A story I love about Anthony Stewart Head. Thank you to this person for sharing it on Tumblr. What a mensch.

I was on @rteradio1.bsky.social earlier talking about LC Eng paper 1 and my daughter's sleeping habits. www.rte.ie/radio/radio1...

Carrying a few too many books back to the storeroom. 6th year student: "Can I help you?" Me: "No, no, thanks but I'm the one that decided to carry too many books so I'll suffer on. Anyway, I should man-up and be strong." 6th year: "Alright, Lady Macbeth."

The ref didn't ask the TMO to make that decision yet he decided to anyway. Didn't think that's how it worked.

The Running Man is such a disappointment. Even before the ridiculous ending(s) it lacked the kinetic energy you'd expect. But, my god, it falls apart. Wonder did something go seriously wrong and they had to change the ending. Can't believe the green lit it with that final act.

Your morning read is a look at where we are going at second level English. thevideotrolley.blogspot.com/2026/05/wher...

What will English look like at second level in the future? Not great. thevideotrolley.blogspot.com/2026/05/wher...

Absolute nonsense.

Just booked tickets to see Farnk Miller in Schull for the Fastnet Film Festival. Unbelievably excited!!!!!

I had to sign a document online last week. The document suggested a signature. I clicked on the wrong thing and now that document has an AI signature, not mine. I have to get a new document sent on Tuesday. I'm already sick of this, and it's only just begun.

I am reading a PDF. "This appears to be a long document. Save time by reading a summary using AI assistant." Seriously, they want us to be fucking stupid. Again: the least curious and laziest employees and students are most likely to be taken in by this stuff.

Irish actor Gary Lydon, known for his roles in The Banshees of Inisherin and Love/Hate, has died at the age of 61

Thanks to the NAPD for publishing my article about Shakespeare's place on the curriculum. Note 1: Shakespeare wasn't a set text when the state was formed but he was always on the exam and so de facto compulsory. Note 2: I'm not saying "no to Shakespeare."

"Empathy is a key element of our education system, one that we are trying to find ways of teaching to students. A simple example of showing empathy is to listen to students and let your interactions with them be led by their needs, not your own ideology." Great piece by @conorsmurf.bsky.social

Schools are back on Monday. That usually means a lot of people also go back to work after taking a holiday with their kids. How are we all supposed to get to work? Do the school buses have fuel?

My article is now onlne.

Meanwhile, over on twitter...

My article in today's @irishtimes.com

Watching season 1 of the Rookie I have learned the following: 1. All criminals carry guns and will shoot cops at the first opportunity. 2. Corridors are really narrow, lit brightly, have fragile walls, and are usually navy. 3. If you're a blonde female you will be a victim.

Frawley got more positive mentions than Crowley in reports of the last two matches.

I was thinking of this when watching Against the Head. Odd as outhalf was such a huge topic for the last year or so. For the last couple of games other players have been lauded but the guy getting them into positions for them to thrive was ignored.

Crowley was player of the match for me. Controlled the game, got his kick, tackled incredibly well, got the backline moving. Great game.

Fortnightly 202: Donna Leon, Duff Cooper's 'Operation Heartbreak', @erinmaglaque.bsky.social on Caravaggio, researchED Cork, @karenswallowprior.bsky.social & @carlhendrick.substack.com on reading, @conorsmurf.bsky.social on AI in teacher training, & more. open.substack.com/pub/juliangi...

My wife, byaislinn.ie, on Ireland AM yesterday morning talking about what her work with cancer patients. www.instagram.com/reel/DVvC0QG...

Paradise would be so much better without the twists.

This is, by far, the most popular blog of mine for the last four years. Why? Because teachers are concerned AI in education, particularly when it is used to do the hard thinking/creating for students (and I'm worried about the same for teachers). thevideotrolley.blogspot.com/2026/03/its-...

(New). Thoughts on English teaching in Ireland and the US, prompted by a paper by @manshel.bsky.social. juliangirdham.substack.com/p/extra-engl... Mentions for @inotenews.bsky.social @conorsmurf.bsky.social @sarfern.bsky.social @clanavtra.bsky.social

Oide, the Government funded organisation that gives CPD (now PLEs) to teachers, is promoting the use of ChatGPT to write poems for students and pieces of Drama, that the students can then rewrite. It's over. AI has won. thevideotrolley.blogspot.com/2026/03/its-...

Oide, the Government funded organisation that gives CPD (now PlLEs) to teachers, is promoting the use of ChatGPT to write poems for students and pieces of Drama, that the students can then rewrite. It's over. AI has won. thevideotrolley.blogspot.com/2026/03/its-...

All the old favourites are back. Not many I'd get excited about. The Third Man is so superior to all the rest!

Jurassic World: Rebirth is a terrible film but its a fascinatingly explicit discussion of blockbuster movies. Shame they didn’t study Spielberg a bit more.closely before making this one...

I didnt expect a Little Mermaid homage in Jurassic World:Rebirth.

The BAFTAs incident has done nobody any good. Lindo and Jordan were put in an awful position. Broadcasting the slur — whether down to BAFTA or the BBC — has opened Davidson, a brave man, up to endless moronic commentary from people who make no effort to understand TS.

My wife, By Aislinn, was interviewed as part of this feature in today's @irishexaminer.bsky.social www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/he...

Ah man. Robert Duvall. He was so so good. Everyone knows his greatest hits but for me, the moment i always think of on hearing his name is when he tells his best friend Charlie his real and embarrassing given name before the epic shootout at the end of Open Range. He'll be so missed.

RIP Robert Duvall. I hope you and Jimmy Caan are mooning Marlon Brando, wherever you are now. www.nytimes.com/2014/10/05/m...

RIP Robert Duvall: as central to American film as anyone in his generation

RIP to the great Robert Duvall. I'll miss his mischievous chuckle. Brilliant in so many films. His more famous roles are rightly celebrated but don't miss him in The Great Santini and The Apostle. One of the absolute greats.

I love A Knight of the Seven Kingdom! David Gemmell would also love it.

I see Wes Anderson directed this

Our latest episode is online now, with @sweetoblivion.bsky.social and @ohdeerdiner.bsky.social joining us to discuss #MartySupreme. We talk about the magic of making a Great American Movie laser-focused on Gen Z, the Chala-moment, and much more. www.soundcloud.com/the250/439-m...

Crowley or Prendergast? This one was terrible and this one was great until this one did that good thing and this one did that bad thing, then this one was terrible and this one was great. Until the other one did that great/terrible thing. Then it all changed again.

Star Trek: Strafleet Academy is simply awful. The latest episode had a "twist" that was so obvious all it did was highlighted how incompetent one of the lead characters is and calls into question why they are in the position they are. The whole "horny college students" vibe is pure cringe.

This was excellent. Reminded me of Halo Jones.

Fair play to Kevin James, a much ridiculed actor, the marketing for his new film was top notch and reminds us that it's all about character. We have to care. And if we do, we're hooked.

The Wrecking Crew is another truly awful steaming action movie. Do we have a name for this shite genre yet? Str-action movies? Stream-action? Simply "shite"? How do these films make money?

Of all the monomaniacal takes on WUTHERING HEIGHTS the most persistently irritating is “It’s not a love story!” Yes, it is. Of course it is. It’s plenty of other things *besides*. But it’s certainly that.

Wonder Man would be a great text for TY. The writing is incredibly balanced. Knowing but doesn't wink. Meta but not layered in irony.