Fionna O’Leary
@fascinatorfun.bsky.social
Retired Lawyer, cook, Europhile, books, music, good conversations, gardens, walking. Bird site refugee 🇬🇧 🇮🇪
Reposted by Fionna O’Leary
Missed this yesterday. Massive boost for Ukraine’s arms industry, who have been pushing for export controls to be lifted. Creates even more opportunity to develop new equipment, innovate and fund the defensive effort. Great news.
February 9, 2026 at 7:45 AM
Missed this yesterday. Massive boost for Ukraine’s arms industry, who have been pushing for export controls to be lifted. Creates even more opportunity to develop new equipment, innovate and fund the defensive effort. Great news.
Reposted by Fionna O’Leary
Creating a substantial class of people who may never be able to settle, or who only do so after half a lifetime, is in no-one’s interests, leaving people open to exploitation, disadvantage and insecurity and reducing social cohesion. If anything, settlement should be easier, not harder to obtain.
February 9, 2026 at 8:28 AM
Creating a substantial class of people who may never be able to settle, or who only do so after half a lifetime, is in no-one’s interests, leaving people open to exploitation, disadvantage and insecurity and reducing social cohesion. If anything, settlement should be easier, not harder to obtain.
Reposted by Fionna O’Leary
Radium, DDT, asbestos, laserdisk...
Any history of technology people know if there are other technologies that were touted as "here to stay" in the manner of generative AI that...didn't stay?
i guess worth looking into whether people were similarly convinced about other technologies in the past
February 9, 2026 at 8:24 AM
Radium, DDT, asbestos, laserdisk...
Reposted by Fionna O’Leary
Mortality rates were so high on sugar plantations during slavery that slaveholders used to coerce enslaved people working other crops like cotton with threats to sell them or their loved ones to sugar plantations.
That’s where the term “sold down the river” came from.
That’s where the term “sold down the river” came from.
February 9, 2026 at 4:01 AM
Mortality rates were so high on sugar plantations during slavery that slaveholders used to coerce enslaved people working other crops like cotton with threats to sell them or their loved ones to sugar plantations.
That’s where the term “sold down the river” came from.
That’s where the term “sold down the river” came from.
Reposted by Fionna O’Leary
Reposted by Fionna O’Leary
Exactly.
Every day 🇺🇸 looks weaker, the stink of corruption gets worse.
Shame SHAME on 🇺🇸
SHAME on Trump and his coterie that shield & facilitate him and act out his madness. Destroying 🇺🇸
Every day 🇺🇸 looks weaker, the stink of corruption gets worse.
Shame SHAME on 🇺🇸
SHAME on Trump and his coterie that shield & facilitate him and act out his madness. Destroying 🇺🇸
So Starmer, a man who never met Epstein but made a bad appointment, might resign. But Trump, his closest friend, fellow sex abuser and coverer-upper of his crimes, is going nowhere.
That’s how it works, isn’t it?
That’s how it works, isn’t it?
February 9, 2026 at 8:44 AM
Exactly.
Every day 🇺🇸 looks weaker, the stink of corruption gets worse.
Shame SHAME on 🇺🇸
SHAME on Trump and his coterie that shield & facilitate him and act out his madness. Destroying 🇺🇸
Every day 🇺🇸 looks weaker, the stink of corruption gets worse.
Shame SHAME on 🇺🇸
SHAME on Trump and his coterie that shield & facilitate him and act out his madness. Destroying 🇺🇸
Reposted by Fionna O’Leary
From today’s Russian papers: cucumber prices in Russia jump 42.85% in a month, number of loss-making companies rising, wage arrears growing, “…gap between pensions & wages increasing.” #ReadingRussia
Russia: wage arrears growing, cucumber prices jump 43% in a month
YouTube video by Steve Rosenberg
youtu.be
February 9, 2026 at 7:55 AM
From today’s Russian papers: cucumber prices in Russia jump 42.85% in a month, number of loss-making companies rising, wage arrears growing, “…gap between pensions & wages increasing.” #ReadingRussia
The strikingly soft tone in stark contrast to ICE aggression is very effective.
Reminds me of the Estonian Singing Revolution.
