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
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
Reposted by Cornelius (aka Con) Traas
Instagram’s former head of safety and well-being Vaishnavi Jayakumar testified the company had a “17x” strike policy for accounts that engaged in the trafficking of humans for sex.
“You could incur 16 violations and upon the 17th violation, your account would be suspended"
time.com/7336204/meta...
“You could incur 16 violations and upon the 17th violation, your account would be suspended"
time.com/7336204/meta...
7 Allegations Against Meta in Newly Unsealed Filings
Court filings allege Meta tolerated sex trafficking, hid harms to teens, and prioritized growth over user safety for years.
time.com
November 23, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Instagram’s former head of safety and well-being Vaishnavi Jayakumar testified the company had a “17x” strike policy for accounts that engaged in the trafficking of humans for sex.
“You could incur 16 violations and upon the 17th violation, your account would be suspended"
time.com/7336204/meta...
“You could incur 16 violations and upon the 17th violation, your account would be suspended"
time.com/7336204/meta...
Reposted by Cornelius (aka Con) Traas
"According to the brief, Meta was aware that millions of adult strangers were contacting minors on its sites; that its products exacerbated mental health issues in teens; and that content related to eating disorders, suicide, and child sexual abuse was frequently detected, yet rarely removed."
November 23, 2025 at 5:41 PM
"According to the brief, Meta was aware that millions of adult strangers were contacting minors on its sites; that its products exacerbated mental health issues in teens; and that content related to eating disorders, suicide, and child sexual abuse was frequently detected, yet rarely removed."
Reposted by Cornelius (aka Con) Traas
The private jet used in this image is a subtle nod to how media companies will jingle keys with time wasting nonsense like this to stop you thinking about the rich cunts actually killing the planet
A 25-person startup is developing technology to block the sun and turn down the planet’s thermostat.
The stakes are huge — and the company and its critics say regulations need to catch up.
Read more: politi.co/4iaojIc
The stakes are huge — and the company and its critics say regulations need to catch up.
Read more: politi.co/4iaojIc
November 23, 2025 at 9:54 PM
The private jet used in this image is a subtle nod to how media companies will jingle keys with time wasting nonsense like this to stop you thinking about the rich cunts actually killing the planet
Reposted by Cornelius (aka Con) Traas
Rebuttal to John Collison's highly contested Irish Times “sermon to the nation", by lawyer @andrewlrjackson.bsky.social. A fact-check pushing back on the tech-optimist, deregulation-first vision - defending environmental law, democratic oversight & evidence-based planning elajucd.com/2025/11/21/o...
On Environmental Democracy and the Collisons’ “Abundance-Verse”
Andrew Jackson 21 November 2025 I. Introduction A clamour of praise greeted John Collison’s “how to get Ireland moving” Op-Ed following its publication in the Irish Times on 25th October: the Irish…
elajucd.com
November 23, 2025 at 9:37 PM
Rebuttal to John Collison's highly contested Irish Times “sermon to the nation", by lawyer @andrewlrjackson.bsky.social. A fact-check pushing back on the tech-optimist, deregulation-first vision - defending environmental law, democratic oversight & evidence-based planning elajucd.com/2025/11/21/o...
Reposted by Cornelius (aka Con) Traas
Mazda’s vision is combustion engines with carbon capture fueled by microalgae and using AI to create an emotional bond between you and the car.
Can’t decide which of those two is more problematic. Why not both I guess?
Can’t decide which of those two is more problematic. Why not both I guess?
November 23, 2025 at 8:25 PM
Mazda’s vision is combustion engines with carbon capture fueled by microalgae and using AI to create an emotional bond between you and the car.
Can’t decide which of those two is more problematic. Why not both I guess?
Can’t decide which of those two is more problematic. Why not both I guess?
Reposted by Cornelius (aka Con) Traas
When Dunnes staff refused to handle S African goods they were denounced by politicians from FF/FG, as well as "business leaders". The same groups blocking the OTB today. They were spat on, beaten by Gardaí and followed by Special Branch. It took 3 years to shame the govt. into acting. Reluctantly.
The Taoiseach is visiting the home of Nelson Mandela in South Africa today, as he pays tribute to civil rights activists from the country's apartheid era www.thejournal.ie/micheal-mart...
Taoiseach visits Mandela home and memorials to civil rights leaders in South Africa
Martin has told crowds this weekend that the two countries have forged ‘eternal’ bonds with each other.
www.thejournal.ie
November 23, 2025 at 5:06 PM
When Dunnes staff refused to handle S African goods they were denounced by politicians from FF/FG, as well as "business leaders". The same groups blocking the OTB today. They were spat on, beaten by Gardaí and followed by Special Branch. It took 3 years to shame the govt. into acting. Reluctantly.
Reposted by Cornelius (aka Con) Traas
COP30’s biofuel gamble could cost the global food supply — and the planet
grist.org/food-and-agr...
grist.org/food-and-agr...
