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Una

Ze Weekend

Friday: met Derek 2.0's mate Dee in South William for cocktails. She is lovely, we had fun. Then went to Moodyman in Spy with Tiger, Dee, Dee Dee, YoCo and co. Twas excellent.

Saturday: Brunchies in 66 with Tiger and Dee, then me and YoCo and SJFox went to see the best movie of all time: ENCHANTED. It's amazing, go see it. Oh, before that we went to the Korean buffet place on Capel Street. Nice mint ice-cream. 

Sunday: dinner party at Nif's. Yum chili, and also an amusing chili story from Crimbo. Then I went into the G with Rebecca and co. I just had a couple of red bulls and left early. 

Today: reluctantly shopping. Bought a cool ring though. Am looking forward to FLApes at the Village. Yaysies. 

Dance of the Sugar Plum Lesbians

This is one of my favourite Joe My God stories. He first posted it a couple of ago - that's when I first read it - and it still captures a certain festive lurve, and makes you feel all warm inside (especially since I am sitting in an attic in Deansgrange listening to the crazy rain, surrounded by mess and not really looking forward to having to clean up my Christmas carnage and transport it to my flat in this horrible weather.)

Oh, so if you don't read Joe My God already, you really should. He has been my favourite blogger for a few years. I came across his blog soon after he started blogging and have never stopped reading.

Jay Brannan

Still on a Shortbus buzz: Jay Brannan is one of the cast members and also an excellent musician.

Here is my favourite Brannan tune - 'Soda Shop'. He talks a bit at the start, and then it kicks in.


and here's a pretty cool cover he did

Pubs and Shortbus

Last night, after going to a removal, myself and Nif walked into town and decided to make our way back to my apartment via some pubs. First we had a pint of Guinness in probably my favourite pub in the world, The Welcome Inn. I don't even go there that much because it's a place that needs to be savoured. Then we went to Brannigans, where a very large, very drunk man in a Dublin jersey harrassed us while we tried to drink our second pint of Guinness. "It's hard not to have a buzz, to have the craic," he said, before pointing out that his initial was 'M' and Nif's was 'N' and therefore they were 'MnN' and then went into a giant speech about the importance of Eminem's music "djaknow what Eminem said about his music? He said 'if you don't like my music you can suck my cock.'" Nif stared at him, "I'd rather not," she said.

Then we walked to the Blu Note which was deserted, so we didn't go in, but instead went to Pantibar, where there were a few people knocking around. I had a pear Kopparberg and Nif had an Erdinger. We didn't get to finish them though because Tiger picked us up. Then we went home, where Lainey was, and watched Shortbus for the millionth time. It's one of my favourite movies ever, and if you haven't seen it, rent it or buy it NOW - you won't be disappointed.

We ordered some Chinese food, and then RoRo and Johnny B came home. We drank red wine and talked about that conversation you have at a certain time of night about each other's differing opinions on what constitutes infidelity. We listened to Burial and Regina Spektor and then went to bed.

The Death of E-Mail

by Chad Lorenz for Slate

FUCKED UP

Benazir Bhutto murdered

UnaRocks video of the day: Crystal Castles special

Gigs on over the next few days

Friday
Moodymann @ Spy*
The Chapters and The Minutes @ Village
Mauro Picotto @ Tripod

Saturday
The Radio @ Whelan's

New Year's Eve (Monday)
Republic of Loose @ Button Factory
Fight Like Apes, Betamax Format @ the Village*
The Frames @ Vicar Street
Jape @ Whelan's*

*UnaRocks recommends

not the muffin man!

Forgot to post pics of these awesome Gingerbread Men (not including Davih) me, Joycies, and Michelle made at Tainer BANG's pre-Christmas helicopter gathering.

