Call me Ishmael
@thewhitewhale.bsky.social
books, words, left politics, learning stuff, long covid (he/him). In Australia, but a citizen of the world.
Views expressed here are my own.
Views expressed here are my own.
Pinned
Hello world.
I'm Michael, a thirty something dude from Australia. Interested in books (literary/fantasy/sci-fi/history/philosophy/etc) and other places cool words are written. Always keen to learn new things.
Afflicted with long covid, and following the science.
I'm Michael, a thirty something dude from Australia. Interested in books (literary/fantasy/sci-fi/history/philosophy/etc) and other places cool words are written. Always keen to learn new things.
Afflicted with long covid, and following the science.
The desperation of the liberal media to find a way to ignore the pandemic played a big part in mainstreaming the crank antivaxxers who now lead the American health system. sciencebasedmedicine.org/if-the-atlan...
If The Atlantic Wishes to Honestly Understand the Origins of MAHA, They Need to Investigate The Atlantic.
The Atlantic has some of the best writers around. But they were also eager to launder right-wing talking points under the guise of a being liberal, reasonable, and moderate publication, able to see a
sciencebasedmedicine.org
December 3, 2025 at 10:58 AM
The desperation of the liberal media to find a way to ignore the pandemic played a big part in mainstreaming the crank antivaxxers who now lead the American health system. sciencebasedmedicine.org/if-the-atlan...
Reposted by Call me Ishmael
It's #GivingTuesday. At @thesicktimes.org, our end-of-year fundraiser has been lagging behind; we're hoping to raise $10k today to get back on track.
Here are a few recent stories that demonstrate our unique role serving the Long COVID community. the-sick-times.fundjournalism.org/donate/ (1/10)
Here are a few recent stories that demonstrate our unique role serving the Long COVID community. the-sick-times.fundjournalism.org/donate/ (1/10)
December 2, 2025 at 4:52 PM
It's #GivingTuesday. At @thesicktimes.org, our end-of-year fundraiser has been lagging behind; we're hoping to raise $10k today to get back on track.
Here are a few recent stories that demonstrate our unique role serving the Long COVID community. the-sick-times.fundjournalism.org/donate/ (1/10)
Here are a few recent stories that demonstrate our unique role serving the Long COVID community. the-sick-times.fundjournalism.org/donate/ (1/10)
Reposted by Call me Ishmael
no one else has been so consistently artful in describing the last decade of conservative politics than David Roth, and for this accursèd talent the least he deserves is a Pulitzer defector.com/the-conserva...
The Conservative Grievance Business Is Always Hiring | Defector
Given his age when he first came to the world’s attention and assuming continued good health in the intervening decade and change, Marine Todd would be in his late 30s today. That would be if he was a...
defector.com
December 2, 2025 at 5:48 PM
no one else has been so consistently artful in describing the last decade of conservative politics than David Roth, and for this accursèd talent the least he deserves is a Pulitzer defector.com/the-conserva...
Reposted by Call me Ishmael
We're thrilled to announce that thanks to two generous donors, the Silver Giving Foundation and Lunardelli-McRee family, all donations made to PLRC will be matched up to $100K through January 1 of next year!
Support our work: patientresearchcovid19.com/donate/
Support our work: patientresearchcovid19.com/donate/
December 2, 2025 at 8:56 PM
We're thrilled to announce that thanks to two generous donors, the Silver Giving Foundation and Lunardelli-McRee family, all donations made to PLRC will be matched up to $100K through January 1 of next year!
Support our work: patientresearchcovid19.com/donate/
Support our work: patientresearchcovid19.com/donate/
Reposted by Call me Ishmael
My brave and heroic daughter helped put together this open letter hoping to prevent others from suffering from Long Covid as she is, please sign
our.actionstation.org.nz/petitions/a-...
our.actionstation.org.nz/petitions/a-...
December 2, 2025 at 6:04 AM
My brave and heroic daughter helped put together this open letter hoping to prevent others from suffering from Long Covid as she is, please sign
our.actionstation.org.nz/petitions/a-...
our.actionstation.org.nz/petitions/a-...
Remembering the badass activists who forced governments to act on AIDS. www.vice.com/en/article/w...
Why the Ashes of People With AIDS on the White House Lawn Matter
Twenty years ago, in response to government officials' failure to adequately respond to AIDS, ACT UP brought the bodies their inaction murdered to a place they couldn't be ignored—their front lawn.
www.vice.com
December 2, 2025 at 1:19 AM
Remembering the badass activists who forced governments to act on AIDS. www.vice.com/en/article/w...
