Cornelius (aka Con) Traas
@theapplefarmer.bsky.social
Fruit Grower. University Lecturer. Horticultural Scientist. Drinks Manufacturer (juices, cider, spirits). Sustainable Food Production Systems. Statistics hobbyist.
Reposted by Cornelius (aka Con) Traas
Adam Moloney and Jan Heng Li Bushmann are recruiting for a study exploring associations between early life stress, substance use and chronic pain through an online survey that should take no more than 20 minutes to complete. To participate, go to: unioflimerick.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
January 29, 2026 at 3:29 PM
Adam Moloney and Jan Heng Li Bushmann are recruiting for a study exploring associations between early life stress, substance use and chronic pain through an online survey that should take no more than 20 minutes to complete. To participate, go to: unioflimerick.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...
Reposted by Cornelius (aka Con) Traas
Every AI article I've read makes grand claims & then includes an example like this - so AI is going to take an imaginary job that neither exists nor needs to exist...[pro-tip: kids do tend to have opinions of their own about where their birthday party takes place]
![Excerpt from The Atlantic - the text begins with a broad claim about about AI leading to job losses and then describes how Annika Lewis (executive director of a crypo foundation [no, I have no idea what that is supposed to be either]) has used it to scan her fridge to suggest recipes and she hopes to use it to do her shopping and book party venues for her kids and boo dental appointments, a set of chores she was apparently considering hiring an assistant to do.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:lpdynnibpsdp77zy3can25y6/bafkreigz7ovs7ndzrdkavdjv3snrfxwzdynivg4lh3dcxwvz3tn2n66bsa@jpeg)
January 29, 2026 at 5:17 PM
Every AI article I've read makes grand claims & then includes an example like this - so AI is going to take an imaginary job that neither exists nor needs to exist...[pro-tip: kids do tend to have opinions of their own about where their birthday party takes place]
Reposted by Cornelius (aka Con) Traas
"How do I get it to make a picture of a monkey who looks like Trump with makeup on?"
"You type in: a picture of a monkey who looks like Trump with makeup on"
[tap tap tap tap....]
Congratulations! Here's your certificate and a Deliveroo bag for your new job with Deliveroo!
"You type in: a picture of a monkey who looks like Trump with makeup on"
[tap tap tap tap....]
Congratulations! Here's your certificate and a Deliveroo bag for your new job with Deliveroo!
Free AI training to be offered to every adult in the UK
Free AI training to be offered to every adult in the UK
Free AI training to be offered to every adult in the UK
www.independent.co.uk
January 28, 2026 at 11:39 AM
"How do I get it to make a picture of a monkey who looks like Trump with makeup on?"
"You type in: a picture of a monkey who looks like Trump with makeup on"
[tap tap tap tap....]
Congratulations! Here's your certificate and a Deliveroo bag for your new job with Deliveroo!
"You type in: a picture of a monkey who looks like Trump with makeup on"
[tap tap tap tap....]
Congratulations! Here's your certificate and a Deliveroo bag for your new job with Deliveroo!
Reposted by Cornelius (aka Con) Traas
And of course the plastic lawns.
A lot of front gardens are completely paved over, tree trunks are encased in asphalt - where is all the extra rainwater (caused by climate change) supposed to go?
www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2026...
www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2026...
‘Worst not over’ warns Met Éireann as Storm Chandra floods homes and businesses in Wexford, Dublin and Wicklow
Met Éireann says risks ‘persist for the rest of the week’ amid more rainfall and slow drainage
www.irishtimes.com
January 28, 2026 at 8:53 PM
And of course the plastic lawns.
Reposted by Cornelius (aka Con) Traas
We rally because we won’t let OUR science be used to harm the public.
We rally because science is a PUBLIC GOOD.
We rally because facts are facts, even when the President doesn’t like them.
We rally because independent centers of thought are being censored.
We rally against pseudoscience. 3/
We rally because science is a PUBLIC GOOD.
We rally because facts are facts, even when the President doesn’t like them.
We rally because independent centers of thought are being censored.
We rally against pseudoscience. 3/
January 28, 2026 at 9:41 PM
We rally because we won’t let OUR science be used to harm the public.
We rally because science is a PUBLIC GOOD.
We rally because facts are facts, even when the President doesn’t like them.
We rally because independent centers of thought are being censored.
We rally against pseudoscience. 3/
We rally because science is a PUBLIC GOOD.
We rally because facts are facts, even when the President doesn’t like them.
We rally because independent centers of thought are being censored.
We rally against pseudoscience. 3/
Reposted by Cornelius (aka Con) Traas
I knew a lady who did this with credit cards for a while
January 28, 2026 at 9:24 PM
I knew a lady who did this with credit cards for a while
Great tune too.
