Matthew Parkinson-Bennett
@matthewpb.bsky.social
Publisher, Little Island Books @littleislandbooks.bsky.social. The best new Irish writing for young readers.
Pinned
Just remembered recently that as a kid I used to buy computer magazines. Big thick magazines about PCs and software. I have never had any aptitude for computing or inclination to work in tech.
January 4, 2026 at 10:58 PM
Just remembered recently that as a kid I used to buy computer magazines. Big thick magazines about PCs and software. I have never had any aptitude for computing or inclination to work in tech.
James Nesbit stars as a flawed man sifting the moral rubble of the Troubles: a man with troubles of his own
January 4, 2026 at 9:32 PM
James Nesbit stars as a flawed man sifting the moral rubble of the Troubles: a man with troubles of his own
“I had far rather walk, as I do, in daily terror of eternity, than feel that this was only a children’s game in which all the contestants would get equally worthless prizes in the end.” — TS Eliot
January 4, 2026 at 8:25 PM
“I had far rather walk, as I do, in daily terror of eternity, than feel that this was only a children’s game in which all the contestants would get equally worthless prizes in the end.” — TS Eliot
Last year the SVP had the worst possible copywriting for its Christmas fundraising slogan. Nobody must have pointed it out to them the first time cos they’ve done it again 😭
January 4, 2026 at 7:02 PM
Last year the SVP had the worst possible copywriting for its Christmas fundraising slogan. Nobody must have pointed it out to them the first time cos they’ve done it again 😭
Autogolpe by Superpower, like suicide by cop
On the face of it, the Venezuelan regime has played Trump for a sucker. The details are murky but it appears that now-acting president Rodriguez convinced Rubio that she would accept a US take-over and that the US was given the location of Maduro (and his wife).
January 4, 2026 at 6:16 PM
Autogolpe by Superpower, like suicide by cop
Reposted by Matthew Parkinson-Bennett
this is basically ricks' argument in THE GENERALS: that the structure of the american military (and political leadership) has generated an enormously competent professional force... that consistently generates useless results because of a void of strategic thinking at the top
January 4, 2026 at 1:51 PM
this is basically ricks' argument in THE GENERALS: that the structure of the american military (and political leadership) has generated an enormously competent professional force... that consistently generates useless results because of a void of strategic thinking at the top
The guys who accidentally added a journalist to their chat about the military and observed the Maduro abduction from the president’s house with some black sheets stuck up around them nonetheless seem to have a pulled off a military operation without anyone knowing in advance, including China
January 4, 2026 at 4:31 PM
The guys who accidentally added a journalist to their chat about the military and observed the Maduro abduction from the president’s house with some black sheets stuck up around them nonetheless seem to have a pulled off a military operation without anyone knowing in advance, including China
All Cads Are Bounders
January 4, 2026 at 3:06 PM
All Cads Are Bounders
Met a Scottish guy the other night who had once been in a social situation with Ian Paisley Jr in, I think, London. At one point of the night God Save the Queen was sung. “Now let’s sing the Scottish anthem,” suggests the Scotsman.
“We just did,” replies Paisley Jr.
“We just did,” replies Paisley Jr.
January 4, 2026 at 2:43 PM
Met a Scottish guy the other night who had once been in a social situation with Ian Paisley Jr in, I think, London. At one point of the night God Save the Queen was sung. “Now let’s sing the Scottish anthem,” suggests the Scotsman.
“We just did,” replies Paisley Jr.
“We just did,” replies Paisley Jr.
Reposted by Matthew Parkinson-Bennett
Under-discussed thing about becoming a middle-aged man is that it becomes palpably obvious that younger women begin to view you as 'some auld fella'
You can either respond to that by thinking '& rightly so', & being comfortable with being in that phase of your life
Or you can get very, very angry
You can either respond to that by thinking '& rightly so', & being comfortable with being in that phase of your life
Or you can get very, very angry
January 4, 2026 at 2:22 PM
Under-discussed thing about becoming a middle-aged man is that it becomes palpably obvious that younger women begin to view you as 'some auld fella'
You can either respond to that by thinking '& rightly so', & being comfortable with being in that phase of your life
Or you can get very, very angry
You can either respond to that by thinking '& rightly so', & being comfortable with being in that phase of your life
Or you can get very, very angry
I used to be heavily into yoga and for sure a lot of people in that world tend to exaggerate its health benefits and maintain scepticism towards medicine; not hard to slide from that into “you can cure cancer with your mind” and then all sorts of other stuff comes along
Weirdly the most likely culprit there I think is the mediation. I tried it out a few years ago and the amount of right wingy new age stuff online was really alarming.
January 4, 2026 at 1:59 PM
I used to be heavily into yoga and for sure a lot of people in that world tend to exaggerate its health benefits and maintain scepticism towards medicine; not hard to slide from that into “you can cure cancer with your mind” and then all sorts of other stuff comes along
I know a guy who appears to be sliding further into right-wing conspiracy theories, and the only major changes in his life that I can see having happened in recent years are getting a job he enjoys, getting into a healthy relationship with a great girl, and taking up meditation
January 4, 2026 at 1:44 PM
I know a guy who appears to be sliding further into right-wing conspiracy theories, and the only major changes in his life that I can see having happened in recent years are getting a job he enjoys, getting into a healthy relationship with a great girl, and taking up meditation
Trump just wants to talk to Maduro about how to lose an election and stay in power
January 4, 2026 at 9:26 AM
Trump just wants to talk to Maduro about how to lose an election and stay in power
Reposted by Matthew Parkinson-Bennett
Trump is trying to force US oil companies to rebuild Venezuelan oil fields that are too expensive to invest in at current crude prices while a full blown energy revolution is happening with cheap solar and electrification growing exponentially.
