{"version":"https://jsonfeed.org/version/1","title":"Micro.blog - Martin McCallion","home_page_url":"https://micro.blog","feed_url":"https://micro.blog/posts/devilgate","_microblog":{"about":"https://micro.blog/about/api","id":"424","username":"devilgate","bio":"Writer. Software developer.","pronouns":"","is_following":false,"is_you":false,"following_count":263,"discover_count":0},"author":{"name":"Martin McCallion","url":"https://devilgate.org/","avatar":"https://avatars.micro.blog/avatars/2022/424.jpg"},"items":[{"id":"93632802","content_html":"

I have no idea how Dave Winer comes to this conclusion:

\n
\n

One of the silver linings of AI use is that it makes you a better writer.

\n
\n

Especially when one of the main things people (at least non-programmers) tout it for is doing your writing for you!

\n","summary":"","url":"https://devilgate.org/2026/07/08/i-have-no-idea-how/","date_published":"2026-07-08T08:19:00+00:00","author":{"name":"Martin McCallion","url":"https://devilgate.org/","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Favatars.micro.blog%2Favatars%2F2022%2F424.jpg","_microblog":{"username":"devilgate"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-07-08 08:19","date_timestamp":1783498740,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":false,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":false,"is_podcast":false,"note":"","syndication":["https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:52p6ext57v3b2wc6xa5s4xui/post/3mq4opcqoqp23"]}},{"id":"93511007","content_html":"

Watched: Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason šŸŽ„.

\n

I was sure I hadnā€™t seen it before, but I remembered some scenes as they happened. I have a vague memory of a DVD in a holiday house, perhaps. Partial falling asleep may have been involved.

\n

Itā€™s daft but fun in places.

\n","summary":"","url":"https://devilgate.org/2026/07/06/watched-bridget-jones-the-edge/","date_published":"2026-07-06T06:20:19+00:00","author":{"name":"Martin McCallion","url":"https://devilgate.org/","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Favatars.micro.blog%2Favatars%2F2022%2F424.jpg","_microblog":{"username":"devilgate"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-07-06 06:20","date_timestamp":1783318819,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":false,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":false,"is_podcast":false,"note":"","syndication":["https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:52p6ext57v3b2wc6xa5s4xui/post/3mpxioio7rt2q"]}},{"id":"93510852","content_html":"

šŸ“š Books 2026, 15: The Illuminatus! Trilogy, by Robert Shea and Robert Anton Wilson: devilgate.org

","summary":"","url":"https://devilgate.org/2026/07/06/finished-reading-illuminatus-by-robert/","date_published":"2026-07-06T06:19:44+00:00","author":{"name":"Martin McCallion","url":"https://devilgate.org/","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Favatars.micro.blog%2Favatars%2F2022%2F424.jpg","_microblog":{"username":"devilgate"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-07-06 06:19","date_timestamp":1783318784,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":false,"is_linkpost":true,"is_mention":false,"is_podcast":false,"note":"","syndication":["https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:52p6ext57v3b2wc6xa5s4xui/post/3mpxif4vcb72e"]}},{"id":"93109743","content_html":"

@JohnPhilpin Also The White Album, but not Sgt Pepper or Revolver? Seems very surprising.

\n

And Hootie and the Blowfish? I honestly donā€™t think Iā€™ve ever heard them!

\n","url":"https://micro.blog/devilgate/93109743","date_published":"2026-06-29T07:01:06+00:00","author":{"name":"Martin McCallion","url":"https://devilgate.org/","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Favatars.micro.blog%2Favatars%2F2022%2F424.jpg","_microblog":{"username":"devilgate"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-06-29 07:01","date_timestamp":1782716466,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"92862217","content_html":"

This from @JohnPhilpin sounds like reviews by John Clute in Interzone back in the day:

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\n

šŸ‘ļø That moment when you open a blog post and you need to look up 4 words just in the first sentence.

