{"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":262,"discover_count":0},"author":{"name":"Martin McCallion","url":"https://devilgate.org/","avatar":"https://avatars.micro.blog/avatars/2022/424.jpg"},"items":[{"id":"88688444","content_html":"

@canion Utter bollocks, to my mind. At best it feels like an act of surrender to the machines. And it looks ugly and would be annoying to write (‘a thought am- a parenthetical thought am- and back’). And when you render your text in another typeface, what then?

\n

It suddenly occurs to me that the whole thing is a joke.

\n","url":"https://micro.blog/devilgate/88688444","date_published":"2026-04-21T07:44:36+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":"07:44","date_timestamp":1776757476,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"88655558","content_html":"

@JohnPhilpin “Piqued”. Unless your interest has reached its highest possible level!

\n

(Sorry, call me a pedant if you will, but I sometimes fear we’re in danger of losing words.)

\n","url":"https://micro.blog/devilgate/88655558","date_published":"2026-04-20T19:25:02+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":"2026-04-20 19:25","date_timestamp":1776713102,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"88598623","content_html":"

@JohnPhilpin Or why not drop the silly cluttering hyphens and just use spaces?

\n","url":"https://micro.blog/devilgate/88598623","date_published":"2026-04-19T22:07:50+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":"2026-04-19 22:07","date_timestamp":1776636470,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"88191027","content_html":"

📚 Books 2026, 8: The Spirit of Science Fiction, by Roberto Bolaño, Translated by Natasha Wimmer: devilgate.org

","summary":"","url":"https://devilgate.org/2026/04/13/finished-reading-the-spirit-of/","date_published":"2026-04-13T21:36:13+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":"2026-04-13 21:36","date_timestamp":1776116173,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":false,"is_linkpost":true,"is_mention":false,"note":"","syndication":["https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:52p6ext57v3b2wc6xa5s4xui/post/3mjftbzfbzn2c"]}},{"id":"88184869","content_html":"

@siracusa @jonschwenn

\n

Same for me. Been like that for a few weeks, on different networks.

\n","url":"https://micro.blog/devilgate/88184869","date_published":"2026-04-13T19:37:56+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":"2026-04-13 19:37","date_timestamp":1776109076,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"88071018","content_html":"

📚 Books 2026, 7: Raven Black, by Ann Cleeves: devilgate.org

","summary":"","url":"https://devilgate.org/2026/04/07/finished-reading-raven-black-by/","date_published":"2026-04-11T20:20:22+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":"2026-04-11 20:20","date_timestamp":1775938822,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":false,"is_linkpost":true,"is_mention":false,"note":"","syndication":["https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:52p6ext57v3b2wc6xa5s4xui/post/3mjassm6kum2l"]}},{"id":"88064888","content_html":"

@JohnPhilpin Thanks. I could, of course, have googled if myself, but I thought it was more fun to speculate.

\n","url":"https://micro.blog/devilgate/88064888","date_published":"2026-04-11T19:48:02+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":"2026-04-11 19:48","date_timestamp":1775936882,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"88059426","content_html":"

If You Hail Mary, Will She Stop to Pick You Up? devilgate.org

","summary":"","url":"https://devilgate.org/2026/04/11/if-you-hail-mary-will/","date_published":"2026-04-11T17:29:29+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":"2026-04-11 17:29","date_timestamp":1775928569,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":true,"is_mention":false,"note":"","syndication":["https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:52p6ext57v3b2wc6xa5s4xui/post/3mjaes5ajcq22"]}},{"id":"87724511","content_html":"

📚 Books 2026, 6: The Twenty Days of Turin, by Giorgio De Maria, Translated by Ramon Glazov: devilgate.org

","summary":"","url":"https://devilgate.org/2026/04/06/finished-reading-the-twenty-days/","date_published":"2026-04-06T21:25:33+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":"2026-04-06 21:25","date_timestamp":1775510733,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":false,"is_linkpost":true,"is_mention":false,"note":"","syndication":["https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:52p6ext57v3b2wc6xa5s4xui/post/3miu7u5wle722"]}},{"id":"87498714","content_html":"

I’ve posted here every day so far this year. That’s unusual for me — unprecedented, in fact. I might take a break now , though. Except… hello.

\n","summary":"","url":"https://devilgate.org/2026/04/02/ive-posted-here-every-day/","date_published":"2026-04-02T22:27:10+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":"2026-04-02 22:27","date_timestamp":1775168830,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":false,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":false,"note":"","syndication":["https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:52p6ext57v3b2wc6xa5s4xui/post/3mikauqmq7p2z"]}},{"id":"87490010","content_html":"

@manton OK, thanks. Strange, because it seemed to be ok the few previous days. Sorry for disturbing your holiday.

