Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Jeff Samsonow @jeffsamsonow.bsky.social · 1h

Human Rights Watch: Please just express support for free speech and the release of people unjustly imprisoned.
Comedians: Best I can do is a small donation.
www.independent.co.uk/arts-e...

HRW refuses to accept donations from Riyadh comedy festival performers

Defending his decision to perform at the festival, Ansari said he had discussed donating a ‘part of the fee’ to human rights organisations

www.the-independent.com

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Jeff Samsonow @jeffsamsonow.bsky.social · 7h

Double-vaxxed and voted, baby! 💉🗳️✌🏻

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Reposted by Jeff Samsonow

Jeremy Klaszus @klaszus.bsky.social · 1d

Calgary mayoral candidates are bickering about which arena deal was best—and who got fleeced. And an outgoing city councillor now says progressive councillors voted yes to the deal in 2023 "at great political cost." Here's how the deal got done. (Listen and/or read!) #yyccc

The truth about Calgary’s billion-dollar arena deal | The Sprawl

Campaign accusations abound. Here’s the real story.

www.sprawlcalgary.com

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Jeff Samsonow @jeffsamsonow.bsky.social · 7h

In the last four years, we have set records for our hottest months ever.🌡️🥵 And with basically zero rain in September, this does not feel like a good trend.

chris - sᴉɹɥɔ @yegwxnerdery.bsky.social · 11d

...since 2021 we've had:
- #1 May in 2023, #6 in 2025
- #1 June in 2021, #3 in 2023
- #1 July in 2024, #3 in 2023, #6 in 2022
- #1 August in 2022, #5 in 2025
- #1 September in 2025, #3 in 2022, #5 in 2024
- #1 October in 2022
- #1 December in 2023
public.tableau.com/shared/CWSD6...

Jeff Samsonow @jeffsamsonow.bsky.social · 21h

He's long gone, but I like the idea of a city manager approving things like random fireworks shows for years in advance out of petty revenge.

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Jeff Samsonow @jeffsamsonow.bsky.social · 21h

Football game? Or Tim Cartmell maxed out election donations? Either way, very windy and dry for that.

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Reposted by Jeff Samsonow

Coach Finstock @coachfinstock.bsky.social · 1d

I'm in on the robot umpires with one caveat. They need to be like actual robots. I need to see Aaron Boone arguing with Johnny 5 over a bad call at the plate before he vaporizes him with a laser

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Jeff Samsonow @jeffsamsonow.bsky.social · 1d

"If the economics don’t work, doing it at massive scale doesn’t make the economics work any better — it just takes an industry crisis and makes it into a national economic crisis." futurism.com/future-society/...

AI Data Centers Are an Even Bigger Disaster Than Previously Thought

An investment manager realized he made a crucial mistake — and that his grim prediction about AI investments may not have been cynical enough.

futurism.com

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Reposted by Jeff Samsonow

Sèafra @woodward.ca · 3d

Daily Dolly.
Political endorsement time.
Vote @ashleysalvador.bsky.social in Ward Métis.

Dolly the brindle pit bull sits in front of the vaulted willow sculpture on an autumn day wearing a bright yellow bandanna that says Let’s Get Pawlitical #TeamSalvador

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Jeff Samsonow @jeffsamsonow.bsky.social · 2d

"Number one, you’re able to raise money in a different way … it’s foundationally shifted how much money can be donated." 💰💰💰 You can send these money men a message by voting for independent candidates. www.ctvnews.ca/edmonton/arti...

Edmonton Election: Municipal parties, explained

Oct. 20 will mark the end of Alberta's pilot project in which both Edmonton and Calgary were allowed to create municipal parties during campaign season.

zurl.co

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Jeff Samsonow @jeffsamsonow.bsky.social · 3d

"We need to feel safe. That doesn’t mean more money for police. It means policies that help those in need get the services and stable living conditions they require." edmonton.taproot.news/news/2...

Voters told Taproot they want a more transparent, accountable police service

The growing responses to Taproot's listening work in the lead up to the Oct. 20 municipal election reveal that funding for the Edmonton Police Service remains top of mind for many voters.

zurl.co

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Reposted by Jeff Samsonow

Jackie Powell @classicjpow.bsky.social · 3d

We’ve got some Abracadabra from the Mercury’s Golden Grannies.

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Jeff Samsonow @jeffsamsonow.bsky.social · 4d

Living in the middle of the city, yes, there is infill and, sure, some of it can be built better. But If a candidate is all "infill! Infill! Infill! 😡" they won't be able to help on the rest of the issues. And we have more than one. www.growtogetheryeg.com/blog...

Is Infill An Edmonton Election Issue In 2025?

zurl.co

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Jeff Samsonow @jeffsamsonow.bsky.social · 5d

"Everyone's got a little of that post-COVID brain damage these days." open.substack.com/pub/thegau...

When Will the Lion Concern Himself

Joking memes make light of the uncomfortable reality: everyone's got a little of that post-COVID brain damage these days

www.thegauntlet.news

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Jeff Samsonow @jeffsamsonow.bsky.social · 6d

Folks have been asking which Edmonton school board candidates are progressive. Who will fight for public education, classroom supports, and protect trans kids and girls? This is the most detailed list we've got: www.supportourstudents.ca/ed...

