Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Reposted by Paris Marx

ali alkhatib @ali-alkhatib.com · 1h

if you see some dipshit noname account on reddit posting reactionary interpretations of one piece and other manga, you are obliged to say "peter thiel just fuck off and die" in the 1/10000 chance that you nail him

Sharon @sharonk.bsky.social · 5h

thiel, man, what the fuck are you talking about

He describes the plot of Watchmen, a 1986 graphic novel involving superheroes grappling with moral questions about humanity against the backdrop of impending nuclear war:

The antihero Ozymandias, the antichrist-type figure, is sort of an early-modern person. He believes this will be a timeless and eternal solution – eternal world peace. Moore is sort of a late-modern. In early modernity, you have ideal solutions, ‘perfect’ solutions to calculus. In late modernity, things are sort of probabilistic. And at some point, he asks Dr Manhattan whether the world government is going to last. And he says that ‘nothing lasts forever.’ So you embrace the antichrist and it still doesn’t work.

Thiel later finds biblical meaning in the manga One Piece, discussing how he believes it represents a future where an antichrist-like one-world government has repressed science. He believes that the hero, Monkey D Luffy, represents a Christlike figure.

In One Piece, you are set in a fantasy world, again sort of an alternate earth, but it’s 800 years into the reign of this one-world state. Which, as the story unfolds, gradually gets darker and darker. You sort of realize, in my interpretation, who runs the world and it’s something like the antichrist. There’s Luffy, a pirate who wears a red straw hat, sort of like Christ’s crown of thorns. And then towards the end of the story, transforms into a figure who resembles Christ in Revelation.

Thiel, along with a researcher and writer at Thiel Capital, explored these ideas at greater length in an essay for the religious journal First Things earlier this month.

1 9 85

Reposted by Paris Marx

Kashana @kashana.blacksky.app · 4h

So thankful that dudes without game now have the option of driving all of our energy bills up to come up with devastating lines like it was nice to meet you

C. Buckthorn @cbuckthorn.bsky.social · 9h

This is amazing. I laughed out loud www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...

As 32-year-old Rich points out, though, "it's not like using ChatGPT guarantees success".
When he met someone in a bar one Friday night and swapped social media handles, he asked AI what his next move should be.
ChatGPT discerned that sending an initial message on Monday midmorning would set the right pace. "Then it gave me some options for what the message could be," says Rich.
"Keep it light, warm, and low-stakes so it reads as genuine interest without urgency," the bot advised. "Something like: Hey Sarah, still laughing about [tiny shared moment/reference if you've got one] - good to meet you!" Rich went back and forth with ChatGPT until he felt they'd hit upon exactly the right message ("Hey Sarah, it was lovely to meet you") but sadly she never replied, he says. "It's been two weeks now."

55 600 2.9K

Paris Marx @parismarx.com · 2h

*to watch, i can’t type

1

Paris Marx @parismarx.com · 2h

dude it’s been cool watch your painting journey, great stuff

1 2

Reposted by Paris Marx

Ursula K. Le Guin Bot @leguinbot.bsky.social · 11h

He thought, I am living in a nightmare, from which from time to time I wake in sleep.

19 68

Reposted by Paris Marx

Spooky Boo @spookyboo.bsky.social · 23h

Sorry, not sorry, neighbors.

Multiple plastic skeletons bow down on the grass or kneel with their palms up towards their god - the 12’ plastic skeleton standing behind the fence line

Two plastic skeletons bow on their knees in the grass while one has a single knee down and his palms outstretched towards their god - the 12’ plastic skeleton standing behind the wood fence

14 260 1K

Reposted by Paris Marx

Parker Molloy @parkermolloy.com · 15h

Pretty much

2 310 2.2K

Reposted by Paris Marx

Ryan W Enslow @ryanwenslow.bsky.social · 16h

The purpose of government is not to maximize earnings to investors

33 280 1.2K

Reposted by Paris Marx

Arn Keeling @arnkeeling.bsky.social · 1d

Unsurprising but disappointing to see leading politicians in this resource-captured province spout climate denial and ignorance of both the environmental and economic risks of oil dependence #nlpoli
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Wakeham says no link between N.L. wildfires, oil industry in campaign where climate change largely absent | CBC News

The 2025 provincial election is happening in the direct aftermath of one of the worst climate-related disasters in Newfoundland and Labrador’s recent history.

www.cbc.ca

1 8 37

Paris Marx @parismarx.com · 1d

“What is astonishing to me as a legal scholar is that the alcohol industry has somehow circumvented their legal and moral responsibility to warn consumers.”

