Barold
@barrytsprout.bsky.social
Socialist, Scientist, Sophist.
Pinned
Barold
@barrytsprout.bsky.social
· Mar 9
Signez la pétition
Stop Alawite genocide
chng.it
chng.it/6FYmfJF4n8
Please sign this petition about the latest horrific events happening in Syria.
Please sign this petition about the latest horrific events happening in Syria.
Reposted by Barold
Reposted by Barold
Reposted by Barold
Reposted by Barold
andrew wakefield should be in prison.
More than 170 measles cases confirmed in outbreaks across nine states this year
More than 170 measles cases confirmed in outbreaks across nine states this year
More than 170 measles cases confirmed in outbreaks across nine states this year
www.independent.co.uk
January 15, 2026 at 11:16 AM
andrew wakefield should be in prison.
Reposted by Barold
First as tragedy, then as farce, then as whatever the fuck this is.
January 15, 2026 at 10:44 AM
First as tragedy, then as farce, then as whatever the fuck this is.
Reposted by Barold
Spurs have posted this video of Connor Gallagher arriving back in England and I dunno, he’s hairier than I remember
January 15, 2026 at 11:16 AM
Spurs have posted this video of Connor Gallagher arriving back in England and I dunno, he’s hairier than I remember
Reposted by Barold
Imagine this... and then realising that it doesn't even fund the HE system properly anyway. One of the worst Public Policy Disasters in decades. Willetts and Osborne have obvs dined out on it and gone on to great success tho. That's Britain, always failing upwards! 🇬🇧
This is clearly depressing and radicalising in a way a tax wouldn't have been.
January 15, 2026 at 10:32 AM
Imagine this... and then realising that it doesn't even fund the HE system properly anyway. One of the worst Public Policy Disasters in decades. Willetts and Osborne have obvs dined out on it and gone on to great success tho. That's Britain, always failing upwards! 🇬🇧
Reposted by Barold
Just to defend poor Kerry from this clickbait headline - she appears to be talking about her OnlyFans & very much mocks Farage for being a creep.
Kerry Katona says Nigel Farage ‘texts me now and then’
Kerry Katona says Nigel Farage ‘texts me now and then’
Kerry Katona says Nigel Farage ‘texts me now and then’
www.independent.co.uk
January 15, 2026 at 11:26 AM
Just to defend poor Kerry from this clickbait headline - she appears to be talking about her OnlyFans & very much mocks Farage for being a creep.
Reposted by Barold
Still over half of UK universities remain active on X. @sheffielduni.bsky.social and University for the Creative Arts were the last two I had spotted as ceasing activity in the late summer. Maybe others since.
I've updated my data with regards to 141 UK institutions and who has gone where after X.
I've updated my data with regards to 141 UK institutions and who has gone where after X.
January 12, 2026 at 4:35 PM
Still over half of UK universities remain active on X. @sheffielduni.bsky.social and University for the Creative Arts were the last two I had spotted as ceasing activity in the late summer. Maybe others since.
I've updated my data with regards to 141 UK institutions and who has gone where after X.
I've updated my data with regards to 141 UK institutions and who has gone where after X.
Reposted by Barold
I don't know a PARTICULAR reason.
Let me think.
Well, first, I hate bullies. So, fuck transphobes.
Second, all the trans people I've met were awesome. I'm sure some are awful, but I sure haven't met any like that yet.
Third, the whole idea of life is the pursuit of your truth and happiness.
1/
Let me think.
Well, first, I hate bullies. So, fuck transphobes.
Second, all the trans people I've met were awesome. I'm sure some are awful, but I sure haven't met any like that yet.
Third, the whole idea of life is the pursuit of your truth and happiness.
1/
Gail, I love you. You are specifically outspoken about this topic when so many others are quiet. I've wondered, is there some specific reason why this topic in particular is so important to you? Because so many cis people can't be arsed, and you're different.
January 14, 2026 at 8:38 PM
I don't know a PARTICULAR reason.
Let me think.
Well, first, I hate bullies. So, fuck transphobes.
Second, all the trans people I've met were awesome. I'm sure some are awful, but I sure haven't met any like that yet.
Third, the whole idea of life is the pursuit of your truth and happiness.
1/
Let me think.
Well, first, I hate bullies. So, fuck transphobes.
