Chris Brockett
@chrisbrockett.bsky.social
Data janitor and leftover linguist (retired). Tsundoku expert. Language & Cognition. NLP. Japanese literature. Anti-authoritarian. Pro-science.
Reposted by Chris Brockett
This means NSF dissertation improvement grants in the social sciences are simply...not happening.
NEW from me - NSF cancels grant scheme for social science research.
Seems the NSF quietly archived ALL calls for DDRIG grants in the SBE directorate. This is a massive blow for PhD students wanting to do cutting-edge social science research. 🏺🧪
Seems the NSF quietly archived ALL calls for DDRIG grants in the SBE directorate. This is a massive blow for PhD students wanting to do cutting-edge social science research. 🏺🧪
Today's biggest science news: Doomed comet explodes | Comet 3I/ATLAS course alteration | Dark matter detected?
Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025: Your daily feed of the biggest discoveries and breakthroughs making headlines.
www.livescience.com
November 27, 2025 at 1:16 PM
This means NSF dissertation improvement grants in the social sciences are simply...not happening.
Reposted by Chris Brockett
I feel you, ancient Mongolian ceramic hedgehog. I feel you.
November 26, 2025 at 10:17 AM
I feel you, ancient Mongolian ceramic hedgehog. I feel you.
Reposted by Chris Brockett
A town in Japan has retracted its warning of a bear sighting after discovering that a picture it had received showing the fearsome creature was generated using AI.
Japan town retracts bear sighting warning sparked by AI image
The town of Onagawa in Miyagi Prefecture issued the warning after receiving the image of a bear in a residential area, but later discovered it was generated using AI.
ebx.sh
November 27, 2025 at 10:22 AM
A town in Japan has retracted its warning of a bear sighting after discovering that a picture it had received showing the fearsome creature was generated using AI.
This only makes sense if the game is to close down national parks because attendance is down, then sell the land to mining and timber interests.
National parks have SO MANY people from other countries (since they get real vacations!)
And they spend a lot of money on hotels, food, souvenirs, etc.
This is unbelievably dumb, it will destroy entire tourist towns
And they spend a lot of money on hotels, food, souvenirs, etc.
This is unbelievably dumb, it will destroy entire tourist towns
November 27, 2025 at 1:10 AM
This only makes sense if the game is to close down national parks because attendance is down, then sell the land to mining and timber interests.
Reposted by Chris Brockett
This clever Corvid I saw a couple of years ago had the perfect system figure out.
Drop a hard cracker upstream and wait for it at the little waterfall when it's nice and soft.
Drop a hard cracker upstream and wait for it at the little waterfall when it's nice and soft.
November 26, 2025 at 1:29 PM
This clever Corvid I saw a couple of years ago had the perfect system figure out.
Drop a hard cracker upstream and wait for it at the little waterfall when it's nice and soft.
Drop a hard cracker upstream and wait for it at the little waterfall when it's nice and soft.
Reposted by Chris Brockett
i came across the saying "to follow like a Tantony pig" so I get curious and look it up, but Tantony isnt a place, it's a contraction of St Anthony who is the saint of swineherds, so the proverb means to follow someone like a pig following the hog messiah. alas this information will not pay my bills
November 26, 2025 at 12:27 PM
i came across the saying "to follow like a Tantony pig" so I get curious and look it up, but Tantony isnt a place, it's a contraction of St Anthony who is the saint of swineherds, so the proverb means to follow someone like a pig following the hog messiah. alas this information will not pay my bills
Reposted by Chris Brockett
So happy to announce our new preprint, “A geothermal amoeba sets a new upper temperature limit for eukaryotes.” We cultured a novel amoeba from Lassen Volcanic NP (CA, USA) that divides at 63°C (145°F) 🔥 - a new record for euk growth!
#protistsonsky 🧵
#protistsonsky 🧵
November 25, 2025 at 8:41 PM
So happy to announce our new preprint, “A geothermal amoeba sets a new upper temperature limit for eukaryotes.” We cultured a novel amoeba from Lassen Volcanic NP (CA, USA) that divides at 63°C (145°F) 🔥 - a new record for euk growth!
