Brian O'Halloran
@playingwithdust.bsky.social
Die hard Cruyffian. Ex astrophysicist. QPR devotee, for my multiple sins. Single parent.
Pinned
Time for a (re) introduction for my new followers! I'm Brian, a fallen astrophysicist living on the Copper Coast in Waterford, Ireland. Most of my feed will be photos of this gorgeous part of the world, plus my astrophotography.
Oh, plus terrible football takes.
Oh, plus terrible football takes.
Reposted by Brian O'Halloran
The starkest difference between Britain and Ireland is surely the culture around death and mourning. They don't know what a month's mind is, we don't know why they have cartoons of Paddington Bear walking into the rain with a recently deceased public figure.
November 29, 2025 at 9:08 PM
The starkest difference between Britain and Ireland is surely the culture around death and mourning. They don't know what a month's mind is, we don't know why they have cartoons of Paddington Bear walking into the rain with a recently deceased public figure.
Reposted by Brian O'Halloran
If an Irish writer of Stoppard's stature died today, our president (and probably our Taoiseach too) would've issued a statement by now.
November 29, 2025 at 8:48 PM
If an Irish writer of Stoppard's stature died today, our president (and probably our Taoiseach too) would've issued a statement by now.
Tonight's 9.5 day old Moon, as shot by the Canon EOS 250D with the Tamron G2 150-600mm lens and x1.4 teleconverter.
30x1/100s exposures stacked. F/25, ISO 800. #astrophotography #astronomy #speirgorm #ThePhotoHour
30x1/100s exposures stacked. F/25, ISO 800. #astrophotography #astronomy #speirgorm #ThePhotoHour
November 29, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Tonight's 9.5 day old Moon, as shot by the Canon EOS 250D with the Tamron G2 150-600mm lens and x1.4 teleconverter.
30x1/100s exposures stacked. F/25, ISO 800. #astrophotography #astronomy #speirgorm #ThePhotoHour
30x1/100s exposures stacked. F/25, ISO 800. #astrophotography #astronomy #speirgorm #ThePhotoHour
Reposted by Brian O'Halloran
Sorry, but you don’t get to drone strike vessels and double tap the survivors in international waters and then pretend you care about military law.
The Pentagon announced Monday it is investigating Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona over possible breaches of military law after the former Navy pilot joined a handful of other lawmakers in a video that called for troops to defy "illegal orders."
Pentagon Threatens to Court Martial US Senator
The Pentagon announced Monday it is investigating Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona over possible breaches of military law.
buff.ly
November 29, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Sorry, but you don’t get to drone strike vessels and double tap the survivors in international waters and then pretend you care about military law.
Reposted by Brian O'Halloran
Emblematic of everything that is wrong with the global economy (and culture) right now
Crypto is a Ponzi scheme and what was once seen as a sporting institution with integrity has sold all of it
www.ft.com/content/9fb4...
Crypto is a Ponzi scheme and what was once seen as a sporting institution with integrity has sold all of it
www.ft.com/content/9fb4...
FC Barcelona’s tie-up with Samoa-based crypto start-up sparks backlash
Heavily indebted club faces accusations of desperation over sponsorship deal with little-known firm Zero-Knowledge Proof
www.ft.com
November 29, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Emblematic of everything that is wrong with the global economy (and culture) right now
Crypto is a Ponzi scheme and what was once seen as a sporting institution with integrity has sold all of it
www.ft.com/content/9fb4...
Crypto is a Ponzi scheme and what was once seen as a sporting institution with integrity has sold all of it
www.ft.com/content/9fb4...
Just found out that Tom Stoppard's mortal enemy writes headlines for RTÉ News.
The shade.
www.rte.ie/entertainmen...
The shade.
www.rte.ie/entertainmen...
Tom Stoppard, Shakespeare in Love Oscar winner, dies
The playwright Tom Stoppard, who won an Oscar and a Golden Globe for the screenplay for Shakespeare in Love, has died at the age of 88.
www.rte.ie
November 29, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Just found out that Tom Stoppard's mortal enemy writes headlines for RTÉ News.
The shade.
www.rte.ie/entertainmen...
The shade.
www.rte.ie/entertainmen...
Reposted by Brian O'Halloran
RIP Tom Stoppard who did so much incredible work, not least writing every single line of dialogue in Indiana Jones & The Last Crusade.
