Ben
@benfields.net
🇺🇸immigrant in LDN
recovering academic
Trying to understand humanity with data, music, libations
Might not be looking in the right places
–
currently: Head of Data @lakaHQ
previously: @bbc @futurelearn @funandplausible
cf https://assemblag.es/@alsothings
recovering academic
Trying to understand humanity with data, music, libations
Might not be looking in the right places
–
currently: Head of Data @lakaHQ
previously: @bbc @futurelearn @funandplausible
cf https://assemblag.es/@alsothings
Even Liz Truss had a base of supporters who knew she was working to pass policy aligned with what they wanted. What they wanted was stupid, but still.
February 12, 2026 at 7:33 PM
Even Liz Truss had a base of supporters who knew she was working to pass policy aligned with what they wanted. What they wanted was stupid, but still.
This isn't very hard? He has worked to pass policy his natural base hates in an effort to secure the support of people who will never support him. Thus everyone thinks he's doing a poor job.
‘Jellyfish’ and ‘doormat’: why is Keir Starmer so deeply unpopular?
‘Jellyfish’ and ‘doormat’: why is Keir Starmer so deeply unpopular?
From his public persona to a sense that he sold the country a pup, many factors seem to feed a sense of ‘great dislike’
www.theguardian.com
February 12, 2026 at 7:31 PM
This isn't very hard? He has worked to pass policy his natural base hates in an effort to secure the support of people who will never support him. Thus everyone thinks he's doing a poor job.
To borrow a phrase: the facts don't care about the Trump regime's feelings
February 12, 2026 at 7:23 PM
To borrow a phrase: the facts don't care about the Trump regime's feelings
They repealed the regulatory finding that agreed with the science. The science still thinks greenhouse gasses are greenhouse gases.
February 12, 2026 at 7:23 PM
They repealed the regulatory finding that agreed with the science. The science still thinks greenhouse gasses are greenhouse gases.
Pretty sure they can't repeal a scientific finding NYT, that's not how science works.
Breaking News: The Trump administration repealed the bedrock scientific finding that greenhouse gases threaten human life and well being, meaning that the EPA can no longer regulate them. nyti.ms/4rSszQu
February 12, 2026 at 7:20 PM
Pretty sure they can't repeal a scientific finding NYT, that's not how science works.
Dunno, those seem like numbers my five year old can think of?
Trump on drug prices: "They're coming down by 500, 600, 700 percent ... numbers nobody ever thought possible"
February 12, 2026 at 7:13 PM
Dunno, those seem like numbers my five year old can think of?
I've come to the opposite place: given the context of his current work, I'm a bit embarrassed I ever thought his old work was good, having reappraised it
I face resistance from my fellow travelers whenever I say this but: if you preface your criticisms of Matt taibbi with “I used to admire his work, but”…….. go back. Read them again
February 12, 2026 at 7:11 PM
I've come to the opposite place: given the context of his current work, I'm a bit embarrassed I ever thought his old work was good, having reappraised it
Reposted by Ben
This B.C. Cyclist Turned His E-Bike Into a Snow Plow—Then Rode It Downtown for Vietnamese Food.
momentummag.com/this-b-c-cyc...
momentummag.com/this-b-c-cyc...
February 11, 2026 at 10:03 PM
This B.C. Cyclist Turned His E-Bike Into a Snow Plow—Then Rode It Downtown for Vietnamese Food.
momentummag.com/this-b-c-cyc...
momentummag.com/this-b-c-cyc...
ah famous americanisms from Bluey such "G'day" and "interest in cricket"
February 12, 2026 at 10:08 AM
ah famous americanisms from Bluey such "G'day" and "interest in cricket"
Reposted by Ben
Winter Olympics 2026: Ukrainian athlete disqualified from skeleton over helmet tribute – live
Winter Olympics 2026: Ukrainian athlete disqualified from skeleton over helmet tribute – live
*
Medal table | Live scores and schedule | Results | Briefing
*
Follow us over on Bluesky | And get in touch: mail Tanya
Per the Associated Press:
International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry was waiting for Heraskevych at the top of the track when he arrived at around 8.15am Thursday, or roughly 75 minutes before the start of the men’s skeleton race. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
February 12, 2026 at 8:36 AM
Winter Olympics 2026: Ukrainian athlete disqualified from skeleton over helmet tribute – live
AI Bubble is papering over the international trade contraction...
