Rory (they/them)
@roryq.bsky.social
Taxonomist (MSc @ Imperial/NHM) | (Ethno) botanist | Autistic/ADHD/ME ♿ | Queer | Ex-(ethno)musicologist | Excited about cross stitch, mosses, fantasy plants, Tolkien | also @historicalplant.substack.com on here
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Rory (they/them)
@roryq.bsky.social
· Nov 26
Today's London bus journey -- 7/10
Loved the solidarity from the person with the buggy, zero quibbles about getting me into the wheelchair space, driver was super on side too. Less great was the person accidentally setting off the wheelchair bell, and then standing with their bag in my face.
Loved the solidarity from the person with the buggy, zero quibbles about getting me into the wheelchair space, driver was super on side too. Less great was the person accidentally setting off the wheelchair bell, and then standing with their bag in my face.
So this is a silly little idea I'm having where I rate my bus journeys according to how well they go for me as a wheelchair user. It's been variable so far but tending alright? Hopefully it'll be interesting if nothing else!
Random errand meant I needed a new bus route today. 2/10 on the way. Driver stopped where the ramp would get caught on the bus stop so we had to take another go. It's wet and they were stressed so the whole journey was horn beeping and shouting.
February 6, 2026 at 4:49 PM
Random errand meant I needed a new bus route today. 2/10 on the way. Driver stopped where the ramp would get caught on the bus stop so we had to take another go. It's wet and they were stressed so the whole journey was horn beeping and shouting.
Reposted by Rory (they/them)
The Utah Historical Society just produced a new, excellent map of "The Peoples of North America in 1776." Great resource for anyone teaching, writing, presenting about Native peoples as part of their 250th work. america250.utah.gov/power-of-pla...
February 3, 2026 at 1:49 PM
The Utah Historical Society just produced a new, excellent map of "The Peoples of North America in 1776." Great resource for anyone teaching, writing, presenting about Native peoples as part of their 250th work. america250.utah.gov/power-of-pla...
No bus journeys to rate for a wee while 'cause I caught The Lurgy so my drama-queen body is on strike 😒 This is your less-regular-than-I'd-like reminder to wear a bloody mask if you really must come in ill because this will literally cost me an entire week of learning I can't really afford 💀
February 2, 2026 at 3:08 PM
No bus journeys to rate for a wee while 'cause I caught The Lurgy so my drama-queen body is on strike 😒 This is your less-regular-than-I'd-like reminder to wear a bloody mask if you really must come in ill because this will literally cost me an entire week of learning I can't really afford 💀
Reposted by Rory (they/them)
This is the problem with Assisted Dying policies that are implemented without sufficient policies to ensure a right to care or a dignified life.
A Canadian man waited a year for treatment for end of life care only to get denied.
His MAiD approval happened in two weeks.
That’s eugenics.
A Canadian man waited a year for treatment for end of life care only to get denied.
His MAiD approval happened in two weeks.
That’s eugenics.
A man waits nearly a year for regulated psilocybin therapy to ease end-of-life distress and is denied.
He applies for MAiD and is approved in 3 weeks.
Bureaucracy moves fast when it wants to.
He applies for MAiD and is approved in 3 weeks.
Bureaucracy moves fast when it wants to.
January 29, 2026 at 9:21 PM
This is the problem with Assisted Dying policies that are implemented without sufficient policies to ensure a right to care or a dignified life.
A Canadian man waited a year for treatment for end of life care only to get denied.
His MAiD approval happened in two weeks.
That’s eugenics.
A Canadian man waited a year for treatment for end of life care only to get denied.
His MAiD approval happened in two weeks.
That’s eugenics.
And yet, as of this morning, BBC news headlines on R3 only talk about 2 people being killed at all. We all have to do better.
Also, this is why folks got (rightly) pulled up for using "say her name" about Renée Good, we have 7 names that aren't being said at all and it's not hard to figure out why.
Also, this is why folks got (rightly) pulled up for using "say her name" about Renée Good, we have 7 names that aren't being said at all and it's not hard to figure out why.
You know Alex Pretti & Renee Good—the 2 white people ICE killed.
