Dr. Lesley Barron, MD, MPhil, FRACS
@drlesleybarron.bsky.social
General surgeon, mom, and cyclist with an interest in healthcare policy.
Reposted by Dr. Lesley Barron, MD, MPhil, FRACS
This is excellent & draws out something the rest of the media is ignoring: among other things, the Epstein files have made it super, super clear that the entire "anti-woke" cultural hysteria was engineered by powerful men averse to accountability.
I wrote about the Epstein files (gift link) www.theverge.com/tech/874721/...
How the men in the Epstein files defeated #MeToo
The emails show the “anti-woke” crusaders are afraid of accountability.
www.theverge.com
February 7, 2026 at 7:46 PM
This is excellent & draws out something the rest of the media is ignoring: among other things, the Epstein files have made it super, super clear that the entire "anti-woke" cultural hysteria was engineered by powerful men averse to accountability.
Reposted by Dr. Lesley Barron, MD, MPhil, FRACS
Capital gains tax discount to cost Australia $250bn over next decade with retirees and high-income earners to benefit most
Capital gains tax discount to cost Australia $250bn over next decade with retirees and high-income earners to benefit most
Parliamentary Budget Office figures show top 1% of taxpayers will receive nearly 60% of the benefit this financial year
Australia’s capital gains tax discount will cost nearly $250bn over the next decade, more than twice as much as the concession has cost in its entire 25-year history. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
February 5, 2026 at 7:03 AM
Capital gains tax discount to cost Australia $250bn over next decade with retirees and high-income earners to benefit most
Reposted by Dr. Lesley Barron, MD, MPhil, FRACS
ICYMI: “In the era of the climate crisis, politicians campaigning against bike-lanes aren’t fit for office.”— @taylornoakes.com in @cultmtl.com
Also in an era of worsening urban traffic, pollution, city noise, exploding public costs, competition among cities, and not nearly enough space in cities.
Also in an era of worsening urban traffic, pollution, city noise, exploding public costs, competition among cities, and not nearly enough space in cities.
In the era of the climate crisis, politicians campaigning against bike lanes aren’t fit for office
Amid the climate crisis, politicians campaigning against bike lanes — as in Montreal municipal election campaign — aren’t fit for office.
cultmtl.com
February 4, 2026 at 8:55 PM
ICYMI: “In the era of the climate crisis, politicians campaigning against bike-lanes aren’t fit for office.”— @taylornoakes.com in @cultmtl.com
Also in an era of worsening urban traffic, pollution, city noise, exploding public costs, competition among cities, and not nearly enough space in cities.
Also in an era of worsening urban traffic, pollution, city noise, exploding public costs, competition among cities, and not nearly enough space in cities.
Reposted by Dr. Lesley Barron, MD, MPhil, FRACS
“It's not my duty as Mayor to make sure you have a parking spot. For me it's the same as if you bought a cow, or a refrigerator, and then asked me where you're going to put them.” — Mayor of Pontevedra, Spain (re-elected 6 times)
February 4, 2026 at 4:47 AM
“It's not my duty as Mayor to make sure you have a parking spot. For me it's the same as if you bought a cow, or a refrigerator, and then asked me where you're going to put them.” — Mayor of Pontevedra, Spain (re-elected 6 times)
Reposted by Dr. Lesley Barron, MD, MPhil, FRACS
We know AI/LLM often encodes gender bias arising from its training dataset- in this case, academic presentations. So when it comes up with counter-bias results like this, you KNOW the effect must have been very strong indeed. Highly recommend reading the whole thread for further detail. #equity ✊️
Here’s what they found:
Women are interrupted more often than men—by about 10–20% in economics seminars.
Those interruptions are more likely to:
- Cut women off mid-sentence
- Come from men
- Be adversarial rather than clarifying in nature
Women are interrupted more often than men—by about 10–20% in economics seminars.
Those interruptions are more likely to:
- Cut women off mid-sentence
- Come from men
- Be adversarial rather than clarifying in nature
February 4, 2026 at 8:31 AM
We know AI/LLM often encodes gender bias arising from its training dataset- in this case, academic presentations. So when it comes up with counter-bias results like this, you KNOW the effect must have been very strong indeed. Highly recommend reading the whole thread for further detail. #equity ✊️
Reposted by Dr. Lesley Barron, MD, MPhil, FRACS
Just Vancouver things...
