(((Asa Zernik)))
@asazernik.bsky.social
Israeli-American techie scum. Almost became political operative scum, hence tweeting.
RP without comment equals endorsement of post only, not source account.
RP without comment equals endorsement of post only, not source account.
Reposted by (((Asa Zernik)))
just being a Holocaust denier - which they peg at mid-30s percent of overall Republicans - isn't enough to be "anti-Jewish". Truly cooked stuff.
December 4, 2025 at 8:48 PM
just being a Holocaust denier - which they peg at mid-30s percent of overall Republicans - isn't enough to be "anti-Jewish". Truly cooked stuff.
Reposted by (((Asa Zernik)))
Misinterpreting the most vulnerable and self-defensive attempt to survive as a hostile act? Who do you think you are, a cop?
Q: What did you see in the second strike?
Cotton: "I saw two survivors trying to flip a boat -- loaded with drugs, bound for the United States -- back over, so they could stay in the fight."
Cotton: "I saw two survivors trying to flip a boat -- loaded with drugs, bound for the United States -- back over, so they could stay in the fight."
December 4, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Misinterpreting the most vulnerable and self-defensive attempt to survive as a hostile act? Who do you think you are, a cop?
Reposted by (((Asa Zernik)))
"Metacognitive processes are necessary to comply with Rule 11" is a phrase I expect litigators to start using as a diss on opposing counsel immediately
h/t @robertfreundlaw.bsky.social
holy shit, an accurate legal critique of LLMs. LLMs don't reason because they're just stitching together plausible-looking sentences indifferent to the content
holy shit, an accurate legal critique of LLMs. LLMs don't reason because they're just stitching together plausible-looking sentences indifferent to the content
December 3, 2025 at 10:52 PM
"Metacognitive processes are necessary to comply with Rule 11" is a phrase I expect litigators to start using as a diss on opposing counsel immediately
Reposted by (((Asa Zernik)))
>spend a year berating our allies for not spending enough
>threaten their economies with tariffs and repeatedly claim we won’t honor our article 5 commitments
>they spend more on defense
>start berating them because they’re spending the money on their own defense industries
>threaten their economies with tariffs and repeatedly claim we won’t honor our article 5 commitments
>they spend more on defense
>start berating them because they’re spending the money on their own defense industries
December 4, 2025 at 1:46 PM
>spend a year berating our allies for not spending enough
>threaten their economies with tariffs and repeatedly claim we won’t honor our article 5 commitments
>they spend more on defense
>start berating them because they’re spending the money on their own defense industries
>threaten their economies with tariffs and repeatedly claim we won’t honor our article 5 commitments
>they spend more on defense
>start berating them because they’re spending the money on their own defense industries
Reposted by (((Asa Zernik)))
slatestarcodexabridged is a culture war blog that just happens to be really smart sometimes. the only single essay that's important is meditations on moloch, which is sort of a Nick Land cover band thing
hpmor is if the sequences was harry potter fan fiction
hpmor is if the sequences was harry potter fan fiction
December 4, 2025 at 6:56 AM
slatestarcodexabridged is a culture war blog that just happens to be really smart sometimes. the only single essay that's important is meditations on moloch, which is sort of a Nick Land cover band thing
hpmor is if the sequences was harry potter fan fiction
hpmor is if the sequences was harry potter fan fiction
Reposted by (((Asa Zernik)))
the sequences are (actually) a long thesis on epistemology that simply has many digressions and that tries to spoonfeed you "we should build a god and live forever, but also it may kill us all" towards the end. that's the entire thing. it's walking you through transhumanism plus ai doom
December 4, 2025 at 6:56 AM
the sequences are (actually) a long thesis on epistemology that simply has many digressions and that tries to spoonfeed you "we should build a god and live forever, but also it may kill us all" towards the end. that's the entire thing. it's walking you through transhumanism plus ai doom
Reposted by (((Asa Zernik)))
rationalism has roughly the same amount of assigned reading as joining an anarchist polycule does, The Basics are
www.readthesequences.com
www.slatestarcodexabridged.com
hpmor.com
anyway there is mostly no reason to do this
www.readthesequences.com
www.slatestarcodexabridged.com
hpmor.com
anyway there is mostly no reason to do this
December 4, 2025 at 6:55 AM
rationalism has roughly the same amount of assigned reading as joining an anarchist polycule does, The Basics are
www.readthesequences.com
www.slatestarcodexabridged.com
hpmor.com
anyway there is mostly no reason to do this
www.readthesequences.com
www.slatestarcodexabridged.com
hpmor.com
anyway there is mostly no reason to do this
Reposted by (((Asa Zernik)))
Reading old court transcripts and, I mean, whomst
December 3, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Reading old court transcripts and, I mean, whomst
Reposted by (((Asa Zernik)))
So, looks like it’s official: BBC house style is to refer to trans people as “biological men/boys/women/girls who identify as women/girls/men/boys”. Transphobic rhetoric now Licence Fee-funded mainstream terminology
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Trans girls banned from joining Girlguiding
Girlguiding says the move is in response to the Supreme Court ruling that said sex meant biological sex in equality law.
