Ben Beck
@bsbeck.bsky.social
See benbeck.co.uk - my interests include: firsts in the recording of sight and sound; anarchism and science fiction; UK TMOs (tenant management orgs); family history; British Quaker history
Reposted by Ben Beck
Does advertising really work?
Everyone I know mutes TV ads when they come on.
Everyone I know uses ad-blockers online.
I avoid sites that say 'You can't view this site unless you turn off your ad-blocker.'
And some ads are so annoying &/or repetitive that I refuse to use the product on principle.
Everyone I know mutes TV ads when they come on.
Everyone I know uses ad-blockers online.
I avoid sites that say 'You can't view this site unless you turn off your ad-blocker.'
And some ads are so annoying &/or repetitive that I refuse to use the product on principle.
February 10, 2026 at 8:44 AM
Does advertising really work?
Everyone I know mutes TV ads when they come on.
Everyone I know uses ad-blockers online.
I avoid sites that say 'You can't view this site unless you turn off your ad-blocker.'
And some ads are so annoying &/or repetitive that I refuse to use the product on principle.
Everyone I know mutes TV ads when they come on.
Everyone I know uses ad-blockers online.
I avoid sites that say 'You can't view this site unless you turn off your ad-blocker.'
And some ads are so annoying &/or repetitive that I refuse to use the product on principle.
Reposted by Ben Beck
At this difficult moment in American history, we must be honest with ourselves:
Our nation, once the envy of the world, is now in profound decline.
For the sake of our children and future generations, we must reverse course.
Our nation, once the envy of the world, is now in profound decline.
For the sake of our children and future generations, we must reverse course.
We can reverse America’s decline | Bernie Sanders
It is not good enough just to criticize Trump. We must offer a positive vision that will improve the lives of Americans
www.theguardian.com
February 5, 2026 at 5:42 PM
At this difficult moment in American history, we must be honest with ourselves:
Our nation, once the envy of the world, is now in profound decline.
For the sake of our children and future generations, we must reverse course.
Our nation, once the envy of the world, is now in profound decline.
For the sake of our children and future generations, we must reverse course.
Bravo!
BREAKING: NO CONVICTIONS AS VERDICTS COME IN FOR FILTON24 TRIAL
After 8 days of deliberation, the jury have not convicted Charlotte Head, Samuel Corner, Ellie (Leona) Kamio, Fatema Zainab Rajwani, Zoe Rogers and Jordan Devlin on any charge.
Defend Our Juries comment to follow.
After 8 days of deliberation, the jury have not convicted Charlotte Head, Samuel Corner, Ellie (Leona) Kamio, Fatema Zainab Rajwani, Zoe Rogers and Jordan Devlin on any charge.
Defend Our Juries comment to follow.
February 4, 2026 at 1:21 PM
Bravo!
Reposted by Ben Beck
Cuba is next on Trump’s expansionist hit-list.
The only “threat” it poses is existing as a sovereign state that refuses to bow to US imperialism.
Blocking all fuel supplies is collective punishment and a war crime. It must be opposed.
Hands off Cuba! Hands off Latin America!
The only “threat” it poses is existing as a sovereign state that refuses to bow to US imperialism.
Blocking all fuel supplies is collective punishment and a war crime. It must be opposed.
Hands off Cuba! Hands off Latin America!
January 31, 2026 at 12:50 AM
Cuba is next on Trump’s expansionist hit-list.
The only “threat” it poses is existing as a sovereign state that refuses to bow to US imperialism.
Blocking all fuel supplies is collective punishment and a war crime. It must be opposed.
Hands off Cuba! Hands off Latin America!
The only “threat” it poses is existing as a sovereign state that refuses to bow to US imperialism.
Blocking all fuel supplies is collective punishment and a war crime. It must be opposed.
Hands off Cuba! Hands off Latin America!
