Matthew Willis (Naval Air History)
@navalairhistory.com
Writer naval/aviation history. Words. Art. Photography. Silken Windhounds. He/him. Free Palestine.
The #GermanGP used to be one of the staples of the #F1 calendar… so where did it go? Let's get into the nitty-gritty over on YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=pf3P...
Will the German Grand Prix Ever Return to Formula 1?
YouTube video by Elizabeth Blackstock
youtube.com
That doesn't work, because it hits the same problem as parking in Amsterdam: if you're rich enough you can just buy your way out of the problem. Amsterdam's still choked with cars and making SUVs more expensive just makes them more of a status symbol. They need to be banned, not just taxed.
Ancients@ancients.me · 3h agoScale taxes and registration off fuel efficiency and you have a pile of good secondary effects.
Change a digit and ruin pi: 3.141592653589793238462643383279502884197169399375105820174944592307816406286...
A UK study found that telling potential SUV buyers that those vehicles directly result in higher fatalities for pedestrians, cyclists and children had zero effect on their decision to buy them. What does work? Financial penalties: Increased fees, taxes, parking. www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j...
SUV buyers undeterred by warnings of risk to pedestrians, UK study finds
Exclusive: Research suggests financial penalties necessary if number of large vehicles on roads is to be reduced
theguardian.com
What more fitting way to remember Rod Liddle’s life and work than by making nasty jokes about someone who can’t answer back
Really think this is what irked me about him the most tbh. Just a very ugly writer with no real flair or stylistic quality, whose outsized influence in the industry was also indicative of rock bottom standards and scrape-the-barrel prose
The Author, Séamas O'Reilly@seamas.bsky.social · 2d agoHaters focusing on Liddle's violence toward his pregnant partner, his galloping racism, or his repeated defences of paedophilia, should remember to mention he was also one of the worst writers to ever do it. A calorie-free hack of the first water. Just absolute dogshit, back to front.
Me at work again (photo: John W Pike)
I am generally not a fan of masculine tropes and all that, but put me in a situation where I'm in mild peril and I don't disgrace myself and, well, here we are
Firefly: Big Damn Heroes
Alt: Firefly: 'Big Damn Heroes' 'Ain't we just...'
static.klipy.com
Matthew Willis (Naval Air History)@navalairhistory.com · 11h agoAt the weekend's motorsport I kept taking photos despite multiple cars flying at me and now there's a debate over whether I should share them. I understand the arguments, it's just... I could have ducked, moved back, but I stood my ground to get the picture
Unsolicited writing advice, no. 245: Read outside your comfort zone. If you're writing fiction, try also reading non-fiction: science books, medical journals, political biographies, psychology texts. The more you read outside your genre, the better you'll be within it.
At the weekend's motorsport I kept taking photos despite multiple cars flying at me and now there's a debate over whether I should share them. I understand the arguments, it's just... I could have ducked, moved back, but I stood my ground to get the picture
The government’s transphobic code of practice is now up and running. But we’re not going to take it, we’re helping to fight back. Join us goodlawproject.org/s/485c4d
Fight back against the code of practice
The government’s transphobic code of practice is now up and running. But we’re not going to take it, we’re helping to fight back. Join us
goodlawproject.org
Not only was she loudly right about everything and reviled for it, in 2017 O'Connor donated 30 years worth of clothes and makeup to trans girls in Ireland.
Irish Literary Times@irishlittimes.bsky.social · 2w agoRemembering Sinéad O'Connor, who died three years ago, on July 26, 2023. Photo by Andreas Larsson. #sineadoconnor
Small but mighty, this 1967 Piper PA-18 150 Super Cub is scheduled to appear at The Stow Maries Air Show on 16 August - grab your tickets before they fly away! (All aircraft action is subject to last minute change for weather/operational reasons.) https://www.stowmaries.org.uk/events
Keep stories like this in mind as the trump regime tries to justify a invasion of Cuba.
