Des Higgins
@deshiggins.bsky.social
Lapsed bioinformaticist. Dublin. Molecular Evolution and sequence alignment. Clustal. Current birder and not very good jazz guitarist. Ex TCD, EMBL, EBI, UCC and UCD.
Pinned
Des Higgins
@deshiggins.bsky.social
· Nov 18
My first ehhhh twee emm thing on blue-sky. A post olive-backed pipit photo from Inis Mór a few weeks ago.
This is a 2 hour video that is part odyssey, part road trip, part investigation of why birders keep lists and is hilarious and witty and cleverly put together. What's not to like?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zl-w...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zl-w...
LISTERS: A Glimpse Into Extreme Birdwatching
YouTube video by owen reiser
www.youtube.com
September 15, 2025 at 4:48 PM
This is a 2 hour video that is part odyssey, part road trip, part investigation of why birders keep lists and is hilarious and witty and cleverly put together. What's not to like?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zl-w...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=zl-w...
Reposted by Des Higgins
Excellent thread on how to consume stories about autism causes.
We're going to see a lot of bullshit in the coming days and weeks about "causes of autism", and most will be based on flawed, over-interpreted observational studies (1/n)
September 8, 2025 at 8:29 AM
Excellent thread on how to consume stories about autism causes.
Reposted by Des Higgins
got a bit of light morning vintage procrastination viewing tee’d up. the opening segments look highly promising
Percy Grainger's free music machine
YouTube video by Robotussin Vintage Synths
youtu.be
September 5, 2025 at 9:19 AM
got a bit of light morning vintage procrastination viewing tee’d up. the opening segments look highly promising
Reposted by Des Higgins
Damn it all, their advantage is so huge that mildly athletic men have been switching gender in droves just to get to the Olympics.
Like you DON’T, because that would be weird and much too much to do with your entire life if you weren’t actually trans. And, as the numbers prove, isn’t happening.
Like you DON’T, because that would be weird and much too much to do with your entire life if you weren’t actually trans. And, as the numbers prove, isn’t happening.
Since the IOC has created a rule for trans women to compete in 2003, over 81,000 people have become Olympians.
Out of those 81,000 Olympians a total of 2 have been trans women & one came dead last the other came 37th out of 42, neither were from the 🇬🇧 🇺🇸 or 🇦🇺
youtu.be/B8CzqxhZk7I?...
Out of those 81,000 Olympians a total of 2 have been trans women & one came dead last the other came 37th out of 42, neither were from the 🇬🇧 🇺🇸 or 🇦🇺
youtu.be/B8CzqxhZk7I?...
The Transgender female athletes advantage is a myth.
YouTube video by Kirsti Miller30
youtu.be
September 3, 2025 at 2:10 AM
Damn it all, their advantage is so huge that mildly athletic men have been switching gender in droves just to get to the Olympics.
Like you DON’T, because that would be weird and much too much to do with your entire life if you weren’t actually trans. And, as the numbers prove, isn’t happening.
Like you DON’T, because that would be weird and much too much to do with your entire life if you weren’t actually trans. And, as the numbers prove, isn’t happening.
I'm just back from 8 days seawatching from the Bridges of Ross in the west of Ireland. 355 sabine's gulls on one of the days.
September 1, 2025 at 10:21 AM
I'm just back from 8 days seawatching from the Bridges of Ross in the west of Ireland. 355 sabine's gulls on one of the days.
Reposted by Des Higgins
She's an Irish woman - Kitty O'Brien is her name.
The German police brutally assault an Irish woman protesting against Israel's genocide.
The German state is a disgrace.
It committed genocide against the Jewish people - far from its only genocide.
It forced Palestinians to pay the price, viciously silencing anyone who objects
The German state is a disgrace.
It committed genocide against the Jewish people - far from its only genocide.
It forced Palestinians to pay the price, viciously silencing anyone who objects
August 29, 2025 at 3:58 PM
She's an Irish woman - Kitty O'Brien is her name.
Reposted by Des Higgins
You really aren't going to get a better example of how the British media works than the contrasting coverage of two Irish authors this week.
The brave and sensitive transphobe John Boyne vs the vile and hateful opponent of genocide Sally Rooney.
The brave and sensitive transphobe John Boyne vs the vile and hateful opponent of genocide Sally Rooney.
August 19, 2025 at 3:31 PM
You really aren't going to get a better example of how the British media works than the contrasting coverage of two Irish authors this week.
The brave and sensitive transphobe John Boyne vs the vile and hateful opponent of genocide Sally Rooney.
The brave and sensitive transphobe John Boyne vs the vile and hateful opponent of genocide Sally Rooney.
Reposted by Des Higgins
The entire journalistic team from Al Jazeera stationed in and reporting on Gaza, has been killed.
