UGH!!!

A Lil Wayne On My Parade

Lil Wayne cancelled. He says its just a rescheduling so the new date for Dublin is October 9, 2013. Apparently he's done this so that he can concentrate on his upcoming album. Yeah, okay Wayne, I'm sure it has nothing to do with the fact that you barely sold out any arenas for the European leg of the tour!! This is the second time in a row he's cancelled an Irish gig!! I'm a huge Wayne fan but this takes the biscuit.. I'll stick to listening to him on my iPod from now on, at least the only way he wont show up there is if I delete him! To all who are of the same opinion, full refunds are available on your tickets, simply contact Ticketmaster's head office on:

 Republic of Ireland:
0818 903001

Northern Ireland & UK
0844 277 9964

To those who would still like to attend, apparently all tickets with the original promised date printed on them will be honored in October, however contacting ticketmaster yourself is advised! AKA, don't blame me if you can't get in. Don't shoot the messenger!

Anyway, I don't really wanna talk about it

*****

March. Snow. Stupid

I awoke this morning, following a day of rest yesterday chillin with the mother for Mother's Day, only to look out the peep hole that is my bedroom window, to find it had snowed all night.... kinda. To be honest it looks more like styrofoam and you most definitely would look a wally trying to make a snowman or snowball out of it as it has the gripping capabilities of an infant on an ice rink!
 <-- See what i did there???? If not, then I just don't know what to say to you!

*****

Madison NC in a spot of bother!

So, over the course of the weekend, it was said that Madison Nightclub in Dublin City, refused the entry of a youngman on the grounds that he was in a wheel chair! They have since issued a public apology on their Facebook page, where the issue came to light after the victim, Graham Bolger, posted his complaint, receiving over 50,000 'likes'. The statement read :

“Madison Nightclub unreservedly apologise for the disgraceful treatment of Graham Bolger last night at the club,” it said, adding that the doorman in question "was with us from an outside agency for the last four weeks” and had been “dismissed with immediate effect. Our company policy is that the club is open to all. We have welcomed people of all abilities and will continue to do so.We are ashamed and embarrassed that this has happened."

It has been reported on TheJournal.ie that Madison Nightclub have made, and will continue to make, efforts to contact Mr. Bolger directly to rectify the situation.

*****



No Flags...Unless Your Flag States Your Name Or Your Club's Name On It, Then It's All Good

Yes that is one of the more stupid taglines you've ever read, and trust me, the story behind gets even more ridiculous!
Tallaght club Shamrock Rovers will be travelling to Belfast tonight to face Linfield in their Setanta Cup quarter final in Windsor Park and it has been decided that no flags depicting nationality, be it English, British, or Irish, will be permitted unless it states the club name clearly across said flag.
Don't get me wrong here, I do understand what it is that they're trying to do here but it is quite ridiculous! Given that Rovers hail from the Republic and Linfield from the loyalist "side" of Belfast, one could only assume it would be quite clear that all tri-colours on show would belong to the away fans, and all British/English flags would belong to the opposing side! The authorities have, in my opinion, done nothing here but created more contraversy surrounding the flag dispute of the north, and given it more coverage instead of using some common sense! If anyone can make sense of this decision I would love to hear it!
It's my opinion that they have completely belittled the loyalist and nationalist stance on what is undenyably a huge issue in the north of Ireland, by lobbing a football game into the mix and disputing the showing of any patriotism without first mentioning with which club the flag pertains! As I've said, it's fairly obvious who'll be flying a tri-colour and who'll be flying union jacks and the cross of St. George.
Also, if the reasoning behind this operation is to link the clubs back to any violence or such, it would be quite easy for those involved to write SRFC on a tri-colour and proceed to cause such troubles, (or vice versa), would it not???

*****

 

 129 Days til Ibiza!! Cash saved: €0.86

Sooo.... It's been a while...

Yeah, so I kinda disappeared for a while (roughly 11 weeks, but hey.. who's counting)
Anyway, so a lot has been going on in the world since my last post i.e, Horses in our grub, HMV going bust and almost leaving Lily-Mae in the lurch for the charity single proceeds (but it was fixed as far as I know), public service workers are getting a bit of a hit pay wise (less mulah, more hours), Example came and went, Dada Life announced a date in The Wright Venue, I'm getting published soon, I've another little opportunity in the pipeline (keeping sssh on those two 'til they happen though) and I booked my holiday to Ibiza with my crew!
I am aware that there are some slightly more pressing issues in the world than my holiday and my articles but hey I'll get to the other stuff, I'm just keeping you posted!

So.. From the top.

