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Richard

@rspian.bsky.social
400 followers 194 following 196 posts
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Richard @rspian.bsky.social · 20h
I give you the Holylands area of Belfast. Notoriously problematic, though because of rowdy students causing chaos for local residents, as its right by the university.
Screenshot from google maps showing part of the Holylands area of Belfast, featuring Amman St, Carmen St, Palestine St, Jericho St, Jerusalem St, Damascus St, and Cairo St.
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Richard @rspian.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Different problem but I've listened to two BBC podcasts (which don't have ads in the UK) this week which have inserted a trailer a couple of seconds early. 'is what is coming up' <trailer plays>... 'next' <interlude sound effect>
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Richard @rspian.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
There were also questions over the validity of his Irish passport, given it falsely listed him being born in Ireland. www.irishtimes.com/politics/202...
irishtimes.com
Tommy Robinson’s Irish passport may be invalid, TDs say
Far-right figure stated place of birth as ‘Ireland’ when detained by Canadian immigration authorities in June
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Richard @rspian.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
I have the aftershockz aeropex model from before they rebranded on at the moment. Still going after about 6 years, although the rubber pads have come off recently (still work fine).
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Richard @rspian.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
It is complicated yes. Commonwealth games is often an exception as there isn't an Ireland team (given Ireland isn’t in the commonwealth), but there is an NI one.
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Richard @rspian.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Sometimes it's dictated by the sport, as some organisations can be all Ireland. Earlier in the week the British Rowing Championships declared that a rower born in Ireland but lives in NI had to compete as British (they have since u-turned). www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Daniel Collins: Rower delighted after 'declare as British' U-turn
Daniel Collins is an indoor rowing champion who competed in the event in 2025 as an Irish entrant.
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Richard @rspian.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Violet is part of the spectrum, but technically purple has red mixed in which is at the opposite end of the spectrum so doesn't exist as a single wavelength. The argument is that if it was simply adding blue/violet and red you should get green, but our brain invents the colour purple.
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Richard @rspian.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
There's an argument that purple isn't a real colour in of itself, since there is no purple part of the light spectrum. It's an 'illusory' colour out brains make from mixing red and blue.
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Richard @rspian.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Trump did brag about now having the tallest building shortly after the attack, so even if he genuinely believes his story he was still awful about it at the time.
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Richard @rspian.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
The general term is flashbulb memory, but there's been quite a few studies using 9/11 specifically to investigate it. e.g. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC... which found that only 63% of people gave consistent answers of their recollection 1 week and 11 months after the attack.
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Long-term memory for the terrorist attack of September 11: Flashbulb memories, event memories, and the factors that influence their retention
More than 3,000 individuals from seven US cities reported on their memories of learning of the terrorist attacks of September 11, as well as details about the attack, one week, 11 months, and/or 35 mo...
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Richard @rspian.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
As much as I hate to be fair to them, there haven been studies showing that people's 9/11 memories are a lot less reliable than they think.
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Richard @rspian.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
Ireland's postcode system was only introduced in 2015 (not a competition I know).
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Richard @rspian.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
Just in case you are unaware, it refers to the IRA (he was paid to record himself saying it as a birthday message): www.irishtimes.com/culture/tv-r...
irishtimes.com
‘Up the ’Ra!’: Nigel Farage duped into using republican slogan in birthday video message
GB News host and former Ukip leader hoaxed into using phrase he didn’t know meaning of
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Richard @rspian.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
Makes sense, needs to be BT9 for the Malone Road money. (I realise this joke means nothing to anyone outside NI, but it has a wiki page at least en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malone_...)
en.wikipedia.org
Malone Road - Wikipedia
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Richard @rspian.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
Or Disco 2000 because having 'song' in it feels like it's cheating a little
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Richard @rspian.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
Song 2, and in a similar vein, The Riverboat Song
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Richard @rspian.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
If spacex keeps ploughing ahead with their satellite consellations it could become a problem again, as aluminium oxide from dead sattelites reduces ozone. www.sciencefocus.com/space/how-el...
sciencefocus.com
How Elon Musk's dying satellites could hurt the ozone layer | BBC Science Focus Magazine
Particles released by decaying satellites could be causing an unwanted, harmful impact to the ozone layer.
