I think I have found the hippest people in the whole world

http://misshapes.com/pages/partyphotos.php?d=04-16-05


I need to be at this party.

Una

Long Time No Blog

Listening to: The Bleedin Bleedins - The Darkest Day

Well, a week is a long time in Blogland, innit?

This week I have been subjected to the awfulness of job interviews. Now, let it be known that these are interviews are for a work placement with the possibility of a job afterwards. One would think that this would be a license NOT to be mean in interviews. Alas, tis a cruel cruel world.

First up, TV3, national TV station that has brought us delights that include American Idol, Coronation Street, Ireland AM etc. This was a job for a TV reporter and I found myself lying like a lying lier and a lying lier who tells them.

Interview dude:So, where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Una The Liar: Definately in TV journalism as a reporter. I feel like I'm ready to make that progression.

So, I won't get the job, considering they're interviewing people over three days. Whatever.

Next up, on the same day was an interview at The Sunday Tribune. I really wanted this one, and was incredibly nervous. Plus, the interview was with two people: a good cop / bad cop scenario with questions like "Who is the Minister for Agriculture?" (who knows this?).

Listening to: Gomez- Get Myself Arrested

Well, I got a call back to day saying I got the job, but that it won't start until July instead of May. This is a good thing, I figure, because I'll be able to concentrate on my thesis, still write for the Event Guide, still write for GCN, and most importantly, make June into

UNA'S OFFICIAL PARTY MONTH

So, yay for me!

Was thinking of going out to celebrate tonight, but I gotta interview The Bravery. Just emailed Aimee Mann there, pretty run o' the mill stuff.

Listening to: Jay Z - U Don't Know

THESIS CENTRAL

So, still workin on the aul thesis. Had a good day today, that involved arguing over email with Michael Ledeen (http://www.aei.org/scholars/filter.,scholarID.35/scholar.asp)

This is what he had to say for himself, be afraid:

"The War in Iraq was the direct result of a terrorist attack against the United States, not the product of some American ideology. It should not be difficult to understand that.

As for pre-emptive strikes, it's as old as the Bible. Can you imagine someone running for high office, saying to the voters "vote for me, I will always let our enemies strike first"???? Yet lots of people think it is a brand new doctrine. Imagine!

I have mixed feeling about Bush, one of which is that he has been far too multilateral. After all, he dithered for nearly a year and a half between the fall of the Taliban and the liberation of Iraq, because he was trying to get a multilateral consensus, or at least a series of resolutions from the UN Security Council. That is not the behavior of a unilateral cowboy is it? It undoubtedly cost some American and Iraqi lives, since, right after Afghanistan, the terrorists had not yet had time to organize their response.

In any case I have always advocated the use of political power--freedom--rather than military might whenever possible, and in the Middle East we should have--and still should--supported the Iranian people against the mullahs. No bombs, no bullets, just a bit of money and technology (cell phones, servers, etc) and some good broadcasting.

That's about it from me. Hope it's enough."

Yeah, sure Mikey...

Listening to: Oasis - Bring It On Down

So The Gay Community News liked my last article on crystal meth addicts and are now asking me to write another feature on Internet Sex Addiction. I am no expert, but it's worth a shot.

Keep on truckin,

Una

Yay for Lili!

YAY!

Lili won Photographer Of The Year at the Student Media Awards this week. YAY!
http://misslili.blogspot.com

And, another yay, I'm going to see Brendan Benson tonight. Yay.

Una

THE UNA QUIZ

Take'>http://www.quizyourfriends.com/takequiz.php?quizname=050420114300-618207">Take my Quiz on QuizYourFriends.com!

WHAT WILL UNA'S NEW TATTOO BE?

I'm thinking something GONZO

(as displayed in these links)

http://www.gonzo.org/fun/pix/pernapb.jpg

http://www.gonzo.org/fun/pix/olivertattoo.jpg

http://www.gonzo.org/fun/pix/guytat.jpg

http://www.gonzo.org/fun/pix/gabestatt2.jpg (i think this one is my favourite, on my left foot, with the wide part at the base of my leg and the knife going towards the toes, if ya get me)

OR

a silhouette of Hunter S. Thompson (still gonzo) taken from the cover of 'Kingdom Of Fear' on my right hip.

