Ben Files
@bentfiles.bsky.social
Uncertainty communication, human-ai interaction, spatial computing, Army Research Lab, Los Angeles
Reposted by Ben Files
It's -20 in Minneapolis and organizers are in the streets before dawn getting ready for actions related to the general strike. They've had locals training out-of-town volunteers on how to prepare for and endure the cold. AND IT IS WORKING. THE STRIKE IS HAPPENING. THE CITY IS DOING THE DAMN THING...
January 23, 2026 at 12:42 PM
It's -20 in Minneapolis and organizers are in the streets before dawn getting ready for actions related to the general strike. They've had locals training out-of-town volunteers on how to prepare for and endure the cold. AND IT IS WORKING. THE STRIKE IS HAPPENING. THE CITY IS DOING THE DAMN THING...
Reposted by Ben Files
If you want to know what people mean when they say Democrats are "controlled opposition," rather than whipping votes against ICE funding, Hakeem Jeffries struck a deal with Republicans to allow Democrats to feign outrage at ICE while still funding the spending package.
January 23, 2026 at 2:00 PM
If you want to know what people mean when they say Democrats are "controlled opposition," rather than whipping votes against ICE funding, Hakeem Jeffries struck a deal with Republicans to allow Democrats to feign outrage at ICE while still funding the spending package.
Reposted by Ben Files
Last term I tried an experiment: I walked into my Tech and Design Ethics class, admitted that I had *no idea* what to do about ChatGPT - so I would let them figure it out.
As in: their first project was to decide and write the ChatGPT policy for the class.
Here's what happened:
As in: their first project was to decide and write the ChatGPT policy for the class.
Here's what happened:
January 22, 2026 at 11:36 PM
Last term I tried an experiment: I walked into my Tech and Design Ethics class, admitted that I had *no idea* what to do about ChatGPT - so I would let them figure it out.
As in: their first project was to decide and write the ChatGPT policy for the class.
Here's what happened:
As in: their first project was to decide and write the ChatGPT policy for the class.
Here's what happened:
Reposted by Ben Files
Jonathan Ross *is* ICE training. He’s the person who trains ICE officers. They send ICE officers *to him* to be trained. If they increase the training from 47 stupid days, the ICE officers get more Jonathon Ross days. I can’t understand why scared Dems fail to see this basic fact.
January 23, 2026 at 1:30 PM
Jonathan Ross *is* ICE training. He’s the person who trains ICE officers. They send ICE officers *to him* to be trained. If they increase the training from 47 stupid days, the ICE officers get more Jonathon Ross days. I can’t understand why scared Dems fail to see this basic fact.
Reposted by Ben Files
I think it's important to boost news of the general strike in Minneapolis today and it's possible to do it without the hyperbole that nobody in the media is covering it
It may not be getting the attention it deserves! Posting links to reported stories is one way to combat that!
It may not be getting the attention it deserves! Posting links to reported stories is one way to combat that!
Economic strike in Minnesota to protest against ICE: ‘No work, no school, no shopping’
Organizers demand ICE leave state and agency be investigated for constitutional violations
www.theguardian.com
January 23, 2026 at 2:13 PM
I think it's important to boost news of the general strike in Minneapolis today and it's possible to do it without the hyperbole that nobody in the media is covering it
It may not be getting the attention it deserves! Posting links to reported stories is one way to combat that!
It may not be getting the attention it deserves! Posting links to reported stories is one way to combat that!
Reposted by Ben Files
I’ve been mentoring a student in Europe who I was hoping would come do a postdoc with our research group in Pittsburgh when she graduated. Today we had the conversation that she isn’t comfortable coming to the US anymore and is looking for options in Europe.
It’s sad and yet completely rational.
It’s sad and yet completely rational.
January 21, 2026 at 11:42 AM
I’ve been mentoring a student in Europe who I was hoping would come do a postdoc with our research group in Pittsburgh when she graduated. Today we had the conversation that she isn’t comfortable coming to the US anymore and is looking for options in Europe.
It’s sad and yet completely rational.
It’s sad and yet completely rational.
Reposted by Ben Files
This is big: the Berlin Wall coming down big.