#protistsonsky 🧵
#protistsonsky 🧵
Reposted by Chris Brockett
This is interesting, if for no other reason it gets into the origin of the US poverty line.
"The Valley of Death: Why $100,000 Is the New Poor
Once I established that $136,500 is the real break-even point, I ran the numbers on what happens to a family climbing the ladder toward that number"
interesting analysis:
www.yesigiveafig.com/p/part-1-my-...
Once I established that $136,500 is the real break-even point, I ran the numbers on what happens to a family climbing the ladder toward that number"
interesting analysis:
www.yesigiveafig.com/p/part-1-my-...
Part 1: My Life Is a Lie
How a Broken Benchmark Quietly Broke America
www.yesigiveafig.com
November 24, 2025 at 2:29 PM
This is interesting, if for no other reason it gets into the origin of the US poverty line.
Reposted by Chris Brockett
"The Valley of Death: Why $100,000 Is the New Poor
Once I established that $136,500 is the real break-even point, I ran the numbers on what happens to a family climbing the ladder toward that number"
interesting analysis:
www.yesigiveafig.com/p/part-1-my-...
Once I established that $136,500 is the real break-even point, I ran the numbers on what happens to a family climbing the ladder toward that number"
interesting analysis:
www.yesigiveafig.com/p/part-1-my-...
Part 1: My Life Is a Lie
How a Broken Benchmark Quietly Broke America
www.yesigiveafig.com
November 24, 2025 at 3:48 AM
"The Valley of Death: Why $100,000 Is the New Poor
Once I established that $136,500 is the real break-even point, I ran the numbers on what happens to a family climbing the ladder toward that number"
interesting analysis:
www.yesigiveafig.com/p/part-1-my-...
Once I established that $136,500 is the real break-even point, I ran the numbers on what happens to a family climbing the ladder toward that number"
interesting analysis:
www.yesigiveafig.com/p/part-1-my-...
Reposted by Chris Brockett
The USS Wateree was a sidewheel gunboat built during the Civil War. On August 13, 1868 she was struck by a tsunami created by the Arica Earthquake in Chile and was driven 450 yards inland. She had no casualties apart from a boatswain ashore who was killed by the quake.
#NavalHistory
#NavalHistory
February 7, 2025 at 2:21 AM
The USS Wateree was a sidewheel gunboat built during the Civil War. On August 13, 1868 she was struck by a tsunami created by the Arica Earthquake in Chile and was driven 450 yards inland. She had no casualties apart from a boatswain ashore who was killed by the quake.
#NavalHistory
#NavalHistory
Reposted by Chris Brockett
Trump's domestic Gestapo raided a job site, then handcuffed a US citizen born in Raleigh NC -- even after being shown the guy's REAL ID, which is only available to US citizens and LPRs
CBP+ICE will ignore your identifying documents when it suits their racism
www.newsobserver.com/news/local/a...
CBP+ICE will ignore your identifying documents when it suits their racism
www.newsobserver.com/news/local/a...
November 23, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Trump's domestic Gestapo raided a job site, then handcuffed a US citizen born in Raleigh NC -- even after being shown the guy's REAL ID, which is only available to US citizens and LPRs
CBP+ICE will ignore your identifying documents when it suits their racism
www.newsobserver.com/news/local/a...
CBP+ICE will ignore your identifying documents when it suits their racism
www.newsobserver.com/news/local/a...
Reposted by Chris Brockett
"Grifts are undertheorized, and too often conflated with long cons, scams, frauds and other more blatant soft crimes. Lemme offer a definition.
A grift is a scheme that profits from the existence of a real problem without actually addressing it."
A grift is a scheme that profits from the existence of a real problem without actually addressing it."
November 23, 2025 at 10:27 PM
"Grifts are undertheorized, and too often conflated with long cons, scams, frauds and other more blatant soft crimes. Lemme offer a definition.
A grift is a scheme that profits from the existence of a real problem without actually addressing it."
A grift is a scheme that profits from the existence of a real problem without actually addressing it."
Reposted by Chris Brockett
Late Prof. Lee, Ki-Moon's Etymological Dictionary [of Korean] has finally left the press. It contains upwards of 3,300 entries, spanning over 1,300 pages.