February 3, 2026 at 11:16 PM
Just Vancouver things...
Reposted by Dr. Lesley Barron, MD, MPhil, FRACS
We asked more than 500 women about how the cost of living crisis has affected them. Our findings should be a wakeup call to policymakers, with women reporting they’re struggling to afford basic essentials, food, rent, medication and doctor appointments.
academic.oup.com/heapro/artic...
academic.oup.com/heapro/artic...
“Help young women to survive”: the cost-of-living crisis and the well-being of younger Australian women
Abstract. The increased pressures associated with the cost-of-living crisis (CoLC) have been demonstrated to impact population health. Research has shown t
academic.oup.com
February 3, 2026 at 9:43 AM
We asked more than 500 women about how the cost of living crisis has affected them. Our findings should be a wakeup call to policymakers, with women reporting they’re struggling to afford basic essentials, food, rent, medication and doctor appointments.
academic.oup.com/heapro/artic...
academic.oup.com/heapro/artic...
You can have beautiful, quiet, safe, unpolluted, walkable, prosperous, climate resilient, community oriented cities or you can have hardscaped to death cities with free parking everywhere. Not both.
Because people have been apoplectic over loss of parking for the last couple years, city council directed staff to consider a series of alternatives to the bike lanes.
Removing the bike lanes and replacing the parking, which is what many are pushing for, would cost the city $3,000,000.
Removing the bike lanes and replacing the parking, which is what many are pushing for, would cost the city $3,000,000.
February 3, 2026 at 8:08 AM
You can have beautiful, quiet, safe, unpolluted, walkable, prosperous, climate resilient, community oriented cities or you can have hardscaped to death cities with free parking everywhere. Not both.
Reposted by Dr. Lesley Barron, MD, MPhil, FRACS
It's unsettling how traffic violence is reported in the US. If the driver was going this street's speed limit of 25mph, there's a 90% chance this woman would be alive. But that's unmentioned. The driver was "cooperative." There will be no follow up. There will be no convictions. A life is lost.
February 3, 2026 at 12:21 AM
It's unsettling how traffic violence is reported in the US. If the driver was going this street's speed limit of 25mph, there's a 90% chance this woman would be alive. But that's unmentioned. The driver was "cooperative." There will be no follow up. There will be no convictions. A life is lost.
Reposted by Dr. Lesley Barron, MD, MPhil, FRACS
“Industry lobby group Coal Australia donated more than $5 million to third-party campaigns that attacked Labor, the teals, and Greens under the guise of grassroots groups.”
www.smh.com.au/politics/fed...
www.smh.com.au/politics/fed...
Exclusive Brethren members, Gina Rinehart donate to right-wing group Advance
Clive Palmer was Australia’s biggest political donor, pouring $53 million into his failed campaign, while Coal Australia donated millions to third-party “grassroots” campaigns.
www.smh.com.au
February 2, 2026 at 7:14 AM
“Industry lobby group Coal Australia donated more than $5 million to third-party campaigns that attacked Labor, the teals, and Greens under the guise of grassroots groups.”
www.smh.com.au/politics/fed...
www.smh.com.au/politics/fed...
Reposted by Dr. Lesley Barron, MD, MPhil, FRACS
The question isn't how we save ourselves from Reform.
It's how we save ourselves from Labour.
It's how we save ourselves from Labour.
Please spread this far and wide, as stories don't get much bigger than this. When the government blocks even the intelligence services from telling us we're heading for environmental catastrophe, you know we have a problem. A very big problem.
Thank you.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Thank you.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The UK government didn't want you to see this report on ecosystem collapse. I'm not surprised | George Monbiot
It took an FOI request to bring this national security assessment to light. For ‘doomsayers’ like us, it is the ultimate vindication, says Guardian columnist George Monbiot
www.theguardian.com
January 28, 2026 at 7:58 AM
The question isn't how we save ourselves from Reform.
It's how we save ourselves from Labour.
It's how we save ourselves from Labour.
