MrBarrington
@mrbarrington.bsky.social
Stockholm-based, London-born book/language nerd 🤓
Reposted by MrBarrington
Washing down a multi-vitamin and a cod liver oil tablet with black coffee like a detective in a failed attempt by Richard Osman to write a noir novel.
December 6, 2025 at 10:57 AM
Washing down a multi-vitamin and a cod liver oil tablet with black coffee like a detective in a failed attempt by Richard Osman to write a noir novel.
Reposted by MrBarrington
Most gratuitous erasures from Peter Jackson’s LotR trilogy?
Bombadil
Erkenbrand
Imrahil
Bombadil
Erkenbrand
Imrahil
Círdan erasure
December 6, 2025 at 9:56 AM
Most gratuitous erasures from Peter Jackson’s LotR trilogy?
Bombadil
Erkenbrand
Imrahil
Bombadil
Erkenbrand
Imrahil
Reposted by MrBarrington
Painting created by Anthony Dare, December 1964, in the art therapy studio at Netherne hospital in Surrey, where he was compelled to live.
This is one of four surviving works by him & no biographical information is currently known to us
This is one of four surviving works by him & no biographical information is currently known to us
December 20, 2024 at 6:45 PM
Painting created by Anthony Dare, December 1964, in the art therapy studio at Netherne hospital in Surrey, where he was compelled to live.
This is one of four surviving works by him & no biographical information is currently known to us
This is one of four surviving works by him & no biographical information is currently known to us
Reposted by MrBarrington
Things that make generative AI dangerous:
1. Job market impact. As a cutting measure it's being used to generate "boilerplate". This is putting writers out of work.
2. Stock market bubble. When this inevitably crashes it will take out pension funds and savings.
1/
1. Job market impact. As a cutting measure it's being used to generate "boilerplate". This is putting writers out of work.
2. Stock market bubble. When this inevitably crashes it will take out pension funds and savings.
1/
April 13, 2025 at 12:08 PM
Things that make generative AI dangerous:
1. Job market impact. As a cutting measure it's being used to generate "boilerplate". This is putting writers out of work.
2. Stock market bubble. When this inevitably crashes it will take out pension funds and savings.
1/
1. Job market impact. As a cutting measure it's being used to generate "boilerplate". This is putting writers out of work.
2. Stock market bubble. When this inevitably crashes it will take out pension funds and savings.
1/
Reposted by MrBarrington
Swedish navy encountering Russian submarines ‘almost weekly’ – and more could be on the way
Swedish navy encountering Russian submarines ‘almost weekly’ – and more could be on the way
Moscow ‘continuously reinforcing’ its presence in the region, says Swedish chief of operations Capt Marko Petkovic
The Swedish navy encounters Russian submarines in the Baltic Sea on an “almost weekly” basis, its chief of operations has said, and is preparing for a further increase in the event of ceasefire or armistice in the Ukraine war.
Capt Marko Petkovic said Moscow was “continuously reinforcing” its presence in the region, and sightings of its vessels were a regular part of life for the Swedish navy. Its “very common”, he said, adding that the number of sightings had increased in recent years. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
December 6, 2025 at 7:07 AM
Swedish navy encountering Russian submarines ‘almost weekly’ – and more could be on the way
Reposted by MrBarrington
Nice analysis of AI’s current writing style.
"We are unearthing the echo of loneliness. We are unfolding the brushstrokes of regret. We are saying the words that mean meaning." A great, clarifying, skin-crawling piece on A.I. writing 'style' by Sam Kriss. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/03/m...
Why Does A.I. Write Like … That?
www.nytimes.com
December 5, 2025 at 2:40 PM
Nice analysis of AI’s current writing style.
Reposted by MrBarrington
I guess we finally got the answer to "can Netflix get better at making film and TV faster than HBO can get making tech"
December 5, 2025 at 2:47 PM
I guess we finally got the answer to "can Netflix get better at making film and TV faster than HBO can get making tech"
Since Socrates’ time (C5 bce), The New Yorker?? What about Polyphemus in the Odyssey (ca C8 bce), falling for that dumbass “nobody” trick?
Can I have a job as a fact checker plz
Can I have a job as a fact checker plz
December 5, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Since Socrates’ time (C5 bce), The New Yorker?? What about Polyphemus in the Odyssey (ca C8 bce), falling for that dumbass “nobody” trick?
Can I have a job as a fact checker plz
Can I have a job as a fact checker plz
Reposted by MrBarrington
“One mile on a bike is a $.42 economic gain to society, one mile driving is a $.20 loss.”
