Sunday, April 29, 2007

The Shiloh Conspiracy?

When Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie named their child Shiloh, we all thought hmmm, what a strange name that I have never heard before.

But suspiciously in the films "Rumour Has it", and the "Wedding Crashers" that name is said by both Jennifer Anniston and Vince Vaughn. Both films were made prior to the birth.

Do you think the celebs are having the last laugh at the gossip hungry public?

Has Yazz let herself go?

The years have not been kind to Yazz, and what is she doing with Jennifer Anniston?

Friday, April 27, 2007

Gone to the dogs

I went to the dogs yesterday night at Shelbourne Park in Dublin. A good time was had by all and lots of drink was drunk and money was lost on those little horses.

I won the first 3 and then lost the rest. It is a such a random thing to bet on. I saw one guy run up with a second to spare to put €600 down! On a dog!

Madness!

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

Running Again

I have been out running twice this week so far, 8.49 on monday and 10.12 tonight and the knee feels fine. I will leave it until saturday before I run again and try and bring it over 15 minutes.

I hope to do a decent 5 mile run before the end of the year, if my knee can handle it!

Tuesday, April 24, 2007

When no one else can help...

why don't you call the A-team. It's not April Fool's day so this will be classic.

Save the planet

Check out 155 ways to fight climate change. There are a lot of tips there and most are easily done. So go save the planet!

Monday, April 23, 2007

I've been running

I got a letter in the post from Sportsworld about this year's 5 mile run. I don't I will be able for it but I would love to be.

It is a great event, really well organised and it has a good turnout. I did it in 40.56 last year and I will be back for a sub 40 next year.

I did go out for 8 minutes tonight and it felt good. So hopefully I can keep running and maybe make a race this year!

Take that science

Once again some old codger has come along to disprove science. I love this woman's attitude. I think her lust for life and chippendales has sustained her more than a few sprouts ever could!

London Marathon

The London Marathon was on yesterday and although it was on TV I hit the wall after watching about 20 minutes of it. I think it is easier to run it.

The conditions were hot and a poor man has died since.

I once ran in a very hot marathon when it was supposed to be weet and cold and it was a horrible experience so congratulations to all the runners yesterday.

Has Sheryl gone mad?

Check this out. I want a dining sleeve.

Sunday, April 22, 2007

My precious eyes

Lately I have been getting really bad eye strain and I am finding it difficult to sit in front of the computer. So that is why my posts are less frequent.

I got my eyes tested and order some glasses, it is a very small prescription but with anti glare coating. I really hope this helps because the strain is pretty uncomfortable.

I will find out wednesday when i pick up the glasses.

Thursday, April 19, 2007

It's silly season, election economic promises.

Labour and Fine Gael announced their economic package for their election campaign.

It doesn't seem too outrageous but I wonder how much of it if any would be implemented if elected. I have a mistrust of politicans and I would like to be disproved.

So come on politicians remember that we are all working for a better Ireland so act accordingly.

Dave Allen - Telling the time

This is comedy gold!

The emperor's new magazine

Got canned after 1 week. So even though Smash Hits was recently canned because teenagers use the internet and don't like magazines for their music news, they thought they could sell magazines.

It must be the hardest industry to break into especially with the internet offering everything you want for free!

Angkor Wat

This is an amazing satellite of the ancient temple.

Wednesday, April 18, 2007

Myspace sucks!

Has anyone tried to join MySpace, I tried tonight only to be met with muddled screens and error messages.

Maybe I am getting old!

Nurses Strike

Who said statistics are a pile of steaming hooey? Everyone. But in this case it's true. A survey carried out by the website IrishHealth.com found that 79% were in support of the nurses action.

Is that a surprise? Not really considering the website is aimed at health professionals.

A new survey by the Irish Health News (also for health professionals) says that 43% of people support the action.

I wonder if they did a survey of non health professionals what the figures would be.

I think the nurses are unfortunate to be in the same pay scale as the pen pushers, because they need a degree to have the job and work longer hours but I personally don't think striking is the way to go. There is an implementation body in place for this exact reason.

If the government give them what they are asking for I wonder will there be more strikes on the cards?

I've worked in a semi-state body in the past and they had it so easy... but that's a whole other post!

Tuesday, April 17, 2007

The Kevin "Bloody" Wilson incident

I went to see Kevin "Bloody" Wilson a few years back i nVicar St. in Dublin. The tickets were bought for me and we sat in the front row. It was pretty intimidating but I kept me head down so it would all be ok.

