Happy Aimee Mann day to all who celebrate

Given the US President's preferred form of headwear is there a possibility that a baseball cap is going to end up looking like a Nazi uniform in the future? If so, what would you recommend for summer head covering? @dieworkwear.bsky.social

With reference to Belfast and Glasgow this week - something I say from the pulpit regularly - there is no authentic Protestant identity which is not centred on Jesus Christ and his call to love both our neighbours and our enemies @stocki61.bsky.social

I keep seeing posts about the Trump regime stopping research funding I understand why climate deniers would defund climate research and why racists would remove DEI funding. Bigots are going to bigot after all. But some of it just looks like taking an axe to US science for the hell of it. Why?

Sam Vimes felt like a class traitor every time he wore it. He hated being thought of as one of those people who wore stupid ornamental armour. It was gilt by association. Sir Terry Pratchett - Night Watch

How do they rise up?

I think, unfortunately, I've got to do a Boromir on this one. "Good Omens has no sequel - Good Omens needs no sequel."

This week in 1812 Spencer Perceval became the only British Prime Minister to be assassinated. Its the least interesting thing about him. Working with hedonistic lawyer James Stephen, the devout Christian engineered one of the first slavery bans in British territory WITHOUT Parliament's approval. /1

The woods near us are covered in bluebells just now and they look wonderful.

Germany troop cut sends exactly the signal Trump wants to send to Russia www.bbc.com/news/article...

@mauricejcasey.com Just finished the audio book of Hotel Lux and it was great, in the midst of lots of driving round Ireland, to be immersed in those folks lives. Well done!

The daily killing of Palestinian children made in the image of God is obviously the much bigger crime but this smaller act of desecration is a symptom of the much bigger problem. A photo of an IDF soldier smashing the head of a statue of Jesus during their invasion of Lebanon.

@sannewman.bsky.social Well done! I read Julia along with the original this last couple of weeks and it was wonderful how well it knit together with 1984, enhanced it in parts, and yet also (I hope lovingly) undermined its worldview in parts.

The Supreme Grand Master smiled in the depths of his robe. It was amazing... You tell them a lie, and then when you don't need it any more you tell them another lie and tell them they are progressing along the road to wisdom. 1/2

Been thinking of how political Wonder Man was, particularly in comparison to that other great TV series - Andor Andor was political front and centre. It wore it on its sleeve Wonder Man is political in the radical Luke 15 sort of way that simply being a good neighbour is political these days.

Orion and the aurora from last night

The fall of the American Republic matches that of the Roman Republic except for one detail - The Triumvirate that destroyed the republic was 1) The richest man in the world - Crassus 2) A raping, face painted ,egomaniac - Caesar And 3) Pompey the military guy. Who is Pompey in this scenario?

In a world full of Scott Addamses, be a Bill Watterson.

Finally finished my Christmas jigsaw in time for my birthday Happy Hogswatch to all those who celebrate! :-)

The Louisiana Purchase was the largest single increase in area of the USA it added 828,000 sq mi, what would become ~ 15 states. Greenland is 836,330 sq mi This is nothing to do with minerals (they could simply buy the rights) or security (it's part of NATO anyway) It's all about Trump's legacy.

It's freezing here in Ireland and I was out the front of the church this evening casting salt over the paths and getting funny looks from the drivers going by. I felt like I should have been wearing my clerical garb and chanting in Latin or something for maximum effect.

Have we tried letting competent grown ups run the world for a change. Just a suggestion, might be worth a try...

Dear Canada, Apparently it's now ok to send your special forces south and kidnap the leader of a country that has been annoying you. You know what to do. Half of your neighbour will thank you as long as you also take the VP and the Speaker of the House. Yours, The Rest of the World

Just back from leading Carols by Candlelight. 75% totally knackered but 25% feeling very Christmassy :-) Happy Christmas everyone!

February 2025 The Burning Bush symbol from Tullamore Presbyterian Church removed during renovations. The butterflies are the table cloth underneath and not some theological peculiarity of Midlands Presbyterianism.

January 2025 Tullamore Rainbow over the Grand Canal

Tullamore looking dramatic tonight

The Prats of the Caribbean... www.lee.senate.gov/2025/12/patr...

So the next while it's going to be - 1) Trump starts a war with Venezuela (and possibly Colombia?) 2) Oil price rockets helping Trump's buddy (handler) Putin. 3) America tells Ukraine, "Sorry we're at war over here. We can't give you weapons as we need them and we want you to surrender to Russia

The late Sir Terry Pratchett being topical again. #magnets #science #Pratchett #STP #Trump

@drfrancisyoung.bsky.social Not that I would call into question the veracity of our National Broadcaster but I was very confused by this article about Martinmas sacrifices in Ireland. www.rte.ie/brainstorm/2... Was this a thing well into the 20th century as claimed?

THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE and PEANUTS debuted the same month. Hard to believe they're of the same era. Hat tip to Lev Grossman for that bit o' knowledge.

Could whoever gave Trump a DVD of Tom Clancy's "Clear and Present Danger" please stop giving him ideas? And for goodness sake never let him get near a Ladybird Edition or colouring book of "Debt of Honor" www.bbc.com/news/article...

O, wad some Power the giftie gie us To see oursels as others see us! It wad frae monie a blunder free us, An' foolish notion

At Abbey Royale de Fontevraud and this painting of the Resurrection of Jesus is giving me strong Thomas Jefferson from Hamilton vibes. "What did I miss?!"

Is it chicken curry or is it cake? Spotted in the wild at SuperU Tours, France

Someone in the Mattel corporation, in a meeting about creating a suitable motto for a toy company, suggested this joyless imperialist sounding verbiage. Weirdly the rest of the room didn't give them withering looks but thought, "That's good - let's go with that!" We played Uno - we're empowered!