Penncat
@pennicat.bsky.social
1.2K followers 980 following 6.3K posts
Shy, disabled, queer, autistic. Requires alt text to follow you. Writer of contemporary m/m/m and lesbian historical novels. Book related stuff found mostly at @penthewriter.bsky.social Cornwall dweller. May actually be the cat in the picture
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pennicat.bsky.social
Chronic conditions
- #hEDS
- #ME/CFS
- #IBD
- #migraine
- #osteoporosis
- #fibromyalgia
- #rectallintussussection
- #depression
- #POTS

Chronic interests
- intersectional feminism
- writing
- football & sport
- Doctor Who
- environment issues
- cats & animals
- politics

#trans & #ActullyAutistic
Reposted by Penncat
ramiismail.com
Hey look, Israel broke the cease-fire, twice, in two different ways, within 24 hours - again.
mondoweiss.net
NEW: Israel informed the UN it will permit only 300 aid trucks into Gaza daily, not the 600 mandated by the ceasefire it just signed.
Reposted by Penncat
greenpeaceuk.bsky.social
SHOCKING: Earth's first catastrophic climate tipping point has been reached, according to a new report. Coral reefs are now facing ‘widespread dieback’.

How are we STILL burning fossil fuels and wrecking oceans while Earth’s life support systems collapse?
pennicat.bsky.social
I had ”the sheep act” down as, like, a parliamentary act when I read this and I thought it was a fabulous way of putting it.
pennicat.bsky.social
“Too right” is accurate!
Reposted by Penncat
goodlawproject.bsky.social
"Are we going to abandon people whenever the rightwing press demands it?"
Reposted by Penncat
natashadevon.bsky.social
So…..Starmer is moving to ban protests against genocide in order to root out the tiny contingent of antisemites who take part (reminder these marches also contain a large Jewish bloc/descendants of Holocaust survivors) but won’t ban future Unite the Kingdom rallies which are explicitly Islamophobic.
pennicat.bsky.social
I hear you on that last bit. Mine, albeit not so small now, has been doing this cruelly & with the utmost gentle teasing for years.

I did avoid an internet argument lately by messaging Kid with “Someone on the internet is wrong, Child!” because that’s one he teases me about getting distressed by.
pennicat.bsky.social
Depends on the rate one is also increasing green power supplies, I would guess? Green policy is very much in favour of wind and solar power, which aren’t too bothersome for increased consumption, so if they increase faster than consumption…
pennicat.bsky.social
Tbh, I’m much more likely to put it down to my bad way of communicating what I’m trying to say, but I also know what you mean about “scandalous” information being thrown at you which is either obvious stuff that everyone knew or actually patently untrue (I’m non-binary trans, so yeah…).
pennicat.bsky.social
As a Penelope, who loves Atwood’s works but hasn’t read this one…one for my Christmas list, I think!
biggreenbooks.bsky.social
SIGNED BOOKS!

The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood @margaretatwood.bsky.social

A super special 20th Anniversary Edition, with a new introduction by Margaret

It's out later this month!

ORDER HERE - www.biggreenbookshop.com/signed-copie...
Front cover of Margaret's book.
pennicat.bsky.social
Ah. Autism means I’m usually being sincere, and I forget that I am crap at making myself clear rather more often than I would like. Sorry! Can’t stand either Trump or Netanyahu. And definitely not Hamas.
Can we have some decent people and politicians somewhere? Please?
pennicat.bsky.social
What the leaders do and what their public want are on different levels - but the leaders are on the same level as each other, if that makes sense. Just as anyone who knew Netenyahu wouldn’t be surprised at his behaviour, ditto Trump. It’s all of a piece.
pennicat.bsky.social
Oh yeah, I know. no one hates Trump more than half of the American public, either, that’s the point I was making.
pennicat.bsky.social
This.

And let’s face it, there’s so much fan fiction based on the Bible if we call everything that is based on someone else’s work “fan fiction”. But yes, you look back to the original in some of these things and it is like, “whoa, he really did write an au here”.
encephalophagy.bsky.social
Well, here's the thing. The idea that the author owns the story is relatively modern (and arguably a product of modern capitalism).

