Cornelius (aka Con) Traas
@theapplefarmer.bsky.social
Fruit Grower. University Lecturer. Horticultural Scientist. Drinks Manufacturer (juices, cider, spirits). Sustainable Food Production Systems. Statistics hobbyist.
Reposted by Cornelius (aka Con) Traas
Drilling for 'cleaner' natural gas in the North Sea - with low methane leakage - will only reduce global greenhouse gas emissions if it keeps an equivalent amount of 'dirty' natural gas - e.g. US shale gas - in the ground. Which remains to be seen.
November 29, 2025 at 11:25 AM
Drilling for 'cleaner' natural gas in the North Sea - with low methane leakage - will only reduce global greenhouse gas emissions if it keeps an equivalent amount of 'dirty' natural gas - e.g. US shale gas - in the ground. Which remains to be seen.
Reposted by Cornelius (aka Con) Traas
A major extension to the Dart network that's to serve new neighbourhoods in west Dublin has been delayed for at least four years.
The move has been described as "contrary to best international practice" by one transport expert.
www.thejournal.ie/dart-south-w...
The move has been described as "contrary to best international practice" by one transport expert.
www.thejournal.ie/dart-south-w...
www.thejournal.ie
November 29, 2025 at 12:08 AM
A major extension to the Dart network that's to serve new neighbourhoods in west Dublin has been delayed for at least four years.
The move has been described as "contrary to best international practice" by one transport expert.
www.thejournal.ie/dart-south-w...
The move has been described as "contrary to best international practice" by one transport expert.
www.thejournal.ie/dart-south-w...
Reposted by Cornelius (aka Con) Traas
Never understood how people can so clearly be bobbing up and down in a sea of inequality and assume that their own hard graft got them to the peak of a wave, not mere luck of positioning. They could just as easily be in the dip. Addressing inequality means you don't fall as far if you do slip down.
November 29, 2025 at 12:57 PM
Never understood how people can so clearly be bobbing up and down in a sea of inequality and assume that their own hard graft got them to the peak of a wave, not mere luck of positioning. They could just as easily be in the dip. Addressing inequality means you don't fall as far if you do slip down.
Reposted by Cornelius (aka Con) Traas
I still remember a beautiful fresh off the tree Macintosh apple I ate when I was about 14. It was the in the Okanagan Valley. I’m 66 now and don’t even like Macs but the memory of that one shines so bright in my mind.
November 28, 2025 at 7:03 PM
I still remember a beautiful fresh off the tree Macintosh apple I ate when I was about 14. It was the in the Okanagan Valley. I’m 66 now and don’t even like Macs but the memory of that one shines so bright in my mind.
Reposted by Cornelius (aka Con) Traas
A devious plan
"While Kushner and Witkoff are on their way to Moscow to divvy up the future, Trump is organizing a major push to get Zelensky out of the way and install a more “manageable” regime – one that will sign whatever map they put in front of him."
levremembers.substack.com/p/breaking-t...
"While Kushner and Witkoff are on their way to Moscow to divvy up the future, Trump is organizing a major push to get Zelensky out of the way and install a more “manageable” regime – one that will sign whatever map they put in front of him."
levremembers.substack.com/p/breaking-t...
BREAKING: Trump’s Secret Moscow Deal and the Plot to Take Down Zelensky
Raids on Zelensky’s chief of staff are being weaponized with Russian disinformation as Kushner and Witkoff fly to Moscow to divide territory, minerals, and frozen assets.
levremembers.substack.com
November 29, 2025 at 8:59 AM
A devious plan
"While Kushner and Witkoff are on their way to Moscow to divvy up the future, Trump is organizing a major push to get Zelensky out of the way and install a more “manageable” regime – one that will sign whatever map they put in front of him."
levremembers.substack.com/p/breaking-t...
"While Kushner and Witkoff are on their way to Moscow to divvy up the future, Trump is organizing a major push to get Zelensky out of the way and install a more “manageable” regime – one that will sign whatever map they put in front of him."
levremembers.substack.com/p/breaking-t...
