Fergus Kelly
@ferguskelly.bsky.social
Designer with ideas above his station. Mostly former. Lazy Sahel and Syria watcher. Battles a blowy, boggy, brambley Irish coastal garden
Been chuckling about Marco extending the War On Woke to typefaces all day.
Particularly amused that they’ve chosen to express the new isolationist US foreign policy using a typeface designed for what was the extremely British statist newspaper of record.
Particularly amused that they’ve chosen to express the new isolationist US foreign policy using a typeface designed for what was the extremely British statist newspaper of record.
Marco Rubio ordered diplomats to return to using Times New Roman font in official communications, calling his predecessor's decision to adopt Calibri a “wasteful” diversity move
Rubio Stages Font Coup: Times New Roman Ousts Calibri
The secretary of state called it a "wasteful" diversity move, according to an internal department cable seen by Reuters.
www.huffpost.com
December 10, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Been chuckling about Marco extending the War On Woke to typefaces all day.
Particularly amused that they’ve chosen to express the new isolationist US foreign policy using a typeface designed for what was the extremely British statist newspaper of record.
Particularly amused that they’ve chosen to express the new isolationist US foreign policy using a typeface designed for what was the extremely British statist newspaper of record.
Reposted by Fergus Kelly
Behind all the hyped-up talk from the Government about their plans for social media, what they have actually done is bottled the regulation of the tech companies and are proposing to regulate the users instead, because we look easier to tell what to do.
@tupped.bsky.social’s recent gist explores the implications of a ID verification system & points out that politicians are adopting policies that suit big tech rather than protect our rights.
There’s a way of doing this without creating an internet surveillance state.
www.thegist.ie/the-gist-wav...
There’s a way of doing this without creating an internet surveillance state.
www.thegist.ie/the-gist-wav...
December 10, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Behind all the hyped-up talk from the Government about their plans for social media, what they have actually done is bottled the regulation of the tech companies and are proposing to regulate the users instead, because we look easier to tell what to do.
Reposted by Fergus Kelly
Make America Garamond Again
December 10, 2025 at 8:48 AM
Make America Garamond Again
Reposted by Fergus Kelly
New from me: Ukraine targets Russia's shadow fleet in foreign waters as sanctions fail to sink Putin's oil sales www.cbsnews.com/news/ukraine...
Ukraine targets Russia's shadow fleet in foreign waters as sanctions fail to sink Putin's oil sales
At least three oil tankers have been hit by explosions in what appears to be a stepped up unilateral effort by Ukraine to sink Russia's sanctions-dodging oil sales.
www.cbsnews.com
December 10, 2025 at 9:55 AM
New from me: Ukraine targets Russia's shadow fleet in foreign waters as sanctions fail to sink Putin's oil sales www.cbsnews.com/news/ukraine...
Bleak outlook for Ireland from a government that only cares about well-off people and corporations
We are barely 30 days removed from Housing Minister James Browne saying he believes he can end the housing crisis in the next four years
Government video on how to cope with moving back in with parents slammed as 'dystopian'
“Is this Waterford Whispers?,” was the immediate reaction from one Opposition TD.
www.thejournal.ie
December 8, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Bleak outlook for Ireland from a government that only cares about well-off people and corporations
Reposted by Fergus Kelly
You are ABSOLUTELY NOT going to regret listening to this bird:
A male rock ptarmigan (Lagopus muta) in winter plumage.
Ptarmigan is from Gaelic 'tarmachan' meaning "croaker". The p- was added when people mistakenly assumed it was a Greek word.
A bird forever warning people: "A werewolf!" (just in case of werewolves).
Ptarmigan is from Gaelic 'tarmachan' meaning "croaker". The p- was added when people mistakenly assumed it was a Greek word.
A bird forever warning people: "A werewolf!" (just in case of werewolves).
December 6, 2025 at 5:10 PM
You are ABSOLUTELY NOT going to regret listening to this bird:
It’s on their Big List, but there seems to be no urgency from the government or military in procuring counter-drone equipment. Ireland needs it *now* (and it doesn’t need to be desperately expensive or Made In The USA)
Ireland is military neutral, which is fine (good, even) but the Navy not being able to protect the plane of a visiting president because the boat doesn't have jamming equipment is just a bit shameful.
December 5, 2025 at 2:07 PM
It’s on their Big List, but there seems to be no urgency from the government or military in procuring counter-drone equipment. Ireland needs it *now* (and it doesn’t need to be desperately expensive or Made In The USA)
Reposted by Fergus Kelly
Part 2 of the thread with over 5000 words is here, gathered together on my stack sub (or reverse).
