Administrivia: 06 March 2024

Popping in to say hi. Not much going on really. Even most of my Google Alerts are either about Rory’s latest job or are referencing an article that lists the cast of Game of Thrones in the footnotes somewhere, therefore Google’s alert is triggered because Rory was mentioned. I think that is probably the most common reason I get alerted, and has been since I first started tracking alerts.

I realized a while back that I forgot to post my Valentine’s Day memes this year. It’s a bit late to post them now, I guess.

I’m trying to push myself around to a sort of regular schedule that may involve frequent library visits. Bless their hearts, the staff are beginning to recognize me. You have to actually check out books and turn in books with the staff; there doesn’t seem to be any anonymous or self-service way to do it. I don’t mind. It’s not like there’s anything freaky there to check out. I get the Stephen King books lately and I think that’s their upper limit on freaky. I guess we’ll have to see.

(I wonder if Rory ever reads horror novels? Fans know he is not into horror films, but he IS a reader. Hm. I don’t read a lot of them myself, but I’ve liked King’s stuff since high school. It’s not even what you’d call great literature. But somehow it’s compelling.)

Okay, stuff to do. ‘Later.

Administrivia: 21 February 2024

Howdy-do. Not much going on, just limping along here.

I’ve been getting a ton of Google Alerts about Rory’s role in that new Knuckles series. I kept forgetting to open them up when I was at my friend’s house. I’m there now, so here you go:

Rory McCann in the Knuckles TV series

I mean, we’ve all been through this before. You already saw him in a shot like this on Instagram. I get it. MEH.

That answers my question, too. I wondered whether he was going to be doing voice work or live acting. Now I know. But, given his general pattern in the last five years, now I have another question. What’s up with all the kid stuff? I am not against this. I think it’s great. Shows his versatility. But is there a reason?

Before y’all start gossiping (who am I kidding; you already were), let’s just remember he’s never publicly said he didn’t want kids at all. He only said that the specific situation he was in when people asked him about that was not conducive to having a family. His situation is different now, so anything’s possible. He had also said he wasn’t sure about marriage since getting a mortgage wasn’t compatible with the transient life he used to live, and look what happened there. Apparently someone explained to him that married people don’t actually have to have mortgages. (Love ya, big man.) If his wife’s young enough he may actually have gone in for the whole fatherhood gig too. I will tell you what: He looks young for his age and if you look young for your age without plastic surgery or other cosmetic enhancement, often (yes, not always) you’re in good physical health too. It’s got to be all the outdoor activity. I have no doubt he’s up for chasing a toddler around if he does decide that’s something he wants to do.

“But I’ve heard nothing” Who’s his wife? Right. Exactly. He still hasn’t gone on record in any interview that I’ve seen about even being married. If he has kids it’d be a better-guarded state secret than the goddamn nuclear launch codes. Bet on it.

But even if that’s not a factor, he’s still got nephews and at least one niece. Probably they get a kick out of all the kid-show stuff. I would, if I had an uncle like that. I’d be bragging to all my friends at school.

Okay, well. Sorry for the long silence. I’ve actually been on the internet at my friend’s house with my laptop several times since the last entry here, I just didn’t get around to posting anything. I tell you what though, if you want to be a fansite administrator and you aren’t good at keeping up with lots of news, Rory’s a good actor to follow. Worked out great.

That sounds snarky. I didn’t mean it that way. Sorry.

I will try to update a little more often. Assuming there’s actually anything to update about.

Administrivia: 29 January 2024

Just a quick update.

1. I don’t know if I was right about the Mr. Big thing in the previous post but I have since seen a blurb indicating Rory’s character’s last name is Armstrong.

Rory McCann in Hot Fuzz
Rory McCann as Michael “Lurch” Armstrong in Hot Fuzz

…Yarrrp.

2. The LaFontaines, a band Rory likes, have just issued an important announcement. Fannies. ❤❤❤

3. I seem to be on my way out of the woods. At least for now. But I will leave the link up in the previous post because if someone’s looking for Hound art, maybe it’ll be up their alley.

(I still kind of want to set up a fan art section here. But I keep saying I want to do things and then I get hit by a fucking shit avalanche again. One of these days.)

