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Barry McMullin

@autofac.bsky.social
1.8K followers 501 following 1.3K posts

Stranger in a strange land - aren't we all? Engineering academic #Decarbonisation #ComplexSystems. #CarbonAbolitionist #AndACyclist he/his Why "autofac" you say? Well ... en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autofac And: www.eeng.dcu.ie/~mcmullin

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Reposted by Barry McMullin
Alex Parsons @alexparsons.bsky.social · 6h
The anti-TBI business model feels like it's far less financially rewarding than the TBI business model.
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Jacob Öberg @profjacob.bsky.social · 13h
🚨🚨 @coe.int of Europe said yesterday that the #US formally notified it that it would leave the Group of States against Corruption, or #GRECO. Only two other countries have left GRECO before — #Russia and #Belarus. The fall of the #US on the world scene is striking. apnews.com/article/trum...
apnews.com
US withdraws from European anti-corruption panel in latest shift away from global groups
The Trump administration has withdrawn the United States from a top European anti-corruption watchdog.
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Liberal Currents @liberalcurrents.com · 29/09/2026
“Elon Musk is the single greatest counter-argument against capitalism to ever exist. The man has grown his inheritance of apartheid wealth into a business empire sustained by a seemingly infinite supply of failed promises and absurd predictions.” www.liberalcurrents.com/tax-the-weal...
liberalcurrents.com
Tax the Wealthy, Not Wealth
Don’t miss the forest for the tallest trees.
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Noel Healy @drnoelhealy.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
The assault on US universities didn't start in 2025. Our new paper traces the decades of corporate capture that made it possible, and why climate research is a primary target. Open access: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
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Mark Chadbourn @chadbourn.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Morning Bluesky.
Comics panel: a man and a woman talk
Man: I'M IN CHARGE! WE'RE THE LEGIONNAIRES OF EARTH!
Woman: YOU’RE IN CHARGE?
A MALE?
Man: OF COURSE!
Woman: YOU MEAN EARTH
STILL HAS A PRIMITIVE.
PATRIARCHAL SOCIETY...
RULED BY MEN?
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Katie Martin @katie0martin.ft.com · 29/09/2026
Either this is true, in which case *what are we doing here*? Shut it down. Or it's bullshit, in which case these are truly silly people unworthy of our money
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Ciarán Cuffe @ciarancuffe.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
With fuel prices soaring, now is not the time to give in to the car lobby by postponing the phase-out of diesel and petrol car production. www.politico.eu/article/comm...
politico.eu
EU Commission ignored its own advice before weakening car CO2 rules
An internal document warned that it was too early to call the 2035 target unachievable, despite arguments from carmakers that they needed relief.
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Dr Katie Twomey @k2mey.eurosky.social · 28/09/2026
This is quite cool. My university is the first organisation in the world to force Microsoft to allow us to turn off copilot summaries in Word 365, after a backlash against it from staff (including, very vocally, me). That cannot have been easy for our heroic IT people so hats very much off to them!
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Peter Gleick @petergleick.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
This is a wildly inappropriate and ad hominem response to a post with facts and information.
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Dr. Aaron Thierry @thierryaaron.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
I miss David MacKay. In his no-nonsense way he showed that one long-haul return flight a year uses more energy than a 1 kW heater on all year. "A 10% improvement? Yes, possible. A doubling of efficiency? I'd eat my complimentary socks." If only more people were pro-arithmetic. We have to fly less
withouthotair.com
Ch 5 Page 35: Sustainable Energy - without the hot air | David MacKay
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This Many Years Ago @thismanyyearsago.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
64 years ago, on the 27th of September 1962, Rachel Carson's book Silent Spring was published. It handled the environmental harm caused by the pesticide DDT and the disinformation spread by the chemical industry. Carson managed to sway public opinion and even policy. #otd #history 🗃️
Rachel Carson photo credit: Science History Images / Alamy
