« March 2004 | Main | May 2004 »
April 29, 2004
Wednesdays with Emmet are ROCK NIGHT!
Emmet says Heh-roh!
We always like to relax a little bit.......
before rocking out!!
and then a little contemplation of our guitar godhood stops us from spantaneously combusting
This is Emmets (gay) amp. It really is white (and gay). Its a Brian May signature amp from Vox. It rocks as hard a s a very small white gay thing can!!
Actually it sounds fucking great! Especially using the Hughes and Kettner speaker!
Did I tell you that we are Queen fans?
Posted by dottie at 12:01 PM
New photos added
I just put up a new photo gallery of a walk I went on with my nother out on the Cliff walk wehre I spent a lot of time as a kid. Nice views!
Posted by dottie at 11:41 AM
April 22, 2004
Forgiveness
The forgiveness project works with grassroots organisations in Northern Ireland, England, South Africa and all around the world, working in the area of reconcilliation, victim support and conflict resolution.
Read some of the stories. They are powerful tales of people forgiving those who destroyed their lives either through torture or through murdering a loved one.
All the tales speak of the victims releasing themselves from a 'cage of hatred'. Valuable lesson to be learned there.....
http://www.theforgivenessproject.com/stories/?id=13
Posted by dottie at 6:55 PM
April 21, 2004
IRAQ and Easter 1916
Some things are bothering me again. The phrase 'the silent majority' is bandied about a lot when talking about opposition to the uprising in Iraq. This 'silent majority' is chastised for not standing up and letting its feelings about the uprising be known.
The occupying forces would like to think that the opinion would be pro-occupation and anti-insurgency. I would like to think that by keeping quiet this 'silent majority' has made its opinion known in the most eloquent way. The truth is somewhere in between and will only ever be known by those who live through it, and only by those privy to the minutae of the lives of those who live through it - through their poetry, plays, diaries, blogs!
I think that a parallel can be drawn with Irelan during the uprising in 1916 and Iraq as it stands now (bear with me on this, I'm not trying to compare them point for point....).
During the Easter rising in Ireland there was a relatively small force that were active on the day. They had good success until they were beaten down by overwhelming forces and sustained artillery fire.
Anyway the point I am making is that they didnt enjoy wide spread support. The vast majority of the people in Ireland wanted the status quo to be maintained even though the yoke of English occupation, and in many areas oppression, chafed at the soul. See Yeats poetry for an example of how the intelligenstia at the time would have viewed the situation.
During the trial of the leaders and after the subsequent execution the groundswell of public opinion changed. Overwhelmingly the ordinary man in the street and right up to influential members of the upper and ruling classes supported the action. In retrospect the uprising had support and of course was ultimately successful.
I would imagine that the ordinary Iraqi would like very much to have a chance at enjoying his or her definition of a normal life, but war rages outside their doors. The chances of being killed by their country men is high, the chances of being killed by occupying forces is high. The occupation forces are brutal. Chaos is rife.
No matter the motivation for the 'uprising' we are seeing now, no matter what its original goals, it will be supported by the Iraqi people - sooner or later. It is the only path back from the chaos and lawlwessness that has become everyday life in Iraq. As an Irishman, aware of the bloody roots of our own republic, I cannot condemn the Iraqi people.
I can and might well condemn their actions but I will never condemn their desire for stability, whatever the cost.
Posted by dottie at 6:24 PM
April 20, 2004
Good news for DVD fans
You need ot be registered with the NYTimes to see the article - which only takes a minute or so and is worth it!
This guy has a new method for coverting films from the original stock to digital format. He scans each frame 4000 times to obtain the starting image to create the final DVD. To put that in perspective a normal TV shows about 500 lines from top to bottom of the screen. A high definition TV shows about 1000.
The next step is to filter out any scratches etc and render the imges to DVD format. The result is far superior to any DVD you will see. They are currently doing the whole Bond series and have done some classic films like Citizen Kane, North By Northwest.
Excellent!
Posted by dottie at 12:33 PM
Photo gallery added
I just added a photo gallery section to this site. The link is on the left hand side menu (or should be) or you can click right here - actually the photo page for Alan and Georgina's wedding isnt done yet. Tomorrow.
Enjoy!
Comments
Tim Gillen
Nice to see it was more apres than ski!
Mark
Cheeky bugger! The five rolls of film are all taken on the slopes, should be some lovely shots - I hope. There is a lot more light than I would be used to so they may be overexposed and all that.
Posted by dottie at 1:20 AM | Comments (2)
April 18, 2004
Summary of the Bush news conference
A bit partisan but there ya go!
http://www.criticalviewer.com/archives/000057.html
Posted by dottie at 1:59 PM
Poem for my grandfather
I wrote this poem last year after my grandfather died. I wanted to sum up the notion that in a way he lives on not only in our memories but in the way we run our lives. He was a good man, worked all his life, was tough but fair when necessary. He was pragmatic but understood others needs and made sure they enjoyed them.
