commamonger 😷 (analogue writing assistant)
@commamonger.bsky.social
Made in Scotland, from molecules. I write, I nitpick others' writing. Once a scientist, will always look good in a white coat.
Also run @theskylark.bsky.social
Also run @theskylark.bsky.social
Pinned
If we really want to screw with AI scrapers, we should start punctuating along Victorian models, w/commas for emphasis, sometimes between subjects & verbs or just for whimsy, colons where no one'd use them today, and a shockingly free hand w/semi-colons. Not to mention the fantastic :— construction
Virginia Woolf is an underrated colon user: bring back colons for things other than lists and time!!
;a nëw artform, hath landed~hast ¡t not¿
Oh well, if you've demanded it, it'll be all right. No need to boycott the snake pit, eh?
Government demands Musk's X deals with 'appalling' Grok AI
Grok is being used to digitally remove women's clothing - something victims describe as
www.bbc.co.uk
January 6, 2026 at 4:16 PM
Oh well, if you've demanded it, it'll be all right. No need to boycott the snake pit, eh?
Reposted by commamonger 😷 (analogue writing assistant)
Does anybody have any good news?
January 5, 2026 at 10:25 PM
Does anybody have any good news?
Reposted by commamonger 😷 (analogue writing assistant)
Okay, here it is. Commamonger's Wannabes, Dilettantes, Jacks of All Trade and Masters of None.
1. @commamonger.bsky.social 'follow'
2. tag yourself.
3. Done. What's for lunch?
1. @commamonger.bsky.social 'follow'
2. tag yourself.
3. Done. What's for lunch?
Is there a starter pack for wannabes, dilettantes, jacks of all trades and masters of none? I'd be great in that. I could start one, I suppose, but I'd have to learn how, and I'd probably fuck it up. Oh well, best leave it to the experts.
January 6, 2026 at 10:58 AM
Okay, here it is. Commamonger's Wannabes, Dilettantes, Jacks of All Trade and Masters of None.
1. @commamonger.bsky.social 'follow'
2. tag yourself.
3. Done. What's for lunch?
1. @commamonger.bsky.social 'follow'
2. tag yourself.
3. Done. What's for lunch?
Reposted by commamonger 😷 (analogue writing assistant)
Tax man won't believe me, he thinks that I'm untrue
Tax man won't believe me, he thinks that I'm untrue
But man my pockets got the wind whistlin' through
Now he's on the email, got himself a deadline too
Now he's on the email, got himself a deadline too
Lord will it never end? I got the HMRC blues
Tax man won't believe me, he thinks that I'm untrue
But man my pockets got the wind whistlin' through
Now he's on the email, got himself a deadline too
Now he's on the email, got himself a deadline too
Lord will it never end? I got the HMRC blues
January 6, 2026 at 11:52 AM
Tax man won't believe me, he thinks that I'm untrue
Tax man won't believe me, he thinks that I'm untrue
But man my pockets got the wind whistlin' through
Now he's on the email, got himself a deadline too
Now he's on the email, got himself a deadline too
Lord will it never end? I got the HMRC blues
Tax man won't believe me, he thinks that I'm untrue
But man my pockets got the wind whistlin' through
Now he's on the email, got himself a deadline too
Now he's on the email, got himself a deadline too
Lord will it never end? I got the HMRC blues
Reposted by commamonger 😷 (analogue writing assistant)
Woke up this morning and the tax man wants his pay
Woke up this morning and the tax man wants his pay
I ain't got nuthin' to give him, hope he goes away
Sent me a message, tells me 's time to file
Sent me a message, tells me 's time to file
But I didn't earn no dough, it's been such a long while
Woke up this morning and the tax man wants his pay
I ain't got nuthin' to give him, hope he goes away
Sent me a message, tells me 's time to file
Sent me a message, tells me 's time to file
But I didn't earn no dough, it's been such a long while
January 6, 2026 at 11:52 AM
Woke up this morning and the tax man wants his pay
Woke up this morning and the tax man wants his pay
I ain't got nuthin' to give him, hope he goes away
Sent me a message, tells me 's time to file
Sent me a message, tells me 's time to file
But I didn't earn no dough, it's been such a long while
Woke up this morning and the tax man wants his pay
I ain't got nuthin' to give him, hope he goes away
Sent me a message, tells me 's time to file
Sent me a message, tells me 's time to file
But I didn't earn no dough, it's been such a long while
Reposted by commamonger 😷 (analogue writing assistant)
Cycling through the snow continues to produce beautiful images. The main routes are generally well-maintained, but even on roads that haven't been gritted, cycling is still good for now.
