Dr. Kurtis Hanlon
@kurtishanlon.bsky.social
A lecturer in premodern Japanese Language and Literature at Yale University. Researching literature, especially waka, and its intersection with play. Designated departmental baker (he/him) Signal: kurtishanlon.33
Pinned
Ok, one last minute bit of retrospective:
I am so happy this was the year I finally earned my regalia. If you're defending this next year, don't give up hope!
I am so happy this was the year I finally earned my regalia. If you're defending this next year, don't give up hope!
It was amazing. We hadn't been in the area for months, and when we walked past they immediately came down and gave us the "food?" glare. Corvids are incredible.
One of the most personally meaningful things I ever witnessed a wild animal do was when we visited our old neighborhood a long time after moving away and our crow friends spotted us almost immediately and flew right up to us. 😭 I was so happy that they remembered us! I miss them so much.
December 3, 2025 at 9:47 PM
It was amazing. We hadn't been in the area for months, and when we walked past they immediately came down and gave us the "food?" glare. Corvids are incredible.
When the new pres at Yale had a "listening session" with contingent faculty, this was what I shot up my hand to ask: what supports/procedures does the university have in place to protect contingent faculty from bad-faith attacks/harassment?
I was actually surprised she rattled off some resources.
I was actually surprised she rattled off some resources.
This is just my opinion, but I don't think departments need to change their strategy for reading or grading student work.
Departments need a strategy for responding to harassment and attacks.
Departments need a strategy for responding to harassment and attacks.
December 1, 2025 at 9:10 PM
When the new pres at Yale had a "listening session" with contingent faculty, this was what I shot up my hand to ask: what supports/procedures does the university have in place to protect contingent faculty from bad-faith attacks/harassment?
I was actually surprised she rattled off some resources.
I was actually surprised she rattled off some resources.
Reposted by Dr. Kurtis Hanlon
We need to know who is vulnerable among us and how we can protect them so they can continue to do their work with integrity.
This is not a "grading essays on controversial topics" problem.
This is a "protecting our colleagues from bad actors" problem.
This is not a "grading essays on controversial topics" problem.
This is a "protecting our colleagues from bad actors" problem.
December 1, 2025 at 8:28 PM
We need to know who is vulnerable among us and how we can protect them so they can continue to do their work with integrity.
This is not a "grading essays on controversial topics" problem.
This is a "protecting our colleagues from bad actors" problem.
This is not a "grading essays on controversial topics" problem.
This is a "protecting our colleagues from bad actors" problem.
December 1st, it's snowing outside and I plan on staying inside all day; I open my Christmas playlist on my Zune media player and press shuffle; the first song that comes on is Last Christmas.
Perfection.
Perfection.
December 1, 2025 at 3:18 PM
December 1st, it's snowing outside and I plan on staying inside all day; I open my Christmas playlist on my Zune media player and press shuffle; the first song that comes on is Last Christmas.
Perfection.
Perfection.
Reposted by Dr. Kurtis Hanlon
Actually doing Whamageddon at Christmas is a moral failing, you should be listening to Last Christmas at least once a day if not ten
December 1, 2025 at 10:58 AM
Actually doing Whamageddon at Christmas is a moral failing, you should be listening to Last Christmas at least once a day if not ten
Reposted by Dr. Kurtis Hanlon
This is a wonderful piece.
Also, this is superb.
Also, this is superb.
November 30, 2025 at 7:46 AM
This is a wonderful piece.
Also, this is superb.
Also, this is superb.
Well, I seem to be pretty squeaky clean compared to some of you degenerates I'm mutuals with.
@kurtishanlon.bsky.social has swears! They've used 30 profanities in their last 650 posts.
🥇 "crap" (4 times)
🥈 "shit" (4 times)
🥉 "fuck" (4 times)
🥇 "crap" (4 times)
🥈 "shit" (4 times)
🥉 "fuck" (4 times)
November 30, 2025 at 12:53 AM
Well, I seem to be pretty squeaky clean compared to some of you degenerates I'm mutuals with.
you heard it here: reclining is blasphemous i don't make the rules
Finally getting some theological clarity on the ethics of reclining in one’s plane seat
November 30, 2025 at 12:10 AM
you heard it here: reclining is blasphemous i don't make the rules
November 30, 2025 at 12:00 AM
Wow. The Peacock stream of the parade sucks. How is it this hard to do live TV in 2025?
November 27, 2025 at 7:03 PM
Wow. The Peacock stream of the parade sucks. How is it this hard to do live TV in 2025?
Reposted by Dr. Kurtis Hanlon
Re putting out there that I consider AI "music" on the same level as the Rick and Morty "human music."
This is how I feel whenever I hear AI created music. We heard some at the market earlier today. It just lacks the soul of creativity, and so is just background noise. Sure I guess it helps drown out my tinnitus, but it doesn't make me feel anything.
youtu.be/S1jWdeRKvvk?...
youtu.be/S1jWdeRKvvk?...
Rick and Morty - Human music
YouTube video by Cartoon TV
youtu.be
November 26, 2025 at 11:42 PM
Re putting out there that I consider AI "music" on the same level as the Rick and Morty "human music."
