Alan Scherstuhl
@alansch.bsky.social
Editor/writer hanging in there, thinking abt books and jazz. PW, NYT, Sci-Am, elsewhere on occasion.
Oh thank god, a good rejoinder will get us out of this
November 8, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Oh thank god, a good rejoinder will get us out of this
Besides hallucinating, ass-kissing, and preying on the vulnerable, chatbots are also embarrassingly hacky writers who abuse declarative inversions.
Below: excerpts from an AI-generated SF novel that came across my desk … and a line from the ChatBot who encouraged Adam Raine’s suicidal ideation.
Below: excerpts from an AI-generated SF novel that came across my desk … and a line from the ChatBot who encouraged Adam Raine’s suicidal ideation.
August 27, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Besides hallucinating, ass-kissing, and preying on the vulnerable, chatbots are also embarrassingly hacky writers who abuse declarative inversions.
Below: excerpts from an AI-generated SF novel that came across my desk … and a line from the ChatBot who encouraged Adam Raine’s suicidal ideation.
Below: excerpts from an AI-generated SF novel that came across my desk … and a line from the ChatBot who encouraged Adam Raine’s suicidal ideation.
The top singers of 1970, according to Life magazine
August 23, 2025 at 6:36 PM
The top singers of 1970, according to Life magazine
Not his rookie card, though
June 13, 2025 at 7:52 PM
Not his rookie card, though
This pack of Decision ‘92 trading cards includes two Harkins, a Tsongas, “The Middle East,” and “Pro-Choice.”
June 13, 2025 at 7:52 PM
This pack of Decision ‘92 trading cards includes two Harkins, a Tsongas, “The Middle East,” and “Pro-Choice.”
When you both nailed it
April 30, 2025 at 5:33 PM
When you both nailed it
Food banks have it so bad after the cuts that a Cheez-It truck crashing is a significant windfall.
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/28/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/28/u...
April 28, 2025 at 1:21 PM
Food banks have it so bad after the cuts that a Cheez-It truck crashing is a significant windfall.
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/28/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/28/u...
In awe of this 1979 author photo, which looks like it’s waiting you to slip into something more comfortable
April 26, 2025 at 2:51 PM
In awe of this 1979 author photo, which looks like it’s waiting you to slip into something more comfortable
Our house has a real problem with haunted window faces
March 28, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Our house has a real problem with haunted window faces
Something actually great in 2025: the sequel to Emery Robin’s rich, smart, mythic, queer, gorgeous Cleopatra/Caesar/Mark Anthony space opera “The Stars Undying” hits March 11. I can’t wait.
March 2, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Something actually great in 2025: the sequel to Emery Robin’s rich, smart, mythic, queer, gorgeous Cleopatra/Caesar/Mark Anthony space opera “The Stars Undying” hits March 11. I can’t wait.
“Two clippings of your review will be greatly appreciated,” FSG notes on this polite and gorgeously typeset 1983 note sent out with review copies of Edmund Wilson’s “The Forties”
December 17, 2024 at 10:21 PM
“Two clippings of your review will be greatly appreciated,” FSG notes on this polite and gorgeously typeset 1983 note sent out with review copies of Edmund Wilson’s “The Forties”
If you’re open to jazz at all, jump on any chance to see Tyshawn Sorey’s searching, propulsive, meditative trio with Aaron Diehl (piano) and Harish Raghavan. Transcendent.
December 8, 2024 at 5:06 PM
If you’re open to jazz at all, jump on any chance to see Tyshawn Sorey’s searching, propulsive, meditative trio with Aaron Diehl (piano) and Harish Raghavan. Transcendent.
This is the chair of Columbia University's management division, speaking to NYT
www.nytimes.com/2024/12/05/n...
www.nytimes.com/2024/12/05/n...
December 5, 2024 at 6:34 PM
This is the chair of Columbia University's management division, speaking to NYT
www.nytimes.com/2024/12/05/n...
www.nytimes.com/2024/12/05/n...
“I tell you, the sperm whale will stand no nonsense.”
December 3, 2024 at 12:47 AM
“I tell you, the sperm whale will stand no nonsense.”
Actual ornament I bought at a church thrift shop
December 1, 2024 at 7:16 PM
Actual ornament I bought at a church thrift shop
De La is being salty about it, but Marcus J. Moore’s book is no quickie bio highjacking their story. This is a work of loving criticism from a fan with insight and empathy to spare. Fresh thought on every page, just like his Kendrick book.
November 26, 2024 at 12:09 AM
De La is being salty about it, but Marcus J. Moore’s book is no quickie bio highjacking their story. This is a work of loving criticism from a fan with insight and empathy to spare. Fresh thought on every page, just like his Kendrick book.
What a joy and privilege. Had the chance to catch the great Jazzmeia Horn at Connecticut’s Side Door club on a rainy Thursday night. She sang nourishing originals from her new record, alive with truths speaking to this moment. A major artist at a new peak.
November 22, 2024 at 2:59 AM
What a joy and privilege. Had the chance to catch the great Jazzmeia Horn at Connecticut’s Side Door club on a rainy Thursday night. She sang nourishing originals from her new record, alive with truths speaking to this moment. A major artist at a new peak.
clinging to print media like the door in Titanic
November 21, 2024 at 6:53 PM
clinging to print media like the door in Titanic
Findlay hit chapter 32, where Ishmael sorts whales into chapters and folios, invents dubious whale facts for 10 pages, and takes issue with the name “killer whale” on a technicality
November 18, 2024 at 2:07 PM
Findlay hit chapter 32, where Ishmael sorts whales into chapters and folios, invents dubious whale facts for 10 pages, and takes issue with the name “killer whale” on a technicality
I don’t expect Hoagy Carmichael’s 1966 memoir to include anti-temperance dada theater pieces written by his frat pal at Indiana U in like 1920, but I’m not complaining
November 15, 2024 at 5:55 PM
I don’t expect Hoagy Carmichael’s 1966 memoir to include anti-temperance dada theater pieces written by his frat pal at Indiana U in like 1920, but I’m not complaining
At NYT I write jazz show recs but often forget to post ‘em. This week it’s the visionary Cécile McLorin Salvant’s first of four Carnegie Hall shows … get tix *now* if you hope to see her suite “Ogresse” in May! And check her 2022 LP “Ghost Song” for unruly genius
www.nytimes.com/article/thin...
www.nytimes.com/article/thin...
November 15, 2024 at 3:53 PM
At NYT I write jazz show recs but often forget to post ‘em. This week it’s the visionary Cécile McLorin Salvant’s first of four Carnegie Hall shows … get tix *now* if you hope to see her suite “Ogresse” in May! And check her 2022 LP “Ghost Song” for unruly genius
www.nytimes.com/article/thin...
www.nytimes.com/article/thin...
I bought a $10 blu-ray player at a thrift store and not only does it work … it came with TOO WONG FOO already loaded in it
November 14, 2024 at 10:11 PM
I bought a $10 blu-ray player at a thrift store and not only does it work … it came with TOO WONG FOO already loaded in it