AuntSophie
@auntsophie.bsky.social
Retired law professor, Democratic staffer House Ways & Means Committee in the 1980's working on Social Security and pensions. Dog lover (esp Border Terriers). #KHive since 2019. Biden-Harris Democrat. Abhor antisemitism. #ThankYouJoe
Reposted by AuntSophie
which, incidentally, is empirical support (if replicated and validated, which is not where we're at and they're not claiming it is) for the idea that LLMs are actually discovering real facts about human language. again, it isn't proven! like all research, it really could be hype! but also!
November 30, 2025 at 11:33 PM
which, incidentally, is empirical support (if replicated and validated, which is not where we're at and they're not claiming it is) for the idea that LLMs are actually discovering real facts about human language. again, it isn't proven! like all research, it really could be hype! but also!
Reposted by AuntSophie
so, this is *not* research that is mainly about "a chatbot was used to do the analysis"
it's, in large part, "we studied chatbots and then we checked if we could find similar patterns in whale communication, and it looks like we can"
it's, in large part, "we studied chatbots and then we checked if we could find similar patterns in whale communication, and it looks like we can"
November 30, 2025 at 11:32 PM
so, this is *not* research that is mainly about "a chatbot was used to do the analysis"
it's, in large part, "we studied chatbots and then we checked if we could find similar patterns in whale communication, and it looks like we can"
it's, in large part, "we studied chatbots and then we checked if we could find similar patterns in whale communication, and it looks like we can"
Reposted by AuntSophie
what's going on here is that they are using the *theory* (which is an acceptable thing to have! researching with a theory does not mean you're saying you can confidently say it's correct) that LLM architecture reflects the structure of language and then building tests of that
November 30, 2025 at 11:32 PM
what's going on here is that they are using the *theory* (which is an acceptable thing to have! researching with a theory does not mean you're saying you can confidently say it's correct) that LLM architecture reflects the structure of language and then building tests of that
Reposted by AuntSophie
Mind-blowingly cool use of AI
“Altogether, these findings are leading us to an extraordinary conclusion: Whales may possess a communication system more intricate than our own, one that possibly predates human language by tens of millions of years.”
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/23/o...
“Altogether, these findings are leading us to an extraordinary conclusion: Whales may possess a communication system more intricate than our own, one that possibly predates human language by tens of millions of years.”
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/23/o...
Opinion | I’m a Marine Biologist. This Is How I Talk to Whales.
www.nytimes.com
November 30, 2025 at 8:58 PM
Mind-blowingly cool use of AI
“Altogether, these findings are leading us to an extraordinary conclusion: Whales may possess a communication system more intricate than our own, one that possibly predates human language by tens of millions of years.”
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/23/o...
“Altogether, these findings are leading us to an extraordinary conclusion: Whales may possess a communication system more intricate than our own, one that possibly predates human language by tens of millions of years.”
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/23/o...
Reposted by AuntSophie
If you are married to a US spouse, your temporary visa (usually for 3 months) will lapse before your case is processed. The government allowed you could stay in the US while awaiting case processing. Now the Trump admin is saying that is a visa overstay and arresting the spouses.
November 30, 2025 at 10:13 PM
If you are married to a US spouse, your temporary visa (usually for 3 months) will lapse before your case is processed. The government allowed you could stay in the US while awaiting case processing. Now the Trump admin is saying that is a visa overstay and arresting the spouses.
Reposted by AuntSophie
Huh.
Reporter: If there were a second strike that killed wounded people, would that be legal?
Trump: I don’t know that happened and Pete said he did not even know what people were talking about. I wouldn’t have wanted a second strike. The first strike was very lethal. It was fine.
Trump: I don’t know that happened and Pete said he did not even know what people were talking about. I wouldn’t have wanted a second strike. The first strike was very lethal. It was fine.
November 30, 2025 at 11:42 PM
Huh.
Reposted by AuntSophie
THIS!!
I've been truly, actually poor AF. I do not consider myself poor atm. My measure of poor vs not poor isn't income though, it's things like do I have a clean & safe place to stay, bed to sleep in, are my bills paid & do I have food...if I have all that covered? I'm not really poor.