\n
\n

Source: https://john.philpin.com/2026/06/25/that-moment-when-you-open.html

\n","summary":"","url":"https://devilgate.org/2026/06/25/this-from-johnphilpin-sounds-like/","date_published":"2026-06-25T07:23:21+00:00","author":{"name":"Martin McCallion","url":"https://devilgate.org/","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Favatars.micro.blog%2Favatars%2F2022%2F424.jpg","_microblog":{"username":"devilgate"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-06-25 07:23","date_timestamp":1782372201,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":false,"is_podcast":false,"note":"","syndication":["https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:52p6ext57v3b2wc6xa5s4xui/post/3mp3vls56xx2j"]}},{"id":"92846477","content_html":"

Well that was a bloody waste of time! Donā€™t know why I stayed up for that.

\n","summary":"","url":"https://devilgate.org/2026/06/25/well-that-was-a-bloody/","date_published":"2026-06-25T00:20:11+00:00","author":{"name":"Martin McCallion","url":"https://devilgate.org/","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Favatars.micro.blog%2Favatars%2F2022%2F424.jpg","_microblog":{"username":"devilgate"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-06-25 00:20","date_timestamp":1782346811,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":false,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":false,"is_podcast":false,"note":"","syndication":["https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:52p6ext57v3b2wc6xa5s4xui/post/3mp35veb3nk2f"]}},{"id":"92802038","content_html":"
\n

Minute Cryptic - 24 June, 2026\nā€œHermit perhaps returning alone, wandering cityā€ (9)\nšŸŸ£šŸŸ£šŸŸ£šŸŸ£šŸŸ£šŸŸ£šŸŸ£šŸŸ£šŸŸ£šŸŸ£šŸŸ£šŸŸ£\nšŸ† 0 hints ā€“ 3 under the community par (81,255 solvers so far).\nwww.minutecryptic.com

\n
\n

Tough one, this. My first instinct was right, but I made a wrong guess.

\n","summary":"","url":"https://devilgate.org/2026/06/24/minute-cryptic-june-hermit-perhaps/","date_published":"2026-06-24T12:29:05+00:00","author":{"name":"Martin McCallion","url":"https://devilgate.org/","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Favatars.micro.blog%2Favatars%2F2022%2F424.jpg","_microblog":{"username":"devilgate"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-06-24 12:29","date_timestamp":1782304145,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":false,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":false,"is_podcast":false,"note":"","syndication":["https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:52p6ext57v3b2wc6xa5s4xui/post/3mozw5e4ik52a"]}},{"id":"92727267","content_html":"

@thedimpause It was really hard at first! Until I ā€¦ got it.

\n","url":"https://micro.blog/devilgate/92727267","date_published":"2026-06-23T12:13:20+00:00","author":{"name":"Martin McCallion","url":"https://devilgate.org/","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Favatars.micro.blog%2Favatars%2F2022%2F424.jpg","_microblog":{"username":"devilgate"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-06-23 12:13","date_timestamp":1782216800,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"92726512","content_html":"

@bugshaw.bsky.social Have you got lodgers A to Y? Are you running some sort of hostel?

\n","url":"https://micro.blog/devilgate/92726512","date_published":"2026-06-23T11:58:57+00:00","author":{"name":"Martin McCallion","url":"https://devilgate.org/","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Favatars.micro.blog%2Favatars%2F2022%2F424.jpg","_microblog":{"username":"devilgate"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-06-23 11:58","date_timestamp":1782215937,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"92663412","content_html":"

@andrewhickey.500songs.com Ha. Valid points, for the most part. But I donā€™t think they would have been handled any differently under any mainstream politician. So I just donā€™t understand why Starmer gets quite as much criticism as he does. Did.

\n","url":"https://micro.blog/devilgate/92663412","date_published":"2026-06-22T14:21:48+00:00","author":{"name":"Martin McCallion","url":"https://devilgate.org/","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Favatars.micro.blog%2Favatars%2F2022%2F424.jpg","_microblog":{"username":"devilgate"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-06-22 14:21","date_timestamp":1782138108,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"92657912","content_html":"

@andrewhickey.500songs.com Iā€™m trying to understand just why people have been so down on Starmer. He seemed competent, if dull, but thatā€™s a lot better than the chaotic nonsense of Johnson, etc. What was your main problem with him?

