John Mortell
@johnmortell.bsky.social
Reposted by John Mortell
I like this.
What if the Plague doctor mask (not medieval) was based on specific birds :)
By Shayna Daniel, AKA Squid Von Bob
squidvonbob.tumblr.com/post/1879026...
What if the Plague doctor mask (not medieval) was based on specific birds :)
By Shayna Daniel, AKA Squid Von Bob
squidvonbob.tumblr.com/post/1879026...
September 23, 2025 at 2:38 AM
I like this.
What if the Plague doctor mask (not medieval) was based on specific birds :)
By Shayna Daniel, AKA Squid Von Bob
squidvonbob.tumblr.com/post/1879026...
What if the Plague doctor mask (not medieval) was based on specific birds :)
By Shayna Daniel, AKA Squid Von Bob
squidvonbob.tumblr.com/post/1879026...
Reposted by John Mortell
I have issues with this headline and subtitle. Progressive ≠ anti-war. Support for NATO ≠ pro-war.
Conflating these issues is unhelpful given the state of the world. I worry this kind of binary thinking will only get worse as the public discourse about security takes off.
Conflating these issues is unhelpful given the state of the world. I worry this kind of binary thinking will only get worse as the public discourse about security takes off.
Anti-war candidate Catherine Connolly’s victory is the country’s latest rebuke to the global right-wing populist wave.
Ireland’s Next President Will Assume the Progressive Mantle
Anti-war candidate Catherine Connolly’s victory is the country’s latest rebuke to the global right-wing populist wave.
foreignpolicy.com
November 6, 2025 at 12:49 PM
I have issues with this headline and subtitle. Progressive ≠ anti-war. Support for NATO ≠ pro-war.
Conflating these issues is unhelpful given the state of the world. I worry this kind of binary thinking will only get worse as the public discourse about security takes off.
Conflating these issues is unhelpful given the state of the world. I worry this kind of binary thinking will only get worse as the public discourse about security takes off.
Reposted by John Mortell
Recent Aras elections saw multiple candidates get through process via Oireachtas or local authority support - 1997 had 5 candidates, 2011 had 7 and 2018 had 6. There is no need to change the system because the 2025 motley crew were late to process, poor quality or not serious about running at all.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said the Oireachtas may have to look at changing the process by which a person gets on the ballot in presidential elections, which he described as "restrictive".
jrnl.ie/6856687
jrnl.ie/6856687
Taoiseach suggests referendum on changing 'restrictive' process for getting on presidential ballot
One in eighter people spoiled their votes.
jrnl.ie
October 26, 2025 at 9:55 AM
Recent Aras elections saw multiple candidates get through process via Oireachtas or local authority support - 1997 had 5 candidates, 2011 had 7 and 2018 had 6. There is no need to change the system because the 2025 motley crew were late to process, poor quality or not serious about running at all.
Reposted by John Mortell
Hot take on the presidential election: trying to draw any conclusions on a one-off low-turnout high-spoilage vote after a weird campaign when nobody knows the reasons for the spoilage is a fool’s errand and any hot takes are just post-dated embarrassment cheques.
October 25, 2025 at 11:46 AM
Hot take on the presidential election: trying to draw any conclusions on a one-off low-turnout high-spoilage vote after a weird campaign when nobody knows the reasons for the spoilage is a fool’s errand and any hot takes are just post-dated embarrassment cheques.
Reposted by John Mortell
No poll showed Maria Steen getting more than about 5% of the vote, but vast numbers of Irish pundits are convinced that her failure to get enough nominations represents some epochal repression of the masses.
How imprecise polling Qs can be is shocking. What does “Maria Steen should have been facilitated to run” mean? How would that work exactly without a referendum to change the constitution?
October 17, 2025 at 4:50 PM
No poll showed Maria Steen getting more than about 5% of the vote, but vast numbers of Irish pundits are convinced that her failure to get enough nominations represents some epochal repression of the masses.
Reposted by John Mortell
Reposted by John Mortell
To them, it's mostly a giant game. And before Trump, it was mostly a giant game with comparatively low stakes. Who cares if you let something slide? It's not like democracy is gonna collapse. But in the Trump era, the consequences are very real, and they've decided to choose their ambition anyway.
July 30, 2025 at 7:36 AM
To them, it's mostly a giant game. And before Trump, it was mostly a giant game with comparatively low stakes. Who cares if you let something slide? It's not like democracy is gonna collapse. But in the Trump era, the consequences are very real, and they've decided to choose their ambition anyway.
