Brendan O’Kane
@bokane.org
Scrutable Occidental, erstwhile 北漂, quondam translator, Ming and Qing fiction enjoyer, congenital Philadelphian. Shitposty sinology. Cynicism makes you an easy mark. Signal: @bokane.1644.
http://www.burninghou.se
http://www.burninghou.se
Reposted by Brendan O’Kane
these are fabulously joyful: do read them and cheer yourself up: "Hatless and barefoot under my parasol on a summer day, I watch a burly fellow working a well-pump and singing Suzhou folk songs. The water comes up in a sudden burst, like a spill of silver coins or a gust of snow"
In 1657, Jin Shengtan 金聖嘆 broke off from his commentary on 'The Romance of the Western Chamber' to list "33 Nice Things" 不亦快哉三十三則.
It's one of the most likable things I know of in any language. I translated it to cheer myself up a while ago, if anyone could use it. www.burninghou.se/p/whats-good
It's one of the most likable things I know of in any language. I translated it to cheer myself up a while ago, if anyone could use it. www.burninghou.se/p/whats-good
November 8, 2024 at 8:38 AM
these are fabulously joyful: do read them and cheer yourself up: "Hatless and barefoot under my parasol on a summer day, I watch a burly fellow working a well-pump and singing Suzhou folk songs. The water comes up in a sudden burst, like a spill of silver coins or a gust of snow"
Reposted by Brendan O’Kane
I think this is my favorite translation of all time. I’ve loved so much translated literature, but I return to this again and again
In 1657, Jin Shengtan 金聖嘆 broke off from his commentary on 'The Romance of the Western Chamber' to list "33 Nice Things" 不亦快哉三十三則.
It's one of the most likable things I know of in any language. I translated it to cheer myself up a while ago, if anyone could use it. www.burninghou.se/p/whats-good
It's one of the most likable things I know of in any language. I translated it to cheer myself up a while ago, if anyone could use it. www.burninghou.se/p/whats-good
July 26, 2025 at 3:12 AM
I think this is my favorite translation of all time. I’ve loved so much translated literature, but I return to this again and again
Reposted by Brendan O’Kane
“This Whole Thing Smacks Of Campism,” I holler as I overturn the cranberry sauce
Thanksgiving tip! If your family members or loved ones have generally good politics, you can still fuck things up by accusing them of not having a realistic plan for building socialism in our time
November 23, 2023 at 7:17 PM
“This Whole Thing Smacks Of Campism,” I holler as I overturn the cranberry sauce
Reposted by Brendan O’Kane
Thanksgiving tip! If your family members or loved ones have generally good politics, you can still fuck things up by accusing them of not having a realistic plan for building socialism in our time
November 23, 2023 at 12:03 PM
Thanksgiving tip! If your family members or loved ones have generally good politics, you can still fuck things up by accusing them of not having a realistic plan for building socialism in our time
Reposted by Brendan O’Kane
my brain woke me up this morning with this:
JENNA MARONEY: Liz, I need some time off. I'll be playing the title role in the long-awaited direct-to-Peacock followup to 'The Rural Juror.' It's called "The Lizza-Nuzzi Nookie Tizzy."
JENNA MARONEY: Liz, I need some time off. I'll be playing the title role in the long-awaited direct-to-Peacock followup to 'The Rural Juror.' It's called "The Lizza-Nuzzi Nookie Tizzy."
my aunt is currently sitting in the corner reading the ringer article about the lizza/nuzzi stuff and giggling her ass off
November 27, 2025 at 6:25 PM
my brain woke me up this morning with this:
JENNA MARONEY: Liz, I need some time off. I'll be playing the title role in the long-awaited direct-to-Peacock followup to 'The Rural Juror.' It's called "The Lizza-Nuzzi Nookie Tizzy."
JENNA MARONEY: Liz, I need some time off. I'll be playing the title role in the long-awaited direct-to-Peacock followup to 'The Rural Juror.' It's called "The Lizza-Nuzzi Nookie Tizzy."
Reposted by Brendan O’Kane
Sorry to be the one to tell you, but paparazzi caught Lizzo getting pizza with Nuzzi and Lizza on the terrazza of a palazzo in Rome. Che cazzi!