\n","url":"https://micro.blog/devilgate/87490010","date_published":"2026-04-02T20:16:21+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":"2026-04-02 20:16","date_timestamp":1775160981,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"87465217","content_html":"

@manton There’s something up with my blog. The post from last night is linked on the home page, but if you click through you get the ‘still being published’ message. I’ve tried a couple of full rebuilds, and there are a load of errors in the logs.

\n

On further checking, all my posts have that message!

\n","url":"https://micro.blog/devilgate/87465217","date_published":"2026-04-02T13:31:10+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":"2026-04-02 13:31","date_timestamp":1775136670,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"87468032","content_html":"

Full of Grace: devilgate.org

","summary":"I just realised as I wrote that title, why the lead character has that surname. Huh.","url":"https://devilgate.org/2026/04/01/full-of-grace/","date_published":"2026-04-01T18:19:00+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":"2026-04-01 18:19","date_timestamp":1775067540,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":false,"is_linkpost":true,"is_mention":false,"note":"","syndication":[]}},{"id":"87468034","content_html":"

Off to see Project Hail Mary in Leicester Square. Time to find out what these astrophages are made of.

\n","summary":"","url":"https://devilgate.org/2026/03/31/off-to-see-project-hail/","date_published":"2026-03-31T17:12:59+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":"2026-03-31 17:12","date_timestamp":1774977179,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":false,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":false,"note":"","syndication":[]}},{"id":"87306497","content_html":"

@andrewhickey.500songs.com That use of ‘original Alvin Stardust’: was there more than one Alvin?

\n","url":"https://micro.blog/devilgate/87306497","date_published":"2026-03-31T07:58:35+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":"2026-03-31 07:58","date_timestamp":1774943915,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"87468035","content_html":"

Watched Top Secret! 🎥 a couple of nights ago. A 1984 film by the makers of Airplane, I have to wonder why on Earth I haven’t seen it till now. It’s pretty funny. A rock star visits a weird East Germany, which is just as oppressed as the real one, but the authorities are still the Nazis. Wehrmacht and SS...

devilgate.org","summary":"","url":"https://devilgate.org/2026/03/30/watched-top-secret/","date_published":"2026-03-30T19:00:45+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":"2026-03-30 19:00","date_timestamp":1774897245,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":false,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":false,"note":"","syndication":[]}},{"id":"87468036","content_html":"

How can it be that I only realised today, with the clocks going forward for summer, that we don’t have a six-month summer/standard time split. We have seven months of British Summer Time.

\n

All the more evidence that BST should be the standard, if not the permanent state.

\n","summary":"","url":"https://devilgate.org/2026/03/29/how-can-it-be-that/","date_published":"2026-03-29T16:09:46+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":"2026-03-29 16:09","date_timestamp":1774800586,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":false,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":false,"note":"","syndication":[]}},{"id":"87468037","content_html":"

What Exactly are we For and Against? devilgate.org

","summary":"","url":"https://devilgate.org/2026/03/28/what-exactly-re-we-for/","date_published":"2026-03-28T23:37:40+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":"2026-03-28 23:37","date_timestamp":1774741060,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":false,"is_linkpost":true,"is_mention":false,"note":"","syndication":[]}},{"id":"87100496","content_html":"

Against the Far Right but not Against Antisemitism? devilgate.org

","summary":"","url":"https://devilgate.org/2026/03/27/against-the-far-right-but/","date_published":"2026-03-27T20:45:21+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":"2026-03-27 20:45","date_timestamp":1774644321,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":false,"is_linkpost":true,"is_mention":false,"note":"","syndication":["https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:52p6ext57v3b2wc6xa5s4xui/post/3mi2yg3nydj25"]}},{"id":"87040166","content_html":"\n

I’m currently reading The Twenty Days of Turin A Novel by Giorgio de Maria. 📚

\n

It’s a very odd work, which in part slightly prefigures (because it’s set in the 1970s) some of the negative effects of social networks. But it’s about a lot more than that.

