Ben Evans
@ogkittylyst.bsky.social
Usually kittylyst, someone beat me to the name here. So I'm the OG
Cisqueer author / educator / software eng known for #architecture #performance #observability #Java #JVM
Chaos acc: #cats #antifascism #queer >> #tech
More: @[email protected]
Cisqueer author / educator / software eng known for #architecture #performance #observability #Java #JVM
Chaos acc: #cats #antifascism #queer >> #tech
More: @[email protected]
Pinned
Ben Evans
@ogkittylyst.bsky.social
· Jul 19
Hey folks - just a reminder that @kittylyst.bsky.social is not me.
They beat me to the name here (which is just the way it goes sometimes) & about half their followers seem to be people who are probably looking for me!
But, no, I'm here.
They beat me to the name here (which is just the way it goes sometimes) & about half their followers seem to be people who are probably looking for me!
But, no, I'm here.
Reposted by Ben Evans
what i love is that in 1990 judas priest got brought to trial over the claim that subliminal messages in the recording "better by you better than me" caused two suicides and now in 2025 openai seems to be generating a suicide a week with its superliminal messages and the US government is funding it
November 27, 2025 at 8:23 AM
what i love is that in 1990 judas priest got brought to trial over the claim that subliminal messages in the recording "better by you better than me" caused two suicides and now in 2025 openai seems to be generating a suicide a week with its superliminal messages and the US government is funding it
Reposted by Ben Evans
The "don't have an extra kid if you can't afford it" brigade get awfully upset when you suggest they don't stay in their £2m house if they can't afford it, don't they?
November 27, 2025 at 6:09 PM
The "don't have an extra kid if you can't afford it" brigade get awfully upset when you suggest they don't stay in their £2m house if they can't afford it, don't they?
Reposted by Ben Evans
the extent to which people who have no excuse not to know better are fully succumbing to the pareidolia is making me feel completely insane
November 28, 2025 at 3:27 AM
the extent to which people who have no excuse not to know better are fully succumbing to the pareidolia is making me feel completely insane
Reposted by Ben Evans
My favorite Markdown editor for macOS, MacDown, has been abandoned by its maintainer for years. I decided to reboot the project. The result?
## MacDown 3000 ##
Mostly bug fixes and minor upgrades so far, but I like it, you might too, and I need beta testers!
Please try it out: macdown.app
## MacDown 3000 ##
Mostly bug fixes and minor upgrades so far, but I like it, you might too, and I need beta testers!
Please try it out: macdown.app
Home - MacDown 3000
MacDown 3000 - A free, open source Markdown editor for macOS with live preview, syntax highlighting, GitHub Flavored Markdown, and Apple Silicon optimization. Download the best lightweight Markdown ed...
macdown.app
November 28, 2025 at 4:01 AM
My favorite Markdown editor for macOS, MacDown, has been abandoned by its maintainer for years. I decided to reboot the project. The result?
## MacDown 3000 ##
Mostly bug fixes and minor upgrades so far, but I like it, you might too, and I need beta testers!
Please try it out: macdown.app
## MacDown 3000 ##
Mostly bug fixes and minor upgrades so far, but I like it, you might too, and I need beta testers!
Please try it out: macdown.app
Reposted by Ben Evans
This is the treason of the artist; a refusal to admit the banality of evil and the terrible boredom of pain.
November 28, 2025 at 4:40 AM
This is the treason of the artist; a refusal to admit the banality of evil and the terrible boredom of pain.
Reposted by Ben Evans
Seeing ads, so just letting you know, the Salvation Army is absolutely shitty to people and do not support them. Do direct aid or support grassroots groups that are respected within the community.
Fuck Salvation Army. They are cruel.
Fuck Salvation Army. They are cruel.
November 28, 2025 at 4:11 AM
Seeing ads, so just letting you know, the Salvation Army is absolutely shitty to people and do not support them. Do direct aid or support grassroots groups that are respected within the community.
Fuck Salvation Army. They are cruel.
Fuck Salvation Army. They are cruel.