www.bbc.com
December 2, 2025 at 11:05 PM
So, looks like it’s official: BBC house style is to refer to trans people as “biological men/boys/women/girls who identify as women/girls/men/boys”. Transphobic rhetoric now Licence Fee-funded mainstream terminology
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Reposted by (((Asa Zernik)))
I love it when people post a picture of some regular guy to reddit and say “what breed is my cat?”
Ma’am, your cat came out of some muddy shrubs in your friend’s sister’s back yard
Ma’am, your cat came out of some muddy shrubs in your friend’s sister’s back yard
November 19, 2025 at 8:39 AM
I love it when people post a picture of some regular guy to reddit and say “what breed is my cat?”
Ma’am, your cat came out of some muddy shrubs in your friend’s sister’s back yard
Ma’am, your cat came out of some muddy shrubs in your friend’s sister’s back yard
Reposted by (((Asa Zernik)))
Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries: “Strong floor, no ceiling”
Colombian President Gustavo Petro: “A clan of pedophiles wants to destroy our democracy.”
Colombian President Gustavo Petro: “A clan of pedophiles wants to destroy our democracy.”
December 3, 2025 at 6:53 AM
Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries: “Strong floor, no ceiling”
Colombian President Gustavo Petro: “A clan of pedophiles wants to destroy our democracy.”
Colombian President Gustavo Petro: “A clan of pedophiles wants to destroy our democracy.”
Reposted by (((Asa Zernik)))
"Sure, Trump has come up with a completely unworkable set of proposals that will never be implemented by sidelining most of the key stakeholders, but where is Europe's competing idiotic initiative from one of von Der Leyen's golf buddies?"
December 3, 2025 at 9:36 AM
"Sure, Trump has come up with a completely unworkable set of proposals that will never be implemented by sidelining most of the key stakeholders, but where is Europe's competing idiotic initiative from one of von Der Leyen's golf buddies?"
Reposted by (((Asa Zernik)))
Over the past couple of decades, San Francisco has added about 6 jobs for every 1 new home built, a jobs-housing imbalance second only to Silicon Valley. The result has been huge rent increases spilling over to the East Bay.
The Family Zoning Plan is a big deal for our whole region.
The Family Zoning Plan is a big deal for our whole region.
December 3, 2025 at 7:54 AM
Over the past couple of decades, San Francisco has added about 6 jobs for every 1 new home built, a jobs-housing imbalance second only to Silicon Valley. The result has been huge rent increases spilling over to the East Bay.
The Family Zoning Plan is a big deal for our whole region.
The Family Zoning Plan is a big deal for our whole region.
Reposted by (((Asa Zernik)))
idea: Moby Dick but with asteroid mining, written by a space autist instead of a whale autist
Maybe a better analogy would be stuff like whaling voyages, a long time away from society in dangerous conditions, but a nice payout for all who survive
December 3, 2025 at 3:50 AM
idea: Moby Dick but with asteroid mining, written by a space autist instead of a whale autist
Reposted by (((Asa Zernik)))
They thought it was an act! They assumed Hegseth was insincere in his open advocacy of war crimes because they too are insincere in their beliefs.
