Ben Evans
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ogkittylyst.bsky.social
Ben Evans
@ogkittylyst.bsky.social
650 followers 1K following 1.4K posts
Cisqueer author / educator / software eng known for #architecture #performance #observability #Java #JVM

Chaos acc: #cats #antifascism #queer >> #tech

Cornishman in Barcelona.

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ogkittylyst.bsky.social
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.
Reposted by Ben Evans
nytpitchbot.bsky.social
I am a free speech absolutist. Here's why everybody of every faith who works in retail should be required to say "Merry Christmas" to every customer for all of December.
February 18, 2026 at 5:21 PM
Reposted by Ben Evans
theharvestmaid.bsky.social
There's something kind of funny about "use AI or get left behind" being pushed on people who are already Extremely Online and Using Computer. It completely ignores the large swaths who can still barely operate an iPad and are confused by apps.
February 18, 2026 at 4:22 PM
Reposted by Ben Evans
ndrew.bsky.social
you didnt beg me or force me to engage with my laptop or my cell phone or my ps5, i willingly engaged with those things bc they were useful and/or fun
February 18, 2026 at 12:58 PM
Reposted by Ben Evans
stephencollins.bsky.social
From 2019
SCENE: A PASSPORT CONTROL GATE, IN THE SKY, ON A CLOUD. THE PASSPORT CONTROL GATE HAS ‘CORPOREAL REALM’ WRITTEN ON IT. PASSPORT CONTROL OFFICIAL: Passport please, sir. OFFICIAL [LOOKING AT PASSPORT]: Ah - the famous Dr Jenner! EDWARD JENNER, A FLOATING GHOST IN EDWARDIAN GARB: Indeed, haha OFFICIAL: And what's the purpose of your visit to the corporeal realm, Dr Jenner? EDWARD JENNER: Haunting. OFFICIAL: Oh lovely. Anyone nice? EDWARD JENNER: Just a little tour of some anti-vaxxers. OFFICIAL: Wonderful. I hear Andrew Wakefield’s bedroom is just •perfect• at this time of year. EDWARD JENNER: It is! I spent last summer standing by his bed, calling him a c--. OFFICIAL: Lucky yooou… OFFICIAL [LOOKING AT DOCUMENTS]: Oh... oh dear... 
EDWARD JENNER: Is everything OK? OFFICIAL: I’m afraid your card says you haven’t had the required stupidity vaccination for your trip. EDWARD JENNER: Oh dear! 
OFFICIAL: It’s fine - we can do it here…
 Just read this anti-vax tweet by Jim Carrey
 EDWARD JENNER [reading a smartphone]: Egads! [Ends]
February 18, 2026 at 12:36 PM
Reposted by Ben Evans
alexhanna.bsky.social
As Brian puts it: "It fails to account for the fact that most of the dismissals of AI are not related to the technology, but AI’s political economy... Developed and sold by SV oligopolies, for the benefit of tech billionaires, with the intent of surveilling, deskilling, and eroding labor."
February 18, 2026 at 11:14 AM
Reposted by Ben Evans
tacc.org.uk
FOI reveals the EHRC holds zero minutes of meetings with trans-led organisations in the past 5 years.

This is the UK’s 'equality' regulator.

Trans voices are not important enough for the EHRC to keep a record of what was said. This should be a headline in all the papers.
Equality and Human Rights Commission Dear Your Freedom of Information Request FOI Reference: 15238932 Date: 16 February 2026 Thank you for your request, detailed below, which we received on 19 January 2026. "1) Does the EHRC hold minutes for meetings with any trans-led or trans- focused groups (excluding general LGBTQI+ groups) in the last 5 years. For clarity, these could include but are not limited to: - TransActual - Translucent/Steph's Place - Scottish Trans - Trans legal project - Trans Advocacy and Complaints Collective - Trans Safety Network - Trans Solidarity Alliance - Trans Resistance Network - Trans Exile Network If so, could you a) break down how many sets of minutes were recorded per year. (Here 1 "set of minutes" means "minutes for 1 meeting") And b) name which trans-led or trans-focused organisation these are with." This request is being handled under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Response Following a search of our records, we have determined that the information you have requested is not held by the Equality and Human Rights Commission. While the Commission regularly engages with a wide range of stakeholders, including trans-led and trans-focussed civil society organisations where relevant to our work, we do not hold any formal minutes of meetings with the organisations listed in your request within the timeframe specified. T: 0161 829 8100 E: foi@equalityhumanrights.com Arndale House, The Arndale Centre Manchester, M4 3AQ equalityhumanrights.com T: 0161 829 8100 E: foi@equalityhumanrights.com Arndale House, The Arndale Centre Manchester, M4 3AQ equalityhumanrights.com
February 17, 2026 at 9:56 PM
Reposted by Ben Evans
timnitgebru.bsky.social
Instead of "the left isn't paying enough attention to these machine gods" they're claiming to build, perhaps we should write an article about how effective altruists brand themselves "left", ask who is writing these articles, and trace their cults and sources of funding.
February 18, 2026 at 2:16 AM
Reposted by Ben Evans
wreckonrails.com
We have a perfect Rectangular February coming up, first time we’ve had one since 2015

