Chin Up, Chuck

I kinda love this video, 'Things To Learn', by Christian Borstlap and Paul Postma for Dutch children’s charity, Kinderpostzegels.

Super stuff.

Band Aid Bébé

Blog favourites Attention Bébé are hosting an Emergency gig this Friday in the Button Factory to help raise funds for Partners in Health, who are providing vitally needed aid to the people of Haiti in the aftermath of last week's devastating earthquake.

Tickets are €10 and all proceeds are going to the charity, of which 94% will be invested directly into aid programmes.

If you've ever seen Attention Bébé perform you'll know that your guaranteed a whale of a time. If you haven't, well now's the perfect opportunity to get acquainted.

Support on the night will come from Mob Fandango and the rather excellent DJ Frankie Grimes. There will also be an auction where the top prize is the chance to have Attention Bébé perform in your house.

Going once. Going twice.

Static

I'm currently unhealthily obsessed with the work of graphic designer/art director Albert Exergian. I especially love his recent body of work based on TV culture:





See more of his work here.

Florence Et La Machine

I don't really care for Stella Artois as a drink but I always enjoy their adverts. This latest one featuring Florence and the Machine is something of a cracker:



I suppose Ms Welch is kind of selling out by endorsing a brand of lager but, honestly, I'd forgive her anything

Not Just Skine Deep

I'm currently somewhat infatuated with Quoteskine. The idea is pretty simple: graphic designer Lee Crutchley doodles on his Moleskine notebook with markers, then uploads the generally awesome resulting images and typography to his Tumblr account.

Kitty Litterature

A new short but sweet instalment of 'Simon's Cat' has surfaced to coincide with the release of the first Simon's Cat book.

Behold 'Hot Spot':



The book by animator Simon Tofield is available on Amazon and I'm adding it to my Christmas wishlist.

A Thing of Beauty

I picked up my sister's copy of Limehouse Magazine this afternoon and am now kicking myself that I have been ignorant of this beautiful creation's existence for the past few months.

It's visually stunning and, although the copy is pretty standard, it's superbly edited and contains some wonderfully original ideas. I reckon it's the best Irish free-sheet since 'Mongrel'.

Apparently copies are available from Urban Outfitters so try nab yourself one if you can. If not, the two previous issues can be downloaded from here and I imagine the third one will be available soon.

More, More, More. How Do You Like It?

Not content with her daily appearances on our tellyboxes, the lovely Laura Whitmore is now invading the highstreet.

The DCU alum has teamed up with A|Wear to bring us 'Laura Whitmore's Impulse collection'. Not sure exactly what Impulse body sprays have to do with clothing lines but ladies fashion is a very complex matter so there's probably a good reason.

Since being catapulted into the public eye a little over a year ago when she beat thousands of applicants to be selected as the new anchor of MTV News, Laura's gone from strength to strength. 

I remember there was a girl picked as presenter of MTV Select (back in the day when the horrible Richard Blackwood was allowed on television) through a competition called 'Is She MTV?'. The format of the show was very similar to 'Pick Me MTV', the programme that led to Laura landing her job but, within a few months, the new presenter seemed to vanish without a trace.

The fact that Laura has outlasted her original contract suggests she's got the talent and the savvy to survive in what seems like a fairly cut-throat industry.

Ms. Whitmore, in your military style ensemble, I salute you.

[Image via Claire Byrne at Stellar]

Barometer of Judgement

Love it:

True Blood - How this fantastic series remains without an Irish distributor is beyond me. Directed by 'Six Feet Under' creator Alan Ball, the series is set in a reality where vampires have come out into the open following the invention of synthetic blood. Starring Anna Paquin as Sookie and Stephen Moyer as her vampire love-interest Bill, the series has been rather aptly described by Aideen as 'Twilight for grown-ups'.

Slightly Blue - This nifty little device scours collections of Flickr photographs for images that match a colour of your choice. I haven't a clue what practical uses it might serve but it's fun to play around with it and test its accuracy.

Twitter - Yes, I was initially skeptical of the 'micro-blogging' site and I do think a lot of the jibes directed at those who 'tweet' are entirely justified. However, the use of the site by Iranian civilians to orchestrate rallies has convinced me of Twitter's merits and watching the hysteria surrounding Michael Jackson's death unfold in real time on the site was fascinating.

When Saints Go Machine - If you hold my musical tastes in any regard at all, you need to get your hands on a copy of the Swedish band's album 'Ten Makes A Face'. Oh, and while you're at it, check out their self-titled EP.

Can't Speak French - This genius idea by the girls from Bluebirds Are So Natural involves converting the lyrics to popular songs into French through online 'translators' and then re-converting the resulting French back into English. e.g. 'This time baby I’ll be Bulletproof' becomes 'This baby of time, is it with test of the balls.' Amazing.


Shove it:

Sexist McCoy's Ad - Yorkie already did this. Far better.

No More Ad Hoc in Temple Bar - Where the jiggins are people going to get zebra-print tights, diamond encrusted whistles and metallic bow-ties now that this Dublin institution has closed up shop?

Perez Hilton - I'm becoming increasingly convinced that this man is, in fact, the anti-Christ.

