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 & now no dog (RIP). Personal views.
Reposted by Dr_Aust_PhD
So the Hard Right position is that you should only have to suffer the consequences for tweets inciting racial hatred if you're name is...oh I don't know...Adbel Fattah? If your name is Lucy Connolly and you admit to doing it, you should get a parade actually.
December 29, 2025 at 9:10 AM
So the Hard Right position is that you should only have to suffer the consequences for tweets inciting racial hatred if you're name is...oh I don't know...Adbel Fattah? If your name is Lucy Connolly and you admit to doing it, you should get a parade actually.
Reposted by Dr_Aust_PhD
These technologies can and are being used to create lifelike images and videos of actual living women and girls. For what I think are pretty obvious gendered civil rights reasons, it needs to be a recognized civil cause of action to create an AI image or avatar of a woman without her consent.
"And I never say no"
We need to have a serious talk about the way "AI companion" apps not only prey on the vulnerable, but are priming their users to ignore consent and to conflate love with control.
We need AI regulations across so many sectors, but this area is particularly horrifying.
We need to have a serious talk about the way "AI companion" apps not only prey on the vulnerable, but are priming their users to ignore consent and to conflate love with control.
We need AI regulations across so many sectors, but this area is particularly horrifying.
December 28, 2025 at 8:00 PM
These technologies can and are being used to create lifelike images and videos of actual living women and girls. For what I think are pretty obvious gendered civil rights reasons, it needs to be a recognized civil cause of action to create an AI image or avatar of a woman without her consent.
Reposted by Dr_Aust_PhD
Most normal people have no idea quite how malignantly bonkers the anti-vax lobby is…
The leaders and their acolytes and devotees are vicious and cruel and also support such vile nonsense as feeding children bleach to “cure” their autism
This is not to be taken lightly
#vaccineswork
The leaders and their acolytes and devotees are vicious and cruel and also support such vile nonsense as feeding children bleach to “cure” their autism
This is not to be taken lightly
#vaccineswork
Third of Reform UK’s council leaders have expressed vaccine-sceptic views
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Third of Reform UK’s council leaders have expressed vaccine-sceptic views
Health minister decries criticism of vaccinations by heads of four authorities as ‘dangerous and utterly irresponsible’
www.theguardian.com
December 29, 2025 at 10:27 AM
Most normal people have no idea quite how malignantly bonkers the anti-vax lobby is…
The leaders and their acolytes and devotees are vicious and cruel and also support such vile nonsense as feeding children bleach to “cure” their autism
This is not to be taken lightly
#vaccineswork
The leaders and their acolytes and devotees are vicious and cruel and also support such vile nonsense as feeding children bleach to “cure” their autism
This is not to be taken lightly
#vaccineswork
Reposted by Dr_Aust_PhD
Worth noting that Kemi Badenoch sincerely believes that acquired citizenship is worth less, despite her own circumstances.
Ask this question and its follow-up. Like Begum before him, Alaa el-Fattah is being used as a crowbar to shift reasonable people - even some progressives - into a space of thinking that full citizenship, if granted recently or dual, is retroactively conditional or attracts a lower class of rights.
December 29, 2025 at 10:39 AM
Worth noting that Kemi Badenoch sincerely believes that acquired citizenship is worth less, despite her own circumstances.
Reposted by Dr_Aust_PhD
2025: Liz Truss criticising Keir Starmer over the release of Alaa Abd El-Fattah
2022: Liz Truss as Foreign Secretary trying to secure the release of Alaa Abd El-Fattah
2022: Liz Truss as Foreign Secretary trying to secure the release of Alaa Abd El-Fattah
December 28, 2025 at 9:36 PM
2025: Liz Truss criticising Keir Starmer over the release of Alaa Abd El-Fattah
2022: Liz Truss as Foreign Secretary trying to secure the release of Alaa Abd El-Fattah
2022: Liz Truss as Foreign Secretary trying to secure the release of Alaa Abd El-Fattah
Reposted by Dr_Aust_PhD
“…we may look back at this era, & Trump is the B-story, the A-story is actually the consolidation of power in a very small number of hands among these tech CEOs, and what is Trump giving in exchange for all this, is the complete DEREGULATION of artificial intelligence"- Ben Rhodes (Chris Hayes show)
December 28, 2025 at 12:54 AM
“…we may look back at this era, & Trump is the B-story, the A-story is actually the consolidation of power in a very small number of hands among these tech CEOs, and what is Trump giving in exchange for all this, is the complete DEREGULATION of artificial intelligence"- Ben Rhodes (Chris Hayes show)
Reposted by Dr_Aust_PhD
This is concerning, as already proved in the US this kind of wild nonsense and rejection of proven science kills people. With Reform working against safe vaccines and wanting to dismantle our NHS every single one of us would no longer have a health care system to protect us
bsky.app/profile/refo...
