Chris Brockett
@chrisbrockett.bsky.social
Data janitor and leftover linguist (retired). Tsundoku expert. Language & Cognition. NLP. Japanese literature. Anti-authoritarian. Pro-science.
I have seen the remains of these statues in an SF series a while back. Ah. I recall now it now: The Peripheral
October 18, 2025 at 6:28 PM
I have seen the remains of these statues in an SF series a while back. Ah. I recall now it now: The Peripheral
Forwarded to me by a friend who prefers to remain anonymous for obvious reasons. Source unknown. Once we have reclaimed ownership of Pepe, we can take back ownership of 🇺🇸 !
October 12, 2025 at 4:01 AM
Forwarded to me by a friend who prefers to remain anonymous for obvious reasons. Source unknown. Once we have reclaimed ownership of Pepe, we can take back ownership of 🇺🇸 !
Here's an interesting paper on the impact of AI on creativity when the AI is unavailable. It seems that humans who have become entrained to the AI norm continue to conform in its absence.
September 28, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Here's an interesting paper on the impact of AI on creativity when the AI is unavailable. It seems that humans who have become entrained to the AI norm continue to conform in its absence.
I finally got around to looking up the design of the intersection between I-405 and NE 85th St, in my neighborhood. Nothing could do more to convince me that the correct solution was to slap double track light rail right down the middle of I-405 from Everett to Renton.
August 19, 2025 at 5:34 AM
I finally got around to looking up the design of the intersection between I-405 and NE 85th St, in my neighborhood. Nothing could do more to convince me that the correct solution was to slap double track light rail right down the middle of I-405 from Everett to Renton.
How CNN quietly manipulates information. The following showed up in my wife's email box this am. It characterizes the protests in Los Angeles incorrectly as "anti-immigration protests". Later articles delete the word "anti-immigration", and fail to mention what the protests are about in the lede.
July 23, 2025 at 1:51 AM
How CNN quietly manipulates information. The following showed up in my wife's email box this am. It characterizes the protests in Los Angeles incorrectly as "anti-immigration protests". Later articles delete the word "anti-immigration", and fail to mention what the protests are about in the lede.
For example, 牛科重宝記 A Handy Guide to Cattle Medicine, shown below, published in 1756. This presupposes a literate farm population.
June 21, 2025 at 11:26 AM
For example, 牛科重宝記 A Handy Guide to Cattle Medicine, shown below, published in 1756. This presupposes a literate farm population.
3-4K people here in downtown Kirkland
June 14, 2025 at 8:17 PM
3-4K people here in downtown Kirkland
The text in my volume is almost identical, word for word, except that the names are now in pinyin. :)
May 4, 2025 at 3:28 AM
The text in my volume is almost identical, word for word, except that the names are now in pinyin. :)
I always check those Little Free Libraries when I encounter them. This one was still there when I went back three days later, so I traded it for a Patricia Churchland volume on cognition that had languished on my shelf, unread, for more than a decade. I think I came out ahead.
May 4, 2025 at 1:54 AM
I always check those Little Free Libraries when I encounter them. This one was still there when I went back three days later, so I traded it for a Patricia Churchland volume on cognition that had languished on my shelf, unread, for more than a decade. I think I came out ahead.
It's nice to still be cited occasionally. But this one is really weird. What on earth is going on here? An LLM-generated article? LLM-generated citations? www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14...
![Screenshot of text that reads:
[HTML] Oxidative Stress and Redox Imbalance: Common Mechanisms in Cancer Stem Cells and Neurodegenerative Diseases
NR Selvaraj, D Nandan, BG Nair, VA Nair… - Cells, 2025
Oxidative stress (OS) is an established hallmark of cancer and neurodegenerative
disorders (NDDs), which contributes to genomic instability and neuronal loss. This
review explores the contrasting role of OS in cancer stem cells (CSCs) and NDDs.