Reposted by John Mortell
they’re so close
September 2, 2025 at 11:30 AM
they’re so close
Reposted by John Mortell
Feels a bit odd to write a piece warning of musicians being silenced for political reasons, without mentioning the UK's current and ongoing prosecution of Kneecap. Odder still when your example is a Russian soprano who's working happily for the Royal Opera House and merely been subject to criticism.
‘We deny artists their voice at our peril’: when musicians like Anna Netrebko collide with politics | Martin Kettle
‘We deny artists their voice at our peril’: when musicians like Anna Netrebko collide with politics | Martin Kettle
The arts and politics are bound to mix, but they are not the same thing. In the cold war, Soviet artists performed in the west. Should the Russian soprano, who has condemned the Ukraine invasion, be blocked from singing in London?
www.theguardian.com
September 2, 2025 at 9:09 AM
Feels a bit odd to write a piece warning of musicians being silenced for political reasons, without mentioning the UK's current and ongoing prosecution of Kneecap. Odder still when your example is a Russian soprano who's working happily for the Royal Opera House and merely been subject to criticism.
Reposted by John Mortell
German campaigners welcome Irish intervention over Berlin police after protest violence
German campaigners welcome Irish intervention over Berlin police after protest violence
Irish Berlin-based activist Kitty O’Brien is recovering in hospital following an altercation with a police officer
www.irishtimes.com
September 2, 2025 at 5:46 AM
German campaigners welcome Irish intervention over Berlin police after protest violence
Reposted by John Mortell
Because they like him and want him to win.
I’ve often wondered why Nigel Farage, who as godfather of the Brexit fiasco engineered the biggest British foreign policy disaster since Suez is continually offered so much space in some newspapers and broadcast media. Serious question. Thoughts welcome.
August 27, 2025 at 11:21 AM
Because they like him and want him to win.
Reposted by John Mortell
Remarkable how the police are always on hand to nick people like this but seem unable to detain large numbers of thugs outside hotels.
🚨HAPPENING NOW: Hundreds arrested in Parliament Square in protest organised by Defend Our Juries
The arrest of otherwise peaceful protesters is a violation of the UK’s international obligations to protect the rights of freedom of expression and assembly.
1/3
The arrest of otherwise peaceful protesters is a violation of the UK’s international obligations to protect the rights of freedom of expression and assembly.
1/3
August 9, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Remarkable how the police are always on hand to nick people like this but seem unable to detain large numbers of thugs outside hotels.
Reposted by John Mortell
I dont think there's been a worse government decision in terms of sheer immediate injustice, time-wasting, overreach for quite a while in the UK. lots that had *longer term* implications but this has been a shameful disaster.
UK police arrest more than 466 at protest for banned Palestine Action group reut.rs/4fv7lmF
UK police arrest more than 466 at protest for banned Palestine Action group
Officers made arrests after crowds, waving placards expressing support for the group, gathered in Parliament Square.
reut.rs
August 9, 2025 at 10:40 PM
I dont think there's been a worse government decision in terms of sheer immediate injustice, time-wasting, overreach for quite a while in the UK. lots that had *longer term* implications but this has been a shameful disaster.
Reposted by John Mortell
84% of Americans want immediate ceasefire.
Only 27% back Netanyahu.
Only 31% of Americans *don’t* believe Israel is committing a genocide.
www.brookings.edu/articles/sup...
Only 27% back Netanyahu.
Only 31% of Americans *don’t* believe Israel is committing a genocide.
www.brookings.edu/articles/sup...
Support for Israel continues to deteriorate, especially among Democrats and young people | Brookings
American public opinion of Israel has continued to worsen as the war in Gaza drags on and conditions for Palestinians worsen.
www.brookings.edu
August 8, 2025 at 2:22 PM
84% of Americans want immediate ceasefire.
Only 27% back Netanyahu.
Only 31% of Americans *don’t* believe Israel is committing a genocide.
www.brookings.edu/articles/sup...
Only 27% back Netanyahu.
Only 31% of Americans *don’t* believe Israel is committing a genocide.
www.brookings.edu/articles/sup...
Reposted by John Mortell
Did a new one
August 7, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Did a new one
Reposted by John Mortell
Catastrophic subtitling on the 1941 movie "Love on the Dole".
(It should read "She's a strange lass, is our Sal"...)
(It should read "She's a strange lass, is our Sal"...)
August 3, 2025 at 9:40 PM
Catastrophic subtitling on the 1941 movie "Love on the Dole".
(It should read "She's a strange lass, is our Sal"...)
(It should read "She's a strange lass, is our Sal"...)
