Booking this for next year - fancy joining me?

I've always loved the idea of doing this:



The things people will do for cheese, eh?

So, fancy coming along? Here's what happened this year.

Mrs Doyle has a blog

This lovely lady?



Well, okay, THIS lovely lady:



has a blog. I've just found it. It's pretty fekken cool.

I met Pauline McLynn in her Father Ted days wandering around my home town and she graciously agreed to do a radio interview with me. I reminded her of that volunteering at this year's Cat Laughs. Wonder if she'd consent to a blog one? :-P

Just in case, what would you ask her if you could? And don't say "for a cup of tea". Especially not you. ;o)

(What do you mean you thought my mammy was blogging? Have you read this? No way!)

Ophidiophobia: Do you have a snake phobia?

Then perhaps you better look away now...

This boy didn't

Actual exchange between them (with very strong 'dubalin' accents):
Boy: Ahhh he won't go in ta me tee-shurt!
Girl: Well, he probly doesn't want to smell yer sweahh!

This boy didn't...





and typically, this blogger didn't either...



How about you?

I don't mean to make light of this phobia by the way. This was a small, harmless corn snake. I googled the phobia and found Haven Hypnotherapy in Dublin who may be able to help.

There were Wham bars too

The tuck shop at the weekend. Yummy.

Photos from the Dublin Levitation Festival

Well, Rick called it that. Kings of Concrete took place over the weekend. Amazing event, weather, skills from all ages and fun. Some of my N95 photos of the levitations talent:

















and my personal - how the hell did I get this one - favourite:



More on the event to follow :)

There was an old lady...

Get it yet?



Just some of the amazing graffiti up around Christchurch and Wood Quay in Dublin at the weekend. More to follow :)

This Monday's tune

Last week's song was a bit bouncy, apparently.

Primal Scream's Movin' On Up is even better.



The video looks like it was great fun to make, too.

Support via Twitter

Damien blogged about why he likes Twitter.

Here's one of the main reasons I do:



I'm chuffed so many people thought it worth their while to listen and to lend their support.'Twas an interesting experience. Thank you all :o)

A little more about me(mes)

In advance of tonight's show, it would be remiss of me not to complete the Meme set to me by the wonderful B of Positive Boredom recently:

It's called Getting Your Goat and it, of course, has rules:

1. List two things that irritate you for a reason, and list the reason, and two things that irritate you for no apparent reason whatsoever
   
   
2. Give credit to the person who tagged you
   
   
3. Link your answers to the original blog - Keiron over on http://www.skillett.com must be delighted with the traffic :o)
   
   
4. Tag four new people to participate

So then: Things that irritate me for a reason:

I'll probably highlight just how petty I can be about certain things here but I trust you'll indulge me, especially in my first one: Apostrophes and misspellings on signs and posters.

Seriously, I know there's so many bloggers out there who share this, but recently I saw this picture over on Apostrophe Abuse (great blog!) and didn't believe it was true. I had to see for myself, so I did and guess what? It was :o( Major fail!



And in a coffee shop close by:



This one from Letterkenny is one of my favourites... of course maybe there is "Origional art" (top right) and I'm wrong...



and I've blogged this one before but it's worth it again:



and while I understand it's a local idiom or the vernacular or just the way they speak, this headstone, also from Letterkenny (outside a shop may I add) made me smile with the use of Yous:



Secondly it's people dropping litter. Especially parents who allow their children to drop rubbish on the streets and (a) not chastising/teaching the child and even worse (b) not picking it up! Holy need of a bin Batman. I don't think I can write more about this without venturing into rant territory.

Things that irritate me for no good reason:

Many people have commented on umbrellas, which I share, but also people popping balloons both freak me out and annoy me.



Don't get me wrong - balloons are lovely and fun and I don't run screaming at the sight of them. I just hate loud noises and the thought of these things popping near me? Not nice, not nice at all. Let them float or make the animals or whatever, but why burst it? It's not *that* funny.

I mean look at the faces of these delighted children at the Street Performance World Championships. Awww!



And the other one is seeing, and hating, the way I look in certain photos. I don't mean the ones I've posed for - I mean the ones that show a side of me that I'm not comfortable with.



The wonderful Davy MacDonald sent me this photo recently - and I just don't like it. Despite my posts about comfort with myself this is just a side of me that I'm neither familiar or comfortable with. And the fact that I don't like that annoys me even more.

