Considering and celebrating the career of Frederick Wiseman, the greatest of all documentary filmmakers: www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...

Frederick Wiseman, a director whose rigorously objective explorations of social and cultural institutions constitute one of the more revered bodies of work in American documentary filmmaking, died on Monday. He was 96. nyti.ms/4qGpq55

‘Perec went into analysis because he suspected that the ludic bent of his writing was in fact blocking an approach to his life story.’ Paul Keegan on Perec’s decision to enter analysis with Pontalis. granta.com/the-perec-ca...

Relic of a bygone era.

'Alone at home all evening, polishing my rave review of Wayne's World' - Helen Garner, How to End a Story: Collected Diaries

With huge leaps forward in jumper fluff-shaving technology we're looking at the world's first fully shaved jumper by 2038.

Whoof! Incredible. @grantmcphee.bsky.social www.cherryred.co.uk/various-arti...

Just used Microsoft Word's audio transcription feature on an old file.

Clifton Chenier boxset! cliftonchenier.bandcamp.com/album/king-o...

The 'scrap the House of Lords' and 'abolish the royal family' lights are flashing wildly.

Journos doing extended explainers on Mateta's injury because of lack of transfer activity.

Eircode-specific flood warnings or we riot

"Minister of State for the Office of Public Works Kevin “Boxer” Moran has said that no stone will be left unturned in finding out what led to flooding in the Rathfarnham area of Dublin." Uh, this is the flood map of the area showing potential risk.

A Jehovah's Witness who resembled Andy Burnham just called to the door.

The head of a real messer of a lad who's first of the gang to be infected during the zombie apocalypse.

Writers please try harder

Most Trump speeches are 95% something like 'you notice that grapes are cheap? You're welcome!'

A month's subscription to Amazon Prime and all I watched was that Robbie Williams monkey movie.

I reviewed Rob Cowen's The North Road for the TLS: www.the-tls.com/lives/autobi...

I reviewed Rob Cowen's The North Road for the TLS: www.the-tls.com/lives/autobi...

Breaking out the Sarko shades.

I wrote about end-of-year lists and start-of-year possibilities. www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/ar...

Stack of Ibsen on the iPlayer.

Art is good for mental health? Not when you’re a novelist in poverty | Letter www.theguardian.com/books/2026/j...

Jane Birkin voice: 'Ex-fan de football'

'Bored by endless hobbits and the glitch-free banality of a machine-cut universe we may well instead seek the unrefined, the mistake-riddled: The human.' www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/ar...

'Bored by endless hobbits and the glitch-free banality of a machine-cut universe we may well instead seek the unrefined, the mistake-riddled: The human.' www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/ar...

I wrote about end-of-year lists and start-of-year possibilities. www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/ar...

Top tips from a master.

Goals for 2026

I'll be talking to Lizzie Nunnery and Pete Kalu about writing and younger selves in Liverpool Central Library on Friday 9th January. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/in-convers...

Need some kind of litmus test for Bono/fake Bono.

A fair amount of sick on George's St this morning.

Let's get back to this.

Bus driver stopped his vehicle, opened the door, and got the attention of two women working in a card shop next to the bus stop. He wanted a card. 'Something with "Nan" on!'

So this is the abundance I've heard about.

Need a Least Favourite Books of the Year list for perspective.

Recommended book 👇📚

Eight years to the day since I walked between Paul McCartney and John Lennon's houses as part of the research for Hit Factories.

Eight years to the day since I walked between Paul McCartney and John Lennon's houses as part of the research for Hit Factories.

'Is The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill a Christmas album?'

Pub conversation about Robert Caro. 'Did you read that fucking Power Broker?'

Lots going on here that I agree with on non-fiction's struggles: Attention economy issues, templated unimaginative books, a very diverse category that doesn't always serve its readers or writers well to be grouped under, but fundamentally a vital human pursuit: www.theguardian.com/books/2025/d...