https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/aug/03/is-irelands-unprotected-ocean-the-weak-link-in-european-defence
Irish "neutrality" traditionally was about not supporting anything Britain was doing & not spending money.
Not actual neutrality in the sense Austria, Switzerland or Sweden. Sweden has ditched it.
I don't think it's even in the constitution. People put back on Russian flights with Cuba refuelling in Shannon. USA military & rendition via Shannon.
Aughanish Alumina feeds Russian war.
It's economic & cowardice. Not an ethical choice. Lowest EU mil spending.
Won't regulate.

Ukraine intercepted only one ballistic missile last night because the country has run out of missiles for its Patriot systems.

In Kyiv, nine people were killed and 30 injured.

Every delayed decision eventually arrives in Ukraine in the form of death and destruction.

Hello! I'm Florent, a french guy who makes instruments in Estonia, mainly from the flute family. I only use wood from the nearby forest.

I’ve had the account @monviolon for years but it was intended for discussing the violin. I’m opening this new account to follow artists and craftspeople and to present my instrument-making activities, which have now officially become professional ones.

Please feel free to share this post to help me out 😉

#introduction #woodworking #whistle #fipple #handcraft

RE: https://mastodon.ie/@raymaccarthy/116934607198760098

Only a few days left of the Smashwords Sale if you want to save on these Irish related contemporary stories inspired by Celtic legends.
Books 1 to 16 in the sale and probably all at your favourite ebook retailer.
More about them here:
https://www.corvidspress.com/fiction/otherworld-series

RE: https://wandering.shop/@susankayequinn/116958620852567201

WRITER FRIENDS: if you distribute books using INGRAM SPARK you *need* to fill out this opt-out form so they don't sell your books to AI corps to rip apart and feed to their machine for training AI.

"..when the authorities did act, they were also punished. Arron Banks didn’t just sue me for defamation, but the Electoral Commission too.
You won’t know that, of course, because, like my trial, it was barely reported"
A must read from Nerve founder, Caroline Cadwalladr

#Brexit #Farage #ReformUK #UKPolitics

Farage, the money launderer and me: a decade of denial
https://www.thenerve.news/p/nigel-farage-carole-cadwalladr-brexit-party-arron-banks-george-cottrell-funding-electoral-commission

The most recent titles are not on Google Play Books / Playstore. We may remove them from there entirely as the managing account requires a gmail address, there are issues with payment methods and pre-purchase cards, Google/Alphabet surveillance, Google's Ai etc.
Also in over 10 years Corvids Press hasn't sold a single title via Playstore/Google PlayBooks.
Our Website (which is connected via Activity Pub):
https://www.corvidspress.com/

July 2026
Now the "Marion" arc of the Celtic Otherworld is completely published.
All the ebooks are on sale at Smashwords for July 2026.

Available at full price on Amazon (Kindle), Kobo (any ereader or app), Barnes & Noble (Nook), Smashwords (any ereader or app), Apple, Tolino (Germany), Vivlio (France) Bookshop.org, Fable, Gardners and possibly Overdrive (loans).
English language, but some Gaelic style names & places.
All DRM free.
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/2037843

EDIT: Fixed Bookshop

Power was back just after 8 am.
It's also getting hot.

Power cut of almost 4000 premises since before 6:45 am
UPS is at Solar Priority, so main 12 kWh batteries are at 16 %. However solar power quick rising as sun elevation gets higher. It can often do 2kW on main panels (8 x 400W), but at 7 am only 120W.
Freezers have an additional 4 panels and a 2.5 kWh battery. It can charge from main Solar UPS if insufficient sun. The main Solar UPS can recharge from Grid if batteries below a preset level & there is grid power.

https://www.rte.ie/lifestyle/living/2026/0714/1582544-meet-the-man-reclaiming-irish-placenames-with-app-baile-beo/
"Irish place names were anglicised over centuries. We never restored them. Let's start."
https://www.bailebeo.ie/
#Decolonization

The Mastodon 4.6.3 seems to have disabled the middle button on my mouse?
Other websites are OK.

EDIT

Middle click was intermittent!
Swapped to a different pointing pebble!

I’m delighted to say that my family and I have bought @kerrsbookshop and have been running it since Wednesday. I’ve set up a @mastodonie account and I can’t promise much but will keep posting there if you want to keep abreast #mastodaoine #bookstodon

The sunlit uplands.

Cars were once made in Cork and then Limerick?
Maybe buses for a while in Shannon?
DMC DeLorean in Belfast was almost a scam.

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/jul/01/eu-rules-threaten-to-shut-out-uk-car-manufacturers-motor-industry

Is the UK now too small to have an indigenous vehicle industry outside the EU?

Beware extra charges *per item* now for orders from UK or anywhere outside the EU (except Northern Ireland if you are in Ireland).
https://www.thejournal.ie/new-custom-charges-on-orders-from-outside-the-eu-kicking-in-today-7079575-Jul2026/?utm_source=thejournal&utm_content=top-stories

Ham recall in Ireland!
Listeria
Brady Family and also Tesco & Lidl own branded.
https://www.thejournal.ie/ham-recall-listeria-7086443-Jun2026/

Solar Power is crippled without batteries. Without batteries you have to sell to grid. With batteries you save far more money by using solar power at night and buying cheap rate electricity overnight in winter. You also have maybe 10 hours in winter or indefinitely supply in summer for fridge/freezer, broadband, lights, laptop, phone cherges etc. Even complete a wash.

One experience of selling to grid:
https://www.theguardian.com/money/2026/jul/01/scottishpower-solar-panel-payments

The private utilities will also pay much less than they charge you.

RE: https://mastodon.ie/@pixmo/116839661596764854

Daylight robbery unless it's a shop with 1000s of sales a day.

@signalapp
So how do I persuade family & friends to move from Viber to Signal?

Assuming you don't have all the LLM AI that Viber is forcing on users?

Is there a free alternative to Viber?
Platforms: Android, iOS,. Linux, Mac & Windows
1:1 or group text chats with images, video & files inline.
Voice or Video calls on WiFi or Mobile Data
Encrypted
Almost no adverts

It was bad they added "Summarise Link". No hide.
Now "Summarise Chat" (can be disabled) and ChatGPT added as a Contact (can't be deleted).

At least Mozilla & Calibre put off/disable settings.

AI can only shorten, not true summary.
AI LLM has privacy and environment issues.