Ben from New Mexico
@bluefiddleguy.bsky.social
Former Mathematician, Tech worker, Empty nester dad, concerned observer.
1/ Algebra:
A 60-38 '24 R victory becomes a democratic victory if:
* Around 5% of '24 R voters vote for Behn out of disgust.
* For each 5 24 D voters, one more shows up because the race is close or the stakes high.
* Around 1/6 of R voters don't show up (which is likely).
A 60-38 '24 R victory becomes a democratic victory if:
* Around 5% of '24 R voters vote for Behn out of disgust.
* For each 5 24 D voters, one more shows up because the race is close or the stakes high.
* Around 1/6 of R voters don't show up (which is likely).
December 2, 2025 at 6:03 PM
1/ Algebra:
A 60-38 '24 R victory becomes a democratic victory if:
* Around 5% of '24 R voters vote for Behn out of disgust.
* For each 5 24 D voters, one more shows up because the race is close or the stakes high.
* Around 1/6 of R voters don't show up (which is likely).
A 60-38 '24 R victory becomes a democratic victory if:
* Around 5% of '24 R voters vote for Behn out of disgust.
* For each 5 24 D voters, one more shows up because the race is close or the stakes high.
* Around 1/6 of R voters don't show up (which is likely).
I freely give my opinion because I recognize that having my opinion heard is a human need that I have. I do not believe my opinion has any great value on its own. I recall -- to my great shame -- that I long thought my opinion was magically important, but I can't remember what that _felt_ like.
December 1, 2025 at 7:03 PM
I freely give my opinion because I recognize that having my opinion heard is a human need that I have. I do not believe my opinion has any great value on its own. I recall -- to my great shame -- that I long thought my opinion was magically important, but I can't remember what that _felt_ like.
This is what the abundance sounds like when it gets more specific and less self important. And I'm here for it!
Soon small businesses won’t have to wait for Small Business Saturday to get attention from their Mayor.
Some changes that they can look forward to:
Some changes that they can look forward to:
November 29, 2025 at 10:51 PM
This is what the abundance sounds like when it gets more specific and less self important. And I'm here for it!
David Byrne (5 times)
Johnny Clegg and Savuka
Malathini and the Mahotella Queens
Mariza
(60+ times) The Guarineri Quartet
Johnny Clegg and Savuka
Malathini and the Mahotella Queens
Mariza
(60+ times) The Guarineri Quartet
Introduce yourself with 5 concerts you have seen
R.E.M.
Sara Bareilles
Pearl Jam
Hall & Oates
Madonna
Sara Bareilles
Pearl Jam
Hall & Oates
Madonna
November 28, 2025 at 7:20 PM
David Byrne (5 times)
Johnny Clegg and Savuka
Malathini and the Mahotella Queens
Mariza
(60+ times) The Guarineri Quartet
Johnny Clegg and Savuka
Malathini and the Mahotella Queens
Mariza
(60+ times) The Guarineri Quartet
The best term for a true Trump Republican came from @joshtpm.bsky.social back in 2017: Wraith.
November 26, 2025 at 3:20 PM
The best term for a true Trump Republican came from @joshtpm.bsky.social back in 2017: Wraith.
Embarrassment:
November 25, 2025 at 11:05 PM
Embarrassment:
One of the very greatest songs from one of the greatest songwriters; may his name be for a blessing, as his songs certainly will. youtu.be/TegLTsuvzXQ?...
Jimmy Cliff performing "Many Rivers To Cross" on KCRW
YouTube video by KCRW
youtu.be
November 24, 2025 at 2:21 PM
One of the very greatest songs from one of the greatest songwriters; may his name be for a blessing, as his songs certainly will. youtu.be/TegLTsuvzXQ?...
I _do_ like LLMs and I use them both on my own time and as a core part of my job.
Also, my time with LLMs has shown that @astrokatie.com is 100% correct that "trusted answer machine" is a useless and harmful role for LLM bots, but that "AI" companies push that use mode anyway.