\n","summary":"","url":"https://devilgate.org/2026/03/26/im-currently-reading-the-twenty/","date_published":"2026-03-26T23:27:55+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":"2026-03-26 23:27","date_timestamp":1774567675,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":false,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":false,"note":"","syndication":["https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:52p6ext57v3b2wc6xa5s4xui/post/3mhyqyrdzuc2c"]}},{"id":"86954218","content_html":"

Why Can't We Find Out What the Green Party is Proposing? devilgate.org

","summary":"","url":"https://devilgate.org/2026/03/25/why-cant-we-find-out/","date_published":"2026-03-25T20:00:39+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":"2026-03-25 20:00","date_timestamp":1774468839,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":false,"is_linkpost":true,"is_mention":false,"note":"","syndication":["https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:52p6ext57v3b2wc6xa5s4xui/post/3mhvv5fu7rz2z"]}},{"id":"86895821","content_html":"

@jarrod I’m surprised they’re going on with it even into this fifth season. The end of season four felt to me like it was done. But I suppose there are always more tales to tell.

\n","url":"https://micro.blog/devilgate/86895821","date_published":"2026-03-24T23:55:48+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":"2026-03-24 23:55","date_timestamp":1774396548,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"86891821","content_html":"

Putting this interview with Andy Weir here for future reference. We’re going to see Project Hail Mary next week, and it claims the book and film are ‘built on solid science’.

\n

But it’s described as:

\n
\n

a story about humanity’s last-ditch attempt to save Earth from “astrophage,” a fictional, star-eating algae that has infected our sun.

\n
\n

I also watched the trailer last night, and it seemed incoherent (though trailers often do).

\n

But algae? Biology in a star, in plasma at impossible temperatures? I can feel my inner physicist cringing already, so I hope they manage to make it make sense somehow.

\n","summary":"","url":"https://devilgate.org/2026/03/24/putting-this-interview-with-andy/","date_published":"2026-03-24T22:31:55+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":"2026-03-24 22:31","date_timestamp":1774391515,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":false,"note":"","syndication":["https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:52p6ext57v3b2wc6xa5s4xui/post/3mhtmx22bym2z"]}},{"id":"86842651","content_html":"

The music app on iOS: what does this icon on the top right do? Or what is it supposed to do, because nothing audible or visible happens when I tap it?

\n\"\"\n","summary":"","url":"https://devilgate.org/2026/03/24/the-music-app-on-ios/","date_published":"2026-03-24T08:39:12+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":"2026-03-24 08:39","date_timestamp":1774341552,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":false,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":false,"note":"","syndication":["https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:52p6ext57v3b2wc6xa5s4xui/post/3mhs6g3kalq2k"]}},{"id":"86787628","content_html":"

The First Band I Ever Saw, 46 Years Later \"The\"SLF : devilgate.org

","summary":"","url":"https://devilgate.org/2026/03/23/the-first-band-i-ever/","date_published":"2026-03-23T14:26:59+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":"2026-03-23 14:26","date_timestamp":1774276019,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":false,"is_linkpost":true,"is_mention":false,"note":"","syndication":["https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:52p6ext57v3b2wc6xa5s4xui/post/3mhqbf7mdf523"]}},{"id":"86741214","content_html":"

Ben Werdmuller tells us ‘AI is changing the style and substance of human writing, study finds’:

\n
\n

the software really does change the substance of your writing in what I would call objectively bad ways: it makes it less personal and less emotional, and it actively changes its underlying meaning in the process.

\n
\n

This takes us back to my recent thoughts on people possibly not even understanding their ‘own’ LLM-generated writing.

\n","summary":"","url":"https://devilgate.org/2026/03/22/ben-werdmuller-tells-us-ai/","date_published":"2026-03-22T19:48:45+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":"2026-03-22 19:48","date_timestamp":1774208925,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":false,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":false,"note":"","syndication":["https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:52p6ext57v3b2wc6xa5s4xui/post/3mhocygzxba2e"]}},{"id":"86687222","content_html":"

Tonight, at London’s historic Roundhouse!

\n\"\"\n","summary":"","url":"https://devilgate.org/2026/03/21/tonight-at-londons-historic-roundhouse/","date_published":"2026-03-21T19:26:13+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":"2026-03-21 19:26","date_timestamp":1774121173,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":false,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":false,"note":"","syndication":["https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:52p6ext57v3b2wc6xa5s4xui/post/3mhlr6bba4f23"]}},{"id":"86636571","content_html":"

To the Hackney Empire tonight, to see Bridget Christie’s Jacket Potato Pizza tour which was excellent.

\n","summary":"","url":"https://devilgate.org/2026/03/20/to-the-hackney-empire-tonight/","date_published":"2026-03-20T21:58:45+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":"2026-03-20 21:58","date_timestamp":1774043925,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":false,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":false,"note":"","syndication":["https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:52p6ext57v3b2wc6xa5s4xui/post/3mhjj7td5vg2r"]}},{"id":"86586901","content_html":"

@aaronpk What’s going on with that cat’s back legs?