This is a dying empire shit.
This is a dying empire shit.
a lot of interesting revelations between the lines of this story www.politico.com/news/2026/01...
January 4, 2026 at 1:34 AM
Trump is trying to force US oil companies to rebuild Venezuelan oil fields that are too expensive to invest in at current crude prices while a full blown energy revolution is happening with cheap solar and electrification growing exponentially.
This is a dying empire shit.
This is a dying empire shit.
Reposted by Matthew Parkinson-Bennett
What just happened ...
Comedy: Jamie Kaler
Comedy: Jamie Kaler
January 4, 2026 at 8:33 AM
What just happened ...
Comedy: Jamie Kaler
Comedy: Jamie Kaler
Reposted by Matthew Parkinson-Bennett
"Senior Venezuelan government officials, led by Vice President Delcy Rodríguez...have quietly promoted a series of initiatives in recent months aimed at presenting themselves to Washington as a “more acceptable” alternative to Nicolás Maduro’s regime...funneled through intermediaries in Qatar."
Exclusive: Venezuelan leaders offered U.S. a path to stay in power without Maduro
Delcy and Jorge Rodríguez used Doha backchannels to offer Washington a 'Cartel Light' plan for a managed Venezuela transition that keeps chavismo in power.
www.miamiherald.com
January 4, 2026 at 3:43 AM
"Senior Venezuelan government officials, led by Vice President Delcy Rodríguez...have quietly promoted a series of initiatives in recent months aimed at presenting themselves to Washington as a “more acceptable” alternative to Nicolás Maduro’s regime...funneled through intermediaries in Qatar."
Starmer’s statement is closer to that of the Ayatollah than to Macron’s.
January 4, 2026 at 9:07 AM
Starmer’s statement is closer to that of the Ayatollah than to Macron’s.
I can’t believe the date on this post
Johnson, Mooney and O’Brien using AI art now as promo. @ciaraioch.bsky.social
January 4, 2026 at 8:39 AM
I can’t believe the date on this post
Reposted by Matthew Parkinson-Bennett
I think that’s right. This is at least as much about Putin envy and wanting to make a statement about hemispheric dominance.
"There is this persistent idea that the U.S. invades countries for oil. And I think it was really not the case in Iraq ....Oil, there's too much of it right now for global demand. ...It doesn't strike me that it's enough to drive this," says @profsaunders.bsky.social.
January 4, 2026 at 1:40 AM
I think that’s right. This is at least as much about Putin envy and wanting to make a statement about hemispheric dominance.
Reposted by Matthew Parkinson-Bennett
I think it was Peter Cook who came up with this gag, possibly as a Private Eye cartoon. Two men at some kind of drinks reception:
1st man: "I'm writing a novel."
2nd man: "Neither am I."
1st man: "I'm writing a novel."
2nd man: "Neither am I."
January 3, 2026 at 8:24 PM
I think it was Peter Cook who came up with this gag, possibly as a Private Eye cartoon. Two men at some kind of drinks reception:
1st man: "I'm writing a novel."
2nd man: "Neither am I."
1st man: "I'm writing a novel."
2nd man: "Neither am I."
While of course, as a Proper Pintman, I deplore the practice with my every molecule, last night I was prevailed upon to “Split the G”, and I am delighted to announce my retirement with a 100% perfect record in “Splitting the G” to match my “Crossbar Challenge” record.
January 3, 2026 at 8:50 PM
While of course, as a Proper Pintman, I deplore the practice with my every molecule, last night I was prevailed upon to “Split the G”, and I am delighted to announce my retirement with a 100% perfect record in “Splitting the G” to match my “Crossbar Challenge” record.
There’s still a bit of comedian in him
President Zelenskyy on Maduro:
What can I say here? If this can be done to dictators, like that, then the United States of America know what they should do next.
What can I say here? If this can be done to dictators, like that, then the United States of America know what they should do next.
January 3, 2026 at 8:17 PM
There’s still a bit of comedian in him
Reposted by Matthew Parkinson-Bennett
This always confused me as a child because the homeware part of Artaine Castle was called House and Home.
January 3, 2026 at 6:56 PM
This always confused me as a child because the homeware part of Artaine Castle was called House and Home.
Is it actually possible for a US court to try a foreign national for breaking an American law in another country
The President just attacked and abducted the leader of a foreign country and his wife for violating American firearms law. He's now saying that his administration will "run" the nation of 28 million people.
This was all done with zero formal participation of Congress.
This was all done with zero formal participation of Congress.
Chief Justice John Roberts says the Constitution remains "firm and unshaken" with major Supreme Court rulings ahead.
January 3, 2026 at 6:45 PM
Is it actually possible for a US court to try a foreign national for breaking an American law in another country
Seeing conflicting reports that you really don’t have to rehabilitate Maduro and excuse his crimes, and that you really don’t have to point out how bad he was. Hopeful of a consensus emerging soon so we all know what we don’t have to do.
January 3, 2026 at 5:49 PM
Seeing conflicting reports that you really don’t have to rehabilitate Maduro and excuse his crimes, and that you really don’t have to point out how bad he was. Hopeful of a consensus emerging soon so we all know what we don’t have to do.