Ben Blake
@benblakeauthor.bsky.social
Husband, father, Fantasy author. Usually tired or asleep. Debut novel The Scholar's War out now from Divertir Publishing. Read a free sample on Amazon or Divertir website.
Not rep'd yet. I ignore DM's.
Not rep'd yet. I ignore DM's.
Yes - but recall the backlash when Obama broke the mould in 2008. The next few years saw GOP extremism bloom, giving you the Tea Party, III% movement, and Trump. Be ready for even more radical insanity from the right.
November 5, 2025 at 9:49 PM
Yes - but recall the backlash when Obama broke the mould in 2008. The next few years saw GOP extremism bloom, giving you the Tea Party, III% movement, and Trump. Be ready for even more radical insanity from the right.
Not this quickly. I expected to see more pushback from courts, Democrats, and especially the mainstream media.
November 1, 2025 at 11:05 PM
Not this quickly. I expected to see more pushback from courts, Democrats, and especially the mainstream media.
I already don't trust them about anything else, ever. Such cynicism isn't natural to me, and I'm a slow learner, but decades of deceit have finally got through to me. As a Brit, I'd say all Western governments are shot through with lies. Hence the rise of populism; people know it now.
November 1, 2025 at 8:47 PM
I already don't trust them about anything else, ever. Such cynicism isn't natural to me, and I'm a slow learner, but decades of deceit have finally got through to me. As a Brit, I'd say all Western governments are shot through with lies. Hence the rise of populism; people know it now.
As a Brit, I'm at about 90. But then, I'm at 90 out of 100 about the UK being unable to provide free dentistry for so many of our children. I'm at 90 because the health service let my knee injury get so much worse, because of funding shortfalls. This is what the ruling class has done to ALL of us.
November 1, 2025 at 8:39 PM
As a Brit, I'm at about 90. But then, I'm at 90 out of 100 about the UK being unable to provide free dentistry for so many of our children. I'm at 90 because the health service let my knee injury get so much worse, because of funding shortfalls. This is what the ruling class has done to ALL of us.
It is funny, but my god, underneath it all there's so much darkness.
October 31, 2025 at 8:59 PM
It is funny, but my god, underneath it all there's so much darkness.
At what price? Will China pay less per ton now that it paid before?
October 30, 2025 at 6:48 PM
At what price? Will China pay less per ton now that it paid before?
Agree. We seem to have wanted a system that isn't working, and now there's no Plan B. Most unlike us. But look, a team with VVD, Alisson, Wirtz, Grav, Macca, Ekitike, Salah and Isak, ought to do well. It's just about a system that lets them all flourish at the same time.
October 30, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Agree. We seem to have wanted a system that isn't working, and now there's no Plan B. Most unlike us. But look, a team with VVD, Alisson, Wirtz, Grav, Macca, Ekitike, Salah and Isak, ought to do well. It's just about a system that lets them all flourish at the same time.
Yes, if it's the recruitment that's the problem. I don't think it is. Wirtz, Ekitike, Frimpong etc are good players - but Slot doesn't seem to know his best tactics or formation or starting 11. He was involved in recruitment, but seems not to know how to use his new quality players.
October 30, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Yes, if it's the recruitment that's the problem. I don't think it is. Wirtz, Ekitike, Frimpong etc are good players - but Slot doesn't seem to know his best tactics or formation or starting 11. He was involved in recruitment, but seems not to know how to use his new quality players.
Seriously? Good grief.
October 30, 2025 at 12:08 AM
Seriously? Good grief.
But not Welsh, eh?
October 29, 2025 at 11:06 PM
But not Welsh, eh?
I think he meant USA, not UK.
October 29, 2025 at 11:03 PM
I think he meant USA, not UK.
A horse, for Cal Derrida. His family are ranchers, and he wishes he could get back to that someday.
October 29, 2025 at 10:54 PM
A horse, for Cal Derrida. His family are ranchers, and he wishes he could get back to that someday.
Sounds interesting!
October 29, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Sounds interesting!
Hi, I'm Ben Blake, former indie author, now debuting as a trad with "The Scholar's War", a Fantasy through Divertir Publishing. Trying to publicise it from my remote corner of England, so any spots on blogs or podcasts are most welcome!
www.amazon.com/scholars-war...
www.amazon.com/scholars-war...
The Scholar's War
The Scholar's War [Blake, Ben] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. The Scholar's War
www.amazon.com
October 29, 2025 at 8:09 PM
Hi, I'm Ben Blake, former indie author, now debuting as a trad with "The Scholar's War", a Fantasy through Divertir Publishing. Trying to publicise it from my remote corner of England, so any spots on blogs or podcasts are most welcome!
www.amazon.com/scholars-war...
www.amazon.com/scholars-war...
Optimistic, eh? Well, maybe in the right light... very good book though, another one of Banks' Culture books that's awe-inspiring and appalling at the same time.
October 29, 2025 at 6:58 PM
Optimistic, eh? Well, maybe in the right light... very good book though, another one of Banks' Culture books that's awe-inspiring and appalling at the same time.
One of the finest SF novels, or books in general, I've ever read. It's a difficult read in places, but worth it.
October 27, 2025 at 1:02 PM
One of the finest SF novels, or books in general, I've ever read. It's a difficult read in places, but worth it.
Voters feel betrayed by the traditional parties, and this is when populist or radical movements flourish. But Farage and Polanski are not the answer. With the SNP and Plaid likely to make big gains, what we need is stability, not a wild punt on an untested party.
Starmer is shit, though.
Starmer is shit, though.
October 26, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Voters feel betrayed by the traditional parties, and this is when populist or radical movements flourish. But Farage and Polanski are not the answer. With the SNP and Plaid likely to make big gains, what we need is stability, not a wild punt on an untested party.
Starmer is shit, though.
Starmer is shit, though.
Glad to see Reform fall short. But the danger in tactical votes of this sort is that it risks turning future contests into Reform v Everyone Else, and then the disenchanted have nowhere to go except to Reform. France post-1936 is a good example; the Croix-de-feu and PSF.
October 24, 2025 at 10:43 PM
Glad to see Reform fall short. But the danger in tactical votes of this sort is that it risks turning future contests into Reform v Everyone Else, and then the disenchanted have nowhere to go except to Reform. France post-1936 is a good example; the Croix-de-feu and PSF.
This may explain why the Jets lose so flippin' always.
October 24, 2025 at 10:34 PM
This may explain why the Jets lose so flippin' always.
Trouble is, the bad guys are now in so deep that they can't afford to lose. The repercussions would be horrible for them. So they will never back down now.
October 23, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Trouble is, the bad guys are now in so deep that they can't afford to lose. The repercussions would be horrible for them. So they will never back down now.
Yeah. In the UK, I always say I'm happy to pay higher taxes, IF I see results from them - better medical care, dental care, road maintenance, and so on. The only reason I get upset is when we pay taxes and get none of those things done properly.
October 22, 2025 at 9:40 PM
Yeah. In the UK, I always say I'm happy to pay higher taxes, IF I see results from them - better medical care, dental care, road maintenance, and so on. The only reason I get upset is when we pay taxes and get none of those things done properly.
Well, we laugh sometimes. But mostly we're unsettled, disgusted and repelled.
October 22, 2025 at 9:34 PM
Well, we laugh sometimes. But mostly we're unsettled, disgusted and repelled.