Indymedia Ireland is a volunteer-run non-commercial open publishing website for local and international news, opinion & analysis, press releases and events. Its main objective is to enable the public to participate in reporting and analysis of the news and other important events and aspects of our daily lives and thereby give a voice to people.
Fraud and mismanagement at University College Cork Thu Aug 28, 2025 18:30 | Calli Morganite
UCC has paid huge sums to a criminal professor
This story is not for republication. I bear responsibility for the things I write. I have read the guidelines and understand that I must not write anything untrue, and I won't.
This is a public interest story about a complete failure of governance and management at UCC.
Deliberate Design Flaw In ChatGPT-5 Sun Aug 17, 2025 08:04 | Mind Agent
Socratic Dialog Between ChatGPT-5 and Mind Agent Reveals Fatal and Deliberate 'Design by Construction' Flaw
This design flaw in ChatGPT-5's default epistemic mode subverts what the much touted ChatGPT-5 can do... so long as the flaw is not tickled, any usage should be fine---The epistemological question is: how would anyone in the public, includes you reading this (since no one is all knowing), in an unfamiliar domain know whether or not the flaw has been tickled when seeking information or understanding of a domain without prior knowledge of that domain???!
This analysis is a pretty unique and significant contribution to the space of empirical evaluation of LLMs that exist in AI public world... at least thus far, as far as I am aware! For what it's worth--as if anyone in the ChatGPT universe cares as they pile up on using the "PhD level scholar in your pocket".
According to GPT-5, and according to my tests, this flaw exists in all LLMs... What is revealing is the deduction GPT-5 made: Why ?design choice? starts looking like ?deliberate flaw?.
People are paying $200 a month to not just ChatGPT, but all major LLMs have similar Pro pricing! I bet they, like the normal user of free ChatGPT, stay in LLM's default mode where the flaw manifests itself. As it did in this evaluation.
AI Reach: Gemini Reasoning Question of God Sat Aug 02, 2025 20:00 | Mind Agent
Evaluating Semantic Reasoning Capability of AI Chatbot on Ontologically Deep Abstract (bias neutral) Thought
I have been evaluating AI Chatbot agents for their epistemic limits over the past two months, and have tested all major AI Agents, ChatGPT, Grok, Claude, Perplexity, and DeepSeek, for their epistemic limits and their negative impact as information gate-keepers.... Today I decided to test for how AI could be the boon for humanity in other positive areas, such as in completely abstract realms, such as metaphysical thought. Meaning, I wanted to test the LLMs for Positives beyond what most researchers benchmark these for, or have expressed in the approx. 2500 Turing tests in Humanity?s Last Exam.. And I chose as my first candidate, Google DeepMind's Gemini as I had not evaluated it before on anything.
Israeli Human Rights Group B'Tselem finally Admits It is Genocide releasing Our Genocide report Fri Aug 01, 2025 23:54 | 1 of indy
We have all known it for over 2 years that it is a genocide in Gaza
Israeli human rights group B'Tselem has finally admitted what everyone else outside Israel has known for two years is that the Israeli state is carrying out a genocide in Gaza
Western governments like the USA are complicit in it as they have been supplying the huge bombs and missiles used by Israel and dropped on innocent civilians in Gaza. One phone call from the USA regime could have ended it at any point. However many other countries are complicity with their tacit approval and neighboring Arab countries have been pretty spinless too in their support
With the release of this report titled: Our Genocide -there is a good chance this will make it okay for more people within Israel itself to speak out and do something about it despite the fact that many there are actually in support of the Gaza
China?s CITY WIDE CASH SEIZURES Begin ? ATMs Frozen, Digital Yuan FORCED Overnight Wed Jul 30, 2025 21:40 | 1 of indy
This story is unverified but it is very instructive of what will happen when cash is removed
THIS STORY IS UNVERIFIED BUT PLEASE WATCH THE VIDEO OR READ THE TRANSCRIPT AS IT GIVES AN VERY GOOD IDEA OF WHAT A CASHLESS SOCIETY WILL LOOK LIKE. And it ain't pretty
A single video report has come out of China claiming China's biggest cities are now cashless, not by choice, but by force. The report goes on to claim ATMs have gone dark, vaults are being emptied. And overnight (July 20 into 21), the digital yuan is the only currency allowed.
