Eoin Licken

Oof, the KKK without the hoods. That's a worrying thought.

It's a toxic mix of mob behaviour and anonymity. As described in To Kill a Mockingbird. It's the scale that's new.

You've probably heard this before, but for anyone else who hasn't, and who has had to deal with intrusive thoughts:

Remember, you are what you do, not what you say.

Not climate change in this case, it's a fairly common case of fresh snow on an unstable base layer, triggered by a dry spell.

Ps, please correct the typo near the end: avalanche transceivers are used in transmit mode, not receive mode, while skiing.

More pertinent today than 400 years ago.

In France, diagnosed dyslexic students are allowed 33% extra time in state, school and university exams.

Red aurora over trees in a starry sky.

Aurora in the French Alps last night, looking north from St Martin d'Uriage. Second time seeing it like this, first time was May 2024.

Succinct. “Don’t just do something, stand there”

Photo provided by the Narges Mohammadi Foundation on October 2, 2023 shows an undated, unlocated photo of Iranian rights campaigner Narges Mohammadi

Iranian security forces on Friday "violently" arrested the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize winner Narges Mohammadi at a memorial ceremony for a lawyer who died earlier this month, her supporters said ➡️ u.afp.com/S727

My father, a shoemaker since the 1940s, said there was a saying back then: a squeaky shoe was one which wasn't paid for.

Sleep on TGV, laissez-vous rêver

Travelling by #TGV in #France really can be peak comfort. Laissez-vous rêver...

Hence 'the dog days of summer', 'it's dog hot', etc. Nothing to do with our canine friends though, it's a star! But still I like the Indian(?) phrase 'mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun.'

My son gave me a birthday present of the Wrath of the Khans a couple of years back. Best idea ever for a present, so many hours of learning and enjoyment. Thanks Dan.

Preparations are possible, but expensive! For example, the likely future Sechilienne landslide, near Grenoble, has been prepared for by building a tunnel to carry water around any future dam. The road has also already been diverted to the far side of the valley.
www.geosoc.fr/images/tourd...

Another goal hit yesterday, hiked up the unfortunately named Grand Colon, 2,394m
Hot sunshine, forest and open alpage, with rocky stretches and snow patches at the top.
Can't believe we've been looking at this mountain for 23 years and only climbed it now. It's a nicer ⛰️than its name suggests 😀

Britain and Europe are moving beyond Brexit. Now for the real trade-offs This week’s ‘reset’ deal is a welcome return to pragmatism. But both sides must go further in facing up to the new world order

I wrote the weekend essay in the FT! I’m so chuffed I’ll probably mention it again soon… www.ft.com/content/f725...

Baaad? I'll get me coat...

Great summary of where we're at, Aaaaan-nd 😉. I think he was referring to the Rep Irl - N Irl border in that later question, which is and will continue to run like it doesn't exist. But your point is well made: the GB - NI border will get smoother.

Brilliant bilingual bus company humour... #dublinbus #buspidéal

HI Emma.
You need to get your hands on a copy of Thora Van Male's excellent book "Quand les COCHONS sauront voler ... les poules auront des dents !", which explores French idioms and their English counterparts. It's hard to get, but a great legacy to Thora's life and work in Grenoble.

To quote @aptshadow.bsky.social :
Just because the tyrant dresses like a clown doesn't mean he's funny.

Sorry to burst a bubble, but that's only ok for today's Wordle...

Summary: more data needed from manufacturers, and better battery replacement market needed.

So, sounds like VW either use better batteries or battery management. #Mitsubishi dealer here in Grenoble measured my capacity a year ago and laughably reported it at 61%, conveniently 1% above the level they guaranteed for 8 years. Public chargers measured it at 5kWh at the time, which was ~40%

Not always so. I've a 10-yr-old Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, 250k km on the clock, but now down at approx 35% of original 12kWh battery capacity. Mitsubishi France wants €17k to replace batteries, but I'm hearing of places in the UK that do it for £5k. This upgrade market needs to develop.

I saw that as New Wanker, and now I can't unsee it.

A little bit of hope after a terrible week A survival guide to the next four years.

It's been a terrible week. A terrible, terrible week. The worst people on earth are full of energy and vigour, the best are defined by anxiety and self-doubt. Here are three simple rules to surviving the next four years, because by God we'll need them iandunt.substack.com/p/a-little-b...

Great article, hits many nails on the head. Have a great Christmas full of life. Live.