Feena van@feenavan2099.bsky.social · 11mo ago"A new law allows trans Cubans to update their identification cards by request without providing proof of genital surgery."
I've just added another 25 paintings to the print shop I'm trying out after a year of no income, which brings the total number of paintings there now to 50. I'm not yet committed to it, but if it goes well I will add more paintings. #SpéirGhorm fineartamerica.com/profiles/4-l...
fineartamerica.com
eolaí the artist@eolai.bsky.social · 2w agoI'm approaching the anniversary of the last time I received any kind of income. Having to cancel my annual sale of original paintings and close my print shop, it's been not great for an unpaid carer. So over the next couple of weeks you'll see me push unsold paintings and try out some print options.
[…3/3] Prints of my Darth Vader crayon 🖍️ drawing are available on my #Etsy! #TillysArt yavinpaints.etsy.com/listing/4549...
Print - Crayon Drawing - Darth Vader - Sizes 8" X 12" to Poster - Etsy
This Prints item is sold by YavinPaints. Ships from United Kingdom. Listed on Aug 4, 2026
yavinpaints.etsy.com
In honour of #InternationalOwlDay. (It may be a bit niche [or maybe not, seeing the popularity of #TheOdyssey], but it's my favourite of any memes I've made.)
Playing you the song of their people at 5 am.
Tuatha@tuatha.ie · 5d agoThis carved stone plaque was found in St Francis' Row in Cashel, and it is believed to be the sign for a tavern that was known as The Cat & Bagpipes, that once stood on the main street. It may date to as early as the 16-17th century, and offers a glimpse of Cashel's social life from centuries ago
Still can't believe big Jimmy Cricket died and it barely registered. You just don't see this any more, just some cunt in a black turtleneck on Netflix complaining you can't punch trans people or call Roma people gypsies any more while pretending they're making some profound observation on life.
A lot of people today talking about an awful person who died but i want to make everyone aware of a good person who died: Northern Irish comedian Jimmy Cricket, who you should all look up if you don’t know. 10/10 all around wife guy, dad, granddad, and just a generally solid person
Oh wait I could call my art business ‘Matt Painting’
We will- I have no doubt- look back at this as one of the greatest scandals of our time. It he killing of the golden goose for the UK. A destruction of one of the most profitable and successful sectors.Yet, for now all politicians have their head in the sand on this one… A critically important read.
Peter Geoghegan@petergeoghegan.bsky.social · 3d agoBehind the bewildering transformation of British universities, are management consultants being paid millions Really proud to have this vital piece on our unis are being gutted from the inside by @jheathershaw.bsky.social on Democracy for Sale. Do read democracyforsale.substack.com/p/inside-bri...
never thought short form video would be able to capture a type of humor i can only describe as “the far side-esque” but this comes close.
Targaryan boys all want the same thing and it’s disgusting
The results of that Spiderman title brainstorm Home From Home There’s No Place Like Home Show Me The Way To Go Home Ain’t You Got No Home To Go To Old People’s Home Home Where The Buffalo Roam (this is the timeslip Western one) Home Depot
Lol Bond ones are good. "Feel a Bit Off Another Day" "Moontickler" "Monopussy" "The Man with the Aluminium Gun" "Dr Maybe" "Skystumble" "On Her Majesty's Weekly Shopping Run" ...
Dion Winton-Polak@dionwintonpolak.bsky.social · 3d agoDownplay a book or movie: ‘Try to Refrain From Saying Never Again.’
Forgot to mention that the driver is fine (I wouldn't have posted it if he wasn't fwiw) This looks like the car drove straight into the barrier, but it actually impacted on the left rear, 4-5ft to the left, which swung the car round into this second impact...
Matthew Willis (Naval Air History)@navalairhistory.com · 3d agoThat's me in the yellow hi-viz this afternoon (pic Martin Burnett www.instagram.com/martinb.phot...)
