Betsy Sneller
@betsysneller.bsky.social
Asst prof linguistics @ Michigan state. I like cats, fiber arts, people. I’ll finish the rest of this later.
Pinned
Betsy Sneller
@betsysneller.bsky.social
· Dec 18
Bill Labov died this morning. I'm not coherent enough to talk about how important and influential and brilliant he was. I am very sad.
I was so lucky to know him, and I am grateful every day that he (and Gillian, and Walt, etc) built an academic field where kindness is expected.
I was so lucky to know him, and I am grateful every day that he (and Gillian, and Walt, etc) built an academic field where kindness is expected.
Okay, buckle up bsky, it's time for the Tale of the Bunny Paper.
Here's the imported thread from twitter where the search all started:
bsky.app/profile/bets... (1/n)
Here's the imported thread from twitter where the search all started:
bsky.app/profile/bets... (1/n)
Reposted by Betsy Sneller
That's because we want it to do our housework, not write our novels, ya planks
Three years into the generative-AI wave, demand for the technology seems surprisingly flimsy
Investors expect AI use to soar. That’s not happening
Recent surveys point to flatlining business adoption
econ.st
November 29, 2025 at 11:31 PM
That's because we want it to do our housework, not write our novels, ya planks
Reposted by Betsy Sneller
Headline: "AI can replace 11.7% of workforce"
Actual study: Anthropic paid MIT to use a "labor simulation tool" that said 11.7% of TASKS could be done by AI
Actual study: Anthropic paid MIT to use a "labor simulation tool" that said 11.7% of TASKS could be done by AI
MIT study finds AI can already replace 11.7% of U.S. workforce
Artificial intelligence can already replace 11.7% of the U.S. labor market, across finance, health care and professional services, according to MIT's study.
www.cnbc.com
November 29, 2025 at 9:57 PM
Headline: "AI can replace 11.7% of workforce"
Actual study: Anthropic paid MIT to use a "labor simulation tool" that said 11.7% of TASKS could be done by AI
Actual study: Anthropic paid MIT to use a "labor simulation tool" that said 11.7% of TASKS could be done by AI
Reposted by Betsy Sneller
Happy World Linguistics Day 🎉
Not Saussure how to celebrate? Episodes 12 and 13 of our podcast will give your plans some structure...
🎙️ hiphilangsci.net/2021/02/01/p...
🎙️ hiphilangsci.net/2021/03/01/p...
#LinguisticBirthdays #LinguisticQuotes #Histlx #WorldLinguisticsDay
Not Saussure how to celebrate? Episodes 12 and 13 of our podcast will give your plans some structure...
🎙️ hiphilangsci.net/2021/02/01/p...
🎙️ hiphilangsci.net/2021/03/01/p...
#LinguisticBirthdays #LinguisticQuotes #Histlx #WorldLinguisticsDay
!["Dans la langue, il n'y a que des différences sans termes positifs [=In a language, there are only differences and no positive terms.]" (Ferdinand de Saussure: Cours de linnguistique générale, p. 166)](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:r6wjosgpmompi6hot3pbmyj2/bafkreicxbh6gr7vxtgn63slt6va5sdqvishbb7byqxx5ya2ykb7sa3ctdm@jpeg)
November 26, 2025 at 9:03 AM
Happy World Linguistics Day 🎉
Not Saussure how to celebrate? Episodes 12 and 13 of our podcast will give your plans some structure...
🎙️ hiphilangsci.net/2021/02/01/p...
🎙️ hiphilangsci.net/2021/03/01/p...
#LinguisticBirthdays #LinguisticQuotes #Histlx #WorldLinguisticsDay
Not Saussure how to celebrate? Episodes 12 and 13 of our podcast will give your plans some structure...
🎙️ hiphilangsci.net/2021/02/01/p...
🎙️ hiphilangsci.net/2021/03/01/p...
#LinguisticBirthdays #LinguisticQuotes #Histlx #WorldLinguisticsDay
Reposted by Betsy Sneller
As a survivor of the Tulsa Race Massacre, Viola Ford Fletcher bravely shared her story so that we’d never forget this painful part of our history. Michelle and I are grateful for her lifelong work to advance civil rights, and send our love to her family.
