Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Sam Crane @uselesstree.bsky.social · 1h

Sam Crane @uselesstree.bsky.social · 2h

Believes PLA is in bad shape. Morale is low, incentive to actually fight is low.
But Taiwan is seriously imperilled because of extensive CCP infiltration and cooptation of KMT. Aggressive posturing by PRC could bring preemptive Taiwan collapse. That’s what Xi wants and needs politically.
3/

2

Sam Crane @uselesstree.bsky.social · 1h

He probably means Shakespeare but of course he whiffed it.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 1h

BESSENT: Ambassador Jamieson is a lawyer. I am not.

REPORTER: As am I.

BESSENT: I won't tell you the one thing I agreed with Lenin on

1 2

Sam Crane @uselesstree.bsky.social · 2h

*Hu Chunhua

Sam Crane @uselesstree.bsky.social · 2h

Finally, Lam pointed out that Xi is not a Confucian but a Legalistic.
You heard that here first:
/fin

chinachannel.larbpublishingworkshop.org/2018/06/29/l...

Why Xi Jinping’s China is Legalist, Not Confucian – China Channel

The philosophical basis of China’s “New Era” – Sam Crane Jiang Shigong, a law professor at Peking University, thinks Xi Jinping is the epitome of the new Confucian-Marxist leader. In a recent article ...

chinachannel.larbpublishingworkshop.org

2

Sam Crane @uselesstree.bsky.social · 2h

Believes PLA is in bad shape. Morale is low, incentive to actually fight is low.
But Taiwan is seriously imperilled because of extensive CCP infiltration and cooptation of KMT. Aggressive posturing by PRC could bring preemptive Taiwan collapse. That’s what Xi wants and needs politically.
3/

1 1

Sam Crane @uselesstree.bsky.social · 2h

Also points out lack of alternative leaders. Wang Yang “lacks credibility” and doesn’t want to do it. Hi Chunhua doesn’t have sufficient backing from Party elites and military.
2/

2 1

Sam Crane @uselesstree.bsky.social · 2h

Talk today by the indomitable Willie Wo-Lap Lam.

He predicts that, even though Xi Jinping’s health is bad and nobody in Beijing likes him, it is increasingly likely that he will go for a fourth term and stay in power until 2032.
1/

1 2 1

Sam Crane @uselesstree.bsky.social · 5h

Sam Crane @uselesstree.bsky.social · 1d

Hmmm… wonder what this might mean for the Royal Institute of Translation at Oxford?

(Babel 😉)

Financial Times @financialtimes.com · 1d

Silver price hits record amid scramble in London market on.ft.com/3J8OoKy

Silver price hits record amid scramble in London market

The metal has staged a bigger rally than gold this year

on.ft.com

3

Sam Crane @uselesstree.bsky.social · 3d

Since ancient times

Paul French @chinarhyming.bsky.social · 3d

I feel like it’s time for the first ‘Santa’s Grotto is Really in Shenzhen’ (or variant of) story in the UK press - awaiting with bated breath…

1

Sam Crane @uselesstree.bsky.social · 4d

“As family-centered holiday traditions fade…”

The continuing decline of Confucian culture in East Asia.

Korea JoongAng Daily @koreajoongangdaily.com · 5d

As family-centered holiday traditions fade, more Korean seniors are choosing to spend Chuseok on their own terms, watching old movies, dancing at “silver” clubs and enjoying the peace that comes after the children go home. buff.ly/0cNSxns

Seniors prioritize personal happiness, redefine holiday traditions during Chuseok

As family-centered holiday traditions fade, more Korean seniors are choosing to spend Chuseok on their own terms, watching old movies, dancing at “silver” clubs and enjoying the peace that comes…

koreajoongangdaily.joins.com

1

Sam Crane @uselesstree.bsky.social · 4d

The only reason these fevered rantings of a lunatic matter is cowardly Congressional Republicans have abandoned their institutional duty.

The Wall Street Journal @wsj.com · 4d

Breaking: President Trump said he will hit China with an additional 100% tariff and impose new export controls on critical software products, starting Nov. 1.

Trump Hits China With Additional 100% Tariff, Citing Restrictions on Rare-Earth Elements

President Trump said there was “no reason” to meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping after the country’s newest restrictions on rare-earth materials marked an escalation in trade negotiations.

on.wsj.com

2

Sam Crane @uselesstree.bsky.social · 5d

Can confirm. At Oxford:

1. University sends out email to everyone celebrating fact that all - faculty, staff, and students - will be provided licenses for most recent ChapGPT.