ICE has also killed Keith Porter, a Black man, Parady La, a Cambodian man, & 5 Latinos—Heber Sanchaz Domínguez, Victor Manuel Diaz, Luis Beltran Yanez-Cruz, Luis Gustavo Nunez Caceres, and Geraldo Lunas Campos.
9 TOTAL.
ABOLISH ICE.
ICE has also killed Keith Porter, a Black man, Parady La, a Cambodian man, & 5 Latinos—Heber Sanchaz Domínguez, Victor Manuel Diaz, Luis Beltran Yanez-Cruz, Luis Gustavo Nunez Caceres, and Geraldo Lunas Campos.
9 TOTAL.
ABOLISH ICE.
January 28, 2026 at 8:38 AM
And yet, as of this morning, BBC news headlines on R3 only talk about 2 people being killed at all. We all have to do better.
Also, this is why folks got (rightly) pulled up for using "say her name" about Renée Good, we have 7 names that aren't being said at all and it's not hard to figure out why.
Also, this is why folks got (rightly) pulled up for using "say her name" about Renée Good, we have 7 names that aren't being said at all and it's not hard to figure out why.
Reposted by Rory (they/them)
I don't keep doomers in my feed but since apparently some folks do: "celebrate each and every win, loudly" is Organizing 101
January 27, 2026 at 4:13 AM
I don't keep doomers in my feed but since apparently some folks do: "celebrate each and every win, loudly" is Organizing 101
Reposted by Rory (they/them)
Out today: THE CROWN'S SILENCE
I'm delighted to share that my new book is officially out! It traces the British monarchy's involvement in the transatlantic slave trade and colonial slavery over hundreds of years. Please buy a copy, tell your library, & spread the word. bookshop.org/p/books/the-...
I'm delighted to share that my new book is officially out! It traces the British monarchy's involvement in the transatlantic slave trade and colonial slavery over hundreds of years. Please buy a copy, tell your library, & spread the word. bookshop.org/p/books/the-...
January 27, 2026 at 12:02 PM
Out today: THE CROWN'S SILENCE
I'm delighted to share that my new book is officially out! It traces the British monarchy's involvement in the transatlantic slave trade and colonial slavery over hundreds of years. Please buy a copy, tell your library, & spread the word. bookshop.org/p/books/the-...
I'm delighted to share that my new book is officially out! It traces the British monarchy's involvement in the transatlantic slave trade and colonial slavery over hundreds of years. Please buy a copy, tell your library, & spread the word. bookshop.org/p/books/the-...
Reposted by Rory (they/them)
The UK version of “Project 2025” by the Reform party includes a British ICE, a concentration camp for 24,000 people, mass surveillance and withdrawing from refugee, anti-torture and anti-trafficking conventions.
It’s on their website. That’s how comfortable fascists are in the UK today.
It’s on their website. That’s how comfortable fascists are in the UK today.
January 26, 2026 at 1:22 PM
The UK version of “Project 2025” by the Reform party includes a British ICE, a concentration camp for 24,000 people, mass surveillance and withdrawing from refugee, anti-torture and anti-trafficking conventions.
It’s on their website. That’s how comfortable fascists are in the UK today.
It’s on their website. That’s how comfortable fascists are in the UK today.
Reposted by Rory (they/them)
This morning's bus journey: 8/10, nothing special in any direction, minus the do-gooder lady at the stop who decided to interrupt my audiobook to patronise me 😅
January 26, 2026 at 5:05 PM
This morning's bus journey: 8/10, nothing special in any direction, minus the do-gooder lady at the stop who decided to interrupt my audiobook to patronise me 😅
Happy Monday to everyone except the person who leant down at a precise angle recognised by every wheelchair user and asked me if I needed any help while I was *checks notes* waiting for the ramp to come down on the bus. I know that sounds innocuous, but it's irritating as hell.
January 26, 2026 at 2:42 PM
Happy Monday to everyone except the person who leant down at a precise angle recognised by every wheelchair user and asked me if I needed any help while I was *checks notes* waiting for the ramp to come down on the bus. I know that sounds innocuous, but it's irritating as hell.
Reposted by Rory (they/them)
You know Alex Pretti & Renee Good—the 2 white people ICE killed.
