Xander ✺
@spectralcodex.com
Front-end developer (React/TypeScript/Astro), biogeography grad, history and map enthusiast, leftoid/anti-fascist, Wikipedia supporter. Non-American resident of Taichung, Taiwan 🐙
🕸 https://spectralcodex.com
🕸 https://spectralcodex.com
Searching for ruins in Taiwan on Google Maps, found this instead: very affectionate black doggo! 🐕
November 28, 2025 at 11:31 AM
Searching for ruins in Taiwan on Google Maps, found this instead: very affectionate black doggo! 🐕
Reposted by Xander ✺
Taiwan’s 2025 Civil Defense Handbook marks a shift toward whole-of-society resilience and defending against cognitive warfare.
From “any surrender message is fake” to gaps in shelters & self-reliance, I break it down in my latest piece for the Prospect Foundation.
www.pf.org.tw/en/pfen/33-1...
From “any surrender message is fake” to gaps in shelters & self-reliance, I break it down in my latest piece for the Prospect Foundation.
www.pf.org.tw/en/pfen/33-1...
Taiwan’s 2025 Civil Defense Handbook and the Challenges of Whole-of-Society Resilience
Prospects & Perspectives
www.pf.org.tw
November 28, 2025 at 8:49 AM
Taiwan’s 2025 Civil Defense Handbook marks a shift toward whole-of-society resilience and defending against cognitive warfare.
From “any surrender message is fake” to gaps in shelters & self-reliance, I break it down in my latest piece for the Prospect Foundation.
www.pf.org.tw/en/pfen/33-1...
From “any surrender message is fake” to gaps in shelters & self-reliance, I break it down in my latest piece for the Prospect Foundation.
www.pf.org.tw/en/pfen/33-1...
Documenting another abandoned place around Taipei Basin and suddenly realized it's director Tsai Ming-liang's home! Read the full article for laksa hot takes (in Chinese): artouch.com/art-views/co...
金剛經帶在身上，不然鬼魂不肯跟我們走——與蔡明亮共遊的午茶時光＆秘境之旅 | 典藏ARTouch.com
「與蔡明亮共遊 午茶時光＆秘境之旅」，《家在蘭若寺》電影場景導覽活動，將以散步方式前往。總是讓電影永遠多一種可能導演蔡明亮，在午茶時光中分享了什麼對於食物有什麼關鍵的想法？新作《你的臉》在華山光點電影館上映，希望所有觀者，不要錯過這份溫暖的邀請。
artouch.com
November 28, 2025 at 6:37 AM
Documenting another abandoned place around Taipei Basin and suddenly realized it's director Tsai Ming-liang's home! Read the full article for laksa hot takes (in Chinese): artouch.com/art-views/co...
Reposted by Xander ✺
At the risk of starting the flame war to end all flame wars...
Modern LLMs (GPT-5.1, Claude 4.5, Gemini 3) produce excellent code and can be a significant productivity boost to software engineers who take the time to learn how to effectively apply them - especially if used with coding agent tools
Modern LLMs (GPT-5.1, Claude 4.5, Gemini 3) produce excellent code and can be a significant productivity boost to software engineers who take the time to learn how to effectively apply them - especially if used with coding agent tools
November 27, 2025 at 7:55 PM
At the risk of starting the flame war to end all flame wars...
Modern LLMs (GPT-5.1, Claude 4.5, Gemini 3) produce excellent code and can be a significant productivity boost to software engineers who take the time to learn how to effectively apply them - especially if used with coding agent tools
Modern LLMs (GPT-5.1, Claude 4.5, Gemini 3) produce excellent code and can be a significant productivity boost to software engineers who take the time to learn how to effectively apply them - especially if used with coding agent tools
Reposted by Xander ✺
With 42M people, #Jakarta is the world's largest city, according to new UN figures. Former #1, #Tokyo, is 3rd and estimated to decline in population still further in the future. #GlobalCities #WorldCities
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
Jakarta overtakes Tokyo as world’s most populous city, according to UN
The rankings were changed after the UN used new criteria to give a more accurate picture of the rapid urbanisation driving the growth of megacities
www.theguardian.com
November 27, 2025 at 3:23 AM
With 42M people, #Jakarta is the world's largest city, according to new UN figures. Former #1, #Tokyo, is 3rd and estimated to decline in population still further in the future. #GlobalCities #WorldCities
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
Spectral Codex just surpassed 5,000 mapped locations, most of them here in #Taiwan. Historical sites, abandoned places, photo hotspots, and more. Hundreds already include photos and field notes; many others are still simple stubs, awaiting further documentation.