No eye contact and you will be fine I thought! Unfortunately it wasn't enough. The support act was playing, Jenny Talia was her name. We were enjoying this when some people approached and said you are sitting at our table. My friend said no we weren't and showed the ticket. As the person turned the ticket the ride way up to show a 9 and not a 6, my heart sank.

We got up and moved tables but Jenny didn't let this slip by. She stopped her song and asked me, "I bet you feel like a right c*** now!?"

I spent the night in mortification... Oh and to make matters worse the show was recorded for DVD. I have not bought it nor will I ever, just in case I made it into the final cut.

Things to do in Dublin - Part 2

We recently went out to a night of comedy in the International Bar on Wicklow St in Dublin. For the princely sum of €10 we went into a tiny comedy club which was packed to the rafters.

We got our pints (after skipping a guy and then proceeding to knock his pint all over him) and sat down right on the stage. Now I don't like sitting in the front row at comedy gigs, not after the Kevin "Bloody" Wilson incident a few years back.

The gig was MCed by Aidan Bishop (i'd say he ius always described by who he is related to but i will skip the obvious). He did a pretty good job and his material was very funny. He introduced 4 acts, firstly a newbie student type. He was pretty poor on stage but we did spend the next few days quoting his jokes so we will not name him. He will come good.

All the comedy after that was excellent and the night ended with Joe Rooney trying out some new material.

I would definitely recommend this, €10, €8 for students for over 2 hours of good comedy.

Get their early to get a seat it gets paaaaaaacked!!!

Back to back

I had to leave work early because the the pain in my back. I spent the rest of the evening on the couch and generally lying down.

Today I wasn't fit to go to work but I am feeling much better, hopefully by tomorrow I will be ready for work.

I sit at a desk all day it's not like I am out climbing trees or lifting cars over my head. Now that would be a strange job.

Monday, April 16, 2007

Things to do in Dublin

We recently had friends over and we went on the Dublin Literary Pub Crawl. For €12 you are brought from pub to pub by 2 actors who act out scenes from some of Dublin's greatest writers.

At the end there is a quiz and I am honoured to say that my girlfriend won it. Although I'd say the others were not happy with a Dubliner winning the quiz. We are proud Dubliners.

It is definitely worth a visit.

Oh The Pain

I was on my way into work on the bik and had a twinge in my left shoulder. I gave it a stretch an the pain was immense. I struggled into work and am now sitting here trying not to breathe.

I just want to lie down!

Sunday, April 15, 2007

New Fitness Regime

I have been very slack lately. Not only with my diet but with the amount of exercise I have been doing. I have had patella tendonitus which you may have read about, but that is almost cleared up.

So it is time for me to get back on the horse. From today I will start exercising more and eating better food and less junk. I am starting at 14stone 10.5 pounds. So my aim is to be comfortable under 14 and fit enought to run a sub 20 minute 5 k.

simple eh?

I'm back

My guests have moved on to Limerick so I have more time to post here. I'm sure 2 or 3 people around the world will be relieved to hear that!

Friday, April 13, 2007

Science has amused me

I love reading about science and when science unravels the mysteries of the universe.

Here are some great examples

Lesbian Cows
Lonely Sheep

And my alltime favourite Necrophile Gay Ducks

Thursday, April 12, 2007

Internet Technical Support

This is funny because it's true.


Neglect

I have been neglecting my blog lately because I've had visitors. I will be back posting like a wildman by the weekend!

Kurt Vonnegurt....

Great writer passed away today.

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

Don't be evil in Darfur

Google maps are highlighted the crisis in Darfur.

Hosting Woes

Yesterday my host company were offline for the first time in my 7 years with them. They had a Denial of Service attack so brought all their servers down. Nothing was lost or compromised but I got so many phonecalls!!!

why do people do things like that? It's like smashing a bus shelter!

Tuesday, April 10, 2007

Reasons to not Like Politicians

I just read that there are 20 politicians in Ireland, that are teachers on a leave of absense. Some of them have been professional politicians for over 20 years earning good money with good pension rights while still racking up pension credit from their teaching jobs.

It's even worse that those 20 teaching positions cannot be filled because those on leave are still considered teaching staff.

To top it off one of the politicians in question is the minister for education, Mary Hanafin.

