Drew Shiel

It takes a strange sort of worldview to watch the Irish public elect a socialist, with the largest mandate in the history of the state, and conclude that what they really want is a tougher line on immigration.

Bad enough the Gardaí gave free run to the far right for years.

Bad enough arson against immigrant centres became standard practice for racists.

Bad enough we've already had race riots.

The Taoiseach & Táinaiste poured petrol on all the above during the week, & we shouldn't be shy in saying it.

I do try to keep my anarchist urges in check. But Simon fucking Harris getting up on his hind legs to say migration numbers are too high is the kind of thing that makes me go digging for the handbook.

Fucking gowl.

State called on to 'immediately cease all plans' to buy hill land The INHFA has called on the state to 'immediately cease all plans associated with the purchase of hill lands'.

I would love for the agriculture industry in this country to write or even opine something that was not transparent bullshit.

"the absence of farming activity from our national parks "has undermined habitat conservation leading to biodiversity loss"."

www.agriland.ie/farming-news...

Gibberish.

The Crime of Human Virtue Sometimes it really is as simple as good vs. evil. This is one of those times. Human virtue is our great crime against the fascist project; it's also our great weapon against it.

"To be a Republican in 2025 represents a clear public confession that you either don't know the difference between good and evil and you're so morally empty that you can't be bothered to begin to try, or that you do know the difference, and you prefer evil." Great essay from @juliusgoat.bsky.social

The rate at which the Irish Times and the Irish Independent are publishing smear material on Catherine Connolly is having two effects: I trust both papers EVEN LESS than I already did, and I'm very definitely voting for her.

The Things That Aren't Said Thinking about leaving stuff out of settings and gameplay

Insomnia-fuelled short newsletter issue, gaming version: irregularshapes.beehiiv.com/p/the-things...

If you can get your doctor to prescribe it, I recommend a nasal spray called Dymista. It's prescription-only here, but you can get it on the shelves in Finland, so I feel reasonably safe recommending that people ask for it. It's a steroid, but it clears nasal congestion up INSTANTLY. Magic.

Illustration of Mollymauk Tealeaf from Critical Role's the Mighty Nein. Molly is sitting and smiling at some shiny moths that are playfully surrounding him. Around him there is an art nouveau inspired arched frame.

Illustration of Caduceus Clasy from Critical Role's the Mighty Nein. Caduceus is sitting with a serene expression, playing with some golden butterflies surrounding him. Around him there is an art nouveau inspired arched frame.

Illustration of a blue-skinned character with asymmetrical horns, reminiscent of a half moon. The character is casting a pearlescent, bright spell. They're in a room at night, standing on a decorated pedestal on the floor, in front of shelves full of books.

Illustration of a knight and a pegasus, behind them a blue sky with golden sunset clouds. The knight is wearing shining, ceremonial armour in silver, blue and gold. In one hand he holds his helmet, the other hand is stroking the nose of the pegasus. The knight’s head rests delicately on the horse’s, in a gesture of delicate friendship. The pegasus is raising one of his wings to hug the knight in return of the gesture.

It's my birthday! As a gift, can I ask you to share my art?🙏

I love drawing vibrant fantasy illustrations, especially in the field of TTRPGs. And speaking of TTRPGs, check out the post below for more fantasy goodness ⬇️✨

It is absolutely mind-boggling. Particularly if you're moving through estates on the edges of provincial towns, which look like they came DIRECTLY from 1980s Ireland.

Seeing Irish people on Reddit talking about going to provincial England and being shocked by the poverty, and if you have a historical memory of more than a decade or two, that's absolutely mindblowing

What IS a Campaign Setting, Anyway? What do you need to know about a place to run a campaign in it?

New issue of my very irregular gaming newsletter: irregularshapes.beehiiv.com/p/what-is-a-...

My best friend growing up had German parents, who had lived in Italy and Indonesia while he was growing up. The number of what they thought of as basic ingredients they couldn't get vastly exceeded the number they could, pretty much all the time.

Legit. I do currently have lemon juice in the fridge, but it's not on the regular list. Maybe it should be.

Commonplace Vol. 6 Issue 2 In which the writer contemplates his larder, and what's usually in it.

A new issue of my food newsletter, Commonplace, has just gone out: commonplacebook.beehiiv.com/p/commonplac...

The prices I set are being paid, no issues there.

So I'm liking it a LOT.

Using it for the first time, I listed 25 items yesterday (listing is a LOT simpler than Ebay). I shipped 7 items this morning, with one more packaged and ready to go. Buyer pays for shipping directly, so all I need to do is pack it up and show a barcode at the post office or courier dropoff point.

Ireland won't contest Eurovision if Israel takes part RTÉ has announced that it will not take part in the 2026 Eurovision Song contest "if the participation of Israel goes ahead."

I think this is the first time in my adult life I've been pleased by something RTÉ did: www.rte.ie/entertainmen...

The cover of the Pendragon RPG, showing a kneeling man in armour with a full cloak receiving a sword from another standing man. They are in a stone circle with the sun just visible past a horizontal stone.

Things for sale. Come buy 'em!

www.vinted.ie/member/28990...

Also, while I'm here, a few new things on Ebay: www.ebay.ie/usr/gothwalk

Commonplace Vol. 6 Issue 1 In which the writer thinks about the act of grocery shopping.

The latest issue of Commonplace, my food newsletter, is out: commonplacebook.beehiiv.com/p/commonplac...

Good grief.

Unpacking Coke cans into the fridge this summer feels vaguely like the box is about to start threatening you.

Bro. Buddy. PAL.

It's because lit-fic people have a hissy fit if their stuff is referred to as being within a genre. And lit-fic is ABSOLUTELY a genre, with clear rules and conventions.

The cat in question is smarter than a cabbage. Most days. Well, some days. He's been watching other animals use the pet door for nearly two years, and still doesn't know how to use it himself, so...

Things I Have Told To Come Back In and/or Get Out Of The Way At Night Because I Have A Black Cat: t-shirts, lunch boxes, shadows, shoes, backpacks, basket hilts, cast iron pots, a rock, a crow, a pile of books, and a cabbage. And once lost the cat when he was asleep ON the dog (also black).

Strawberry Raid IV Laurel Prize Display: Fermented Porridge Strawberry Raid IV is just over, and it included a Laurel Prize Display. This is an arrangement whereby aspiring artisans of whatever kind bring out their stuff to display it, and the attending...

I fed people fermented porridge and nothing exploded!

thejoyofseax.tumblr.com/post/7853364...

Most years I have trouble adjusting to writing down the new date until around May or June. This year, my brain has decided that it's 2027, and has written this down a few times, causing me considerable confusion.

I _think_ so? Lucy's Vintage Lounge, if you want to send someone to check it out. :)