"We'll take our stand for this land
and the stranger in our midst"
🥲
and the stranger in our midst"
🥲
I wrote this song on Saturday, recorded it yesterday and released it to you today in response to the state terror being visited on the city of Minneapolis. It’s dedicated to the people of Minneapolis, our innocent immigrant neighbors and in memory of Alex Pretti and Renee Good.
Stay free
Stay free
January 28, 2026 at 9:55 PM
Great tune too.
Reposted by Cornelius (aka Con) Traas
This is hilarious. The shareholders voted against this in September, but the board is doing as Elon wishes. The shareholders, of course, richly deserve this. SpaceX is next for more xAI milking.
Elon self-dealing secured: “On January 16, 2026, Tesla entered into an agreement to invest approximately $2 billion to acquire shares of Series E Preferred Stock of xAI as part of their recent publicly-disclosed financing round. “
January 28, 2026 at 9:23 PM
This is hilarious. The shareholders voted against this in September, but the board is doing as Elon wishes. The shareholders, of course, richly deserve this. SpaceX is next for more xAI milking.
Reposted by Cornelius (aka Con) Traas
Brought to you by the government that basically just said ah fuck it to its meagre climate targets too.
January 28, 2026 at 7:27 PM
Brought to you by the government that basically just said ah fuck it to its meagre climate targets too.
Reposted by Cornelius (aka Con) Traas
#Palantir represents a real threat to our freedom and all of our futures.
If you really want to know what Palantir do fast forward to 9.10 where Robert Riche explains the company’s whole insidious and frightening inventory!!
youtu.be/tNHe3ME7P2c?...
youtu.be/tNHe3ME7P2c?...
Palantir CEO Says the Quiet Part OUT LOUD… People Are Horrified
YouTube video by Rebel HQ
youtu.be
January 28, 2026 at 5:16 PM
#Palantir represents a real threat to our freedom and all of our futures.
Reposted by Cornelius (aka Con) Traas
Derelict site near where I live, totally flooded.
Planning application pending for >60 houses.
#caveatemptor
Planning application pending for >60 houses.
#caveatemptor
January 27, 2026 at 1:20 PM
Derelict site near where I live, totally flooded.
Planning application pending for >60 houses.
#caveatemptor
Planning application pending for >60 houses.
#caveatemptor
Reposted by Cornelius (aka Con) Traas
This is it bsky.app/profile/fplo...
Derelict site near where I live, totally flooded.
Planning application pending for >60 houses.
#caveatemptor
Planning application pending for >60 houses.
#caveatemptor
January 28, 2026 at 12:14 PM
This is it bsky.app/profile/fplo...
Reposted by Cornelius (aka Con) Traas
Reposted by Cornelius (aka Con) Traas
Makes you wonder just how dangerously invested the UK is into ai stock and companies if they’re pulling a move this desperate lmao
BREAKING: Free AI training will be offered to every adult in the UK, with short courses to teach people how to use simple AI tools effectively in the workplace.
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall tells #BBCBreakfast about the scheme
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall tells #BBCBreakfast about the scheme
January 28, 2026 at 8:40 AM
Makes you wonder just how dangerously invested the UK is into ai stock and companies if they’re pulling a move this desperate lmao
Reposted by Cornelius (aka Con) Traas
Amazon = bad for people, places and nature.
Amazon to cut 16,000 corporate jobs worldwide
Amazon to cut 16,000 corporate jobs worldwide
Move is latest round of layoffs at ecommerce giant, which has more than 6,000 workers in Ireland
www.irishtimes.com
January 28, 2026 at 11:29 AM
Amazon = bad for people, places and nature.
Instead of admitting that the government is 30 years late getting around to planning (and implementing mitigation) for climate-related events which will become ever more frequent, a minister blames the weather forecast. The last ten years Ireland is awash with "one-off" corporate tax. Spend it.
January 28, 2026 at 11:35 AM
Instead of admitting that the government is 30 years late getting around to planning (and implementing mitigation) for climate-related events which will become ever more frequent, a minister blames the weather forecast. The last ten years Ireland is awash with "one-off" corporate tax. Spend it.
Reposted by Cornelius (aka Con) Traas
River Slaney in Enniscorthy appears to have peaked for now, just below the 2015 level. Photo from Michelle shows the top of a car just visible in floodwaters.
January 27, 2026 at 4:22 PM
River Slaney in Enniscorthy appears to have peaked for now, just below the 2015 level. Photo from Michelle shows the top of a car just visible in floodwaters.
Reposted by Cornelius (aka Con) Traas
#StormKristin hitting Portugal and Spain tonight and Wednesday with red warnings issued in many parts of Portugal with very strong gusts and heavy rain to follow over next couple of days.
