Ian M. Mackay, PhD (he/him) 🦠🤧🧬📑🦟🧀
@mackayim.bsky.social
forever virologist, researcher, PCR guy. past lab manager. husband. dad. reader. writer. fixer. bad typist. learner. australian.
#MasksWork
https://virologydownunder.com/
#MasksWork
https://virologydownunder.com/
Pinned
Below is a great example of how we should do social media.
Interaction - comments & likes✔️
➡️Comments make it easy to repost the article+comment, which refreshes the post in my timeline; new 👀.
Reposts ✔️
➡️Spreads the post into your sphere of influence, beyond my reach, where it gets more new 👀
Interaction - comments & likes✔️
➡️Comments make it easy to repost the article+comment, which refreshes the post in my timeline; new 👀.
Reposts ✔️
➡️Spreads the post into your sphere of influence, beyond my reach, where it gets more new 👀
Still voting for him.
Republican Matt Van Epps wins a hotly contested special election for a deep-red congressional seat in Tennessee, NBC News projects, seeing off a Democratic challenge for the longtime GOP district.
Republican Matt Van Epps holds deep-red House district in Tennessee special election
Van Epps defeated Democrat Aftyn Behn, NBC News projects, after an expensive campaign to replace former Rep. Mark Green.
nbcnews.to
December 3, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Still voting for him.
A small Australian December (!) #flu thread.
In the ~25 days since my last update (08NOV), detections have risen by 32,330. That's a daily rate of 1,293 (up from 1,067 in the previous update).
In the ~25 days since my last update (08NOV), detections have risen by 32,330. That's a daily rate of 1,293 (up from 1,067 in the previous update).
December 3, 2025 at 10:32 AM
A small Australian December (!) #flu thread.
In the ~25 days since my last update (08NOV), detections have risen by 32,330. That's a daily rate of 1,293 (up from 1,067 in the previous update).
In the ~25 days since my last update (08NOV), detections have risen by 32,330. That's a daily rate of 1,293 (up from 1,067 in the previous update).
Urged
New data centres will be expected to bring their own renewable and battery supply, and AEMO says they must follow strict rules that will help the grid, not break it.
reneweconomy.com.au
December 3, 2025 at 6:26 AM
Urged
Reposted by Ian M. Mackay, PhD (he/him) 🦠🤧🧬📑🦟🧀
Georgia just broke a record no one wanted—365 days of daily protests.
Longer than Euromaidan. Longer than Belarus before the crackdown.
The West is still "searching" for how to help. Time is running out. euromaidanpress.com/2025/12/03/o...
Longer than Euromaidan. Longer than Belarus before the crackdown.
The West is still "searching" for how to help. Time is running out. euromaidanpress.com/2025/12/03/o...
The West saved Moldova from Russia. It’s still “searching” for how to help Georgia
After 365 days of daily protests, Georgians are still waiting for Europe to find that "safe channel"
euromaidanpress.com
December 2, 2025 at 11:38 PM
Georgia just broke a record no one wanted—365 days of daily protests.
Longer than Euromaidan. Longer than Belarus before the crackdown.
The West is still "searching" for how to help. Time is running out. euromaidanpress.com/2025/12/03/o...
Longer than Euromaidan. Longer than Belarus before the crackdown.
The West is still "searching" for how to help. Time is running out. euromaidanpress.com/2025/12/03/o...
Reposted by Ian M. Mackay, PhD (he/him) 🦠🤧🧬📑🦟🧀
"No compromises were reached," said the Kremlin after Russian President Putin met with US Special Envoy Witkoff in Moscow
Talks focused on broad principles rather than concrete agreements, said Putin's aide Ushakov. Also, no Putin-Trump summit is planned
euromaidanpress.com/2025/12/03/n...
Talks focused on broad principles rather than concrete agreements, said Putin's aide Ushakov. Also, no Putin-Trump summit is planned
euromaidanpress.com/2025/12/03/n...
