William Bain
@william-bain.bsky.social
I write poetry and short fiction. Other interests include visual art, history, geopolitics. A personal blog can be found here:
http://tinyurl.com/pkemmhk
http://tinyurl.com/pkemmhk
Reposted by William Bain
"As societies grow decadent, the language grows decadent, too. Words are used to disguise, not to illuminate, action...Words are used to confuse, so that at election time people will solemnly vote against their own interests."
Gore Vidal, Imperial America, 2004
Gore Vidal, Imperial America, 2004
June 24, 2025 at 10:46 PM
"As societies grow decadent, the language grows decadent, too. Words are used to disguise, not to illuminate, action...Words are used to confuse, so that at election time people will solemnly vote against their own interests."
Gore Vidal, Imperial America, 2004
Gore Vidal, Imperial America, 2004
Reposted by William Bain
I remember an interview Gore Vidal gave to Australian TV in 2003 when we were all marching against the march towards war, and he made a comment that stuck with me: "The U.S. is a one-party system, and that party has a Democratic wing and a Republican wing."
Nothing has changed as far as I can see.
Nothing has changed as far as I can see.
January 30, 2026 at 4:17 PM
I remember an interview Gore Vidal gave to Australian TV in 2003 when we were all marching against the march towards war, and he made a comment that stuck with me: "The U.S. is a one-party system, and that party has a Democratic wing and a Republican wing."
Nothing has changed as far as I can see.
Nothing has changed as far as I can see.
Reposted by William Bain
“Marty Baron, a legendary former Post editor” called it “one of the ‘darkest days’ in the newspaper’s history. ‘Bezos’s sickening efforts to curry favor with President Trump have left an especially ugly stain of their own. This is a case study in near-instant, self-inflicted brand destruction.‘“
'A Massacre': Washington Post Slashes Hundreds Of Staff
The storied newspaper faced a backlash as its newsroom was gutted by devastating layoffs.
www.huffpost.com
February 4, 2026 at 6:22 PM
“Marty Baron, a legendary former Post editor” called it “one of the ‘darkest days’ in the newspaper’s history. ‘Bezos’s sickening efforts to curry favor with President Trump have left an especially ugly stain of their own. This is a case study in near-instant, self-inflicted brand destruction.‘“
Reposted by William Bain
An extraordinary opportunity, and so heartening to see this support from UCL-SSEES for fragile yet extremely valuable fields of scholarship!
🔊 Job vacancy: Lecturer in Czech and Comparative Literature
The post-holder will specialise in the literatures and cultures of Central and Eastern Europe, with a particular emphasis on Czech literature.
🗓️ Deadline: 26 February
➡️ Apply here: bit.ly/3Moi6gj
The post-holder will specialise in the literatures and cultures of Central and Eastern Europe, with a particular emphasis on Czech literature.
🗓️ Deadline: 26 February
➡️ Apply here: bit.ly/3Moi6gj
February 5, 2026 at 6:49 AM
An extraordinary opportunity, and so heartening to see this support from UCL-SSEES for fragile yet extremely valuable fields of scholarship!
Reposted by William Bain
Still Stuck!
The workers have completed 60% of building the stairs to reach our destroyed apartment. They need half the payment (2500/2), and only my partner and I haven’t paid yet.
145/1250
@mommunism.bsky.social
chuffed.org/project/help...
The workers have completed 60% of building the stairs to reach our destroyed apartment. They need half the payment (2500/2), and only my partner and I haven’t paid yet.
145/1250
@mommunism.bsky.social
chuffed.org/project/help...
February 4, 2026 at 11:06 AM
Still Stuck!
The workers have completed 60% of building the stairs to reach our destroyed apartment. They need half the payment (2500/2), and only my partner and I haven’t paid yet.
145/1250
@mommunism.bsky.social
chuffed.org/project/help...
The workers have completed 60% of building the stairs to reach our destroyed apartment. They need half the payment (2500/2), and only my partner and I haven’t paid yet.
145/1250
@mommunism.bsky.social
chuffed.org/project/help...
Reposted by William Bain
Trump and Xi discuss Ukraine and trade ahead of US state visit to Beijing ft.trib.al/4LGwQgc
Trump and Xi discuss Ukraine and trade ahead of US state visit to Beijing
Call took place after Chinese leader spoke to Vladimir Putin about global instability
ft.trib.al
February 4, 2026 at 5:46 PM
Trump and Xi discuss Ukraine and trade ahead of US state visit to Beijing ft.trib.al/4LGwQgc
Reposted by William Bain
Media coverage of Gaza has plummeted. So today on @thenation.com, we're doing something pretty special: we're only running pieces by people in and from Gaza.
