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

Date: February 2022

Wordle 254 3/6
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Very glad I saw this tweet; I’d forgotten I subbed at the end of last season, and that’s $130 I could definitely use for something else > @StewStilez #aside

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Wordle 253 3/6
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I wrote my MA thesis on blogging (pre-social media) w/r/t enriching journalism and the last week or so…let’s just say I would draw different conclusions #aside

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I had one at Eisenberg’s; a refreshing treat on a blazing hot day > @atlasobscura #aside

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Ah, this was the only time I saw Mark Lanegan, from the balcony. That voice filled the room, as you’d expect > @umackDublin > @MacDara #aside

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Wordle 252 4/6
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Yakuza 0 just got verified for the Steam Deck so when I get mine later this year I can finally play it in bed. Living the dream… > @MacDara #aside

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Wordle 251 3/6
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Wordle 250 5/6
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I swear to god, half an hour ago at the shops a maskless teen says to her mam as they walk in: “But you’re not supposed to go in public places with COVID” #aside

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Wordle 249 4/6
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Was in Dublin yesterday, and was surprised to find an off-brand quasi Daiso upstairs in Jervis > @MacDara #aside

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Jesus, Mark Lanegan. We lost a phenomenal voice. 57 is no age > @MacDara #aside

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Wordle 248 3/6
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> @MacDara #aside

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With respect, this is entirely missing everyone’s criticism regarding the contractor > @NGIreland > @MacDara #aside

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Wordle 247 5/6
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Wordle 246 4/6
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On the Olympia/grey paint thing: someone at 3 thinks a) the iconic red will make people think of Vodafone and/or b) there are legal fears regarding same #aside

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Film review — Texas Chainsaw Massacre

Do you know what an ambiguous image is? Like that picture that’s a duck one way and a rabbit the other? That’s what this is. It’s not even a movie, really, let alone a horror movie. It’s mere content contrived to appeal to both sides of a perceived binary divide. A duck or a rabbit. A rabbit or a duck. More…

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I’m watching the new Texas Chainsaw Massacre and I have thoughts #aside

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I’ve been a wrestling fan for more than 30 years and became immune to any social embarrassment about it pretty early on. By all means get your thing and love it without irony > @Ciaraioch #aside

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Wordle 245 4/6
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Film review — Drive My Car

I haven’t read Murakami since 1Q84 burst that balloon, so I wasn’t familiar with the source material here. Turns out (!) the titular car is a red herring (as is the Beatles allusion, but so was Norwegian Wood). The real conceit, as embellished by Ryusuke Hamaguchi here, is a stage production of Uncle Vanya that serves as a multifaceted metaphor for all of the characters in one way or another. More…

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Snow in Dundalk. It’ll probably be gone by this evening #aside

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Wordle 244 3/6
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This. If you haven’t realised yet, our political leaders are interested not in doing the right thing, but in the appearance of doing things that may be accepted as ‘right’ > @eoinmauricedaly #aside

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Wordle 243 4/6
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Back from a walk round the local park. Can’t say the council’s done a good (or any) job keeping the paths clean, alas #aside

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Film review — Eurocrime! The Italian Cop and Gangster Films That Ruled the ’70s

Found this one on Tubi after searching for ages. The production is amateurish but enthusiastic, and the wealth of talking heads not to mention the detail and context for the genre somewhat makes up for its shortcomings. There are more than a few, let’s say lurid moments that will raise eyebrows (it’s a bit rich commenting on misogyny while showing a topless woman being manhandled by crooks, or worse) so take this as a content warning. More…

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Wordle 242 3/6
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Getting things recycled in this country is a PITA w/o a car. A toaster or a kettle? That’s a small item. A microwave? Not so much #aside

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TIL Larry Sharpe (of the Monster Factory) was from Kerry, I kid you not #aside

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Wordle 241 4/6
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I’ve expressed this sentiment elsewhere, particularly in regard to Brandi. If this is a motivating factor in their departure, that’s understandable > @WilliamRBR #aside

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I don’t care that much about the Cody/Brandi news, but it is odd he’d countenance a return to WWE after everything said about his last time there. If anything the situation’s worse in 2022 #aside

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Soooo looks like Aldi no longer stock wholewheat couscous. Can anyone hook me up? Either in Dundalk or deliverable w/ a reasonable charge > @MacDara #aside

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Wordle 240 4/6
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Film review — Not Quite Hollywood

Not quite as good as I remembered, this one. In particular it glosses over the rampant sexism that marks so many of the Ozploitation films celebrated here, acknowledging the pressures put on the women who appeared without really reconciling with that fact. So yeah, that leaves a sour taste in 2022. Anyway, the devil-may-care action flicks are better. Less misogyny, more blowing up cars, please. More…

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Wordle 239 3/6
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‘Spoiler!’ moaners have ruined movies for me b/c now we get trailers and teasers with nothing germane to the plot and I’m so frustrated I have to pretend they don’t exist #aside

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Wordle 238 3/6
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Oriel Park is about 2km away but I can hear the drums and chanting from here #aside

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I played earlier today and it wasn’t redirecting; now it is, and it thought I hadn’t played yet. So I played again to save my streak. You should probably do the same > @NYTimesWordplay #aside

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Wordle 237 6/6
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Wordle 236 4/6
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Turns out my brand new smartwatch isn’t banjaxed, it was just a borked firmware update > @MacDara #aside

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Because I’m a fool, I missed that the Jack B Yeats show at the National Gallery closed on Sunday. So I bought the companion book instead #aside

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