Ciaran McGrath
@cerandor.com
Writer of stuff, player of games, enjoyer of life. Living with cancer, trying to be a better person one day at a time.
Rentaghost is one of those fevered childhood dreams that marked an entire generation of kids without them realising it.
Lynda La Plante as Tamara Novek nursing the bedridden employees of Rentaghost in a tableau reminiscent of Hieronymus Bosch at his most fevered.
December 3, 2025 at 10:45 AM
Rentaghost is one of those fevered childhood dreams that marked an entire generation of kids without them realising it.
Reposted by Ciaran McGrath
Min Jack Chambers claim: “number of judicial reviews rapidly growing. 2024 saw 43% increase on 2023, & 2025 a further 30% increase in cases in Court”
Factcheck “number of JR decreasing year on year..members of public to take 40% fewer in 2025 & overall JRs will be 15% lower this year”
links below
Factcheck “number of JR decreasing year on year..members of public to take 40% fewer in 2025 & overall JRs will be 15% lower this year”
links below
December 3, 2025 at 10:20 AM
Min Jack Chambers claim: “number of judicial reviews rapidly growing. 2024 saw 43% increase on 2023, & 2025 a further 30% increase in cases in Court”
Factcheck “number of JR decreasing year on year..members of public to take 40% fewer in 2025 & overall JRs will be 15% lower this year”
links below
Factcheck “number of JR decreasing year on year..members of public to take 40% fewer in 2025 & overall JRs will be 15% lower this year”
links below
Sure, fair enough. (Surprised to be quite that offline though…)
Check out your 2025 Bluesky Harvest from @anisota.net! https://anisota.net/harvest/
Check out your 2025 Bluesky Harvest from @anisota.net! https://anisota.net/harvest/
December 3, 2025 at 9:58 AM
Sure, fair enough. (Surprised to be quite that offline though…)
Check out your 2025 Bluesky Harvest from @anisota.net! https://anisota.net/harvest/
Check out your 2025 Bluesky Harvest from @anisota.net! https://anisota.net/harvest/
Reposted by Ciaran McGrath
The Alt National Park Service has spent months stealing from journalists, directly plagiarizing the work of others more than a hundred times.
With more than 4.3 million followers on Facebook and nearly 900k here on Bluesky, they've built a massive following on theft.
With more than 4.3 million followers on Facebook and nearly 900k here on Bluesky, they've built a massive following on theft.
The "Alt National Park Service:" On Plagiarism, Part 1
The first in a three-part series.
jjoycelynch.substack.com
August 1, 2025 at 7:50 PM
The Alt National Park Service has spent months stealing from journalists, directly plagiarizing the work of others more than a hundred times.
With more than 4.3 million followers on Facebook and nearly 900k here on Bluesky, they've built a massive following on theft.
With more than 4.3 million followers on Facebook and nearly 900k here on Bluesky, they've built a massive following on theft.
Reposted by Ciaran McGrath
'Night Of The Satellite'
1,600 images from a time-lapse sequence photographed by Kimiya Yui are repaired, remastered and retimed to create this 2x real time video footage, with music by Chris Zabriskie.
Credit: Kimiya Yui / ISS / NASA / ESRS / Seán Doran
youtu.be/_5pxjt33IF0
1,600 images from a time-lapse sequence photographed by Kimiya Yui are repaired, remastered and retimed to create this 2x real time video footage, with music by Chris Zabriskie.
Credit: Kimiya Yui / ISS / NASA / ESRS / Seán Doran
youtu.be/_5pxjt33IF0
ISS - Night Of The Satellite
YouTube video by Seán Doran
youtu.be
December 2, 2025 at 4:09 PM
'Night Of The Satellite'
1,600 images from a time-lapse sequence photographed by Kimiya Yui are repaired, remastered and retimed to create this 2x real time video footage, with music by Chris Zabriskie.
Credit: Kimiya Yui / ISS / NASA / ESRS / Seán Doran
youtu.be/_5pxjt33IF0
1,600 images from a time-lapse sequence photographed by Kimiya Yui are repaired, remastered and retimed to create this 2x real time video footage, with music by Chris Zabriskie.
Credit: Kimiya Yui / ISS / NASA / ESRS / Seán Doran
youtu.be/_5pxjt33IF0
Reposted by Ciaran McGrath
Obviously this is impossible because Alan Moore looks like he's genetically a wizard, it's simply impossible to imagine what he would look like as a schoolboy oh there he is.
Spot Alan Moore in his 6th form Northampton Grammar School photo, taken two days before he was expelled
December 2, 2025 at 9:06 AM
Obviously this is impossible because Alan Moore looks like he's genetically a wizard, it's simply impossible to imagine what he would look like as a schoolboy oh there he is.
Reposted by Ciaran McGrath
☃️ This little s̶n̶o̶w̶crowman comes in card form exclusively as a FREE gift with all orders placed on www.ciaraioch.com/artprints during the month of December, while stocks last!