\n","url":"https://micro.blog/devilgate/92657912","date_published":"2026-06-22T12:51:30+00:00","author":{"name":"Martin McCallion","url":"https://devilgate.org/","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Favatars.micro.blog%2Favatars%2F2022%2F424.jpg","_microblog":{"username":"devilgate"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-06-22 12:51","date_timestamp":1782132690,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"92616158","content_html":"

@daveycraney All fair points except possibly one, which Iā€™ll come back to in a minute.

\n

The thing with both the anti-protest laws and and the anti-privacy ones: I donā€™t think theyā€™ll be different under another PM, of either party. I fear thatā€™s just the way mainstream UK politics is going. I donā€™t like it, but I donā€™t see it changing under Burnham. We live in hope, though.

\n

On immigration and running from reform (or rather, towards them), yeah, hopefully those can change. Again, though, I do wonder how much the guy at the top is really in charge. We donā€™t have a presidential system after all, which is why they can change the guy at the top!

\n

Iā€™m not sure what you mean about attacks on trans rights. If youā€™re thinking of the Supreme Court judgement as to the meaning of ā€˜womanā€™ in the Equality Act, that was a clarification of the existing law, not a policy matter.

\n

Anyway, I guess weā€™ll see what happens next.

\n","url":"https://micro.blog/devilgate/92616158","date_published":"2026-06-21T19:51:05+00:00","author":{"name":"Martin McCallion","url":"https://devilgate.org/","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Favatars.micro.blog%2Favatars%2F2022%2F424.jpg","_microblog":{"username":"devilgate"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-06-21 19:51","date_timestamp":1782071465,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"92610591","content_html":"

@daveycraney Iā€™m interested to know what you find so bad about Starmer. I see so much of this, and yet he seems objectively (inasmuch as I can be objective) to have been fine. Not great, but fine, OK. Certainly infinitely more stable and capable than anyone in the Johnson/May/Truss/Sunak array.

\n

So why does Starmer get so much negativity?

\n","url":"https://micro.blog/devilgate/92610591","date_published":"2026-06-21T16:56:40+00:00","author":{"name":"Martin McCallion","url":"https://devilgate.org/","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Favatars.micro.blog%2Favatars%2F2022%2F424.jpg","_microblog":{"username":"devilgate"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-06-21 16:56","date_timestamp":1782061000,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"92610437","content_html":"

@mmetcalfe In case your suitcase falls apart!

\n","url":"https://micro.blog/devilgate/92610437","date_published":"2026-06-21T16:52:19+00:00","author":{"name":"Martin McCallion","url":"https://devilgate.org/","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Favatars.micro.blog%2Favatars%2F2022%2F424.jpg","_microblog":{"username":"devilgate"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-06-21 16:52","date_timestamp":1782060739,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"92606687","content_html":"

This is what weā€™re faced with as the year hinges into its second half. Astronomically, if not by the calendar.

\n\"\"\n","summary":"","url":"https://devilgate.org/2026/06/21/this-is-what-were-faced/","date_published":"2026-06-21T15:03:36+00:00","author":{"name":"Martin McCallion","url":"https://devilgate.org/","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Favatars.micro.blog%2Favatars%2F2022%2F424.jpg","_microblog":{"username":"devilgate"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-06-21 15:03","date_timestamp":1782054216,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":false,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":false,"is_podcast":false,"note":"","syndication":["https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:52p6ext57v3b2wc6xa5s4xui/post/3mosnf2sxkr2n"]}},{"id":"92597755","content_html":"\n

Just realised I hadnā€™t added Moby Dick to my C\nā€˜currently readingā€™ list. Iā€™m only about a third in, totally loving it, and wondering why people think itā€™s hard. šŸ“š

\n","summary":"","url":"https://devilgate.org/2026/06/21/just-realised-i-hadnt-added/","date_published":"2026-06-21T11:14:56+00:00","author":{"name":"Martin McCallion","url":"https://devilgate.org/","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Favatars.micro.blog%2Favatars%2F2022%2F424.jpg","_microblog":{"username":"devilgate"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-06-21 11:14","date_timestamp":1782040496,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":false,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":false,"is_podcast":false,"note":"","syndication":["https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:52p6ext57v3b2wc6xa5s4xui/post/3mosam42cop2t"]}},{"id":"92515519","content_html":"

God, there are a lot of Scots in Boston! Listen to that!