Administrivia: 27 January 2024

Welp, doesn’t look like Jackdaw got released here in the USA at all. Grumble. I’m trying not to read the reviews much because I want to see it and not get spoiled, but from the little excerpts I’ve seen, the critics seem to be underwhelmed and it sounds like Rory’s character is named Mr. Big…? I love seeing him in film and TV. I’m just a little tired of all the “bad guy hulk” stuff. He picks his jobs, so I have to assume he likes that sort of thing and finds it a laugh, and that’s not a problem. It’s his career. I just hope he can diversify a bit. Maybe he got that chance with the DCI Daley project. He’s played a cop before, but not a main-character cop. I guess we will just have to wait and see.

(ISTFG if someone does not pick up that show DANA SMASH.)

And okay, I’m going to do something out of character for me and I said I would not do it here. But I’m in a bit of a bad place right now. If anyone ever saw my drawing of the Hound and wanted it, now’s your chance. I am only posting this here because most of you don’t go to my homepage. I need more eyeballs on it.

clicky!

Normally a pencil portrait of that size is at least $100 more, I know. I’m not trying to drag down portrait prices, but there were a few things about this drawing I wasn’t happy with, so the price reflects that. I haven’t tried to display it in all this time and even if I were not in bad straits, I fear the humidity in my current residence will ruin it. (Not to mention my dad’s constant smoking.) It will no doubt be happier with someone who can get it framed properly and hung up in a house with actual climate control.

I have another portrait of Rory as well but I’m even less happy with that one so it’s shoved into a portfolio carrier until I feel better toward it. I’m going to get into Normal People portrait drawing after this for a while to see if I can pick up some business that way and then I’ll try something of the big man again. I already know what I want to do, couple things actually, I just need the time to do it.

Either way I have to get myself out of this mess first. So there you go.

Administrivia: 22 January 2024

Jackdaw is due to premiere in two days.

ARE YOU EXCITED

Just checking in. Not a lot going on. I know that at some point, which was probably before my previous post here, Rory posted on his Instagram again but you know how he is. Lucky to see one post a month from Mr. Bashful. It’s okay, just, that’s been it on news really.

Even my Google Alerts are the usual “omg some website we’ve never heard of has mentioned that Rory was in Game of Thrones!”. Although I did get this piece yesterday. I don’t know why the Google Alerts summary included the Rory McCann name. Niall has a brother, and he may have been mentioned by name in a previous version of the article (he isn’t in the version I saw). That’s all I can think of. But I am posting the link here because the whole context of a mountain accident and partial paralysis was really weird. Like somewhere in between Rory’s experience and the experience of his The Book Group character Kenny McLeod. Niall can still stand and walk.

Reality is so often stranger than fiction.

Oh, and Burns Night is coming up in two days and isn’t that another funny coincidence. Our favorite Scot getting a film premiere on Burns Night.

I wonder if he likes haggis.

[edit] I was mistaken! Burns Night is the 25th (I’m writing this additional note on the day, in fact). Y’all are lucky I still walk upright. Being off by one day is nothing. Hahaha

Administrivia: 05 January 2024

Hey y’all. Happy New Year!

So, drama happened in mid-December. Then drama happened a few days after. Then I reached out to people, then I got invited back to live with my father, who has been through a major medical crisis in the past few months. So I am back in Louisiana, but there wasn’t anything (anyone) left in Ohio for me to stay for anyway. I miss the place, and my going back is not off the table, but it’s not likely to occur for a few years yet. That’s okay. I’m tired of not knowing what’s going to happen next, and me with zero economic defenses.

But! I was already slow with this site with all the other shit that went on last year (I AM SO GLAD 2023 IS OVER) and it’s going to be even slower now. But I do have options. I have a friend with a decent internet connection and I need to go visiting sometimes anyway. I will also get a library card once I get my state ID (driver’s license) situation sorted out, and they have internet too. So I’ll just schedule shit. Why not. Might as well. I can’t imagine I will find full-time work yet, so that should leave me time for hobbies.

I mean I don’t expect anyone’s watching proceedings here with bated breath. It’s just the kiss of death, at least in SEO terms, to leave this thing not updated. So I’m fuckin’ updating. Mwah.

Administrivia: 05 December 2023

Oh wow, it’s been almost a month. Sorry! Okay. Right quick:

1. I saw that new reel or highlight or whatever it was that Rory or the missus posted recently. He’s showing off Jackdaw. Love to see it, big man, but unsure whether or when it will be available here in the USA. And you probably said and I just can’t fucking remember. I’ll catch up one of these days. I am shit at keeping promises anyway, so I try to avoid making them, but I’m utterly hopeless about promises in the past couple years. Obvious reasons, to you longtimers.

