Ben Flickstein
@benflick.bsky.social
Graduate student in neuroscience @TAU. Study birds and linguistics, work for the union. He/Him.
This is just the plot of Le Guin's "Lathe of Heaven" (1972) and not even the good part
🧪A few more hours to go…
January 1, 2026 at 10:25 AM
This is just the plot of Le Guin's "Lathe of Heaven" (1972) and not even the good part
Reposted by Ben Flickstein
the funniest thing about ai is its currently the best and cheapest this generation will ever be
what a shocking turn of events
who could’ve seen this coming
who could’ve seen this coming
OpenAI Reportedly Planning to Make ChatGPT "Prioritize" Advertisers in Conversation
OpenAI employees working on ChatGPT report plans to unleash sponsored advertisements above organic results.
futurism.com
December 31, 2025 at 7:30 AM
the funniest thing about ai is its currently the best and cheapest this generation will ever be
Reposted by Ben Flickstein
That's a very original idea. I don't believe it has ever existed before. It is an idea that ought to go out of existence. Immediately.
December 14, 2025 at 10:30 AM
That's a very original idea. I don't believe it has ever existed before. It is an idea that ought to go out of existence. Immediately.
Captain Quattro, he is a CHAR
December 12, 2025 at 10:43 AM
Captain Quattro, he is a CHAR
Gasoline is the elixir of the car
Media Club Plus ep for The Visit is out! Thanks to @notquitereal.bsky.social for joining us again to talk about the dos and don'ts of familial estrangement and the greatest young rapper of his generation, T-Diamond Stylus www.patreon.com/posts/t-diam...
T-Diamond Stylus - The Visit: Media Club Plus S02E08 | Friends at the Table
Get more from Friends at the Table on Patreon
www.patreon.com
December 7, 2025 at 11:25 PM
Gasoline is the elixir of the car
Reposted by Ben Flickstein
It may sound radical, but if one guy has so much wealth and power that he can use the large newspaper he owns to publicly threaten to ruin a service we all rely on, presumably as a bargaining tactic to get lower rates, we probably need to tax that guy until he can't do that anymore.
Exclusive: Amazon has long been USPS’s top customer, providing over $6 billion in annual revenue in 2025.
But Amazon may give up its long-standing partnership with USPS to deliver packages itself, which could spell disaster for the mail agency.
But Amazon may give up its long-standing partnership with USPS to deliver packages itself, which could spell disaster for the mail agency.
Amazon explores cutting ties with USPS, building its own delivery network
Amazon looks into expanding its nationwide delivery network and giving up its longstanding partnership with the U.S. Postal Service.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 4, 2025 at 3:19 PM
It may sound radical, but if one guy has so much wealth and power that he can use the large newspaper he owns to publicly threaten to ruin a service we all rely on, presumably as a bargaining tactic to get lower rates, we probably need to tax that guy until he can't do that anymore.
Reposted by Ben Flickstein
You already brought me five portions of muck.
November 30, 2025 at 8:30 AM
You already brought me five portions of muck.
Reposted by Ben Flickstein
Reposted by Ben Flickstein
Reposted by Ben Flickstein
large vizier models are typically trained using backtreasoning, where the model steps backwards through a plot or scheme to arrive at the cradle of twisted desires that birthed it
November 16, 2025 at 2:14 PM
large vizier models are typically trained using backtreasoning, where the model steps backwards through a plot or scheme to arrive at the cradle of twisted desires that birthed it
October 30, 2025 at 6:11 PM
Reposted by Ben Flickstein
Reposted by Ben Flickstein
Anna Tsing really cooked here
(from The Mushroom at the End of the World)
(from The Mushroom at the End of the World)
October 10, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Anna Tsing really cooked here
(from The Mushroom at the End of the World)
(from The Mushroom at the End of the World)
The Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971)
September 16, 2025 at 11:48 PM
The Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971)
Reposted by Ben Flickstein
Was gonna listen to the new side story while cooking but apparently leeks are poison (to all creation)
August 21, 2025 at 1:28 PM
Was gonna listen to the new side story while cooking but apparently leeks are poison (to all creation)
The entire 'work of art in the age of mechanical reproduction' essay has felt extremely relevant lately
a phrase we should maybe meditate on some, and I do mean "meditate," like as a private effort, not talk about it or argue about its truth value, not respond in thread, just meditate, but like once a day, is Walter Benjamin's "fascism is the introduction of aesthetics into political life"
July 20, 2025 at 10:41 PM
The entire 'work of art in the age of mechanical reproduction' essay has felt extremely relevant lately
Reposted by Ben Flickstein
how to stop fascism
July 9, 2025 at 7:04 PM
how to stop fascism
I forgot about the Morrowind thesis defense quest
I am your final barrier, mortal. Answer my riddle, and then best me -- if you can.
July 6, 2025 at 11:57 AM
I forgot about the Morrowind thesis defense quest
Unfortunately, the timeline doesn't add up for him being the inspiration for Automatic Jack @rangedtouch.bsky.social @ckunzelman.bsky.social
Michael Perry actually mounted his sculpts directly to his prosthesis. That's so fucking cool.
February 23, 2025 at 1:27 AM
Unfortunately, the timeline doesn't add up for him being the inspiration for Automatic Jack @rangedtouch.bsky.social @ckunzelman.bsky.social
Reposted by Ben Flickstein
Reposted by Ben Flickstein
Proto indo European is so cool I wish it was real
January 13, 2025 at 10:21 PM
Proto indo European is so cool I wish it was real