Ash Hickey آشلي
@ordinaryash.bsky.social
She/Her. Aspiring medical historian with an interest in how respectability/morality is applied to the body/illness. Based in Aotearoa. Harm reduction advocate. Dog lover. Flower afficionado. Knows how to throw together a meal. Shoddy crafter. Hot mess.
Pinned
I should have posted this yesterday for World AIDS Day but better late than never. This is Gary McGrath, I did my honours history thesis on the work he did to set up the world's first national needle exchange in NZ in the late 80s. Gary had been living in Melbourne prior to his diagnosis in 1984.
Reposted by Ash Hickey آشلي
Finished Hine Mere #embroidery #TuiWhakaniko
December 2, 2025 at 8:15 AM
Finished Hine Mere #embroidery #TuiWhakaniko
Reposted by Ash Hickey آشلي
like, what job do nz media reporters even do these days? because it mostly seems to be "refuse to look at the evidence" and "reprint anything ACT or NZF says verbatim and without challenge"
December 2, 2025 at 7:29 AM
like, what job do nz media reporters even do these days? because it mostly seems to be "refuse to look at the evidence" and "reprint anything ACT or NZF says verbatim and without challenge"
Reposted by Ash Hickey آشلي
My wife has been HIV+ for 34 years. She’s alive today b/c work of activists who destigmatized the virus, pushed medical science to adapt & find ways to treat it, & advocated for gov health programs that helped fund her care. The current U.S. regime may want to go back in time, but we won’t let them.
December 2, 2025 at 1:27 AM
My wife has been HIV+ for 34 years. She’s alive today b/c work of activists who destigmatized the virus, pushed medical science to adapt & find ways to treat it, & advocated for gov health programs that helped fund her care. The current U.S. regime may want to go back in time, but we won’t let them.
Reposted by Ash Hickey آشلي
1/ Quick thread for world AIDS day. I don’t know why this memory didn’t come back until now.
My parents divorced in 1978, and my mother found herself a 38 year old single parent of a 2 and a 6 year old. She was a college graduate, but didn’t really have any career prospects.
My parents divorced in 1978, and my mother found herself a 38 year old single parent of a 2 and a 6 year old. She was a college graduate, but didn’t really have any career prospects.
December 2, 2025 at 6:58 AM
1/ Quick thread for world AIDS day. I don’t know why this memory didn’t come back until now.
My parents divorced in 1978, and my mother found herself a 38 year old single parent of a 2 and a 6 year old. She was a college graduate, but didn’t really have any career prospects.
My parents divorced in 1978, and my mother found herself a 38 year old single parent of a 2 and a 6 year old. She was a college graduate, but didn’t really have any career prospects.
Reposted by Ash Hickey آشلي
you should teach your kids to evade, if not kill the elf on the shelf.
December 1, 2025 at 9:31 PM
you should teach your kids to evade, if not kill the elf on the shelf.
37
Actually, let’s make this interesting!
Who wants to win a tea towel? Quote post with your guess before 11 pm. Closest wins. If more than one person has the closest guess, names go in a hat.
Prize value: NZ$35
Can be sent to an address in Aotearoa or Australia (you may enter from elsewhere.)
Who wants to win a tea towel? Quote post with your guess before 11 pm. Closest wins. If more than one person has the closest guess, names go in a hat.
Prize value: NZ$35
Can be sent to an address in Aotearoa or Australia (you may enter from elsewhere.)
December 2, 2025 at 5:32 AM
37
Reposted by Ash Hickey آشلي
I would love to see a longread on universities paying huge sums to consultancies for work their own faculty could easily do at far lower costs
These fees drive up the cost of tuition, reduce internal resources for research funding, and honestly are demoralizing to the bright minds employed by unis
These fees drive up the cost of tuition, reduce internal resources for research funding, and honestly are demoralizing to the bright minds employed by unis
December 2, 2025 at 4:24 AM
I would love to see a longread on universities paying huge sums to consultancies for work their own faculty could easily do at far lower costs
These fees drive up the cost of tuition, reduce internal resources for research funding, and honestly are demoralizing to the bright minds employed by unis
These fees drive up the cost of tuition, reduce internal resources for research funding, and honestly are demoralizing to the bright minds employed by unis
Reposted by Ash Hickey آشلي
who decided to call it Secret Santa when Nondisclosure Claus was right there
December 1, 2025 at 10:55 PM
who decided to call it Secret Santa when Nondisclosure Claus was right there
The cancelled TV show you’ll never stop thinking about.
December 2, 2025 at 4:38 AM
The cancelled TV show you’ll never stop thinking about.
Reposted by Ash Hickey آشلي
there’s a scene in the new documentary where Elizabeth Taylor is talking about the stigma of AIDS and how she got involved in the movement and it’s fucking everything
August 10, 2024 at 3:21 PM
there’s a scene in the new documentary where Elizabeth Taylor is talking about the stigma of AIDS and how she got involved in the movement and it’s fucking everything
I should have posted this yesterday for World AIDS Day but better late than never. This is Gary McGrath, I did my honours history thesis on the work he did to set up the world's first national needle exchange in NZ in the late 80s. Gary had been living in Melbourne prior to his diagnosis in 1984.
December 2, 2025 at 3:14 AM
I should have posted this yesterday for World AIDS Day but better late than never. This is Gary McGrath, I did my honours history thesis on the work he did to set up the world's first national needle exchange in NZ in the late 80s. Gary had been living in Melbourne prior to his diagnosis in 1984.
I regret not moving into the Gordon Wilson flats when I had the chance to in the mid-00s 🥲
December 2, 2025 at 12:33 AM
I regret not moving into the Gordon Wilson flats when I had the chance to in the mid-00s 🥲
Reposted by Ash Hickey آشلي
I don't think I've ever talked on Bluesky about why I hate the Foo Fighters and Dave Grohl.
