Greg Gates
@gregat.es
philosopher-turned-software-engineer
VP of pivot tables @ https://rowzero.com, the world's fastest spreadsheet
data & technology manager for WA's 36th LD Democrats
my little blog: https://gregat.es
VP of pivot tables @ https://rowzero.com, the world's fastest spreadsheet
data & technology manager for WA's 36th LD Democrats
my little blog: https://gregat.es
Moorean Trump
Why won’t Trump specifically say his hand is real? I’m just asking questions. People are wondering
I am determined as God is my witness to start the Trump fake hand conspiracy theory. His hand isn't showing signs of an undisclosed illness. It's a fake painted Halloween costume hand because his hand was already removed. It's time.
December 31, 2025 at 6:13 AM
Moorean Trump
Ok Stranger Things s5e4, sorcerers weren't introduced until 3e, in 2000.
December 29, 2025 at 4:02 AM
Ok Stranger Things s5e4, sorcerers weren't introduced until 3e, in 2000.
"Navarro’s mother gave the book four stars, but not five, on Amazon."
“I don’t know why he still goes to work, or if he even knows how boxed out he is. His life is a fiction. He’s not a player at all.“
Peter Navarro, Trump’s Ultimate Yes-Man
The tariff cheerleader established the template of sycophancy for Trump Administration officials.
www.newyorker.com
December 29, 2025 at 3:28 AM
"Navarro’s mother gave the book four stars, but not five, on Amazon."
Something I think about is how anything with the appearance of systematic rigor can easily seem true and authoritative to an uncritical mind. Like the virtue system from Ultima IV.
A type of practice that I find interesting historically is the rigorously untrue. Astrology, for instance, was often a very tightly defined practice with a seriously requirement of learning: it just wasn’t actually real.
December 27, 2025 at 3:33 AM
Something I think about is how anything with the appearance of systematic rigor can easily seem true and authoritative to an uncritical mind. Like the virtue system from Ultima IV.
I didn't write as much on my blog this year, but here's a thread of a few posts, starting with an explanation of how Excel orders numeric options in its filter control (riveting stuff!)
gregat.es/excel-numeri...
gregat.es/excel-numeri...
gregat.es
gregat.es
December 26, 2025 at 4:29 PM
I didn't write as much on my blog this year, but here's a thread of a few posts, starting with an explanation of how Excel orders numeric options in its filter control (riveting stuff!)
gregat.es/excel-numeri...
gregat.es/excel-numeri...
The Expanse is just GoT in space. Even written by the same guy!*
(*This is the one conspiracy theory I indulge in, which also happens to be at least partially true. And maybe isn't a proper conspiracy theory because I think I am the only one who believes it.)
(*This is the one conspiracy theory I indulge in, which also happens to be at least partially true. And maybe isn't a proper conspiracy theory because I think I am the only one who believes it.)
Many of you have recommended The Expanse. Might have to try it.
Respectfully Tom
Might want to rethink that. I just went thru it and it is outstanding Sci Fi.
Only other thing that comes close is the Expanse. Its really worth a shot
Might want to rethink that. I just went thru it and it is outstanding Sci Fi.
Only other thing that comes close is the Expanse. Its really worth a shot
December 14, 2025 at 7:21 AM
The Expanse is just GoT in space. Even written by the same guy!*
(*This is the one conspiracy theory I indulge in, which also happens to be at least partially true. And maybe isn't a proper conspiracy theory because I think I am the only one who believes it.)
(*This is the one conspiracy theory I indulge in, which also happens to be at least partially true. And maybe isn't a proper conspiracy theory because I think I am the only one who believes it.)
I did another quick analysis in Row Zero of the SSA baby name data: the trumpiest (and least trumpy) baby names of 2024!
gregat.es
gregat.es
December 11, 2025 at 12:08 AM
I did another quick analysis in Row Zero of the SSA baby name data: the trumpiest (and least trumpy) baby names of 2024!
Finally got around to updating the SSA baby name spreadsheet linked in rowzero.com/blog/baby-na...
-n names for boys continue their downward trend in popularity!
-n names for boys continue their downward trend in popularity!
The Rise of -n
An analysis of baby boy names in the United States by final letter.
rowzero.com
December 10, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Finally got around to updating the SSA baby name spreadsheet linked in rowzero.com/blog/baby-na...
-n names for boys continue their downward trend in popularity!
-n names for boys continue their downward trend in popularity!
What happens when it's nine times out of ten? You fire them (after a drawn out PIP process of course), unless they're the CEO's nephew, Claude.