Keep it up #Minneapolis. Sing your way to peace and a better world.
#IceOut
Reminds me of the Estonian Singing Revolution.
Keep it up #Minneapolis. Sing your way to peace and a better world.
#IceOut
A 2,000 strong MN choir sing outside #Minneapolis Marriott to the ICE paramilitary . Be "Minnesota nice." ICE can't handle it.
February 9, 2026 at 8:41 AM
The strikingly soft tone in stark contrast to ICE aggression is very effective.
Reminds me of the Estonian Singing Revolution.
Keep it up #Minneapolis. Sing your way to peace and a better world.
#IceOut
Reminds me of the Estonian Singing Revolution.
Keep it up #Minneapolis. Sing your way to peace and a better world.
#IceOut
Reposted by Fionna O’Leary
Yup, yesterday…
Global economy must move past GDP to avoid planetary disaster, warns UN chief
Exclusive: António Guterres says world’s accounting systems should place true value on the environment
www.theguardian.com
February 9, 2026 at 8:23 AM
Yup, yesterday…
Reposted by Fionna O’Leary
"It took decades of painstaking work at the US Naval Weapons Laboratory for her to come up with the geodesic systems that would allow the precise measurements and mapping needed for the technology – her work nevertheless transformed modern life."
Gladys West obituary
Mathematician whose work at the US Naval Weapons Laboratory was pivotal to the development of GPS
www.theguardian.com
February 9, 2026 at 8:00 AM
"It took decades of painstaking work at the US Naval Weapons Laboratory for her to come up with the geodesic systems that would allow the precise measurements and mapping needed for the technology – her work nevertheless transformed modern life."
Reposted by Fionna O’Leary
Of course, it's expensive to keep people locked up and feeding them. So much easier to have people being free, working and feeding themselves but Trump can't figure that out, like the human and business disaster he is.
February 9, 2026 at 7:50 AM
Of course, it's expensive to keep people locked up and feeding them. So much easier to have people being free, working and feeding themselves but Trump can't figure that out, like the human and business disaster he is.
Reposted by Fionna O’Leary
When are they going to learn that if you exclude people with these skills, house building for example won't happen?
As importantly it will scare others from going to work there
It's going to be an economic disaster for the USA
Now remind me what happened post-Brexit vote in the UK?
As importantly it will scare others from going to work there
It's going to be an economic disaster for the USA
Now remind me what happened post-Brexit vote in the UK?
ICE HELL
Irishman 🇮🇪 lived in 🇺🇸 for 20 yrs. Built own plastering business in Boston. Valid work permit. Married to 🇺🇸 citizen. No convictions “not even a parking ticket”. Green card application underway since April 2025. Would normally be granted.
www.irishtimes.com/world/us/202...
Irishman 🇮🇪 lived in 🇺🇸 for 20 yrs. Built own plastering business in Boston. Valid work permit. Married to 🇺🇸 citizen. No convictions “not even a parking ticket”. Green card application underway since April 2025. Would normally be granted.
www.irishtimes.com/world/us/202...
‘Absolute hell’: Irishman with valid US work permit held by Ice since September
Seamus Culleton has been in a detention facility in Texas for nearly five months despite having no criminal record
www.irishtimes.com
February 9, 2026 at 7:57 AM
When are they going to learn that if you exclude people with these skills, house building for example won't happen?
As importantly it will scare others from going to work there
It's going to be an economic disaster for the USA
Now remind me what happened post-Brexit vote in the UK?
As importantly it will scare others from going to work there
It's going to be an economic disaster for the USA
Now remind me what happened post-Brexit vote in the UK?
