Call me Ishmael
@thewhitewhale.bsky.social
books, words, left politics, learning stuff, long covid (he/him). In Australia, but a citizen of the world.
Views expressed here are my own.
Views expressed here are my own.
ATAGI have released their Annual Statement on Immunisation. And boy, those are some dismal numbers.
www.health.gov.au/resources/pu...
www.health.gov.au/resources/pu...
October 16, 2025 at 1:19 AM
ATAGI have released their Annual Statement on Immunisation. And boy, those are some dismal numbers.
www.health.gov.au/resources/pu...
www.health.gov.au/resources/pu...
The setting and worldbuilding work here is great. The rest doesn't quite hit those standards - characterisation is a little thin, a little too YA for my tastes. But still, a fun time, fighting a zombie plague in an unreconstructed alternate 19th century US. 💙📚
August 17, 2025 at 1:46 AM
The setting and worldbuilding work here is great. The rest doesn't quite hit those standards - characterisation is a little thin, a little too YA for my tastes. But still, a fun time, fighting a zombie plague in an unreconstructed alternate 19th century US. 💙📚
There's not evidence that it's more dangerous (or less dangerous), but the growth internationally suggests it has some advantage over other strains (could be more infectious, could be better at getting around vax/infection immunity). www.abc.net.au/news/health/...
June 17, 2025 at 4:34 AM
There's not evidence that it's more dangerous (or less dangerous), but the growth internationally suggests it has some advantage over other strains (could be more infectious, could be better at getting around vax/infection immunity). www.abc.net.au/news/health/...
This reply exposes some of the system prompting that's been put in place by Elon or his lackeys.
May 15, 2025 at 1:59 AM
This reply exposes some of the system prompting that's been put in place by Elon or his lackeys.
Fun fact: between 29,000 and 48,000 Americans have died of Covid since October 2024.
The virus doesn't care that you stopped paying attention. www.cdc.gov/covid/php/su...
The virus doesn't care that you stopped paying attention. www.cdc.gov/covid/php/su...
May 12, 2025 at 4:54 AM
Fun fact: between 29,000 and 48,000 Americans have died of Covid since October 2024.
The virus doesn't care that you stopped paying attention. www.cdc.gov/covid/php/su...
The virus doesn't care that you stopped paying attention. www.cdc.gov/covid/php/su...
In April 2023, this is what a Saturday on the bike looked like for me. A few months later, I got Covid. Now, dawdling 3 km to the shops is a serious ride, requiring rest for a week afterwards.
You can be as fit and healthy as you like, fully vaccinated, and it won't save you from Long Covid.
You can be as fit and healthy as you like, fully vaccinated, and it won't save you from Long Covid.
April 19, 2025 at 10:16 AM
In April 2023, this is what a Saturday on the bike looked like for me. A few months later, I got Covid. Now, dawdling 3 km to the shops is a serious ride, requiring rest for a week afterwards.
You can be as fit and healthy as you like, fully vaccinated, and it won't save you from Long Covid.
You can be as fit and healthy as you like, fully vaccinated, and it won't save you from Long Covid.
In March, I went down a few different rabbit holes. Variety is indeed the spice of life. 💙📚
April 1, 2025 at 7:25 AM
In March, I went down a few different rabbit holes. Variety is indeed the spice of life. 💙📚
It's curious how absent the virus is from most retrospective accounts of the (ongoing) pandemic. There's a refusal to really face reality at play, which often seems to get displaced into fighting the only enemy that's visible - supposedly overzealous public health officials. 💙📚
March 27, 2025 at 10:46 AM
It's curious how absent the virus is from most retrospective accounts of the (ongoing) pandemic. There's a refusal to really face reality at play, which often seems to get displaced into fighting the only enemy that's visible - supposedly overzealous public health officials. 💙📚
We developed vaccines in a year, because public resources were mobilised for scientific research. But in five years, for #longcovid, there are no effective treatments, no cures. Except to avoid infection in the first place 😷.
March 15, 2025 at 1:17 AM
We developed vaccines in a year, because public resources were mobilised for scientific research. But in five years, for #longcovid, there are no effective treatments, no cures. Except to avoid infection in the first place 😷.