OR

the word 'Maktub' in swirly font (I've been reading The Alchemist too much lately) on the instep of my left foot.

Decisions, decisions.

Listening to: Nancy Sinatra - Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)

...

"i don't think a song changes the world; i think the world changes, and the song reflects it. i'm sorry for people that think the art is a hammer, not a mirror."
- Jon Langford

http://www.theonionavclub.com/feature/index.php?issue=4116

Listening to: Slipknot - Maggots

WHITE SMOKE

And no, they're not smoking crack in the Vatican, it's a new Pope.

Pope Benedict XVI to be exact.

Listening to: White Stripes: Blue Orchid

A comprehensive (if simplistic) timeline of GRUNGE

http://blogcritics.org/archives/2005/04/17/022707.php

Boys Suck

Juliette And The Licks
download: Comin Around

The Suffragettes
(gemma from babyshambles)

The Subways
download: Oh Yeah

Sons And Daughters

JJ72
download: Heat

Ash
download: A Life Less Ordinary

The White Stripes
download: Blue Orchid

The Donnas

Slunt

Garbage
download: Why Do You Love Me?

The VCs


Yeah Yeah Yeahs
download: Maps

The Slits
download: Cut

Babes In Toyland
download: You're Right

Bikini Kill
download: Liar

Sleater - Kinney
downlaod: Sold Out

L7
download: I Drink

Rilo Kiley
download: Portions for Foxes

The Distillers
download: The Hunger

No Doubt
download: Just A Girl

The Magic Numbers
download: Amina Sola

Be Your Own Pet
download: Damn Damn Leash

The Pixies
download: Wave of Mutilation

50 Foot Wave

Hole
download: 20 Years in Dakota

Do Me Bad Things

The Arcade Fire

and a million others: this list was inspired by Edith Bowman's radio doc. on 'No Girls Aloud'

una

Larry Clarke is back

yay, Larry Clarke king of 'em all is back with a new movie 'Wassup Rockers' about Latino skateboarders. yes please.

Here's his latest interview with, er, David Amsden (not obsessed, I swear!)

http://newyorkmetro.com/nymetro/arts/art/11608/

Listening to: No Girls Allowed (30 min)Broadcast on Radio 1 - Wed 06 Apr - 23:30
At the NME Awards, there was not a single female member in any winning band. Where have all the Indie Girls gone? Edith Bowman investigates, with contributions from Garbage and Be Your Own Pet. Listen to it: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/noscript.shtml?/radio/aod/radio1_aod.shtml?radio1/nogirls_doc"

Una

Dave Amsden again. Teenage stalking will commence....NOW 

David Amsden. Talent gets you far... 

SUNDAY - THESIS DAY

Listening to: Funeral For A Friend - Street Car

I heart Sunday papers, especially Barbara Ellen in the Observer magazine.
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/magazine/story/0,11913,1459666,00.html

Her article on men trying to find their underwear was priceless.

Speaking of writers, Elaine and I have found someone new to stalk. Very random, as I was showing Laney this article by David Amsden that I thought would suit her thesis. Then we started Googling other articles by him (which are basically all on teens), then we found out (quite by accident) that he's 24 had hot! Ah, journo-jealously.

Here's the original article I did a piece on last year and started the David Amsden paper trail.

Pop. Snort. Parachute.
http://newyorkmetro.com/nymetro/news/culture/features/9945/

Listening to: Sara Cox on Radio 1 (Coldplay, The Scientist)

Hmm, should probably post a TOP TEN JOURNOS EVER topic. Much like top trumps, but with more superpowers. Well, thesis work to be done first! Actually, coffee first, and more newspaper writing. Oh, yeah, Sunday newspapers, I have an interview with the Sunday Tribune on April 27th. Izzy has one too. Now that I am BONEFIDA Sunday paper journo (as in one article on Cork on page 12 of the Independent travel supplement), I should get the job no problem. BRING ON THE PULITZERS.

