Ben Kester
@benkester.bsky.social
Trying to sit with life as it is, rather than what I want it to be.
Pinned
Ben Kester
@benkester.bsky.social
· Nov 15
Hello. I'm Ben. Some things I like:
🥘Stovetop cooking
🥪Eating
🧒Parenting
💪Empowering children
💞Empathy
✨Progression-based strategy games
🥾Gloomhaven
⚔️Path of Exile
🔍Arkham Horror
🛠️Factorio
😈Liberation politics
🍸Cocktails
🥚Vanilla bourbon flip
🍷Campari
🐍Python programming
🎲Probability
🥘Stovetop cooking
🥪Eating
🧒Parenting
💪Empowering children
💞Empathy
✨Progression-based strategy games
🥾Gloomhaven
⚔️Path of Exile
🔍Arkham Horror
🛠️Factorio
😈Liberation politics
🍸Cocktails
🥚Vanilla bourbon flip
🍷Campari
🐍Python programming
🎲Probability
Perfection isn't the enemy. Don't let the Trump admin tell you they are on the side of perfection.
perfect is the enemy of good and demanding perfect RCTs for annual flu shots = no flu shots
If new proposals detailed in an FDA memo are put into place, experts told me it would mean the end of annual flu shots. And end of most vaccines for pregnant people. And maybe the end of updates to pneumonia vaccines. And more.
www.cidrap.umn.edu/childhood-va...
www.cidrap.umn.edu/childhood-va...
December 4, 2025 at 4:15 AM
Perfection isn't the enemy. Don't let the Trump admin tell you they are on the side of perfection.
Maybe people think of standardized tests as proper learning assessments?
There's also a public perception that time pressure is a learning outcome.
For instance, when do you see timed recall on a lesson plan objective?
For instance, when do you see timed recall on a lesson plan objective?
December 3, 2025 at 2:25 PM
Maybe people think of standardized tests as proper learning assessments?
This gets into judging which people are "truly disabled."
I think filling the top ranks of our education system with people who got there in part by abusing a system designed to help disabled people will select morally deficient people for leadership positions in our society and is worth taking steps to avoid bsky.app/profile/padr...
I mean if the only risk is some kids getting extra time on tests it seems like not such a big deal
December 3, 2025 at 12:42 PM
This gets into judging which people are "truly disabled."
More laws that do not apply to the rich.
December 2, 2025 at 1:03 PM
More laws that do not apply to the rich.
When America tells you who they are, let's believe them the thousandth time.
This is a disgrace that we can certainly be louder about. Firing missiles at random people isn’t cause for removal?
December 2, 2025 at 12:17 AM
When America tells you who they are, let's believe them the thousandth time.
The state of Oklahoma is racing to the bottom in education.
OU has put the professor here on administrative leave:
December 1, 2025 at 1:02 PM
The state of Oklahoma is racing to the bottom in education.
Two things grinding my gears:
1. People's dependence on others to think for them and inability to handle criticism.
2. "I understand your argument" meaning "I agree with this part of your argument."
1. People's dependence on others to think for them and inability to handle criticism.
2. "I understand your argument" meaning "I agree with this part of your argument."
November 30, 2025 at 2:37 AM
Two things grinding my gears:
1. People's dependence on others to think for them and inability to handle criticism.
2. "I understand your argument" meaning "I agree with this part of your argument."
1. People's dependence on others to think for them and inability to handle criticism.
2. "I understand your argument" meaning "I agree with this part of your argument."
I have a hypothesis that some (mostly white) people see "criticism" as the opposite of "trust." They operate by "trust" so criticism is forbidden.
November 29, 2025 at 9:27 PM
I have a hypothesis that some (mostly white) people see "criticism" as the opposite of "trust." They operate by "trust" so criticism is forbidden.
I'm so tired arguing with white evangelicals that the government should care for the poor. So many have been taught it's a subversion of how the world ought to be.
November 26, 2025 at 2:18 PM
I'm so tired arguing with white evangelicals that the government should care for the poor. So many have been taught it's a subversion of how the world ought to be.
We need a search platform that prioritizes human content over AI.
NEW: AI “recipe slop” is overrunning search and social. Food creators say Google’s AI Overviews and glossy fake food pics are drowning out real, tested recipes — collapsing traffic and setting home cooks up for disaster, especially this Thanksgiving.
Gift link: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Gift link: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
AI Slop Recipes Are Taking Over the Internet -- And Thanksgiving Dinner
Food bloggers see traffic dip as home cooks turn to AI, inspired by impossible pictures
www.bloomberg.com
November 25, 2025 at 5:46 PM
We need a search platform that prioritizes human content over AI.
Pastors: Religion fulfills a unique role in society by connecting people to a bigger story than themselves.
Also pastors: The big bang never happened.
Also pastors: The big bang never happened.
November 25, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Pastors: Religion fulfills a unique role in society by connecting people to a bigger story than themselves.
Also pastors: The big bang never happened.
Also pastors: The big bang never happened.
One reason liberals dislike Trump is he makes subtext the text. He's not smart enough to disguise US foreign policy.
Trump suggests Khashoggi had it coming: "You're mentioning someone that was extremely controversial. A lot of people didn't like that gentleman that you're talking about. Whether you like him or didn't like him, things happen. But he knew nothing about it. You don't have to embarrass our guest."
November 18, 2025 at 6:13 PM
One reason liberals dislike Trump is he makes subtext the text. He's not smart enough to disguise US foreign policy.
