Bennett McKenna
@bennettmckenna.bsky.social
Writer of short stories, games, scripts and eulogies. Has a higher than average number of teeth and a lower than average number of functioning organs. Cyborg.
If you've got a bit of spare cash and you're feeling generous, please consider donating to Girlguiding and writing in the comment box after you click submit that it's to protect their trans members. They're currently being sued (again) for welcoming trans girls.
November 14, 2025 at 9:47 PM
If you've got a bit of spare cash and you're feeling generous, please consider donating to Girlguiding and writing in the comment box after you click submit that it's to protect their trans members. They're currently being sued (again) for welcoming trans girls.
Reposted by Bennett McKenna
As we approach the end of the year, it's a great time to record things you love! Not just for the Hugo Awards, but in general. The rec sheet is a handy resource for nomination, but also at its heart a rec resource in a loud, busy media environment.
The Hugo Awards (2026)
docs.google.com
November 12, 2025 at 7:54 PM
As we approach the end of the year, it's a great time to record things you love! Not just for the Hugo Awards, but in general. The rec sheet is a handy resource for nomination, but also at its heart a rec resource in a loud, busy media environment.
Recently, I've been getting really into chess. I have found that nerding out about chess is treated differently to nerding out about other board games.
I'm not good at chess! I'm still figuring out where the little horsies can move! But people sure do assume some things when I mention liking it.
I'm not good at chess! I'm still figuring out where the little horsies can move! But people sure do assume some things when I mention liking it.
November 8, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Recently, I've been getting really into chess. I have found that nerding out about chess is treated differently to nerding out about other board games.
I'm not good at chess! I'm still figuring out where the little horsies can move! But people sure do assume some things when I mention liking it.
I'm not good at chess! I'm still figuring out where the little horsies can move! But people sure do assume some things when I mention liking it.
Some words of hope from the US House Speaker.
November 5, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Some words of hope from the US House Speaker.
Where's the cool for young people these days? Where's the weird? This might be old man yells at cloud, but what the hell happened to youth fashion culture?
October 22, 2025 at 10:12 AM
Where's the cool for young people these days? Where's the weird? This might be old man yells at cloud, but what the hell happened to youth fashion culture?
Christ on a bike, it's two weeks away and I've already heard Zombie on a Halloween playlist.
October 17, 2025 at 9:18 PM
Christ on a bike, it's two weeks away and I've already heard Zombie on a Halloween playlist.
This brave little guy ran up to check me out as soon as I got to their enclosure this morning. Immediately made me think of Dave Fane's escaping meerkat story (IYKYK).
October 4, 2025 at 5:42 PM
This brave little guy ran up to check me out as soon as I got to their enclosure this morning. Immediately made me think of Dave Fane's escaping meerkat story (IYKYK).
This year, the NHS has severely limited its list of who is eligible for a covid vaccine. The press release says it's because it's "now a relatively mild disease", meaning those with long term conditions like cystic fibrosis no longer need to be vaccinated.
September 24, 2025 at 12:23 PM
This year, the NHS has severely limited its list of who is eligible for a covid vaccine. The press release says it's because it's "now a relatively mild disease", meaning those with long term conditions like cystic fibrosis no longer need to be vaccinated.
Covid is our generation's lead - people ignore the scientists yelling louder and louder about how it causes brain damage, because the alternative is making inconvenient changes.
September 5, 2025 at 10:58 AM
Covid is our generation's lead - people ignore the scientists yelling louder and louder about how it causes brain damage, because the alternative is making inconvenient changes.
Reposted by Bennett McKenna
a very bleak development in terms of my view of the world in the last few years has been both ‘the Israeli govt is much worse than I thought and deserves an enormous amount of criticism’ and ‘yeah a lot of people geniunely are just low-grade antisemitic’ both apparently being true.
The latest on how the internet has made us all medieval peasants: “this cookie chain has the spirit of the perfidious Jew behind it”
August 25, 2025 at 12:41 AM
a very bleak development in terms of my view of the world in the last few years has been both ‘the Israeli govt is much worse than I thought and deserves an enormous amount of criticism’ and ‘yeah a lot of people geniunely are just low-grade antisemitic’ both apparently being true.
Harold Shipman arrested over inappropriate use of prescription drugs.
September 3, 2025 at 11:27 AM
Harold Shipman arrested over inappropriate use of prescription drugs.
It's a very modern American interpretation to think that fighting for roses is about fighting for nice things to put in your house. When we fight for roses, we're fighting for dignity in labour and for full access to culture.
September 1, 2025 at 10:03 PM
It's a very modern American interpretation to think that fighting for roses is about fighting for nice things to put in your house. When we fight for roses, we're fighting for dignity in labour and for full access to culture.
There are members of our community for whom in-person events are still an absolute no. With their online-only events, @siren-events.bsky.social lets us celebrate all together, chatting online in a way most places seem to have forgotten in recent years.