Moodymann @ Spy, this Friday

This is for sure a gig worth going to. Last time I saw Moodymann was last year at Spiegeltent I think, and it was savage. Tickets are €19.50 and available from www.tickets.ie

Here's one of my favourite Moodymann vids

Irish musical adventures on eBay (part one)

Fight Like Apes 'Jake Summers / Battlestations' 7" - €4.10

U2, Joshua Tree collection box misspress - €1948.72

Aslan 'Here Comes The Sun' CD - €2.04

JJ72 'She's Gone' 7" single - €13.72

Bob Geldof autobiography 'Is That It?' - €1.10

Thin Lizzy 'New Day' EP - €377.39

Ash - Uncle Pat single - €48.03

Dickie Rock '20 Very Special Love Songs' - €1.36

Westlife original five members singing dolls (very rare) - €68.62

The Blizzards 'Fantasy' single - €0.40

Boyzone, 'A Different Beat' sheet music - €17.83

Joe Dolan, 'Something Happens' - €5.49

*update: Joe Dolan has died suddenly at the age of 68 after a short illness.*

2007 summed up (for now)

Social
Drink: caipirinha / Tsing Tao beer
Bar: South William / Spy / Front Lounge
Restaurant: Alilang / Pintxos
Club: Tivoli
Club night: Kiss / Kaboogie / Remedy
Venue: the new Whelan's / Boom Boom Room / Tripod / Spy / Tivoli
Local faves: Fight Like Apes / Delorentos / Super Extra Bonus Party
Best way to spend a Sunday: brunch with mates + tea at home + bingo @ the George
Biggest thrill: the frequent opportunities for QUALITY gigging and clubbing in Dublin
Biggest disappointment: the downward spiral of Antics / refurbishment of the Temple Bar Music Centre
Most funsies: hanging out with friends and meeting new ones

Travel
London (Nine Inch Nails concert)
Galway (work)
New York (boozing with Tiger)
Ennis (party)
Chicago (boozing with Tiger)
Lanzarote (work)
Cavan (spa weekend)
South Africa (holiday / work)
Manchester (football match / work)
Cork (spa weekend)
France (girly weekend)
London (festival / work)
Where I want to go next: Japan / Detroit / San Fran / Sweden

Gigs
too many to mention...
Festivals; Garden Party, Oxegen, Electric Picnic, Clapham Common, Cois Fharraige, Hard Working Class Heroes, Dun Laoghaire Festival of World Cultures

Professional
Read the Sunday Tribune ;)
Still having fun @ Phantom and TTV

Love life
As if I'd blog about that

Other
1 apartment, two brilliant flatmates, several hundred (thousand?) drinks consumed, probably the same in plates of tapas @ Pintxos, around 100 gigs (at least), one job, several nixers, don't want to think about the number of cigarettes, no arrests, one police complaint, several pairs of trainers, no new tattoos, one new column, endless ligging, one new band, many new friends, one press of doom, one hug from Beth Ditto, no loans (!), one contagious sies diesase, above all - many, many memories + am still alive

UnaRocks best gigs of 2007

1. Arcade Fire @ Olympia
2. Muse @ Oxegen
3. Young Blood Brass Band @ Whelans
4. PJ Harvey @ Olympia
5. Delorentos @ Whelans (2 night stand) & @ Forum, Waterford
6. Fight Like Apes @ HWCH
7. Modeselketor @ Tivoli
8. Regina Spektor @ Tripod
9. Ham Sandwich @ Whelans (headliner in June)
10. The Gossip @ Oxegen
11. Beastie Boys @ Electric Picnic
12. Pirates (Paul Noonan, Lisa Hannigan etc) @ Spiegeltent
13. Crystal Castles @ Kennedy's
14. Pet Shop Boys @ Garden Party
15. Super Extra Bonus Party & Adebisi Shank @ Voodoo
16. Scream Club @ Boom Boom Room
17. Bat For Lashes @ Electric Picnic
18. Michael Mayer @ Temple Bar Music Centre
19. Drop the Lime @ Kennedy's
20. Pendulum @ Temple Bar Music Centre


not really 100% about the order of these, and sure I've forgotten loads, but this is what springs to mind right now.

Lili has some cool vids of the Delos gig @ the Ambassador

crazy

E.I.