It's #LongCovidAwarenessDay2025. Every infection carries with it a 5-10% chance of ongoing chronic illness. Even if you're vaccinated. I was infected in 2023, after most of society had already moved on from the pandemic.
March 15, 2025 at 1:17 AM
It's #LongCovidAwarenessDay2025. Every infection carries with it a 5-10% chance of ongoing chronic illness. Even if you're vaccinated. I was infected in 2023, after most of society had already moved on from the pandemic.
It turns out that ignoring a pandemic doesn't make it go away. Long Covid incidence is actually rising over time with the later Omicron variants.
February 6, 2025 at 5:29 AM
It turns out that ignoring a pandemic doesn't make it go away. Long Covid incidence is actually rising over time with the later Omicron variants.
My 2024 in reading 💙📚. It was a year of turning more toward literary fiction and classics, where I found much to enjoy. But I struggled to gather the brain power (thanks, LC!) for much non-fiction.
I rate hard, as you can tell - a 3/5 is still a solidly good book that delivers on what it aims for.
I rate hard, as you can tell - a 3/5 is still a solidly good book that delivers on what it aims for.
December 30, 2024 at 11:37 AM
My 2024 in reading 💙📚. It was a year of turning more toward literary fiction and classics, where I found much to enjoy. But I struggled to gather the brain power (thanks, LC!) for much non-fiction.
I rate hard, as you can tell - a 3/5 is still a solidly good book that delivers on what it aims for.
I rate hard, as you can tell - a 3/5 is still a solidly good book that delivers on what it aims for.
Great piece from Liz Pelly in Harper's about Spotify's drive to replace artists with cheap muzak slop.
December 20, 2024 at 5:33 AM
Great piece from Liz Pelly in Harper's about Spotify's drive to replace artists with cheap muzak slop.
Such a busy bee.
#throwbackthursday to 2022
#throwbackthursday to 2022
December 19, 2024 at 3:29 AM
Such a busy bee.
#throwbackthursday to 2022
#throwbackthursday to 2022
#throwbackthursday to a black swan event in 2022
December 12, 2024 at 1:25 AM
#throwbackthursday to a black swan event in 2022
A man in chronic pain lashed out at his health insurer who (I presume) denied him the help he needed. Seems pretty clear cut.
December 10, 2024 at 6:52 AM
A man in chronic pain lashed out at his health insurer who (I presume) denied him the help he needed. Seems pretty clear cut.
#throwbackthursday to hiking in the Blue Mountains, which might have only been in 2023, but feels a lifetime ago. #photography
November 28, 2024 at 9:28 AM
#throwbackthursday to hiking in the Blue Mountains, which might have only been in 2023, but feels a lifetime ago. #photography
This book is mostly composed of vibes. Good vibes, though. A cozy, witchy romance where the stakes are never too high - just a nice place to spend some time in. Especially suitable for a time when *gestures broadly at America*. 📚💙
November 23, 2024 at 11:18 PM
This book is mostly composed of vibes. Good vibes, though. A cozy, witchy romance where the stakes are never too high - just a nice place to spend some time in. Especially suitable for a time when *gestures broadly at America*. 📚💙
Book 55 finished for the year is Metamorphosis and Other Stories, by Franz Kafka. Metamorphosis and In the Penal Settlement from this collection are genuinely first rate. The others have their charms in Kafka's anxious style and experimentation with viewpoints, but don't reach the same heights.💙📚
November 23, 2024 at 6:49 AM
Book 55 finished for the year is Metamorphosis and Other Stories, by Franz Kafka. Metamorphosis and In the Penal Settlement from this collection are genuinely first rate. The others have their charms in Kafka's anxious style and experimentation with viewpoints, but don't reach the same heights.💙📚
This 🦋 seems nice - good vibes - so as much as I like the ol' kookaburra, it's about time for a proper profile pic. #yallmasking
November 22, 2024 at 5:59 AM
This 🦋 seems nice - good vibes - so as much as I like the ol' kookaburra, it's about time for a proper profile pic. #yallmasking