Ben Dexter Cooley
@bcooley.bsky.social
data experiences // musician and sound artist, performing under moniker st. silva // research visualization at compex systems insititute (uvm) // birder // vermonter.
bdextercooley.com
bdextercooley.com
Reposted by Ben Dexter Cooley
The War on Data
Trump on DC: "Sadly, what I guess the mayor did, but whoever it was, they asked the numbers to be fudged so they would show less crime. The fact is, it's worse than it has ever been."
August 14, 2025 at 6:16 PM
The War on Data
Reposted by Ben Dexter Cooley
It always pains me to see great content published on Substack
Again, I'm not criticizing in the slightest writers who use the platform
It comes at a cost, but I'm still enforcing my rule of neither resharing nor subscribing to, especially with paid tiers, content published on this rotten platform
Again, I'm not criticizing in the slightest writers who use the platform
It comes at a cost, but I'm still enforcing my rule of neither resharing nor subscribing to, especially with paid tiers, content published on this rotten platform
Most people have forgotten, but I have not:
Substack platforms literal Nazis, is fine platforming Nazis, and financially benefits from platforming Nazis
It’s the reason I virtually never reshare stories published on Substack
I would rather not give any oxygen to this rotten platform
1/4
Substack platforms literal Nazis, is fine platforming Nazis, and financially benefits from platforming Nazis
It’s the reason I virtually never reshare stories published on Substack
I would rather not give any oxygen to this rotten platform
1/4
Substack won't commit to proactively removing Nazi content, ensuring further fallout | TechCrunch
Substack has industry-leading newsletter tools, but its recent content moderation missteps could prove costly.
techcrunch.com
May 12, 2025 at 1:42 PM
It always pains me to see great content published on Substack
Again, I'm not criticizing in the slightest writers who use the platform
It comes at a cost, but I'm still enforcing my rule of neither resharing nor subscribing to, especially with paid tiers, content published on this rotten platform
Again, I'm not criticizing in the slightest writers who use the platform
It comes at a cost, but I'm still enforcing my rule of neither resharing nor subscribing to, especially with paid tiers, content published on this rotten platform
Reposted by Ben Dexter Cooley
I can't emphasize enough that the most important thing journalists can do right now is publish exactly this kind of article
April 16, 2025 at 2:30 AM
I can't emphasize enough that the most important thing journalists can do right now is publish exactly this kind of article
For the past 7 years, I have written some version of a newsletter I call "Data Curious". I don't promote it very often, but things are changing, because now "Data Curious" is 100% independent (switched from Substack to Ghost).
Here's the latest edition:
data-curious.ghost.io/a-new-wave-a...
Here's the latest edition:
data-curious.ghost.io/a-new-wave-a...
A new wave (and first post on Ghost)
Hello,
This is my first edition of Data Curious on Ghost. In last week's post, I explained some of my thinking behind making the switch, so I won't re-hash it here.
Instead I'm thinking ahead—I have...
data-curious.ghost.io
April 16, 2025 at 3:09 PM
For the past 7 years, I have written some version of a newsletter I call "Data Curious". I don't promote it very often, but things are changing, because now "Data Curious" is 100% independent (switched from Substack to Ghost).
Here's the latest edition:
data-curious.ghost.io/a-new-wave-a...
Here's the latest edition:
data-curious.ghost.io/a-new-wave-a...
one of the most striking data visualizations out there. if only it (visualizations) were effective with everyone.
And yet Joe Rogan puts guests on who say "Vaccines aren't actually responsible for the reduction in infectious diseases.”
March 31, 2025 at 7:36 PM
one of the most striking data visualizations out there. if only it (visualizations) were effective with everyone.
Reposted by Ben Dexter Cooley
in all seriousness: one of the most important philosophical questions of our time
It does seem to be getting out of hand.
How does a society reestablish the cultural taboo against lying out out of your ass?
How does a society reestablish the cultural taboo against lying out out of your ass?
March 26, 2025 at 1:01 AM
in all seriousness: one of the most important philosophical questions of our time
gorgeous. no notes. Amelia describes "the great flattening" of the web better than I ever have (and believe me, I have tried!). same goes for data visualization specifically for that matter
wrote up some thoughts on how our interfaces are getting flatter, and how we might design with 💃 our bodies 🤸 in mind.
🧶 went ham on little yarn worlds
wattenberger.com/thoughts/our...
🧶 went ham on little yarn worlds
wattenberger.com/thoughts/our...
March 24, 2025 at 2:14 PM
gorgeous. no notes. Amelia describes "the great flattening" of the web better than I ever have (and believe me, I have tried!). same goes for data visualization specifically for that matter
538 and Periscopic were huge inspirations early in my career. I got into data visualization because of the folks that worked there. Bad day for data journalism. Thank you for your work
538 and Periscopic on the same day is a tough one to accept. Both brilliant contributors to the recent history of work in this field. Hope all the people involved find their new paths very soon
Wow. Periscopic. 😢
drive.google.com/file/d/1Kl0r...
drive.google.com/file/d/1Kl0r...
