Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Richard Woodcock @zedwally.bsky.social · 19h

Very interesting exploration of the possibilities around AGI and ASI by James Meek - in the London Review of Books: www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...

James Meek · Computers that want things

For all the fluency and synthetic friendliness of public-facing AI chatbots like ChatGPT, it seems important to remember...

www.lrb.co.uk

Reposted by Richard Woodcock

Stephen Kinsella @stephenstroud.bsky.social · 4d

I would like to hear similar sentiments expressed with as much conviction by leading UK politicians.

Justin Hendrix @justinhendrix.bsky.social · 4d

Macron remarks are notable- some quotes: "We have been incredibly naive in entrusting our democratic space to social networks that are controlled either by large American entrepreneurs or large Chinese companies, whose interests are not at all the survival or proper functioning of our democracies."

Defend Democracy @defenddemocracy.bsky.social · 4d

President Macron: “Europeans, let's wake up!

We have been incredibly naive in entrusting our democratic space to social networks.”

defenddemocracy.eu/macron-democ...

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Richard Woodcock @zedwally.bsky.social · 4d

www.wired.com/story/ice-so... Chilling stuff - Palantir will be running the NHS’s Federated Data Platform. Yippee..

ICE Wants to Build Out a 24/7 Social Media Surveillance Team

Documents show that ICE plans to hire dozens of contractors to scan X, Facebook, TikTok, and other platforms to target people for deportation.

www.wired.com

Richard Woodcock @zedwally.bsky.social · 6d

Let's have some proper journalism, please. A quick look at the study shows its methodological weakness - based on a survey of just over 1000 people, for a start.

Reposted by Richard Woodcock

Humanists UK @humanists.uk · 9d

Very few people in the UK hold a Christian Nationalist political philosophy.

Yet due to well-positioned people in UK politics, friends in high places in the United States, and *millions of pounds* pouring in from the 'anti-rights movement' to fund highly visible CNat activism, you wouldn't know it.

Jeremy Rodell @jeremyr1.bsky.social · 10d

Useful reminder that Christian nationalism has negligible purchase in the UK. Much higher in the US, but still 6% - low by global standards.
What it doesn’t measure is “Christianism” - use of Christianity by populists as a racial/national identifier.
@humanists.uk

Conrad Hackett @conradhackett.bsky.social · 11d

Muslim nationalists in
Indonesia 46%
Nigeria 16%
Turkey 11%

Hindu nationalists in
India 24%

Christian nationalists in
Kenya 32%
Nigeria 13%
US 6%

Jewish nationalists in
Israel 9%
https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2025/01/28/comparing-levels-of-religious-nationalism-around-the-world/

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Richard Woodcock @zedwally.bsky.social · 9d

Here it is, thanks to #Distrokid for getting it out there. Now you have to listen to it!

An image of an audio cassette announcing the release of "Fractal" by Uncle Wally and Uncle Steve.

Richard Woodcock @zedwally.bsky.social · 10d

Out now on Bandcamp, and available on all the streaming platforms tomorrow. Go on - have a listen. It's the fifth fabulous album from me and my talented friend Steve Andrews. unclewallyandunclesteve.bandcamp.com/album/fractal

Fractal, by Uncle Wally and Uncle Steve

9 track album

unclewallyandunclesteve.bandcamp.com

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Richard Woodcock @zedwally.bsky.social · 10d

Good piece from Caroline Lucas here: www.bylinesupplement.com/p/why-we-nee...

Why We Need to Talk About Englishness

English identity is not something to be afraid of or suppressed within the notion of ‘Britain’ – but to be valued and explored, writes Caroline Lucas

www.bylinesupplement.com

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Reposted by Richard Woodcock

darren32359.bsky.social @darren32359.bsky.social · 11d

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Richard Woodcock @zedwally.bsky.social · 12d

Yes - glib is the right word.

Richard Woodcock @zedwally.bsky.social · 12d

Shut him up, Paddy, for goodness' sake. #newsnight

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Richard Woodcock @zedwally.bsky.social · 12d

More presidential, statesmanlike stuff from the leader of the free world.

Richard Woodcock @zedwally.bsky.social · 13d

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Richard Woodcock @zedwally.bsky.social · 13d

What is it that makes people who don't fly the flag choose not to? I know why I don't. #bbcqt

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Richard Woodcock @zedwally.bsky.social · 13d

This cause is close to my heart - please sign: www.megaphone.org.uk/petitions/sa...

Save Square Chapel for the people

Square Chapel has a strong history of supporting community events and professional performances and is a popular venue in the local community.  Square Chapel was a popular arts centre with good ...

www.megaphone.org.uk

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Richard Woodcock @zedwally.bsky.social · 14d

open.substack.com/pub/bylinesu...

Farage's Trillion Pound Black Hole: The Real Cost of Reform UK's Mass Deportation Plan

Exclusive: Reform's plan, which it claims would net huge savings over the coming decades, would actually cost the UK about £70-90bn over the next ten years alone, new analysis suggests

open.substack.com

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Richard Woodcock @zedwally.bsky.social · 14d

Give up listening to it, like I did about fifteen years ago. Go for a swim instead :)

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Reposted by Richard Woodcock

Robert Reich @rbreich.bsky.social · 14d

The richest man on earth owns X.

The second richest man on earth is about to be a major owner of TikTok.

The third richest man owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.

The fourth richest man owns The Washington Post.

See the problem here?

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Richard Woodcock @zedwally.bsky.social · 14d

Good news if true.

Richard Woodcock @zedwally.bsky.social · 14d

The sort of thing the #BBC does best.

Richard Woodcock @zedwally.bsky.social · 14d

Good discussion of the recognition of a Palestinian state on #UnspunWorld

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Richard Woodcock @zedwally.bsky.social · 14d

Absolutely this - it's so important. We need to teach young people how to ask good questions, to reflect on what they hear, and then ask better questions. It would make such a difference.

Eliot Higgins @eliothiggins.bsky.social · 14d

It would be good if this was matched with a call for embedding critical thinking skills in primary and secondary education across Europe.

POLITICO Europe @politico.eu · 14d

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen today backed a call to set a minimum age for accessing social media.

Reposted by Richard Woodcock

Best for Britain @bestforbritain.org · 14d

In a LBC interview today, Nigel Farage refused to side with scientific experts on whether paracetamol caused autism, claiming he doesn't pick sides.

Those climate change denial think tanks at Reform conference will be disappointed!

Source: https://bit.ly/4pCL3UH

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Richard Woodcock @zedwally.bsky.social · 14d

They're in front of us if we just look. It would help if we got more serious reporting on Lib Dems from the broadcast media.

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Reposted by Richard Woodcock

James Ball @jamesrball.com · 15d

“If Joe Biden had given a speech saying just a fraction of what Trump did, American news would be dominated for weeks by calls for him to be replaced, via the 25th Amendment if necessary. Trump being Trump, it will likely be shrugged off at home.” inews.co.uk/opinion/trum...

Trump’s UN speech was unhinged even by his standards

Trump has made his own unreliability - and that of America - impossible to ignore or deny

inews.co.uk

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