Shergar Burgers

What is this all about? No need for this! I was in Galway doing some work when this story hit its peak and it was announced that there's some horse in the ready made lasagnes now too??? You're killing me here! I'm a student those things are all I eat. Don't get me wrong, I'm not gonna stop eating them because I never noticed it before so it's obviously either small amounts or it's very tasty! However, I will feel somewhat guilty now that I may be eating something Ruby Walshe once sat on!!

HMV - As in, His Master Vanished (because of the lonely dog logo??)

You get it now, I assume?? If not, my witty humour is wasted on you! Anyway, you may remember my post about Lily-Mae back in December and the charity single that was released to raise funds for her treatment.. if not its HERE

I'll wait go ahead and read.... but just know you're holding everyone else up . . . . . . . . . .

Now, welcome back! You really should keep up to date! (says he who hasn't posted since December)

So, where was I? Oh yes, so apparently because we're all buying our music online (or downloading illegally, I'm not judging, times are tough, but I don't condone it!) HMV are making such gigantic losses that they've been forced out of business! Old western style.. iTunes -V- HMV !! And there aint enough room in this town for both of 'em.
Seriously though there really isn't, so HMV is no more!

When they upped sticks and left it was uncertain as to whether the proceeds that were collected on byhalf of Tiny Dancer: A Song Lily-Mae would be handed over or not, given that HMV couldn't even pay their employees wage! The last I heard of the situation it had been sorted and the foundation were to receive the money, however, I'll have a snoop and see if I can find out any more about the situation! Hopefully they did the right thing!

Public Service Workers - Croke Park Agreement Seems More Like A 'Not It' Competition

Basically the scope on this story as far as I've held the patience to keep track of it is; Government said there'll be extensive cuts across the board for PSWs, and longer hours.
Unions said NO!
Then Government lowered the cuts slightly but said it was necessary.
Union said NO!
Union then said "why don't you take a cut?".
Government said NO!
Ultimately a few unions walked out and a few stayed. A new deal was proposed which I haven't seen just yet but the final report is due soon (could be out by the time I finish here!!!) and from what the digital tabloid say, all is well (considering).

All I can say is, I'm glad I'm only on placement within the Public Service and not actually in permanent employment, because then I would be quite angry, you wouldn't like me when I'm angry, a la The Hulk/Bruce Banner!
Awh I'm such a geek!!!
On that note though, Injustice: Gods Among Us is due for release mid April!!! Can't wait! If you don't know what it is, you don't need to because you'll only further brand me as an even bigger geek!

You're gonna Google it aren't you??

Thought so... *Embarrassed expression*

More Music for 2013

Now, I know I said 2013 was the year that rap was gonna return with a bang and that I'm really excited for Lil' Wayne and Eminem, but that doesn't mean I'm not still going to concerts for dance/house( and whatever genre you'd be brave enough to label Example with) kinda music! So, I got to see Example (again) he was quite amazing I must admit! Although, in fairness, I've seen him a couple of times now and he has yet to let me down! That night in the O2 was my first time seeing Benga and to be honest I'd listened to a few of his tunes before the night came around and I wasn't fully convinced despite having a few head boppers, but I was wrong to be hesitant! He is unreal! It is, in my opinion a case of you love it or you hate it, but I love it!

Next up on my music calender is Weezy F Baby! I won't go into that again though because I'll just start babbling on again thinking I'm repping Young Money and Cash Money Records! (But I am so....)
After that, It's Dada Life in the Wright Venue! Yes, you do know them!! Seriously you do! Ok, hold on then....

Love it?? Yeah thought so!!
So that's happening!! Cannot wait because The Wright Venue is an unbelievable club/venue as it is, boasting 3 floors, with 7 bars, and 5 VIP rooms!! It's huge! Some might say it's "EPIC"! Get it??? because of the video?? Ah doesn't matter!
Anyway, that's happening on the 12th of April!! Kaskade is playing The Wright Venue before this on the 8th March but unfortunately my bank account has given me strict instructions not to get over-excited for the next few months because,
A: I'm student
and
B: I'm a student trying to pay for IBIZA in JULY baby!!!!!

On that note..

IBIZA IN JULY BABY!!!!!

