Author | Lightnews

Oisín Breen @oisinbreen.bsky.social · 22h

Oisín Breen @oisinbreen.bsky.social · 1d

I am tired of a world where great dreams are not understood as the commonplace stuff of life.

To dream and to strive, to pursue beauty and form and wonder, this is what we are best at.

We are at our worst when we replace such passion with the bean counting of the gombeen man.

Oisín Breen @oisinbreen.bsky.social · 1d

Equally, to my mind, the greatest Gaels carry a combination of fierce ambition, and a ferocious belief in the power of beauty. From the heroes that defeated an empire, to Joyce hammering out his wonder to the tune of laughter.

We should embrace this characteristic & dream again.

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Oisín Breen @oisinbreen.bsky.social · 1d

There's always one who then says, ah but that's expensive, aye, it is, because the resources aren't at scale, scale them, we have old quarries, open them. A state body can do this. Equally, it is better to solve a problem well than with gaffa tape, ala PPI.

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Oisín Breen @oisinbreen.bsky.social · 1d

One organization, legislation to support a temporary removal of barriers, buy land, build whole city blocks in the French, Spanish, or urban Irish style (like O'Connell st.), build apartments, include green spaces, no chain stores. It was done the world over 150 years ago.

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Oisín Breen @oisinbreen.bsky.social · 1d

When it comes to delivering mass housing at scale, i.e. a simple already worked out task, I fail to see what efficiencies the private sector brings Mr. Whelan.

‘I lived in bedsits and above Chinese restaurants’: Housing Agency chief on tackling accommodation crisis

Martin Whelan says private sector money needed to ramp up supply, but insists progress is being made

www.irishtimes.com

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Oisín Breen @oisinbreen.bsky.social · 4d

Forward & Faber have a very very different idea to what I'd say constitutes good writing.

Oisín Breen @oisinbreen.bsky.social · 6d

This was fun!

Oisín Breen @oisinbreen.bsky.social · 6d

The fact that there are fish that can drive -- I never learned -- continues to be a source of joy.

Goldfish who can drive: why scientists taught fish to navigate a watery tank on wheels

Israeli researchers say their fish – named after characters from Pride and Prejudice – reveal navigation is a universal ability

www.theguardian.com

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Oisín Breen @oisinbreen.bsky.social · 9d

Only one thing matters in fiction and poetry: is it well written.

Oisín Breen @oisinbreen.bsky.social · 10d

There are few dumber phrases or ideas than: 'you shouldn't judge.'

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Oisín Breen @oisinbreen.bsky.social · 10d

And to the clever person tempted to post a meme in response to this: Oh, I never saw that level of wit coming, dear me, your sagacity and communicative playfulness knows no bounds, go forth Milton's heir and propagate, the world needs your wild oats.

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Oisín Breen @oisinbreen.bsky.social · 10d

Unpopular opinion #3,726, sharing memes is the forerunner and enabler of using ai slop in discourse.

Using memes in place of language is, at best, juvenile, and it does indicate a lack.

It's the 'but my white runners and yoga trousers are so cohhhmfy' of language.

Ugh.

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Oisín Breen @oisinbreen.bsky.social · 13d

Very fair.

Frankly, it should just be switched off.

To be fair, so should the Internet.

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Oisín Breen @oisinbreen.bsky.social · 14d

If you used chatgpt today, even just because you were lazy. You're a cunt.

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Oisín Breen @oisinbreen.bsky.social · 14d

I have no idea who my niece is. She's turning 16. I would dearly love to send her books. It is the time to dream.

Sadly my sister is an idiot, and I'm barred from interaction, because I frequently call my sister an idiot.

Her child is smart. Day by day, she's MTV.

Oisín Breen @oisinbreen.bsky.social · 14d

Just heard a couple saying ah and it was our anniversary yesterday, so I turned and said happy anniversary. Turned out it was her pal, and she got dumped yesterday. Thankfully they were great sports about it