Finbarr O'Reilly
@finoreilly.bsky.social
Irish science fiction writer (possibly the world's slowest). Squid, spaceships, síntí fada -- what's not to like? https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/author/finbarr-oreilly/
Reposted by Finbarr O'Reilly
The UK, where the day after a decision to take half a million children out of poverty, the media & political world has been full of sneering at those same children & their families, labelling them as ‘Benefits Street’, while the same people are moaning about a tax on £2m mansions. Shameful stuff.
November 27, 2025 at 8:22 PM
The UK, where the day after a decision to take half a million children out of poverty, the media & political world has been full of sneering at those same children & their families, labelling them as ‘Benefits Street’, while the same people are moaning about a tax on £2m mansions. Shameful stuff.
"Why'd he call it X? Ex-son, ex-husband, ex-father..."
"Men often 'think with their d**k'. But when you're poorly endowed *and* own an implant company, you can do it literally"
"Elon loves Nazis so much, he's changing his name to Herr Transplant"
-Roastatron9000
www.newsweek.com/elon-musk-to...
"Men often 'think with their d**k'. But when you're poorly endowed *and* own an implant company, you can do it literally"
"Elon loves Nazis so much, he's changing his name to Herr Transplant"
-Roastatron9000
www.newsweek.com/elon-musk-to...
Elon Musk told Joe Rogan how to "have a good time" at parties—goes viral
Musk tells Rogan how to "have a good time" at a party—by using X's AI chatbot, Grok.
www.newsweek.com
November 24, 2025 at 5:50 PM
"Why'd he call it X? Ex-son, ex-husband, ex-father..."
"Men often 'think with their d**k'. But when you're poorly endowed *and* own an implant company, you can do it literally"
"Elon loves Nazis so much, he's changing his name to Herr Transplant"
-Roastatron9000
www.newsweek.com/elon-musk-to...
"Men often 'think with their d**k'. But when you're poorly endowed *and* own an implant company, you can do it literally"
"Elon loves Nazis so much, he's changing his name to Herr Transplant"
-Roastatron9000
www.newsweek.com/elon-musk-to...
Reposted by Finbarr O'Reilly
Everything about this might be the saddest thing I’ve ever seen
November 24, 2025 at 1:07 PM
Everything about this might be the saddest thing I’ve ever seen
Reposted by Finbarr O'Reilly
*Editor's note: I'm aware that the analogy here should really be cruising rather than dogging, but that wouldn't have worked. No offence to the dogging community but there is something intrinsically funny about your pastime.
November 23, 2025 at 11:19 PM
*Editor's note: I'm aware that the analogy here should really be cruising rather than dogging, but that wouldn't have worked. No offence to the dogging community but there is something intrinsically funny about your pastime.
Reposted by Finbarr O'Reilly
There was actually a time quite recently when the Young People still used Tinder
(Published around the time of Dawn Chorus Day)
(Published around the time of Dawn Chorus Day)
![[Scene is a WOODLAND just before dawn. In a tree, a TEENAGE ROBIN with big headphones on is slouching on a branch, swiping on her phone. Her DAD ROBIN approaches her on the branch looking cheerful with her MUM ROBIN also in tow].
DAD ROBIN:
Wakey wakey darling, it's National Dawn Chorus Day!
TEENAGE ROBIN:
Ugh, Dad...
DAD ROBIN:
Come on, dear...
DAD ROBIN:
It's time for us all to shout into the darkness for sex!
TEENAGE ROBIN:
What
DAD ROBIN:
You're a big bird now.
Time to put down that blessed phone and find a mate...
TEENAGE ROBIN:
I am.
On Tinder.
[She swipes on her phone]
DAD ROBIN:
Oh for heaven's sake.
Your generation has no sense of tradition!
TEENAGE ROBIN:
Right... so you'd rather I found love by bellowing into the woods for a pre-dawn hookup with a total stranger?
DAD ROBIN:
It's natural!
TEENAGE ROBIN:
It's dogging.
DAD ROBIN:
Well that's how your Mum and I had you...
TEENAGE ROBIN:
OH MY GOD GROSS
MUM ROBIN [Singing sweetly into the air]:
Sex pleeease...