“No compromises found yet”: Five-hour meeting between Putin and Trump’s envoys in Moscow ends with no breakthrough
Kremlin aide Ushakov notes some US proposals are acceptable, while others are rejected.
euromaidanpress.com
December 3, 2025 at 12:08 AM
"No compromises were reached," said the Kremlin after Russian President Putin met with US Special Envoy Witkoff in Moscow
Talks focused on broad principles rather than concrete agreements, said Putin's aide Ushakov. Also, no Putin-Trump summit is planned
euromaidanpress.com/2025/12/03/n...
Talks focused on broad principles rather than concrete agreements, said Putin's aide Ushakov. Also, no Putin-Trump summit is planned
euromaidanpress.com/2025/12/03/n...
Reposted by Ian M. Mackay, PhD (he/him) 🦠🤧🧬📑🦟🧀
Brutal "band of brothers" profile from Reuters tracking 11 young Ukrainians who volunteered this spring and deployed to the front together. Zero of these men are still fighting today. 4 were wounded, 3 are missing, 2 deserted, 1 fell ill, and 1 killed himself. www.reuters.com/investigatio...
Band of brothers: how the war crushed a cohort of young Ukrainians
Reuters followed the fortunes of a group of raw recruits who enlisted in the spring as part of Ukraine’s drive to refresh its depleted ranks. None of them are still fighting.
www.reuters.com
December 3, 2025 at 12:21 AM
Brutal "band of brothers" profile from Reuters tracking 11 young Ukrainians who volunteered this spring and deployed to the front together. Zero of these men are still fighting today. 4 were wounded, 3 are missing, 2 deserted, 1 fell ill, and 1 killed himself. www.reuters.com/investigatio...
That issue being 'hey, we've lost thousands of men per square kilometre during our unprovoked invasion, so we're entitled to be legally recognised, geographically gifted & financially rewarded for that loss & the murders & destruction we wrought during that waste of rural, convict & imported life"
Putin's aide Ushakov on the results of the meeting:
The territorial issue is the most important for us,&for the Americans,as well.
A compromise option hasn't been found yet but some American developments look more or less acceptable.But they need to be discussed.
The territorial issue is the most important for us,&for the Americans,as well.
A compromise option hasn't been found yet but some American developments look more or less acceptable.But they need to be discussed.
December 2, 2025 at 11:01 PM
That issue being 'hey, we've lost thousands of men per square kilometre during our unprovoked invasion, so we're entitled to be legally recognised, geographically gifted & financially rewarded for that loss & the murders & destruction we wrought during that waste of rural, convict & imported life"
How many different versions of "we're not he bad guys, trust us" does "the Kremlin" issue each day?
The Kremlin claimed it is open to peace talks on Ukraine, but only if all its war goals are met
Russia continued to justify its invasion with “root causes” and insists that any agreement must serve its objective of so-called "special military operation" euromaidanpress.com/2025/12/03/e...
Russia continued to justify its invasion with “root causes” and insists that any agreement must serve its objective of so-called "special military operation" euromaidanpress.com/2025/12/03/e...
“Eliminate initial causes”: Russia says it is “ready for peace” as soon as it achieves its goals in Ukraine
Russia signals unchanged position before the US envoy visit.
euromaidanpress.com
December 2, 2025 at 10:55 PM
How many different versions of "we're not he bad guys, trust us" does "the Kremlin" issue each day?
Reposted by Ian M. Mackay, PhD (he/him) 🦠🤧🧬📑🦟🧀
Our most-used words this year aren't a big surprise: 'community', 'building', and 'conversations'. Find out your own most-used words using Bluesky Harvest: bsky.app/profile/anis...
December 2, 2025 at 10:04 PM
Our most-used words this year aren't a big surprise: 'community', 'building', and 'conversations'. Find out your own most-used words using Bluesky Harvest: bsky.app/profile/anis...
Reposted by Ian M. Mackay, PhD (he/him) 🦠🤧🧬📑🦟🧀
Reposted by Ian M. Mackay, PhD (he/him) 🦠🤧🧬📑🦟🧀
I bet our government will let them do whatever they please then...
"In New South Wales and Victoria, where most are located, datacentres could comprise 11% and 8% of each state’s electricity demand"
"Technology companies including OpenAI and SunCable are pushing for Australia to become a hub for data processing and storage"
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
"Technology companies including OpenAI and SunCable are pushing for Australia to become a hub for data processing and storage"
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
Datacentres demand huge amounts of electricity. Could they derail Australia’s net zero ambitions?