Reposted by Dr. Lesley Barron, MD, MPhil, FRACS
Ok, let’s do this🙄
We’ll start with an explainer covering:
🕒What is a 15-minute city
🏫What on Earth is going on with Oxford
👽Where the conspiracy theories have come from
And then we’ll look at the Telegraph article
🧵
1/25
We’ll start with an explainer covering:
🕒What is a 15-minute city
🏫What on Earth is going on with Oxford
👽Where the conspiracy theories have come from
And then we’ll look at the Telegraph article
🧵
1/25
February 1, 2026 at 11:13 AM
Ok, let’s do this🙄
We’ll start with an explainer covering:
🕒What is a 15-minute city
🏫What on Earth is going on with Oxford
👽Where the conspiracy theories have come from
And then we’ll look at the Telegraph article
🧵
1/25
We’ll start with an explainer covering:
🕒What is a 15-minute city
🏫What on Earth is going on with Oxford
👽Where the conspiracy theories have come from
And then we’ll look at the Telegraph article
🧵
1/25
Reposted by Dr. Lesley Barron, MD, MPhil, FRACS
Research shows that biking is very, very healthy for people 65+.
Findings after reviewing 28 prior studies:
"Cycling in later life links to improved mobility [and] balance."
"Older cyclists often report psychosocial health, life satisfaction, and well-being improvements."
doi.org/10.1016/j.jt...
Findings after reviewing 28 prior studies:
"Cycling in later life links to improved mobility [and] balance."
"Older cyclists often report psychosocial health, life satisfaction, and well-being improvements."
doi.org/10.1016/j.jt...
February 1, 2026 at 3:44 PM
Research shows that biking is very, very healthy for people 65+.
Findings after reviewing 28 prior studies:
"Cycling in later life links to improved mobility [and] balance."
"Older cyclists often report psychosocial health, life satisfaction, and well-being improvements."
doi.org/10.1016/j.jt...
Findings after reviewing 28 prior studies:
"Cycling in later life links to improved mobility [and] balance."
"Older cyclists often report psychosocial health, life satisfaction, and well-being improvements."
doi.org/10.1016/j.jt...
Reposted by Dr. Lesley Barron, MD, MPhil, FRACS
Mayor Mamdani must end the scourge of parking placard abuse, which has drowned New York City in illegally parked cars for more than a decade.
Ten Years of Placard Abuse: The Criminal Practice that Mamdani Must End - Streetsblog New York City
Mayor Mamdani must end the scourge of parking placard abuse, which has drowned New York City in illegally parked cars for more than a decade.
buff.ly
February 1, 2026 at 2:34 AM
Mayor Mamdani must end the scourge of parking placard abuse, which has drowned New York City in illegally parked cars for more than a decade.
Reposted by Dr. Lesley Barron, MD, MPhil, FRACS
Post a sign from your country that tells a story about how they treat their roads.
January 31, 2026 at 4:39 PM
Post a sign from your country that tells a story about how they treat their roads.
This is cute but clearly a single family home. If you live where other ppl can hear your dog and you don’t know how much noise they are making when you aren’t there, it’s a problem. Be proactive! Ask your neighbours if your dog is a problem when you aren’t there.
January 31, 2026 at 11:56 PM
This is cute but clearly a single family home. If you live where other ppl can hear your dog and you don’t know how much noise they are making when you aren’t there, it’s a problem. Be proactive! Ask your neighbours if your dog is a problem when you aren’t there.
The jokey comments online of “can’t park there mate” aren’t actually funny. These drivers are dangerous and violent and these accidents devastate lives.
January 31, 2026 at 10:10 AM
The jokey comments online of “can’t park there mate” aren’t actually funny. These drivers are dangerous and violent and these accidents devastate lives.
Wildfire smoke over Newcastle right now….pretty strong smell.
January 31, 2026 at 9:55 AM
Wildfire smoke over Newcastle right now….pretty strong smell.
Reposted by Dr. Lesley Barron, MD, MPhil, FRACS
Person: would be great if it was safe for kids to walk/bike/roll to school.
World: Why do you hate cars so much?
World: Why do you hate cars so much?
January 30, 2026 at 5:43 PM
Person: would be great if it was safe for kids to walk/bike/roll to school.
World: Why do you hate cars so much?
World: Why do you hate cars so much?
