Fionna O’Leary
@fascinatorfun.bsky.social
Retired Lawyer, cook, Europhile, books, music, good conversations, gardens, walking. Bird site refugee 🇬🇧 🇮🇪
Reposted by Fionna O’Leary
The group of six authors includes two-time Pulitzer Prize winner John Carreyrou… “They argue, as in previous cases, that high-quality books are the "gold standard" of training data and that the AI companies "used those copies to build systems now worth many hundreds of billions of dollars."
Authors File New Lawsuit Against AI Companies Seeking More Money
Six authors have filed individual lawsuits against Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, Meta, xAI, and Perplexity AI, arguing they are entitled to more than the $3,000 per title proposed by the Anthropic copyri...
www.publishersweekly.com
December 26, 2025 at 2:34 PM
The group of six authors includes two-time Pulitzer Prize winner John Carreyrou… “They argue, as in previous cases, that high-quality books are the "gold standard" of training data and that the AI companies "used those copies to build systems now worth many hundreds of billions of dollars."
Reposted by Fionna O’Leary
"Liberal Democrats work harder than anyone else. In those areas we're putting the effort in, we're coming out on top, Reform are coming second."
@carlcashman.bsky.social
@carlcashman.bsky.social
December 6, 2025 at 5:30 PM
"Liberal Democrats work harder than anyone else. In those areas we're putting the effort in, we're coming out on top, Reform are coming second."
@carlcashman.bsky.social
@carlcashman.bsky.social
Reposted by Fionna O’Leary
Christmas came early for me, with delivery of my new @airspool.bsky.social heat pump. The driving force behind me getting this thing was that it promised to be easy to install, and boy was it ever! Read on to see how I got it on the night it was delivered without drilling a big hole through my wall.
December 24, 2025 at 2:22 PM
Christmas came early for me, with delivery of my new @airspool.bsky.social heat pump. The driving force behind me getting this thing was that it promised to be easy to install, and boy was it ever! Read on to see how I got it on the night it was delivered without drilling a big hole through my wall.
Reposted by Fionna O’Leary
😵💫 Putin’s 2001 meeting with Bush and talks about territory!
December 24, 2025 at 10:50 PM
😵💫 Putin’s 2001 meeting with Bush and talks about territory!
Reposted by Fionna O’Leary
My two-year-old niece correctly identified a giraffe and an elephant in pictures, displaying a level of cognitive mastery that can only be described as presidential.
December 24, 2025 at 10:54 PM
My two-year-old niece correctly identified a giraffe and an elephant in pictures, displaying a level of cognitive mastery that can only be described as presidential.
Reposted by Fionna O’Leary
With Christmas approaching, celebrations in Haifa were met with chaos after Israeli police stormed the Wadi al-Nisnas neighbourhood, arresting and beating Christians in the area.
December 24, 2025 at 7:47 PM
With Christmas approaching, celebrations in Haifa were met with chaos after Israeli police stormed the Wadi al-Nisnas neighbourhood, arresting and beating Christians in the area.
Reposted by Fionna O’Leary
It’s wild so many people are willing to go to bat for prisons as a reserve for rural jobs when universities are better in every aspect for such a role.
"Even after accounting for the upfront costs and delayed benefits, enrolling marginal applicants to public universities generates substantial net returns for society, the marginal students themselves, and the government budget."
Public Universities FTW!
Public Universities FTW!
December 24, 2025 at 10:42 PM
It’s wild so many people are willing to go to bat for prisons as a reserve for rural jobs when universities are better in every aspect for such a role.
