Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Thomas Maluck

derek guy @dieworkwear.bsky.social · 4h

This two-parter below is exactly why it's hard to make clothes in the United States.

Let's look at how much it costs to produce a button-up shirt in the US. 🧵

Someone on Twitter replies to me: "meh. buy american or stfu."

Two hours later, in a separate thread, the write: "$30 for a single button-up is ridiculous unless it is decent quality silk."

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Reposted by Thomas Maluck

Forth 🏝️ @forthrast.bsky.social · 13h

learning they discussed the size of One Piece’s subredit in First Things

firstthings.com/voyages-to-t...

Voyages to the End of the World

PETER THIEL, SAM WOLFE | OCTOBER 1, 2025

Four years after Watchmen ended, so did the Cold War. President George H. W. Bush declared the beginning of a “new world order,” safe from great-power conflict. His successor, Bill Clinton, disarmed to save on a “peace dividend” and accelerated globalization with trade deals. In this tranquil time, the swashbuckling Eiichiro Oda began writing One Piece, a manga that—twenty-eight years and more than 1,100 chapters later—has entered its “final saga.”

If you have not heard of One Piece, your children probably have. One Piece has sold more than 570 million copies, not counting the millions of fans who read the series online or watch the even more popular anime adaptation. The r/OnePiece subreddit discussion forum has 5.2 million followers, more than any other subreddit for a work of fiction (for comparison, r/StarWars has 4.6 million followers; r/HarryPotter has 3.6 million).

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Reposted by Thomas Maluck

Gene Ha @geneha.com · 1d

“…AI investments accounted for nearly 92% of U.S. GDP growth in the first half of 2025…”

The sooner the bubble bursts, the less damage it'll do to the US economy. But even now the damage will be HUGE. finance.yahoo.com/news/most-us...

Screenshot of the beginning of linked news article:

Yahoo! Finance
decrypt
Most US Growth Now Rides on AI—And Economists Suspect a Bubble
Jose Antonio Lanz
Wed, October 8, 2025 at 4:30 PM CDT 5 min read

What happens when artificial intelligence becomes both the economy's primary engine and its potential Achilles' heel? We may be about to find out.

Harvard economist Jason Furman recently said that AI investments accounted for nearly 92% of U.S. GDP growth in the first half of 2025. Basically, the entire American economy put its eggs in one algorithmic basket.

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Reposted by Thomas Maluck

Lynn Stahl @msbtterswrth.altgov.info · 1d

Hot off the presses! If you need a bigger size to print your stickers let me know!

The Portland frog as a founding father, surround by the words "give me ribberty or give me death"

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Reposted by Thomas Maluck

Richard Ovenden @richove.bsky.social · 1d

Honoured that my ‘Burning the books’ -
the @harvardpress.bsky.social edition - should feature in @thelibrariansfilm.bsky.social - a must- see for anyone concerned about the freedom to read and to think - it highlights the courageous libraries defending democracy in America

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Thomas Maluck @maluckamuck.financialflock.com · 1d

Although, as we all know, the status of 'writer' is not conferred by one's diligence nor creative spark, but by fetishisizing sweet writing instruments.

Photo of the box of an 8bitdo Retro 108 Mechanical Keyboard. The keys are clackity, it can work over USB or bluetooth, it has dedicated red, separate A and B keys like some sort of NES keyboard, the color scheme is NES inspired light gray, dark gray, and red, it has a volume knob and red power light, the ESC key is bright red, the whole tactile experience of typing on it is just leagues more satisfying than the stealthy fwips of a flat laptop keyboard. I intend to do a lot of writing with this hardware.

Thomas Maluck @maluckamuck.financialflock.com · 1d

I praised something Elana said about the creative process (keep feeding the creative/inquisitive part of your brain, always reject being shamed for your creativity) and she responded by asking if I'm a writer.

I sucked air through my teeth, looked her in the eye with some effort, and said yes.

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Thomas Maluck @maluckamuck.financialflock.com · 1d

I told her I liked photos with authors to be staged in a silly way, and she was all about this staging. "I wish all my photos could be taken like this!"

Elana K. Arnold and yours truly sitting behind a dollhouse-sized haunted house, looking at the camera through a seam between the roof and the top floor.

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Thomas Maluck @maluckamuck.financialflock.com · 2d

This little friend is named Crunchwrap, he likes lettuce.

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Thomas Maluck @maluckamuck.financialflock.com · 2d

share.google/iThYTTlanfuw...
I C O N I C

The Most Iconic Libraries in South Carolina

South Carolina’s most iconic libraries showcase history, culture, and community near museums, parks, and historic landmarks.

share.google

Reposted by Thomas Maluck

Ryan Cordell @ryancordell.org · 2d

Experimenting with a new concept using @queermedieval.bsky.social’s Portland Frog woodcut. Embracing goofiness as protest.

A poster in green ink on off white paper. In the center is a woodcut style illustration of a protester wearing an inflatable frog costume standing up against two ICE agents. The text above and below reads:

VIVE LA
RIBBITSTANCE

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Reposted by Thomas Maluck

Rumic World @furinkan.com · 2d

A very happy birthday to Rumiko Takahashi! Born on October 10, 1957 in Niigata, she is entering into her 47th year as a mangaka! Happy birthday, sensei!