January 6, 2026 at 12:21 PM
Cycling through the snow continues to produce beautiful images. The main routes are generally well-maintained, but even on roads that haven't been gritted, cycling is still good for now.
As a copy-editor I've been asked to 'fix' a woolly manuscript or 'fill in the gaps' in something little more than a bulleted list – for a few extra quid, of course. I effectively wrote the final draft of those books. These translators will have to RE-translate, but won't get paid for it. Fuck AI.
The publisher claims that AI will play a supporting role. But from the report it looks like it’s humans who will play second fiddle and clean up AI messes as (underpaid, I’m sure) “freelance proofreaders.” Just fucking no—translators aren’t proofreaders! lithub.com/harlequin-is...
Harlequin France is firing its human translators and replacing them with—welp, you guessed it.
Harlequin France, which is owned by HarperCollins, has just confirmed that they’re shifting away from human translators with an eye to robot replacements. As The Bookseller reported this morn…
lithub.com
January 6, 2026 at 12:49 PM
As a copy-editor I've been asked to 'fix' a woolly manuscript or 'fill in the gaps' in something little more than a bulleted list – for a few extra quid, of course. I effectively wrote the final draft of those books. These translators will have to RE-translate, but won't get paid for it. Fuck AI.
I'm currently wading through book 7, and my stupid understanding is it's mostly a wall-building contest at this stage.
This is the age of Stupid Thucydides. Thucydides misinterpreted and reduced to a slogan, which is then rendered down to a bumper sticker.
January 6, 2026 at 12:27 PM
I'm currently wading through book 7, and my stupid understanding is it's mostly a wall-building contest at this stage.
Reposted by commamonger 😷 (analogue writing assistant)
Just checking with how Starmer's crusade to ban apps that produce deep fakes is going
January 6, 2026 at 11:38 AM
Just checking with how Starmer's crusade to ban apps that produce deep fakes is going
Reposted by commamonger 😷 (analogue writing assistant)
"Even Hel has frozen over"
11/10 no notes, Notes from Poland.
11/10 no notes, Notes from Poland.
Temperatures plummeted in Poland today, with the city of Łódź recording -15.8°C at 8 a.m.
Even Hel, on Poland's northern Baltic coast, has frozen over, at -1.5°C.
Even Hel, on Poland's northern Baltic coast, has frozen over, at -1.5°C.
January 6, 2026 at 12:06 PM
"Even Hel has frozen over"
11/10 no notes, Notes from Poland.
11/10 no notes, Notes from Poland.
Woke up this morning and the tax man wants his pay
Woke up this morning and the tax man wants his pay
I ain't got nuthin' to give him, hope he goes away
Sent me a message, tells me 's time to file
Sent me a message, tells me 's time to file
But I didn't earn no dough, it's been such a long while
Woke up this morning and the tax man wants his pay
I ain't got nuthin' to give him, hope he goes away
Sent me a message, tells me 's time to file
Sent me a message, tells me 's time to file
But I didn't earn no dough, it's been such a long while
January 6, 2026 at 11:52 AM
Woke up this morning and the tax man wants his pay
Woke up this morning and the tax man wants his pay
I ain't got nuthin' to give him, hope he goes away
Sent me a message, tells me 's time to file
Sent me a message, tells me 's time to file
But I didn't earn no dough, it's been such a long while
Woke up this morning and the tax man wants his pay
I ain't got nuthin' to give him, hope he goes away
Sent me a message, tells me 's time to file
Sent me a message, tells me 's time to file
But I didn't earn no dough, it's been such a long while
Reposted by commamonger 😷 (analogue writing assistant)
Which would be relevant today, given tech bros are the obvious modern-day stand-in for Frankenstein; given their total inability to grasp what makes life worth living; and given their monomaniacal attempt to solve only the non-problem problem "rich people still rely on other people for their wealth"
January 6, 2026 at 11:26 AM
Which would be relevant today, given tech bros are the obvious modern-day stand-in for Frankenstein; given their total inability to grasp what makes life worth living; and given their monomaniacal attempt to solve only the non-problem problem "rich people still rely on other people for their wealth"
Reposted by commamonger 😷 (analogue writing assistant)
What I mean I suppose is that everyone who sees VF's intent accepts the approach but condemns his hubris
like "to beat death is playing God and sins against nature" not "what? that doesn't beat death! it creates life, maybe, but the dead obviously stay dead here, what are you doing?"