Banks of servers operating 24/7 generate massive amounts of heat, requiring power to run and cool them
www.theguardian.com
December 2, 2025 at 9:27 PM
I bet our government will let them do whatever they please then...
Could??
In Opinion
"Even if Mr. Trump’s muscular approach has found fertile ground across the hemisphere, history suggests that, should officials in Washington overstep, they risk planting the seeds of an anti-American backlash that could outlive the current administration," Brian Winter writes.
"Even if Mr. Trump’s muscular approach has found fertile ground across the hemisphere, history suggests that, should officials in Washington overstep, they risk planting the seeds of an anti-American backlash that could outlive the current administration," Brian Winter writes.
Opinion | Don’t Be Fooled by the Silence in America’s Backyard
Latin Americans have proved surprisingly acquiescent to U.S. aggression — but that won’t last forever.
nyti.ms
December 2, 2025 at 8:58 PM
Could??
They made it better than it otherwise would have been. None else did.
‘We got the best that we could get’: Greens defend deal with Government on environmental law reforms
‘We got the best that we could get’: Greens defend deal with Government on environmental law reforms
Greens Leader Larissa Waters has defended the outcome of last week's compromise deal with the government to pass major environmental protection laws. It comes after a period of internal soul searching for The Greens - while the party maintained its Senate footprint, it lost three lower house seats including former leader Adam Bandt.
www.sbs.com.au
December 2, 2025 at 8:56 PM
They made it better than it otherwise would have been. None else did.
Reposted by Ian M. Mackay, PhD (he/him) 🦠🤧🧬📑🦟🧀
Environmentally disasterous, impacting water and climate change.
"In New South Wales and Victoria, where most are located, datacentres could comprise 11% and 8% of each state’s electricity demand"
"Technology companies including OpenAI and SunCable are pushing for Australia to become a hub for data processing and storage"
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
"Technology companies including OpenAI and SunCable are pushing for Australia to become a hub for data processing and storage"
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
Datacentres demand huge amounts of electricity. Could they derail Australia’s net zero ambitions?
Banks of servers operating 24/7 generate massive amounts of heat, requiring power to run and cool them
www.theguardian.com
December 2, 2025 at 8:17 PM
Environmentally disasterous, impacting water and climate change.
Reposted by Ian M. Mackay, PhD (he/him) 🦠🤧🧬📑🦟🧀
🇩🇪🇺🇦🇺🇸 German General Christian Freuding says the most unsettling change in Europe isn’t happening on the battlefield but in Washington, - The Atlantic
The direct lines he once had to U.S. defense officials “day and night” have been “cut off—really cut off.”
The direct lines he once had to U.S. defense officials “day and night” have been “cut off—really cut off.”
December 2, 2025 at 9:23 AM
🇩🇪🇺🇦🇺🇸 German General Christian Freuding says the most unsettling change in Europe isn’t happening on the battlefield but in Washington, - The Atlantic
The direct lines he once had to U.S. defense officials “day and night” have been “cut off—really cut off.”
The direct lines he once had to U.S. defense officials “day and night” have been “cut off—really cut off.”
"In New South Wales and Victoria, where most are located, datacentres could comprise 11% and 8% of each state’s electricity demand"
"Technology companies including OpenAI and SunCable are pushing for Australia to become a hub for data processing and storage"
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
"Technology companies including OpenAI and SunCable are pushing for Australia to become a hub for data processing and storage"
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
Datacentres demand huge amounts of electricity. Could they derail Australia’s net zero ambitions?
Banks of servers operating 24/7 generate massive amounts of heat, requiring power to run and cool them
www.theguardian.com
December 2, 2025 at 8:15 PM
"In New South Wales and Victoria, where most are located, datacentres could comprise 11% and 8% of each state’s electricity demand"
"Technology companies including OpenAI and SunCable are pushing for Australia to become a hub for data processing and storage"
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
"Technology companies including OpenAI and SunCable are pushing for Australia to become a hub for data processing and storage"
www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...
