The #HugoAwards finalists are out, and what a list it is. Congrats to all of the amazing people on there and to everyone who was nominated at all. Yay, thank you for all the amazing things you make and do! And thank you to those administering the awards! www.lacon.org/hugofinalists/ #LAconV
There are some important things to remember in terms of Awards-shortlist day etiquette. A short thread.
Even folks I really like and respect make some blunders on this stuff.
1) Allow people to enjoy the shortlist. Avoid dismissing the finalists (whomever they are) for at least a month.
Online abuse of politicians is a profitable business Senator Eileen Flynn's comments on far-right use of the tricolour have made her a lightning rod for online abuse - because viral hatred is highly profitable
In the space of a few weeks in 2025, Simon Harris required armed gardaí at his family home due to multiple bomb threats, while former taoiseach Leo Varadkar was subjected to a homophobic tirade by a self-styled citizen journalist who filmed the confrontation for social media. A man is due before the courts in July in connection with an alleged assault on Mary Lou McDonald and two canvassers the day before the presidential election last year. The incident was filmed and went viral online. So, last week when a video of Senator Eileen Flynn speaking about racism and nationalist propaganda went viral, a predictable and inevitable online pile on began, with posts attacking Flynn's "patriotism" or perceived
Much of the abuse directed at Ms Flynn came from Irish accounts run by people who benefit from algorithmically amplification (so called blue tick accounts), and content monetisation. Monetisation is now a commonplace feature on social media platforms like X/Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok, that allows the company to "share" revenue. The more attention (likes, shares, comments etc) a post gets, the more revenue a user earns. Influencers also often have accounts on three or four platforms and post dozens of times a day, and can also benefit from tips, and paid subscribers so it is difficult to gauge how much they earn, but a single viral post on X can generate over €300 for an influencer, so this can become a quite lucrative activity for not a lot of work. Power
The abuse directed at Ms Flynn did not only come from Irish accounts; international social media influencers whose attention was already on Ireland since the fuel protests latched onto it too. Defiant Ls, an account run by a Macedonian influencer who promotes Maga content shared the video, as did the account LibsofTikTok, with the caption, 'Irish Senator Eileen Flynn says that she is "terrified" to see her nation's flag and thinks it's "disgraceful" to fly it', received more than 250,000 views and over 1,300 comments, mostly abusive. LibsOfTikTok has nearly five million fans and the account is run by Chaya Raichik, a right wing influencer who has previously targeted schools, hospitals and libraries across the United States. Victims of her attention have gone to be inundated with threats of violence.
I have a piece in the Examiner today on how content monetisation is fuelling a new wave of online harassment
Irish influencers with monetised accounts are mimicking the behaviour of people like Chaya Raichik, the owner of LibsOfTikTok, who has turned online abuse & harassment into a business model.
Lou Zocchi was a true legend - a word that’s so often overused. But in this case, none other fits.
The first true SF game I played was STAR FLEET BATTLES. I have such fond memories of 14-year old me pulling strings across the floor in ship-to-ship battles…
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Fl...
Just a thought: How about we stop shaming the poor for buying things that may not be essential, and start shaming the rich for making a profit off things that are essential?
Oh god, the worst part of me is going, "Isn't he from Castleknock?"
A photo of a man wearing white a sweatshirt with the Dublin 2029 art on it. There is a black silhouetted figure walking over a black bridge. The bridge arcs through a portal towards a green moon-like planet. Blue abstract shapes surround the portal. The logo has a black frame with circles cut-out through it and say ‘Dublin 2029’ across the bottom
A woman in a light blue boxy tshirt with the Dublin 2029 logo. There is a black silhouetted figure walking over a black bridge. The bridge arcs through a portal towards a green moon-like planet. Blue abstract shapes surround the portal.