Reposted by Dr. Lesley Barron, MD, MPhil, FRACS
“As richer and older Australians enjoy the lion’s share of generous tax concessions for landlords, the number of households on public housing waitlists has climbed to about 190,000, up from 169,000 in 2024, and 141,000 in 2018.”
Australia spends more on tax breaks for landlords than social housing, homelessness and rent assistance combined
Exclusive: Acoss report shows property investors received $12.3bn in tax concessions in 2025, while the share of social housing dropped to a record low
www.theguardian.com
January 31, 2026 at 9:15 AM
“As richer and older Australians enjoy the lion’s share of generous tax concessions for landlords, the number of households on public housing waitlists has climbed to about 190,000, up from 169,000 in 2024, and 141,000 in 2018.”
In today’s news, man on internet having a tantrum because I refuse to do social media homework assignments. 🤷🏻. Honey there’s a small device in your hand where you can look stuff up without me doing it for you.
January 31, 2026 at 9:01 AM
In today’s news, man on internet having a tantrum because I refuse to do social media homework assignments. 🤷🏻. Honey there’s a small device in your hand where you can look stuff up without me doing it for you.
I wish my local council understood this.
🚲For the fourth year in a row, more people are biking on 30th Street in North & South Park. Since protected bike lanes were installed, ridership has more than doubled and now tops 130,000 trips a year. When streets feel safer, more people ride. www.kpbs.org/news/quality... @kpbssandiego.bsky.social
30th Street bike lanes see ridership increase for 4th consecutive year
More cyclists are using protected bike lanes along 30th Street in North and South Park, according to a report released today by the San Diego County Bicycle Coalition.
www.kpbs.org
January 31, 2026 at 8:56 AM
I wish my local council understood this.
Never mind the jobs you had, tell me five classes you took in college
Biophysics
Physical Chemistry
Psychology
Biostatistics
Bioethics
Biophysics
Physical Chemistry
Psychology
Biostatistics
Bioethics
Never mind the jobs you had, tell me five classes you took in college
Urban politics
Urban sociology
Mid 20th century U.S. History
Gender and Politics
World History (I'm sorry for sleeping through this at 8am, but the prof was so nice in office hours, I will always pay that forward)
Urban politics
Urban sociology
Mid 20th century U.S. History
Gender and Politics
World History (I'm sorry for sleeping through this at 8am, but the prof was so nice in office hours, I will always pay that forward)
Never mind the jobs you had, tell me five classes you took in college
Calc II
Irish drama
Bertolt Brecht auf deutsch
Poetry writing
Race in America
Calc II
Irish drama
Bertolt Brecht auf deutsch
Poetry writing
Race in America
January 31, 2026 at 3:41 AM
Never mind the jobs you had, tell me five classes you took in college
Biophysics
Physical Chemistry
Psychology
Biostatistics
Bioethics
Biophysics
Physical Chemistry
Psychology
Biostatistics
Bioethics
Reposted by Dr. Lesley Barron, MD, MPhil, FRACS
Half of Chinatown's streets are on the High Injury Network, including Webster. It is just a matter of time before someone is killed
Drivers use these wide multi-land roads to speed, and a painted bike lane is not sufficient protection from cars traveling this fast
www.oaklandca.gov/Government/O...
Drivers use these wide multi-land roads to speed, and a painted bike lane is not sufficient protection from cars traveling this fast
www.oaklandca.gov/Government/O...
January 31, 2026 at 2:37 AM
Half of Chinatown's streets are on the High Injury Network, including Webster. It is just a matter of time before someone is killed
Drivers use these wide multi-land roads to speed, and a painted bike lane is not sufficient protection from cars traveling this fast
www.oaklandca.gov/Government/O...
Drivers use these wide multi-land roads to speed, and a painted bike lane is not sufficient protection from cars traveling this fast
www.oaklandca.gov/Government/O...
10 minute cycle to beach this morning. Two drivers endangering our safety and making evasive action necessary as cyclists with their irresponsible, illegal behaviour- both involving pulling into or turning into a lane we were in. On a clear sunny day with light traffic. This crap has got to stop.
January 30, 2026 at 11:54 PM
10 minute cycle to beach this morning. Two drivers endangering our safety and making evasive action necessary as cyclists with their irresponsible, illegal behaviour- both involving pulling into or turning into a lane we were in. On a clear sunny day with light traffic. This crap has got to stop.