So, I'm a broke A$$ student and I decided to book Ibiza (pronounced I-Bee-Faw for the duration of the waiting period until the conclusion of the adventure) with my crew from home! It's just over €600 which is manageable given that I'll be in full-time employment (40hrs per week) for just over €9 p/hour from late April, giving me about 17 weeks to make €600 for the holiday then at least €1500 spending money for the ten days... that alone will be interesting, never mind me Dylan and Andy trying to survive over there for 10 days!!! However, we are running it like a bit of a military operation.. our first regiment are going for one week the week before we leave which means we'll get to see them on their return (here's hoping they do in fact return) and it's within these few days we plan on organizing a rendezvous so that we can compile a survival guide in accordance with their reports. Then we (Dylan, Andy and I aka Team Wolf) will fly out one day before the female cadettes (Amy, Laura, Kate, Clare, Aisling and Kelly) to scope out the place and establish ourselves. The following day, the girls will arrive, at which point we will deliver our status report and allow them to organise things from that point (girls are better at that kind of thing). Then at an unknown date a backup regiment will arrive of lads known through mutual comrades including said mutual comrades i.e Richie, Duffy and Co. ... for added activities and missions, of course. The only issue I see arriving is that the back-up regiment, and the group of female cadettes are all on a one week excursion, while Team Wolf are on a ten day excursion, leaving us accountable for our own missions and subsequent actions from the moment of their departure. Danger. It is then that John and the rest of the first regiment from week one, will come into play in the shape of their action plan/survival guide.
Can this end well???

 Ah... be grand! ;-)

 

Well I think that's all he wrote folks, for today anyway!!

 

I promise not to leave it that long without posting again! I know how much you missed me!! More to come on me being published and the new opportunity later :-)

 

PS,  Happy New Year!!!!!

PPS, **SPOILER ALERT** To Team Wolf and The Female Cadettes, Example is playing Ibiza on the 19th. WITH Dj Wire. Just saying.



Faith In Humanity: Up a Notch Since Yesterday

So, I'm scrolling around facebook on my break today and I get a notification. It's an invite from a friend of mine and she has organised an event called The Tiny Dancer Twitter Hour. The intentions behind this event are to have as many people as possible to include #TinyDancerNo1 and #SirEltonSaysYes in their tweets to raise awareness for the story of 4 year old Lily-Mae who was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma and is currently undergoing treatment. Neorublastoma is a rare form of cancer, usually found in children and infants.

When Lily-Mae's parents, two dance choreographers, spoke publicly about their situation, a huge host of Irish musicians got wind of it and a friend of the family in the national broadcaster, RTÉ, decided to pull together and cover the Sir Elton John hit, Tiny Dancer. The plan is to get the single to No.1 this Christmas and raise money so that, should the treatment be unsuccessful, there is a second option but the treatment is quite costly and only available in the United States. The family are hoping that such a measure isn't required and if Lily-Mae is successful in her treatment first time round, all funds raised from the single will go to Neuroblastom Research here in Ireland.

A lot of people, including my friend, really want to give this a big push so please please please tweet your hearts out tonight with #TinyDancerNo1 and #SirEltonSaysYes at the end of your tweets!!

The twitter hour will be from 20:00 to 21:00 GMT

Please help in any way you can. The single is now available to buy from iTunes, Amazon and HMV stores nationwide. Please push it as much as you all can, even if you dont have a twitter account push it on facebook, text people and let them know about it, or go old school and just spread the word!

The video of all the musicians involved is below, with a short appearance by the little lady herself

She is a true inspiration to be in such good spirits. Lily Mae did, however, have her questions about the lyric "Tiny Dancer in my hand" .....

Another blogger quite passionate about this subject, and the organiser of the Twitter Hour can be found HERE aaaaand HERE

A tip of the hat to you, L

2012 was all about House music... 2013 is a Rap Attack!

They said 2012 was going to be the last year for us all because the Mayan Calender predicted it so. In my opinion they just got bored writing it so they said in an Irish style "ah sure leave it, it'll be grand". Well its safe to say that it's not going to end lads, lasses, guys, dolls, dudes and dudettes because apparently a mathematical error was made and leap years weren't taken into account.... thrilling. Anyway!
My prediction is this, the world will not end in 2012, however, mine very well may in 2013 because if one more huge rapper confirms a date in Ireland I may just explode!! I already told y'all about Weezy hitting us with a bang, and if you didn't read that (bold readers!!) you can find it HERE!

Don't worry I'll wait.....

Yes, this is what I look like. And, no the proportions aren't wrong, this is your average size chair. I'm short and bald.

Okay, hope you enjoyed that. Now, we can move along! So, this morning I awoke to the ever-beautiful noise that is, my mother doing her annual (and by 'annual' I mean daily) big-clean (and by 'big-clean' I mean she's throwing stuff I love in the bin). So following my disgruntled shuffling in the bed, stomp of the feet on the floor and general 'ugh-ing' I stood up and checked my emails, only to find an email informing me of an update on the whole Slane Headline Act thing, and, who was mentioned?? Only Marshall 'Slim Shady' 'Slim' 'Eminem' Mathers!!! The level of screaming, and slightly more enthusiastic ugh-ing, was not normal, but nobody could hear me because mother had the hoover on the go!!*
I confirmed with rapireland.com and many other sites and it's true!! This is huge for me!!