Every time my niece sings 'Old MacDonald', the chorus sounds like she's singing E.I. by Nelly. 'Country Grammar is one of my favourite albums ever, so it feels like a good time to remember the pop genius that was 'E.I'

What's poppin' tonight? Might go to Dalkey for a few drinkies. Nothing major. I have eaten my weight in selection boxes, so can't really move.

UnaRocks video of the day

Nirvana - On A Plane

UnaRocks articles of the day

Get into a celebrity's address book - Blackberry

'There Will Be Blood' is a masterpiece - Slate

Made (dubiously) In Italy - AP

best visitor's guide to NYC - New York Magazine

My Chemical Romance 'flatline' - NME

Oscar Peterson dies - Guardian

US braces itself for baby boom retirement wave - Breitbart

Cluas.com end of year polls

the results for the readers and writers polls are in

xmas

I had a fun Christmas day. A lot of it was spent watching movies (Happy Feet, Finding Nemo, Four Brothers, Casino Royale), eating, and giving and getting presents (best of all were two Chris Judge paintings, and a personalised 'UnaRocks' pencil set.) Me, Dee, Johnny and Garrett went out on the boat for a while to work up an appetite for dinner, which was fun.

hope you're having a fun Christmas day!

Did I ever tell you about the time I nearly set my eye on fire?

Friday @ Tivoli

Happy Christmas!

Blogging will be sporadic over the next few days, so Happy Christmas to you all just in case I don't get to blog before the 25th.

Drive carefully, drink responsibly, say no to drugs, stay in school, be excellent to each other and thanks for reading, commenting, insulting, hating, loving and participating in this blog in 2007.

Above all,

ROCK ON!

Una x

The Chancer goes all Time Magazine on us

We're all Chancers now

Contender for the best club flyer ever #1

(click to enlarge)

Have room, will rent

Great article from Nadine

(FYI: I still haven't found a place to live. Me, Lainey and RoRo are awaiting that "penthouse on Grafton Street for a fiver" scenario. Likely, much?)

UnaRocks video of the day

via Shane

Dusk To Dawn in Dublin

'That's Ireland' crowns John Waters 'Eejit of the Year'

I am crying, writing this

my only vaguely usable video from PJ Harvey the other night

*update* Becs has Sheela Na Gig

best ever letter to the Irish Times

Madam -
I find it difficult to believe that the BBC would have countenanced the expurgation of the word "faggot" from the Pogues' Fairytale of New York if Gred Dyke had still been director-general of the organisation -
Yours, etc,
PAUL DELANEY,
Beacon Hill,
Dalkey,
Co Dublin

recent photees from recent fun times

Friday... what to do, what to do

Check out MayKay's article in the Ticket about how Fight Like Apes went from whoareyiz to heroes in 2007.

Go see Dark Room Notes at Whelan's.

Read about who New York Magazine thinks were Pop Culture's Bravest in 2007.

Keep up with The Chancer's Hall of Fame '07.

Buy me a bunny.

UnaRocks video of the day

How awesome does this movie look?

Christmas Christmas la la la

I just drank twenty thousand cups of tea in the Clarence with Caroline Morahan and then walked amongst Christmas shoppers, so I am feeling very festive.

Also, various PR companies have taken to sending me bottles of really good wine today for some reason. Not complaining about that one, festive me up!

The TTV Christmas drinks are on tonight, but considering I'll probably be in work until the end of time, I probably won't make it. Wouldn't be a bad idea to chill the max this evening, methinks.

Una
reading: RTE.ie
watching: videos of PJ Harvey's gig @ the Olympia
listening to: Nialler9's most recent podcast
eating: chicken
drinking: tea

A straw poll inspired by Twenty Major's latest post

“if you had to be Santa, a reindeer (any one of the magic ones) or Jesus which one would you be?”

