Patrick Freyne: Here’s why AI is making us dumber and more lonely Writing forces people to resolve internal contradictions and confront their own bullshit. It’s why it’s hard. It’s why it’s beautiful

I wrote about why we should keep reading and writing

www.irishtimes.com/life-style/p...

Jennifer Horgan: We have set a new standard for what angry men can achieve. It's terrifying Angry men's blockades stopped my mother being with her dying brother-in-law last week. She was not the only vulnerable person whose needs were trampled on

www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/colu...

"The one thing saving our society from chaos is that none of these other suffering groups would conduct a similar blockade because they are committed to an ethic of care."

Vpn... 🙄

Article Link: The Blockade Is the Message, How a fuel price spike became a fascist audition

I’ve managed to string together my thoughts through the rage this week, please read & share 💭✍🏼
#Spéirghorm #IrishPolitics #Fascism

🔗 tinyurl.com/wak45j7d

You may feel powerless to respond to hate but you are not.

One small thing you can do, which will make a real difference, is donate to the Muslim Sisters of Éire.

I just did it, and it only takes a moment.

These incredible women show up day after day to feed unhoused people.

msoe.ie/donate/

Fucking assholes.
And even after the Sisters were very careful to state yesterday that they had no issue with the "protestors" and even said they supported them.
Utter pricks

I fully support people's right to protest but I don't support far right bullshit pretending to be about farmers and hauliers and I can't recall another protest ever being allowed to bring the city to a halt for 36 hours and still going without any consequences whatsoever

Anyone who watches videos or listens to music out loud on public transport should receive an automatic fine. Get some earphones or learn to live without an Instagram reel for 10 minutes, twats.

Every far-right riot and protest that was tolerated, every racist dog whistle from public reps, every bit of hate and misinformation allowed to spread by social media companies, all led to this moment in Drogheda last night where someone felt emboldened enough to try to burn children alive.

Steen, Sheridan, McGregor et al had YEARS to do the work but they didn't, preferring instead to hurl from the ditch and then blame the referee.
They are not serious political people.
They are a bunch of staggeringly entitled pick-mes, and the system worked as it should to weed them out. #speirgorm

Ok NIRds!

Two months from today we shall be having a big Beatley conversation with Stuart Maconie at the Pavilion Theatre in Dun Laoghaire, Dublin. Please come along for what will be a fun night out!

Tickets available here:
www.paviliontheatre.ie/events...

#beatles

Justine McCarthy: Presidency is not a Rose of Tralee contest for over-35s. Some qualities are non-negotiable The argument that the role of president is devoid of real power is an odd perspective to cling to after 35 consecutive years of radical presidencies

Justine McCarthy: Presidency is not a Rose of Tralee contest for over-35s. Some qualities are non-negotiable

Wow that's fantastic

Irish businesses will struggle to compete with Amazon ie, both online and in the high street.

Shop direct with your Irish retailers, who already exist.

Support local, not the billionaires.

Great show. Thanks a million. Please come back soon!

Thanks everyone for your fab comments.
See you on Monday at 8pm for Day Eight.
#GetBack25

Mentioned in Breda O'Brien's Irish Times piece: After working with thousands of teachers, my position is clear - only when all educators truly understand AI's capabilities can we properly redesign the future of LC curriculum & assessment. CPD and Knowledge first - then reform #edchatie #aieducation

Gretta Gray President
Na Fianna: On Wednesday December 11th at 7.30pm in Na Fianna, Br. Mobhi Gretta's latest book will be launched: "From Bannow to Brooklyn and Back"Be great to see as many as possible there on the night as she launches her book looking back in more than 90 years of memories.

What If...
What if the English Leaving Cert AAC (project) was completed in an exam as it would be at home?
I try to imagine that in this blog.
thevideotrolley.blogspot.com/2024/11/what...

Watch: 'Speak up, you have a voice', says Nikita Hand Nikita Hand urged others to "'speak up, you have a voice'," after winning her civil action against Conor McGregor.

“You can stand up for yourself if something happens to you no matter who the person is”
We commend Nikita's bravery & resilience through this distressing & public trial. The verdict sends a powerful message to anyone affected by sexual violence.
rte.ie/news/courts/...
#EndVaw

Petula Clark - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band YouTube video by maclaine1138

She has a cool version of Sgt Pepper's too. youtu.be/rAXQ4t_QUtE?...

Not a Normal Election By telling Americans in advance that he intends to stay in power regardless of the vote count, Trump implicates his supporters in his actions.

Just like 4 years ago, Trump wants to be president to avoid prison and it's utterly predictable that he'll claim to have won if he loses, and try to take power regardless. So just like 4 years ago, a vote for Trump is a vote for authoritarian regime change.
www.commonwealmagazine.org/not-normal-e...