Microlog: July 2005
Postwar Japan's exploding subculture Sun 31 Jul 2005
Paper Forest Sun 31 Jul 2005
Looks a little fey for my tastes right now, but the whole concept of paper craft impresses me.
The Onion A.V. Club interviews Negativland Sun 31 Jul 2005
Don’t say I told you this, but you can get the ‘forbidden’ U2 single right here. Sshhh!
Music and the Internet Sun 31 Jul 2005
The Lost Generation Sun 31 Jul 2005
I actually have read this one. It’s a bit too Lester Bangs for my liking, but there you go.
New York Rock: A Critical History Sun 31 Jul 2005
I’ve yet to read this, I’m posting for later reference. Check the MetaFiler thread for some context.
Japan racism 'deep and profound' Sun 31 Jul 2005
They do have a very insular society, and nationalist activism is increasing. But such attitudes aren’t in tune with most citydwellers, from what I’ve seen and heard.
How To Fix An Underexposed Photo Sun 31 Jul 2005
Note to self: take more photos so I might actually have use for tips like this.
How to style a restaurant menu with CSS Sun 31 Jul 2005
Or style anything else, for that matter.
Daniel Clowes: A comic book hero Sun 31 Jul 2005
Acme Novelty Archive: The Chris Ware database Sun 31 Jul 2005
I’m reading Jimmy Corrigan at the moment; it’s as much as I can do to keep the tears from flowing. Amazing stuff.
Quick start your design with XHTML templates Sun 31 Jul 2005
Filing this for future reference.
On making mistakes Sun 31 Jul 2005
Very true. There’s a real stigma about trial-and-error, but that’s the essence of creativity.
NYC walking tour tips Sun 31 Jul 2005
Filing this for future reference.
Aisle of Averages Sun 31 Jul 2005
Scientists predict brave new world of brain pills Sun 31 Jul 2005
Modafinil scares me. It’s the amphetamine of the 21st Century.
Technorati: A New Public Utility Sun 31 Jul 2005
It’s certainly going that way. Who would have thought folksonomy would take off so fast?
Design In-Flight's final takeoff Sun 31 Jul 2005
I recently purchased every issue for the princely sum of ten dollars.
Who killed Richard Cullen? Sun 31 Jul 2005
A harrowing story. And the reason why I pay off my credit card bill every month, and never want to take out a loan.
The "Vinegar Boy" Saga, as told by Aaron Sat 30 Jul 2005
This guy is my new hero.
Guide to Grammar and Writing Sat 30 Jul 2005
A handy reference for those without a style manual.
Writerisms and Other Sins Sat 30 Jul 2005
I’m guilty of many of these.
Online PDF converter Sat 30 Jul 2005
Handy for short documents if you don’t have PDF conversion built-in.
Turn a Zip case into a Hipster PDA Sat 30 Jul 2005
Very nice, but probably more trouble than it’s worth for me.
Create Gapless CDs and AAC Files with iTunes 4.9 Sat 30 Jul 2005
Filing this for future reference.
The Observer Music Magazine Poll Sat 30 Jul 2005
Some intriguing findings here. And others not so.
The Question of Zion Sat 30 Jul 2005
Might be worth a read, but that cover has got to go.
Sigla's Feargal reads The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle Sat 30 Jul 2005
I don’t agree with him — I thought it got much better after the first 100 pages, and I didn’t feel cheated at the end — but that doesn’t mean he’s wrong. Murakami’s books are strange ones. They either click or they don’t.
Disney to close last hand-drawn animation studio Thu 28 Jul 2005
The craft isn’t going away, it’s just shifting to a different industry; all of the trainee animators I’ve ever known wanted to be comic book artists.
Flipbook Thu 28 Jul 2005
Be warned, it’s very addictive. There’s some excellent examples of what can be done, too.
Photomuse Thu 28 Jul 2005
Now that’s what I call a resource.
The Cartoons of Mr. Fish Thu 28 Jul 2005
They’re funny in a ‘what if Raymond Pettibon were more accessible’ sort of way.
GoDaddy? No, Daddy Thu 28 Jul 2005
With this coming after the Gitmo controversy, I think I’ll be taking my business somewhere else when the time comes.
Live8: All Rock, No Action Thu 28 Jul 2005
Wise words from the grass roots.
How the housefly evades ambush Thu 28 Jul 2005
Funny, I always thought it was because their ocular senses are faster than ours.