Second, all the trans people I've met were awesome. I'm sure some are awful, but I sure haven't met any like that yet.
Third, the whole idea of life is the pursuit of your truth and happiness.
1/
Reposted by Barold
Hormonal birth control is one of the greatest inventions of the past hundred years. Any campaign to push people away from it is a psyop made to strip anyone who can become pregnant of their human rights.
If you are at all in a position to influence young people, even via social media, please push back on this shit
Hormonal birth control can not only prevent pregnancy, it can help relieve symptoms from painful and severe conditions like PCOS. It can also help you skip your period altogether!
Hormonal birth control can not only prevent pregnancy, it can help relieve symptoms from painful and severe conditions like PCOS. It can also help you skip your period altogether!
‘The most feminist thing you can do for yourself is not take birth control’: The shifting politics of the pill | CNN Politics
MAHA and social media are reshaping how women of different political backgrounds look at birth control, alarming medical professionals.
www.cnn.com
January 14, 2026 at 8:34 PM
Hormonal birth control is one of the greatest inventions of the past hundred years. Any campaign to push people away from it is a psyop made to strip anyone who can become pregnant of their human rights.
Reposted by Barold
Hello just making my periodic announcement that I'm a trans man and transitioning made my life SO MUCH better and trans people of all ages deserve respect and access to gender-affirming care - just like cis people do!
January 14, 2026 at 5:46 PM
Hello just making my periodic announcement that I'm a trans man and transitioning made my life SO MUCH better and trans people of all ages deserve respect and access to gender-affirming care - just like cis people do!
Reposted by Barold
This reminds me of what Russell had to say about pin factories.
"A man should not receive wages in proportion to what he has produced, but in proportion to his virtue as exemplified by his industry"
"A man should not receive wages in proportion to what he has produced, but in proportion to his virtue as exemplified by his industry"
January 14, 2026 at 9:30 AM
This reminds me of what Russell had to say about pin factories.
"A man should not receive wages in proportion to what he has produced, but in proportion to his virtue as exemplified by his industry"
"A man should not receive wages in proportion to what he has produced, but in proportion to his virtue as exemplified by his industry"
Reposted by Barold
There is also the second order problem here, that being "doing research" and "applying for research funding" are, in fact, two very different skills without a great deal of natural overlap. There's a similar problem in the arts.
"The question is, which costs more: the research being funded, or the application process itself?"
January 14, 2026 at 9:26 AM
There is also the second order problem here, that being "doing research" and "applying for research funding" are, in fact, two very different skills without a great deal of natural overlap. There's a similar problem in the arts.
I'm a STEM academic. All I really need to do my research, is a consumables budget of about £2k a year, some space, and some time. None of this I can have, without applying for multiple £500k projects a year, which consumes time which could actually be spent doing the research.
Incredible article which points out that it often collectively costs more to apply for scarce research funding than the funds awarded to the successful proposals.
What an absurd system we've built in the service of efficiency and competition.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
What an absurd system we've built in the service of efficiency and competition.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
January 14, 2026 at 9:37 AM
I'm a STEM academic. All I really need to do my research, is a consumables budget of about £2k a year, some space, and some time. None of this I can have, without applying for multiple £500k projects a year, which consumes time which could actually be spent doing the research.
Reposted by Barold
Incredible article which points out that it often collectively costs more to apply for scarce research funding than the funds awarded to the successful proposals.
What an absurd system we've built in the service of efficiency and competition.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
What an absurd system we've built in the service of efficiency and competition.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
January 13, 2026 at 8:55 PM
Incredible article which points out that it often collectively costs more to apply for scarce research funding than the funds awarded to the successful proposals.
What an absurd system we've built in the service of efficiency and competition.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
What an absurd system we've built in the service of efficiency and competition.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Reposted by Barold
My employer expects me to bring in £150,000 in research funding every year so the collapse of the funding model is my responsibility to solve.
Incredible article which points out that it often collectively costs more to apply for scarce research funding than the funds awarded to the successful proposals.
What an absurd system we've built in the service of efficiency and competition.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
What an absurd system we've built in the service of efficiency and competition.
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
January 14, 2026 at 9:20 AM
My employer expects me to bring in £150,000 in research funding every year so the collapse of the funding model is my responsibility to solve.