![Lee, Ki-Moon. (2025). 어원 사전 [Etymological dictionary [of Korean]]. Seoul: Kiphun Ppwuli.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:hcuh3re4qud3ihym3wbnp5uu/bafkreibwm42qywrb76naaj4r2ij5at2q64ng63slpllokgmci47tgrbb4e@jpeg)
November 19, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Late Prof. Lee, Ki-Moon's Etymological Dictionary [of Korean] has finally left the press. It contains upwards of 3,300 entries, spanning over 1,300 pages.
Reposted by Chris Brockett
The wonderful @victoriastrauss.com of Writer Beware reveals all the versions of the Famous Author scam. writerbeware.blog/2025/11/14/i...
If a Famous Author Calls, Hang Up: Anatomy of an Impersonation Scam - Writer Beware
You open your email program one morning. The usual work stuff. Some spam (annoying that it got past your filters!). A couple of newsletters (maybe later). You sip your coffee, scroll down. Wait. What’...
writerbeware.blog
November 22, 2025 at 8:35 PM
The wonderful @victoriastrauss.com of Writer Beware reveals all the versions of the Famous Author scam. writerbeware.blog/2025/11/14/i...
Reposted by Chris Brockett
November 21, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Reposted by Chris Brockett
#otd 4 yrs ago: Old Chinese Prêt-à-porter. A double-edged sword.
A post by @madpoli.bsky.social about the pros and cons of digitized data. Easy to access, but it can also mean that fewer people understand what's underneath behind it
digitalorientalist.com/2021/11/19/o...
A post by @madpoli.bsky.social about the pros and cons of digitized data. Easy to access, but it can also mean that fewer people understand what's underneath behind it
digitalorientalist.com/2021/11/19/o...
Old Chinese Prêt-à-porter. A double-edged sword.
Sometimes I miss watching movies with commercial interruptions, at the theater or on television. Not only were they a great way to refill your pop-corn bowl without missing anything. Advertisements…
digitalorientalist.com
November 19, 2025 at 2:46 PM
#otd 4 yrs ago: Old Chinese Prêt-à-porter. A double-edged sword.
A post by @madpoli.bsky.social about the pros and cons of digitized data. Easy to access, but it can also mean that fewer people understand what's underneath behind it
digitalorientalist.com/2021/11/19/o...
A post by @madpoli.bsky.social about the pros and cons of digitized data. Easy to access, but it can also mean that fewer people understand what's underneath behind it
digitalorientalist.com/2021/11/19/o...
Reposted by Chris Brockett
臨川書店の「中世の日記をひらく」シリーズ、まずはこの2冊から。内容はいくつかの年の記録を現代語訳が中心で、コラムや解説も。大学院時代、『看聞日記』を研究会で読んでいたが、やはり面白い。『建内記』は真面目な記事ばかりだな。
November 19, 2025 at 3:19 AM
臨川書店の「中世の日記をひらく」シリーズ、まずはこの2冊から。内容はいくつかの年の記録を現代語訳が中心で、コラムや解説も。大学院時代、『看聞日記』を研究会で読んでいたが、やはり面白い。『建内記』は真面目な記事ばかりだな。
That would be a mortally unfortunate transcription.
I'm surprised that no Indian antivaxers seem to have picked up the possibility of phonetically reading "mRNA" as "मरना".
November 17, 2025 at 11:57 AM
That would be a mortally unfortunate transcription.
Reposted by Chris Brockett
For anyone who's struggled with variable spelling practices before modern printing, there's a summary of what's "interchangeable" in Thomas Wright's Dictionary of Obsolete and Provincial English. 2 vols. London, 1857.
#orthography #English #language #dialect #manuscripts #medieval
#orthography #English #language #dialect #manuscripts #medieval
November 16, 2025 at 2:58 PM
For anyone who's struggled with variable spelling practices before modern printing, there's a summary of what's "interchangeable" in Thomas Wright's Dictionary of Obsolete and Provincial English. 2 vols. London, 1857.
#orthography #English #language #dialect #manuscripts #medieval
#orthography #English #language #dialect #manuscripts #medieval
As one who has spent much time these last few months glaring at texts I can partially decipher but cannot read, I am qualified to recommend this essay.