November 26, 2025 at 11:14 PM
Sorry to be the one to tell you, but paparazzi caught Lizzo getting pizza with Nuzzi and Lizza on the terrazza of a palazzo in Rome. Che cazzi!
i hope lizzo shows up in part 4
November 26, 2025 at 10:54 PM
i hope lizzo shows up in part 4
It's Called the Salmon of Meat, Charlie Brown
“it’s called the salmon of meat” will stick with me for a while lol
November 26, 2025 at 7:35 PM
It's Called the Salmon of Meat, Charlie Brown
Reposted by Brendan O’Kane
Charlie Brown was dead, to begin with. There is no doubt whatever about that. The register of his burial was signed by Scheoeder, Lucy, Linus, and Peppermint Patty. Snoopy signed it: and Snoopy’s name was good upon ’Change, for anything he chose to put his hand to.
All of these worlds are yours except Europa, Charlie Brown
You are only a vessel from our God, Charlie Brown
November 26, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Charlie Brown was dead, to begin with. There is no doubt whatever about that. The register of his burial was signed by Scheoeder, Lucy, Linus, and Peppermint Patty. Snoopy signed it: and Snoopy’s name was good upon ’Change, for anything he chose to put his hand to.
the Good Timeline got zeppelins and automats
"While the concept calls itself a food hall... Meals are prepared in a central commissary kitchen and ordered either online or from a self-service kiosk. You can eat inside a small dine-in area, which has the spartan vibe and aroma of an Apple Genius Bar." www.thebanner.com/culture/food...
The Dish: Wonder may be the fastest-growing name in food halls. I hated it.
Run, don’t walk, away from Canton’s new Wonder food hall.
www.thebanner.com
November 26, 2025 at 7:19 PM
the Good Timeline got zeppelins and automats
Reposted by Brendan O’Kane
The average medieval peasant could not buy a gas station delta 9 gummy and watch “Scooter Fail Compilation 5” on YouTube, which makes it difficult to compare GDP across time
November 26, 2025 at 5:03 AM
The average medieval peasant could not buy a gas station delta 9 gummy and watch “Scooter Fail Compilation 5” on YouTube, which makes it difficult to compare GDP across time
Reposted by Brendan O’Kane
This is super fascinating and I'm interested in thinking about what we gain and lose with this kind of thing but the subfields that could benefit from this kind of technology are the first ones to have been completely hollowed out in higher ed.
New issue of my newsletter: "The Writing Is on the Wall for Handwriting Recognition" — One of the hardest problems in digital humanities has finally been solved, and it's a good use of AI newsletter.dancohen.org/archive/the-...
The Writing Is on the Wall for Handwriting Recognition
One of the hardest problems in digital humanities has finally been solved
newsletter.dancohen.org
November 25, 2025 at 11:37 PM
This is super fascinating and I'm interested in thinking about what we gain and lose with this kind of thing but the subfields that could benefit from this kind of technology are the first ones to have been completely hollowed out in higher ed.
Reposted by Brendan O’Kane
A new Chinese law regulating influencer speech has gotten applause from social media users and commentators who want similar policies in their own countries. But the truth is far from what's in the news and it's a sad reflection of our internet and media space.
wenhao.substack.com/p/anatomy-of...
wenhao.substack.com/p/anatomy-of...
Anatomy of a Fake Story
A new Chinese law aimed at reducing misinformation set off global discussion. But nobody got it right.
wenhao.substack.com
November 25, 2025 at 4:39 PM
A new Chinese law regulating influencer speech has gotten applause from social media users and commentators who want similar policies in their own countries. But the truth is far from what's in the news and it's a sad reflection of our internet and media space.
wenhao.substack.com/p/anatomy-of...
wenhao.substack.com/p/anatomy-of...
Nano Banana / Gemini really is amazing -- I gave it a cameraphone image from 2009 and had it upscale, change perspective, and remove the trash can.
You just straight-up couldn't do this in Photoshop, no matter how good you are.
You just straight-up couldn't do this in Photoshop, no matter how good you are.
November 25, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Nano Banana / Gemini really is amazing -- I gave it a cameraphone image from 2009 and had it upscale, change perspective, and remove the trash can.
You just straight-up couldn't do this in Photoshop, no matter how good you are.
You just straight-up couldn't do this in Photoshop, no matter how good you are.
Reposted by Brendan O’Kane
Sitting atop the southern end of Mount Penn, a seven-story wooden pagoda has overlooked Reading, Pennsylvania, since 1908.
Built as part of a luxury resort, the building and land were donated to the city in 1911, making this Buddhist-inspired building a symbol of the city. 🧵
🗃️ 📜 #Pennsylvania
Built as part of a luxury resort, the building and land were donated to the city in 1911, making this Buddhist-inspired building a symbol of the city. 🧵
🗃️ 📜 #Pennsylvania
November 25, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Sitting atop the southern end of Mount Penn, a seven-story wooden pagoda has overlooked Reading, Pennsylvania, since 1908.
