The Haunted Balloon Lady
@colonelescargot.bsky.social
author and editor of educational stuff
deflated doomscroller
fuck brexit
fuck the fascists
#CovidIsAirborne #MaskUp #Climate #Environment #Politics #Books
deflated doomscroller
fuck brexit
fuck the fascists
#CovidIsAirborne #MaskUp #Climate #Environment #Politics #Books
Pinned
Reposted by The Haunted Balloon Lady
This is fucking grim. Somebody invented a white guy, an "IT professional" named Edward Crabtree, who stopped the Bondi shooting and spread it all over the internet, which was picked up by AI agents and slop aggregation sites.
The real hero is a fruit stand owner named Ahmed el Ahmed.
The real hero is a fruit stand owner named Ahmed el Ahmed.
December 14, 2025 at 8:02 PM
This is fucking grim. Somebody invented a white guy, an "IT professional" named Edward Crabtree, who stopped the Bondi shooting and spread it all over the internet, which was picked up by AI agents and slop aggregation sites.
The real hero is a fruit stand owner named Ahmed el Ahmed.
The real hero is a fruit stand owner named Ahmed el Ahmed.
Reposted by The Haunted Balloon Lady
What's striking about Trump's lies, and those of his apologists, is that they're not even plausible. They don't try to be plausible. As others have noted, that's kind of the point. True authoritarian control and power is telling a blatant and obvious lie, and showing you can get away with it.
Q: Can you explain what's going on with the bandages on Trump's hand?
LEAVITT: We've given you an explanation. The president is literally constantly shaking hands.
LEAVITT: We've given you an explanation. The president is literally constantly shaking hands.
December 14, 2025 at 7:56 PM
What's striking about Trump's lies, and those of his apologists, is that they're not even plausible. They don't try to be plausible. As others have noted, that's kind of the point. True authoritarian control and power is telling a blatant and obvious lie, and showing you can get away with it.
Reposted by The Haunted Balloon Lady
Reposted by The Haunted Balloon Lady
UK members are second only to US & Brazil on here, and over 85% claim a v healthy interest in politics… Last week, the fact they, as a Govt, actively stated they were increasing presence on SM platforms, then ignored Blue Sky. It’s a bit weird.
December 14, 2025 at 5:19 PM
UK members are second only to US & Brazil on here, and over 85% claim a v healthy interest in politics… Last week, the fact they, as a Govt, actively stated they were increasing presence on SM platforms, then ignored Blue Sky. It’s a bit weird.
Reposted by The Haunted Balloon Lady
Hospitals in England ‘face dangerous winter overcrowding due to discharge delays’
Hospitals in England ‘face dangerous winter overcrowding due to discharge delays’
Exclusive: Analysis of NHS data shows rise in patients ‘stranded’ in beds as flu crisis hits and resident doctors’ strikes loom
Hospitals in England face dangerous overcrowding this winter because even more patients than last year are “stranded” in a bed, according to an analysis of NHS figures.
The findings come as the health service struggles to cope with the early onset of its usual winter crisis driven by a crippling “flu-nami” and the NHS in England is bracing itself for a five-day strike by resident doctors starting on Wednesday.
The percentage of bed days used by patients whose discharge was delayed rose from 10.1% in 2024 to 11% this year, an increase of 9% or 19,000 bed days.
That rise was driven by an 8% year-on-year rise in the number of discharges, equivalent to about 3,800 patients a month.
The number of the NHS’s overall stock of about 100,000 general and acute beds occupied last winter by delayed discharge patients hit a peak of 14%, but it is likely to be even higher this winter. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
December 14, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Hospitals in England ‘face dangerous winter overcrowding due to discharge delays’
Reposted by The Haunted Balloon Lady
Sen. Jack Reed: "This is really outrageous. Mark Kelly is a veteran, he's fought in combat, he's an astronaut. And even was simply repeated what the law is. If a US senator can't do that, then this country is in profound difficulty."
December 14, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Sen. Jack Reed: "This is really outrageous. Mark Kelly is a veteran, he's fought in combat, he's an astronaut. And even was simply repeated what the law is. If a US senator can't do that, then this country is in profound difficulty."
Reposted by The Haunted Balloon Lady
Sadiq Khan, London Mayor
‘I'm slightly curious & concerned why the leader of the free world who's got so many challenges in the Middle East, in Ukraine, issues around the climate, trade, is spending time talking about me, & giving the impression he's obsessed with me & for him, it’s to explain why"
‘I'm slightly curious & concerned why the leader of the free world who's got so many challenges in the Middle East, in Ukraine, issues around the climate, trade, is spending time talking about me, & giving the impression he's obsessed with me & for him, it’s to explain why"
Trump 'obsessed with me' says Sadiq Khan as US President brands him 'disgusting'
Sir Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, said Donald Trump's repeated rants were 'sticks and stones' and questioned why the US President didn't have more important things to do
www.mirror.co.uk
December 14, 2025 at 11:47 AM
Sadiq Khan, London Mayor
‘I'm slightly curious & concerned why the leader of the free world who's got so many challenges in the Middle East, in Ukraine, issues around the climate, trade, is spending time talking about me, & giving the impression he's obsessed with me & for him, it’s to explain why"
‘I'm slightly curious & concerned why the leader of the free world who's got so many challenges in the Middle East, in Ukraine, issues around the climate, trade, is spending time talking about me, & giving the impression he's obsessed with me & for him, it’s to explain why"
Reposted by The Haunted Balloon Lady
OK then, what was the action? What has the Trump admin done? What proposals have they made? They have only ever offered “thoughts and prayers” on social media. Nothing else.