“Which means that Copenhagen, a city of 1.2 million people, saves $357 million a year on health costs because something like 80% of its population commutes by bike.” #CityMakingMath
Some costs aren’t costs.
“Which means that Copenhagen, a city of 1.2 million people, saves $357 million a year on health costs because something like 80% of its population commutes by bike.” #CityMakingMath
Some costs aren’t costs.
One mile on a bike is a $.42 economic gain to society, one mile driving is a $.20 loss
Copenhagen, the bicycle-friendliest place on the planet, publishes a biannual Bicycle Account, and buried in its pages is a rather astonishing fact.
grist.org
November 21, 2025 at 12:40 AM
“One mile on a bike is a $.42 economic gain to society, one mile driving is a $.20 loss.”
“Which means that Copenhagen, a city of 1.2 million people, saves $357 million a year on health costs because something like 80% of its population commutes by bike.” #CityMakingMath
Some costs aren’t costs.
“Which means that Copenhagen, a city of 1.2 million people, saves $357 million a year on health costs because something like 80% of its population commutes by bike.” #CityMakingMath
Some costs aren’t costs.
Reposted by MrBarrington
🚨
I am hearing from multiple sources that the EU Commission is announcing its first DSA fine tomorrow against X on ad transparency, blue check & dark pattern, and researcher access to data.
The fine is in the "100s of millions of Euros."
Elon about to get big mad.
I am hearing from multiple sources that the EU Commission is announcing its first DSA fine tomorrow against X on ad transparency, blue check & dark pattern, and researcher access to data.
The fine is in the "100s of millions of Euros."
Elon about to get big mad.
December 4, 2025 at 9:39 PM
🚨
I am hearing from multiple sources that the EU Commission is announcing its first DSA fine tomorrow against X on ad transparency, blue check & dark pattern, and researcher access to data.
The fine is in the "100s of millions of Euros."
Elon about to get big mad.
I am hearing from multiple sources that the EU Commission is announcing its first DSA fine tomorrow against X on ad transparency, blue check & dark pattern, and researcher access to data.
The fine is in the "100s of millions of Euros."
Elon about to get big mad.
Reposted by MrBarrington
it was not... already listed as a high-risk country?
We are acting to safeguard the EU financial system.
Russia is now listed as a high-risk country for anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing.
EU entities must apply enhanced vigilance in all transactions involving Russia.
Integrity cannot be compromised.
→ link.europa.eu/G7Kvcg
Russia is now listed as a high-risk country for anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing.
EU entities must apply enhanced vigilance in all transactions involving Russia.
Integrity cannot be compromised.
→ link.europa.eu/G7Kvcg
December 4, 2025 at 4:57 PM
it was not... already listed as a high-risk country?
Reposted by MrBarrington
Head Writer: ...okay what next?
Writers' Room: What if we made them declare "white" the color of the year?
Head Writer: No, that's too stupid
Writers' Room: Is it? Is it though?
Writers' Room: What if we made them declare "white" the color of the year?
Head Writer: No, that's too stupid
Writers' Room: Is it? Is it though?
Pantone’s 2026 color of the year is technically not a color at all — meet Cloud Dancer, the first-ever white shade to receive the designation from the world’s color authority.
Pantone makes a surprising choice for its 2026 color of the year
We did not see that coming.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 4, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Head Writer: ...okay what next?
Writers' Room: What if we made them declare "white" the color of the year?
Head Writer: No, that's too stupid
Writers' Room: Is it? Is it though?
Writers' Room: What if we made them declare "white" the color of the year?
Head Writer: No, that's too stupid
Writers' Room: Is it? Is it though?
Reposted by MrBarrington
HEAT: 2 HOT 2 HANDLE
Leonardo DiCaprio confirms he will star in 'Heat 2'
(via DEADLINE)
(via DEADLINE)
December 3, 2025 at 7:04 PM
HEAT: 2 HOT 2 HANDLE
Reposted by MrBarrington
December 2, 2025 at 8:48 AM
Proof if proof be need be that now Carpenter > Swift, update your charts accordingly
December 2, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Proof if proof be need be that now Carpenter > Swift, update your charts accordingly
Reposted by MrBarrington
“Berg's point is that AI doesn't merely automate tasks — it automates the very processes through which people develop their skills.”
We can't really say this enough...
> Anastasia Berg [at UCL Irvine] said that new research — and what she's hearing directly from colleagues across various industries — shows that employees who heavily rely on AI are losing core skills at a startling rate.
www.businessinsider.com/ai-tools-are...