I'm having trouble adopting this new LLM regime. What happens when a developer you rely on produces bad code one time out of ten? How about one time out of a hundred, but it's a severely critical bug? Who's going to find these issues after I'm gone?
December 10, 2025 at 10:20 AM
What happens when it's nine times out of ten? You fire them (after a drawn out PIP process of course), unless they're the CEO's nephew, Claude.
I will reiterate that joining WA's 36th LD Dems as a PCO has been the most rewarding way to get involved in politics I have ever tried (there have been a few). And also a great way to make connections in your community!
from a state party director
December 6, 2025 at 7:34 PM
I will reiterate that joining WA's 36th LD Dems as a PCO has been the most rewarding way to get involved in politics I have ever tried (there have been a few). And also a great way to make connections in your community!
Reposted by Greg Gates
Not in the energy world, but in general I have needed to update my views about what things could possibly happen, not about how bad the Republicans are. Exception: USAID.
E.g.: I didn’t predict DOGE kids getting into the US payments system, but that was because I didn’t realize that was a thing.
E.g.: I didn’t predict DOGE kids getting into the US payments system, but that was because I didn’t realize that was a thing.
In my world (energy policy), to a first approximation, *everyone* underestimated how bad Republicans would be this time around.
So my basic question is: has anyone updated their priors? Revised their analytical categories? Learned anything from this? Will do things differently next time? Anyone?
So my basic question is: has anyone updated their priors? Revised their analytical categories? Learned anything from this? Will do things differently next time? Anyone?
December 4, 2025 at 4:39 AM
Not in the energy world, but in general I have needed to update my views about what things could possibly happen, not about how bad the Republicans are. Exception: USAID.
E.g.: I didn’t predict DOGE kids getting into the US payments system, but that was because I didn’t realize that was a thing.
E.g.: I didn’t predict DOGE kids getting into the US payments system, but that was because I didn’t realize that was a thing.
This is nuts. Abolish golf? One of those slogans that makes you sound like a crazy person but is sensible and correct.
Paul has been talking about the tax loophole that Seattle country clubs have been enjoying for a while now but WOW I did not know how big
This is Broadmoor Golf Club. It's a gated right-wing enclave for the rich in Seattle. The golf course is 7 parcels, 122.2 acres. It's assessed at just $76k/ACRE!
This is Broadmoor Golf Club. It's a gated right-wing enclave for the rich in Seattle. The golf course is 7 parcels, 122.2 acres. It's assessed at just $76k/ACRE!
November 27, 2025 at 10:09 AM
This is nuts. Abolish golf? One of those slogans that makes you sound like a crazy person but is sensible and correct.
Ah, the height of British culinary achievement — a factory-made sandwich that alleges to be seafood yet is somehow shelf stable, sold in drug stores wrapped in plastic, which dares to declare itself superior to a fast food hamburger by pretending to be in a different category.
it is very strange to me that Americans just cannot do packaged, relatively cheap sandwiches. they're fucking awful here. (handmade sandwiches are often great, but, like, the £2.75 Tesco's 'good but not great' sandwich is a missing piece)
It is a huge problem to me that sandwiches in the US are both delicious and stupidly expensive.
There are days I miss a prawn mayo or tuna sandwich meal deal from Boots or WH Smith.
There are days I miss a prawn mayo or tuna sandwich meal deal from Boots or WH Smith.
November 27, 2025 at 9:54 AM
Ah, the height of British culinary achievement — a factory-made sandwich that alleges to be seafood yet is somehow shelf stable, sold in drug stores wrapped in plastic, which dares to declare itself superior to a fast food hamburger by pretending to be in a different category.
Let's stipulate that at least some software engineers who claim AI tools make them vastly more productive are neither lying nor misjudging their own productivity.
This is not true for all or even most, even among people who happily adopt the tools. So what can explain the difference?
This is not true for all or even most, even among people who happily adopt the tools. So what can explain the difference?
November 25, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Let's stipulate that at least some software engineers who claim AI tools make them vastly more productive are neither lying nor misjudging their own productivity.
This is not true for all or even most, even among people who happily adopt the tools. So what can explain the difference?
This is not true for all or even most, even among people who happily adopt the tools. So what can explain the difference?
a bit of professional news I'm very proud to share: AWS is officially a Row Zero customer!
November 20, 2025 at 8:54 PM
a bit of professional news I'm very proud to share: AWS is officially a Row Zero customer!
