Brandon Bishop
@brandontbishop.bsky.social
Seismologist, investigates the Andes and subduction zones, currently complexly affiliated with St. Louis University and looking for new projects.
Replies to my geoscience posts that include ChatGPT content get hidden and get your account blocked.
Replies to my geoscience posts that include ChatGPT content get hidden and get your account blocked.
Reposted by Brandon Bishop
So many prominent Chinese-American scientists whose lives and careers were turned upside down in the first Trump administration.
The 5 year retroactive punishment is like penalizing something for an ‘infraction’ which was not even an infraction when the action occurred. How does this make sense?
The 5 year retroactive punishment is like penalizing something for an ‘infraction’ which was not even an infraction when the action occurred. How does this make sense?
“The prohibited activities would include joint research, co-authorship on papers, and advising a foreign graduate student or postdoctoral fellow. The language is retroactive, meaning any interactions during the previous 5 years could make a scientist ineligible for future federal funding.”
U.S. Congress considers sweeping ban on Chinese collaborations
Researchers speak out against proposal that would bar funding for U.S. scientists working with Chinese partners or training Chinese students
www.science.org
November 14, 2025 at 8:55 PM
So many prominent Chinese-American scientists whose lives and careers were turned upside down in the first Trump administration.
The 5 year retroactive punishment is like penalizing something for an ‘infraction’ which was not even an infraction when the action occurred. How does this make sense?
The 5 year retroactive punishment is like penalizing something for an ‘infraction’ which was not even an infraction when the action occurred. How does this make sense?
Reposted by Brandon Bishop
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 14, 2025 at 11:55 PM
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
Reposted by Brandon Bishop
Suburban shopping is insane. People will come up to you and your baby and then talk about how if they hit a homeless it wouldn't be their fault but would be so sad, and what if they veered into traffic and hurt a real person? Awful!
November 14, 2025 at 11:56 PM
Suburban shopping is insane. People will come up to you and your baby and then talk about how if they hit a homeless it wouldn't be their fault but would be so sad, and what if they veered into traffic and hurt a real person? Awful!
Reposted by Brandon Bishop
Anyone have recs for low-effort frivolous fun sci-fi written by a non-Western author living in a non-Western country besides Liu Cixin? Preferably as intellectually undemanding as it is fun. Like space marine crap but written by a non-Westerner in literally any non-Western nation, for example
November 15, 2025 at 12:01 AM
Anyone have recs for low-effort frivolous fun sci-fi written by a non-Western author living in a non-Western country besides Liu Cixin? Preferably as intellectually undemanding as it is fun. Like space marine crap but written by a non-Westerner in literally any non-Western nation, for example
I like this. It's also a useful barometer of how things are going....
Maybe in addition to occasionally ranking US Presidents we could have "who would have hated/liked the last decade the most"
November 15, 2025 at 12:07 AM
I like this. It's also a useful barometer of how things are going....
Reposted by Brandon Bishop
A group of scientists has called on EC president Ursula von der Leyen to retract a statement she made suggesting A.I. would soon reach parity with human intelligence. Her statements were based on marketing statements from US Tech firms not empirical evidence or real proof. #ResistAI
Stop overhyping AI, scientists tell von der Leyen | Euractiv
Open letter criticises the Commission President for remarks earlier this year – when she anticipated AI would “approach human reasoning” in 2026
www.euractiv.com
November 10, 2025 at 1:22 PM
A group of scientists has called on EC president Ursula von der Leyen to retract a statement she made suggesting A.I. would soon reach parity with human intelligence. Her statements were based on marketing statements from US Tech firms not empirical evidence or real proof. #ResistAI
Reposted by Brandon Bishop
Early in the Jiajing Emperor's reign, there was a cat in the Forbidden City with fine, curly fur that was all slate-grey save for two eyebrows of the purest white, for which the cat was named Frostbrows. (1)
also this, from 宛署雜記; will translate this afternoon if I get a minute:
嘉靖初年，禁中有貓美毛而虯，微青色，惟雙眉瑩然潔白，因號曰霜眉。性不喜噬物，而善解人意，目逐之即逃匿，呼其名則疾至，為舞蹈之狀。旦夕隨駕所之，若侍從然。上或時假寐，霜眉輒相依不暫離，即飢渴或便液必俟醒乃去。上以是憐而異之，封為虯龍。
忽一日，向上前若疲而泣者，有頃走他所，盤曲以死。上命內侍葬之萬歲山陰，勒其碑曰虯龍墓云。夫貓微物耳，一或戀主，而生榮死恤，且足傳不朽，此之謂忠無不酬，德及禽獸，有如人臣盡忠報國，奚翅虯龍，或者激勸微義，先帝固亦有取爾已。
嘉靖初年，禁中有貓美毛而虯，微青色，惟雙眉瑩然潔白，因號曰霜眉。性不喜噬物，而善解人意，目逐之即逃匿，呼其名則疾至，為舞蹈之狀。旦夕隨駕所之，若侍從然。上或時假寐，霜眉輒相依不暫離，即飢渴或便液必俟醒乃去。上以是憐而異之，封為虯龍。
忽一日，向上前若疲而泣者，有頃走他所，盤曲以死。上命內侍葬之萬歲山陰，勒其碑曰虯龍墓云。夫貓微物耳，一或戀主，而生榮死恤，且足傳不朽，此之謂忠無不酬，德及禽獸，有如人臣盡忠報國，奚翅虯龍，或者激勸微義，先帝固亦有取爾已。
貓兒房，近侍三、四人，專飼御前有名分之貓。凡聖心所鍾愛者，亦加升管事職銜。牡者曰「某小廝」騸者曰「某老爺」，牝者曰「某丫頭」
The Cat Office employed three or four attendants to feed cats of recognized status. Favorites of the Emperor received promotions: males were styled “pages;” females, “maids;” neutered cats were addressed in the manner of senior eunuchs.