Reposted by Ben Beck
The people, united, will never be defeated. ✊
brass solidarity band performing “stand by me” in the streets of whittier next to alex pretti’s memorial. the crowd started chanting “the people united will never be defeated” so they incorporated it into the song. i love minneapolis
January 27, 2026 at 2:16 AM
The people, united, will never be defeated. ✊
Reposted by Ben Beck
Thousands march for Rojava in London
News, Jan 26th
Calls for international solidarity as assault on Kurdish autonomy and rights intensifies
~Blade Runner~
freedomnews.org.uk/2026/01/26/t...
News, Jan 26th
Calls for international solidarity as assault on Kurdish autonomy and rights intensifies
~Blade Runner~
freedomnews.org.uk/2026/01/26/t...
Thousands march for Rojava in London - Freedom News
Calls for international solidarity as assault on Kurdish autonomy and rights intensifies ~Blade Runner~ Between 20,000 and 30,000 Kurds and support…
freedomnews.org.uk
January 26, 2026 at 8:38 AM
Thousands march for Rojava in London
News, Jan 26th
Calls for international solidarity as assault on Kurdish autonomy and rights intensifies
~Blade Runner~
freedomnews.org.uk/2026/01/26/t...
News, Jan 26th
Calls for international solidarity as assault on Kurdish autonomy and rights intensifies
~Blade Runner~
freedomnews.org.uk/2026/01/26/t...
Reposted by Ben Beck
As @nataliegreenpeer.bsky.social says, the UK government has to make clear to the Syrian government that the mass release of ISIS prisoners is unacceptable, that the current ceasefire must stand, and that attacks on Kurdish majority towns are unacceptable.
greenparty.org.uk/2026/01/21/u...
#Rojava
greenparty.org.uk/2026/01/21/u...
#Rojava
January 21, 2026 at 10:16 PM
As @nataliegreenpeer.bsky.social says, the UK government has to make clear to the Syrian government that the mass release of ISIS prisoners is unacceptable, that the current ceasefire must stand, and that attacks on Kurdish majority towns are unacceptable.
greenparty.org.uk/2026/01/21/u...
#Rojava
greenparty.org.uk/2026/01/21/u...
#Rojava
Reposted by Ben Beck
It's time to stop subservience to Donald Trump.
And that starts with questions about how to stop US bases on UK soil and maintain our national security.
www.lbc.co.uk/article/subs...
And that starts with questions about how to stop US bases on UK soil and maintain our national security.
www.lbc.co.uk/article/subs...
'We need to stop our subservience to Trump': Zack Polanski questions US military bases on UK soil amid tariff threat | LBC
Donald Trump repeatedly said the US
www.lbc.co.uk
January 18, 2026 at 1:10 PM
It's time to stop subservience to Donald Trump.
And that starts with questions about how to stop US bases on UK soil and maintain our national security.
www.lbc.co.uk/article/subs...
And that starts with questions about how to stop US bases on UK soil and maintain our national security.
www.lbc.co.uk/article/subs...
Reposted by Ben Beck
Reposted by Ben Beck
The only questio about 'defectors' to Farage is: "Were they lying before or are they lying now?"
The answer, invariably, is "Both".
I'm watching the snooker.
The answer, invariably, is "Both".
I'm watching the snooker.
January 15, 2026 at 5:02 PM
The only questio about 'defectors' to Farage is: "Were they lying before or are they lying now?"
The answer, invariably, is "Both".
I'm watching the snooker.
The answer, invariably, is "Both".
I'm watching the snooker.
Reposted by Ben Beck
The USA shouldn't have the Olympics it shouldn't have the World Cup, it shouldn't be allowed to even participate in anything with the rest of the world.
Just cordon it off like there is a Zombie virus outbreak.
Just cordon it off like there is a Zombie virus outbreak.
January 9, 2026 at 9:24 PM
The USA shouldn't have the Olympics it shouldn't have the World Cup, it shouldn't be allowed to even participate in anything with the rest of the world.
Just cordon it off like there is a Zombie virus outbreak.