Murray Mania - How can the Brits get so excited about the sporting success of a character who doesn't seem remotely excited himself? Henman hardy epitomised charisma but he was at least able to serve up a smile once in a while, unlike this chap, who lives up to the stereotype of the dour Scot.

Avenue Q's Final Curtain - After a run that lasted over 6 years, my favourite Broadway musical will close on September 13, 2009. If you've never experienced the irreverent puppety brilliance of this show during its run, it really does suck to be you.


[Image: Baltimore 21201]

Counting Down The Days...

I'm slightly obsessed with the photography of Kane Longden. The moments of child-like reckless abandon captured in his images are welcome reminders that, in just three months, I will be free from the clutches of formal education.



Yet another discovery courtesy of Devin Castro.

Published

I managed to get two pieces published in the Dublin edition of 'Le Cool' this week. I've really enjoyed reading this online publication since it first surfaced a couple of weeks ago so I'm slightly delighted to be able to write for it. If you haven't already subscribed to the weekly mail-out, you can do so by clicking here.

[Image: Cooee Design]

Let Sleepy Dogs Lie

The brilliant Neon Gold is offering a free download of Run Toto Run's charming version of Passion Pit's 'Sleepyhead' that I was fawning over a few days back.

Click here to download the track and see what Mr. Gold has to say about it.

[Image: Best Web]

Said He Had Some Songs To Play...

I'm super psyched that my friend Ian has offered to teach me how to spin the decks so I can try my hand at being a superstar DJ.

All going well, I might even get to play a stint at a (relatively) new club night in Dublin. Watch this space...

[Image: Speed Cuber]

Ever Wanted To Know What A Smiley Sounds Like?

Click here to find out.

[via Devin Castro]

Here's Looking at Yooouuu, Kid

I've just discovered YooouuuTuuube and it's proper whopper. It makes Youtube videos infinitely more entertaining by generating a wacky kaleidoscopic effect. I've chosen Dan Black's track 'Yours' but it works for any youtube link.

32 Dan Blacks. Yum.

Barometer of Judgement

Love It:

Imogen Heap - She's documented the drawn-out process of assembling her third album in a series of vblogs but now it seems we might finally get to hear the end product. She recently revealed on Twitter that the album is called 'Ellipse' and is scheduled for an August release.

IYT Festival of New Writing - Dublin's only youth-run youth theatre staged a fantastic festival this week. If you missed it, shame on you. Don't beat yourself up too much though because you'll have another chance to witness the talents of IYT during the upcoming Gay Theatre Festival. 'Killed By Curriculum' is written by emerging playwright Shaun Dunne and runs from 4th to 6th May in Teachers' Club Parnell Square. Tickets can be booked here.

New Look - I always thought it was just for women. Turns out they've got a H&M worthy men's collection. Summer Ball outfit: sourced.

Britney in Dublin - June 19th is the date Britney's Circus rolls into town. Tickets start at €86 though, which is a bit steep for the worst seats in the house. Tempting all the same...

MTV Sessions - Whoever's responsible for these is clearly pretty clued in as the roster of artists, performing pared down live versions of their tracks, reads like a who's who of 'next big thing' contenders.


Shove it:

The Long Goodbye - I've started bracing myself to say goodbye to DCU all over again. Mixed feelings about it, to be honest. As eager as I am to move on to the next stage of my life, I've had a lot of fun the past few weeks and it's a bit depressing seeing things set up for a time when I won't be here.

Bills, Bills, Bills - TV licences are a load of pox. I completely empathise with the people in those patronising ads who go to great lengths to avoid paying them.

Demolition of Andrews Lane Theatre - Apparently it's been on the cards for over a year but they've now officially started advertising the office spaces in the replacement building. Apparently the new complex will include a theatre but God knows how long it's going to take for the construction to take.

Calvin Harris' Latest Stuff - I wanted to like it but have come to the conclusion that it's absolute parp. Other people seem to be lapping it up though because 'I'm Not Alone' is his first ever UK Number One. Let them eat cake.

Lorraine Keane Off The Tellybox- As if losing The Seoige Sisters wasn't traumatic enough, Lorraine Keane has finished up on TV3's 'Xpose'. Who's going to tell us when Kylie launches a new brand of perfume now?!

Troof

More from Saendy...

[Discovered via Starblog]

Crown Jewel

Marina & The Diamonds confirmed that she's paying Eclectic Fishness in a response to my comment on her blog. I have reason to believe this is a bit of an exclusive.

Things just keep getting better for EP '09. Dare I ask for Röyksopp to be added to the list? Too much?

Meanwhile, Nialler9 has a download of Marina's track 'The Shampain Sleeper' in this post. A gem of a tune.

[Image: Marina's Blog]

Olympia Bound

The DCU Drama production of 'Rent', for which I was costume manager, has been granted a week-long run in The Olympia, Dublin, beginning 15th of June. If you're a musical fan and missed this production first around, you have no excuse to miss it next time around.

Tickets will be available from here from some point in the next few days.




[Images: John Donnelly]

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prints

Whopper.

Also, I stumbled across this picture the other day with Paula and Mariosa of Rupert Grint in upcoming Irish film 'Cherrybomb'. Where has he been hiding those guns until now??

Click image for an eyeful a better view.

[Images: Flicknews]