My parents have always been great to me, I get on with them really well and they just get it, but having young parents has its draw backs...you can't get away with as much, so I kind of anticipated a negative attitude when I was younger towards the liking I took to rap music (Eminem was in his ' I wanna kill everyone but Hayley ' phase). What I didn't anticipate was my parents having no time for rap and so by the time they had realised what I liked I was already well into the obsession. I was crazy into Eminem and a friend of mine who also had young-ish parents gave me a lend of his Marshall Mathers LP, which I still have by the way.... sorry Dave.

I've had every album since - bar Relapse, Relapse was bad. Bad!

2005 was the year! I was in full rap mode by then and who announces they're playing Slane?? Yep, B Rabbit himself!! But then he cancelled. We won't go into that because I said things I shouldn't have.. but ironically, they were things I learned from him!

But I'm majorly excited for this gig, and I can only hope he addresses the fact that he cancelled on us and clears the air...then again I don't think I'll really mind once I get to see him perform, but it'd be nice.

Cannot wait! For those unaware, Slane Concert (Slane for short...I'm sure you got it but still, I want this blog to be kinda long) is a concert held most years since 1981 in the grounds of Slane Castle in County Meath. The concert is due to be held in mid-August, and I for one, am BUZZING!


*R.I.P to all loose change I stored on the floor everywhere in my house, you will be missed.

'Tis The Season

Well, we seldom see genuine acts of kindness anymore but Brendan O' Carroll has definitely out-done himself...erm..again!
For the second year running the comic and Mrs Browns Boys creator has donated a huge amount of vouchers to St. Vincent de Paul so that hundreds of families can have a free ham and turkey dinner this Christmas!!

This is a huge thing to do in my opinion and while many will choose to be sceptical of his motives and so on, I feel it is nothing more than a true gesture of good will! The Irish star grew up without many of the priviliges he or his kids now enjoy, and while most tend to forget their past, O'Carroll hasn't and has opted, not once but twice, to give back to the community of inner-city Dublin.

Brendan is a true testament to his mother who, although she didn't have much herself, always found ways to help out those in need when she could! So it isn't off a stone he licked it!

Andy Doogue, President of SVP said:

 “This year in particular we are receiving requests for food more than ever. Our volunteers will ensure that families who are most in need will benefit from Brendan O’Carroll’s generosity.”

**************************************************************************************

On a similar note, if you haven't already seen the video made by a group of sixth class students and their teachers about helping out the less fortunate this Christmas, you need to, and being the general all-round good guy that I am.. I brought it over here for your viewing pleasure.

- A word of warning first though, this may cause even the hardest of rock-like emotionless hardy-boys to shed a little tear! Truly inspirational!!

Not only is it emotional in it's concept, but the simple fact that a small group of 12 year olds can have such a vision toward helping those less fortunate is astounding!!

It makes me feel like such a selfish little so-and-so for moaning about getting out of my warm bed in the mornings and just wanting new stuff for Christmas!

 

These kids have genuinely instilled in me, the true meaning of Christmas!

 

With the way things are at the moment, financially speaking, a lot of people need our help and I would ask that you do so in whatever way you possibly can, like Brendan O'Carroll and these kids did.

 

Faith in humanity: Restored.



Scottish Church Castigates Same Sex Marriage!

 

In 2012 we live in a world where dogs can be married, but a man or woman cannot enter into the sacrament with a member of the same sex. That’d just destroy the whole concept wouldn't it? Perish the thought!

In Scotland it was decided in July this year to push forward the bill to legalise same-sex marriages in the country, which would make it the first of the British countries to do so. In answer to this, the Catholic Church have issued a letter of dispute to the Government explaining their feelings on the matter. The Church labelled August 26th National Marriage Sunday, and read statements during Sunday mass in all Catholic churches across the country, saying, ”we reaffirm before you all the common wisdom of humanity and the revealed faith of the church that marriage is a unique life-long union of a man and a woman.”

They then continued “Pray for our elected leaders, invoking the Holy Spirit on them, that they be moved to safeguard marriage as it has always been understood, for the good Scotland, and of our society.”

I am appalled at such attempts to manipulate the minds of so many who have put their faith in the hands of these people, only to be brainwashed into believing that the only “real-love” that can be celebrated by a life-long commitment is that of a man and woman.