Ten years ago I worked with my grandfather clearing stones from a newly ploughed field - this is called 'picking stones'. Although he was 74 at the time, he never slacked in his work, lifting boulders bigger than your head and working steadily all day. I had a hard time keeping up.
It was a high moment in my life when after we had finished working my grandmother asked him how I was doing and he said - 'topper'. My grandfather was a man of few words.
I chose the title blacksmith because my grandad's father was a blacksmith, and it was something that ran in the family.
The blacksmith
Posted by dottie at 1:44 PM
April 14, 2004
jew!
This link here - jew - is intended to foil the efforts of a racist group.
This group have done a google-bomb to ensure that if you type "jew" into google and hit "I'm feeling lucky" that it will link you to their hate site.
If you have a website or blog please include this link. The racist site may be thwarted now but the more links the better!
Posted by dottie at 12:35 AM
April 10, 2004
Mosaic of Ski trip makes Adam!
This is the small version of a mosaic of Adam made up of little pictures rom the ski trip. Click on the image for a bigger version!
The large image is very big - over half a meg!
Comments
Emmet
Mark - love the mosaic; how the hell did you do it!??? E
Posted by dottie at 11:41 PM | Comments (1)
Premise for a film
'Undo' a new film by Steven Cohen-Fellini-Kubrickberg
A man receives a mystery package in the post. The postmark is obscured and there is no return address.
He worries about what it might be, shaking the package and then not, in case its a bomb.
He makes a cup of coffee and sits on the couch smoking and watching the package where it lies on the mantlepiece.
He opens the package, cutting the string and taking care not to tear the fine brown paper that wraps it.
Inside is a box with a fine fitting lid wrapped in ribbon. Slipped betwen the ribbon and the box is a folded sheet of lilac paper, scented lightly of Opium perfume. He removes the note and unfolds it slowly.
It's a note. It says - 'Undo button: use once and pass it on. Once only!'
He panics, replacing the note and returning the box to the mantlepiece.
The next few days see him perched on the couch watching the box. Eventually after a long pause he stands suddenly, grabs the box, pulls the lid off, empties the contents into his hand and lets the box fall to the ground.
The undo button is a small black rectangular box with a computer keyboard like key on the top that has the word 'UNDO' written on it in Verdana font. 12 point.
He returns the box to the mantlepiece, worried again.
Days later he finally has a plan. Gambling. He decides to buy a lotto ticket, check the numbers the next draw and if he doesnt win then he will press undo and choose the right numbers. Sitting pretty, pass on the button and live happily ever after.
He doesnt win and the button is pressed, after much trepidation. How will the button know what to UNDO? As it turns out everything is undone back to the point where he decides to purchase the lotto ticket.
But things are different. Little things. Then a big thing. The lotto numbers dont match. No free ride then.
He is tempted to try something else that will allow him to exploit the unique properties of the button.
He follows a woman. Stalks her. Gets to know her interests (books by David Eddings, Poetry by Yeats, Biographies, wire-fu movies, thai food, french red wine, dark chocolate and cappuchino) all courtesy of the UNDO button. He often steps over the line and causes blazing rows with the woman. He is a stalker. Reset. Undo. All good. Meanwhile he steals to support himself. He is a stalker. All his time is spent following this woman. learning her moods, likes, everything.
He finally asks to share her table in a crowded cafe one day and gets talking. He comes across too forward. She reacts badly. He tries harder. She gets him thrown out. UNDO. He tries again. Same result. UNDO. Again. He is losing the plot.
Desperate now to include the woman who obsesses him in his life, he tries again. Same result. They have a blazing row where he explains his devotion. She stares in shock and revulsion at the madman screaming at her. She tries to leave, he wont let her, threatens her with a knife. There is a scuffle. She is stabbed. UNDO.
He realises that he can undo the consequences of his actions in the world but he cannot undo the changes within himself. He is doomed. He packages up the button again, picking a name from a phone book from a different city. He resolves to change his life, put this all behind him. The note he encloses in the package says - 'Undo button: use once and then pass it on. Once only! Trust me on this!'
He walks to the post office and sends the package, feeling something lift within himself. He walks through the door of the post office into the sunlight, closing his eyes and letting the heat of it sink into his bones. He smiles and opens his eyes.
She is passing by him. He smiles wider, laughing inwardly at the joke the world has played on him. She smiles back and stops.
'Dont I know you?', she says, 'I've seen you round'
'Errr. Yeah? I go to the same bookshop as you do'
'Would you like a coffee?', she says
His smile grows wider.