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Faine Greenwood @faineg.com · 27/09/2026
The bizarre culture that’s sprung up around Silicon Valley AI companies - which overlaps hugely with rationalist and effective altruist circles - appears to be seriously pressuring some women into attending sex parties for the sake of networking. This is, needless to say, horrifying.
taco belle
@ animalologist
Multiple things can be true at once
22h
The purpose of SlutCon is to help ease men who are scared of approaching women, and for women who simply enjoy flirting to be in an environment where that happens a lot, since there's generally a dearth of that
At the same time, many - probably most! - women do Not want to be flirted with or propositioned by men they don't know. When a small scene only has a handful of large, well-known events, each one has disproportionate impact on everybody's ideas of acceptable behavior among other members of their milieu.
Attending the same events = specific shared context. Means
you're somewhat on the same page.
I suspect that the men who publicly raised concerns about SlutCon's impact on the scene are being megaphones for private objections and distresses they've heard from women in the scene who would NOT be comfortable at an event like that, but who don't voice it publicly because they suspect they'd suffer socially for doing so. That going to SlutCon to be flirted with gives women social cachet, and squirming at the idea means you're [not cool, can't get with the program, are probably a wokescold or a prude etc etc other pejoratives] and therefore, that you'll be excluded or held at a distance
Now, if this scene were purely a social scene, that'd be perfectly fine. Don't go to parties that don't suit you!! The issue arises because it's NOT purely a social scene. This scene is inarguably tied up with Al safety, research, and the SF tech scene in general.
When consistently being invited to the right parties is professionally advantageous, and when SlutCon itself **is** going to be an excellent networking opportunity for people in those fields, it's not neutral that {sexual proclivities} are the filtering mechanism that determines who's in the room. It means that promiscuity & forwardness is explicitly professionally advantageous.
And, if the norms of SlutCon influence the norms of that milieu outside of the e…My suspicion is that men come out of the event more bold, more forward, and with the expectation that events attended by former flirt-girls are fair game for SlutCon-style forwardness. This creates a hostile environment for women who just want to socialize and work with these men, without being propositioned. And without pretending that they're cool with being sexualized for the sake of their inclusion in the scene.
I don't think we have solutions yet, but it's important that we can talk about it, at least.
Jakeup • @ myhandle
Sep 25
the purpose of SlutCon is to help men who are scared of women to start liking women, by putting them in proximity to women who like men and aren't scared of men
I'm not attending or involved in any way, but this is very aligned to my own mission and I'm rooting for their success
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Le Monde in English @english.lemonde.fr · 27/09/2026
Thousands march for climate across France: 'I wish there were more of us, after the summer we've just had'
lemonde.fr
Thousands march for climate across France: 'I wish there were more of us, after the summer we've just had'
From Bordeaux to Paris, organizers say 120,000 people took part in 260 demonstrations 'for the climate, for life, for peace, for social justice.
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John Gibbons 🇵🇸 🇺🇦 🇪🇺 @thinkorswim.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Long after the names of the cowards and quislings in the FAI are forgotten, the name Gavin Bazunu will be remembered as a byword for courage and integrity in standing up for justice in the teeth of a savage genocide. www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer...
irishtimes.com
Ireland v Israel: Day of infamy exposes serious lack of leadership in FAI
Gavin Bazunu has been left brutally isolated as any semblance of squad unity has been utterly sundered
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Roderic O’Gorman TD @rodericogorman.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
FAI senior management have brought us to this position. They need to consider their position.
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Defend Our Juries @defendourjuries.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
BREAKING: 94 year old Jewish human rights barrister, Margaret Owen arrested under the Terrorism Act outside Andy Burnham’s Labour Party conference. UK taxpayers are funding these arrests while masked men terrorise the streets in coastal towns. Lift The Ban on Palestine Action.
