Dr_Aust_PhD
@draustphd.bsky.social
Grumpy old lab scientist (retd.), Uni teacher & centrist dad. Irked by trendy nonsense, own waistline, hair 📉 etc. NOT a medic - other ½ of NHS doctor. Long-ago 70s punk rock fan/ guitarist. 2 kids & a dog. Personal views.
Reposted by Dr_Aust_PhD
Kids in Canada and US will pay for no fault of theirs
Canada has just lost measles elimination status. The U.S. will undoubtedly follow shortly.
Elimination means that there is no continuous spreading of measles within the country for a year or longer.
Canada and the U.S. have blown it, and it’s largely the fault of the anti-vaccination movement.
Elimination means that there is no continuous spreading of measles within the country for a year or longer.
Canada and the U.S. have blown it, and it’s largely the fault of the anti-vaccination movement.
Canada loses measles elimination status after three decades, health agency says
Canada has lost its measles elimination status after nearly three decades due to its failure to curb a year-long outbreak, the country's public health agency said on Monday.
www.reuters.com
November 10, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Kids in Canada and US will pay for no fault of theirs
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🚨🚨 @anneapplebaum.bsky.social has done some excellent work on the #Hungarian model as a template for Autocratic takeovers suggesting that America under #Trump is spinning quickly in the direction of Hungarian populism, Hungarian politics, and Hungarian justice.
November 11, 2025 at 5:32 PM
🚨🚨 @anneapplebaum.bsky.social has done some excellent work on the #Hungarian model as a template for Autocratic takeovers suggesting that America under #Trump is spinning quickly in the direction of Hungarian populism, Hungarian politics, and Hungarian justice.
Reposted by Dr_Aust_PhD
Interested in a #PhD with neuroendocrine and bioimaging focus? Check out our @swbiodtp.bsky.social project 'Creating a functional map for brain-gut signalling in a simple worm', with @alexdcorbett.bsky.social and CASE partner Cairn Research Ltd. Application deadline Wednesday 3rd December.
November 11, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Interested in a #PhD with neuroendocrine and bioimaging focus? Check out our @swbiodtp.bsky.social project 'Creating a functional map for brain-gut signalling in a simple worm', with @alexdcorbett.bsky.social and CASE partner Cairn Research Ltd. Application deadline Wednesday 3rd December.
Reposted by Dr_Aust_PhD
Very kind review of CRICK by @nicolebarbarophd.bsky.social:
Review of CRICK
Matthew Cobb’s latest on a great man of science: Francis Crick
bookmarkedreads.substack.com
November 11, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Very kind review of CRICK by @nicolebarbarophd.bsky.social:
Reposted by Dr_Aust_PhD
It’s very revealing - they don’t just hate ‘metropolitan elites’ or whatever, they really do hate the country. Just oppositional people who would sell all of it out in a second.
Conservative Shadow Culture Secretary Nigel Huddleston tells GB News that the BBC should "grovel" to Trump.
Amazing how many British 'patriots' are spending their time telling our national broadcaster to prostrate itself before a hostile foreign leader
Amazing how many British 'patriots' are spending their time telling our national broadcaster to prostrate itself before a hostile foreign leader
November 11, 2025 at 5:03 PM
It’s very revealing - they don’t just hate ‘metropolitan elites’ or whatever, they really do hate the country. Just oppositional people who would sell all of it out in a second.
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practice, but this is an admin like no other. They are at war with the press - not seeking to inform the public with facts or truth.Their statements never address the substance of the story. Time to reexamine why media keeps including insults and propaganda in stories.
November 11, 2025 at 5:12 PM
practice, but this is an admin like no other. They are at war with the press - not seeking to inform the public with facts or truth.Their statements never address the substance of the story. Time to reexamine why media keeps including insults and propaganda in stories.
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I consume a massive amount of political news. And in every story the reporter contacts the specific Trump admin spokesperson for comment and the response is always a venomous personal insult followed by praise for Trump or a cabinet official. I realize that has always been standard journalistic
November 11, 2025 at 5:12 PM
I consume a massive amount of political news. And in every story the reporter contacts the specific Trump admin spokesperson for comment and the response is always a venomous personal insult followed by praise for Trump or a cabinet official. I realize that has always been standard journalistic
Reposted by Dr_Aust_PhD
Wow
Measles vaccination averted more than 60 million deaths between 2000 and 2023.