Una
Reading: The Alchemist - Paulo Coelho (at last)

LAST WORDS

Listening to: Sara Cox on Radio 1 (replay)

Here are some famous last words. I reckon mine will be "this better be 87% pure..."

Is it not meningitis?
Louisa M. Alcott, writer, d. 1888

Waiting are they? Waiting are they? Well--let 'em wait.
(In response to an attending doctor who attempted to comfort him by saying, "General, I fear the angels are waiting for you.")
Ethan Allen, American Revolutionary general, d. 1789

Am I dying or is this my birthday?
(When she woke briefly during her last illness and found all her family around her bedside.)
Lady Nancy Astor, d. 1964

Nothing, but death.
(When asked by her sister, Cassandra, if there was anything she wanted.)
Jane Austen, writer, d. July 18, 1817

Codeine . . . bourbon.
Tallulah Bankhead, actress, d. December 12, 1968

Now comes the mystery.
Henry Ward Beecher, evangelist, d. March 8, 1887

Friends applaud, the comedy is finished.
Ludwig van Beethoven, composer, d. March 26, 1827

I should never have switched from Scotch to Martinis.
Humphrey Bogart, actor, d. January 14, 1957

Josephine...
Napoleon Bonaparte, French Emperor, May 5, 1821

I am about to -- or I am going to -- die: either expression is correct.
Dominique Bouhours, French grammarian, d. 1702

Ah, that tastes nice. Thank you.
Johannes Brahms, composer, d. April 3, 1897

Now I shall go to sleep. Goodnight.
Lord George Byron, writer, d. 1824

Et tu, Brute?
(Assassinated.)
Gaius Julius Caesar, Roman Emperor, d. 44 BC

I am dying. I haven't drunk champagne for a long time.
Anton Pavlovich Chekhov, writer, d. July 1, 1904

The earth is suffocating . . . Swear to make them cut me open, so that I won't be buried alive.
(Dying of tuberculosis.)
Frederic Chopin, composer, d. October 16, 1849

I'm bored with it all.
(Before slipping into a coma. He died 9 days later.)
Winston Churchill, statesman, d. January 24, 1965

That was the best ice-cream soda I ever tasted.
Lou Costello, comedian, d. March 3, 1959

Goodnight my darlings, I'll see you tomorrow.
Noel Coward, writer, d. 1973

Damn it . . . Don't you dare ask God to help me.
(To her housekeeper, who had begun to pray aloud.)
Joan Crawford, actress, d. May 10, 1977

I am not the least afraid to die.
Charles Darwin, d. April 19, 1882

My God. What's happened?
Diana (Spencer), Princess of Wales, d. August 31, 1997

I must go in, the fog is rising.
Emily Dickinson, poet, d. 1886

All my possessions for a moment of time.
Elizabeth I, Queen of England, d. 1603

I've never felt better.
Douglas Fairbanks, Sr., actor, d. December 12, 1939

I'd hate to die twice. It's so boring.
Richard Feynman, physicist, d. 1988

I've had a hell of a lot of fun and I've enjoyed every minute of it.
Errol Flynn, actor, d. October 14, 1959

I know you have come to kill me. Shoot coward, you are only going to kill a man.
(Facing his assassin, Mario Teran, a Bolivian soldier.)
Ernesto "Che" Guevara, d. October 9, 1967

God will pardon me, that's his line of work.
Heinrich Heine, poet, d. February 15, 1856

Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.
(From Luke 23:46)
Jesus Christ

Does nobody understand?
James Joyce, writer, d. 1941

Why not? Yeah.
Timothy Leary, d. May 31, 1996

Too late for fruit, too soon for flowers.
Walter De La Mare, writer, d. 1956

The couriers take a break  

transcending space and/or time 

A courier rave 

Edwin Wurm anyone? 

Killian displays what happens after too much Fanta 

Ian's Birthday Celebration

Yes, Friday night, time for us all to celebrate Ian's 29th birthday which had fallen the previous Wednesday.

Popped up to Lili's after interviewing Teenage Fanclub. For some reason everybody's energy levels were surprisingly high (which explains these ridiculous photees).

