Justin
@neon-j.bsky.social
Polymath - history, social science, space, languages, more. Poler & aerialist. Progressive politics. LGBTQ+. Afghanistan veteran. NHS Volunteer in ED. Books and films. Nerdy, sci fi & fantasy. TTRPGs and mini painting. MBE, MSc, MEng, BA(Hons). UK-based.
Reposted by Justin
Sex reversal is also seen in male fish, including the laying of eggs.
It's so weird that some people with big Homo sapiens brains can't compute the idea of non- binary genders, when literally 'bird-brained' (or fish-brained) animals can.
It's so weird that some people with big Homo sapiens brains can't compute the idea of non- binary genders, when literally 'bird-brained' (or fish-brained) animals can.
Sex-reversal in birds (genetically male/female but appear female/male) is surprisingly common. Best detail: A genetically male bird called a laughing kookaburra had recently laid an egg. (1/2)
By @phiejacobs.bsky.social on @science.org
By @phiejacobs.bsky.social on @science.org
‘Sex reversal’ is surprisingly common in birds, new study suggests
Survey of five Australian avians finds numerous discordant individuals, including a genetically male bird that had laid an egg
www.science.org
August 13, 2025 at 1:47 PM
Sex reversal is also seen in male fish, including the laying of eggs.
It's so weird that some people with big Homo sapiens brains can't compute the idea of non- binary genders, when literally 'bird-brained' (or fish-brained) animals can.
It's so weird that some people with big Homo sapiens brains can't compute the idea of non- binary genders, when literally 'bird-brained' (or fish-brained) animals can.
Solidarity with resident doctors! ✊
July 25, 2025 at 5:45 AM
Solidarity with resident doctors! ✊
Just got in from my volunteer shift in ED and I was really struck how half the staff are immigrants. It’s not immigrants putting a strain on services, it’s immigrants propping them up. How ungrateful some people are for that - especially those who are or have been in government.
May 13, 2025 at 8:57 PM
Just got in from my volunteer shift in ED and I was really struck how half the staff are immigrants. It’s not immigrants putting a strain on services, it’s immigrants propping them up. How ungrateful some people are for that - especially those who are or have been in government.
Just thinking about Starmer’s awful immigration speech & I wonder what integration tangibly involves. All the immigrants I know - incl neighbours, friends at pole & aerial or staff at the hospital - are people I interact with (as a half-immigrant) & who contribute to society, which seems integrated…
May 13, 2025 at 5:21 AM
Just thinking about Starmer’s awful immigration speech & I wonder what integration tangibly involves. All the immigrants I know - incl neighbours, friends at pole & aerial or staff at the hospital - are people I interact with (as a half-immigrant) & who contribute to society, which seems integrated…
Deeply sad at the complete missed opportunity of the Labour government. They’re doing nothing to improve people’s lives and by offering nothing but Reform policies (or Tory continuity), they’re doing nothing but encouraging more votes for Reform… ffs
May 12, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Deeply sad at the complete missed opportunity of the Labour government. They’re doing nothing to improve people’s lives and by offering nothing but Reform policies (or Tory continuity), they’re doing nothing but encouraging more votes for Reform… ffs
I actually love this!! 😂
TANK vs TESLA
"We've crushed fascism before and we'll crush it again"
- WW2 veteran Ken, 98, in the tank
"We've crushed fascism before and we'll crush it again"
- WW2 veteran Ken, 98, in the tank
May 7, 2025 at 9:10 PM
I actually love this!! 😂
It’s been an annoying week for a number of reasons, but I did do this and thought it looked great!
April 18, 2025 at 11:02 AM
It’s been an annoying week for a number of reasons, but I did do this and thought it looked great!
Y’know, since confirming my German citizenship I’ve been relatively sanguine about Brexit (like, there’s nothing else I can do). But with Reeves’s new austerity, being reminded of the huge negative impact of Brexit on the economy and hence tax revenue makes me incredibly angry, sad and frustrated…
"The EU still accounts for nearly half of the UK's overall trade 5 years after Brexit. The fall in exports, especially on the goods side, has been substantial."
"That is what has been dragging the real GDP growth figures in the UK in the last couple of years." @antonspisak.bsky.social
"That is what has been dragging the real GDP growth figures in the UK in the last couple of years." @antonspisak.bsky.social
March 21, 2025 at 6:44 AM
Y’know, since confirming my German citizenship I’ve been relatively sanguine about Brexit (like, there’s nothing else I can do). But with Reeves’s new austerity, being reminded of the huge negative impact of Brexit on the economy and hence tax revenue makes me incredibly angry, sad and frustrated…
I was shocked to find out that Musk’s firing of US Federal employees who are in a probationary period includes all those who have been recently promoted. This has impacted something like 25% of employees at all levels and in all agencies. What a complete cluster and a quick way to cripple a country…
February 25, 2025 at 7:02 PM
I was shocked to find out that Musk’s firing of US Federal employees who are in a probationary period includes all those who have been recently promoted. This has impacted something like 25% of employees at all levels and in all agencies. What a complete cluster and a quick way to cripple a country…
Reposted by Justin
There are plenty of examples where dominant market leaders disappear virtually overnight. It is the same in politics. Those who promise you of the „good old times“ lack the imagination of something new and are driven by fear and hate, while selling you snake oil, enriching themselves in the process.
January 31, 2025 at 6:53 PM
There are plenty of examples where dominant market leaders disappear virtually overnight. It is the same in politics. Those who promise you of the „good old times“ lack the imagination of something new and are driven by fear and hate, while selling you snake oil, enriching themselves in the process.
