Dr Joanna McKenzie
@jobob.bsky.social
Data nerd with a PhD in particle physics from before they discovered the Higgs. Loves Fantasy books and TV, drawing and painting, and sometimes I do running and cycling. Glasgow based. Tha mi ag ionnsachadh Gàidhlig.
This is only true when you allow the "fairness" narrative to dominate. If you ask instead whether all kids should be able to participate in sports, most reasonable people will adapt their worldview.
this is also my read on the electorate
for instance I think it's likely that, as much as it is bullshit transphobia cooked up by bigots, the majority of people in this country don't want trans kids to play sports
but are they going to condition their vote on it? no, they don't care that much
for instance I think it's likely that, as much as it is bullshit transphobia cooked up by bigots, the majority of people in this country don't want trans kids to play sports
but are they going to condition their vote on it? no, they don't care that much
The majority of US voters, so far as I can tell, flatly do not care about trans people one way or another. They aren't necessarily especially friendly to them, but they clearly find the notion that they're supposed to obsess over them distinctly offputting. (Despite major efforts by the right!)
November 9, 2025 at 5:21 PM
This is only true when you allow the "fairness" narrative to dominate. If you ask instead whether all kids should be able to participate in sports, most reasonable people will adapt their worldview.
I don't know if it counts, exactly, since I'm not sure if she's a senior academic, but Dame Maggie Aderin-Pocock was so lovely in person.
Right, enough of James Watson - who's a senior academic you've met who's been an utter delight?
I'll go first: Jocelyn Bell Burnell
I'll go first: Jocelyn Bell Burnell
November 8, 2025 at 9:53 PM
I don't know if it counts, exactly, since I'm not sure if she's a senior academic, but Dame Maggie Aderin-Pocock was so lovely in person.
Reposted by Dr Joanna McKenzie
Join Scotland's Climate March
📍Glasgow Green
📅Saturday 15th November
⏰From 11am
📍Glasgow Green
📅Saturday 15th November
⏰From 11am
November 8, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Join Scotland's Climate March
📍Glasgow Green
📅Saturday 15th November
⏰From 11am
📍Glasgow Green
📅Saturday 15th November
⏰From 11am
Child one: "Then I saw her face!"
Child two: "doo doo doo doo doo"
Child one, slightly off time: "Now I'm a believer!"
Child two: "I couldn't leave her if I tried!"
Repeat this specific snippet ad infinitum.
Child two: "doo doo doo doo doo"
Child one, slightly off time: "Now I'm a believer!"
Child two: "I couldn't leave her if I tried!"
Repeat this specific snippet ad infinitum.
November 8, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Child one: "Then I saw her face!"
Child two: "doo doo doo doo doo"
Child one, slightly off time: "Now I'm a believer!"
Child two: "I couldn't leave her if I tried!"
Repeat this specific snippet ad infinitum.
Child two: "doo doo doo doo doo"
Child one, slightly off time: "Now I'm a believer!"
Child two: "I couldn't leave her if I tried!"
Repeat this specific snippet ad infinitum.
I wonder if it's for the same reason fascists hate being laughed at: because laughter seriously undermines power plays.
Why is female joy so terrifying to weirdos and losers?
November 5, 2025 at 11:02 PM
I wonder if it's for the same reason fascists hate being laughed at: because laughter seriously undermines power plays.
For some reason my brain keeps going "Start spreading the news, I'm leaving today..."
November 5, 2025 at 7:58 AM
For some reason my brain keeps going "Start spreading the news, I'm leaving today..."
Reposted by Dr Joanna McKenzie
Huge congratulations to Zohran Mamdani on his election as Mayor of New York City from all of us at the Green Party! 🎉💚
November 5, 2025 at 7:00 AM
Huge congratulations to Zohran Mamdani on his election as Mayor of New York City from all of us at the Green Party! 🎉💚
Reposted by Dr Joanna McKenzie
November 3, 2025 at 8:03 PM
The world is full of big things to be annoyed about, and not to minimise those... But honestly today I'm feeling a bit down just because we live in a world which puts so much resources into making sure most people are miserable most of the time.
Where's my utopia??
Where's my utopia??
November 3, 2025 at 10:16 PM
The world is full of big things to be annoyed about, and not to minimise those... But honestly today I'm feeling a bit down just because we live in a world which puts so much resources into making sure most people are miserable most of the time.
Where's my utopia??
Where's my utopia??
Reposted by Dr Joanna McKenzie
Let’s take a look at the whole “there are too many black people on TV” thing, shall we?
After Pochin claimed Black people in TV adverts “made her mad”, all her supporters tried to use 👇🏼 as their excuse for why she was somehow justified in her overt racism.
Spoiler - she isn’t! 🤨
🧵
1/22
After Pochin claimed Black people in TV adverts “made her mad”, all her supporters tried to use 👇🏼 as their excuse for why she was somehow justified in her overt racism.
Spoiler - she isn’t! 🤨
🧵
1/22
November 2, 2025 at 7:09 PM
Let’s take a look at the whole “there are too many black people on TV” thing, shall we?
After Pochin claimed Black people in TV adverts “made her mad”, all her supporters tried to use 👇🏼 as their excuse for why she was somehow justified in her overt racism.
