Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

David Moriarty @davidmoriarty.bsky.social · 3h

There is a growing cohort of (mostly) men of all ages living in this alternative reality. They are driven, it seems, by American culture wars, and each of them fit somewhere on a spectrum ranging from nihilism to sheer arrogance. It's quite worrying.

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David Moriarty @davidmoriarty.bsky.social · 3h

One of the problems with these people (ime all men) is certain topics are off the table, for example the Irish presidential election, as they're a trigger for badgering about some nonsense "researched" online. And every time, the "reasonable" view is aggressively disregarded as MMS propaganda.

James Austin @jamesdaustin.bsky.social · 17h

Everyone knows at least one person (normally, but not exclusively, a guy) whose gone properly mental due to net rabbit holes.

We see public figures regularly go mad and destroy themselves.

And we have, at a policy level, just decided to put our fingers in our ears and go nahnahnah

Alastair Meeks @alastairmeeks.bsky.social · 17h

Last night I heard of another friend of a friend who has been lost to a rabbit hole of online propaganda. We need to start treating this as a serious public health concern.

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David Moriarty @davidmoriarty.bsky.social · 2d

If you don't think you can do it, the solution is obvious. Stand aside and allow someone with the courage to lead, lead us. This is exactly what any ordinary worker would be told. If you can't do the job, we'll let someone else who can. Best of luck with your future endeavours etc.

Joe Noonan @joenoonan.bsky.social · 3d

“I don’t think we can mitigate for climate change.”

- Mícheál Martin, Taoiseach.

www.independent.ie/business/tec...

Taoiseach says some climate projects will not be fulfilled because they risk polarising society

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has rowed back on climate change commitments, saying Ireland may not be able fulfil all current initiatives due to the polarising effect it could have on society.

www.independent.ie

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David Moriarty @davidmoriarty.bsky.social · 6d

Companies load up on niche crypto tokens to boost share prices - on.ft.com/3GZpWue via @FT

Companies load up on niche crypto tokens to boost share prices

Listed firms load up on ether, litecoin and $TRUMP as they bid to emulate Michael Saylor’s Strategy

on.ft.com

David Moriarty @davidmoriarty.bsky.social · 6d

Between this and the money many of these companies are investing in crypto, well, it's a good job there's a calm and stabilising force at the wheel...

Hetan Shah @hetanshah.bsky.social · 7d

‘The hundreds of billions of dollars companies are investing in AI now account for an astonishing 40 per cent share of US GDP growth this year… Outside of the AI plays, even European stock markets have been outperforming the US this decade’
on.ft.com/4pTQ3US

America is now one big bet on AI

It’s seen as the magic fix for every threat to the US economy

on.ft.com

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David Moriarty @davidmoriarty.bsky.social · 14d

The UK is a ridiculous country. What an enormous waste of time and resources.

Amnesty International UK @amnestyuk.bsky.social · 14d

BREAKING: Peaceful protestors arrested outside the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool

Yet more peaceful protesters are being arrested today and hauled from the streets by police - a scene which just a few months ago would have been shocking but is quickly becoming the norm...

🧵

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David Moriarty @davidmoriarty.bsky.social · 14d

"[T]he fate of our democracies is increasingly being played out in a kind of digital Somalia, a failed state as big as the planet, subject to the law of digital warlords and their militias."
on.ft.com/4pJCdEF

How tech lords and populists changed the rules of power

Digital moguls and strongman leaders are more than disrupters of the old liberal order. Together they seek to sweep it away, writes Giuliano da Empoli

on.ft.com

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David Moriarty @davidmoriarty.bsky.social · 19d

Yes, thank you for looking into this. My number is 1800 40 60 80.

@ryanairsupport2.... says "Hello,.we apologize (sic) for the inconvenience and such an experience with us. We would like to look at the problem raised further. Kindly DM me with your active phone number we (sic) reach out at assist."

Daniel Ryanair Customer Support Rep. Yip.

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David Moriarty @davidmoriarty.bsky.social · 20d

Flying home from Rome with Ryanair. The plane is Air Malta but thankfully they're playing that upbeat Ryanair music while boarding just so we don't forget who we've paid for this pleasure after midnight and approaching 90 mins late...

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David Moriarty @davidmoriarty.bsky.social · 21d

Danny Carey is an incredible drummer. Great track. Great band.

youtu.be/FssULNGSZIA?...

