Katherine Nolan
@dochara.com
Vet turned web developer based in Kilkenny. Here for news, less rancorous political discussion, cute cats & dogs, tech stuff, experts on the many things I know nothing about. #FreePalestine
Reposted by Katherine Nolan
Once again the Government demonstrates remarkable ability to achieve things that nobody wanted and many are actively against.
January 27, 2026 at 7:27 AM
Once again the Government demonstrates remarkable ability to achieve things that nobody wanted and many are actively against.
Aside from the obvious reason that the author is a raging transphobe it was never going to stand the test of time. I read it aloud to my dyslexic son, so he wouldn't miss out when it was at peak popularity. About half way through the third book he said he was bored by it and didn't want to continue.
In @nytopinion.nytimes.com
Younger generations “have fallen out of love with Harry Potter because they have fallen out of love with the worldview the series represents,” writes Louise Perry. “Which is to say that young people have fallen out of love with liberalism.”
Younger generations “have fallen out of love with Harry Potter because they have fallen out of love with the worldview the series represents,” writes Louise Perry. “Which is to say that young people have fallen out of love with liberalism.”
Opinion | Why Gen Z Doesn’t Love ‘Harry Potter’
The wizarding worldview is naïve.
nyti.ms
January 26, 2026 at 9:57 PM
Aside from the obvious reason that the author is a raging transphobe it was never going to stand the test of time. I read it aloud to my dyslexic son, so he wouldn't miss out when it was at peak popularity. About half way through the third book he said he was bored by it and didn't want to continue.
This is the way to do it. And not just Iarnrod Eireann, all transport agencies, Met Eireann etc etc.
Oirechtas should mandate they publish real time info to an open api
They can then either build their own apps. Or others can.
They can then either build their own apps. Or others can.
January 26, 2026 at 2:35 PM
This is the way to do it. And not just Iarnrod Eireann, all transport agencies, Met Eireann etc etc.
Really think this makes it impossible for any government member, department or agency to remain there. There is no 'on the other hand'.
We are opening an investigation into Grok because we believe that X may have breached the DSA.
We have seen antisemitic content, non-consensual deepfakes of women, and child sexual abuse material.
In Europe, no company will make money by violating our fundamental rights.
link.europa.eu/Fh8h84
We have seen antisemitic content, non-consensual deepfakes of women, and child sexual abuse material.
In Europe, no company will make money by violating our fundamental rights.
link.europa.eu/Fh8h84
January 26, 2026 at 2:08 PM
Really think this makes it impossible for any government member, department or agency to remain there. There is no 'on the other hand'.
Reposted by Katherine Nolan
Ed-tech. Worse than useless and expensive. Money should go to to things we know work.
www.economist.com/united-state...
www.economist.com/united-state...
Ed tech is profitable. It is also mostly useless
Independent research identifies few learning gains
www.economist.com
January 25, 2026 at 10:43 AM
Ed-tech. Worse than useless and expensive. Money should go to to things we know work.
www.economist.com/united-state...
www.economist.com/united-state...
Reposted by Katherine Nolan
The Irish government aiding this is fucking unconscionable. Unforgiveable. History will remember this as Nazi collaboration, because that's what it is
Next, this Journey ICE flight that landed in Tel Aviv on Jan. 21 held eight Palestinians, who were transferred to the West Bank and released, according to @haaretzcom.bsky.social.
This aircraft refueled in Ireland, @wereontheditch.bsky.social. #spéirghorm
This aircraft refueled in Ireland, @wereontheditch.bsky.social. #spéirghorm
January 24, 2026 at 4:16 PM
The Irish government aiding this is fucking unconscionable. Unforgiveable. History will remember this as Nazi collaboration, because that's what it is
January really showing off the constantly changing weather typical of Ireland.
January 24, 2026 at 10:22 AM
January really showing off the constantly changing weather typical of Ireland.
Reposted by Katherine Nolan
The New Yorker wanted this but I said I’d put it up on Bluesky at half 8 in the morning instead.
January 24, 2026 at 8:36 AM
The New Yorker wanted this but I said I’d put it up on Bluesky at half 8 in the morning instead.
Reposted by Katherine Nolan
If this happens, it will make literally everything better. All of it. Everything in the world.
@nigella.bsky.social in our living rooms every Tuesday throughout Autumn - genuinely life-changing stuff.
@nigella.bsky.social in our living rooms every Tuesday throughout Autumn - genuinely life-changing stuff.
January 22, 2026 at 1:08 PM
If this happens, it will make literally everything better. All of it. Everything in the world.
@nigella.bsky.social in our living rooms every Tuesday throughout Autumn - genuinely life-changing stuff.
@nigella.bsky.social in our living rooms every Tuesday throughout Autumn - genuinely life-changing stuff.
Reposted by Katherine Nolan
So we have figures now.