> Anastasia Berg [at UCL Irvine] said that new research — and what she's hearing directly from colleagues across various industries — shows that employees who heavily rely on AI are losing core skills at a startling rate.
www.businessinsider.com/ai-tools-are...
AI tools are 'deskilling' workers, philosophy professor says
A philosophy professor warns that AI reliance is weakening workers' judgment, creativity, and problem-solving.
www.businessinsider.com
November 30, 2025 at 8:07 PM
“Berg's point is that AI doesn't merely automate tasks — it automates the very processes through which people develop their skills.”
Reposted by MrBarrington
Oh, that's where I know him from
November 30, 2025 at 2:14 AM
Oh, that's where I know him from
Reposted by MrBarrington
Someone found a YT link, so here you go:
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead 1990
YouTube video by Rolo Tomasi
youtu.be
November 29, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Someone found a YT link, so here you go:
Reposted by MrBarrington
A hermit who takes a newspaper is not a hermit in whom one can have complete confidence.
November 29, 2025 at 6:36 PM
A hermit who takes a newspaper is not a hermit in whom one can have complete confidence.
Reposted by MrBarrington
Huge respect to the papers for finding both an 88 year old worried about the tax bill on her 6 bedroom Kensington house and a 20 year old fretting about only being able to save £12k a year tax free.
Top work all around. These are not easy case studies to find.
Top work all around. These are not easy case studies to find.
November 29, 2025 at 9:24 AM
Huge respect to the papers for finding both an 88 year old worried about the tax bill on her 6 bedroom Kensington house and a 20 year old fretting about only being able to save £12k a year tax free.
Top work all around. These are not easy case studies to find.
Top work all around. These are not easy case studies to find.
Reposted by MrBarrington
New article inspired by the recent hoopla surrounding Karen Hao's book (re: water use). I argue that "no one should look to the EA community as exemplifying good habits of epistemic and moral conduct." Here's why: www.realtimetechpocalypse.com/p/how-effect...
How Effective Altruists Use Threats and Harassment to Silence Their Critics
How does the Effective Altruist community respond to critics? With threats and harassment. Even people who still call themselves "Effective Altruists" are afraid to openly criticize the community.
www.realtimetechpocalypse.com
November 28, 2025 at 5:26 PM
New article inspired by the recent hoopla surrounding Karen Hao's book (re: water use). I argue that "no one should look to the EA community as exemplifying good habits of epistemic and moral conduct." Here's why: www.realtimetechpocalypse.com/p/how-effect...
Reposted by MrBarrington
‘Speaking outside his chateau in France, former Brexit Party and UKIP MEP Coburn answered "no" when a BBC journalist asked him whether he had ever been paid to give a speech to promote pro-Russian campaigners.’
Great work from @BBCWales. Keep going
Great work from @BBCWales. Keep going
November 28, 2025 at 6:28 AM
‘Speaking outside his chateau in France, former Brexit Party and UKIP MEP Coburn answered "no" when a BBC journalist asked him whether he had ever been paid to give a speech to promote pro-Russian campaigners.’
Great work from @BBCWales. Keep going
Great work from @BBCWales. Keep going
Reposted by MrBarrington
![On April 17th, 2020, meme creator Welcome To My Meme Page posted a parody infographic to Facebook,[1] Instagram,[2] and Twitter,[3] titled, "STOP DOING MATH" (shown below). The infographic describes various ridiculous reasons why people should stop doing math, including that "numbers were not supposed to be given names," and ends with the phrase, "they have played us for absolute fools." The post gained over 9,800 reactions on Facebook, 77,000 likes and 23,000 retweets, and 18,500 likes on Instagram in 10 months.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:vsyj5jtayxcq5dw5mtja4xtb/bafkreier7r5uluprz24b47wich5lrs5tc4kxdkbc5kbu34cxlvf5ukzgbq@jpeg)
Reposted by MrBarrington
"Runctitiononal features"? "Medical fymblal"? "1 Tol Line storee"? This gets worse the longer you look at it. But it's got to be good, because it was published in Nature Scientific Reports last week: www.nature.com/articles/s41... h/t @asa.tsbalans.se
November 27, 2025 at 9:30 AM
"Runctitiononal features"? "Medical fymblal"? "1 Tol Line storee"? This gets worse the longer you look at it. But it's got to be good, because it was published in Nature Scientific Reports last week: www.nature.com/articles/s41... h/t @asa.tsbalans.se
Reposted by MrBarrington
No, ChatGPT is not conscious. Are the journalists who keep writing these fucking articles?
November 25, 2025 at 10:27 PM
No, ChatGPT is not conscious. Are the journalists who keep writing these fucking articles?