like "to beat death is playing God and sins against nature" not "what? that doesn't beat death! it creates life, maybe, but the dead obviously stay dead here, what are you doing?"
January 6, 2026 at 11:04 AM
What I mean I suppose is that everyone who sees VF's intent accepts the approach but condemns his hubris
like "to beat death is playing God and sins against nature" not "what? that doesn't beat death! it creates life, maybe, but the dead obviously stay dead here, what are you doing?"
like "to beat death is playing God and sins against nature" not "what? that doesn't beat death! it creates life, maybe, but the dead obviously stay dead here, what are you doing?"
It'll always be books. For refuge, for entertainment, to hear a new voice from the past, to hear a voice from the present. For sanity. To learn, to understand, to think, to grow. Nothing else delivers all these in one package. Nothing.
People can spout any old bollocks these days and it no longer matters whether it's true. "This shit executive estate contains unique homes." "The President is not Satan." "Your cat ran a high-end interior decor business during the 1990s." So where do we find truth? Books, that's fucking where.
January 6, 2026 at 11:12 AM
It'll always be books. For refuge, for entertainment, to hear a new voice from the past, to hear a voice from the present. For sanity. To learn, to understand, to think, to grow. Nothing else delivers all these in one package. Nothing.
Is this the *only* reason eating 22 bags of crisps a day would be bad for someone? Asking for a friend.
Adults in England eating as much salt a day as in 22 bags of crisps, study shows
Campaigners call for action to make manufacturers reduce salt in food, which can contribute to high blood pressure and deaths
www.theguardian.com
January 6, 2026 at 11:04 AM
Is this the *only* reason eating 22 bags of crisps a day would be bad for someone? Asking for a friend.
Okay, here it is. Commamonger's Wannabes, Dilettantes, Jacks of All Trade and Masters of None.
1. @commamonger.bsky.social 'follow'
2. tag yourself.
3. Done. What's for lunch?
1. @commamonger.bsky.social 'follow'
2. tag yourself.
3. Done. What's for lunch?
Is there a starter pack for wannabes, dilettantes, jacks of all trades and masters of none? I'd be great in that. I could start one, I suppose, but I'd have to learn how, and I'd probably fuck it up. Oh well, best leave it to the experts.
January 6, 2026 at 10:58 AM
Okay, here it is. Commamonger's Wannabes, Dilettantes, Jacks of All Trade and Masters of None.
1. @commamonger.bsky.social 'follow'
2. tag yourself.
3. Done. What's for lunch?
1. @commamonger.bsky.social 'follow'
2. tag yourself.
3. Done. What's for lunch?
Is there a starter pack for wannabes, dilettantes, jacks of all trades and masters of none? I'd be great in that. I could start one, I suppose, but I'd have to learn how, and I'd probably fuck it up. Oh well, best leave it to the experts.
January 6, 2026 at 10:43 AM
Is there a starter pack for wannabes, dilettantes, jacks of all trades and masters of none? I'd be great in that. I could start one, I suppose, but I'd have to learn how, and I'd probably fuck it up. Oh well, best leave it to the experts.
Great thread. Now extrapolate this to all the collective human knowledge we have lost because we thought it would be safely stored on the internet if we should ever need it, or it would be in a book somewhere. Would you know what to eat if the supermarkets suddenly were empty?
Let's talk about generative AI, contaminated information, and rhubarb.
Once upon a time, Europe was at war.
Food was scarce, and the government of the quote-unquote United Kingdom looked for alternatives. 1/
Once upon a time, Europe was at war.