Reposted by Barold
Following coverage over the weekend of Sir Paul Nurse's comments that suggested that the only reason that a Fellow should be expelled from @royalsociety.org is scientific misconduct, I have written to him to explain the risks such an attitude poses of increasing sexual harassment in STEM.
January 12, 2026 at 8:59 AM
Following coverage over the weekend of Sir Paul Nurse's comments that suggested that the only reason that a Fellow should be expelled from @royalsociety.org is scientific misconduct, I have written to him to explain the risks such an attitude poses of increasing sexual harassment in STEM.
Reposted by Barold
I think residents of Manchester and Birmingham could be forgiven for interpreting 2045 as ‘never’.
I was 20 when HS2 was announced. Great to know i’ll probably be in my late 60s when the Birmingham-Manchester section starts work let alone finishes. Seems like a country doing things the right way!
January 14, 2026 at 8:11 AM
I think residents of Manchester and Birmingham could be forgiven for interpreting 2045 as ‘never’.
Reposted by Barold
LOS ANGELES: ICE is in Atwater Village today
January 12, 2026 at 8:50 PM
LOS ANGELES: ICE is in Atwater Village today
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Lord Mandelson refuses to apologise for continuing his association with "best pal" Jeffrey Epstein after Epstein had been convicted in 2008 (Mandelson stayed at Epsteins lavish Manhattan townhouse in 2009 & they remained in contact as late as 2015) #BBCLauraK
January 11, 2026 at 10:26 AM
Lord Mandelson refuses to apologise for continuing his association with "best pal" Jeffrey Epstein after Epstein had been convicted in 2008 (Mandelson stayed at Epsteins lavish Manhattan townhouse in 2009 & they remained in contact as late as 2015) #BBCLauraK
Reposted by Barold
With the growing outrage about the government being a tyranny because they’re considering shutting down X, which recently started producing non-consensual sexual images of women and children not as a bug, but as a feature, it’s worth asking - why?
What do they gain from X?
I think I know why.
What do they gain from X?
I think I know why.
They Say They "Protect Women and Children". X Paid Them Nearly £68,000
Four MPs. 691 hours. A platform facilitating abuse. And a silence that tells you everything.
open.substack.com
January 11, 2026 at 9:04 AM
With the growing outrage about the government being a tyranny because they’re considering shutting down X, which recently started producing non-consensual sexual images of women and children not as a bug, but as a feature, it’s worth asking - why?
What do they gain from X?
I think I know why.
What do they gain from X?
I think I know why.
Reposted by Barold
No more forever wars
January 10, 2026 at 9:23 PM
No more forever wars
Reposted by Barold
dear mr trump, my name is rupert and i am 68 years old. the evil keir starmez is trying to take away our access to mr musk's magical paedophile machine, a fundamental assault on british values. please deploy enola gay over london our country yearns for freedom
January 10, 2026 at 11:08 AM
dear mr trump, my name is rupert and i am 68 years old. the evil keir starmez is trying to take away our access to mr musk's magical paedophile machine, a fundamental assault on british values. please deploy enola gay over london our country yearns for freedom
Reposted by Barold
Labour councillor thinks that the murder of a woman - with plans that political parties in the UK are specifically looking to emulate - shouldn't be political.
Labour have no intention in every challenging the far right - which is why they'll be next to follow unless we stand up to them.
Labour have no intention in every challenging the far right - which is why they'll be next to follow unless we stand up to them.
How low can Polanski go? Weaponising the killing of the mother of a 6 year old girl, that’s how low.
Leadership clearly isn’t a Green Party strong point.
Leadership clearly isn’t a Green Party strong point.
Trump started it.
Reform and Tories are at it too.
And Labour already heading in that direction.
All cruel, potentially deadly and does nothing to fix the cost of living crisis.
Reform and Tories are at it too.
And Labour already heading in that direction.
All cruel, potentially deadly and does nothing to fix the cost of living crisis.
January 8, 2026 at 12:06 PM
Labour councillor thinks that the murder of a woman - with plans that political parties in the UK are specifically looking to emulate - shouldn't be political.
Labour have no intention in every challenging the far right - which is why they'll be next to follow unless we stand up to them.
Labour have no intention in every challenging the far right - which is why they'll be next to follow unless we stand up to them.