Ben Hazell
@benhazell.bsky.social
Dad. Lead content designer on GOV.UK One Login at GDS
Reposted by Ben Hazell
🐧🧊 Incredible underwater footage of penguin life, shot from the first person of one of them.
🇺🇦 This beauty was captured thanks to Ukrainian scientists from the Vernadsky Station in Antarctica, who put a GPS tracker and a tiny camera on the bird.
🇺🇦 This beauty was captured thanks to Ukrainian scientists from the Vernadsky Station in Antarctica, who put a GPS tracker and a tiny camera on the bird.
December 29, 2025 at 4:52 PM
🐧🧊 Incredible underwater footage of penguin life, shot from the first person of one of them.
🇺🇦 This beauty was captured thanks to Ukrainian scientists from the Vernadsky Station in Antarctica, who put a GPS tracker and a tiny camera on the bird.
🇺🇦 This beauty was captured thanks to Ukrainian scientists from the Vernadsky Station in Antarctica, who put a GPS tracker and a tiny camera on the bird.
Reposted by Ben Hazell
Rian Johnson is really good at morality plays
Knives out: the upper middle class are squabbling vicious children who do not deserve their inheritance
Glass onion: the new elite are the stupidest murderous cunts alive and deserve your scorn
Wake up dead man: those preaching anger as salvation are leading you to death, hope and kindness matter
Glass onion: the new elite are the stupidest murderous cunts alive and deserve your scorn
Wake up dead man: those preaching anger as salvation are leading you to death, hope and kindness matter
December 29, 2025 at 10:33 AM
Rian Johnson is really good at morality plays
Reposted by Ben Hazell
Sir Terry Pratchett is best understood as one of the most interesting, deeply ethical practical (I would say Pragmatist but I cede to actual experts) philosophers of the late 20th Century who just happened to work in deconstructed fantasy literature as his medium.
Discworld QOTD, from Hogfather
December 25, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Sir Terry Pratchett is best understood as one of the most interesting, deeply ethical practical (I would say Pragmatist but I cede to actual experts) philosophers of the late 20th Century who just happened to work in deconstructed fantasy literature as his medium.
Reposted by Ben Hazell
As you may know, I have stopped using Twitter, and have decided to reproduce some of my more memorable threads here for posterity. Here’s one I hold wrote after a particularly engaging swordfighting lesson.
Buckle up, swordfighting fans, because I *have* studied my Agrippa!
[BIG ASS THREAD]
Buckle up, swordfighting fans, because I *have* studied my Agrippa!
[BIG ASS THREAD]
a man reading a book to a young boy
Alt: a man reading a book to a young boy
media.tenor.com
June 5, 2025 at 11:20 AM
As you may know, I have stopped using Twitter, and have decided to reproduce some of my more memorable threads here for posterity. Here’s one I hold wrote after a particularly engaging swordfighting lesson.
Buckle up, swordfighting fans, because I *have* studied my Agrippa!
[BIG ASS THREAD]
Buckle up, swordfighting fans, because I *have* studied my Agrippa!
[BIG ASS THREAD]
Reposted by Ben Hazell
Good and important piece by @chrisgiles.ft.com. One implication: if you look at the revised figures for 2014-5, then frankly any talk that 2015 was a 'shock' win for David Cameron starts to look really silly and you just go 'oh yeah, figures': www.ft.com/content/5aff...
The UK economy is not nearly as bad as you’ve been told
A huge pessimistic bias in our national accounts leads us to doom and gloom which turns out to be nonsense
www.ft.com
December 12, 2025 at 1:14 PM
Good and important piece by @chrisgiles.ft.com. One implication: if you look at the revised figures for 2014-5, then frankly any talk that 2015 was a 'shock' win for David Cameron starts to look really silly and you just go 'oh yeah, figures': www.ft.com/content/5aff...
Reposted by Ben Hazell
can't stop watching this clip of a tesla Optimus teleoperator taking his headset off before properly logging out the robot
December 8, 2025 at 9:29 AM
can't stop watching this clip of a tesla Optimus teleoperator taking his headset off before properly logging out the robot
Reposted by Ben Hazell
What does the YouTube algorithm show pre-school kids when they know those kids are into Bluey & Peppa Pig?