Elevated levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) contribute to genomic instability
and promote tumor initiation and progression in CSCs, while in NDDs such as
Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, OS accelerates neuronal death and impairs …
• Cites: A persona-based neural conversation model](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:kewtpyg2s7k554lmee3ybs2f/bafkreifc4rxrvbpwhohcjtjtmmk2daa5mnzehnioxf6464srbd637g234e@jpeg)
April 3, 2025 at 6:02 PM
It's nice to still be cited occasionally. But this one is really weird. What on earth is going on here? An LLM-generated article? LLM-generated citations? www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14...
We're trapped in a mirror image universe. How do we get back to the real universe? I don't like it here.
April 2, 2025 at 3:50 PM
We're trapped in a mirror image universe. How do we get back to the real universe? I don't like it here.
Holy shit. Here's what the Atlanta Fed is saying now on that other unmentionable site: "On April 1, the #GDPNow model nowcast of real GDP growth in Q1 2025 is -3.7%: bit.ly/32EYojR. #ATLFedResearch"
April 2, 2025 at 5:21 AM
Holy shit. Here's what the Atlanta Fed is saying now on that other unmentionable site: "On April 1, the #GDPNow model nowcast of real GDP growth in Q1 2025 is -3.7%: bit.ly/32EYojR. #ATLFedResearch"
The content is a gorgeously illustrated exposition of the interaction of art, calligraphy, and poetry in Japan across history. Notably, it provides transcriptions, Roman script transliterations, and translations for much of the calligraphic text--a huge benefit to readers at all levels of Japanese
April 1, 2025 at 4:54 AM
The content is a gorgeously illustrated exposition of the interaction of art, calligraphy, and poetry in Japan across history. Notably, it provides transcriptions, Roman script transliterations, and translations for much of the calligraphic text--a huge benefit to readers at all levels of Japanese
This marvelous and deliciously weighty volume arrived in the mail today.
April 1, 2025 at 4:54 AM
This marvelous and deliciously weighty volume arrived in the mail today.
For those interested, the technical term for this is "desire paths".
March 19, 2025 at 4:12 PM
For those interested, the technical term for this is "desire paths".
I am a small man. I confess I am enjoying this.
March 10, 2025 at 6:07 PM
I am a small man. I confess I am enjoying this.
I have managed to get myself onto two block lists overnight. One is based on my following too many people. I have lived long enough to have many interests that cut across humanities and sciences. So tough. If you don't like that I follow a lot of people, feel free to unfollow or block me.
January 20, 2025 at 6:52 PM
I have managed to get myself onto two block lists overnight. One is based on my following too many people. I have lived long enough to have many interests that cut across humanities and sciences. So tough. If you don't like that I follow a lot of people, feel free to unfollow or block me.
The library wants this bundle of heartbreaking eloquence returned today. Would it be a sin if I got it back tomorrow?
December 31, 2024 at 12:06 AM
The library wants this bundle of heartbreaking eloquence returned today. Would it be a sin if I got it back tomorrow?
This gem arrived in my mailbox a couple of days ago. Analysis of 29 translations of a single poem by Li Bai. I suspect this wonderful little volume might end up becoming necessary reading for anyone interested in understanding the kinds of choices made when translating poetry.
December 22, 2024 at 4:24 AM
This gem arrived in my mailbox a couple of days ago. Analysis of 29 translations of a single poem by Li Bai. I suspect this wonderful little volume might end up becoming necessary reading for anyone interested in understanding the kinds of choices made when translating poetry.
The spamsters in my junk mail box are getting more ambitious these days. This one may be attempting to swallow a whale.😂
December 22, 2024 at 3:56 AM
The spamsters in my junk mail box are getting more ambitious these days. This one may be attempting to swallow a whale.😂
Sample inside pages.
November 30, 2024 at 6:37 AM
Sample inside pages.
Back from my travels. This has arrived in my mail. I hadn't expected the production to be so beautiful. It's gorgeous.
November 30, 2024 at 6:27 AM
Back from my travels. This has arrived in my mail. I hadn't expected the production to be so beautiful. It's gorgeous.