Piers Beckley
@piersb.bsky.social
Writer and software developer.
http://fatpigeons.com
The Forest Of Death: https://books.fatpigeons.com/d714gud0pd
http://fatpigeons.com
The Forest Of Death: https://books.fatpigeons.com/d714gud0pd
Reposted by Piers Beckley
Sunk Cost Fallacy + Scope Creep =
The British army wanted an armoured monster truck with a gun on it. £6 billion and 31 hospitalised soldiers later, they got one of the biggest procurement fuckups of all time defence-blog.com/insider-says...
Insider says only hull redesign can save British Ajax
The British Army’s troubled Ajax armoured fighting vehicle has returned to the centre of national criticism in recent days, after new noise-related injuries forced the suspension of training and sent ...
defence-blog.com
December 4, 2025 at 10:21 PM
Sunk Cost Fallacy + Scope Creep =
Reposted by Piers Beckley
A fun thing about writing comics is when you're trying to figure out the SFX for a very specific thing and so you just sit at your desk making sounds for a few minutes
December 4, 2025 at 9:33 PM
A fun thing about writing comics is when you're trying to figure out the SFX for a very specific thing and so you just sit at your desk making sounds for a few minutes
Reposted by Piers Beckley
Jonathan is apparently the world’s oldest known land animal, has had a male partner called Frederick since 1991, and has met Queen Elizabeth II and her father George VI, as well as Prince Edward (luckily not Andrew).
Happy Birthday (Observed) to the uncontested KING Jonathan The Tortoise, estimated to be 192 years old
192 MORE YEARS! 192 MORE YEARS!
192 MORE YEARS! 192 MORE YEARS!
December 4, 2025 at 9:37 PM
Jonathan is apparently the world’s oldest known land animal, has had a male partner called Frederick since 1991, and has met Queen Elizabeth II and her father George VI, as well as Prince Edward (luckily not Andrew).
Reposted by Piers Beckley
Everyone thinks I'm making this up but I swear it is true; in the village I grew up, in the Welsh nickname style the undertaker was "Jones the Box". His son was a solicitor, who specialised in defending minor criminal charges, hence "Jones Witness Box"
December 4, 2025 at 8:18 PM
Everyone thinks I'm making this up but I swear it is true; in the village I grew up, in the Welsh nickname style the undertaker was "Jones the Box". His son was a solicitor, who specialised in defending minor criminal charges, hence "Jones Witness Box"
Reposted by Piers Beckley
I wonder how many cigars JK Rowling smokes as she mumbles “I love it when a plan comes together” as she giggles, picturing all the children she has made feel sad and more alone today
December 4, 2025 at 5:50 PM
I wonder how many cigars JK Rowling smokes as she mumbles “I love it when a plan comes together” as she giggles, picturing all the children she has made feel sad and more alone today
Reposted by Piers Beckley
So much of this shit is gambling! Robinhood is fucking gambling! Crypto is gambling! Videogame business models are gambling! It's all fucking gambling! Laws need to really catch up to the fact that the brain can be hacked by this shit.
This is gambling, and we've essentially decided that it's okay to let it go on entirely unregulated for ??? Reasons.
The co-founder of Kalshi says: " The long-term vision is to financialize everything and create a tradable asset out of any difference in opinion."
December 3, 2025 at 10:43 PM
So much of this shit is gambling! Robinhood is fucking gambling! Crypto is gambling! Videogame business models are gambling! It's all fucking gambling! Laws need to really catch up to the fact that the brain can be hacked by this shit.
Reposted by Piers Beckley
Capitalism is literally predicated on the conceit that labor produces "excess value" to which laborers are not entitled. It was an attempt at filling in the hierarchical gap left by the collapse of monarchy in Europe.
The essence of fascism is that it is the foil to the essence of capitalism.
Capitalism is a system based on creating; creating value, prosperity, mutual benefit. Rewarding the merit of creating those.
Fascism is a system based on taking. Using corrupt power, to abuse and take from others.