Viola Fletcher, Oldest Survivor of the Tulsa Race Massacre, Dies at 111
www.nytimes.com
November 25, 2025 at 12:45 AM
As a survivor of the Tulsa Race Massacre, Viola Ford Fletcher bravely shared her story so that we’d never forget this painful part of our history. Michelle and I are grateful for her lifelong work to advance civil rights, and send our love to her family.
My toddler likes to make up little songs as she goes about her day.
Today’s banger goes like this:
🎵“I love you, are you feeling well?” 🎶
Today’s banger goes like this:
🎵“I love you, are you feeling well?” 🎶
November 24, 2025 at 5:20 PM
My toddler likes to make up little songs as she goes about her day.
Today’s banger goes like this:
🎵“I love you, are you feeling well?” 🎶
Today’s banger goes like this:
🎵“I love you, are you feeling well?” 🎶
Reposted by Betsy Sneller
Trump's economy is being held up by a massive AI bubble.
A recent study found that of 300 companies that owned generative AI tools, 95% reported zero return on their investments.
We will not entertain a bailout of these companies should this bubble pop.
A recent study found that of 300 companies that owned generative AI tools, 95% reported zero return on their investments.
We will not entertain a bailout of these companies should this bubble pop.
November 19, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Trump's economy is being held up by a massive AI bubble.
A recent study found that of 300 companies that owned generative AI tools, 95% reported zero return on their investments.
We will not entertain a bailout of these companies should this bubble pop.
A recent study found that of 300 companies that owned generative AI tools, 95% reported zero return on their investments.
We will not entertain a bailout of these companies should this bubble pop.
Does anyone have like... a list of discourse markers? (asking for a student looking at UM + discourse, and is wanting to know what all counts: e.g. um but, um and, um yeah)
@joshuaraclaw.com ?
@joshuaraclaw.com ?
November 19, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Does anyone have like... a list of discourse markers? (asking for a student looking at UM + discourse, and is wanting to know what all counts: e.g. um but, um and, um yeah)
@joshuaraclaw.com ?
@joshuaraclaw.com ?
Reposted by Betsy Sneller
Hey, since Patton Oswalt was reinstated, maybe Bluesky moderation can reinstate someone who was banned for doing the exact same thing.
November 18, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Hey, since Patton Oswalt was reinstated, maybe Bluesky moderation can reinstate someone who was banned for doing the exact same thing.
Reposted by Betsy Sneller
If I’ve never shared this with you: Yes. (I would write it more sternly now I think. This was 2014!) Chris Christie And Pulling The Red Handle
Chris Christie And Pulling The Red Handle
Every time Chris Christie is in the news, we wind up hearing the same jokes. Maybe we could get some new ones.
www.npr.org
November 19, 2025 at 3:18 AM
If I’ve never shared this with you: Yes. (I would write it more sternly now I think. This was 2014!) Chris Christie And Pulling The Red Handle
Reposted by Betsy Sneller
Today there was an attempted ICE raid in Bensonhurst & community members showed up. Even though NYPD collaborated with ICE by trying to disburse the crowd; community members stood their ground & ICE left without kidnapping a single person per the rapid response groups I'm on. We protect us!
November 19, 2025 at 12:40 AM
Today there was an attempted ICE raid in Bensonhurst & community members showed up. Even though NYPD collaborated with ICE by trying to disburse the crowd; community members stood their ground & ICE left without kidnapping a single person per the rapid response groups I'm on. We protect us!
Reposted by Betsy Sneller
ICE employee among 16 men arrested in Bloomington sex trafficking sting, police say.
"When he was arrested, he said, 'I'm ICE, boys,'" Hodges said during a press conference Tuesday. "Well, unfortunately for him, we locked him up."
"When he was arrested, he said, 'I'm ICE, boys,'" Hodges said during a press conference Tuesday. "Well, unfortunately for him, we locked him up."