\n","url":"https://micro.blog/devilgate/86586901","date_published":"2026-03-20T07:09:59+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":"2026-03-20 07:09","date_timestamp":1773990599,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"86514147","content_html":"

We watched The Man in the Hat 🎥 a few nights ago. An odd, gentle little British/French road movie from 2020. It’s almost silent, at least as far as the main character goes. Others have dialogue, but not a lot. A man goes on the run across France, after seeing what appears to be gangsters disposing of a body....

devilgate.org","summary":"","url":"https://devilgate.org/2026/03/19/we-watched-the-man-in/","date_published":"2026-03-19T07:16:30+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":"2026-03-19 07:16","date_timestamp":1773904590,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":false,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":false,"note":"","syndication":["https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:52p6ext57v3b2wc6xa5s4xui/post/3mhfhk3apqz2z"]}},{"id":"86443314","content_html":"

📚 Books 2026, 5: Red Menace, by Joe Thomas: devilgate.org

","summary":"","url":"https://devilgate.org/2026/03/18/books-red-menace-by-joe/","date_published":"2026-03-18T08:17:31+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":"2026-03-18 08:17","date_timestamp":1773821851,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":false,"is_linkpost":true,"is_mention":false,"note":"","syndication":["https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:52p6ext57v3b2wc6xa5s4xui/post/3mhd2ih6avx2s"]}},{"id":"86406194","content_html":"

Of course a quick digital lookup answers the question in my previous post: the new meaning of ‘nonplussed’ is its exact opposite.

\n

Literally.

\n","summary":"","url":"https://devilgate.org/2026/03/17/of-course-a-quick-digital/","date_published":"2026-03-17T19:20:14+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":"2026-03-17 19:20","date_timestamp":1773775214,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":false,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":false,"note":"","syndication":["https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:52p6ext57v3b2wc6xa5s4xui/post/3mhboxigy7j2y"]}},{"id":"86404546","content_html":"

Kottke shares the teaser trailer for Dune: Part Three, and says he is nonplussed by it, ‘both in the traditional and modern senses.’ I was just annoyed by the whispery voiceover.

\n

But: what is this ‘modern’ sense of ‘nonplussed’?

\n","summary":"","url":"https://devilgate.org/2026/03/17/kottke-shares-the-teaser-trailer/","date_published":"2026-03-17T19:02:08+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":"2026-03-17 19:02","date_timestamp":1773774128,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":false,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":false,"note":"","syndication":["https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:52p6ext57v3b2wc6xa5s4xui/post/3mhbnx4hv4w2j"]}},{"id":"86349154","content_html":"

Hari Seldon as an undercover Sigmund Freud?

\n

It’s a long time since I read any of the Foundation trilogy, but this article, describing it as a ‘Jewish Masterpiece’ suggests Freud as partly a model for Seldon:

\n
\n

The Foundation trilogy doesn’t really focus on whether or not the galaxy will be saved. What it does, like Freudian psychoanalysis and Jewish textual practice did before it, is focus on how the past can best be mined to solve the problems that spring up in the present. Both methods prize talk and debate … Asimov’s priests are men of intellect who talk and puzzle and debate over questions and...

\n
devilgate.org","summary":"","url":"https://devilgate.org/2026/03/16/hari-seldon-as-an-undercover/","date_published":"2026-03-16T23:19:15+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":"2026-03-16 23:19","date_timestamp":1773703155,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":false,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":false,"note":"","syndication":["https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:52p6ext57v3b2wc6xa5s4xui/post/3mh7lygdls42y"]}},{"id":"86276393","content_html":"

Identity Is The Crisis, Can't You See? devilgate.org

","summary":"","url":"https://devilgate.org/2026/03/15/identity-is-the-crisis-cant/","date_published":"2026-03-15T22:58:30+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":"2026-03-15 22:58","date_timestamp":1773615510,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":false,"is_linkpost":true,"is_mention":false,"note":"","syndication":["https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:52p6ext57v3b2wc6xa5s4xui/post/3mh52mbj3m22p"]}},{"id":"86209670","content_html":"

@jsonbecker I’m not totally convinced by that argument. Software development is about a lot more than generating lines of code. Just as lines of code has never been a good measure of programmer productivity, the ability to generate massive amounts may not result in more productive teams.

\n","url":"https://micro.blog/devilgate/86209670","date_published":"2026-03-14T19:14:41+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":"2026-03-14 19:14","date_timestamp":1773515681,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"85620822","content_html":"

@flotisserie That’s an interesting set of instructions. I wonder what kind of writing you’re using Claude to generate, since you’re obviously able to write yourself.