I mean there are plenty of embarrassing photos of me out there where I've posed for them (and probably plenty more after tonight) but still. I'm sure there are people who feel the same. Do you?

Credit to the person who tagged me:

Well B'dum. This one is for you. I like your blog - I like the sporadic nature of your topics, your enthusiasm and your sheer talent in bringing out what interests you. You hop from personal interests to topical to bizzare with such ease. You also comment on so many blogs it's bewildering. I hope there's a category for great people like you at the next blog awards. I'll be nominating you.

(That's what they meant by credit, right? :o))

Finally it's tagging 4 new people to do this. It seems like this has spread right around the blogosphere. Look at some of the people who have participated since July 7:

• Grandad
• Lottie
• Andrew
• Little Miss
• English Mum
• Darren
• David Maybury
• K8 the Gr8
• Sam at Problemchildbride
• Kirk M at Just Thinkin
• Jefferson Davis
• Digital Darragh
• Marlys at Senior Writer

And they're only the ones I know about!

but there are new blogs (and commenters here) that I've found recently. So in lieu of Damien's own fluffy meme, I'm extending the invitation to them and hope they'll join in:

• Gav and Ciara - really loving your blog guys. Care to give this a go?
• Sinéad K - would love to see what you come up with.
• Batman fan Pedro - what gets your goat?
• Richie over at Fitzy's cloud - care to give it a go?
• Jen at Little Bird Eats - something different for your blog?
• Klara McDonnell - leave aside that guitar or script and give this a shot?
• Will Knott - I haven't seen this on your blog yet, sir. How about it?
  
• Marie - I know you've probably been tagged, but give it a go :)
• Nathalie - have you been tagged yet?
• Lyndar the merciless - be merciful for this one please ;o)
• Dardardrinks - can you leave the paving aside long enough to give it a go?
• Anthony - sure you might as well!
• Ben at Hairyfish - good man, for me, please?

Please feel free to add your own too!

I love the whole world, Boom De Ah Dah

I cannot believe I haven't seen or heard of this before. The hair on my arms are tingling. It was the same when I first saw Matt Harding's video, or Paul Potts' first time on BGT ("So, you work in carphone warehouse, and you did that?"), or watching this Discovery Channel tribute.



It does explain this, though!

Newstalk 106-108fm tomorrow: all about Memes

Thanks to Piaras, I've been invited to the Newstalk studios tomorrow from 7pm to contribute to a discussion on Culture Shock, the Arts and Culture show with host Fionn Davenport and ENN writer (and laptop destroyer) Emmet Ryan.

We'll be talking about internet memes:

The term Internet meme is a neologism used to describe a catchphrase or concept that spreads quickly from person to person via the Internet. (Wikipedia)

So, that's everything from Matt Harding to XKCD, from LOLcats to the Arte y Pico award, from tagged memes to Cowen's Downfall. It could be Sophie Merry to the success of Twitter.

Broadly, memes also cover the success of "this-is-cool-and-happening" blogs like Rick's, Jazzbiscuit and The Chancer. On a strategic level it contributes to the rise of personal brands and indeed how blogging itself could be seen to be one big meme.

That one is my personal favourite, simply the hope that sometimes, people see other blogs, they see the way they write, what they write about and think "I could do that too. I'll give it a go". I love to see it happen.

Culture Shock is on from 7pm to 9pm every Saturday evening on Newstalk 106-108FM. You can listen on the website. We'll be on in the first hour.

What are your favourites memes? Have you any examples or any links to share? Let me know :)

Poor Barry Fearns, don't mind them.

On the way up to IMMA yesterday evening, I spotted this unique bit of graffiti:



and on the way back, on the other side of the road, spotted this one:



I know it's cruel, but is it funny?

Happy 31st Birthday Martyn

Hello there Martyn, I'm Darragh, a friend of your sister Mary.

I know it's weird of me to write to you, considering we've never spoken or met, but I'd like to wish you a Happy Birthday today.

I've been friends with your little sister for over a year now. In that time I've found her to be one of the sweetest, most caring people I've ever met. Though we're very different, her and I, we have a slightly strange connection that makes for a very strong friendship.

