Dr Helen MacLean
LightNews LightNews
banner
drhmaclean.bsky.social
Dr Helen MacLean
@drhmaclean.bsky.social
610 followers 740 following 350 posts
Former medical research scientist, interested in politics, society and sustainability, also science, cats, music, gardening and AFL (Geelong, the mighty Cats). On Wurrundjeri land, Naarm (Melbourne, Australia).
Posts Replies Media Videos
drhmaclean.bsky.social
Morning Dave and Finn, from me and Tippy’s enjoying Melbourne’s sun in my garden
A glowing ginger cat is basking in the sunlight on a deck, with garden pots and garden greenery in the background.
November 1, 2025 at 10:42 PM
drhmaclean.bsky.social
Tippy’s simultaneously basking in the sun and contemplating his own lovely reflection in the window
A handsome dark ginger cat is sitting in the sun on a chair in front of a window, facing towards his reflection in the window.
October 18, 2025 at 12:21 AM
drhmaclean.bsky.social
Here’s my long boy, currently stretched out on my legs
A longer ginger cat is stretched out asleep on my legs
June 30, 2025 at 4:11 AM
drhmaclean.bsky.social
Aurora Australis from the inner suburbs of Melbourne, visible with the naked eye!!
A pale pink glow visible in the night sky over the silhouette of a house and trees
June 1, 2025 at 11:06 AM
drhmaclean.bsky.social
I’m sure Darwin’s climate is part of the reason Finn & Mia aren’t more cuddly with you and each other. Whereas here in Melbourne, we’re entering peak cuddling season 🥶😻
A ginger cats cuddles on top of my lap, sitting on a couple of fluffy rugs that help keep us both warm in the dismal Melbourne weather
May 23, 2025 at 9:14 AM
drhmaclean.bsky.social
Happy Caturday, with the Cats victorious against Port today #AFLPowerCats
A ginger cat asleep on my lap as the TV in the background shows the Geelong Cats victorious over Port Adelaide 115 to 39
May 17, 2025 at 10:59 AM
drhmaclean.bsky.social
My thoughts on #ElectionDay, and how we should proudly celebrate our electoral system here in Australia

#Election2025 #DemocracySausage
#auspol
With everything that's going on in the world, we need to celebrate our #ElectionDay & our world-leading democratic system. I think we forget sometimes how great and unique we are here, so here's a reminder: 1. Independent Australian Electoral Commission (AEC). We can trust the boundaries of electorates are drawn without gerrymanders, the the lack of political interference in the oversight of the electoral process. 2. Compulsory voting. It might seem like a pain, but it forces political parties to stay relatively moderate for broad appeal, rather than being captured by extreme fanatics. 3. Preferential voting. We can at least get our "least-worst" candidate, who has the broadest appeal even if not always our first preference. 4. Lots of polling places, & voting on a Saturday (plus pre-polls etc). No need to miss work, or queue for hours, or travel huge distances to vote, so few barriers for people to actual get out and vote. 5. #DemocracySausage and #cakestalls - who doesn't love the opportunity to support their local primary school, kinder, etc? No matter who you vote for, and the cynicism we might rightly feel about some of our politicians, at least be positive about our electoral system, and our chance to participate in this democratic process!!!! (end of sermon 😆😆)
May 3, 2025 at 7:16 AM
drhmaclean.bsky.social
I sent one of those replies in their UAP days, when luckily it could still get delivered.
Text message reply from me to Clive Palmer UAP spam messages, saying FUCK OFF!!!!!
April 24, 2025 at 7:33 AM
drhmaclean.bsky.social
Finally. And I f @albomp.bsky.social is the PM’s official account, I wish he/his comms team would post everything they do on Twitter also on here #auspol
Copy of a tweet from Anthony Albanese @AlboMP saying: “For three years Australia has proudly supported the brave people of Ukraine in their struggle to defend their sovereignty against the brutality of Russian aggression and in support of international law. Australia stands with Ukraine.”
March 1, 2025 at 2:03 AM
drhmaclean.bsky.social
Hey @albomp.bsky.social where’s your statement on Australia’s support for Ukraine? I get you want to try & prevent tariffs on Australian products & maybe hope the softly-softly approach will work with Trump. But moments like this in history call for leadership & standing up for principles.
Tweets from western European & Canadian leaders & diplomats, expressing unequivocal support for Ukraine
March 1, 2025 at 1:23 AM
drhmaclean.bsky.social
Unsurprisingly, the Trump inauguration and Elon’s nazi salute/support for far-right German nationalists has led to another surge in the rate of users joining @bsky.app #Bluesky
Screenshot of Bluesky User Count, currently showing 29,551,802 Total Bluesky Users, with numbers increasing by 1.3 users per second.
January 26, 2025 at 8:06 AM
drhmaclean.bsky.social
I mowed the lawn this morning in anticipation of the rain, and #Melbourneweather didn’t let me down.

An intense storm, even if it didn’t last that long, produced 8.5 mm in the rain gauge.