Reposted by Call me Ishmael
It was six years ago today that a man in Wuhan, China began feeling ill.
He would become the first known COVID case.
Covid is still with us. It’s still killing and disabling.
Clean the air. Wear a mask. Get your boosters.
Public health is a social justice issue.
He would become the first known COVID case.
Covid is still with us. It’s still killing and disabling.
Clean the air. Wear a mask. Get your boosters.
Public health is a social justice issue.
November 30, 2025 at 11:11 PM
It was six years ago today that a man in Wuhan, China began feeling ill.
He would become the first known COVID case.
Covid is still with us. It’s still killing and disabling.
Clean the air. Wear a mask. Get your boosters.
Public health is a social justice issue.
He would become the first known COVID case.
Covid is still with us. It’s still killing and disabling.
Clean the air. Wear a mask. Get your boosters.
Public health is a social justice issue.
Reposted by Call me Ishmael
University of Minnesota researchers studied 248 patients and found that metformin prescribed within 6 days of COVID infection was linked to a 53% lower risk of long COVID or death over 6 months compared to other medications
www.authorea.com/doi/full/10....
www.authorea.com/doi/full/10....
Metformin at the time of Covid-19 infection and risk of Long Covid: A Target Trial Emulation Study
Background: Our objective was to evaluate metformin prescribed at the time of SARS-CoV-2 infection on the risk of developing Long Covid (LC) in electronic health record data. Methods: We conducted a n...
www.authorea.com
November 30, 2025 at 2:53 PM
University of Minnesota researchers studied 248 patients and found that metformin prescribed within 6 days of COVID infection was linked to a 53% lower risk of long COVID or death over 6 months compared to other medications
www.authorea.com/doi/full/10....
www.authorea.com/doi/full/10....
Reposted by Call me Ishmael
COVID myths are foundational to modern fascism.
Stuff like the lab leak BS or the idea that we “overreacted” to the pandemic, or the claim that dissent was “censored” by the “biomedical security state,” are narrative pillars holding up the fascists’ bizarro, contradictory worldview.
Understand?
Stuff like the lab leak BS or the idea that we “overreacted” to the pandemic, or the claim that dissent was “censored” by the “biomedical security state,” are narrative pillars holding up the fascists’ bizarro, contradictory worldview.
Understand?
November 30, 2025 at 8:04 AM
COVID myths are foundational to modern fascism.
Stuff like the lab leak BS or the idea that we “overreacted” to the pandemic, or the claim that dissent was “censored” by the “biomedical security state,” are narrative pillars holding up the fascists’ bizarro, contradictory worldview.
Understand?
Stuff like the lab leak BS or the idea that we “overreacted” to the pandemic, or the claim that dissent was “censored” by the “biomedical security state,” are narrative pillars holding up the fascists’ bizarro, contradictory worldview.
Understand?
Reposted by Call me Ishmael
🧠 Daily Feed of Brain Damage 🧠
Tell me again that Cövid doesn't effect children 🤬‼️
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Tell me again that Cövid doesn't effect children 🤬‼️
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Fatigue in children and young people up to 24 months after infection with SARS-CoV-2 - Scientific Reports
Scientific Reports - Fatigue in children and young people up to 24 months after infection with SARS-CoV-2
www.nature.com
November 29, 2025 at 7:29 PM
🧠 Daily Feed of Brain Damage 🧠
Tell me again that Cövid doesn't effect children 🤬‼️
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Tell me again that Cövid doesn't effect children 🤬‼️
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Call me Ishmael
The death of browsing is part of the reason art is the way it is now. Our opinions are largely fed to us by algorithms. Spending a spare 15 minutes wandering around a bookstore or comic shop or video rental place was how you found stuff you wouldn't ordinarily pick up and thereby expanded your taste
Bookselling is like the most "people go to the store and buy what looks cool to them without a particular agenda" type business left, and your purchases have a huge influence on what is ordered, what is displayed, and what is recommended.
November 29, 2025 at 6:44 PM
The death of browsing is part of the reason art is the way it is now. Our opinions are largely fed to us by algorithms. Spending a spare 15 minutes wandering around a bookstore or comic shop or video rental place was how you found stuff you wouldn't ordinarily pick up and thereby expanded your taste
Reposted by Call me Ishmael
New Lancet meta-analysis finds measles vaccine immunity wanes over time, with seropositivity dropping from ~93% within 10 yrs to ~83% at 16–22 yrs.