A weird selection of blood, horror and AI slop.
What I discovered after spending a week on YouTube “being” a young kid…
A weird selection of blood, horror and AI slop.
What I discovered after spending a week on YouTube “being” a young kid…
December 7, 2025 at 4:01 PM
What does the YouTube algorithm show pre-school kids when they know those kids are into Bluey & Peppa Pig?
A weird selection of blood, horror and AI slop.
What I discovered after spending a week on YouTube “being” a young kid…
A weird selection of blood, horror and AI slop.
What I discovered after spending a week on YouTube “being” a young kid…
Reposted by Ben Hazell
This should be in the V&A. It’s an essential artefact of UK late 20th century culture.
One of the most beautiful bits of english eccentricity and glorious design is coming back to Sotheby’s and should be bought by a musuem (or me) for THE NATION. www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...
Jewelled golden hare that sparked national treasure hunt set for auction
Artist and author Kit Williams hid a golden hare with clues to its precise location given in his 1979 book
www.independent.co.uk
November 27, 2025 at 10:38 AM
This should be in the V&A. It’s an essential artefact of UK late 20th century culture.
Reposted by Ben Hazell
To illustrate how disingenuous this campaign is
“85% have made payments to get better cars” does *not* mean “85% have bought Beamers”. Most people don’t lease Beamers with the scheme. The extra payments are adaptations to allow disabled people to use the cars, wheelchair hoists for eg
“85% have made payments to get better cars” does *not* mean “85% have bought Beamers”. Most people don’t lease Beamers with the scheme. The extra payments are adaptations to allow disabled people to use the cars, wheelchair hoists for eg
November 25, 2025 at 1:59 PM
To illustrate how disingenuous this campaign is
“85% have made payments to get better cars” does *not* mean “85% have bought Beamers”. Most people don’t lease Beamers with the scheme. The extra payments are adaptations to allow disabled people to use the cars, wheelchair hoists for eg
“85% have made payments to get better cars” does *not* mean “85% have bought Beamers”. Most people don’t lease Beamers with the scheme. The extra payments are adaptations to allow disabled people to use the cars, wheelchair hoists for eg
Reposted by Ben Hazell
Still reeling from the Stanford report on Brexit. Reduced GDP by up to 8% and investment by as much as 18%. The UK Treasury would have £40 billion more each year if Britain had remained in the EU. Devastating self-immolation.
The Economic Impact of Brexit
Other
siepr.stanford.edu
November 24, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Still reeling from the Stanford report on Brexit. Reduced GDP by up to 8% and investment by as much as 18%. The UK Treasury would have £40 billion more each year if Britain had remained in the EU. Devastating self-immolation.
Reposted by Ben Hazell
this article from @colin-fraser.net really shaped how i think about chatbots. the underlying model is always essentially spawning characters whose dialogue is likely fit with the dialogue they're getting as input, and this is an "evil computer" character medium.com/@colin.frase...
Who are we talking to when we talk to these bots?
“” is published by Colin Fraser.
medium.com
November 24, 2025 at 6:34 AM
this article from @colin-fraser.net really shaped how i think about chatbots. the underlying model is always essentially spawning characters whose dialogue is likely fit with the dialogue they're getting as input, and this is an "evil computer" character medium.com/@colin.frase...
Reposted by Ben Hazell
Love being reminded to do this every year. It's a win/win all round
November 11, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Love being reminded to do this every year. It's a win/win all round
Reposted by Ben Hazell
SUPERB and angrily unvarnished response, by former BBC chairman, Lord Patten.
"I don't think that we should allow ourselves to be bullied into thinking that the BBC is only any good, if it reflects the prejudice of the last person who shouted at it." ~AA
"I don't think that we should allow ourselves to be bullied into thinking that the BBC is only any good, if it reflects the prejudice of the last person who shouted at it." ~AA
November 10, 2025 at 6:40 PM
SUPERB and angrily unvarnished response, by former BBC chairman, Lord Patten.
