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

The Xmas sweet treats stock is in Lidl. I repeat, the Xmas sweet treats stock is in Lidl #tweet

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Pet gripe: the capital T in T-shirt describes the shape of the shirt, so it’s never ‘t-shirt’, and I don’t like ‘tee-shirt’ either (though I’ll accept ‘tee’ on its own) #tweet

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Browning meat is apparently anathema in Irish cuisine so Irish stew, coddle et al can go straight in the bin > @notreallyjcm #tweet

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It’s a bit humid, he says as he wrings out his T-shirt #tweet

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This is tiny in the big scheme of things, but it would be great if WWE would finally cancel NXT TakeOver: Dublin so I can get my money back #tweet

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Catching up on the news: so Dublin is at Level 2 but with ‘modifications’, which means it’s not Level 2, it should be Level 2.5 or something. But you can’t say that! Boo scary! > @MacDara #tweet

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Even with Ira’s guitar freakouts, Yo La Tengo provided a perfectly reasonable experience, three times in 12 months > @tabsout #tweet

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I damaged my hearing (no tinnitus, thankfully) seeing J Mascis + The Fog in 2001, and have worn earplugs to shows ever since. I later saw Dinosaur Jr on two occasions which were tame by comparison > @droog811 #tweet

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We know what is right and we know we shouldn’t commit crimes. But there are still those who feel it is a discussion that should be had, why is that? Tune in from nine for Legitimising Dangerous Bullshit on 2fm #tweet

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My new desk-listening cans just arrived; these ones actually fit completely over my ears, which is honestly a revelation #tweet

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Saw this video last night and I was like, nah it can’t be that easy. Tried it tonight with a pot of double cream; two minutes later we had spreadable butter, I kid you not > YouTube #tweet

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How many versions of Jackie Mason’s Frank Sinatra story are there? I just found one that was totally different to the one I remember #tweet

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Film review — Ip Man 4: The Finale

The American white devil really gets a skewering in this final instalment of the Ip Man series, where a racist Scott Adkins beats up old people for kicks; more subtle is the anti-Japanese sentiment, but it’s also there. More…

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Little scroungers lighting fireworks on our road; as soon as I pulled my phone out it was hoods up and they legged it > @MacDara #tweet

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Brilliant new video essay from Dan Olson. Big surprise that it’s not really about flat Eartherism… but it’s also exactly about that. #video

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I just found the website files for my journalism MA class’ magazine, which I thought I’d lost in a storage snafu > @MacDara #tweet

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Film review — Ip Man 3

Too much story, too little time: this one takes a big turn in the third act, when the A plot evaporates (I guess Mike Tyson’s pretty expensive) and the B plot takes its rightful place, but doesn’t have enough breathing room for a satisfactory outcome. The hospital lift fight is a great touch, though. More…

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Wasn’t expecting a Saturday delivery since they’re not a thing here but I’ve now got my replacement Blonde Redhead LP. Top marks to @normanrecords for customer service #tweet

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I don’t regret my UCD arts degree one bit. But if I had the choice (with points levels) of today back then, I would’ve got offers for every journalism BA in the state. Just saying… #tweet

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I quite like the RTÉ website’s new design. It’s not quite worth the licence fee but at least it’s something #tweet

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MacDara: That’s me 10/10 / Mac: Allowable from friends 8/10 / McD: I’ve outgrown it now but will let it slide 7/10 / Dara: What my family calls me 5/10 / Conroy: You’ve…decided MacDara’s my surname ’cause it has Mac in it, haven’t you? -10/10 > @MacDara #tweet

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Favourite bit of this week’s Dynamite? Chekhov’s cake didn’t get smushed in a brawl and everyone got to enjoy a slice at the end of the segment #tweet

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Thought it was my own janky settings when my webcam wouldn’t work on a Teams call this morning but it seems to be a common issue #tweet

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Heads up: Lidl are doing their €99 Lenovo tablet deal again from next Monday. I use the one we got this summer for streaming and reading all the time #tweet

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I’m not ready for it to be this dark at 9pm already #tweet

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Tiny helpers

A collection of free single-purpose online tools for web developers (and potentially tinkerers like me). #link

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I’ve seen the trailer and still nothing beats the David Lynch one for me #tweet

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Recipe for vegan mapo tofu

I also need to try this, although I’ve decided I only really like tofu when it’s either crunchy on the outside, or pillowy and melt-in-the-mouth. So we’ll see how this goes. #link

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Recipe for pure maple candy

I made this a few weeks ago, and the second time it turned out great. The first was botched due to poor-grade, almost bitter syrup (thanks but no thanks, Aldi) and issues with bringing the syrup up to temperature. Second attempt, I used a bigger pot for the two bottles’ worth; I took it a little higher than the recipe suggests, up to soft ball stage on our sugar thermometer. And I didn’t bother adding nuts. The mixture went in a silicone bread loaf mould to cool and I just chopped it into squares a few hours later. Also, it actually tastes better the day after you make it. #link

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Site’s back up; unrelated server issue, apparently. I now return to my scheduled obscurity #tweet

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Supposed to be doing some work but my website is down so I’m waiting on the support chat instead #tweet

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Irish Rail tree-cutting on the line across the road = us not getting any sleep tonight #tweet

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I still can’t tell whether they’re spoofing or really believe the nonsense they spout. Either way it’s awful > @BBCNewsnight #tweet

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Received my 20th anniversary reissue Blonde Redhead LP in the post today and it’s lovely except there’s a deep scratch in the first track of side B. I’ll be on to the shop in the morning, so #tweet

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So many Matt Hardy takes but here’s my theory anyway: he insisted he was fine; an agreement was made to skip to the final spot; it was still a bad call and the match should’ve ended when Aubrey called it #tweet

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Harris Yulin in Death of a Salesman, if he counts as famous > @maxthegirl #tweet

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Does WWE not realise their independent contractors aren’t portraying their wrestling characters when they’re on streams, etc? > @SeanRossSapp #tweet

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I see the Green Party just destroyed any chance of a future by playing whataboutery #tweet

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Little tip from me: a dash of amaretto syrup in your morning coffee makes a world of difference #tweet

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Film review — Penitentiary III

Look, I guess this Rocky-in-prison flick (which is also technically a wrestling movie, thanks to the Haiti Kid’s big supporting role) is probably a labour of love, and its cheapness is not unrelated to Cannon betting the house on Masters of the Universe that same year. But if ever one’s reach exceeded one’s grasp… watching this is such a chore. Let’s just say I’m thankful for YouTube’s variable playback speed setting. More…

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