Reposted by Greg Gates
There's been a lot of discussion in recent days about the influence of the Stranger in local elections. I had a lot to say about their impact in school board races, which is so decisive that we could say they now effectively appoint the board:
Issue 2 -- Habemus Directores!
In this issue:
* School Board Elections: A New Hope
* The Stranger-Appointed School Board
* The Stranger Waged War on Sarah Clark
* What We Are Reading
All articles in this issue are by Robert C...
thebulletinsea.org
November 16, 2025 at 6:05 PM
There's been a lot of discussion in recent days about the influence of the Stranger in local elections. I had a lot to say about their impact in school board races, which is so decisive that we could say they now effectively appoint the board:
How do whales hydrate?
My old favorite counterexample to the claim that everything you might want to know is googleable turns out to also be a useful demonstration of why you shouldn't trust LLM chat bot output.
My old favorite counterexample to the claim that everything you might want to know is googleable turns out to also be a useful demonstration of why you shouldn't trust LLM chat bot output.
gregat.es
gregat.es
November 14, 2025 at 9:57 PM
How do whales hydrate?
My old favorite counterexample to the claim that everything you might want to know is googleable turns out to also be a useful demonstration of why you shouldn't trust LLM chat bot output.
My old favorite counterexample to the claim that everything you might want to know is googleable turns out to also be a useful demonstration of why you shouldn't trust LLM chat bot output.
Reposted by Greg Gates
The Status Interview – Or How To Write Up a Senate Purge List talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/the-s...
The Status Interview – Or How To Write Up a Senate Purge List
Over the last couple days I’ve argued both that the denouement of...
talkingpointsmemo.com
November 12, 2025 at 8:05 PM
The Status Interview – Or How To Write Up a Senate Purge List talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/the-s...
It's a shame that the ST:TNG episode "Conspiracy" came in s1, when multi-episode arcs were still not really a thing. It could have made a very good arc!
November 12, 2025 at 4:54 AM
It's a shame that the ST:TNG episode "Conspiracy" came in s1, when multi-episode arcs were still not really a thing. It could have made a very good arc!
Still waiting for Chuck Schumer's "wait for Republicans to do something once Trump's approval is low enough" strategy to bear fruit.
Expecting the Schumer strategy of letting Trump wreck the country and hoping Republicans do something about it eventually to pay off right about now!
November 10, 2025 at 4:30 AM
Still waiting for Chuck Schumer's "wait for Republicans to do something once Trump's approval is low enough" strategy to bear fruit.
Reposted by Greg Gates
Yeah, the entire caucus is responsible for this, regardless of their vote
Any Democratic senator, at any moment, could've derailed this by calling for Schumer's replacement and casting their colleagues as MAGA collaborators, thereby shifting the Overton window. But they're all in on it. This was always a team effort.
November 10, 2025 at 2:41 AM
Yeah, the entire caucus is responsible for this, regardless of their vote
Reposted by Greg Gates
Primary all of them everywhere. Hound them at town halls. Show up at their offices. Call or write to them about every issue. That cadre of this party has to go. Clean house.
Important to understand this. There's a reasonable chance that your Dem Senator who voted against it and is acting mad now was in on the play. It's the same reason why they scheduled the surrender for AFTER the election this week. They didn't want people pissed at Dems right before an election.
The caucus meeting was just to orchestrate who would fall on the sword but not be up for a vote in 2026.
November 10, 2025 at 2:28 AM
Primary all of them everywhere. Hound them at town halls. Show up at their offices. Call or write to them about every issue. That cadre of this party has to go. Clean house.
Reposted by Greg Gates
Since the Democrats worked extra hard to hide who actually supported this, I think the No Kings/Resistance position should be to primary every Democrat unless they publicly call for Schumer's ouster this week
Either they go into total rebellion mode, which they won't, or the people will
Either they go into total rebellion mode, which they won't, or the people will
November 10, 2025 at 2:34 AM
Since the Democrats worked extra hard to hide who actually supported this, I think the No Kings/Resistance position should be to primary every Democrat unless they publicly call for Schumer's ouster this week
Either they go into total rebellion mode, which they won't, or the people will
Either they go into total rebellion mode, which they won't, or the people will
Reposted by Greg Gates
Will you be moving to replace the current party leadership in the Senate, or are these just empty words while other retiring senators take the heat for the rest?
November 10, 2025 at 2:21 AM
Will you be moving to replace the current party leadership in the Senate, or are these just empty words while other retiring senators take the heat for the rest?
