Paul Connell

This is not a subject on which I have an informed or considered position.

The Silver Swan by Cox and Merlin c1773. Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle, Co Durham. "If such convincing representations can be mechanically constructed, what does it truly mean to 'be alive'?" Plus ca change.

On 'Love and Affection' Joan Armatrading singing 'if I can feel the sun in my eyes and the rain on my face, why can't I feel...' then her voice breaks on 'love' and a cello comes in. Right there.

Gotta be Mikey popping the cop and the Turk. No idea what they ate.

Your Harry Potter dollars funded this.

🚨WATCH: NASA REVEALS THE NIGHT SKY FROM MARS — A VIEW UNLIKE EARTH’S NASA has shared a rare glimpse of the Martian night sky. Unlike Earth, Mars has a much thinner atmosphere, meaning less atmospheric scattering of light and a different view of the cosmos.

Trump’s a Russian asset, Farage’s party is a racist enterprise, Putin wanted Brexit & if you tried to make a list of all the UK politicians & pundits who’ve backed all three, you’d be here for hours.

You just know if Pope Leo croaks, Drumph will crow. And even then, American Catholics would vote for him.

What's new? Renee Good and Alex Pretti already done it.

Gawd, I knew Archer was a vile piece of shite but quite how vile is only now apparent.

I wrote a lengthy essay a few weeks ago on the state of our game and outline of what kind of change Scottish football needs. Link below. gerryhassan.com/blog/the-sta...

So I stopped my walk, climbed the gate to help an old farmer cursing his deaf god bringing in the last of a poor harvest… —Jim Carruth, “Only Human” published in A Little Touch of Cliff in the Evening: New Writing Scotland 30 (ASL, 2012) #BookWormSat #poem #poetry

BBC2 is repeating its Sounds of Scotland show tonight. Here’s my own playlist of the best of Scottish pop 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🎧▶️ open.spotify.com/playlist/09L...

youtu.be/FpZHjvFXprk?...

@alynsmith.bsky.social Is the Scottish Government deliberately making it difficult to participate in the consultation on the future of local authorities? Sure looks that way. Maybe you don't want to hear the results?

Thoughts on the Burnham 'free social care' pledge everyone is lauding as hugely progressive. Judging by the socials today he left folk confused on the policy by stating categorically that no one should ever have to sell their home in order to get access to free social care. So far so good. But....

Anyone have anything on the health and wellbeing of @dannykellywords.bsky.social ? Not been around for a month. Last news not great. If you're out there, Danny, thoughts with you and yours.

So we are now definitely including Grimsby, Stoke-on-Trent and Rhondda Fach in this project. Three more towns/areas which have seen post-industrial decline to select, one of which must be in Scotland. Any suggestions?

Local Hero The Long Good Friday Life of Brian A Clockwork Orange The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie

I've no idea if that (apparent) prick, Danny Thomas is really likely to be an intelligence asset, sent to infiltrate/disrupt fash operations but the idea is so delicious it deserves widespread broadcast.

Today marks what would have been the 77th birthday of Jimmy Bone. How well did you know his story? Read on for some facts you might not have known about the player: 🏰Jimmy was born in a castle near Bridge of Allan.

@asls.org.uk Here's 'Home' the latest anthology from Write Club Stirling. Available via Mayfield Library, St Ninians. Lovely production by Palimpsest of Falkirk.

One for #StandingStoneSunday

Finding a screenshot of @magnets.eurosky.social on YouTube shorts makes me feel like Leonardo DiCaprio in that meme

'Home' the latest anthology from Write Club #Stirling Launched last night at Mayfield Library St Ninians from where it can be obtained. Many thanks to Palimpsest Book Productions of Falkirk for a great job in the design.

Bemuses me that just because someone has made a lot of money they're treated as experts on everything, especially politics.

@franapunk.bsky.social I told you to get that winners speech drafted, didn't I? Absolutely well deserved. Enjoy!!!

Charlie Jugears is worried AI might fall into the wrong hands. Bless.

One of my top writing tips (which I'm sure one of you gave me) is to have a separate document called "cuts" for the bits that don't quite work, so that you can fool yourself that you're not DELETING them you're simply MOVING them.

'Home' the latest anthology from Write Club #Stirling Launched last night at Mayfield Library St Ninians from where it can be obtained. Many thanks to Palimpsest Book Productions of Falkirk for a great job in the design.

Cat looking at rice fields near Asakusa, Colour woodblock print by Hiroshige (1857)

#SimpleMinds on stage at Radio2 in the Park #Stirling this evening. Never been an uber-fan but great show. Brilliant drummer.

Lulu on stage at Radio2 in the Park, #Stirling. Not an uber fan but fair play, laldy was duly given.

James Orr. Peter Thiel. Race science. Tech authoritarianism. We've spent years tracing the networks behind Britain’s ‘Dark Enlightenment’. Help us launch an urgent new investigative project to follow the money and map how it operates. #LightUpTheDark subscribe.bylinetimes.com/lightuptheda...

Furfuxache. #Stirling hosting a major music festival this weekend. Which weekend has been chosen to cancel the entire Edinburgh to Stirling rail service for engineering works? What a fucking country.

Just learned that Category Is Books, a lovely queer bookshop in Glasgow, has been targeted by transphobic violence, & is fundraising to cover the costs of a smashed window & roller shutters. I hate that they have to do this & would love to see them meet their goal.

Just finished 'This Bright Life.' Not an easy read but stays with you. Recommended.

Jeez-oh 😳 I made the McIvanney shortlist! Wish I had better words to describe how grateful I am, have to settle for THANK YOU judges THANK YOU @bloodyscotland.bsky.social

Just want to point out if people had been beaten up at the Green or SNP party conference and their leader had cheered it on. It wouldn't just have been on TV, it would have been on TV non-stop until the election. But for Reform, it barely got mentioned.

Loon dad feeding a crayfish to his loonlet captured by @harrycollinsphotography (IG): #AGoodPlace

I don't use AI for making stuff (videos, music etc) but one thing it is quite good for is getting the lowdown on increasingly varied phishing scams.

In 2007, the SNP pledged to scrap the Council Tax. Almost two decades later, this pledge remains unfulfilled. But yesterday’s Programme for Government confirmed that primary legislation will be necessary to introduce the proposed “mansion tax”. 1/3

Jersey Girl. It's very funny.

✍️ Want to understand the bonkers nature of the modern economy? Take a ride with me on the 30,000 mile journey the cod in a fish finger takes between being caught off the coast of Scotland and consumed in a British home 🤯 Promise I'm not making this up👇 edconway.substack.com/p/the-30000-...

Aberfan. I was the same age as the dead kids, growing up in a mining area. Suddenly news was real.

This seems truly bizarre. Anyone with Bernera connections know what's going on? Why is this lady getting legal aid? For starters. ​Bernera groups face financial ruin from legal costs share.google/Hzwpngn02N2O...

They’ve turned the Waynes against us

Like tweed like pearls like fire like wood like loss like Listen with Mother with me… —Andrew Sclater, “The Scotswoman Who Married Into the Home Counties” from SONGS OF OTHER PLACES: New Writing Scotland 32 (ASL, 2014) #poem #poetry