The Situationist International Thu 28 Jul 2005
Like many great ideas, it’s probably better thought about than executed.
How to make enhanced podcasts Thu 28 Jul 2005
Filing this for later reference.
Preparing your images with iPhoto Thu 28 Jul 2005
I never really got into iPhoto, and it feels like it’s too late now. But I’ve got so many unprocessed pics on my drive…
Architecting CSS Thu 28 Jul 2005
Filing this for later reference.
Chris Griffin takes on A-Ha Thu 28 Jul 2005
Priceless!
James Doohan, 1920-2005 Thu 28 Jul 2005
Scotty beams up for the last time.
Ten CSS tricks you may not know Thu 28 Jul 2005
I have the strangest feeling I’ve linked to this before.
We Have Liftoff, Baby, Yeah! Thu 28 Jul 2005
Oh dear, that’s an unfortunate photo.
Weasel Words Ripped My Flesh! Thu 28 Jul 2005
Fascism is on the march! Thu 28 Jul 2005
Yes, apparently the Gestapo have already taken over our streets with their scary leather coats and such. And by the way, isn’t it cute how people are convinced we Irish don’t have a constitution?
On the CIA's evil genius, Dr Sidney Gottlieb Thu 28 Jul 2005
Fucking hell. This is precisely why you should never trust authority.
Accessible Nostalgia Thu 28 Jul 2005
Some? Definitley. Others? Not so much.
The Onion A.V. Club just got a redesign Thu 28 Jul 2005
If you haven’t already noticed. I’m diggin’ the new logo, the sidebar menu and the colours. But the main page is far too busy, and the emphases are all wrong.
Caring for Your Introvert Thu 28 Jul 2005
I don’t really need this, since Benitha feels the same way as I do. Isn’t it great when you’re compatible?
The World Is Round Thu 28 Jul 2005
A sound rebuttal of Tom Friedman’s defense of globalism, in book review form.
Putting for the Fences Thu 28 Jul 2005
Miniature golf reportage — this is great! I’m starting to like the New York Times again.
Lock and Load Thu 28 Jul 2005
Sarah Vowell contrasts the Arizona minutemen (boo!) with San Pedro’s own Minutemen (yay!).
The Onion A.V. Club interviews Dinosaur Jr Thu 28 Jul 2005
I love that passive-aggressive tension between J and Lou, even after all these years.
Etiquette and the Singularity Thu 28 Jul 2005
Extreme tension in Kenyan village Wed 27 Jul 2005
Markham has published his own take on the situation.
Zimbabwe slum demolitions resume Wed 27 Jul 2005
Kofi Annan doesn’t seem in any hurry to get there. Why is Mugabe being appeased so much?
South Africa presses farm land reform Wed 27 Jul 2005
I see this working if training (business schooling included) comes with the package. It might even improve rural conditions by empowering the impoverished. Otherwise it’ll just be a disaster, a la Zimbabwe.
Police Debate if London Plotters Were Suicide Bombers, or Dupes Wed 27 Jul 2005
Or, it could be one big double-bluff. But some good points made all the same.
Guardian Newsblog: The BBC and 'terrorism' Wed 27 Jul 2005
It just goes to show that words don’t often have a clear and precise meaning. Derrida was right, ha!
Suicide Bombs as Viral Media Wed 27 Jul 2005
He’s right, too. This makes more sense than anything I’ve read lately.
Newspapers warn of threat to America from 'Londonistan' Wed 27 Jul 2005
The Guardian Newsblog also comments. Is it really so hard for the American media to accept that London is a multicultural society?
Is London Londonistan? Wed 27 Jul 2005
Only to someone who still gets scared by black people. You know I’m right.
Dialogue is the only way to end this cycle of violence Wed 27 Jul 2005
But it’s hard to have a dialogue with someone who doesn’t want to talk with you.
NY commuters face random searches Wed 27 Jul 2005
Random my arse.
New York apologises after Britons seized in security scare Wed 27 Jul 2005
So looking vaguely Muslim is enough to attract suspicion, then? That’s a new one…
Dozens killed in Egyptian blasts Sat 23 Jul 2005
With this, on top of the bus bombing in Turkey last week and the attacks on London, the western hemisphere’s going crazy lately.
Man shot dead at Tube station Fri 22 Jul 2005
Breaking news here: bomb suspect shot at close range by plain-clothes police at Stockwell station. (The BBC News site has more info.)