Izzy: "a magic reindeer because reindeer can fly"
Mackers: "Santa, because everyone loves him"
Izzy: "but he's a man, you would have to be a man, then"
Mackers: "eh, YOU have to be a REINDEER"
McMorrow: "umm, hard question. Probably Santa"
Mackers: "copycat"
Me: "why Santa?"
McMorrow: *loaded with sarcasm* "because I think Sarah's the coolest person ever"
Mackers: *laughs*
Ali: "I think Jesus."
Me: "Why?"
Ali: "Well, you could write a great story about it when you get back"
Me: "Back from where?"
Ali: "Back from being Jesus. What, is it not for a day or something?"
*McMorrow interupts to tell a story about reindeer droppings*

Top Irish EPs of '07 + podcast!

Nialler9 is the shizz

(Nialler, I have had to make a folder in my music folder called 'Nialler tunes'. You're special!)

Jenna's being subversive again

clicky

(I love you Wolf!)

PJ Harvey last night

Great gig last night. It was such a strange concert to begin with. Just PJ on a stage on her own, in a 'Victorian governess' dress surrounded by her instruments. The entire show was seated, and for the most part, the audience was really considerate. The bar beforehand was like a who's who of the music industry and media - as Neilsies said, drinking the The Oak before the gig was like attending an EMI-Sony-Universal-Warner power meeting.

Thankfully, she played loads of stuff from 'White Chalk' - the title track and 'When Under Ether' were my highlights. Apart from that, 'Down By The Water' was awesome. Me and Cooney were standing at the back with the rest of the blaggers, so we had a pretty good view. Harvey is such an endearing performer. It was almost as if she had wandered into someone's living room and thought, "oh, I might just sing a few songs, which ones will I do, tum tee tum." She was so chilled out throughout the whole thing, chatting, taking requests, cracking jokes, it was such a special gig to be at. Big, BIG thanks to B my Rock Twin for the guestlist.

Bumped into Johnny who looked tanned but isn't, Gerry from Lluther, Aoife from Moth Complex, (last time I hung out with them was at the Nine Inch Nails gig in Brixton, so twas good to see them again) Louise Phantom and other assorted peeps. We went for a drink in the Front Lounge afterwards and at our table were fans who had travelled from the States, England, Canada and Holland to see the gig.

I have a couple of videos, but I didn't have a chance to burn them this morning, so I'll have to upload them tomorrow.

*update* Becs has this awesome video

Keep It Underground: Music Board of Ireland

Part One


Part Two


By Lindsey Byrne

UnaRocks video of the day

Joycies!



Joycies will probably tell me to take this down. THEN WHY DID YOU PUT IT ON YOUTUBE DUDE? Mwoahahaha. Etc.

Was just looking through Lili's Bebo and I think this photee pretty much sums up 2007 for me

(L-R: Anthony, Lili, Vogue, Neilsies, YoCo, Me, Razor. Taken backstage at the Music Centre.)

this is why I love Izzy

Izzy: "why aren't you going to the Fianna Fail drinks this evening again?"
Una: "um, I'm going to a gig dude, I told you."
Izzy: "oh yeah. Is it a very important gig?"
Una: "Yeah, PJ Harvey."

*looks blank, mimes PJ Harvey, turns to Google*

Izzy: "ah yes, PJ Harvey. Began HER career as part of a trio, eh?"
Una: "I'm putting this on my blog. Right. Now."
Izzy: "please don't humiliate me!"

I could not ask for a more awesome person to sit next to in work. I love you Izzy!

(FYI, this photee of us was taken on the roof of our apartment in Boston many moons ago.)

this shit is crazy, yo

dude.


Via El Ricko

Going once, going twice, SOLD!

The Art Auction at La Taverna went great last night. The official figures aren't in, but we're thinking over €3,000 was made, with proceeds going to the Simon Community and Focus Ireland.

Well done to everyone involved, especially Burco and RedMonk aka The Killer, and of course all of the other artists; Choi, Burco, Aoife Giles, Fionn, RedMonk, Ev T, Sarah Fox, and anyone else I've forgotten (sorry, crap at remembering things.) And big up to La Taverna Di Bacco. And of course, well done to everyone who came down and bought stuff. I bought an AWESOME bag, so well done to me. Must actually stop spending Christmas present money on myself.

