So this is what I Googled today...

I might do this more often, it kind of gives a funny but accurate picture of your thought process throughout the day:

(in this order)
Fight Like Apes
PYT
Katy French
Terry Prone
Katy French
War
Taiping Rebellion
Katy French break-up
Angelina Jolie
Atlas Shrugged
Gavin Lambe Murphy documentary

Buy this rare Arctic Monkeys vinyl now.

Click here. There are only 250 copies and it'll be worth shit loads in a few years. The band is called 'The Death Ramps', but it's actually Arctic Monkeys.

Lyric me up

You know the way most lyric sites are really annoying and have pop-ups and shit? Well, this one isn't.

Thought y'all might want to know that.


In other news, today I am keeping track of everything I Google to see how it makes my day look. So far I have Googled one thing. Hmm.


Una

UnaRocks video of the day

Thank you to The Chancer for posting this to drag me out of my 14.45 slump.

Panti and Twink - what else could you possibly need?

Can I not just go home to bed?

Last night: flat hunting in Donnybrook, Front Lounge, launch of Pantibar, Sing Star Rock Ballads, Katy French's birthday party at Krystle, The George.

I need my couch.

Meteor Awards

Vote here

I was meant to go to the Meteor media lunch today at La Stampa but I forgot and went to lunch with Sarah J Fox in Saba instead. Oopsies. Good squid though.

Best National DJ
Ray D’Arcy - Todayfm
Ian Dempsey - Todayfm
Tom Dunne – Todayfm
Dave Fanning – RTE Radio 1
Ray Foley - Todayfm
Rick O’Shea – 2fm–

Best Regional DJ
Pete Casey - Shannonside
Keith Cunningham - Red FM
Leigh Doyle – Beat FM
Joe & Keith – Spin 103.8
Mark Noble - FM104
Jon Richards – Galway Bay FM

Best Irish Band
Ash
Aslan
Fight Like Apes
Delorentos
The Flaws
Future Kings of Spain

Best Irish Male
Paddy Casey
Damien Dempsey
Duke Special
Glen Hansard
Dave Geraghty
Declan O’Rourke

Best Irish Female
Andrea Corr
Cathy Davey
Maria Doyle Kennedy
Roisin Murphy
Sinead O’Connor
Dolores O’Riordan

Best Irish Pop Act
Bell X1
The Blizzards
The Coronas
Brian McFadden
Roisin Murphy
Westlife

Best Irish Album
Paddy Casey - Addicted to Company
Cathy Davey - Tales of Silversleeve
Delorentos – In Love with Detail
The Flaws – Achieving Vagueness
Future Kings of Spain Nervousystem
David Geraghty – Kill Your Darlings

Best Irish Live Performance
Bell X1 - Malahide Castle
The Blizzards - Oxegen
Duke Special - Vicar Street
Fight Like Apes – Whelans
Future Kings of Spain - Village
Damien Rice - Marlay Park

The dumbest thing ever written about Tegan and Sara

"As lesbians who never reference their oppression or even their sexuality, Tegan and Sara don't have men to lash out at, put up with or gripe about. This may be why their uncommonly detailed love songs are so short on drama..."

Robert Christgau from the Rolling Stone clearly doesn't know many lesbians. Lesbians? Drama? Like opposing magnets, I tell you.


The Con

Don't Ask, Don't Tell

Isn't America fucking crazy? Mitt Romney: sell out.

Fight Like Apes this weekend

Yay. I'm going to see FLApes in Dingle this Saturday, which will make up for missing them at Whelan's. I haven't seen them since HWCH so I have serious FLApes withdrawal symptoms.

Here's the Apes playing 'Do You Karate' on TV

UnaRocks articles of the day

Stupid European NYT drug article - Slate

Dan Rather's last stand - New York Magazine

Tifany & co V eBay - International Herald Tribune

The Strokes: the movie - Fader

Eight important consumer trends for 2008 - Trendwatching.com

Grenada may ban gay cruise ships - Toronto

Awesome competition over at J Wolf's spot

check it out!

UnaRocks video of the day

NYT Screentest: Natalie Portman

So, Tiger was right...

Last night after coffee and viewing another fucking over-priced apartment that I would never want to live in, Tiger and I went shopping for rugby gloves (he needed them, not me.) I was asking him if he was going to the Front Lounge for Panti's last night and he didn't know. "I'm only going for a little while," I said, to which Tiger replied, "yeah right. You'll be propping up the bar at midnight slurring 'let's go to Glitz'." "No I will NOT!" I said, while Tiger broke into song with a just-composed tune called 'That's My Una'.

Anyway, he was right.

Met Burco and Eabha in La Taverna for some foodsies, then we went to the Mickey Fin Pour '07 in the Music Centre with YoCo. After that, me and Eabha went for a pint in Brogan's and then Joycies came and we went to the Front Lounge, where Ragin Spice was being kind of glassy-eyed and Etain was gearing up for a rousing rendition of 'What's Up' by 4 Non Blondes.

So, of course we ended up going to Glitz where I prompty ordered a pint of vodka and Red Bull, lost everyone, wandered around and then went home. I NEVER have fun at Glitz - WHY DO I GO?

