Ben
@le--ben.bsky.social
Pinned
Ben
@le--ben.bsky.social
· Jul 31
Ukraine Fundraising: When Helping Becomes a Battleground
What began as a collective humanitarian effort in Ukraine has, in some corners, turned toxic, a war of egos, fundraising turf wars, and influencer drama. Here's how it unraveled and who got hurt. 👇
What began as a collective humanitarian effort in Ukraine has, in some corners, turned toxic, a war of egos, fundraising turf wars, and influencer drama. Here's how it unraveled and who got hurt. 👇
Pinned Thread
Reposted by Ben
We should get serious about sanctions. Russian missiles that kill Ukrainian civilians contain parts made in the West. And this repeated mass murder of civilians by Moscow should bring total boycotts on Russian gas and oil. And the Ukrainians should get everything they need to defend themselves
16 people were killed and 49 injured after russia’s strike on Ternopil. Missiles and drones hit 2 residential buildings and damaged an industrial facility. Rescue workers are still clearing the rubble. u24.gov.ua/nafo-dark-ni...
November 20, 2025 at 2:30 AM
We should get serious about sanctions. Russian missiles that kill Ukrainian civilians contain parts made in the West. And this repeated mass murder of civilians by Moscow should bring total boycotts on Russian gas and oil. And the Ukrainians should get everything they need to defend themselves
Reposted by Ben
Interesting.
Sweden’s Saab offers to build entire GlobalEye military surveillance plane in Canada — The Globe and Mail
Building the aircraft in Canada would create 3,000 jobs, company says
apple.news
November 18, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Interesting.
Reposted by Ben
Create a Botfarm just to vote in your polls!
Cuz that's winning!!
Cuz that's winning!!
November 18, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Create a Botfarm just to vote in your polls!
Cuz that's winning!!
Cuz that's winning!!
Reposted by Ben
Day 355 of #GeorgiaProtests
Meanwhile, Georgia's russian nightmare decided to strip immigrants of their right to vote in other countries
This won't end well for them
Meanwhile, Georgia's russian nightmare decided to strip immigrants of their right to vote in other countries
This won't end well for them
November 18, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Day 355 of #GeorgiaProtests
Meanwhile, Georgia's russian nightmare decided to strip immigrants of their right to vote in other countries
This won't end well for them
Meanwhile, Georgia's russian nightmare decided to strip immigrants of their right to vote in other countries
This won't end well for them
Reposted by Ben
Georgia has always been Russia's testing ground. From secessionism to embargoes and outright invasion,
the current takeover is actually a step further, it's what Russia aims to do with Ukraine eventually.
Helping Georgians means crushing Russia's playbook for the future.
the current takeover is actually a step further, it's what Russia aims to do with Ukraine eventually.
Helping Georgians means crushing Russia's playbook for the future.
August 30, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Georgia has always been Russia's testing ground. From secessionism to embargoes and outright invasion,
the current takeover is actually a step further, it's what Russia aims to do with Ukraine eventually.
Helping Georgians means crushing Russia's playbook for the future.
the current takeover is actually a step further, it's what Russia aims to do with Ukraine eventually.
Helping Georgians means crushing Russia's playbook for the future.
Reposted by Ben
🔐 From April 2026, only verified devices can send or receive end-to-end encrypted messages on Element.
This further ensures you can trust every message and stay protected from potential malicious activity, following the Matrix spec update announced at #MatrixConf2025.
This further ensures you can trust every message and stay protected from potential malicious activity, following the Matrix spec update announced at #MatrixConf2025.
Verifying your devices is becoming mandatory
From April 2026, only verified devices can send or receive end-to-end encrypted message on Element.
element.io
November 19, 2025 at 11:13 AM
🔐 From April 2026, only verified devices can send or receive end-to-end encrypted messages on Element.
This further ensures you can trust every message and stay protected from potential malicious activity, following the Matrix spec update announced at #MatrixConf2025.
This further ensures you can trust every message and stay protected from potential malicious activity, following the Matrix spec update announced at #MatrixConf2025.
Reposted by Ben
Reposted by Ben
Kim Harding (Australian Artist, born 1971)
"The Waiting Game", 2023.
Oil on Canvas, 50 × 70 cm.
Private Collection.
#art #painting #painters #BlueSkyArt
"The Waiting Game", 2023.
Oil on Canvas, 50 × 70 cm.
Private Collection.
#art #painting #painters #BlueSkyArt
November 19, 2025 at 4:32 AM
Kim Harding (Australian Artist, born 1971)
"The Waiting Game", 2023.
Oil on Canvas, 50 × 70 cm.
Private Collection.
#art #painting #painters #BlueSkyArt
"The Waiting Game", 2023.
Oil on Canvas, 50 × 70 cm.
Private Collection.
#art #painting #painters #BlueSkyArt
Reposted by Ben
Markus Matthias Krüger (German, born 1981)
"Solitär (Solitaire)", 2014.
Acrylic and Oil on Canvas, 80 × 60 cm.
Private Collection.
#art #painting #painters #BlueSkyArt
"Solitär (Solitaire)", 2014.
Acrylic and Oil on Canvas, 80 × 60 cm.
Private Collection.
#art #painting #painters #BlueSkyArt
November 19, 2025 at 4:30 AM
Markus Matthias Krüger (German, born 1981)
"Solitär (Solitaire)", 2014.
Acrylic and Oil on Canvas, 80 × 60 cm.
Private Collection.
#art #painting #painters #BlueSkyArt
"Solitär (Solitaire)", 2014.
Acrylic and Oil on Canvas, 80 × 60 cm.
Private Collection.
#art #painting #painters #BlueSkyArt
Reposted by Ben
Kim Harding (Australian Artist, born 1971)
"The Golden Thone", 2023.
Oil on Canvas, 50 × 70 cm.
Private Collection.
#art #painting #painters #BlueSkyArt #cat ##catlover ##caturday
"The Golden Thone", 2023.
Oil on Canvas, 50 × 70 cm.
Private Collection.
#art #painting #painters #BlueSkyArt #cat ##catlover ##caturday
November 19, 2025 at 4:31 AM
Kim Harding (Australian Artist, born 1971)
"The Golden Thone", 2023.
Oil on Canvas, 50 × 70 cm.
Private Collection.
#art #painting #painters #BlueSkyArt #cat ##catlover ##caturday
"The Golden Thone", 2023.
Oil on Canvas, 50 × 70 cm.
Private Collection.
#art #painting #painters #BlueSkyArt #cat ##catlover ##caturday
Reposted by Ben
Ukrainian artist,
Olya Kuchma
Olya Kuchma
November 19, 2025 at 12:55 PM
Ukrainian artist,
Olya Kuchma
Olya Kuchma
Reposted by Ben
Wagenknechtovej kanál do Kremľa
Výborná investigatíva T-online, ktorá odkrýva väzby BSW na Putinov režim a zároveň rekapituluje dôležité súvislosti okolo Vološina, jeho manželky Sass a Voice of Europe. 1/2
Výborná investigatíva T-online, ktorá odkrýva väzby BSW na Putinov režim a zároveň rekapituluje dôležité súvislosti okolo Vološina, jeho manželky Sass a Voice of Europe. 1/2
November 19, 2025 at 9:52 AM
Wagenknechtovej kanál do Kremľa
Výborná investigatíva T-online, ktorá odkrýva väzby BSW na Putinov režim a zároveň rekapituluje dôležité súvislosti okolo Vološina, jeho manželky Sass a Voice of Europe. 1/2
Výborná investigatíva T-online, ktorá odkrýva väzby BSW na Putinov režim a zároveň rekapituluje dôležité súvislosti okolo Vološina, jeho manželky Sass a Voice of Europe. 1/2
Reposted by Ben
Doing this right now even with the fall leaves around me, onna cool and calm morning. More gorgeous Ukrainian Art! Enjoy your day, everyone 💙💛 #UkrainianArt #UkrainianArtists
November 19, 2025 at 1:56 PM
Doing this right now even with the fall leaves around me, onna cool and calm morning. More gorgeous Ukrainian Art! Enjoy your day, everyone 💙💛 #UkrainianArt #UkrainianArtists
Reposted by Ben
He's bored right meow..my Wicci
November 19, 2025 at 1:15 AM
He's bored right meow..my Wicci
Reposted by Ben
I love this because I love complexity in simple things and I see exactly that right here. Wonderful Ukrainian Art, by Ukrainian artist💛💙
November 19, 2025 at 1:12 AM
I love this because I love complexity in simple things and I see exactly that right here. Wonderful Ukrainian Art, by Ukrainian artist💛💙
Reposted by Ben
Ukrainian artist: Ivan Marchuk
November 17, 2025 at 11:43 AM
Ukrainian artist: Ivan Marchuk
Reposted by Ben
When you see it, you will smile #UkrainianArt #UkrainianArtists
November 19, 2025 at 1:11 AM
When you see it, you will smile #UkrainianArt #UkrainianArtists
Reposted by Ben
Often and maybe even right meow...
November 19, 2025 at 1:09 AM
Often and maybe even right meow...
Reposted by Ben
Russia does not wage war because of Putin. Putin wages war because of Russia.
My new @KyivIndependent column explains why moscow cannot help itself and wages war as a default modus operandi
kyivindependent.com/why-russia-c...
My new @KyivIndependent column explains why moscow cannot help itself and wages war as a default modus operandi
kyivindependent.com/why-russia-c...
Why Russia cannot help but invade
The planned Trump-Putin summit in Budapest has been shelved. The White House says there's no point meeting unless "we're going to make a deal." Some view this as a setback for diplomacy, but it may we...
kyivindependent.com
November 19, 2025 at 3:08 PM
Russia does not wage war because of Putin. Putin wages war because of Russia.
My new @KyivIndependent column explains why moscow cannot help itself and wages war as a default modus operandi
kyivindependent.com/why-russia-c...
My new @KyivIndependent column explains why moscow cannot help itself and wages war as a default modus operandi
kyivindependent.com/why-russia-c...
Reposted by Ben
Israel, the Middle East’s only liberal democracy, is the favorite target of the world’s apartheid accusers, even as nearly every Muslim-majority state practices the real thing.
#Israel
open.substack.com/pub/futureof...
#Israel
open.substack.com/pub/futureof...
Every Jewish conspiracy is true, just not about Jews.
The accusations projected onto Jews and Israel reveal dark realities across the Muslim world.
open.substack.com
November 19, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Israel, the Middle East’s only liberal democracy, is the favorite target of the world’s apartheid accusers, even as nearly every Muslim-majority state practices the real thing.
#Israel
open.substack.com/pub/futureof...
#Israel
open.substack.com/pub/futureof...
Reposted by Ben
Why russia cannot help but invade?
Been pondering this question for a decade now...
🇷🇺 didn’t “return” to dictatorship under POO-tihn. It never left.
Rusich is crowdsourcing war crimes, Navalnaya is asking 🇪🇺 to fix 🇷🇺 for russians, and I try to make sense of it all
kyivindependent.com/why-russia-c...
Been pondering this question for a decade now...
🇷🇺 didn’t “return” to dictatorship under POO-tihn. It never left.
Rusich is crowdsourcing war crimes, Navalnaya is asking 🇪🇺 to fix 🇷🇺 for russians, and I try to make sense of it all
kyivindependent.com/why-russia-c...
Why Russia cannot help but invade
The planned Trump-Putin summit in Budapest has been shelved. The White House says there's no point meeting unless "we're going to make a deal." Some view this as a setback for diplomacy, but it may we...
kyivindependent.com
November 19, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Why russia cannot help but invade?
Been pondering this question for a decade now...
🇷🇺 didn’t “return” to dictatorship under POO-tihn. It never left.
Rusich is crowdsourcing war crimes, Navalnaya is asking 🇪🇺 to fix 🇷🇺 for russians, and I try to make sense of it all
kyivindependent.com/why-russia-c...
Been pondering this question for a decade now...
🇷🇺 didn’t “return” to dictatorship under POO-tihn. It never left.
Rusich is crowdsourcing war crimes, Navalnaya is asking 🇪🇺 to fix 🇷🇺 for russians, and I try to make sense of it all
kyivindependent.com/why-russia-c...
Reposted by Ben
So what can you do?
Very simple:
✔ Avoid stepping into identity frames
✔ Ignore bait designed to provoke emotional reactions
✔ Stick to structural issues, not personalities
✔ Maintain perspective: allies aren’t your enemy
✔ Don’t let others define the terms of your argument
Very simple:
✔ Avoid stepping into identity frames
✔ Ignore bait designed to provoke emotional reactions
✔ Stick to structural issues, not personalities
✔ Maintain perspective: allies aren’t your enemy
✔ Don’t let others define the terms of your argument
November 20, 2025 at 11:48 AM
So what can you do?
Very simple:
✔ Avoid stepping into identity frames
✔ Ignore bait designed to provoke emotional reactions
✔ Stick to structural issues, not personalities
✔ Maintain perspective: allies aren’t your enemy
✔ Don’t let others define the terms of your argument
Very simple:
✔ Avoid stepping into identity frames
✔ Ignore bait designed to provoke emotional reactions
✔ Stick to structural issues, not personalities
✔ Maintain perspective: allies aren’t your enemy
✔ Don’t let others define the terms of your argument
Reposted by Ben
And the moment you do, the operation succeeds — even if everyone involved thinks they’re acting independently.
Understanding this tactic is the first step to defeating it.
And now you know.
🧵/end
Understanding this tactic is the first step to defeating it.
And now you know.
🧵/end
November 20, 2025 at 11:48 AM
And the moment you do, the operation succeeds — even if everyone involved thinks they’re acting independently.
Understanding this tactic is the first step to defeating it.
And now you know.
🧵/end
Understanding this tactic is the first step to defeating it.
And now you know.
🧵/end
Reposted by Ben
Their goal is simple:
→ Make two groups who should be on the same side distrust each other.
→ Make two groups who should be on the same side distrust each other.
November 20, 2025 at 11:47 AM
Their goal is simple:
→ Make two groups who should be on the same side distrust each other.
→ Make two groups who should be on the same side distrust each other.
Reposted by Ben