Reposted by Ian M. Mackay, PhD (he/him) 🦠🤧🧬📑🦟🧀
December 2, 2025 at 5:23 PM
United States #flu season according to CDC's Clinical Laboratory data.
🦠 Not an early season
🦠 Not taking off yet
🦠 Mainly Flu A(H3N2) Clade 2a.3a.1, Subclade K
🦠 Antigenicall, A(H1N1), A(H3N2) and B/Victoria viruses all "well recognised" by ferret antisera
🦠 Not an early season
🦠 Not taking off yet
🦠 Mainly Flu A(H3N2) Clade 2a.3a.1, Subclade K
🦠 Antigenicall, A(H1N1), A(H3N2) and B/Victoria viruses all "well recognised" by ferret antisera
December 2, 2025 at 4:52 AM
United States #flu season according to CDC's Clinical Laboratory data.
🦠 Not an early season
🦠 Not taking off yet
🦠 Mainly Flu A(H3N2) Clade 2a.3a.1, Subclade K
🦠 Antigenicall, A(H1N1), A(H3N2) and B/Victoria viruses all "well recognised" by ferret antisera
🦠 Not an early season
🦠 Not taking off yet
🦠 Mainly Flu A(H3N2) Clade 2a.3a.1, Subclade K
🦠 Antigenicall, A(H1N1), A(H3N2) and B/Victoria viruses all "well recognised" by ferret antisera
Reposted by Ian M. Mackay, PhD (he/him) 🦠🤧🧬📑🦟🧀
Artist Andriy Yermolenko created a mural in Ternopil showing a child shielding her toys from a Russian missile.
It marks the 19 November strike that killed 35 people, including 7 children.
The mural is a call to strengthen air defense and protect Ukraine and its people.
Save Ukrainian children!
It marks the 19 November strike that killed 35 people, including 7 children.
The mural is a call to strengthen air defense and protect Ukraine and its people.
Save Ukrainian children!
December 2, 2025 at 4:38 AM
Artist Andriy Yermolenko created a mural in Ternopil showing a child shielding her toys from a Russian missile.
It marks the 19 November strike that killed 35 people, including 7 children.
The mural is a call to strengthen air defense and protect Ukraine and its people.
Save Ukrainian children!
It marks the 19 November strike that killed 35 people, including 7 children.
The mural is a call to strengthen air defense and protect Ukraine and its people.
Save Ukrainian children!
Seems about right...
December 2, 2025 at 2:28 AM
Seems about right...
They also elected him. So there's that.
What I cannot understand is that Americans by and large don't understand that Trump roots for Putin & not for democracy, rule of law, Ukraine or the US.
Don't they hear what he is saying & see what he is doing?
No, they just say "but he is our president!"
What stupidity!
Don't they hear what he is saying & see what he is doing?
No, they just say "but he is our president!"
What stupidity!
December 2, 2025 at 1:45 AM
They also elected him. So there's that.
Reposted by Ian M. Mackay, PhD (he/him) 🦠🤧🧬📑🦟🧀
Spain has issued a NOTAM advising Spanish aircraft to avoid Venezuelan airspace.
It cites heightened military activity, the presence of anti-aircraft systems at all altitudes, and poor coordination between parties involved in the conflict.
It cites heightened military activity, the presence of anti-aircraft systems at all altitudes, and poor coordination between parties involved in the conflict.
December 1, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Spain has issued a NOTAM advising Spanish aircraft to avoid Venezuelan airspace.
It cites heightened military activity, the presence of anti-aircraft systems at all altitudes, and poor coordination between parties involved in the conflict.
It cites heightened military activity, the presence of anti-aircraft systems at all altitudes, and poor coordination between parties involved in the conflict.
Means nothing.
🇺🇸🇺🇦 The Trump administration is very optimistic about the chances of an agreement to end the war in Ukraine, - the White House
December 2, 2025 at 12:33 AM
Means nothing.
Reposted by Ian M. Mackay, PhD (he/him) 🦠🤧🧬📑🦟🧀
On top of the corruption and total lack of ethics, team Trump has zero understanding of Russia
December 1, 2025 at 7:56 PM
On top of the corruption and total lack of ethics, team Trump has zero understanding of Russia