Reposted by Fionna O’Leary
Short thread on our new paper. We use face mask efficacy research as a “stress test” for systematic review methods. We analysed 66 systematic reviews of face mask efficacy; they reached widely different conclusions (~half said they work, half said that evidence of efficacy was lacking). 1/
Our new paper:
Synthesis challenges in complex evidence: A critical analysis of systematic reviews of face mask efficacy
#episky #healthpolicy #medsky
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Synthesis challenges in complex evidence: A critical analysis of systematic reviews of face mask efficacy
#episky #healthpolicy #medsky
www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Synthesis challenges in complex evidence: A critical analysis of systematic reviews of face mask efficacy | Research Synthesis Methods | Cambridge Core
Synthesis challenges in complex evidence: A critical analysis of systematic reviews of face mask efficacy
www.cambridge.org
February 8, 2026 at 10:18 AM
Short thread on our new paper. We use face mask efficacy research as a “stress test” for systematic review methods. We analysed 66 systematic reviews of face mask efficacy; they reached widely different conclusions (~half said they work, half said that evidence of efficacy was lacking). 1/
Reposted by Fionna O’Leary
Keep Palantir our of the UK, take action now ⬇️
https://goodlaw.social/658abc
https://goodlaw.social/658abc
February 6, 2026 at 12:30 PM
Keep Palantir our of the UK, take action now ⬇️
https://goodlaw.social/658abc
https://goodlaw.social/658abc
Reposted by Fionna O’Leary
Since #bbclaurak is trending, let’s remind ourselves that ONE MONTH ago, the BBC invited Mandelson on for a soft-ball interview on her show. While HIS CLIENT , Palantir’s Louis Moseley appeared as a pundit
Both, as I wrote at time, were ‘abject failures of journalism’
1/
Both, as I wrote at time, were ‘abject failures of journalism’
1/
February 8, 2026 at 10:13 AM
Since #bbclaurak is trending, let’s remind ourselves that ONE MONTH ago, the BBC invited Mandelson on for a soft-ball interview on her show. While HIS CLIENT , Palantir’s Louis Moseley appeared as a pundit
Both, as I wrote at time, were ‘abject failures of journalism’
1/
Both, as I wrote at time, were ‘abject failures of journalism’
1/
Reposted by Fionna O’Leary
SpaceX shifts focus from something that it will never do on Mars to something it will never do on the Moon.
February 9, 2026 at 3:32 AM
SpaceX shifts focus from something that it will never do on Mars to something it will never do on the Moon.
Reposted by Fionna O’Leary
England’s poorest areas have 70% more vape shops and bookmakers than wealthier ones
England’s poorest areas have 70% more vape shops and bookmakers than wealthier ones
Data shows deprived communities have more off-licences and takeaways and fewer childcare facilities and gyms
England’s poorest communities have 70% more vape shops, off-licences and bookmakers than wealthier ones and far fewer cafes and gyms, a study has found.
The Independent Commission on Neighbourhoods (Icon), chaired by the Labour peer Hilary Armstrong, said ministers risked overlooking vitally important neighbourhood shopping precincts by focusing on town centres. In deprived areas, local shops have roughly double the number of retailers selling unhealthy food and significantly higher vacancy rates, its research has found. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
February 9, 2026 at 6:11 AM
England’s poorest areas have 70% more vape shops and bookmakers than wealthier ones
Reposted by Fionna O’Leary
"you might stumble over a whole collective of people resisting in ways you didn't think of. There's a crew of carpenters just going around fixing kicked-in doors. There are tow truck drivers taking cars of detained people away for free...."
February 8, 2026 at 2:12 PM
"you might stumble over a whole collective of people resisting in ways you didn't think of. There's a crew of carpenters just going around fixing kicked-in doors. There are tow truck drivers taking cars of detained people away for free...."
Reposted by Fionna O’Leary
@jmkorhonen.fi Nuclear weapons are one thing, but I don't know if most countries in the European Union are ready to even discuss conscription.
February 8, 2026 at 10:08 PM
@jmkorhonen.fi Nuclear weapons are one thing, but I don't know if most countries in the European Union are ready to even discuss conscription.
Reposted by Fionna O’Leary
Finland is good at security in all situations, and we support Ukraine with military and civilian aid. But think about this, if you are reading my post from Canada, Belgium or France.
Most people in Finland are not able to go out in certain places, especially in mid-winter. Some will, either for work in the military or because they have a family connection to the landscape, as I do.
If you want to be tough, learn over the years, know the right people and be humble.
#Sufficiency
If you want to be tough, learn over the years, know the right people and be humble.
