Microlog | macdaraconroy.com Self, aggregated. tag:macdaraconroy.com,2009-01-20://2 2012-02-01T10:12:44Z Self, aggregated. Movable Type 4.24-en <![CDATA[As it happened: The Dáil debate on the ‘Irish SOPA’]]> tag:macdaraconroy.com,2012://2.3144 2012-02-01T10:11:50Z 2012-02-01T10:12:44Z MacDara Conroy http://macdaraconroy.com As it happened: The Dáil debate on the ‘Irish SOPA’]]> In which Junior Minister Sean Sherlock attempts to defend his proposed through-the-back-door copyright legislation. 'The best way of dealing with copyright infringement issues is on a case-by-case basis by means of a judicial process,' says he minister. Alas, if only the judgements made so far weren't fundamentally flawed... Fireplace tag:macdaraconroy.com,2012://2.3143 2012-02-01T10:11:01Z 2012-02-01T10:11:35Z Fireplace... MacDara Conroy http://macdaraconroy.com Fireplace]]> A pixellated hearth for your computer screen. Might come in handy this week, it's pretty cold. Joe Queenan: If someone tells me a film sucks, I have to see it tag:macdaraconroy.com,2012://2.3142 2012-02-01T10:09:23Z 2012-02-01T10:16:38Z Joe Queenan: If someone tells me a film sucks, I have to see it... MacDara Conroy http://macdaraconroy.com Joe Queenan: If someone tells me a film sucks, I have to see it]]> I share the sentiment, but don't necessarily want to pay for the 'privilege'. Ahem. Hardcore Or Die tag:macdaraconroy.com,2012://2.3141 2012-02-01T10:08:23Z 2012-02-01T10:08:55Z Hardcore Or Die... MacDara Conroy http://macdaraconroy.com Hardcore Or Die]]> A punk rock mix by Radio Soulwax (yes, that Soulwax). I've only played about 10 minutes, but it's a great selection so far. Weight Watchers Revamps Its Magic Formula tag:macdaraconroy.com,2012://2.3140 2012-02-01T10:02:52Z 2012-02-01T10:24:27Z Weight Watchers Revamps Its Magic Formula... MacDara Conroy http://macdaraconroy.com Weight Watchers Revamps Its Magic Formula]]> A profile of WeightWatchers head David Kirchhoff and the changes he's made to the programme. I've been on the new plan (called ProPoints over here) for nine months now, and it's been working for me; the weekly weigh-ins and the tracking facilitate the small iterations to my eating patterns and general activity levels that are making a world of difference. A response to Sean Sherlock’s Drivetime interview on Ireland's SOPA tag:macdaraconroy.com,2012://2.3139 2012-01-26T10:43:51Z 2012-01-26T12:19:54Z A response to Sean Sherlock’s Drivetime interview on Ireland's SOPA... MacDara Conroy http://macdaraconroy.com A response to Sean Sherlock’s Drivetime interview on Ireland's SOPA]]> Ireland's SOPA to permit three strikes; TDs asked to debate something they haven't seen tag:macdaraconroy.com,2012://2.3138 2012-01-26T10:42:54Z 2012-01-26T10:43:29Z Ireland's SOPA to permit three strikes; TDs asked to debate something they haven't seen... MacDara Conroy http://macdaraconroy.com Ireland's SOPA to permit three strikes; TDs asked to debate something they haven't seen]]> The checks and balances of parliamentary democracy are by-passed." And they say trust in government is rising? Not with me it isn't.]]> Ireland and EU to sign controversial ACTA treaty tag:macdaraconroy.com,2012://2.3137 2012-01-26T10:39:39Z 2012-01-26T10:41:06Z Ireland and EU to sign controversial ACTA treaty... MacDara Conroy http://macdaraconroy.com Ireland and EU to sign controversial ACTA treaty]]> This is what happens when politicians think they know what they're signing, but don't understand its wider implications. Marco Ament on 'the next SOPA' tag:macdaraconroy.com,2012://2.3135 2012-01-21T14:04:00Z 2012-01-21T14:23:33Z Marco Ament on 'the next SOPA'... MacDara Conroy http://macdaraconroy.com Marco Ament on 'the next SOPA']]> The web censorship bills might be shelved for now, but will no doubt return in this or some other form -- unless there is an aggressive push for campaign finance reform, and a recognition that unless we stop giving money to the MPAA et al, they will keep coming back. Why SOPA and PIPA Must Die tag:macdaraconroy.com,2012://2.3134 2012-01-19T18:15:00Z 2012-01-19T18:22:41Z Why SOPA and PIPA Must Die... MacDara Conroy http://macdaraconroy.com Why SOPA and PIPA Must Die]]> how they could be used to silence important web resources such as MetaFilter with a chilling story.]]> Dan Gillmor: Stop Sopa or the web really will go dark tag:macdaraconroy.com,2012://2.3133 2012-01-19T15:08:47Z 2012-01-19T15:09:28Z Dan Gillmor: Stop Sopa or the web really will go dark... MacDara Conroy http://macdaraconroy.com Dan Gillmor: Stop Sopa or the web really will go dark]]> We the Media fame makes the case in The Guardian for net neutrality and electronic freedom (be sure also to check The Guardian’s SOPA page).]]> A SOPA/PIPA Blackout Explainer tag:macdaraconroy.com,2012://2.3132 2012-01-19T15:02:47Z 2012-01-19T15:08:23Z A SOPA/PIPA Blackout Explainer... MacDara Conroy http://macdaraconroy.com A SOPA/PIPA Blackout Explainer]]> Wired’s Threat Level blog lays it all out in point-by-point form. You Say You Want a Devolution? tag:macdaraconroy.com,2012://2.3130 2012-01-14T11:57:00Z 2012-01-14T11:57:51Z You Say You Want a Devolution?... MacDara Conroy http://macdaraconroy.com You Say You Want a Devolution?]]> during these same 20 years, the appearance of the world (computers, TVs, telephones, and music players aside) has changed hardly at all, less than it did during any 20-year period for at least a century. The past is a foreign country, but the recent past—the 00s, the 90s, even a lot of the 80s—looks almost identical to the present. This is the First Great Paradox of Contemporary Cultural History." I've been saying this for years! Finally the world is catching on [c/o Fimoculous].]]> AV Club primer on autobiographical comics tag:macdaraconroy.com,2012://2.3129 2012-01-08T11:38:53Z 2012-01-08T11:40:21Z AV Club primer on autobiographical comics... MacDara Conroy http://macdaraconroy.com AV Club primer on autobiographical comics]]> Love this. I dig Joe Sacco's style in particular; those who criticise him for being biased obviously don't understand the concept of activist journalism or reportage. What Editors Think of Writers tag:macdaraconroy.com,2012://2.3128 2012-01-08T11:37:55Z 2012-01-08T11:41:50Z What Editors Think of Writers... MacDara Conroy http://macdaraconroy.com What Editors Think of Writers]]> The biggest surprise for any new writer/journalist/whatever is when an editor corrects their work. It's not about 'taking away their voice'; it's always about bringing out the best in the writer, and polishing it up nice for the reader. In my own experience, the most precious about their writing were the worst writers.