Rachel
@nerak3l.bsky.social
Posting about languages, UK politics, faith/church, London, general stuff
Ecclesiastes 12:12
Ecclesiastes 12:12
Reposted by Rachel
Please hear me when I say that
1) these anti-medical woo birth movements have been a primary feeder into anti-vaxx eugenic movements
2) they pre-date the age of social media
3) they exist because we have not addressed medical sexism and specifically obstetric violence
1) these anti-medical woo birth movements have been a primary feeder into anti-vaxx eugenic movements
2) they pre-date the age of social media
3) they exist because we have not addressed medical sexism and specifically obstetric violence
Influencers made millions pushing ‘wild’ births – now the Free Birth Society is linked to baby deaths around the world
Influencers made millions pushing ‘wild’ births – now the Free Birth Society is linked to baby deaths around the world
A year-long investigation reveals how mothers lost children after being radicalised by uplifting podcast tales of births without midwives or doctors
As Esau Lopez was asphyxiated for the first 17 minutes of his life on Earth, the atmosphere in the room remained serene, even ecstatic. Acoustic music crooned from a speaker in a modest two-bedroom apartment in a suburb of Pennsylvania. “You are a queen,” murmured one of three friends in the room.
Only Esau’s mother, Gabrielle Lopez, felt something was wrong. She was pushing hard, but her son would not be born. “Can you help [him] out?” she asked, as Esau crowned. “Baby is coming,” the friend replied. Four minutes later, Lopez asked again, “Can you grab [him]?” Another friend murmured, “Baby is safe.” Six minutes passed. Again, Lopez asked, “Can you grab [him]?” Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 22, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Please hear me when I say that
1) these anti-medical woo birth movements have been a primary feeder into anti-vaxx eugenic movements
2) they pre-date the age of social media
3) they exist because we have not addressed medical sexism and specifically obstetric violence
1) these anti-medical woo birth movements have been a primary feeder into anti-vaxx eugenic movements
2) they pre-date the age of social media
3) they exist because we have not addressed medical sexism and specifically obstetric violence
Reposted by Rachel
Alexander and Aristotle pointing at circles of the heavens shown by an angel
BL Add 47680; Secretum Secretorum; 14th century; England, S. E. (London); f.51v
BL Add 47680; Secretum Secretorum; 14th century; England, S. E. (London); f.51v
November 22, 2025 at 9:07 PM
Alexander and Aristotle pointing at circles of the heavens shown by an angel
BL Add 47680; Secretum Secretorum; 14th century; England, S. E. (London); f.51v
BL Add 47680; Secretum Secretorum; 14th century; England, S. E. (London); f.51v
Obviously I would like to stress that I would never become a dictator. but hypothetically if I did there would be signs
Has any mad dictator ever had an armoured personal tram?
November 22, 2025 at 8:30 PM
Obviously I would like to stress that I would never become a dictator. but hypothetically if I did there would be signs
Reposted by Rachel
Said the phrase 'I'm over the moon!' to a Polish man and he was a little confused and asked what I meant so I explained and when I finished he just shook his head and said 'You're happy but you have no business in space.'
November 22, 2025 at 10:57 AM
Said the phrase 'I'm over the moon!' to a Polish man and he was a little confused and asked what I meant so I explained and when I finished he just shook his head and said 'You're happy but you have no business in space.'
Reposted by Rachel
After you help your boss convert a doc to PDF
November 22, 2025 at 4:55 PM
After you help your boss convert a doc to PDF
Reposted by Rachel
“All that money, and stirring hate is what they choose to do with it. How pathetic”. Brilliant line from @kathyburke.bsky.social’s A Mind of My Own. In the context of Murdoch/Rothmere, but perfect for ‘fill in your preferred billionaire’
November 22, 2025 at 11:04 AM
“All that money, and stirring hate is what they choose to do with it. How pathetic”. Brilliant line from @kathyburke.bsky.social’s A Mind of My Own. In the context of Murdoch/Rothmere, but perfect for ‘fill in your preferred billionaire’
Reposted by Rachel
IMPORTANT GLOBAL NEWS: London Zoo now has two capybaras. They are called Kiwi and Gizmo and they have their own heated pool. www.facebook.com/reel/2486568...
14K views · 850 reactions | The capy-spa-ra is open ✨✨
A luxurious new spa was unveiled in London yesterday – for our pair of capybaras, Gizmo and Kiwi.
Our capybara pair are now settling into their...
The capy-spa-ra is open ✨✨
A luxurious new spa was unveiled in London yesterday – for our pair of capybaras, Gizmo and Kiwi.
Our capybara pair are now settling into their new permanent home which...
www.facebook.com
November 22, 2025 at 10:28 AM
IMPORTANT GLOBAL NEWS: London Zoo now has two capybaras. They are called Kiwi and Gizmo and they have their own heated pool. www.facebook.com/reel/2486568...
Reposted by Rachel
Almost a year now since I received this absolutely classic burn from the Canadian government.
November 21, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Almost a year now since I received this absolutely classic burn from the Canadian government.
