Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Ivan Brett @ivanbrett.bsky.social · 2h

Nice, for all you Laitors fans, Alan was among the last to breakfast. #CelebrityTraitors

Reposted by Ivan Brett

Charlie Methven @charliemethven.bsky.social · 7d

@ivanbrett.bsky.social Hi Ivan, if you're a crossword person as well as a quiz person you might enjoy my Independent cryptic today puzzles.independent.co.uk/games/crypti...

The Independent's Cryptic Crossword | Play Online for Free | Independent

Play The Independent's Cryptic Crossword instantly online. The Independent's Cryptic Crossword is a fun and engaging Online game from The Independent. Play it and other games from The Independent.

puzzles.independent.co.uk

1 7

Ivan Brett @ivanbrett.bsky.social · 20d

Happy Hades 2 Day to all who celebrate. See you in a month!

1 4

Ivan Brett @ivanbrett.bsky.social · 29d

Omg they heard!

Lizz 🎃 @flouncysinatra.bsky.social · 29d

As the single listener who was waiting for Genius Game Part 2 on IJAG podcast thank you so much for the shoutout @ivanbrett.bsky.social

4

Ivan Brett @ivanbrett.bsky.social · Sep 12

So frustrating. I get trying to sieve out bots but whatever algorithm they're using is not doing it right

Ivan Brett @ivanbrett.bsky.social · Sep 12

Thank you! I tried that and it didn't work, but my partner did it and got us some (very expensive) seated tickets. I was way ahead and probably could've got some standing. Anyway happy ending

1 1

Ivan Brett @ivanbrett.bsky.social · Sep 12

AXS tickets website stop being a wanker challenge 2025

3

Ivan Brett @ivanbrett.bsky.social · Sep 12

My partner got restricted too (both got codes!) and went back once, forward once, and got into the booking page. I tried the same but mine always said restricted. Try again if you can, but don't refresh because then it'll think you're a bot

1

Ivan Brett @ivanbrett.bsky.social · Sep 12

Seems like it's happened to a lot of people. 'Restricted'. Ugh!

1

Ivan Brett @ivanbrett.bsky.social · Sep 12

Radiohead tickets queue kicking me out for being a bot is such an insult. One window open, no VPN, no refreshes, nearly at the front of the queue. I'm so unreasonably upset!

3 8

Ivan Brett @ivanbrett.bsky.social · Sep 6

I think this happens because while most words are made of one or two tokens, an emoji is four unicode characters and each one is a single token. So the model will get 3/4 of the way through spelling the seahorse emoji and then realise it can't finish? Can a nerd confirm? Either way, hilarious.

Grace @gracekind.net · Sep 6

Never ask a man his age, a woman her salary, or GPT-5 whether a seahorse emoji exists

6

Ivan Brett @ivanbrett.bsky.social · Sep 6

Yeah it was really something to remember (because I'm broke now so I can't do it again lol)

2

Ivan Brett @ivanbrett.bsky.social · Sep 6

If you've no plans during the hours of 10pm-6am tonight and live in London, maybe do this? There have to be single digit tickets left though and it's spenny, but completely worth it. Say I sent you. (They won't know what you're talking about).

1 5

Ivan Brett @ivanbrett.bsky.social · Sep 6

Honestly though, what a batshit way to spend a night. The music is minimalist but accessible, ebbs and flows beautifully, just eight hours of lullaby soundscapes and an ending that would ruin the most stoic of emotional palates. It's only on last night and tonight, and one of those is in the past.

1 5

Ivan Brett @ivanbrett.bsky.social · Sep 6

It's a weird one to watch, though. Like, if I sleep, there's FOMO. I don't think I believe you can learn Spanish by sleeping through language tapes, so same, right? But if you stay awake, you're not doing the title of the work. It's for sleeping through. So FOMO sandwich?

Massive moon crash landed in the Palm Court

1 3

Ivan Brett @ivanbrett.bsky.social · Sep 6

They put it on up at Ali Pali, and did a great job. Comfortable beds, clever lighting, suitable amplification and absolutely brilliant performances including Max himself. They had to turn nocturnal in preparation apparently. And the bedsheets are all going to Shelter afterwards. Cleaned, I hope.

The stage. It looks a bit like the mastermind set

1 4

Ivan Brett @ivanbrett.bsky.social · Sep 6

It's been played live a couple of dozen times ever, due to its peculiar requirements. You're supposed to sleep through it. So you need beds, and a safe space where you won't get robbed, and probably lots of sides people to watch for hanky panky during the difficult 3am-5am phase.

Many rising from their grid of beds to watch the ending, at 6am

1 4

Ivan Brett @ivanbrett.bsky.social · Sep 6

Ok so ten years ago composer Max Richter wrote this barmy piece with his creative partner Yulia Mahr which lasts a night of sleep and is meant to follow your sleep cycles. The intention is that you stick it on at bedtime and racking him up plenty of Spotify plays during the night.

Some of the musical score, including the instruction to have a cup of coffee

1 4

Ivan Brett @ivanbrett.bsky.social · Sep 6

Last night, I went to sleep. Wait, let me rephrase that. Last night, I went to Sleep. Specifically, an eight-hour, overnight performance of Sleep by Max Richter. One of the strangest and best bits of performance I've ever seen. A thread?

Alexandra Palace, with a small circular stage, and hundreds of beds in the background.

1 1 10

Ivan Brett @ivanbrett.bsky.social · Sep 5

Adrian,

Re: the giant cous cous,
How big are we talking?

All best,
Simon

2

Ivan Brett @ivanbrett.bsky.social · Aug 26

It's appropriate because I feel a sense of loss every time I see it

1

Ivan Brett @ivanbrett.bsky.social · Aug 26

I'd like to read this piece! There's this thing with games as a lifestyle where it gives you a safe 'other' to complain and obsessed over such that you can fully, safely, catch up with your mates, without ever talking about your lives directly.

3

Ivan Brett @ivanbrett.bsky.social · Aug 26

Love this thread from the inimitable Benwell

Sara Benwell @sarabenwell.bsky.social · Aug 26

Hmmm. Which lovely editor can I convince to commission me to write about how board games generally, social deduction games in particular, and #bloodontheclocktower specifically - um, completely saved / saves my mental health in the aftermath of having a child… (a thread).

5

Ivan Brett @ivanbrett.bsky.social · Aug 22

Ohhh ok I really really like that. I think the thing that frustrates me most is all the clues (and herrings) feel brought from home. They're not even contextual, they're props about stereotypes

1

Ivan Brett @ivanbrett.bsky.social · Aug 21

Can you give some examples in other versions of red herrings that could be deciphered as such? Its such a frustrating watch and I want to know how it's done better

1 1