I was kind of nervous doing the hosting / auctioneering buzz, because I've never done anything like that, but I think I did ok (even though I did occasionally lose track of what price things were actually going at. Blame the prosecco.)

After hanging out with everyone (yoyo to Nif, Anka, Crimbo, Tiger, YoCo, Anthony, Fionn, Sasha, Paddy and Sarah and co) I met Cooney for a drink in Foley's and then somehow ended up playing pool in Break for the Border (I lost) and then somehow, again, ended up at Glitz which was fun. Word up to Joycies, Wreck It, Matt Matt, Lucy and the person I stole a Crunchie bar from. Found it in my bag this morning. Nice surprise!

Oh, forgot to mention that I bumped into Cait at the auction last night too. Cait rocks. She used to be in The Pogues, but now she has a new band called Prenup. Check them out.

Una
drinking: water
eating: Thai Green Curry from Sushi King
listening to: Britney Spears - 'Blackout'
reading: The Hotpress Annual and the Mirror
watching: news of Spears Jnr's pregnancy on Perez Hilton with my jaw dropping

For me, it's between 'Umbrella'...

...and this for song of the year.

Vicar Street, April 7th

Yes!

Coming soon...

The A Team: The Movie

A message from M.I.A.

“PAPER PLANES VIDEO

LOOK I KNOW THERE ARE HATERS OUT THERE, I DEAL WITH IT EVERYDAY THATS NO FUCKING BIG DEAL AND IVE DEALT WITH WORSE IN MY LIFE, A FEW PEOPLE TALKING SHIT DONT MATTER TO ME, BUT TWISTING TRUTH ISNT THE LESSON I WANNA LEARN IN MY TIME IN MUSIC, SO WHO EVER THAT IS DOING IT , I WANNA SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT

1, I ORIGINALLY WANTED TO SHOOT THE VIDEO IN A FACTORY ON THE BORDER OF
EQUADOR, BUT COULDNT. I WAS TOURING THE U.S, I COULDA BEEN ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD RIGHT THEN BUT THERE I WAS IN AMERICA, IN NYC, IN BROOKLYN, IN BEDSTUY , I WAS TORN BETWEEN SCRAPIN SHOWS IN AMERICA AND MEETING AMERICAN FANS OR SHOOTING IN NYC ON MY ONLY DAY OFF I’D HAD IN 4 MONTHS AND GETTING ON WITH IT.

2, SO THAT WAS THAT! I NEVER MADE A VIDEO IN AMERICA AND HEY ITS STILL A PART OF WHAT I DO AND SAY, ITS WAS STILL VALID, SO I WAS READY TO ROLL WITH IT.

3, YOU ALL KNOW HOW THE SONG SOUNDS, THATS WHY WHEN U GO ON YOUTUBE 400, 000 PEOPLE WOULD RATHER LISTEN THE SONG AS IT IS AND STARE AT SOME PICTURE THEN TO ACTUALLY WATCH A VIDEO

4, WHEN LETTERMAN CENSORD ME IT WAS WAC OF COURSE!!!!!! , AND YES I FELT SOOOOOO BAD FOR WHAT THEY DID TO MY SOUND. I WAS ABEL TO SOUND CHECK FOR THAT SHOW AND THEY LET ME SOUND CHECK FINE, THEN ON THE ACTUAL TAPING MY SOUND WAS SOOO DIFFERENT FROM WHAT ID AGREED, AS SOON AS I OPENED MY MOUTH THE DIFFERENCE BLEW ME AWAY, I FELT I WAS GETTING BULLIED ON NATIONAL TELEVISON, AND I COULDNT EVEN REACH OUT TO MY LABELS OR MY MANAGEMENT TO HELP, SINCE THEY ARE NEW TO WHAT HAPPENS TO AN ARTIST LIKE ME IN MAINSTEAM AMERICAN CULTURE.