Monday, April 9, 2007

Alan Partridge in the Guinness Storehouse

I was in the Guinness Storehouse on Sunday and there is a wall of comment cards and I came across this cracker!

Dublin - Papal Cross

In 1979 Pope John Paul II came to Ireland. He said a mass to 1 million people in the Phoenix park in Dublin. They built a large cross for this mass and it is still there today and it looks great

Friday, April 6, 2007

New site!

I got a call from my brother in law 6th about a site that needed fixing. There is a up and coming band called Kopek and their site is to be launched tomorrow and they couldn't upload anything.

So I sorted it out for them and the site is being updated as we speak. So check it out in the next day or so. KopekMusic.

Thursday, April 5, 2007

New Haircut

I just got my haircut and the guy who did it cut every single hair as if it was his last. Amazing dedication.

As I returned to the office I was called action man and sent this lovely picture.

I hope to grow a realistic beard one day

Wednesday, April 4, 2007

Patella Tendonitis - Recovery (20)

I think this will be my final update on this.

I went to the physio today and it all seemed good. My knee is much improved and I have to add a few new stretches for my ITB to my current stretching routine.

I am to increase my running very slowly maybe up to 8 minutes this week and 10 minutes the next and so on.

I was told to focus on perhaps a triathlon over the next year instead of a marathon and i think i will go with that advice... so wait for my triathlon updates!

stay tuned for a how to beat patella tendonitis post comign soon!

Check the register!

they keep adding me, removing me adding me. I don't know how many calls I have to make. How hard is it to keep a register!!!

Gerrymandering!!!

Poor Malta

Global warming is a bit of a problem. It is pretty much the only thing the media will report about when it comes to the environment. In Ireland we have the pleasure of getting colder as the globe warms. The luck of the Irish eh?

Spare a thought for the Maltese.

Tuesday, April 3, 2007

Interview Coaching in Dublin

I have spoken before about my friend's father Ronald Roche who runs a great Interview Coaching Service in Louth but now he has branched out and is started to do interview coaching in Dublin.

It's excellent news for anyone in the Dublin area who needs a few tips and techniques for successful interviews.

I think it's a really wonderful service for anyone coming out of college looking for that first job or someone who wants to take their career to the next level. So if you are looking for Interview Coaching in Dublin give Ronald Roche a call.

Google Maps

I have worked with Google maps a few times and I really like it. It adds so much to the site and really helps out the users.

The first time I used it was for a site for Accomodation in Bergen called The Elfhouse or Alvehuset in Norwegian. The only problem I had was that Google don't give you the longitude and latitude for points on your map so to configure my Google map, I went to YourGmap and even though this is a great map solution in it's own right, I used it to configure my Google Map.

I just did a new map for my sister's hockey team's website, Guinness Ladies Hockey and everyone was very pleased with it.

A fabulous bridge

I wonder will this bridge for the luas in Dublin ever get built. I think it looks fantastic.

Monday, April 2, 2007

Big Gigs

I noticed on the BBC site today how much effor the organisers of Glastonbury have put into stamping out touting. I think it is great that the people who love the music get to go and don't have to shell out outrageous prices to touts if they can't get official tickets.

Now, one of the biggest gigs this year in Ireland will be The Rolling Stones in Slane Castle. This will be huge, I have my tickets.

If you go and check ebay, you will see the tickets are already for sale at about double face value already. They only went on sale on Friday.

It would be great if the organisers put the same effort into stamping out touting as Glastonbury.

The long arm of the law

Was on my way into work on my bike for the first time and I was pulled over by the police.

I was nervous and cut out but they only wanted to check tax and insurance, I duly obliged and went about my business.

Normall they let bikers pass by but today they were only stopping bikers. Fairs fair!

Bidvertiser Tips

My Blog is very general. And when I joined bidvertiser this really hampered me. My ads were not relevant to my content like Adsense would be.

But since I noticed this and started writing more about my travels this has really picked up.

So Tip number 1: Write content that sticks to the area you have classified your blog as.

Sunday, April 1, 2007

One time use digital camera

This is pointless but worth a look anyway if you are a thrifty malcontent.

Patella Tendonitis - Recovery (19)

I went a did another 5 or 6 minute run today and it felt completely normal and it feels completely normal now so I am just about done with this recovery.

I think I am going to post one more on this after a physio appointment and then one final one with the dos and don'ts of recovery.

Now I am going out to enjoy some food! Yum