Ryan Shirlow
@ryanshirlow.bsky.social
Irish 🇮🇪 in Yorkshire 🏵️ Fortean Times writer & PhD student, study folk music 🪕 & folklore 🧚
Also ❤️old 🚙 cars & homebrew 🍺
Dad to 2 wee girls
Music on Woodford Halse and Fenny Compton https://ryanshirlow.bandcamp.com/
Also ❤️old 🚙 cars & homebrew 🍺
Dad to 2 wee girls
Music on Woodford Halse and Fenny Compton https://ryanshirlow.bandcamp.com/
Pinned
Ryan Shirlow
@ryanshirlow.bsky.social
· Oct 4
The shitter it all gets, the more I’m going to post about mandolins and fairies.
That’s it, that’s the plan.
That’s it, that’s the plan.
Reposted by Ryan Shirlow
I was 30 when my mum finally stopped bugging me to install a tracking app on my phone.
People are very hard on young people on here, lack of critical thinking, lack of responsibility etc, and then you see something like this and it all makes a different kind of sense.
November 30, 2025 at 2:08 PM
I was 30 when my mum finally stopped bugging me to install a tracking app on my phone.
Reposted by Ryan Shirlow
I shot the serif.
November 30, 2025 at 12:36 PM
I shot the serif.
People are very hard on young people on here, lack of critical thinking, lack of responsibility etc, and then you see something like this and it all makes a different kind of sense.
November 30, 2025 at 1:44 PM
People are very hard on young people on here, lack of critical thinking, lack of responsibility etc, and then you see something like this and it all makes a different kind of sense.
When Hitler banned the so called “Nazi font” Fractur in 1941 little could he know the legions of reply guys he would release on to Blue Sky 84 years later.
November 30, 2025 at 12:16 PM
When Hitler banned the so called “Nazi font” Fractur in 1941 little could he know the legions of reply guys he would release on to Blue Sky 84 years later.
Reposted by Ryan Shirlow
In my dreams tonight
Renovating a castle
On Channel 4
Will you watch me
at the time of broadcast?
Or sometime later
Sometime before
Renovating a castle
On Channel 4
Will you watch me
at the time of broadcast?
Or sometime later
Sometime before
November 30, 2025 at 11:52 AM
In my dreams tonight
Renovating a castle
On Channel 4
Will you watch me
at the time of broadcast?
Or sometime later
Sometime before
Renovating a castle
On Channel 4
Will you watch me
at the time of broadcast?
Or sometime later
Sometime before
Reposted by Ryan Shirlow
I remember when they first came back, cuban heels they were called, for hipsters who wanted a 70’s look.
Then thanks to the work of malevolent leprechauns they infected all men’s shoes.
Then thanks to the work of malevolent leprechauns they infected all men’s shoes.
November 30, 2025 at 11:16 AM
I remember when they first came back, cuban heels they were called, for hipsters who wanted a 70’s look.
Then thanks to the work of malevolent leprechauns they infected all men’s shoes.
Then thanks to the work of malevolent leprechauns they infected all men’s shoes.
Bad luck for men who learned to walk before 2005.
Now all men’s shoes have progressively more extreme heel lifts.
You have to buy expensive specialist “zero drop” shoes, previously known as… shoes.
Now all men’s shoes have progressively more extreme heel lifts.
You have to buy expensive specialist “zero drop” shoes, previously known as… shoes.
November 30, 2025 at 11:14 AM
Bad luck for men who learned to walk before 2005.
Now all men’s shoes have progressively more extreme heel lifts.
You have to buy expensive specialist “zero drop” shoes, previously known as… shoes.
Now all men’s shoes have progressively more extreme heel lifts.
You have to buy expensive specialist “zero drop” shoes, previously known as… shoes.
Why does the CGI Demagorgon suck so bad? It moves all wobbly, like it’s made of Jelly. Or AI.
November 30, 2025 at 8:04 AM
Why does the CGI Demagorgon suck so bad? It moves all wobbly, like it’s made of Jelly. Or AI.
The “double screening” thing has absolutely killed the dialogue in this show.
During Stranger Things I announce
“I’m walking into the kitchen now to get some pudding, I’d like to eat it as we continue to watch TV.”