\n","summary":"","url":"https://devilgate.org/2026/06/19/god-there-are-a-lot/","date_published":"2026-06-19T21:54:57+00:00","author":{"name":"Martin McCallion","url":"https://devilgate.org/","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Favatars.micro.blog%2Favatars%2F2022%2F424.jpg","_microblog":{"username":"devilgate"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-06-19 21:54","date_timestamp":1781906097,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":false,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":false,"is_podcast":false,"note":"","syndication":["https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:52p6ext57v3b2wc6xa5s4xui/post/3moodh7oeds26"]}},{"id":"92448153","content_html":"

@manton Thanks, will do.

\n","url":"https://micro.blog/devilgate/92448153","date_published":"2026-06-18T19:38:45+00:00","author":{"name":"Martin McCallion","url":"https://devilgate.org/","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Favatars.micro.blog%2Favatars%2F2022%2F424.jpg","_microblog":{"username":"devilgate"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-06-18 19:38","date_timestamp":1781811525,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"92417932","content_html":"

@manton I installed the latest version on my Mac and now I canā€™t run it. I also canā€™t post a photo in an @-reply, so hereā€™s the generated alt-text of the screen grab:

\n

> A notification indicates that the Micro.blog.app cannot be used with macOS 13.7.8 and requires macOS 14.0 or later to run.

\n

Iā€™m on an old Mac, so I canā€™t go up to 14. No biggie, but it probably shouldnā€™t have let me install it.

\n","url":"https://micro.blog/devilgate/92417932","date_published":"2026-06-18T09:11:29+00:00","author":{"name":"Martin McCallion","url":"https://devilgate.org/","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Favatars.micro.blog%2Favatars%2F2022%2F424.jpg","_microblog":{"username":"devilgate"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-06-18 09:11","date_timestamp":1781773889,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"92412420","content_html":"

Selfish Genetics but No AI \"\" : devilgate.org

","summary":"","url":"https://devilgate.org/2026/06/18/selfish-genetics-but-no-ai/","date_published":"2026-06-18T06:52:45+00:00","author":{"name":"Martin McCallion","url":"https://devilgate.org/","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Favatars.micro.blog%2Favatars%2F2022%2F424.jpg","_microblog":{"username":"devilgate"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-06-18 06:52","date_timestamp":1781765565,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":false,"is_linkpost":true,"is_mention":false,"is_podcast":false,"note":"","syndication":["https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:52p6ext57v3b2wc6xa5s4xui/post/3mokb5ipxfw2q"]}},{"id":"92380488","content_html":"

@alexwolfe What fun! I look forward to Adaā€™s further adventures.

\n","url":"https://micro.blog/devilgate/92380488","date_published":"2026-06-17T19:37:42+00:00","author":{"name":"Martin McCallion","url":"https://devilgate.org/","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Favatars.micro.blog%2Favatars%2F2022%2F424.jpg","_microblog":{"username":"devilgate"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-06-17 19:37","date_timestamp":1781725062,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"92354679","content_html":"

Going to see Richard Dawkins at the Barbican tonight. The title of his talk is ā€˜Genes & the Meaning of Lifeā€™. Itā€™ll be interesting to see ā€” among other things ā€” if his beliefs about the aliveness of ā€˜AIā€™ have changed.

\n","summary":"","url":"https://devilgate.org/2026/06/17/going-to-see-richard-dawkins/","date_published":"2026-06-17T12:29:52+00:00","author":{"name":"Martin McCallion","url":"https://devilgate.org/","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Favatars.micro.blog%2Favatars%2F2022%2F424.jpg","_microblog":{"username":"devilgate"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-06-17 12:29","date_timestamp":1781699392,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":false,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":false,"is_podcast":false,"note":"","syndication":["https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:52p6ext57v3b2wc6xa5s4xui/post/3moicwfkmfc2k"]}},{"id":"92271000","content_html":"

@JohnPhilpin LiveJournal had that distinction two decades ago. Other sites too, probably. Slashdot? Maybe. Itā€™s a good one.

\n

PS: Youā€™re welcome. You are.

