Andi Frost

Nottingham lass, loves randomness, photography and black tea (and cake)

[Nitin Sawhney @thenitinsawhney]

One country invading another is never a good thing… It makes for a volatile, unstable and aggressive world, particularly when sovereign states now have nuclear capability… Yet part of me feels we, in the U.K., were invaded by a hostile force. This government has attacked every value I grew up with of decency and compassion. They have attempted consistently to pass laws to undermine and reconfigure a fair, inclusive society. They have done so whilst promoting their own values of selfishness, greed, ignorance and loathing for anyone vulnerable or disadvantaged. We may not have been invaded by a foreign power… But those at the helm of this country do not wish us well. They pass laws to allow our waters to become riddled with sewage, effectively dance on graves during a pandemic, nepotistically embezzle or lose billions of public funds, empower corrupt mp’s, increase financial disparity, destroy dreams of stable safety and security and encourage bigotry and racism with their idiotic, uncaring policies.

Invaders normally seek to divide and conquer new lands. This government is the most divisive of my lifetime… We can’t let them conquer whatever beauty we have left. Democracy can work for us. We still have the power to claw back the country they stole…

[Andy Burnham @andyburnham]

“It’s OK to close ticket offices as 88% are sold online,” say rail bosses.

Two things.

1. Do they really have no regard whatsoever for the passengers who buy the 12%?

2. Don’t they realise their brilliant ticket office staff do a lot more than sell tickets?

#SaveTicketOffices

[Michael Rosen 💙💙🎓🎓 NICE 爷爷 @MichaelRosenYes]

While Ofsted inspectors are going round schools telling teachers that Early Years children mustn't read books with 'non-decodable' texts, parents who use libraries and buy books are having great fun reading books with their children at home...

[Carole Hooven @hoovlet]

Caster Semenya has won a recent ruling. Caster has a Difference (or Disorder) of Sex Development (DSD), and the press has been misleading the public for a long time about about athletes with DSDs. People with DSDs deserve compassion and to live their lives free of harassment, with access to appropriate healthcare, etc. But cases such as this force the issue of their specific, sex-based biology.
https://t.co/MZKAAUfDvh
Caster and others with her DSD are not females with "hyperandrogenism," i.e., abnormally high levels of testosterone. They are males with testosterone-producing testes and XY sex chromosomes, and normal levels of testosterone for their sex. They experience the physical benefits of this high testosterone during puberty, which translate into athletic advantages over females. The issue for sports is that athletes with the relevant condition, 5-alpha reductase deficiency (5-ARD), may be socialized as female and even be legally female.

5-ARD is caused by a mutation in the gene that codes for the enzyme 5-alpha reductase, which converts testosterone into a more potent androgen, DHT. This androgen interacts with the androgen receptor, like testosterone, and is necessary for the typical development of male external genitalia (penis and scrotum) and the prostate. Without DHT, female-typical external genitalia develop. DHT is also responsible for male-pattern baldness and dark, coarse facial hair, which is why people with the condition have smooth skin that can give a feminine appearance.
Here's relevant bit on DSDs from the most recent Eligibility Regulations for the Female Classification for Athletes with Differences of Sex Development, linked to below (pg 2):

"Some individuals have congenital conditions that cause atypical sex development (known as “Differences of Sex Development”, or “DSDs”). In certain cases, this may lead to an individual being assigned at birth a legal sex of female and/or having a female gender identity, notwithstanding that the individual has fully functioning (internal) testes rather than ovaries."
https://t.co/7fv42Q7LWf

So the “decision makers” are aware that athletes affected 5-ARD are male, and that they experience the benefits of male puberty. The requirement to reduce T to typical female levels isn’t discriminatory, since these are males who are asking to compete in the female category. But more significantly, all the relevant scientific evidence shows that reducing male T in adulthood does not undo the physical benefits of male puberty.

It’s too bad that almost no mainstream media outlets will tell the whole truth. We need to rely on journalism report facts, so we can arrive at informed views about relevant policies. And the truth about sex is important when it comes to protected female spaces, like women’s sports. #sexmatters

[Female runner @FemaleRunner]

These women were totally let down by @iocmedia The male advantage is clearly proven now. Melissa’s coach was threatened with being banned if he spoke out. Time to award medals to the female winners #SaveWomensSports

[gender is harmful @genderisharmful]

.@British_Airways first class lounge at Heathrow Airport:

They have changed the system so that there are no longer women-only toilets.

Men get to have their own space, but women have to share with men.

First class lounge - where women are treated as second class.

[Andi Frost @andifrost]

@Lillustrator OMG, best news ever! So glad to hear this. My brain was still virtually searching Vegas for his friend 🐸

[Andi Frost @andifrost]

@MarceloMarfil Holy Moly. This is the one I need!

[Andi Frost @andifrost]

@UseClear Tried that. Must have missed it!

[Kate Allenby MBE OLY @KateAllenby]

Wow .. spot on by a 13yo here

[Mara Yamauchi @mara_yamauchi]

A parkrun female age group course record was smashed to smithereens by a trans-identifying male on Saturday, probably now out of female hands forever. The previous holder appears to be a local legend.

Parkrun’s “inclusion” means exclusion of females & erasure of F achievements.

[Andi Frost @andifrost]

@UseClear @dlanham All of these are super cool, want the black one!

[Andi Frost @andifrost]

@UseClear YES!

[Anon Opin. @anon_opin]

Young people need to learn how to use a pub. It is not acceptable to go in and sit down, wait for ages for your friends to turn up, then ask for a drink. Get a drink when you first go in. You should all get a drink each too. A group of 10 and only about 4 drinking is no good.

[Andi Frost @andifrost]

@UseClear I also have an SE if you need more help

[Dr Andrew Meyerson @AndrewMeyerson]

Dear 🇬🇧,

Here's your election reminder that 10 years ago, the NHS was ranked the #1 healthcare system in the world. We don't need a new system, we need a new govt. A vote for the @Conservatives is a vote to kill the NHS.

#SOSNHS

[Electra Rhodes - writes a bit/archaeologises a bit @electra_rhodes]

He swallowed a mouthful, his old-man jaw working, hoping I was listening.

‘Don’t be afraid of the worst that can happen. Ask instead, what is the best?‘

[Andi Frost @andifrost]

@PageFortyFive We LOVE Looshkin!
Just invested in this one when we visited Tuesday. Giggling from the back of the car all the way home ;)

[Megan McCubbin @MeganMcCubbin]

My stepdad @ChrisGPackham has bared the brunt of obsessive bullies who’ve burnt down his gates, thrown dead animals into his garden + sent death threats. They spread lies and hate because he stands up for wildlife.
I stand by him wholeheartedly
Pls share
https://t.co/koUmfVRCRg