The authors say their findings warrant an urgent review of vaccination strategies
www.medscape.com/viewarticle/...
The authors say their findings warrant an urgent review of vaccination strategies
www.medscape.com/viewarticle/...
Measles Vaccine Protection Wanes After a Decade
Individuals who receive a measles-containing vaccine maintain seropositivity for a decade; however, the vaccine’s protection declines gradually thereafter.
www.medscape.com
November 29, 2025 at 4:46 AM
New Lancet meta-analysis finds measles vaccine immunity wanes over time, with seropositivity dropping from ~93% within 10 yrs to ~83% at 16–22 yrs.
The authors say their findings warrant an urgent review of vaccination strategies
www.medscape.com/viewarticle/...
The authors say their findings warrant an urgent review of vaccination strategies
www.medscape.com/viewarticle/...
Enjoyed this incisive episode of the Public Health is Dead pod on the role of the media in minimising Covid. www.publichealthisdead.com/episodes/bad...
Bad Press — Public Health is Dead
Coming Soon
www.publichealthisdead.com
November 29, 2025 at 5:57 AM
Enjoyed this incisive episode of the Public Health is Dead pod on the role of the media in minimising Covid. www.publichealthisdead.com/episodes/bad...
This is disingenuously framed, but interesting research. The proportion of children at 13-15 months with developmental concerns continued to rise after public health interventions were dropped. Therefore, it's not the interventions causing this. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Covid lockdown linked to rise in child developmental issues - BBC News
The University of Edinburgh-led study examined health visitor reports on 258,000 children between March 2020 and August 2021.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 27, 2025 at 1:26 AM
This is disingenuously framed, but interesting research. The proportion of children at 13-15 months with developmental concerns continued to rise after public health interventions were dropped. Therefore, it's not the interventions causing this. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Call me Ishmael
idiot guy: i'm like the wolf i'm stalking my prey alone through the forest and being raw as fuck even if i'm in a group i'm the alpha
actual wolf: i love my friends so much!!! i love to romp and kiss my bros and work together as a family <3 awooo etc etc have you seen the puppies oh my god come see
actual wolf: i love my friends so much!!! i love to romp and kiss my bros and work together as a family <3 awooo etc etc have you seen the puppies oh my god come see
November 26, 2025 at 2:17 AM
idiot guy: i'm like the wolf i'm stalking my prey alone through the forest and being raw as fuck even if i'm in a group i'm the alpha
actual wolf: i love my friends so much!!! i love to romp and kiss my bros and work together as a family <3 awooo etc etc have you seen the puppies oh my god come see
actual wolf: i love my friends so much!!! i love to romp and kiss my bros and work together as a family <3 awooo etc etc have you seen the puppies oh my god come see
Reposted by Call me Ishmael
Our recap of last week's Long COVID International Conference is up now at @thesicktimes.org! Featuring summaries of talks that we found most notable (and a few hints about interesting results that aren't public yet). thesicktimes.org/2025/11/25/i...
International Long COVID conference spotlights biomarker and mechanism research - The Sick Times
The event, now in its third year, also revealed updates about clinical trials and healthcare for the disease.
thesicktimes.org
November 25, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Our recap of last week's Long COVID International Conference is up now at @thesicktimes.org! Featuring summaries of talks that we found most notable (and a few hints about interesting results that aren't public yet). thesicktimes.org/2025/11/25/i...
More antivax cranks entering the rogue's gallery that is the US Centers for Disease. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/25/h...
Doctor Critical of Vaccines Quietly Appointed as C.D.C.’s Second in Command
www.nytimes.com
November 25, 2025 at 11:59 PM
More antivax cranks entering the rogue's gallery that is the US Centers for Disease. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/25/h...
Interesting, if harsh, piece on the rise of romantasy. www.thedriftmag.com/escape-artis...
Escape Artists
Romantasy at the End of the World
www.thedriftmag.com
November 25, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Interesting, if harsh, piece on the rise of romantasy. www.thedriftmag.com/escape-artis...
Reposted by Call me Ishmael
1. A landmark study was just published in The Journal of Pediatrics.
It found a 68% reduction in suicidality for trans youth getting HRT.
It also found only 7 of more than 400 stopped taking HRT... and of those that did, 4 still identified as gender-diverse.
Transgender care saves lives.
It found a 68% reduction in suicidality for trans youth getting HRT.
It also found only 7 of more than 400 stopped taking HRT... and of those that did, 4 still identified as gender-diverse.
Transgender care saves lives.
