Clare O'Brien
@clareobrien.bsky.social
2K followers 1K following 1.6K posts
Writer. Music fan. Poet in Residence at Inverewe Garden, Scottish Highlands. Poetry chapbook 'Who Am I Supposed To Be Driving?' in response to the music of David Bowie, out now. Web: clarevobrien.weebly.com
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clareobrien.bsky.social
Delighted to be part of today's launch of brand new Glasgow litjournal 'Sextet', with my flash 'Death Sentences' & poem 'Watching Gracie at TRNSMT'. This issue of the journal's tied to an exhibition in Glasgow's Six Foot Gallery, both of which have the theme Future/Past. [cont]
'Sextet' contributor list
Reposted by Clare O'Brien
bladeofthes.bsky.social
A source within MI6 has revealed that MI6 are unhappy with the Palestine Action ban because they are not terrorists and the drain on staff is making the UK more vulnerable to actual terrorist attacks.

End the ridiculous ban.
clareobrien.bsky.social
"You've got to be taught to hate and fear
You've got to be taught from year to year
It's got to be drummed in your dear little ear
You've got to be carefully taught"
- Oscar Hammerstein II, 'South Pacific"
Reposted by Clare O'Brien
strictlychristo.bsky.social
Greta Thunberg speaks to the press after being released from illegal detainment in Israel: "I could talk for a very, very long time about our mistreatment and abuses in our imprisonment. Trust me, but that is not the story.”
Reposted by Clare O'Brien
irenetsherit.bsky.social
Finally!!! The real scandal of the asylum hotels. Why, instead of shining the light on these parasites, months were spent on demonising vulnerable people at their mercy?
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Asylum hotel provider makes £180m profit despite claims of inedible food and rationed loo paper
Asylum seekers and charities tell BBC of
www.bbc.co.uk
Reposted by Clare O'Brien
chronicleflask.katday.com
Daughter of Robin Williams, Zelda Williams 💔
zeldawilliams 
20m
From Create Mode 
••
Please, just stop sending me AI videos of Dad. Stop believing I wanna see it or that I'll understand, I don't and I won't. If you're just trying to troll me, I've seen way worse, i'll restrict and move on. But please, if you've got any decency, just stop doing this to him and to me, to everyone even, full stop. It's dumb, it's a waste of time and energy, and believe me, it's NOT what he'd want.
To watch the legacies of real people be condensed down to 'this vaguely looks and sounds like them so that's enough,
, just so
other people can churn out horrible TikTok slop puppeteering them is maddening. You're not making art, you're making disgusting, over-processed hotdogs out of the lives of human beings, out of the history of art and music, and then shoving them down someone else's throat hoping they'll give you a little thumbs up and like it.
Gross. And for the love of EVERYTHING, stop calling it 'the future. Al is just badly recycling and regurgitating the past to be reconsumed. You are taking in the Human Centipede of content, and from the very very end of the line, all while the folks at the front laugh and laugh, consume and consume.
Reposted by Clare O'Brien
intergraphiabooks.bsky.social
🧵Series 4 cover reveals! Delighted to be working with Anna Reckin, Elżbieta Wójcik-Leese, @clareobrien.bsky.social, Hana Ormara...
clareobrien.bsky.social
Bit dubious about all the comments re #TaylorSwift songs claiming they're "definitely" about this person or that event. They're certainly inspired by things in her life, but writers fictionalise, you know? Every detail won't reflect specific reality. And that actually makes it more applicable.
clareobrien.bsky.social
Like so much else this godforsaken country is doing, the treatment of Greta Thunberg detailed here is indefensible. Israel has become a Nazi tribute act. It is adopting as its own the very same cruelty that once killed and brutalised its own people.
Israel accused of detaining Greta Thunberg in infested cell and making her hold flags
Activist tells Swedish officials she has been subjected to harsh treatment, including insufficient food and water
www.theguardian.com
clareobrien.bsky.social
This is clever. But as feared...maybe not clever enough.
resistrebelrevolt.net
Listen to the video. This is what people have to do to get through algorithmic censorship.

With Meta, X, Tik Tok - we know only what they let us know. And AI has made their "thought police" capable of even reading that.

Maybe we'll have to bring back pig Latin or cursive to outwit AI censorship.
clareobrien.bsky.social
The thing about fascism is that at heart, it's utterly risible. Stupid blokes desperately trying to build themselves up with nonsensical posturing because inside, they have nothing to offer the world.
nicholasgrossman.bsky.social
"When I hear Hegseth talk endlesslessly about the need for trim, beardless military men doing pull-ups it’s that cartoonish image of Sparta that springs to mind....an America that only looks one way—white, masculine, and ready to do violence in service of the MAGA cause."

@aselrod.bsky.social
War Fighters and the Enemy Within: Trump, Hegseth, and the Assault on the American People
Trump and Hegseth are cultivating a military that sees liberals and minorities as enemies to be fought and is willing to follow orders to do so.
www.liberalcurrents.com
clareobrien.bsky.social
Also that line from 'Cancelled!' really hits home - 'I salute you if you're too much to handle'. Love her for writing that.
clareobrien.bsky.social
Thanks for the follow Fi! I'm with you on "Eldest Daughter". Altho title track runs it close - and 'The Fate Of Ophelia' for the reframing of Shakespeare. “Tis in my memory lock'd, and you yourself shall keep the key of it.”
clareobrien.bsky.social
What's interesting is that most of the bad reviews (some downright vituperative) come from the UK. Rather sad considering how much she loved living here & how badly certain Brits treated her. (What DID she see in that weasel Matty Healy?)
#thelifeofashowgirl
clareobrien.bsky.social
Well, #TaylorSwift 's album put the cat among the critics. 1- AND 5-star reviews, which usually indicates pretty compelling work. On first listen I like all but 'Opalite', tho maybe writing an entire song ('Wood') in praise of your lover's dick is a bit ill-advised. But what's sauce for Sabrina.. 😄
Reposted by Clare O'Brien
thepaulconnolly.bsky.social
A small boon for those who have contributed to the #PoetryTheme prompt is that they can now be found in this new starter pack. Please follow, share, repost

#poetrycommunity #poetsonbluesky #poetry #prompts #booksky #writingcommunity
clareobrien.bsky.social
I wrote 'Bone Swing' in the wake of a tragedy as a kind of ritual of death and renewal. The theme of #NationalPoetryDay is 'play': in this poem it's the gods who are at play, and the game is a dark one. But here's another chance to read it in 'Chandelier: Blazing' from @bulbculture.bsky.social !
Bone Swing - Clare O’Brien — Bulb Culture Collective
We skinned the thing that killed you, boiled its flesh for soup.
www.bulbculturecollective.com
clareobrien.bsky.social
Sheer wickedness. Pure, unadulterated evil.
clareobrien.bsky.social
Very happy to be a part of this wonderful series of pamphlets!
intergraphiabooks.bsky.social
🧵Series 4 cover reveals! Delighted to be working with Anna Reckin, Elżbieta Wójcik-Leese, @clareobrien.bsky.social, Hana Ormara...
clareobrien.bsky.social
September reading - a play based on a novel, a supernatural thriller set in Chicago, an Irish short story collection, a novel about a rare vinyl dealer and his highly unusual dog, and a history of Doctor Who.
📚💙 #booksky
Covers of:
The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night Time by Simon Stephens
Proven Guilty by Jim Butcher
Every One Still Here by Liadan Ni Chuinn
Everything Will Swallow You by Tom Cox
Exterminate! Regenerate! by John Higgs