SO THEY TRIED TO SHUT ME DOWN AGAIN. I MADE THE PAPER PLANES VIDEO. I MADE IT HOW THEY WANTED. NO VIOLENCE. AMBIGUOUS. MTV - FRIENDLY. NOW TODAY, I CHECK YOUTUBE AND SEE THE LEAKED MTV PAPER PLANES VIDEO UP FOR THE FIRST TIME. I CLICKED ON IT AND OUT COMES THIS FUCKED UP MESS WITH DOUBLE-TRACKED BULLSHIT MESS

WHO THE THE FUCK IS DOING THIS TO ME?????

THE VIDEO WAS SABOTAGED FOR WHATEVER REASON AND IM DISAPPOINTED THAT MTV HAS HAD SUCH A MAJOR ROLE IN THIS. THE BLOGGERS WHO ARE LAZY ENOUGH TO FOLLOW THE MTV LINK AND POST UP AND COMMENT ON THE SOUND WHEN THAT HASNT BEEN COMPROMISED AND THE GUNSHOT ARENT REPLACED AND EDITED MAKES ME SAD. I DID FIGHT FOR THE SOUND , BECAUSE PUTTING MEANINGS IN YOUR VIDEOS, IN MY OPINION IS A DYING ART. I CAN FILM MY SELF ANYWHERE ANYTIME AND LET YOU KNOW THE TRUTH , BUT THE SONG IS WHAT I WANTED TO PRESERVE IN THIS CASE.

TO ALL MY FANS, LOOK, ITS LIKE THIS,
IM LEARNING THINGS ABOUT THIS WORLD WITH YOU, I WANT YOU TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS TO ME , I WANT YOU TO SEE HOW PEOPLE WILL SIT AND SPEND ALL SUNDAY TEARIN ME DOWN FOR SOMETHING I DIDNT EVEN MAKE OR PUT OUT, SO PEOPLE WELCOME TO MODERN DAY PROPAGANDA MESSAGE MANGLING.

IN 2007, AN OUTSIDER OPINION WILL BE CONFRONTED THIS WAY , AND THIS IS HOW THE BATTLE GOES, MY MESSAGES AND IDEAS AND MEANING WILL ALWAYS BE BROUGHT TO YOU WITH SLIGHTLY TAINTED CHANNELS. IF YOU SUPPORT ME BE SMART, AND KNOW THAT.

I LOVE YOU, U KEEP ME GOING.
XXXXXX
MAYA"

does anyone know if there is a support act @ the Olympia tomorrow night?

I know it's a solo set, but is there a support? Maybe not. A longer PJ set instead would be coooool.

Joycies finally accepts that she is leaving the country and starts to say byesies to people

clicky

the answer to all of your Christmas shopping worries

If you're still trying to get some Christmas presents together, may I suggest heading to La Taverna Di Bacco in the Italian Quarter this evening at 7pm. There's a charity auction with some awesome art (paintings, prints, sculpture, photography and more) from some of Ireland's most up and coming young artists.

There is free prosecco with every purchase and also a chance to laugh and point at me, as I'll be doing the auctioning.

It's a great cause, with proceeds going to Focus Ireland and the Simon Community.

tomorrow night @ the Olympia (can't wait)

UnaRocks video of the day

Adebisi Shank - 'You Me'



Fucking. Genius.

High Society

On The Record / On The Button: Jim on the RTE report into the High Society debacle

"The report? I might be reading it wrong, but I think it goes a little like “hey, we’re RTE and you’re not! No, just kidding, we’re OK, thanks for asking. There were some shortcomings in the awful little programme about charlie abusers which slipped through the net, but do have another mince pie, darling. No-one is going to get sacked, OK, that doesn’t happen here, we’re not the BBC, after all. The licence-payer won’t notice as long as Derek Mooney is still on the TV. Everything is happy-happy-joy-joy, everything is tickety-boo. Could you pass the pies please?”"

And in other blog news, Twenty has his list of dickheads of the year.

No cinema for me

Well me and Anthony were going to see We Own The Night, in fact we were IN the cinema ready to go in until Anthony threw a FIT about his membership card and we had to leave.