What comes across - momentum from tech activity that offsets subdued momentum everywhere else - AI investment in US offsets rather weak trade
China / Asia - similar method, exports are down, compensated by pickup in tech
Key Q: what if these assets get re-evaluated and the reality gets exposed?
China / Asia - similar method, exports are down, compensated by pickup in tech
Key Q: what if these assets get re-evaluated and the reality gets exposed?
February 12, 2026 at 8:43 AM
AI Bubble is papering over the international trade contraction...
Reposted by Ben
Jim Radcliffe pissed me off, so I wrote this about the inconvenient truth of migration.
tl:dr - no, just fucking read it. Some basic mathematics - you know, COUNTING THINGS - might make you reconsider, you stupid twats.
(I'm not trying to make friends)
open.substack.com/pub/russinch...
tl:dr - no, just fucking read it. Some basic mathematics - you know, COUNTING THINGS - might make you reconsider, you stupid twats.
(I'm not trying to make friends)
open.substack.com/pub/russinch...
The Indisputable Maths of Migration
How Demography, Not Dinghies, Will Decide Britain’s Future
open.substack.com
February 12, 2026 at 8:24 AM
Jim Radcliffe pissed me off, so I wrote this about the inconvenient truth of migration.
tl:dr - no, just fucking read it. Some basic mathematics - you know, COUNTING THINGS - might make you reconsider, you stupid twats.
(I'm not trying to make friends)
open.substack.com/pub/russinch...
tl:dr - no, just fucking read it. Some basic mathematics - you know, COUNTING THINGS - might make you reconsider, you stupid twats.
(I'm not trying to make friends)
open.substack.com/pub/russinch...
Reposted by Ben
it is impossible to exaggerate the extent to which none of this will ever happen. it should also completely destroy his reputation for knowing about space, science, so on
This would have been a good point for someone to have asked, is that really how things work? Or is vacuum in fact an excellent insulator? www.ft.com/content/a5cf...
February 11, 2026 at 2:15 PM
it is impossible to exaggerate the extent to which none of this will ever happen. it should also completely destroy his reputation for knowing about space, science, so on
I suppose the advantage of a CS background is that it's his ur bullshitting topic
February 11, 2026 at 2:21 PM
I suppose the advantage of a CS background is that it's his ur bullshitting topic
I don't know where I first saw it (I think it was in the other place before it became the bad place and this is a horrible paraphrase from memory) but it has always been the case that the first time Musk babbles about something you're an expert in is the last time you think he's clever.
February 11, 2026 at 2:18 PM
I don't know where I first saw it (I think it was in the other place before it became the bad place and this is a horrible paraphrase from memory) but it has always been the case that the first time Musk babbles about something you're an expert in is the last time you think he's clever.
All the rest is commentary, go and learn it, etc etc.
February 11, 2026 at 2:13 PM
All the rest is commentary, go and learn it, etc etc.
The path from temporary immigration status to permanent immigration status should be simple, easy, and not especially long. It should assume that migrants and migration are a positive force for good in British society and should be encouraged.
February 11, 2026 at 2:12 PM
The path from temporary immigration status to permanent immigration status should be simple, easy, and not especially long. It should assume that migrants and migration are a positive force for good in British society and should be encouraged.
Amnesty has a good bit of advice media.amnesty.org.uk/documents/Am... but I just politely told them their entire framing was false.
media.amnesty.org.uk
February 11, 2026 at 2:10 PM
Amnesty has a good bit of advice media.amnesty.org.uk/documents/Am... but I just politely told them their entire framing was false.