Henceforth followed sketches involving couriers, kinder eggs, Stella Artois etc. The to Handels, then to Thomas Reads, then to Hogan's (where I fell over a bloody suitcase or something that a silly girl had left outside the front door), then to Zaytoons for kebabs, then back to Lili's for more partying.

12 hours, non-stop.

Just a little weenie bit tired now.

Una

I would go out tonight...

I'm gonna go out tonight. Hang with my homies (expect stupid photos soon then)

I've just had loads of way to strong coffee and I feel like that bit at the end of 'Blinded By The Lights' by the Streets when Mike Skinner just goes 'rraaaaaaaaaaaa', and then breathes in.

I reckon tonight though, it shall be the end of 'Fit But You Know It': I THINK IM GOING TO FALL OOOOOOOOVVVVVVVVERRRRRRRRRR

Listening to: Black and White Eyes, Syd Matters

una

JP's email, titled: "Jim - a woman in a skanger's body"

JIM - My sister's goin out wit a fuckin' law student

ELAINE - Southsider is it Jim?

JIM - Might as well be, he's from fuckin' Malahide. He's from the Swordsside of Malahide though. I think she thinks he's a bit of rough

KEV - You're a bit of rough shur Jim

JIM - Yeah, but I'm her sister.

Ed in Lili's 

Killian is on the phone in Lili's (even though it kind of looks like he's just pretending to be on the phone) 

Burco and Lili pout on a Monday night at an impromptu gathering in Lili's 

MTV PIMPS MY THESIS

XZIBIT: Una, when I first saw your thesis, i nearly cried. not because,it was so well written but because, frankly, there was nothing there.but the guys and West Coast Customs, and me X to tha Z Xzibit have hookedyo thesis up and now its ready for that project bin.Take a look at your
BRAND NEW THESIS

UNA:AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

XZIBIT: Mad Mike, show them what you got

MAD MIKE: Una, This is the newest font on the market, all chrome, giovanni22 inch times new roman. box fresh girl

XZIBIT: That's fresh!

MAD MIKE: you know how I get down, X

XZIBIT: Fo sho

MAD MIKE: we put this font all in your four articles. One of these lettersalone is worth more than your entire thesis when we came in here

UNA: oh my god!

MAD MIKE: Ish, interiors, show the girl whatcha got

ISH: Alright Una, theees theeesis is all bound on sweet smellin vinyl, embroidered amazonian alligator leather.

UNA: oh my god

ISH: we got the detail eldorado stitch on the side. thaz custom girl CUSTOM

UNA: custom?

ISH: just for you, baby

UNA: oh my god

BIG DANE: holla at you boy big dane!

BIG DANE: now, una, girl, back in the day, you wansn't a playa, unless youhave 14 footnotes on every page of yo thesis

UNA : fo sho

BIG DANE: so, girl, we hooked you up! . Yo thesis consist ENTIRELYof footnotes

UNA: AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH

XZIBIT : The guys at west coast custom have really gone one stepfurther on this one, for sho, I can smell a first in this thesis y'all

UNA : oh, my god, you guys. Thanks so much to everybody at WestCoast Customs, and XZIBIT, THANK YOU!

XZIBIT: fo sho momma . now, you just need two more things: thisstapler and, girl yo thesis has been officially pimped



UNA: im so happy with my new thesis. it's given me the self confidence toget on with my life. and my friends love it...



FRIENDS: OHHHHHHH GIIIIIRLLL! this yo thesis?

ELAINE: I'm so happy for Una's thesis, it looks great and she looks great with it

UNA'S MUM: It just goes to show all that time Una spends watching MTV hasreally paid off for her degree. I'm so proud of her

UNA: THANKS MTV FOR PIMPING MY THESIS

Kurt Cobain (by Vernon Reid)

in this months Rolling Stone, they do a whole bullshit edition on 'immortals', as in the best 100 artists ever or something.

Baically, it'sa famous people writing about famous people, but there's one good quote about Cobain

He captured the idea of having incredibly powerful feelings about not having feelings.