Grok created and shared 1.8m sexualised images of women between December 31 and January 8, after Elon Musk promoted the feature on X.
Overall, the Grok chatbot generated and posted 4.4m images — 41% were sexualised images of women
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/22/t...
Grok created and shared 1.8m sexualised images of women between December 31 and January 8, after Elon Musk promoted the feature on X.
Overall, the Grok chatbot generated and posted 4.4m images — 41% were sexualised images of women
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/22/t...
Musk’s Chatbot Flooded X With Millions of Sexualized Images in Days, New Estimates Show
www.nytimes.com
January 22, 2026 at 12:58 PM
So we have figures now.
Grok created and shared 1.8m sexualised images of women between December 31 and January 8, after Elon Musk promoted the feature on X.
Overall, the Grok chatbot generated and posted 4.4m images — 41% were sexualised images of women
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/22/t...
Grok created and shared 1.8m sexualised images of women between December 31 and January 8, after Elon Musk promoted the feature on X.
Overall, the Grok chatbot generated and posted 4.4m images — 41% were sexualised images of women
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/22/t...
Pick up the nearest book. Turn to page 42, post the second sentence.
"Slightly tired celery can be revived if put in a bowl of icy water for a few hours."
"Slightly tired celery can be revived if put in a bowl of icy water for a few hours."
Pick up the nearest book. Turn to page 42, post the second sentence.
"Ireland was, for a short time, completely self-sufficient in clean energy."
"Ireland was, for a short time, completely self-sufficient in clean energy."
Pick up the nearest book. Turn to page 42, post the second sentence.
'Rejoice Kinsale, thy help is near!'
'Rejoice Kinsale, thy help is near!'
January 21, 2026 at 4:55 PM
Pick up the nearest book. Turn to page 42, post the second sentence.
"Slightly tired celery can be revived if put in a bowl of icy water for a few hours."
"Slightly tired celery can be revived if put in a bowl of icy water for a few hours."
This is why I make too much mashed potato.
January 21, 2026 at 2:05 PM
This is why I make too much mashed potato.
Guy sweeps into the carpark and parks diagonally across two parking spaces beside me, hops out and away he goes. A red Tesla. The temptation... but I showed commendable (also regrettable) restraint.
January 20, 2026 at 3:12 PM
Guy sweeps into the carpark and parks diagonally across two parking spaces beside me, hops out and away he goes. A red Tesla. The temptation... but I showed commendable (also regrettable) restraint.
Reposted by Katherine Nolan
I think the #twitter CSAM fiasco is the first time the government has so visibly ceded an area of law to big business. Of course it's been happening quietly for years but this marks a turning point of something so obviously illegal just being ignored by lawmakers in case it upsets the US. #speirgorm
January 19, 2026 at 9:47 AM
I think the #twitter CSAM fiasco is the first time the government has so visibly ceded an area of law to big business. Of course it's been happening quietly for years but this marks a turning point of something so obviously illegal just being ignored by lawmakers in case it upsets the US. #speirgorm
Nothing to do with this story but it annoys me that when someone follows a journal link on Bluesky, it counts as coming from either Facebook or X.
This one is ?utm_source=facebook_short, often it's a similar twitter parameter. Apart from anything else, it makes their engagement stats a nonsense.
This one is ?utm_source=facebook_short, often it's a similar twitter parameter. Apart from anything else, it makes their engagement stats a nonsense.
Tánaiste Simon Harris has said AI is “no longer a concept” and is “here to stay” following a recent visit to San Francisco.
Harris said that as he travelled though San Francisco, he was “struck” by the “unavoidable reality” of how AI is “woven into daily life”.
jrnl.ie/6931204
Harris said that as he travelled though San Francisco, he was “struck” by the “unavoidable reality” of how AI is “woven into daily life”.
jrnl.ie/6931204
Simon Harris says AI 'here to stay' after California trip and pledges Ireland will host AI summit
Harris said the ‘AI moment has arrived’ and it’s ‘time for Ireland to lead’.
jrnl.ie
January 19, 2026 at 10:21 AM
Nothing to do with this story but it annoys me that when someone follows a journal link on Bluesky, it counts as coming from either Facebook or X.
This one is ?utm_source=facebook_short, often it's a similar twitter parameter. Apart from anything else, it makes their engagement stats a nonsense.
This one is ?utm_source=facebook_short, often it's a similar twitter parameter. Apart from anything else, it makes their engagement stats a nonsense.
Reposted by Katherine Nolan
Just... please.... no more,
January 19, 2026 at 10:02 AM
Just... please.... no more,
Reposted by Katherine Nolan
Whatever happens from now, the median likelihood is that US bases in European territory are gone. They’ll be quietly expelled as soon as possible. Quite simply, they are now represent threat, not security, and we neither can nor should assist any longer in projecting power that can threaten us.