bsky.app/profile/refo...
Third of Reform UK’s council leaders have expressed vaccine-sceptic views
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Third of Reform UK’s council leaders have expressed vaccine-sceptic views
Health minister decries criticism of vaccinations by heads of four authorities as ‘dangerous and utterly irresponsible’
www.theguardian.com
December 29, 2025 at 8:26 AM
This is concerning, as already proved in the US this kind of wild nonsense and rejection of proven science kills people. With Reform working against safe vaccines and wanting to dismantle our NHS every single one of us would no longer have a health care system to protect us
bsky.app/profile/refo...
bsky.app/profile/refo...
Reposted by Dr_Aust_PhD
largest oil reserve in the world: Venezuela
largest untapped rare earth minerals in the world and significant offshore oil reserves: Greenland
second largest oil reserves in Africa: Nigeria
Probably just coincidences.
#Ecocide #GreedyBastards #FascistAmeriKKa
largest untapped rare earth minerals in the world and significant offshore oil reserves: Greenland
second largest oil reserves in Africa: Nigeria
Probably just coincidences.
#Ecocide #GreedyBastards #FascistAmeriKKa
December 29, 2025 at 8:56 AM
largest oil reserve in the world: Venezuela
largest untapped rare earth minerals in the world and significant offshore oil reserves: Greenland
second largest oil reserves in Africa: Nigeria
Probably just coincidences.
#Ecocide #GreedyBastards #FascistAmeriKKa
largest untapped rare earth minerals in the world and significant offshore oil reserves: Greenland
second largest oil reserves in Africa: Nigeria
Probably just coincidences.
#Ecocide #GreedyBastards #FascistAmeriKKa
Reposted by Dr_Aust_PhD
Russian troops invading Ukraine are "main obstacle" to peace in Ukraine, says mostly everyone else
EU is ‘main obstacle’ to peace in Ukraine, says Russia’s foreign minister
Sergey Lavrov’s comments come ahead of Ukrainian President Zelenskyy’s talks with Donald Trump in Florida on Sunday.
Sergey Lavrov’s comments come ahead of Ukrainian President Zelenskyy’s talks with Donald Trump in Florida on Sunday.
EU is ‘main obstacle’ to peace in Ukraine, says Russia’s foreign minister
www.politico.eu
December 29, 2025 at 7:22 AM
Russian troops invading Ukraine are "main obstacle" to peace in Ukraine, says mostly everyone else
Reposted by Dr_Aust_PhD
Reform is pursuing the same anti-science playbook as the administration in the US, presenting a narrative in which scientific consensus on such things as vaccines and climate change is challenged and undermined. Essential that this is challenged in media - and in schools.
A timely reminder that Farage’s Reform party also embrace some of the anti-vaccine rhetoric Trump and RFKJr have been leading.
Third of Reform UK’s council leaders have expressed vaccine-sceptic views
Health minister decries criticism of vaccinations by heads of four authorities as ‘dangerous and utterly irresponsible’
www.theguardian.com
December 29, 2025 at 8:42 AM
Reform is pursuing the same anti-science playbook as the administration in the US, presenting a narrative in which scientific consensus on such things as vaccines and climate change is challenged and undermined. Essential that this is challenged in media - and in schools.
Reposted by Dr_Aust_PhD
I'll strip civil servants of their pensions, but I'm keeping my £73,000 EU pension, despite my attendance record being the 4th worst out of 751 MEPs.