Maybe this is what finally closes the loop and fixes the world
The calendar for the first three months of 2026, with today, Saturday, January 31, highlighted. February begins on Sunday and lasts for exactly four weeks, ending on Saturday.
January 31, 2026 at 11:28 PM
Reposted by Ben Evans
dempster2000.bsky.social
No.
February 17, 2026 at 3:21 PM
Reposted by Ben Evans
billamend.bsky.social
Tonight’s dumb napkin cartoon…
February 16, 2026 at 11:52 PM
Reposted by Ben Evans
saltern.bsky.social
Tis Shrove Tuesday and there be Hurling!

www.cornwallforever.co.uk/year/st-colu...
St Columb Hurling |
Read all about Cornwall's history and culture with Cornwall For Ever! Find out more about this remarkable place and its people.
www.cornwallforever.co.uk
February 17, 2026 at 5:26 PM
Reposted by Ben Evans
assignedmale.bsky.social
Give trans kids a chance to be kids.
4 frame comic. it reads, on top of each frame : Give trans kids a chance to be kids without having to fight for the right to exist. first frame shows a kid playing soccer, second shows two kids drawing dinosaurs at a table, third shows a group of friends sitting by a fountain drinking bubble tea and eating chips, fourth shows a kid with long curly hair holding a trans flag.
February 16, 2026 at 9:03 PM
Reposted by Ben Evans
stephencollins.bsky.social
[Scene is a domestic kitchen. Night time. The room is all blue apart from warm orange-pink light streaming in from a streetlight outside. In the center of the room stands a woman named BRANDI, standing in pyjamas looking contemplative, the light cast dramatically on her face. At the doorway, leaning against the frame, her partner JOEL stands has woken up and found her in the kitchen.] JOEL: Honey… what are you doing? BRANDI: Can’t sleep Guess I just like standing in the kitchen at 3am thinking about the supernatural threat we temporarily defeated last year. While saying that out loud in a manner which sounds casually ironic but is actually just blatant exposition. JOEL: Brandi… you're talking strange... BRANDI: Dammit Joel. It’s time you knew. You're a Netflix character. [Joel looks shocked] BRANDI: Everybody you know has been forced to speak to you in second screen dialogue. Second screen dialogue helps the people scrolling their phones in front of the TV to follow the - JOEL: Stop explaining, Brandi! [Hands on head, emotional expression, warm pink light cast on his face against the cool blue darkness of the room]. JOEL: So that's why my entire life has looked so glossy and... BRANDI: Yep... Warm/cool colour graded. [Cut to a TV show TITLE SCREEN]: SECOND SCREEN - A Netflix original - [Ends]
February 16, 2026 at 7:30 AM
Reposted by Ben Evans
alexvont.bsky.social
A reminder that if you live in England or Wales & were born between 1970-1990 – or even before 1970 – you can help protect your community by getting the MMR vaccine free from your NHS GP now. I did last year. www.nhs.uk/vaccinations...
Who should have the MMR vaccine The MMR vaccine is recommended for adults and children born on or before 31 December 2019 who did not have the MMR vaccine when they were younger. It's especially important to make sure you're vaccinated if: you're a child, teenager or young adult you could become pregnant you're travelling to, or living in, a country where there is a higher risk of getting measles, mumps or rubella you're a healthcare worker you were born between 1970 and 1990 (as you may not have been vaccinated against all 3 infections) Your GP surgery should be able to tell you which vaccinations you've already had. If you were born before 1970 and have not had measles, mumps or rubella (german measles) or the vaccines that protect against these diseases, you can ask your GP surgery for the MMR vaccine.
February 15, 2026 at 8:30 AM
Reposted by Ben Evans
davidgraeberinst.bsky.social
The Bullshit Jobs phenomenon exists for a reason (well many reasons).
"As Orwell noted, a population busy working, even at completely useless occupations, doesn't have time to do much else. At the very least, this is further incentive not to do anything about the situation." . - David Graeber
February 15, 2026 at 3:19 PM
Reposted by Ben Evans
malwaretech.com
It’s so funny to think about the fact that there’s people out there deferring every life decision to this
February 14, 2026 at 9:53 AM
Reposted by Ben Evans
leguinbot.bsky.social
You can go home again, the General Temporal Theory asserts, so long as you understand that home is a place where you have never been.
February 15, 2026 at 3:30 PM
ogkittylyst.bsky.social
A conference on sovereignty / anti-colonialism / feminism in #technology sobtec.cat - talks will be in Catalan and Castellano (I think some talks may be in English, not sure) - Sat 28th Feb #Barcelona #Catalonia #Catalunya
VIII Congrés de Sobirania Tecnològica
VIII Congrés de Sobirania Tecnològica
sobtec.cat
February 15, 2026 at 2:30 PM
Reposted by Ben Evans
markgrimshawtism.bsky.social
The BBC reporting on Beth Upton’s current employment situation is definitely not in the public interest, and it is insane how much the British press freely get away with harassing her for the crime of simply living her life existing as a trans person in the UK.
February 15, 2026 at 12:35 PM
ogkittylyst.bsky.social
I see that the Machine Elves running The Simulation have accidentally promoted the work experience lad's first Unity project into the production instance.
Image shows a very ugly new build British house. It looks like a low-res asset from a video game.
February 15, 2026 at 1:42 PM
Reposted by Ben Evans
aljazeera.com
Israel approves proposal to register West Bank lands as ‘state property’ https://aje.news/42nx1a
Israel approves proposal to register West Bank lands as ‘state property’
February 15, 2026 at 1:30 PM
Reposted by Ben Evans
lalehkhalili.bsky.social
The Swiss consider Palantir a security risk. In UK Mandelson takes Starmer to Palantir, and they hire MOD officials to hand over British intel over to the US.
p.s. Palantir sued the newspaper Republik for publishing this news.

