Ben Eltham
@beneltham.bsky.social
Writer, journalist, researcher, trade unionist
Pinned
Ben Eltham
@beneltham.bsky.social
· Sep 8
RALLY TO SAVE MEANJIN
Thursday 11 Sep 9am
Outside the Melbourne University Publishing office, 715 Swanston St, Carlton.
A number of Australian writers and editors will speak in support of this vital cultural institution
Thursday 11 Sep 9am
Outside the Melbourne University Publishing office, 715 Swanston St, Carlton.
A number of Australian writers and editors will speak in support of this vital cultural institution
Reposted by Ben Eltham
I'm seriously starting to question the credibility of the FIFA Peace Prize.
January 3, 2026 at 7:51 AM
I'm seriously starting to question the credibility of the FIFA Peace Prize.
Reposted by Ben Eltham
At least seven explosions and low-flying aircraft were heard around 2 a.m. local time Saturday in Venezuela's capital, Caracas.
At least 7 explosions and low-flying aircraft are heard in Venezuela's Caracas
At least seven explosions and low-flying aircraft are heard around 2 a.m. local time Saturday in Venezuela’s capital, Caracas.
bit.ly
January 3, 2026 at 6:45 AM
At least seven explosions and low-flying aircraft were heard around 2 a.m. local time Saturday in Venezuela's capital, Caracas.
Reposted by Ben Eltham
NEW: People are using Elon Musk's chatbot, Grok, to alter images to depict real women being sexually abused, humiliated, hurt, and even killed.
futurism.com/future-socie...
futurism.com/future-socie...
Grok Is Being Used to Depict Horrific Violence Against Real Women
People are asking Elon Musk's Grok chatbot to alter images to depict women being sexually abused, humiliated, and even killed.
futurism.com
January 2, 2026 at 5:52 PM
NEW: People are using Elon Musk's chatbot, Grok, to alter images to depict real women being sexually abused, humiliated, hurt, and even killed.
futurism.com/future-socie...
futurism.com/future-socie...
Reposted by Ben Eltham
When I first considered learning the violin, I was startled by how many people insist you cannot pick it up as an adult, or if you do, you can't expect to get really good.
Fuck those people. Starting to learn the violin at age 40 was one of the best things I've ever done.
Fuck those people. Starting to learn the violin at age 40 was one of the best things I've ever done.
My rookie era: nobody sounds good when they first play a violin
The instrument’s biggest difficulty is simultaneously its greatest joy – to make a sweet sound you must relax
www.theguardian.com
January 1, 2026 at 11:20 PM
When I first considered learning the violin, I was startled by how many people insist you cannot pick it up as an adult, or if you do, you can't expect to get really good.
Fuck those people. Starting to learn the violin at age 40 was one of the best things I've ever done.
Fuck those people. Starting to learn the violin at age 40 was one of the best things I've ever done.
Reposted by Ben Eltham
People read Stancil as rejecting material explanations for politics, but “new technology and shifts in modes of production put everyone at the mercy of devices designed to make them insane” is a pretty material explanation if you ask me
Was there any change to the world that altered how virtually every person interacted with political ideas, circa sayyyy 2012 or so? Across the globe? Something so deeply embedded it almost seems to be… following us around, with us all the time?? Nah that’s goofy, I doubt anything fits that bill
January 2, 2026 at 10:15 PM
People read Stancil as rejecting material explanations for politics, but “new technology and shifts in modes of production put everyone at the mercy of devices designed to make them insane” is a pretty material explanation if you ask me
Enormous moon, ridiculous really, oppressively bright, overbearing to be honest on a clear summer night
January 2, 2026 at 12:56 PM
Enormous moon, ridiculous really, oppressively bright, overbearing to be honest on a clear summer night
Reposted by Ben Eltham
Reposted by Ben Eltham
In this in-depth interview Billie Jean Sweeney — a former editor at The New York Times — details how the paper shifted towards openly promoting anti-trans hatred, why this was directed from the very top, how some staff pushed back and the immense damage done by the NYT legitimizing bigotry.
'A directive from above': Former NYT editor lays out how the paper pushes anti-trans bigotry
In this in-depth interview, former New York Times editor Billie Jean Sweeney details how the paper shifted towards openly promoting anti-trans hatred, how some staff tried to stop it, how it's directe...
transnews.network
January 1, 2026 at 6:32 PM
In this in-depth interview Billie Jean Sweeney — a former editor at The New York Times — details how the paper shifted towards openly promoting anti-trans hatred, why this was directed from the very top, how some staff pushed back and the immense damage done by the NYT legitimizing bigotry.
