Chris Farnell
@thebrainofchris.bsky.social
I've written the Crew Handbook for Star Trek Lower Decks, the Prospectus for Life is Strange's Caledon University, the joke book for Doctor Who and the continuing misadventures of the deadly starship Fermi.
https://chrisfarnell.com
https://chrisfarnell.com
Pinned
“The Fermi is the fastest ship, and the deadliest weapon in the universe. We only need it to be one of those things.”
At
My homepage: chrisfarnell.com/fermis-progr...
Paperback: www.amazon.co.uk/Fermis-Progr...
Amazon: www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08QG5BLFD
Scarlet Ferret: scarletferret.com/fermis-progr...
At
My homepage: chrisfarnell.com/fermis-progr...
Paperback: www.amazon.co.uk/Fermis-Progr...
Amazon: www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08QG5BLFD
Scarlet Ferret: scarletferret.com/fermis-progr...
Which. Scientists.
November 25, 2025 at 11:59 PM
Which. Scientists.
Reposted by Chris Farnell
As a reminder! You can buy all of Ad Astra Games products here:
You know people who like spaceships, rocket science, planetary science and SF!
And we can help you make them happy!
You know people who like spaceships, rocket science, planetary science and SF!
And we can help you make them happy!
Ad Astra Games
Ad Astra Games produces games – science fiction, air combat, and even little RPGs. Many of our games, following from Attack Vector: Tactical through Birds of Prey and Squadron Strike, use 3D movement....
www.adastragames.com
November 25, 2025 at 5:17 PM
As a reminder! You can buy all of Ad Astra Games products here:
You know people who like spaceships, rocket science, planetary science and SF!
And we can help you make them happy!
You know people who like spaceships, rocket science, planetary science and SF!
And we can help you make them happy!
Reposted by Chris Farnell
tech bro: i have made Artificial General Intelligence
programmer: you fucked up a perfectly good calculator is what you did. look at it. it's got anxiety
programmer: you fucked up a perfectly good calculator is what you did. look at it. it's got anxiety
I’ve been running around asking tech execs and academics if language was the same as intelligence for over a year now - and, well, it isn’t. @benjaminjriley.bsky.social explains how the bubble is built on ignoring cutting-edge research into the science of thought www.theverge.com/ai-artificia...
November 25, 2025 at 5:12 PM
tech bro: i have made Artificial General Intelligence
programmer: you fucked up a perfectly good calculator is what you did. look at it. it's got anxiety
programmer: you fucked up a perfectly good calculator is what you did. look at it. it's got anxiety
Sci-fi Writers Write a Cautionary Tale without Accidentally Making an Advert for a Tech Billionaire's Wet Dream Challenge.
From Years and Years to Black Mirror: the best TV prophecies for how AI will end us all
From Years and Years to Black Mirror: the best TV prophecies for how AI will end us all
Will AI take all our jobs? Prevent all crimes from being committed? Or finally develop skills beyond that of a trainee copywriter? Here are television’s finest depictions of our imminent future…
www.theguardian.com
November 25, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Sci-fi Writers Write a Cautionary Tale without Accidentally Making an Advert for a Tech Billionaire's Wet Dream Challenge.
Reposted by Chris Farnell
Ahem, @thebrainofchris.bsky.social.
November 25, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Ahem, @thebrainofchris.bsky.social.
That last RT has reminded me that I spend a good ten to fifteen years of my life wondering why Dr Peter Venkman didn't think any *human* could stack books like this.
November 25, 2025 at 2:35 PM
That last RT has reminded me that I spend a good ten to fifteen years of my life wondering why Dr Peter Venkman didn't think any *human* could stack books like this.
Reposted by Chris Farnell
SCULLY: It's impossible. There's no one on earth who could teach you to fit that many marshmallows in your mouth.
MULDER: Daff righ...... No one...... on urff...
MULDER: Daff righ...... No one...... on urff...
December 7, 2024 at 5:42 AM
SCULLY: It's impossible. There's no one on earth who could teach you to fit that many marshmallows in your mouth.
MULDER: Daff righ...... No one...... on urff...
MULDER: Daff righ...... No one...... on urff...
I have just completed my Self Assessment Tax Return (bar getting my accountant to read it and point out my stupid mistake). Quite a pleasantly dull and routine process compared to the heart palpitations, hyperventilation and blurred vision it brought on a few years ago.
November 25, 2025 at 1:38 PM
I have just completed my Self Assessment Tax Return (bar getting my accountant to read it and point out my stupid mistake). Quite a pleasantly dull and routine process compared to the heart palpitations, hyperventilation and blurred vision it brought on a few years ago.
When you've been given another study that shows it helps people to give them money.
November 25, 2025 at 11:52 AM
When you've been given another study that shows it helps people to give them money.
I'm old enough to remember when the BBC wouldn't immediately roll belly up to appease the government.
Doing it for foreign governments is new though.
Doing it for foreign governments is new though.
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
November 25, 2025 at 11:48 AM
I'm old enough to remember when the BBC wouldn't immediately roll belly up to appease the government.
Doing it for foreign governments is new though.
Doing it for foreign governments is new though.
I'm not a brain scientist, so let's assume all the science here can be taken at face value.
The "Adult Era" is only really called that because you're calling it that, isn't it? That's not science, it's nomenclature.
The "Adult Era" is only really called that because you're calling it that, isn't it? That's not science, it's nomenclature.
Brain has five ‘eras’, scientists say – with adult mode not starting until early 30s
Brain has five ‘eras’, scientists say – with adult mode not starting until early 30s
Study suggests human brain development has four pivotal ‘turning points’ at around the ages of nine, 32, 66 and 83
Scientists have identified five major “epochs” of human brain development in one of the most comprehensive studies to date of how neural wiring changes from infancy to old age.
The study, based on the brain scans of nearly 4,000 people aged under one to 90, mapped neural connections and how they evolve during our lives. This revealed five broad phases, split up by four pivotal “turning points” in which brain organisation moves on to a different trajectory, at around the ages of nine, 32, 66 and 83 years. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 25, 2025 at 10:55 AM
I'm not a brain scientist, so let's assume all the science here can be taken at face value.
The "Adult Era" is only really called that because you're calling it that, isn't it? That's not science, it's nomenclature.
The "Adult Era" is only really called that because you're calling it that, isn't it? That's not science, it's nomenclature.
Reposted by Chris Farnell
Google at its peak was basically the best information retrieval system in human history and they and every competitor decided going from there to “you didn’t want answers you wanted half-assed auto-complete 80%-wrong hallucinations” in a few years was the right idea
November 25, 2025 at 1:57 AM
Google at its peak was basically the best information retrieval system in human history and they and every competitor decided going from there to “you didn’t want answers you wanted half-assed auto-complete 80%-wrong hallucinations” in a few years was the right idea
I muted Moran way back in my early Twitter days because she kept turning up in my timeline but always gave an irritating vibe of wearing progressive clothes while not believing she had any real skin in the game.
This made me look her up again and this is her current bsky bio. So... yeah.
This made me look her up again and this is her current bsky bio. So... yeah.
November 25, 2025 at 8:40 AM
I muted Moran way back in my early Twitter days because she kept turning up in my timeline but always gave an irritating vibe of wearing progressive clothes while not believing she had any real skin in the game.
This made me look her up again and this is her current bsky bio. So... yeah.
This made me look her up again and this is her current bsky bio. So... yeah.
Reposted by Chris Farnell
“I can no longer post content on this internet platform, filled as it is with malicious far right cranks spreading lunatic misinformation and relentlessly inciting hate and fear” - Me, at the Times website
November 24, 2025 at 11:14 PM
“I can no longer post content on this internet platform, filled as it is with malicious far right cranks spreading lunatic misinformation and relentlessly inciting hate and fear” - Me, at the Times website
Reposted by Chris Farnell
“Look out, it’s the Warhammer 40,000”, cried the Emperor.
But it was too late, Sanguinius had already been squashed flat.
Horus looked through the cloud of feathers at the Emperor, his eyes narrow and his bald head gleaming in the light. “Let’s get Heresy”, he shouted.
It was time to fight.
But it was too late, Sanguinius had already been squashed flat.
Horus looked through the cloud of feathers at the Emperor, his eyes narrow and his bald head gleaming in the light. “Let’s get Heresy”, he shouted.
It was time to fight.
November 24, 2025 at 10:31 PM
“Look out, it’s the Warhammer 40,000”, cried the Emperor.
But it was too late, Sanguinius had already been squashed flat.
Horus looked through the cloud of feathers at the Emperor, his eyes narrow and his bald head gleaming in the light. “Let’s get Heresy”, he shouted.
It was time to fight.
But it was too late, Sanguinius had already been squashed flat.
Horus looked through the cloud of feathers at the Emperor, his eyes narrow and his bald head gleaming in the light. “Let’s get Heresy”, he shouted.
It was time to fight.
I nearly had a rescue attempt from the entire gestalt human race.
But then I went and watched this afterwards.
But then I went and watched this afterwards.
November 25, 2025 at 6:33 AM
I nearly had a rescue attempt from the entire gestalt human race.
But then I went and watched this afterwards.
But then I went and watched this afterwards.
Reposted by Chris Farnell
Reposted by Chris Farnell
I heard there was a mighty fish
With solitude its fervent wish
When hungry, their demeanour's even ruder
They're known to bite their prey in two
They'd even have a go at you
The silver and the salty
Barracuda
With solitude its fervent wish
When hungry, their demeanour's even ruder
They're known to bite their prey in two
They'd even have a go at you
The silver and the salty
Barracuda
November 24, 2025 at 5:29 PM
I heard there was a mighty fish
With solitude its fervent wish
When hungry, their demeanour's even ruder
They're known to bite their prey in two
They'd even have a go at you
The silver and the salty
Barracuda
With solitude its fervent wish
When hungry, their demeanour's even ruder
They're known to bite their prey in two
They'd even have a go at you
The silver and the salty
Barracuda
Before you criticise this, bear in mind that it will trigger a chain of events that could culminate in a baby shooting Elon Musk.
A 25-person startup is developing technology to block the sun and turn down the planet’s thermostat.
The stakes are huge — and the company and its critics say regulations need to catch up.
Read more: politi.co/4iaojIc
The stakes are huge — and the company and its critics say regulations need to catch up.
Read more: politi.co/4iaojIc
November 24, 2025 at 7:00 AM
Before you criticise this, bear in mind that it will trigger a chain of events that could culminate in a baby shooting Elon Musk.
Reposted by Chris Farnell
"music hall, not opera, is the mirror of life"
- Oscar Wilde
- Oscar Wilde
It's not stranger than fiction. This is the plot of Highlander fucking 2.
A 25-person startup is developing technology to block the sun and turn down the planet’s thermostat.
The stakes are huge — and the company and its critics say regulations need to catch up.
Read more: politi.co/4iaojIc
The stakes are huge — and the company and its critics say regulations need to catch up.
Read more: politi.co/4iaojIc
November 24, 2025 at 6:46 AM
"music hall, not opera, is the mirror of life"
- Oscar Wilde
- Oscar Wilde
You ever watch Shooting Fish? They're hired to paint an old gas holder, and they realise that if they get a bunch of splotches of paint dotted around the upper half of the structure, nobody will ever look closely enough to see if they've actually properly painted it.
Good film.
Good film.
A major healthcare policy paper commissioned by @govnl.bsky.social government from Deloitte at a cost of $1.6 million, cites research papers that don’t exist, making it the second major government policy paper called into question in as many months. #nlpoli #AI
theindependent.ca/news/lji/maj...
theindependent.ca/news/lji/maj...
Major N.L. healthcare report contains errors likely generated by A.I. – The Independent
$1.6 million Health Human Resources Plan from Deloitte cites research papers that don’t exist, making it the second major government policy paper called into question in as many months
theindependent.ca
November 23, 2025 at 8:11 AM
You ever watch Shooting Fish? They're hired to paint an old gas holder, and they realise that if they get a bunch of splotches of paint dotted around the upper half of the structure, nobody will ever look closely enough to see if they've actually properly painted it.
Good film.
Good film.
You can’t do that in Church of England.
“You must have tea and cake with the Vicar or you die!”
The Spanish Inquisition wouldn’t have worked with Church of England.
“Talk!”
“But it hurts.”
“Well, loosen it up a bit, will you?”
That’s what it would be, tea and cake or death.
“Tea and cake or death!"
“You must have tea and cake with the Vicar or you die!”
The Spanish Inquisition wouldn’t have worked with Church of England.
“Talk!”
“But it hurts.”
“Well, loosen it up a bit, will you?”
That’s what it would be, tea and cake or death.
“Tea and cake or death!"
November 23, 2025 at 7:12 AM
You can’t do that in Church of England.
“You must have tea and cake with the Vicar or you die!”
The Spanish Inquisition wouldn’t have worked with Church of England.
“Talk!”
“But it hurts.”
“Well, loosen it up a bit, will you?”
That’s what it would be, tea and cake or death.
“Tea and cake or death!"
“You must have tea and cake with the Vicar or you die!”
The Spanish Inquisition wouldn’t have worked with Church of England.
“Talk!”
“But it hurts.”
“Well, loosen it up a bit, will you?”
That’s what it would be, tea and cake or death.
“Tea and cake or death!"
I know what all the marketing people are thinking right now too, “Oh, you know what Leo’s doing, he’s going for that anti-marketing dollar. That’s a good market, he’s very smart."
Goddamnit, I’m not doing that, you scum-bags!
Goddamnit, I’m not doing that, you scum-bags!
November 23, 2025 at 7:04 AM
I know what all the marketing people are thinking right now too, “Oh, you know what Leo’s doing, he’s going for that anti-marketing dollar. That’s a good market, he’s very smart."
Goddamnit, I’m not doing that, you scum-bags!
Goddamnit, I’m not doing that, you scum-bags!
BOOOOM!
November 22, 2025 at 6:07 PM
BOOOOM!
Reposted by Chris Farnell
Yes! This is so important! Machine Learning is doing wonderful things like mapping Martian craters and analyzing microbe genomes. LLMs are a very specific form & it’s them doing these huge amounts of harm. I also sometimes say “Gen AI”
when I mean both LLMs and art generators; I try to never say AI
when I mean both LLMs and art generators; I try to never say AI
Journalist challenge: Use “Machine Learning” when you mean machine learning and “LLM” when you mean LLM. Ditch “AI” as a catch-all term, it’s not useful for readers and it helps companies trying to confuse the public by obscuring the roles played by different technologies. 🧪
November 22, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Yes! This is so important! Machine Learning is doing wonderful things like mapping Martian craters and analyzing microbe genomes. LLMs are a very specific form & it’s them doing these huge amounts of harm. I also sometimes say “Gen AI”
when I mean both LLMs and art generators; I try to never say AI
when I mean both LLMs and art generators; I try to never say AI