"I don't think that we should allow ourselves to be bullied into thinking that the BBC is only any good, if it reflects the prejudice of the last person who shouted at it." ~AA
"I don't think that we should allow ourselves to be bullied into thinking that the BBC is only any good, if it reflects the prejudice of the last person who shouted at it." ~AA
Reposted by Ben Hazell
It’s already started - the BBC allows Newsmax boss to opine about bias, suggest some of the Jan 6 mob were merely innocent tourists visiting Congress, without pushback
November 11, 2025 at 8:35 AM
It’s already started - the BBC allows Newsmax boss to opine about bias, suggest some of the Jan 6 mob were merely innocent tourists visiting Congress, without pushback
Reposted by Ben Hazell
The reaction to the Panorama edit has been nothing short of hysterical. Yes the BBC has some impartiality problems. But its biggest isn't the one you think.
New piece from me.
open.substack.com/pub/goodalla...
New piece from me.
open.substack.com/pub/goodalla...
The truth about impartiality at the BBC
And the hysteria of the current "crisis"
open.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 7:22 PM
The reaction to the Panorama edit has been nothing short of hysterical. Yes the BBC has some impartiality problems. But its biggest isn't the one you think.
New piece from me.
open.substack.com/pub/goodalla...
New piece from me.
open.substack.com/pub/goodalla...
Reposted by Ben Hazell
"Seizing Brexit opportunities to deregulate" was mostly unspecified magic fairy pixie bullshit then, and it's not going to get any more realistic in the hands of a bunch of Reform clowns who don't know how anything works, don't care to learn and disdain anyone that might.
November 8, 2025 at 9:18 AM
"Seizing Brexit opportunities to deregulate" was mostly unspecified magic fairy pixie bullshit then, and it's not going to get any more realistic in the hands of a bunch of Reform clowns who don't know how anything works, don't care to learn and disdain anyone that might.
Reposted by Ben Hazell
We're now at "black people aren't British". Open sewer racism. Look forward to seeing him on QT again soon.
November 2, 2025 at 2:35 PM
We're now at "black people aren't British". Open sewer racism. Look forward to seeing him on QT again soon.
Reposted by Ben Hazell
Nigel Farage's party now has a 20-point lead among voters who believe they're condemned to damnation
October 23, 2025 at 10:38 AM
Nigel Farage's party now has a 20-point lead among voters who believe they're condemned to damnation
Reposted by Ben Hazell
Tory policy would deport about 5% of the UK population.
"This scale of population movement is comparable to that which happened with the partition of India and Pakistan and the foundation of the state of Israel."
"This scale of population movement is comparable to that which happened with the partition of India and Pakistan and the foundation of the state of Israel."
it's just so so mad and evil, as I pointed out yesterday!
Clearly, I wasn't interpreting it wrong.
Clearly, I wasn't interpreting it wrong.
October 23, 2025 at 11:35 AM
Tory policy would deport about 5% of the UK population.
"This scale of population movement is comparable to that which happened with the partition of India and Pakistan and the foundation of the state of Israel."
"This scale of population movement is comparable to that which happened with the partition of India and Pakistan and the foundation of the state of Israel."
Reposted by Ben Hazell
This is all horrifyingly cruel but condition 3 is staggeringly awful: “if P OR dependents of P have been in receipt of social protection”
So just if a *dependent* of someone with ILR gets any sort of welfare benefit whatsoever the original person can have their ILR revoked? This is insanely evil.
So just if a *dependent* of someone with ILR gets any sort of welfare benefit whatsoever the original person can have their ILR revoked? This is insanely evil.
The Conservatives have drafted the legislation.
ANY one of the conditions being met leads to ILR being revoked.
If annual income falls below £38,700 for six months (for any reason at all)
The Secretary of State would also have the powers add whatever further conditions they want.
ANY one of the conditions being met leads to ILR being revoked.
If annual income falls below £38,700 for six months (for any reason at all)
The Secretary of State would also have the powers add whatever further conditions they want.
