William Hayes
@williamhayes.bsky.social
Presbyterian Minister in the Midlands of Ireland. Computer geek, guitarist, hoarder of books and obscure information. Love seeing the bizarre and beautiful in the world.
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
1/2
February 2, 2026 at 6:50 PM
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
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.
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.
January 29, 2026 at 12:23 AM
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.
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
January 20, 2026 at 2:58 PM
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?
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?
January 16, 2026 at 3:51 PM
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?
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?
Reposted by William Hayes
In a world full of Scott Addamses, be a Bill Watterson.
January 14, 2026 at 6:42 AM
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! :-)
Happy Hogswatch to all those who celebrate! :-)
January 6, 2026 at 11:45 PM
Finally finished my Christmas jigsaw in time for my birthday
Happy Hogswatch to all those who celebrate! :-)
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.
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.
January 6, 2026 at 8:31 PM
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.
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.
I felt like I should have been wearing my clerical garb and chanting in Latin or something for maximum effect.
January 5, 2026 at 9:58 PM
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.
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...
Just a suggestion, might be worth a try...
January 4, 2026 at 7:25 PM
Have we tried letting competent grown ups run the world for a change.
Just a suggestion, might be worth a try...
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
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
January 3, 2026 at 2:43 PM
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
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!
75% totally knackered but 25% feeling very Christmassy :-)
Happy Christmas everyone!
December 24, 2025 at 10:42 PM
Just back from leading Carols by Candlelight.
75% totally knackered but 25% feeling very Christmassy :-)
Happy Christmas everyone!
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.
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.
December 23, 2025 at 12:50 PM
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.
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
Rainbow over the Grand Canal
December 22, 2025 at 1:25 PM
January 2025
Tullamore
Rainbow over the Grand Canal
Tullamore
Rainbow over the Grand Canal
Tullamore looking dramatic tonight
December 21, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Tullamore looking dramatic tonight
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
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
December 17, 2025 at 1:23 AM
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
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
November 13, 2025 at 9:17 PM
@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?
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?
Why November 11th was a day for blood sacrifice rites in Ireland
Blood sacrifices involving pigs, sheep or geese were practiced in Ireland well into living memory on Martinmas
www.rte.ie
November 11, 2025 at 9:10 AM
@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?
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?
Reposted by William Hayes
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.
Hat tip to Lev Grossman for that bit o' knowledge.
October 18, 2025 at 11:58 PM
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.
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...
And for goodness sake never let him get near a Ladybird Edition or colouring book of "Debt of Honor"
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Trump confirms he authorised CIA action inside Venezuela
But the president would not be drawn on whether the CIA had been told to topple Nicolas Maduro.
www.bbc.com
October 15, 2025 at 9:46 PM
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...
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
To see oursels as others see us!
It wad frae monie a blunder free us,
An' foolish notion
July 29, 2025 at 4:54 PM
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
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?!"
"What did I miss?!"
July 27, 2025 at 4:35 PM
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?!"
"What did I miss?!"
Is it chicken curry or is it cake?
Spotted in the wild at SuperU Tours, France
Spotted in the wild at SuperU Tours, France
July 26, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Is it chicken curry or is it cake?
Spotted in the wild at SuperU Tours, France
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!
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!
July 24, 2025 at 11:28 AM
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!
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!