Just cordon it off like there is a Zombie virus outbreak.
Reposted by Ben Beck
"The maximum time a prisoner can spend on remand is 182 days (six months). Yet Muraisi and Ahmed were arrested in November 2024, and are not due to be tried until June at the earliest, which means they will be remanded for 20 months."
Shameful.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Shameful.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com
January 10, 2026 at 9:55 AM
"The maximum time a prisoner can spend on remand is 182 days (six months). Yet Muraisi and Ahmed were arrested in November 2024, and are not due to be tried until June at the earliest, which means they will be remanded for 20 months."
Shameful.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Shameful.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Ben Beck
Reposted by Ben Beck
All power to the comrades in the Twin Cities and across the hemisphere pushing back against empire and death.
January 8, 2026 at 4:43 PM
All power to the comrades in the Twin Cities and across the hemisphere pushing back against empire and death.
anarchysf.com: December update
New additions:
• Phyllis MacLennan
• Vandana Singh
Update to:
• Robert Silverberg
New additions:
• Phyllis MacLennan
• Vandana Singh
Update to:
• Robert Silverberg
Welcome to anarchySF! | anarchySF
anarchysf.com
January 1, 2026 at 10:36 AM
anarchysf.com: December update
New additions:
• Phyllis MacLennan
• Vandana Singh
Update to:
• Robert Silverberg
New additions:
• Phyllis MacLennan
• Vandana Singh
Update to:
• Robert Silverberg
Reposted by Ben Beck
Millions of animals are suffering unnecessarily by being slaughtered without stunning to meet religious demands.
That's why we campaign to end religious exemptions to animal welfare laws.
Read more👇
www.secularism.org.uk/religious-sl...
That's why we campaign to end religious exemptions to animal welfare laws.
Read more👇
www.secularism.org.uk/religious-sl...
End non-stun religious slaughter
No more religious exemptions from animal welfare laws.
www.secularism.org.uk
December 23, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Millions of animals are suffering unnecessarily by being slaughtered without stunning to meet religious demands.
That's why we campaign to end religious exemptions to animal welfare laws.
Read more👇
www.secularism.org.uk/religious-sl...
That's why we campaign to end religious exemptions to animal welfare laws.
Read more👇
www.secularism.org.uk/religious-sl...
Reposted by Ben Beck
The government is right to say that animals should be spared avoidable pain, suffering and distress when they are killed.
That's why reforms to animal welfare laws must include the banning of non-stun slaughter.
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
That's why reforms to animal welfare laws must include the banning of non-stun slaughter.
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
Boiling live lobsters to be banned under animal rights reforms
Downing Street has published its welfare strategy, which sets out a series of new farming and food standards and banning trail hunting
www.thetimes.com
December 23, 2025 at 2:09 PM
The government is right to say that animals should be spared avoidable pain, suffering and distress when they are killed.
That's why reforms to animal welfare laws must include the banning of non-stun slaughter.
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
That's why reforms to animal welfare laws must include the banning of non-stun slaughter.
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
A propos of nothing, a revelation: I’ve been reading Spenser’s Faerie Queene, and have had this nagging feeling of something else using the same meter.
I have finally realised what it is: the 1975 Jimmy Castor Bunch single ‘King Kong’.
Iambic pentameter.
I have finally realised what it is: the 1975 Jimmy Castor Bunch single ‘King Kong’.
Iambic pentameter.
December 21, 2025 at 8:09 AM
A propos of nothing, a revelation: I’ve been reading Spenser’s Faerie Queene, and have had this nagging feeling of something else using the same meter.
I have finally realised what it is: the 1975 Jimmy Castor Bunch single ‘King Kong’.
Iambic pentameter.
I have finally realised what it is: the 1975 Jimmy Castor Bunch single ‘King Kong’.
Iambic pentameter.
Reposted by Ben Beck
Disabled people driving luxury cars on your dime? Just the latest rightwing lie peddled by Labour.
