Peter Barabas
@peterbarabas.bsky.social
Retina researcher at Queen's University Belfast but also a cosmopolitan globalist-humanist human, father, husband, son and brother. Well-informed optimist.
Politics, science, technology- and anything in between.
Known to be friendly with typos.
No DM
Politics, science, technology- and anything in between.
Known to be friendly with typos.
No DM
Northern Ireland's GP services in crisis, Stormont report finds.
My own experience: to get a refill of a medication, one has to call about 30-100 times before the system lets you through.
This is way easier than if you wanted to talk to GP - that you cannot.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
My own experience: to get a refill of a medication, one has to call about 30-100 times before the system lets you through.
This is way easier than if you wanted to talk to GP - that you cannot.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Northern Ireland's GP services in crisis, Stormont report finds
The PAC report says patients are experiencing significant difficulty accessing GP services in Northern Ireland.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 4, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Northern Ireland's GP services in crisis, Stormont report finds.
My own experience: to get a refill of a medication, one has to call about 30-100 times before the system lets you through.
This is way easier than if you wanted to talk to GP - that you cannot.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
My own experience: to get a refill of a medication, one has to call about 30-100 times before the system lets you through.
This is way easier than if you wanted to talk to GP - that you cannot.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Peter Barabas
December 2, 2025 at 8:48 AM
The mental acrobatics is mind boggling when you try to stay unaccountable for unconsiscionable and illegal acts and want at the same time feeding your voters with the idea that this is the right thing to do and the right way to do it.
Running politics purely on the emotional level is literally mad.
Running politics purely on the emotional level is literally mad.
If Admiral Bradley didn’t realize before that these cowards were setting him up to take the fall, he knows it now. Time to hire a good lawyer.
December 2, 2025 at 10:04 AM
The mental acrobatics is mind boggling when you try to stay unaccountable for unconsiscionable and illegal acts and want at the same time feeding your voters with the idea that this is the right thing to do and the right way to do it.
Running politics purely on the emotional level is literally mad.
Running politics purely on the emotional level is literally mad.
This is one of those things that never get old...
Taking in the last light with Fiadh at the Cliffs of Moher, before the sun drops below the Atlantic ocean for the night.
County Clare, Ireland.
County Clare, Ireland.
December 2, 2025 at 9:53 AM
This is one of those things that never get old...
As he said
⬇️
⬇️
I send money to @wikipedia.org every year.
This is something you can do to make a difference and fight against AI slop.
This is something you can do to make a difference and fight against AI slop.
I take Wikipedia for granted. Reading this Jimmy Wales interview reminded me in our Fantasyland age what a remarkable and important creation it is. True pillar of civilization. Runs on only $200 million a year. Requires our support. So I’m finally donating. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2025/10/18/m...
December 1, 2025 at 10:53 AM
As he said
⬇️
⬇️
US rightwing peeps dreaming aloud on Twitter of becoming Afghanistan, at least as far as summary executions go.
Because that feels right for them or something?
'kay...
Because that feels right for them or something?
'kay...
November 28, 2025 at 11:39 PM
US rightwing peeps dreaming aloud on Twitter of becoming Afghanistan, at least as far as summary executions go.
Because that feels right for them or something?
'kay...
Because that feels right for them or something?
'kay...
Reposted by Peter Barabas
Shadows from (double glazed) kitchen window sill on far wall with low sun.
November 17, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Shadows from (double glazed) kitchen window sill on far wall with low sun.
love birch trees :)
Painted tonight, but it’s nowhere near done, so instead here’s a piece I did in 2024 called Frosty Twilight (16”x20” mixed media). I went through a whole birches phase and this was part of that series.
Anyhoooo….who’s ready for Monday?! I’m not! Lol #art #painting #mixedmedia #sundayscaries
Anyhoooo….who’s ready for Monday?! I’m not! Lol #art #painting #mixedmedia #sundayscaries
November 17, 2025 at 1:54 PM
love birch trees :)
Reposted by Peter Barabas
NEW: Epstein survivors release the most powerful PSA I have ever seen.
