colummccaffery.bsky.social
@colummccaffery.bsky.social
"We’ve let these systems riffle through just about everything we’ve ever said or done, and they “get the hang” of us. They’ve learned our moves, and now they can make them. The results are stupefying, but it’s not magic. It’s math." www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...
Will the Humanities Survive Artificial Intelligence?
Maybe not as we’ve known them. But, in the ruins of the old curriculum, something vital is stirring.
www.newyorker.com
January 1, 2026 at 3:39 PM
"We’ve let these systems riffle through just about everything we’ve ever said or done, and they “get the hang” of us. They’ve learned our moves, and now they can make them. The results are stupefying, but it’s not magic. It’s math." www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...
Life is a lottery. Good King Wenceslas might not have looked out at that moment.😊
December 19, 2025 at 12:46 PM
Life is a lottery. Good King Wenceslas might not have looked out at that moment.😊
Reposted by colummccaffery.bsky.social
Sarah McBride rarely centers her identity as a trans woman. Republicans do that for her. So when she steps to the microphone and talks about "21 years of unwavering homesickness," it means something. @mcbride.house.gov www.readtpa.com/p/watch-rep-...
Watch Rep. Sarah McBride's Powerful Statement on Republicans' Anti-Trans Obsession
The first openly trans member of Congress made a rare, personal appeal as the GOP wages an all-out assault on trans youth.
www.readtpa.com
December 18, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Sarah McBride rarely centers her identity as a trans woman. Republicans do that for her. So when she steps to the microphone and talks about "21 years of unwavering homesickness," it means something. @mcbride.house.gov www.readtpa.com/p/watch-rep-...
Reposted by colummccaffery.bsky.social
🎥: The @economist.com’s @zannymb.economist.com on THAT interview with Steve Bannon—and why journalists should still speak to figures on the populist right.
The Economist’s Zanny Minton Beddoes stands by her interview with Steve Bannon | Media Confidential
Does “no-platforming” have a place in journalism?
Zanny Minton Beddoes, editor-in-chief of the Economist, joins Alan Rusbridger and Lionel Barber on Media Confidential. They discuss how to cover far-right politics and whether a reporter should ever avoid interviewing divisive figures, such as Donal
www.youtube.com
December 18, 2025 at 5:37 PM
🎥: The @economist.com’s @zannymb.economist.com on THAT interview with Steve Bannon—and why journalists should still speak to figures on the populist right.
Reposted by colummccaffery.bsky.social
Oral language
Writing
Alphabet
Printing press
Photography
Telegraph
Telephone
Phonograph
Cinema
Radio
Television
Computer
Internet
When I was a grad student in the Media Ecology progam at NYU we studied all of these— in order. Then we tried to describe their effects. pressthink.org/2025/10/jay-...
Writing
Alphabet
Printing press
Photography
Telegraph
Telephone
Phonograph
Cinema
Radio
Television
Computer
Internet
When I was a grad student in the Media Ecology progam at NYU we studied all of these— in order. Then we tried to describe their effects. pressthink.org/2025/10/jay-...
About Jay Rosen’s 1986 PhD dissertation, 'The Impossible Press'
It should be obvious here that I am trying to extend my life span, even as I know that the odds favor eclipse.
pressthink.org
December 17, 2025 at 10:57 PM
Oral language
Writing
Alphabet
Printing press
Photography
Telegraph
Telephone
Phonograph
Cinema
Radio
Television
Computer
Internet
When I was a grad student in the Media Ecology progam at NYU we studied all of these— in order. Then we tried to describe their effects. pressthink.org/2025/10/jay-...
Writing
Alphabet
Printing press
Photography
Telegraph
Telephone
Phonograph
Cinema
Radio
Television
Computer
Internet
When I was a grad student in the Media Ecology progam at NYU we studied all of these— in order. Then we tried to describe their effects. pressthink.org/2025/10/jay-...
Reposted by colummccaffery.bsky.social
Trump’s disturbing National Security Strategy should be required reading
www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...
www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...
