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

Date: September 2017

Here’s s’thing I really don’t get about Discovery: if they wanted licence to do things differently, why not set it 100yrs after TNG? #aside

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Watched the first two episodes of Star Trek Discovery... it’s not great #aside

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My new favourite thing is the salmon mayo onigiri from Kokoro. Especially now that we’ve figured out how to open the wrapper #aside

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Blade Runner on the big screen tonight was fab. Totally worth not getting home till 1 in the morning #aside

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I don’t always need to send a 500 MB file, but I’m glad of fast broadband when I do #aside

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Are you sure it’s Wednesday? Feels like a Thursday to me #aside

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It’s a really nice thing to be thanked for your work #aside

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Who really wants longer tweets? Marketers and advertisers: that's who it comes down to #aside

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You know that gag in Starship Troopers where the main guy gets flogged ‘cause a dude gets shot, but the admiral kills millions and resigns? #aside

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Stop it with this nonsense; they were only bad in hindsight (and actually, DS9 s01 is better than you remember) https://t.co/GWldKn1i3j #aside

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Charged/backed up my iPhone on the desktop. Unplugged, tried to swipe up the Control Centre, nada. Restarted, swiping works again. Huh #aside

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My Thumped review of Maze

Based on the true story of the 1983 NI prison break, but its potential as a drama focused on its leads is lost behind its functionally boring escape plot. #link

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This Bobby Heenan collection on the Network is... fine. But I really just want a bunch of promos #aside

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Just remembered I’m seeing Mike Watt play next weekend. I’m privileged to have seen my favourite musician a number of times already #aside

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Another sunny morning (which is good), another crappy eir broadband connection (which is bad) #aside

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Happy Scribe

Another automatic transcription service (not that I’ve tried the others I’ve linked here yet) but this one’s based in DCU’s start-up incubator, where they’ve got some top notch machine learning talent. Also they charge, about €5.40 for an hour of audio, so the quality had better be good. #link

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Some transparency about the Ireland account (which I've also muted for the week); welcome, and good to know https://t.co/PTZ5edBk3Q #aside

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Six weeks till Hallowe’en and they’re already at it with the fireworks, sigh #aside

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Feel like I dodged a bullet by missing that Kingsman screening on Monday morning #aside

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Just got the best email. Major confidence booster #aside

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Time claustrophobia

“…the feeling of anxiety cast by an impending appointment over the free time that precedes it.” Yes, I know this feeling well. #link

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Heart-lifting news about Ibrahim Halawa #aside

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JR says Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan is no longer with us. His quick wit made me a wrestling fan, no question #aside

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Grant Hart - All Of My Old Friends Are Assholes

A repost for my interview with Grant from late 2012; as linked from NPR’s obit on Thursday. He wasn’t one for nostalgia, as his comments attest, but like the best musicians he could take his old material and bring it to life on stage, as new. As sad as it is that he's gone, and can no longer make his music live, the heart sings to see so many share their love for what he did, or for the man himself; ILX's tribute thread is particularly heartfelt. See also: Bob Mould’s remembrance/tribute, and Ken Shipley of the Numero Group label, which is putting out the new Hüsker Dü box, shares his memories of the man. #link

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Anyone who’s going to see Sorcerer at the IFI Open Day today, you’re in for a treat #aside

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Ah man, Harry Dean Stanton. What a week this has been #aside

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Went to see Mother! this afternoon; it left me… whelmed #aside

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Would it kill Apple to communicate significant UX changes to iTunes before they update the bloody software? Yes, apparently it would #aside

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Doesn't feel like nearly five years since my interview with Grant Hart (by email; missed the chance in person) https://t.co/0cqTJwS93c #aside

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Woke up to the most horrible news; rest easy, Grant Hart #aside

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Late to the new Crystal Maze (the one with ordinary people, not celebs) and it's just lovely #aside

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Yesterday tech people invented phones. Today it's... minibars? #aside

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Serious question: is modern-day roller derby a work or a shoot? #aside

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Only half past seven in the morning and I already want to scream #aside

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My quick take on today’s Apple thing: the ridiculous X only exists to distract from the 8’s minor incremental improvements on the 7 #aside

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Lisa McInerney: Don’t tell me that working-class people can’t be articulate

It’s a trap I’ve fallen into myself, which is ridiculous because what am I if not working class? Also, like McInerney I wouldn’t articulate any distinction between the working class and the ‘lumpenproletariat’, since there’s as much if not more absence of consciousness to be found in the middle and upper classes. #link

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I think I'm old enough to try reading Donald Barthelme again #aside

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