COP30’s biofuel gamble could cost the global food supply — and the planet
What was once considered a climate holy grail comes with serious tradeoffs. The world wants more of it anyway.
grist.org
November 22, 2025 at 4:14 PM
COP30’s biofuel gamble could cost the global food supply — and the planet
grist.org/food-and-agr...
grist.org/food-and-agr...
Reposted by Cornelius (aka Con) Traas
One key thing about the current backlash against climate change is that it isn't grounded in any technical problems; it's purely the owners of fossil fuel assets trying to find greater fools to offload their investments on before they're completely worthless.
Today on Volts: the subset of cleantech known as "electrotech" -- solar, batteries, heat pumps, etc. -- is marching toward inevitable victory, not because it's low-emissions (though it is), but because it's more efficient & cheaper. I discuss the good news with @kingsmillbond.bsky.social.
Clean electrification is inevitable
Kingsmill Bond explains why the global march of "electrotech" has moved beyond the reach of US political interference.
www.volts.wtf
November 22, 2025 at 8:49 PM
One key thing about the current backlash against climate change is that it isn't grounded in any technical problems; it's purely the owners of fossil fuel assets trying to find greater fools to offload their investments on before they're completely worthless.
Another good reason to steer clear of Toyota.
🚨 SCOOP: Toyota and Aston Martin secretly lobbied a Conservative cabinet minister to weaken Britain’s climate policy.
We only know this because Democracy for Sale won a two-year legal fight to force the government to hand over the documents.
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/victory-we...
We only know this because Democracy for Sale won a two-year legal fight to force the government to hand over the documents.
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/victory-we...
Victory! We’ve won major legal battle exposing car industry lobbying
After two years we can finally reveal “backdoor channels where corporate money hijacks our democracy.”
democracyforsale.substack.com
November 22, 2025 at 6:35 PM
Another good reason to steer clear of Toyota.
Reposted by Cornelius (aka Con) Traas
France is investigating Elon Musk’s Grok for Holocaust denial after it claimed Auschwitz gas chambers were for “disinfection.”
It wasn’t a glitch. It was denial of crimes against humanity.
It wasn’t a glitch. It was denial of crimes against humanity.
What Nazi mess did Musk get himself into now?
� France has opened an investigation into billionaire Republican financier Elon Musk’s company after his AI chatbot Grok promoted Holocaust denial.
Officials in the French government told the ...
www.dailykos.com
November 22, 2025 at 6:15 PM
France is investigating Elon Musk’s Grok for Holocaust denial after it claimed Auschwitz gas chambers were for “disinfection.”
It wasn’t a glitch. It was denial of crimes against humanity.
It wasn’t a glitch. It was denial of crimes against humanity.
Reposted by Cornelius (aka Con) Traas
“Even if fossil fuel emissions were eliminated immediately, emissions from the global food system alone would make it impossible to limit warming to 1.5°C and difficult even to realize the 2°C target…major changes in how food is produced [and consumed] are needed…”
November 22, 2025 at 2:09 PM
“Even if fossil fuel emissions were eliminated immediately, emissions from the global food system alone would make it impossible to limit warming to 1.5°C and difficult even to realize the 2°C target…major changes in how food is produced [and consumed] are needed…”
Reposted by Cornelius (aka Con) Traas
"An mRNA based flu vaccine is 34.5% more effective against influenza-like illness compared to current flu vaccines. The study included over 18,000 people, half of whom were given the mRNA vaccine and half of whom were given a conventional flu vaccine."
www.scimex.org/newsfeed/exp...
www.scimex.org/newsfeed/exp...
EXPERT REACTION: mRNA flu vaccine is up to 34.5% more effective than c
EXPERT REACTION: mRNA flu vaccine is up to 34.5% more effective than current flu vaccines
An mRNA based flu vaccine, which has been developed by Pfizer, is 34.5% more effective against inf
www.scimex.org
November 22, 2025 at 2:46 AM
"An mRNA based flu vaccine is 34.5% more effective against influenza-like illness compared to current flu vaccines. The study included over 18,000 people, half of whom were given the mRNA vaccine and half of whom were given a conventional flu vaccine."
www.scimex.org/newsfeed/exp...
www.scimex.org/newsfeed/exp...
Reposted by Cornelius (aka Con) Traas
everything is just a money-extraction scheme
my kids and i used to play four players on our own minecraft server until a microsoft update required four software licenses
meanwhile on xbox, we played four players off a disc until they required a monthly subscription to play more than two players 🤬
my kids and i used to play four players on our own minecraft server until a microsoft update required four software licenses
meanwhile on xbox, we played four players off a disc until they required a monthly subscription to play more than two players 🤬
November 22, 2025 at 1:26 PM
everything is just a money-extraction scheme
my kids and i used to play four players on our own minecraft server until a microsoft update required four software licenses
meanwhile on xbox, we played four players off a disc until they required a monthly subscription to play more than two players 🤬
my kids and i used to play four players on our own minecraft server until a microsoft update required four software licenses
meanwhile on xbox, we played four players off a disc until they required a monthly subscription to play more than two players 🤬