Don't read any further unless you're prepared for uncomfortable truths about the "Nicest Guy in Rock", and his very substantial body count & subsequent cover-up.
Don't read any further unless you're prepared for uncomfortable truths about the "Nicest Guy in Rock", and his very substantial body count & subsequent cover-up.
September 16, 2023 at 10:12 PM
I don't think I've ever talked on Bluesky about why I hate the Foo Fighters and Dave Grohl.
Don't read any further unless you're prepared for uncomfortable truths about the "Nicest Guy in Rock", and his very substantial body count & subsequent cover-up.
Don't read any further unless you're prepared for uncomfortable truths about the "Nicest Guy in Rock", and his very substantial body count & subsequent cover-up.
Reposted by Ash Hickey آشلي
After years of decline, Trump’s cuts to HIV/AIDS funding, mirrored by the UK and others, mean that AIDS death and HIV infections are rising again.
#WorldAIDSDay
#WorldAIDSDay
Aid cuts have shaken HIV/Aids care to its core – and will mean millions more infections ahead
Reports highlight devastating impact of slashed funding, especially in parts of Africa, that could lead to 3.3m new HIV infections by 2030
www.theguardian.com
December 1, 2025 at 6:18 PM
After years of decline, Trump’s cuts to HIV/AIDS funding, mirrored by the UK and others, mean that AIDS death and HIV infections are rising again.
#WorldAIDSDay
#WorldAIDSDay
Dolphins! Today at Whāngaimoana in South Wairarapa 🐬
November 30, 2025 at 7:41 AM
Dolphins! Today at Whāngaimoana in South Wairarapa 🐬
I'm thinking Stuff is using AI at least for their news categories huh?
November 28, 2025 at 11:33 AM
I'm thinking Stuff is using AI at least for their news categories huh?
Stanford's disingenuous ellipses are doing some HEAVY lifting.
The full quote if anyone was curious: "Critical pedagogies recognise the importance of mathematics and statistics as tools for understanding, interpreting, and addressing issues of power and inequity, both in the classroom and in the wider world."
New Zealand's Minister of Education can't tell the difference between Mathematics and Social Studies.
November 28, 2025 at 3:35 AM
Stanford's disingenuous ellipses are doing some HEAVY lifting.
Me using the heck out of my ice water filled cooling tower in my bedroom office all day knowing full well I'm pumping extra humidity into the room and have to sleep in this swampy room later tonight.
Brooklyn99 Brooklyn Nine Nine GIF
ALT: Brooklyn99 Brooklyn Nine Nine GIF
media.tenor.com
November 28, 2025 at 3:08 AM
Me using the heck out of my ice water filled cooling tower in my bedroom office all day knowing full well I'm pumping extra humidity into the room and have to sleep in this swampy room later tonight.
Reposted by Ash Hickey آشلي
19th century wooden “walking” doll with a wheel of eight legs ~ when costumed, the doll’s long dress would cover most of the leg mechanism, allowing the doll to “walk” when moving, while appearing to have only two legs at any one time www.theriaults.com/events/listi...
November 27, 2025 at 7:12 AM
19th century wooden “walking” doll with a wheel of eight legs ~ when costumed, the doll’s long dress would cover most of the leg mechanism, allowing the doll to “walk” when moving, while appearing to have only two legs at any one time www.theriaults.com/events/listi...
Reposted by Ash Hickey آشلي
How to keep mice and rats out of your cheese chamber:
Mix weasel brains with hog suet and scatter them around the room. Problem solved! You're welcome.
Mix weasel brains with hog suet and scatter them around the room. Problem solved! You're welcome.
November 26, 2025 at 10:21 PM
How to keep mice and rats out of your cheese chamber:
Mix weasel brains with hog suet and scatter them around the room. Problem solved! You're welcome.
Mix weasel brains with hog suet and scatter them around the room. Problem solved! You're welcome.
Reposted by Ash Hickey آشلي
And did absolutely nothing to stop them.
November 25, 2025 at 8:07 PM
And did absolutely nothing to stop them.
Reposted by Ash Hickey آشلي
Reposted by Ash Hickey آشلي
ok so i got some *more* constructive criticism from bird artists on my attempts at drawing birds. many said the legs weren’t realistic enough and i suspect they were right. i think i finally got it in this year’s calendar though, lemme know what you think
November 25, 2025 at 2:56 AM
ok so i got some *more* constructive criticism from bird artists on my attempts at drawing birds. many said the legs weren’t realistic enough and i suspect they were right. i think i finally got it in this year’s calendar though, lemme know what you think
Distopian near future where all aspects of life are churned into data:
Local council: Your 2031 recap is ready. Wow what a year! February was a rough month huh? You recycled 16 empty wine bottles but DNA analysis of your blackwater output indicates you had no adult visitors during this period.
Local council: Your 2031 recap is ready. Wow what a year! February was a rough month huh? You recycled 16 empty wine bottles but DNA analysis of your blackwater output indicates you had no adult visitors during this period.
No YouTube. Under exactly zero circumstances am I interested in a 2025 recap of my viewing habits. Ugh.
November 25, 2025 at 4:50 AM
Distopian near future where all aspects of life are churned into data:
Local council: Your 2031 recap is ready. Wow what a year! February was a rough month huh? You recycled 16 empty wine bottles but DNA analysis of your blackwater output indicates you had no adult visitors during this period.
Local council: Your 2031 recap is ready. Wow what a year! February was a rough month huh? You recycled 16 empty wine bottles but DNA analysis of your blackwater output indicates you had no adult visitors during this period.