December 29, 2025 at 9:22 AM
I'll strip civil servants of their pensions, but I'm keeping my £73,000 EU pension, despite my attendance record being the 4th worst out of 751 MEPs.
Reposted by Dr_Aust_PhD
A timely reminder that Farage’s Reform party also embrace some of the anti-vaccine rhetoric Trump and RFKJr have been leading.
Third of Reform UK’s council leaders have expressed vaccine-sceptic views
Health minister decries criticism of vaccinations by heads of four authorities as ‘dangerous and utterly irresponsible’
www.theguardian.com
December 29, 2025 at 8:34 AM
A timely reminder that Farage’s Reform party also embrace some of the anti-vaccine rhetoric Trump and RFKJr have been leading.
Reposted by Dr_Aust_PhD
What happened to the execs who ruined lives during the Post Office scandal?
Fujitsu execs, accountants, lawyers also made millions from the scandal.
All living in comfort. None fined, prosecuted. Even when that happens, litigation will last for years.
The UK legal system doesn't deliver justice.
Fujitsu execs, accountants, lawyers also made millions from the scandal.
All living in comfort. None fined, prosecuted. Even when that happens, litigation will last for years.
The UK legal system doesn't deliver justice.
What happened to execs who ruined lives during Post Office scandal
Next year's final report from the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry is expected to find failings of senior management, while a criminal police operation is gathering pace.
www.dailymail.co.uk
December 29, 2025 at 9:40 AM
What happened to the execs who ruined lives during the Post Office scandal?
Fujitsu execs, accountants, lawyers also made millions from the scandal.
All living in comfort. None fined, prosecuted. Even when that happens, litigation will last for years.
The UK legal system doesn't deliver justice.
Fujitsu execs, accountants, lawyers also made millions from the scandal.
All living in comfort. None fined, prosecuted. Even when that happens, litigation will last for years.
The UK legal system doesn't deliver justice.
Reposted by Dr_Aust_PhD
The Ukrainian delegation on the left
Putin’s delegation on the right-by all rights, the US flag s/b removed….
Putin’s delegation on the right-by all rights, the US flag s/b removed….
December 29, 2025 at 1:26 AM
The Ukrainian delegation on the left
Putin’s delegation on the right-by all rights, the US flag s/b removed….
Putin’s delegation on the right-by all rights, the US flag s/b removed….
Reposted by Dr_Aust_PhD
1991: The United States thinks it has decisively won the Cold War against Russia.
2025: The United States' foreign policy is being dictated by Russia.
2025: The United States' foreign policy is being dictated by Russia.
December 28, 2025 at 10:58 PM
1991: The United States thinks it has decisively won the Cold War against Russia.
2025: The United States' foreign policy is being dictated by Russia.
2025: The United States' foreign policy is being dictated by Russia.
Tories. Snouts. Trough.
Teesside freeport overspent 22 times the £25 million fixed amount, a staggering £560 million of taxpayers money gone.
The National Audit Office were refused permission to investigate, instead Michael Gove set up his own independent committee, the result?
Nothing to see here.
The National Audit Office were refused permission to investigate, instead Michael Gove set up his own independent committee, the result?
Nothing to see here.
December 29, 2025 at 10:06 AM
Tories. Snouts. Trough.
Reposted by Dr_Aust_PhD
Outside the EU’s State aid framework, the UK Govt now operates with minimal oversight on how much public money can be channeled to private corporations through their free zones.
substack.com/home/post/p-...
substack.com/home/post/p-...
The Hidden Infrastructure Transfer: NICs, Freeports, and the Privatization of the Commons
How and why the UK duopoly is gutting critical public infrastructure for the likes of US Blackrock
substack.com
December 29, 2025 at 8:47 AM
Outside the EU’s State aid framework, the UK Govt now operates with minimal oversight on how much public money can be channeled to private corporations through their free zones.
substack.com/home/post/p-...
substack.com/home/post/p-...
They are nutters. End of.
