Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Ned Raggett

@nedraggett.bsky.social

9.2K followers 1.7K following 17K posts

Hi! I write about music at various spots (@thequietus.com, @thewiremagazine.bsky.social, Shfl and my Patreon, also in the past @allmusic.com, @pitchfork.com, @bandcamp.com etc. etc.). Plus podcasting about #Tolkien with friends at @bythebywater.bsky.social

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

Ned Raggett @nedraggett.bsky.social · Nov 14

Well, it's time for some honest to god Bluesky lore.

A year ago, the site was still invite only, and one morning I posted something random and didn't think much about it beyond my own amusement.

This is the story about the #ChristianSkydivingBaby and how it completely took over @bsky.app (1/x)

Ned Raggett @nedraggett.bsky.social · Nov 14

Given the very specific circumstances, I'd either check to see if I'm on drugs or if the baby is on drugs and if the latter find out where I could get some because clearly those are some gooooood drugs.

A supposed Quora question: "Atheists, imagine you're going skydiving with a Christian baby. Suddenly the baby tells you he won't open his parachute until you renounced atheism and accept Jesus as your lord and savior. What would you do?"

18 55 290

Reposted by Ned Raggett

Abe El-Raheb / Editor & Writer @eldashraheb.bsky.social · 1d

Kaleb Horton dying before Mike Love proves that though the universe may not be obscene, it does contain obscenity.

3 24

Reposted by Ned Raggett

ProPublica @propublica.org · 8h

Few patients appeal a health insurance denial, but a little-known process that requires insurers and plans to seek an independent opinion can force insurers to pay for what can be lifesaving treatment.

Here’s what experts say you need to know.

How to Fight Your Health Insurance Denial with an External Appeal

When a health insurer refuses to pay for your treatment, you may have the right to have the denial reviewed — and potentially overturned — by an independent provider. Here are six steps experts sugges...

www.propublica.org

40 800 1.4K

Reposted by Ned Raggett

Tom & Lorenzo @tomandlorenzo.bsky.social · 7h

I have known many cats and I've worshiped them all as the ancient pact requires, but if I'm being honest, my favorites were always the ones where we had to constantly say "She's not mean, that's just her face"

Tammi, yeah, that one. 2.1 @tammi.bsky.social · 15h

I found a 19th century Cat Villain!

A huge chonk of a fluffy cat sitting on a table near an open fire. The cat is cream and grey and appears to be shaped like a barrel in a fur coat. They are scowling fiercely with their moustache and bewhiskered ears apparently flowing back into the cold wind. There's a definite vibe that this villainous cat twirls their moustache as they evict orphans into the aforementioned blizzard and think Scrooge was an easy-going lightweight. They are magnificent.

5 17 250

Reposted by Ned Raggett

Meredith Shiner @meredithshiner.com · 8h

It’s impossible to overstate how much “abolish ice” is the normie position now here in chicago — just countless random moms at toddler soccer on a park district field asking me where I bought my anti-ice t-shirt. average people don’t like our neighborhoods being terrorized.

laura olin @lauraolin.bsky.social · 14h

A friend ran the Chicago marathon today and said he couldn’t count the number of FUCK ICE signs along the way.

47 1.3K 6.1K

Reposted by Ned Raggett

Dawn Xiana Moon @dawnxianamoon.bsky.social · 14h

They've been kidnapping random Chicagoans off the street in areas where single-family homes cost $1 million+.

They're also in Evanston, the wealthy suburb that houses Northwestern University.

In case you're tempted to buy the line about them only going after dangerous gang members.

4 13 57

Reposted by Ned Raggett

Kashana @kashana.blacksky.app · 8h

The best part of explaining who established actors are to a kid is explaining shit like they know an Oscar winner because he once played a concussed mouse in Ratatouille 8.

7 28 420

Ned Raggett @nedraggett.bsky.social · 8h

Meanwhile on #DragRaceEspaña

In the Drag Race España confessional booth, Satin Greco, with long curly hair and a bejeweled/flowered top, says "Did I say it right? Terry Mugler. You know, the perfume guy, damn!"

