Ben K
@benjk.bsky.social
#BookSky, interested in aspiring authors and supporting libraries. Politics, Football Manager, science, archaeology and UK comedians feature heavily!
Reposted by Ben K
The New World has published an abridged version of my Simonyi Lecture in Oxford last November on quantum mechanics.
www.thenewworld.co.uk/philip-ball-...
www.thenewworld.co.uk/philip-ball-...
What the hell is quantum mechanics?
It predicts the universe with eerie precision, yet not even Nobel laureates can agree on how to interpret it
www.thenewworld.co.uk
January 7, 2026 at 10:56 AM
The New World has published an abridged version of my Simonyi Lecture in Oxford last November on quantum mechanics.
www.thenewworld.co.uk/philip-ball-...
www.thenewworld.co.uk/philip-ball-...
Reposted by Ben K
Trump’s populism isn’t totalitarian – but Hannah Arendt’s writings shows why that reassurance can be dangerous.
A timely warning for global politics.
@eastangliabylines.co.uk
A timely warning for global politics.
@eastangliabylines.co.uk
Hannah Arendt and the new age of populism
A year into Trump’s second term is a good moment to revisit Hannah Arendt’s warnings about ideology, isolation, and the slow erosion of truth.
eastangliabylines.co.uk
January 3, 2026 at 8:47 PM
Trump’s populism isn’t totalitarian – but Hannah Arendt’s writings shows why that reassurance can be dangerous.
A timely warning for global politics.
@eastangliabylines.co.uk
A timely warning for global politics.
@eastangliabylines.co.uk
I do love seeing people talking about their year’s reading. Particular gems here include Bridge by @laurenbeukes.com and Dark Eden by Chris Beckett both of which I particularly enjoyed.
My best science fiction reads of the year.
What were yours?
What were yours?
December 31, 2025 at 12:38 PM
Reposted by Ben K
This kinda feels like the Internet of Old and I think it should be encouraged for this
www.youtube.com/watch?v=YoV9...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=YoV9...
Benoit Blanc vs Hercule Poirot - RAP BATTLE! - ft. The Stupendium, Rustage, Gianni Matragrano & More
YouTube video by Freshy Kanal
www.youtube.com
December 27, 2025 at 8:46 AM
This kinda feels like the Internet of Old and I think it should be encouraged for this
www.youtube.com/watch?v=YoV9...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=YoV9...
Reposted by Ben K
Such a beautiful story of an enduring friendship. Do read.
December 25, 2025 at 11:44 PM
Such a beautiful story of an enduring friendship. Do read.
My latest book is a collection of idioms, proverbs and slang from around the world. It's called The Wheel is Spinning but the Hamster is Dead and in the UK you can get it from these places (geni.us/yDxa). Outside UK, Blackwell's do free/fast international delivery... blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/pro...
December 21, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Just bought a copy as a Christmas present - you can select to add a message and have it signed for no extra cost - I added my son's favourite Philomena quote "How many Three Wise Men were there?". #BookSky
Signed stocking fillers can be snaffled from my bookshop, if that appeals.
Lots of Ladybirds, and a bunch of Cunks, for the funny-book-lover in your life.
www.gralefrit.co.uk/shop.html
Lots of Ladybirds, and a bunch of Cunks, for the funny-book-lover in your life.
www.gralefrit.co.uk/shop.html
December 7, 2025 at 10:20 AM
Just bought a copy as a Christmas present - you can select to add a message and have it signed for no extra cost - I added my son's favourite Philomena quote "How many Three Wise Men were there?". #BookSky
Reposted by Ben K
Every new word in this sentence is worse than the last
December 6, 2025 at 11:29 PM
Every new word in this sentence is worse than the last
Reposted by Ben K
Putin is ‘morally responsible’ for Dawn Sturgess’s novichok death, inquiry finds
Putin is ‘morally responsible’ for Dawn Sturgess’s novichok death, inquiry finds
‘Overwhelming’ evidence that Russian state planned attack on ex-spy Sergei Skripal that led to Sturgess’s death in 2018, says chair
Vladimir Putin is “morally responsible” for the death of a British woman killed after she sprayed herself with a nerve agent smuggled into the UK by Russian agents to assassinate a former spy, an inquiry has concluded.