www.republik.ch/2025/12/08/w...

www.opendemocracy.net/en/palantir-...
Überwachungstechnologie: Wie hartnäckig Palantir die Schweiz umwarb
Das umstrittene Tech-Unternehmen blitzte wieder und wieder ab. Teil 1 unserer Recherche.
www.republik.ch
February 15, 2026 at 1:03 PM
Reposted by Ben Evans
dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social
Much as I like Pride & Prejudice I find it impossible to deny that this is the greatest review of it of all time. www.tom-cox.com/why-reading-...
"Just a bunch of people going to each other's houses."
February 14, 2026 at 3:06 PM
Reposted by Ben Evans
jonmarkhicks.bsky.social
You may be cool, but you'll never be 'Nasir about to get into some shit' cool.
February 15, 2026 at 12:14 PM
Reposted by Ben Evans
alisonfisk.bsky.social
Happy #WorldHippoDay! 🦛❤️

To celebrate here’s a lovely naturalistic painting of a hippo on a small flake of limestone. Painted by an Egyptian artist some 3,500 years ago!

📷 The Met www.metmuseum.org/art/collecti...

#Archaeology
Photo of an Ancient Egyptian artists’s small, naturalistic painting of a standing hippopotamus on a flake of white limestone, dated c. 1479–1425. The hippo is painted in profile with head lowered and to the right. The body is outlined with black paint and painted brown. The belly, eyes, and ears are painted red. Although the ancient Egyptians were well aware of the danger and destructive power of hippos, this painted hippo has rather a friendly face! Dimensions: H. 10.8 cm (4 1/4 in); W. 12 cm (4 3/4 in); Th. 1.7 cm (11/16 in) Egyptian artists made practice sketches on flakes of limestone, sometimes for use as templates when transferring an image to the wall of a tomb or a temple. Limestone flakes were readily available because of the constant construction of temples and rock-cut tombs. A number of such sketches were recovered at Deir el-Bahri during the 1922-23 MMA excavations. This painting was acquired by the museum in the division of finds.
February 15, 2026 at 11:30 AM