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Laura Scott

@pieinthe.bsky.social

🛸 sff writer, editor, book designer 🏳️‍🌈 she/her https://lauralisscott.com

1735 Posts1177 Follower290 Folgt
Greg Pak@gregpak.net · 3w ago

Artists/writers/creators in NYC - please feel free to sign the @aimoratoriumnyc.bsky.social coalition's letter calling for a two year moratorium on "A.i." in the public schools! We're up to about 650 signatures - would love to get this over 1000! docs.google.com/document/d/1...

Artists for an AI Moratorium in NYC Schools

NYC Artists, Writers, and Creatives Call for a Moratorium on AI in Public Schools CLICK HERE TO SIGN Dear Mayor Mamdani, As writers, musicians, visual artists, filmmakers, photographers, actors, di...

docs.google.com

Laura Scott@pieinthe.bsky.social · last mo.

TIL I’ve been spelling Iain M. Banks’s name wrong in my posts and in my mind since like forever bc I simply never noticed, which is a mortifying realization, I mean he’s one of my favorite authors (This is an illustration of why I’m not and never will be a proofreader. Proofreaders are gods!)

Josephine "beckbook.com" Riesman@josie.zone · last mo.

Going through old coverage of Star Wars for research and I came across this column by sci-fi writer David Gerrold in a 1978 issue of STARLOG It contains what is easily the coolest, weirdest, most wildly off-base fan theory about Obi-Wan Kenobi that I've ever read: HE WAS DEAD THE WHOLE TIME

Somehow, Obi-Wan Kenobi failed to teach Darth Vader how to use the Force for good instead of evil-or the seductiveness of the dark side of the Force is very very strong. In either case, that Darth Vader did not learn all of the lessons that Obi-Wan tried to teach him is obvious. This implies the possibility that it is Obi-Wan Kenobi's responsibility to punish/stop his former student himself. If so, then it follows that Obi-Wan has been waiting for the proper moment to act. A number of pre-conditions must be met, a number of destinies must in- tertwine: Obi-Wan Kenobi is waiting for Luke Skywalker; he is waiting for the droids, C3PO and R2-D2, to flee with the Death Star plans; he is waiting for the moment when their paths cross Luke's; he has been waiting to give Luke his father's light-sabre; and ulti- mately, he is waiting for the moment when Luke will say, "Teach me about the Force." After all, just what else is the old guy doing out there in the desert? I mean, with all his skills and knowledge, he should be trying to re- surrect the Jedi Knights, shouldn't he? Or does he know that this particular moment in that far-off galaxy's history is a crucial nexus point? The impli- cation and it seems a fairly obvious one is that it is Obi-Wan Kenobi's destiny to insure that Luke Skywalker is properly equipped to meet his destiny. After all, doesn't he show up at just the right time to save Luke from the sand-people? This leads right into the next point: 4) Somewhere, in the vast bulk of publicity and interviews that came out in the first rush of the film's success. was the mention of George Lucas's original conception of Obi-Wan Kenobi as a kind of a crazy old hermit-some- thing like grizzled old Ben Gumm in Treasure Island. Alec Guinness had doubts about that kind of character- ization, and in subsequent discussions with George Lucas, Obi-Wan Kenobi evolved into a more mystical and state- ly character.This characterization, however, car- ries several implications of its own. One of the possibilities, is that Obi- Wan is never really there at all. Luke's Uncle Owen for instance, says, "I don't think that man exists any- more. He died about the same time as your father." When Luke tells this to Obi-Wan, the old man rolls his eyes heavenward before saying, "Oh, he's not dead. Not yet." There's something about the way he says it... When Obi-Wan and Darth Vader finally come face to face, Obi-Wan tells Darth Vader, "You cannot win, Darth... ... if you cut me down, I will become more powerful than you can possibly imagine." And finally, Obi-Wan Kenobi raises his light-sabre to his forehead in a mystical salute-a "we-who-are- about-to-die" gesture-and Darth Vader strikes him down-except that Obi-Wan has disappeared completely! All that Darth Vader has struck down is Obi-Wan's empty cloak. The implication here is that Obi-Wan has never been completely here, he has only been a manifestation of the Force working to bring Luke Skywalker to his destiny. Obi-Wan has long since passed on to a higher plane of existence and only returned now for this specific event in Galactic history. Luke con- tinues to hear Obi-Wan's voice at cru- cial moments of decision-especially at the end of the picture when Luke must "use the Force." It's my own theory that Obi-Wan is a direct manifestation of the Force. But if that is the case. then that also tells us that the Force is capable of appearing as a tangible manifestation in order to cause an event to occur a specific way-in this case, for good instead of evil. There- fore, we are presented with the possibility of an "activist God" who will step in when necessary to work miracles. The implication of Star Wars is that the Force is not impersonal. It cares.
Annalee Newitz@annaleen.bsky.social · last mo.

That's right, friends! STARLOG is back and I'm the editor-in-chief. We have so much good stuff for you in our first issue, coming this November!! Science! Sci-fi! Fantastic weirdness! Plus you can subscribe now to our podcast hosted by @jhoffman.bsky.social and @da7e.com!

STARLOG@starlogmedia.bsky.social · last mo.

THE FUTURE IS BACK. Fifty years ago, STARLOG went behind the scenes of alternate worlds for the first time. Now it's back, exploring the visionary sci-fi and cutting-edge science that inspire what comes next. The future will be wild. You'll be ready for it because you read STARLOG.

Courtney Milan@courtneymilan.com · last mo.

If you want to get swap of one of the most worthless Senators--one who isn't even bothering to show up to constituents to talk while running for office--for someone who wants to abolish ICE and pass universal healthcare, help out @senadorajulie.bsky.social!

Ezra Levin ❌👑@ezralevin.bsky.social · last mo.

If you think tonight felt good, @senadorajulie.bsky.social is up against a do-nothing Senate Dem incumbent next week. If there's one race in the country I'd focus on for the next 7 days, it's that one. Throw her some support: www.julieforcolorado.com

Laura Scott@pieinthe.bsky.social · last mo.

In college I had a biology class with no textbook, just bundles of Scientific American articles, because they were current and explained the science in detail and depth. RIP

Asher Elbein@asherelbein.bsky.social · last mo.

Employees at Scientific American were told today that the magazine has been sold to LabX Media Group, the outfit that runs Discover Magazine and IFLScience. And that means -- of course! -- editorial layoffs. The media mass extinction rolls ever onward.

Laura Scott@pieinthe.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Q5: I wound up in that situation (thanks to Long Covid, before I knew that was a thing and mine was bad). There’s no “good” way to explain when delays can ripple on through the publishing schedule. Be honest and provide your best good faith estimate of when you can deliver. #stetchat

Laura Scott@pieinthe.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Q4: I’d discuss it with the author to make sure what he’s doing is intentional, with eyes wide open, and he’s not inadvertently stepping on a rake. Often it’s the latter, in which case we work out how he might revise to avoid that rake while staying true to that character #stetchat