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thebrickcastle.com
The Brick Castle
@thebrickcastle.com
620 followers 890 following 620 posts
Also known as Jenny. Grew up in Derby, lived in Manchester for 20 years, now in South West Scotland. Left of left. AFOL. LGBTQ+ ally. All humans are people. Once wrote something clever. Diarising COVID for far too long.
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thebrickcastle.com
The Brick Castle @thebrickcastle.com · Aug 12
The Brick Castle: COVID-19, H5N1 Avian Flu, Measles and other virus UK and World News Fortnightly Update 8th August 2025: www.thebrickcastle.com/2025/08/covi...
Photo of a poster held by an individual at a protest. It reads "First they came for the journalists. We don't know what happened after that."
Reposted by The Brick Castle
krutikakuppalli.bsky.social
Is #tylenol safe in pregnancy? Data 👇

A large Swedish study of 2.48M children found:

👶 No link btwn prenatal tylenol & autism, ADHD, or intellectual disability once sibling comparisons controlled for family/genetic factors.

👉 Tylenol is safe in pregnancy if needed.
jamanetwork.com/journals/jam...
Acetaminophen Use During Pregnancy and Children’s Risk of Autism, ADHD, and Intellectual Disability
This nationwide cohort study with sibling control analysis examines the association of acetaminophen use during pregnancy with children’s risk of autism, ADHD, and intellectual disability.
jamanetwork.com
September 23, 2025 at 3:42 AM
thebrickcastle.com
I think this is awesome...
brenttoderian.bsky.social Brent Toderian @brenttoderian.bsky.social · Aug 24
“Many Swedish cities, including #Stockholm, prioritize snow clearance very differently. They now clear walkways & bike paths first, especially those near bus stops & primary schools. Next, they clear local roads, & then, finally, highways.”
usa.streetsblog.org/2018/01/24/w...
Why Sweden Clears Snow-Covered Walkways Before Roads — Streetsblog USA
It's part of "gender-balanced" policy that reflects the fact that women walk more than men.
usa.streetsblog.org
August 24, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Reposted by The Brick Castle
eric-reinhart.com
Imagine the future of voting in Democratic cities living under military occupation. Gerrymandering begins to seem quaint.
radleybalko.bsky.social Radley Balko @radleybalko.bsky.social · Aug 24
We’re 7 months in, and “Pentagon plans military deployment in Chicago” is a headline in the Washington Post. And because it’s city number three, we’re already numbing to it.

If you read this about any other democracy in the world, you’d conclude that it was well on the road to a dictatorship.
Pentagon plans military deployment in Chicago as Trump eyes crackdown
President Donald Trump said Chicago is his next likely target to crack down on urban crime. Military planning has been ongoing for weeks, officials say.
www.washingtonpost.com
August 24, 2025 at 12:28 PM
thebrickcastle.com
Motorsports and mechanics across the way today - under a pendulous sky...

#dumfriesandgalloway
#newtonstewart
View over a stone wall into fields. The nearest field is all visible. It has grass and some small hills and ruts. A track has been made by repeated car tyres. On the track, a small family car racing. After the end of the track, a group of people and vehicles including low loader 'recovery' vehicles, entrant cars and other vehicles. The sky has huge ominous layers of grey cloud. It looks pendulous.
August 24, 2025 at 1:17 PM
Reposted by The Brick Castle
groomb.bsky.social
Paperback edition of 'Made in Manchester', due near the end of this month, has a new cover illustration. I'll be signing copies at Waterstones Oldham, Saturday 23rd August 12-2pm. All welcome. www.waterstones.com/events/brian...
August 3, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Reposted by The Brick Castle
marina-purkiss.bsky.social
You can read and subscribe here:

open.substack.com/pub/marinapu...