Anyway, well done on your prediction Tiger, you smug bastid.

All of this socialising is not good for my mysterious and as yet undiagnosed illness. Tonight should be quiet enough, but tomorrow promises the launch of Pantibar and Katy French's birthday party at Krystle - two opportunities too random to pass up.

Una
eating: Thai chicken soup
drinking: Diet Coke
reading: the RTE Guide
watching: Man Stroke Woman
listening to: Neon Neon

716 Crew

There's nothing particularly spectacular about their skating, but the 716 Crew choose some cool soundtracks. I haven't skated in ages because I kept injuring my wrists from falling over (because I suck) which is bad when you write for a living. But I might go for a little skate down Cork Street this evening after watching these vids.

I've got a fever...

HOOP FEVER that is. Last night I managed to get the top scores on BOTH Hoop Fever basketball machines at the Leisureplex in Stillorgan. 48 points in 40 seconds and 68 points in sixty seconds. I challenge anyone to beat it. Me and Ragin took some victory photees which I will post soon.

Wot appened woz me, Joycies, Ragin Spice, JB and Kellyann went out to go bowling, but then it was stupid league night so we couldn't play (bumped into Adrian MeNoFemBo who was in the same situation) so we had to spend all of our money on games and pool instead. Funsies. Then popped up to Michelle, Etain and Davih's for some vino.

I'm still sick though, CRYSIES. But going to the Mickey Finn Pour '07 Final this evening in the Button Factory will hopefully make me feel a little better.

UnaRocks articles of the day

France cracks down on Internet pirates - Financial Times

Amy Winehouse's tour is going tits up - NME

Why Mailer matters - Village Voice

The Russian 'Millionaire Fair' - BBC

First lady or world man? - Slate

A Stranger's Touch: inside look at the spa industry - New York Magazine

Northern Ireland to lower the age of consent - GCN

The new prime minister of gossip - Guardian

NerdRock/TopFive podcast

Ch-ch-check it out

and the blog too

Weird Justin Timberlake cover by Maximo Park

Three Pints has it

heh heh

New Bloc Party tune

J Wolf has 'Emma Kate's Accident'

Delorentos - 'Do You Realise'

Check out their awesome new video.


The boys are on tour in the UK at the moment. If you're around, check out their gigs - dates are here. Don't forget they play the Ambassador in Dublin on December 14th. Get tickets here

Busy week (can ya feel it?)

Doesn't it feel like it's going to be a busy week? Yes, is the answer to that question. Otherwise this would be a shorter post. I guess first real week back from holidays are always busy.

I've got TTV this evening - tune in, it shall be rivetting as always. Then either Tuesday or Wednesday, I am going to kidnap someone going to Kings of Leon @ the RDS and steal their tickets.

Thursday is launch of Pantibar and Friday it's Kiss @ Tivoli.

I would be going to Miss Kittin & The Hacker @ Tivoli on Saturday, but I'm heading down to Kerry for Other Voices which should be fun.

In between all that, I've got to fit in band practice and apartment viewings (we're trying to move, but hindered by the fact that a decent three-bed in town costs €5,000,000 a month). Eek.

Having a job really gets in the way sometimes.

Book-N-Supp: #1

Save the date!

Thanks to all those bloggers who linked Book-N-Supp. Y'all rock, y'all.

Nokia V Nialler

AG AGO AGRO etc.

In support of Nialler, I shall be wearing a Super Extra Bonus Party t-shirt on RTE2's TTV this evening.

UnaRocks video of the day

FLApes: Sunbeds

Ze Weekend: queens, babes and gangsters

Went to Panti's play 'All Dolled Up' on Friday night. It was great; hilarious, touching, fun, entertaining. Definitely a good way to set up the launch of Pantibar this week.

After that, me, Lili and YoCo went down to Spy for Dr Lektroluv. I have never seen Spy so jammers in my life, it was just CRAZY. Mad vibe and millions of excited people. But I could not party too hard as I had to go home do be up bright 'n' early for Roisin Ingle's show on Newstalk on Saturday morning. The show was broadcast from the Billion Dollar Babes sale in Kilmainham which was kind of funny - watching all these people power shopping. There were nice jeans and Ts, but my brain doesn't really function before noon so I couldn't focus and didn't buy anything.

On Saturday, me, Lili, YoCo, Anthony and Mo went to the Bebo Babes competition in Club M. Lili and YoCo shot and styled the Bebo Babes calender which is why we were going. It was so surreal. All these girls doing that crazy Irish style thing of simutaneously trying to dress like the girl next door and a page 3er.V bizarre, but the chick I wanted to win won so woohoo! A different way to spend one's Saturday night anyway.

After that, me and Anthony went across to the Music Centre to catch the last couple of songs from Star Little Thing. Bumped into the Thinkhouse homies (happy birthday Matt Matt!) Then went up to Spy for a little bit.

Yesterday, me and Tiger had brunch @ 66 and then read a mountain of papers. After watching You're A Star - the worst one so far ever in the universe??? - we went to see American Gangster which was pretty good.