We're calling it "A Day for Gaza." You can find links to all of the incredible pieces here. Please read! www.thenation.com/article/worl...
We're calling it "A Day for Gaza." You can find links to all of the incredible pieces here. Please read! www.thenation.com/article/worl...
A Day for Gaza
Today, The Nation is turning over its website exclusively to stories from Gaza and its people. This is why.
www.thenation.com
February 3, 2026 at 2:54 PM
Media coverage of Gaza has plummeted. So today on @thenation.com, we're doing something pretty special: we're only running pieces by people in and from Gaza.
We're calling it "A Day for Gaza." You can find links to all of the incredible pieces here. Please read! www.thenation.com/article/worl...
We're calling it "A Day for Gaza." You can find links to all of the incredible pieces here. Please read! www.thenation.com/article/worl...
The river Segre in Lleida
February 2, 2026 at 4:06 PM
The river Segre in Lleida
Reposted by William Bain
Euan Uglow, Flower.
February 2, 2026 at 12:15 AM
Euan Uglow, Flower.
Reposted by William Bain
13 preguntas y un poeta: Antonio García Lorente revista.poemame.com/2026/01/31/1...
13 preguntas y un poeta: Antonio García Lorente
Este mes vamos a entrevistar a un poeta del que este mismo mes publicamos una reseña de su último poemario: Soterránea.
Aquí tenéis nuestra conversación
1 - ¿Podría usted contarnos un poco de su...
revista.poemame.com
January 31, 2026 at 8:07 PM
13 preguntas y un poeta: Antonio García Lorente revista.poemame.com/2026/01/31/1...
Reposted by William Bain
Trump's arrest of Don Lemon shows that his "pivot" is an utter farce. As legal experts tell me, this looks appallingly corrupt. Indeed, it's likely this is all about sending a message that Trump isn't deescalating in the slightest.
New piece with fresh details here:
newrepublic.com/article/2059...
New piece with fresh details here:
newrepublic.com/article/2059...
Trump’s ICE Agents Arrested Don Lemon. Then the Story Got Even Darker.
Trump has been raging about the former CNN journalist. Attorney General Pam Bondi just had him arrested, a move one legal expert slammed as “highly irregular.”
newrepublic.com
January 30, 2026 at 5:40 PM
Trump's arrest of Don Lemon shows that his "pivot" is an utter farce. As legal experts tell me, this looks appallingly corrupt. Indeed, it's likely this is all about sending a message that Trump isn't deescalating in the slightest.
New piece with fresh details here:
newrepublic.com/article/2059...
New piece with fresh details here:
newrepublic.com/article/2059...
Reposted by William Bain
The 2026 Edwin Morgan Poetry Award is officially open for submissions 🎉🎉 If you’re a poet under 30 born, raised or currently living in Scotland and you have not yet published a full-length collection, we want to read your work!
Deadline: Monday 30 March
edwinmorgantrust.com/2021/11/15/a...
Deadline: Monday 30 March
edwinmorgantrust.com/2021/11/15/a...
January 30, 2026 at 12:14 PM
The 2026 Edwin Morgan Poetry Award is officially open for submissions 🎉🎉 If you’re a poet under 30 born, raised or currently living in Scotland and you have not yet published a full-length collection, we want to read your work!
Deadline: Monday 30 March
edwinmorgantrust.com/2021/11/15/a...
Deadline: Monday 30 March
edwinmorgantrust.com/2021/11/15/a...
Reposted by William Bain
One of my larger flower watercolours, done without body colour and featuring my most painted green glass jug (which is very old and leaking slightly from the handle. I'll get it to make a guest appearance in a new painting this year.
#watercolour #flowers #botanical
#watercolour #flowers #botanical
January 29, 2026 at 3:20 PM
One of my larger flower watercolours, done without body colour and featuring my most painted green glass jug (which is very old and leaking slightly from the handle. I'll get it to make a guest appearance in a new painting this year.
#watercolour #flowers #botanical
#watercolour #flowers #botanical
Reposted by William Bain
🤖 image processing for #JWST 🔭 data (HH288_offset). RGB Filters: 470, 356, 150
PI: McCaughrean, Mark J., program 04548. CRVAL: 9.293072, 64.062915
Credits: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI.
PI: McCaughrean, Mark J., program 04548. CRVAL: 9.293072, 64.062915
Credits: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI.
January 30, 2026 at 1:51 PM
🤖 image processing for #JWST 🔭 data (HH288_offset). RGB Filters: 470, 356, 150
PI: McCaughrean, Mark J., program 04548. CRVAL: 9.293072, 64.062915
Credits: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI.