ICE employee among 16 men arrested in Bloomington sex trafficking sting, police say
According to Bloomington Police Chief Booker Hodges, officers started the three-day sting on Nov. 5. They used several methods to find people who were attempting to solicit a 17-year-old girl for sex.
www.cbsnews.com
November 18, 2025 at 11:59 PM
ICE employee among 16 men arrested in Bloomington sex trafficking sting, police say.
"When he was arrested, he said, 'I'm ICE, boys,'" Hodges said during a press conference Tuesday. "Well, unfortunately for him, we locked him up."
"When he was arrested, he said, 'I'm ICE, boys,'" Hodges said during a press conference Tuesday. "Well, unfortunately for him, we locked him up."
Reposted by Betsy Sneller
I love him so much
NEW: Brad Lander says he wants a trial, not a deal to drop his charge stemming from an arrest by ICE.
After Arrest by ICE, City Comptroller Rejects Deal and Seeks Trial
Other officials arrested while protesting at 26 Federal Plaza in September will have their federal charges dropped if they avoid arrest inside a federal building for six months.
www.thecity.nyc
November 18, 2025 at 8:42 PM
I love him so much
Reposted by Betsy Sneller
Seems like a good time (again) to share the guide I developed with @freedomfromtorture.bsky.social, which tells you how to talk about refugees and asylum in a way that actually convinces the undecided - based on testing 🧵 www.freedomfromtorture.org/changing-the...
Changing the Conversation on Asylum: A Messaging Guide
Our new messaging guide looks at the methodology and messages that can help us carve out a new approach that will be successful in persuading the public that seeking safety is a fundamental human righ...
www.freedomfromtorture.org
November 17, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Seems like a good time (again) to share the guide I developed with @freedomfromtorture.bsky.social, which tells you how to talk about refugees and asylum in a way that actually convinces the undecided - based on testing 🧵 www.freedomfromtorture.org/changing-the...
Reposted by Betsy Sneller
Wait uh if you watch through to the end of the clip THEY TRIED TO BUY TACOS FROM A SHOP WHERE THEY HAD PREVIOUSLY KIDNAPPED A WORKER, WHO IS STILL DETAINED
I’m still struggling with the fact that ICE “brown shirts” went to a taco shop and thought they would get served.
F that!
F that!
November 17, 2025 at 4:05 AM
Wait uh if you watch through to the end of the clip THEY TRIED TO BUY TACOS FROM A SHOP WHERE THEY HAD PREVIOUSLY KIDNAPPED A WORKER, WHO IS STILL DETAINED
I’m done playing up here anymore!
T, 3;7
#LinguistBabyPhotos
(Is my nephew innovating positive anymore!?)
T, 3;7
#LinguistBabyPhotos
(Is my nephew innovating positive anymore!?)
November 15, 2025 at 12:47 PM
I’m done playing up here anymore!
T, 3;7
#LinguistBabyPhotos
(Is my nephew innovating positive anymore!?)
T, 3;7
#LinguistBabyPhotos
(Is my nephew innovating positive anymore!?)
Hold on “fairy liquid” is out there as an option and none of you fine people told me!? 🧼
For the last 17 years, I have been secretly re-washing the dishes after my wife does them. She just doesn't do it correctly. Water not hot enough/not enough fairy liquid to de grease properly. I often wait until she's asleep and then go down and do them so I can sleep soundly.
November 15, 2025 at 10:14 AM
Hold on “fairy liquid” is out there as an option and none of you fine people told me!? 🧼
Reposted by Betsy Sneller
I say it over and over again: when you have that much money, you want to live where you want to live and you are simply not going to relocate because of marginal tax rates
Alan Dershowitz will never leave Martha’s Vineyard and they won’t even sell him a pierogi
Alan Dershowitz will never leave Martha’s Vineyard and they won’t even sell him a pierogi
NEW: The first two years of Massachusetts' millionaire tax has raised $3 billion more than expected.