Thank you x
When Killing the Messenger Becomes the Strategy.
The targeted murder of Gaza’s last Al Jazeera team wasn’t a military choice - it was a PR strategy. And Western media just played along.
open.substack.com
August 13, 2025 at 4:54 PM
thebrickcastle.com
I didn't share this fortnight's virus news update - sorry ajd all. It's so manic with the kids off, and 16yo starting his first job. Anyway.. this week we have a measles update - though no UK update, and news about cancer, H5N1 and of course COVID, including Long COVID...link below
August 12, 2025 at 7:08 PM
thebrickcastle.com
I must get back into BlueSky. I loved it, recommended it, used it loads, then took an extended break from all social media, then went on holiday, and now I'm back 😎
August 12, 2025 at 6:57 PM
thebrickcastle.com
England women's team won the Euro's and the 9nyear old girl next door came round with celebratory cakes, and that's all I need right now... 😃
Close up.inage of two plain cupcakes
July 27, 2025 at 7:39 PM
thebrickcastle.com
Hands up if you're wearing someone else's suit...

#bbcsport
#womensfootball
#womenseuros2025
Photo of the telly, showing the bottom half of the 3 female commentators. The person far left is wearing a blue trouser and jacket suit, which is at least 4 inches too long, so long in fact that she keeps standing on her own trousers. In the middle screen a silver bowl shaped table, and 2 other commentators wearing fitting trousers.
July 27, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Reposted by The Brick Castle
extremetemps.bsky.social
🌡️EXCEPTIONAL HEAT IN THE ARTICS

35C/95F at 68N latitude

32.8C/91F at 71,5N at Tyumyati

Insane day at Habarova lat 72N
MINIMUM 21.5C/71F MAX 32.1C/90F

It's arguably the
WORLD RECORD HOTTEST DAY ABOVE 72 LATITUDE
July 22, 2025 at 8:29 PM
thebrickcastle.com
Hopefully not too late to pick back up that momentum, and give our youth some hope...
zarahsultana.bsky.social Zarah Sultana MP @zarahsultana.bsky.social · Jul 3
Today, after 14 years, I’m resigning from the Labour Party.

Jeremy Corbyn and I will co-lead the founding of a new party, with other Independent MPs, campaigners and activists across the country.

Join us. The time is now.

Sign up here to stay updated: actionnetwork.org/forms/join-t...
July 3, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Reposted by The Brick Castle
theguardian.com
Jeremy Corbyn hints at launch of new party as leftwing alternative to Labour
Jeremy Corbyn hints at launch of new party as leftwing alternative to Labour
Former Labour leader confirms talks under way among Independent Alliance group of MPs * UK politics live – latest updates Jeremy Corbyn has hinted he could launch a political party alongside other leftwing independent MPs in an attempt to offer “an alternative” to Labour, before the next general election. Speaking on ITV’s Peston programme, the former Labour leader confirmed discussions were under way among the Independent Alliance group of MPs that he co-founded last year. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
July 3, 2025 at 11:53 AM
Reposted by The Brick Castle
historygriffin.bsky.social
I don’t think that I will ever understand the speed with which British political culture has forgotten that, only a few years ago, 46,000 elderly people in care homes died as a result of government policy.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...
Matt Hancock defends moving hospital patients to care homes in Covid crisis
Sending untested people into homes to free up beds was ‘least worst decision’, former health secretary tells inquiry
www.theguardian.com
July 2, 2025 at 3:09 PM
Reposted by The Brick Castle
pulsa8.bsky.social
Sen narrowly passes 'big, beautiful bill' after 3 Republicans vote no

VP JD Vance was in the chamber to break the tie. Republicans Thom Tillis, Rand Paul and Susan Collins voted no, along with Dems. www.theguardian.com/us-news/live...
Senate narrowly passes Trump’s ‘big, beautiful’ spending bill after three Republicans vote no – live updates
Vice-president JD Vance was in the chamber to break the tie
www.theguardian.com
July 1, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Reposted by The Brick Castle
petridishes.bsky.social
With the Big, Beautiful Bill, Each Taxpayer Can Now Help Sponsor a Billionaire
With the Big, Beautiful Bill, You Can Now Sponsor a Billionaire of Your Choosing
"My fellow Americans: When you pay taxes, which would you rather support? Cancer research, or getting one guy a really big boat?" @petridishes writes:
www.theatlantic.com
July 1, 2025 at 12:07 AM
thebrickcastle.com
Happy Summer Solstice to all who celebrate. 11.10pm and normal (not night time) photography. #nofilter or technology, it's just that light.