Lord Hughes of Ombersley, the chair of the inquiry, said the assassination attempt on the former spy Sergei Skripal in Salisbury in March 2018 must have been authorised by Putin. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
December 4, 2025 at 12:03 PM
Putin is ‘morally responsible’ for Dawn Sturgess’s novichok death, inquiry finds
Reposted by Ben K
Cruelty is anhedonic. It rarely delivers the euphoria promised because, in the abstract, what feels righteous and joyful inevitably reveals itself to be sordid and small. Then it's "No not like that". "No not enough". "No the real battle, the forever war to make this feel good starts now". Forever.
Note how these awful people are getting exactly the exclusions of children that they demanded and *that still isn’t enough for them*: they demand everyone be delighted about it and kiss their arses for being brilliant.
December 4, 2025 at 10:59 AM
Cruelty is anhedonic. It rarely delivers the euphoria promised because, in the abstract, what feels righteous and joyful inevitably reveals itself to be sordid and small. Then it's "No not like that". "No not enough". "No the real battle, the forever war to make this feel good starts now". Forever.
Reposted by Ben K
The incredible ‘Orkney Hood’ from Scotland! 🏴
So well preserved it looks like it was woven yesterday rather than some 1,500 years ago!
It’s thought the hood was made for a child. Found in 1867 in a peat bog in St Andrews Parish, Orkney.
National Museum of Scotland
📷 by me
#Archaeology
So well preserved it looks like it was woven yesterday rather than some 1,500 years ago!
It’s thought the hood was made for a child. Found in 1867 in a peat bog in St Andrews Parish, Orkney.
National Museum of Scotland
📷 by me
#Archaeology
December 2, 2025 at 11:19 AM
The incredible ‘Orkney Hood’ from Scotland! 🏴
So well preserved it looks like it was woven yesterday rather than some 1,500 years ago!
It’s thought the hood was made for a child. Found in 1867 in a peat bog in St Andrews Parish, Orkney.
National Museum of Scotland
📷 by me
#Archaeology
So well preserved it looks like it was woven yesterday rather than some 1,500 years ago!
It’s thought the hood was made for a child. Found in 1867 in a peat bog in St Andrews Parish, Orkney.
National Museum of Scotland
📷 by me
#Archaeology
I didn't get into reading Jane Austen until my 60s. Now at 80, I've written my own spinoff. Half the proceeds will support Big Issue.
I've written a Jane Austen spinoff for my 80th birthday. Help me sell a million copies
www.bigissue.com
December 2, 2025 at 9:44 AM
Reposted by Ben K
I didn't get into reading Jane Austen until my 60s. Now at 80, I've written my own spinoff. Half the proceeds will support Big Issue.
I've written a Jane Austen spinoff for my 80th birthday. Help me sell a million copies
www.bigissue.com
December 2, 2025 at 9:42 AM
I didn't get into reading Jane Austen until my 60s. Now at 80, I've written my own spinoff. Half the proceeds will support Big Issue.
Reposted by Ben K
December 2, 2025 at 8:48 AM
Reposted by Ben K
I enjoy books that start with maps.
December 1, 2025 at 7:47 PM
I enjoy books that start with maps.
Reposted by Ben K
BFS Online is excited to announce our next event, Between Crescent and Quill: Crafting Fantasy Through a Muslim Lens, taking place Thursday 4th December 2025, 7pm (GMT).
Ticket: tinyurl.com/crescqui
@noorajahangir.bsky.social @ohmz.bsky.social
Ticket: tinyurl.com/crescqui
@noorajahangir.bsky.social @ohmz.bsky.social
December 1, 2025 at 6:10 PM
BFS Online is excited to announce our next event, Between Crescent and Quill: Crafting Fantasy Through a Muslim Lens, taking place Thursday 4th December 2025, 7pm (GMT).