💔💔💔
🙏🕯️
💔💔💔
🙏🕯️
BBC International Editor Jeremy Bowen has confirmed that the entire Al Jazeera team in Gaza City has been killed.
August 11, 2025 at 12:05 AM
The entire journalistic team from Al Jazeera stationed in and reporting on Gaza, has been killed.
💔💔💔
🙏🕯️
💔💔💔
🙏🕯️
Reposted by Des Higgins
I got a flu booster today and it made me reflect on the sense of national accomplishment I felt when I drove to a public facility, waited in my car until my number was called on an app, and got my first covid jab. It's fucked the right gets to erase what a moment of technological liberation that was
August 10, 2025 at 1:12 AM
I got a flu booster today and it made me reflect on the sense of national accomplishment I felt when I drove to a public facility, waited in my car until my number was called on an app, and got my first covid jab. It's fucked the right gets to erase what a moment of technological liberation that was
Reposted by Des Higgins
📣 Palm oil is a *terrible* climate solution!
I don’t repeat topics in my column, but this month I made an exception.
HVO is being marketed even more aggressively as a miracle “drop in” fuel for everything from homes to buses to data centres.
www.irishtimes.com/environment/...
I don’t repeat topics in my column, but this month I made an exception.
HVO is being marketed even more aggressively as a miracle “drop in” fuel for everything from homes to buses to data centres.
www.irishtimes.com/environment/...
HVO is a climate ‘quick fix’ that could be worse than fossil fuels
At a Time of Climate Crisis: There are serious questions over the sustainability of hydrotreated vegetable oil and the industries that are promoting its use
www.irishtimes.com
August 7, 2025 at 6:58 AM
📣 Palm oil is a *terrible* climate solution!
I don’t repeat topics in my column, but this month I made an exception.
HVO is being marketed even more aggressively as a miracle “drop in” fuel for everything from homes to buses to data centres.
www.irishtimes.com/environment/...
I don’t repeat topics in my column, but this month I made an exception.
HVO is being marketed even more aggressively as a miracle “drop in” fuel for everything from homes to buses to data centres.
www.irishtimes.com/environment/...
So I'm watching a modern London version of a Sherlock Holmes story and I see a front door with the number 221b. I Google the address of SH and I see variants of the search including
"Where did the real Sherlock Holmes live"? And there I was thinking it was fiction
"Where did the real Sherlock Holmes live"? And there I was thinking it was fiction
August 6, 2025 at 9:56 PM
So I'm watching a modern London version of a Sherlock Holmes story and I see a front door with the number 221b. I Google the address of SH and I see variants of the search including
"Where did the real Sherlock Holmes live"? And there I was thinking it was fiction
"Where did the real Sherlock Holmes live"? And there I was thinking it was fiction
First day this year seawatching. 31 wilson's petrels seen from the Bridges of Ross from 6.30am until 6.30pm
August 4, 2025 at 8:01 PM
First day this year seawatching. 31 wilson's petrels seen from the Bridges of Ross from 6.30am until 6.30pm
Reposted by Des Higgins
The Irish Border, almost invisible except for the two different tarmacs. North on the right, South on the left.
August 2, 2025 at 5:48 PM
The Irish Border, almost invisible except for the two different tarmacs. North on the right, South on the left.
Reposted by Des Higgins
Unfortunately it’s clear that the Israeli people can’t topple the government or change its ways. Seems like the attorney general, the last gate keeper, will be fired soon. As long as we’re stuck with this government, the war won’t stop. Only international intervention (=the U.S) might do it.
August 3, 2025 at 10:11 AM
Unfortunately it’s clear that the Israeli people can’t topple the government or change its ways. Seems like the attorney general, the last gate keeper, will be fired soon. As long as we’re stuck with this government, the war won’t stop. Only international intervention (=the U.S) might do it.
RIP Ozzy. This was the sound of my mid teens complete with guest piano by Rick Wakeman.
youtu.be/noUYAPdLMp0?...
youtu.be/noUYAPdLMp0?...
Black Sabbath "Sabbra Cadabra"
YouTube video by waapli
youtu.be
July 22, 2025 at 8:26 PM
RIP Ozzy. This was the sound of my mid teens complete with guest piano by Rick Wakeman.
youtu.be/noUYAPdLMp0?...
youtu.be/noUYAPdLMp0?...
Reposted by Des Higgins
Lableak or zoonotic origin of SARS-COV-2? This video breaks it down in eaay to follow steps. Just planly as it is, just fthevacts.
youtu.be/eTlur4YIAo0...
youtu.be/eTlur4YIAo0...
