@QasimRashid It’s not the world that is remaining silent. There are objections and protests in virtually every country. It’s the governments, who are repressing their own citizens, criminalising them, arresting them for supporting Palestinians, and demanding some justice for those starving under a genocide in Gaza.
:alert: :alert: :alert: :alert: :alert: :alert: :alert: Someone I was mutuals with, and who shall remain nameless for now, has posted my bio over on BlueSky and they never asked me if this was OK. I’m not on Bluesky and have no intention of ever being there. As a result I have removed my photo - I will replace it with something else in due course; and I have changed my settings here. I was badly doxxed and stalked when I was on Twitter, and I never want to go through the hell I went though back there - ever again. It seems that not only have they posted my bio over there, but done it in such a way that my entire timeline appears over there. I’m shocked, feel a bit sick, and I’m very upset/angry about this.
UPDATE
I’ve had no response from my [now] former mutual. I have blocked him. In these screenshots are the DM I sent him, and his bio. I note in his bio it does not mention that he uses BlueSky or that he bridges there. So, if anyone wants to report him to their moderators; or to block him for their own privacy & protection, now you know who it is. I’m surprised also because he’s in Denmark, and should know about consent, privacy, and data protection.
@selzero I hope someone is so annoyed they get leaked already. Waiting four years means all that evidence will be gone: unless someone has already saved it externally. Then it’s down to the price that will be paid, OR stuff being released simply to settle a grudge.
If we have to move our toxic, asbestos ridden bonfire which may also take out the electrical supply to the two main hospitals, we will riot and wreck the place, say loyalist paramilitaries. How does this benefit unionism at all? It sends out an internationally shocking blackmail message, just before a major investment via the Golf tournament due to happen in Portrush. I wouldn’t be surprised if attendees and fans cancelled, or if the entire event gets cancelled. Loyalists and unionist can’t complain of no money and no investment when they threaten and behave like this. The #Labour government should look more closely at who the actual terrorists are in the UK, rather than proscribing a non-violent organisation, or charging a rap group for singing. #Kneecap#BobVylan#YvetteCooper#PSNI declares ‘major incident’ over removal of bonfire material in south Belfast | BelfastTelegraph.co.uk https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/loyalist-paramilitaries-threaten-serious-disorder-as-psni-declares-major-incident-over-removal-of-bonfire/a12704003.html
@JeniParsons UK govt under Starmer so far up Trump’s rear end he’s viewing his tonsils; and Starmer is bringing all the worst decisions into the UK. Just look at that proscription a few days ago. Just look at the increasingly hostile attitude to immigrants. Just look at the disgusting decision and comment against trans people. And they continue to discuss leaving the ECHR as if that were easy. It’s baked into the Good Friday Agreement, and it’s part of Scotland’s Devolved governance.🤬
@GottaLaff It’s for nothing more than frustrating and irritating Donald Trump. I doubt Musk actually wants anything to do with a political party per se. He wants attention and money and to win against Trump. Trump can and will cancel Musks NASA money, has already stopped the EV money, and no doubt will try to replace Starlink too, or not pay for services used. The environment may be the winner in the end, as less rockets is a bonus. Less Starlink would be great also.
Once again, for those still quoting primary school level science:
Rebecca Helm, a biologist and an assistant professor at the University of North Carolina, Asheville US writes:
"Friendly neighborhood biologist here. I see a lot of people are talking about biological sexes and gender right now. Lots of folks make biological sex sex seem really simple. Well, since it’s so simple, let’s find the biological roots, shall we? Let’s talk about sex...[a thread]
If you know a bit about biology you will probably say that biological sex is caused by chromosomes, XX and you’re female, XY and you’re male. This is “chromosomal sex” but is it “biological sex”? Well...
Turns out there is only ONE GENE on the Y chromosome that really matters to sex. It’s called the SRY gene. During human embryonic development the SRY protein turns on male-associated genes. Having an SRY gene makes you “genetically male”. But is this “biological sex”?
Sometimes that SRY gene pops off the Y chromosome and over to an X chromosome. Surprise! So now you’ve got an X with an SRY and a Y without an SRY. What does this mean?
A Y with no SRY means physically you’re female, chromosomally you’re male (XY) and genetically you’re female (no SRY). An X with an SRY means you’re physically male, chromsomally female (XX) and genetically male (SRY). But biological sex is simple! There must be another answer...