Yesterday, America’s closest allies declared the U.S.-led global order effectively over, concluding that President Trump’s aggression toward allies was evidence of that demise. #ICYMI
Yesterday, America’s closest allies declared the U.S.-led global order effectively over, concluding that President Trump’s aggression toward allies was evidence of that demise. #ICYMI
January 21, 2026 at 1:47 PM
This is big: the Berlin Wall coming down big.
Yesterday, America’s closest allies declared the U.S.-led global order effectively over, concluding that President Trump’s aggression toward allies was evidence of that demise. #ICYMI
Yesterday, America’s closest allies declared the U.S.-led global order effectively over, concluding that President Trump’s aggression toward allies was evidence of that demise. #ICYMI
Reposted by Ben Files
what do you MEAN Al Gore heckled Lutnick at Davos
January 21, 2026 at 12:49 PM
what do you MEAN Al Gore heckled Lutnick at Davos
Reposted by Ben Files
Reader, I gasped.
Trump: "No nation is in any position to be able to secure Greenland other than the US. We're a great power. Much greater than people even understand. I think they found that out 2 weeks ago in Venezuela. We saw this in World War 2 when Denmark fell to Germany after just 6 hours of fighting."
January 21, 2026 at 2:07 PM
Reader, I gasped.
Reposted by Ben Files
How to get into nature.
January 20, 2026 at 1:04 PM
How to get into nature.
I think cutting out any of the other boxes instead is worse for your career.
January 18, 2026 at 3:43 PM
I think cutting out any of the other boxes instead is worse for your career.
Reposted by Ben Files
I repost this every time I see it now.
January 16, 2026 at 4:17 PM
I repost this every time I see it now.
Reposted by Ben Files
That’s right. Scientists have to be able to handle uncertainty.
January 14, 2026 at 4:08 PM
That’s right. Scientists have to be able to handle uncertainty.
Reposted by Ben Files
Let everyone know, it's legal to tow ICE is they park like jackasses
A tow truck driver who towed an ICE SUV that was blocking a driveway while the agents kidnapped Angelanos back in September was just found NOT GUILTY on the only charge against him (theft of government property).
THAT'S ANOTHER WIN FOR "FUCK YOU; MAKE ME"
THAT'S ANOTHER WIN FOR "FUCK YOU; MAKE ME"
Man accused of towing ICE SUV during LA immigration operation found not guilty
A Los Angeles tow truck driver accused of towing a federal SUV during an immigration enforcement operation was found not guilty by a federal jury Friday. Bobby Nuñez, 33, was arrested and charged with...
www.nbclosangeles.com
December 20, 2025 at 6:10 AM
Let everyone know, it's legal to tow ICE is they park like jackasses
Reposted by Ben Files
Please enjoy our latest God's Teeth episode S3E08: Gone Fishing.
#ttrpg #actualplay #deltagreen #GodsTeeth #GameNightGentlemen #GnG #GoneFishing
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/g...
#ttrpg #actualplay #deltagreen #GodsTeeth #GameNightGentlemen #GnG #GoneFishing
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/g...
December 5, 2025 at 5:20 AM
Please enjoy our latest God's Teeth episode S3E08: Gone Fishing.
#ttrpg #actualplay #deltagreen #GodsTeeth #GameNightGentlemen #GnG #GoneFishing
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/g...
#ttrpg #actualplay #deltagreen #GodsTeeth #GameNightGentlemen #GnG #GoneFishing
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/g...
Reposted by Ben Files
No-strings-attached, zero-means-testing, no-questions-asked cash payouts have been proven, over and over again, to be the most effective form of charity/aid going.
It gets people in housing, and it saves the state money. We know this. It's fact, not theory.
It gets people in housing, and it saves the state money. We know this. It's fact, not theory.
An Oregon pilot program giving cash to homeless youths sees a staggering reduction in homelessness. The program gave participants $1,000 cash payments each month for two years, and at the end of the project's first phase, 91% of participants reported being in stable housing.
Oregon pilot program giving cash to homeless youths sees staggering reduction in homelessness
The state program gave participants $1,000 cash payments each month for two years. At the end of the project's first phase, 91% of participants reported being in stable housing.
www.streetroots.org
December 3, 2025 at 7:12 AM
No-strings-attached, zero-means-testing, no-questions-asked cash payouts have been proven, over and over again, to be the most effective form of charity/aid going.
It gets people in housing, and it saves the state money. We know this. It's fact, not theory.
It gets people in housing, and it saves the state money. We know this. It's fact, not theory.
