Barometer of Judgement

Love it:

The Books - American 'folktronica' act The Books are certainly worth a spin if The Garden State OST features in your CD/audio file collection. And perhaps even if it doesn't.

Google Reader - This nifty device saves a whole lot of clicking by displaying any new posts on your favourite blogs and sites that have been made since you last checked.

Cute Overload - Does exactly what it says on the tin.

Charity Shops - Assembling the costumes for DCU Drama's production of 'Rent' has been something of a trial. On the upside, I now have a near expert knowledge of Dublin's charity shops and realise that there are so many treasures to be found at dirt cheap prices in these establishments.

TV3 - Despite the fact that it must rank among the most awkward places in Dublin to access, I was very impressed by the set up that the independent TV station have in the Ballymount Estate, Lucan. Anyone who sees how slick the operation is behind the scenes might be less inclined to deride the likes of Xposé or Martin King. Then again, they might not.


Shove it:

Patrick Wolf - I tried to convince myself the new stuff was good but I've now conceded that it's pretty pants. He's slowly morphing into Boy George and the video for 'Vulture' is vile.

Assignments - It's 'reading week' but I've yet to do any reading. Oh dear.

Career Doom - The next person who tells me there won't be any jobs when I finish in September should brace themselves for a whack attack. My mother even suggested I go crawling back to the Irish insurance industry. Please God, don't let it come to that.

Skins Series Finale - This series has been brilliant so I'm slightly devastated that it's coming to an end this Thursday. The trailer suggests it's going to be characteristically overblown. I'll be disappointed if it's not.

Lucy Kennedy - Why do RTE insist on shoving these 'personalities' down our throats?! She was decent as compere on 'The Podge and Rodge Show' but she's certainly not worthy of the amount of airtime she's been given in her own right. 'The Lucy Kennedy Show'? Pfft! Bring back Anna Nolan, I say.

[Images: Music Now & In Photos]