The Nanny Blog Controversy Mon 18 Jul 2005
When you read the nanny’s reply, I’m sure you’ll agree it’s the latter. What’s worse is that the New York Times printed that trash, and won’t retract it; my confidence in them is waning.
Mice gang up on endangered birds Mon 18 Jul 2005
At this rate, killer rabbits won’t be far behind.
Philosophy Tilt-a-Whirl Mon 18 Jul 2005
He’s not very fair to Wittgenstein (who rose considerably in my esteem knowing that he spent much of his time at Cambridge watching westerns at the cinema). And I don’t agree with his offhand dismissal of Derrida, but I admit his work is better talked about than read.
Seven arrested over Kenya attack Mon 18 Jul 2005
Let me get this straight. This was “based on disputes over access to water and pastures”? I’ll say it again: what the fuck is going on?
Fundamentalism is often a form of nationalism Mon 18 Jul 2005
A thousand words that pretty much sum up everything that’s wrong about the Western perception of Middle Eastern terrorism.
Naughton: Why I have serious doubts about the 'citizen reporters' Mon 18 Jul 2005
He finds it ‘macabre’ that the first thing someone does after an explosion is to photograph the scene, but isn’t that what photojournalists do for a living? What message does that send: if you’re an amateur you’re being ghoulish, but if you’re getting paid for it you’re providing a public service? I understand the point Naughton is trying to make, but really, what precludes someone who doesn’t work as a journalist from reporting like one? Where’s the line that separates a freelancer from a ‘lay’ person? It’s a fair question.
Hunt for child killers in Kenya Mon 18 Jul 2005
This is just totally fucked up. What the fuck is going on?
Warm Planet Mon 18 Jul 2005
My buddy Mat’s new blog, keeping track of this important issue. (Read this post to see why he’s doing it.)
Roger Mosey defends the BBC's London coverage Mon 18 Jul 2005
Seems reasonable to me. I stand by my opinion that the BBC had the best coverage on the day; they refrained from spreading rumour, and in turn broke the facts faster than the others. (By the way, here’s a link to that Fox News opinion piece Mosey mentions, which is pretty much what you’d expect from that ignorant, self-important, morally-corrupt Bill O’Reilly.)
Mammatus clouds over Hastings, Nebraska Mon 18 Jul 2005
These are creepy. It’s like some sort of horror movie chemical gas attack.
TransFormers finally rolling out Mon 18 Jul 2005
I linked to this two years ago, but now it’s finally happening. Pity we’ve got to wait another two years before we see it.
40 Things That Only Happen in Movies Mon 18 Jul 2005
I’m sure there are a few more.
The Guardian's Toon Tester quiz Mon 18 Jul 2005
I got 9 out of 10, no cheating. Booyah!
Spin's 100 Greatest Albums, 1985-2005 Mon 18 Jul 2005
My opinion? Slint (94), the Meat Puppets (86), Soundgarden (84) and At the Drive-In (83) should be far higher than they are.
Salon interviews Bruce Campbell Mon 18 Jul 2005
Some more Brucey love for you.
Q&A with Bruce Campbell Mon 18 Jul 2005
Matt Webb on the London bombings Sun 17 Jul 2005
What does the G8 agreement mean for Africa? Sun 17 Jul 2005
General concensus? A good start. But it doesn’t correct the imbalance of trade, or solve the problem of leadership. (See also: Can G8 be considered a success?)
Q And Not U to Disband Sun 17 Jul 2005
They never bothered to play here, the buggers.
Do US visa requirements for journalists cover bloggers? Sun 17 Jul 2005
Better question: do they cover freelancers? Looks like I’ll have to apply for an ‘I’ visa when I eventually make it Stateside.
NHL and Players Reach Agreement Sun 17 Jul 2005
I hope a clause in that agreement was ‘no more whiny bitching about money.’
Building a weblog engine with Ruby on Rails Sun 17 Jul 2005
I know feck all about programming, but this stuff looks remarkably powerful and easy to learn.
Something happened Sun 17 Jul 2005
Gripping reading.
Arial or Helvetica? Sun 17 Jul 2005
I got 8 out of 10. Not bad for an amateur. (Here’s a tip: look out for the ‘a’.)
What must I see/do in NYC? Sun 17 Jul 2005
Some excellent suggestions here; to note down for when I eventually make the trip.
