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Author Archives: Alan in Belfast
Iron Sky – Nazis from the dark side of the moon – one night only at the QFT!
If I told you that the QFT was screening a film this time next week about Nazis in space, you’d perhaps question whether seeing Morons from Outer Space as a child had affected my ability to distinguish good science fiction from flawed sci fi!
And … Continue reading
Posted in film, science fiction, space
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Malachi O’Doherty – still in the saddle at sixty
I mentioned one of Malachi O’Doherty’s in conversation events on the blog last month. In his role as the BBC Louis MacNeice Writer in Residence at Queen’s University Belfast he had been interviewing Tom Rachman, author of The Imperfectionists.
Malachi is very well known in Northern Ireland as a journalist, author and commentator on social, cultural, religious and political goings-on.
As the chairs in the BBC studio were being stacked, I asked Malachi about what had attracted him to apply for this BBC funded post at the university. The answer: stability, continuity, as well as esteem.
He has a remit to bring discussion of journalism into the university and the community, as well as contributing to the work of the English Department. The events have run alongside the emerging phone-hacking story and the subsequent Leveson inquiry that has raised the profile of issues around media ethics.
In the past 18 months or so he has run traditional book groups, formed a blog group and held public sessions at which he has interviewed local, national and international journalists and authors. Audio clips from many of the interviews are available on his blog: The Writer’s Log. http://writerslog.net/ Keep an eye on his Coming Events page for future interviews.
Aside from investigating journalism, Malachi is still writing. His latest book is due to be published by Blackstaff Press later this month: On My Own Two Wheels.
(The interview was conducted in February.)
CoderDojo – encouraging the next ZX Spectrum generation of programmers
Chris Taylor and Matt Johnston have been hosting a weekly technology podcast over on EamonnMallie.com since January. Last week, Chris spoke to Nichola Bates, one of the founders of CoderDojo Newry, a computer programming workshop aimed at children from… Continue reading
Posted in technology, weekend
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3D TV? France 24 trialled 360 degree TV during its election coverage
I’ve discovered the English language France 24 about six months too late to enjoy its coverage of the French presidential election. (There are also French and Arabic language versions of France 24.)
Compared with UK-based 24 hour news, it has none… Continue reading
Posted in gadgets, media, technology
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Are public libraries under-appreciated and under-used?
From the 1880s, Andrew Carnegie began to give money to build libraries – the most widely recognised feature of his philanthropy. From that date, he devoted himself to providing the capital for the building of public libraries and the development of l… Continue reading
"a broadsheet man in a tabloid world" – Roy Hodgson – Radio 4 Profile
Radio 4′s thirteen minute Profile programme this week turned its attention to Roy Hodgson, the new England football manager. As a non-sports fan who normally skips this kind of podcast episode, it was interesting to discover the background to the man… Continue reading
bye bye bmibaby … all my bags are packed I’m ready to go
So many songs come to mind with the news that BMI Baby is to close its base and cease flying in and out of Belfast from 11 June, and to ground its fleet completely after 10 September (unless a buyer can be found).
If you hate me after what I say
Can’… Continue reading
Posted in travel
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Open Source Belfast
Adam Turkington and Venus speaking about Open Source Belfast, now open in Sinclair House as part of SomewhereTo_. I was along on Thursday afternoon to run a session on Audioboo which the team may use to help capture and promote the varied programme.
While I was there I filmed a timelapse with a camera stuck on top of an egg timer. You can listen to the audio underneath the timelapse in the clip below.
One wall in the venue – which used to be a cafe – looks very rough, until you look more closely and find a miniature military landscape embedded in the plaster. Quite bizarre – and well worth popping into Sinclair House for a look.
Did I mention they serve tea and coffee?
Posted in Belfast, festival, technology
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Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival 3-13 May 2012
Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival is back, running this year from Thursday 3 to Sunday 13 May. This year must be flying in: it doesn’t feel like three months since the baby sister Out To Lunch festival finished in January.
It’s an evening festival… Continue reading
trying to let go … trying to hold on …
Last Sunday morning’s sermon in church looked at ‘doubting’ Thomas. Mervyn finished by reading A Doubter’s Prayer by Kathy Escobar.
God, sometimes I’m not sure.
I don’t understand. I can’t understand. I don’t know what I’m supposed to unde… Continue reading
Posted in religion
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