So... instead we got our culture on and went to the Temple Bar Gallery. Check out the big exhibition in there at the moment. It's pretty rockin'. There is a talking bag and a giant chair made out of teddy bears. I love art. Art, art, art, art in my belly.

Then we went for some tapas in Pintxos. Yumsers.

Now I am in Party Central and Anthony is giving out to me for not wanting to watch The Man With Two Brains.

I will miss my Joycies

I'm finally beginning to think about Joycies leaving Ireland. She's moving to Oz in a couple of weeks. It shall be quite strange not having a partner in crime, (although, I'm running very low on crime these days.) I've banned her for talking about it when we're out, because I don't want to be all crysies and stupid. (Booze + talk of departure = me screaming 'SHUT UP'.)

Anyway, I just thought I'd flag her departure in preparation for a much longer post... soon.

*update* Joycies has started a blog! Viva Poutrageous

The Doors

hee hee

(via Jimmy Jim Jim Jim Jaroo)

13:24, 17/12/07

girly video bonanza

I will not get sick of these songs. EVER.





(sound kicks in after a few seconds on this one)










I know. I'm a bird, shocker.

Half a dozen reasons to look forward to the rest of the week

1. Am going to PJ Harvey on Wednesday night. (thanks to my Twin B. x)

2. Work wraps on Friday. Not that I don't like my job, but some time off will be nice.

3. Kissmas on Friday

4. The Kiosk is podcastic

5. I get to write and stockpile a tonne of 'it's the end of the year, wtf happened' listy type articles which I LOVE doing.

6. My little cousin P (who is not little anymore, but cool and grown up) is coming up to Dublin. We will share our first cocktail together. Can't wait.


(I might do this every Monday from now on)

Reason #4,962 why Victoria Beckham should SHUT UP

Because she says stuff like this:


“I’m proud I still have a really good sex life with David. He is very much in proportion. He does have a huge one, though. He does. You can see it in the advert. It is all his. It is like a tractor exhaust pipe!”

*runs off to get giant wet fish to slap her face with*


As for the ad, I think the only word is... disturbing. Actually, creepy would work too. WHO SITS IN THAT POSITION ANYWAYS? It's like he's sitting on an upturned three pin plug. Looks very uncomfortable. I actually met David Beckham once. We had a chat. He was really nice. Pity about his bird.

Stunning

How amazing are these shots that Lili and YoCo did recently? They were in the SIndo Life mag at the weekend, but the print quality didn't do them justice. Well done dudes, I think it's the best shoot you have ever done.

And that's saying something considering how much you rock.

x

Monday morning, la la la

I should be tired, but I'm not. We had our staff party last night. Luckily, I was spritzering every wine responsibly and left at a (fairly) reasonable hour.

Was on Tubridy this morning with Steven (hmm, maybe he spells it with a 'ph') The Movie Dude, who is awesome. Also, Ryan rocks. AND he has a fantastic array of jumpers. AND he plugged my blog so nicely at the end of the show - thanks dude! Had some tea with Ragin Spice and then the lovely Stev-O from News2Day gave me a lift into town.

There is nobody in work. Usually there are very few people in of a Monday, but today the emptiness is deafening. So I'm just going to sit on my ass and watch Gossip Girl. Joke. I'm actually going to write two weeks of TV highlights in record time. But I have to go to RTE later to do Ice. That kind of breaks up my day. (*update* - don't have to go back to RTE this arvo, so can now afford to watch one tiny episode of GG. Yaysies.)

Hungry. Must eat breakfast now.

Late, Late and Later

I did a panel discussion thing on the Late Late Show on Friday night. I was kind of nervous, but I think it went ok. I've never got so many txt messages in my life after it though. I didn't tell too many people I was going on, so some of the reactions were quite funny.

The downside was I was on kind of late, so I missed Delorentos at the Ambassador. Lili went and said if was really good, so I'm pissed off that I missed it.

After that, I went down to Spy to meet Lili, YoCo et al for Jazzanova. Hisies to my twin Brian also.

Met Cooney and then went to the G where Joycies was holding court.