Reposted by Cornelius (aka Con) Traas
Next we have The Susanna Forbes Award for Best Communication About Cider, sponsored by the National Association of Cider Makers
🏆 Gold: Laura Hadland
🥈 Silver: Gabe Cook
🏅 Highly Commended: Rachel Hendry & Anaïs Lecoq
#BGBW25
🏆 Gold: Laura Hadland
🥈 Silver: Gabe Cook
🏅 Highly Commended: Rachel Hendry & Anaïs Lecoq
#BGBW25
November 27, 2025 at 9:20 PM
Next we have The Susanna Forbes Award for Best Communication About Cider, sponsored by the National Association of Cider Makers
🏆 Gold: Laura Hadland
🥈 Silver: Gabe Cook
🏅 Highly Commended: Rachel Hendry & Anaïs Lecoq
#BGBW25
🏆 Gold: Laura Hadland
🥈 Silver: Gabe Cook
🏅 Highly Commended: Rachel Hendry & Anaïs Lecoq
#BGBW25
Reposted by Cornelius (aka Con) Traas
Hey @nature.com, have you got an explanation for how the hell THIS happened? & especially why you accepted a paper with such a bizarre piece of genAI slop in it?!
& more to the point, why we should take you seriously at all going forward?
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
& more to the point, why we should take you seriously at all going forward?
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
November 27, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Hey @nature.com, have you got an explanation for how the hell THIS happened? & especially why you accepted a paper with such a bizarre piece of genAI slop in it?!
& more to the point, why we should take you seriously at all going forward?
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
& more to the point, why we should take you seriously at all going forward?
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Cornelius (aka Con) Traas
The important bit about this story - in reality the only important bit because nothing here is new - is that it delivers to an audience previously unaware of it a truth about the BBC's relationship to power: craven. www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...
BBC tells staff they cannot quote Trump line removed from Reith Lecture
Journalists not allowed to repeat Rutger Bregman’s corruption claims against US president in coverage of edit
www.theguardian.com
November 27, 2025 at 1:43 PM
The important bit about this story - in reality the only important bit because nothing here is new - is that it delivers to an audience previously unaware of it a truth about the BBC's relationship to power: craven. www.theguardian.com/media/2025/n...
Reposted by Cornelius (aka Con) Traas
We've been holding off on declaring records based on the new real-time battery data until metered figures are published (usually next day) and this was *so* much higher than the previous record of 275MW we figured it might be a mistake...but no, looks like the data's pretty reliable 🎯
🚨 Battery discharge early yesterday evening reached a new all-time high of 396MW, equal to 5.6% of electricity demand at the time.
Cork's Aghada plant the biggest contributor.
Recent changes in scheduling and dispatch already making a difference on these high demand, low wind nights.
Cork's Aghada plant the biggest contributor.
Recent changes in scheduling and dispatch already making a difference on these high demand, low wind nights.
November 27, 2025 at 12:11 PM
We've been holding off on declaring records based on the new real-time battery data until metered figures are published (usually next day) and this was *so* much higher than the previous record of 275MW we figured it might be a mistake...but no, looks like the data's pretty reliable 🎯
Reposted by Cornelius (aka Con) Traas
Reposted by Cornelius (aka Con) Traas
Reposted by Cornelius (aka Con) Traas
This morning was a classic railway 'real time' case study:
If it says "4 minutes late" you KNOW it's running ✅
If it says "On time" you have no idea if it'll even run ❌
Only drove to Bicester once I saw the 10:12 to Oxford was +4 late so knew it was actually running! 🤷♂️
If it says "4 minutes late" you KNOW it's running ✅
If it says "On time" you have no idea if it'll even run ❌
Only drove to Bicester once I saw the 10:12 to Oxford was +4 late so knew it was actually running! 🤷♂️
November 27, 2025 at 10:59 AM
This morning was a classic railway 'real time' case study:
If it says "4 minutes late" you KNOW it's running ✅
If it says "On time" you have no idea if it'll even run ❌
Only drove to Bicester once I saw the 10:12 to Oxford was +4 late so knew it was actually running! 🤷♂️
If it says "4 minutes late" you KNOW it's running ✅
If it says "On time" you have no idea if it'll even run ❌
Only drove to Bicester once I saw the 10:12 to Oxford was +4 late so knew it was actually running! 🤷♂️
Reposted by Cornelius (aka Con) Traas
Gas Networks Ireland selects the Shannon Estuary as location for the Strategic Gas Emergency Reserve and gives only hours notice for consultation!