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Cllr Brian Smyth @briansmyth99.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
I wish the urgency and fight on both sides of the Garvaghy Rd row was the same around the demise of Lough Neagh. Sure, it's only our drinking water. Stormont couldn't care less.
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Sheila O’Flanagan @sheilawriter.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Libraries are a sanctuary where nobody tries to sell you anything, you're not followed by an algorithm and you can take home books for free!
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Dave Mathieson @tinydbass.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
"Cognitive dissonance" is the most charitable term for this stuff.... www.irishtimes.com/environment/... www.thejournal.ie/dublin-airpo...
irishtimes.com
Ireland and Tuvalu to co-host international climate conference next July
Second conference on transitioning away from fossil fuels will take place on a Pacific island nation
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Raimo Kangasniemi @rk70534.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
The West that had considered the Holocaust the greatest crime in human history have spend the last 3 years to make genocide possible, 'normalizing' it, defending & protecting genocidaires so that they are not punished and that those who oppose genocide are demonized, ostracized and even imprisoned.
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Noreen Dalton 🌱🍉 @nordaltsee.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
How things start
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Barry McMullin @autofac.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
"Short nerds with high-pitched voices insist Conversation Simulator 2000 is going to turn into a living thing and wipe out humanity, and the only safe path forward is if they are granted full power to steward AI development. The world’s media hangs off their every word." #ouch
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Lee Hurley @hleehurley.com · 27/09/2026
Janice Turner is the columnist who called Trump a 'feminist hero' for banning trans women from sport.
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Colin Murray @colinmurray.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Another one of the days when most of NI is holding its breath and the national news outlets in London have barely registered that anything has happened.
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Robin Moira White @robinmoirawhite.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
The Labour Party’s women’s conference on 26/9/26 was an embarrassing farce, with only 200 delegates of the 1,000 normal attendance (no major unions) in protest of the Labour Party’s shameful abandonment of trans people following the legally absurd ruling of the Supreme Court in FWS in April 2025.
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Alan Dunne @aldunne.eurosky.social · 26/09/2026
in case Irish people don't know the context, Stan Cullis played for and managed Wolverhampton Wanderers. in 1938 he objected to a proposed Nazi salute by 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 players before a game vs 🇩🇪 and was dropped from the side. he's a club legend at Wolves, the Stan Cullis Stand was where I sat last weekend
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Laura @takeithandy.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
The respect I have for Gavin Bazunu is immense. 24 years old with his career ahead of him and he made a decision that every other person in safer positions of power above him failed to have the courage to make themselves. A true representative of Irish people everywhere
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Gavan Reilly @gavreilly.com · 26/09/2026
Kerr ctd.: “It’s been suggested to him that it’d be better if he leaves the squad, which I think is disgraceful because they’ve a match against Austria to play, and why shouldn’t he be involved in that game?”
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Hannah O'Sullivan @sullydaysleeper.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
He is so right in saying this that " there are few times in life that you get to stand up for something bigger ...". He is showing huge integrity, this must have been so difficult for him to do. Let's hope this is the start of many more acts of courage across the board. May he be the first domino.
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Joe Noonan @joenoonan.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Gavin Bazunu statement on withdrawing from Ireland squad