Reposted by Dr. Kurtis Hanlon
Tired: AI is/isn't conscious
Wired: AI "won't stand in wonder before the beauty of God's creation"
Wired: AI "won't stand in wonder before the beauty of God's creation"
November 26, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Tired: AI is/isn't conscious
Wired: AI "won't stand in wonder before the beauty of God's creation"
Wired: AI "won't stand in wonder before the beauty of God's creation"
Reposted by Dr. Kurtis Hanlon
one of the coolest things about ChatGPT is how you can actually just never use it. you can fill your whole entire life with simply not once using it. it's incredible.
November 25, 2025 at 4:15 PM
one of the coolest things about ChatGPT is how you can actually just never use it. you can fill your whole entire life with simply not once using it. it's incredible.
LRS: yeah, using poetry to hack LLMs means that the real key to the future is studying poetry. Switch majors, you Stem Scrubs! Or at least take a dang elective!
November 20, 2025 at 6:02 PM
LRS: yeah, using poetry to hack LLMs means that the real key to the future is studying poetry. Switch majors, you Stem Scrubs! Or at least take a dang elective!
Reposted by Dr. Kurtis Hanlon
“Adversarial poetry.”
Love this. Obvs.
Love this. Obvs.
November 20, 2025 at 5:53 PM
“Adversarial poetry.”
Love this. Obvs.
Love this. Obvs.
Reposted by Dr. Kurtis Hanlon
Homestar Playing Cards and lotsa other great new crap from @fangamer.com! Check it all out here: www.fangamer.com/collections/...
November 17, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Homestar Playing Cards and lotsa other great new crap from @fangamer.com! Check it all out here: www.fangamer.com/collections/...
Reposted by Dr. Kurtis Hanlon
The Washington State University Cougar Marching Band freakin' played Trogdor at their halftime show this weekend! And made ME! My husky head finally gets its due! 50 freakin' yards high man!
November 17, 2025 at 2:37 PM
The Washington State University Cougar Marching Band freakin' played Trogdor at their halftime show this weekend! And made ME! My husky head finally gets its due! 50 freakin' yards high man!
Reposted by Dr. Kurtis Hanlon
Day 10.
カメちゃんに
伸びてあくびで
恵まれた
By my turtle
Stretching and yawning
I have been blessed.
カメちゃんに
伸びてあくびで
恵まれた
By my turtle
Stretching and yawning
I have been blessed.
November 11, 2025 at 4:17 AM
Day 10.
カメちゃんに
伸びてあくびで
恵まれた
By my turtle
Stretching and yawning
I have been blessed.
カメちゃんに
伸びてあくびで
恵まれた
By my turtle
Stretching and yawning
I have been blessed.
I was being trained to navigate these hotel room interviews right when covid hit. I breathe a sigh of relief that I never had to do them, because they're creepy sounding even as a straight white cis guy.
November 16, 2025 at 9:27 PM
I was being trained to navigate these hotel room interviews right when covid hit. I breathe a sigh of relief that I never had to do them, because they're creepy sounding even as a straight white cis guy.
Don't make me tap the sign.
Sure, purity politics may in few instances cause the terminally online to close themselves to the idea of personal growth and reconciliation. But I'm pretty sure being a sex pest is a decent enough line to draw. I mean, it's so easy to *not* be a sex pest; you have to consciously act on that.
November 16, 2025 at 1:30 AM
Don't make me tap the sign.
Had a very productive tag sale today. By random chance, an undergrad came by after seeing us on their jog, and it turned out to be someone in their last year studying Japanese mingei art history. We had a lovely chat about that.
November 15, 2025 at 10:50 PM
Had a very productive tag sale today. By random chance, an undergrad came by after seeing us on their jog, and it turned out to be someone in their last year studying Japanese mingei art history. We had a lovely chat about that.
Reposted by Dr. Kurtis Hanlon
I just remembered a very lovely DnD plot device that worked perfectly well for me as a DM, so I wanted to share it with all my TTRPG people.
So, in act 1, I knew that a certain character would want to visit the shop in town because that's his character's schtick: merchant man.
So, in act 1, I knew that a certain character would want to visit the shop in town because that's his character's schtick: merchant man.
November 14, 2025 at 11:01 PM
I just remembered a very lovely DnD plot device that worked perfectly well for me as a DM, so I wanted to share it with all my TTRPG people.
So, in act 1, I knew that a certain character would want to visit the shop in town because that's his character's schtick: merchant man.
So, in act 1, I knew that a certain character would want to visit the shop in town because that's his character's schtick: merchant man.
I just remembered a very lovely DnD plot device that worked perfectly well for me as a DM, so I wanted to share it with all my TTRPG people.
So, in act 1, I knew that a certain character would want to visit the shop in town because that's his character's schtick: merchant man.
So, in act 1, I knew that a certain character would want to visit the shop in town because that's his character's schtick: merchant man.
November 14, 2025 at 11:01 PM
I just remembered a very lovely DnD plot device that worked perfectly well for me as a DM, so I wanted to share it with all my TTRPG people.
So, in act 1, I knew that a certain character would want to visit the shop in town because that's his character's schtick: merchant man.
So, in act 1, I knew that a certain character would want to visit the shop in town because that's his character's schtick: merchant man.
Reposted by Dr. Kurtis Hanlon
You guys wanna see a dead body?
November 10, 2025 at 4:29 PM
You guys wanna see a dead body?