Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Merrill Barr

Yell In a War @jelenawoehr.bsky.social · 11h

I don’t think Sam Altman is a verified adult have we seen any proof

Reposted by Merrill Barr

britt hayes @britthates.bsky.social · 21h

studio execs & major outlets claim AI is "inevitable" and poised to take over Hollywood. the reality is much different. i spoke with filmmakers, producers, and editors about how AI is actually showing up in productions – and what it still can't do:

Hollywood Has a Major AI Hype Problem

Studio execs and major media outlets claim that AI is "inevitable" and poised to take over film and TV. The reality is much different.

movieweb.com

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Merrill Barr @merrillbarr.com · 11h

I’m eating like absolute crap tonight. 2 snack size bags of goldfish, 2 ice cream pops, I ate my meal prep and drank my gallon of water, but today’s food intake has been shiiiiiiiiit overall. I’m one bad decision away from HOUSING frozen chicken nuggets with a side of microwave burrito.

Reposted by Merrill Barr

Glen 🇨🇦 part owner of Canada* @honestcanadian.bsky.social · 1d

This is huge news!
UBC has developed an enzyme that can convert donor organs to type O, making them universal.
Normally a using organs of the wrong blood type causes the recipient's immune system to attack the organ, leading to failure.
❤️🇨🇦⚕️
news.ubc.ca/2025/10/univ...

UBC enzyme technology clears first human test toward universal donor organs for transplantation - UBC News

UBC-developed enzymes successfully converted a kidney to universal type O for transplant, marking a major step toward faster, more compatible organ donations.

news.ubc.ca

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Reposted by Merrill Barr

kevin @redsoxredshoes.bsky.social · 12h

Drew Struzan invented a genre of art and invited a generation of people to enjoy movies. We have lost a legend.

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Merrill Barr @merrillbarr.com · 12h

Daaaaaaaaaamn.

Merrill Barr @merrillbarr.com · 12h

Cray.

variety.com/2025/tv/news...

TiVo Stops Selling DVRs, Exiting the Hardware Business After 26 Years

TiVo officially stopped selling its DVR boxes on October 1 as it gets out of the hardware business after 26 years.

variety.com

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Merrill Barr @merrillbarr.com · 13h

Woof. Depression wave coming in hard out of nowhere tonight. Not fun. I know it’s due to a lot of things. Doesn’t make me feel better. Maybe we just try again tomorrow.

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Reposted by Merrill Barr

Eric Goldman @theericgoldman.bsky.social · 13h

They say it so much too! Like did they find info on Nightmare Cafe, a Robert Englund-led TV show Craven WAS involved with, and conflate them somehow?

James Beckett @kickthebeckett.com · 15h

I cannot stress enough that Wes Craven did not have a single goddamned thing to do with Freddy's Nightmares, and I have no fucking clue what Polygon is smoking with this article

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Reposted by Merrill Barr

Amanda Marcotte @amandamarcotte.bsky.social · 15h

For those tempted to say Young Republicans have always been this way, they really have not. When I worked on campus and did bipartisan college events after, they were very much not like this.

That’s why groups like YCT and eventually TPUSA formed — because Young Republicans weren’t radical enough.

Politico @politico.com · 20h

EXCLUSIVE: Thousands of leaked messages show leaders of Young Republican groups joking about gas chambers, slavery and rape in a private Telegram chat.

Inside rising GOP leaders’ racist chats — obtained by POLITICO and spanning more than 7 months👇

‘I love Hitler’: Leaked messages expose Young Republicans’ racist chat

Thousands of private messages reveal young GOP leaders joking about gas chambers, slavery and rape.

www.politico.com

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Merrill Barr @merrillbarr.com · 14h

Market leaders in a given sector typically don’t go into porn directly because advertisers won’t want to associate with the brand. This is gonna be a major test for OpenAI as a revenue generator.

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Merrill Barr @merrillbarr.com · 14h

This would be like if NBC/ABC/CBS started airing porn in the 70s in deep late night except much dumber because that actually would have been cool.

www.404media.co/chatgpt-erot...

ChatGPT’s Hail Mary: Chatbots You Can Fuck

As recent reports show OpenAI bleeding cash, and on the heels of accusations that ChatGPT caused teens and adults alike to harm themselves and others, CEO Sam Altman announced that you can soon fuck t...

www.404media.co

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Reposted by Merrill Barr

Drew McWeeny @drewmcweeny.com · 16h

Hey, if you're thinking about subscribing to my new efforts at Ghost, this is the week I need you to do it.

