK citizens, and the only response from the UK govt was to say that's "a matter for the Russian govt".

No, me neither.

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