Brendan O’Kane
@bokane.org
Scrutable Occidental, erstwhile 北漂, quondam translator, Ming/Qing fiction enjoyer, congenital Philadelphian, escaped academic, MLIS aspirant, 鏟屎官 (二等). Cynicism makes you an easy mark. Signal: @bokane.1644.
http://www.burninghou.se
http://www.burninghou.se
Reposted by Brendan O’Kane
I think journalism is one of the coolest and most dignified things you can do. It is a job that reminds you daily that you are not the most important person in the world, that everyone matters and deserves to be heard. I am sick of this profession being made a mockery of. People deserve better.
January 13, 2026 at 11:09 PM
I think journalism is one of the coolest and most dignified things you can do. It is a job that reminds you daily that you are not the most important person in the world, that everyone matters and deserves to be heard. I am sick of this profession being made a mockery of. People deserve better.
Reposted by Brendan O’Kane
Death to insurrectionists.
You are either serious about protecting democracy or you are not.
You are either serious about protecting democracy or you are not.
January 13, 2026 at 1:45 PM
Death to insurrectionists.
You are either serious about protecting democracy or you are not.
You are either serious about protecting democracy or you are not.
the technical term is cledonomancy, divination on the basis of things overheard by chance
taking bluesky’s temperature by checking the engagement stats on the moby dick bot
we’re running a fever hot enough to melt ice
we’re running a fever hot enough to melt ice
from hell’s heart I stab at thee; for hate’s sake I spit my last breath at thee
January 13, 2026 at 6:37 AM
the technical term is cledonomancy, divination on the basis of things overheard by chance
Reposted by Brendan O’Kane
taking bluesky’s temperature by checking the engagement stats on the moby dick bot
we’re running a fever hot enough to melt ice
we’re running a fever hot enough to melt ice
from hell’s heart I stab at thee; for hate’s sake I spit my last breath at thee
January 13, 2026 at 6:34 AM
taking bluesky’s temperature by checking the engagement stats on the moby dick bot
we’re running a fever hot enough to melt ice
we’re running a fever hot enough to melt ice
Reposted by Brendan O’Kane
Please read and share.
There is also widely-circulating video of the unlawful arrests of these Minnesota activists (and U.S. citizens).
There is also widely-circulating video of the unlawful arrests of these Minnesota activists (and U.S. citizens).
January 13, 2026 at 2:37 AM
Please read and share.
There is also widely-circulating video of the unlawful arrests of these Minnesota activists (and U.S. citizens).
There is also widely-circulating video of the unlawful arrests of these Minnesota activists (and U.S. citizens).
welp, time to kick back and take a break from the Situation by rewatching The Leftovers
January 13, 2026 at 2:43 AM
welp, time to kick back and take a break from the Situation by rewatching The Leftovers
Reposted by Brendan O’Kane
Political entertainment researcher here to remind you that a lot of people consume little news, so despite even social media, they may have limited exposure to the issue of ICE thuggery up in hospitals. Shows like The Pitt are one way in which they’ll form beliefs and attitudes about the issue.
My wife who works in healthcare told me she's out on The Pitt because apparently they're both sidesing ICE in an ep this season and the new main character lady is trying to bring AI into the ER. I thought she was making it up to get me pissed off but no lol she was telling the truth
‘The Pitt’ creator on Season 2’s storylines about doctors using AI and healthcare costs
R. Scott Gemmill, the creator and showrunner of HBO Max's "The Pitt," spoke about the show's breakout success, what he has planned for Season 2 and why it's set during July 4.
share.google
January 12, 2026 at 11:19 PM
Political entertainment researcher here to remind you that a lot of people consume little news, so despite even social media, they may have limited exposure to the issue of ICE thuggery up in hospitals. Shows like The Pitt are one way in which they’ll form beliefs and attitudes about the issue.