The Cat Office employed three or four attendants to feed cats of recognized status. Favorites of the Emperor received promotions: males were styled “pages;” females, “maids;” neutered cats were addressed in the manner of senior eunuchs.
November 14, 2025 at 9:32 PM
Early in the Jiajing Emperor's reign, there was a cat in the Forbidden City with fine, curly fur that was all slate-grey save for two eyebrows of the purest white, for which the cat was named Frostbrows. (1)
"LLMs can't be uninvented."
I have lived through too many data storage devices to believe that.
I have lived through too many data storage devices to believe that.
November 14, 2025 at 11:48 PM
"LLMs can't be uninvented."
I have lived through too many data storage devices to believe that.
I have lived through too many data storage devices to believe that.
Ok, Important Historical Question On A Friday:
Would a time-travelling Andrew Jackson be a Crypto-Bro or a Neo-Goldbug?
Would a time-travelling Andrew Jackson be a Crypto-Bro or a Neo-Goldbug?
November 14, 2025 at 11:29 PM
Ok, Important Historical Question On A Friday:
Would a time-travelling Andrew Jackson be a Crypto-Bro or a Neo-Goldbug?
Would a time-travelling Andrew Jackson be a Crypto-Bro or a Neo-Goldbug?
...Urban-Electro-Industrial John Wesley Powell Thought.
November 14, 2025 at 11:05 PM
...Urban-Electro-Industrial John Wesley Powell Thought.
Yeah, total coincidence each of the Western US states besides Califnorna and Nevada has the bulk of their population centered on a single drainage feature.
November 14, 2025 at 9:52 PM
Yeah, total coincidence each of the Western US states besides Califnorna and Nevada has the bulk of their population centered on a single drainage feature.
Reposted by Brandon Bishop
One thing that's abundantly clear: passing the SAFE Research Act would permanently end the United States' ability to be competitive in any area of advanced technology. Just straight up suicidal policy-making.
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 8:44 PM
One thing that's abundantly clear: passing the SAFE Research Act would permanently end the United States' ability to be competitive in any area of advanced technology. Just straight up suicidal policy-making.
The kompromat is *what* now?
November 14, 2025 at 8:42 PM
The kompromat is *what* now?
Reposted by Brandon Bishop
i’d be more comfortable with the olivia nuzzi coverage if every story was headlined something like “seduced by a guy who eats roadkill: the story of an extremely stupid lady”
November 14, 2025 at 7:02 PM
i’d be more comfortable with the olivia nuzzi coverage if every story was headlined something like “seduced by a guy who eats roadkill: the story of an extremely stupid lady”
Reposted by Brandon Bishop
this is what I keep Wang Hui, "The Rise of Modern Chinese Thought" around for. A friend translated the first chapter and was like 'that's also where most people give up'
alright let’s get something more pleasant going. what two books would you leave out on your coffee table so a reporter can mention you have them. doesn’t matter if you’ve read them. for me it’s Pale Fire (which I did read) and Ulysses (got like 15% of the way in)
November 14, 2025 at 6:47 PM
this is what I keep Wang Hui, "The Rise of Modern Chinese Thought" around for. A friend translated the first chapter and was like 'that's also where most people give up'
Reposted by Brandon Bishop
Reposted by Brandon Bishop
This is Calappa, the same crab that I made a pumpkin of (next skeet) and one of bluesky's favorite crabs. Not only does it run funny, it has an adorable face and its claws are specialized like a can opener for snails 🦀🦑
November 14, 2025 at 8:17 PM
This is Calappa, the same crab that I made a pumpkin of (next skeet) and one of bluesky's favorite crabs. Not only does it run funny, it has an adorable face and its claws are specialized like a can opener for snails 🦀🦑
Counterpoint: We basically did.
imagine the West in which we listened to John Wesley Powell and divided up the states by watershed
November 14, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Counterpoint: We basically did.