I'm sick :( Picked up something in South Africa methinks. I can't really eat that much without really bad stomach pain, so I clearly have stomach malaria or TB or SARS or an entire family of rhino bugs living inside me or something. So I'm going to go to the Tropical Medical Bureau tomorrow to get the bad news. On the plus side, the illness is helping me with my pre-Christmas diet. I'm hoping that the doctor will say "this medicine will make you feel amazing but you will continue to lose weight for months to come, apart from your breasts which will increase in size." I don't think that's too much to ask.

Bonde Do Role cancelled

Unforseen circumstances strike again.

Instead, Star Little Thing will play a free show at the Button Factory tomorrow night.

Merchantsville @ McGruders, tomorrow

Hassle Merchants present:

MERCHANTSVILLE @ MCGRUDERS, SAT 24TH NOV.
The Day of Debauchery Returns. Broadstone Studios didn't want it. Eamon Doran's said no (suspended from there till January,-yellow card)
McGruders? On Thomas Street, they wanted it all-

31 acts on 2 stages, Bands upstairs, (Ballyfermot Rock School hosting the downstairs stage).

MCGRUDERS, THOMAS STREET

3PM TILL 1 30AM SAT 24TH NOV

FREE BEER AT 3PM. FREE BEER AT 3PM. YOU GET THE MESSAGE

€5 ENTRY UNTIL 5PM €10 AFTER

HERE'S A TASTER OF WHAT TO EXPECT

Hassle Merchants
New Secret Weapon
Murder of Crows
Band on an Island
The Refuseniks (Cork)
Sickboy
Kill City Defectors
The Prelude (Liverpool)
Spiderbaby
The Receptors
The Mighty StefThe Amazing Few
Lauren Guillery & The Claws
Soma
15 Minutes
Good News

Will cruise ships ever learn?

clearly not.

btw who the FUCK would want to go on a cruise anyway? Iceberg adventures aside...

Oxegen '08: hello Mr Trench Foot

Jim has the skinny on the new three-day Oxegen festival

'Cities' by CODES available to download from today

The song "Cities" is out today, exclusively available by download.

Text 'Music 400' to 57501(dont forget the space between music and 400)

You'll get a special code and you can then download it from downloadmusic.ie

How to cure an illness.

I'm crap at being sick. I felt SO BAD yesterday, but it was solved swiftly. What do you need to cure an illness? Friends and cocktails. YoCo called over and we caught up on the goss and listened to Regina Spektor and ate Haribo. Then Ragin Spice called over. Then RoRo came home and we went to the Buffalo party @ Spy with Anthony and then Claire Magtastic and Felicity came in.

Solution, y'all.

And then a hero comes along...

Panti is my hero.

Me and Ragin Spice are gonna check out this tonight.

If that's not enough Panti for you (and who could ever have enough), then check out Pantibar, which launches on Thursday night. The bar - formerly known as GUBU - is open for business from Friday November 30th.

Book-N-Supp kicks off

The new book and supper club Book-N-Supp has kicked off with various awesome people over at the blog joining up.

You too can be part of Book-N-Supp! Just saunter over to the blog and add your comment.

To all my fellow bloggers: I'd be really grateful if you could give Book-N-Supp a mention or a link on your blogs.

Una
drinking: pomegranate and cranberry juice
eating: Haribo
reading: The Beauty Myth
listening to: Steve Reid ensemble - 'Daxaar'
watching: Fight Like Apes live

UnaRocks video of the day

Cap Pas Cap - 'Said Say It'

South Africa photees

UnaRocks articles of the day

High-school confidential ('Gossip Girl' and co) - The New Yorker

Bono and Geldof increase Africa's problems - NME

Louis Vuitton V Britney Spears - CNN

How America invented the hotel - Slate

Dogs don't need to smell - Reuters

Texas students want guns on campus - Time

The ultimate Christmas gift guide - New York Magazine

Starbucks stock down 40% - International Herald Tribune

Adele Adkins interview - Guardian

Painting found in bin sells for $1 million - Houston Chronicle

Obama the stoner - Breitbart.com

I *heart* the King of the Interweb

I'm back in work today, and sorting through a million emails (forgot to put an out of office reply - d'oh) and my mail. There was a mysterious package from Amazon which turned out to be a gift from the coolest man on the planet

'Saturday Night Hat: Quick, Easy Hatmaking for the Downtown Girl' by Eugenia Kim.

This is possibly the best book of all time.

Thanks Damien!

Book-N-Supp is go!

Click here to check out my new blog and project.

I'm really excited about this. Hopefully plenty of people will get involved.

New JacksGraff

Now up

Keep sending your JacksGraff to jacksgraff@hotmail.com

UnaRocks video of the day

Fight Like Apes @ Whelan's - 'Battlestations'

I'm back!

Flew in this afternoon after convincing grumpy Aer Lingus staff in Heathrow to put me on an earlier flight because I'm sick. Actually thought I was going to die on the flight from Cape Town last night. I have some weird flu-virus-cold thing which is causing me strife. But I feel a lot better this evening after listening to Phantom Daily and eating pasta.

