I actually really liked the chase, esp UK version, for using speed to have questions that are accessible to the public but in a way that challenges even very skilled trivia people.
February 13, 2026 at 7:48 AM
I actually really liked the chase, esp UK version, for using speed to have questions that are accessible to the public but in a way that challenges even very skilled trivia people.
I spent like a full 10 seconds thinking that the Senator from New Hampshire had said this and was so freaking confused.
February 13, 2026 at 7:29 AM
I spent like a full 10 seconds thinking that the Senator from New Hampshire had said this and was so freaking confused.
Right, I'm mostly saying that J! isn't a very good game for distinguishing among high level trivia players. The questions are far too easy to make it work for TV & buzzer pushing skill is the primary differentiation. Being better at that is part of the game, but it's not an interesting skill set.
February 13, 2026 at 7:23 AM
Right, I'm mostly saying that J! isn't a very good game for distinguishing among high level trivia players. The questions are far too easy to make it work for TV & buzzer pushing skill is the primary differentiation. Being better at that is part of the game, but it's not an interesting skill set.
It depends on what skill you're looking at. James is particularly impressive when it comes to speed. When both he and Ken were working on The Chase, James did way better at it b/c he's crazy fast. But J! doesn't reward that crazy speed as much because you have to wait for the full question read.
February 13, 2026 at 7:12 AM
It depends on what skill you're looking at. James is particularly impressive when it comes to speed. When both he and Ken were working on The Chase, James did way better at it b/c he's crazy fast. But J! doesn't reward that crazy speed as much because you have to wait for the full question read.
I wonder what their respective learnedleague records are from when they were on there.
LearnedLeague Home
The Greatest Trivia League in All the Land.
learnedleague.com
February 13, 2026 at 6:54 AM
I wonder what their respective learnedleague records are from when they were on there.
I'd be very keen to see Victoria Groce vs James match-up, given that Ken is probably banned for life from the player side.
February 13, 2026 at 6:46 AM
I'd be very keen to see Victoria Groce vs James match-up, given that Ken is probably banned for life from the player side.
Funnily enough this comes up in Poker a decent bit, where you can play a "game theory optimal" style or an exploitative style, depending basically on whether you think your opponent is playing near-optimally or not.
February 13, 2026 at 6:42 AM
Funnily enough this comes up in Poker a decent bit, where you can play a "game theory optimal" style or an exploitative style, depending basically on whether you think your opponent is playing near-optimally or not.
Downside of playing against James is that you're down by like $50,000 and have zero hope.
February 13, 2026 at 6:40 AM
Downside of playing against James is that you're down by like $50,000 and have zero hope.
And you know that you *don't* know your opponents self assessment on the subject. So you're best off taking a lower risk strategy of betting bigger (yes it's ironic that a big bet is a lower risk strategy).
February 13, 2026 at 6:37 AM
And you know that you *don't* know your opponents self assessment on the subject. So you're best off taking a lower risk strategy of betting bigger (yes it's ironic that a big bet is a lower risk strategy).
Also for non-tournament play the contestants sit in the audience and watch games before them (5 are filmed a day). If you pull that move and win, future opponents will go for broke against you.
February 13, 2026 at 6:34 AM
Also for non-tournament play the contestants sit in the audience and watch games before them (5 are filmed a day). If you pull that move and win, future opponents will go for broke against you.
Because there's some information we aren't considering like asymmetric subject familiarity. If you're an English lit prof that subject means you should take a strategy of going (nearly) for broke. The non-same outcomes are not at all zero probabilities.
February 13, 2026 at 6:32 AM
Because there's some information we aren't considering like asymmetric subject familiarity. If you're an English lit prof that subject means you should take a strategy of going (nearly) for broke. The non-same outcomes are not at all zero probabilities.
Second place should wager just enough so that they win a triple stumper. E.g. $10k vs $7k you wager $1k from second place. First has to wager $4001 to lock up a triple correct, and if triple stumper 2nd is at $6000 and they're at $5999.
February 13, 2026 at 6:27 AM
Second place should wager just enough so that they win a triple stumper. E.g. $10k vs $7k you wager $1k from second place. First has to wager $4001 to lock up a triple correct, and if triple stumper 2nd is at $6000 and they're at $5999.
Correct, that's $1 more than double the 3rd place.
February 13, 2026 at 6:21 AM
Correct, that's $1 more than double the 3rd place.
And if your opponent also wagers 1199 you still get your 50/50 shot.
February 13, 2026 at 6:20 AM
And if your opponent also wagers 1199 you still get your 50/50 shot.