He's also available as a lil' print here: www.ciaraioch.com/artprints/p/...
He's also available as a lil' print here: www.ciaraioch.com/artprints/p/...
December 2, 2025 at 10:19 AM
☃️ This little s̶n̶o̶w̶crowman comes in card form exclusively as a FREE gift with all orders placed on www.ciaraioch.com/artprints during the month of December, while stocks last!
He's also available as a lil' print here: www.ciaraioch.com/artprints/p/...
He's also available as a lil' print here: www.ciaraioch.com/artprints/p/...
Reposted by Ciaran McGrath
Holy shit, and there we have why the humanities are vital for those in STEM, that's absolutely magical
December 2, 2025 at 8:56 AM
Holy shit, and there we have why the humanities are vital for those in STEM, that's absolutely magical
Reposted by Ciaran McGrath
What a fascinating article!
Tumour growth is reduced by exercise due to a shift in the body’s metabolism that means muscle cells outcompete cancer cells in the race to get sugar to grow
We now have a greater understanding of how exercise slows cancer
Tumour growth is reduced by exercise due to a shift in the body’s metabolism that means muscle cells outcompete cancer cells in the race to get sugar to grow
www.newscientist.com
December 1, 2025 at 10:46 PM
What a fascinating article!
Reposted by Ciaran McGrath
you have no idea how many people asked for this in a hoodie as well (it was A LOT), so here:
December 1, 2025 at 9:34 PM
you have no idea how many people asked for this in a hoodie as well (it was A LOT), so here:
Reposted by Ciaran McGrath
Strange: we're told Ireland is Full and also that remote working is bad and should be halted.
December 1, 2025 at 10:58 PM
Strange: we're told Ireland is Full and also that remote working is bad and should be halted.
Reposted by Ciaran McGrath
Peeps! Brains up! Need recs!
(this is for someone else)
Post T.H. White Arthuriana novels (literary and genre), films, tv series, games, comics, etc. Anything in the King Arthur storyworld. Hoping for a blend of new and older material. Thanks!
(this is for someone else)
Post T.H. White Arthuriana novels (literary and genre), films, tv series, games, comics, etc. Anything in the King Arthur storyworld. Hoping for a blend of new and older material. Thanks!
December 1, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Peeps! Brains up! Need recs!
(this is for someone else)
Post T.H. White Arthuriana novels (literary and genre), films, tv series, games, comics, etc. Anything in the King Arthur storyworld. Hoping for a blend of new and older material. Thanks!
(this is for someone else)
Post T.H. White Arthuriana novels (literary and genre), films, tv series, games, comics, etc. Anything in the King Arthur storyworld. Hoping for a blend of new and older material. Thanks!
Reposted by Ciaran McGrath
I just celebrated Black Friday by cancelling my Audible membership and starting a Libro FM membership that benefits PSB.
💙📚 🎧📚
💙📚 🎧📚
We know that, for a ton of reasons, a lot of folks don't have as much to spend as they'd like this holiday season. Sooooooo, here's a thread of things you can do that will support your local indie bookstore or other business WITHOUT spending any more than you intended...
November 28, 2025 at 4:15 PM
I just celebrated Black Friday by cancelling my Audible membership and starting a Libro FM membership that benefits PSB.
💙📚 🎧📚
💙📚 🎧📚
Reposted by Ciaran McGrath
Reminder that Fortnite has been doing a whole shitload of terrible things lately, and there are way better games you could be playing.
SO... I'm pretty much done with Fortnite. There were statements made by Tim Sweeney saying that AI usage doesn't need to be disclosed, and then AI usage was found all over this current season- from art to sprays to in-game songs. Between that, and the upcoming shitty wizard collab... Yeah, I'm done.
December 1, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Reminder that Fortnite has been doing a whole shitload of terrible things lately, and there are way better games you could be playing.
Reposted by Ciaran McGrath
Opened my Instagram stories and there’s Willow Smith over in Los Angeles lip synching a middle aged Limerick mans experience of maintaining friendships while being autistic
November 30, 2025 at 9:36 PM
Opened my Instagram stories and there’s Willow Smith over in Los Angeles lip synching a middle aged Limerick mans experience of maintaining friendships while being autistic
Reposted by Ciaran McGrath
I'm bookmarking this for the next time someone asks me exactly what does 'a structural edit' mean. This may be a screenplay not a novel, but it's an excellent example of the principles and process regardless.
Nine years ago Mike Fitzgerald wrote up an extraordinarily fascinating breakdown of the differences between the Tom Stoppard shooting script and the original Jeffrey Boam draft of Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade.
It's well worth your time: www.creativescreenwriting.com/indiana-jone...
It's well worth your time: www.creativescreenwriting.com/indiana-jone...