Also, my time with LLMs has shown that @astrokatie.com is 100% correct that "trusted answer machine" is a useless and harmful role for LLM bots, but that "AI" companies push that use mode anyway.
For lots of reasons, I don’t like LLMs and I don’t use them, but I know there are serious people working on ways to meaningfully incorporate them into education and I don’t doubt there are ways to do that productively. It’s probably obvious that “Have the LLM tell you the answer” isn’t one of them.
November 24, 2025 at 5:53 AM
I _do_ like LLMs and I use them both on my own time and as a core part of my job.
Also, my time with LLMs has shown that @astrokatie.com is 100% correct that "trusted answer machine" is a useless and harmful role for LLM bots, but that "AI" companies push that use mode anyway.
Also, my time with LLMs has shown that @astrokatie.com is 100% correct that "trusted answer machine" is a useless and harmful role for LLM bots, but that "AI" companies push that use mode anyway.
Reposted by Ben from New Mexico
Journalist challenge: Use “Machine Learning” when you mean machine learning and “LLM” when you mean LLM. Ditch “AI” as a catch-all term, it’s not useful for readers and it helps companies trying to confuse the public by obscuring the roles played by different technologies. 🧪
November 22, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Journalist challenge: Use “Machine Learning” when you mean machine learning and “LLM” when you mean LLM. Ditch “AI” as a catch-all term, it’s not useful for readers and it helps companies trying to confuse the public by obscuring the roles played by different technologies. 🧪
Tariff plan from chat GPT
Diplomacy plan from chat GRU
Diplomacy plan from chat GRU
Reuters has confirmed that President Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner and his special envoy Steve Witkoff held a private meeting in Miami with a sanctioned Kremlin proxy to help shape the new "peace plan" for Ukraine. www.reuters.com/world/europe...
www.reuters.com
November 23, 2025 at 6:13 AM
Tariff plan from chat GPT
Diplomacy plan from chat GRU
Diplomacy plan from chat GRU
Second official game at the Bridge club. Finally took this joke picture that I've wanted to set up for a long time. Bridge nerds will know what I'm talking about.
November 23, 2025 at 12:35 AM
Second official game at the Bridge club. Finally took this joke picture that I've wanted to set up for a long time. Bridge nerds will know what I'm talking about.
Reposted by Ben from New Mexico
Is there a button someone could push to shift the topic of today’s discourse by a few letters to Ruth Buzzi and Lizzo, because I feel like that would be a lot more wholesome and meaningful.
November 22, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Is there a button someone could push to shift the topic of today’s discourse by a few letters to Ruth Buzzi and Lizzo, because I feel like that would be a lot more wholesome and meaningful.
SOOOO true!
wait, THAT’S what everyone was freaking out about? y’all wouldn’t have lasted five seconds on USENET
November 22, 2025 at 2:50 PM
SOOOO true!
I am so FURIOUS and OFFENDED -- that I didn't think of calling Thomas Chatterton Williams "Wa-Luigi Coates" first! That is just. too. good!
Would hate to have to work with Wa-Luigi Coates on a group project
Imagine looking around America in 2025 and thinking, "What we need less of is morality."
November 19, 2025 at 8:29 PM
I am so FURIOUS and OFFENDED -- that I didn't think of calling Thomas Chatterton Williams "Wa-Luigi Coates" first! That is just. too. good!
In my high school at the same time as me were "The Expanse" co-author Daniel Abraham, former George Clinton band member Eric McFadden, former world Boxing Champions Johnny Tapia and Danny Romero, and international Spanish language recording star Lorenzo Antonio.
Who was in your high school graduating class, +/- two years, that would be of interest?
For example, I took a basketball class and graduated w/all-time 8th man Jud Buechler (look it up), and may have followed Stephanie Seymour (not sure if she still WENT to school after I moved there).