A small garden lawn with trees around it looks neat and a fresh green colour after the thunderstorm. A rain gauge in the foreground holding 8.5 mm rainwater, with the garden and green lawn in the background.
January 12, 2025 at 3:09 AM
drhmaclean.bsky.social
Happy new year to you too Dave. My cat Tippy has had enough of the celebrations, and just wants to go to bed now.
A ginger cat is sitting on my lap with his eyes closed but head not fully relaxed, just waiting for proper bedtime
December 31, 2024 at 1:47 PM
drhmaclean.bsky.social
Test cricket at its best. 74K at the #MCG on day 5, great atmosphere with the Indian supporters, and Australia win in the last hour. Melbourne does us proud, and the result couldn’t be better! #AUSvIND
Players surround the batsman as Nathan Lyon comes in to bowl at the tailender in the cricket.
December 30, 2024 at 6:32 AM
drhmaclean.bsky.social
Has Pesutto gone, or is he still clinging on? #libspill #springst
Tweet from THE AGE The Age @theage • 7m Opposition Leader John Pesutto is addressing the media now. • • • THE Under-pressure Liberal leader John Pesutto to make announcement From theage.com.au
December 21, 2024 at 1:24 AM
drhmaclean.bsky.social
More #melbourneweather
The sun with a bright orange corona is visible in a grey/orange sky, with the dark silhouette of tree leaves around it.
December 20, 2024 at 5:14 AM
drhmaclean.bsky.social
Smoke from the bushfires has just reached Melbourne, turning the sky and the sun an eerie orange #melbourneweather
The sky is show with a clear portion at the bottom of it, but mostly covered in grey/orange clouds with a vivid orange sun. The sky is show with a clear portion at the bottom of it above houses and trees, but mostly covered in grey/orange clouds.
December 20, 2024 at 4:57 AM
drhmaclean.bsky.social
I have one of those too
A ginger cat is sitting on the arm of chair that I’m sitting in, next to my shoulder
December 13, 2024 at 4:10 AM
drhmaclean.bsky.social
Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch are the epitome of bad faith actors
Extract of text from the NYTimes: Dec. 9, 2024 Updated 5:23 p.m. ET A Nevada commissioner ruled resoundingly against Rupert Murdoch's attempt to change his family's trust to consolidate his eldest son Lachlan's control of his media empire and lock in Fox News's right-wing editorial slant, according to a sealed court document obtained by The New York Times. The commissioner, Edmund J. Gorman Jr., concluded in a decision filed on Saturday that the father and son, who is the head of Fox News and News Corp., had acted in "bad faith" in their effort to amend the irrevocable trust, which divides control of the company equally among Mr. Murdoch's four oldest children - Lachlan, James, Elisabeth and Prudence - after his death. The ruling was at times scathing. At one point in his 96-page opinion, Mr. Gorman characterizes the plan to change the trust as a "carefully crafted charade" to "permanently cement Lachlan Murdoch's executive roles" inside the empire "regardless of the impacts such control would have over the companies or the beneficiaries" of the family trust.
December 9, 2024 at 11:24 PM
drhmaclean.bsky.social
71% as I’m reading this 😆
Screenshot of my phone, which has battery level of 71%, as I read Sir Michael’s Bluesky post that says the following: Phone Battery Percentages Reviewed 79%: Plenty of juice but not too showy. Lovely 4%: Eek! I don't like it but I respect it 100%: Live a little, you coward 48%: Unserious. Either charge it or run it down but you can't stay at 48% 27%: No man's land. Battery % of a person who doesn't know themselves
December 8, 2024 at 9:54 PM
drhmaclean.bsky.social
A simple, personal contribution to sustainability, darning some holes in socks. Prolongs their life, reduces consumption & keeps them out of landfill. Plus a small element of creativity in doing #visiblemending
A sock with coloured dot pattern has two honeycomb darns on the toe area, one large one in bright blue thread, the other in grey thread.
November 23, 2024 at 5:26 AM
drhmaclean.bsky.social
This is mesmerising 🤣🤣 (audio is even better)
Bluesky butterflies float up a screen with a blue sky and some clouds. Cloud-like speech bubbles come from the butterflies, saying words including fucking, shite, fucker, shit, bullshit and cock.
November 22, 2024 at 4:52 AM
drhmaclean.bsky.social
Not particularly enlightening, but I’ve resolved to try and connect even more with nature, and on the domestic nature front, I’m happy to report that the veggies in my new raised garden beds are going gangbusters
Tomato, kale, capsicum and asparagus plants are growing vigorously in a new timber raised garden bed. A row of four timber raised garden beds are positioned in front of a fence, and contain lots of veggie plants and seedlings.
November 22, 2024 at 12:31 AM
drhmaclean.bsky.social
And here was the moment it reached the 20 million mark
A screenshot of the real-time counter for the number of Bluesky users is shown. The number displayed is exactly 20,000,000.
November 21, 2024 at 7:00 AM
drhmaclean.bsky.social
Just like mine, as I’m reading your post
A ginger cat is stretched out asleep on the lap and legs of a person sitting in front of a window who has their legs up on an ottoman
November 21, 2024 at 4:15 AM