December 14, 2025 at 12:14 PM
OK then, what was the action? What has the Trump admin done? What proposals have they made? They have only ever offered “thoughts and prayers” on social media. Nothing else.
Reposted by The Haunted Balloon Lady
⚠️ We didn't "Learn to live with Covid"
(or 'flu).
The public have been misinformed about the availability of protective masks.
You need to fix this @teamlabouruk.bsky.social!
#SackRitchie #Flu
(or 'flu).
The public have been misinformed about the availability of protective masks.
You need to fix this @teamlabouruk.bsky.social!
#SackRitchie #Flu
December 14, 2025 at 11:12 AM
⚠️ We didn't "Learn to live with Covid"
(or 'flu).
The public have been misinformed about the availability of protective masks.
You need to fix this @teamlabouruk.bsky.social!
#SackRitchie #Flu
(or 'flu).
The public have been misinformed about the availability of protective masks.
You need to fix this @teamlabouruk.bsky.social!
#SackRitchie #Flu
Reposted by The Haunted Balloon Lady
We are experiencing a more severe than usual flu season and COVID rates are starting to rise. If you want to reduce your chances of getting sick, one of the most effective things you can do is wear a high quality mask. 🤫
December 13, 2025 at 10:45 PM
We are experiencing a more severe than usual flu season and COVID rates are starting to rise. If you want to reduce your chances of getting sick, one of the most effective things you can do is wear a high quality mask. 🤫
Reposted by The Haunted Balloon Lady
Fire marshals don't recommend the less effective fire extinguisher or smoke detector.
Why does healthcare keep portraying the use of less effective medical masks and not the more effective respirators?
Why does healthcare keep portraying the use of less effective medical masks and not the more effective respirators?
Yes. And #COVID, & #LongCOVID, & any other #AirborneDisease.
But please wear an #N95 mask, designed to filter out infectious airborne particles, rather than the surgical masks
shown here 👇
@trishgreenhalgh.bsky.social
#CRainaMacIntyre
#DavidFisman
www.independent.co.uk/news/health/...
But please wear an #N95 mask, designed to filter out infectious airborne particles, rather than the surgical masks
shown here 👇
@trishgreenhalgh.bsky.social
#CRainaMacIntyre
#DavidFisman
www.independent.co.uk/news/health/...
Does wearing a face mask stop you catching flu? Experts give verdict
Wearing a mask is inconvenient, but not as inconvenient as lockdowns
www.independent.co.uk
December 13, 2025 at 8:27 PM
Fire marshals don't recommend the less effective fire extinguisher or smoke detector.
Why does healthcare keep portraying the use of less effective medical masks and not the more effective respirators?
Why does healthcare keep portraying the use of less effective medical masks and not the more effective respirators?
Reposted by The Haunted Balloon Lady
Unlike Clarkson, or Sugar, Andrew Neil actually fronted BBC politics programmes, at the same time was the publisher of a right-wing Conservative magazine and freely expressed his very right wing opinions on Twitter.
Not once did he come under pressure to step down
Not once did he come under pressure to step down
December 13, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Unlike Clarkson, or Sugar, Andrew Neil actually fronted BBC politics programmes, at the same time was the publisher of a right-wing Conservative magazine and freely expressed his very right wing opinions on Twitter.
Not once did he come under pressure to step down
Not once did he come under pressure to step down
Reposted by The Haunted Balloon Lady
A reminder that when Gary Lineker was under fire a couple of years back for criticising the Conservatives while a BBC presenter, the channel said, by contrast, it was fine for Lord Sugar to repeatedly endorse the Tories because he was "free to say, as a business person, what he wants to say."
December 13, 2025 at 4:40 PM
A reminder that when Gary Lineker was under fire a couple of years back for criticising the Conservatives while a BBC presenter, the channel said, by contrast, it was fine for Lord Sugar to repeatedly endorse the Tories because he was "free to say, as a business person, what he wants to say."
Reposted by The Haunted Balloon Lady
Robin Ince reveals to last night’s audience at a recording of Infinite Monkey Cage that the BBC has forced him to resign over his support of trans people
December 13, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Robin Ince reveals to last night’s audience at a recording of Infinite Monkey Cage that the BBC has forced him to resign over his support of trans people
Reposted by The Haunted Balloon Lady
The fact is no presenter has ever had to leave the BBC for expressing conservative views, or even explicitly endorsing a right-wing party.