Sanctioned for being an international judge www.irishtimes.com/world/us/202...
‘It’s surreal’: US sanctions lock International Criminal Court judge out of daily life
Canadian judge Kimberly Prost is unable to use credit cards, transfer money or book everyday services in what she calls an attack on the independence of the judiciary
www.irishtimes.com
January 1, 2026 at 10:48 PM
Sanctioned for being an international judge www.irishtimes.com/world/us/202...
Reposted by Ben Eltham
“Learn Art, Do art, teach kids Art’ is my mantra for 2026. Along with ‘Use it or Lose it’ for my decrepit body.
“Let go or be dragged” is my mantra for 2026
December 31, 2025 at 10:48 AM
“Learn Art, Do art, teach kids Art’ is my mantra for 2026. Along with ‘Use it or Lose it’ for my decrepit body.
Reposted by Ben Eltham
what a shocking turn of events
who could’ve seen this coming
who could’ve seen this coming
OpenAI Reportedly Planning to Make ChatGPT "Prioritize" Advertisers in Conversation
OpenAI employees working on ChatGPT report plans to unleash sponsored advertisements above organic results.
futurism.com
December 31, 2025 at 1:07 AM
what a shocking turn of events
who could’ve seen this coming
who could’ve seen this coming
“Continuation vehicles”: how private equity firms sell assets to themselves www.ft.com/content/0236...
Private equity firms sell assets to themselves at a record rate
So-called continuation vehicles set to account for a fifth of sales by the sector in 2025
www.ft.com
December 30, 2025 at 9:03 AM
“Continuation vehicles”: how private equity firms sell assets to themselves www.ft.com/content/0236...
Reposted by Ben Eltham
If like me you were unaware that STRANGE JOURNEY: THE STORY OF ROCKY HORROR is currently streaming on SBS On Demand, and like me the show/film holds a special place in your heart, then I strongly suggest you take a look. It's a loving made doc with great interviews.
Watch Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror
Watch Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror for free with SBS On Demand, your ultimate destination for diverse entertainment. Stream now!
www.sbs.com.au
December 30, 2025 at 4:04 AM
If like me you were unaware that STRANGE JOURNEY: THE STORY OF ROCKY HORROR is currently streaming on SBS On Demand, and like me the show/film holds a special place in your heart, then I strongly suggest you take a look. It's a loving made doc with great interviews.
While the media continues to whip up a frenzy over a royal commission into the Bondi attack, the chief of staff to Chris Minns fought a summons to appear to a NSW Parliamentary Inquiry to answer questions about the Dural carvan hoax -- and won. www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12...
NSW Parliament powerless to force witnesses to front inquiries
The president of the NSW Legislative Council says he will not try to overturn a decision to strike down laws that purportedly allowed witnesses to be arrested for failing to appear.
www.abc.net.au
December 30, 2025 at 12:24 AM
While the media continues to whip up a frenzy over a royal commission into the Bondi attack, the chief of staff to Chris Minns fought a summons to appear to a NSW Parliamentary Inquiry to answer questions about the Dural carvan hoax -- and won. www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12...
Reposted by Ben Eltham
Spoke to the good people at @illsp.bsky.social who are building up a solid arsenal of interviews and pieces ⬇️
New interview! Quinn Slobodian discusses the fusion between radical libertarians and the far right, and the unique form of capitalism they have come to espouse. Check it out! @ieres-gwu.bsky.social
Quinn Slobodian on New Fusionism, Libertarian Eugenics, and Far-Right Capitalism | illiberalism.org
Quinn Slobodian discusses the fusion between radical libertarians and the far-right, and the unique form of capitalism they have come to espouse.
www.illiberalism.org
December 30, 2025 at 12:05 AM
Spoke to the good people at @illsp.bsky.social who are building up a solid arsenal of interviews and pieces ⬇️
Reposted by Ben Eltham
Reposted by Ben Eltham
I wrote about lesbian pulp for The Baffler. thebaffler.com/latest/odd-g...