\n","url":"https://micro.blog/devilgate/92271000","date_published":"2026-06-16T07:50:25+00:00","author":{"name":"Martin McCallion","url":"https://devilgate.org/","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Favatars.micro.blog%2Favatars%2F2022%2F424.jpg","_microblog":{"username":"devilgate"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-06-16 07:50","date_timestamp":1781596225,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"91747127","content_html":"

Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb šŸŽ„ is a lot funnier and also more compact than I remembered.

\n

More compact, because in my memory the business of trying to decode ā€˜POEā€™/ā€˜OPEā€™ etc, went on for much longer than the few seconds it actually takes. And trying to get through to...

devilgate.org","summary":"","url":"https://devilgate.org/2026/06/03/watched-dr-strangelove-or-how/","date_published":"2026-06-08T10:22:06+00:00","author":{"name":"Martin McCallion","url":"https://devilgate.org/","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Favatars.micro.blog%2Favatars%2F2022%2F424.jpg","_microblog":{"username":"devilgate"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-06-08 10:22","date_timestamp":1780914126,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":false,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":false,"is_podcast":false,"note":"","syndication":["https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:52p6ext57v3b2wc6xa5s4xui/post/3mnrhpi2hpy2d"]}},{"id":"91596132","content_html":"

Sad to read of the death of Anthony Head (or Anthony Stewart Head, as he always used to be credited).

\n","summary":"","url":"https://devilgate.org/2026/06/05/sad-to-read-of-the/","date_published":"2026-06-05T17:56:22+00:00","author":{"name":"Martin McCallion","url":"https://devilgate.org/","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Favatars.micro.blog%2Favatars%2F2022%2F424.jpg","_microblog":{"username":"devilgate"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-06-05 17:56","date_timestamp":1780682182,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":false,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":false,"is_podcast":false,"note":"","syndication":["https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:52p6ext57v3b2wc6xa5s4xui/post/3mnkplla7ok2j"]}},{"id":"91348066","content_html":"

@manton Ah, yes, I should have thought of that:

\n

> Bluesky: Error refreshing token.

\n

Iā€™ll try removing and re-adding. Thanks.

\n","url":"https://micro.blog/devilgate/91348066","date_published":"2026-06-01T19:34:05+00:00","author":{"name":"Martin McCallion","url":"https://devilgate.org/","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Favatars.micro.blog%2Favatars%2F2022%2F424.jpg","_microblog":{"username":"devilgate"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-06-01 19:34","date_timestamp":1780342445,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"91344316","content_html":"

@manton Iā€™ve just noticed my posts having been crossposting to BlueSky since the middle of April.

\n","url":"https://micro.blog/devilgate/91344316","date_published":"2026-06-01T18:34:34+00:00","author":{"name":"Martin McCallion","url":"https://devilgate.org/","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Favatars.micro.blog%2Favatars%2F2022%2F424.jpg","_microblog":{"username":"devilgate"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-06-01 18:34","date_timestamp":1780338874,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"91343058","content_html":"

We watched: North by Northwest šŸŽ„ a week or two ago. Somehow Iā€™d never seen it before.

\n

Letā€™s discuss the famous, poster-worthy, famous scene. Clearly if you believe someone is a government agent about to bust your soviet spy ring, you have to assassinate them. And what better way to do that than trick them...

devilgate.org","summary":"","url":"https://devilgate.org/2026/06/01/we-watched-north-by-northwest/","date_published":"2026-06-01T18:18:47+00:00","author":{"name":"Martin McCallion","url":"https://devilgate.org/","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Favatars.micro.blog%2Favatars%2F2022%2F424.jpg","_microblog":{"username":"devilgate"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-06-01 18:18","date_timestamp":1780337927,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":false,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":false,"is_podcast":false,"note":"","syndication":[]}},{"id":"91286567","content_html":"

@manton Looks like I had the same problem. Thereā€™s no ā€˜Send nowā€™ button, just a ā€˜Sentā€™ notice.

\n","url":"https://micro.blog/devilgate/91286567","date_published":"2026-05-31T21:11:23+00:00","author":{"name":"Martin McCallion","url":"https://devilgate.org/","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Favatars.micro.blog%2Favatars%2F2022%2F424.jpg","_microblog":{"username":"devilgate"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-05-31 21:11","date_timestamp":1780261883,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"91285810","content_html":"

@JohnPhilpin Thanks. Feel free.