PI: McCaughrean, Mark J., program 04548. CRVAL: 9.293072, 64.062915
Credits: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI.
Reposted by William Bain
House and trees, Dumfriesshire, c.1915 by Samuel John Peploe.
January 30, 2026 at 1:41 PM
House and trees, Dumfriesshire, c.1915 by Samuel John Peploe.
Reposted by William Bain
After executing Alex Pretti on Saturday, ICE has shifted to primarily targeting bus stops and elementary schools in my community this week. I cannot overstate how much of the ICE activity in my community is just targeting places where little kids are.
Video from this morning shows ICE agents deploying tear gas outside a Minneapolis preschool as parents shout, “This is a preschool! There’s kids here!”
January 27, 2026 at 8:17 PM
After executing Alex Pretti on Saturday, ICE has shifted to primarily targeting bus stops and elementary schools in my community this week. I cannot overstate how much of the ICE activity in my community is just targeting places where little kids are.
Reposted by William Bain
ESA/Hubble photo of a distant stellar birthplace, region of the N159 star-forming complex in the Large Magellanic Cloud, approximately 160 000 light-years away. Photo credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA, R. Indebetouw
Link for more information: esahubble.org/images/potw2...
Link for more information: esahubble.org/images/potw2...
January 28, 2026 at 10:51 PM
ESA/Hubble photo of a distant stellar birthplace, region of the N159 star-forming complex in the Large Magellanic Cloud, approximately 160 000 light-years away. Photo credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA, R. Indebetouw
Link for more information: esahubble.org/images/potw2...
Link for more information: esahubble.org/images/potw2...
Reposted by William Bain
Silence through the ages," 1968
Max Ernst (1891 - 1976). Tardee
Max Ernst (1891 - 1976). Tardee
January 29, 2026 at 4:36 PM
Silence through the ages," 1968
Max Ernst (1891 - 1976). Tardee
Max Ernst (1891 - 1976). Tardee
Reposted by William Bain
Bluesky isn’t about popularity, it’s about gathering all 17 William Morris lovers together in a single online location!
May 26, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Bluesky isn’t about popularity, it’s about gathering all 17 William Morris lovers together in a single online location!
Reposted by William Bain
January 19, 2026 at 4:25 PM
Reposted by William Bain
Take a moment and consider that sometimes icebergs are blue 🤔
January 19, 2026 at 5:31 PM
Take a moment and consider that sometimes icebergs are blue 🤔
Reposted by William Bain
Tonight's image of M33 Triangulum galaxy. earthsky.org/clusters-neb...
January 19, 2026 at 4:50 AM
Tonight's image of M33 Triangulum galaxy. earthsky.org/clusters-neb...
Reposted by William Bain
Robert Potts, former editor of Poetry Review and a critic who inspired me when I was starting out, has started a Substack about John Berryman’s 77 Dream Songs, after learning them all by heart. I just bought an old copy on eBay to keep to hand as I read along every week substack.com/home/post/p-...
'Dream awhile'
In which the project is introduced, and we consider our resources
substack.com
January 19, 2026 at 1:45 PM
Robert Potts, former editor of Poetry Review and a critic who inspired me when I was starting out, has started a Substack about John Berryman’s 77 Dream Songs, after learning them all by heart. I just bought an old copy on eBay to keep to hand as I read along every week substack.com/home/post/p-...
Reposted by William Bain
Astronomers Spot a Barred Spiral Galaxy That Existed Just 2 Billion Years After the Big Bang
https://www.newsbeep.com/ca/403871/
Scientists continue to push the boundaries of astronomy and cosmology, thanks to next-generation instruments that can see farther…
https://www.newsbeep.com/ca/403871/
Scientists continue to push the boundaries of astronomy and cosmology, thanks to next-generation instruments that can see farther…
Astronomers Spot a Barred Spiral Galaxy That Existed Just 2 Billion Years After the Big Bang - Canada News Beep
Scientists continue to push the boundaries of astronomy and cosmology, thanks to next-generation instruments that can see farther and clearer than ever
www.newsbeep.com
January 12, 2026 at 4:10 AM
Astronomers Spot a Barred Spiral Galaxy That Existed Just 2 Billion Years After the Big Bang
https://www.newsbeep.com/ca/403871/
Scientists continue to push the boundaries of astronomy and cosmology, thanks to next-generation instruments that can see farther…
https://www.newsbeep.com/ca/403871/
Scientists continue to push the boundaries of astronomy and cosmology, thanks to next-generation instruments that can see farther…
Reposted by William Bain
January 12, 2026 at 3:22 PM