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Snowy. @snowy.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
Please sign. Enough is enough. We need to show rightwing newspapers that actions have consequences. Add your name: goodlawproject.org/s/abb8a1
goodlawproject.org
Jason Arday: Demand a public inquiry now | Good Law Project
Commission an immediate public inquiry into how to ensure a responsible press given its contribution to Dr Arday’s tragic death.
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Richard @rspian.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
The distance the moon orbits also changes over (geological) time, so there will come a point where total eclipses aren't possible on Earth either (albeit millions of years in the future).
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Jonty Wareing @jonty.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
I updated my total eclipse webcam viewer for today's eclipse! Once totality begins you'll see a live-updating umbra, so you can race to the next webcam and see the eclipse happen over and over again. jonty.github.io/2026_eclipse...
A map showing the path of the 2026 total eclipse over Iceland and Spain, with markers showing webcams and a countdown until the eclipse begins, and it hitting the first webcam.
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Richard @rspian.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
Robin's post just reminded me to the same.
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Richard @rspian.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
A family friend that's also stayed down there worked in Australia for a few years. While there he interviewed someone who listed a bar we'd go to in a village near Schull in her CV. The village has a normal population of 60 people (lots of holiday homes so it increases in the summer).
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Richard @rspian.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
Our family used to go on holiday close to Schull, so it's also amazing that I'm finding this out from a Canadian! 😄
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Richard @rspian.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
Same, I really enjoy the world building in HWFWM, and Jason is a great protagonist. Read the first Dungeon Crawler book but couldn't really get into it.
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Micro SF/F by O. Westin @microsff.com · 28/07/2026
... users can be found giggling, crying, or simply staring into the distance saying "Whoah..." We spoke to one, and asked how they feel about warnings that the practice is addictive: "I could stop, but I don't want to." Some experts say if reading was invented today it would be banned at once.
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Richard @rspian.bsky.social · 24/07/2026
I also have his cover of Toto's Africa in several playlists.
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Richard @rspian.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
Who needs professionals? (or an understanding of how boats work) bsky.app/profile/pale...
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Richard @rspian.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
They use those for neuroscience experiments, so participants can see a projected screen (may have other intended uses as well)
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Richard @rspian.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
The Monster Raving Loony Party still exists, their leader Howling Laud Hope ran in the Makerfield by-election mentioned in the clip. www.loonyparty.com
loonyparty.com
The Official Monster Raving Loony Party – Vote For Insanity
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Richard @rspian.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
bsky.app/profile/jess...
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Richard @rspian.bsky.social · 05/07/2026
Me 8 years old due to appendicitis. My brother 3 days old due to a congenital heart defect.
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Richard @rspian.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
I was mainly a Murray fan, but same. Loads of respect for Federer and Nadal, Djokovic however...
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Richard @rspian.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
Yes, there's a bunch of things (including legislation that hasn't kept up) that makes it more complicated than it should be here, but nuance always gets lost on the internet.
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Richard @rspian.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
US and UK count heat deaths differently. UK is where heat contributed even if it's not the cause (e.g. even if they've a terminal condition that was exacerbated by heat), US is only when it's listed as the definitive cause of death. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...
bbc.co.uk
More or Less - Does Europe suffer more heat deaths than the US? - BBC Sounds
Tim Harford investigates heat deaths, the carbon footprint of eggs, and ironing out Wales
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Richard @rspian.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
For the UK they might require planning permission if used for cooling, which adds further costs and complications.
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Richard @rspian.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
It also depends on where you are in the UK, here today's high was 25°C (77°F), and the 10 year average June high is 18°C (65°F). Of course climate change is coming for everyone so...