The Himalaya and Tibetan Plateau are only the most *recent* of the big mountain systems to have formed in south-central Asia.
Well before India began to collide with Asia, the Gangdese Volcanic Arc had reached Andes-like proportions, standing ~3.5 km tall.
Well before India began to collide with Asia, the Gangdese Volcanic Arc had reached Andes-like proportions, standing ~3.5 km tall.
High-elevation Tibetan Plateau before India–Eurasia collision recorded by triple oxygen isotopes - Nature Geoscience
The triple oxygen isotope composition of quartz veins indicates that the southern Tibetan Plateau was already around 3.5 km high by 60 million years ago, showing that substantial surface uplift starte...
www.nature.com
November 14, 2025 at 7:47 PM
The Himalaya and Tibetan Plateau are only the most *recent* of the big mountain systems to have formed in south-central Asia.
Well before India began to collide with Asia, the Gangdese Volcanic Arc had reached Andes-like proportions, standing ~3.5 km tall.
Well before India began to collide with Asia, the Gangdese Volcanic Arc had reached Andes-like proportions, standing ~3.5 km tall.
This would suggest some very interesting paleogeography and/or tectonics between what's now coastal Iran and the Arabian Peninsula (still attached firmly to Africa until 30 million years ago).
This is interesting as the splitting of African and Indian species at 40-50 Ma seems better suited to India-Asia collision timing than it does India separating from Africa....
A reappraisal of the evolution of Asian snakehead fishes (Pisces, Channidae) using molecular data from multiple genes and fossil calibration | Request PDF
Request PDF | A reappraisal of the evolution of Asian snakehead fishes (Pisces, Channidae) using molecular data from multiple genes and fossil calibration | Freshwater snakehead fishes (Channidae) pro...
www.researchgate.net
November 14, 2025 at 6:49 PM
This would suggest some very interesting paleogeography and/or tectonics between what's now coastal Iran and the Arabian Peninsula (still attached firmly to Africa until 30 million years ago).
Reposted by Brandon Bishop
my philosophy of comics is song/yuan dynasty not 3 cue bullshit
November 14, 2025 at 6:10 PM
my philosophy of comics is song/yuan dynasty not 3 cue bullshit
Reposted by Brandon Bishop
i don't want comics to be shunted to the category of "great for reluctant readers" bc of the assumption that you can just guess the story from the pics bc of 3 cueing "reading" it's heinous. i don't care if establishment doesn't take me seriously. i just want kids to have an aesthetic experience
November 14, 2025 at 6:06 PM
i don't want comics to be shunted to the category of "great for reluctant readers" bc of the assumption that you can just guess the story from the pics bc of 3 cueing "reading" it's heinous. i don't care if establishment doesn't take me seriously. i just want kids to have an aesthetic experience
Reposted by Brandon Bishop
i've been thinking about this for days. the demand that kids comics be as literal as possible in the art, with huge pushback when artists go for more abstraction in panels/composition or visual metaphor other than a 1:1 of what characters are saying/doing. disrespect an entire art form bc illiteracy
November 14, 2025 at 6:01 PM
i've been thinking about this for days. the demand that kids comics be as literal as possible in the art, with huge pushback when artists go for more abstraction in panels/composition or visual metaphor other than a 1:1 of what characters are saying/doing. disrespect an entire art form bc illiteracy
Reposted by Brandon Bishop
this is breaking my brain as a teacher but also as a comics artist
how did i go so long not knowing we were literally teaching people to read wrong. i knew something wasn't right but jesus christ www.apmreports.org/episode/2019...
How a flawed idea is teaching millions of kids to be poor readers
For decades, schools have taught children the strategies of struggling readers, using a theory about reading that cognitive scientists have repeatedly debunked. And many teachers and parents don't kno...
www.apmreports.org
November 12, 2025 at 4:46 PM
this is breaking my brain as a teacher but also as a comics artist
"A degree in the geosciences will open up a wide range of opportunities, unless you apply for a postdoc. Then you're only ability is exactly the same research as what you did for you PhD."
November 14, 2025 at 6:11 PM
"A degree in the geosciences will open up a wide range of opportunities, unless you apply for a postdoc. Then you're only ability is exactly the same research as what you did for you PhD."