Ticket: tinyurl.com/crescqui
@noorajahangir.bsky.social @ohmz.bsky.social
Ticket: tinyurl.com/crescqui
@noorajahangir.bsky.social @ohmz.bsky.social
Reposted by Ben K
Reposted by Ben K
Roman villa floor mosaic.
Porta Fiorentina, #Volterra #Italy
2nd Century CE
The museum emphasised the high standard of decoration in Volterra at beginning of the Second Century.
Now in Guarnacci Etruscan Museum, Volterra.
See ALT text for description.
#MosaicMonday #Roman
Porta Fiorentina, #Volterra #Italy
2nd Century CE
The museum emphasised the high standard of decoration in Volterra at beginning of the Second Century.
Now in Guarnacci Etruscan Museum, Volterra.
See ALT text for description.
#MosaicMonday #Roman
November 17, 2025 at 8:21 AM
Roman villa floor mosaic.
Porta Fiorentina, #Volterra #Italy
2nd Century CE
The museum emphasised the high standard of decoration in Volterra at beginning of the Second Century.
Now in Guarnacci Etruscan Museum, Volterra.
See ALT text for description.
#MosaicMonday #Roman
Porta Fiorentina, #Volterra #Italy
2nd Century CE
The museum emphasised the high standard of decoration in Volterra at beginning of the Second Century.
Now in Guarnacci Etruscan Museum, Volterra.
See ALT text for description.
#MosaicMonday #Roman
Reposted by Ben K
This thread collating the Sheffield Tribune’s brilliant investigation into the spivvy lawyer threatening Yorkshire leaseholders into handing over cash is worth reading before the story goes national.
Excellent and courageous investigative journalism.
The fact that it is (apparently) legal to do this to people is utterly disgusting.
The fact that it is (apparently) legal to do this to people is utterly disgusting.
“It broke my heart, that was my savings towards a new car,” one woman who paid Milne tens of thousands of pounds told us. “He has just wiped me out.”
Who is Andrew Milne - the solicitor sending "very aggressive" letters to Sheffield homeowners?
www.sheffieldtribune.co.uk/a-london-law...
Who is Andrew Milne - the solicitor sending "very aggressive" letters to Sheffield homeowners?
www.sheffieldtribune.co.uk/a-london-law...
November 18, 2025 at 7:21 AM
This thread collating the Sheffield Tribune’s brilliant investigation into the spivvy lawyer threatening Yorkshire leaseholders into handing over cash is worth reading before the story goes national.
Reposted by Ben K
"David Graeber was the anthropologist who re-framed economics by showing that its most basic assumptions were myths.
Where conventional economists traced money to barter and exchange, Graeber traced it to trust and relationships.
www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2025/11...
Where conventional economists traced money to barter and exchange, Graeber traced it to trust and relationships.
www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2025/11...
Economic questions: The David Graeber question
This is one of a series of posts that will ask what the most pertinent question raised by a prominent influencer of political economy might have been, and what the relevance of that question might be ...
www.taxresearch.org.uk
November 16, 2025 at 1:58 AM
"David Graeber was the anthropologist who re-framed economics by showing that its most basic assumptions were myths.
Where conventional economists traced money to barter and exchange, Graeber traced it to trust and relationships.
www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2025/11...
Where conventional economists traced money to barter and exchange, Graeber traced it to trust and relationships.
www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2025/11...
Reposted by Ben K
This year as part of Moevember I’m also doing ANI-MOE-TION, where I reimagine Moe as a character in a different cartoon style every day!
Ani-Moe-tion, Day 1: Family Guy
#simpsons #TheSimpsons #moevember #animoetion
Ani-Moe-tion, Day 1: Family Guy
#simpsons #TheSimpsons #moevember #animoetion
November 1, 2025 at 7:09 AM
This year as part of Moevember I’m also doing ANI-MOE-TION, where I reimagine Moe as a character in a different cartoon style every day!
