Ben Myring
@benmyring.bsky.social
Cultivator of geekery and other eccentricities.
Reposted by Ben Myring
This is excellent
Wrote about the Statesman, AI Christopher Hitchens, and why writers need heroes but not idols open.substack.com/pub/padraigr...
Reidy’s Digest #8: Time to ditch the cult of Hitch
An actual short essay and some other bits
open.substack.com
October 25, 2025 at 6:30 AM
This is excellent
Reposted by Ben Myring
My article in The Times today, telling the tale of our family summer holiday to Kusadasi by train (includes a quote from Eurostar’s train manager Blake!):
www.thetimes.com/travel/desti...
www.thetimes.com/travel/desti...
My two-week Tring to Turkey rail holiday — that even won over my teens
Mark Smith, the voice of rail travel website The Man in Seat 61, gathers his family and takes the scenic route to the Turquoise Coast via Prague, Budapest and more
www.thetimes.com
October 25, 2025 at 6:42 AM
My article in The Times today, telling the tale of our family summer holiday to Kusadasi by train (includes a quote from Eurostar’s train manager Blake!):
www.thetimes.com/travel/desti...
www.thetimes.com/travel/desti...
Reposted by Ben Myring
The fact that people are allowed to store their cars in the street is really weird - after all, a car is an individual's own private property and their responsibility. I can't think of a single other item you can store in public in this way.
October 21, 2025 at 4:55 PM
The fact that people are allowed to store their cars in the street is really weird - after all, a car is an individual's own private property and their responsibility. I can't think of a single other item you can store in public in this way.
Reposted by Ben Myring
EUROSTAR GOES DOUBLE-DECK:
Eurostar confirms order for 30 new double-deck trains from Alstom, similar to TGV-M, with option for 20 more, in service from May 2031. The 200m sets can run to/from London as 2 x 200m with 1,080 seats.
(Another move in the Battle for Temple Mills...)
Eurostar confirms order for 30 new double-deck trains from Alstom, similar to TGV-M, with option for 20 more, in service from May 2031. The 200m sets can run to/from London as 2 x 200m with 1,080 seats.
(Another move in the Battle for Temple Mills...)
October 22, 2025 at 6:26 AM
EUROSTAR GOES DOUBLE-DECK:
Eurostar confirms order for 30 new double-deck trains from Alstom, similar to TGV-M, with option for 20 more, in service from May 2031. The 200m sets can run to/from London as 2 x 200m with 1,080 seats.
(Another move in the Battle for Temple Mills...)
Eurostar confirms order for 30 new double-deck trains from Alstom, similar to TGV-M, with option for 20 more, in service from May 2031. The 200m sets can run to/from London as 2 x 200m with 1,080 seats.
(Another move in the Battle for Temple Mills...)
Reposted by Ben Myring
I remember, many years ago now (with ny transport strategist hat on) being asked in a BBC interview if Crossrail would be Khan's biggest legacy. The thing that had the biggest impact on London.
I said:
"No. It'll be ULEZ."
(The low emissions zone)
I said:
"No. It'll be ULEZ."
(The low emissions zone)
October 17, 2025 at 7:29 AM
I remember, many years ago now (with ny transport strategist hat on) being asked in a BBC interview if Crossrail would be Khan's biggest legacy. The thing that had the biggest impact on London.
I said:
"No. It'll be ULEZ."
(The low emissions zone)
I said:
"No. It'll be ULEZ."
(The low emissions zone)
Reposted by Ben Myring
My favourite Barry Cryer story is his account of Nicholas Parsons asking Ross Noble who his favourite comedian was. "Richard Pryor" Noble replied, "Genius! So sad he set himself on fire while freebasing crack cocaine".
Parsons, visibly upset, asked Barry later: "did you hear about Richard Briers?"
Parsons, visibly upset, asked Barry later: "did you hear about Richard Briers?"
October 1, 2025 at 8:38 AM
My favourite Barry Cryer story is his account of Nicholas Parsons asking Ross Noble who his favourite comedian was. "Richard Pryor" Noble replied, "Genius! So sad he set himself on fire while freebasing crack cocaine".
Parsons, visibly upset, asked Barry later: "did you hear about Richard Briers?"
Parsons, visibly upset, asked Barry later: "did you hear about Richard Briers?"