Delaware/Schuylkill/Hollander Creek, gone but also forgotten
January 12, 2026 at 11:12 PM
Delaware/Schuylkill/Hollander Creek, gone but also forgotten
Reposted by Brendan O’Kane
Some interesting linguistic insights about typing www.mpi-talkling.mpi.nl?p=2803&lang=en
Cc @atrubek.bsky.social
Cc @atrubek.bsky.social
The link between thinking and writing is in your keyboard – MPI TalkLing
www.mpi-talkling.mpi.nl
January 12, 2026 at 8:20 PM
Some interesting linguistic insights about typing www.mpi-talkling.mpi.nl?p=2803&lang=en
Cc @atrubek.bsky.social
Cc @atrubek.bsky.social
My brain randomly plays “Fatality, they hit him with the Liu Kang / Protect ya neck, shoulda listened to the Wu-Tang” at least two or three times a day now
There was approximately two seconds of veneration at gunpoint for Charlie Kirk from the MAGAs, which provoked a backlash so profound that I’m pretty sure Kirk’s visage will still be being used in AI slop twerking and fetish memes 20+ years from now
It is funny the extent to which Charlie Kirk has no legacy though, and that his death was basically career self destruction for Ezra Klein
January 12, 2026 at 1:52 AM
My brain randomly plays “Fatality, they hit him with the Liu Kang / Protect ya neck, shoulda listened to the Wu-Tang” at least two or three times a day now
Reposted by Brendan O’Kane
It’s here! It’s real! It exists!
Get your copy of Coal of Fire (new translations from the Hebrew Bible) today!
www.lulu.com/shop/atkinso...
Get your copy of Coal of Fire (new translations from the Hebrew Bible) today!
www.lulu.com/shop/atkinso...
November 21, 2025 at 9:58 PM
It’s here! It’s real! It exists!
Get your copy of Coal of Fire (new translations from the Hebrew Bible) today!
www.lulu.com/shop/atkinso...
Get your copy of Coal of Fire (new translations from the Hebrew Bible) today!
www.lulu.com/shop/atkinso...
@maddavenport.bsky.social’s new book just arrived!
January 10, 2026 at 5:55 PM
@maddavenport.bsky.social’s new book just arrived!
Reposted by Brendan O’Kane
Wang Shishen 汪士慎 (1686-1759), October 1728:
每餐先备买鱼钱，曾记携归小似拳，
一自爪牙动黠鼠，傍人安稳卧青氊。
I set money aside for fish before each meal.
She used to be no bigger than my hand --
Now with claw and tooth she routs the crafty rat,
And drowses by her humans on her mat.
每餐先备买鱼钱，曾记携归小似拳，
一自爪牙动黠鼠，傍人安稳卧青氊。
I set money aside for fish before each meal.
She used to be no bigger than my hand --
Now with claw and tooth she routs the crafty rat,
And drowses by her humans on her mat.
December 28, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Wang Shishen 汪士慎 (1686-1759), October 1728:
每餐先备买鱼钱，曾记携归小似拳，
一自爪牙动黠鼠，傍人安稳卧青氊。
I set money aside for fish before each meal.
She used to be no bigger than my hand --
Now with claw and tooth she routs the crafty rat,
And drowses by her humans on her mat.
每餐先备买鱼钱，曾记携归小似拳，
一自爪牙动黠鼠，傍人安稳卧青氊。
I set money aside for fish before each meal.
She used to be no bigger than my hand --
Now with claw and tooth she routs the crafty rat,
And drowses by her humans on her mat.
Reposted by Brendan O’Kane
Take my ten degrees of familial relation, please
Literary Chinese that goes hard, vol. one myriad:
文皇大聲曰：「汝安能遽死。即死，獨不顧九族乎？」孝孺曰：「便十族奈我何！」聲愈厲。
“Throw your life away if you want,” the Yongle Emperor roared, “but what about your family, and their families, to nine degrees of relation?”
Fang Xiaoru spat back: “Make it ten for all I care.”
文皇大聲曰：「汝安能遽死。即死，獨不顧九族乎？」孝孺曰：「便十族奈我何！」聲愈厲。
“Throw your life away if you want,” the Yongle Emperor roared, “but what about your family, and their families, to nine degrees of relation?”
Fang Xiaoru spat back: “Make it ten for all I care.”
January 9, 2026 at 1:42 PM
Take my ten degrees of familial relation, please
Reposted by Brendan O’Kane
Why then be fastened to the world?