We've often talked about you. She's fond of all her brothers but you hold a special place in her heart, and I think that's why I'm writing to you now. She's often told me what a great guy you are, how you're the bestest brother anyone can have. You sound like someone I'd like to have a pint with.

Your sister has probably changed from the little girl you grew up with. The little girl who you were so protective of, who was your sister even though she was adopted and who once whacked you in the eye with a well thrown hairbrush causing your primary school teachers to believe you'd been in a fight, rather than sweet innocent Mary causing the damage. She still causes divilment the odd time :o).

I'm proud to know your sister. I know you'd be proud of her. She constantly surprises me with how she thinks with her heart and how she cares about people.

Yesterday she told us about you. We were discussing grief after death - a friend of ours is finding it difficult to come to terms with the death of her uncle eight days ago. She wondered if it was strange that she mourned his loss so much, even though he was 'just' her uncle. She needed good advice, support and empathy.

Your sister wrote her one of the most poignant, thoughtful things I have ever read online. It took my breath for a moment. She wrote it, Martyn, about your tragic death in a car accident 11 years ago.

You shouldn't have to bury your feelings, it would be my brother's 31st birthday tomorrow if he were still alive, he's dead just over 11 years and believe me it NEVER gets easier, yes you learn to deal with it and you don't break down as often, but it will ALWAYS be there and it will never fully go away.

I know I still miss my brother dreadfully and I always will and I do still have days where I sit and cry and cry and cry.

Your uncle wasn't 'just' your uncle, he was a person you obviously loved and thought a great deal of and you are therefore allowed to grieve for as long as you like.

There is no time frame for grieving, there's no such thing as, ok he's dead a week, a month, a year or whatever, now get over it and stop grieving, you will grieve for him for the rest of your life but it will be in a different way.

My nieces know all about my brother, even though they were all born years after he was killed, and any children I have will know about him and I'll always talk about him and remember him and have pictures of him around me.

I'm sorry I'll never have the chance to meet you, Martyn. You'd be proud of your sister, a beautiful woman who still loves you, still misses you and will celebrate your birthday today, remembering the brilliant big brother you were and the part of her life, her heart that you are and will always be.

Rest in peace, sir. Your sister is doing great, with friends that love her and will be thinking of you both, and your family, today.

Aw, thank you Marian!

Well aren't you the sweetest person ever?

"... I have something you might like, I had forgotten I had it so it needs a new (better home), send me your address and I'll send it on to you..."

They arrived safely today :)



What a thoughtful gift!

I'd send you a Thank You card but they'd be nowhere near as good as yours.

I'll think of something though. Where did I leave that recipe book? :o)

Boards, bikes, balls and beats this weekend

Skateboarders, trick bike riders, jugglers, drummers, graffiti artists, breakdancers, bmxers, DJs, generally groovy people and more. It's all happening in Dublin this weekend.

I'm looking forward to volunteering for the first time at the Kings of Concrete Festival, which is happening on Wood Quay in Dublin Saturday and Sunday. And yes, it's free.



Put together by the lovely people at Micromedia and a lot of talented people devoting their time, this is a festival celebrating all things great about street art, culture and sports, something I admire but know very little about!



They're taking over the space at the Dublin City Council offices (just down from Christchurch) from 11am to 6pm on Saturday and Sunday. The set up looks amazing - skate ramps, workshop areas, food markets, free running and a chill out zone. If the weather holds it could be a lot of fun! Here's a map of the place:


(Click for bigger)
In a city with such a strong and alternative youth culture, brimming with amazing art, unique styles, creativity and a hunger to try new things, it's great to see space and time for this side of things being committed. From the official MySpace page:

"For a variety of reasons this faction of youth culture has remained largely unsupported and underdeveloped in Ireland. For too long we have had to find street spots off our own bat just to participate in the sports we are most passionate about. These spots typically have been unofficial and illegal. All too often security have removed skaters abruptly calling to a halt an otherwise perfect day.



Kings of concrete is a celebration of this recent transformation. We hope to help build and sustain a platform to promote the wonderful variety of activities available for youth culture in Ireland today such as skating, inline blading, BMX, break dancing and graffiti amongst others."

You can view the full timetable below, or check out their official MySpace or Bebo pages. It's going to be fun!


(Click for bigger)

Get there early to sign up for workshops and so on. Hope to see you there. I'll be the old man looking for stabilisers for the skateboard.