Danny Carey | "Pneuma" by Tool (LIVE IN CONCERT)

YouTube video by Vic Firth

youtu.be

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David Moriarty @davidmoriarty.bsky.social · 25d

It's my go to place for interesting English language insights into Russia. Great opening music too! Perhaps it will see a rebirth... Many thanks for all your work on it thus far.

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David Moriarty @davidmoriarty.bsky.social · 25d

What happened to The Naked Pravda? Rarely an update there...

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David Moriarty @davidmoriarty.bsky.social · Sep 9

I think a walk home from Armenia will allow this team to reflect.

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David Moriarty @davidmoriarty.bsky.social · Sep 7

Also noticeable on my walk from Camden St to Capel St via St. Stephen's Green, Grafton St, Dame St, Temple Bar and Ha'penny Bridge and back again via South Great George's St., was only seeing two Gardaí on the beat. Might partially explain the abundance of private security...

David Moriarty @davidmoriarty.bsky.social · Sep 7

I walked down Grafton Street yesterday for the first time in a while and I was struck by the number of businesses that had a security guard prominently standing inside the door. While maybe necessary, I thought it was sending a negative signal about the city.

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David Moriarty @davidmoriarty.bsky.social · Sep 5

There are lots of important things that need fixing in Ireland. But if I could fix one trivial thing it'd be petrol station coffee. At best, it's just false advertising. The only part of the experience that resembles actual coffee is being told the price.

Reposted by David Moriarty

Lilly ⭐️ @mothcub.bsky.social · Sep 4

Iconic moment at the Downton Abbey premiere

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David Moriarty @davidmoriarty.bsky.social · Aug 31

I had considered qualifying that with *since 1933* as European colonial power and genocide go hand in hand.

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David Moriarty @davidmoriarty.bsky.social · Aug 31

Berlin on course to be the only city in the world to build two separate memorials to the two genocides Germany was actively involved in.

Joe Noonan @joenoonan.bsky.social · Aug 31

The punch.

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David Moriarty @davidmoriarty.bsky.social · Aug 29

Thierry Breton on the EU's DSA and DMA. I would have no confidence that this Commission will stand up for European sovereignty.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

The EU surrendered to Trump over trade tariffs – now it’s in danger of capitulating again | Thierry Breton

A fresh US assault is aimed at Europe’s right to regulate tech. It’s an outrage – and we must resist it, says former European commissioner Thierry Breton

www.theguardian.com

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David Moriarty @davidmoriarty.bsky.social · Aug 24

Where did they get the idea to create the very news they're writing about?

a man says there 's no news like bad news in front of a casino

Alt: Bond villain and British media baron, Eliot Carver, says "There's no news like bad news" after creating the very news his media empire will propagandise the public with 24 hours a day. Today, life imitates art.

media.tenor.com

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David Moriarty @davidmoriarty.bsky.social · Aug 22

Trivial in the scheme of things, but why is Gianni (Johnny) Infantino continuing to debase himself like this? This will end in tears for him and FIFA.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · Aug 22

REPORTER: Have you spoke to Vladimir Putin about the fact that a big US factory was hit in an airstrike in Ukraine?

TRUMP: I'm not happy about anything having to do with that war. I settled 7 wars, and actually if you think about pre-wars, add 3 more so it would be 10.

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David Moriarty @davidmoriarty.bsky.social · Aug 22

Everyone now and in generations to come should hear this speech.

"It is a predictable and preventable famine. A famine caused by cruelty, justified by revenge, enabled by indifference, and sustained by complicity."

UN Emergency Coordinator, Tom Fletcher, on the famine in Gaza caused by Israel.

News Eye @newseye.bsky.social · Aug 22

NEW: “It is a famine. Everyone owns this.”

UN emergency coordinator Tom Fletcher confirms a famine in Gaza.

The whole world should be made to watch these two and half minutes.

(🎥 BBC News)

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David Moriarty @davidmoriarty.bsky.social · Aug 20

I haven't read Normal People, but the next time I'm in the UK I'll be sure to buy a copy.

www.irishtimes.com/culture/book...

Sally Rooney: I support Palestine Action. If this makes me a ‘supporter of terror’ under UK law, so be it

I would happily publish this statement in a UK newspaper – but that would now be illegal

www.irishtimes.com

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David Moriarty @davidmoriarty.bsky.social · Aug 19

Would Micheál pull off the yellow suit?