October 21, 2025 at 9:42 PM
This is all horrifyingly cruel but condition 3 is staggeringly awful: “if P OR dependents of P have been in receipt of social protection”
So just if a *dependent* of someone with ILR gets any sort of welfare benefit whatsoever the original person can have their ILR revoked? This is insanely evil.
So just if a *dependent* of someone with ILR gets any sort of welfare benefit whatsoever the original person can have their ILR revoked? This is insanely evil.
Reposted by Ben Hazell
Pete Hegseth conducted a live fire exercise over I-5 as part of a made-for-Fox stunt for him and Vance which had a misfire that struck a Highway Patrol vehicle and could have killed people?
Who could have foreseen this?
Who could have foreseen this?
October 19, 2025 at 10:32 PM
Pete Hegseth conducted a live fire exercise over I-5 as part of a made-for-Fox stunt for him and Vance which had a misfire that struck a Highway Patrol vehicle and could have killed people?
Who could have foreseen this?
Who could have foreseen this?
Reposted by Ben Hazell
Think we’ve crossed a pretty major threshold – and a very bad one – if a journalist working in the lobby for a major newspaper group can tweet like this without professional consequences.
A mainstream “journalist” calling for a British MP to be deported. Is it because I’m Muslim? Next time, just say it with your chest.
October 18, 2025 at 8:56 AM
Think we’ve crossed a pretty major threshold – and a very bad one – if a journalist working in the lobby for a major newspaper group can tweet like this without professional consequences.
Reposted by Ben Hazell
There is no need for a moral panic about the UK's welfare system.
Far from perfect but recent discourse is nuts
Spending is controlled, not spiralling
Worklessness is near record lows
My column www.ft.com/content/ee67...
Far from perfect but recent discourse is nuts
Spending is controlled, not spiralling
Worklessness is near record lows
My column www.ft.com/content/ee67...
October 15, 2025 at 12:35 PM
There is no need for a moral panic about the UK's welfare system.
Far from perfect but recent discourse is nuts
Spending is controlled, not spiralling
Worklessness is near record lows
My column www.ft.com/content/ee67...
Far from perfect but recent discourse is nuts
Spending is controlled, not spiralling
Worklessness is near record lows
My column www.ft.com/content/ee67...
Reposted by Ben Hazell
Pope Leo quotes Hannah Arendt:
“The ideal subject of totalitarian rule is not the convinced Nazi or the convinced Communist, but people for whom the distinction between fact and fiction and the distinction between true and false no longer exist."
www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news...
“The ideal subject of totalitarian rule is not the convinced Nazi or the convinced Communist, but people for whom the distinction between fact and fiction and the distinction between true and false no longer exist."
www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news...
Pope Leo calls for news agencies to stand as bulwark against "post-truths," lies and manipulation
Pope Leo XIV has encouraged international news agencies to stand firm as a bulwark against the "ancient art of lying" and manipulation.
www.cbsnews.com
October 12, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Pope Leo quotes Hannah Arendt:
“The ideal subject of totalitarian rule is not the convinced Nazi or the convinced Communist, but people for whom the distinction between fact and fiction and the distinction between true and false no longer exist."
www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news...
“The ideal subject of totalitarian rule is not the convinced Nazi or the convinced Communist, but people for whom the distinction between fact and fiction and the distinction between true and false no longer exist."
www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news...
Reposted by Ben Hazell
This is an exact encapsulation of why I moved to Bluesky.
No amount of handwringing in the Atlantic about how I owe some eternal Promethean suffering to the discourse is going to make me stay on a site I hate, that stopped doing anything for me professionally years ago.
No amount of handwringing in the Atlantic about how I owe some eternal Promethean suffering to the discourse is going to make me stay on a site I hate, that stopped doing anything for me professionally years ago.
October 12, 2025 at 9:02 AM
This is an exact encapsulation of why I moved to Bluesky.
No amount of handwringing in the Atlantic about how I owe some eternal Promethean suffering to the discourse is going to make me stay on a site I hate, that stopped doing anything for me professionally years ago.
No amount of handwringing in the Atlantic about how I owe some eternal Promethean suffering to the discourse is going to make me stay on a site I hate, that stopped doing anything for me professionally years ago.