So South Africa was fun; safari was amazing - got to see a three-day-old elephant, rhinos, monkeys, loads of jumpy deer stuff, warthog, lions, white lions cubs, giraffe, bufallo, wildebeast, hippos, the works.

Cage diving with great whites was an unforgettable experience. I was so freaking scared. We saw about ten sharks in total, more than a few were over three metres in size. They were huge, and pretty aggressive. I was alone in the cage for a few minutes, and it felt like hours. We dived down and a massive great white just glided a few feet passed us, it was surreal. Another managed to kind of dive up on to the back of the boat and had a bit of a wrestling match with the skipper who was trying to get the bait away from it. The tail of another one whacked the cage when Dee was in it. Amazing though. Unfortunately, this trip coincided with the first part of my illness, so I spent a good deal of the day looking like a total loser and puking over the side of the boat. Cringe.

Other than that, there was lots of reading (finished Hip: The History, and two Coupland books; JPod (hilarious, read it NOW) and Miss Wyoming, and also dipped in and out of The Beauty Myth by Wolf and Reporting by Remnick), drinking of wine and wine tasting, gags, restaurants (Savoy Cabbage in Cape Town is amazing) and general relaxation. It just sucks that I'm sick now.

So, back to normal bloggging from here on in.

Una

New blog and project

Yosies, time away from work and what not has got me thinking about a new blog and project I've been thinking of starting for ages. I'm going to set it up when I get back and it shall be loads of fun, so I just thought I'd do the lame 'watch this space' thing because I'm excited about it. The best thing about it is that it will be fully interactive and involve RL (Real Life, yo) and hopefully other bloggers, blog readers and friends.

Woohoo!

Ok, going to play Monopoly now.

Best. Game. Ever.

PS: if you like Monopoly, you'll like this

PPS: I think this blogging spurt is proof that I can't switch off on holiday. I had some work for ze paper to do during the week from here, but it's all done now so I should be properly chillaxing. But I'm not really. But I suppose working and thinking of ideas for new stuff is my method of relaxation. Which makes me a sad bastard.

FLApes tonight

Even though I am having loads of fun here in South Africa, I am still pissed off I'm missing Fight Like Apes at Whelan's tonight (is that sad?) I guess it's because they rock, and I know it's going to be one of those gigs that will just GO OFF and so many people I know are going; Mr Rick, RoRo and her Phantom homies, Ragin Spice and Rose to tha E and so on and so forth.

So if you are going, have an awesome time and don't forget to pick up the limited edition 12" on sale tonight ONLY. Take some photees and vids for me!

And if you're in Dublin and you're not going... are you mental?

In other FLApes news, they will be part of the new series of Other Voices, jump over to Jim's blog for the goss.

Una

Baby elephant

Just back from a morning safari in Pumba, a massive game reserve about 100 miles from Port Elizabeth. We came across a family of elephants on a hill side, one of which was just three days old. Cutest thing ever. It didn't really know how to use its trunk and was trying to mimic its mother. So cute.

The next elephant we met wasn't so friendly and came within touching distance of our jeep and Dee nearly had a heart attack so we had to leave.

My favourite things so far are the monkeys though, they're so funny. And obviously, I am obsessed with monkeys because they are the coolest animals in the world.

Big up to Quigo who txtd me the news of MBV tour dates in 2008. Woohoo!

Greetings from South Africa!

It's raining.

:(

Been having fun so far though. Am staying at this cool lodge in Hout Bay. Nice view, swimming pool, giant BBQ. There are four geese who hang out at the pool and three of them sleep at night while one goose (who, it transpires, is completely evil) keeps a watch out. He frightened the shit out of me last night when I went outside and he totally made a leap for me. Fucker.

On Sunday night, me, Dee, Johnny Boy and Garrett went on the lash in Camps Bay. I managed to blag us into this really wanky club called Caprice. Then when that closed we ended up in Bronx, a cheesy gay bar in Cape Town, where surprise surprise I have actually drank in before on a previous African adventure. Good times.

Bad thing to do on a hangover: go wine tasting. But then we went to Kalk Bay for fish and chips and saw the fishermen unload GIANT longfin tuna. We bought some fish and had a BBQ, but I couldn't really eat anything because I felt manky.

Also went to a bird sancturary and monkey conservation place where they rescue monkeys from dodgy situations and give them a nice home. There was a baby yellow baboon who was probably the cutest thing in the world. Also, loads of marmasots (sp?) and things like that V cute. There was also a giant crow which was V scary and red ibises which were awesome.

Today, I took loads of photees of penguins at Boulders near Cape Point. Penguins are so cute.

Anywhoo, have to do some work now. Am completely cut off from everything that is going on at home and am relying on txt goss, which isn't going too badly.

Tomorrow, I'm flying to Port Elizabeth to start safari fun. Have bought very fetching pair of khaki combat shorts in preparation.

Una
drinking: black internet cafe coffee
eating: fish
watching: MTV
reading: Naomi Klein - 'The Shock Doctrine'

Holiday

I am off on holiday to South Africa for a little while. Should probably not go out tonight because I haven't packed yet. Nor bought anything that I need. Nor prepared in any shape or form. Oopsies.