2. So it seems we can thank the big man’s turn in Game of Thrones for an uptick in the fortunes of Scott’s Porage Oats. BAHAHAHAHAHAHA. Look here, item 34. OI, BIG MAN. How about HD versions for those old ads? Asking for a WHOLE LOT of friends. Erm, other fans. Well, you know what I mean. THEM.

3. Stuff’s going… about as well as it ever goes. I have my bad days and my mediocre days. I am not sure I know what a good day looks like anymore. The mediocre days are quite tolerable, however. I will say this: Nobody is allowed to share weird news nor do strange things to me in January this coming year. I hit my half-century then and goddamn it, I want some fucking peace. Put it off til February. Give me that much. It costs you nothing. Thank you.

P.S. Been rewatching GOT. Always a pleasure.

[edit] LOOK WHAT I FOUND!!!

Rory McCann in Jackdaw

When the trailers for Jackdaw first started coming out I saw no sign of the big man whatsoever. I just went and looked at one on YouTube and almost near the end, THERE HE WAS.

And I wondered the same thing I always wonder when I see him with a firearm in a film: How much experience has he got with them in real life? Just a random idle curiosity. I know it’s different in the UK.

Anyway. I know you guys probably saw that image a million fucking times around Instagram already. I’m just fucking pleased as punch that I caught it.

[edit edit] No wait! It’s coming out NEXT MONTH!!! EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!

Administrivia: 09 November 2023

I haven’t updated this thing in a while but I had a bit of a chuckle for you, seeing as how the United States just went back to Standard Time.

So, those of you who’ve been around for a while may or may not have been aware that I usually get my daily Google Alert for Rory around 8pm. That’s not a sure thing; sometimes I get it hours later than that. But 8pm has been the usual time.

Phone just went off. I noticed it was 7pm on the dot and thought, I bet that’s the Google Alert, and picked up the phone and went into my Gmail and sure enough. And then it struck me funny that it should be an hour early. And then I remembered why.

You would think a media behemoth like Google would remember to set its clocks back one hour. Apparently… not.

Oh well. Like I said, good for a chuckle.

P.S. The Alert was garbage, as usual. I am always pleasantly surprised when it’s got something useful, because that rarely happens.

Administrivia: 16 October 2023

I posted a while back about imposters on Instagram pretending to be Rory. I hadn’t wanted to keep harping on about it but someone messaged me pointing out that a lot of people don’t know his real IG handle and would be taken in. I still don’t want to say something every single time a spoofer turns up, because it gets tedious and looks like I’m drama-mongering.

However, it looks like quite a lot of you are wising up. I recently shamed a spoofer on my IG and THE VERY NEXT DAY, another one tried it. I saw the notification pop up. I thought, I’ll get around to that asshole later. Well, when I looked later — it hadn’t even been six hours — he was nowhere to be seen. He’d added me — so said the notification I had seen — but he was no longer in my Follower list.

I’ve been back and forth with family and friends in my IG direct messages about the situation with my father, which I mentioned here more recently, and noticed I had a message in my messages-from-not-friends folder. So I went and looked. I couldn’t see the pfp or the handle anymore, but going by what was said in the message I’m pretty sure that was Spoofer Two. But he’s been suspended.

Way to go, y’all! Keep it up. Nuke those fuckers from orbit just to be sure.

Honestly, I don’t know what Spoofer Two was thinking. Rory would never message me, much less like that. It wasn’t the sort of message that would have pissed Mrs. McCann off… it was just really not in character for Rory. I think Rory appreciates his fans on some level but would rather appreciate us at a distance, and I’m sure he’s met enough crazy people chasing him around that he’d rather not take the risk of encouraging any more to go off the deep end. If it were me, I wouldn’t. Not because I’m mean, though I can be that too, but because I’ve learned through painful experience that people misinterpret things. Nah. Pass.

Administrivia: 12 October 2023

I just found a thing and I am quite excited.

I will not even tell you what the thing is. I will just tell you that it is Rory-related and also when I have gotten my grubby little hands on it.

I’m not getting it JUST yet. I am preparing to get it. I want to make sure it’s not gonna set me back too badly, and also that I’ll actually get it, and also that I’m not just self-medicating in some way trying to buy things I don’t need right now.

On a related note, good thoughts would be appreciated for my dad. He’s taken a sudden turn. Other stuff has gone south a bit too, but right now that’s the most major thing. Thanks.