Reposted by John Mortell
Among the greatest promotional photos of all time are these for the 1990 television movie of IT, where it looks like a prestige legal drama about a firm of hot young lawyers and one associate who likes to dress up like a clown.
July 24, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Among the greatest promotional photos of all time are these for the 1990 television movie of IT, where it looks like a prestige legal drama about a firm of hot young lawyers and one associate who likes to dress up like a clown.
Reposted by John Mortell
The people who want to keep their identities secret so they can terrorize people think they should be allowed to keep their identities secret. We are a serious news organization.
NY Times showing how to both sides the secret police abduction squads story
July 21, 2025 at 2:25 PM
The people who want to keep their identities secret so they can terrorize people think they should be allowed to keep their identities secret. We are a serious news organization.
Reposted by John Mortell
This is a combination of “the NYT leadership like Trump and wish him to rule over us like a king” and “the NYT finds the Epstein scandal vulgar and what it says about the rich, power and sex distasteful”
NYT top story declares Epstein scandal already over and Trump victorious. Base more united even.
Evidence: Steve Bannon, Laura Loomer, and JD Vance said so. And Elon Musk said he doesn’t like the WSJ. Not exactly neutral parties.
It’s an editorial choice. Try to make it go away, not perpetuate it.
Evidence: Steve Bannon, Laura Loomer, and JD Vance said so. And Elon Musk said he doesn’t like the WSJ. Not exactly neutral parties.
It’s an editorial choice. Try to make it go away, not perpetuate it.
July 21, 2025 at 12:38 PM
This is a combination of “the NYT leadership like Trump and wish him to rule over us like a king” and “the NYT finds the Epstein scandal vulgar and what it says about the rich, power and sex distasteful”
Reposted by John Mortell
Ice cream truck funerals apparently produce the most horror movie ass sound you can hear in real life
June 24, 2025 at 11:03 PM
Ice cream truck funerals apparently produce the most horror movie ass sound you can hear in real life
Reposted by John Mortell
Reposted by John Mortell
I made a silent puppet film about Godzilla vs. Paul Bunyan.
(thank you to @iamchubbybunny.bsky.social for Japanese translations and @okaywolf.ink for clanky piano!!)
(thank you to @iamchubbybunny.bsky.social for Japanese translations and @okaywolf.ink for clanky piano!!)
May 2, 2025 at 2:20 AM
I made a silent puppet film about Godzilla vs. Paul Bunyan.
(thank you to @iamchubbybunny.bsky.social for Japanese translations and @okaywolf.ink for clanky piano!!)
(thank you to @iamchubbybunny.bsky.social for Japanese translations and @okaywolf.ink for clanky piano!!)
Reposted by John Mortell
"AI is coming, its inevitable" no its not you sniveling weirdo. how are those 3D TVs going. how are NFT markets looking these days. Seen anything cool in the metaverse lately?
anyone who says we need to resign to using it, that itll be here whether we like it or not, is a feckless dipshit.
anyone who says we need to resign to using it, that itll be here whether we like it or not, is a feckless dipshit.
April 24, 2025 at 9:17 AM
"AI is coming, its inevitable" no its not you sniveling weirdo. how are those 3D TVs going. how are NFT markets looking these days. Seen anything cool in the metaverse lately?
anyone who says we need to resign to using it, that itll be here whether we like it or not, is a feckless dipshit.
anyone who says we need to resign to using it, that itll be here whether we like it or not, is a feckless dipshit.
Reposted by John Mortell
"beyond the childish and cruel sentiments—there was also the boasting. ...that there would be no pause in his tariffs—that they were beautiful things that would set the USA on a course to greater prosperity, blah, blah, blah.
Then yesterday, without a single ass-kissing deal agreed, he blinked." 👇
Then yesterday, without a single ass-kissing deal agreed, he blinked." 👇
Hi All, just sent out this short, free piece on the implications of Trump blinking in this stupid tariff war. Its not the hurt feelings, its the destruction of the idea of the US as a trustworthy ally that will matter down the road. open.substack.com/pub/phillips...
Sentiment Can Be Overrated--Trust Cannot
Trump Has Blinked In the Worst Possible Way
open.substack.com
April 10, 2025 at 9:10 AM
"beyond the childish and cruel sentiments—there was also the boasting. ...that there would be no pause in his tariffs—that they were beautiful things that would set the USA on a course to greater prosperity, blah, blah, blah.
Then yesterday, without a single ass-kissing deal agreed, he blinked." 👇
Then yesterday, without a single ass-kissing deal agreed, he blinked." 👇