Ben Gartner
@benjotron.bsky.social
Minneapolis-based engineer. Firmware, medical devices, humor, games, communication.
Or we might apply game theory to examine the incentive structure for a Senator who is reluctant to expend political capital while enjoying comfortable margins, and whose risk aversion is a strategy that is reliably exploited by the GOP.
May 17, 2025 at 3:05 AM
Or we might apply game theory to examine the incentive structure for a Senator who is reluctant to expend political capital while enjoying comfortable margins, and whose risk aversion is a strategy that is reliably exploited by the GOP.
The more I see the more I think it mirrors early search engines. Lots of ways to use them productively, even more scenarios where they are not helpful and a huge amount of trial and error for users to learn which is which.
April 26, 2025 at 8:38 PM
The more I see the more I think it mirrors early search engines. Lots of ways to use them productively, even more scenarios where they are not helpful and a huge amount of trial and error for users to learn which is which.
Never assumed you were left of liberal but "Democrats should do something proactive" is sort of becoming a radical position and possibly the only relevant issue so it's hard to tell anymore
April 23, 2025 at 1:34 AM
Never assumed you were left of liberal but "Democrats should do something proactive" is sort of becoming a radical position and possibly the only relevant issue so it's hard to tell anymore
Ignore these galaxy brains, your reporting is useful.
April 20, 2025 at 11:16 PM
Ignore these galaxy brains, your reporting is useful.
It does seem bad. But also if you look at the gerrymandering situation in the state, the makeup of the legislature is also not what WI voters want.
April 18, 2025 at 4:15 PM
It does seem bad. But also if you look at the gerrymandering situation in the state, the makeup of the legislature is also not what WI voters want.
And likewise, if you make your living explaining why moderation is the optimal strategy, ignoring how easily it's exploited by irrational actors, you just look stupid and evil.
April 18, 2025 at 4:04 PM
And likewise, if you make your living explaining why moderation is the optimal strategy, ignoring how easily it's exploited by irrational actors, you just look stupid and evil.
The strategy of moderating viewpoints to maximize future electoral gains certainly had its place. But when electoral gains are the primary goal and the strategy is repeatedly exploited by bad-faith opposition, you just look stupid and weak.
April 18, 2025 at 4:01 PM
The strategy of moderating viewpoints to maximize future electoral gains certainly had its place. But when electoral gains are the primary goal and the strategy is repeatedly exploited by bad-faith opposition, you just look stupid and weak.
Diversity of thought seems important. It's part of the reason you want diversity of background, age, experience, etc. Otherwise your institution develops blindspots. But mandating diversity of "viewpoint" seems like something else. Something backwards.
April 15, 2025 at 9:14 PM
Diversity of thought seems important. It's part of the reason you want diversity of background, age, experience, etc. Otherwise your institution develops blindspots. But mandating diversity of "viewpoint" seems like something else. Something backwards.
Or when he's pressed to make sense of something inherently illogical, that's how he rationalizes it. Feels like the dynamic that emerges when any micromanager is in over their head, people have to reverse engineer something that makes sense to them out of the direction.
April 13, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Or when he's pressed to make sense of something inherently illogical, that's how he rationalizes it. Feels like the dynamic that emerges when any micromanager is in over their head, people have to reverse engineer something that makes sense to them out of the direction.
I don't think liberals consider Trump "too smart." Seems ungenerous. But Democrats seem to be getting outsmarted pretty frequently so everyone has to resolve that contradiction somehow.
April 12, 2025 at 6:36 PM
I don't think liberals consider Trump "too smart." Seems ungenerous. But Democrats seem to be getting outsmarted pretty frequently so everyone has to resolve that contradiction somehow.
Creating a human to solve a problem is a bad idea, whether it's a personal problem or an external macroeconomic problem.
April 12, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Creating a human to solve a problem is a bad idea, whether it's a personal problem or an external macroeconomic problem.
It's like seeing a house that's on fire and slipping a dollar into the mail slot.
April 12, 2025 at 2:14 AM
It's like seeing a house that's on fire and slipping a dollar into the mail slot.
One of the most exploitable strategies I can imagine.
April 11, 2025 at 8:32 PM
One of the most exploitable strategies I can imagine.
Active listening? In this economy?
April 11, 2025 at 8:16 PM
Active listening? In this economy?
But they still expect it to be collected later? Yikes.
April 11, 2025 at 6:08 PM
But they still expect it to be collected later? Yikes.
Terrible, lazy messaging in both screenshots.
April 11, 2025 at 2:10 PM
Terrible, lazy messaging in both screenshots.
@amyklobuchar.com skip the next rally please
April 10, 2025 at 10:21 PM
@amyklobuchar.com skip the next rally please
Have fun in the primaries.
April 10, 2025 at 8:47 PM
Have fun in the primaries.
Someone buy these guys a one-dimensional chess board please
April 10, 2025 at 8:30 PM
Someone buy these guys a one-dimensional chess board please
Sadly the pharma tariff is probably going to push my attention deficit deep into the red.
April 10, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Sadly the pharma tariff is probably going to push my attention deficit deep into the red.
I appreciate this post and liked it, I hope you consider our transaction to be mutually beneficial. No trade deficit intended.
April 10, 2025 at 3:06 PM
I appreciate this post and liked it, I hope you consider our transaction to be mutually beneficial. No trade deficit intended.