#Sufficiency
February 8, 2026 at 10:05 PM
Finland is good at security in all situations, and we support Ukraine with military and civilian aid. But think about this, if you are reading my post from Canada, Belgium or France.
Reposted by Fionna O’Leary
This post cannot be real, surely.
SURELY?
Liz Truss opines about the "Labour Illuminati”.
SURELY?
Liz Truss opines about the "Labour Illuminati”.
February 8, 2026 at 9:22 PM
This post cannot be real, surely.
SURELY?
Liz Truss opines about the "Labour Illuminati”.
SURELY?
Liz Truss opines about the "Labour Illuminati”.
Reposted by Fionna O’Leary
The measurable cost of Brexit is "brutal" & "devastating".
Isn't it time our government did something about that, or at least started planning to do so?
A 'reset' is not going to cut it!
www.thelondoneconomic.com/business-eco...
Isn't it time our government did something about that, or at least started planning to do so?
A 'reset' is not going to cut it!
www.thelondoneconomic.com/business-eco...
The economic cost of Brexit has just been laid bare – and it’s devastating
A decade on, the economic cost of Brexit has just been laid bare – and it’s devastating. Here's what the figures say.
www.thelondoneconomic.com
February 9, 2026 at 6:25 AM
The measurable cost of Brexit is "brutal" & "devastating".
Isn't it time our government did something about that, or at least started planning to do so?
A 'reset' is not going to cut it!
www.thelondoneconomic.com/business-eco...
Isn't it time our government did something about that, or at least started planning to do so?
A 'reset' is not going to cut it!
www.thelondoneconomic.com/business-eco...
ICE HELL
Irishman 🇮🇪 lived in 🇺🇸 for 20 yrs. Built own plastering business in Boston. Valid work permit. Married to 🇺🇸 citizen. No convictions “not even a parking ticket”. Green card application underway since April 2025. Would normally be granted.
www.irishtimes.com/world/us/202...
Irishman 🇮🇪 lived in 🇺🇸 for 20 yrs. Built own plastering business in Boston. Valid work permit. Married to 🇺🇸 citizen. No convictions “not even a parking ticket”. Green card application underway since April 2025. Would normally be granted.
www.irishtimes.com/world/us/202...
‘Absolute hell’: Irishman with valid US work permit held by Ice since September
Seamus Culleton has been in a detention facility in Texas for nearly five months despite having no criminal record
www.irishtimes.com
February 9, 2026 at 7:12 AM
ICE HELL
Irishman 🇮🇪 lived in 🇺🇸 for 20 yrs. Built own plastering business in Boston. Valid work permit. Married to 🇺🇸 citizen. No convictions “not even a parking ticket”. Green card application underway since April 2025. Would normally be granted.
www.irishtimes.com/world/us/202...
Irishman 🇮🇪 lived in 🇺🇸 for 20 yrs. Built own plastering business in Boston. Valid work permit. Married to 🇺🇸 citizen. No convictions “not even a parking ticket”. Green card application underway since April 2025. Would normally be granted.
www.irishtimes.com/world/us/202...
Reposted by Fionna O’Leary
Many students said they were careful to avoid "banned words" in their GRFP applications, but in some cases it was unavoidable. Now they're wondering if these words led to their RWR notifications.
“My project is about bears and ‘black’ is a trigger word,” one Redditor wrote. “Insane.”
“My project is about bears and ‘black’ is a trigger word,” one Redditor wrote. “Insane.”
Students applying for NSF funding are having their applications “returned without review” for being “ineligible,” despite their proposed research falling squarely within the application guidelines. eos.org/research-and...
Graduate Students’ NSF Fellowship Applications Are Being “Returned Without Review” - Eos
Graduate students applying for NSF funding have had their applications returned without review—even though their proposed research appears to fall squarely within the fields of study outlined in the p...
eos.org
February 6, 2026 at 9:12 PM
Many students said they were careful to avoid "banned words" in their GRFP applications, but in some cases it was unavoidable. Now they're wondering if these words led to their RWR notifications.
“My project is about bears and ‘black’ is a trigger word,” one Redditor wrote. “Insane.”
“My project is about bears and ‘black’ is a trigger word,” one Redditor wrote. “Insane.”