TEENAGE ROBIN:
Stop it Mum.
MUM ROBIN:
SEEEEEX PLEEEEAAAASE...
TEENAGE ROBIN:
MUUUM!
[ends]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:4m3we4apbjayclzcnhwe3pfp/bafkreierbhobnorq5sxzbz3n5wpp2y3b4d6gpudj7qf6qycqqlvwja7eoi@jpeg)
November 23, 2025 at 11:18 PM
There was actually a time quite recently when the Young People still used Tinder
(Published around the time of Dawn Chorus Day)
(Published around the time of Dawn Chorus Day)
Reposted by Finbarr O'Reilly
I genuinely hate having to plug my work on here. I would rather post my cartoons and drawings without a link to my website, but unfortunately social media is an important element of our business, so I have to do it. I do appreciate the reposts and thank you for the support since I came to Bluesky.
November 23, 2025 at 12:21 PM
I genuinely hate having to plug my work on here. I would rather post my cartoons and drawings without a link to my website, but unfortunately social media is an important element of our business, so I have to do it. I do appreciate the reposts and thank you for the support since I came to Bluesky.
Reposted by Finbarr O'Reilly
In Tesco’s this afternoon: an elderly Polish man at the self-checkout, trying to buy a pint of milk and a white radish. There is no picture for the radish on the machine. The assistant doesn’t know what it is. She asks a colleague: “It’s a white radish.” There is no entry for it on the machine.
November 22, 2025 at 1:28 PM
In Tesco’s this afternoon: an elderly Polish man at the self-checkout, trying to buy a pint of milk and a white radish. There is no picture for the radish on the machine. The assistant doesn’t know what it is. She asks a colleague: “It’s a white radish.” There is no entry for it on the machine.
I was always disappointed that when Harry Harrison moved to Ireland he didn't opt to live in Macroom! Macroom!
In an overpopulated future, surplus population is secretly converted into hallucinogens, in Harry Harrison’s MAKE SHROOM! MAKE SHROOM!
November 21, 2025 at 12:07 AM
I was always disappointed that when Harry Harrison moved to Ireland he didn't opt to live in Macroom! Macroom!
One thing you can never say, that you haven't been told
November 20, 2025 at 11:53 PM
One thing you can never say, that you haven't been told
Reposted by Finbarr O'Reilly
It’s as if this horribly inevitable outcome was just horribly inevitable.
November 18, 2025 at 2:35 PM
It’s as if this horribly inevitable outcome was just horribly inevitable.
Reposted by Finbarr O'Reilly
I’m going to keep posting these, because every time I see someone who studies our politics make arguments like this - however painful it is to read - I feel less as if I‘ve lost touch with the real.
This from @stephenkb.bsky.social cuts to the heart of the matter. Does the government not understand how toxic this argument is? Do they think they can somehow weaponise it? The last governments at least had the merit not of making this kind of foul claim.
November 18, 2025 at 10:24 AM
I’m going to keep posting these, because every time I see someone who studies our politics make arguments like this - however painful it is to read - I feel less as if I‘ve lost touch with the real.
I share a birthday with Calvin & Hobbes and Mickey Mouse. Why am I not a cartoonist? Oh yes, the absence of artistic talent.
November 18, 2025 at 8:30 AM
I share a birthday with Calvin & Hobbes and Mickey Mouse. Why am I not a cartoonist? Oh yes, the absence of artistic talent.
Reposted by Finbarr O'Reilly
"Polanski was joined by many Labour MPs in opposing the government’s plans, although most of them are thought to be prepared to reluctantly support the measures."
What's the point of being in Labour?
Join.greenparty.org.uk
What's the point of being in Labour?
Join.greenparty.org.uk
Zack Polanski: "This is extreme, this is inhumane and it is a government of cowards."
www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/a-gove...
www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/a-gove...
'A Government Of Cowards': Zack Polanski Blasts Labour As Asylum Backlash Grows
The Green Party leader joined Labour MPs in condemning Shabana Mahmood's plans.
www.huffingtonpost.co.uk
November 18, 2025 at 7:39 AM
"Polanski was joined by many Labour MPs in opposing the government’s plans, although most of them are thought to be prepared to reluctantly support the measures."
What's the point of being in Labour?