I also think this is why the media lets so many Trump insanities slide: they assume he is insincere because they are too!
I also think this is why the media lets so many Trump insanities slide: they assume he is insincere because they are too!
This person who openly advocates war crimes, who lobbied for pardons for war criminals, and repeatedly disdains the laws and ethics of war, the one we confirmed as Secretary of Defense, turns out to have done war crimes. Shocking!
(But hey, if they're finally coming around, better late than never.)
(But hey, if they're finally coming around, better late than never.)
GOP Senator Says Reporting on Hegseth’s Kill Order ‘Shocked Us All’
December 2, 2025 at 6:54 PM
They thought it was an act! They assumed Hegseth was insincere in his open advocacy of war crimes because they too are insincere in their beliefs.
I also think this is why the media lets so many Trump insanities slide: they assume he is insincere because they are too!
I also think this is why the media lets so many Trump insanities slide: they assume he is insincere because they are too!
Ugh why is she so perfect
Pop star Sabrina Carpenter slams the White House for using “Juno” in an ICE arrest video:
“This video is evil and disgusting. Do not ever involve me or my music to benefit your inhumane agenda.”
“This video is evil and disgusting. Do not ever involve me or my music to benefit your inhumane agenda.”
December 2, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Ugh why is she so perfect
Reposted by (((Asa Zernik)))
(a big reason that Tesla "full self drive" is so much worse than Waymo is that they just use cameras not LIDAR because cameras are way cheaper, but it's the LIDAR that makes Waymo a public health breakthrough, and also means the unit economics on the cars are negative as hell)
December 2, 2025 at 12:01 PM
(a big reason that Tesla "full self drive" is so much worse than Waymo is that they just use cameras not LIDAR because cameras are way cheaper, but it's the LIDAR that makes Waymo a public health breakthrough, and also means the unit economics on the cars are negative as hell)
Reposted by (((Asa Zernik)))
good piece on Waymo's self driving cars
we can reasonably begin to look at self driving as a potential public health breakthrough, Waymo cars are much better and safer drivers than people
the problem is the economics of the technology not the technology itself
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/02/o...
we can reasonably begin to look at self driving as a potential public health breakthrough, Waymo cars are much better and safer drivers than people
the problem is the economics of the technology not the technology itself
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/02/o...
December 2, 2025 at 11:58 AM
good piece on Waymo's self driving cars
we can reasonably begin to look at self driving as a potential public health breakthrough, Waymo cars are much better and safer drivers than people
the problem is the economics of the technology not the technology itself
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/02/o...
we can reasonably begin to look at self driving as a potential public health breakthrough, Waymo cars are much better and safer drivers than people
the problem is the economics of the technology not the technology itself
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/02/o...
Reposted by (((Asa Zernik)))
The lawyer who wrote these paragraphs deserves every penny that he charged this guy:
"Sir..."
"Recklessly attacked by radical leftist forces"
"A clear weaponization of justice"
Clarence Darrow has nothing on this attorney.
"Sir..."
"Recklessly attacked by radical leftist forces"
"A clear weaponization of justice"
Clarence Darrow has nothing on this attorney.
December 2, 2025 at 2:29 PM
The lawyer who wrote these paragraphs deserves every penny that he charged this guy:
"Sir..."
"Recklessly attacked by radical leftist forces"
"A clear weaponization of justice"
Clarence Darrow has nothing on this attorney.
"Sir..."
"Recklessly attacked by radical leftist forces"
"A clear weaponization of justice"
Clarence Darrow has nothing on this attorney.
Reposted by (((Asa Zernik)))
the Falklanders are, indeed, the indigenous people of the Falklands. It doesn't matter whether your ancestors arrived in the 18th century, like them, the 13th century, like the Maori, or about 10,000 years ago like people reaching the Americas for the first time.
I think the disconnect is that people learn about colonialism (even if it's just "babby's first colonialism) quite soon these days, and for a few decades even! So the idea that Earth genuinely had actual bona-fide Terra Nullius as late as the 18th century seems like bullshit!