Yesterday, I chilled tha max. Me and Lainey watched X Factor (Leon WTF? Same Difference for life, yo!) but I had to leave in the middle to do a thing on Newstalk. Word up to Adam 'Waits' Maguire. Got to see the results, and then Wayne's World 2 - what more do you need on a Saturday night?

In Party Central now with YoCo. Just bought a dress for our staff party tonight. Won't be going staying out late though, because in my infinite wisdom, I sort of forgot that the party was on tonight and agreed to do the Tubridy Show in the morning. Ryan's cool though, so I'm looking forward to it - haven't been on in a while.

It's so cold and Christmassy in town - yaysies!

x

Make some NOISE

LGBT Noise invites you to join their demonstration tomorrow at noon outside the Gaiety Theatre at the top of Grafton Sreet in Dublin as part of their campaign to push for legislation that will allow gay marriage.

The choir Gloria will be on hand leading the carol singing and it should be plenty of fun.

LGBT Noise will then be launching after the demonstration at the Outhouse, with mince pies and mulled wine for all.

Head along for festive fun with a cause.

Ham Sandwich nooz

The unstoppable Ham Sandwich have just released their four singles on iTunes. So get to it and download 'Click...Click...Boom!!!', 'Words', 'Sad Songs' and 'St Christopher' now.

These four grrrrreat songs are taken from their upcoming album 'Carry the Meek', which will be released on February 15th 2008.


(Portrait of Niamh Ham Sandwich by The Lili)

(FYI, 'Words' is one of my favourite songs of all time. If you're going to download just one, make it that one.)

UnaRocks articles of the day

Best wacky warning labels - AP

The Times they aren't a changing - keeping an eye on how the New York Times reprints news - unchangintimes.com

Foreign, fast food culture cannot inspire youth - Shanghai Daily

'I Am A Legend' - review of Will Smith's new movie - Slate

Silicon Valley comes to Europe - International Herald Tribune

20% of Irish drivers on provisional licences - RTE

Bush threatens to veto bill that band torture - Huffington Post

Man nearly dies trying to drink litre of vodka before reaching airport security - AP

Who throws the best Christmas office party - New York Magazine

Can remixes resurrect 'American Gangster'? - The Guardian

Make Tom Waits number one for Christmas

You know you want to.

Big ups to the ledgebag (TM Nialler9) that is Adam M.

Rockin' idea.

Google publishes year-end Zeitgeist trends for 2007

clicky

Fire

There was a fire in our apartment building last night. I thought someone was being attacked when I heard screams and shouting in the early hours of the morning, but I looked out the window and an apartment below us was going up in flames. Very scary.

RoRo was lucky that I had the stamina to unleash a string of expletives in her direction until she got up, and eventually we were all outside where we had to wait for AGES until the fire was out and the building was vented. Five fire brigades, an ambulance, and a load of cops arrived. Luckily everyone got out of the apartment in time. I often think if you're living above the second or third floor in an apartment building you're kind of screwed when something like this happens as so few buildings have external exits, so they were lucky.

I had gone to bed at around ten because I wanted a clear head for a busy day I have today. Instead I got practically no sleep so I'm very cranky.

It's over

In the last issue of The New Yorker, there is a cartoon with the caption 'Findsies'.

As Rick wrote in an email when I told him...

:-0


That's what you call a tipping point, my furry friends.


In other news, I went to the Jameson launchy thing last night with YoCo. Probably the best organised launch I've ever been to. Then I went to the INN Christmas drinks in D&Ns which was overflowing with ministers. And booze.

Lili puzzles over the mystery of the year

hmmmm

ahhhh = *happy sigh*

I just had lunch in Chapter One, a nice little stint in Phantom and plan to hit the Jameson Launch, INN Christmas drinks and Fine Gael Christmas drinks this evening.

Not bad for a Wednesday.

Must actually do some work at some stage though.

Phantom announce New Year's Eve Party

Fight Like Apes, A Lazarus Soul, Betamax Format and DJs from Phantom will entertain the masses at the Village on the 31st.

Tickets are €20 from tickets.ie

Photee by Lili, naturally!