No question this bill should be made law. Make alcohol follow the same plain packaging rules as tobacco.

Senate debates bill to add warning labels to alcohol packaging | CBC News

Sen. Patrick Brazeau is trying a second time to pass legislation that would add cancer warning labels to alcohol packaging.

www.cbc.ca

6 38 170

Paris Marx @parismarx.com · 1d

every couple months, carney starts pulling the legs out from under yet another important climate policy

'It depends': Carney shifts stance on maintaining emissions cap | CBC News

Prime Minister Mark Carney said Friday the fate of the emissions cap on oil and gas producers depends on other efforts to lower emissions, suggesting his government might be open to scrapping the poli...

www.cbc.ca

8 55 220

Paris Marx @parismarx.com · 1d

benioff is a pathetic man. every time i see his face i think of when he was at wef on a panel with sam altman, and instead of engaging like a normal person, he was sitting there with his phone out recording altman from the other end of the panel.

Gil Durán @gilduran.com · 1d

We can have democracy or we can have billionaires.
We cannot have both.

NYT: Marc Benioff Says Trump Should Send Guard Troops to San Francisco (gift link)

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/10/u...

Marc Benioff Says Trump Should Send Guard Troops to San Francisco

www.nytimes.com

3 23 170

Paris Marx @parismarx.com · 1d

this pope just keeps getting better. now he’s calling out clickbait!

p.a.lapid, phd 🎃👻💀🪦 @palapid.bsky.social · 2d

da pope! first affirming migrant rights and now this

(and yes the headline is clickbait-y by design)

You won’t believe what degrading practice the pope just condemned

Communication must be freed from clickbait and misguided thinking, head of Catholic church tells journalists

www.theguardian.com

2 10 140

Reposted by Paris Marx

Phoenix Calida @phoenixcalida.bsky.social · 1d

The pope has condemned clickbait as a “degrading” part of journalism, at a private audience with global newswires.

"I urge you: never sell out your authority"

News agencies deliver a service which “requires competence, courage and a sense of ethics”.

p.a.lapid, phd 🎃👻💀🪦 @palapid.bsky.social · 2d

da pope! first affirming migrant rights and now this

(and yes the headline is clickbait-y by design)

You won’t believe what degrading practice the pope just condemned

Communication must be freed from clickbait and misguided thinking, head of Catholic church tells journalists

www.theguardian.com

84 370

Reposted by Paris Marx

Jon Cooper @joncooper-us.bsky.social · 1d

The Canadian boycott of travel to the U.S. continued through September—cementing an enormous economic loss for American tourism in 2025 as visitors from around the world choose not to travel to the States amid geopolitical tensions.
www.forbes.com/sites/suzann...

48 180 520

Reposted by Paris Marx

Gil Durán @gilduran.com · 1d

We can have democracy or we can have billionaires.
We cannot have both.

NYT: Marc Benioff Says Trump Should Send Guard Troops to San Francisco (gift link)

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/10/u...