Reposted by Ben Evans
Outside the train station in Tarragona, thousands upon thousands starlings settling to roost, an exuberance of urban wildness, my video can't do it justice. A woman exclaimed "Walah, quina bellesa, no!" as she walked past. Estornino in Spanish, Estornell in Catalan, Arabazozo in Basque
November 27, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Outside the train station in Tarragona, thousands upon thousands starlings settling to roost, an exuberance of urban wildness, my video can't do it justice. A woman exclaimed "Walah, quina bellesa, no!" as she walked past. Estornino in Spanish, Estornell in Catalan, Arabazozo in Basque
Reposted by Ben Evans
Trans Relocation Guide: Finding Trans Asylum and Safe Havens
translash.org/resources/tr... via @translash.org
translash.org/resources/tr... via @translash.org
Trans Relocation Guide: Finding Trans Asylum and Safe Havens - TransLash Media
A guide for trans individuals seeking asylum, with resources for relocating within the U.S. or abroad, accessing legal support, healthcare, and community connections.
translash.org
November 27, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Trans Relocation Guide: Finding Trans Asylum and Safe Havens
translash.org/resources/tr... via @translash.org
translash.org/resources/tr... via @translash.org
Reposted by Ben Evans
This is a great thread that should remind us all how easy it is to give, and how meaningful that giving can be to the recipient
What is the best compliment you ever received? Putting aside whether or not you believed it.
November 27, 2025 at 3:58 PM
This is a great thread that should remind us all how easy it is to give, and how meaningful that giving can be to the recipient
Belinda Carlisle
The Cure
New Model Army
Orbital
VNV Nation
The Cure
New Model Army
Orbital
VNV Nation
Introduce yourself with five concerts you've seen:
- Stevie Ray Vaughan (1990)
- The Replacements (2014)
- Pantera (1992)
- Beastie Boys (1994)
- Def Leppard (1988)
- Stevie Ray Vaughan (1990)
- The Replacements (2014)
- Pantera (1992)
- Beastie Boys (1994)
- Def Leppard (1988)
November 27, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Belinda Carlisle
The Cure
New Model Army
Orbital
VNV Nation
The Cure
New Model Army
Orbital
VNV Nation
Reposted by Ben Evans
my dad, seeing bluey in the thanksgiving day parade: what the fuck is that
November 27, 2025 at 4:13 PM
my dad, seeing bluey in the thanksgiving day parade: what the fuck is that
Reposted by Ben Evans
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 9:18 AM
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...
Reposted by Ben Evans
As someone who’s done academic work on anti-obscenity rhetoric, I can confirm that every single time it’s queer artists, women artists, artists of color who are targeted under anti-porn legislation before any of the cis white men who make the big money off actual porn.
November 14, 2025 at 7:11 PM
As someone who’s done academic work on anti-obscenity rhetoric, I can confirm that every single time it’s queer artists, women artists, artists of color who are targeted under anti-porn legislation before any of the cis white men who make the big money off actual porn.
Reposted by Ben Evans
I am a little tired of being yelled at for this but apparently not tired about: heroin addiction is not RFK’s problem. He’s a sociopath. Most addicts aren’t. Honestly, walk into an NA meeting, grab the first person with a few years to be head of HHS and they’d probably do a better job than Bobby.
This is what happens when you put a privileged, 14 year heroin addict in charge of health. Duh
November 27, 2025 at 12:15 AM
I am a little tired of being yelled at for this but apparently not tired about: heroin addiction is not RFK’s problem. He’s a sociopath. Most addicts aren’t. Honestly, walk into an NA meeting, grab the first person with a few years to be head of HHS and they’d probably do a better job than Bobby.
Reposted by Ben Evans
Absolutely this by @connormcd.bsky.social . Before I started going to user groups I thought I was good at Oracle stuff. But I got so much better when I started going - not just by learning more but also having all these smart friends I could now ask about loads of stuff!
"Oh, I'll just attend the webinar"
"Maybe I will download the slides"
Neither of that will EVER reproduce the value of sharing your knowledge and experiences face to face with your community colleagues at a meetup.
Support your local user group
"Maybe I will download the slides"
Neither of that will EVER reproduce the value of sharing your knowledge and experiences face to face with your community colleagues at a meetup.
Support your local user group
November 26, 2025 at 9:45 AM
Absolutely this by @connormcd.bsky.social . Before I started going to user groups I thought I was good at Oracle stuff. But I got so much better when I started going - not just by learning more but also having all these smart friends I could now ask about loads of stuff!
Reposted by Ben Evans
Happy Budget Day! what little luxuries are Labour going to take from us this year to appease billionaires and bigots? It's like reverse Christmas.
I would say this, but the IfG's budget live blog is already great, even before we get to the main event - where else do you get this kind of content?
