The eye is drawn to quotation marks in the headline.

I hope someone of substance writes in wearily to point out that the prime ministers of every other banana republic would give their eye teeth for a photo op with Mr Trump 'a week out' from their national day.

Cecilia Bartoli as Farinelli with Il Giardino Armonico.

Sir, Schools #TeamOfUs. Yours etc.

When I see things as elaborate as this in the Catholic countries in southern Europe or Austria or even in Poland, it reinforces my conviction that the Catholicism of Ireland is Protestantly austere and moderately pagan. And other countries didn't destroy their church interiors after the Council.

The good book and some others, including the Roman Missal (presumably dating from before the Council).

It's clear now that the American attacks will lead to radical regime change in the Gulf region, but only on the southern shore.

There isn't anything like a Stationers' Hall registration system for recognising proper publishers officially and anyone is free to set up in the trade, but still we all know that 'Independently Published' on Amazon means something else and worse. Would to God it could be an excluded term.

“For those who like that sort of thing,” said Miss Brodie in her best Edinburgh voice, “that is the sort of thing they like.”

There's chatter now about the international community using tactical or battlefield nuclear weapons in Iran in prosecuting its war for peace. (Do they have stocks of their non-destructive neutron bombs?)

Doesn't the Leader of the Free World have at least to rubber-stamp the Iranian nominee for their Supreme Leader?

Last's Regional and Applied: Head and Neck Dissect and identify the great vessels of the neck. Expose and label the larynx or trachea as appropriate and the oesophagus. Mark the section of the sternocleidomastoids bilaterally. (30 marks)

"Do you know Jesus?"

A seventh US service member has died in the American attack on Iran. Item 2 on RTÉ News now.

For the first time in around 15 years I attended a performance tonight where the general standing ovation was merited. The superb Julia Lezhneva (soprano) sang with Il Giardino Armonico in a Vivaldi programme. She gave four encores. She has something of Joan Sutherland about her. (Can she act?)

'The album was banned in Ireland after Father Brian D'Arcy highlighted how it had worked its way through a loophole in the country's censorship laws, claiming '"Anybody who buys the record and finds it funny must have something wrong with their mentality."' en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monty_P...

"It's pleasant to be in a place where I'm nearer the average height." "The men tend to be good-looking here, though," said my kinswoman. "I suppose it's their colouring and their good carriage."

I've been reading a lot about Ireland's censorship culture in the 20th century lately. I take no comfort from the fact we're not getting it as bad as some other countries at the moment, it only shows how fragile every progressive win is.

Among the attractive features of Private Passions on Radio 3 (as well as Michael Berkeley's intelligent, well paced, revealing questions) is the articulacy of the guests in their reflective answers. (Irish stations please copy.) Today's guest is Penny Woolcock.

Appealing wrongheaded decisions by Bluesky is like praying: nothing ever happens because there probably isn't anyone there.

Were the Blairs sane and ethical in the past or did we just not have enough data then?

"If a British prime minister were praised by Sir Tony Blair (left), he or she would have to examine their conscience."

Do someone a solid: we avoid.

"You're shedding tips here everywhere like you were the Aga Khan."

Everyone

America is better than this.

Sometimes the most fascinating aspects don't concern the content of what is posted. The real dramas occur one level up or down. With time and attention, they can be noticed and sometimes even understood.

"I couldn't have put it better myself." High praise.

They sound ready to serve.

In places like this, looking at the substantial visible archaeological remains and the great numbers of fine historic buildings in other countries, my mind goes back to the grand old man of Irish letters murmuring disparagingly at dinner about 'the mere broken molars of archaeology in this country'.

Didn't the President say UK was sending two aircraft carriers to the American war?

A man tells me in a mail tonight that he's going to faire le pont next weekend. In Dublin, Ireland. We have come so far.

Could the electorate in the Home of the Brave really be invited to the polls safely while their country is at war?

It was cheek by jowl with the John Boyne novels in the Literatura section.

"Washington Correspondent Jackie Fox has been speaking to Americans and holiday makers in the political capital of the world" RTÉ News

'Most people are thinking about themselves, not you.' Dispiriting intelligence has reached us.

'On the problem of accounting for a mechanism for gas exchange for respiration in defoliated herbaceous or deciduous plants' (work in progress)

I understand from the political podcasts that the conduct of the Iranians in the present war has been dishonourable because they have struck back at the international community which is pursuing world peace.

Does announcing on Bluesky that you have fallen for an online scam lead to "closure" or merely to ridicule? Only €71, but it's the principle of the thing.

I stick a couple of false birds' heads into mine for that flourishing subtropical effect.

It took a long time to put a name on these, which looked like unusual hydrangeas. Dombeya wallichii trips off the tongue now.

There's sweet music here that softer falls Than petals from blown Cercis canadensis on the ground.

"They are slim fit, sir." An evening's shopping pleasure undermined in a moment.

"Nature had played a cruel trick on her by giving her a waxed moustache." Alan Bennett

"Are you putting hair styling powder into your beard?!"

Tweeting is free until it isn't. You don't often see journalists getting into scrapes over unguarded microblogging comments. Nor lawyers neither.

Jools Holland: now there's a man there's absolutely no excuse for.

Introduce, add in and discontinue: use these three freely to members of the medical profession and they'll think you're their equal.

Evening with the g. Wednesday with the first d. Odd.

Caveat tweeter