Capitalism is a system based on creating; creating value, prosperity, mutual benefit. Rewarding the merit of creating those.
Fascism is a system based on taking. Using corrupt power, to abuse and take from others.
December 4, 2025 at 10:06 PM
Capitalism is literally predicated on the conceit that labor produces "excess value" to which laborers are not entitled. It was an attempt at filling in the hierarchical gap left by the collapse of monarchy in Europe.
Reposted by Piers Beckley
EXT. CARIBBEAN SEA
Two NARCO-TERRORISTS bob in the water.
TERRORIST 1: Our boat!
TERRORIST 2: Forget it! We must get these drugs to America!
TERRORIST 1: But the yanks will fire again!
TERRORIST 2: Who cares! The mission goes on!
TERRORIST 1: You're right!
[IN UNISON] WE WILL DIE FOR DRUGS!
Two NARCO-TERRORISTS bob in the water.
TERRORIST 1: Our boat!
TERRORIST 2: Forget it! We must get these drugs to America!
TERRORIST 1: But the yanks will fire again!
TERRORIST 2: Who cares! The mission goes on!
TERRORIST 1: You're right!
[IN UNISON] WE WILL DIE FOR DRUGS!
December 4, 2025 at 7:43 PM
EXT. CARIBBEAN SEA
Two NARCO-TERRORISTS bob in the water.
TERRORIST 1: Our boat!
TERRORIST 2: Forget it! We must get these drugs to America!
TERRORIST 1: But the yanks will fire again!
TERRORIST 2: Who cares! The mission goes on!
TERRORIST 1: You're right!
[IN UNISON] WE WILL DIE FOR DRUGS!
Two NARCO-TERRORISTS bob in the water.
TERRORIST 1: Our boat!
TERRORIST 2: Forget it! We must get these drugs to America!
TERRORIST 1: But the yanks will fire again!
TERRORIST 2: Who cares! The mission goes on!
TERRORIST 1: You're right!
[IN UNISON] WE WILL DIE FOR DRUGS!
Reposted by Piers Beckley
Reposted by Piers Beckley
The attacks on trans rights, which are basic human rights, are a terrible injustice and an attack on truth and fact as well. Everyone should be deeply alarmed and it should be disqualifying for a politician to support such discrimination.
December 4, 2025 at 6:09 PM
The attacks on trans rights, which are basic human rights, are a terrible injustice and an attack on truth and fact as well. Everyone should be deeply alarmed and it should be disqualifying for a politician to support such discrimination.
If you visit books.fatpigeons.com/marsff001a/r..., there are more than a score of authors there who'll give you a free story if you sign up to their mailing list.
My one is a novella called The Crystal Sword, if you fancy it. Portal! Swordfights! Mysterious Planet!
My one is a novella called The Crystal Sword, if you fancy it. Portal! Swordfights! Mysterious Planet!
Epic Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Searching for your next favorite story?
Look no further! These bestselling authors have teamed up to offer a delightful selection of new books. Available for a limited time.
books.fatpigeons.com
December 4, 2025 at 6:28 PM
If you visit books.fatpigeons.com/marsff001a/r..., there are more than a score of authors there who'll give you a free story if you sign up to their mailing list.
My one is a novella called The Crystal Sword, if you fancy it. Portal! Swordfights! Mysterious Planet!
My one is a novella called The Crystal Sword, if you fancy it. Portal! Swordfights! Mysterious Planet!
Reposted by Piers Beckley
it's wild how the positive use cases are like "save 5 minutes reading a long doc" and "write a generic email faster" and the negative use cases are "get encouraged to dive deeper in psychosis, misogyny, or suicidal thoughts" and we're still on the fence about overall value
New from 404 Media: ChatGPT told a violent stalker to continue running his misogynistic and threat-filled podcast despite the “haters,” and to visit more gyms to find women. The man stalked women in multiple states, including touching and following from work
www.404media.co/chatgpt-spot...
www.404media.co/chatgpt-spot...
ChatGPT Told a Violent Stalker to Embrace the 'Haters,' Indictment Says
A newly filed indictment claims a wannabe influencer used ChatGPT as his "therapist" and "best friend" in his pursuit of the "wife type," while harassing women so aggressively they had to miss work a...
www.404media.co
December 3, 2025 at 6:17 PM
it's wild how the positive use cases are like "save 5 minutes reading a long doc" and "write a generic email faster" and the negative use cases are "get encouraged to dive deeper in psychosis, misogyny, or suicidal thoughts" and we're still on the fence about overall value
Reposted by Piers Beckley
It’s a symptom of our current debased condition that guys like this feel comfortable making these kind of vile statements in public.
Palantir CEO Says Making War Crimes Constitutional Would Be Good for Business
Palantir CEO Says Making War Crimes Constitutional Would Be Good for Business
Alex Karp vows to use his "whole influence" on immigration and defense policy.
gizmodo.com
December 4, 2025 at 12:18 PM
It’s a symptom of our current debased condition that guys like this feel comfortable making these kind of vile statements in public.
Reposted by Piers Beckley
An experienced organizer I really respect once reminded folks "you can't always win, but you can always, always inflict a cost. Those add up."
You cannot match the size and resources of these organizations that are abandoning trans youth and sacrificing trans lives, but you have one advantage they do not: an ability to maintain a relentless focus upon them.
Make it your work, every week, to think about how you can punish them.
Make it your work, every week, to think about how you can punish them.
December 3, 2025 at 10:21 PM
An experienced organizer I really respect once reminded folks "you can't always win, but you can always, always inflict a cost. Those add up."
Reposted by Piers Beckley
Cruelty is anhedonic. It rarely delivers the euphoria promised because, in the abstract, what feels righteous and joyful inevitably reveals itself to be sordid and small. Then it's "No not like that". "No not enough". "No the real battle, the forever war to make this feel good starts now". Forever.
Note how these awful people are getting exactly the exclusions of children that they demanded and *that still isn’t enough for them*: they demand everyone be delighted about it and kiss their arses for being brilliant.
December 4, 2025 at 10:59 AM
Cruelty is anhedonic. It rarely delivers the euphoria promised because, in the abstract, what feels righteous and joyful inevitably reveals itself to be sordid and small. Then it's "No not like that". "No not enough". "No the real battle, the forever war to make this feel good starts now". Forever.
But why, after a worldwide pandemic which caused people to eschew almost all human contact and in which almost a quarter of a million people in the UK died, could there possibly be an increase in mental health problems?
It mystery.
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
It mystery.
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Wes Streeting orders review of mental health diagnoses as benefit claims soar
Health secretary has asked experts to investigate whether normal feelings have become ‘over-pathologised’
www.theguardian.com
December 4, 2025 at 12:26 PM
But why, after a worldwide pandemic which caused people to eschew almost all human contact and in which almost a quarter of a million people in the UK died, could there possibly be an increase in mental health problems?
It mystery.
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
It mystery.
www.theguardian.com/society/2025...
Reposted by Piers Beckley
It’s the mark of an amateur – in journalistic writing, book writing, TV, whatever – that they think ideas are the currency, where the value is, and need fiercely protecting.
Everyone has ideas. Usually ten before breakfast. Executing them well is the hard bit.
Everyone has ideas. Usually ten before breakfast. Executing them well is the hard bit.
'The words are AI, but the idea is all me.'
'This is MY story, I just needed telling it.'
'The voice is authentically my own.'
'The novel is mine, but I used AI to write it.'
'This is MY story, I just needed telling it.'
'The voice is authentically my own.'
'The novel is mine, but I used AI to write it.'
December 4, 2025 at 10:33 AM
It’s the mark of an amateur – in journalistic writing, book writing, TV, whatever – that they think ideas are the currency, where the value is, and need fiercely protecting.
Everyone has ideas. Usually ten before breakfast. Executing them well is the hard bit.
Everyone has ideas. Usually ten before breakfast. Executing them well is the hard bit.
Reposted by Piers Beckley
A reminder that Wes Streeting and the Labour government have deliberately chosen two of the worst possible experts to lead the review into overdiagnosis by the way. People already entrenched in that belief who will absolutely manipulate findings to suit their ideological crusade.
Alarm over government’s choices to lead ‘over-diagnosis’ review that could help ministers cut benefits
The government’s decision to commission a review of alleged “over-diagnosis” of mental health conditions and neurodivergence has caused alarm among many disabled people, with fears that it will all…
www.disabilitynewsservice.com
December 4, 2025 at 8:41 AM
A reminder that Wes Streeting and the Labour government have deliberately chosen two of the worst possible experts to lead the review into overdiagnosis by the way. People already entrenched in that belief who will absolutely manipulate findings to suit their ideological crusade.
Reposted by Piers Beckley
All of the companies that make the software I use are increasing their prices, to account for an "investment" in AI.
I'm sat here imagining how my clients would feel if I added 30% to each invoice, because I "really got into gambling".
I'm sat here imagining how my clients would feel if I added 30% to each invoice, because I "really got into gambling".
December 4, 2025 at 8:41 AM
All of the companies that make the software I use are increasing their prices, to account for an "investment" in AI.
I'm sat here imagining how my clients would feel if I added 30% to each invoice, because I "really got into gambling".
I'm sat here imagining how my clients would feel if I added 30% to each invoice, because I "really got into gambling".
Reposted by Piers Beckley
The WI has been trans inclusive since the 70s, before I was born. Do you see who in this scenario was innocently minding their own business, coming to their own arrangements locally? Do you see who is forcefully imposing themselves and their demands upon others, via threats.
December 4, 2025 at 8:30 AM
The WI has been trans inclusive since the 70s, before I was born. Do you see who in this scenario was innocently minding their own business, coming to their own arrangements locally? Do you see who is forcefully imposing themselves and their demands upon others, via threats.
Reposted by Piers Beckley
Streeting to next launch inquiry into “over-diagnosis” of left-handedness.
“Never used to be like this,” he insists.
“Never used to be like this,” he insists.
December 4, 2025 at 7:45 AM
Streeting to next launch inquiry into “over-diagnosis” of left-handedness.
“Never used to be like this,” he insists.
“Never used to be like this,” he insists.
Not particularly helpful headline aside…
I’d love to believe that this is genuinely going to be a review about how to support those with mental health issues, rather than an exercise to deny help to people who need it in order to save money.
You’ll forgive me if I’m sceptical.
I’d love to believe that this is genuinely going to be a review about how to support those with mental health issues, rather than an exercise to deny help to people who need it in order to save money.
You’ll forgive me if I’m sceptical.
December 4, 2025 at 2:05 AM
Not particularly helpful headline aside…
I’d love to believe that this is genuinely going to be a review about how to support those with mental health issues, rather than an exercise to deny help to people who need it in order to save money.
You’ll forgive me if I’m sceptical.
I’d love to believe that this is genuinely going to be a review about how to support those with mental health issues, rather than an exercise to deny help to people who need it in order to save money.
You’ll forgive me if I’m sceptical.
Reposted by Piers Beckley
I see he’s moved on from the couch
December 3, 2025 at 1:31 PM
I see he’s moved on from the couch
Reposted by Piers Beckley
Unlike the debunked “millionaire exodus”, Britain’s young workers really are leaving in droves— 174,000+ since March 2024.
The motor of our economy walking away is a crisis that really should worry us.
🧵So, why are they leaving and how can we stop it? 1/9
The motor of our economy walking away is a crisis that really should worry us.
🧵So, why are they leaving and how can we stop it? 1/9
December 3, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Unlike the debunked “millionaire exodus”, Britain’s young workers really are leaving in droves— 174,000+ since March 2024.
The motor of our economy walking away is a crisis that really should worry us.
🧵So, why are they leaving and how can we stop it? 1/9
The motor of our economy walking away is a crisis that really should worry us.
🧵So, why are they leaving and how can we stop it? 1/9