ICE has also killed Keith Porter, a Black man, Parady La, a Cambodian man, & 5 Latinos—Heber Sanchaz Domínguez, Victor Manuel Diaz, Luis Beltran Yanez-Cruz, Luis Gustavo Nunez Caceres, and Geraldo Lunas Campos.
9 TOTAL.
ABOLISH ICE.
ICE has also killed Keith Porter, a Black man, Parady La, a Cambodian man, & 5 Latinos—Heber Sanchaz Domínguez, Victor Manuel Diaz, Luis Beltran Yanez-Cruz, Luis Gustavo Nunez Caceres, and Geraldo Lunas Campos.
9 TOTAL.
ABOLISH ICE.
January 26, 2026 at 2:32 AM
You know Alex Pretti & Renee Good—the 2 white people ICE killed.
ICE has also killed Keith Porter, a Black man, Parady La, a Cambodian man, & 5 Latinos—Heber Sanchaz Domínguez, Victor Manuel Diaz, Luis Beltran Yanez-Cruz, Luis Gustavo Nunez Caceres, and Geraldo Lunas Campos.
9 TOTAL.
ABOLISH ICE.
ICE has also killed Keith Porter, a Black man, Parady La, a Cambodian man, & 5 Latinos—Heber Sanchaz Domínguez, Victor Manuel Diaz, Luis Beltran Yanez-Cruz, Luis Gustavo Nunez Caceres, and Geraldo Lunas Campos.
9 TOTAL.
ABOLISH ICE.
Reposted by Rory (they/them)
There is a significant body of research about how playing Tetris and other flow-state inducing puzzle games after a trauma can minimize a lot of long term PTSD effects.
If you watch a video of a murder please make that your next step
If you watch a video of a murder please make that your next step
Go play some Tetris or some other matching type game, now.
January 24, 2026 at 5:22 PM
There is a significant body of research about how playing Tetris and other flow-state inducing puzzle games after a trauma can minimize a lot of long term PTSD effects.
If you watch a video of a murder please make that your next step
If you watch a video of a murder please make that your next step
Reposted by Rory (they/them)
Chronic illness is so isolating. I miss connecting with people in-person.
January 24, 2026 at 7:21 AM
Chronic illness is so isolating. I miss connecting with people in-person.
Reposted by Rory (they/them)
Interesting conversation with a classmate earlier this week. Bus routes into uni have been a bit banjaxed all round so we were comparing notes. And then they mentioned that they'd come across a wheelchair user who'd chewed them out for walking past and getting too close.
January 23, 2026 at 12:09 PM
Interesting conversation with a classmate earlier this week. Bus routes into uni have been a bit banjaxed all round so we were comparing notes. And then they mentioned that they'd come across a wheelchair user who'd chewed them out for walking past and getting too close.
Today's Super Fun Disabled Experience: getting to the building I needed to find the wheelchair lift wasn't working. No sign, no warning, just SURPRISE nothing happens when you push the button to start moving. I went from "just on time" to "definitely late".
January 23, 2026 at 11:44 AM
Today's Super Fun Disabled Experience: getting to the building I needed to find the wheelchair lift wasn't working. No sign, no warning, just SURPRISE nothing happens when you push the button to start moving. I went from "just on time" to "definitely late".
Today's bus journey -- solid 7/10. Bonus good will because the bus turned up much earlier than expected, so less waiting in the cold and damp. A couple of points lost because the driver pulled off before I was in my space. Steering a wheelchair on a moving bus was an unexpected challenge! 😅
January 23, 2026 at 11:14 AM
Today's bus journey -- solid 7/10. Bonus good will because the bus turned up much earlier than expected, so less waiting in the cold and damp. A couple of points lost because the driver pulled off before I was in my space. Steering a wheelchair on a moving bus was an unexpected challenge! 😅
Reposted by Rory (they/them)
I came to Minneapolis to report on what's going on, and one of the main questions I showed up with is "just what is the scale of the resistance?" After all, we're all used to the news calling Portland a "war zone" or whatever when it's just some protests in one part of town.
