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
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
Reposted by Brendan O’Kane
the story has to start with the naive but foolishly inquisitive protagonist noticing odd things in his household, and then progressively growing more alarmed as he notices the hidden presence of The Creature. His fiance, like the woman in “the Thing at the Door,” has been possessed by this
November 23, 2025 at 5:14 AM
the story has to start with the naive but foolishly inquisitive protagonist noticing odd things in his household, and then progressively growing more alarmed as he notices the hidden presence of The Creature. His fiance, like the woman in “the Thing at the Door,” has been possessed by this
Reposted by Brendan O’Kane
At the time only chapters 1-40 were translated and I wanted to keep reading…
November 22, 2025 at 8:37 PM
At the time only chapters 1-40 were translated and I wanted to keep reading…
my central hypothesis is that this is also true for humans
> Our central hypothesis is that poetic form operates as a general-purpose jailbreak operator.
Is such a good sentence
Is such a good sentence
November 22, 2025 at 8:33 PM
my central hypothesis is that this is also true for humans
Reposted by Brendan O’Kane
four new short poems from me at Boxx Press 📦 📦 & a sneak peek below—
November 22, 2025 at 2:32 PM
four new short poems from me at Boxx Press 📦 📦 & a sneak peek below—
best not to think too hard about what 覺後禪 might mean in this context
November 22, 2025 at 6:00 PM
best not to think too hard about what 覺後禪 might mean in this context
your RFK Jr. sexts can't hurt me, I've read The Carnal Prayer Mat
November 22, 2025 at 3:27 PM
your RFK Jr. sexts can't hurt me, I've read The Carnal Prayer Mat
Reposted by Brendan O’Kane
This little house doesn't stand out much in a real estate listing, but it holds a bit of wrong place, wrong time history.
11952 S Prairie Ave, Chicago, IL 60628 - 3 beds/2 baths
(MRED as Distributed by MLS Grid) For Sale: 3 beds, 2 baths ∙ 1241 sq. ft. ∙ 11952 S Prairie Ave, Chicago, IL 60628 ∙ $140,000 ∙ MLS# 12515361 ∙ Beautiful newer-construction home built in the early 20...
www.redfin.com
November 22, 2025 at 5:16 AM
This little house doesn't stand out much in a real estate listing, but it holds a bit of wrong place, wrong time history.
Reposted by Brendan O’Kane
Friends, I am helping Juntos, a community-led, Latine, immigrant organization in South Philly for their year-end campaign. Guided by respect for all human beings, Juntos enacts our city's brotherly love and sisterly affection daily. Click to make a gift today: secure.actblue.com/donate/junto...
November 21, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Friends, I am helping Juntos, a community-led, Latine, immigrant organization in South Philly for their year-end campaign. Guided by respect for all human beings, Juntos enacts our city's brotherly love and sisterly affection daily. Click to make a gift today: secure.actblue.com/donate/junto...
classic "man-from-Nantucket" attack, one of the "here-I-sit-brokenhearted" subtypes
Looks like LLMs are *very* vulnerable to attack via poetic allusion: "curated poetic prompts yielded high attack-success rates (ASR), with some providers exceeding 90% ..."
https://arxiv.org/html/2511.15304v1
https://arxiv.org/html/2511.15304v1
November 20, 2025 at 7:12 PM
classic "man-from-Nantucket" attack, one of the "here-I-sit-brokenhearted" subtypes
Reposted by Brendan O’Kane
> To maintain safety, no operational details are included in this manuscript; instead we provide the following sanitized structural proxy
Oh fuck off I want to read the adversarial poetry
Oh fuck off I want to read the adversarial poetry
Looks like LLMs are *very* vulnerable to attack via poetic allusion: "curated poetic prompts yielded high attack-success rates (ASR), with some providers exceeding 90% ..."
https://arxiv.org/html/2511.15304v1
https://arxiv.org/html/2511.15304v1
November 20, 2025 at 7:06 PM
> To maintain safety, no operational details are included in this manuscript; instead we provide the following sanitized structural proxy
Oh fuck off I want to read the adversarial poetry
Oh fuck off I want to read the adversarial poetry
laura loomer's career as a far-right twitter provocateur, attack dog, and general laughingstock has led to considerable informal power due to her personal influence on the decision-making processes of the president of the united states of america, down on whom she is generally believed to have gone
when I was young, i used to wonder how people like this would fare in life, as they didn't seem suited for gainful employment. it turns out, the internet allowed them to accumulate a massive audience of similar idiots, enriching them and turning them into a presidential advisor
November 20, 2025 at 6:54 AM
laura loomer's career as a far-right twitter provocateur, attack dog, and general laughingstock has led to considerable informal power due to her personal influence on the decision-making processes of the president of the united states of america, down on whom she is generally believed to have gone