The Hall & Oates Test Sun 17 Jul 2005
Let me guess… you’re an Oates?
Worst "journalism" ever Sun 17 Jul 2005
Read the article Matt links to; it really is disgraceful. And people say blogs have no quality control?
News Media vs. Journalism Sun 17 Jul 2005
Lots of thinking here. An important idea to discuss in my dissertation.
Mordechai Vanunu's long walk to freedom Sun 17 Jul 2005
This is an old one, it’s been in my open tabs for ages, but it’s worth a read.
Discovering art in plain sight Sun 17 Jul 2005
WorldEar Sun 17 Jul 2005
A device to provide ambient sound connections between cities in multiple time zones on public transportation. My only reservation? Public transport might be too noisy for this to work without headphones.
Two gardaí hospitalised after Dublin stabbing Thu 14 Jul 2005
This happened just around the corner from me. The garda helicopter was hovering over the house for ages last night.
'Can we drop the 7/7 bullshit, please?' Wed 13 Jul 2005
London Bombings: The Unread Newspaper Tue 12 Jul 2005
'We had 50 images within an hour Tue 12 Jul 2005
In contrast, Tim Porter argues that citizen journalism has jumped the shark.
The Guardian and London's day of terror Tue 12 Jul 2005
A good insight into the production of a daily paper amid the chaos of last Thursday.
Weblogs prove their worth Tue 12 Jul 2005
To cite for my dissertation.
London bomb suspects: key facts Tue 12 Jul 2005
Busy day today for the anti-terrorism hunt. Those Brits sure do work fast.
Serbs turn their backs on their past Mon 11 Jul 2005
The Guardian marks the 10th anniversary of the massacre at Srebrenica.
Back to Normal Mon 11 Jul 2005
London hurts? Hardly Mon 11 Jul 2005
That thing I said about “Today we are all Londoners”? This is exactly what I meant.
Fox News again, showing their true colours Sun 10 Jul 2005
That’s Fox News. Voted ‘News Channel of the Year’ by the Ku Klux Klan. Probably.
Fox News slammed over 'callous' line Sun 10 Jul 2005
What do you expect? It’s Fox News.
Terror attacks roundup Sun 10 Jul 2005
Front page reactions Sun 10 Jul 2005
Plus more from Canada, and the Americas.
Design Clichés Sat 02 Jul 2005
Recipe for the ultimate logo: a lightbulb-embedded compass on a globe set over shaking hands.
Mellel -- The word processor for Mac OS X Sat 02 Jul 2005
Might be handy for writing my thesis, if I don’t decide to set it in LaTeX instead. Also, you’ve gotta love their honesty in the reviews section.
Secrets to creating Wordpress themes Sat 02 Jul 2005
Cornerhost upgraded my hosting plan this month, giving me a couple of mySQL databases to play with. So I might just migrate to Wordpress one day, if I can get to grips with the PHP.
Subway in green Fri 01 Jul 2005
This isn’t too far from where I stayed in Toronto (on Bathurst, about a mile north of St Clair West) but I never rode the eastern side of the horseshoe beyond Bloor-Yonge so I missed this wonderful view. Another time, hopefully…
Stephen Gill and the everyday invisible Fri 01 Jul 2005
Stephen Gill’s work was a focus for the piece I wrote for my Explorations in Journalism module, which I will post here soon. (After I’ve rewritten it a bit. You know me.)
How Japan grew bored with love Fri 01 Jul 2005
A barely-related story: I used to IM with a Japanese girl, a high school maths teacher. She got married last year and disappeared offline shortly after. She always wished me and Benitha well, so I hope she’s doing fine too.
Malls of America Fri 01 Jul 2005
Abandoned buildings in Russia Fri 01 Jul 2005
A compilation of summer reading lists Fri 01 Jul 2005
Must… stop… adding to my book queue… must… resist!
Booksellers Ponder the Future of Browsing Fri 01 Jul 2005
I don’t see browsing going anywhere. But America is always different about these things…
Colour Palette Generator Fri 01 Jul 2005
Some printable paper rulers Fri 01 Jul 2005
You never know when you’ll need something like this.
About
This is the personal website of MacDara Conroy, a (no-longer) 20-something production editor living in Dublin, Ireland. Read more »
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This page is a reverse chronology of Microlog entries by MacDara Conroy published in July 2005. You will find many more in the Archives.