My youngest reassured me it was gluten free.
“It’s good that Alice remembered that,” I said “because a few years ago I was diagnosed coeliac and can no longer
“I’m walking into the kitchen now to get some pudding, I’d like to eat it as we continue to watch TV.”
My youngest reassured me it was gluten free.
“It’s good that Alice remembered that,” I said “because a few years ago I was diagnosed coeliac and can no longer
November 30, 2025 at 8:02 AM
The “double screening” thing has absolutely killed the dialogue in this show.
During Stranger Things I announce
“I’m walking into the kitchen now to get some pudding, I’d like to eat it as we continue to watch TV.”
My youngest reassured me it was gluten free.
“It’s good that Alice remembered that,” I said “because a few years ago I was diagnosed coeliac and can no longer
“I’m walking into the kitchen now to get some pudding, I’d like to eat it as we continue to watch TV.”
My youngest reassured me it was gluten free.
“It’s good that Alice remembered that,” I said “because a few years ago I was diagnosed coeliac and can no longer
November 30, 2025 at 7:59 AM
During Stranger Things I announce
“I’m walking into the kitchen now to get some pudding, I’d like to eat it as we continue to watch TV.”
My youngest reassured me it was gluten free.
“It’s good that Alice remembered that,” I said “because a few years ago I was diagnosed coeliac and can no longer
“I’m walking into the kitchen now to get some pudding, I’d like to eat it as we continue to watch TV.”
My youngest reassured me it was gluten free.
“It’s good that Alice remembered that,” I said “because a few years ago I was diagnosed coeliac and can no longer
Reposted by Ryan Shirlow
And I swear, once again, this is not dunking on kids. We are seeing this at all levels--even grad students. AI + social media has had a profound impact on how we think and process our world, and we can't stop to reflect on it, because billionaires keep hurling addictive tech at us.
November 28, 2025 at 10:34 PM
And I swear, once again, this is not dunking on kids. We are seeing this at all levels--even grad students. AI + social media has had a profound impact on how we think and process our world, and we can't stop to reflect on it, because billionaires keep hurling addictive tech at us.
Reposted by Ryan Shirlow
This is not a "students today" post--it's more "this is a new form of dysfunction" that doesn't look exactly like it's been in previous decades. It's more than just "first-year chaos." It's an across-the-board inability to process instructions, engage with longer texts, and *connect* with others.
November 28, 2025 at 10:22 PM
This is not a "students today" post--it's more "this is a new form of dysfunction" that doesn't look exactly like it's been in previous decades. It's more than just "first-year chaos." It's an across-the-board inability to process instructions, engage with longer texts, and *connect* with others.
Really struggling to buy clothes online, sizing just seems to be so random. Normally take a 32” leg but the Gap trousers I ordered in that size are so long they pool on the floor like velvet curtains.
November 29, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Really struggling to buy clothes online, sizing just seems to be so random. Normally take a 32” leg but the Gap trousers I ordered in that size are so long they pool on the floor like velvet curtains.
Just caught up on the last series of Slow Horses - probably my overall favourite, don’t know why people on here were hating it, Oldman was on great form.
a man eating a bowl of food with chopsticks
Alt: Jackson Lamb: a man eating a bowl of food with chopsticks
media.tenor.com
November 28, 2025 at 10:53 PM
Just caught up on the last series of Slow Horses - probably my overall favourite, don’t know why people on here were hating it, Oldman was on great form.
Reposted by Ryan Shirlow
not beating the “AI art is lazy” allegations
November 26, 2025 at 7:47 PM
not beating the “AI art is lazy” allegations
Reposted by Ryan Shirlow
I promised some sound samples, a few of my "go to" demo tunes: Cottage in the Grove, Ashokan Farewell and Pride of Petravore
November 28, 2025 at 3:07 PM
I promised some sound samples, a few of my "go to" demo tunes: Cottage in the Grove, Ashokan Farewell and Pride of Petravore
I promised some sound samples, a few of my "go to" demo tunes: Cottage in the Grove, Ashokan Farewell and Pride of Petravore
November 28, 2025 at 3:07 PM
I promised some sound samples, a few of my "go to" demo tunes: Cottage in the Grove, Ashokan Farewell and Pride of Petravore
New banjo mandolin, from luthier Bob Crawford in Newtownards.