COVID Lab Leak: A State of the Evidence
Get in touch over email:
dr.wilson.debunk@gmail.com
Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/DrWilsonDebunks
Previous lab leaks:
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a7c7289e5274a5255bceb57/0312.pdf
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3497034/
https://academic.oup.com/cid/article/75/10/184
youtu.be
July 17, 2025 at 7:39 PM
Lableak or zoonotic origin of SARS-COV-2? This video breaks it down in eaay to follow steps. Just planly as it is, just fthevacts.
youtu.be/eTlur4YIAo0...
youtu.be/eTlur4YIAo0...
800 Palestinians killed waiting for food in the past 6 weeks. Am I anti-semitic in finding this appalling
July 11, 2025 at 9:24 PM
800 Palestinians killed waiting for food in the past 6 weeks. Am I anti-semitic in finding this appalling
Reposted by Des Higgins
It’s heartening to see that @deshiggins.bsky.social’s influence in the world of men’s fashion is as strong as ever.
July 11, 2025 at 10:57 AM
It’s heartening to see that @deshiggins.bsky.social’s influence in the world of men’s fashion is as strong as ever.
I went past this view hundreds of times over the past 55 years and never looked up. You can smell the malt being roasted at certain times of the day. Those big vertical white tanks are full of Guinness. This is on the western outskirts of Dublin City centre upriver along the Liffey.
July 6, 2025 at 10:12 AM
I went past this view hundreds of times over the past 55 years and never looked up. You can smell the malt being roasted at certain times of the day. Those big vertical white tanks are full of Guinness. This is on the western outskirts of Dublin City centre upriver along the Liffey.
Reposted by Des Higgins
Hey people with platforms , they are starting to take the trans positive books out of the libraries. Now is the time to stand up or just accept that you don’t care - and here is to the millionaire comedians who have helped oil the wheels of hatred
July 4, 2025 at 11:58 PM
Hey people with platforms , they are starting to take the trans positive books out of the libraries. Now is the time to stand up or just accept that you don’t care - and here is to the millionaire comedians who have helped oil the wheels of hatred
Reposted by Des Higgins
Do you use EMBL-EBI data resources? We would really appreciate your feedback!
Our Interim Director Jo McEntyre explains how you can help us demonstrate the value of our data resources: www.ebi.ac.uk/about/news/a...
Survey closes on 16 July: www.surveymonkey.com/r/QGFMBH8?ch...
Thank you!
Our Interim Director Jo McEntyre explains how you can help us demonstrate the value of our data resources: www.ebi.ac.uk/about/news/a...
Survey closes on 16 July: www.surveymonkey.com/r/QGFMBH8?ch...
Thank you!
User survey to understand the value of open data resources
EMBL-EBI user survey opens – please complete it before 16 July
www.ebi.ac.uk
June 30, 2025 at 10:42 AM
Do you use EMBL-EBI data resources? We would really appreciate your feedback!
Our Interim Director Jo McEntyre explains how you can help us demonstrate the value of our data resources: www.ebi.ac.uk/about/news/a...
Survey closes on 16 July: www.surveymonkey.com/r/QGFMBH8?ch...
Thank you!
Our Interim Director Jo McEntyre explains how you can help us demonstrate the value of our data resources: www.ebi.ac.uk/about/news/a...
Survey closes on 16 July: www.surveymonkey.com/r/QGFMBH8?ch...
Thank you!
This is it. It is the endgame. Once established it gives absolute power. Expect arrests at polling stations. It is all so prosaic and easy and happening in front of everyone and everyone will do their "duty" or look away
A reminder that when you make a new armed force like this, it doesn’t ever get shut down, job done. It continues to be given new reasons to exist, with new enemies invented to justify its existence due to ever increasing vested interests.
If the bill passes, it will make ICE the nation’s largest jailer, with more funding for prison camps than the entire federal Bureau of Prisons. It would give ICE enough money to have more officers than the entire FBI.
June 30, 2025 at 10:36 AM
This is it. It is the endgame. Once established it gives absolute power. Expect arrests at polling stations. It is all so prosaic and easy and happening in front of everyone and everyone will do their "duty" or look away
Reposted by Des Higgins
Hungary banned anything that “promotes homosexuality,” which means Pride.
However, today over 500,000 people in Budapest told the government to fuck off. 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️
However, today over 500,000 people in Budapest told the government to fuck off. 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️
June 28, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Hungary banned anything that “promotes homosexuality,” which means Pride.
However, today over 500,000 people in Budapest told the government to fuck off. 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️
However, today over 500,000 people in Budapest told the government to fuck off. 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️
Twitch to Tory Island, 10km off N coast of Ireland today to see Ireland's first ever Song Sparrow (n American passerine). Found by @robertvaughani.bsky.social
June 24, 2025 at 11:29 PM
Twitch to Tory Island, 10km off N coast of Ireland today to see Ireland's first ever Song Sparrow (n American passerine). Found by @robertvaughani.bsky.social
Reposted by Des Higgins