Make this go viral so every member of the House of Representatives sees it.
Make this go viral so every member of the House of Representatives sees it.
November 16, 2025 at 11:43 PM
NEW: Epstein survivors release the most powerful PSA I have ever seen.
Make this go viral so every member of the House of Representatives sees it.
Make this go viral so every member of the House of Representatives sees it.
Reposted by Peter Barabas
This is a big, big deal.
Huge.
Also: this is why we need to be aggressively funding science.
Huge.
Also: this is why we need to be aggressively funding science.
"Remarkably, the bacterium that makes methylenomycin A and pre-methylenomycin C lactone -- Streptomyces coelicolor -- is a model antibiotic-producing species that's been studied extensively since the 1950s. Finding a new antibiotic in such a familiar organism was a real surprise." 🧪
British and Australian chemists have discovered a powerful new antibiotic called pre-methylenomycin C lactone, hiding in a well-known soil bacterium. This molecule kills drug-resistant bacteria without triggering resistance. buff.ly/YlXaONo
#ShareGoodNewsToo
#ShareGoodNewsToo
November 16, 2025 at 7:07 PM
This is a big, big deal.
Huge.
Also: this is why we need to be aggressively funding science.
Huge.
Also: this is why we need to be aggressively funding science.
"Proportional response"
(image of the actual thing sent against stock image of a motorboat).
(image of the actual thing sent against stock image of a motorboat).
November 17, 2025 at 9:55 AM
"Proportional response"
(image of the actual thing sent against stock image of a motorboat).
(image of the actual thing sent against stock image of a motorboat).
Reposted by Peter Barabas
Hot take: Most covers of songs are not good.
Some covers are better than the originals, but this is rare.
What are your fave covers that are better than the originals?
Some covers are better than the originals, but this is rare.
What are your fave covers that are better than the originals?
November 12, 2025 at 4:18 PM
Hot take: Most covers of songs are not good.
Some covers are better than the originals, but this is rare.
What are your fave covers that are better than the originals?
Some covers are better than the originals, but this is rare.
What are your fave covers that are better than the originals?
#COP30 - is it going to happen?
Will it matter, even?
Have the previous 29 mattered?
I think they did, but of course there is not a "control group" to compare, ie a world where none of the high level negotiations of COP happened.
Will it matter, even?
Have the previous 29 mattered?
I think they did, but of course there is not a "control group" to compare, ie a world where none of the high level negotiations of COP happened.
November 11, 2025 at 1:15 PM
#COP30 - is it going to happen?
Will it matter, even?
Have the previous 29 mattered?
I think they did, but of course there is not a "control group" to compare, ie a world where none of the high level negotiations of COP happened.
Will it matter, even?
Have the previous 29 mattered?
I think they did, but of course there is not a "control group" to compare, ie a world where none of the high level negotiations of COP happened.
The first step in dealing with a problem is recognising that there is a problem: more and more people become incapable of working due to health issues.
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Fixing Britain’s worklessness crisis will cost employers £6bn a year, report says
The Keep Britain Working review, created to tackle the rising tide of ill health pushing millions out of work, reported its findings ahead of this month’s budget
www.theguardian.com
November 5, 2025 at 11:25 AM
The first step in dealing with a problem is recognising that there is a problem: more and more people become incapable of working due to health issues.
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
Reposted by Peter Barabas
A waterfall battling strong updrafts as it drops down the Cliffs of Moher.
County Clare, Ireland.
County Clare, Ireland.
November 3, 2025 at 9:37 AM
A waterfall battling strong updrafts as it drops down the Cliffs of Moher.
County Clare, Ireland.
County Clare, Ireland.
I'm getting #blackfriday deal advertisement, saying these are "early black friday deals".
It's Monday, people.
I guess I should just lump it in with the "black friday week" oxymoron.
I dunno, why not make it a Black Friday Month, while we're at it?
Or even better, an all-year one?