Gonna try and get some sound samples over the next few days.
This thing is loud and bubbly, like water frothing over rocks.
Gonna try and get some sound samples over the next few days.
This thing is loud and bubbly, like water frothing over rocks.
November 27, 2025 at 5:07 PM
New banjo mandolin, from luthier Bob Crawford in Newtownards.
Gonna try and get some sound samples over the next few days.
This thing is loud and bubbly, like water frothing over rocks.
Gonna try and get some sound samples over the next few days.
This thing is loud and bubbly, like water frothing over rocks.
Reposted by Ryan Shirlow
I still think sanding, painting, and refinishing this Mandolin for my bard cosplay was one of the coolest crafts I've ever done.
November 24, 2025 at 5:43 PM
I still think sanding, painting, and refinishing this Mandolin for my bard cosplay was one of the coolest crafts I've ever done.
Reposted by Ryan Shirlow
Convinced that this instrument was made for the Nigel Tufnel of 19th century Milan:
November 21, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Convinced that this instrument was made for the Nigel Tufnel of 19th century Milan:
Reposted by Ryan Shirlow
I've been trying to learn mandolin on and off since lockdown, on a crappy 80 quid instrument. I eventually listened to the advice that I might have a better time if I got a decent beginner mandolin. This was good advice, though I've shredded my fingers this weekend.
November 23, 2025 at 6:37 PM
I've been trying to learn mandolin on and off since lockdown, on a crappy 80 quid instrument. I eventually listened to the advice that I might have a better time if I got a decent beginner mandolin. This was good advice, though I've shredded my fingers this weekend.
Reposted by Ryan Shirlow
This petition calling for a public inquiry into Russian influence on UK politics & democracy already has over 30,000 signatures. Let’s get it to 100,000 this week.
Please sign and share 🙏
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
Please sign and share 🙏
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
Petition: Call a public inquiry into Russian influence on UK politics & democracy
We are concerned about reported efforts from Russia to influence democracy in the US, UK, Europe and elsewhere. We believe we must establish the depth and breadth of possible Russian influence campaig...
petition.parliament.uk
November 25, 2025 at 7:32 AM
This petition calling for a public inquiry into Russian influence on UK politics & democracy already has over 30,000 signatures. Let’s get it to 100,000 this week.
Please sign and share 🙏
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
Please sign and share 🙏
petition.parliament.uk/petitions/74...
This isn’t the best cider I’ve ever tasted, but I brewed it myself, with the apples grown outside my own house, from the tree next to a busy junction that hundreds drive past each day.
It’s like a small act of urban rebellion.
And now I am a little part made of the same soil as it is.
It’s like a small act of urban rebellion.
And now I am a little part made of the same soil as it is.
November 24, 2025 at 6:43 PM
This isn’t the best cider I’ve ever tasted, but I brewed it myself, with the apples grown outside my own house, from the tree next to a busy junction that hundreds drive past each day.
It’s like a small act of urban rebellion.
And now I am a little part made of the same soil as it is.
It’s like a small act of urban rebellion.
And now I am a little part made of the same soil as it is.
Reposted by Ryan Shirlow
Yeah I’ve forgotten the whole rest of the film except for the extremely inspired and random ending. More films should end this way.
Love triangle of London based 20 somethings - crawl into a giant worm and get digested.
Bio pic of a New York jazz band - crawl into a giant worm and get digested.
Love triangle of London based 20 somethings - crawl into a giant worm and get digested.
Bio pic of a New York jazz band - crawl into a giant worm and get digested.
November 23, 2025 at 11:19 PM
Yeah I’ve forgotten the whole rest of the film except for the extremely inspired and random ending. More films should end this way.
Love triangle of London based 20 somethings - crawl into a giant worm and get digested.
Bio pic of a New York jazz band - crawl into a giant worm and get digested.
Love triangle of London based 20 somethings - crawl into a giant worm and get digested.
Bio pic of a New York jazz band - crawl into a giant worm and get digested.