November 29, 2025 at 5:18 PM
RIP Tom Stoppard who did so much incredible work, not least writing every single line of dialogue in Indiana Jones & The Last Crusade.
Reposted by Brian O'Halloran
Finally getting some theological clarity on the ethics of reclining in one’s plane seat
November 29, 2025 at 12:13 PM
Finally getting some theological clarity on the ethics of reclining in one’s plane seat
Reposted by Brian O'Halloran
The ultimate Russ Parsons guide to the perfect winter stew in Ireland
The ultimate Russ Parsons guide to the perfect winter stew in Ireland
Long and slow cooking pays rewards; it’s a reminder that time is also an ingredient
www.irishtimes.com
November 29, 2025 at 12:50 PM
The ultimate Russ Parsons guide to the perfect winter stew in Ireland
Reposted by Brian O'Halloran
“Is that in Southern Ireland?”
February 28, 2025 at 9:10 AM
“Is that in Southern Ireland?”
Reposted by Brian O'Halloran
Haters gonna hate! A top twenty hit in Ireland this week in November 1987: Alexander O'Neal's fantastic 'Criticize' www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVNP...
Alexander O'Neal - "Criticize"
YouTube video by Alexander O'Neal Official
www.youtube.com
November 29, 2025 at 1:14 PM
Haters gonna hate! A top twenty hit in Ireland this week in November 1987: Alexander O'Neal's fantastic 'Criticize' www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVNP...
Reposted by Brian O'Halloran
In a horrendous mood, made even worse by the fact that my beloved coffee machine is NOT WORKING this morning.
I have slum it with, **grits teeth**, Barry's Tea instead.
I have slum it with, **grits teeth**, Barry's Tea instead.
a close up of a man in a suit and tie making a funny face .
Alt: a close up of a man in a suit and tie making a funny face .
media.tenor.com
November 29, 2025 at 9:10 AM
In a horrendous mood, made even worse by the fact that my beloved coffee machine is NOT WORKING this morning.
I have slum it with, **grits teeth**, Barry's Tea instead.
I have slum it with, **grits teeth**, Barry's Tea instead.
Reposted by Brian O'Halloran
🚨Airbus has just confirmed to me that this issue does indeed relate to single-event upsets, also known as bit flips🚨
This is pretty massive.
There is scant detail so far but they say "solar radiation" has caused problems for some aircraft.
This *could* be related to single-event upsets, where cosmic rays trigger computer errors. I've asked Airbus if they can share more detail.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cv...
There is scant detail so far but they say "solar radiation" has caused problems for some aircraft.
This *could* be related to single-event upsets, where cosmic rays trigger computer errors. I've asked Airbus if they can share more detail.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cv...
Flight disruption warning as Airbus requests modifications to 6,000 planes
The European aerospace giant said it had found that intense radiation from the Sun could corrupt data crucial to flight controls.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 28, 2025 at 10:07 PM
🚨Airbus has just confirmed to me that this issue does indeed relate to single-event upsets, also known as bit flips🚨
Worst Ryanair Flight Ever
November 28, 2025 at 11:24 PM
Worst Ryanair Flight Ever
Judean People's Front and The People's Front Of Judea?
Jeremy Corbyn and Zara Sultana’s Your Party reveals shortlist for official name
Jeremy Corbyn and Zara Sultana’s Your Party reveals shortlist for official name
Leftwing party asks members to pick between Your Party, Our Party, Popular Alliance and For The Many
The leftwing party formed by Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana has revealed a shortlist of names for its members to pick from: Your Party, Our Party, Popular Alliance and For The Many.
Ahead of its first conference in Liverpool this weekend, the party is asking its 50,000 members to choose what it should be called, with the result to be announced by Corbyn on Sunday. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 28, 2025 at 9:53 PM
Judean People's Front and The People's Front Of Judea?
Reposted by Brian O'Halloran
Coverage here in the Waterford News & Star on the implications of the NDP for the South East: www.waterford-news.ie/news/concern...
Concern expressed that Waterford rail links being left behind - News - Waterford News & Star
Since 2000, new rail has been constructed to support development around four of Ireland’s five cities
www.waterford-news.ie
November 28, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Coverage here in the Waterford News & Star on the implications of the NDP for the South East: www.waterford-news.ie/news/concern...