The Saker >>
Interested in maladministration. Estd. 2005
RTEs Sarah McInerney ? Fianna Fail?supporter? Anthony
Joe Duffy is dishonest and untrustworthy Anthony
Robert Watt complaint: Time for decision by SIPO Anthony
RTE in breach of its own editorial principles Anthony
Waiting for SIPO Anthony
Public Inquiry >>
Parse failure for http://humanrights.ie/feed/.
Last Retry Saturday September 20, 2025 08:52
The ?Far Left? Finally Gets Its Comeuppance Sat Sep 20, 2025 07:00 | James Alexander
For years the Left has smeared its opponents as 'far Right'. Now, the spike in Leftist political violence has led to a turning of the tables. What's sauce for the goose is sauce for the Guardian, says Prof James Alexander.
The post The ‘Far Left’ Finally Gets Its Comeuppance appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.
News Round-Up Sat Sep 20, 2025 01:09 | Toby Young
A summary of the most interesting stories in the past 24 hours that challenge the prevailing orthodoxy about the ?climate emergency?, public health ?crises? and the supposed moral defects of Western civilisation.
The post News Round-Up appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.
Labour Sinks to Lowest Ever Poll Rating ? as Andy Burnham Fuels Starmer Challenge Rumours Fri Sep 19, 2025 17:00 | Will Jones
Labour has sunk to its lowest ever poll rating as Andy Burnham fuels rumours he is preparing to challenge Keir Starmer for the Labour leadership by refusing to commit to serving a full term as Greater Manchester Mayor.
The post Labour Sinks to Lowest Ever Poll Rating ? as Andy Burnham Fuels Starmer Challenge Rumours appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.
Oxford and Cambridge Drop Out of Top Three in University Rankings Because of ?Misguided Attempts at ... Fri Sep 19, 2025 15:00 | Will Jones
Oxford and Cambridge universities have?failed to get into the top three in the Times's prestigious annual university ranking for the first time, with experts blaming "misguided attempts at equality".
The post Oxford and Cambridge Drop Out of Top Three in University Rankings Because of “Misguided Attempts at Equality” appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.
Jeremy Corbyn?s New Hard Left Party Descends into Chaos as Zarah Sultana Says She?s Been ?Frozen Out... Fri Sep 19, 2025 13:16 | Will Jones
Jeremy Corbyn's new hard Left party has been plunged into chaos as his co-founder Zarah Sultana claimed she had been "frozen out" from the "sexist boys' club" and Corbyn threatened her with legal action.
The post Jeremy Corbyn’s New Hard Left Party Descends into Chaos as Zarah Sultana Says She’s Been “Frozen Out” of “Sexist Boys’ Club” appeared first on The Daily Sceptic.
Lockdown Skeptics >>
international |
anti-capitalism |
opinion/analysis
Wednesday November 02, 2005 20:34
by Henry
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Comments (17 of 17)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17The problem with piping the gas to an onshore refinery is that it is coming straight out of the ground at high pressue. Such high pressure pipes are untested so although the engineers reckon it would be OK no one knows for sure.
A standard offshore refinery would refine the gas and pump it onshore at a much lower pressure - the sort that is used in the Kinsale pipes. These have been in operation for some years and so are tested.
Basically people in Rossport feel they are the guniepigs in a rather dangerous experiment - and could be incinerated if it goes wrong.
The other problem is the corrupt deal Shell were given in the first place which is taking revenue out of our hospitals and schools. And the fact that the government rewrote the law to allow Sheel CPA's for the pipeline.
First of all Henry, you won't get much of an understanding from the mainstream media who's coverage of this issue, apart from local media, has been shallow to say the least. Neither could following the 'debate' on this website have led you to the understanding that 'they want NO gaspipe line or refinery to be constructed'.