Edging Toward Japan: What does being literate in Japanese really mean? - The Mainichi share.google/Gw4gLrPrnPyI...
Edging Toward Japan: What does being literate in Japanese really mean? - The Mainichi share.google/Gw4gLrPrnPyI...
Edging Toward Japan: What does being literate in Japanese really mean? - The Mainichi
By Damian Flanagan The other day I had the pleasure of attending a very interesting presentation about antique books by an expert in Edo period litera
share.google
November 17, 2025 at 4:54 AM
As one who has spent much time these last few months glaring at texts I can partially decipher but cannot read, I am qualified to recommend this essay.
Edging Toward Japan: What does being literate in Japanese really mean? - The Mainichi share.google/Gw4gLrPrnPyI...
Edging Toward Japan: What does being literate in Japanese really mean? - The Mainichi share.google/Gw4gLrPrnPyI...
Reposted by Chris Brockett
Even in Japan, many do not know that several yokai are original (and copyrighted) Shigeru Mizuki designs.
His yokai have become so accepted that most people just assume they are from ages ago.
His yokai have become so accepted that most people just assume they are from ages ago.
Not sure if anyone has written about the cancelled at-the-last-minute ghost spinoff of "Last Armageddon" which was to be called "Youkai Hen Kikou" (妖怪変紀行) by Brain Grey. It is rumored that it was cancelled because of copyright concerns from the art being so similar to legend Shigeru Mizuki #pc98
November 16, 2025 at 10:12 PM
Even in Japan, many do not know that several yokai are original (and copyrighted) Shigeru Mizuki designs.
His yokai have become so accepted that most people just assume they are from ages ago.
His yokai have become so accepted that most people just assume they are from ages ago.
Reposted by Chris Brockett
New favourite example of structural ambiguity
November 5, 2025 at 4:54 AM
New favourite example of structural ambiguity
Reposted by Chris Brockett
This has gotten surprisingly little attention — it's not even on the front page of @science.org right now — but it's really hard to describe what the SAFE Research Act would do to US science and scientists without sounding insane
www.science.org/content/arti...
www.science.org/content/arti...
November 14, 2025 at 5:16 PM
This has gotten surprisingly little attention — it's not even on the front page of @science.org right now — but it's really hard to describe what the SAFE Research Act would do to US science and scientists without sounding insane
www.science.org/content/arti...
www.science.org/content/arti...
Reposted by Chris Brockett
I've been on the road so I'm behind the times—but if you wanted to destroy US science, I can think of no more expedient action.
Blatant unconstitutionality aside, fuck this backwards forwards and sideways.
www.science.org/content/article/u-s-congress-considers-sweeping-ban-chinese-collaborations
Blatant unconstitutionality aside, fuck this backwards forwards and sideways.
www.science.org/content/article/u-s-congress-considers-sweeping-ban-chinese-collaborations
November 14, 2025 at 3:03 AM
I've been on the road so I'm behind the times—but if you wanted to destroy US science, I can think of no more expedient action.
Blatant unconstitutionality aside, fuck this backwards forwards and sideways.
www.science.org/content/article/u-s-congress-considers-sweeping-ban-chinese-collaborations
Blatant unconstitutionality aside, fuck this backwards forwards and sideways.
www.science.org/content/article/u-s-congress-considers-sweeping-ban-chinese-collaborations
Reposted by Chris Brockett
WE WON. I am *begging* you to take note of who did this. *Not* UCLA admin—they’re still scuttling around behind closed doors, attempting to appease—but FACULTY AND STAFF, led by AAUP.
BREAKING: In AAUP et al v. Trump (wall-to-wall union lawsuit challenging the administration’s unlawful use of TItle VI to reshape the University of California system), the faculty and staff of the UC system WON!!!
We were granted our preliminary injunction! @aaup.org
We were granted our preliminary injunction! @aaup.org
November 15, 2025 at 12:01 AM
WE WON. I am *begging* you to take note of who did this. *Not* UCLA admin—they’re still scuttling around behind closed doors, attempting to appease—but FACULTY AND STAFF, led by AAUP.