Dr Ben King 🌍
banner
benking01.bsky.social
Dr Ben King 🌍
@benking01.bsky.social
Long Covid & PE recovery.
GeographyTeacher.
Sustainability & Climate Change.
BSc Env Science & Physics (Stirling).
Soil Erosion PhD & Geog PGCE (Exeter).
Tuba player.
Devon, UK
Pinned
Orchestra rehearsal was really enjoyable last night #Sibelius #Finlandia 🙏

I've played my #tuba for around 13 hours this week - Rehearsal with Devon Philharmonic Orchestra last weekend, then with Britannia Royal Naval College Volunteer Band; Torbay Symphony Orchestra last night.

#TubaPlayer
Reposted by Dr Ben King 🌍
Palestine Action have WON their judicial review in the High Court!
A massive victory for free speech, freedom of association and the right to protest.
A massive defeat for the draconian attempts by Keir Starmer's government to curtail our fundamental rights.
February 13, 2026 at 10:13 AM
Reposted by Dr Ben King 🌍
This is the most devastating interview and she is an extraordinary MP
"Epstein victims and Al-Fayed victims are watching what we do - they're not listening to what we say."

MP Natalie Fleet says it’s time to talk about the victims of sexual abuse with the same passion we’re talking about how bad the government is.

@lewisgoodall.com
February 13, 2026 at 8:26 PM
Reposted by Dr Ben King 🌍
On #PancakeDay I'll be chatting to @papayaguacamaya.bsky.social, a postbacc studying urban ecology, understanding pollination systems through plant & pollinator functional diversity. She is also a tree care coordinator for #BronxIsBlooming. Get your #GeogQOverABrew in before Tuesday! #CoffeeGeogPod
February 13, 2026 at 6:29 PM
Reposted by Dr Ben King 🌍
Taught three 1-hour lessons today.

Fewer than 5 #VisibleHealth PacePoints (PP) used - and I'm almost twelve PP behind today's Pacesetter.

I've reached the half-term break on-top of my Long Covid #PEM symptoms 🙏

Nine days of Rest and Relaxation await 😊

#LongCovid #Teacher
February 13, 2026 at 3:09 PM
Taught three 1-hour lessons today.

Fewer than 5 #VisibleHealth PacePoints (PP) used - and I'm almost twelve PP behind today's Pacesetter.

I've reached the half-term break on-top of my Long Covid #PEM symptoms 🙏

Nine days of Rest and Relaxation await 😊

#LongCovid #Teacher
February 13, 2026 at 3:09 PM
Final commute of the half-term
February 13, 2026 at 8:04 AM
Reposted by Dr Ben King 🌍
"I was trying to work out whether I was shocked by this or not," says Emily Maitlis.

"Part of me wasn't. This sort of language has normalised language for Reform-leaning billionaires who are looking to Nigel Farage to reshape the country"

www.thenewsagents.co.uk/article/why-...
Why does a billionaire living in Monaco think the UK has been ‘colonised’ by migrants? | The News Agents
Jim Ratcliffe, believed to be the seventh-richest Brit in the world, has faced backlash for claims the UK has been “colonised” by migrants. Has this language been normalised in Britain?
www.thenewsagents.co.uk
February 13, 2026 at 7:00 AM
Reposted by Dr Ben King 🌍
In the spirit of the Finnish Independence Day, today’s earworm has been the beautiful, beautiful Finlandia by Sibelius 💙

#EarWorm #MusicSky #Itsenäisyyspäivä

youtu.be/F5zg_af9b8c
Jean Sibelius - Finlandia
YouTube video by Tarja M
youtu.be
February 13, 2026 at 7:18 AM
Reposted by Dr Ben King 🌍
In the spirit of the Finnish Independence Day, today’s earworm has been the beautiful, beautiful Finlandia by Sibelius 💙

#EarWorm #MusicSky #Itsenäisyyspäivä

youtu.be/F5zg_af9b8c
Jean Sibelius - Finlandia
YouTube video by Tarja M
youtu.be
December 6, 2025 at 10:38 PM
Reposted by Dr Ben King 🌍
Orchestra rehearsal was really enjoyable last night #Sibelius #Finlandia 🙏

I've played my #tuba for around 13 hours this week - Rehearsal with Devon Philharmonic Orchestra last weekend, then with Britannia Royal Naval College Volunteer Band; Torbay Symphony Orchestra last night.