The Shell to Sea campaign and especially the Rossport Five have always said that they would welcome a clean gas pipeline through Rossport and if a refinery is built at sea, which is the demand of the campaign also Henry, they "will help bring the clean gas in".
Pipeline safety.
There are no assurances that the proposed pipeline will be safe. It's a timebomb in their front gardens. See Dave Aldridges report at www.shelltosea.com, talk to Mike Cunningham ex-Statoil, Padraig Campbell SIPTU, Brian Coyle Engineer, Warner Blau physicist etc etc.
Capping the gas for the future has been discussed but not to the extent that you claim and no decisions have been made. That, in the context which I think you're referring to, namely the 'renegotiation of the original deal'.
Your hypothesis is bullshit and untrue, dunno where you get your info. Inform yourself, search Indymedia and read, study shelltosea.com and then present an argument and be bold about it then, not now with a weak argument.
Go to Rossport and see for yourself.
The groups name itself implies that they want an off shore gas pipe line built as oppossed to one running through their back garden. These people are not middle class bourgeouis anarchists, they are ordinary farmer types with genuine concerns. :0)
From what i have read about the subject don't engineers design pipelines to withstand certain tolerances - for example if there is high pressure gas passing through it a pipeline is not only designed to withstand that particular pressure but several times multiples of the minimum tolerance it will actually be used for.
What seems to be happening in Rossport is locals who have no clue about engineering are second guessing the designers of the pipeline. When it is pointed out that they do not have the engineering knowledge to make such a judgement the locals smelt persecution.
Why don't you inform yourself about what is really happening, because the ignorance your statements reflect is shocking, given the fact that this issue has been in the public domain for some months.
Well said Henry...I agree. Unqualified people making completely spurious arguments and generalisations can only lead to ignorance. unfortunately that is whats happened here.
You are referring to your own?
Most of it is either being put in the public domain by Shell and its associates (boo, biased) or by the ShellTo Sea Campaign and their supporters (Boo, biased). So where the bejaysus do folk get this unbiased info?? I reckon you take some from the ShellToSea campaign i.e. the locals concerns for their safety, and the technical stuff from the Shell sources. They must tell the truth in relation to the technical aspects, as this is what would be put in place in the event of a pipeline being built, yes? Many people are making comparisons to the way in which Shell operated in Nigeria which was and is completely reprehensible, but aren't we as a country a little more advanced in relation to planning and safety? Some will doubtless argue otherwise. I reckon the folk who are a whoopin and a hollerin so much about the Rossport situation, but who aren't directly affected by the issue, should focus more on issues like Corrupt Catholic Church, War in Iraq, POWs in Shannon Warport etc. The lads who went to prison seem well able to handle themselves, but the whole situation is gone a bit haywire if you ask me, not that you would cos I'm no expert like.
But lastly, cos I may as well be beating me mickey off the butt of an auld whitethorn bush for all the thanks I'll get, but this reeks of no, not nimbyism, but yes, you guessed it, of BANANAism. Some people just seem to love protesting against anything and its impossible to stop them, especially those with too much time on their hands.
But leaving everything else aside, fair play to the five for sticking to their guns, they truely rock,
(BTW, why haven't Shell just bought everyone out?)
from afar is that members of the public shut down a 900 million euro project that had clearly being through the numerous planning processes, public hearings etc., was given the green light by the relevant statutory authorities, Mayo Co. Co. and so on
This is completely unacceptable and sets a very dangerous precedent for the government, the public cannot be allowed to empower themselves to take action of this nature,
because i dont agree with someone or something does not give me license to form blockades and put people out of work,
Henry! you are right to be critical of the reasons given by the objectors to the pipeline, especially if the objections do not make sense to you.
In a small way, may I explain the way that I see it. The main anxiety that objectors have, myself included, is that our government seems to ahve abdicated their role as protectors of peoples safety and of the environment. The multi national companies appear to be calling the shots.