Spoiler - she isn’t! 🤨
🧵
1/22
After Pochin claimed Black people in TV adverts “made her mad”, all her supporters tried to use 👇🏼 as their excuse for why she was somehow justified in her overt racism.
Spoiler - she isn’t! 🤨
🧵
1/22
Reposted by Dr Joanna McKenzie
I legitimately hate how every website seems to think that what I want more than anything else in this world is yet another inbox to monitor and take responsibility for.
November 2, 2025 at 3:25 AM
I legitimately hate how every website seems to think that what I want more than anything else in this world is yet another inbox to monitor and take responsibility for.
Reposted by Dr Joanna McKenzie
Who did this?!
November 1, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Who did this?!
Always a bit weird on the first day after an art challenge month to go through a day without making a point of doing a specific type of drawing. It is, though, a good time for reflections.
November 1, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Always a bit weird on the first day after an art challenge month to go through a day without making a point of doing a specific type of drawing. It is, though, a good time for reflections.
Reposted by Dr Joanna McKenzie
Imagine writing "young people should in no circumstances get a tiny treat once a week" and not hating yourself
“At the same time, more than half of Gen Z members say they are struggling to make ends meet, yet a majority buy themselves a small treat, such as a pastry, coffee, or sweet, at least once a week. That can lead to overspending…”
archive.ph/2TI8J
archive.ph/2TI8J
November 1, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Imagine writing "young people should in no circumstances get a tiny treat once a week" and not hating yourself
So King Charles is head of the Commonwealth, and Nigeria is a Commonwealth country....
"Dear Sir, Your good name has been bought to my attention as a trustworthy man and a believer in God. I am the son of the late Queen Elizabeth II, ruler of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. My mother left me forty-five million pounds and the city of York but I am unable ..."
October 31, 2025 at 6:24 PM
So King Charles is head of the Commonwealth, and Nigeria is a Commonwealth country....
Day 31: a horse. And we're done! #inktober2025
October 31, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Day 31: a horse. And we're done! #inktober2025
Day 30: ghost grid. Not sure this was enormously successful but I think there's mileage in the idea.
October 30, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Day 30: ghost grid. Not sure this was enormously successful but I think there's mileage in the idea.
I'm not sure they only coexist. I think taking rights from trans people also takes them from everyone. If trans people can't transition it impacts everyone's right to control their bodies. If a trans person can't self-identify which bathroom they use, neither can anyone.
I’m a woman, I’m a feminist and I see absolutely no contradiction” – Powell on women’s rights and trans rights coexisting
www.attitude.co.uk/news/lucy-po...
www.attitude.co.uk/news/lucy-po...
Labour's new deputy leader Lucy Powell says EHRC's single-sex spaces draft is 'not right' as she backs trans-rights
Lucy Powell, newly elected deputy leader of the Labour Party, has said the EHRC’s draft guidance on single-sex spaces is "not right".
www.attitude.co.uk
October 30, 2025 at 10:23 AM
I'm not sure they only coexist. I think taking rights from trans people also takes them from everyone. If trans people can't transition it impacts everyone's right to control their bodies. If a trans person can't self-identify which bathroom they use, neither can anyone.
Reposted by Dr Joanna McKenzie
Hi bluesky I made you a giraph ok thanks
October 29, 2025 at 7:38 AM
Hi bluesky I made you a giraph ok thanks
Had an idea for a comedy sketch today. First time in my life inspiration has taken that particular form for me. I have obviously no real route to making it happen, and actually probably don't know enough about scriptwriting conventions to write it either.
October 29, 2025 at 7:42 PM
Had an idea for a comedy sketch today. First time in my life inspiration has taken that particular form for me. I have obviously no real route to making it happen, and actually probably don't know enough about scriptwriting conventions to write it either.
Day 29: polar bear. It's a headache day so keeping it very simple on this one. #inktober2025
October 29, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Day 29: polar bear. It's a headache day so keeping it very simple on this one. #inktober2025
The Halloween decorations around here are pretty good. Not sure about this one though...
October 29, 2025 at 4:24 PM
The Halloween decorations around here are pretty good. Not sure about this one though...
Sometimes someone just gets a turn of phrase that Just Works Extra Perfectly in its context. Don Quixote, perfect. He's even called Don.
this is actually one of the least surprising insane things he's done
Trump basically turned into Don Quixote because they built a wind farm offshore of his Scottish golf resort, this is one of maybe three things he truly cares about (windmills, tariffs, revenge)
of course he told RFK to do this
Trump basically turned into Don Quixote because they built a wind farm offshore of his Scottish golf resort, this is one of maybe three things he truly cares about (windmills, tariffs, revenge)
of course he told RFK to do this
RFK Jr. directs CDC to study alleged harms of offshore wind farms, Bloomberg News reports reut.rs/4hxHgEh
October 28, 2025 at 7:21 PM
Sometimes someone just gets a turn of phrase that Just Works Extra Perfectly in its context. Don Quixote, perfect. He's even called Don.
Day 28: skull. Memento mori, but also this too shall pass. #inktober2025
October 28, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Day 28: skull. Memento mori, but also this too shall pass. #inktober2025
Day 27: slightly scribbly elephant. Might try an even scribblier one at some point - the contrast between the elephant and the lines appeals to me. #inktober2025
October 27, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Day 27: slightly scribbly elephant. Might try an even scribblier one at some point - the contrast between the elephant and the lines appeals to me. #inktober2025