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Thomas Maluck @maluckamuck.financialflock.com · 2d

Proud to share my first SC Parents blog post!
scparents.org/blog/6-every...

6 Everyday Ways to Teach Kids Money Skills | scParents.org

scparents.org

Reposted by Thomas Maluck

Retrosofa @retrosofa.bsky.social · 3d

I don’t think an anime opening has ever made me laugh so hard.

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Thomas Maluck @maluckamuck.financialflock.com · 2d

There are way too many YA nonfiction books that propose homemade pizza to be cheaper, more convenient, AND tastier than any corporate pizza.

Thomas Maluck @maluckamuck.financialflock.com · 3d

Elana K. Arnold is part of Richland Library's Teen Lock-In this Friday and a 'meet the author' event Saturday! "The Blood Years" had me hook, line, and sinker.
www.richlandlibrary.com/event/2025-1...

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Reposted by Thomas Maluck

ACLU @aclu.org · 4d

There's no better way to honor Banned Books Week than to defend our freedom to read.

@aclusc.bsky.social is suing the state of South Carolina for banning 22 books in public schools statewide.

South Carolina Students and Librarians Sue State Education Superintendent Over Book Bans

South Carolina public school students and school librarians file a lawsuit against the state's education superintendent over book bans.

bookriot.com

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Reposted by Thomas Maluck

Olúfẹ́mi O. Táíwò @olufemiotaiwo.bsky.social · 4d

repost this if an editor has ever saved you from yourself

violent alien @blipstress.bsky.social · 4d

An actual hot take: Too many authors are afraid of editors watering down their voice or whatever and not afraid enough of editors letting you put any old slop on the page.

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Reposted by Thomas Maluck

skellyton bones jensen @heykellyjensen.bsky.social · 3d

This is the second library director this year to win a settlement after being inappropriately fired over not banning books the board insisted be pulled.

That Librarian: Amanda Jones @librarianjones.com · 3d

Congratulations to Terri and Iris!!!
#BannedBooksWeek

www.cbsnews.com/news/wyoming...

Wyoming library director fired amid uproar over books with LGBTQ+ themes wins $700,000 settlement

Terri Lesley was fired amid an uproar over books with sexual content and LGBTQ+ themes that some people complained were inappropriate for youngsters.

www.cbsnews.com

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Reposted by Thomas Maluck

Wendy Xu @wendyxu.bsky.social · 4d

every ai bro who has reduced miyazaki to empty gentle aesthetic should no exaggeration get the judas cradle bc this man's markmaking & passion about telling WAR STORIES

three panels from the nausicaä manga depicting ohmu & giant insects

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Thomas Maluck @maluckamuck.financialflock.com · 3d

A link might be helpful! theprotomen.bandcamp.com

The Protomen

theprotomen.bandcamp.com

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Thomas Maluck @maluckamuck.financialflock.com · 3d

The Protomen are releasing their long-awaited "Act III" album on bandcamp at a rate of a track or two per week. Weebs who like the robopocalypse, sibling rivalry, and cursed inventors (and the aesthetics of Streets of Fire) will love it. I'm always happy to interact with bandcamp, so wholesome.

unhinged eldritch abomination @rhymeswithk.bsky.social · 4d

Friends, #weebwednesday is upon us once again! You know the drill - quote-post with your weebiest hot takes, nothing racist, nothing intentionally inflammatory, have fun with it ♥

a girl in a blue dress is dancing next to a jukebox

Alt: a girl in a blue dress is dancing next to a jukebox

media.tenor.com

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Thomas Maluck @maluckamuck.financialflock.com · 3d

Ah, that's the "root causes" portion of the presentation, where I describe how offshoring, tax evasion, and legislative bribery do more to erode economic security than any salaried or paychecked--
*red dot appears on my forehead*
--it's the avocado toasts and lattes. The poors do it to themselves.

GDmilkman @gdmilkman.bsky.social · 3d

-never being paid enough to live comfortably

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Thomas Maluck @maluckamuck.financialflock.com · 3d

www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/ar...

If I could add extra, really specific reasons smart people still go broke:

-Divorce
-Believing they understand the FDA approval process
-Believing they understand options
-Believing they understand forex
-Substance abuse

4 Reasons Smart People Like You Can Still Go Broke

Even the smartest people can go broke. Discover some of the hidden habits and financial traps that can quietly drain wealth -- and how to sidestep them.

www.yahoo.com

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Thomas Maluck @maluckamuck.financialflock.com · 4d

Several writing outlets I've enjoyed (Panels, Bookriot, SLJ, GateCrashers, Do You Even Comic Book) trace back to openings on social media. Tons of great library colleagues, plus a fun show called The Secret Stacks leading to keynoting in Quebec.

Also, a JAGMO ad I found while scrolling in Japan.

Conrad Hackett @conradhackett.bsky.social · 4d

Has anything great happened in your life because of social media?

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