The Scottish first minister Alex Salmond, who has been in talks with the Scottish Catholic Church leader, Cardinal O’ Brien, has said that they Government intends on pushing this bill forward nonetheless, and should any parishes object to the new definition of marriage, they need not perform the ceremony.

While I do look upon the minister’s decision not to buckle under the pressure of the Catholic Church with admiration for a State official finally telling the group to like it or lump it, I cannot help but wonder why the Church are so opposed? Where has this down right refusal to accept gay people come from? Surely if the Church can protest it to such an extent as they have in recent days by claiming that gay marriage destroys the integrity of the once ‘man and woman only’tradition as laid out by the bible, then surely incest should not be frowned upon by the church. In the bible it states Eve was created from the rib of Adam and while I’m not quite sure what this relationship constitutes as, the faith of humanity rested on them pro-creating. Adam and Eve did just this having 3 kids then “other sons and daughters”. We are then told that Adam lived for 930 years.

I put this to the church and you, as readers, if this is all there was on the earth, are we not all product of an act of incest? Or many acts, as it were, with the children of Adam and Eve all pro-creating amongst one another. Yet such a relationship is frowned upon in our society and by the Catholic church today? Adam living 930 years does not clear up this mess, in case anyone had jumped to this conclusion, because any woman he was to meet, if it wasn't Eve, it was a child, grandchild or great-grandchild of his. The only way, by following the bibles teachings, that no such incest occurred, is if Adam and Eve are still alive now and are the only ones having children.

My point is this, if the Catholic Church are so set on the teachings of the Bible shaping the world in which we live now and are in no way in favour of reform, then why do we detest incest of any sort and why is this a punishable sin, after all, it is how we were all created.

No person should be punished for loving a member of the same sex or opposite sex. Everyone is entitled to love someone.

LOVE

 

noun

1.

a profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person.

2.

a feeling of warm personal attachment or deep affection, as for a parent, child, or friend.

3.

sexual passion or desire.

4.

a person toward whom love is felt; beloved person; sweetheart.

5.

(used in direct address as a term of endearment, affection, or the like): Would you like to see a movie, love?

This is the definition most of us have of love. Is the entire point of marriage not to celebrate this emphatic feeling we have for another person, that goes beyond the connection of a family member - into an emotion of passion, depth, desire and respect?

I am, in these times, ashamed to say that I as a catholic, once accepted the Holy bread and that I confirmed my faith, because I see now that I have done nothing but pledge an allegiance to a group that intend on viewing nothing through the eyes of others, that will not admit that they are wrong, and will not allow others the right to believe what was thought to them, and celebrate the love they have for someone at the same time.

If you believe in fairness and equality for those who wish to do no more then solidify their commitment to each other, then stand for the cause and do not be manipulated!

#EqualLove

It's Weezy F Baby, and the F is For Finally in Dublin!!

  It's official!! Tunechi is hitting Dublin in March of 2013!! It was inevitable really that another European tour was on the cards for the New Orleans star with his last being in 2009, but after cancelling his Cork gig not too long ago it was widely felt Ireland would be bypassed but not by this Young Money fan!! With the gigantic crowd pulled out by both, Drake and Nicki Minaj respectively this year, there was a concrete reason for Dwayne Michael Carter J.r. to add us to his list!
A lot of rumours circulated regarding the cancellation of the gig in the Marquee in 2011 like he wasn't gonna sell out so he didn't want to play here, he'd never heard of Cork, the U.K banned his entry as a result of his convictions... Whatever the reason, he's going ahead with this one and we can be sure of one thing if anything, this will be an concert of epic proportions!!

Weezy is making Dublin the jump off point for his European tour as Drizzy did with his Club Paradise tour, and it is thought that his album I Am Not A Human Being 2 will be released before the tour and that it will feature heavily in the set list!! Personally as long as I see him perform I will be a happy man! I have waited for this for a long time (mainly since the release of The Carter III) and so you'll forgive my over-excitedness when I say that, next to seeing Calvin Harris live from the VIP area at a small gig in Dublin in 2011, this has the potential already to be a one of the best nights out I'll ever be on!!

Wayne may have a lot of haters in Ireland but I am certain that he will get an AMAZING reception as his Young Money colleagues did. I for one will be screaming every lyric straight back at him, while covered head to toe in YMCMB merchandise!!

Speaking about his tour, Wayne said:

"You can't compare any other artist out there to me.They are them, I am me. Nobody can do what I do. I am the best at what I do and that's everything".

Still modest as ever is the man with a tattoo that reads "I Am Music" above his right eye!

 Tickets are roughly €48.00 from ticketmaster and go on sale at 8am on Friday 7/12/2012 or 12/7/2012 for any readers across the pond in Weezy's home country!!