Marc Benioff Says Trump Should Send Guard Troops to San Francisco

www.nytimes.com

23 150 510

Reposted by Paris Marx

Lauren McKenzie @themckenziest.gay · 1d

Seeing Ms. Rachel say exactly what needs to be said to Obama is so damn refreshing

Dear President Obama,
I saw in your statement you said "Israeli families" & "the people of Gaza."
Palestinians have families, too.
This kind of language contributes to dehumanization. Dehumanization is part of what caused so many to stay silent as 20,000 children were killed in this genocide.
I've sat with wonderful Palestinian families from Gaza. They look at their children just like we look at ours - with all the love & hope in the world.
Love,
Ms Rachel

28 1.1K 4.3K

Paris Marx @parismarx.com · 1d

Every month I put together a recap of some top stories and good tech reads you might have missed. This one has stories on Elon Musk, surveillance, contract AI workers, and so much more.

It’s a little late because I’m writing a book, but better late than never? 😬

What you missed in September 2025

Plus a little note on digital rights

disconnect.blog

2 7 32

Paris Marx @parismarx.com · 1d

“I am exhausted, running out of body parts, and feeling more cyborg than human with each passing day. And if we blindly race toward a future where everyone feels like that? We’ve lost sight of why any of us ever loved technology in the first place.” — @vicmsong.bsky.social

We’re all about to be in wearable hell

I’m rapidly running out of body parts to do my job.

www.theverge.com

1 5 55

Paris Marx @parismarx.com · 1d

always a pleasure to chat with @jacobsilverman.com about his great work on the terrible tech billionaires. this episode — and his new book! — do not disappoint :)

Tech Won’t Save Us @techwontsave.us · 1d

What radicalized Silicon Valley billionaires to embrace Donald Trump, and how are they wielding their power?

This week @jacobsilverman.com joins @parismarx.com to discuss his new book GILDED RAGE and the distorted worldview of the men who shape our lives.

Full ep: techwontsave.us/episode/297_...

3 5 29

Paris Marx @parismarx.com · 1d

today i talked to the one and only rachel gilmore 🤭

Rachel Gilmore @rachelgilmore.bsky.social · 1d

Striking Canada Post workers will move to rotating strikes as of tomorrow — but they’re still fighting the uphill battle for both Canada Post and their labour rights.

For @parismarx.com, the Carney government continuing to chip away at this essential service is the last straw:

2 4 62

Reposted by Paris Marx

Rachel Gilmore @rachelgilmore.bsky.social · 1d

Striking Canada Post workers will move to rotating strikes as of tomorrow — but they’re still fighting the uphill battle for both Canada Post and their labour rights.

For @parismarx.com, the Carney government continuing to chip away at this essential service is the last straw:

15 55 220

Reposted by Paris Marx

Rachel Gilmore @rachelgilmore.bsky.social · 2d

NEW EPISODE OF BUBBLE POP GOING LIVE NOW!

TUNE IN: www.youtube.com/live/_Rdb4aU...

WHAT IN THE WORLD IS HAPPENING TO OUR POLITICS (picture of me and Paris Marx)

3 9 66

Paris Marx @parismarx.com · 2d

We could be treating Canada Post as not just an essential delivery service, but an essential social infrastructure in our communities.

Instead the government prefers to treat it as a costly burden that must be subject to death by a thousand cuts.

For isolated seniors, Canada Post delivers more than mail | CBC News

As the Canada Post strike hits the one-week mark, there are growing concerns for one group of Canadians who typically rely on the delivery service more than most — seniors.

www.cbc.ca

4 96 230

Reposted by Paris Marx

Juno Rylee Schultz @junoryleejournalism.com · 3d

David Simon, creator of ‘The Wire’, being interviewed by Ari Shapiro (NPR)

SHAPIRO: OK, so you've spent your career creating television without Al, and I could imagine today you thinking, boy, I wish I had had that tool to solve those thorny problems...
SIMON: What?
SHAPIRO: ...Or saying...
SIMON: You imagine that?
SHAPIRO: ...Boy, if that had existed, it would have screwed me over.
SIMON: I don't think Al can remotely challenge what writers do at a fundamentally creative level.
SHAPIRO: But if you're trying to transition from scene five to scene six, and you're stuck with that transition, you could imagine plugging that portion of the script into an Al and say, give me 10 ideas for how to transition this.
SIMON: I'd rather put a gun in my mouth.

340 8.8K 28K