Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by 'Nathan Boo-goine 👻 🔜 Can*Con 2025

Micah @rincewind.run · 5h

I know the headline everyone's running with is "erotica" but "we have been able to mitigate the serious mental health issues" and "we are putting personality back in ChatGPT so it will act like a friend" are diametrically opposed statements

that's the cause of most of the mental health issues

Matt Burgess (WIRED) @mattburgess1.bsky.social · 6h

Oh good, ChatGPT is getting "erotica for verified adults" later this year

We made ChatGPT pretty restrictive to make sure we were being careful with mental health issues. We realize this made it less useful/enjoyable to many users who had no mental health problems, but given the seriousness of the issue we wanted to get this right.

Now that we have been able to mitigate the serious mental health issues and have new tools, we are going to be able to safely relax the restrictions in most cases.

In a few weeks, we plan to put out a new version of ChatGPT that allows people to have a personality that behaves more like what people liked about 4o (we hope it will be better!). If you want your ChatGPT to respond in a very human-like way, or use a ton of emoji, or act like a friend, ChatGPT should do it (but only if you want it, not because we are usage-maxxing).

In December, as we roll out age-gating more fully and as part of our “treat adult users like adults” principle, we will allow even more, like erotica for verified adults.

22 190 880

Reposted by 'Nathan Boo-goine 👻 🔜 Can*Con 2025

'Nathan Boo-goine 👻 🔜 Can*Con 2025 @nathanburgoine.bsky.social · 10h

For #TabletopTuesday I’m talking Captain’s Log from @modiphius.bsky.social—and not-so-sneakily noting I’ll be using it for a solo experience you can have this year at @canconsffh.bsky.social (but also at my blog, for those of you who can’t attend).

Also, holy heck that’s soon.

#TTRPGs #SoloRPGs

Tabletop Tuesday — Captain’s Log (and Can*Con)

I’m going to semi-cheat today with my “talk nerdy gaming things on Tuesdays” because this week it’s Can*Con, Ottawa’s Sci-Fi, Fantasy, and Horror Literature Convention, and I’ll be ther…

apostrophen.wordpress.com

3 4

'Nathan Boo-goine 👻 🔜 Can*Con 2025 @nathanburgoine.bsky.social · 45m

Had stuff to accomplish today, but after getting the blog post up, big headache returned so I ended up spending the day in a half-dark room.

Not quite a migraine, so I could at least have audiobook reading.

(Yes, reading; don’t be an ableist asshole; I will not be taking questions.)

1 7

'Nathan Boo-goine 👻 🔜 Can*Con 2025 @nathanburgoine.bsky.social · 48m

I hear you. I had my index finger on my right band broken when I was 18, and it’s an ongoing asshole these days.

'Nathan Boo-goine 👻 🔜 Can*Con 2025 @nathanburgoine.bsky.social · 7h

Remember your "first me!" moment? That time you bumped into a character who you connected with—who felt (even in part) like you? How awesome it was?

You might never know it, but you’ve probably written one of those for someone else.

John Wiswell @wiswell.bsky.social · 8h

Tell me your most life-affirming literary opinion.

5 17

Reposted by 'Nathan Boo-goine 👻 🔜 Can*Con 2025

Kate Heartfield @kateheartfield.com · 7h

Friends who buy from Waterstones, it would be an amazing boost for Mercutio's fortunes if you took advantage of the 25% off on pre-orders until Oct. 17. Use the code OCTOBER25. In the next post, I'll show you some of the endorsements the book's been getting! www.waterstones.com/book/mercuti...

Pre-order now with code OCTOBER25. 14-17 October. Online only. Selected lines only. T&Cs available on Waterstones.com.

1 5 5

Reposted by 'Nathan Boo-goine 👻 🔜 Can*Con 2025

Libro.fm @libro.fm · 7h

One of our core values is “We are humans, not bots.” Here are 3️⃣ examples of how we live up to that promise ⤵️

3 18 100

Reposted by 'Nathan Boo-goine 👻 🔜 Can*Con 2025

Sophia Babai @swingingstorm.bsky.social · 8h

So far TODAY Israel has:

- bombed Gaza City
- bombed Khan Younis
- shot and killed five Palestinians in Gaza City
- refused to open the Rafah border crossing
- announced they would once more block aid

This is what a "ceasefire" with Israel looks like. This is what it has always looked like.

4 240 350

'Nathan Boo-goine 👻 🔜 Can*Con 2025 @nathanburgoine.bsky.social · 9h

(I say that not to dismiss the impact of what the vitriol does while it’s present, more that the individual stoking said flames just snuffs out and… that’s it for *them*.)

1 3

'Nathan Boo-goine 👻 🔜 Can*Con 2025 @nathanburgoine.bsky.social · 9h

I think rationality doesn’t play into it, once you’ve achieved that level of… I guess "infamy" is the word I’m maybe looking for? Desperate to still be *present* because that’s the whole thing: presence via angry vitriol. Nothing else, nothing lasting.