The Western People had a very interesting piece last week under the column called the Editor's Chair. Mr Andy Pyle stated in a previous letter to the paper that a similar pipeline to the Rossport one existed in Karsto in Norway. The Western People investigated this claim. Quote: 'The Karsto pipeline is 55mm thick; the Corrib pipeline is 27mm thick. The Karsto pipeline has a miximum operating pressure of 170 bar; the Corrib pipeline is 340 bar. In other words, the Corrib pipeline has twice the operating pressure of Karsto but only half the thickness. Meanwhile, sections of the Karsto pipeline are buried 200m below the ground while sections of the Corrib pipeline are only 1.2m below the ground. And here is the icing on the cake. No new houses are permitted within 200 meters of the Karsto pipeline yet the Corrib pipeline will pass within 70 meters of existing residences and 30 meters from a public road.' Unquote.
Is it any wonder that the resicences of Erris are skeptical of asurances given by Shell etc? The Norwegian Government through their company Statoil etc guarantee A1 Environmental and Safety policies for the Norwegian people. Interestingly, the people of Rossport are behaving in exactly the same manner that the Norwegian Government behaved after been approached by Philips Petroleum (looking for exporation licenses) soon after Gas was found in Groningen(similar rock formation as in the North Sea) in Holland in 1958. They admitted that they knew nothing about oil exploration and asked Philips to wait until they were sure of what they were doing. The Rossport Five in the absense of Irish Government control also just want to be sure that what is being done is in the interest of the safety of their families, neighbours and protects their rich environment.
Ths Irish Government has got to take the lead to protect it's citizens, otherwise they will have to put alot of people in jail again. There are billions of Irish wealth buying up property abroad. Why in God's name can they not do a Maritime Renewal Scheme (similar to the very successful Rural Renewal Schem) and direct some of this wealth towards taking control of Oil/Gas exploration around their coastline?
"[T]he public cannot be allowed to empower themselves or take action of this nature..."
You would for example support oppressive laws to prevent people "empowering themselves"? Of course they can't be allowed to question actions taken by the State. Good God, the heavens would fall down!
What right do these people have to think for themselves, rather than accept the word of Government officials? It ought to be outlawed!
Except that every word the Government has said on this issue has been exposed as a lie. Deal with that.
We have adequate precent for corrupt planning decisions. This is no different; the scale is larger, that's all. The Rossport protests are a positive development, a sign that maybe there is a hope for the resurgence of politics among Irish people.
In response to the BTW above, the reason Shell havent' "just bought everyone out" is because not everyone is for sale. Surprise you?
We in America are struggling to preserve what is left of our own democracy after the plutocrats are done hijacking it for corporate profit. I am saddened to see that even in Ireland/E.U. countries, the public interest is not valued by the government supposedly representing the people who elected it. Corporations should not have the power to jail private property owners with legitimate concern for the safety of their community. The comparison to the pipeline procedures in Norway is eye-opening. What laws limiting corporate power have they got that we don't?
Just to give you an idea of what 340 bar pressure actually means:
it is roughly equivalent to the pressure at the bottom of a column of water 3400m high (or 3.4km underwater).
That's serious pressure. Typical pipelines for pumped liquids are suitable for up to about 20 bar. Beyond that you're getting into special pipes.
Mr Lavelle attempts to trot out the usual guff about planning. The pipeline has no planning, neithier does many of the installations on the Bellanaboy site and in Rossport. Shell ploughed a road through protected sand -dunes at Glengad without planning, this and other illegal developments are now the subject of investigation by the Co. Co. and Bord Pleanala. The devlopment consents are also the subject of an ongoing high court action presided over by Ms Justice Laffoy.
Which part of the phrase "ShelltoSea" do you not understand!!!!!!!!! - The only independent expert report done on the project was done by the CPI(Centre for Public Investigation). Using international experts in the field it highlighted the recklessness and danger of Shell's current plans for extracting the gas and recommended the off-shore option as the optimum development concept!
Who uses inane terms like "Enough Already" which is a gramatical convulsion? It might sound right coming from Brad Pitt on some US blockbuster film but "Enough Already" is a ridiculous term. What does it mean? Sounds like something the upper-class snobs said on the Titanic lifeboats when someone pointed out there was plenty of space for extra passengers. "That's enough already, just get rowin'".