Tao Qian, trans. Arthur Sze
Tao Qian, trans. Arthur Sze
January 9, 2026 at 3:06 AM
Why then be fastened to the world?
Tao Qian, trans. Arthur Sze
Tao Qian, trans. Arthur Sze
if i am killed by agents of the state please do not allow amanda gorman to write a poem about it
January 9, 2026 at 8:46 AM
if i am killed by agents of the state please do not allow amanda gorman to write a poem about it
not trying to call anybody out but some people really need to remember that I don't know who needs to hear this
January 8, 2026 at 6:06 AM
not trying to call anybody out but some people really need to remember that I don't know who needs to hear this
confucius is extremely real sometimes. I like the bit (9.14) where he has a tantrum and says he's going to run away to live with the barbarians.
confucius be like this duke guy got six horses pulling his chariot instead of four we truly just live in the end times
January 8, 2026 at 2:27 AM
confucius is extremely real sometimes. I like the bit (9.14) where he has a tantrum and says he's going to run away to live with the barbarians.
Reposted by Brendan O’Kane
confucius be like this duke guy got six horses pulling his chariot instead of four we truly just live in the end times
January 6, 2026 at 8:24 PM
confucius be like this duke guy got six horses pulling his chariot instead of four we truly just live in the end times
Reposted by Brendan O’Kane
Renee Nicole Good and her family moved to Minnesota, the speaker says, to "sit out the Trump years."
January 8, 2026 at 1:49 AM
Renee Nicole Good and her family moved to Minnesota, the speaker says, to "sit out the Trump years."
I can't be the only person who periodically finds themselves singing the 草泥馬 song (to the tune of the Smurfs theme song)
American netizens are devising ingenious puns to avoid the country's pervasive online censorship.
Turns out Instagram will immediately delete your story if you attempt to write “Fuck ICE,” so that’s fun.
January 7, 2026 at 10:04 PM
I can't be the only person who periodically finds themselves singing the 草泥馬 song (to the tune of the Smurfs theme song)
"...When he had set about buying bedsteads, tables, chairs and what-not, it occurred to him to buy also a library. Whether he can read or not, I do not know, but some savage faculty for observation told him that most respectable and estimable people usually had a lot of books in their houses."
sidewaysstation.com/2018/04/10/f...
Flann O'Brien is as funny a writer as I have ever read and WAAMA is one of his funniest creations. Every bit as good as the racehorse of genius if you're a Man or Woman Without Qualities - do yourself a favour and begin your year with the Best of Myles if you can
Flann O'Brien is as funny a writer as I have ever read and WAAMA is one of his funniest creations. Every bit as good as the racehorse of genius if you're a Man or Woman Without Qualities - do yourself a favour and begin your year with the Best of Myles if you can
Flann O’Brien’s Book Handling Enterprise
Flann O’Brien was a pen name of Brian O’Nolan, an Irish author who is most famous for three novels, At Swim Two Birds, The Third Policeman and the Dalkey Archive. He also wrote a column for the Iri…
sidewaysstation.com
January 7, 2026 at 7:51 AM
"...When he had set about buying bedsteads, tables, chairs and what-not, it occurred to him to buy also a library. Whether he can read or not, I do not know, but some savage faculty for observation told him that most respectable and estimable people usually had a lot of books in their houses."
Reposted by Brendan O’Kane
Check out the crazy repairs on this cracked block from I literally can’t remember which dynasty - it’s part of the collection at @rarebookschool.bsky.social
January 7, 2026 at 12:17 AM
Check out the crazy repairs on this cracked block from I literally can’t remember which dynasty - it’s part of the collection at @rarebookschool.bsky.social
spent the day trying to make text reliably appear on a webpage
1) Woodblocks could be and often were repaired when they wore down - you'll see blocks where lines were chiseled out and replaced by re-carved lines. And 新刻, "newly cut," was a common way of advertising a new edition of a text.
2) Woodblocks are better than movable type. I will elaborate.
2) Woodblocks are better than movable type. I will elaborate.
January 6, 2026 at 11:55 PM
spent the day trying to make text reliably appear on a webpage