The ultimate academic software package
November 28, 2025 at 3:45 PM
The ultimate academic software package
Reposted by Brian O'Halloran
This was always likely to happen. The trans hostile gender critics are no, and have never been feminists: they are supporters of Gilead.
Imagine being turned away from a bathroom, hospital, or cinema for “not looking female enough”. The leaked EHRC guidance could do just that. Along with my Lib Dem colleagues, I’ve written to the Minister calling for new, inclusive, practical guidance that protects everyone’s rights.
November 28, 2025 at 1:05 PM
This was always likely to happen. The trans hostile gender critics are no, and have never been feminists: they are supporters of Gilead.
Reposted by Brian O'Halloran
Like for real, I haven't seen a single thing in the media for ages about Sally Rooney except in the context of the Brits doing the will-we-won't-we dance about banning her books. Couldn't have come up with better marketing if you were her biggest fan
Advisor: Last time we tried charging Irish artists with terrorism offenses over trivial nonsense it ended up massively boosting their profile and embarrassing the government
Keir Starmer:
Keir Starmer:
November 28, 2025 at 11:53 AM
Like for real, I haven't seen a single thing in the media for ages about Sally Rooney except in the context of the Brits doing the will-we-won't-we dance about banning her books. Couldn't have come up with better marketing if you were her biggest fan
Reposted by Brian O'Halloran
Remembering the time I was in Türkiye and the hotel welcomed me with an effusive press release and one of the all time great pull quotes
November 27, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Remembering the time I was in Türkiye and the hotel welcomed me with an effusive press release and one of the all time great pull quotes
A friend (Joanne, someone I dated for a bit) was shortlisted for this. Not her night, but she's such a wonderful poet (and a very lovely person too), that I expect her to be back again sooner rather than later.
The WINNER of the 2025 New Irish Writing Best Poetry, in association with the Irish Independent is...
“There’s never a crowd at the poetry section”, Vincent Barton
#APIBA #StoriesMakeUs
“There’s never a crowd at the poetry section”, Vincent Barton
#APIBA #StoriesMakeUs
November 28, 2025 at 6:08 AM
A friend (Joanne, someone I dated for a bit) was shortlisted for this. Not her night, but she's such a wonderful poet (and a very lovely person too), that I expect her to be back again sooner rather than later.
Reposted by Brian O'Halloran
Sadly the current right-wing coalition government in Finland has cut the funding for the nation’s “Housing First” success story, & homelessness is now on the rise again. That just reinforces the fact that such programs work, if political ideology doesn’t stand in the way.
ysaatio.fi/en/news/home...
ysaatio.fi/en/news/home...
Homelessness on the Rise in Finland - Y-Säätiö
Asunnottomien ihmisten määrä on kääntynyt kasvuun. Nyt asunnottomien määrä kasvoi Helsingissä, vaikka asunnottomia asutettiin vuoden aikana vaikuttava määrä.
ysaatio.fi
November 24, 2025 at 10:10 PM
Sadly the current right-wing coalition government in Finland has cut the funding for the nation’s “Housing First” success story, & homelessness is now on the rise again. That just reinforces the fact that such programs work, if political ideology doesn’t stand in the way.
ysaatio.fi/en/news/home...
ysaatio.fi/en/news/home...
Reposted by Brian O'Halloran
I'm just gonna say it: you wouldn't need to ban the kids if you just made the platforms responsible for moderation in the first fucking place.
Good luck papering over that chasm and calling it protection. ✌🏻
Good luck papering over that chasm and calling it protection. ✌🏻
November 27, 2025 at 9:30 PM
I'm just gonna say it: you wouldn't need to ban the kids if you just made the platforms responsible for moderation in the first fucking place.
Good luck papering over that chasm and calling it protection. ✌🏻
Good luck papering over that chasm and calling it protection. ✌🏻
Reposted by Brian O'Halloran
ME: WHY’S IT CALLED BOWLING AND NOT PINBALL
SKYDIVING INSTRUCTOR: *strapped to my back* WE DON’T HAVE TO TALK
SKYDIVING INSTRUCTOR: *strapped to my back* WE DON’T HAVE TO TALK
November 25, 2025 at 3:06 PM
ME: WHY’S IT CALLED BOWLING AND NOT PINBALL
SKYDIVING INSTRUCTOR: *strapped to my back* WE DON’T HAVE TO TALK
SKYDIVING INSTRUCTOR: *strapped to my back* WE DON’T HAVE TO TALK