Third of Reform UK’s council leaders have expressed vaccine-sceptic views
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Third of Reform UK’s council leaders have expressed vaccine-sceptic views
Health minister decries criticism of vaccinations by heads of four authorities as ‘dangerous and utterly irresponsible’
www.theguardian.com
December 29, 2025 at 10:05 AM
They are nutters. End of.
Reposted by Dr_Aust_PhD
Citizenship stripping has become a political tool for authoritarians to signal their credentials.
No matter how abhorrent someone’s tweets, or views, the idea REMOVING THEIR CITIZENSHIP should be the response is deranged.
Philp & the right in general have lost the plot. #r4today
No matter how abhorrent someone’s tweets, or views, the idea REMOVING THEIR CITIZENSHIP should be the response is deranged.
Philp & the right in general have lost the plot. #r4today
December 29, 2025 at 7:44 AM
Citizenship stripping has become a political tool for authoritarians to signal their credentials.
No matter how abhorrent someone’s tweets, or views, the idea REMOVING THEIR CITIZENSHIP should be the response is deranged.
Philp & the right in general have lost the plot. #r4today
No matter how abhorrent someone’s tweets, or views, the idea REMOVING THEIR CITIZENSHIP should be the response is deranged.
Philp & the right in general have lost the plot. #r4today
Reposted by Dr_Aust_PhD
Russia will not accept any peace deal that allows Ukraine to aggressively defend itself the next time we invade it.
December 29, 2025 at 9:40 AM
Russia will not accept any peace deal that allows Ukraine to aggressively defend itself the next time we invade it.
Reposted by Dr_Aust_PhD
Not sure an injury wracked male tennis player ranked ~1200 (albeit one who was ranked top 20 or so, briefly) toying with the women's number 1 tells us anything other than women are not competitive against men at most sport. Which we all knew anyway.
December 28, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Not sure an injury wracked male tennis player ranked ~1200 (albeit one who was ranked top 20 or so, briefly) toying with the women's number 1 tells us anything other than women are not competitive against men at most sport. Which we all knew anyway.
Reposted by Dr_Aust_PhD
How showbusiness 'journalism' really works
December 20, 2025 at 11:08 AM
How showbusiness 'journalism' really works
Reposted by Dr_Aust_PhD
This was the trajectory of their heroine Ayn Rand.
Spent her life promoting anti-statist rugged individualism and "laissez-faire" capitalism and ended up on social security and Medicare. Of course.
It's about time the culture stopped indulging these intellectual toddlers.
Spent her life promoting anti-statist rugged individualism and "laissez-faire" capitalism and ended up on social security and Medicare. Of course.
It's about time the culture stopped indulging these intellectual toddlers.
It is the one thing I have found common among conservatives, especially libertarians, they want zero government support for anything - until they are directly affected, then they demand to know why the government wasn't supporting them.
December 28, 2025 at 10:07 PM
This was the trajectory of their heroine Ayn Rand.
Spent her life promoting anti-statist rugged individualism and "laissez-faire" capitalism and ended up on social security and Medicare. Of course.
It's about time the culture stopped indulging these intellectual toddlers.
Spent her life promoting anti-statist rugged individualism and "laissez-faire" capitalism and ended up on social security and Medicare. Of course.
It's about time the culture stopped indulging these intellectual toddlers.
Reposted by Dr_Aust_PhD
I hope there's a journalist there with the balls to ask Trump why he's reneging on the Budapest memorandum and whether he knows that the world sees him as a traitor.
Do your jobs, ask the questions the world wants to hear asked and stop kissing his arse.
Do your jobs, ask the questions the world wants to hear asked and stop kissing his arse.
Trump and Zelensky are expected to appear before journalists shortly following their closed-door meeting and video talks with European leaders.
December 28, 2025 at 9:42 PM
I hope there's a journalist there with the balls to ask Trump why he's reneging on the Budapest memorandum and whether he knows that the world sees him as a traitor.
Do your jobs, ask the questions the world wants to hear asked and stop kissing his arse.
Do your jobs, ask the questions the world wants to hear asked and stop kissing his arse.
Reposted by Dr_Aust_PhD
A long way to say, “He lied to the voters.”
December 28, 2025 at 9:48 PM
A long way to say, “He lied to the voters.”