And rather than driving the rich away, IPS researchers found that the number of millionaires has *increased.*
Tax the rich. Greg Ryan in @bloomberg.com:
And rather than driving the rich away, IPS researchers found that the number of millionaires has *increased.*
Tax the rich. Greg Ryan in @bloomberg.com:
Millionaire Tax That Inspired Mamdani Fuels $5.7 Billion Haul in Massachusetts
A millionaire levy in Massachusetts that New York City mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani holds up as a model for taxing the rich has generated $3 billion more in revenue than expected without forcing...
www.bloomberg.com
November 14, 2025 at 2:24 AM
I say it over and over again: when you have that much money, you want to live where you want to live and you are simply not going to relocate because of marginal tax rates
Alan Dershowitz will never leave Martha’s Vineyard and they won’t even sell him a pierogi
Alan Dershowitz will never leave Martha’s Vineyard and they won’t even sell him a pierogi
Reposted by Betsy Sneller
KRUGMAN: “Republicans don’t care about deficits & debt, they care about trying to prevent Democrats from spending money on helping people.” 🎯
November 13, 2025 at 9:15 PM
KRUGMAN: “Republicans don’t care about deficits & debt, they care about trying to prevent Democrats from spending money on helping people.” 🎯
Reposted by Betsy Sneller
The value of reading history is you know that in 1860 there were abolitionists who were so demoralized that they thought chattel slavery would be permanent. 5 years later those still alive had lived to see its end.
November 12, 2025 at 8:05 PM
The value of reading history is you know that in 1860 there were abolitionists who were so demoralized that they thought chattel slavery would be permanent. 5 years later those still alive had lived to see its end.
Reposted by Betsy Sneller
Meanwhile, “did women ruin the workplace?”
November 13, 2025 at 12:13 AM
Meanwhile, “did women ruin the workplace?”
First snowfall in the garden
November 10, 2025 at 9:15 PM
First snowfall in the garden
Reposted by Betsy Sneller
you know we used to have to do at least a little work to prove the connection between racism and transphobia
Nothing illustrates the arseholery of the IOC and the British Press more than the use of the image of a not-Trans woman to illustrate a story about trans women being banned (because there are no current trans women competing at this level)
November 10, 2025 at 7:14 PM
you know we used to have to do at least a little work to prove the connection between racism and transphobia
I want the yes-and energy of my 3yo.
I (1;1) throws a tiny book at M (3;2)
M: Oh! You wanna play Book Catch? Mama, me and I are playing Book Catch!
I (1;1) throws a tiny book at M (3;2)
M: Oh! You wanna play Book Catch? Mama, me and I are playing Book Catch!
November 9, 2025 at 12:25 PM
I want the yes-and energy of my 3yo.
I (1;1) throws a tiny book at M (3;2)
M: Oh! You wanna play Book Catch? Mama, me and I are playing Book Catch!
I (1;1) throws a tiny book at M (3;2)
M: Oh! You wanna play Book Catch? Mama, me and I are playing Book Catch!
This. Also “less lethal” rounds. If our government wants to disperse protesters, let them (1) fix the underlying policy that is being protested about and/or (2) arrest us one at a time. You run out of space to hold us or ppl to arrest us? Then I guess you have to pay attention and come back to (1)
When this is over, we need to ban tear gas as the fucking chemical weapon that it is.
Heartbreaking: Under Trump's ICE terror, a 2-year-old Chicago girl was tear-gassed while walking with her mom-burning eyes, screams of
'Ouch! Mommy!' This isn't enforcement; it's state-sponsored child abuse.
'Ouch! Mommy!' This isn't enforcement; it's state-sponsored child abuse.
November 6, 2025 at 9:44 PM
This. Also “less lethal” rounds. If our government wants to disperse protesters, let them (1) fix the underlying policy that is being protested about and/or (2) arrest us one at a time. You run out of space to hold us or ppl to arrest us? Then I guess you have to pay attention and come back to (1)
Reposted by Betsy Sneller
the fact that Sandwich Guy is facing this 'wich trial at all is evidence of subpar justice. he is a hero being put through the judicial grinder. i hope the jury wraps up a not guilty verdict without delay or loafing around
November 6, 2025 at 7:55 PM
the fact that Sandwich Guy is facing this 'wich trial at all is evidence of subpar justice. he is a hero being put through the judicial grinder. i hope the jury wraps up a not guilty verdict without delay or loafing around