CONSULTATION TODAY: 4PM-7:30PM, Kildysart Community Centre, Kildysart, Co. Clare
Share widely and make your way to Kildysart!
CONSULTATION TODAY: 4PM-7:30PM, Kildysart Community Centre, Kildysart, Co. Clare
Share widely and make your way to Kildysart!
November 27, 2025 at 11:42 AM
Gas Networks Ireland selects the Shannon Estuary as location for the Strategic Gas Emergency Reserve and gives only hours notice for consultation!
CONSULTATION TODAY: 4PM-7:30PM, Kildysart Community Centre, Kildysart, Co. Clare
Share widely and make your way to Kildysart!
CONSULTATION TODAY: 4PM-7:30PM, Kildysart Community Centre, Kildysart, Co. Clare
Share widely and make your way to Kildysart!
Reposted by Cornelius (aka Con) Traas
Reposted by Cornelius (aka Con) Traas
I’ve been running around asking tech execs and academics if language was the same as intelligence for over a year now - and, well, it isn’t. @benjaminjriley.bsky.social explains how the bubble is built on ignoring cutting-edge research into the science of thought www.theverge.com/ai-artificia...
November 25, 2025 at 1:54 PM
I’ve been running around asking tech execs and academics if language was the same as intelligence for over a year now - and, well, it isn’t. @benjaminjriley.bsky.social explains how the bubble is built on ignoring cutting-edge research into the science of thought www.theverge.com/ai-artificia...
Reposted by Cornelius (aka Con) Traas
when its definitely not a hostage situation
November 25, 2025 at 4:19 PM
when its definitely not a hostage situation
Reposted by Cornelius (aka Con) Traas
Ireland should be doing this too. There isn’t an alarm bell big enough to wake this government up. We should be in crisis mode, but instead it’s still shaking-developers’-hands-at-the-race-course, business as usual.
Iceland has designated the potential collapse of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) a national security concern and an existential threat.
Yet still fossil fuel usage continues to grow, and they barely agreed to *name* the problem at #COP30.
www.reuters.com/sustainabili...
Yet still fossil fuel usage continues to grow, and they barely agreed to *name* the problem at #COP30.
www.reuters.com/sustainabili...
Iceland deems possible Atlantic current collapse a security risk
Iceland has designated the potential collapse of a major Atlantic Ocean current system a national security concern and an existential threat, enabling its government to strategize for worst-case scenarios, the country's climate minister told Reuters.
www.reuters.com
November 25, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Ireland should be doing this too. There isn’t an alarm bell big enough to wake this government up. We should be in crisis mode, but instead it’s still shaking-developers’-hands-at-the-race-course, business as usual.
Middle child making her mark on the World.
"Wind-Induced Lateral Response of the Queensferry Crossing: Insights from Long-Term SHM Data".
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
"Wind-Induced Lateral Response of the Queensferry Crossing: Insights from Long-Term SHM Data".
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Wind‐Induced Lateral Response of the Queensferry Crossing: Insights from Long‐Term SHM Data
A Structural Health Monitoring System was installed on the Queensferry Crossing cable-stayed bridge during its construction in 2017, providing both real-time and long-term data essential for understa...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
November 25, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Middle child making her mark on the World.
"Wind-Induced Lateral Response of the Queensferry Crossing: Insights from Long-Term SHM Data".
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
"Wind-Induced Lateral Response of the Queensferry Crossing: Insights from Long-Term SHM Data".
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Reposted by Cornelius (aka Con) Traas
Filmmaker Margo Harkin has turned down an honorary doctorate from the University of Galway over its refusal to honour a prior commitment to cut ties with the Israeli research institute Technion
www.galwaybayfm.ie/galway-bay-f...
www.galwaybayfm.ie/galway-bay-f...