January 22, 2026 at 3:58 AM
I came to Minneapolis to report on what's going on, and one of the main questions I showed up with is "just what is the scale of the resistance?" After all, we're all used to the news calling Portland a "war zone" or whatever when it's just some protests in one part of town.
Reposted by Rory (they/them)
This is from a symposium of the Worlds leading long covid experts (August 2025) . H/t Charlos on X. This should tell everyone what you need to know. Not one long covid expert without a respirator, no non maskers or gappy surgicals in sight. Experts know it’s airborne and know the health risks.
December 11, 2025 at 6:09 PM
This is from a symposium of the Worlds leading long covid experts (August 2025) . H/t Charlos on X. This should tell everyone what you need to know. Not one long covid expert without a respirator, no non maskers or gappy surgicals in sight. Experts know it’s airborne and know the health risks.
Reposted by Rory (they/them)
It's not even a thing you have to squint at. It is just the actual, literal position of Jesus in the Gospel that sex workers who care for their neighbors will enter heaven and religious hypocrites who falsely use his name will be cast into the eternal fire.
Pastors working for ICE
Sex workers running mutual aid for immigrants
Which one looks more like Jesus???
Sex workers running mutual aid for immigrants
Which one looks more like Jesus???
January 21, 2026 at 2:26 PM
It's not even a thing you have to squint at. It is just the actual, literal position of Jesus in the Gospel that sex workers who care for their neighbors will enter heaven and religious hypocrites who falsely use his name will be cast into the eternal fire.
Reposted by Rory (they/them)
The US granted visas to Jews but only allowed 30,000 in from Germany a year. You had to wait for your number to come up.
Meet Robert Smallbones. An unassuming British diplomat who 'hacked' this system so effectively (saving 48 THOUSAND Jews) the UK government kept his scheme secret for decades /1 🧵
Meet Robert Smallbones. An unassuming British diplomat who 'hacked' this system so effectively (saving 48 THOUSAND Jews) the UK government kept his scheme secret for decades /1 🧵
January 21, 2026 at 12:52 PM
The US granted visas to Jews but only allowed 30,000 in from Germany a year. You had to wait for your number to come up.
Meet Robert Smallbones. An unassuming British diplomat who 'hacked' this system so effectively (saving 48 THOUSAND Jews) the UK government kept his scheme secret for decades /1 🧵
Meet Robert Smallbones. An unassuming British diplomat who 'hacked' this system so effectively (saving 48 THOUSAND Jews) the UK government kept his scheme secret for decades /1 🧵
I've had so many utterly boring bus journeys recently, they didn't merit posts, plus I was flattened by my physical and mental health last week 🙃
However, yesterday and today it's been back to normal...ish. There's a burst water main that affects the homeward part of my journey. So, diversion time!
However, yesterday and today it's been back to normal...ish. There's a burst water main that affects the homeward part of my journey. So, diversion time!
January 20, 2026 at 4:29 PM
I've had so many utterly boring bus journeys recently, they didn't merit posts, plus I was flattened by my physical and mental health last week 🙃
However, yesterday and today it's been back to normal...ish. There's a burst water main that affects the homeward part of my journey. So, diversion time!
However, yesterday and today it's been back to normal...ish. There's a burst water main that affects the homeward part of my journey. So, diversion time!
Reposted by Rory (they/them)
In 1943!!!
“Nobel Literature laureate Knut Hamsun famously gave his Nobel medal and diploma to Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels as a gesture of admiration for the Nazi regime, following his support for the occupation….”
“Nobel Literature laureate Knut Hamsun famously gave his Nobel medal and diploma to Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels as a gesture of admiration for the Nazi regime, following his support for the occupation….”
Reporter: Why would you want someone else’s Nobel Prize?
Trump: She offered it to me.
Trump: She offered it to me.
January 16, 2026 at 6:56 PM
In 1943!!!
“Nobel Literature laureate Knut Hamsun famously gave his Nobel medal and diploma to Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels as a gesture of admiration for the Nazi regime, following his support for the occupation….”
“Nobel Literature laureate Knut Hamsun famously gave his Nobel medal and diploma to Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels as a gesture of admiration for the Nazi regime, following his support for the occupation….”