Reposted by Justin
My coworker is an immigrant from Afghanistan. She said “I survived three wars. If you have lentils and water, we can get through this. I will make sure.”
January 31, 2025 at 6:39 AM
My coworker is an immigrant from Afghanistan. She said “I survived three wars. If you have lentils and water, we can get through this. I will make sure.”
Reposted by Justin
A brilliant analysis of the epic Brexit failure. Scorn for the liars and solidarity for the rest of us.
“We lost something intangible and yet priceless, something we might never get back: an idea of our country.”
Heartbreaking, enraging and yet, still hopeful.
iandunt.substack.com/p/brexit-fiv...
“We lost something intangible and yet priceless, something we might never get back: an idea of our country.”
Heartbreaking, enraging and yet, still hopeful.
iandunt.substack.com/p/brexit-fiv...
Brexit five years on: A triumph of lies
The promises turned out to be false. The warnings turned out to be true.
iandunt.substack.com
January 31, 2025 at 6:22 PM
A brilliant analysis of the epic Brexit failure. Scorn for the liars and solidarity for the rest of us.
“We lost something intangible and yet priceless, something we might never get back: an idea of our country.”
Heartbreaking, enraging and yet, still hopeful.
iandunt.substack.com/p/brexit-fiv...
“We lost something intangible and yet priceless, something we might never get back: an idea of our country.”
Heartbreaking, enraging and yet, still hopeful.
iandunt.substack.com/p/brexit-fiv...
There are a handful of accounts that I like seeing basically whatever they say, and it’s a really nice constancy in life… Keep it up!
January 16, 2025 at 7:48 AM
There are a handful of accounts that I like seeing basically whatever they say, and it’s a really nice constancy in life… Keep it up!
The irony of the Express and Mail front pages today expressing horror about the awful state of emergency care in the NHS, when it’s the governments and their policies and their cuts that they have championed for decades that have caused this…
January 16, 2025 at 6:13 AM
The irony of the Express and Mail front pages today expressing horror about the awful state of emergency care in the NHS, when it’s the governments and their policies and their cuts that they have championed for decades that have caused this…
It’s so depressing what’s going on in the US, especially with all the new hostility against diversity now coming from tech companies. As well as coming off Meta platforms, I don’t see myself as ever working for a US company, or probably even visiting the US again… 😕
January 11, 2025 at 7:00 AM
It’s so depressing what’s going on in the US, especially with all the new hostility against diversity now coming from tech companies. As well as coming off Meta platforms, I don’t see myself as ever working for a US company, or probably even visiting the US again… 😕
My volunteer shift in ED last night was the busiest I’ve ever seen it - for the first time I ran out of food when bringing the evening meal round. There were patients who had been there for two days. This isn’t right! The staff are absolutely heroic.
Speaking about heading in for another night shift, a nurse said:
"I'm dreading it cos it was the worst night ever last night. But I'm gonna try & get some sleep & go in positive. I'm just trying to help people"
We can't keep expecting this of NHS staff, we just can't.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
"I'm dreading it cos it was the worst night ever last night. But I'm gonna try & get some sleep & go in positive. I'm just trying to help people"
We can't keep expecting this of NHS staff, we just can't.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
'Patients are collapsing in the waiting room': A&E nurses speak out
Nurses working on the front line of emergency care have spoken to the BBC about pressure they are facing.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 8, 2025 at 8:14 PM
My volunteer shift in ED last night was the busiest I’ve ever seen it - for the first time I ran out of food when bringing the evening meal round. There were patients who had been there for two days. This isn’t right! The staff are absolutely heroic.
People really should write a sender’s address on the envelopes when they send xmas cards, so that I can send one back…
December 17, 2024 at 7:00 AM
People really should write a sender’s address on the envelopes when they send xmas cards, so that I can send one back…
*Thank goodness* it was a linedancing mashup in pole choreo class tonight and I didn’t just randomly turn up as a cowboy 😂😂😂
December 16, 2024 at 10:40 PM
*Thank goodness* it was a linedancing mashup in pole choreo class tonight and I didn’t just randomly turn up as a cowboy 😂😂😂
Reposted by Justin
gonna have an entire chorus for a new version of "we didn't start the fire" by the end of this month
December 7, 2024 at 11:07 PM
gonna have an entire chorus for a new version of "we didn't start the fire" by the end of this month
That (obvs!) works for me!
December 4, 2024 at 5:28 PM
That (obvs!) works for me!
Reposted by Justin
This snow-white pig is a little doleful, so if you could scritch her ears, that would really help 🐷 Welcome to Ancient Animal Advent – don’t forget to book your panto tickets!🎄
(She's from the Cycladic Museum, info card in the thread)
(She's from the Cycladic Museum, info card in the thread)
December 1, 2024 at 9:17 AM
This snow-white pig is a little doleful, so if you could scritch her ears, that would really help 🐷 Welcome to Ancient Animal Advent – don’t forget to book your panto tickets!🎄
(She's from the Cycladic Museum, info card in the thread)
(She's from the Cycladic Museum, info card in the thread)
Playing an online game of Diplomacy as Italy, and I just sent my secret negotiations with Austria about Turkey… to Turkey by accident 🤦🤦🤦
November 26, 2024 at 7:59 AM
Playing an online game of Diplomacy as Italy, and I just sent my secret negotiations with Austria about Turkey… to Turkey by accident 🤦🤦🤦
If you see this post a concert pic you took (Gogol Bordello!)
November 23, 2024 at 8:55 PM
If you see this post a concert pic you took (Gogol Bordello!)