Sex-related genes ultimately turn on hormones in specifics areas on the body, and reception of those hormones by cells throughout the body. Is this the root of “biological sex”??
“Hormonal male” means you produce ‘normal’ levels of male-associated hormones. Except some percentage of females will have higher levels of ‘male’ hormones than some percentage of males. Ditto ditto ‘female’ hormones. And...
...if you’re developing, your body may not produce enough hormones for your genetic sex. Leading you to be genetically male or female, chromosomally male or female, hormonally non-binary, and physically non-binary. Well, except cells have something to say about this...
Maybe cells are the answer to “biological sex”?? Right?? Cells have receptors that “hear” the signal from sex hormones. But sometimes those receptors don’t work. Like a mobile phone that’s on “do not disturb’. Call and cell, they will not answer.
What does this all mean?
It means you may be genetically male or female, chromosomally male or female, hormonally male/female/non-binary, with cells that may or may not hear the male/female/non-binary call, and all this leading to a body that can be male/non-binary/female.
Try out some combinations for yourself. Notice how confusing it gets? Can you point to what the absolute cause of biological sex is? Is it fair to judge people by it?
Of course you could try appealing to the numbers. “Most people are either male or female” you say. Except that as a biologist professor I will tell you...
The reason I don’t have my students look at their own chromosome in class is because people could learn that their chromosomal sex doesn’t match their physical sex, and learning that in the middle of a 10-point assignment is JUST NOT THE TIME.
Biological sex is complicated. Before you discriminate against someone on the basis of “biological sex” & identity, ask yourself: have you seen YOUR chromosomes? Do you know the genes of the people you love? The hormones of the people you work with? The state of their cells?
Since the answer will obviously be no, please be kind, respect people’s right to tell you who they are, and remember that you don’t have all the answers. Again: biology is complicated. Kindness and respect don’t have to be.
Note: Biological classifications exist. XX, XY, XXY XXYY and all manner of variation which is why sex isn't classified as binary. You can't have a binary classification system with more than two configurations even if two of those configurations are more common than others.
Trump has been made King in all but title. SCOTUS has granted him immunity from any actions carried out while in office. It will come as no surprise to me when the Mid-Term Elections so many are expecting and relying on are postponed or cancelled indefinitely. If they go ahead I expect to see the kind of results only seen in Russia or North Korea where the party apparatchiks receive 99% of the vote - no matter how anyone voted.
@Infoseepage That one of the O’Neills has a really interesting and complex history. There’s very little of the original castle left now, but loads of information. we had friends here a couple of days ago, and Anne used to be the Conservation Officer, so told us loads of the story. We went to see it today, and to visit Pomeroy Woods not too far away. In Co Meath there’s the hill of Tara which has similar huge views of much our the country, and almost in a straight line south again, there is the Rock of Cashel similarly situated. Back in the days of Kings in Ireland these three locations controlled a vast amount of the country.
@Infoseepage We were at this place in Dungannon today. Ranfurly House is very Scottish baronial style. The views from the remnants of the O’Neill castle mean the inhabitants then could see most of the nine counties of Ulster.
@Geri These colours have also been hijacked by some #TERF. It’s a gross betrayal of every woman there has been and will be in the UK. To have these women vote to proscribe a non-violent organisation, as well as support the erasure of #Trans people is perverse.
More reports of the disgusting homophobic behaviour of Isaac Adams and his absolutely NOT a ‘prank’ pouring 50 litres of slurry over the streets of #Ballymena before #Pride celebration last Saturday. Media and the Courts need to make thir minds up - is this a ‘Prank’ or is it a ‘Protest’? It cannot be both and the behaviour to me looks like hate, ignorance and protest. Pranks are supposed to have an element of entertainment. This does not. Isaac Adams: Man charged over Ballymena Pride incident is named as court told manure spray ‘prank’ has backfired | BelfastTelegraph.co.uk https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/man-charged-over-ballymena-pride-incident-is-named-as-court-told-manure-spray-prank-has-backfired/a1479245759.html
OldSometimes grumpyOpinionatedSocially & environmentally aware & concernedPro-Choice; LGBTQIA allyAutonomy mattersPro EUWe are all immigrants from somewhere else. We always will be#NoBridge