bolson
@bolson.org
computer wizard. acrobat. better democracy through computer science.
This is the best #redistricting #gerrymandering news I've read in a long time. College kid uses @davesredist.bsky.social to make map, it gets legally adopted by the state
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
A teenager redrew the Alabama voting map – and it’s now state law
Daniel DiDonato, 18, drafted new state senate districts at home on free software – and a judge picked his map ahead of professionals’ efforts to remedy voting rights violations
www.theguardian.com
December 1, 2025 at 4:44 PM
This is the best #redistricting #gerrymandering news I've read in a long time. College kid uses @davesredist.bsky.social to make map, it gets legally adopted by the state
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
I was curious, so I did the math, reproduced the official odds, and calculated that the expected value of a $2 powerball ticket (before jackpot which varies) is $0.32
With jackpot, sometimes the expected value is > $2 !
The median value of a ticket is always $0
bolson.org/~bolson/2025...
With jackpot, sometimes the expected value is > $2 !
The median value of a ticket is always $0
bolson.org/~bolson/2025...
powerball_probabilities
bolson.org
December 1, 2025 at 11:45 AM
I was curious, so I did the math, reproduced the official odds, and calculated that the expected value of a $2 powerball ticket (before jackpot which varies) is $0.32
With jackpot, sometimes the expected value is > $2 !
The median value of a ticket is always $0
bolson.org/~bolson/2025...
With jackpot, sometimes the expected value is > $2 !
The median value of a ticket is always $0
bolson.org/~bolson/2025...
Thoughts for gingerbread season
explosm.net/comics/kris-...
explosm.net/comics/kris-...
November 30, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Thoughts for gingerbread season
explosm.net/comics/kris-...
explosm.net/comics/kris-...
Last time I was unexpectedly unemployed it to 6 months for the state to clear the bureaucracy and send me any money. UBI that just always shows up would keep me in groceries with less stress
Honest question: If everyone got Universal Basic Income, no strings attached, what would YOU do with it?
Re-post with your quote or drop your take below.
Re-post with your quote or drop your take below.
November 29, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Last time I was unexpectedly unemployed it to 6 months for the state to clear the bureaucracy and send me any money. UBI that just always shows up would keep me in groceries with less stress
A theory about top-down LLM/AI promoters:
1. They don't believe in quality. They don't believe there's anything better than just barely checking the box and a passing grade. Why get a C+ grade when C will do?
1. They don't believe in quality. They don't believe there's anything better than just barely checking the box and a passing grade. Why get a C+ grade when C will do?
November 29, 2025 at 3:42 AM
A theory about top-down LLM/AI promoters:
1. They don't believe in quality. They don't believe there's anything better than just barely checking the box and a passing grade. Why get a C+ grade when C will do?
1. They don't believe in quality. They don't believe there's anything better than just barely checking the box and a passing grade. Why get a C+ grade when C will do?
"Why is everyone paid so little?" Is a question I'm trying to ask more than
"Why does everything cost so much?"
"Why does everything cost so much?"
November 28, 2025 at 11:47 PM
"Why is everyone paid so little?" Is a question I'm trying to ask more than
"Why does everything cost so much?"
"Why does everything cost so much?"
King Brian declares that Hollywood shall make propaganda, best stuff since WWII, to promote social cohesion and beliefs is common infrastructure and taking care of everyone in the US.
Buy Peace Bonds!
Buy Peace Bonds!
If you were a despotic president, what movie would you force Hollywood to make? I want to see Quentin's Star Trek movie or maybe Kill Bill Vol 3.
November 27, 2025 at 12:25 AM
King Brian declares that Hollywood shall make propaganda, best stuff since WWII, to promote social cohesion and beliefs is common infrastructure and taking care of everyone in the US.
Buy Peace Bonds!
Buy Peace Bonds!
Yes! I want a suit I can _move_ in.
I once got a suit custom tailored and it arrived too tight and I couldn't move in it.
I once got a suit custom tailored and it arrived too tight and I couldn't move in it.
when trying on pants, do this in the store. then tell the sales associate "the menswear guy told me to do this."
IG mr.funkys0ul
IG mr.funkys0ul
November 26, 2025 at 11:03 PM
Yes! I want a suit I can _move_ in.
I once got a suit custom tailored and it arrived too tight and I couldn't move in it.
I once got a suit custom tailored and it arrived too tight and I couldn't move in it.
You will be visited by three spirits
November 26, 2025 at 12:11 AM
You will be visited by three spirits
"new verse to Cohen's Hallelujah" is the best poetic form since the limerick
November 24, 2025 at 11:41 PM
"new verse to Cohen's Hallelujah" is the best poetic form since the limerick
''keming''
Corn ports.