1 1 5

Ned Raggett @nedraggett.bsky.social · 1d

All still entertaining.

Reposted by Ned Raggett

jesse jarnow @bourgwick.bsky.social · 1d

this is a pretty odd/fun john cale show from 1981 with a one-off band & a bunch of not totally finished songs that i don't think were ever played again.

Live Tapes @livetapes.heads.social.ap.brid.gy · 1d

JOHN CALE AND JAMES-HONEYMAN SCOTT AND CHRIS SPEDDING @ NYC 1981-10-11 https://ijwthstd.blogspot.com/2025/10/john-cale-and-james-honeyman-scott-and.html

JOHN CALE AND JAMES-HONEYMAN SCOTT AND CHRIS SPEDDING @ NYC 1981-10-11

Sounds so much better than just "and Friends" LIMITED TIME / LAST TIME https://pixeldrain.com/u/ALziBDCj JOHN CALE & FRIENDS Mudd Club Ne...

ijwthstd.blogspot.com

4 4 43

Reposted by Ned Raggett

Lynn Becker @cmgiulini.bsky.social · 1d

After spending 43 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit, evidence hidden by the prosecution reversed his conviction. Rather than finally enjoying freedom, ICE abducted him for deportation

Depraved.

www.miamiherald.com/news/local/i...

He was wrongfully imprisoned for 43 years. Moments after being released, ICE took him

Subramanyam “Subu” Vedam now faces deportation.

www.miamiherald.com

650 7.3K 15K

Reposted by Ned Raggett

Strange Days at Blake Hol(e)sey High 👻 🍑 @reactionordinary.bsky.social · 4d

The RIAA was suing teenagers. We had to sit through ⬇️ this shit anytime we wanted to watch a DVD. A whole generation shamed for using Limewire and torrents. Only for these silicone valley assholes to now find copyright infringement a necessary evil they shouldn’t have to answer for

7 300 820

Reposted by Ned Raggett

Jennifer Nuzzo, DrPH, SM @jennifernuzzo.bsky.social · 1d

Some of these people have now been fired and rehired TWICE since January. The current state of dysfunction is mind boggling.

Sheryl Gay Stolberg @sherylnyt.bsky.social · 1d

OOOPS! UPDATE: Two HHS officials tell me that disease detectives, measles response officers, global health officials and the MMWR staff were laid off by mistake and will be reinstated. But Washington office is still RIFed

Sheryl Gay Stolberg @sherylnyt.bsky.social · 2d

BREAKING: Friday night massacre underway at CDC. Doznes of "disease detectives," high-level scientists, entire Washington staff and editors of the MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report) have all been RIFed and received the following notice:

33 720 2.3K

Reposted by Ned Raggett

maura johnston @maura.bsky.social · 1d

turns out the answer to “are they malicious or just stupid” — a question often asked about big media boss types — is “yes, but sliiiightly more the former”

Blake Leyh @earlofedgecombe.bsky.social · 1d

If you think you know why US newspapers died, this feature documentary now streaming for free on PBS might surprise you. It wasn't the Internet. Newspapers were specifically targeted by vulture capitalists.

I composed the score for the film, which features electric cello & Crowfoot guitars.

Stripped for Parts: American Journalism on the Brink

A handful of journalists rebel against a hedge fund that is gutting newspapers nationwide.

www.pbs.org

29 100

Reposted by Ned Raggett

Moss Elixir @sorryforlaughing.bsky.social · 1d

Watching Johnnie To's Exiled & I'm already like this 10 minutes in.

The "reaction guys meme" photo of four fellas entranced & cheering at something offscreen.

2 4 28

Reposted by Ned Raggett

Dave Levitan @davelevitan.bsky.social · 1d

Imagine being this bad at running a government

Lena Sun @lenasun.bsky.social · 1d

BREAKING: Some of the layoffs at CDC are being REVERSED.
Here is my updated story.
www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...