Govts stigmatize people claiming benefits as scroungers, claim fraud is rife.
Silence on corporate welfare, tax abuse by corporations/rich. HMRC failed to collect over £500bn tax since 2010.
Govts stigmatize people claiming benefits as scroungers, claim fraud is rife.
Silence on corporate welfare, tax abuse by corporations/rich. HMRC failed to collect over £500bn tax since 2010.
Disabled people driving luxury cars on your dime? Just the latest rightwing lie peddled by Labour | Frances Ryan
Starmer’s ailing government is happy to pursue ideas like cutting Motability, but all ministers will do is damage lives and themselves, says Guardian columnist Frances Ryan
www.theguardian.com
December 9, 2025 at 8:12 AM
Disabled people driving luxury cars on your dime? Just the latest rightwing lie peddled by Labour.
Govts stigmatize people claiming benefits as scroungers, claim fraud is rife.
Silence on corporate welfare, tax abuse by corporations/rich. HMRC failed to collect over £500bn tax since 2010.
Govts stigmatize people claiming benefits as scroungers, claim fraud is rife.
Silence on corporate welfare, tax abuse by corporations/rich. HMRC failed to collect over £500bn tax since 2010.
Reposted by Ben Beck
Jury trials in England & Wales for crimes that carry a likely sentence of less than 3 years will be scrapped.
Bad move
Money may be saved but justice and trust in the system will be the biggest casualty.
Poor and minorities at the mercy of toff judges.
Bad move
Money may be saved but justice and trust in the system will be the biggest casualty.
Poor and minorities at the mercy of toff judges.
Jury trials scrapped for crimes with sentences of less than three years
The reforms are being brought in to tackle unprecedented delays in the Crown Court.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 3, 2025 at 7:59 AM
Jury trials in England & Wales for crimes that carry a likely sentence of less than 3 years will be scrapped.
Bad move
Money may be saved but justice and trust in the system will be the biggest casualty.
Poor and minorities at the mercy of toff judges.
Bad move
Money may be saved but justice and trust in the system will be the biggest casualty.
Poor and minorities at the mercy of toff judges.
anarchysf.com: November update
Updates to:
• Vajra Chandrasekera, Victor Koman, Ayn Rand, Joanna Russ, J. Neil Schulman, Robert Shea, Mary Shelley, Robert Anton Wilson & Robert Shea
Updates to:
• Vajra Chandrasekera, Victor Koman, Ayn Rand, Joanna Russ, J. Neil Schulman, Robert Shea, Mary Shelley, Robert Anton Wilson & Robert Shea
Welcome to anarchySF! | anarchySF
anarchysf.com
December 2, 2025 at 10:03 AM
anarchysf.com: November update
Updates to:
• Vajra Chandrasekera, Victor Koman, Ayn Rand, Joanna Russ, J. Neil Schulman, Robert Shea, Mary Shelley, Robert Anton Wilson & Robert Shea
Updates to:
• Vajra Chandrasekera, Victor Koman, Ayn Rand, Joanna Russ, J. Neil Schulman, Robert Shea, Mary Shelley, Robert Anton Wilson & Robert Shea
Reposted by Ben Beck
i will never tire of this meme
December 1, 2025 at 7:36 AM
i will never tire of this meme
Reposted by Ben Beck
Hope is here.
Help us beat Reform in May. Donate today ⤵️
Help us beat Reform in May. Donate today ⤵️
November 28, 2025 at 7:31 AM
Hope is here.
Help us beat Reform in May. Donate today ⤵️
Help us beat Reform in May. Donate today ⤵️
Reposted by Ben Beck
Somebody posted an old photo in a Facebook local group and asked if anyone could clean it up. Well-meaning people turned to #AI. Lots of responders seemed happy with the results, but this is how you destroy historical records.
November 25, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Somebody posted an old photo in a Facebook local group and asked if anyone could clean it up. Well-meaning people turned to #AI. Lots of responders seemed happy with the results, but this is how you destroy historical records.