Study In The Journal Of Pediatrics Finds Trans Youth Care Lowers Suicidality, Few Detransition
The groundbreaking study found that suicidality dropped for transgender youth receiving hormone therapy by nearly 70%, with only 7 patients of 432 discontinuing treatment.
www.erininthemorning.com
November 24, 2025 at 11:01 PM
1. A landmark study was just published in The Journal of Pediatrics.
It found a 68% reduction in suicidality for trans youth getting HRT.
It also found only 7 of more than 400 stopped taking HRT... and of those that did, 4 still identified as gender-diverse.
Transgender care saves lives.
It found a 68% reduction in suicidality for trans youth getting HRT.
It also found only 7 of more than 400 stopped taking HRT... and of those that did, 4 still identified as gender-diverse.
Transgender care saves lives.
Reposted by Call me Ishmael
WOW! Autism Society of America, The Autistic Self-Advocacy Network, the Autism Science Foundation, the Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network and Autism Speaks put out a statement denouncing the CDC changing its website on vaccines
autisticadvocacy.org/2025/11/lead...
autisticadvocacy.org/2025/11/lead...
Leading Autism and Disability Organizations Statement on CDC's Vaccines and Autism Page
As national organizations dedicated to advancing the well-being of autistic individuals and partners across the disability and public health sectors, we are deeply disappointed by the latest update to...
autisticadvocacy.org
November 24, 2025 at 11:18 PM
WOW! Autism Society of America, The Autistic Self-Advocacy Network, the Autism Science Foundation, the Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network and Autism Speaks put out a statement denouncing the CDC changing its website on vaccines
autisticadvocacy.org/2025/11/lead...
autisticadvocacy.org/2025/11/lead...
Reposted by Call me Ishmael
Seeing how much of the right-wing on Twitter is just bot farms, kinda lays bare how much hate and hatred is a project that needs to be constantly maintained, a fire that needs to be fed all the time lest it go out for a moment, so much time, effort, and resources to keep people angry and hateful.
November 24, 2025 at 1:54 PM
Seeing how much of the right-wing on Twitter is just bot farms, kinda lays bare how much hate and hatred is a project that needs to be constantly maintained, a fire that needs to be fed all the time lest it go out for a moment, so much time, effort, and resources to keep people angry and hateful.
Reposted by Call me Ishmael
A systematic review and meta-analysis of the impact of vaccination on prevention of long COVID - Nature Communications
www.nature.com/articles/s4146…
www.nature.com/articles/s4146…
November 24, 2025 at 7:26 PM
A systematic review and meta-analysis of the impact of vaccination on prevention of long COVID - Nature Communications
www.nature.com/articles/s4146…
www.nature.com/articles/s4146…
Reposted by Call me Ishmael
Long #COVID takes $1 trillion global economic toll each year, analysis suggests
Study looks at COVID’s impact on national economies, healthcare systems, labor markets, and quality of life.
www.cidrap.umn.edu/c...
Study looks at COVID’s impact on national economies, healthcare systems, labor markets, and quality of life.
www.cidrap.umn.edu/c...
November 24, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Long #COVID takes $1 trillion global economic toll each year, analysis suggests
Study looks at COVID’s impact on national economies, healthcare systems, labor markets, and quality of life.
www.cidrap.umn.edu/c...
Study looks at COVID’s impact on national economies, healthcare systems, labor markets, and quality of life.
www.cidrap.umn.edu/c...
Scientists from Tongji University in China have found Covid in foetuses, passed on to them by their mothers. Paper in Nature Communications: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Presence of SARS-CoV-2 in fetal organs via intraamniotic infection - Nature Communications
Infection with SARS-CoV-2 during pregnancy may result in maternal and fetal complications. Here, the authors analyze 18 fetuses following maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection and identify distribution in fet...
www.nature.com
November 24, 2025 at 3:43 AM
Scientists from Tongji University in China have found Covid in foetuses, passed on to them by their mothers. Paper in Nature Communications: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Call me Ishmael
This is an excellent piece on PEM by @darthfoo.bsky.social. Seriously considering sending to literally everyone I know.
substack.com/home/post/p-...
substack.com/home/post/p-...
Why I Can’t Just Meet You for Dinner
The Reality of Post-Exertional Malaise
substack.com
November 23, 2025 at 6:23 PM
This is an excellent piece on PEM by @darthfoo.bsky.social. Seriously considering sending to literally everyone I know.
substack.com/home/post/p-...
substack.com/home/post/p-...