Wee video about the shop #bookshop #indie #carrickfergus #communityplaces #speirgorm #ireland #awardwinning

“The huge flaw that has been revealed in US might is not in the military but lies at the very heart of the American system: with the President as Commander-in-Chief.”

A major refinery in Ireland is feeding aluminium into the Russian arms industry.

This is literally the only thing i have the bandwidth to read about today

Yes, UK authors; just sign up, enter your books, - also articles, audiobooks etc - and let the ALCS pay you. It really is that easy.

Author and bookseller friends - we’re for the #Nibbies! How exciting!

Fair

Welcoming Nikita Rogers, an Urban Fantasy author from the North of Ireland. By day a tattoo artist, by night she scribes stories steeped in magic. A lifelong Pagan witch, you will find a lot of real magic and true witchcraft history in her books. You can find contact info at www.nikitarogers.com

The irony is not lost on us.

Since 1994, immigrants have paid more in taxes than they receive in benefits every year. Do not believe the lies you hear about immigrants. They are good for society and the economy.

US ICE Agents pictured using their sophisticated tools to bolster TSA at airports

This story is worse than I thought it would be. An utter abuse from the headteacher and the Local Authority, black and LGBTQ+ books targeted, and a librarian's career ruined. Pure bigotry.

George W. Bush releases statement mourning Robert Mueller, calling him a lifelong public servant and decorated Marine who helped protect the U.S. after 9/11. Bush: “Laura and I are deeply saddened… We send our heartfelt sympathy to his family.”

““We are hated as a nation now. One man has done this.”

Trump: “Their Navy is gone. Their Air Force is gone. Their anti-aircraft equipment is gone. “We’re flying wherever we want. Nobody is even shooting at us.” CNN just reported a US F-35 was forced into an emergency landing after being hit by Iranian fire.

It is worth repeating because the US media never mentions it -- the US Navy has been completely expelled from the Persian gulf for the first time in 80 years. The remaining US bases along the gulf are damaged, abandoned or operated by skeleton crews. As of today, this is a strategic catastrophe.

see? here's the thing. A lot of people are like, the earth is fucked, it's beyond salvation, it's hit the tipping point, but time and time again we see that if we just fucking fixed the problem, it rebounds so incredibly fast. Imagine what could be done if people actually cared

Just a reminder that in January of this year, Trump and Hegseth decommissioned EVERY US mine sweeper. Yep. Every. Last. One. Evidently they could never imagine a scenario in which the US needed minesweepers. In Trump's America, we are governed by idiots.

Morning Bluesky.

Looking forward to welcoming Mike Chinn! Mike lives in Birmingham with his wife and their tribe of guinea pigs. He’s written fiction that runs from Westerns to Sword & Sorcery and Space Opera, via Horror and his Damian Paladin pulp adventure stories and the occasional Sherlock Holmes pastiche.

“Aren't Arabs terrified? Don't Arab women weep when their children are bombed?” Tony Benn’s words from ’91 still cut through: war’s human cost is devastating.

World rugby: Okay. So you can win this entire tournament Ireland: Okay, great! World rugby: as long as England win their game. Ireland:... World Rugby: So obviously you would want England to- Ireland: -Shush I'm thinking.

🎁the whole WSJ piece on Trump's war.

So let me get this right. We weren’t to send a ship to help. Now he wants us to. Current affairs, eh? #DoKeepUp

My 1st book burst from me. 2 and 3 were cathartic in my understanding of being Norn Irish & being me. 4 and 5 finished my SO world. My 6th was pure commercial shite (it failed). 7 was of my heart -my most respected and least known. 8 & 9 failed. The Muse has just hit and reminded me why we do this.

I'm going to say what should be abundantly obvious to everyone by now: #𝙏𝙧𝙪𝙢𝙥 𝙝𝙖𝙨 𝙖𝙡𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙮 𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙧. Yes, the fighting is still ongoing. Yes, the U.S. and #Israel will continue to bomb #Iran and continue to fuck things up there for probably several more weeks. But that won't change anything 🧵

The damage Trump has done to the rest of the world in just over a year is incalculable. Billions wasted, lives lost. Not going to be forgotten.

