You know the thing where ppl say “no one could have anticipated covid!” Except, that’s complete nonsense. 1st lectures of my MSc @lshtm.bsky.social @martinmckee.bsky.social said “The next pandemic could be a SARS one & if we are unlucky it’ll have a long latency & high asymptomatic spread” 2011

Prof Christina Pagel@chrischirp.bsky.social · 6d ago

Keeping schools open is a goal not a policy. A blanket "never close schools" is a bad lesson. I suggest these: 1. Do not prejudge next pandemic which will be a different virus and could have very different age profile of who it attacks 9/12

I mean, “clean indoor air” is simply a good idea for reducing so many illnesses It’s kinda the water pump handle of our time, isn’t it

Prof Christina Pagel@chrischirp.bsky.social · 6d ago

2. Clean indoor air: helpful in a pandemic and good for health and learning at all times (and not just in schools but other buildings too) 3. Effective public health measures: testing, contact tracing, support for isolation, communication, etc 10/12

Keeping schools open is a goal not a policy. A blanket "never close schools" is a bad lesson. I suggest these: 1. Do not prejudge next pandemic which will be a different virus and could have very different age profile of who it attacks 9/12

I visit a lot of care homes. To my surprise, one of the nicest is a council run one - spotlessly clean, bright, welcoming, with a lovely communal area and nice rooms So much nicer than the dark, dingy, damp carpet ones Time for a rethink on care providers.

Here it is. My manifesto for the 2026 Clacton By-Election. It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Join me, clean up Clacton and let's make 13th August Bin Day! #VoteBinface #VoteyMcVoteface #YesWeTinCan

This is very bad and extremely worrying

Dave Vetter@davidrvetter.bsky.social · 2w ago

I join you from the Blaenavon wildfire in Southeast Wales, brought to you by BP, Shell and Equinor. Though it does not look dramatic, the fire has been out of control for days - for a very particular reason. 🧵

Superb point

Marie Le Conte@youngvulgarian.marieleconte.com · 2w ago

I wish Bluesky had that feature Twitter had that let you remove a person's reposts and only see their original posts, how can we tell the devs that it was a truly great and beautiful thing about Twitter and we could do with it here

Oh dear. When you try to tell people something is unwise and explain why… and they respond telling you you’re old. That. Old. Yep.

First proper meeting of BMA council today. I’ve never been on council despite many years as a rep in various guises. I’m actually a bit nervous, but will strive to do my best

I love the west wing. Got me thinking… Is there an equivalent UK version? You know, where a decent administration gets into government and does good stuff? 🤔 Anything pre civil war doesn’t count. 😂

Allison Gill@muellershewrote.com · 4w ago

Okay. Back to rewatching The West Wing. In Excelsis Deo is next and it’s probably one of the best episodes of television ever.

Today there’s a lovely breeze that is blowing hot air about

Who I blame for all this ghastly hot weather: Keir Starmer Andy Burnham Lazy teachers BBC Meghan Markle Ange Postecoglou Mounjaro Jude Bellingham Matcha Chat GPT Hydration breaks Spiteful class warriors Call The Midwife Women who vape Langoustines That Norwegian rowing chant. 😡

This is nothing. This week I stayed 4 nights in a Holiday Inn in Brighton that had no air conditioning in any of the rooms. No one warned me & I booked it in February It Was Very Very Very Hot 🫠

John Bull@garius.bsky.social · last mo.

it's always cute when Americans are like "LOL. Europe. we put aircon in ancient buildings ALL THE TIME it's easy." then you look and they mean sticking window units in some wooden buildings younger than my wardrobe.

With some sadness my prediction is that Labour will go full steam for Burnham He has no particular record of note in most of the UK And in the next GE he might scrape, maybe, a majority, but he’ll be blamed by then for all the same stuff Starmer is being blamed for. Better the devil you know

Being from the UK I had no idea that this was the history behind Juneteenth! How amazing!

Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani@mayor.nyc.gov · 2mo ago

Fascinating thread. I assess med students’ reflective analysis of placements - what I want to know is their thoughts about their experience I don’t think AI can capture that; but it’s hard to tell if it’s being used & I suspect it is. 💔

Jeff Sharlet@jeffsharlet.bsky.social · 2mo ago

At the end of the term I asked my college creative wriing students to submit anonymous thoughts on AI. No real surprises: Mood ranges from resignation to despair, capitulation from embittered erosion of standards to total, feelings of betrayal from deep to furious. 1/

The BBC is, at its best, one of the greatest broadcasting organisations in the world. But in the corner of Devon, we’d be benefit without it. Independent, insightful, inspiring #BBC www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

As haters and critics circle, will anyone speak up for the BBC? Yes, a huge, loyal army of ordinary Britons | Lindsay Mackie

The BBC debate seems dominated by its foes and commercial rivals, but a new survey reveals a hitherto silent majority in supportive voice, says writer and campaigner Lindsay Mackie

theguardian.com

This is also *terrible* news for many autistic students; having helped with revision recently, English lit& lang requires a challenging combo of analysis of nuance and interpretation Students could be required to pass GCSE English to access university loans www.theguardian.com/education/20...

Students could be required to pass GCSE English to access university loans

Exclusive: Ministers consider national threshold in England that could in effect bar thousands from studying

theguardian.com

Bluesky overrun by British teenagers at night because it's the one place the Labour government will never check.

I haven’t been out of the house today, but I did knit on a train and through a meeting on Thursday (helps me concentrate). Does that count? #knit

And it’s golden info like this that makes me love BlueSky. They aren’t talking about this on the other place, I bet.

@aabsurdity.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Okay, the four grades of maple syrup are: Grade A: Golden colour and delicate taste Grade A: Amber colour and rich taste Grade A: Dark colour and robust taste Grade A: Very dark colour and strong taste

I read this with my horrible RP accent and was all “gosh, what’s this about q-min?” 😂 (I know, I know)

MickDundee58@lairdmickd.bsky.social · 2mo ago

"I switched all the labels on my wife's Spice Rack." "I'm not in trouble yet, but the thyme is cumin."

Funny coz it’s probably bloody true Tragic coz honestly how did we get here

Michael Spicer@michaelspicer.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Nigel Farage Listens to the News

2/3 The suggestion that someone else should do this work makes no sense - it is absolutely the GP skillset: knowing the patient, understanding all the medical issues, the social set-up, the medications & their side-effects, balancing risks & benefits, explaining & sharing decisions.

3/3 GPs are miserable about spending hours of their days glued to a computer screen answering online queries- most of which have minimal impact on patient health - just to fulfil a daft promise from Wes Streeting about access. We want to do the job we trained for.

Seeing our frail, complicted, older patients, who often need home visits, should be the bread and butter of GP work but is being squeezed out by the requirement for limitless online access. (We told you this would happen) 1/3 www.theguardian.com/society/2026...

GPs in England too ‘overloaded’ to help older people at risk of falling, say MPs

NHS bosses giving evidence to public accounts committee admit current position is unacceptable

theguardian.com

Good news - I wonder if it will make the media cycle?

Josiah Mortimer@josiahmortimer.bsky.social · 2mo ago

This Sunday, Thameslink, Southern, Great Northern and Gatwick Express will transfer into public ownership, to "deliver more reliable, passenger-centred services across the rail network." Plans include doubling trains to Gatwick Airport each hour and recruiting more drivers to reduce cancellations.

Honestly, whilst Miffy is just fab, there’s something slightly sinister about the tilt of their head

Bassano@bassano.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Vermeer’s Girl With The Pearl Earring will be shown in Osaka, later this year, and the press conference was as Japanese as you’d expect #Vermeer

Hmmm. Is a Cornish pasty a sandwich, tho? Coz it’s not a dumpling. Also. Yummy

@dbsmasher.com · 2mo ago

Here is a poster full of different kinds of sandwiches.

I hope that part of any “great reset” for young people is a laser focus on the mess that is education GCSEs have become so incredibly academic and dry; even for academically able children. And the endless rules in school have sucked out the joy Support teachers to deliver the subjects they love