It's Monday, people.
I guess I should just lump it in with the "black friday week" oxymoron.
I dunno, why not make it a Black Friday Month, while we're at it?
Or even better, an all-year one?
November 3, 2025 at 11:55 AM
I'm getting #blackfriday deal advertisement, saying these are "early black friday deals".
It's Monday, people.
I guess I should just lump it in with the "black friday week" oxymoron.
I dunno, why not make it a Black Friday Month, while we're at it?
Or even better, an all-year one?
It's Monday, people.
I guess I should just lump it in with the "black friday week" oxymoron.
I dunno, why not make it a Black Friday Month, while we're at it?
Or even better, an all-year one?
Reposted by Peter Barabas
Sarah Cooper explains the mystery of the Techbros' strategy, and their growing love of the idea of Techserfs.™️
😎
www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cJ1...
😎
www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cJ1...
The History of Wealth Throughout History
YouTube video by Sarah Cooper
www.youtube.com
November 2, 2025 at 12:23 PM
Sarah Cooper explains the mystery of the Techbros' strategy, and their growing love of the idea of Techserfs.™️
😎
www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cJ1...
😎
www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cJ1...
Touching grass :)
Gina's lovely muzzle.🫏❤️
County Clare, Ireland.
County Clare, Ireland.
November 3, 2025 at 9:45 AM
Touching grass :)
Even the worst kind of peace is amazing compared to war.
Sounds trivial? Old, overused, boring "wisdom"?
Well, get used to hearing the opposite and finding yourself questioning the merits of peace.
Sounds trivial? Old, overused, boring "wisdom"?
Well, get used to hearing the opposite and finding yourself questioning the merits of peace.
October 30, 2025 at 10:46 AM
Even the worst kind of peace is amazing compared to war.
Sounds trivial? Old, overused, boring "wisdom"?
Well, get used to hearing the opposite and finding yourself questioning the merits of peace.
Sounds trivial? Old, overused, boring "wisdom"?
Well, get used to hearing the opposite and finding yourself questioning the merits of peace.
Wars became "weird". Can be hot or cold, secret, or open.
I guess there is not even "simply" a peace and war, but a continuum with all countries somewhere on that continuum, sometimes sliding, sometimes hopping in one or the other direction...
Instead of getting along, finding sensible compromises.
I guess there is not even "simply" a peace and war, but a continuum with all countries somewhere on that continuum, sometimes sliding, sometimes hopping in one or the other direction...
Instead of getting along, finding sensible compromises.
October 24, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Wars became "weird". Can be hot or cold, secret, or open.
I guess there is not even "simply" a peace and war, but a continuum with all countries somewhere on that continuum, sometimes sliding, sometimes hopping in one or the other direction...
Instead of getting along, finding sensible compromises.
I guess there is not even "simply" a peace and war, but a continuum with all countries somewhere on that continuum, sometimes sliding, sometimes hopping in one or the other direction...
Instead of getting along, finding sensible compromises.
"Correlation is not causation" is a phrase used so often in Academia, it became almost something that you are expected to say and then is usually followed up with a "but we think... ".
It's really just a combination of "mental sloppiness and realpolitik", isn't it?
It's really just a combination of "mental sloppiness and realpolitik", isn't it?
October 24, 2025 at 8:34 AM
"Correlation is not causation" is a phrase used so often in Academia, it became almost something that you are expected to say and then is usually followed up with a "but we think... ".
It's really just a combination of "mental sloppiness and realpolitik", isn't it?
It's really just a combination of "mental sloppiness and realpolitik", isn't it?
Oops, I made a genotypo
October 23, 2025 at 1:18 PM
Oops, I made a genotypo
"Ambition"
An old photo of my son at the University Village in Salt Lake City.
An old photo of my son at the University Village in Salt Lake City.
October 21, 2025 at 9:51 AM
"Ambition"
An old photo of my son at the University Village in Salt Lake City.
An old photo of my son at the University Village in Salt Lake City.