Jaunty but slightly sinister exit music a la Alfred Hitchcock and a panning shot following the package as it passes through the post office.
Roll credits.
Fade to black.
Posted by dottie at 8:53 PM
Gashcroft
This beautiful portrait of John Ashcroft os made entirely from pictures of port starlets en flagrante delicto and otherwise.
John Ashcroft as you might remember is the man who had statues draped because they had BARE BOOZUMS! Imagine that. He'll be blowing the faces off the statues next and declaring a christian fundamentalist state in USA. Ah yes its great to be white and male in this world! If only I could be arrogant and rich too!
Click on the picture to visit the site that hosts the full version - its worth it!
The image belongs to hublog, not me.
Posted by dottie at 11:07 AM
April 9, 2004
Forget personal information
I just noticed that there is a button on the comments page (try leaving some!) of the blog with the label 'foget personal information'. Wow. I would love one of these in real life!
Imagine being able to forget all the ridiculous answers you gave in interviews to the question - 'where do you see yourself in five years?' (between your thighs love?). Your teachers asking you 'do you think I'm an idiot' (shouldnt go dangling juicy carrots like that...) and your boss asking you if he could have a minute of your time (you've had the last two years you fucker!!)
Or all the times you said something really stupid to a girl you were trying to chat up.
err.
Hang on.
Isnt that what beer was invented for? Unfortunately it keeps working until the next morning (What was your name again love? What?!!? Johnathan? Really? err.... ummm.... how do you like your eggs?)
Posted by dottie at 4:59 PM
Apathy and Democracy
Democracy is based on the premise that people wish to determine their own fate. This assumes a few things:
* that people know what is good for them
* that they like other people
* they are free from venality
* they are motivated
None of these things are true. Generally. Especially the bit about motivation. Especially.
In ancient Greece you HAD to be politically active and aware in order to become a citizen. You were called upon to serve your community through military duty, political office, public works, jury duty (501 people in a jury!!). Only if you were an active member of society did you get the chance to affect that society. Makes sense.
Our notion of democracy is so twisted that it now bears little resemblance to its humble origins. When was the last time you voted? When was the last time you wrote a letter to a TD for any purpose altruistic or not? When was the last time you sat in the public galleries at the Dail, or attended local council meetings or elections? Do you know who your local TD is?
Neither do I.
Apathy is the antithesis of democracy. Democracy is rule by the people.
Last year we had the pleasure of seeing hundreds of thousands of people thronging the streets of Dublin and other cities in Ireland to oppose the war and more specifically to vocalise anger at the crumbling of our neutrality. Bertie ignored it. Allowing American bombers and troop carriers to land at Shannon.
What happened to the rule of the state by the will of the people? What about our historical stance on neutrality? Surely that should be sacred?
Neutrality is a bit like virginity. You either are or you aren't. You can't be fucked a little bit and still be a virgin just as you cant involve yourself in a war just a little bit and still claim to be neutral. Are we still neutral? Will we begin to show in the coming months? Is there a shotgun wedding in the future with the European defense forces? What about Al Quaida and the bombers in Spain? That could happen here you know. We just mnaged to get our lads to stop bombing each other and now we want some foreigners to come and do it for us?
Does anyone remember around the time of the start of the war we had Bertie shaking hands with Bush on the white house lawn promising Irelands wholehearted support. That made us all a bit nervous though, so Brian Cowen offered exile to Sadaam.
I feel so much safer....
Posted by dottie at 3:34 PM
(Civil?) War in Iraq
Like most people I condemn the mutilation of the mercenaries bodies that happened in Fallujah last week.
However the attempt to describe the attack as an unprovoked and underhanded ambush is something that I cannot swallow.
Two words: thats war.
Iraq is still a warzone despite the fact that Bush declared hostilities to be ended (didnt someone forget to tell the Iraqis? And the mujahedeen? and the rest of the world??)
Those men lost their lives in an ambush. Western troops use ambush tactics all the time in combat, it doesnt make them evil. Why is it suddenly an evil tactic when used by Iraqi militants?
Western opinion is still being influenced by spin of major proportions. Next time you read a news report on an attack in Iraq or the middle East, have a close look at how the "Western" troops (by this I mean troops fighting for so called western ideals) and their actions are described as compared to the troops of the opposition and their tactics and most importantly their motivation.
The worst part of all this is that Americans have been killing Iraqis since the beginning of the war. Whenever an innocent gets caught up in the carnage (in other words every time the Western troops open fire) they are described as war casualties. The western dead are described mostly as terrorist victims.
Its a war for ideology, religion (unfortunately), greed, and revenge. It could never be described as a just war. Send the troops home now!