I am quite excited about the safari bit. Also am booking my great white shark cage diving excursion right now! "It is an advantage to have a basic open water one certificate to enter the cage... the trip can be cancelled at very short notice if the tourist’s safety is in question." Hmm.


Well, if I'm not back blogging in two weeks then it will be because I have been eaten by a shark/lion/ultra-aggressive penguin. Byesies!

Madonna - 'Holiday'

Lily Allen gets her own 'MySpace'-based TV show on BBC3

From the NME.com

"Lily Allen is set to present her own TV show on BBC Three, set to debut early in 2008.

The show, as yet untitled, will feature an audience comprised entirely of guests selected from Allen's MySpace 'friends' list, with audience members getting the opportunity to present parts of the show.

As well as celebrity guests, Allen's show will feature performances from unsigned bands chosen by audience members.

The progress of the bands selected will be followed by an online network which will be created for the show.

"I'm so excited," said Allen. "It's something I intend to have lots of fun with and I have some great ideas.""

If you like Scream Club and YoureOnlyMassive

Then you'll like this

New video from Dark Room Notes

Shake Shake My Ceiling

UnaRocks video of the days

The Phantom Hallowe'en Ball

NME Cool List 2007 announced

1. Frank Carter – Gallows
2. Jamie Reynolds – Klaxons (13)
3. Lovefoxxx – CSS (10)
4. Ryan Jarman – The Cribs
5. Lethal Bizzle
6. Alex Turner – Arctic Monkeys (32)
7. Kate Nash
8. Amy Winehouse (50)
9. Beth Ditto – The Gossip (1)
10. Keith Richards – The Rolling Stones (26)
11. MIA
12. Thom Yorke – Radiohead (9)
13. Drew McConnell - Babyshambles
14. Prince
15. Tom Clarke – The Enemy
16. Noel Gallagher – Oasis
17. Hayley Williams - Paramore
18. Brandon’s Tache – Brandon Flowers, The Killers
19. Matt Bellamy – Muse (27)
20. James Smith - Hadouken
21. Caleb Followill – Kings of Leon
22. Matt Helders – Arctic Monkeys
23. Eddie Argos – Art Brut
24. Craig Finn – The Hold Steady
25. Morgan Yeah? – Does it Offend You, Yeah?
26. Simon Neil - Biffy Clyro – (28)
27. Simon Taylor - Klaxons
28. Karen O – Yeah Yeah Yeahs (5)
29. Kele Okereke – Bloc Party
30. Meg White – The White Stripes (24)
31. Tim Harrington – Les Savy Fav
32. Gerard Way – My Chemical Romance (8)
33. Jamie T
34. Pete Doherty – Babyshambles (28)
35. Lou Hayter – New Young Pony Club
36. Ian Brown
37. Joe Lean – Joe Lean and the Jing Jang Jong
38. Andy Burrows - Razorlight
39. Kyle Falconer – The View
40. Nicky Wire – Manic Street Preachers
41. Josh Homme - Queens of the Stone Age
42. Cole Alexander - Black Lips
43. Suki - Real Heat
44. Brandon Flowers – The Killers (29)
45. Yannis Philippakis - Foals
46. Patrick Wolf
47. Carlos D - Interpol
48. Santogold
49. Dev Hynes – Lightspeed Champion
50. Spider Webb – The Horrors

UnaRocks video of the day

Tori Amos (live) - 'Me And A Gun'

Fight Like Apes to release limited edition signed vinyl

FIGHT LIKE APES
TO RELEASE SIGNED LIMITED EDITION 12” VINYL
FEATURING
How Am I Supposed To Kill You If You Have All The Guns?
AND
David Carradine Is A Bounty Hunter Who’s Robotic Arm Hates Your Crotch

AVAILABLE FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY @
WHELANS, DUBLIN ON NOVEMBER 16th 2007

Having received a very positive reaction to both their debut EP and their current new release, karate-rockers Fight Like Apes will release two hundred 12” vinyl records featuring both recordings. The vinyl will ONLY be on sale at the band’s upcoming Whelans gig in Dublin on 16th November.

The vinyl is shiny, colourful, signed personally by the band and smells like good music. It features both "How Am I Supposed To Kill You If You Have All The Guns?" and “David Carradine Is A Bounty Hunter Who’s Robotic Arm Hates Your Crotch. That’s eight super tracks and a chance for you to own a piece of musical history. Or at least some nice vinyl.

The track listing is as follows:

Side A:
Do You Karate?
Canhead
Accidental Wrong Hole
Snore Bore Whore

Side B:
Jake Summers
Lend Me Your Face
You Are The Hat
Battlestations

UnaRocks articles of the day

How an R-rated film got an X-rated poster - Slate

Staff down tools at Les Echoes - The Guardian

Who hasn't had sex with Alan Cumming? - New York Magazine

Takashi Murakami for DreamWorks? - E Online

Thai Transgender Beauty Pageant Contestants Try to Raise Environmental Awareness - Advocate

Band of the day: We Are Wolves - Spin

The Evolution of the hoodies - The Gazette

US Presidential campaign ads in weird places - New York Times

It's raining in Boston

So Jenna brings us this mix

Fair City, remixed

genius

Delorentos on Podge and Rodge tonight

Following in the footsteps of Pete Burns, Andrea Roche and Jodi Marsh, the Delorento boys are on Podge and Rodge on RTE Two this evening at 10.55pm. Should make for interesting viewing.