Edmonton Public School Board EPSB Elections Candidate Guide

On October 20, vote for public education. Edmonton Public School board trustee candidate guide, based on their open advocacy potential.

zurl.co

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Jeff Samsonow @jeffsamsonow.bsky.social · 6d

A prologue to stories this week as Jan-July disclosures are made public ahead of election day (October 20). The cash is flowing to municipal parties. (or, at least one of them) pressprogress.ca/how-developm...

How the Development Industry Helped One Edmonton Mayoral Candidate Get a Head Start

Before nominations even opened, Tim Cartmell raised nearly half a million dollars, with roughly half coming from sources with apparent connections to real estate, construction and development

pressprogress.ca

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Jeff Samsonow @jeffsamsonow.bsky.social · 7d

One of the biggest rallies in a long time at the #ableg! I think teachers have some support.

A large crowd of people, many wearing red for ed(ucation) fill the plaza in front of the Alberta Legislature.

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Reposted by Jeff Samsonow

Tara Moriarty @moriartylab.bsky.social · 12d

Canadian COVID Forecast Sep 27 - Oct 10, 2025

CANADA

HIGH [increasing]

About 1 of every 60 people is infected.

Compared to lowest point of pandemic in Canada:

-Infections: 5.8 x higher
-Long COVID: 5.7 x higher
-Hospitalizations: 9.2 x higher
-Deaths: 7.5 x higher

This image describes the Canadian COVID Forecast for the fourteen-day period between Sep 27 - Oct 10, 2025 which is produced by COVID-19 Resources Canada.
Canada’s COVID Forecast outlook is HIGH [no change]
Canada’s COVID INDEX SCORE is 7.5
About 1 of every 60 people is infected.

Estimated infections this week: 628,250-983,000
What these numbers mean: MODERATE 1-5, HIGH 5-10, VERY HIGH 10-15, SEVERE >15 COMPARED TO THE LOWEST POINT IN THE COVID PANDEMIC IN CANADA
How much higher are key indicators compared to the lowest point in the COVID pandemic in Canada?
Waste water, infections: HIGH; 5.8X higher
Long COVID: HIGH; 5.7X higher
Hospitalizations: HIGH; 9.2X higher
Deaths: HIGH; 7.5X higher
HOW TO HELP:
EVERYONE:
"UPDATE vaccines every 6 months
WEAR N95-type masks"
Who is HIGH RISK?
People 60 and older, babies < 1 year, pregnant
ALL AGES: immunocompromised OR medically at-risk OR no vaccine or infection in the last 6 months

Recommendations are based on the COVID-19 Risk Index from the Peterborough ON Public Health Unit
COVID-19 Resources Canada is a grassroots organization of volunteer scientists supporting Canadian COVID responses. Sources, data and methods for the COVID Index are available at www.Covid19Resources.ca

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Reposted by Jeff Samsonow

Ashley C. Ford @smashfizzle.bsky.social · 10d

As long as the loudest folks on the left insist tone-policing, compromise on human rights, and acquiescence are our only options for a unified country, they will continue to lose the faith of the marginalized. And even when they win, they’ll just be waiting to lose the same way again.

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Jeff Samsonow @jeffsamsonow.bsky.social · 8d

Alberta wants to build a new oil pipeline. To ship oil to the past, I presume. electrek.co/2025/09/30/solar...

Solar leads EU electricity generation as renewables hit 54%

In Q2 2025, renewables powered 54% of EU electricity, with solar leading the mix and topping all sources in June for the first time.

zurl.co

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Reposted by Jeff Samsonow

amy brown (spooky edition) @amybrown.xyz · 8d

are swifties okay

patreegs on instagram says

You need to listen to it once completely through while driving a car alone. Then you have to
listen to it indoors lying down. THEN you pick a few and listen to them WHILE you read the lyrics on your computer. You WILL find that you misheard some of the lyrics. DONT panic. Its COMPLETELY normal and healthy. DONT think about taylors life yet and DONT try to make sense of the lyrics and DONT panic if you dont like some of the songs at first bc your brain will LEARN to like them (evolutionary mechanism).
THEN, continue listening on loop as needed but have 2-3 that you sometimes just listen to on repeat. THEN re-emerge into the world and connect with others about their response to the text. THEN apply practically to your life. THEN examine how they fit into taylors. At this point you can start to lightly engage in online discourse if that feels healthy and safe.

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Jeff Samsonow @jeffsamsonow.bsky.social · 8d

And it gave us one of the great episodes of How Did This Get Made. www.goloudnow.com/podcasts/how...

How Did This Get Made? - Matinee Monday: Jason X LIVE! - GoLou...

HDTGM all-stars Rob Huebel and Jenny Slate join Paul and Jason to discuss the 2001 sci-fi slasher, Jason X. Recorded live from Largo in Los Angeles, they talk about a ...

www.goloudnow.com

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Reposted by Jeff Samsonow

jeff com-BOO-ters @helldude.bsky.social · 8d

this is our cracker barrel moment

the FRIGHTENING marnix @dragom.bsky.social · 9d

WHY DID THEY GENTRIFY THE AUDACITY LOGO

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Jeff Samsonow @jeffsamsonow.bsky.social · 8d

There is one way: pull the fire alarm.

A screenshot of a Reddit post with a screenshot of a Twitter post from the former councillor about firefighters where he included a very sexy, shirtless firefighter for an unknown reason.

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Reposted by Jeff Samsonow

Marisa Kabas @marisakabas.bsky.social · 8d

can the mods stop being weird and aggro and just fix it so when you post a bsky link in another app the featured image isn’t a terrifyingly large version of your avatar

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