\n","url":"https://micro.blog/devilgate/91285810","date_published":"2026-05-31T20:57:16+00:00","author":{"name":"Martin McCallion","url":"https://devilgate.org/","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Favatars.micro.blog%2Favatars%2F2022%2F424.jpg","_microblog":{"username":"devilgate"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-05-31 20:57","date_timestamp":1780261036,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"91037386","content_html":"

@JohnPhilpin Seemed to work.

\n","url":"https://micro.blog/devilgate/91037386","date_published":"2026-05-27T21:42:21+00:00","author":{"name":"Martin McCallion","url":"https://devilgate.org/","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Favatars.micro.blog%2Favatars%2F2022%2F424.jpg","_microblog":{"username":"devilgate"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-05-27 21:42","date_timestamp":1779918141,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"91021494","content_html":"

We are in strange times when the Pope makes more sense about technology than Richard Dawkins. From Pope Leoā€™s encyclical, as quoted by Kottke:

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\n

It is not possible to provide a single, comprehensive definition of AI. What can be stated, however, is that we must avoid the misconception of equating this type of ā€œintelligenceā€ with that of human beings. These systems merely imitate certain functions of human intelligence.

\n
\n

While Dawkins seems to have fallen completely into a vat of kool-aid:

\n
\n

I gave Claude the text of a novel I am writing. He took a few seconds to read it and then showed, in subsequent...

\n
devilgate.org","summary":"","url":"https://devilgate.org/2026/05/27/we-are-in-strange-times/","date_published":"2026-05-27T18:00:42+00:00","author":{"name":"Martin McCallion","url":"https://devilgate.org/","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Favatars.micro.blog%2Favatars%2F2022%2F424.jpg","_microblog":{"username":"devilgate"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-05-27 18:00","date_timestamp":1779904842,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":false,"is_podcast":false,"note":"","syndication":[]}},{"id":"91020924","content_html":"

šŸ“š Books 2026, 13: Keep the Giraffe Burning, by John Sladek: devilgate.org

","summary":"","url":"https://devilgate.org/2026/05/26/finished-reading-keep-the-giraffe/","date_published":"2026-05-27T17:45:57+00:00","author":{"name":"Martin McCallion","url":"https://devilgate.org/","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Favatars.micro.blog%2Favatars%2F2022%2F424.jpg","_microblog":{"username":"devilgate"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-05-27 17:45","date_timestamp":1779903957,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":false,"is_linkpost":true,"is_mention":false,"is_podcast":false,"note":"","syndication":[]}},{"id":"90993327","content_html":"

@johnnydecimal How do you tell if a website is vibe-coded?

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@acct:imyke@myke.social Iā€™m looking forward to listening to this one. But Iā€™ve also realised: Iā€™m kind of missing CGP Grey.

\n","url":"https://micro.blog/devilgate/90889141","date_published":"2026-05-25T18:00:48+00:00","author":{"name":"Martin McCallion","url":"https://devilgate.org/","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Favatars.micro.blog%2Favatars%2F2022%2F424.jpg","_microblog":{"username":"devilgate"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-05-25 18:00","date_timestamp":1779732048,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"90785165","content_html":"

More nonsense and more ā€˜Naked Gunā€™ fun last night: The Naked Gun 2Ā½: The Smell of Fear šŸŽ„. I couldnā€™t honestly tell whether Iā€™d seen this before or not. I think I probably saw it back in the day, but the jokes are so spot-on and predictable (and the plot matters so little) itā€™s hard to be sure. Just what you...

devilgate.org","summary":"","url":"https://devilgate.org/2026/05/23/more-nonsense-and-more-naked/","date_published":"2026-05-23T18:31:37+00:00","author":{"name":"Martin McCallion","url":"https://devilgate.org/","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Favatars.micro.blog%2Favatars%2F2022%2F424.jpg","_microblog":{"username":"devilgate"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-05-23 18:31","date_timestamp":1779561097,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":false,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":false,"is_podcast":false,"note":"","syndication":[]}},{"id":"90783539","content_html":"

I just discovered a feature in Apple Music for iOS. I had lyrics scrolling and I touched the screen to dismiss them. The song jumped back to the point in the lyrics I touched.