Michael McDowell: Trump’s disturbing National Security Strategy should be required reading
‘Establishing and expanding’ access in strategically important locations in the hemisphere is a declared aim
www.irishtimes.com
December 17, 2025 at 9:40 AM
Trump’s disturbing National Security Strategy should be required reading
www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...
www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025...
I don’t know details of this system or company but this type of naval drone is exactly what is needed right now! Good development.
www.eweek.com/news/greysha...
www.eweek.com/news/greysha...
Greyshark Robots Begin Undersea Cable Patrol
An autonomous underwater robot called Greyshark is joining NATO’s subsea defenses, patrolling undersea cables as Europe races to protect vital links.
www.eweek.com
December 4, 2025 at 1:14 PM
Reposted by colummccaffery.bsky.social
Time to ask: In whose interests is American foreign policy being conducted?
"By dangling multibillion-dollar rare-earth and energy deals, Moscow could reshape the economic map of Europe—while driving a wedge between America and its traditional allies"
Read this excellent @wsj.com account of the business deals behind the "peace"negotiations
www.wsj.com/world/russia...
Read this excellent @wsj.com account of the business deals behind the "peace"negotiations
www.wsj.com/world/russia...
Make Money Not War: Trump’s Real Plan for Peace in Ukraine
The Kremlin pitched the White House on peace through business. To Europe’s dismay, the president and his envoy are on board.
www.wsj.com
November 29, 2025 at 1:49 PM
Time to ask: In whose interests is American foreign policy being conducted?
Reposted by colummccaffery.bsky.social
Irish people are among the longest living in the world. The average person in Ireland will live to be 83 years of age. That's less than 18 months behind the world's longest livers: the Swiss and the Japanese. And the difference between males and females here is one of the smallest anywhere. 🇮🇪
November 24, 2025 at 7:44 AM
Irish people are among the longest living in the world. The average person in Ireland will live to be 83 years of age. That's less than 18 months behind the world's longest livers: the Swiss and the Japanese. And the difference between males and females here is one of the smallest anywhere. 🇮🇪
Facile from Harry McGee. Schools do performance training so pupils won't be overwhelmed at interviews. Ivan Yates & others are different; their political perspective, "real politics", is put out as normal rather than the cynical gossip it is. It goes unquestioned.
www.irishtimes.com/politics/202...
www.irishtimes.com/politics/202...
‘Make them see something’: Political communication skills, from Ivan Yates to Zohran Mamdani
Against the background of the Fianna Fáil media coaching controversy, a leading political communications trainer puts our reporter through his paces
www.irishtimes.com
November 8, 2025 at 6:59 PM
Facile from Harry McGee. Schools do performance training so pupils won't be overwhelmed at interviews. Ivan Yates & others are different; their political perspective, "real politics", is put out as normal rather than the cynical gossip it is. It goes unquestioned.
www.irishtimes.com/politics/202...
www.irishtimes.com/politics/202...
Reposted by colummccaffery.bsky.social
Aoife O’Rourke wins gold at World Boxing Championships
Aoife O’Rourke wins gold at World Boxing Championships
Castlerea fighter defeats Turkey’s Busra Isildar by unanimous decision
www.irishtimes.com
September 14, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Aoife O’Rourke wins gold at World Boxing Championships
Reposted by colummccaffery.bsky.social
Kamala Harris at her closing campaign rally:
"Donald Trump intends to use the United States Military against American citizens who simply disagree with him."
"Donald Trump intends to use the United States Military against American citizens who simply disagree with him."
August 24, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Kamala Harris at her closing campaign rally:
"Donald Trump intends to use the United States Military against American citizens who simply disagree with him."
"Donald Trump intends to use the United States Military against American citizens who simply disagree with him."