Reposted by Fionna O’Leary
Reposted by Fionna O’Leary
If you’re wondering why your friends in academia are a little on edge right now, it’s because an eighteen-year-old who hasn’t done the reading, doesn’t look at the assignment, and has does no critical thinking skills more complex than “because I think it’s in the Bible” can literally end your career
The University of Oklahoma has removed an instructor who was accused by a student of religious discrimination over a failing grade on a psychology paper in which she cited the Bible and argued that promoting a “belief in multiple genders” was “demonic.” https://cnn.it/4b6g3rd
Oklahoma instructor removed from teaching for failing a Bible-based gender essay | CNN
The University of Oklahoma has removed an instructor who was accused by a student of religious discrimination over a failing grade on a psychology paper in which she cited the Bible and argued that promoting a “belief in multiple genders” was “demonic.”
cnn.it
December 24, 2025 at 6:21 PM
If you’re wondering why your friends in academia are a little on edge right now, it’s because an eighteen-year-old who hasn’t done the reading, doesn’t look at the assignment, and has does no critical thinking skills more complex than “because I think it’s in the Bible” can literally end your career
Given these two are mainstream countering disinformation campaigners, it’s hardly any wonder that NOT free speech, disinformation manure spreading Trump regime doesn’t want them in the USA.
Says more about the Trump admin than about them.
Says more about the Trump admin than about them.
December 24, 2025 at 9:37 PM
Given these two are mainstream countering disinformation campaigners, it’s hardly any wonder that NOT free speech, disinformation manure spreading Trump regime doesn’t want them in the USA.
Says more about the Trump admin than about them.
Says more about the Trump admin than about them.
What’s the betting that, when he lands back in the UK,he’ll be yammering on about deporting refugees, whilst bigging up on ReFuk, Tommy Robinson et al?
“British man living in Australia set to be deported over neo-Nazi allegations: ‘He came here to hate’
The 43-year-old faces deportation after being charged with displaying Nazi symbols and promoting extremist ideology online”
The Independent
apple.news/AIjLZsqb1Txa...
The 43-year-old faces deportation after being charged with displaying Nazi symbols and promoting extremist ideology online”
The Independent
apple.news/AIjLZsqb1Txa...
British man living in Australia set to be deported over neo-Nazi allegations: ‘He came here to hate’ — The Independent
The 43-year-old faces deportation after being charged with displaying Nazi symbols and promoting extremist ideology online
apple.news
December 24, 2025 at 9:35 PM
What’s the betting that, when he lands back in the UK,he’ll be yammering on about deporting refugees, whilst bigging up on ReFuk, Tommy Robinson et al?
Reposted by Fionna O’Leary
Brexit: the trillion pound ‘mistake’
yorkshirebylines.co.uk/opinion/brex...
yorkshirebylines.co.uk/opinion/brex...
Brexit: the trillion pound ‘mistake’
The recent NBER report suggests the Treasury’s 2016 analysis – slammed by Brexiters as a ‘hoax’– actually understated the impact of Brexit
yorkshirebylines.co.uk
December 24, 2025 at 8:06 AM
Brexit: the trillion pound ‘mistake’
yorkshirebylines.co.uk/opinion/brex...
yorkshirebylines.co.uk/opinion/brex...
Reposted by Fionna O’Leary
Bari Weiss just sent this Christmas Eve email to the CBS News staff about "building trust," which includes her tripling down on spiking the CECOT piece "to make sure it's comprehensive and fair."
One CBS staffer tells me: "She really has no idea how insulting she comes across."
One CBS staffer tells me: "She really has no idea how insulting she comes across."
December 24, 2025 at 6:33 PM
Bari Weiss just sent this Christmas Eve email to the CBS News staff about "building trust," which includes her tripling down on spiking the CECOT piece "to make sure it's comprehensive and fair."
One CBS staffer tells me: "She really has no idea how insulting she comes across."
One CBS staffer tells me: "She really has no idea how insulting she comes across."
Reposted by Fionna O’Leary
Apparently Trump taking over the Kennedy Center has tanked the ratings for their honors ceremony, down to 2.65 million from 4.1 million the year before, their lowest ratings ever.
www.rawstory.com/trump-kenned...
www.rawstory.com/trump-kenned...