Was never a problem for Jeremy Clarkson. Was never a problem for Andrew Neil. Was never a problem for Alan Sugar
Was never a problem for Jeremy Clarkson. Was never a problem for Andrew Neil. Was never a problem for Alan Sugar
Robin Ince reveals to last night’s audience at a recording of Infinite Monkey Cage that the BBC has forced him to resign over his support of trans people
December 13, 2025 at 4:36 PM
The fact is no presenter has ever had to leave the BBC for expressing conservative views, or even explicitly endorsing a right-wing party.
Was never a problem for Jeremy Clarkson. Was never a problem for Andrew Neil. Was never a problem for Alan Sugar
Was never a problem for Jeremy Clarkson. Was never a problem for Andrew Neil. Was never a problem for Alan Sugar
Reposted by The Haunted Balloon Lady
This must be fake news because Trump said he ended this conflict.
December 13, 2025 at 4:13 PM
This must be fake news because Trump said he ended this conflict.
Reposted by The Haunted Balloon Lady
Absolutely
In a professional kitchen I like to ask one of the sous chefs or k.p.s to
Fucking sort it out or there will be no beer with your food.
Or food
😆
In a professional kitchen I like to ask one of the sous chefs or k.p.s to
Fucking sort it out or there will be no beer with your food.
Or food
😆
December 13, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Absolutely
In a professional kitchen I like to ask one of the sous chefs or k.p.s to
Fucking sort it out or there will be no beer with your food.
Or food
😆
In a professional kitchen I like to ask one of the sous chefs or k.p.s to
Fucking sort it out or there will be no beer with your food.
Or food
😆
Reposted by The Haunted Balloon Lady
Here’s a poem which has become trapped in a vicious circus (and other phrases of a similar elk).
December 10, 2025 at 10:45 AM
Here’s a poem which has become trapped in a vicious circus (and other phrases of a similar elk).
Reposted by The Haunted Balloon Lady
Here’s a poem called ‘An Invention of Collective Nouns’.
December 13, 2025 at 8:05 AM
Here’s a poem called ‘An Invention of Collective Nouns’.
Reposted by The Haunted Balloon Lady
Nothing says Christian fellowship like using the most important festival in your religious calendar to Tweet about your hatred of the "woke liberati"
December 13, 2025 at 1:17 PM
Nothing says Christian fellowship like using the most important festival in your religious calendar to Tweet about your hatred of the "woke liberati"
Reposted by The Haunted Balloon Lady
I had heart valve screening* at a local hospital today, and while sitting in the waiting room, I was impressed and grateful for their hard work. The majority of staff were immigrants or from immigrant forebears all doing a magnificent job. Fuck you Farage, Reform, The Tories and now, alas, Labour 1/
December 12, 2025 at 3:38 PM
I had heart valve screening* at a local hospital today, and while sitting in the waiting room, I was impressed and grateful for their hard work. The majority of staff were immigrants or from immigrant forebears all doing a magnificent job. Fuck you Farage, Reform, The Tories and now, alas, Labour 1/
Reposted by The Haunted Balloon Lady
There is something you can take to help protect you from #flu It contains only natural ingredients & has been used since World War II #FluVaccine
December 12, 2025 at 10:17 PM
There is something you can take to help protect you from #flu It contains only natural ingredients & has been used since World War II #FluVaccine
Reposted by The Haunted Balloon Lady
"Preventing infection is not only about avoiding hospitalization or death but about preventing long-term biological harm, across the lifespan."
🚨🧵by Zdenek Vrozina on Long Covid and "chronic immune activation, T-cell exhaustion, and metabolic disruption"
"What a new Nature Immunology study shows about long COVID? Long COVID is not post-infectious fatigue.
A new study shows that..."
Full 🧵
threadreaderapp.com/thread/19995...
"What a new Nature Immunology study shows about long COVID? Long COVID is not post-infectious fatigue.
A new study shows that..."
Full 🧵
threadreaderapp.com/thread/19995...
December 12, 2025 at 9:38 PM
"Preventing infection is not only about avoiding hospitalization or death but about preventing long-term biological harm, across the lifespan."
Thinking about His Dark Materials and Lee Scorseby in his steampunk hot air balloon singing the first bit of this song with Hester, his arctic hare daemon. (see post below for that clip)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQ6I...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQ6I...
"Old Best Friend" by Joshua James and Timmy the Teeth
YouTube video by joshuajameschannel
www.youtube.com
December 12, 2025 at 9:51 PM
Thinking about His Dark Materials and Lee Scorseby in his steampunk hot air balloon singing the first bit of this song with Hester, his arctic hare daemon. (see post below for that clip)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQ6I...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQ6I...
Reposted by The Haunted Balloon Lady
The influence of Lisa Ritchie on national infection control continues to risk Clinically Vulnerable lives.
@teamlabouruk.bsky.social she MUST go!
#Flu #SackRitchie
@teamlabouruk.bsky.social she MUST go!
#Flu #SackRitchie
December 12, 2025 at 7:09 PM
The influence of Lisa Ritchie on national infection control continues to risk Clinically Vulnerable lives.
@teamlabouruk.bsky.social she MUST go!
#Flu #SackRitchie
@teamlabouruk.bsky.social she MUST go!
#Flu #SackRitchie