For example, I took a basketball class and graduated w/all-time 8th man Jud Buechler (look it up), and may have followed Stephanie Seymour (not sure if she still WENT to school after I moved there).
November 18, 2025 at 11:02 PM
In my high school at the same time as me were "The Expanse" co-author Daniel Abraham, former George Clinton band member Eric McFadden, former world Boxing Champions Johnny Tapia and Danny Romero, and international Spanish language recording star Lorenzo Antonio.
Reposted by Ben from New Mexico
I love younger people's answers to this, but I'm liking my own list pretty well!
November 17, 2025 at 4:15 AM
I love younger people's answers to this, but I'm liking my own list pretty well!
Reposted by Ben from New Mexico
One book-length treatment of this is Hitler's American Model: The United States and the Making of Nazi Race Law by James Q. Whitman.
Racism is fascism practiced on Black people first.
Hitler based the Nuremberg laws on US Jim Crow. He invaded Russia because he wanted his own California.
The US shifting from a racist country to a fascist country basically means "Start treating everyone like you've always treated Black people."
Hitler based the Nuremberg laws on US Jim Crow. He invaded Russia because he wanted his own California.
The US shifting from a racist country to a fascist country basically means "Start treating everyone like you've always treated Black people."
November 17, 2025 at 3:01 AM
One book-length treatment of this is Hitler's American Model: The United States and the Making of Nazi Race Law by James Q. Whitman.
How much thought went into Kelly choosing 15 and 8 as ages to compare? (Kelly's own daughter is 14)
Megyn Kelly: "I know somebody very close to this case…Jeffrey Epstein, in this person's view, was not a pedophile…He was into the barely legal type, like he liked 15 year old girls…He wasn't into like 8 year olds…There's a difference between a 15 year old and a 5 year old."
November 13, 2025 at 7:19 PM
How much thought went into Kelly choosing 15 and 8 as ages to compare? (Kelly's own daughter is 14)
These people are starting to describe the only league of superheroes I need.
Personally, I will be trying to avoid the notice of Joyce Carol Oates and Kendrick Lamar for the rest of my natural life
I need Joyce Carol Oates to be mean to me online so I can get my life together
November 11, 2025 at 6:32 PM
These people are starting to describe the only league of superheroes I need.
Don't have time to comment on every one, so I'm just unfollowing and muting everybody who refers to the Vichy caucus or the other hill dems that didn't speak up as "the Democrats". WE ARE THE DEMOCRATS. The full collection of all Democratic voters.
November 10, 2025 at 3:49 AM
Don't have time to comment on every one, so I'm just unfollowing and muting everybody who refers to the Vichy caucus or the other hill dems that didn't speak up as "the Democrats". WE ARE THE DEMOCRATS. The full collection of all Democratic voters.
Reposted by Ben from New Mexico
Another reason to get your shingles vaccine!
How a childhood virus can contribute to dementia later and what you can do
A new study suggests that the shingles vaccine may help prevent dementia by reducing the risk of varicella-zoster virus reactivation
wapo.st
November 9, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Another reason to get your shingles vaccine!
Mamdani is going to implement Shamekia law: if they hit him, he's gonna hit 'em back
Mamdani is going to implement Shakira law. Hips will no longer be able to lie.
Mamdani is going to implement Shania law. That don't impress me much.
November 9, 2025 at 5:55 AM
Mamdani is going to implement Shamekia law: if they hit him, he's gonna hit 'em back
Reposted by Ben from New Mexico
just got laid off!! if you dig my writing or my posts a couple of bucks would go a long way right now ko-fi.com/D1D6GQF8
Buy Christopher M. Jones a Coffee
Become a supporter of Christopher M. Jones today!
ko-fi.com
November 6, 2025 at 4:07 PM
just got laid off!! if you dig my writing or my posts a couple of bucks would go a long way right now ko-fi.com/D1D6GQF8