That's probably the smartest thing I've ever seen written about Nirvana

Listening to: Truth Hurts, The Honeymoon

Una

A Green Day Album

A Green Day Album
Shit, maybe I really do have insomnia. In saying that, I'm still sitting up at one being completely wide awake.finally, a semi-productive disease! But, not really, that's the thing about not sleeping; you may gain a few extra hours outside the land of nod (cliche monster bursting out of stomach), but in the waking hours, your brain is monged, and cant function at full whack, without, ahem, medicinal encouragement.Hmm, collective sleeping recently. Well, last night maybe 3 hours? I got home after 12, and stayed up til maybe 3. then i guess I went to bed and fell asleep a few hours later. I got up before 9 today.Er, Monday night, oh yeah. I was up really early and I went into college that day, then came into town and had a few in Handels (Burco peer presure), then I went to Lilis and got home maybe after 12, and shit, I remember now, I barely slept at all. I felt really dehydrated, and spent most of the night restless. Think I got up before 8 and then went into RTE.Tonight looks like another no sleepy sleepy. Maybe I'll make an appointment with the DCU doc, and get to see them in 2007 (Autumn). I need sleep medicine. maybe because a lot of my brain has been kept artificially and ferociously awake over the past few years that it now refuses to shut down. Oh, I'll probably collapse eventually.

Listening to: Love Will Tear Us Apart, Joy Division.

Una

The Last While

Well, my life has been sufficiantly boring, so I haven't been relating it for a while. In fact, for this very post, I had to consult my diary. God, that makes me laugh!

Listening to: Carry Me Ohio, Sun Kil Moon.

Speaking of Sun Kil Moon, Mark Kozelek has rescheduled his gig. Hurrah! At last, I get to see him, I hope he plays loads of stuff from Ghosts of the Great Highway. I think it's turning into one of my favourite records ever. Wow.

Maybe I'll work in reverse order, or maybe I won't. Um, the end of March, is that ok?

Well, whatever. Thankfully, I've got over (mostly) the horrible thesis stress that had gripped me. I think that, coupled with insomnia (oh, how it continues!) and tension headaches (and the foreboding self testimony that, shit, yes, 2005 is a rubbish year with faithless consequences) made Homer go something something.

I did get some funny emails from neocons. (funny for me since I'm a nerd). Here are a couple from some of the world's leading neocons. I was privaliged to recieve a PFO from David Frum, the man who coined 'Axis Of Evil'. Wanker.

Dear Ms Mullally: I wish you well on your thesis, but I hope you will understand that the press of my other commitments will prevent me from answering questions that demand such detailed answers.
Very truly yours,
David Frum


Thanks for your query. The article I sent to you addresses the topic ofneo-conservatism explicitly, and how it is perceived outside of the U.S. Itwas written for a journal based in Bratislava.
regards,
Waller R. Newell
Professor of Political Science and Philosophy
Visit the website at www.wrnewell.com


I'm not actually a neoconservative!
My own opinion is that the category is overrated and is bigger in Europethan here.The neocon journals are THE WEEKLY STANDARD, THE PUBLIC INTEREST, andPOLICY REVIEW. They're all online, althoughTHE PUBLIC INTEREST is going out of business.The best writing from "I am a neocon" point of view is by Adam Wolfson.
Bush himself is more conservative than neocon.
I would write more, but I'm late for a class.
Lawler, Peter plawler@berry.edu

Ah, sweet neocon amusement.

Listening to: Glenn Tipton, Sun Kil Moon

So, meanwhile (as in since the end of March) I've interviewed: Do Me bad Things, Bell X1, Embrace, I Am Kloot, Brendan Benson (briefly), Hard Fi, The Urges, James Taylor, The Shack Shakers.

I've been to a battle of the bands (on my own, save for minglers) and a Hal gig (with Ian) and an Angie Stone gig (with Corina and Lili) and a Kathleen Edwards gig (with Meadzer).

I'm meant to be nailing a two month work placement. yeah, fat fucking chance. I didn't get called for a Sunday Business Post interview, I got a Spin interview (didn't get the job) and nothing else. At least, well, I guess, none of the other places I've applied to have called anybody. Maybe there's hope, but I don't think I come across well in interviews (or ever).

Listening to: Could Well Be In, The Streets

I'm feeling dehydrated all the time, something's wrong.