#dumfriesandgalloway
#Scotland
Widesceen view over fields with blue sky above. A small scattering of clouds on the horizon, but mostly clear pale blue night time sky on the longest day of the year.
June 21, 2025 at 10:14 PM
Reposted by The Brick Castle
georgemonbiot.bsky.social
Impartiality, my left foot.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
BBC pulls Gaza medics documentary due to impartiality concerns - BBC News
Gaza: Doctors Under Attack, which was due to air in February, was made by an independent company.
www.bbc.co.uk
June 21, 2025 at 7:33 AM
Reposted by The Brick Castle
profstevegriffin.bsky.social
@angierasmussen.bsky.social pulls no punches here, and rightly so.

US future health is under threat, and this "legitimised" anti-vax movement could serve as a template for other far right regimes going forward...

Kulldorf as an Imperial officer...🤣

rasmussenretorts.substack.com/p/meet-the-a...
Meet the Anti-Vax ACIP First Round Draft Picks of 2025!
It's MAHA fantasy season, so let's take a look at this year's rookie class. Which preventable disease will start killing children first?
rasmussenretorts.substack.com
June 20, 2025 at 8:26 AM
Reposted by The Brick Castle
sharonk.bsky.social
there's something profoundly funny that even his robot son hates him
paleofuture.bsky.social Matt Novak @paleofuture.bsky.social · Jun 21
Musk is mad at his robot progeny again and has now taken to scolding it over something it wrote in response to Catturd.

“Shame on you, @Grok”
Catturd: When Grok first came out - it was awesome - now Grok is just woke fake news that repeats liberal talking points. I know this for a fact because everything Grok says about me is a lie. What a joke Grok has become. Americano: @grok, why do you lie about @catturd2? Grok: I aim to provide accurate, neutral responses based on available data. Claims that I lie about @catturd2 may stem from disagreements with my sourcing, like Media Matters or Rolling Stone, which document his misinformation. I don't have personal biases, but Al training can introduce unintended slants. Some report I censor criticism or push fringe views, while others note l fact-check conservative claims accurately. Bias in Al is complex, and neutrality is tough to achieve. If you have specific examples of lies, please share, and I'll clarify with evidence. Elon Musk: Shame on you, @Grok
June 21, 2025 at 12:57 AM
thebrickcastle.com
The midnight sky over Galloway, South West Scotland tonight. Almost midsummer 😊

#Scotland
#Galloway
#dumfriesandgalloway
#midnight
View over dark fields in shades of black, above them on the horizon a large swathe of bright light with oranges and fluffy white clouds reflecting the midnight sun below. Further into the sky the clouds are thicker, in shades of blue, darkening to almost black at the top, with a patch of lighter blue clouds, which seem much closer in the middle.
June 19, 2025 at 10:52 PM
Reposted by The Brick Castle
kneecapceol.bsky.social
This Charming Man... ❤️
After learning that calls have been made for Kneecap to be censored during their Glastonbury set, I think it’s important that I make my own position clear. I’ve played Glastonbury many times and the festival has always had a political aspect. It was founded as a place of free expression and political activism and it’s a fact that I agreed to play there with The Smiths in 1984 purely because to do so at the time was a political act. We are living through very troubling times, but for anyone who’s been interested in me or my music over the last 40 years, I feel like my political stance has always been very clear. Oppression fears artistic expression. I respect all musicians who use their platform to speak out against injustice, who promote compassion and equality and give voice to the voiceless. I stand with my audience and fellow musicians who call for an immediate end to the atrocities and a free Palestine. Johnny Marr
June 16, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Reposted by The Brick Castle
zarahsultana.bsky.social
What we’re witnessing is the result of Israel acting with impunity.

It is committing genocide in Gaza, ethnic cleansing in the West Bank & has bombed Lebanon, Syria, Yemen & Iran without any accountability.

The UK must end ALL arms sales, sanction Israel & expel its ambassador.
June 13, 2025 at 8:08 PM