November 26, 2025 at 11:05 AM
Happy Budget Day! what little luxuries are Labour going to take from us this year to appease billionaires and bigots? It's like reverse Christmas.
Reposted by Ben Evans
Anyway.
Happy "Jeremy Clarkson doesn't want to pay inheritance tax" parade day to those who celebrate.
Happy "Jeremy Clarkson doesn't want to pay inheritance tax" parade day to those who celebrate.
November 26, 2025 at 10:07 AM
Anyway.
Happy "Jeremy Clarkson doesn't want to pay inheritance tax" parade day to those who celebrate.
Happy "Jeremy Clarkson doesn't want to pay inheritance tax" parade day to those who celebrate.
Reposted by Ben Evans
Reposted by Ben Evans
Every. Time.
November 25, 2025 at 10:56 PM
Every. Time.
Reposted by Ben Evans
Is this cheese grater conscious? Many users feel they're talking to a real person. Scientists say it's time to consider whether they're onto something.
November 25, 2025 at 8:21 PM
Is this cheese grater conscious? Many users feel they're talking to a real person. Scientists say it's time to consider whether they're onto something.
Reposted by Ben Evans
I’m a past winner of the Orwell Prize & won partly because I exposed Vote Leave’s unlawful activities.
Michael Gove was its co-convener & refused to answer a single q. He’s now a judge of the prize & our world is truly one that Orwell would recognise
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/25/m...
Michael Gove was its co-convener & refused to answer a single q. He’s now a judge of the prize & our world is truly one that Orwell would recognise
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/25/m...
Michael Gove Made Orwell Prize Judge Despite Record of Attacking Journalists and Dodging Scrutiny
Critics say "Orwell would have enjoyed the irony" of the former Conservative minister's appointment
bylinetimes.com
November 25, 2025 at 5:53 PM
I’m a past winner of the Orwell Prize & won partly because I exposed Vote Leave’s unlawful activities.
Michael Gove was its co-convener & refused to answer a single q. He’s now a judge of the prize & our world is truly one that Orwell would recognise
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/25/m...
Michael Gove was its co-convener & refused to answer a single q. He’s now a judge of the prize & our world is truly one that Orwell would recognise
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/25/m...
Follow this link, and then thank me later: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pob%27s...
Pob's Programme - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
November 25, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Follow this link, and then thank me later: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pob%27s...
He even looks like Squealer.
The former Conservative Levelling Up Secretary and now editor of the Spectator, Michael Gove, has been selected as a judge for the 2026 Orwell Prize awards, despite his record of dodging media scrutiny and allegations of ‘stifling’ critical journalists
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/25/m...
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/25/m...
Michael Gove Made Orwell Prize Judge Despite Record of Attacking Journalists and Dodging Scrutiny
Critics say "Orwell would have enjoyed the irony" of the former Conservative minister's appointment
bylinetimes.com
November 25, 2025 at 1:55 PM
He even looks like Squealer.
Reposted by Ben Evans
James is chin-stroking about the end of democracy here, and I’d point out that the key issue for almost two decades has been a political/media class increasingly making it very clear they will choose actual Norsefire fascism over any kind of backsliding on Thatcherism, if pushed archive.ph/qBzgr
November 25, 2025 at 1:39 PM
James is chin-stroking about the end of democracy here, and I’d point out that the key issue for almost two decades has been a political/media class increasingly making it very clear they will choose actual Norsefire fascism over any kind of backsliding on Thatcherism, if pushed archive.ph/qBzgr
Reposted by Ben Evans
Any cis man who is confused on this issue;
The deeply conservative 'gender critical' hate movement - who are now attacking our right to abortion - are not a feminist movement. Opposing bodily autonomy is mutually exclusive with feminism.
The deeply conservative 'gender critical' hate movement - who are now attacking our right to abortion - are not a feminist movement. Opposing bodily autonomy is mutually exclusive with feminism.
As a lot of the people I'm subtweeting are men, I am sympathetic that some will have the mindset of "it's not my place to talk over women on a feminist issue", but given how often cis feminists who don't agree with the GC consensus get ignored, or even iced out, too, it's misguided
November 25, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Any cis man who is confused on this issue;
The deeply conservative 'gender critical' hate movement - who are now attacking our right to abortion - are not a feminist movement. Opposing bodily autonomy is mutually exclusive with feminism.
The deeply conservative 'gender critical' hate movement - who are now attacking our right to abortion - are not a feminist movement. Opposing bodily autonomy is mutually exclusive with feminism.