Reposted by Rachel
if the telegraph can’t find a new buyer maybe it should just be towed out into the north sea and sunk
November 22, 2025 at 9:31 AM
if the telegraph can’t find a new buyer maybe it should just be towed out into the north sea and sunk
A tour de force
this week's newsletter is titled "aren't you tired of feeling insane all the time?" and I think it speaks for itself
it is also free to read
youngvulgarian.substack.com/p/arent-you-...
it is also free to read
youngvulgarian.substack.com/p/arent-you-...
November 22, 2025 at 12:55 AM
A tour de force
Reposted by Rachel
I just reject this in so many ways. Racism is not caused by the presence of immigrants; immigrants can and do become british and thats wonderful; white british people are not incapable of accepting immigrants into their country without becoming irrational racists
November 21, 2025 at 9:52 AM
I just reject this in so many ways. Racism is not caused by the presence of immigrants; immigrants can and do become british and thats wonderful; white british people are not incapable of accepting immigrants into their country without becoming irrational racists
In all seriousness, wouldnt ’Wood Bridge’ actually work quite well, in the spirit of Anglo-Saxon poetic naming Eg whale road? What is a boat except a wooden bridge across the river for men?
November 22, 2025 at 12:15 AM
In all seriousness, wouldnt ’Wood Bridge’ actually work quite well, in the spirit of Anglo-Saxon poetic naming Eg whale road? What is a boat except a wooden bridge across the river for men?
Reposted by Rachel
Bōtīc Bōtfǣcesson?
November 21, 2025 at 9:14 AM
Bōtīc Bōtfǣcesson?
Reposted by Rachel
This looks like a fantastic PhD opportunity, engaging with amazing historical archives & exploring such important questions. Please share with anyone interested in #genderhistory history of #livedexperience, history of #religion www.qub.ac.uk/courses/post...
REF: CSHIS01 - HIS-PHD | Courses | Queen's University Belfast
www.qub.ac.uk
November 21, 2025 at 1:54 PM
This looks like a fantastic PhD opportunity, engaging with amazing historical archives & exploring such important questions. Please share with anyone interested in #genderhistory history of #livedexperience, history of #religion www.qub.ac.uk/courses/post...
Reposted by Rachel
Important: Jonathan Bailey is reading a CBeebies Bedtime Story today.
November 21, 2025 at 9:10 AM
Important: Jonathan Bailey is reading a CBeebies Bedtime Story today.
Reposted by Rachel
It stops sorting your inbox into folders, btw, when you turn this off. As the inbox folders predate Gemini, this is a passive-aggressive attempt to make gmail a miserable experience unless you turn AI on, not a necessity.
Really, *really* inconvenient but makes me more determined to keep it off.
Really, *really* inconvenient but makes me more determined to keep it off.
If you use GMail, AI (Gemini) was turned on yesterday by default and now scans all of your content for machine learning. To turn off, go to Settings>General and scroll down. Uncheck the box for "Smart features."
There's other "Smart" add-ons as well, but that's the one that reads your content.
There's other "Smart" add-ons as well, but that's the one that reads your content.
November 21, 2025 at 7:02 AM
It stops sorting your inbox into folders, btw, when you turn this off. As the inbox folders predate Gemini, this is a passive-aggressive attempt to make gmail a miserable experience unless you turn AI on, not a necessity.
Really, *really* inconvenient but makes me more determined to keep it off.
Really, *really* inconvenient but makes me more determined to keep it off.
Reposted by Rachel
Ugh
Google removes a variety of longstanding GMail features if you try to withdraw your default consent (!) to having all your content read and used by Google Gemini via "Smart Features." That's an obvious attempt to coerce consent for privacy violations. Legislatures must act to make this illegal.
November 21, 2025 at 7:51 AM
Ugh
Reposted by Rachel
NEW: Churches in Charlotte are hosting trainings on how to response to ICE agents — with *hundreds* filling pews.
At one training, a child led those gathered in "This Little Light of Mine" — but changed the words to “All around Border Patrol, I’m gonna let it shine" religionnews.com/2025/11/20/a...
At one training, a child led those gathered in "This Little Light of Mine" — but changed the words to “All around Border Patrol, I’m gonna let it shine" religionnews.com/2025/11/20/a...
As ICE descends on Charlotte, faith leaders draw on other cities' actions to aid immigrants
(RNS) — As many as 500 people, a mix of clergy and other volunteers, have appeared at the training sessions on how to counter ICE.
religionnews.com
November 20, 2025 at 7:38 PM
NEW: Churches in Charlotte are hosting trainings on how to response to ICE agents — with *hundreds* filling pews.
At one training, a child led those gathered in "This Little Light of Mine" — but changed the words to “All around Border Patrol, I’m gonna let it shine" religionnews.com/2025/11/20/a...
At one training, a child led those gathered in "This Little Light of Mine" — but changed the words to “All around Border Patrol, I’m gonna let it shine" religionnews.com/2025/11/20/a...
Reposted by Rachel
It’s the exclusive everyone wanted, the story that will win next year’s Pulitzer…
I can reveal London’s giant AI generated Christmas artwork, the subject of much online mockery, is being torn down - and I honestly *genuinely* think you’ll never guess why. www.londoncentric.media/p/ai-artwork...
