Journalists and radio producers love a talking head. No matter what the issue is, it feels good to be able to identify the person at the head of the group who has a strong opinion about it, either for or against. This is why an organisation like Martian Robots can get ahead. All it takes… Continue reading Martian Robots
Fanboys
It is often said of sports journalists that they are sports fans. This, the argument goes, makes them reluctant to criticise and challenge. I think anyone who said that doesn’t know many fans. Fans often engage critically. On the other hand, fanboys (and girls) are uncritical – and often defensive. But the real trouble is,… Continue reading Fanboys
On Ukraine
[Notes from a Twitter thread, 28FEB] Everyone keeps writing takes about how rapidly Europe reacted to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, but I never see one about what I think is the most significant reason why change came so fast: EU soft power. The EU spent seventy years patiently building interconnected webs since ECSE in… Continue reading On Ukraine
NaNoWriMo
I wrote a story in November. NaNoWritMo is the national novel writing month, the aim being to “win” by writing 50,000 words. In the end, I produced just short of 60,000 words. It’s got a beginning, middle and end, mostly in that order. But it’s very definitely a zero draft of a story, not a… Continue reading NaNoWriMo
Elephant in the Room
It’s weird how invisible the pandemic is in TV. It’s there in the background, reduced crowd scenes, fewer extras, more outdoor action, but mostly unacknowledged. I’m told that references to current events date a show very quickly, but I’m not sure that stands up. Compare to how pop culture dealt with the 2016 US election… Continue reading Elephant in the Room
Notes from 7.11.21
Wikipage suggestion: Notable stories removed from Google search. Though as I understand it, it’s only when personal names are searched for that RTBF kicks in, so something like “€100k wedding cake” might still get a page hit? The bigger issue here of course is the wisdom of allowing a private company like Alphabet/Google make these… Continue reading Notes from 7.11.21
How It Works
Do not feed the trolls. It’s hard, and infuriating, and frustrating, but in 25 years online the only tactic I’ve ever seen work effectively is Do Not Feed The Troll. Do not feed them your time. Do not feed them your emotion. Do not feed them your attention. Do not feed them your audience.
What The-?
Myles and Miles to go before I sleep.
This is how we have always done things
There’s a story in today’s Dublin Inquirer about delays in citizenship applications leading to legal action from applicants. Here’s a quote: “A spokesperson for the Department of Justice didn’t say whether it considers policy reform based on the issues highlighted in cases it settles out of court. But they said it considers court judgments when… Continue reading This is how we have always done things
Nano Nano – Day One
Canon From the introduction by A O’Kelleher to the 1918 translation of the Betha Colaim Chille, Manus O’Donnell’s Life of Columcille: Like many other mediaeval writers, O’Donnell thinks of the traditions which he has collected as a fragment of a once complete and perfect whole. “Be it known,” he says, “that this Life was lost… Continue reading Nano Nano – Day One