Last day to tell the government that, actually, as it happens, you think immigrants are people and maybe should be treated as such www.gov.uk/government/c...
Earned settlement
The government is consulting on how the current settlement system should be reformed and how those reforms should be implemented.
www.gov.uk
February 11, 2026 at 2:09 PM
Last day to tell the government that, actually, as it happens, you think immigrants are people and maybe should be treated as such www.gov.uk/government/c...
Reposted by Ben
My "these are not tools for mass surveillance" t-shirt is raising a lot of questions already answered by the shirt.
Saying it doesn’t make it so. www.theverge.com/tech/876866/...
February 11, 2026 at 1:24 PM
My "these are not tools for mass surveillance" t-shirt is raising a lot of questions already answered by the shirt.
Reposted by Ben
This is a really fucking stupid and irresponsible thing for a widely-read magazine to publish. Claude is a large language model with an unusually large context window. It is not self-aware, nor is it a new entity. It's a set of rules which run really fast and produce a predictable outcome. Software.
Researchers working with the A.I. system Claude have come to understand that the model’s selfhood, like our own, is a matter of both neurons and narratives. newyorkermag.visitlink.me/kEX1vV
February 11, 2026 at 7:26 AM
This is a really fucking stupid and irresponsible thing for a widely-read magazine to publish. Claude is a large language model with an unusually large context window. It is not self-aware, nor is it a new entity. It's a set of rules which run really fast and produce a predictable outcome. Software.
Reposted by Ben
I urge you to fill in this consultation if you can - with this very helpful support from Amnesty International - although AND because ! it is heart-breaking that this country has sunk so low that Amnesty suggest in a number of cases to provide no answer as the terms of the question are so evil
The UK government is proposing radical and punitive changes to settlement rules. This is settlement, not citizenship. The consultation is open until 12 February; please respond to it and oppose these evil proposals. Amnesty have a good guide: www.amnesty.org.uk/resources/gu...
Guidance for responding to 'A Fairer Pathway to Settlement' consultation
We are Amnesty International UK. We are ordinary people from across the world standing up for humanity and human rights.
www.amnesty.org.uk
February 10, 2026 at 5:43 PM
I urge you to fill in this consultation if you can - with this very helpful support from Amnesty International - although AND because ! it is heart-breaking that this country has sunk so low that Amnesty suggest in a number of cases to provide no answer as the terms of the question are so evil
Reposted by Ben
Also: we really need to push back on this constant mantra that settlement (permanent residence) in the UK is a “privilege”.
The very least people are entitled to after spending years here and/or developing family ties is that they shouldn’t have to worry about re-applying to stay every few years.
The very least people are entitled to after spending years here and/or developing family ties is that they shouldn’t have to worry about re-applying to stay every few years.
Imagine being presented with these accounts of stark unfairness and insecurity caused by the earned settlement plans and your response being ‘It is a privilege not a right to settle in the UK and it must be earned’ - the Home Secretary needs to go www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026...
Nurses’ families fear being torn apart in UK immigration crackdown, survey says
Exclusive: Most people in charity’s study say they worry about being separated from relatives under Mahmood plans
www.theguardian.com
February 11, 2026 at 8:07 AM
Also: we really need to push back on this constant mantra that settlement (permanent residence) in the UK is a “privilege”.
The very least people are entitled to after spending years here and/or developing family ties is that they shouldn’t have to worry about re-applying to stay every few years.
The very least people are entitled to after spending years here and/or developing family ties is that they shouldn’t have to worry about re-applying to stay every few years.
Age verification? I had a friendster account
Age verification? I helped open the Gates of Ahn’Qiraj
Age verification? I had a 6 digit ICQ number
February 11, 2026 at 8:00 AM
Age verification? I had a friendster account