\n

Could be useful when you want it, though itā€™s mildly annoying by accident. Iā€™m surprised Iā€™ve never heard of it before.

\n","summary":"","url":"https://devilgate.org/2026/05/23/i-just-discovered-a-feature/","date_published":"2026-05-23T17:57:19+00:00","author":{"name":"Martin McCallion","url":"https://devilgate.org/","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Favatars.micro.blog%2Favatars%2F2022%2F424.jpg","_microblog":{"username":"devilgate"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-05-23 17:57","date_timestamp":1779559039,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":false,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":false,"is_podcast":false,"note":"","syndication":[]}},{"id":"90782986","content_html":"

An American Pickle šŸŽ„ is a strange, daft, fun wee movie, in which Seth Rogen plays Herschel Greenbaum, a refugee from a Polish stetl in the 1920s. A freak accident at a pickling factory means he is pickled for 100 years. Waking up in 2020s Brooklyn, he meets his great-grandson Ben (also played by Rogen).

\n

But...

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@JohnPhilpin My memory! And searching. It was used in a TV ad in the UK maybe ten, fifteen years back, focusing on the shapely rear end of the car. ā€˜I see you baby, shaking that assā€™!

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YouTube link. Also people complained, according to The Guardian.

\n

Which canā€™t possibly be right, because it says it was 23 years ago. I remember my daughter singing along with it, and she wasnā€™t doing that when she was 2!

\n

I guess maybe they revived it? Anyway, thatā€™s what I was talking about, so Iā€™m playing <cite>Vertigo</cite> now.

\n","url":"https://micro.blog/devilgate/90643517","date_published":"2026-05-21T16:07:37+00:00","author":{"name":"Martin McCallion","url":"https://devilgate.org/","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Favatars.micro.blog%2Favatars%2F2022%2F424.jpg","_microblog":{"username":"devilgate"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-05-21 16:07","date_timestamp":1779379657,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"90617627","content_html":"

@JohnPhilpin I meant the ass-shaking one that was advertised with the Groove Armada track. Which turns out to be the Renault Megane.

\n","url":"https://micro.blog/devilgate/90617627","date_published":"2026-05-21T07:46:55+00:00","author":{"name":"Martin McCallion","url":"https://devilgate.org/","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Favatars.micro.blog%2Favatars%2F2022%2F424.jpg","_microblog":{"username":"devilgate"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-05-21 07:46","date_timestamp":1779349615,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"90583288","content_html":"

@manton I hate to say this, but I found a typo! The ā€˜Penn Stationā€™ chapter starts with a quote that refers to the ā€˜Qual dā€™Orsayā€™ in Paris. It should of course be the Quai dā€™Orsay.

\n","url":"https://micro.blog/devilgate/90583288","date_published":"2026-05-20T19:21:45+00:00","author":{"name":"Martin McCallion","url":"https://devilgate.org/","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Favatars.micro.blog%2Favatars%2F2022%2F424.jpg","_microblog":{"username":"devilgate"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-05-20 19:21","date_timestamp":1779304905,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"90478195","content_html":"

@JohnPhilpin I see what you did there (shaking that ass). Couldnā€™t tell you what car it was advertising, though.

\n","url":"https://micro.blog/devilgate/90478195","date_published":"2026-05-19T11:46:48+00:00","author":{"name":"Martin McCallion","url":"https://devilgate.org/","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Favatars.micro.blog%2Favatars%2F2022%2F424.jpg","_microblog":{"username":"devilgate"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-05-19 11:46","date_timestamp":1779191208,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"90359974","content_html":"

@andrewhickey.500songs.com Just trying to understand this. So the hyphenated form with the capital ā€˜Sā€™ is the dog whistle version? Two questions, then: why? And who is being whistled at or to?

\n","url":"https://micro.blog/devilgate/90359974","date_published":"2026-05-17T16:37:18+00:00","author":{"name":"Martin McCallion","url":"https://devilgate.org/","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Favatars.micro.blog%2Favatars%2F2022%2F424.jpg","_microblog":{"username":"devilgate"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-05-17 16:37","date_timestamp":1779035838,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"90316799","content_html":"

Whatā€™s with this ā€˜You can vote ten timesā€™ nonsense? Is it even a vote, then?