'Smallest audience ever': Kennedy Center Honors tank on CBS after Trump takes over
"The Kennedy Center Honors" reportedly drew its lowest ratings ever after President Donald Trump announced he would host the event."According to preliminary Nielsen data, 'The Kennedy Center Honors' o...
www.rawstory.com
December 24, 2025 at 9:22 PM
Apparently Trump taking over the Kennedy Center has tanked the ratings for their honors ceremony, down to 2.65 million from 4.1 million the year before, their lowest ratings ever.
www.rawstory.com/trump-kenned...
www.rawstory.com/trump-kenned...
Reposted by Fionna O’Leary
This thread perfectly explains why AI has little value for qualitative research.
Yes, large language models can find patterns in qualitative data. But, they're trained on what we already know. So, they won't find anything surprising. And, surprise is qualitative research's primary value-add.
Yes, large language models can find patterns in qualitative data. But, they're trained on what we already know. So, they won't find anything surprising. And, surprise is qualitative research's primary value-add.
Absolutely right.
AI might be able to summarize (poorly) what we currently know, but a major goal of historical research is to find the hidden surprises out there.
Let me illustrate …
AI might be able to summarize (poorly) what we currently know, but a major goal of historical research is to find the hidden surprises out there.
Let me illustrate …
Not a historian but like to research. The AI might summarize what I'm looking for, but it doesn't find what I'm *not* looking for. The book on the shelf next to the one I wanted. The insight in chapter 6 based on the quote I needed from chapter 4.
December 24, 2025 at 9:05 PM
This thread perfectly explains why AI has little value for qualitative research.
Yes, large language models can find patterns in qualitative data. But, they're trained on what we already know. So, they won't find anything surprising. And, surprise is qualitative research's primary value-add.
Yes, large language models can find patterns in qualitative data. But, they're trained on what we already know. So, they won't find anything surprising. And, surprise is qualitative research's primary value-add.
Reposted by Fionna O’Leary
2025 will see the warmest Chirstmas on record in many parts of the U.S., with some areas of the Central US experiencing temperatures more than 40°F (22°C) above average.
The Climate 8-Ball is too busy reading some unredacted files to comment.
Source: www.tropicaltidbits.com
The Climate 8-Ball is too busy reading some unredacted files to comment.
Source: www.tropicaltidbits.com
December 24, 2025 at 8:20 PM
2025 will see the warmest Chirstmas on record in many parts of the U.S., with some areas of the Central US experiencing temperatures more than 40°F (22°C) above average.
The Climate 8-Ball is too busy reading some unredacted files to comment.
Source: www.tropicaltidbits.com
The Climate 8-Ball is too busy reading some unredacted files to comment.
Source: www.tropicaltidbits.com
Reposted by Fionna O’Leary
And they say satire's dead. 😂
"Far from the outdated stereotypes, today’s bookmakers are lively community hubs. During the festive season especially, betting shops take on a special atmosphere filled with excitement, companionship and familiar routine that many people look forward to each year."
"Far from the outdated stereotypes, today’s bookmakers are lively community hubs. During the festive season especially, betting shops take on a special atmosphere filled with excitement, companionship and familiar routine that many people look forward to each year."
Betting shops are keeping community spirit alive this Christmas
Walk into a betting shop this Christmas and you will find something Britain is in danger of losing. Laughter, conversation, familiar faces and a re...
www.politicshome.com
December 24, 2025 at 7:27 AM
And they say satire's dead. 😂
"Far from the outdated stereotypes, today’s bookmakers are lively community hubs. During the festive season especially, betting shops take on a special atmosphere filled with excitement, companionship and familiar routine that many people look forward to each year."
"Far from the outdated stereotypes, today’s bookmakers are lively community hubs. During the festive season especially, betting shops take on a special atmosphere filled with excitement, companionship and familiar routine that many people look forward to each year."
Reposted by Fionna O’Leary
DOJ files released today show prosecutors in 2019 discussing 10 Epstein co-conspirators, interviews with 25 victims, and subpoenas across multiple states.
Yet FBI Director Kash Patel swore under oath there was “no credible information” Epstein trafficked victims to others.
WTF?
Yet FBI Director Kash Patel swore under oath there was “no credible information” Epstein trafficked victims to others.
WTF?