January 19, 2026 at 9:15 AM
Whatever happens from now, the median likelihood is that US bases in European territory are gone. They’ll be quietly expelled as soon as possible. Quite simply, they are now represent threat, not security, and we neither can nor should assist any longer in projecting power that can threaten us.
This is... honestly I don't have words for what this is.
Not the sort of letter committed to paper by a well man. "Considering your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace"
January 19, 2026 at 8:03 AM
This is... honestly I don't have words for what this is.
Reposted by Katherine Nolan
bumped into a local politician for a main party last week and was discussing this with him. "He said where else would they (Govt Depts) go?" and when I suggested bluesky he said "they are as bad with the far left and Antifa". I shook my head and walked away.
January 18, 2026 at 2:43 PM
bumped into a local politician for a main party last week and was discussing this with him. "He said where else would they (Govt Depts) go?" and when I suggested bluesky he said "they are as bad with the far left and Antifa". I shook my head and walked away.
"Fine Gael will continue to use the website mainly because it is of use to communicate with journalists."
Have they never thought of other social media sites? Press releases? The plinth? Posting on their own websites? Journalists will get the message.
www.thejournal.ie/x-grok-irish...
Have they never thought of other social media sites? Press releases? The plinth? Posting on their own websites? Journalists will get the message.
www.thejournal.ie/x-grok-irish...
Behind the scenes: how political parties have responded to the Grok scandal
It looks like everyone’s favourite words this week are “kept under review”.
www.thejournal.ie
January 18, 2026 at 10:56 AM
"Fine Gael will continue to use the website mainly because it is of use to communicate with journalists."
Have they never thought of other social media sites? Press releases? The plinth? Posting on their own websites? Journalists will get the message.
www.thejournal.ie/x-grok-irish...
Have they never thought of other social media sites? Press releases? The plinth? Posting on their own websites? Journalists will get the message.
www.thejournal.ie/x-grok-irish...
Reposted by Katherine Nolan
In case you're wondering if, for no particular reason, there are European alternatives to Intercom...
european-alternatives.eu/alternative-...
european-alternatives.eu/alternative-...
January 17, 2026 at 8:17 PM
In case you're wondering if, for no particular reason, there are European alternatives to Intercom...
european-alternatives.eu/alternative-...
european-alternatives.eu/alternative-...
Reposted by Katherine Nolan
Some people seem to be interpreting this as an escalation - a move from rhetoric to action - with more likely to follow
Others as more of a climbdown - that to merely impose tariffs after threatening use of force indicates Trump's bluff has been called
Both seem like valid interpretations to me
Others as more of a climbdown - that to merely impose tariffs after threatening use of force indicates Trump's bluff has been called
Both seem like valid interpretations to me
Trump says he'll impose a 10% tariff (rising to 25% in June) on Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the UK, the Netherlands and Finland, because they've sent people to Greenland, until the US can buy Greenland.
January 17, 2026 at 6:10 PM
Some people seem to be interpreting this as an escalation - a move from rhetoric to action - with more likely to follow
Others as more of a climbdown - that to merely impose tariffs after threatening use of force indicates Trump's bluff has been called
Both seem like valid interpretations to me
Others as more of a climbdown - that to merely impose tariffs after threatening use of force indicates Trump's bluff has been called
Both seem like valid interpretations to me
Reposted by Katherine Nolan
For years there was a belief in the media - apparently shared by the man himself - that Ryan Tubridy held a special place in the nation's affections. But I'm not sure people even notice he's gone
January 17, 2026 at 12:31 PM
For years there was a belief in the media - apparently shared by the man himself - that Ryan Tubridy held a special place in the nation's affections. But I'm not sure people even notice he's gone
Did he ever pay back the money he owed?
January 17, 2026 at 1:15 PM
Did he ever pay back the money he owed?
Reposted by Katherine Nolan
Last year, we made the decision to step away from X.
The Royal Irish Academy is committed to creating, convening, and sharing knowledge for the public good and as an organisation we value Independence; Integrity; Curiosity; Openness and Rigour.
In our view, X no longer aligns with these values
The Royal Irish Academy is committed to creating, convening, and sharing knowledge for the public good and as an organisation we value Independence; Integrity; Curiosity; Openness and Rigour.
In our view, X no longer aligns with these values
January 17, 2026 at 11:11 AM
Last year, we made the decision to step away from X.
The Royal Irish Academy is committed to creating, convening, and sharing knowledge for the public good and as an organisation we value Independence; Integrity; Curiosity; Openness and Rigour.
In our view, X no longer aligns with these values
The Royal Irish Academy is committed to creating, convening, and sharing knowledge for the public good and as an organisation we value Independence; Integrity; Curiosity; Openness and Rigour.
In our view, X no longer aligns with these values