I've been truly, actually poor AF. I do not consider myself poor atm. My measure of poor vs not poor isn't income though, it's things like do I have a clean & safe place to stay, bed to sleep in, are my bills paid & do I have food...if I have all that covered? I'm not really poor.
When yall say things like everyone is poor it makes me realize that you have not actually looked poverty in the face.
It is absolutely disingenuous for anyone to liken him/herself to people who cannot pay bills, who are unhoused, who truly have empty cupboards, who do not have warm sheets.
It is absolutely disingenuous for anyone to liken him/herself to people who cannot pay bills, who are unhoused, who truly have empty cupboards, who do not have warm sheets.
November 30, 2025 at 11:42 PM
THIS!!
I've been truly, actually poor AF. I do not consider myself poor atm. My measure of poor vs not poor isn't income though, it's things like do I have a clean & safe place to stay, bed to sleep in, are my bills paid & do I have food...if I have all that covered? I'm not really poor.
I've been truly, actually poor AF. I do not consider myself poor atm. My measure of poor vs not poor isn't income though, it's things like do I have a clean & safe place to stay, bed to sleep in, are my bills paid & do I have food...if I have all that covered? I'm not really poor.
Reposted by AuntSophie
And here's the problem with polls: when people hear "M4A" they hear what Saint Bullshit the Ratfucker was pulling out of his wrinkly do nothing ass back in '16.
Which WASN'T Medicare. Medicare doesn't cover dental. Or vision. And has a 20% copay.
What Maple Moses was describing was MediCAID.
Which WASN'T Medicare. Medicare doesn't cover dental. Or vision. And has a 20% copay.
What Maple Moses was describing was MediCAID.
November 29, 2025 at 11:30 PM
And here's the problem with polls: when people hear "M4A" they hear what Saint Bullshit the Ratfucker was pulling out of his wrinkly do nothing ass back in '16.
Which WASN'T Medicare. Medicare doesn't cover dental. Or vision. And has a 20% copay.
What Maple Moses was describing was MediCAID.
Which WASN'T Medicare. Medicare doesn't cover dental. Or vision. And has a 20% copay.
What Maple Moses was describing was MediCAID.
Reposted by AuntSophie
The Gangster State strikes again, with a full-blown presidential pardon for a convicted cocaine trafficker and conspirator who corrupted the Honduran government with his crimes as president. The people must defend freedom and the rule of law against mobster politicians.
In Announcing Pardon of Drug Trafficker While Threatening Venezuela, Trump Displays Contradictions
www.nytimes.com
November 30, 2025 at 11:43 PM
The Gangster State strikes again, with a full-blown presidential pardon for a convicted cocaine trafficker and conspirator who corrupted the Honduran government with his crimes as president. The people must defend freedom and the rule of law against mobster politicians.
Reposted by AuntSophie
I'm currently fundraising for a coast-to-coast-to-coast journey with my dog Berton in 2026.
My goal is to document the journey in video and turn it into a book about Canada's past, present and future.
You can support my project here 👇
gofund.me/11ffcbfba
My goal is to document the journey in video and turn it into a book about Canada's past, present and future.
You can support my project here 👇
gofund.me/11ffcbfba
Donate to The 2026 Canada Tour, organized by Craig Baird
In the summer of 2025, I endeavored to travel across Canada over the course of 53 days. My hope was t… Craig Baird needs your support for The 2026 Canada Tour
gofund.me
November 30, 2025 at 8:46 PM
I'm currently fundraising for a coast-to-coast-to-coast journey with my dog Berton in 2026.
My goal is to document the journey in video and turn it into a book about Canada's past, present and future.
You can support my project here 👇
gofund.me/11ffcbfba
My goal is to document the journey in video and turn it into a book about Canada's past, present and future.