Odd Girls Out | Moira Donegan
The lesbian pulp revival evokes an imagined past, when politics were less oppressive and sex was more fun.
thebaffler.com
December 29, 2025 at 2:16 PM
I wrote about lesbian pulp for The Baffler. thebaffler.com/latest/odd-g...
Reposted by Ben Eltham
LeMonde said, not on our watch
December 28, 2025 at 4:25 PM
LeMonde said, not on our watch
Reposted by Ben Eltham
Reposted by Ben Eltham
Despite threats, billionaires don't leave the largest population centers, because it's where there is the most money to be had from the collective value generated by human beings, and despite what they insist, they don't generate wealth; they collect it.
“California is on a path to self-destruction,” wrote Bill Ackman, joining opposition to a tax proposal alongside Google’s cofounder and more.
Possible California Wealth Tax Causes Billionaire Freakout: Page, Thiel Threaten To Leave
“California is on a path to self-destruction,” wrote Bill Ackman, joining opposition to a tax proposal alongside Google’s cofounder and more.
www.forbes.com
December 27, 2025 at 11:26 PM
Despite threats, billionaires don't leave the largest population centers, because it's where there is the most money to be had from the collective value generated by human beings, and despite what they insist, they don't generate wealth; they collect it.
The weaponisation of sleep www.ft.com/content/1add...
The political weaponisation of sleep
Tireless dynamism has been fetishised by the likes of Donald Trump and Sanae Takaichi
www.ft.com
December 27, 2025 at 9:03 AM
The weaponisation of sleep www.ft.com/content/1add...
This seems bad
December 27, 2025 at 8:34 AM
This seems bad
Reposted by Ben Eltham
"We envision a resistance that is...a repudiation of the efficiencies that automated algorithmic education falsely promises: a resistance comprising the collective force of small acts of friction."
"How to Resist AI in Education" by me & @cnygren.bsky.social
www.publicbooks.org/four-frictio...
"How to Resist AI in Education" by me & @cnygren.bsky.social
www.publicbooks.org/four-frictio...
Four Frictions: or, How to Resist AI in Education - Public Books
We are calling for resistance to the AI industry’s ongoing capture of higher education.
www.publicbooks.org
December 16, 2025 at 5:27 PM
"We envision a resistance that is...a repudiation of the efficiencies that automated algorithmic education falsely promises: a resistance comprising the collective force of small acts of friction."
"How to Resist AI in Education" by me & @cnygren.bsky.social
www.publicbooks.org/four-frictio...
"How to Resist AI in Education" by me & @cnygren.bsky.social
www.publicbooks.org/four-frictio...
Reposted by Ben Eltham
Oh no Australia's weirdest niche sports stat is back!
Boxing Day Test* finishes before first Sydney-Hobart yacht:
1986 ENG d AUS
1991 AUS d IND
1996 WI d AUS
2006 AUS d ENG
2021 AUS d ENG
2025 ENG d AUS
*Must start 26/12
Cricket 6 - Yachts 39
Boxing Day Test* finishes before first Sydney-Hobart yacht:
1986 ENG d AUS
1991 AUS d IND
1996 WI d AUS
2006 AUS d ENG
2021 AUS d ENG
2025 ENG d AUS
*Must start 26/12
Cricket 6 - Yachts 39
December 27, 2025 at 6:26 AM
Oh no Australia's weirdest niche sports stat is back!
Boxing Day Test* finishes before first Sydney-Hobart yacht:
1986 ENG d AUS
1991 AUS d IND
1996 WI d AUS
2006 AUS d ENG
2021 AUS d ENG
2025 ENG d AUS
*Must start 26/12
Cricket 6 - Yachts 39
Boxing Day Test* finishes before first Sydney-Hobart yacht:
1986 ENG d AUS
1991 AUS d IND
1996 WI d AUS
2006 AUS d ENG
2021 AUS d ENG
2025 ENG d AUS
*Must start 26/12
Cricket 6 - Yachts 39
They are now using aircraft engines to power data centres
The phrase "Sam Altman-backed aviation start-up Boom Supersonic" is a really good example of how difficult it is to have a serious conversation about the impacts of tech. It's like a post-DOGE coin hangover in which everything is cutesified because no one is able to grow up or take responsibility
Data centres turn to aircraft engines to avoid grid connection delays ft.trib.al/N1NLaCs
December 27, 2025 at 7:35 AM
They are now using aircraft engines to power data centres