Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Larson Lee @larsonlee.bsky.social · 1d

Not that you asked (sorry), but the line I still quote from an ad is “It’s a common misconception among raccoons,” from this gem, featuring voice of Homer Simpson, Dan Castellanetta. youtu.be/nevOnaqspPI?...

youtu.be

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Larson Lee @larsonlee.bsky.social · 1d

Verizon Wireless - Mobile Messaging Outside the Box Commercial 2002

YouTube video by Hshg766 Cantik455

youtu.be

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Larson Lee @larsonlee.bsky.social · 1d

This mf-er is responsible for the Gen X IQ deficit and the hole in the ozone layer? I’m glad the ropes got him.

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Larson Lee @larsonlee.bsky.social · 1d

I’m genuinely dumbfounded at the idea of a farmer in 2025 who inherited *nothing.* They’re paying cash rent on every acre? How did they buy equipment? What collateral did they use to get their first operating note?

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Larson Lee @larsonlee.bsky.social · 1d

Where at, Don?

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Larson Lee @larsonlee.bsky.social · 1d

When you say unusable, do you mean not tillable? If it’s actually unusable then it’s not farmland.

I grew up in the middle of nowhere, and although *developers* have no interest in the land there, *investors* sure do. Current average price per acre is $11,467.

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Larson Lee @larsonlee.bsky.social · 1d

Agreed it’s complicated. My parents farmed in a similarly economically precarious situation, until eventually the bank refused to issue them a new operating loan, and the land they farmed was absorbed by larger operations. I’m curious what area your family farms in?

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Larson Lee @larsonlee.bsky.social · 1d

Not since 1975 it doesn’t. Altman has said AI will significantly speed up the historical pace of automating away existing jobs. If he’s expecting us to speed run the equivalent of 200 years of industrialization in 50 years or less, I don’t think the metaphor is that hopeful.

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Larson Lee @larsonlee.bsky.social · 1d

I will cop to getting hung up on a hobby horse of mine. But I don’t think the metaphor is as hopeful as intended if you know what happened to the people whose farming jobs were automated away, and the communities they left behind.

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Larson Lee @larsonlee.bsky.social · 1d

Okay, fair, to take Altman literally, he’s talking about farming in the distant sepia-toned year of… 1975.

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Larson Lee @larsonlee.bsky.social · 1d

Urban Americans have gobbled up propaganda about the “noble hardworking farmer.” In 2025, anyone still farming for himself inherited land worth tens of millions and is only busy in spring and fall. Picture a guy driving a $90,000 truck to his lake house and you’ll be much closer to reality.

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Larson Lee @larsonlee.bsky.social · 1d

Livestock farming is a different animal; it can range from somewhat harder to really hard. And obviously the jobs only migrants take—radish picking and the like—are super hard. But “farmer” is not ipso facto a hard job. My “cushy office job” is much more demanding than my time farming was.

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Larson Lee @larsonlee.bsky.social · 1d

I’m a child of farmers, grew up farming, and now practice law. If we’re talking about modern crop farming (corn, soybeans, wheat), you’re gonna be hard-pressed to find an *easier* job. The tractors literally drive themselves, and you only really work a few months a year.

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Larson Lee @larsonlee.bsky.social · 3d

I was forced to sit through a set by his terrible band at a festival and it was the worst show I’ve ever seen.

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Reposted by Larson Lee

ArtButMakeItSports @artbutmakeitsports.bsky.social · 9d

Broken Eggs, by Jean-Baptiste Greuze, 1756

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Larson Lee @larsonlee.bsky.social · 6d

Context for this: My firm is doing a trial run of some AI gizmos, and so I just fed one a weird federal civ pro question that came up. By the time it finished giving me the wrong answer, I’d already found the right one using an old-fashioned Boolean search.

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Larson Lee @larsonlee.bsky.social · 6d

Fellow litigators: If you hate doing legal research so much you want “AI” to do it for you, just sub-contract me to do it instead. Though not cheap, I’m cheaper than Westlaw’s AI subscription, and I promise you I’ll get better results that you can actually trust. #Lawsky

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Reposted by Larson Lee

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 6d

Pritzker: "This guy is unhinged. He's insecure. He's a wannabe dictator. And there's one thing I really want to say to Donald Trump. If you come for my people, you come through me. So come and get me."

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William Hazen @williamhazen.bsky.social · 7d

This is the most accurate depiction of the Midwest to date. Wichita has always felt like the last Midwest city while also being the first plains city.

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Warin @brotherfuture94.bsky.social · 7d

William Casby was born into slavery in 1857 and died at the age of 113 in 1970. He would've been old enough to remember the Emancipation Proclamation in real time and also could have attended Dr. King's 'I Have A Dream' speech. I can't imagine living long enough to have witnessed those two events.

rax ‘levon honkers’ king @raxkingisdead.bsky.social · 7d

you ever think about those real weird overlaps. like tennessee williams might have listened to the ramones

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Larson Lee @larsonlee.bsky.social · 7d

Yikes! I defer to your superior experience on that!

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Larson Lee @larsonlee.bsky.social · 7d

Yes. I grew up raising hogs, and although I want no animal to suffer, I have no doubt they’d have killed and eaten me without a second thought.

Now, cows…. Cows are big delicious puppies, it pains me to say.

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Reposted by Larson Lee

Chibdm @chibdm.bsky.social · 8d

Robin Williams' daughter has some quality thoughts on AI slop

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A.R. Moxon @juliusgoat.bsky.social · 9d

“Terrible things are happening outside. At any time of night and day, poor helpless people are being dragged out of their homes .... Families are torn apart; men, women and children are separated."

-Anne Frank

CNN @cnn.com · 11d

Adults and children alike were pulled from their Chicago apartments, crying and screaming, during a large overnight raid that has left tenants and neighbors shaken. https://cnn.it/4pPCXIt

37 people arrested and American kids separated from parents after ICE raid at Chicago apartments | CNN

Adults and children alike were pulled from their Chicago apartments, crying and screaming, during a large overnight raid that has left tenants and neighbors shaken.

www.cnn.com

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Reposted by Larson Lee

T. Greg "Antifa General Counsel (Retired)" Doucette @gregdoucette.bsky.social · 9d

Meme of three girls in a classroom sitting at desks, with the girl in the middle cheating on a quiz by copying the paper of the girl in front, and the girl in the back cheating by copying the girl in the middle. The front girl is labeled "Cops, lying". The girl behind her is labeled "local media". The girl in the back is labeled "national media".

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