In 2023, there were an estimated 107 500 measles deaths globally, mostly among unvaccinated or under vaccinated children under the age of 5 years.
www.who.int/news-room/fa...
In 2023, there were an estimated 107 500 measles deaths globally, mostly among unvaccinated or under vaccinated children under the age of 5 years.
www.who.int/news-room/fa...
November 10, 2025 at 11:54 PM
Wow
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Peak Bluesky
My most controversial starter pack yet... a collection of people who pronounce scone as scone and not scone
November 11, 2025 at 8:52 AM
Peak Bluesky
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If a self-identifying “left of centre” government with a parliamentary majority of more than a hundred seats won’t defend a vital public service institution you really have to ask why it’s in government at all.
The reaction to the Panorama edit has been nothing short of hysterical. Yes the BBC has some impartiality problems. But its biggest isn't the one you think.
New piece from me.
open.substack.com/pub/goodalla...
New piece from me.
open.substack.com/pub/goodalla...
The truth about impartiality at the BBC
And the hysteria of the current "crisis"
open.substack.com
November 11, 2025 at 9:08 AM
If a self-identifying “left of centre” government with a parliamentary majority of more than a hundred seats won’t defend a vital public service institution you really have to ask why it’s in government at all.
Reposted by Dr_Aust_PhD
In 1996 I did a little in internship at BBC Westminster. At the time, Robbie Gibb was one of the producers there. Even in that period, he was self evidently a pro-Tory apparatchik, who made no attempt to hide his agenda from his colleagues or even from the little work experience kid.
November 11, 2025 at 9:37 AM
In 1996 I did a little in internship at BBC Westminster. At the time, Robbie Gibb was one of the producers there. Even in that period, he was self evidently a pro-Tory apparatchik, who made no attempt to hide his agenda from his colleagues or even from the little work experience kid.
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This is another HUGE scandal, enacted by the Tories, which must be investigated
Public money paid for this - it was supposed to benefit the local area
Public money paid for this - it was supposed to benefit the local area
"This entire saga has a smell hanging over it. The people of Teesside, Hartlepool and Darlington are no fools. That smell will not go away until there is a full, transparent and independent inquiry."
Teesworks scandal: a dark tale of public wealth lost and private gain
Teesworks - a story that reads like a screenplay for a dark political drama
northeastbylines.co.uk
November 11, 2025 at 10:18 AM
This is another HUGE scandal, enacted by the Tories, which must be investigated
Public money paid for this - it was supposed to benefit the local area
Public money paid for this - it was supposed to benefit the local area
Reposted by Dr_Aust_PhD
it happened very insidiously, slowly and from multiple different fronts.
*for all its problems, which I do not dispute*, the conversation about ending the BBC is absolutely being pushed by the rightwing, because (of their ideological goals and) they simply disagree with public-service anything.
*for all its problems, which I do not dispute*, the conversation about ending the BBC is absolutely being pushed by the rightwing, because (of their ideological goals and) they simply disagree with public-service anything.
Can't believe there are conversations about ending the BBC. This is like listening to a family calmly discussing whether to shoot it's dog, or burn down the house.
November 11, 2025 at 10:22 AM
it happened very insidiously, slowly and from multiple different fronts.
*for all its problems, which I do not dispute*, the conversation about ending the BBC is absolutely being pushed by the rightwing, because (of their ideological goals and) they simply disagree with public-service anything.
*for all its problems, which I do not dispute*, the conversation about ending the BBC is absolutely being pushed by the rightwing, because (of their ideological goals and) they simply disagree with public-service anything.
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But Houchen and his friends are now very rich, I gather?
◾ >9 years since Tees Valley voted for supposed benefits of Brexit
◾ >8 since Houchen was elected Mayor of Tees Valley
◾ >6 since Johnson promised to level up left-behind areas
...Middlesbrough remains the local authority with the highest proportion of most deprived neighbourhoods in England.
◾ >8 since Houchen was elected Mayor of Tees Valley
◾ >6 since Johnson promised to level up left-behind areas
...Middlesbrough remains the local authority with the highest proportion of most deprived neighbourhoods in England.