#TubaPlayer
February 13, 2026 at 6:24 AM
Reposted by Dr Ben King 🌍
How I use the #VisibleHealth app:

As my Heartrate Variability (HRV) drops, the number of PacePoints used (related to spikes in my heartrate) *rises*...

...and as my HRV has now been rising for a couple of weeks, my Energy Use (and PacePoints use) has dropped significantly.

It's a great feeling 😊
February 12, 2026 at 10:53 PM
Reposted by Dr Ben King 🌍
Ellie Chowns, "Reform UK, before it was the Brexit Party, before when it was UKIP, has been busy for many years fermenting this idea that immigration is the problem in this country"

"It's completely untrue"

"Inequality is the problem in this country"
February 12, 2026 at 11:27 PM
Really enjoying watching #BBCQT this evening, rather than simply collapsing into bed, as has been my norm for so many months.

As a @greenparty.org.uk member I've been very impressed with @elliechowns.bsky.social but also by @lukepollard.bsky.social of @labouruk.bsky.social

Great discussion 🙏
February 12, 2026 at 11:25 PM
Reposted by Dr Ben King 🌍
“Jim Ratcliffe’s comments were outrageous. They are offensive and they were deeply wrong. We do have a problem in our country, and that problem is inequality. It’s not immigration.”

Ellie Chowns on #BBCQT, rejecting attempts to blame migrants for country's problems.
February 12, 2026 at 10:54 PM
Reposted by Dr Ben King 🌍
Wet winters on the increase because of global warming, say scientists

The wet winter which has set records in parts of the UK could become more common in coming years because of global warming, scientists have said.
Wet winters on the increase because of global warming, say scientists
The wet winter which has set records in parts of the UK could become more common in coming years because of global warming, scientists have said. Winters in the UK are becoming significantly wetter…
buff.ly
February 12, 2026 at 3:15 PM
Reposted by Dr Ben King 🌍
Log‑scale chart showing COVID‑19 trends in England from Feb 2020 to Feb 2026.
Four lines: positive cases (brown), hospital patients (blue), deaths involving COVID‑19 (red), and PCR test positivity (purple).
Chart shows repeated waves across the pandemic.
February 12, 2026 at 9:45 PM
Reposted by Dr Ben King 🌍
We’re treating COVID like a memory instead of a continuing risk. Data exists, governments aren’t translating it into clear guidance on ventilation, vaccination, or avoiding crowded indoor spaces. Public health messaging has drifted into silence just when we should be preparing for the next pandemic.
February 12, 2026 at 11:38 AM
Reposted by Dr Ben King 🌍
Messaging has faded but COVID hasn’t.
Data keeps warning us, yet without clear guidance on ventilation, vaccination, and indoor risk, people navigate blind.
Treating the pandemic as over weakens readiness for the next one.
Honest communication and resilient data systems are needed now.
February 12, 2026 at 11:25 AM
Reposted by Dr Ben King 🌍
In Scotland that sharp rise is very focused around the west.

Inverclyde is on 14.3%;
South Ayrshire, 10.8%;
Argyll & Bute, 10.4%.

7/9
February 12, 2026 at 7:14 PM
Reposted by Dr Ben King 🌍
In the North-West and Yorkshire there are definite signs of growth around Rochdale (on 9.38%) and Calderdale.

Similar & growing levels in Chester and Cheshire.

6/9
February 12, 2026 at 7:13 PM
Reposted by Dr Ben King 🌍
A similar rise in West Sussex, on 12.86%.

Everywhere else in the South-East has seen a decline.

4/9
February 12, 2026 at 7:13 PM
Reposted by Dr Ben King 🌍
In London, covid beds are back up to the level they were at at New Year.

There's a lot of non-reporting boroughs, but hopefully enough for people to be able to triangulate & assess their local risk.

2/9
February 12, 2026 at 7:12 PM
Reposted by Dr Ben King 🌍
The PCR positivity map is out, and positivity has risen to 2.75% in England.

Adjusted for non-reporting we make it 3.34%.

In Scotland there's been a sharp upturn to 4.37%.

jamestindall.info/skeuomorphol...

1/9
February 12, 2026 at 7:12 PM
Reposted by Dr Ben King 🌍
My Year 9 classes have been researching FACTS about #immigrants in our lessons this week.

Here's an interesting one that they didn't come up with...

#GeographyTeacher #Migration #TaxHavens
February 12, 2026 at 5:39 PM