Hotpress: I read it so you don't have to

*interview with 'author' Victoria Mary Clarke: "favourite author: me... favourite musician: Shane'" Shane who? Shane Lynch? Shane Levy who I went to college with? Oh, right, Shane McGowan, her 'boyfriend'.

*Article on the British Honours system... Ian Boatham... blah blah... knighthood... blah snore.

*Two page interview with David McWilliams: "get over it! Get a fucking sense of humour. Really - get a sense of humour. For Jaysus' sake, it is only a way of making economics interesting. What I say to knockers is, get off your hole and do it yourself! Economics is far too important to be left to dry-arsed people, right?" Right.

*Another remedial article from Tony Cascarino about Stan: "So Stan's gone. It's been a very unhappy two years. I don't think anyone's angry at Stan personally." Where's the Booker?

*Ann Sexton talks about whipping and fetish parties, and then offers us some tips: "get two Post-it pads of different colours and each of you has to write down five things you dring sexually exciting." Ummmm, Post-its. I'm so hot for stationary right now.

*Aoife from the Blonde Majority talks about her clothes.

*Two page interview with Christy Dingnam: "'Have ye got a crack pipe?' he jokes as I approach. I'd been thinking it might be tricky getting Dingnam onto the subject of drugs - perhaps he'd finally grown tired of speaking openly about his addiction - but no, the heroin trap is still Dingnam's number one subject. That, and the connection between addiction and childhood sexual abuse." At least he's not talking about his music.

*Four (yes four) page interview with Donie Cassidy: "what amount of hours do we have left in our legislation for people to sleep? There are very few. Now everywhere is open until 2.30. I think we should have a look at that in the long term. Bar extensions maybe Friday and Saturday night to 2.30am because people haven't to work the next day, but the other five nights we should realistically comeback to 11.15pm, and in summertime possibly 12.30am. At the moment, it is just not working." Rock and roll.

*The Hives 'Black and White Album' gets nine out of ten.

*Feature: 'At Home With Eamon Dunphy'. Photo shows Dunphy peeling potatoes.

previously on Hotpress
and more previously

Ciaran Cuffe blogs about civil partnership

here

UnaRocks video of the day

Tyra's vagina puppet

Pete Doherty, back on the gear

gross (and sad)

Gigs at Spy this Winter

According to the Remedy MySpace, Dr Lektroluv, DJ Spinna and Moodyman will all be heading to South William Street over the next few weeks.

Party on!

New vid from Messiah J & the Expert

UnaRocks articles of the day

Off the Cuffe: Losing faith in the Greens - The Sunday Tribune

Two critics discuss the state of pop, classical, jazz - Slate

Classified ads and people-traficking - The Economist

Beth Ditto, The Enemy, Paul Weller form supergroup - NME

An emotional audit of Rodeo Drive - Wall Street Journal

Gay-on-gay crime - New York Magazine

Vinyl killed the CD star - Wired

Military porn ban questioned - USA Today

Starbucks deal with Pepsi - International Herald Tribune

UnaRocks video of the day: Irish music live

Delorentos @ Radio City


Queen Kong @ TBMC


Fight Liks Apes @ Crawdaddy


and here's a FLApes podcast

Hassle Merchants on a street

Vote for Damo!

For he is the King of the Interweb

Vat Minky Vants, Minky Gets

Lili blings up her alter ego (Minky Von Faberge) with this awesome new camera necklace. Altogether now, WANTSIES.

Ze Weekend

Quiet enough one might say. I went for dinner with YoCo and Sarah on Friday and then we went to Spy and Lainey came down too. There was some good music; Simian Mobile Disco, Teenagers, that kind of stuff.

Lainey and I made a very excellent excursion to Lidl on Cork Street on Saturday. On the way there, we passed a newly opened organic market on Newmarket Square - the opening of a forum that sells tiny loaves of wheat free bread that look like something a tortoise shat out for €6.49 being so exciting that it merrited the attendance of RTE radio news. This is why Ireland is shit at gentrification. Newmarket Square is such an amazing little - mostly derelict - spot, full of cool buildings that could be restored and added to to create a brilliant village in the centre of town. But of course, that would neccesitate planning and thought and general intelligence. Instead they're knocking everything and building shit ugly glass and steal apartment blocks that you see everywhere and opening bullshit 'markets' where wankers can buy organically sourced pumpkin seeds.

So we went to Lidl.

I love Lidl and Aldi. I know I shouldn't, because they're shit places to work, but I like the randomness of them. We were meant to be buying normal groceries, but instead we were running around going "look, a cookie gun... angel delight... Christmas stickers... champagne!" So obviously we bought way too much stuff and our arms nearly fell off on the way home. Also, we had to go the long way because I thought the people inside the market would spit at us if we walked passed with Lidl bags. Fuckers.