I can reveal London’s giant AI generated Christmas artwork, the subject of much online mockery, is being torn down - and I honestly *genuinely* think you’ll never guess why. www.londoncentric.media/p/ai-artwork...
London's giant AI artwork to be torn down
The bizarre story of why a much-talked-about creation is being torn down. Plus: Docklands Light Railway extension, giant laser stalks the night sky, and more tales of Android phone theft rejection.
www.londoncentric.media
November 20, 2025 at 7:18 AM
It’s the exclusive everyone wanted, the story that will win next year’s Pulitzer…
I can reveal London’s giant AI generated Christmas artwork, the subject of much online mockery, is being torn down - and I honestly *genuinely* think you’ll never guess why. www.londoncentric.media/p/ai-artwork...
I can reveal London’s giant AI generated Christmas artwork, the subject of much online mockery, is being torn down - and I honestly *genuinely* think you’ll never guess why. www.londoncentric.media/p/ai-artwork...
Reposted by Rachel
The people who make Shein's clothes labor for ten to twelve hours per day (in violation of China's labor laws), some up to seven days a week, and earn as little as 15 to 30 cents per t-shirt.
![Excerpt from a BBC article: ""We usually work, 10, 11 or 12 hours a day," says a 49-year-old woman from Jiangxi unwilling to give her name. "On Sundays we work around three hours less."
She is in an alleyway, where a dozen people are huddled around a row of bulletin boards.
They are reading the job ads on the board, while examining the stitching on a pair of chinos draped over it.
This is Shein's supply chain. The factories are contracted to make clothes on order - some small, some big. If the chinos are a hit, orders will ramp up and so must production. Factories then hire temporary workers to meet the demand their permanent staff cannot fulfil.
The migrant worker from Jiangxi is looking for a short-term contract - and the chinos are an option.
"We earn so little. The cost of living is now so high," she says, adding that she hopes to make enough to send back to her two children who are living with their grandparents.
"We get paid per piece," she explains. "It depends how difficult the item is. Something simple like a t-shirt is one-two yuan [less than a dollar] per piece and I can make around a dozen in an hour.""](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ks3gpa6ftoyaq7hmf6c4qx4c/bafkreiber7g4o5pujmzmjjzsp5dkz7blfexburuwjispfpv6dki7akjb7a@jpeg)
November 20, 2025 at 12:07 AM
The people who make Shein's clothes labor for ten to twelve hours per day (in violation of China's labor laws), some up to seven days a week, and earn as little as 15 to 30 cents per t-shirt.
“And is there a Mrs Worldwide?”
November 19, 2025 at 10:18 PM
“And is there a Mrs Worldwide?”
Reposted by Rachel
My mother saved for years to go to Corfu she didn't get charitable status for it.
November 19, 2025 at 5:07 PM
My mother saved for years to go to Corfu she didn't get charitable status for it.
Reposted by Rachel
Thing I found out today: if you're on Universal Credit (or other means-tested benefits) you can get into Hampton Court Palace, Kensington Palace, or the Tower of London for £1 (and 50% off at one cafe per site too). Because poor people deserve days out too www.hrp.org.uk/one-pound-ti...
One Pound Tickets
£1 tickets for a day visit to the Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace and Kensington Palace will be available to anyone in receipt of named benefits.
www.hrp.org.uk
November 19, 2025 at 7:02 PM
Thing I found out today: if you're on Universal Credit (or other means-tested benefits) you can get into Hampton Court Palace, Kensington Palace, or the Tower of London for £1 (and 50% off at one cafe per site too). Because poor people deserve days out too www.hrp.org.uk/one-pound-ti...
Reposted by Rachel
In 2013 my monthly take home was about £1000, my rent £200, and I remember turning 25 so well because I could afford to go out without stress and have friends thanks to working tax credits. The vibes, for lots of people, have entirely disappeared.
I disagree. It’s central to the country’s bad vibes that we cut state support for the working poor and have compensated for that, poorly, by shunting some of the costs onto businesses and the rest onto to telling the people who have lost out “life’s tough, adapt”.
Weird thing: the UK minimum wage has risen against inflation for years. It's now really high. Millions of people are earning more than they were as a direct result of this policy. And the impact on the vibes of the country is… entirely absent?
November 19, 2025 at 6:09 PM
In 2013 my monthly take home was about £1000, my rent £200, and I remember turning 25 so well because I could afford to go out without stress and have friends thanks to working tax credits. The vibes, for lots of people, have entirely disappeared.
Reposted by Rachel
PSA: me not commenting on something does not mean I am "complicit." First of all, you need to log off and touch grass. Secondly we are total strangers so call your therapist. Thirdly there are 1,000 things happening every day and I am busy. Finally what exactly do you want me to do about it?
November 19, 2025 at 3:42 PM
PSA: me not commenting on something does not mean I am "complicit." First of all, you need to log off and touch grass. Secondly we are total strangers so call your therapist. Thirdly there are 1,000 things happening every day and I am busy. Finally what exactly do you want me to do about it?