Join.greenparty.org.uk
What's the point of being in Labour?
Join.greenparty.org.uk
Reposted by Finbarr O'Reilly
Reposted by Finbarr O'Reilly
He should call it And Another Thing
John Carpenter says he's working on a sequel to 'The Thing'
"We'll see"
"We'll see"
November 7, 2025 at 10:51 PM
He should call it And Another Thing
Reposted by Finbarr O'Reilly
He beat the wrap.
I'm so sorry. I'll get my coat.
I'm so sorry. I'll get my coat.
November 6, 2025 at 9:50 PM
He beat the wrap.
I'm so sorry. I'll get my coat.
I'm so sorry. I'll get my coat.
Such a fab story. Easily one of my favourite books and overdue a re-read.
So it’s the tenth birthday of Midnight, a book that was nearly but not quite a lot of things. Happy birthday, little book. Still looking good.
November 5, 2025 at 9:27 PM
Such a fab story. Easily one of my favourite books and overdue a re-read.
Reposted by Finbarr O'Reilly
So it’s the tenth birthday of Midnight, a book that was nearly but not quite a lot of things. Happy birthday, little book. Still looking good.
November 5, 2025 at 11:27 AM
So it’s the tenth birthday of Midnight, a book that was nearly but not quite a lot of things. Happy birthday, little book. Still looking good.
Reposted by Finbarr O'Reilly
Unfortunate juxtaposition…
November 3, 2025 at 11:24 AM
Unfortunate juxtaposition…
Reposted by Finbarr O'Reilly
Inconceivable!
On the other site, an 18-year-old Zohran canvasser described the legendary Wallace Shawn as "the actor who plays Dr. Sturgis on Young Sheldon" which is honestly adorable
November 2, 2025 at 8:46 PM
Inconceivable!
Russian money links at the heart of Brexit, UKIP and 'Reform'? www.theguardian.com/news/ng-inte...
a cartoon character says i 'm shocked in front of a fence
Alt: a cartoon character says i 'm shocked in front of a fence
media.tenor.com
November 1, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Russian money links at the heart of Brexit, UKIP and 'Reform'? www.theguardian.com/news/ng-inte...
Reposted by Finbarr O'Reilly
‘when history judges us, it won’t ask how “agile” we were.
It will ask who we housed, who we fed, who we sheltered‘
This hit hard.
www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/colu...
It will ask who we housed, who we fed, who we sheltered‘
This hit hard.
www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/colu...
Colin Sheridan: Ireland is moving so fast, it's forgotten its people
We are a rich country masquerading as a poor one, run by people terrified of annoying people even richer
www.irishexaminer.com
November 1, 2025 at 9:58 AM
‘when history judges us, it won’t ask how “agile” we were.
It will ask who we housed, who we fed, who we sheltered‘
This hit hard.
www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/colu...
It will ask who we housed, who we fed, who we sheltered‘
This hit hard.
www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/colu...
Reposted by Finbarr O'Reilly
In the Here Be Dragons panel at WFC @aknighton.bsky.social declared Errol from Guards! Guards! as his favourite fictional dragon. We do love that weird little guy and his triumph at the end.
October 31, 2025 at 3:55 PM
In the Here Be Dragons panel at WFC @aknighton.bsky.social declared Errol from Guards! Guards! as his favourite fictional dragon. We do love that weird little guy and his triumph at the end.
Reposted by Finbarr O'Reilly
The AI-response "Everything can be faked" discourse interests me partly by how much it leaves out of "everything."
AI might be able to fake a picture of a meal or video of a football match, but it can't fake the experience of eating or playing.
Being embodied seems like a kind of resistance.
AI might be able to fake a picture of a meal or video of a football match, but it can't fake the experience of eating or playing.
Being embodied seems like a kind of resistance.
October 30, 2025 at 11:46 PM
The AI-response "Everything can be faked" discourse interests me partly by how much it leaves out of "everything."
AI might be able to fake a picture of a meal or video of a football match, but it can't fake the experience of eating or playing.
Being embodied seems like a kind of resistance.
AI might be able to fake a picture of a meal or video of a football match, but it can't fake the experience of eating or playing.
Being embodied seems like a kind of resistance.