A white laptop case with the Dublin 2029 art. There is a black silhouetted figure walking over a black bridge. The bridge arcs through a portal towards a green moon-like planet. Blue abstract shapes surround the portal. The logo has a black frame with circles cut-out through it and say ‘Dublin 2029’ across the bottom
Want to be decked out in the latest Dublin 2029 merch? Well you can! Check out all of our amazing merch via the official Dublin 2029 link right here:
buff.ly/5Uv5ZnS
(1/2)
I’ve be involved in various capacities in counter disinformation and counter hate speech activity on Irish online spaces for over 8 years.
I have never witness anything as bad as the abuse directed at Senator Eileen Flynn… it’s gamergate levels of targeted & coordinated harassment.
Did their "due diligence" then said, "ah, it'll be grand, sure he was never convicted..." Awful decision by Munster and it's only going to weaken the side further, which their amazing fans and great players, especially the women in both camps, absolutely do not deserve.
Gotta find you a connection who's still alive!
It's amazing how little we talk about Lethal Weapon being a Christmas film.
Game of two halves etc etc in Belfast. Leinster got the BP and denied Ulster any points at all, so job done, but got too close in the end. Great to see Prendergast back with a PotM performance. #ULSvLEI #URC
Ho.Ly.Shit. No notes.
The decision by #Dimension20 to run a V:tM sitcom for this season is interesting, but I'm loving it so far.
JK Rowling: my empire crumbless around me!
Rowling: KA Applegate sstealing my thunder
Rowling: the digital circuss trailer topping harry potter
Rowling: and alwayss that blasted diane duane in the ventss!
Diane Duane: free masons run the country!
Rowling: [pounding on wall] i know you're in there!
8 years ago, I told a story which changed my life forever. Shortly after, an old pal from college asked if he could turn it into a film.
So I am DELIGHTED TO ANNOUNCE that 'Me, Myself & Mary' is not only finished, but has been chosen to lead the Tribeca Festival's animated shorts roster this year.
5...4...3...2...1...IGNITION! Hugo Finalist announcement launches April 21 10 a.m. PT
Tune in right here on April 21 at 10 a.m. Pacific Time to find out who the finalists are for the 2026 Hugo Awards for Science Fiction.
The rulebook is out the window now.
11 reflections on a week where the ground shifted beneath the Government's feet:
Ah, no! Just hearing the news that the wonderful Ian Watson has died. Ian was full of the joys of everything, especially European fandom, and he will be sadly, sadly missed. My love to all his friends and family.
Fantastic news!
Why would anyone be shocked that they're still blockading. Government just capitulated to two of the heaviest subsidised industries to the tune of .5 billion. They paid the hostages ransom and didn't even get the hostage.
The Transatlantic Fan Fund logo is a silver medallion with a map of the Northern Hemisphere and a rocket blasting off on a journey between North America and Europe.
Congratulations to Kat Templeton on winning the TAFF (the Transatlantic Fan Fund) race to travel to MetropolCon Berlin (Eurocon) and visit fans in Europe!
@katster.bsky.social
taff.org.uk/news/ann2604...
The cover of The Sword Garden by Peadar Ó Guilín. In the background is an ancient city with a huge monolith and warriors armed with spears. In the foreground is a suspicious looking person wearing furs and a hood, and with yellow eyes. A large black sun glowers down on the scene.
Recently published, a fantastic new novel from Peadar Ó Guilín. Never trust the dead, you have no idea what they might be planning. "magnificent and original” — Adrian Tchaikovsky
wizardstowerpress.co...
Great quiz, thank you! And the one point was glorious!
That was the #Conplusion that was. Really positive energy about the future of the con, and I'm looking forward to next year, after a great weekend!
Government to cut petrol and diesel by 10c and defer carbon tax increase in €505m package jrnl.ie/7010619 Fuck the planet and the future apparently...
Just over £4,000 raised at the #Conpulsion Charity Auction last night. Super enthused by the amazing donations and all the wonderful bidders. All the money is going to The Welcoming in Edinburgh and they're lovely people! www.thewelcoming.org
I really do believe this is true. I'm sure that not everybody who turned up to protest has fascist leanings, but if you pulled your truck up next to one that said "Ireland for the Irish" and you don't leave, are you better than the owner of that truck?
Damien is best!