\n","url":"https://micro.blog/devilgate/85620822","date_published":"2026-03-06T08:01:51+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":"2026-03-06 08:01","date_timestamp":1772784111,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"85468919","content_html":"

@patrickrhone If it helps (and why should it?) I’m on a 2017 Intel MacBook Pro. Still does most things fine. Though I can’t install some newer applications, which is a shame.

\n","url":"https://micro.blog/devilgate/85468919","date_published":"2026-03-04T07:45:12+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":"2026-03-04 07:45","date_timestamp":1772610312,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"85437322","content_html":"

@ReaderJohn She had a hit single in the UK with ‘O Superman’, back in 1981. I had to check the year, I admit. It got to number 2!

\n","url":"https://micro.blog/devilgate/85437322","date_published":"2026-03-03T20:35:06+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":"2026-03-03 20:35","date_timestamp":1772570106,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"85362213","content_html":"

@llbbl I know, I know. And I agree. But like I said, it’s hard not to celebrate when a tyrant like that goes. And maybe it was a tactical mistake, as I’ve seen some analysis saying. But the chance of the Iranian people being free, you know?

\n","url":"https://micro.blog/devilgate/85362213","date_published":"2026-03-02T20:48:56+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":"2026-03-02 20:48","date_timestamp":1772484536,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"85292354","content_html":"

@JohnPhilpin Oh also, why does it say ‘Charlie Sheen’ at the end of your post? Is there something I’m missing?

\n","url":"https://micro.blog/devilgate/85292354","date_published":"2026-03-01T19:57:50+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":"2026-03-01 19:57","date_timestamp":1772395070,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"85292041","content_html":"

@manton What’s the best way to report issues or request features? The usual email? Or have you got something else set up for Inkwell?

\n","url":"https://micro.blog/devilgate/85292041","date_published":"2026-03-01T19:53:02+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":"2026-03-01 19:53","date_timestamp":1772394782,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"85291590","content_html":"

@dfte I completely agree.

\n","url":"https://micro.blog/devilgate/85291590","date_published":"2026-03-01T19:46:51+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":"2026-03-01 19:46","date_timestamp":1772394411,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"85283853","content_html":"

@JohnPhilpin Yeah, well, like I said, there, it’s more complex than people would like. But there might be a chance for the Iranian people to rise up against the regime. We can only hope.

\n

Annoyingly (but not your fault) your quote locks my second-word typo in for all to see. Should be ‘feels’, of course, and now corrected in the original.

\n","url":"https://micro.blog/devilgate/85283853","date_published":"2026-03-01T17:14:04+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":"2026-03-01 17:14","date_timestamp":1772385244,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"85212346","content_html":"

@MisterMoo

\n

If the surname is Griffiths, then Griffiths’s is exactly right for the possessive. I’m guessing you think it should be s-apostrophe? That only applies to plurals ending in ‘s’.

\n","url":"https://micro.blog/devilgate/85212346","date_published":"2026-02-28T12:57:55+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":"2026-02-28 12:57","date_timestamp":1772283475,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"85007415","content_html":"

@manton That looks great!

\n","url":"https://micro.blog/devilgate/85007415","date_published":"2026-02-25T16:24:25+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":"2026-02-25 16:24","date_timestamp":1772036665,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"84804602","content_html":"

@andrewhickey.500songs.com

\n

‘Upper working class’: I don’t think that’s an expression I’ve ever even heard.

\n","url":"https://micro.blog/devilgate/84804602","date_published":"2026-02-22T18:59:16+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":"2026-02-22 18:59","date_timestamp":1771786756,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"84804956","content_html":"

@garius.bsky.social I’ve never heard of anyone describing themselves as upper working class, for what it’s worth.

\n","url":"https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:52p6ext57v3b2wc6xa5s4xui/post/3mfhswmoxsk2e","date_published":"2026-02-22T18:57:17+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":"2026-02-22 18:57","date_timestamp":1771786637,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"84624463","content_html":"

@manton Nice one, I love the positivity.

\n","url":"https://micro.blog/devilgate/84624463","date_published":"2026-02-19T23:17:47+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":"2026-02-19 23:17","date_timestamp":1771543067,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}},{"id":"84531252","content_html":"

@JohnPhilpin It’s worse than that: how will we ever effect changes in our affect?

\n","url":"https://micro.blog/devilgate/84531252","date_published":"2026-02-18T18:24:07+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":"2026-02-18 18:24","date_timestamp":1771439047,"is_favorite":false,"is_bookmark":false,"is_deletable":false,"is_conversation":true,"is_linkpost":false,"is_mention":true}}]}