-all videos included
-all maps included
-Why the Sahelian militaries revolted
-Why it was a disaster
-Why the French were kicked out of the Sahel
-all videos included
-all maps included
-Why the Sahelian militaries revolted
-Why it was a disaster
-Why the French were kicked out of the Sahel
Part 2 has been uploaded on Twitter, will also do the same on Linkedin and Substack. Due to its sheer size (over 5 000 words!) I am simply unable to copy paste it all here. Will post the links tommorow for the interested.
November 25, 2025 at 1:49 PM
Part 2 of the thread with over 5000 words is here, gathered together on my stack sub (or reverse).
-all videos included
-all maps included
-Why the Sahelian militaries revolted
-Why it was a disaster
-Why the French were kicked out of the Sahel
-all videos included
-all maps included
-Why the Sahelian militaries revolted
-Why it was a disaster
-Why the French were kicked out of the Sahel
Reposted by Fergus Kelly
Small changes to ‘for you’ feed on X can rapidly increase political polarisation www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
Small changes to ‘for you’ feed on X can rapidly increase political polarisation
Study finds that a week of political content can bring about a shift in views that previously would have taken three years
www.theguardian.com
November 28, 2025 at 10:54 AM
Small changes to ‘for you’ feed on X can rapidly increase political polarisation www.theguardian.com/technology/2...
It’s not really a Battle of Ideas if everyone is on the same side.
Training Exercise of Ideas at best
Training Exercise of Ideas at best
November 23, 2025 at 11:05 PM
It’s not really a Battle of Ideas if everyone is on the same side.
Training Exercise of Ideas at best
Training Exercise of Ideas at best
If you like to pay through the nose to watch a rugby referee and TMO make a game almost entirely about their decision making, this has been your perfect game? #IRLvRSA
November 22, 2025 at 7:49 PM
If you like to pay through the nose to watch a rugby referee and TMO make a game almost entirely about their decision making, this has been your perfect game? #IRLvRSA
Why is the government using AI chatbots when they know they will *definitely* get things wrong? Who is accountable for the errors the machine will make?
Why is “saving money” more important than getting things right?
Why is “saving money” more important than getting things right?
Was the Department of Justice using experimental chatbots to give immigration advice? It has now retired its asylum chatbot Erin, but has infused Tara, the non-asylum immigration chatbot with AI. Read more here www.dublininquirer.com/was-the-depa...
Was the Department of Justice using experimental chatbots to give immigration advice?
“The public should not be used as guinea pigs, particularly vulnerable groups in a legal process which could be impacted by a chatbot giving an incorrect answer.”
www.dublininquirer.com
November 19, 2025 at 1:07 PM
Why is the government using AI chatbots when they know they will *definitely* get things wrong? Who is accountable for the errors the machine will make?
Why is “saving money” more important than getting things right?
Why is “saving money” more important than getting things right?
Reposted by Fergus Kelly
I can’t begin to tell you how bad this chatbot is
Was the Department of Justice using experimental chatbots to give immigration advice? It has now retired its asylum chatbot Erin, but has infused Tara, the non-asylum immigration chatbot with AI. Read more here www.dublininquirer.com/was-the-depa...
Was the Department of Justice using experimental chatbots to give immigration advice?
“The public should not be used as guinea pigs, particularly vulnerable groups in a legal process which could be impacted by a chatbot giving an incorrect answer.”
www.dublininquirer.com
November 19, 2025 at 8:31 AM
I can’t begin to tell you how bad this chatbot is
Reposted by Fergus Kelly
The MoD meant to hide its shortlist for new arms factories. Instead, bad redactions exposed them all — including Grangemouth.
Read the full story 👉 www.theferret.scot/m...
Read the full story 👉 www.theferret.scot/m...
November 18, 2025 at 9:05 AM
The MoD meant to hide its shortlist for new arms factories. Instead, bad redactions exposed them all — including Grangemouth.
Read the full story 👉 www.theferret.scot/m...
Read the full story 👉 www.theferret.scot/m...
Reposted by Fergus Kelly
Reposted by Fergus Kelly
An Irish bomb disposal team recently took part in the world's largest EOD competition in Iceland. It was the first time an Irish team had taken part. They finished first out of 18 countries. Incredible achievement.
November 15, 2025 at 1:04 PM
An Irish bomb disposal team recently took part in the world's largest EOD competition in Iceland. It was the first time an Irish team had taken part. They finished first out of 18 countries. Incredible achievement.
Seems that circumstance has led to the coach finally realising that Mack Hansen is a great fit as a very attacking fullback after playing him as a roving right wing since forever? #IREvAUS
November 15, 2025 at 10:34 PM
Seems that circumstance has led to the coach finally realising that Mack Hansen is a great fit as a very attacking fullback after playing him as a roving right wing since forever? #IREvAUS
Reposted by Fergus Kelly
🧵On our revelations today about the BBC Coup and the Prescott Dossier.