Built as part of a luxury resort, the building and land were donated to the city in 1911, making this Buddhist-inspired building a symbol of the city. 🧵
🗃️ 📜 #Pennsylvania
Built as part of a luxury resort, the building and land were donated to the city in 1911, making this Buddhist-inspired building a symbol of the city. 🧵
🗃️ 📜 #Pennsylvania
Cabbage is 大白菜, except for when the ones at the bottom of the piles by the side of the road start losing their freshness, at which point the vendors change the signs to read 爱国大白菜, "Patriotic Cabbage"
Cabbage is affordable, delicious, and astoundingly versatile, @giladedelman.bsky.social writes. The underrated crucifer “is fit for a king”:
The Most Underrated Thanksgiving Vegetable
Embrace cabbage.
bit.ly
November 25, 2025 at 4:33 PM
Cabbage is 大白菜, except for when the ones at the bottom of the piles by the side of the road start losing their freshness, at which point the vendors change the signs to read 爱国大白菜, "Patriotic Cabbage"
Reposted by Brendan O’Kane
#BOTD: Ba Jin 巴金 (1904–2005), né Li Yaotang 李堯棠, Chinese anarchist writer who also wrote in Esperanto and is most renowned for his semi-autobiographical novel 'The Family' 家. #ChineseLiterature #ModernChina
November 25, 2025 at 6:02 AM
#BOTD: Ba Jin 巴金 (1904–2005), né Li Yaotang 李堯棠, Chinese anarchist writer who also wrote in Esperanto and is most renowned for his semi-autobiographical novel 'The Family' 家. #ChineseLiterature #ModernChina
Reposted by Brendan O’Kane
Contra the latest NYT bit - SO MANY YOUNG PEOPLE at rallies and protests in NC. And brave ones - when they and their parents are the ones being profiled and dragged out of their cars, churches, grocery stories, school parking lots.
This is one of my Duke students. High schoolers spoke as well.
This is one of my Duke students. High schoolers spoke as well.
November 24, 2025 at 8:09 PM
Contra the latest NYT bit - SO MANY YOUNG PEOPLE at rallies and protests in NC. And brave ones - when they and their parents are the ones being profiled and dragged out of their cars, churches, grocery stories, school parking lots.
This is one of my Duke students. High schoolers spoke as well.
This is one of my Duke students. High schoolers spoke as well.
Caught an Uber ride with one of the OG concrete cowboys from Strawberry Mansion, who told us a story about his horse I-95, so named because he ran away the morning after he got home and made it about 10 miles along 95 North before getting tuckered out. All the way to the Walmart on Aramingo.
November 24, 2025 at 4:50 AM
Caught an Uber ride with one of the OG concrete cowboys from Strawberry Mansion, who told us a story about his horse I-95, so named because he ran away the morning after he got home and made it about 10 miles along 95 North before getting tuckered out. All the way to the Walmart on Aramingo.
South Philly folks: Marra’s is closing Wednesday. Get your meals and nostalgia in quick!
1734-36 E. Passyunk Ave., home to Marra's, is currently under contract (listed for $2M). This classic Italian restaurant has been around since 1927, so we hope the buyer keeps the old school charm; it would be a shame to see this go.
November 24, 2025 at 1:20 AM
South Philly folks: Marra’s is closing Wednesday. Get your meals and nostalgia in quick!
Reposted by Brendan O’Kane
A movie with Marky Mark in your 9th grade bio classroom for some reason
November 23, 2025 at 9:31 PM
A movie with Marky Mark in your 9th grade bio classroom for some reason
Reposted by Brendan O’Kane
One of the easiest things we can do to help wildlife in cities is plant native plants. We’re going to make this as easy as possible for Philly people this winter/spring by giving them the seeds they need to start.
I need YOUR help prepping those seeds on Dec 17.
Join us! luma.com/o3sladpu
I need YOUR help prepping those seeds on Dec 17.
Join us! luma.com/o3sladpu
November 23, 2025 at 2:38 PM
One of the easiest things we can do to help wildlife in cities is plant native plants. We’re going to make this as easy as possible for Philly people this winter/spring by giving them the seeds they need to start.
I need YOUR help prepping those seeds on Dec 17.
Join us! luma.com/o3sladpu
I need YOUR help prepping those seeds on Dec 17.
Join us! luma.com/o3sladpu