You can support my project here 👇
gofund.me/11ffcbfba
Reposted by AuntSophie
Sigh. So, scabies has been around since before Aristotle. It is not a “medieval” disease and this rhetoric contributes to the idea that the Middle Ages was unclean. The Roman physician Celsus is the 1 who named it—from the Latin scabere (“to itch”). Stop making the Middle Ages into a backward period
Medieval skin disease outbreak in the UK leaves patients’ skin ‘crawling’
Several cases of scabies have been reported in schools in Devon
www.ladbible.com
November 30, 2025 at 11:44 PM
Sigh. So, scabies has been around since before Aristotle. It is not a “medieval” disease and this rhetoric contributes to the idea that the Middle Ages was unclean. The Roman physician Celsus is the 1 who named it—from the Latin scabere (“to itch”). Stop making the Middle Ages into a backward period
Reposted by AuntSophie
Reposted by AuntSophie
Murder enthusiast Eric Schmitt is the Republican junior Senator from Missouri.
Eric Schmitt on Trump's boat strikes: "President Trump has the ability to do it, and he should do it."
November 30, 2025 at 11:46 PM
Murder enthusiast Eric Schmitt is the Republican junior Senator from Missouri.
Reposted by AuntSophie
Mark Kelly: "This president, when he says things like 'third world countries,' what is he really saying? I think what he's saying is he doesn't want brown people in our country. And that's disturbing. It's un-American."
November 30, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Mark Kelly: "This president, when he says things like 'third world countries,' what is he really saying? I think what he's saying is he doesn't want brown people in our country. And that's disturbing. It's un-American."
Reposted by AuntSophie
They make want to scream. They bleat "Medicare for all!" and have no clue what Medicare is b/c Bernie and Warren (intentionally IMO) never explained and they don't care to learn on their own. They think "Bernie said it so it must mean free everything!"
November 30, 2025 at 11:31 PM
They make want to scream. They bleat "Medicare for all!" and have no clue what Medicare is b/c Bernie and Warren (intentionally IMO) never explained and they don't care to learn on their own. They think "Bernie said it so it must mean free everything!"
Reposted by AuntSophie
Teacher: and then Hitler and the Nazis were able to seize power away from the Weimar Republic
Student: man, the Weimar government sucked
Teacher: well some scholars do say their failures opened a door for Hitler, but--
Student: feckless Weimar, they're the real bad guys, I'm glad they lost
Student: man, the Weimar government sucked
Teacher: well some scholars do say their failures opened a door for Hitler, but--
Student: feckless Weimar, they're the real bad guys, I'm glad they lost
November 30, 2025 at 7:54 PM
Teacher: and then Hitler and the Nazis were able to seize power away from the Weimar Republic
Student: man, the Weimar government sucked
Teacher: well some scholars do say their failures opened a door for Hitler, but--
Student: feckless Weimar, they're the real bad guys, I'm glad they lost
Student: man, the Weimar government sucked
Teacher: well some scholars do say their failures opened a door for Hitler, but--
Student: feckless Weimar, they're the real bad guys, I'm glad they lost
Reposted by AuntSophie
Teacher: so as the Nazis began rounding up the Jewish, political rivals, a--
Student: feckless Weimar again, god I hate them so much
Teacher: huh?
Student: if it weren't for them giving power to Hitler this wouldn't have happened
Teacher: the voters did that
Student: yeah because Weimar was ASS
Student: feckless Weimar again, god I hate them so much
Teacher: huh?
Student: if it weren't for them giving power to Hitler this wouldn't have happened
Teacher: the voters did that
Student: yeah because Weimar was ASS
November 30, 2025 at 7:58 PM
Teacher: so as the Nazis began rounding up the Jewish, political rivals, a--
Student: feckless Weimar again, god I hate them so much
Teacher: huh?
Student: if it weren't for them giving power to Hitler this wouldn't have happened
Teacher: the voters did that
Student: yeah because Weimar was ASS
Student: feckless Weimar again, god I hate them so much
Teacher: huh?
Student: if it weren't for them giving power to Hitler this wouldn't have happened
Teacher: the voters did that
Student: yeah because Weimar was ASS
Reposted by AuntSophie
Protesters block ICE vans in downtown Manhattan, blocking roadways and clashing with law enforcement on Saturday, November 29, 2025. Several arrests reported.