The leaked ‘BBC Bias’ memo Trump used to attack the BBC was authored by Michael Prescott — a Hanover lobbyist paid by US tech/media giants tied to Trump. Full story: bylinetimes.com/2025/11/11/b... 1/12
The leaked ‘BBC Bias’ memo Trump used to attack the BBC was authored by Michael Prescott — a Hanover lobbyist paid by US tech/media giants tied to Trump. Full story: bylinetimes.com/2025/11/11/b... 1/12
'BBC Bias' Memo Was Authored by Lobbyist Tied to Pro-Trump Tech Giants
The leaked memo that fuelled Trump’s attack on the BBC was written by a lobbyist at a firm paid by US tech giants tied to the President
bylinetimes.com
November 11, 2025 at 9:19 PM
🧵On our revelations today about the BBC Coup and the Prescott Dossier.
The leaked ‘BBC Bias’ memo Trump used to attack the BBC was authored by Michael Prescott — a Hanover lobbyist paid by US tech/media giants tied to Trump. Full story: bylinetimes.com/2025/11/11/b... 1/12
The leaked ‘BBC Bias’ memo Trump used to attack the BBC was authored by Michael Prescott — a Hanover lobbyist paid by US tech/media giants tied to Trump. Full story: bylinetimes.com/2025/11/11/b... 1/12
Is that a popping sound I can hear in the distance?
November 11, 2025 at 2:40 PM
Is that a popping sound I can hear in the distance?
This is well worth a read, insight into BBC News culture and Gibb/Grossman/Prescott
The reaction to the Panorama edit has been nothing short of hysterical. Yes the BBC has some impartiality problems. But its biggest isn't the one you think.
New piece from me.
open.substack.com/pub/goodalla...
New piece from me.
open.substack.com/pub/goodalla...
The truth about impartiality at the BBC
And the hysteria of the current "crisis"
open.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 10:00 PM
This is well worth a read, insight into BBC News culture and Gibb/Grossman/Prescott
Reposted by Fergus Kelly
Michael Prescott and Sir Robbie Gibb both bailed out of journalism years ago, and enjoy lucrative careers in corporate PR. And now they are the arbiters of BBC editorial standards. Go figure www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/media/...
The BBC has bigger impartiality problems than its coverage of Trump
It is the BBC’s entire governance structure–rather than individual stories–that should cause most concern
www.prospectmagazine.co.uk
November 8, 2025 at 7:59 AM
Michael Prescott and Sir Robbie Gibb both bailed out of journalism years ago, and enjoy lucrative careers in corporate PR. And now they are the arbiters of BBC editorial standards. Go figure www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/ideas/media/...
BBC News now reporting that the BBC Board prevented them from getting out ahead of the trump edit non-story and to start defending themselves against accusations. Good to see them taking on the board
November 9, 2025 at 10:16 PM
BBC News now reporting that the BBC Board prevented them from getting out ahead of the trump edit non-story and to start defending themselves against accusations. Good to see them taking on the board
Reposted by Fergus Kelly
the right winger who was appointed to lead the BBC in the hope of appeasing right wingers has been driven out by right wingers for not appeasing right wingers enough and the BBC has the chance to do the funniest thing ever
November 9, 2025 at 6:38 PM
the right winger who was appointed to lead the BBC in the hope of appeasing right wingers has been driven out by right wingers for not appeasing right wingers enough and the BBC has the chance to do the funniest thing ever
Reposted by Fergus Kelly
This is absolutely nuts
Trump did incite the January 6 riot. Splicing a video to make that point is shoddy editorial but hardly a resignation event
When BBC is needed more than ever, Telegraph/Boris Johnson running the show
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cd...
Trump did incite the January 6 riot. Splicing a video to make that point is shoddy editorial but hardly a resignation event
When BBC is needed more than ever, Telegraph/Boris Johnson running the show
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cd...
BBC director general Tim Davie and News CEO Deborah Turness resign over Trump documentary edit
Davie says
www.bbc.co.uk
November 9, 2025 at 6:12 PM
This is absolutely nuts
Trump did incite the January 6 riot. Splicing a video to make that point is shoddy editorial but hardly a resignation event
When BBC is needed more than ever, Telegraph/Boris Johnson running the show
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cd...
Trump did incite the January 6 riot. Splicing a video to make that point is shoddy editorial but hardly a resignation event
When BBC is needed more than ever, Telegraph/Boris Johnson running the show
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cd...