Ani-Moe-tion, Day 1: Family Guy
#simpsons #TheSimpsons #moevember #animoetion
Ani-Moe-tion, Day 1: Family Guy
#simpsons #TheSimpsons #moevember #animoetion
Reposted by Ben K
For thirty days I’m going to do a spin-off comic called “Legend of the Moe-Man”. It’s a direct continuation of Moe’s role in “Legend of the Mole-Man”. Hope that’s not too confusing. Please enjoy!
“Legend of the Moe-Man”, Panel 001
#simpsons #TheSimpsons #comics
“Legend of the Moe-Man”, Panel 001
#simpsons #TheSimpsons #comics
November 1, 2025 at 7:59 AM
For thirty days I’m going to do a spin-off comic called “Legend of the Moe-Man”. It’s a direct continuation of Moe’s role in “Legend of the Mole-Man”. Hope that’s not too confusing. Please enjoy!
“Legend of the Moe-Man”, Panel 001
#simpsons #TheSimpsons #comics
“Legend of the Moe-Man”, Panel 001
#simpsons #TheSimpsons #comics
Reposted by Ben K
Are you interested in Human Origins, Evolution, Archaeology, Paleoanthropology, Rock Art/Cave Art, and practically any and everything to do with Neanderthals?
Join myself, a master’s student, and world-renowned Rock Art experts Dr. George Nash and the wonderful Genevieve von Petzinger!
Join myself, a master’s student, and world-renowned Rock Art experts Dr. George Nash and the wonderful Genevieve von Petzinger!
November 9, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Are you interested in Human Origins, Evolution, Archaeology, Paleoanthropology, Rock Art/Cave Art, and practically any and everything to do with Neanderthals?
Join myself, a master’s student, and world-renowned Rock Art experts Dr. George Nash and the wonderful Genevieve von Petzinger!
Join myself, a master’s student, and world-renowned Rock Art experts Dr. George Nash and the wonderful Genevieve von Petzinger!
Reposted by Ben K
Steve Bannon wasn’t exposing Epstein.
He was working with him.
Emails show Bannon giving Epstein MAGA strategy, planning financing routes, and helping him push back the #MeToo/#TimesUp movement /2 bylinetimes.com/2025/11/14/s...
He was working with him.
Emails show Bannon giving Epstein MAGA strategy, planning financing routes, and helping him push back the #MeToo/#TimesUp movement /2 bylinetimes.com/2025/11/14/s...
Steve Bannon Offered Trump’s MAGA as Shield for Jeffrey Epstein
Jeffrey Epstein helped shape Trump’s MAGA movement through a secret alliance with its chief architect, Steve Bannon, who told him it could help him “stave off Time’s Up for a decade” in return for str...
bylinetimes.com
November 14, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Steve Bannon wasn’t exposing Epstein.
He was working with him.
Emails show Bannon giving Epstein MAGA strategy, planning financing routes, and helping him push back the #MeToo/#TimesUp movement /2 bylinetimes.com/2025/11/14/s...
He was working with him.
Emails show Bannon giving Epstein MAGA strategy, planning financing routes, and helping him push back the #MeToo/#TimesUp movement /2 bylinetimes.com/2025/11/14/s...
Reposted by Ben K
Holy shit, just learned about the typewriter art of Montserrat Alberich Escardívol, a Catalan typist. Using an extra wide typewriter and 180 color ribbons, she built up elaborate images from simple characters like 'm' and '.' and ';'. Here is her typewritten painting of the Cathedral of Barcelona.
November 12, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Holy shit, just learned about the typewriter art of Montserrat Alberich Escardívol, a Catalan typist. Using an extra wide typewriter and 180 color ribbons, she built up elaborate images from simple characters like 'm' and '.' and ';'. Here is her typewritten painting of the Cathedral of Barcelona.