Famous film-maker to refuse degree from University of Galway due to Technion links | GalwayBayFM
She joins Lelia Doolan and the late Margaretta D'Arcy to become the latest to either refuse or return their degrees.
www.galwaybayfm.ie
November 25, 2025 at 11:28 AM
Filmmaker Margo Harkin has turned down an honorary doctorate from the University of Galway over its refusal to honour a prior commitment to cut ties with the Israeli research institute Technion
www.galwaybayfm.ie/galway-bay-f...
www.galwaybayfm.ie/galway-bay-f...
Reposted by Cornelius (aka Con) Traas
Briefing for Taoiseach for “fireside chat” with Stripe billionaire John Collison said criticism of bureaucracy and over-regulation was likely.
It said Mr Collison was on record condemning “red tape” in Ireland.
www.thestory.ie/2025/11/25/b...
It said Mr Collison was on record condemning “red tape” in Ireland.
www.thestory.ie/2025/11/25/b...
November 25, 2025 at 1:23 PM
Briefing for Taoiseach for “fireside chat” with Stripe billionaire John Collison said criticism of bureaucracy and over-regulation was likely.
It said Mr Collison was on record condemning “red tape” in Ireland.
www.thestory.ie/2025/11/25/b...
It said Mr Collison was on record condemning “red tape” in Ireland.
www.thestory.ie/2025/11/25/b...
Reposted by Cornelius (aka Con) Traas
Google at its peak was basically the best information retrieval system in human history and they and every competitor decided going from there to “you didn’t want answers you wanted half-assed auto-complete 80%-wrong hallucinations” in a few years was the right idea
November 25, 2025 at 1:57 AM
Google at its peak was basically the best information retrieval system in human history and they and every competitor decided going from there to “you didn’t want answers you wanted half-assed auto-complete 80%-wrong hallucinations” in a few years was the right idea
Reposted by Cornelius (aka Con) Traas
Very good interview and important fact-checking.
November 25, 2025 at 12:03 PM
Very good interview and important fact-checking.
Fascinating study on how light pollution can effect earthworms.
🌃 Night lights don’t just brighten the sky—they reshape earthworm communities and soil structure. Evidence shows that tailored management of artificial light at night, tuned to illuminance and spectrum can safeguard earthworm diversity and soil function 🪱
🌍 Read more: buff.ly/nu5sf87
🌍 Read more: buff.ly/nu5sf87
November 25, 2025 at 12:17 PM
Fascinating study on how light pollution can effect earthworms.
Reposted by Cornelius (aka Con) Traas
Finland uses “Russia-gauge” rails. They are going to move to European compatible rail gauge for their own resilience.
This is what we should be thinking about for moving to open social away from American platforms: it should come with significant spending commitments & is absolutely necessary.
This is what we should be thinking about for moving to open social away from American platforms: it should come with significant spending commitments & is absolutely necessary.
Finland announces migration of its rail network to international gauge
The Finnish government announces the migration of its rail network from Russian gauge (1,524 mm) to international gauge (1,435 mm) from 2032. The change aims to improve military mobility and regional ...
www.trenvista.net
November 23, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Finland uses “Russia-gauge” rails. They are going to move to European compatible rail gauge for their own resilience.
This is what we should be thinking about for moving to open social away from American platforms: it should come with significant spending commitments & is absolutely necessary.
This is what we should be thinking about for moving to open social away from American platforms: it should come with significant spending commitments & is absolutely necessary.
Reposted by Cornelius (aka Con) Traas
The idea that opposition to geoengineering is largely just lefty extremists and loopy right-wing chemtrail guys feels very much like part of the broader project to normalise it with the ultimate aim of ensuring it is actually deployed as a tacit replacement for mitigation
archive.ph/IYgEB
archive.ph/IYgEB
November 24, 2025 at 8:21 PM
The idea that opposition to geoengineering is largely just lefty extremists and loopy right-wing chemtrail guys feels very much like part of the broader project to normalise it with the ultimate aim of ensuring it is actually deployed as a tacit replacement for mitigation
archive.ph/IYgEB
archive.ph/IYgEB