More than 1,000 CDC staff receive layoff notices during government shutdown

Another round of mass layoffs has struck CDC. The agency had already been cut during a reorganization this year, and more employees are now being shed amid the government shutdown.

www.washingtonpost.com

12 49 240

Ned Raggett @nedraggett.bsky.social · 1d

Meantime, looking ahead...

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds | Season 4 Clip | Paramount+ (NYCC 2025)

YouTube video by Paramount Plus

www.youtube.com

1 4

Ned Raggett @nedraggett.bsky.social · 1d

Anyway, getting in the holiday spirit, namely by playing this banger of a compilation. www.discogs.com/release/4434...

Various - Just Can't Get Enough: New Wave Halloween

View credits, reviews, tracks and shop for the 1998 CD release of "Just Can't Get Enough: New Wave Halloween" on Discogs.

www.discogs.com

1 8

Reposted by Ned Raggett

Helen Kennedy @helenkennedy.bsky.social · 1d

It seems they also got rid of the organization that monitors how many Americans die, when, and of what. Convenient.

Pam Herd @pamherd.bsky.social · 1d

RFK fired the CDC official (w/decades of experience) leading the measles outbreak response. It's been decades since we've had such a large outbreak. And just to ensure they they can spread the measles outbreak even farther, they also fired the leadership for the center focused on immunization.

Figure showing the largest measles outbreak in the US in decades. There are over 1500 cases as of October 7 2025

11 110 250

Ned Raggett @nedraggett.bsky.social · 1d

Meanwhile on #DragRaceUK

In the Drag Race UK werk room, a group of the queens, dressed in boy mode, observe Viola at the right wearing a heavily teased semi-mullet of a wig; one of the other queens says "Go on, David Bowie."

Ned Raggett @nedraggett.bsky.social · 1d

Admittedly I was the one recommending it to him! But when that which is the Zax approves of a thing, that is all the guidance needed.

Ned Raggett @nedraggett.bsky.social · 1d

One of the many problems of this world, that.

Reposted by Ned Raggett

Gabriel Malor @gabrielmalor.bsky.social · 1d

Probably not the right year for a show about an ICE/FBI/DEA task force.

The Hollywood Reporter @thr.com · 2d

Prime Video has canceled a pair of first-year series, Butterfly and Countdown.

‘Butterfly’ and ‘Countdown’ Canceled After Single Seasons at Prime Video

Prime Video has canceled a pair of first-year series, Butterfly and Countdown.

bit.ly

3 3 32

Ned Raggett @nedraggett.bsky.social · 1d

Erik is of course not only right but on balance we have to really think of Virgil as the precursor to the current plague of rights holders doing soft reboot sequels of IP acquired through conniving means. "Yeah, we bought out Greek management, we can do whatever we like to make more content."

Erik Highter @highter.bsky.social · 1d

Reading the Aeneid for the first time since high school. Aeneas is just empty duty; his lack of character is why I haven’t revisited it in decades while I read the Homeric epics every few years. The only person in the Aeneid is Dido, one of the greatest characters in ancient epic but it’s not enough

Ned Raggett @nedraggett.bsky.social · 1d

I'll add too that this event was part of @litquake.org, which kicked off two days ago; subscribe to @coyotemedia.org for their guide to some choice looking things over the next two weeks!

7 Can’t-Miss Events at Litquake 2025

Here are COYOTE’s picks for the beloved literary festival, which kicks off Oct. 9.

www.coyotemedia.org

Ned Raggett @nedraggett.bsky.social · 1d

So last night's event with @zentronix.bsky.social, @wkamaubell.bsky.social, a chat on Jeff's #WaterMirrorEcho and a subsequent screening of _Fist of Fury_ was a delight and a half, of course. (Read the book or listen to the audiobook, either way you'll be glad.) jeffchang.net/water-mirror...

In front of a projected image of Bruce Lee smashing the mirror room in the climax of _Enter The Dragon_, W. Kamau Bell, on the left, and Jeff Chang on the right are seated and discussing Jeff's excellent book _Water Mirror Echo_ and much more besides.

1 3 9