December 2, 2025 at 3:03 AM
the Falklanders are, indeed, the indigenous people of the Falklands. It doesn't matter whether your ancestors arrived in the 18th century, like them, the 13th century, like the Maori, or about 10,000 years ago like people reaching the Americas for the first time.
Reposted by (((Asa Zernik)))
Some thoughts on continuities between al-Sharaa's rule in Idlib (2017-24) and in Damascus this past year, after reading the new Haenni/Drevon book
akmckeever.substack.com/p/what-the-h...
akmckeever.substack.com/p/what-the-h...
What the HTS governance legacy in Idlib says about today
A not-quite review of Haenni and Drevon's Transformed by the People
akmckeever.substack.com
December 2, 2025 at 12:22 PM
Some thoughts on continuities between al-Sharaa's rule in Idlib (2017-24) and in Damascus this past year, after reading the new Haenni/Drevon book
akmckeever.substack.com/p/what-the-h...
akmckeever.substack.com/p/what-the-h...
Reposted by (((Asa Zernik)))
The South Korean Ministry of Defense has awarded medals of merit to 11 officers for disobeying direct orders of superiors during the martial law fiasco, orders that they deemed to be contrary to the constitution and endangerment to democracy.
www.chosun.com/english/nati...
www.chosun.com/english/nati...
National Defense Ministry Honors 11 Soldiers for Refusing Illegal Orders
National Defense Ministry Honors 11 Soldiers for Refusing Illegal Orders Honored for rejecting illegal orders during martial law, Marine death probe
www.chosun.com
September 27, 2025 at 6:44 PM
The South Korean Ministry of Defense has awarded medals of merit to 11 officers for disobeying direct orders of superiors during the martial law fiasco, orders that they deemed to be contrary to the constitution and endangerment to democracy.
www.chosun.com/english/nati...
www.chosun.com/english/nati...
Reposted by (((Asa Zernik)))
"we found a Type Of Guy who represents a particularly helpful corner of the latent space" is easily my favorite type of positive LLM posting.
Our Discord support agent was kind of annoying, so I asked it to pretend to be a 58-year old systems administrator from Ohio that wrote on forums a lot.
Turns out -- this makes your support bot extremely competent. The quality of its support responses are now far better.
Turns out -- this makes your support bot extremely competent. The quality of its support responses are now far better.
December 1, 2025 at 8:10 PM
"we found a Type Of Guy who represents a particularly helpful corner of the latent space" is easily my favorite type of positive LLM posting.
Reposted by (((Asa Zernik)))
The authoritarian right : color revolution :: 18th century plantation owner : slave uprising
The idea that professional soldiers would refuse to fire on a crowd of their countrymen is viscerally upsetting to them.
The idea that professional soldiers would refuse to fire on a crowd of their countrymen is viscerally upsetting to them.
Of course they do. Republicans who hate color revolutions understand them much better than leftists who share their opinion do, because Republicans understand that color revolutions imperil reactionary authoritarian regimes *like the one they are running*
Do the Republicans who repeat the “color revolutions” talking point not understand the color revolutions were all against authoritarianism?
December 1, 2025 at 6:17 PM
The authoritarian right : color revolution :: 18th century plantation owner : slave uprising
The idea that professional soldiers would refuse to fire on a crowd of their countrymen is viscerally upsetting to them.
The idea that professional soldiers would refuse to fire on a crowd of their countrymen is viscerally upsetting to them.
Reposted by (((Asa Zernik)))
Wild how people like this, just like russians, still can’t comprehend that the Revolution of Dignity wasn’t staged. It was Ukrainians choosing freedom over fear. Imperialists and small minds always assume someone else must be pulling the strings, because they’ve never seen a nation with a spine.
December 1, 2025 at 3:24 AM
Wild how people like this, just like russians, still can’t comprehend that the Revolution of Dignity wasn’t staged. It was Ukrainians choosing freedom over fear. Imperialists and small minds always assume someone else must be pulling the strings, because they’ve never seen a nation with a spine.