November 30, 2025 at 1:30 PM
I'm bookmarking this for the next time someone asks me exactly what does 'a structural edit' mean. This may be a screenplay not a novel, but it's an excellent example of the principles and process regardless.
Reposted by Ciaran McGrath
A writer is a person who cares what words mean, what they say, how they say it. Writers know words are their way towards truth and freedom, and so they use them with care, with thought, with fear, with delight. By using words well they strengthen their souls.
December 1, 2025 at 6:43 AM
A writer is a person who cares what words mean, what they say, how they say it. Writers know words are their way towards truth and freedom, and so they use them with care, with thought, with fear, with delight. By using words well they strengthen their souls.
Reposted by Ciaran McGrath
Dublin here! I’ve got you for pubs (with the usual ‘mostly avoid Temple Bar’ advice), and highly recommend Marsh’ Library.
www.weirdodublinpubs.com/index/
www.weirdodublinpubs.com/index/
Index of Pubs - Weirdo Guide to Dublin Pubs
We aim to hit a new pub each week, though Real Life sometimes intervenes. Nevertheless, here are the Dublin pubs so far chronicled: Ballsbridge The Bridge 1859 Beggars Bush The Old Spot Blackrock Jack...
www.weirdodublinpubs.com
December 1, 2025 at 6:09 AM
Dublin here! I’ve got you for pubs (with the usual ‘mostly avoid Temple Bar’ advice), and highly recommend Marsh’ Library.
www.weirdodublinpubs.com/index/
www.weirdodublinpubs.com/index/
Reposted by Ciaran McGrath
Nah. Slaanesh is a follower of Miss Piggy.
November 30, 2025 at 9:15 PM
Nah. Slaanesh is a follower of Miss Piggy.
I’m of an age where I remember Blue Peter presenter Peter Duncan talking about being in the film. (He’s the Arborean who tries out the tree monster before Flash has a go.)
November 30, 2025 at 9:17 PM
I’m of an age where I remember Blue Peter presenter Peter Duncan talking about being in the film. (He’s the Arborean who tries out the tree monster before Flash has a go.)
Reposted by Ciaran McGrath
apparently the Telegraph has written about the state of modern D&D and I have to say it is sad to see one of the bastions of modern fantasy being ideologically captured by lunatics and forced to pump out a steady diet of divisive wank. D&D on the other hand seems largely fine though
November 30, 2025 at 9:04 PM
apparently the Telegraph has written about the state of modern D&D and I have to say it is sad to see one of the bastions of modern fantasy being ideologically captured by lunatics and forced to pump out a steady diet of divisive wank. D&D on the other hand seems largely fine though
Reposted by Ciaran McGrath
"All of this falls apart if humans don't adopt the tech. This is why you've seen Meta cram its lame chatbots into WhatsApp and Instagram. This is why Notepad and Paint now have useless Copilot buttons on Windows. This is why Google Gemini wants to "help you" read and reply to your emails."
Analysis: OpenAI is a loss-making machine, how can it survive?
Don't call it a bubble! Loss-making monster OpenAI is on the hook for $1.4 trillion (with a T) in compute commitments. How can this go on?
www.windowscentral.com
November 29, 2025 at 11:30 PM
"All of this falls apart if humans don't adopt the tech. This is why you've seen Meta cram its lame chatbots into WhatsApp and Instagram. This is why Notepad and Paint now have useless Copilot buttons on Windows. This is why Google Gemini wants to "help you" read and reply to your emails."
Reposted by Ciaran McGrath
SOCRATES: I am wiser than this man; he fancies he knows something, although he knows nothing—
DARRYL, SOCRATES' FRIEND (Editor's note: There is no historical evidence that Socrates actually had a friend named Darryl. This is likely a character invented to facilitate the joke.): fuck him up socrates
DARRYL, SOCRATES' FRIEND (Editor's note: There is no historical evidence that Socrates actually had a friend named Darryl. This is likely a character invented to facilitate the joke.): fuck him up socrates
January 22, 2025 at 8:32 PM
SOCRATES: I am wiser than this man; he fancies he knows something, although he knows nothing—
DARRYL, SOCRATES' FRIEND (Editor's note: There is no historical evidence that Socrates actually had a friend named Darryl. This is likely a character invented to facilitate the joke.): fuck him up socrates
DARRYL, SOCRATES' FRIEND (Editor's note: There is no historical evidence that Socrates actually had a friend named Darryl. This is likely a character invented to facilitate the joke.): fuck him up socrates
Reposted by Ciaran McGrath
Reposted by Ciaran McGrath
RIP Tom Stoppard who did so much incredible work, not least writing every single line of dialogue in Indiana Jones & The Last Crusade.
November 29, 2025 at 5:18 PM
RIP Tom Stoppard who did so much incredible work, not least writing every single line of dialogue in Indiana Jones & The Last Crusade.