That evening, I met Joycer and Cooney in the Front Lounge. There was, um, an incident of sorts and we got thrown out after a few hours. Oopsies. So then we went to Spy, which was loads of fun. I am loving a bit too much my new drink (double vodka, ginger ale and a splash of lime with a slice of lemon). So yummsies. Meant to go to Pendulum and Scratch Perverts in the Tivoli, but never made it down.

Yesterday I went for lunch in Alexis in Fun Laoghaire. Very nice indeed. Last night YoCo came over to drink red wine and eat some of the giant tub of jelly sweeties (Lidl strikes again) we have.

Isn't the new Spice Girls song shit?

Una
listening to: Britney Spears - 'Blackout'
reading: just finishing up Slash's autobiography
watching: The L Word Season 4
eating: plums
drinking: Lucozade

Cunt

TALK SHOW HOST TYRA BANKS DEDICATES AN ENTIRE SHOW TO “DOWN THERE,” “GROUND ZERO” AND “HOO HA” — OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE VAGINA, ON “THE TYRA BANKS SHOW” AIRING ON MONDAY, NOVEMBER 5

Talk show host dedicates an entire hour to discussing the vagina with her audience, on “The Tyra Banks Show,” airing on Monday, November 5 (check local listings for stations and times). From the look of the vagina to the newest ways to prevent HPV, Tyra holds a no-holds barred discussion with her audience about the least talked (and looked at) about part of a woman’s part. Tyra says, “I have wanted to do this show for two years. I know for a lot of women talking about what is going on in our bodies is extremely difficult, but it is incredibly important. We should be able to talk to our daughters, sisters, mothers and friends about our bodies and not be embarrassed. I hope after this show women will not be ashamed about what’s up down there.”

Tyra begins the hour giving her audience a test to see if they can name all the parts of the vagina to unbelievable results – only 11% of her audience filled out the anatomical chart correctly. Shocked by the results, Tyra welcomes gynecologist Dr. Debby Herbenick to give her viewers a quick tour of their nether regions with a velvet and satin “vagina puppet” pointing out the clitoris, the labia minora and labia majora and the urethra.

Having avoided the doctor for 28 years, Tyra takes a Plano, Texas woman, who happens to be a registered nurse, to her very first gynecological appointment. After the woman breaks down in tears, Tyra gives her support and holds her hand of the woman while she has her first PAP test and breast exam with Dr. Michelle Francis of New York. Tyra says, “As we were getting closer to the exam, I could literally feel how tense she was.” Tyra welcomes the woman and Dr. Francis back to her stage to talk about her experience and to give her the results of her PAP – and to make her promise to go again next year.

Also on the show, Tyra introduces gynecologist Dr. Donnica Moore who educates Tyra’s audience on the importance of PAP smears and the newest vaccination for young women that can prevent the human papillomavirus – a virus that can cause cancer.

Tyra also shares with the audience the moment her mother gave her a hand mirror and told her to look at herself “down there.” Tyra says, “My mother told me to look at myself because, ‘It’s just another part of your body that needs to be healthy just like your eyes, your nose, your ears, your mouth and everything else.’”

We are all Chancers now

Yes. Yes we are.

T&S

Do you reckon the Green Party will go to this gig?

UnaRocks articles of the day

Is Jay Z signalling an economic recession? - Chaska Herald

Analysis of media coverage of presidential campaign - Journalism.org

Burt's Bees worth nearly a billion - Forbes

American Gangster reviewed - Slate

Chimp who learned sign language dies - San Francisco Chronicle

Victoria's Secret and the slutification of America - Philly.com

Remembering Linda Stein - New York Magazine

Drop in support for FF and Taoiseach - RTE

Modeselektor last night

Really great gig. '2000007' was the highlight for me. I was there earlier on and the Modeselektor dudes seemed really nice. They gave me a DVD of their 'Black Block' video, which I am looking forward to watching.

Spent some time helping YoCo at the door and stamping people, STAMPY STAMPY. Bumped into Nialler and Cahony and - who else was there; Killer, Fionn, Ed, Viv, Crimbo, Flickr and co. The crowd was well up for it and the sound was deadly. You couldn't help but dance.

Near the end, they sprayed two bottles of champagne over the crowd, which was quite amusing. They kept handing out beers too. I left after 'Hyper Hyper' because I was so tired and had to go do some work, so I don't know what happened after that.

All in all, a savage performance.

I'm so excited about Modeselektor tonight!

You would be a FOOL to miss this gig at the Tivoli tonight. It's an early show, so get there when doors open at 9pm.

YAYSIES!

Paper Monster

cool art

"London's Metropolitan Police has been convicted of breaching health and safety laws over the shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes."

Health and safety laws?