March 6, 2025 at 4:20 PM
538 and Periscopic were huge inspirations early in my career. I got into data visualization because of the folks that worked there. Bad day for data journalism. Thank you for your work
Reposted by Ben Dexter Cooley
When we visualize data, we reorganize the world, grouping and degrouping people and things across categories and time.
We remove a certain order as much as we create one. 📊
We remove a certain order as much as we create one. 📊
February 25, 2025 at 1:44 PM
When we visualize data, we reorganize the world, grouping and degrouping people and things across categories and time.
We remove a certain order as much as we create one. 📊
We remove a certain order as much as we create one. 📊
Reposted by Ben Dexter Cooley
Microsoft's own research confirms something that was already pretty obvious: relying on a text generating machine to come up with answers erodes critical thinking, and is a method favoured by those who never liked doing critical thinking in the first place
advait.org/files/lee_20...
advait.org/files/lee_20...
advait.org
February 9, 2025 at 10:15 AM
Microsoft's own research confirms something that was already pretty obvious: relying on a text generating machine to come up with answers erodes critical thinking, and is a method favoured by those who never liked doing critical thinking in the first place
advait.org/files/lee_20...
advait.org/files/lee_20...
Reposted by Ben Dexter Cooley
Google manipulation in all its.glory...
Now, who would want to do such a thing, and who'd have the money to do it?
Now, who would want to do such a thing, and who'd have the money to do it?
US immigration is gaming Google to create a mirage of mass deportations
Thousands of press releases about decade-old enforcement actions topped search results, all updated with a timestamp from after Trump’s inauguration
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Thousands of press releases about decade-old enforcement actions topped search results, all updated with a timestamp from after Trump’s inauguration
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
US immigration is gaming Google to create a mirage of mass deportations
Thousands of press releases about decade-old enforcement actions topped search results, all updated with a timestamp from after Trump’s inauguration
www.theguardian.com
February 6, 2025 at 7:18 PM
Google manipulation in all its.glory...
Now, who would want to do such a thing, and who'd have the money to do it?
Now, who would want to do such a thing, and who'd have the money to do it?
Reposted by Ben Dexter Cooley
My 2025 hobby is helping my pals de-centre tech from their lives.
Acquire CDs, records, DVDs, paper books, reference books, magazines, dictionaries, etc. Go to the library!
Going analog is a small way to stop relying on tech bro monsters & helps preserve knowledge they're literally deleting.
Acquire CDs, records, DVDs, paper books, reference books, magazines, dictionaries, etc. Go to the library!
Going analog is a small way to stop relying on tech bro monsters & helps preserve knowledge they're literally deleting.
February 2, 2025 at 7:52 PM
My 2025 hobby is helping my pals de-centre tech from their lives.
Acquire CDs, records, DVDs, paper books, reference books, magazines, dictionaries, etc. Go to the library!
Going analog is a small way to stop relying on tech bro monsters & helps preserve knowledge they're literally deleting.
Acquire CDs, records, DVDs, paper books, reference books, magazines, dictionaries, etc. Go to the library!
Going analog is a small way to stop relying on tech bro monsters & helps preserve knowledge they're literally deleting.
Reposted by Ben Dexter Cooley
This, from Kyle MacLachlan:
"He was not interested in answers because he understood that questions are the drive that make us who we are. They are our breath."
I'm not sure I've ever read something that so succinctly captures my specific "why?"
"He was not interested in answers because he understood that questions are the drive that make us who we are. They are our breath."
I'm not sure I've ever read something that so succinctly captures my specific "why?"
January 17, 2025 at 2:42 PM
This, from Kyle MacLachlan:
"He was not interested in answers because he understood that questions are the drive that make us who we are. They are our breath."
I'm not sure I've ever read something that so succinctly captures my specific "why?"
"He was not interested in answers because he understood that questions are the drive that make us who we are. They are our breath."
I'm not sure I've ever read something that so succinctly captures my specific "why?"
“If the only tool you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail” - Abraham Maslow
January 16, 2025 at 9:46 PM
“If the only tool you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail” - Abraham Maslow
incredible visualization tool to provide context to the current moment
NEW: Now you can look up detailed demographic information about thousands of private schools across the country and compare them to nearby public schools.
By @cerealcommas.bsky.social, @natlash.bsky.social & @schwanksta.com
By @cerealcommas.bsky.social, @natlash.bsky.social & @schwanksta.com
ProPublica Releases New Private School Demographics Lookup
Now you can look up detailed demographic information about thousands of private schools across the country and compare them to nearby public schools.
www.propublica.org
January 16, 2025 at 9:44 PM
incredible visualization tool to provide context to the current moment
Reposted by Ben Dexter Cooley
Very excited about this: www.uvm.edu/news/story/b...
Board Approves Formation of Vermont Complex Systems Institute
The University of Vermont Board of Trustees approved the creation of the Vermont Complex Systems Institute (VCSI) at its annual Fall meeting Friday at the Dudley H. Davis Center.
The proposed Institu...
www.uvm.edu
October 31, 2024 at 7:05 PM
Very excited about this: www.uvm.edu/news/story/b...