Reposted by Ben Myring
In the heart of Seoul, a ribbon of water now threads through where an expanse of asphalt once stood. The Cheonggyecheon Stream restoration, which replaced a major elevated motorway with an ecological and recreational corridor, has become a powerful case study in placemaking and traffic evaporation.🧵
September 30, 2025 at 3:54 PM
In the heart of Seoul, a ribbon of water now threads through where an expanse of asphalt once stood. The Cheonggyecheon Stream restoration, which replaced a major elevated motorway with an ecological and recreational corridor, has become a powerful case study in placemaking and traffic evaporation.🧵
Reposted by Ben Myring
I think this might be one of the most clear-eyed articles about Cyberpunk 2077 I've read. Actually looking at the game's themes, rather than getting caught up on a thought-terminating cliche and single word in the title.
There's more to narratives about dismantling power structures than cheap #dissent, writes @strangelibrary.com
www.typebarmagazine.com/2025/08/29/c...
www.typebarmagazine.com/2025/08/29/c...
Cyberpunk 2077 and the Anesthesia of #Dissent - Typebar Magazine
There are few easy answers to the questions the cyberpunk genre asks.
www.typebarmagazine.com
September 29, 2025 at 12:29 PM
I think this might be one of the most clear-eyed articles about Cyberpunk 2077 I've read. Actually looking at the game's themes, rather than getting caught up on a thought-terminating cliche and single word in the title.
Reposted by Ben Myring
What "we" don't talk about enough is that, behind ALL the talk on immigration, there is the massive, looming presence of an awareness that an age of prosperity is over, things will probably just get worse, and "we" should build walls to hide behind, before it's too late.
September 28, 2025 at 7:58 AM
What "we" don't talk about enough is that, behind ALL the talk on immigration, there is the massive, looming presence of an awareness that an age of prosperity is over, things will probably just get worse, and "we" should build walls to hide behind, before it's too late.
All too often we think and behave like a satrapy.
I agree with this – it has shock value, but isn’t that relevant to people in the UK. I understand why it’s the biggest story on Bluesky: this place pretty much selects for neurodivergence (complimentary)
Why are the American president's claims about autism the first item on British news bulletins?
He's not our president, the advice doesn't apply here and he's not presented any evidence to support his assertions.
So why spread these claims? What make this the biggest story in the UK?
He's not our president, the advice doesn't apply here and he's not presented any evidence to support his assertions.
So why spread these claims? What make this the biggest story in the UK?
September 23, 2025 at 8:14 AM
All too often we think and behave like a satrapy.
Reposted by Ben Myring
Some years ago I went to the National Archives to see the original of this map, drawn by TE Lawrence and presented to the British war cabinet in November 1918. Proposes a divvying up in which Faisal getting Syria and Transjordan, and Abdullah gets Iraq. Always struck by the ?? over Kurdistan.
September 21, 2025 at 8:54 PM
Some years ago I went to the National Archives to see the original of this map, drawn by TE Lawrence and presented to the British war cabinet in November 1918. Proposes a divvying up in which Faisal getting Syria and Transjordan, and Abdullah gets Iraq. Always struck by the ?? over Kurdistan.
Reposted by Ben Myring
this is, hands down, the best video I've seen on men's influencer content and it's not close either
September 14, 2025 at 1:50 AM
this is, hands down, the best video I've seen on men's influencer content and it's not close either
Reposted by Ben Myring
Great to see that government WILL ban moorland burning on peat deeper than 30cm, and over a much greater area than previously
Big win for communities who've suffered the smoke + floods stemming from this Victorian practice
Only losers are ~150 wealthy grouse moor owners
www.gov.uk/government/n...
Big win for communities who've suffered the smoke + floods stemming from this Victorian practice
Only losers are ~150 wealthy grouse moor owners
www.gov.uk/government/n...
Burning banned on England’s deep peat to protect wildlife
Ban on burning heather and grass on deep peat extended to improve air quality for local communities, reduce flood risk and protect wildlife.
www.gov.uk
September 9, 2025 at 8:50 AM
Great to see that government WILL ban moorland burning on peat deeper than 30cm, and over a much greater area than previously
Big win for communities who've suffered the smoke + floods stemming from this Victorian practice
Only losers are ~150 wealthy grouse moor owners
www.gov.uk/government/n...
Big win for communities who've suffered the smoke + floods stemming from this Victorian practice
Only losers are ~150 wealthy grouse moor owners
www.gov.uk/government/n...
Foundation is the finest show on TV right now. The preposterous scale of it, and the sheer quality of the implementation.
This week's Foundation is fucked up and magnificent even by Foundation standards. What a goddamn television program
'Foundation' Season 3 Episode 9 recap: The Empire strikes back
What a show. What a show.
decider.com
September 5, 2025 at 10:30 PM
Foundation is the finest show on TV right now. The preposterous scale of it, and the sheer quality of the implementation.
Reposted by Ben Myring
Just a kickass episode of the Alien show, I dunno what else to tell you. I mean, I guess I *do* know what else to tell you, because here's a whole review, but that's the gist of it. (gift link)
Alien: Earth’ Episode 5 Recap: Ghost Ship
www.nytimes.com
September 3, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Just a kickass episode of the Alien show, I dunno what else to tell you. I mean, I guess I *do* know what else to tell you, because here's a whole review, but that's the gist of it. (gift link)
Reposted by Ben Myring
Over the past weekend, people got a first glimpse of what a future HS2 train might look like when an early concept was shown off at The Greatest Gathering.
www.ianvisits.co.uk/articles/fro...
www.ianvisits.co.uk/articles/fro...
From frosted glass to fold-out toddler seats: The details shaping HS2's new trains
Over the past weekend, people got a first glimpse of what a future HS2 train might look like when an early concept was shown off at The Greatest Gathering.
www.ianvisits.co.uk
August 5, 2025 at 6:01 AM
Over the past weekend, people got a first glimpse of what a future HS2 train might look like when an early concept was shown off at The Greatest Gathering.
www.ianvisits.co.uk/articles/fro...
www.ianvisits.co.uk/articles/fro...
Reposted by Ben Myring
Once men turned their thinking over to machines in the hope that this would set them free. But that only permitted other men with machines to enslave them.
July 28, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Once men turned their thinking over to machines in the hope that this would set them free. But that only permitted other men with machines to enslave them.
@garius.bsky.social JB I don't know whether you're on Instagram but I do know you need to see this
www.instagram.com/reel/DK32bqB...
www.instagram.com/reel/DK32bqB...
Login • Instagram
Welcome back to Instagram. Sign in to check out what your friends, family & interests have been capturing & sharing around the world.
www.instagram.com
July 24, 2025 at 2:44 AM
@garius.bsky.social JB I don't know whether you're on Instagram but I do know you need to see this
www.instagram.com/reel/DK32bqB...
www.instagram.com/reel/DK32bqB...
Reposted by Ben Myring
Just remembered the most upsetting hotel bathroom configuration.
(This photo is from a Trip Advisor review — I chose not to stay at this now-defunct hotel and I regret missing the chance to see it in person.)
(This photo is from a Trip Advisor review — I chose not to stay at this now-defunct hotel and I regret missing the chance to see it in person.)
July 21, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Just remembered the most upsetting hotel bathroom configuration.
(This photo is from a Trip Advisor review — I chose not to stay at this now-defunct hotel and I regret missing the chance to see it in person.)
(This photo is from a Trip Advisor review — I chose not to stay at this now-defunct hotel and I regret missing the chance to see it in person.)
Amazing thread
Someone took issue with me saying that American male Protestants are unique in how they've removed themselves from aesthetics. I thought it was obvs that I'm talking about fashion and interior decor, which today are coded as "gay interests," not paintings or architecture.
But let me elaborate. 🧵
But let me elaborate. 🧵
July 20, 2025 at 1:18 PM
Amazing thread
Reposted by Ben Myring
RELATED: my nanna has broken the button channel-change button on her remote. Second remote this year. According to her that's NOT what happened, it just broke on its own (again). Meanwhile, the button in question is a diamond now.
She is 95 and has late stage heart failure.
She is 95 and has late stage heart failure.
Highest pressure per square inch ever recorded:
3. Great White Shark's bite
2. Pneumatic drill
1. Old people entering their pin
3. Great White Shark's bite
2. Pneumatic drill
1. Old people entering their pin
July 17, 2025 at 6:59 AM
RELATED: my nanna has broken the button channel-change button on her remote. Second remote this year. According to her that's NOT what happened, it just broke on its own (again). Meanwhile, the button in question is a diamond now.
She is 95 and has late stage heart failure.
She is 95 and has late stage heart failure.
Reposted by Ben Myring
We need to push the government to ensure that the hopelessly outdated Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 is updated - public expectations of the vets and the capabilities of modern medicine have moved on so much since then, and legislation needs to be fit for the 21st Century!
July 13, 2025 at 4:55 PM
We need to push the government to ensure that the hopelessly outdated Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 is updated - public expectations of the vets and the capabilities of modern medicine have moved on so much since then, and legislation needs to be fit for the 21st Century!
Reposted by Ben Myring
This is a historic opportunity. If it isn't grasped, it'll likely be decades before we get another chance inews.co.uk/opinion/labo...
Labour is destroying its chance to reform the Lords
This is a historic opportunity. Unless it's grasped quickly, it'll crumble before our eyes.
inews.co.uk
June 30, 2025 at 7:36 AM
This is a historic opportunity. If it isn't grasped, it'll likely be decades before we get another chance inews.co.uk/opinion/labo...