👁️ spectralcodex.com
👁️ spectralcodex.com
November 25, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Spectral Codex just surpassed 5,000 mapped locations, most of them here in #Taiwan. Historical sites, abandoned places, photo hotspots, and more. Hundreds already include photos and field notes; many others are still simple stubs, awaiting further documentation.
👁️ spectralcodex.com
👁️ spectralcodex.com
Reposted by Xander ✺
Reinventing Kaohsiung: Taiwan’s port city transcends its industrial past
www.scmp.com/week-asia/op...
www.scmp.com/week-asia/op...
Opinion | Reinventing Kaohsiung: Taiwan’s port city transcends its industrial past
From shipyards and smokestacks to a smart, green metropolis, Kaohsiung shows urban renewal can succeed in the unlikeliest of places.
www.scmp.com
November 24, 2025 at 4:40 AM
Reinventing Kaohsiung: Taiwan’s port city transcends its industrial past
www.scmp.com/week-asia/op...
www.scmp.com/week-asia/op...
Reposted by Xander ✺
I whipped up a new post/newsletter extra for the Hayli Gubbi eruption. First time I've had to post an extra edition! #volcano #eruption eruptions.beehiiv.com/p/eruptions-...
Eruptions Newsletter Extra for November 23, 2025
Unexpected eruption from Hayli Gubbi in Ethiopia.
eruptions.beehiiv.com
November 23, 2025 at 7:16 PM
I whipped up a new post/newsletter extra for the Hayli Gubbi eruption. First time I've had to post an extra edition! #volcano #eruption eruptions.beehiiv.com/p/eruptions-...
Reposted by Xander ✺
There’s a very surreal conversation I keep having on here where people seem unable to hold two ideas at the same time, and I’m not sure why. It’s simply true that the Big AI platforms like ChatGPT are:
1. Extremely bad for society, in many ways.
2. Very genuinely popular with lots of people.
1. Extremely bad for society, in many ways.
2. Very genuinely popular with lots of people.
November 18, 2025 at 4:59 PM
There’s a very surreal conversation I keep having on here where people seem unable to hold two ideas at the same time, and I’m not sure why. It’s simply true that the Big AI platforms like ChatGPT are:
1. Extremely bad for society, in many ways.
2. Very genuinely popular with lots of people.
1. Extremely bad for society, in many ways.
2. Very genuinely popular with lots of people.
Reposted by Xander ✺
Even the down detector website is down 😆
November 18, 2025 at 1:54 PM
Even the down detector website is down 😆
Reposted by Xander ✺
23,857 births were registered in Hong Kong for the first 9 months of 2025, a year-on-year decrease of 10.2%.
With 3 months remaining, there is a significant possibility that the total births in 2025 will be the fewest in one year since the end of World War II
With 3 months remaining, there is a significant possibility that the total births in 2025 will be the fewest in one year since the end of World War II
November 18, 2025 at 2:57 AM
23,857 births were registered in Hong Kong for the first 9 months of 2025, a year-on-year decrease of 10.2%.
With 3 months remaining, there is a significant possibility that the total births in 2025 will be the fewest in one year since the end of World War II
With 3 months remaining, there is a significant possibility that the total births in 2025 will be the fewest in one year since the end of World War II
Reposted by Xander ✺
Pope Leo absolutely cooking
November 16, 2025 at 7:47 AM
Pope Leo absolutely cooking
Reposted by Xander ✺
'Taiwan's average temp in Oct reached 27.4°C, the highest for the month since records began in 1951, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said on Friday. According to the CWA, last month's average temp was 2.2° higher than the long-term October average of 25.2°'
focustaiwan.tw/society/2025...
focustaiwan.tw/society/2025...