It’s bad now, and we’re still in the ‘good to the users’ phase of enshittification.
We’ve blown, like, a trillion bucks so far between capex and training and research. That’s a trillion bucks that a lot of people expect to turn into two, three, five trillion. Under what calculation does this tech not get more expensive for users? Free to run and operate? Even then?
November 29, 2025 at 4:35 PM
It’s bad now, and we’re still in the ‘good to the users’ phase of enshittification.
Reposted by Ben Files
A chapter in Hegseth’s book is literally titled “More Lethality, Less Lawyers.”
It’s almost as if there were signs!
It’s almost as if there were signs!
November 29, 2025 at 3:02 AM
A chapter in Hegseth’s book is literally titled “More Lethality, Less Lawyers.”
It’s almost as if there were signs!
It’s almost as if there were signs!
Reposted by Ben Files
Ask yourself why there wasn’t this level of wall to wall coverage for this shooting wgme.com/news/local/i...
ICE agent who shot woman in Chicago drove Border Patrol vehicle back to Maine
An unnamed ICE agent, who shot and injured a woman in Chicago, is now back in Maine after driving the Border Patrol vehicle he was in 1,100 miles.
wgme.com
November 28, 2025 at 5:49 AM
Ask yourself why there wasn’t this level of wall to wall coverage for this shooting wgme.com/news/local/i...
Reposted by Ben Files
This is exactly right
November 25, 2025 at 12:40 AM
This is exactly right
Reposted by Ben Files
Delighted to find out my dear friend Greta Johnson, creator of the much missed Nerdette and even MORE missed (by me) Nerdette Recaps GoT with Peter Sagal, has a brand new podcast debuting next month!
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/i...
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/i...
Introducing Happy To Be Here!
Podcast Episode · Happy To Be Here · Ep1 Trailer · 1m
podcasts.apple.com
November 14, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Delighted to find out my dear friend Greta Johnson, creator of the much missed Nerdette and even MORE missed (by me) Nerdette Recaps GoT with Peter Sagal, has a brand new podcast debuting next month!
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/i...
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/i...
Reposted by Ben Files
I was mortified when a guy's unleashed dog stuck its nose through our fence and one of our dogs bit it on the face. But, also, like...??? That said we have not seen those people wander around the neighborhood with their dog since that incident. Your dog may be friendly! Many other dogs aren't.
So many pets deserve better humans. Like the lovely brown labrador at the park whose selfish knob of an owner lets him run offleash.
Multiple actual dog parks nearby, but this middle-aged white man has to play roulette with everyone’s life, including the poor dog’s, instead.
LEASH. YOUR. DOGS.
Multiple actual dog parks nearby, but this middle-aged white man has to play roulette with everyone’s life, including the poor dog’s, instead.
LEASH. YOUR. DOGS.
November 11, 2025 at 7:22 PM
I was mortified when a guy's unleashed dog stuck its nose through our fence and one of our dogs bit it on the face. But, also, like...??? That said we have not seen those people wander around the neighborhood with their dog since that incident. Your dog may be friendly! Many other dogs aren't.
Reposted by Ben Files
Reposted by Ben Files
I've built a socioeconomic system that depends on everyone to do useful work and act ethically except the people at the top, who get unimaginable rewards for being antisocial frauds and criminals. And I think it will stand the test of time
October 28, 2025 at 7:16 PM
I've built a socioeconomic system that depends on everyone to do useful work and act ethically except the people at the top, who get unimaginable rewards for being antisocial frauds and criminals. And I think it will stand the test of time
Reposted by Ben Files
Everyone should receive a basic income regardless of whether or not they can meet the capitalist's definition of "work."
Everyone should receive no cost healthcare at the point of service.
Demand this of your society. Don't let them shirk their responsibilities while reaping the enormous benefits.
Everyone should receive no cost healthcare at the point of service.
Demand this of your society. Don't let them shirk their responsibilities while reaping the enormous benefits.
October 28, 2025 at 1:41 AM
Everyone should receive a basic income regardless of whether or not they can meet the capitalist's definition of "work."
Everyone should receive no cost healthcare at the point of service.
Demand this of your society. Don't let them shirk their responsibilities while reaping the enormous benefits.
Everyone should receive no cost healthcare at the point of service.
Demand this of your society. Don't let them shirk their responsibilities while reaping the enormous benefits.