A BIT OF WHIMSY – I THINK – ON LOWERING THE VOTING AGE
Keir Starmer’s intention to change the UK voting age to 16 has put the topic onto Ireland’s media agenda. I have no strong views on this other than to say it prompts a smart-assed suggestion: -
Keir Starmer’s intention to change the UK voting age to 16 has put the topic onto Ireland’s media agenda. I have no strong views on this other than to say it prompts a smart-assed suggestion: -
July 23, 2025 at 11:25 AM
A BIT OF WHIMSY – I THINK – ON LOWERING THE VOTING AGE
Keir Starmer’s intention to change the UK voting age to 16 has put the topic onto Ireland’s media agenda. I have no strong views on this other than to say it prompts a smart-assed suggestion: -
Keir Starmer’s intention to change the UK voting age to 16 has put the topic onto Ireland’s media agenda. I have no strong views on this other than to say it prompts a smart-assed suggestion: -
Reposted by colummccaffery.bsky.social
Silicon Valley Is at an Inflection Point:
“We are now closer than ever to a world in which tech companies can seize land, operate their own currencies, reorder the economy and remake our politics with little consequence.” - @karenhao.bsky.social
gift link:
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/30/o...
“We are now closer than ever to a world in which tech companies can seize land, operate their own currencies, reorder the economy and remake our politics with little consequence.” - @karenhao.bsky.social
gift link:
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/30/o...
Opinion | Silicon Valley Is at an Inflection Point
www.nytimes.com
May 31, 2025 at 5:46 PM
Silicon Valley Is at an Inflection Point:
“We are now closer than ever to a world in which tech companies can seize land, operate their own currencies, reorder the economy and remake our politics with little consequence.” - @karenhao.bsky.social
gift link:
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/30/o...
“We are now closer than ever to a world in which tech companies can seize land, operate their own currencies, reorder the economy and remake our politics with little consequence.” - @karenhao.bsky.social
gift link:
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/30/o...
Reposted by colummccaffery.bsky.social
Every book published in the United States is sent to the Library of Congress. Also, if you are under 16 you cannot use the reading room or order books.
Reporter: The president fired the Librarian of Congress. Why?
Leavitt: There were quite concerning things she had done at the Library of Congress in the pursuit of DEI and putting inappropriate books in the library for children.
Leavitt: There were quite concerning things she had done at the Library of Congress in the pursuit of DEI and putting inappropriate books in the library for children.
May 9, 2025 at 10:15 PM
Every book published in the United States is sent to the Library of Congress. Also, if you are under 16 you cannot use the reading room or order books.
Reposted by colummccaffery.bsky.social
Still have any questions whether the US under Trump is in a constitutional crisis? With a leader who is laying out the playbook for an authoritarian regime? www.nytimes.com/2025/05/04/u...
Trump Says ‘I Don’t Know’ When Asked About Due Process and Upholding Constitution (Gift Article)
President Trump repeatedly said he didn’t know when asked in a TV interview whether every person on American soil was entitled to due process, as guaranteed by the Fifth Amendment.
www.nytimes.com
May 5, 2025 at 8:17 AM
Still have any questions whether the US under Trump is in a constitutional crisis? With a leader who is laying out the playbook for an authoritarian regime? www.nytimes.com/2025/05/04/u...
Last weekend in Dublin rival demonstrations faced-off over immigration. Both groups claimed ownership of the Irish tricolour. The thing about flags is that – like all symbols - use, associations and history will almost certainly change their meaning over time.
April 29, 2025 at 8:04 PM
Last weekend in Dublin rival demonstrations faced-off over immigration. Both groups claimed ownership of the Irish tricolour. The thing about flags is that – like all symbols - use, associations and history will almost certainly change their meaning over time.
Reposted by colummccaffery.bsky.social
This is an extraordinary interview by Heather Cox Richardson of Senator Angus King, and is well worth listening to the entire interview. Very solid suggestions on what people can do to influence Congress and the Republican Party, which is abdicating congressional powers to a psychopathic, narcissist
So… this was supposed to be about Paul Revere’s ride, but the Senator just unloaded about the Trump administration and its Republican enablers. Far more newsworthy than I expected. (You can probably see me shifting to “crap, this was not the interview I prepped!” but the result was memorable.)
@hcrichardson.bsky.social interviews Senator King www.youtube.com/live/5YHvpx3...