Like how Rush Limbaugh is just *gone*.

1 3

'Nathan Boo-goine 👻 🔜 Can*Con 2025 @nathanburgoine.bsky.social · 9h

"Lawyers for conspiracy theorist loser warned his website and assets will end up in the hands of his ‘nemesis’ and be ‘destroyed’ unless the justices get involved."

Oh no. ANYway...

(Though this was how I learned the Onion buying InfoWars had been paused/stopped/held back, actually.)

The Independent @the-independent.com · 9h

BREAKING | Alex Jones loses Supreme Court bid to avoid paying $1.4B to Sandy Hook families

Alex Jones loses Supreme Court bid to avoid paying $1.4B to Sandy Hook families

www.independent.co.uk

2 3 12

Reposted by 'Nathan Boo-goine 👻 🔜 Can*Con 2025

ACLU @aclu.org · 22h

The trailblazing transgender rights activist Miss Major has passed away at the age of 78.

Miss Major was a lifelong organizer and participant in the ballroom scene. She took part in the 1969 Stonewall Riots and was injured by the police — but she kept fighting.

93 2.6K 7.9K

Reposted by 'Nathan Boo-goine 👻 🔜 Can*Con 2025

Lilly Wachowski @lillywachowski.bsky.social · 9h

it is disorienting when you lose someone who you navigate your life to, like a star blinking out of the night sky.
a life lived in fearlessness, she carved out space for so many of us.
an amazing woman.
check out this doc by some of my pals.

Watch MAJOR! Online | Vimeo On Demand

The award-winning documentary "MAJOR!" follows the life and campaigns of Miss Major Griffin-Gracy, a Black transgender elder who has been fighting for…

vimeo.com

6 180 690

Reposted by 'Nathan Boo-goine 👻 🔜 Can*Con 2025

Adrian+Shane @adrianandshane.bsky.social · 10h

Iconic 💥🖤🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

Queerazon.com @queerazon.bsky.social · 17h

On this day in queer history: Oct 14, 1977

During a live TV appearance in Iowa, anti-gay activist Anita Bryant was hit with a pie in protest of her “Save Our Children” campaign. A sweet moment of queer resistance.

#QueerHistory #LGBTQHistory #QueerResistance #AnitaBryant

1 6 34

Reposted by 'Nathan Boo-goine 👻 🔜 Can*Con 2025

Governor JB Pritzker @govpritzker.illinois.gov · 22h

Vaccines are safe and effective.

Autism isn't caused by vaccines, and autistic people and their families deserve our support.

When you want information, ask your doctor.

It's more important than ever for all of us to speak plainly, truthfully, and directly about public health.

370 5.5K 24K

Reposted by 'Nathan Boo-goine 👻 🔜 Can*Con 2025

Weird (in an unsettling way) Alex @jackalpants.bsky.social · 10h

Every single gender affirming treatment, from hair transplants to breast removal, from butt implants to lip fillers, is of interest to more cis people than trans people exist.

It's not going anywhere, and neither are we.

1 1 6

Reposted by 'Nathan Boo-goine 👻 🔜 Can*Con 2025

Weird (in an unsettling way) Alex @jackalpants.bsky.social · 10h

HRT is cheap, effective, easy to dose and measure, and the subject of extraordinary demand from cis people.

It's not going anywhere, and neither are we.

1 4 13

Reposted by 'Nathan Boo-goine 👻 🔜 Can*Con 2025

Brandon Crilly (Announcements Only) 🔜 Can*Con @brandoncrilly.bsky.social · 10h

Release day for Castoff!!

Three years in the making, we return to a fractured world for the conclusion of the Aspects of Aelda duology.

Available wherever you get your books!

www.atthisarts.com/p...

#Booksky #newrelease @atthisarts.com

7 12 17

Reposted by 'Nathan Boo-goine 👻 🔜 Can*Con 2025

LSE Library @lselibrary.bsky.social · 12h

New online: The Gay Liberation Front (GLF) collection is now available on LSE Digital Library! We’ve digitised and published the GLF Diaries and the GLF newspaper Come Together. Further series from the archives will be added as digitisation continues.
1/2
digital.library.lse.ac.uk/collections/...

Cover image of the Gay Liberation Front (GLF) Diary, December 21-30, 1972. A purple and green poster-style image featuring text and a leafy plant design.

2 72 110

'Nathan Boo-goine 👻 🔜 Can*Con 2025 @nathanburgoine.bsky.social · 10h

For #TabletopTuesday I’m talking Captain’s Log from @modiphius.bsky.social—and not-so-sneakily noting I’ll be using it for a solo experience you can have this year at @canconsffh.bsky.social (but also at my blog, for those of you who can’t attend).

Also, holy heck that’s soon.