Normally if you have *any* lead you always wager for triple correct. But in this case, you only have a 50% chance of winning if it's a triple correct. But if you wager 1199 (and your opponent doesn't) then a triple stumper means you win. And a triple stumper is not 2x as unlikely as triple correct
February 13, 2026 at 6:19 AM
Normally if you have *any* lead you always wager for triple correct. But in this case, you only have a 50% chance of winning if it's a triple correct. But if you wager 1199 (and your opponent doesn't) then a triple stumper means you win. And a triple stumper is not 2x as unlikely as triple correct
I've seen some stuff on this. Most probable outcome is triple correct, and second most is triple stumper (b/c if the Q is hard enough to stump 1, much more likely it can stump all 3).
B/c top 2 are perfectly tied, I think the correct move is to wager 1199.
B/c top 2 are perfectly tied, I think the correct move is to wager 1199.
February 13, 2026 at 6:17 AM
I've seen some stuff on this. Most probable outcome is triple correct, and second most is triple stumper (b/c if the Q is hard enough to stump 1, much more likely it can stump all 3).
B/c top 2 are perfectly tied, I think the correct move is to wager 1199.
B/c top 2 are perfectly tied, I think the correct move is to wager 1199.
Honestly makes sense. Whoever they appointed knew they'd be immediately fired, so someone who's got a giant resume but basically retired and will go back to retirement is the ideal candidate.
February 12, 2026 at 6:11 AM
Honestly makes sense. Whoever they appointed knew they'd be immediately fired, so someone who's got a giant resume but basically retired and will go back to retirement is the ideal candidate.
My favorite line as a tutor is "math is a foreign language... literally." It's especially helpful for teaching word problems or those weird SAT questions that are basically about translation between arithmetic notation and English.
February 11, 2026 at 5:20 PM
My favorite line as a tutor is "math is a foreign language... literally." It's especially helpful for teaching word problems or those weird SAT questions that are basically about translation between arithmetic notation and English.
Thinking a lil about jury dynamics, a DC grand jury almost certainly has an attorney on it (most likely 2-3), who when they go to deliberate can give the basic legal reasoning on why this is a crock of shit and counter whatever BS Pirro was saying.
February 11, 2026 at 4:29 PM
Thinking a lil about jury dynamics, a DC grand jury almost certainly has an attorney on it (most likely 2-3), who when they go to deliberate can give the basic legal reasoning on why this is a crock of shit and counter whatever BS Pirro was saying.
Also in a city with an insanely high proportion of attorneys, to the point where drawing a 23 person grand jury that *doesn't* include a lawyer on it is basically impossible.
February 11, 2026 at 3:55 PM
Also in a city with an insanely high proportion of attorneys, to the point where drawing a 23 person grand jury that *doesn't* include a lawyer on it is basically impossible.
Honestly my guess is that he made a deal with her for the endorsement. She knows he basically can guarantee her renomination, or alternatively make it a very difficult proposition. So she would be willing to give him a lot to basically lock up 4 more years.
February 11, 2026 at 12:46 AM
Honestly my guess is that he made a deal with her for the endorsement. She knows he basically can guarantee her renomination, or alternatively make it a very difficult proposition. So she would be willing to give him a lot to basically lock up 4 more years.
I think the worst case I can imagine in that regard is that the current Congress uses the "judge of elections" power to falsely declare final winners in a bunch of races to flip the balance before Jan 3.
February 10, 2026 at 1:52 AM
I think the worst case I can imagine in that regard is that the current Congress uses the "judge of elections" power to falsely declare final winners in a bunch of races to flip the balance before Jan 3.
I'm all for aggressive towing, but it's not easy when a really large portion of the cars need towing. Trucks and secure impound space are limited, and the scofflaws will make it hard (a favorite tactic are fraudulently obtained but facially valid temporary plates from other states).
February 9, 2026 at 10:30 PM
I'm all for aggressive towing, but it's not easy when a really large portion of the cars need towing. Trucks and secure impound space are limited, and the scofflaws will make it hard (a favorite tactic are fraudulently obtained but facially valid temporary plates from other states).
The main issue is one I saw a lot around 2020-2023 in NY which is plate fraud. People were using fake plates like crazy when the city suspended most towing operations during the pandemic. Once you get a critical mass of people who aren't even registered / insured it becomes a really huge problem.
February 9, 2026 at 6:48 PM
The main issue is one I saw a lot around 2020-2023 in NY which is plate fraud. People were using fake plates like crazy when the city suspended most towing operations during the pandemic. Once you get a critical mass of people who aren't even registered / insured it becomes a really huge problem.