A lot of work in this. We’re so delighted

At over 800 characters too long I edited your bio a little @ianmcdonald.bsky.social - speaks for itself!

Keep separating your cardboard, plastic & glass lads. 💀

If you don't want the city centre of Belfast to further resemble a half dead shopping mall comprised of soulless chains, you can spend a minute of your time filling this survey out in defence of Yallaa who have been doing an unreal job running their cafe in 2 Royal Avenue. We've enough Starbucks.

GOOD NEWS! Researchers at Stanford University have developed a UNIVERSAL vaccine known as GLA-3M-052-LS+OVA, that protects against a wide range of respiratory viruses, bacteria AND even allergens. The vaccine is delivered intranasally AND provides broad protection in the lungs for several MONTHS.

This probably doesn't help:

US attacks Iran -> Iran blocks Oil passage -> other nations upset -> US allows them to buy from Russia -> Russia gets money -> provides Iran with assistance -> Iran keeps the Oil blockage -> more money for Russia -> more Russian assistance to Iran ->

Our QFT here, one of the best cinemas in the world! I love this cinema - hidden behind the front door of a Victorian terrace... www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Elon Musk has already started plans to launch a million satellites. Yes. A MILLION. This is a colossally bad idea, and it's not too late to make your voice heard. I explain everything: www.scientificamerican.com/article/ramp... 🔭 🧪

Have to say #Octocon people are wonderful. Taking part is a great way to learn new skills, knock the dust of old ones, network and make new friends. #Spéirgorm

💀

“Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed...This is not a way of life...it is humanity hanging from a cross of iron.” -Dwight Eisenhower 1953

Iran has tricked Israel with paintings. Anamorphic images of fighter jets and helicopters on the ground – that look real from the air – drew the missiles. Cost of the paintings: $10 each Cost of each missile: $5 million Churning through America's stockpile of munitions: Priceless.

Quietly, calmly and forensically, BBC just dismantled the Trump communications shitshow on Iran. No hyperbole, just laying out an unprecedented military, diplomatic and reputational shambles. Worth a watch. (🎥 BBC News/BBC Verify)

NEW: A majority of registered voters disapprove of how President Trump is handling the situation in Iran and believes the U.S. should not have taken military action against the country, according to a new NBC News poll.

A man asked me last night what publishing needs to do for literary fiction to begin appealing to men again. I said, as nicely as I could, that, with over 2,000 books published every Tuesday, of which many would appeal to men, it’s not a publishing problem, it’s a men problem.

It’s looking increasingly likely that Kristi Noem and Lewandowski funneled almost 200 million in government money to a company that is run by her friend and that nobody can give an address for. Oh, and it was 8 days old when it was awarded the contract.

Congrats to Wendy and Kit! @wednesdayerskin.bsky.social @kitdewaal.com www.irishtimes.com/culture/book...

Introducing our completely refreshed Cheaper Used section! Normally I’d say in-store exclusive but March rent is due next week so if anyone wants to buy A BUNCH of these (7 Sun City’s, 13 volumes of 100 Bullets, 14 of Powers, 10 of Y, 12 Dr. Stone, 23 Dorohedoro, etc) please get in touch!

Who else is on the Small Prophets bandwagon? If you aren’t yet, this is the gentle, kindly comedy that you need to watch. We’re talking first season Ted Lasso kind of great. Avoid knowing the plot going in. (It is SFF, and I’d love to see it get a Hugo in 2027.)

Also have a new cosy shawl and am loving it. Mad bookstore owning lady (with optional cocker spaniel) - I’m truly entering my don’t give a shite years

Funky things in today - loving these. I have a fun job! Doing more selling than making words at the moment but did play with the start of a new thing this evening :)