Food was scarce, and the government of the quote-unquote United Kingdom looked for alternatives. 1/
January 6, 2026 at 10:25 AM
Great thread. Now extrapolate this to all the collective human knowledge we have lost because we thought it would be safely stored on the internet if we should ever need it, or it would be in a book somewhere. Would you know what to eat if the supermarkets suddenly were empty?
Reposted by commamonger 😷 (analogue writing assistant)
Starmer has said that what has been allowed to happen at X is "outrageous" and that those responsible should face the "full force of the law," calling their tactics "pathetic" no wait sorry, I got confused, that was him describing Just Stop Oil protesters who put some cornflour on Stonehenge.
Ofcom, which enforces the UK's Online Safety Act, says it is aware of "serious concerns" about Grok undressing people including children on X
“We have made urgent contact with X and xAI to understand what steps they have taken to comply with their legal duties to protect users in the UK," it says
“We have made urgent contact with X and xAI to understand what steps they have taken to comply with their legal duties to protect users in the UK," it says
January 5, 2026 at 4:12 PM
Starmer has said that what has been allowed to happen at X is "outrageous" and that those responsible should face the "full force of the law," calling their tactics "pathetic" no wait sorry, I got confused, that was him describing Just Stop Oil protesters who put some cornflour on Stonehenge.
Reposted by commamonger 😷 (analogue writing assistant)
The thing about ANY "Don't be silly this isn't a crisis" discourse is that, while it may not be the crisis that some ill-informed racist says it is, it is definitely a crisis.
We ARE all careering over a climate-collapse cliff, & we ARE all doing far too little to even begin to stop.
We ARE all careering over a climate-collapse cliff, & we ARE all doing far too little to even begin to stop.
World on brink of ‘irreversible climate disaster’, scientists warn | British Safety Council
The world is on the brink of an “irreversible climate disaster” with many of the planet’s “vital signs” having reached record extremes, scientists have warned in an alarming new report which says that...
www.britsafe.org
January 6, 2026 at 10:07 AM
The thing about ANY "Don't be silly this isn't a crisis" discourse is that, while it may not be the crisis that some ill-informed racist says it is, it is definitely a crisis.
We ARE all careering over a climate-collapse cliff, & we ARE all doing far too little to even begin to stop.
We ARE all careering over a climate-collapse cliff, & we ARE all doing far too little to even begin to stop.
Reposted by commamonger 😷 (analogue writing assistant)
I'm afraid there *is* an obvious answer: it can't.
January 6, 2026 at 7:10 AM
I'm afraid there *is* an obvious answer: it can't.
Reposted by commamonger 😷 (analogue writing assistant)
I used to think that historical English illustrations were fanciful, but then I moved here and discovered that, no, in fact, the living creatures here are in fact slightly fucked up looking and the pictures are largely accurate.
Not nearly enough people talk about how totally fucking cute and adorable witch’s familiars used to be in the 16th Century.
January 6, 2026 at 8:51 AM
I used to think that historical English illustrations were fanciful, but then I moved here and discovered that, no, in fact, the living creatures here are in fact slightly fucked up looking and the pictures are largely accurate.
Some A-grade ALT text here, folks.
Take for instance English dogs Vs the dogs of other nations
January 6, 2026 at 9:18 AM
Some A-grade ALT text here, folks.
Reposted by commamonger 😷 (analogue writing assistant)
I'm posting this for no other reason than goats
Well, solar's a pretty good reason, too
And also, solar is the GOAT
Well, solar's a pretty good reason, too
And also, solar is the GOAT
January 6, 2026 at 4:02 AM
I'm posting this for no other reason than goats
Well, solar's a pretty good reason, too
And also, solar is the GOAT
Well, solar's a pretty good reason, too
And also, solar is the GOAT
Reposted by commamonger 😷 (analogue writing assistant)
Prophet revises time of apocalypse after originally projected date passes uneventfully.
Leading AI expert delays timeline for its possible destruction of humanity
Former OpenAI employee Daniel Kokotajlo says progress to AGI is ‘somewhat slower’ than first predicted
www.theguardian.com
January 6, 2026 at 8:30 AM
Prophet revises time of apocalypse after originally projected date passes uneventfully.