August 24, 2025 at 4:03 PM
There are members of our community for whom in-person events are still an absolute no. With their online-only events, @siren-events.bsky.social lets us celebrate all together, chatting online in a way most places seem to have forgotten in recent years.
It's wild how easy it is to be woken up by pain. I'm sure there's a solid evolutionary reason for it, but this isn't that I put my foot in the campfire, it's that my body is trying to destroy itself and frankly it's poor planning that I can't sleep through that.
August 23, 2025 at 4:50 AM
It's wild how easy it is to be woken up by pain. I'm sure there's a solid evolutionary reason for it, but this isn't that I put my foot in the campfire, it's that my body is trying to destroy itself and frankly it's poor planning that I can't sleep through that.
Why doesn't London have a museums night like other cities?
August 21, 2025 at 8:48 AM
Why doesn't London have a museums night like other cities?
Reposted by Bennett McKenna
I asked in my neighbourhood group chat if anyone knew a copy shop that could laminate something for me. I'm now holding a laminated copy from a neighbour who said we didn't have anywhere, but could he do it at work for me? Maybe community's not dead and you just have to ask nicely.
August 7, 2025 at 12:24 PM
I asked in my neighbourhood group chat if anyone knew a copy shop that could laminate something for me. I'm now holding a laminated copy from a neighbour who said we didn't have anywhere, but could he do it at work for me? Maybe community's not dead and you just have to ask nicely.
If that's the case, Mike, why were only 12% of Civil Service Fast Stream interns under your government working class?
August 1, 2025 at 6:39 PM
If that's the case, Mike, why were only 12% of Civil Service Fast Stream interns under your government working class?
Since the OSA came into effect, the most downloaded apps in the UK have all been VPNs. The censorship is primarily for people who are less well informed, scared of technology, or find it hard to understand.
August 1, 2025 at 11:31 AM
Since the OSA came into effect, the most downloaded apps in the UK have all been VPNs. The censorship is primarily for people who are less well informed, scared of technology, or find it hard to understand.
Reposted by Bennett McKenna
...they should do this. This is fine. They're not exactly going to stop endlessly capitulating to the billionaire-owned press without finding ways to communicate around it, are they?
🚨 EXC: No10 will host up to 90 online creators this week as part of a wider strategy embedding influencers into government comms
📱 Ministers are now giving briefings and press notices to TikTok stars and YouTubers
@zoecrowther.bsky.social reports
📱 Ministers are now giving briefings and press notices to TikTok stars and YouTubers
@zoecrowther.bsky.social reports
No10 Host First Influencer Reception As They Step Up Their Digital Strategy
EXC: No10 is hosting a reception with online influencers in Downing Street for the first time ever, as part of their push to “go where people are” ...
www.politicshome.com
July 30, 2025 at 9:05 AM
...they should do this. This is fine. They're not exactly going to stop endlessly capitulating to the billionaire-owned press without finding ways to communicate around it, are they?
Reposted by Bennett McKenna
so when i was calling earlier, the mastercard supervisor mentioned something like, 8000 calls that they've gotten over the weekend. Just wanna say keep it up, keep up the good work, i'll continue to do my part. Let's make 2025 the year of not rolling over anymore
July 29, 2025 at 12:51 AM
so when i was calling earlier, the mastercard supervisor mentioned something like, 8000 calls that they've gotten over the weekend. Just wanna say keep it up, keep up the good work, i'll continue to do my part. Let's make 2025 the year of not rolling over anymore
Remember how the London Passenger Transport Board, precursor to the TfL, used to publish adverts hoping for the end of work?
July 21, 2025 at 9:34 AM
Remember how the London Passenger Transport Board, precursor to the TfL, used to publish adverts hoping for the end of work?
Black Cake is the best series I've seen in years. A decade ago, it would've been categorised as prestige television. It's slightly too late for that so I'm just yelling about how brilliant it is instead.
July 15, 2025 at 11:40 AM
Black Cake is the best series I've seen in years. A decade ago, it would've been categorised as prestige television. It's slightly too late for that so I'm just yelling about how brilliant it is instead.
My favourite part of today is that my dash has suddenly become a rolling recommendation list of lesbian books.
… Siren Queen by Nghi Vo, A Master of Djinn by P. Djélì Clark, Soulstar by CL Polk, The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon, and that’s not even getting into the bisexuals (shout out to An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green and Drunk On All Your Strange New Words by Eddie Robson)
July 10, 2025 at 10:21 PM
My favourite part of today is that my dash has suddenly become a rolling recommendation list of lesbian books.
It's 37° today. I live next to a motorway and an old asbestos factory. Have made the cyberpunk decision to sit here in a FFP2 so that opening both my windows for a draft doesn't kill me.
July 1, 2025 at 7:34 AM
It's 37° today. I live next to a motorway and an old asbestos factory. Have made the cyberpunk decision to sit here in a FFP2 so that opening both my windows for a draft doesn't kill me.