The doors are open and the Ghost era is beginning. If you were reluctant because of Substack, please show me I made the right choice by moving.

drewmcweeny.com

The front page of drewmcweeny.com, with a banner image showing Peter O'Toole as Lawrence of Arabia, and my current top story, a column called "Try, Try Again."

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Reposted by Merrill Barr

Adam Mallinger @bitterscriptreader.bsky.social · 16h

“The humans won hands down when it came to notes, which require actual analysis rather than just distillation. The AI programs were ‘an almost total fail across the board.’”

Nice to know I wouldn’t have been so easily replaced at my old job by an A.I.

variety.com/2025/film/ne...

Hollywood Script Readers Fear They Could be Replaced by AI. They Set Up a Test to See Who Gives Better Feedback

Fearing they could be replaced, Hollywood script readers face off against AI programs to see who gives better feedback.

variety.com

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Merrill Barr @merrillbarr.com · 18h

Is the writer any good?

Reposted by Merrill Barr

C. Robert Cargill @crobertcargill.bsky.social · 18h

Hey guys, if you’re not too busy this weekend, maybe it might be a good time to go see a movie. Just a thought. I heard there is something good playing.

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Reposted by Merrill Barr

_Mark 🏳️‍🌈 @marxgbaker.bsky.social · 18h

Good to see the student newspaper at my college is acting like a student newspaper should and writing articles about how evil ICE and the Texas government are. Fuck 'em up, kids.

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Merrill Barr @merrillbarr.com · 18h

Aw man.

www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie...

Drew Struzan, Iconic Movie Poster Artist and Favorite of Spielberg and Lucas, Dies at 78

He created some of the most memorable movie posters of all-time in his own signature style.

www.hollywoodreporter.com

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Merrill Barr @merrillbarr.com · 23h

I’m reading a book about stand-up comedy. It thinks it’s funnier than it is.

agnes bookbinder @agnesbookbinder.bsky.social · 23h

I’m reading a book about politics. I should have chosen something better.

The Phantom Meowtzi (trouble/tribble) @ufomitzidino.bsky.social · 1d

I'm reading a book about explosives. It's a blast.

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Merrill Barr @merrillbarr.com · 1d

IYKYK

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Reposted by Merrill Barr

Rachel Walens @rwalens.bsky.social · 1d

LA County Library is partnering with the LA County Dept of Public Health to offer a FREE vaccine clinic for Flu and COVID shots, no insurance required. Friday October 24, 10 AM to 12 noon. Go here for details and to make an appointment:

lacountylibrary.libnet.info/event/14546049

Free Vaccine Clinic: Flu and COVID-19 for for All Ages

LA County Department of Public Health is partnering with LA County Library to provide FREE flu vaccinations and the 2025-26 COVID-19 vaccine for individuals 6+ month. Health insurance is not required,...

lacountylibrary.libnet.info

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Merrill Barr @merrillbarr.com · 1d

a man with a beard is smiling while talking to another man with the words " did you really though " below him

Alt: a man with a beard is smiling while talking to another man with the words " did you really though " below him

media.tenor.com

Reposted by Merrill Barr

utopia deferred @utopia-defer.red · 1d

this is an incredibly ominous beginning to a future with a largely carved out federal emergency response system

News Eye @newseye.bsky.social · 1d

NEW: There’s a disaster unfolding in Alaska right now. And no major network is covering it.

The remnants of Typhoon Halong battered western Alaska overnight. Homes, with people in them, have literally been swept into the Bering Strait.

At least 20 are missing. No comment from any federal agency.

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Merrill Barr @merrillbarr.com · 1d

If you don’t know The Lyon’s Den, look it up. Trust me.

Alan Sepinwall @sepinwall.bsky.social · 1d

aka the one where they got canceled, but had to keep filming episodes for international distribution, and decided that, since no one in America would see the rest, they would just make Rob Lowe's character into a serial killer? Oh, I remember that one.

eightydays.bsky.social @eightydays.bsky.social · 1d

Anyone else remember The Lyon’s Den?

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Reposted by Merrill Barr

Alan Sepinwall @sepinwall.bsky.social · 1d

aka the one where they got canceled, but had to keep filming episodes for international distribution, and decided that, since no one in America would see the rest, they would just make Rob Lowe's character into a serial killer? Oh, I remember that one.

eightydays.bsky.social @eightydays.bsky.social · 1d

Anyone else remember The Lyon’s Den?

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