April 18, 2025 at 6:23 AM
This is an extraordinary interview by Heather Cox Richardson of Senator Angus King, and is well worth listening to the entire interview. Very solid suggestions on what people can do to influence Congress and the Republican Party, which is abdicating congressional powers to a psychopathic, narcissist
Reposted by colummccaffery.bsky.social
Harvard’s decision to resist Trump is ‘of momentous significance’
Harvard’s decision to resist Trump is ‘of momentous significance’
In the administration’s effort to break what it sees as liberalism’s hold on higher education, the institution is big game
www.irishtimes.com
April 15, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Harvard’s decision to resist Trump is ‘of momentous significance’
Reposted by colummccaffery.bsky.social
This is a lovely piece by David Runciman, of @ppfideas.bsky.social.
At a time when universities are running away from the lecture, the podcasting boom shows the appetite for serious, long-form and, yes, didactic content by people with specialist understanding.
www.theideasletter.org/essay/podcas...
At a time when universities are running away from the lecture, the podcasting boom shows the appetite for serious, long-form and, yes, didactic content by people with specialist understanding.
www.theideasletter.org/essay/podcas...
Podcast University - The Ideas Letter
The popularity of podcasts evinces a strong public appetite for traditional academic content—belying concerns that universities’ pedagogical methods are outdated. Runciman contends that podcasting pre...
www.theideasletter.org
April 10, 2025 at 9:30 AM
This is a lovely piece by David Runciman, of @ppfideas.bsky.social.
At a time when universities are running away from the lecture, the podcasting boom shows the appetite for serious, long-form and, yes, didactic content by people with specialist understanding.
www.theideasletter.org/essay/podcas...
At a time when universities are running away from the lecture, the podcasting boom shows the appetite for serious, long-form and, yes, didactic content by people with specialist understanding.
www.theideasletter.org/essay/podcas...
Reposted by colummccaffery.bsky.social
"No one, apparently, is willing to prevent a single man from destroying the world economy, wrecking financial markets, forcing this country and other countries into recession if that’s what he feels like doing when he gets up tomorrow morning"
www.theatlantic.com/politics/arc...
www.theatlantic.com/politics/arc...
This Is Why Dictatorships Fail
The authors of the Constitution separated powers for a reason.
www.theatlantic.com
April 10, 2025 at 7:01 PM
"No one, apparently, is willing to prevent a single man from destroying the world economy, wrecking financial markets, forcing this country and other countries into recession if that’s what he feels like doing when he gets up tomorrow morning"
www.theatlantic.com/politics/arc...
www.theatlantic.com/politics/arc...
IRELAND, REMEMBER
It's hard to believe that this time five years ago Aer Lingus were operating the Beijing Airlift. Day after day the planes flew Dublin/Beijing return in less than 24 hours bringing in PPE. They saved us while larger countries watched in amazement.
It's hard to believe that this time five years ago Aer Lingus were operating the Beijing Airlift. Day after day the planes flew Dublin/Beijing return in less than 24 hours bringing in PPE. They saved us while larger countries watched in amazement.
April 7, 2025 at 11:43 AM
IRELAND, REMEMBER
It's hard to believe that this time five years ago Aer Lingus were operating the Beijing Airlift. Day after day the planes flew Dublin/Beijing return in less than 24 hours bringing in PPE. They saved us while larger countries watched in amazement.
It's hard to believe that this time five years ago Aer Lingus were operating the Beijing Airlift. Day after day the planes flew Dublin/Beijing return in less than 24 hours bringing in PPE. They saved us while larger countries watched in amazement.
Reposted by colummccaffery.bsky.social
Bravo Ambassador Gifford @rufusgifford.bsky.social
The former ambassador to Denmark for the United States, Rufus Gifford, posted this video on his Facebook account:
Ht: @hpsc24.bsky.social
Ht: @hpsc24.bsky.social
March 30, 2025 at 8:57 AM
Bravo Ambassador Gifford @rufusgifford.bsky.social
Speaking rights, misogyny - even gender - competence, coalition formation have all become relatively unimportant because what the Dáil (Irish parliament) now faces is the question of whether or not members are for or against the loutish behaviour that we all saw on TV.
March 26, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Speaking rights, misogyny - even gender - competence, coalition formation have all become relatively unimportant because what the Dáil (Irish parliament) now faces is the question of whether or not members are for or against the loutish behaviour that we all saw on TV.