#TTRPGs #SoloRPGs

Tabletop Tuesday — Captain’s Log (and Can*Con)

I’m going to semi-cheat today with my “talk nerdy gaming things on Tuesdays” because this week it’s Can*Con, Ottawa’s Sci-Fi, Fantasy, and Horror Literature Convention, and I’ll be ther…

apostrophen.wordpress.com

3 4

Reposted by 'Nathan Boo-goine 👻 🔜 Can*Con 2025

Brandon Crilly (Announcements Only) 🔜 Can*Con @brandoncrilly.bsky.social · 21h

We have an amazing team that puts together @canconsffh.bsky.social and Marie's done her usual spectacular job of pointing to everyone's strengths and amazing characters. BUT we'd be nothing without our Glitter Chair, who is the Pike to my Una apparently and my very dear friend. 💜

Marie Bilodeau @mariebilodeau.bsky.social · 22h

We are getting close to @canconsffh.bsky.social and I am taking a moment to say that I have the best crew anyone could ever ask for. Ever. Lemme go on for a bit. You need to know how amazing they are, and they deserve it to be seen.

1 1 13

Reposted by 'Nathan Boo-goine 👻 🔜 Can*Con 2025

Chanda Prescod-Weinstein 🌌 @chanda.blacksky.app · 1d

For Indigenous People's Day, I'd like to encourage fellow #Trekkies (and everyone else!) to read Black and Choctaw commentator @law-writes.bsky.social on one example of Native representation in #StarTrek.

www.startrek.com/news/star-tr...

How Star Trek: The Next Generation Took On Indigenous American Representation

A member of the Choctaw Nation parses through TNG's 'Journey's End.'

www.startrek.com

4 72 220

Reposted by 'Nathan Boo-goine 👻 🔜 Can*Con 2025

Prisonculture @prisonculture.bsky.social · 1d

I thought this was lovely.

"A few years ago I received a DM from Zohran Kwame Mamdani. Only recently did I discover its existence. It was a very unusual DM—especially coming from a local assemblyman who would soon be running for higher office. He had very little name recognition at the time, and could have benefited from publicity. But unlike the thousands of messages I’ve received from people with something to promote, Zohran did not ask to be featured on Humans of New York. Instead he asked if he could introduce me to taxi drivers that were struggling beneath the burden of debt. Coming from a man with political ambitions, this self-denying request was so strange as to be almost singular. I don’t endorse politicians on Humans of New York. But I’ll endorse a good man. And it was a good man who cleared 30 minutes from his schedule yesterday to swing by Grand Central and visit Dear New York’s Vanderbilt Hall Exhibition. Nearly fifty-student artists were visiting that day with their families, and I thought a surprise visit from this widely-loved future mayor would be a special memory for all of them. Before Zohran’s arrival I was convinced I’d made a terrible mistake. The exhibit was filled to capacity with adult visitors. Dear New York is self-funded so there was very little staff and security for crowd control. In the crush of people I was almost certain this special day for the kids would devolve into thirty minutes of selfie requests. But everyone rose to the occasion."

black text on white background

"Hundreds of adults quickly cleared the room and stood outside the exhibit. Eleven very notable adult photographers are also featured in the show, but even they took a step back, so that these students could briefly have the stage to themselves. Each child stood by their work and Zohran was able to meet all of them, one at a time, and honor their contributions to the most-visited art show in New York City. Thanks to everyone who ceded the stage yesterday to make this moment possible. Thank you Zohran for literally sitting down on the floor so that these young artists could feel so tall. Thanks for continually centering other people in your life and work. And thank you, for being such an important part of Dear New York."

A large group of children and adults pose together indoors in front of a sign reading "DEAR." A man in a suit sits cross-legged in front, surrounded by smiling kids. The background features an ornate architectural detail.

22 510 2K

'Nathan Boo-goine 👻 🔜 Can*Con 2025 @nathanburgoine.bsky.social · 1d

When I have a migraine, Max walks into the room, huffs at the inconvenience, jumps on the bed, smacks me once or twice with a paw, then leaves, huffing again.

1 2

Reposted by 'Nathan Boo-goine 👻 🔜 Can*Con 2025

Kate Heartfield @kateheartfield.com · 1d

We are one week away from the launch of Premee's new book here in Ottawa at Perfect Books, with me as wingman. Please come, and support a lovely bookstore while you're at it.

Kate Heartfield @kateheartfield.com · 13d

If you are going to be in Ottawa Oct. 20, you should come see me and @premeemohamed.com at the launch for her excellent novella, The First Thousand Trees. At the wonderful community hub that is Perfect Books.

JOIN US FOR THE LAUNCH OF
THE FIRST THOUSAND TREES
PREMEE MOHAMED
MONDAY
OCTOBER 20
7:00-8:30 PM

PERFECT
BOOKS
258A ELGIN ST,
OTTAWA

Author Premee Mohamed in
conversation with Kate Heartfield

1 22 53