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Richard @rspian.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
In addition to the other points, I think many Americans underestimate how changeable the weather is in the UK. Prolonged periods of the same weather system are rare, and lots of people don't see the point in investing in AC that (historically) would get used maybe 1 or 2 weeks a year max.
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Richard @rspian.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
I was also going to suggest Rosemary as a pigeon expert (biologist rather than historian, but she is an excellent science communicator).
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Richard @rspian.bsky.social · 16/06/2026
I used to have a credit card (but had a standing order to pay it off every month). At some point the bank replaced it with another debit card and closed the credit card account.
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Richard @rspian.bsky.social · 16/06/2026
I haven't verified for the same reason, I did try to use two cards but neither were deemed valid (possibly because they were debit not credit?).
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Richard @rspian.bsky.social · 16/06/2026
From a tax perspective, doesn't get him out of not declaring it. Also doesn't get him out of missing deadlines to file documents with companies house: bsky.app/profile/pete...
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Richard @rspian.bsky.social · 12/06/2026
However if they are intending it as the storm front logo/nazi iconography they aren't calling it a Celtic cross. Suggesting that to them would likely end in violence.
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Richard @rspian.bsky.social · 11/06/2026
In some cases you could argue for both (we're talking about the worst of society here), but the local usage is threatening to target people.
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Richard @rspian.bsky.social · 11/06/2026
One example from a bonfire - ATAT unfortunately standing for All Taigs (slur against Catholics) Are Targets: www.irishnews.com/news/norther... It's not uncommon to see them where there's graffiti threatening the police etc.
irishnews.com
Sectarian signs branding all Catholic ‘targets’ condemned
Sign put up on loyalist Eleventh Night bonfire in south Belfast
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Sarah Kay @k-interarma.bsky.social · 11/06/2026
Saw someone from the ROI comment on news of the pogroms with “who expected anything less - a place of tribal feuds and hate.” It is my literal job to uphold international human rights law. It is my moral duty to my city to correct the record however.
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Gabrielle Steele ⚔️ Echoes of Chaos out now! @eldris.thellian.com · 07/06/2026
UK folks, let's jump on this AI regulation petition the Society of Authors emailed out! It's an actual parliament one so the government HAS to respond if it reaches the signature threshold. It calls for regulations to make AI developers disclose copyrighted works trained on. Sign & repost!! ❤️
petition.parliament.uk
Petition: Protect creators' rights: require AI firms to disclose training data
We ask the Government to introduce a statutory duty requiring AI developers to disclose the copyrighted works used to train generative AI in enough detail for creators to identify use of their work, e...
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Richard @rspian.bsky.social · 04/06/2026
Looked it up because I wanted to know why we're being weird in this instance and I'd never noticed. HB is an Irish brand also owned by magnum, so they combined the two for NI.
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Richard @rspian.bsky.social · 24/05/2026
Yes, I think there is a theory it was used to scare children away from playing in deep water.
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Richard @rspian.bsky.social · 24/05/2026
The legends often have them standing near the shore, luring people in to ride them. Anyone that touches the kelpie will be stuck to them, at which point the kelpie runs into the water to drown them.
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A Mere Solicitor @ameresolicitor.bsky.social · 13/05/2026
Because everyone deserves to read this:
Sultana MP @zarahsultana
Please retweet.
Katie Hopkins
@KTHopkins • 51m
On behalf of their client, Zara Sultana, Bindmans Media and Information Law Practise Group requires that I publish the following statement on X, and that such statement must be clearly visible and pinned to my profile for a continuous period of no less than 24 hours:
"On 30 March 2026, I published a post on my X account addressed to Zarah Sultana in which I stated that she encourages and incites violence and is friends with terrorists.
Those statements are false. I was wrong and offer my sincere apologies to Ms Sultana for the harm and distress caused to her."
It is my very great pleasure to do this, and I reiterate my sincere and repeated offer to meet with Miss Zara Sultana in person to resolve our differences.
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