Taiwan's October average temperature hits 27.4°C, highest on record: CWA - Focus Taiwan
Taiwan's average temperature in October reached 27.4 degrees Celsius, the highest for the month since records began in 1951, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said on Friday.
focustaiwan.tw
November 8, 2025 at 11:37 AM
'Taiwan's average temp in Oct reached 27.4°C, the highest for the month since records began in 1951, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said on Friday. According to the CWA, last month's average temp was 2.2° higher than the long-term October average of 25.2°'
focustaiwan.tw/society/2025...
focustaiwan.tw/society/2025...
Reposted by Xander ✺
This visualization of Japan’s M6.8 yesterday is phenomenal. Offshore S-net detected it and issued earthquake alert before any land station detection. Numbered circles show JMA intensity (not same as MMI). Offshore is where we need to be in Cascadia as well.
The underwater seismometer network is so great, as evidenced from yesterday's EQ off-Tohoku.
Reposting unofficial visualization by x.com/kotoho76/sta...
Reposting unofficial visualization by x.com/kotoho76/sta...
November 10, 2025 at 4:10 PM
This visualization of Japan’s M6.8 yesterday is phenomenal. Offshore S-net detected it and issued earthquake alert before any land station detection. Numbered circles show JMA intensity (not same as MMI). Offshore is where we need to be in Cascadia as well.
Reposted by Xander ✺
New KMT Chair Cheng Li-wen attends memorial event for White Terror victims organized by pro-unification group. The event honored, among many others, convicted and executed CCP spy General Wu Shi, whom the CPP named a Revolutionary Martyr in 1973.
www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/...
www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/...
Memorial not focused on spy: KMT’s Cheng - Taipei Times
Bringing Taiwan to the World and the World to Taiwan
www.taipeitimes.com
November 9, 2025 at 2:00 AM
New KMT Chair Cheng Li-wen attends memorial event for White Terror victims organized by pro-unification group. The event honored, among many others, convicted and executed CCP spy General Wu Shi, whom the CPP named a Revolutionary Martyr in 1973.
www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/...
www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/...
A map of population decline in Taiwan from 1980 to 2020 from an article by Di Hu in the International Journal of Geo-Information. Local populations sometimes peaked in the 1960s, particularly in eastern Taiwan, so that decline is already baked-in by 1980. Not surprised to see Yunlin here!
November 8, 2025 at 8:34 PM
A map of population decline in Taiwan from 1980 to 2020 from an article by Di Hu in the International Journal of Geo-Information. Local populations sometimes peaked in the 1960s, particularly in eastern Taiwan, so that decline is already baked-in by 1980. Not surprised to see Yunlin here!
Mong Tong's Taiwan Mystery II features a montage of unusual architecture and occult phenomena from around the country. It was released along with an art book featuring photos and imagery from many of these sites. The music is also really great; dreamy instrumental psychrock. youtu.be/kwHcZaPLl58?...
Mong Tong - Taiwan Mystery II
YouTube video by Mong Tong
youtu.be
November 8, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Mong Tong's Taiwan Mystery II features a montage of unusual architecture and occult phenomena from around the country. It was released along with an art book featuring photos and imagery from many of these sites. The music is also really great; dreamy instrumental psychrock. youtu.be/kwHcZaPLl58?...
Reposted by Xander ✺
If you prefer using interpolated "early-arriving" model tracks for tropical cyclones (last cycle's models interpolated to this cycle, then compared against the official JTWC/NHC forecast made using these guidance), I've replicated this method on my site:
polarwx.com/tropical/?st...
polarwx.com/tropical/?st...
November 6, 2025 at 4:32 PM
If you prefer using interpolated "early-arriving" model tracks for tropical cyclones (last cycle's models interpolated to this cycle, then compared against the official JTWC/NHC forecast made using these guidance), I've replicated this method on my site:
polarwx.com/tropical/?st...
polarwx.com/tropical/?st...
Reposted by Xander ✺
Check out @jordynhaime.bsky.social on "Taiwan's Israel Charm Offensive" in the latest issue of her newsletter.
"Now let’s turn to what has been absent from Taiwan’s messaging: any acknowledgement of the accusations of starvation and genocide of the Palestinian people by the Israeli government."