Houchen’s deprivation failure exposed – official
Middlesbrough remains the local authority with the highest proportion of most deprived neighbourhoods in England
northeastbylines.co.uk
November 11, 2025 at 10:44 AM
But Houchen and his friends are now very rich, I gather?
The Tories have given up on Tory voters, who are now mostly LibDem voters. Hence the Tories are now putting all their effort into trying to attract Reform voters.
The only people in the UK who don't detest Trump are the Nigel Fromage fan club.
The only people in the UK who don't detest Trump are the Nigel Fromage fan club.
Trump is incredibly unpopular here! including amongst Tory voters. What are they doing?
Conservative Shadow Culture Secretary Nigel Huddleston tells GB News that the BBC should "grovel" to Trump.
Amazing how many British 'patriots' are spending their time telling our national broadcaster to prostrate itself before a hostile foreign leader
Amazing how many British 'patriots' are spending their time telling our national broadcaster to prostrate itself before a hostile foreign leader
November 11, 2025 at 4:38 PM
The Tories have given up on Tory voters, who are now mostly LibDem voters. Hence the Tories are now putting all their effort into trying to attract Reform voters.
The only people in the UK who don't detest Trump are the Nigel Fromage fan club.
The only people in the UK who don't detest Trump are the Nigel Fromage fan club.
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Farage is of course a hypocritical fraud.
But the shocking failure of UK media to relentlessly point this out has allowed him to prosper.
But the shocking failure of UK media to relentlessly point this out has allowed him to prosper.
It makes me sick, all the BS from Farage, when the muppets don't know that he "resides" in Belgium, NOT Clacton, and his kids have German passports. So much for his national "pride".......
November 11, 2025 at 11:37 AM
Farage is of course a hypocritical fraud.
But the shocking failure of UK media to relentlessly point this out has allowed him to prosper.
But the shocking failure of UK media to relentlessly point this out has allowed him to prosper.
Reposted by Dr_Aust_PhD
If we're talking about bias, why do BBC politics programmes, from Politics Live to the Laura Kuennsberg Show, still always begin with a look at the newspaper front pages, which are overwhelmingly biased in one direction. Helps frame the entire news agenda and debate in their favour
November 11, 2025 at 1:09 PM
If we're talking about bias, why do BBC politics programmes, from Politics Live to the Laura Kuennsberg Show, still always begin with a look at the newspaper front pages, which are overwhelmingly biased in one direction. Helps frame the entire news agenda and debate in their favour
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The collapse of Noah Smith from 'interesting writer whose occasionally a bit random' into 'complete idiot and mentalist' is one of the most clear cut cases of twitter-poisoning I've seen
Noah Smith is paid in the high six-figures to write a blog read by Americans who believe themselves to be intelligent. Yet, he is both unable to read a sign and also for some reason chose to have a 90 minute layover for a flight that takes 90 minutes.
onemileatatime.com/news/economi...
onemileatatime.com/news/economi...
Economist Doesn't Follow Signs At Heathrow: Proof The UK Is Failing?
A economist had a bad experience connecting at Heathrow, suggesting it's reflective of bigger issues in the UK. There's only one issue...
onemileatatime.com
November 11, 2025 at 1:33 PM
The collapse of Noah Smith from 'interesting writer whose occasionally a bit random' into 'complete idiot and mentalist' is one of the most clear cut cases of twitter-poisoning I've seen
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🏉👖🩳 Fabulous Joe Marler interview in @thetimes.com Including this gem about his hatred of trousers…
November 11, 2025 at 3:25 PM
🏉👖🩳 Fabulous Joe Marler interview in @thetimes.com Including this gem about his hatred of trousers…
Reposted by Dr_Aust_PhD
Fun (or not so fun) fact - the author of the “BBC bias” memo is a lobbyist for the American Pharmaceutical Group.
U.S. pharma companies recently threatened to abandon the UK unless the NHS pays more for its medicines.
They also donated millions to Trump’s campaign and inauguration
U.S. pharma companies recently threatened to abandon the UK unless the NHS pays more for its medicines.
They also donated millions to Trump’s campaign and inauguration
November 11, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Fun (or not so fun) fact - the author of the “BBC bias” memo is a lobbyist for the American Pharmaceutical Group.