Una

Avoidance etc.

Listening to : Mannix, Dry County.

I'll tell you something for free, I have become quite the expert at avoiding my thesis (hell, I'm avoiding it right now), but I've just made a promise to myself that tomorrow really will be thesis day. And now that I've got a new monitor and broadband and all the trimmings, I don't have to go to college and doss around. This is fo'real. I never thought I'd leave myself so short, but how und ever.

Listening to: Pin, Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

So, you see, tomorrow I'm going to hopefully get my first article completely down. It's a kind of 'neoconservatism 101' sketch, and the research has been the hardest part. I've come up with a few key principals about neoconservative foreign policy, but they seem so insanely basic in proportion to the work that I've done.

Listening to: Reconcile, The Honeymoon.

I think one of the major problems I have comes between the writing and the subject matter. The fact is, the material I'm dealing with is so contensious, it's difficult to assert an appropriate dialectic. For example, the Neonconservatism 101 article basically proposes to challenge misconceptions about neoconservative theory (and henceforth its subsequent transtition into real policy). So, how do you write this, because, automatically, one is presuming a misconception. And this misconception is the ground upon which a lot of my motivation for this actual thesis lies.

Listening to: Giving Up, The Holiday Plan

I have never met anyone who truly knows what neoconservatism IS, factually, objectively that is. The closest who came to this understanding is Dr. Klingenstein, I guess. So, the wrong presumptions need to be tackled and the only way I can do this is to present what I have learnt and interpreted to the reader, as a service if you will. BUT, then we come to the problem of 'both sides'. If I am to present an "argument", than I need 'the other side'. I suppose, I amn't presenting an 'argument'. To remain objective, I must brush aside what I believe to be 'right' or 'wrong'. So, present the facts.

Now, how do I present them? From what a neoconservative says the facts are? No. From what 'the opposition' believes the facts to be? Uh, uh. So, in the end I suppose, it's all my interpretation.

Of course, another problem arises here, that following my definition, I am depending on the reader themselves to follow through (as I will) and read the rest of the series of articles to round their thoughts on the subject off, and not merely be left with a staid so-called 'definition'. Uh, horrors!

Listening to: Riptide, Laura Viers

yeah, that said, I better get the fucking thing done now! History, context, beliefs, thinkers, add it all up and hopefully give whoever is interested in it a correct (or what I believe to be correct) definition.

Una

listen to ray lamontagne

Is Bush turning into Clinton?

41, 42 and 43
Newsweek looks behind-the-scenes at President Bush and his two immediate predecessors on their trip to the papal funeral at the Vatican.
"Last week, the Bushes and Clinton seemed to officially embrace their membership in the exclusive club of American presidents... In fact, both Bush 41 and Clinton frequently chatted up reporters on the trip. The bonhomie seemed to rub off on the president himself, who invited reporters to join him in his Air Force One conference room for the Friday interview. Bush rarely speaks to the reporters who travel with him. Friday’s session lasted 47 minutes and was all on-the-record.""In fact, Bush seemed positively Clintonesque. Several times, he moved to leave the room, but then held back, to discuss the book he’s reading (Peter the Great by Robert K Massey), rivers that flow near his Texas ranch and what is expected, in the president’s words, to be a 'spectacular' season for Texas wildflowers. Even as his aides gently nudged him down the hall, Bush couldn’t stop talking."

Una

Listening to: RTE newsroom sounds (where i am today)

It's sunny today...

...and I'm stuck inside finishing my Event Guide articles and trying to figure out my thesis.

This sucks.

I can't wait to get the fuck out of college, and start doing stuff I actually want to do.

At least I'm going to a gig tonight - Hal in the Village. Yay.

Listening to : JJ72, Heat

Una

JJ72's New Song

Yay!, 'Heat' rocks supremely.

Hopefully I'll get to see Sarah and the boys on tour at some stage, but my thesis and stoopid work placement are getting in the way of things.

Download 'Heat' !

http://www.xtaster.co.uk/assets/2817/heat.wma

raaaaaaaawwwwwwwwwwwwk

Listeging to - HEAT, JJ72