📷: Michael Nigro
He’s the same photographer who took the best photos of the ‘Polka Dot Dress Lady’.
📷: Michael Nigro
He’s the same photographer who took the best photos of the ‘Polka Dot Dress Lady’.
November 30, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Protesters block ICE vans in downtown Manhattan, blocking roadways and clashing with law enforcement on Saturday, November 29, 2025. Several arrests reported.
📷: Michael Nigro
He’s the same photographer who took the best photos of the ‘Polka Dot Dress Lady’.
📷: Michael Nigro
He’s the same photographer who took the best photos of the ‘Polka Dot Dress Lady’.
Reposted by AuntSophie
Republican senator pretends he doesn’t know any senators
November 30, 2025 at 11:19 PM
Republican senator pretends he doesn’t know any senators
Reposted by AuntSophie
What is Jared Kushner's job in the administration?
I’d rather question why is Kushner there and why is he laying out a vision? We did not vote him into any gov position nor the senate we voted for has approved his candidacy.
This isn’t a grey zone anymore, it’s 50 shades of grey.
This isn’t a grey zone anymore, it’s 50 shades of grey.
November 30, 2025 at 11:12 PM
What is Jared Kushner's job in the administration?
Reposted by AuntSophie
I’d rather question why is Kushner there and why is he laying out a vision? We did not vote him into any gov position nor the senate we voted for has approved his candidacy.
This isn’t a grey zone anymore, it’s 50 shades of grey.
This isn’t a grey zone anymore, it’s 50 shades of grey.
November 30, 2025 at 9:50 PM
I’d rather question why is Kushner there and why is he laying out a vision? We did not vote him into any gov position nor the senate we voted for has approved his candidacy.
This isn’t a grey zone anymore, it’s 50 shades of grey.
This isn’t a grey zone anymore, it’s 50 shades of grey.
Reposted by AuntSophie
Broke: being mad at Democrats for the 2024 election
Woke: being pre-mad at Democrats for the 2028 election
Bespoke: somehow being pre-mad at Democrats for the 2032 election (!)
Woke: being pre-mad at Democrats for the 2028 election
Bespoke: somehow being pre-mad at Democrats for the 2032 election (!)
"I think we should beat the fascists"
"So we'll be voting for Dems?"
"I guess, though if I know those stupid feckless worthless Dems they'll just hand control back in 4 years to more fascists"
"Hm. Guess I won't vote then."
"Exactly. My job here is done. Those fascists sure will be sorry now!"
"So we'll be voting for Dems?"
"I guess, though if I know those stupid feckless worthless Dems they'll just hand control back in 4 years to more fascists"
"Hm. Guess I won't vote then."
"Exactly. My job here is done. Those fascists sure will be sorry now!"
November 30, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Broke: being mad at Democrats for the 2024 election
Woke: being pre-mad at Democrats for the 2028 election
Bespoke: somehow being pre-mad at Democrats for the 2032 election (!)
Woke: being pre-mad at Democrats for the 2028 election
Bespoke: somehow being pre-mad at Democrats for the 2032 election (!)
Reposted by AuntSophie
Lol, Zillow tried to rate the climate risks facing individual properties. The real estate industry *hated* it, precisely because it worked -- it made selling risky properties more difficult. So they rebelled & Zillow caved.
Don't look up!
Don't look up!
Zillow Removes Climate Risk Scores From Home Listings
www.nytimes.com
November 30, 2025 at 8:04 PM
Lol, Zillow tried to rate the climate risks facing individual properties. The real estate industry *hated* it, precisely because it worked -- it made selling risky properties more difficult. So they rebelled & Zillow caved.
Don't look up!
Don't look up!
Reposted by AuntSophie
Listen lady, I know you've got those good treats, now WHERE did you hide them?!
Gershwin | Male | 7 years old | 15 lbs
Gershwin | Male | 7 years old | 15 lbs
November 30, 2025 at 11:02 PM
Listen lady, I know you've got those good treats, now WHERE did you hide them?!
Gershwin | Male | 7 years old | 15 lbs
Gershwin | Male | 7 years old | 15 lbs
Reposted by AuntSophie