U.S. pharma companies recently threatened to abandon the UK unless the NHS pays more for its medicines.
They also donated millions to Trump’s campaign and inauguration
U.S. pharma companies recently threatened to abandon the UK unless the NHS pays more for its medicines.
They also donated millions to Trump’s campaign and inauguration
Reposted by Dr_Aust_PhD
Absolutely. The same names keep coming up - Nigel Biggar, Paul Marshall, James Orr etc are all named in that article. All part of the right wing political project for whom Brexit was simply a small building block
app.thenewworld.co.uk/story/143582...
app.thenewworld.co.uk/story/143582...
Paul Marshall, the man who owns the right
The multimillionaire controls a network of news channels, publications and think tanks that the left could only dream of. If Reform or the Tories win the next election, he will become the country’s mo...
app.thenewworld.co.uk
November 11, 2025 at 3:35 PM
Absolutely. The same names keep coming up - Nigel Biggar, Paul Marshall, James Orr etc are all named in that article. All part of the right wing political project for whom Brexit was simply a small building block
app.thenewworld.co.uk/story/143582...
app.thenewworld.co.uk/story/143582...
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Dig a little deeper, and the founder of History Reclaimed co-edits 'Briefings for Britain' (formerly Briefings for Brexit), and he and several members/ contributors to both were members of the 2018 'Brains for Brexit' group (if anyone remembers that): www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article.... 2/3
Meet the 41 top-thinkers fighting the tide of Remain propaganda
Leading economists, lawyers, philosophers, historians and social scientists across Britain want to challenge the impression all academics oppose leaving the EU.
www.dailymail.co.uk
November 11, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Dig a little deeper, and the founder of History Reclaimed co-edits 'Briefings for Britain' (formerly Briefings for Brexit), and he and several members/ contributors to both were members of the 2018 'Brains for Brexit' group (if anyone remembers that): www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article.... 2/3
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This kind of thing, btw, is one of the reasons I think it's right to use the (admittedly ugly) word 'Brexitism': there are multiple recurring threads linking Brexit to post-Brexit politics/ culture wars. So many things which aren't about Brexit per se are in/directly connected to it. 3/3
November 11, 2025 at 3:19 PM
This kind of thing, btw, is one of the reasons I think it's right to use the (admittedly ugly) word 'Brexitism': there are multiple recurring threads linking Brexit to post-Brexit politics/ culture wars. So many things which aren't about Brexit per se are in/directly connected to it. 3/3
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I'm not sure if others have noticed this, but interesting that one of the Prescott criticisms of the BBC is based on those of the 'History Reclaimed' group, which is also associated with the 'Restore Trust' group's attacks on & so far unsuccessful attempts to take control of the National Trust. 1/3
November 11, 2025 at 3:19 PM
I'm not sure if others have noticed this, but interesting that one of the Prescott criticisms of the BBC is based on those of the 'History Reclaimed' group, which is also associated with the 'Restore Trust' group's attacks on & so far unsuccessful attempts to take control of the National Trust. 1/3
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On this Veterans Day, more than any before, let us remember the valiant service of Black, Hispanic, Navajo, Japanese and other non-white Americans who fought bravely for the ideals of a country that failed to live up to them, and whose legacy a racist GOP is desperately trying to erase.
Two panels highlighting the role of African American soldiers in the liberation of the Netherlands have been removed from the American Military Cemetary Margraten. The Cemetary is controlled by the AMBC, and the panels were removed in line with current Trump policy.
www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2025/...
www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2025/...
Op Margraten zijn twee panelen over zwarte Amerikaanse bevrijders van Nederland opeens weg. ‘Past bij beleid van de regering-Trump’
Monument: Op de Amerikaanse begraafplaats in Margraten is het opeens stil geworden rond de zwarte Amerikanen die hielpen Nederland bevrijden. Twee panelen die hun bijdrage herdachten – én wezen op hun...
www.nrc.nl
November 11, 2025 at 4:09 PM
On this Veterans Day, more than any before, let us remember the valiant service of Black, Hispanic, Navajo, Japanese and other non-white Americans who fought bravely for the ideals of a country that failed to live up to them, and whose legacy a racist GOP is desperately trying to erase.