\n","summary":"","url":"https://devilgate.org/2026/05/16/whats-with-this-you-can/","date_published":"2026-05-16T21:29:13+00:00","author":{"name":"Martin McCallion","url":"https://devilgate.org/","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Favatars.micro.blog%2Favatars%2F2022%2F424.jpg","_microblog":{"username":"devilgate"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-05-16 21:29","date_timestamp":1778966953,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":false,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":false,"is_podcast":false,"note":"","syndication":[]}},{"id":"90315227","content_html":"

This isnā€™t going to work, Iā€™ve got three tens already (Finland joining the UK and France).

\n","summary":"","url":"https://devilgate.org/2026/05/16/this-isnt-going-to-work/","date_published":"2026-05-16T20:42:59+00:00","author":{"name":"Martin McCallion","url":"https://devilgate.org/","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Favatars.micro.blog%2Favatars%2F2022%2F424.jpg","_microblog":{"username":"devilgate"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-05-16 20:42","date_timestamp":1778964179,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":false,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":false,"is_podcast":false,"note":"","syndication":[]}},{"id":"90314599","content_html":"

And then France go and better it!

\n","summary":"","url":"https://devilgate.org/2026/05/16/and-then-france-go-and/","date_published":"2026-05-16T20:28:10+00:00","author":{"name":"Martin McCallion","url":"https://devilgate.org/","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Favatars.micro.blog%2Favatars%2F2022%2F424.jpg","_microblog":{"username":"devilgate"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-05-16 20:28","date_timestamp":1778963290,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":false,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":false,"is_podcast":false,"note":"","syndication":[]}},{"id":"90314504","content_html":"

Best song weā€™ve sent from the UK in decades! My fave of the night so far.

\n","summary":"","url":"https://devilgate.org/2026/05/16/best-song-weve-sent-from/","date_published":"2026-05-16T20:25:13+00:00","author":{"name":"Martin McCallion","url":"https://devilgate.org/","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Favatars.micro.blog%2Favatars%2F2022%2F424.jpg","_microblog":{"username":"devilgate"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-05-16 20:25","date_timestamp":1778963113,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":false,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":false,"is_podcast":false,"note":"","syndication":[]}},{"id":"90314170","content_html":"

I mean, itā€™s the Eurovision Song Contest, not the Eurovision Dance and Dramatic Staging Contest.

\n

Maybe I should listen to it on the Radio.

\n","summary":"","url":"https://devilgate.org/2026/05/16/i-mean-its-the-eurovision/","date_published":"2026-05-16T20:16:04+00:00","author":{"name":"Martin McCallion","url":"https://devilgate.org/","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Favatars.micro.blog%2Favatars%2F2022%2F424.jpg","_microblog":{"username":"devilgate"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-05-16 20:16","date_timestamp":1778962564,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":false,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":false,"is_podcast":false,"note":"","syndication":[]}},{"id":"90312518","content_html":"

I sometimes think, with Eurovision, they should have to perform standing on a plain stage, with no fancy stuff. I mean Greece, tonight!

\n","summary":"","url":"https://devilgate.org/2026/05/16/i-sometimes-think-with-eurovision/","date_published":"2026-05-16T19:48:23+00:00","author":{"name":"Martin McCallion","url":"https://devilgate.org/","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Favatars.micro.blog%2Favatars%2F2022%2F424.jpg","_microblog":{"username":"devilgate"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-05-16 19:48","date_timestamp":1778960903,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":false,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":false,"is_podcast":false,"note":"","syndication":[]}},{"id":"90163276","content_html":"

@manton I hope youā€™re able to fix the paragraph breaks in descriptions. Thatā€™s always been slightly annoying.

\n","url":"https://micro.blog/devilgate/90163276","date_published":"2026-05-14T15:22:06+00:00","author":{"name":"Martin McCallion","url":"https://devilgate.org/","avatar":"https://cdn.micro.blog/photos/96/https%3A%2F%2Favatars.micro.blog%2Favatars%2F2022%2F424.jpg","_microblog":{"username":"devilgate"}},"_microblog":{"date_relative":"2026-05-14 15:22","date_timestamp":1778772126,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}}]}