"Now let’s turn to what has been absent from Taiwan’s messaging: any acknowledgement of the accusations of starvation and genocide of the Palestinian people by the Israeli government."
Taiwan's Israel Charm Offensive
Taiwan's appeal to AIPAC is disappointing, but comes as no surprise
jordynhaime.substack.com
November 6, 2025 at 3:10 AM
Check out @jordynhaime.bsky.social on "Taiwan's Israel Charm Offensive" in the latest issue of her newsletter.
"Now let’s turn to what has been absent from Taiwan’s messaging: any acknowledgement of the accusations of starvation and genocide of the Palestinian people by the Israeli government."
"Now let’s turn to what has been absent from Taiwan’s messaging: any acknowledgement of the accusations of starvation and genocide of the Palestinian people by the Israeli government."
Reposted by Xander ✺
Taiwan's plan to set up mission in Estonia hits wall over name
@matejsimalcik.bsky.social explains why the dispute over a name reveals much deeper tensions in Europe–Taiwan relations, haunted by 🇨🇳’s retaliation against Lithuania. ⤵️ 1/5
🔗 asia.nikkei.com/politics/int...
✍️ @thomchau.bsky.social
@matejsimalcik.bsky.social explains why the dispute over a name reveals much deeper tensions in Europe–Taiwan relations, haunted by 🇨🇳’s retaliation against Lithuania. ⤵️ 1/5
🔗 asia.nikkei.com/politics/int...
✍️ @thomchau.bsky.social
Taiwan's plan to set up mission in Estonia hits wall over name
China's past retaliation against Lithuania for engaging with Taipei haunts Europe
asia.nikkei.com
November 3, 2025 at 10:45 AM
Taiwan's plan to set up mission in Estonia hits wall over name
@matejsimalcik.bsky.social explains why the dispute over a name reveals much deeper tensions in Europe–Taiwan relations, haunted by 🇨🇳’s retaliation against Lithuania. ⤵️ 1/5
🔗 asia.nikkei.com/politics/int...
✍️ @thomchau.bsky.social
@matejsimalcik.bsky.social explains why the dispute over a name reveals much deeper tensions in Europe–Taiwan relations, haunted by 🇨🇳’s retaliation against Lithuania. ⤵️ 1/5
🔗 asia.nikkei.com/politics/int...
✍️ @thomchau.bsky.social
Flashback to 2013 when gonzo Taiwanese news animators covered the Rob Ford crack video scandal. Too bad they stopped producing new content around 2018. www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VzL...
Rob Ford's crack smoking video finally found by police!
YouTube video by TomoNews Funnies
www.youtube.com
November 2, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Flashback to 2013 when gonzo Taiwanese news animators covered the Rob Ford crack video scandal. Too bad they stopped producing new content around 2018. www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VzL...
Reposted by Xander ✺
German broadcaster DW interviewed the new chair of the KMT, Cheng Li-wen. Cheng says that the 3% of GDP defense budget is excessive, calls Putin a democratically elected leader, and that NATO is to blame for Russia's war against Ukraine.
Here are some gems (?) from the interview:
Here are some gems (?) from the interview:
October 31, 2025 at 4:14 PM
German broadcaster DW interviewed the new chair of the KMT, Cheng Li-wen. Cheng says that the 3% of GDP defense budget is excessive, calls Putin a democratically elected leader, and that NATO is to blame for Russia's war against Ukraine.
Here are some gems (?) from the interview:
Here are some gems (?) from the interview:
Reposted by Xander ✺
I don't think it really matters that much which orthography one uses, as long as it is used consistently. The big problem in Taiwan is that it is still a mishmash of at least 5 of these systems.
But there are some things I wish people did keep in mind:
But there are some things I wish people did keep in mind:
Has anyone ever attempted a Mandarin transcription system alignment chart? 🍿
October 31, 2025 at 6:15 AM
I don't think it really matters that much which orthography one uses, as long as it is used consistently. The big problem in Taiwan is that it is still a mishmash of at least 5 of these systems.
But there are some things I wish people did keep in mind:
But there are some things I wish people did keep in mind: