Alice Porter
@aliceporter.bsky.social
Currently learning to deal with psoriatic arthritis, was a mature student aiming for vetmed until COVID blew up my life/health so now 🤷♀️
Mother of sheep.
Mother of sheep.
Reposted by Alice Porter
Keep banging on about it but any women working in schools and planning to get pregnant get your Rubella status checked.
February 17, 2026 at 3:58 PM
Keep banging on about it but any women working in schools and planning to get pregnant get your Rubella status checked.
Reposted by Alice Porter
I think it's wrong to describe the World Service as "soft power". It's actually "info power". And these days that's a very hard form of power indeed.
And another bites the dust?
The BBC World Service will run out of funding in just seven weeks. Its funding arrangement with the Foreign Office finishes at the end of March. There is no plan for what happens next.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The BBC World Service will run out of funding in just seven weeks. Its funding arrangement with the Foreign Office finishes at the end of March. There is no plan for what happens next.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The Guardian view on the BBC World Service: this is London calling | Editorial
Editorial: With just seven weeks before its funding runs out, the UK’s greatest cultural asset and most trusted international news organisation must be supported
www.theguardian.com
February 15, 2026 at 8:05 PM
I think it's wrong to describe the World Service as "soft power". It's actually "info power". And these days that's a very hard form of power indeed.
It is truly, truly remarkable just how many people are apparently incapable of spotting what is very clearly a mildly humorous, sarcastic comment on right-wing/Republican moralising.
Dungeons and Dragons turning your kids gay and satanic is a moral panic, because everyone knows it only turns them bisexual and wican.
A global child sex trafficking ring with dozens of victims and a huge paper trail is not.
A global child sex trafficking ring with dozens of victims and a huge paper trail is not.
Noah Rothman on the Epstein files: "It is a witch hunt. It‘s a moral panic."
February 17, 2026 at 12:46 PM
It is truly, truly remarkable just how many people are apparently incapable of spotting what is very clearly a mildly humorous, sarcastic comment on right-wing/Republican moralising.
Reposted by Alice Porter
The Project 2025 author is using millions of dollars in USAID money for his own security detail.
It is estimated that 762,000 people have *already died* as a result of Elon Musk and Russell Vought’s obscene murder of USAID, including more than 500,000 children.
Vought is a mass murderer.
It is estimated that 762,000 people have *already died* as a result of Elon Musk and Russell Vought’s obscene murder of USAID, including more than 500,000 children.
Vought is a mass murderer.
Exclusive: White House uses USAID funds for budget director Vought's security, documents show
The White House budget office is using millions of dollars from the former U.S. foreign aid agency to pay for the security detail of Russell Vought, President Donald Trump's budget chief and an archit...
www.reuters.com
February 13, 2026 at 2:46 PM
The Project 2025 author is using millions of dollars in USAID money for his own security detail.
It is estimated that 762,000 people have *already died* as a result of Elon Musk and Russell Vought’s obscene murder of USAID, including more than 500,000 children.
Vought is a mass murderer.
It is estimated that 762,000 people have *already died* as a result of Elon Musk and Russell Vought’s obscene murder of USAID, including more than 500,000 children.
Vought is a mass murderer.
I love nerds*
*Complimentary
*Complimentary
I was watching the new BBC sitcom Small Prophets this evening and had to pause when, in episode 3, there appears to be a lot of Aponogeton distachyos, Cape-pondweed, in the canal!
#TVBotany
@bsbibotany.bsky.social
#TVBotany
@bsbibotany.bsky.social
February 16, 2026 at 8:24 PM
I love nerds*
*Complimentary
*Complimentary
Reposted by Alice Porter
It's irritating how utterly bleeding obvious it was at the time of privatisation that it could only ever erode universal service in one way or another, and yet here we are, 13 years down the line, left dealing with the consequences of the bleeding obvious...
Our regular postie took a week's holiday. We saw no deliveries for that week. When he came back he told us the entire week's letters and advertising bumph was just left for him to deliver on his return. Today stand-in posties are covering up to 5 absences at once, compared to 1-to-1 a few years ago.
Royal Mail staff tell BBC letters sit undelivered as firm prioritises parcels
Staff and customers tell the BBC prioritising parcels can mean missed NHS appointments and late payment fines.
www.bbc.co.uk
February 16, 2026 at 12:25 PM
It's irritating how utterly bleeding obvious it was at the time of privatisation that it could only ever erode universal service in one way or another, and yet here we are, 13 years down the line, left dealing with the consequences of the bleeding obvious...
My sisters bought me a party worm from HattieShake and I love him so much 😭😭😭
February 16, 2026 at 1:22 PM
My sisters bought me a party worm from HattieShake and I love him so much 😭😭😭
Reposted by Alice Porter
The government has discovered regulating social media is Hard (it's good at passing Tough Laws and then useless at enforcing them), so it's now going for the much easier job of just restricting the freedom of teenagers.
February 16, 2026 at 10:01 AM
The government has discovered regulating social media is Hard (it's good at passing Tough Laws and then useless at enforcing them), so it's now going for the much easier job of just restricting the freedom of teenagers.
Reposted by Alice Porter
Oh for absolute sputs sake
BBC's Arabic radio service in Lebanon closed after 85 years as part of a £28.5m savings drive. 'Just months later, in October 2023, the Russian state-owned Sputnik news agency took over the frequency. Its news bulletin opened with “This is Moscow”, replacing the previous “This is London” intro.' 🙄
BBC warns Russia is taking over World Service radio frequencies
Russian propaganda is filling the void where the BBC has closed World Service radio services due to cuts
inews.co.uk
February 15, 2026 at 10:28 PM
Oh for absolute sputs sake
Reposted by Alice Porter
I wonder when we'll be ready to talk about how schools are now full of gameified dopamine slot machine apps for learning times tables, science, even reading itself, that are priming an entire generation for gambling and gaming addiction.
A book I highly recommend on electronic slot machines—which fully convinced me they should be illegal for how they systematically mislead our brains—is Natasha Dow Schüll‘s ADDICTION BY DESIGN
Gamified online gambling seems much worse, & is becoming much more ubiquitous
It will immiserate so many
Gamified online gambling seems much worse, & is becoming much more ubiquitous
It will immiserate so many
I see no reason not to look at the online gambling and prediction market craze as a new opioids crisis.
It will wreak havoc on lower-income Americans and leave a trail of destruction and despair in its wake.
The companies are just Purdue Pharma 2.0
www.liberalcurrents.com/from-pill-mi...
It will wreak havoc on lower-income Americans and leave a trail of destruction and despair in its wake.
The companies are just Purdue Pharma 2.0
www.liberalcurrents.com/from-pill-mi...
February 15, 2026 at 8:20 AM
I wonder when we'll be ready to talk about how schools are now full of gameified dopamine slot machine apps for learning times tables, science, even reading itself, that are priming an entire generation for gambling and gaming addiction.
Reposted by Alice Porter
ICE using the same ruse that Ted Bundy used to kidnap people should tell you something.
CCTV footage appears to show DHS agents posing as people having car trouble in order to lure a target out of his house before arresting them. The target comes out and starts helping them before 3 vehicles surround the scene. The car "experiencing" trouble then drives off with them.
February 15, 2026 at 1:51 AM
ICE using the same ruse that Ted Bundy used to kidnap people should tell you something.
Reposted by Alice Porter
This is the best Valentines thread ever
February 14, 2026 at 5:49 PM
This is the best Valentines thread ever
Reposted by Alice Porter
The US administration’s insanity on vaccines continues to have ramifications across the world – it is not that America will miss out on these potential new vaccines. It is that they simply won’t happen at all. (Or at least they’ll be indefinitely delayed.)
In terms of what cures are being lost:
- Epstein-Barr virus is perhaps the major trigger for multiple sclerosis
- herpes simplex virus causes cold sores, genital herpes, infections in babies, deadly meningitis
- shingles virus causes an intensely painful disease
- Epstein-Barr virus is perhaps the major trigger for multiple sclerosis
- herpes simplex virus causes cold sores, genital herpes, infections in babies, deadly meningitis
- shingles virus causes an intensely painful disease
February 13, 2026 at 1:45 PM
The US administration’s insanity on vaccines continues to have ramifications across the world – it is not that America will miss out on these potential new vaccines. It is that they simply won’t happen at all. (Or at least they’ll be indefinitely delayed.)
Text from my GP asking me to book an appointment. What for? 🤷♀️🤷♀️🤷♀️
Love not being able to prepare for interactions with healthcare professionals, not the good sort of surprise
Love not being able to prepare for interactions with healthcare professionals, not the good sort of surprise
February 13, 2026 at 12:54 PM
Text from my GP asking me to book an appointment. What for? 🤷♀️🤷♀️🤷♀️
Love not being able to prepare for interactions with healthcare professionals, not the good sort of surprise
Love not being able to prepare for interactions with healthcare professionals, not the good sort of surprise
Wtf is going on today. Trump getting a coal trophy, the US border police accidentally-on-purpose firing a plane-killing laser at a children's party balloon and now this is also, apparently, not satire. I feel like I'm losing my grip on reality
nice UK trade policy: maintaining anti-dumping duties on Chinese-made ironing boards, to protect the 300 people employed in the UK ironing-board industry
www.gov.uk/government/n...
www.gov.uk/government/n...
Anti-dumping measure on ironing boards from China maintained
The UK government has accepted the TRA’s recommendation to maintain an anti-dumping measure on ironing boards from China for a further five years.
www.gov.uk
February 12, 2026 at 1:34 PM
Wtf is going on today. Trump getting a coal trophy, the US border police accidentally-on-purpose firing a plane-killing laser at a children's party balloon and now this is also, apparently, not satire. I feel like I'm losing my grip on reality
Botulism, it's your time to shine
February 12, 2026 at 1:30 PM
Botulism, it's your time to shine
I'm expecting an important phone call/message from my rheumatology nurse this month (waiting for test results) so imagine my excitement when I get an email asking me to log into MyChart as I have a new message...'thank you for completing the survey we sent you' (last month)
🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️
🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️
February 12, 2026 at 12:16 PM
I'm expecting an important phone call/message from my rheumatology nurse this month (waiting for test results) so imagine my excitement when I get an email asking me to log into MyChart as I have a new message...'thank you for completing the survey we sent you' (last month)
🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️
🤦♀️🤦♀️🤦♀️
Reposted by Alice Porter
Notable how little UK Govt, and specifically the health secretary, have to say about this. No sense that they can shape public behaviour. Very passive.
UK has lost its official status as a country that has achieved elimination of measles, as vaccination rates have fallen below the 95% required to achieve herd immunity. So sad, and likely due vaccine misinformation. If you haven't already, get your kids vaccinated ASAP. www.bbc.com/news/article...
UK loses measles elimination status
Decision made after outbreaks in 2024, when there were nearly 3,000 cases in England and Wales.
www.bbc.com
February 12, 2026 at 11:43 AM
Notable how little UK Govt, and specifically the health secretary, have to say about this. No sense that they can shape public behaviour. Very passive.
Reposted by Alice Porter
Something that I think is poorly understood even by a lot of well-meaning people is that it is very common to apply for a UK visa (working, family, tourist, student, etc), spend a fortune in the process, meet all the criteria, wait months and then still be rejected, often with no clear reason why.
Saw this on LinkedIn. Our immigration system is morally bankrupt and economically ridiculous. Shameful.
February 12, 2026 at 11:17 AM
Something that I think is poorly understood even by a lot of well-meaning people is that it is very common to apply for a UK visa (working, family, tourist, student, etc), spend a fortune in the process, meet all the criteria, wait months and then still be rejected, often with no clear reason why.
"And if they had a platform it’s not hard to imagine what they’d say to these influencers..."
'Half a dozen arrows to the torso' is a universal language
'Half a dozen arrows to the torso' is a universal language
We warned that influencers are one of the growing threats towards uncontacted peoples. 2026 has already brought some spectacularly terrible examples.
Several influencers and adventurers have been going on podcasts lately sharing their stories of encounters with uncontacted peoples.
Several influencers and adventurers have been going on podcasts lately sharing their stories of encounters with uncontacted peoples.
February 11, 2026 at 6:11 PM
"And if they had a platform it’s not hard to imagine what they’d say to these influencers..."
'Half a dozen arrows to the torso' is a universal language
'Half a dozen arrows to the torso' is a universal language
Reposted by Alice Porter
It is absolutely outrageous that Moderna’s flu vaccine was met with a “refusal-to-file” even after their approved their protocol with FDA and carried out the trial as agreed. This vaccine works better in older adults than the current flu vaccines.
apnews.com/article/mode...
apnews.com/article/mode...
Moderna says FDA refuses its application for new mRNA flu vaccine
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is refusing to consider Moderna’s application for a new flu vaccine made with mRNA technology.
apnews.com
February 11, 2026 at 12:13 AM
It is absolutely outrageous that Moderna’s flu vaccine was met with a “refusal-to-file” even after their approved their protocol with FDA and carried out the trial as agreed. This vaccine works better in older adults than the current flu vaccines.
apnews.com/article/mode...
apnews.com/article/mode...
It's amazing how much potential there is for improved agricultural productivity, and more sustainable cultivation, with relatively simple changes
Chickpeas have long been at the heart of Lebanese cuisine, yet local production has struggled to meet demand.
Learn how @FAO’s OCOP initiative is helping Lebanon’s farmers revive this legacy crop with better quality seeds & agronomic practices. https://bit.ly/4r6AJV4
#WorldPulsesDay
Learn how @FAO’s OCOP initiative is helping Lebanon’s farmers revive this legacy crop with better quality seeds & agronomic practices. https://bit.ly/4r6AJV4
#WorldPulsesDay
February 10, 2026 at 2:29 PM
It's amazing how much potential there is for improved agricultural productivity, and more sustainable cultivation, with relatively simple changes
Reposted by Alice Porter
Whale evolution makes me uncomfortable
February 9, 2026 at 7:48 PM
Whale evolution makes me uncomfortable
Reposted by Alice Porter
I talked w/ uniformed health workers about their deployments to prisons where ICE holds immigrants.
ICE's operation is especially secretive at Guantanamo -- the place where America flouted its own rules to torture detainees post 9/11.
@wired.com and @kffhealthnews.org (no paywall)
ICE's operation is especially secretive at Guantanamo -- the place where America flouted its own rules to torture detainees post 9/11.
@wired.com and @kffhealthnews.org (no paywall)
Public Health Workers Are Quitting Over Assignments to Guantánamo
Doctors, nurses, and other officers are increasingly being deployed to ICE detention centers. Some have resigned in protest, while others offer a rare look into bleak conditions.
www.wired.com
February 9, 2026 at 2:02 PM
I talked w/ uniformed health workers about their deployments to prisons where ICE holds immigrants.
ICE's operation is especially secretive at Guantanamo -- the place where America flouted its own rules to torture detainees post 9/11.
@wired.com and @kffhealthnews.org (no paywall)
ICE's operation is especially secretive at Guantanamo -- the place where America flouted its own rules to torture detainees post 9/11.
@wired.com and @kffhealthnews.org (no paywall)