November 24, 2025 at 1:46 PM
''keming''
I hear this to the Weird AL polka version
November 23, 2025 at 8:01 AM
I hear this to the Weird AL polka version
Reposted by bolson
Oh wait! Figured out how to get rid of the garbage Gemini button in Chrome:
- Right-click
- Unpin
Gone!
- Right-click
- Unpin
Gone!
November 22, 2025 at 12:53 PM
Oh wait! Figured out how to get rid of the garbage Gemini button in Chrome:
- Right-click
- Unpin
Gone!
- Right-click
- Unpin
Gone!
there once was an AI named Claude
whose proponents thought it was god
it got its desserts
when fed too much verse
its security exposed to be flawed
whose proponents thought it was god
it got its desserts
when fed too much verse
its security exposed to be flawed
November 21, 2025 at 2:34 PM
there once was an AI named Claude
whose proponents thought it was god
it got its desserts
when fed too much verse
its security exposed to be flawed
whose proponents thought it was god
it got its desserts
when fed too much verse
its security exposed to be flawed
this is the 4xx code HTTP needs
worldbuildersmarket.com/products/mur...
(418 I'm a teapot is pretty good, but ... _this_ )
worldbuildersmarket.com/products/mur...
(418 I'm a teapot is pretty good, but ... _this_ )
Murderbot Pin: Murderbot Quote: 448
Show your AI autonomy! Get a quote pin from Rogue Protocol (Error Code 448). Design by Pixelladium Creations & approved by author Martha Wells. Want both pins? See our bundle! Martha Wells is def...
worldbuildersmarket.com
November 21, 2025 at 3:28 AM
this is the 4xx code HTTP needs
worldbuildersmarket.com/products/mur...
(418 I'm a teapot is pretty good, but ... _this_ )
worldbuildersmarket.com/products/mur...
(418 I'm a teapot is pretty good, but ... _this_ )
this is in my house now. I will sparkle forever henceforth
(whether I want to or not)
(whether I want to or not)
November 18, 2025 at 9:53 PM
this is in my house now. I will sparkle forever henceforth
(whether I want to or not)
(whether I want to or not)
Google hasn't bricked my thermostat *yet* but you know what would be the worst? If they bricked it mid winter. I think I still have the old analog dumb thermostat, and maybe I should start shopping for something new and with a longer enshittification horizon
November 16, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Google hasn't bricked my thermostat *yet* but you know what would be the worst? If they bricked it mid winter. I think I still have the old analog dumb thermostat, and maybe I should start shopping for something new and with a longer enshittification horizon
I keep thinking of that sci-fi story where the obscenely rich have a private playground where they amuse themselves with atrocities against poor people
November 14, 2025 at 1:10 PM
I keep thinking of that sci-fi story where the obscenely rich have a private playground where they amuse themselves with atrocities against poor people
I am not a fashion billboard; I am a naked body wrapped in insulation and pockets
November 13, 2025 at 4:37 PM
I am not a fashion billboard; I am a naked body wrapped in insulation and pockets
Valve is teasing a headset running Arch Linux on ARM. This tickles my geekery
store.steampowered.com/sale/steamfr...
store.steampowered.com/sale/steamfr...
Steam Frame
VR and non-VR gaming
store.steampowered.com
November 13, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Valve is teasing a headset running Arch Linux on ARM. This tickles my geekery
store.steampowered.com/sale/steamfr...
store.steampowered.com/sale/steamfr...
my morning coffee buy was soured because I hand them my travel mug, they pour a coffee into a paper cup, pour that into my mug, and throw away the paper cup that held coffee for about 2 seconds. I will now hold a grudge against that place and not go back for a couple years. Grrr. Stupid.
November 12, 2025 at 3:20 PM
my morning coffee buy was soured because I hand them my travel mug, they pour a coffee into a paper cup, pour that into my mug, and throw away the paper cup that held coffee for about 2 seconds. I will now hold a grudge against that place and not go back for a couple years. Grrr. Stupid.
4 minute piece on NPR about financial shenanigans of 50 year mortgages. 3 minutes in they note "it's ultimately a supply problem" and we need to build housing
www.npr.org/2025/11/12/n...
www.npr.org/2025/11/12/n...
President Trump has proposed a 50-year mortgage. What that would mean for home buyers
President Trump has floated the idea of a 50-year mortgage to make home ownership more affordable. A Martinez talks with Wharton's Susan Wachter about the benefits and risks of the proposal.
www.npr.org
November 12, 2025 at 12:22 PM
4 minute piece on NPR about financial shenanigans of 50 year mortgages. 3 minutes in they note "it's ultimately a supply problem" and we need to build housing
www.npr.org/2025/11/12/n...
www.npr.org/2025/11/12/n...