January 27, 2026 at 6:46 PM
#StormKristin hitting Portugal and Spain tonight and Wednesday with red warnings issued in many parts of Portugal with very strong gusts and heavy rain to follow over next couple of days.
Reposted by Cornelius (aka Con) Traas
If you want an image for the Taoiseach prostrating himself before fascists again in six weeks time, here's one I made last year
i have rarely felt more shame at my country's craven, spineless excuse for leadership
January 27, 2026 at 1:23 PM
If you want an image for the Taoiseach prostrating himself before fascists again in six weeks time, here's one I made last year
Reposted by Cornelius (aka Con) Traas
The pain of those impacted is heartbreaking. It speaks to an abdication by those in power. Housing? Sort it yourself. In a flood plain? Tough, should have bought elsewhere. Reducing future risks? Not our problem. Every single step demands hyperindividual responses to collective problems.
January 27, 2026 at 5:36 PM
The pain of those impacted is heartbreaking. It speaks to an abdication by those in power. Housing? Sort it yourself. In a flood plain? Tough, should have bought elsewhere. Reducing future risks? Not our problem. Every single step demands hyperindividual responses to collective problems.
Reposted by Cornelius (aka Con) Traas
Shame the economics of seriously tackling climate breakdown don't stack up.
Guess we'll just have to let things keep on getting worse and worse.
share.google/kYasbrNMgsV3...
Guess we'll just have to let things keep on getting worse and worse.
share.google/kYasbrNMgsV3...
Enniscorthy ‘devastated’ by flooding
share.google
January 27, 2026 at 5:08 PM
Shame the economics of seriously tackling climate breakdown don't stack up.
Guess we'll just have to let things keep on getting worse and worse.
share.google/kYasbrNMgsV3...
Guess we'll just have to let things keep on getting worse and worse.
share.google/kYasbrNMgsV3...
Reposted by Cornelius (aka Con) Traas
A lessons the past 12 months has taught us about our creaking transport networks is that they are extremely vulnerable. The aftermath of Storm Chandra has shown us, again, that in an era of increased extreme weather events, our infrastructure is not fit for purpose
www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2026...
www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2026...
Brian Caulfield: Storm Chandra commuter chaos is made far worse by a dysfunctional transport system
Aftermath of Storm Chandra has shown once again that in an era of increased extreme weather events, our infrastructure is not fit for purpose
www.irishtimes.com
January 27, 2026 at 6:08 PM
A lessons the past 12 months has taught us about our creaking transport networks is that they are extremely vulnerable. The aftermath of Storm Chandra has shown us, again, that in an era of increased extreme weather events, our infrastructure is not fit for purpose
www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2026...
www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2026...
Reposted by Cornelius (aka Con) Traas
New: Unsealed court docs detail Big Tech’s yearslong, secret race to ingest the collective works of humanity, including Anthropic’s project to “destructively scan all the books in the world.”
Gift link: wapo.st/4rjXAMQ
Gift link: wapo.st/4rjXAMQ
How Silicon Valley built AI: Buying, scanning and destroying millions of books
Court filings reveal how AI companies raced to obtain more books to feed chatbots, including by buying, scanning and disposing of millions of titles.
wapo.st
January 27, 2026 at 3:20 PM
New: Unsealed court docs detail Big Tech’s yearslong, secret race to ingest the collective works of humanity, including Anthropic’s project to “destructively scan all the books in the world.”
Gift link: wapo.st/4rjXAMQ
Gift link: wapo.st/4rjXAMQ
Reposted by Cornelius (aka Con) Traas
Claiming no one would realistically devote their life to serving others w/o being funded by nefarious actors, 47 alleges that Democrats secretly paid Alex Pretti, the 37-year-old VA nurse killed by U.S. Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis, to be a model citizen.
theonion.com/trump-allege...
theonion.com/trump-allege...
January 27, 2026 at 1:47 AM
Claiming no one would realistically devote their life to serving others w/o being funded by nefarious actors, 47 alleges that Democrats secretly paid Alex Pretti, the 37-year-old VA nurse killed by U.S. Border Patrol agents in Minneapolis, to be a model citizen.
theonion.com/trump-allege...
theonion.com/trump-allege...
Reposted by Cornelius (aka Con) Traas
Yesterday, I was invited to a press conference with the U.S. ambassador to the Netherlands to discuss the removal of panels honoring Black soldiers at the American Cemetery in Margraten.
US removal of panels honoring Black soldiers at WWII cemetery in the Netherlands draws backlash
The American Cemetery in the Dutch village of Margraten has become a flashpoint over the removal of displays honoring Black soldiers.
apnews.com
January 27, 2026 at 12:18 PM
Yesterday, I was invited to a press conference with the U.S. ambassador to the Netherlands to discuss the removal of panels honoring Black soldiers at the American Cemetery in Margraten.