The GOP propaganda line:
- Trump protects you
- They hate you
- They want to attack Trump
- Attacking Trump is attacking you
- Trump protects you
- They hate you
- They want to attack Trump
- Attacking Trump is attacking you
Mike Johnson's final words during a press conference where he announces the Epstein coverup will not only continue but deepen: "They're trying to attack President Trump. That's it."
November 18, 2025 at 4:56 PM
The GOP propaganda line:
- Trump protects you
- They hate you
- They want to attack Trump
- Attacking Trump is attacking you
- Trump protects you
- They hate you
- They want to attack Trump
- Attacking Trump is attacking you
Christian infighting on the right way to hate the world.
The battle lines have been drawn, and they are theological.
On one side is the Nick Fuentes-Tucker Carlson wing of ethno-nationalism, which espouses a form of Catholic integralism or “blood-and-soil” traditionalism.
baptistnews.com/article/chri...
On one side is the Nick Fuentes-Tucker Carlson wing of ethno-nationalism, which espouses a form of Catholic integralism or “blood-and-soil” traditionalism.
baptistnews.com/article/chri...
Christian Zionism strikes back – Baptist News Global
This dramatic rupture in conservative evangelicalism and MAGA politics is more than merely a “disagreement over foreign policy”
baptistnews.com
November 8, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Christian infighting on the right way to hate the world.
Me: can't find music to match my feelings
Them: keep looking its there
Me: discovers Locrian
Them: not like that
Them: keep looking its there
Me: discovers Locrian
Them: not like that
November 7, 2025 at 1:29 PM
Me: can't find music to match my feelings
Them: keep looking its there
Me: discovers Locrian
Them: not like that
Them: keep looking its there
Me: discovers Locrian
Them: not like that
Reposted by Ben Kester
A List of Things Said to Have Been Ruined by Women
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November 6, 2025 at 8:43 PM
A List of Things Said to Have Been Ruined by Women
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As we read foreign sources to learn of national news.
not content with canceling your family's food support, the republicans are threatening to cancel your family thanksgiving flights
US airspace to 'close within days' as 'mass chaos' to hit worldwide
As the US government shutdown continues, transport secretary Sean Duffy warned of mass travel chaos as he may be forced to close off parts of the country's airspace
www.dailystar.co.uk
November 5, 2025 at 5:23 PM
As we read foreign sources to learn of national news.
Reposted by Ben Kester
basically every 2024 truism is dead. Trump did not build a lasting multiracial coalition or turn young men into committed Republicans. You don’t need to cave on trans rights to win. The pundits have nothing left to tell you.
November 5, 2025 at 1:57 PM
basically every 2024 truism is dead. Trump did not build a lasting multiracial coalition or turn young men into committed Republicans. You don’t need to cave on trans rights to win. The pundits have nothing left to tell you.
How did I miss this? 2025 has not been kind to abusive church leaders.
Evangelical homeschool leader Voddie Baucham, an advocate and popularizer of extremist ideologies and movements like Quiverfull, Christian Patriarchy, the Family-Integrated Church, and the Stay-at-Home Daughter (SAHD) Movement, passed away today.
Voddie Baucham Dies at the Age of 56
On Thursday, Sept. 25, Founders Ministries informed the public that Voddie Baucham, Jr. died earlier that day after “suffering an emergency medical incident.”
churchleaders.com
November 5, 2025 at 1:25 PM
How did I miss this? 2025 has not been kind to abusive church leaders.
Most people have no idea how happy I feel to have left the white evangelical church.
November 5, 2025 at 12:42 AM
Most people have no idea how happy I feel to have left the white evangelical church.
"I voted" sticker has already generated discussion around "there's voting today?"
November 4, 2025 at 4:19 PM
"I voted" sticker has already generated discussion around "there's voting today?"
The establishment dems are just as racist as MAGA right.
“Diversity is our strength, but it can also be a weakness.” - Andrew Cuomo
So basically, Cuomo is running as a moderate Republican with a lot of extra baggage. Mamdani will win by a wide margin on Tuesday, and there should be no surprise as to why.
So basically, Cuomo is running as a moderate Republican with a lot of extra baggage. Mamdani will win by a wide margin on Tuesday, and there should be no surprise as to why.
November 3, 2025 at 1:53 PM
The establishment dems are just as racist as MAGA right.
Sure people are going hungry, but how does this affect the powerful?
November 2, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Sure people are going hungry, but how does this affect the powerful?
Reposted by Ben Kester
This is me hearing about this.
November 2, 2025 at 7:25 PM
This is me hearing about this.
Reposted by Ben Kester
The world continues to ignore Sudan and every day, things get worse. So much suffering met with silence.
Staggering atrocities in Sudan.
Following the mass slaughter of nearly 500 men, women, and children at a maternity hospital, UN officials say: "The situation is simply horrifying... El Fasher, already the scene of catastrophic levels of human suffering, has descended into an even darker hell."
Following the mass slaughter of nearly 500 men, women, and children at a maternity hospital, UN officials say: "The situation is simply horrifying... El Fasher, already the scene of catastrophic levels of human suffering, has descended into an even darker hell."
UN leaders condemn ‘horrifying’ mass killings in Sudan
Emergency security council session criticises killings of civilians in El Fasher and external supply of arms to RSF
www.theguardian.com
November 2, 2025 at 12:20 PM
The world continues to ignore Sudan and every day, things get worse. So much suffering met with silence.