Posts gavin_bazunu
く

Statement - Gavin Bazunu

Representing my country means everything to me. I have the utmost respect for every single one of my team mates, the Manager, his staff and the Irish people

However I have reached a decision that I have hot taken lightly. I am a man of strong faith and try my best to be a person of character and principle therefore 1 feel it would be wrong to participate in the upcoming fixtures against Israel.

My decision is based purely upon my personal belief that the killing of innocent people is wrong.

It is important to note that my stance is not in opposition of the Israeli people or the Jewish community but against the atrocities in the region.

There are few times where you get a chance ir ife to stand up for something bigger and strongly believe that this is one of them


gavin_bazunu
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Wendy Lyon @wendylyon.eurosky.social · 26/09/2026
“Some [of the Irish players] turned on Bazunu, one of whom is understood to have abused him directly to his face” 🔪🔪🔪🔪 www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer...
irishtimes.com
Ireland v Israel: Day of infamy exposes serious lack of leadership in FAI
Gavin Bazunu has been left brutally isolated as any semblance of squad unity has been utterly sundered
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Joe Noonan @joenoonan.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
🧵 Read Gav’s short thread. If what Brian Kerr says is accurate, and it rings true, we are into a new and worse phase.
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Joe Noonan @joenoonan.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
'Between 2024 and May of this year, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia opted out of competitive fixtures when drawn against Belarus in qualifiers. Their punishments were 3-0 defeats and, in one case, a small fine of €5,000.' www.irishexaminer.com/sport/soccer...
irishexaminer.com
Baltic boycotts expose holes in FAI case for playing Israel
Between 2024 and May of this year, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia opted out of competitive fixtures when drawn against Belarus in qualifiers. Their punishments were 3-0 defeats and, in one case, a smal...
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Patrick Bresnihan @pbresnihan.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
That this came down to a vote amongst the players (no doubt under strong pressure from the FAI), up to 7 players voted against playing the game, and yet it is still being played. Shambolic. And the 1 player who has withdrawn is a hero we need to protect. www.rte.ie/sport/soccer...
rte.ie
Ireland players vote to play against Israel - recap
The Republic of Ireland press conference will take place at 2.30pm after the squad spent the morning deliberating whether to fulfil tomorrow's UEFA Nations League game against Israel. Follow the lates...
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Kevin Hargaden @kevinhargaden.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
For years, my best friend has been suggesting I need to recognize that being a "soccer fan" is to push behind a system that is fundamentally malignant. It's harder and harder to deny him his point. All solidarity with the workers considering industrial action in Debrecen.
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Josef O'Shea @josefoshea.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Somehow - the FAI - and let's be fair - our Government - have found ways to balls this up - and poison the relationship between themselves, fans, the public and players - that mere mortals could not have concieved of #StopTheGame
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Jennifer O'Meara @jenniferomeara5.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Gavin Bazunu is a hero 🇵🇸🇮🇪❤️ #StopTheGame #Speirgorm
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Conor @ernekid.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
I’m disappointed in the players but I’m furious with the FAI and the Irish government to let it get this far.
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Oisín McGann @oisinmcgann.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
A brave and principled man.
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Joe Noonan @joenoonan.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Norway is helping the besieged International Criminal Court with business continuity. Ireland and others can help too. bsky.app/profile/saul...
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Joe Noonan @joenoonan.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
The long game.
Tony O'Donoghue speaking to Brendan O'Connor on RTÉ Radio 1: "From other sources I was hearing it could be four or five players that have now decided they don't want to be involved either. And if they stay to their stated ambition that they have to be all in it together, if one or more want to be out, maybe they will all be out."
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Jude Sherry @judesherry.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
It shouldn't have been left to the players to stand up for humanity. But they now have a chance to become hero's not just here in Ireland but all over the world. Come on boys in green #DontPlay & #StopTheGame #Speirghorm
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Carl Kinsella @carlkinsella.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
If the Irish team or indeed any players really do refuse to play this match they would be heroes on an international scale
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Simon McGarr @tupped.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Goodness, what a weight on the players. What a sense of clashing responsibilities it must be. How unfair it falls to the group of young men after their institutional supports chose to send them there.
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Ed Maibach @maibached.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Happy Stanislav Petrov Day He passed in 2017. As Encyclopedia Britannica puts it, “He is survived by his two children, two grandchildren, and the entire human race.” If you don't know his story, please take 3 minutes now to learn it. @gchalliance.bsky.social @docsforclimate.bsky.social
sammatey.substack.com
Happy Stanislav Petrov Day
Take five minutes to not destroy civilization
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BladeoftheSun @bladeofthes.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Ireland is facing pressure for not cancelling their match with Israel. They shouldn't have to face this pressure, Israel should be banned, Russia have been banned for 4.5 years. Why aren't Israel banned?
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Carl T. Bergstrom @carlbergstrom.com · 26/09/2026
Does my Speak-n-Spell feel pain when I type O-U-C-H? The jury is out. Philosophers and neuroscientists say that's fucking stupid, but I called a guy from the Center for Pretending that Household Electronics Are Sentient and he said there's no way to know for sure.
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Eugene Vinitsky 🍒 @eugenevinitsky.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
A rich person can never be held accountable. Therefore, a rich person must never make a societal decision
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Patrick Freyne @patrickfreyne.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
I interviewed Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor about their terrifying diagnosis of and surprisingly optimistic prescription for a bad case of End Times Fascism www.irishtimes.com/life-style/p...
irishtimes.com
Naomi Klein: The super rich need to be abolished and ‘prescribed a middle-class life’
End Times Fascism by noted author and her collaborator Astra Taylor contains a hopeful prescription for neighbourly resistance
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