Posted by dottie at 3:05 PM
April 8, 2004
Great king rat was a dirty old man and a dirty old man was he!
I am in an orgy of nostalgia. I got a copy of Queen and Queen II from Emmet last night. I'm in Heaven.
March of the Black Queen. Keep yourself alive. Great King Rat. Father to Son. Faery Fellers Master stroke.
Prog rock some might call it, I call it a slice of fuzzy warm feelings with a side order of smiles!
Posted by dottie at 1:34 PM
April 6, 2004
Hand wash with care
Hidden messages on clothing tags!
http://atbash.net/blog/archives/000046.html
I wouldnt be surprised if the Feds raided the manufacturers and threw em in prison for treason.
Posted by dottie at 11:36 PM
Evenings not working...
I was also introduced to two new things this eveing (no, nothing to do with nipple clips...) - the TV series SPACED and Baileys Cake. Funny and Yummy (you figure it out).
I was at my friend Dave's house (visit his website here) this evening. Lovely place out in Sandyford, with a view of the mountains that people will soon be killing for. Got to meet his lovely girlfriend Jean. Lucky man.
We kicked it off in the right fashion too - Dave with his village people / the Edge facial hair and 70's Gucci shades and me with my rocker long hair and well, not Gucci shades as Dave put it - "we look like a lead guitarist and a drummer, we're going to get the shite kicked out of us..."
I'm off to my very good friend Emmet's house tomorrow night for some guitar plucking and perhaps a little drinking ad chatting too! Havent been over in weeks and I'm missing the company.
Simple pleasures my friends, simple pleasures.
Posted by dottie at 11:32 PM
April 4, 2004
Political compass
Seems that I am more liberal than Ghandi. Go figure.
My results on the political compass
Posted by dottie at 10:39 PM
April 2, 2004
Aggregated assault on the news..
This is an excellent news aggregator
http://www.marumushi.com/apps/newsmap/newsmap.cfm
Posted by dottie at 1:56 PM
April 1, 2004
Ryanair special
Ha! Love this. Low fares and a sense of humour!
Posted by dottie at 3:18 PM
More tumble down houses
That tumble down doorway again
and the view through the door
and the room next door. Look at the jamjars! That really gets me.
Posted by dottie at 9:47 AM
Rosscommon Images
JUst as a comparison I thought I'd present some pics from the archives to show off the beauty of Ireland,just in case I had any complaints.
This is a big old style house that stands on my unlcles lands. The family had to move for some reason that I forget - I think it was some involvement with the IRA - my ma knows, I'll ask her... But there was a small fire and part of the house collapsed but most still stands. Year by year it collapses a little more. Its a pity because it might still be salvagable, the outer walls seem sound. But inside all the period fireplaces and marble hearths have been stolen. I remember them being there when I was younger.
This is an even older house that stands just off from the previous. It is fantastic. It used to have a big dry built stone staircase which was raided for fencing stones a few years ago and has since collapsed. It has trees growing inside it now and the walls are mostly quite strong but flaky at the edges. No roof as long as I can remember.
The River Suck runs along the bottom of the field in which these two buildings stand. I used to go fishing a lot with my father. This is a typical view I would remember from that time. I was usually staring into the murky waters (from the peat bogs you see....) wondering how to catch a carp for dinner, and make my dad proud too!
There is a little bit of pollution from runoff from fields, but not too much. It makes it look pretty. This particular spot will be gone in a few years when they put in a little marina for pleasure boats. A good thing for the area and I suppose it will have its own particular views, but it will be a sad day for me as it will bury a spot where my brother and I used to play as children.
I have a fascination with old houses. This is on the back road up to my Grannys house. Its an old farm house that lies just off the road.
Posted by dottie at 9:40 AM
Ice and Snow
You can keep your sun holidays - or at least those ones where you prop up the bar at night and sleep by the pool all day. Dont get me wrong I have been on these and enjoyed them. I just enjoy action holidays more. And the only active holiday I have been on is a skiing holiday. Snow. Ice. I love it. Really!
Check this out
lovely. And this kind of thing is everywhere. It almost overwhelms the senses after a while so you stoip noticing it. You never see this in normal life. The clean air, the exercise, the vista of snow and ice, the mountains. Fantastic stuff.
Art from nature. I know that in Ireland it is possible to see cobwebs frozen with dew on a spring moning. Or the way the mist covers the land before the sun rises properly to burn it off. Or the way moss grows on the stones of a tumble down house. Its just that I was in the snow and ice recently so thats my buzz for the moment.
Comments
Garrett Ryan
hi there chap!post some more of those shots,all mine turned out crap....cheapo camera.com!did rory get his developed yet?
Posted by dottie at 9:23 AM | Comments (1)