Hello, world. I’m MacDara Conroy, and this is my blog.


Date: January 2013

How to be a fan of problematic things

"As fans, sometimes we need to remember that the things we like don't define our worth as people. So there's no need to defend them from every single criticism or pretend they are perfect." For me this goes for stuff like The Avengers and The Dark Knight Rises as much as it does for the 'isms' tied up in stuff like Game of Thrones. #link

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Inside the BBC's Verification Hub

It's just dawned on me that verification is what subeditors should be doing. American journalism has always had 'fact checkers' distinct from their copy editors, whereas on this side of the pond both functions were the preserve of the sub, a role that's been greatly diminished over the past decade, to the obvious detriment of the media. #link

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Moshing in the Spiral of Silence

Moshing isn't my thing either. But it depends from gig to gig; moshers can either be respectful (sticking to the pit) or be assholes. The latter can ruin shows for me. Not that I go to gigs very often. #link

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The 'Busy' Trap

I think people are reading too much into this; my own take on it is that people say they're busier than they are for two reasons: a) because the impression of busyness connotes status, and b) because it's easier than turning down invites to dinner/drinks/whatever because you just don't feel like it. #link

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Lego Cuusoo

Vote with others to get your favourite things made from Lego. This is awesome. #link

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Tom Coates: A New Sincerity

"I believe that without a belief in sincerity and truth, our political debates, our media, our way of life becomes nothing more than a place where arguments are played against one another like Pokemon. Everything becomes a strategy to win the debate -- gotta catch 'em all -- no matter the effect on the world. It's cock-fighting on the Hindenburg." #link

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Troma Movies on YouTube

Most of them are rubbish, of course, but there's a few gems in the rubble from the Z-movie specialists. And they're free. Can't argue with that. #link

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Monsters Studio Sessions

More Meat Puppets history from Derrick Bostrom, this time on their final SST album, just before the year punk broke. #link

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