December 23, 2025 at 8:02 PM
DOJ files released today show prosecutors in 2019 discussing 10 Epstein co-conspirators, interviews with 25 victims, and subpoenas across multiple states.
Yet FBI Director Kash Patel swore under oath there was “no credible information” Epstein trafficked victims to others.
WTF?
Yet FBI Director Kash Patel swore under oath there was “no credible information” Epstein trafficked victims to others.
WTF?
Not YOUR free speech. Only OURS
It’s about time the UK found a back bone regarding Trump.
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
US bars five Europeans it says pressured tech firms to censor American viewpoints online
The State Department is barring five Europeans it accuses of leading efforts to pressure U.S. tech firms to censor or suppress American viewpoints
www.independent.co.uk
December 24, 2025 at 7:28 AM
Not YOUR free speech. Only OURS
Reposted by Fionna O’Leary
This US administration is now completely losing any semblance of sanity in sanctioning "censorship masterminds". There's no other way to put it, this is tin pot dictatorship territory and must be called out as such. Including in the US.
Definite upsurge in Trump administration attacks on the EU / Europe in the last week, and I think of it rather as a cross between a toddler tantrum and an arsonist where the key fact is the project to reshape the world and even the US is failing.
December 24, 2025 at 7:23 AM
This US administration is now completely losing any semblance of sanity in sanctioning "censorship masterminds". There's no other way to put it, this is tin pot dictatorship territory and must be called out as such. Including in the US.
A letter to Larry Nassar has been known about for some years…
And it looks as if this one might have been redacted but incompetently (See my next tweet)
And it looks as if this one might have been redacted but incompetently (See my next tweet)
"Our President also shares our love of young, nubile girls."
Written by Epstein, just before he died.
Written by Epstein, just before he died.
Wow! Letter from Epstein to a convicted sex offender Larry Nassar right before Epstein’s death.
This was in the files the DOJ released last night and then removed from their site.
This was in the files the DOJ released last night and then removed from their site.
December 23, 2025 at 10:09 AM
A letter to Larry Nassar has been known about for some years…
And it looks as if this one might have been redacted but incompetently (See my next tweet)
And it looks as if this one might have been redacted but incompetently (See my next tweet)
Reposted by Fionna O’Leary
Child among 3 dead in 'massive' Russian strike on Ukraine www.rte.ie/news/ukraine...
Child among 3 dead in 'massive' Russian strike on Ukraine
At least three people, including a four-year-old child, have been killed following a "massive" Russian strike across Ukraine, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
www.rte.ie
December 23, 2025 at 9:55 AM
Child among 3 dead in 'massive' Russian strike on Ukraine www.rte.ie/news/ukraine...
Reposted by Fionna O’Leary
Was at a Christmas party with a load of clergy last night and as some people were leaving they found a person collapsed on the street outside so the Verger took over and called an ambulance and sent all the clergy away because "if they wake up surrounded by priests that'll just make things worse"
December 23, 2025 at 8:38 AM
Was at a Christmas party with a load of clergy last night and as some people were leaving they found a person collapsed on the street outside so the Verger took over and called an ambulance and sent all the clergy away because "if they wake up surrounded by priests that'll just make things worse"
Trump 2018…
December 23, 2025 at 9:59 AM
Trump 2018…
Reposted by Fionna O’Leary
Oh. 👀 Top DOJ Official Shut Down Enforcement Against Crypto Companies While Holding More Than $150,000 in Crypto Investments, by @coreygjohnson.bsky.social @shaw.al
Top DOJ Official Todd Blanche Shut Down Crypto Enforcement While Holding Crypto Assets
The second-highest official at the DOJ, Todd Blanche rose to prominence as Trump’s personal defense attorney. His actions violated the federal conflicts of interest law and his ethics agreement, exper...
www.propublica.org
December 23, 2025 at 2:21 AM
Oh. 👀 Top DOJ Official Shut Down Enforcement Against Crypto Companies While Holding More Than $150,000 in Crypto Investments, by @coreygjohnson.bsky.social @shaw.al