The Ancient Greek and Romans wrote stories, plays, and poems based on the Iliad. The Divine Comedy included characters from stories written by other authors. 🧵
pennicat.bsky.social
Oh, I’m sure Farage knew nothing about it. How come he’s platformed so uncritically?
zackpolanski.bsky.social
Maybe there's something in this Nigel Farage and Nathan Gill Russian bribes story....
Lots of stories about Nathan Gill and Russian bribes.
pennicat.bsky.social
*Of course* Jewish students should be protected from antisemitic hate speech. (And, btw, not just Jewish students, but all Jewish people. Anyway...)

But.
Of course trans and non-binary students should be protected from transphobic hate speech, no?

Or do we allow people some slurs, just as a treat?
stephaniejane.bsky.social
Just watched Bridget Phillipson on Laura Kuenssberg, talking about protecting Jewish students from anti- Semitic hate speech and harassment in universities.
Amazing how this is different to her views on protecting trans students from anti-trans hate speech and harassment in universities.
The Independent
Phillipson tells universities to take firm action to protect Jewish students
Story by Nina Lloyd • 11h
International Women's Day
© PA Archive
Bridget Phillipson has written to vice-chancellors urging them to take "practical and proportionate steps" to protect Jewish students as part of Government efforts to stamp out antisemitism following the Manchester terror attack. The University of Sussex has been fined £585,000 by the higher education regulator, the Office for Students (OfS), for failing to uphold freedom of speech.
The OfS investigation started with the case of Prof Kathleen Stock, who left the university in 2021 after being accused of transphobia for her views on sex and gender issues.
The OfS said the university's policy statement on trans and non-binary equality, including a requirement to "positively represent trans people", could lead to staff and students preventing themselves from voicing opposing views.
The University of Sussex plans to legally challenge the OfS findings, vice-chancellor Prof Sasha Roseneil said.
Describing the judgement as an "unreasonably absolutist definition of free speech", the university said the ruling would leave institutions "powerless to prevent abusive, bullying and harassing speech".
The OfS, it added, had pursued a "vindictive and unreasonable campaign" against it.
Universities UK, which represents 141 institutions, said it would be writing to the OfS to clarify what would represent a breach of freedom of speech rules.
Chief executive Vivienne Stern said the University of Sussex ruling raised concerns about how universities can balance freedom of speech with other legal duties, like preventing harassment and hate speech.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said free speech and academic freedom were "non-negotiables" in universities.
"I have been clear that where those principles are not upheld, robust action will be taken," she said.
"If you go to university, you must be prepared to have your views challenged, hear contrary opinions and be exposed to uncomfortable truths.
pennicat.bsky.social
Netenyahu supported funds going to Hamas through Qatar up until the attack, and was one of the main reasons that Hamas exists as it does - so he could have an enemy to refuse to discuss peace with. (www.cbc.ca/news/politic...)
Trump is as honest as his Israeli counterpart.
pennicat.bsky.social
I suspected she was more likely to put people off than draw them in: being negative about a group who have just been supporting you is not a good look. Except it’s a problem for everyone on the left if there’s in-fighting, so it’s a pity. The sooner YP get official policies the better, I think.
pennicat.bsky.social
Cool. I hadn’t seen it anywhere but there’s such a ton of messages that I easily could have missed it.
I think she’s very foolish in that she has much more power to discourage the Green Party from working with YP than any number of GP supporters do, which you’d think she wouldn’t want but 🤷🏻
pennicat.bsky.social
Honestly, when I was in hospital in late 2023, the only staff who wore masks were a couple of the catering staff and one specialist. None of the nurses, and hardly any of the hospital staff at all, let alone visitors. (Spouse wore one visiting me.) It was concerning.
thecovidinfoguy.bsky.social
This isn’t fearmongering — it’s reality. Hospital-acquired COVID can delay care or cost you your health — even your life.

Infection control measures — masks, ventilation, testing, and staff/patient protections — should be standard care in every healthcare setting.

Source: x.com/PrognosticCh...
Prognostic Chats @PrognosticChats

Some day you’ll be in hospital for surgery or chemotherapy or with another illness & a nurse, or doctor or visitor at the next bed, or the patient opposite you will give you a Covid infection & your treatment will get delayed & your life will be put at unnecessary risk.

4:28 AM · Oct 12, 2025 · 5,515  Views
pennicat.bsky.social
So… you’re also criticising Zarah for sniping at the Greens in her original post, right? Right? After all, if she’s so happy being in YP…etc etc…
pennicat.bsky.social
Glad I never bothered with TikTok. Now I never will.
sethabramson.bsky.social
If true this a fucking disgrace and the beginning of the end of TikTok