Oliver

I bought a jar of tomato and basil sauce the other day. Hopelessly endorsed by Jamie Oliver. Not that I've a problem with that, I actually quite admire the man. He makes cooking for the average Joe, none of this michelin star business for him and being honest, no one is full after a meal of that stuff.
How do I know it's endorsed by Jamie Oliver? Well it has his photo on it for starters. It also has a subtitle 'honest italian flavours' by which you know it's Jamie because no one else refers to food as honest. Do you have a dishonest flavour Jamie? Why lead me on with all this honesty stuff only to break my heart when I find all the kingly virtues (learned from Macbeth) are not present in your cooking? Shame on you.
As for this 'naked chef' business I'm pretty sure the nieghbours thought you were some pervert during barbeques.
And what's up with your name? I'm of a generation that has watched enough American tv to know that Jamie is a girl's name. Sort your life out.


That said the sauce is lovely.

Music for the week

In no order, it's a pick and mix. Listen, like, love and leave a comment

1. Stars - Look Up
2. Stornoway - Here Comes the Blackout
3. Sufjan Stevens - Casimir Pulaski Day
4. Heathers - Remember When
5. Bloc Party - Banquet
6. Passion Pit - Little Secrets
7. Los Campensinos - You! Me! Dancing!
8. Led Zeppelin - Hot Dog
9. Echo & the Bunnymen - The Killing Moon
10. Death Cab for Cutie - Your Heart is an Empty Room
11. Cut Copy - Feel The Love
12. Nena - 99 Red Balloons
13. The Knife - Heartbeats

I'd eventually get around to it

Before you read this you should be aware that I haven't listened to this Jedward band or the album in question (although some of their covers have filtered their way into my news stream and I've watched them).

The Guardian, of which I'm a huge fan, recently gave the Planet Jedward album 1 out of 5 stars. Now I know how you're feeling: something along the lines of "It's utter tripe, completely useless and to give it even one is an insult to the star." However that's not the worrying point for me. The review gives no real insight as to why the result was given, only complimenting their efforts on one or two songs. It seems to me that if an album is worthy of such a bad marks then surely there should be some long winded complaint about the dreadful thing this piece is doing to music and the surely horrific things it instills in the young people who will follow in their footsteps. The review was lacking. It's almost as if they hire one person to write the review another to attach the stars.

It's not the first time The Guardian has posted strange reviews. Within two weeks it's possible to see two reviews of the same band (for live shows or even albums) with completely different star ratings and comments being made. It seems to me that in order to maintain journalistic credibility there is a need to be at the very least consistent. Poor show Guardian, poor show.

I just don't know

Inception: I've not much to say about it. The acting is decent, the plot is stirring and overal certainly deserves the praise it's getting. People seem to be dealing with the whole thing on a very philosophical level which baffles me to be honest. The ending is annoying and the film would've done much better had it been about half an hour shorter. The lack of urgency of characters grinds my gears in the dying moments of the film. Without giving anything away, the characters have a deadline and seemingly have time for long winded conversations about nothing remotely important to the task at hand. Inception? More like interruption. Get to the point. That is all.

Been playing some pitch and putt lately with my Grandfather which has been nice. Considering the man plays golf at least once a week it's nice that he finds time to bring my brother and I out for 12 holes in the local course. However I have noticed one thing which although it seems painfully obvious was not something I had entirely anticpated. When did I become too young to swing a club around? Seriously I don't think I could see the flag or even the green among the masses of chinos, cotton vests and polo shirts. Stepping on to the course I feel like Marty McFly looking at his future self, minus the double tie and without the fun of stealing hoverboards of kids. Not that I mind of course. I'm well aware that golf is connected to business men, middle-aged folks and people who've got a bit more money than the rest of us. So why do they have to use our PUBLIC course? Seeing as I pride myself on dressing well, it's rather annoying to be shown up by people that, one they step off the course, have next to no fashion sense whatsoever. I am the scumbag of my local pitch and putt course. Didn't see that coming.

Mercury Prize nominees are out. Have I listened? But of course. Do I have the winner picked out? Not yet, let me get back to you on that one. I'd like to see The Villagers take it but danger is that it'll go to that dreadful album The xx. It seems if you can play an instrument in some sort of conherent manner, and throw in a few pretentious lyrics you can make it no problem. It's sickening that talentless halfwits end up taking these prizes leaving the rest in utter confusion.

Tunes for the road (mostly for sleeping)

It's been a slow week, no denials there. I think we all need some music to mellow out to:

first some fifties stylin'
Tennis

getting a little stranger
Julie Feeney

rise in tempo, eerie and haunting in parts
Boccherini

That's it for now champs, stick with it.

Sorry to bring this up again

Vuvuzelas. Believe me enough has been said about the World Cup and their impact already. I think it's time someone stood up for sense in the music world which seems to be regarding this plastic horn as a banner of minimalism in music.
Minimalism as a manner of orchestration cannot be used in conjunction with the vuvuzela for one main reason: it's stupid. And people talking about it in any sort of serious manner sound like arrogant music snobs.
It's a horn and it's really annoying. Making concertos to the sound of Bb doesn't impress anyone. It gets laughed at. That is all.

Dear me

A week of disappointments it has been I'm afraid. Couple of things went on, some big, others not and some a little less impressive than others. There is some good news in the middle of it all, so bare with me.
Firstly I applied for an internship with some Senator or other which obviously didn't go through but sure what can you do. The lack of working in a Senator's office will look well on my CV I'm sure. I'll put it down beside the list of jobs I already have:

July - August 2009: worked in Senator Blogg's office. Oh wait, no I didn't. Balls.

Went to a few gigs last week one of them being Dara O'Briain. Now I've seen him before, twice actually. I happen to have quite a high opinion of the guy, or at least I did right up until Friday night. It's not that the show was bad, and most people seemed to enjoy it and laughed along. I felt it was a little forced. Awful lot of 80s references which although understood, didn't feel very relevant to me. I would barely get a handshake let alone a hug from Calvin Harris for being born so late in the 80s. And there was this huge section on parenting and pregnancy which I wasn't feeling at all. Diamonds in there, but none seen.

I watched the World Cup Final there. Needless to say I'm disappointed for the Netherlands because I thought based on their previous performances, they could have played a lot better tonight. For once Dunphy had it right though: illness in the game. I'm not a football fan generally, my family aren't either but all of us could tell that it was a disgraceful game.

Civil Partnership Bill became Act. That'll teach those protestors outside the Dáil. Absolutely delighted with the outcome. Ireland can overcome the Catholic Church and it will with time.

Listening to this track at the moment by One Night Only. Now I interviewed their frontman, way back when, he's not the greatest of guys. And being honest, I thought him a cut-paste of Luke Pritchard from The Kooks. