Betsy Sneller
@betsysneller.bsky.social
Asst prof linguistics @ Michigan state. I like cats, fiber arts, people. I’ll finish the rest of this later.
Pinned
Betsy Sneller
@betsysneller.bsky.social
· Dec 18
Bill Labov died this morning. I'm not coherent enough to talk about how important and influential and brilliant he was. I am very sad.
I was so lucky to know him, and I am grateful every day that he (and Gillian, and Walt, etc) built an academic field where kindness is expected.
I was so lucky to know him, and I am grateful every day that he (and Gillian, and Walt, etc) built an academic field where kindness is expected.
Okay, buckle up bsky, it's time for the Tale of the Bunny Paper.
Here's the imported thread from twitter where the search all started:
bsky.app/profile/bets... (1/n)
Here's the imported thread from twitter where the search all started:
bsky.app/profile/bets... (1/n)
Reposted by Betsy Sneller
i have to sew in the lining but uh. WHIM FOLLOWED
December 24, 2025 at 3:46 AM
i have to sew in the lining but uh. WHIM FOLLOWED
Reposted by Betsy Sneller
This and the discussion about how academics can now just read AI summaries of things really drives home how much these guys always confuse the product for the goal. You don't do a coloring sheet because you want to have a colored sheet at the end!!! The coloring is the point!!!
December 21, 2025 at 11:39 PM
This and the discussion about how academics can now just read AI summaries of things really drives home how much these guys always confuse the product for the goal. You don't do a coloring sheet because you want to have a colored sheet at the end!!! The coloring is the point!!!
Reposted by Betsy Sneller
Reposted by Betsy Sneller
I keep wanting to say something, and I keep not knowing what to say.
The trans community does not harm cis people by existing. They are just trying to live their lives, same as anyone else. That life doesn't look exactly like mine; my life doesn't match anyone else's. That's okay.
The trans community does not harm cis people by existing. They are just trying to live their lives, same as anyone else. That life doesn't look exactly like mine; my life doesn't match anyone else's. That's okay.
December 19, 2025 at 10:57 PM
I keep wanting to say something, and I keep not knowing what to say.
The trans community does not harm cis people by existing. They are just trying to live their lives, same as anyone else. That life doesn't look exactly like mine; my life doesn't match anyone else's. That's okay.
The trans community does not harm cis people by existing. They are just trying to live their lives, same as anyone else. That life doesn't look exactly like mine; my life doesn't match anyone else's. That's okay.
Reposted by Betsy Sneller
This is Attorney General Pam Bondi’s ethics pledge.
She was a lobbyist for Ballard — the same firm hired to lobby for both Paramount AND Netflix.
But Trump’s Justice Department said Bondi will oversee the Warner Bros. merger.
It reeks of corruption.
Bondi must recuse herself.
She was a lobbyist for Ballard — the same firm hired to lobby for both Paramount AND Netflix.
But Trump’s Justice Department said Bondi will oversee the Warner Bros. merger.
It reeks of corruption.
Bondi must recuse herself.
December 18, 2025 at 4:13 PM
This is Attorney General Pam Bondi’s ethics pledge.
She was a lobbyist for Ballard — the same firm hired to lobby for both Paramount AND Netflix.
But Trump’s Justice Department said Bondi will oversee the Warner Bros. merger.
It reeks of corruption.
Bondi must recuse herself.
She was a lobbyist for Ballard — the same firm hired to lobby for both Paramount AND Netflix.
But Trump’s Justice Department said Bondi will oversee the Warner Bros. merger.
It reeks of corruption.
Bondi must recuse herself.
Slowly coming to the truly awful realization that no, my back isn't sore because I slept weird.... I just need to strengthen my core.
December 18, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Slowly coming to the truly awful realization that no, my back isn't sore because I slept weird.... I just need to strengthen my core.
Reposted by Betsy Sneller
every trans kid brings more value to the world than any chickenshit politician willing to sacrifice them for political points
December 18, 2025 at 12:59 AM
every trans kid brings more value to the world than any chickenshit politician willing to sacrifice them for political points
Extremely disappointed in my senator @slotkin.senate.gov .
Jon Ossoff (GA), Gary Peters (MI), Jack Reed (RI), Jacky Rosen (NV), Chuck Schumer (NY), Jeanne Shaheen (NH), Elissa Slotkin (MI), Mark Warner (VA), Raphael Warnock (GA), & Sheldon Whitehouse (RI).
U.S. Senate: U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 119th Congress - 1st Session
www.senate.gov
December 16, 2025 at 10:01 AM
Extremely disappointed in my senator @slotkin.senate.gov .
The WOTYoty
did you know: the American Dialect Society is the oldest "word of the year" event in the States, and the words are chosen by several hundred linguists who get raucous in a big meeting room in January. you can submit nominations for us to consider!
great activity for classrooms!
great activity for classrooms!
Submit 2025 Words-of-the-Year Nominations
The American Dialect Society’s popular 2025 words-of-the-year vote will be held during the society’s 2026 annual meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana. Nominations will be taken Thursday, January 8, 2026…
americandialect.org
December 15, 2025 at 6:57 PM
The WOTYoty
We've given billionaires way more than long enough to role play "effective altruism" or whatever, it's time for a tax structure that can actually pay for functioning social programs.
December 14, 2025 at 11:15 PM
Reposted by Betsy Sneller
We have been fundamentally betrayed. I know an individual man or woman made this invention or that discovery, but all of it occurs on the mountain of progress we collectively made. HUMANITY made the steam engine; HUMANITY went to the moon. WE did it, together. We've always been a collective.
December 12, 2025 at 8:07 PM
We have been fundamentally betrayed. I know an individual man or woman made this invention or that discovery, but all of it occurs on the mountain of progress we collectively made. HUMANITY made the steam engine; HUMANITY went to the moon. WE did it, together. We've always been a collective.
Reposted by Betsy Sneller
I guess it's fitting that it's a reimagined, worse version of someone else's artwork
December 12, 2025 at 4:00 AM
I guess it's fitting that it's a reimagined, worse version of someone else's artwork
Reposted by Betsy Sneller
What's especially crazy about this is that it's an unbelievably cheap intervention. It costs approximately zero dollars and saves lives. There is essentially no material elements to compete over. There's nothing left but animus.
More research showing a thing the GC movement wishes to deny trans people, in this case respecting their name and pronouns, is a thing that improves mental health and could prevent a death by suicide, yet still they persist.
“Transgender and nonbinary youth (ages 13 to 24) whose pronouns are respected were 31 percent less likely to attempt suicide in the past year than those whose pronouns are not respected, according to a new report from The Trevor Project”
www.advocate.com/exclusives/p...
www.advocate.com/exclusives/p...
December 11, 2025 at 12:47 PM
What's especially crazy about this is that it's an unbelievably cheap intervention. It costs approximately zero dollars and saves lives. There is essentially no material elements to compete over. There's nothing left but animus.
Reposted by Betsy Sneller
Just discovered an insane new form of co-intelligence where you briefly share the mind of a great thinker in history and then a portion of their mind travels in yours for the rest of your life. Calling it a "book."
December 11, 2025 at 3:08 AM
Just discovered an insane new form of co-intelligence where you briefly share the mind of a great thinker in history and then a portion of their mind travels in yours for the rest of your life. Calling it a "book."
Reposted by Betsy Sneller
Israel hunted a 70 year old lady down with a gun drone and then hoovered above to make sure she bled out next to her dying son. They both join almost 1,000 Palestinians Israel has massacred or maimed in its genocide during the "ceasefire".
www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/12...
www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/12...
Israeli drone chases and kills elderly woman in Gaza as attacks continue
At least seven Palestinians killed in Israeli attacks as military pushes deeper beyond truce demarcation line.
www.aljazeera.com
December 8, 2025 at 3:24 AM
Israel hunted a 70 year old lady down with a gun drone and then hoovered above to make sure she bled out next to her dying son. They both join almost 1,000 Palestinians Israel has massacred or maimed in its genocide during the "ceasefire".
www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/12...
www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/12...
Reposted by Betsy Sneller
Meanwhile some of the most interesting organic radical action on the ground is coming from rural communities protesting data centers. Somehow that doesn’t excite a lot of people who preach about radial action.
December 7, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Meanwhile some of the most interesting organic radical action on the ground is coming from rural communities protesting data centers. Somehow that doesn’t excite a lot of people who preach about radial action.
Reposted by Betsy Sneller
Support independent journalism on Giving Tuesday. Broad Street Review has been covering the Philly region since 2005. We rely on reader support. Learn a bit about our values here: www.broadstreetreview.com/editorials/a... and become a sustaining Friend of BSR for $5. www.broadstreetreview.com/donate
At BSR, our values do not change based on elections.
We offer a huge range of opinions here at BSR from journalists who know what they’re talking about. But this diversity of opinion is built on the value of…
www.broadstreetreview.com
December 2, 2025 at 12:51 PM
Support independent journalism on Giving Tuesday. Broad Street Review has been covering the Philly region since 2005. We rely on reader support. Learn a bit about our values here: www.broadstreetreview.com/editorials/a... and become a sustaining Friend of BSR for $5. www.broadstreetreview.com/donate
Reposted by Betsy Sneller
Look I don’t want to dogpile this guy’s mentions, but if you, as a constitutional law expert, ever find yourself arguing that the first amendment makes bad grades illegal you should probably do some self-reflection.
And if that isn’t what you meant, then reconsider the utility of good writing.
And if that isn’t what you meant, then reconsider the utility of good writing.
December 1, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Look I don’t want to dogpile this guy’s mentions, but if you, as a constitutional law expert, ever find yourself arguing that the first amendment makes bad grades illegal you should probably do some self-reflection.
And if that isn’t what you meant, then reconsider the utility of good writing.
And if that isn’t what you meant, then reconsider the utility of good writing.
Reposted by Betsy Sneller
every trans person i see post about the OU suspension knows that the suspended target is trans & a grad student, & has an innate awareness that this is about purging trans employees. every cis person i see thinks the target is a rando professor & that this is about giving conservatives good grades
December 1, 2025 at 12:04 AM
every trans person i see post about the OU suspension knows that the suspended target is trans & a grad student, & has an innate awareness that this is about purging trans employees. every cis person i see thinks the target is a rando professor & that this is about giving conservatives good grades
Reposted by Betsy Sneller
That's because we want it to do our housework, not write our novels, ya planks
Three years into the generative-AI wave, demand for the technology seems surprisingly flimsy
Investors expect AI use to soar. That’s not happening
Recent surveys point to flatlining business adoption
econ.st
November 29, 2025 at 11:31 PM
That's because we want it to do our housework, not write our novels, ya planks
Reposted by Betsy Sneller
Headline: "AI can replace 11.7% of workforce"
Actual study: Anthropic paid MIT to use a "labor simulation tool" that said 11.7% of TASKS could be done by AI
Actual study: Anthropic paid MIT to use a "labor simulation tool" that said 11.7% of TASKS could be done by AI
MIT study finds AI can already replace 11.7% of U.S. workforce
Artificial intelligence can already replace 11.7% of the U.S. labor market, across finance, health care and professional services, according to MIT's study.
www.cnbc.com
November 29, 2025 at 9:57 PM
Headline: "AI can replace 11.7% of workforce"
Actual study: Anthropic paid MIT to use a "labor simulation tool" that said 11.7% of TASKS could be done by AI
Actual study: Anthropic paid MIT to use a "labor simulation tool" that said 11.7% of TASKS could be done by AI
Reposted by Betsy Sneller
Happy World Linguistics Day 🎉
Not Saussure how to celebrate? Episodes 12 and 13 of our podcast will give your plans some structure...
🎙️ hiphilangsci.net/2021/02/01/p...
🎙️ hiphilangsci.net/2021/03/01/p...
#LinguisticBirthdays #LinguisticQuotes #Histlx #WorldLinguisticsDay
Not Saussure how to celebrate? Episodes 12 and 13 of our podcast will give your plans some structure...
🎙️ hiphilangsci.net/2021/02/01/p...
🎙️ hiphilangsci.net/2021/03/01/p...
#LinguisticBirthdays #LinguisticQuotes #Histlx #WorldLinguisticsDay
!["Dans la langue, il n'y a que des différences sans termes positifs [=In a language, there are only differences and no positive terms.]" (Ferdinand de Saussure: Cours de linnguistique générale, p. 166)](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:r6wjosgpmompi6hot3pbmyj2/bafkreicxbh6gr7vxtgn63slt6va5sdqvishbb7byqxx5ya2ykb7sa3ctdm@jpeg)
November 26, 2025 at 9:03 AM
Happy World Linguistics Day 🎉
Not Saussure how to celebrate? Episodes 12 and 13 of our podcast will give your plans some structure...
🎙️ hiphilangsci.net/2021/02/01/p...
🎙️ hiphilangsci.net/2021/03/01/p...
#LinguisticBirthdays #LinguisticQuotes #Histlx #WorldLinguisticsDay
Not Saussure how to celebrate? Episodes 12 and 13 of our podcast will give your plans some structure...
🎙️ hiphilangsci.net/2021/02/01/p...
🎙️ hiphilangsci.net/2021/03/01/p...
#LinguisticBirthdays #LinguisticQuotes #Histlx #WorldLinguisticsDay
Reposted by Betsy Sneller
As a survivor of the Tulsa Race Massacre, Viola Ford Fletcher bravely shared her story so that we’d never forget this painful part of our history. Michelle and I are grateful for her lifelong work to advance civil rights, and send our love to her family.
Viola Fletcher, Oldest Survivor of the Tulsa Race Massacre, Dies at 111
www.nytimes.com
November 25, 2025 at 12:45 AM
As a survivor of the Tulsa Race Massacre, Viola Ford Fletcher bravely shared her story so that we’d never forget this painful part of our history. Michelle and I are grateful for her lifelong work to advance civil rights, and send our love to her family.
My toddler likes to make up little songs as she goes about her day.
Today’s banger goes like this:
🎵“I love you, are you feeling well?” 🎶
Today’s banger goes like this:
🎵“I love you, are you feeling well?” 🎶
November 24, 2025 at 5:20 PM
My toddler likes to make up little songs as she goes about her day.
Today’s banger goes like this:
🎵“I love you, are you feeling well?” 🎶
Today’s banger goes like this:
🎵“I love you, are you feeling well?” 🎶
Reposted by Betsy Sneller
Trump's economy is being held up by a massive AI bubble.
A recent study found that of 300 companies that owned generative AI tools, 95% reported zero return on their investments.
We will not entertain a bailout of these companies should this bubble pop.
A recent study found that of 300 companies that owned generative AI tools, 95% reported zero return on their investments.
We will not entertain a bailout of these companies should this bubble pop.
November 19, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Trump's economy is being held up by a massive AI bubble.
A recent study found that of 300 companies that owned generative AI tools, 95% reported zero return on their investments.
We will not entertain a bailout of these companies should this bubble pop.
A recent study found that of 300 companies that owned generative AI tools, 95% reported zero return on their investments.
We will not entertain a bailout of these companies should this bubble pop.