Amid all the blather about the future of journalism, this is really thought-provoking.

Oooooh tricky! Notice anything about California's definition of ultra-processed foods? That's right! In order to be a UPF, food has to meet a definition that has nothing to do with processing. They need that because PROCESSING HAS ALMOST NOTHING TO DO WITH FOOD QUALITY.

Absolutely amazing.

I tell my Irish friends it’s like living in one of those Netflix thrillers where you learn your spouse of 50 years has turned into a serial killer.

Great column. Watched my first hurling match right after arriving. Loved the action but didn’t understand a thing the announcers were saying. Finally realized I was watching TG4 (all-Gaelic for you non-Irish). Five years later I understand only a little more. :)

Toxicology principle that needs to be mainstream: The dose makes the poison. That’s true of everything. Water. Oxygen. Vitamin A. Vitamin D. Aspartame. Formaldehyde. A single pear contains 120 times MORE formaldehyde than what might be in a vaccine. 1/

Yeah man we should really fight back by staying on X

Shocking. Ireland, which can grow delicious juicy apples, imports almost all the apples we eat. Here’s one man’s fight against that. www.irishtimes.com/food/2025/09...

Closest I've been...

With sincere gratitude to @russparsons.bsky.social for creating this article in @irishtimes.com today.

This is why I still follow social media. Fascinating history and analysis. Don’t you just love smart people writing about what they really know?

"We're going to need a story about this accident. Say he was helping a woman. That should work. Also, is he wearing pants? Make sure he's wearing pants."

remember folks, we cant have gun restrictions because if we do the federal government will occupy our streets, imprison people without due process, ship dissidents to foreign gulags and things of that nature

September sorted!

There have always been Trumps, as there have always been Johnsons and Farages. None are particularly complex or interesting characters. What needs understanding is how the barriers that shut them out have collapsed, and why - in the case of the first two - established parties have knelt before them.

There is absolutely no way I’d ever become a farmer. But if I was to, it would be trout, like Ger and Mag Kirwan at Goatsbridge Trout Farm. The fish are absolutely beautiful. And delicious. www.irishtimes.com/food/2025/08...

The woman petitioning SCOTUS to overturn marriage equality in the name of the sanctity of marriage is on her fourth husband.

The New York Times uses the word “maximalist” because it’s afraid to use the word “dictatorship.”

As end-of-empire scenarios go it is so much more dignified to get your capital city sacked by the Visigoths than to have a bunch of illiterate rich people in their 70s doing it through a series of incomprehensible tantrums because their brains were defeated by their phones.

Picking wild blackberries in my secret spot 2-3 weeks earlier than normal. Got almost 2kilos in about 30 minutes.

_matatini_ Mata🤘 "Here’s a look back at a timeless moment when a curious whale calf danced in front of us. When Mother Nature chooses you, everything becomes different...⏳🔮"

You know that scene in an action movie when the bad guy runs through the kitchen of a restaurant and pulls down all the pots and pans behind him to slow down his pursuers? We're in that part of the Trump presidency.

I LOVE tapioca pudding. Yes, I’m practically ancient.

In later centuries the sword was dropped in favour of the stick for killing on the playing fields.

For the day that’s in it!

The hydrangeas were pretty good at Mount Congreve today :)

Just another Irish sunset.

I don’t think anyone is prepared for what they just did w/ ICE. This is not a simple budget increase. It is an explosion - making ICE bigger than the FBI, US Bureau of Prisons, DEA,& others combined. It is setting up to make what’s happening now look like child’s play. And people are disappearing.

What did a #Roman diet look like? 🏺 A new ancient DNA study provides a new method to examine crushed and fermented food remains, allowing archaeologists to explore ancient condiments. A fishy #AntiquityThread 1/12 🧵

I’m so glad that @dieworkwear.bsky.social seems to be embracing the new place.

We’ve bombed Iran. And dismantled our joint terrorism task force. And sent a third of the FBI to help ICE. And gutted the National Security Council. And a drunk guy is in charge at the pentagon. And our intelligence allies probably won’t share intel with us. Because people couldn’t vote for a woman.

The cruelty in today's politics feels horribly corrosive. Bringing up that hard-working immigrant families — undocumented, yes, but not violent criminals — are being ripped apart based on immigration status doesn't bring compassion or even pause, but gleeful cheers.

Of course if I’d thought about it, the most interesting thread on immigration would come from the menswear guy.

Dear USA Deploying troops against civilians will not go well. Yours Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Trump Honors Those Who Helped Others Avoid Service at Tomb of the Unknown Podiatrist www.borowitzreport.com/p/trump-hono...

One of the joys of Irish summer are the roadside stands selling tender, sweet locally grown strawberries. But behind the scenes, it’s an amazing business. www.irishtimes.com/food/2025/05...

These are so good generally, but this one in particular.

Fun at Finchale Priory, Co. Durham, using geospatial survey data and some digital 3D wizardry. We've installed some brand-new interpretation panels on site. Free Entry. #DigitalHeritage #DigitalReconstruction #3D #HistoricalReconstruction #GeospatialData #GeospatialHeritage #Blender3D

Makes me think about how personalist regimes can't function without the help of little people. The guy who prints the racist posts out for this meeting. The ICE agent who scoops up immigrants at their citizenship hearings. The "leaders" who ban books at DoD libraries. Lawyers who bend the knee.

“Hey norm, what’s shaking’?” “Four cheeks and a couple of chins.”

Hmmm sound familiar?

NOT Florida man.

The Sunny Southeast, ireland’s Riviera.

This to me is the most chilling thing about the time we’re living in. It’s not about one man or group of politicians.

To be effective, our opposition to today's abuses must run alongside a clear picture of what we are actually for - and how everyday life could be better with different leadership.

Temps in the 60s today and people are losing the run of themselves. :)

100 days into this presidency, Americans are paying the price - higher prices, crashing retirement accounts, and broken promises. But the American people are turning, thanks to your voices. Keep it up. It's up to us to demand something better.

Good story from the great @rachelaliceroddy.bsky.social. I did a similar test years ago and realized the true test of spaghetti flavor isn’t the noodle itself but how it conveys the flavor of the sauce. Shocking differences. My favorite then was Latini, but I haven’t seen it for years now.

In case you’re wondering how that Irish leg of lamb turned out … happy Easter to all.

Lovely article Russ, I'm going to have to search it out now. I have to take the long way in to Ardkeen to do some shopping when I'm down, the cheese counter is too much of a draw!