UnaRocks video of the day

A Place To Bury Strangers - 'To Fix The Gash In Your Head'

Can't. Stop. Listening. To. New. Holy. Fuck. Record.

it's awesome

Dirty Dozen: Volume 77

1. You're Only Massive - 'Epidemic'

2. Queen Kong V Deft Pallots - 'Boot'

3. 3epkano - 'Here's Hoping'

4. The Real Junk - 'Packing Heat'

5. Terrordactyl - 'Hikikomori'

half a dozen. Fight Like Apes - 'Lend Me Your Face'

7. Estel - 'House 8'

8. Super Extra Bonus Party - 'Everything Flows'

9. Betamax Format - 'The Knife'

10. The Immediate - 'The Mist Above The Mind'

11. Spiders - 'Under The Mirrorball'

dozen. Twinkranes - 'Amino Acids'

The Song That Won't Go Away...

I just got a new Jape CD in work. The track listing is:

1. Floating (radio edit)
2. Floating
3. Christopher and Anthony
4. Young Man
5. Floating (d.i.m. remix) (clean)
6. Floating (Tronic Youth Remix)(clean)
7. Floating (Bobmo Remix)

Is this actually Jape's new EP? Surely you can't honestly release something with seven tracks, five of which are the same song? A song that's not exactly a new track?

Floating is a good song, but seriously...

UnaRocks articles of the day

The secret message from Mikhail Gorbachev in a Louis Vuitton ad - New York Magazine

Diplomats don't really want to go to Iraq - AP

Apple ad, by an 18-year-old - International Herald Tribune

I'd like to see this rider - NME

Clear Channel won't play Springsteen - Fox

Good article and video on the practice of 'waterboarding' - Huffington Post / Current TV

Radiohead sign with XL - Pitchfork

Same-sex couples to get legal recognition next year

By Stephen Collins in the Irish Times

The Government has announced plans to give legal recognition to same-sex couples but the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Brian Lenihan, has ruled out gay marriage as being in conflict with the Constitution.

The Minister said last night that the heads of a Bill to legislate for civil partnerships would be ready by next March and the Government would then proceed as quickly as possible with detailed legislation.

Mr Lenihan said the Government opposed a Labour Party Bill on civil unions, originally tabled last March, as the clear advice of the Attorney General was that it was contrary to the explicit recognition given to the family based on marriage in the Constitution.

The Green Party, which strongly backed the Labour Bill in the spring, expressed support for the Government with the Minister for the Environment, John Gormley, saying he was pleased that for the first time the State would soon recognise the validity of same-sex partnerships.

The Labour Party spokesman on the Constitution and Law Reform, Brendan Howlin, described the Government rejection of his party's Bill as "a shameful abdication of responsibility on the part of the three parties in government".

Mr Lenihan told the Dáil last night that many same-sex couples wanted to be recognised within society and to create mutually enforceable rights and obligations towards each other but he was adamant that the mechanism proposed by the Labour Party was not the way to achieve this objective because it referred to the rights and duties of marriage as similarly applying to parties to civil unions.

"It is no light thing to say that this risks impugning the provisions of Article 41.3.1, which I will remind the House states that 'the State pledges itself to guard with special care the institution of marriage, on which the family is founded, and to protect it against attack'.

"The advice available to me on the matter is crystal clear, and indicates that a legislative approach which seeks to define any other type of relationship expressly in terms of marriage, as the Civil Unions Bill 2006 attempts to do, is constitutionally unsound."

The Minister said that as well as the question of same-sex partnerships there were also issues of importance to many people such as next-of-kin status, pensions, and inheritance that required a well-considered and constitutionally sound legislative response.

He said that as well as providing for a significant degree of equality for same-sex couples the Government wanted to extend legal protection to a very vulnerable cohort, economically dependent cohabitants, on termination of their relationships.

Mr Howlin attacked the Government for rejecting his party's Bill. "I am astonished that the Green Party whose members voted for and praised the Civil Unions Bill in February are going along with this approach and support a Government amendment that contains nothing more than a vague promise to legislate at some time in the future, with no deadline at all."

He added that back in the spring the Green TD, Ciarán Cuffe, had called on the Fianna Fáil-led government to have the courage to support the Labour Bill.

"It looks now that the Green Party has lost the courage it was urging Fianna Fáil to show eight months ago," said Mr Howlin..

Last night Mr Cuffe praised the Labour Party for bringing forward the motion on civil partnership but said the Green Party's TDs would be voting against it as the new legislation would better address the many legal complexities involved.

The Irish Council for Civil Liberties welcomed the Dáil debate. Director Mark Kelly said civil partnership would be a step in the right direction but only the introduction of civil marriage for same-sex couples would achieve full equality of status with opposite-sex couples.

Happy Birthday Sarah!

Happy birthday to my wonderful friend Sarah, whom I love so much, I have her name tattooed on me.

See you tomorrow dude

xxx

Party!

Last night was mucho fun. The Phantom party in Whelan's was jammers and everyone was in such a good mood and the music rocked (especially Neosupervital.) Bumped into a fair few people - Darcy from Ham Sandwich (hisies!), Daragh from Codes and Mark Greaney who I hadn't seen in AGES. Team Tribune rocked it with some seriously good costumes that included a knight, Wonder Woman, Braveheart, a pirate, Cher, Wayne Campbell, Ringo Starr and Jackie Kennedy.

Had much fun hanging out with the Phantom homies. They are all such lovely people. I *heart* Phantom forever.