2. Administrators assure me that AI violates regulation that “Candidates shall submit their own work for examination.

🎃 a frightful hoxgoblin 🎃 @kellenhoxworth.bsky.social · 5d

Higher Ed in 2025 is opening your mailbox to see that your institution has sent you:

1. A Center for Teaching and Learning call to integrate AI into your classroom; and

2. An Office of Academic Integrity email encouraging you to crack down on students who use AI to cheat.

5

Sam Crane @uselesstree.bsky.social · 5d

Excellent choice!
An inspiration to defenders of democracy everywhere, including in the US.

The Associated Press @apnews.com · 5d

BREAKING: For her work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela, María Corina Machado wins the Nobel Peace Prize.

María Corina Machado of Venezuela wins the Nobel Peace Prize

Opposition activist María Corina Machado of Venezuela has won the Nobel Peace Prize. The Norwegian Nobel committee praised her as a key figure in unifying Venezuela's political opposition.

bit.ly

3 4

Sam Crane @uselesstree.bsky.social · 5d

雙十節快樂!

Also, 39 years ago today I successfully defended my dissertation at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Go Badgers!

9

Sam Crane @uselesstree.bsky.social · 6d

Magdalen Street, Oxford

Merriam-Webster @merriam-webster.com · 6d

What’s the word where you’re from that, when pronounced exactly as it looks, identifies a tourist immediately?

2

Sam Crane @uselesstree.bsky.social · 7d

So, for your interlocutors Marx is right-leaning?

1 2

Sam Crane @uselesstree.bsky.social · 7d

My wife, as a young student nurse in 1980, was assigned to take care of Gein in the psychiatric ward of his prison. All the other Wisconsin people knew who he was, but she didn't, and they picked the unknowing New Yorker for the job. By then, he was a confused and caring man. Creepy!

1 3

Sam Crane @uselesstree.bsky.social · 7d

I found myself on a stage in summer 2024 with Wang Hui and Jeffery Sachs at a big conference in Beijing. Wang was quite smooth and cerebral while Sachs was boorish and contemptible. Wrote an overlong unpublished piece about the experience that I'm happy to share if you're interested.

1 3

Sam Crane @uselesstree.bsky.social · 7d

Who will be the latter day Cromwell to Trump’s Charles I?

"Online Rent-a-Sage" Bret Devereaux @bretdevereaux.bsky.social · 7d

So Trump is now going to try to rule like an early modern king - just avoid calling the estates general or parliament or the diet and so rule by fiat.

Maybe someone in the GOP should turn the page in book and see what happened next...oh, oh dear...oh no...oh dear ohnonono....

George Pearkes @peark.es · 7d

Well that's not how appropriations work at all

*WHITE HOUSE TO TRANSFER TARIFF REVENUE TO FUND WIC: LEAVITT

1 1 2

Sam Crane @uselesstree.bsky.social · 7d

Yes.
And let’s not forget Wang’s “Heidegger Moment.”

www.readingthechinadream.com/rong-jian-wa...

1 4

Sam Crane @uselesstree.bsky.social · 8d

Respect

16

Sam Crane @uselesstree.bsky.social · 9d

I’m so old I remember when southern conservatives were all about states’ rights. Good times!

Bradley P. Moss @bradmossesq.bsky.social · 9d

Texas proudly invading Illinois.

It’s hard to describe the level of potential constitutional crisis here.

1 14

Sam Crane @uselesstree.bsky.social · 9d

This has a Deng Xiaoping vibe: when he scrambled to get troops from other provinces to invade Beijing after local troops balked in May, 1989.
Key question from this analogy: will commanders and troops themselves resist bad orders?

Cathy Gellis @cathygellis.bsky.social · 9d

This is jawdropping. The idea that a state about to be invaded by out-of-state soldiers that Trump is moving around the nation like chess pieces has no standing to object to the invasion!

Joshua J. Friedman @joshuajfriedman.com · 9d

DOJ: Well, CA NG already federalized, and ...

Judge: Anything else you want to argue?

DOJ: Yes, your honor. OR and Portland lack standing to challenge relocation of out-of-state National Guard. Only CA could possibly sue under 12406, but CA can't establish standing or irreparable harm.

1 1 5

Sam Crane @uselesstree.bsky.social · 9d

Postliberalism requires lies to rationalize monarchal/autocratic power.

Kevin M. Kruse @kevinmkruse.bsky.social · 9d

The President of the United States is lying and/or delusional, and it seems like we should be talking about this and nothing else.

Ron Filipkowski @ronfilipkowski.bsky.social · 9d

The protests are on one block. Nothing is burning down. His justification for sending in troops is all based on lies.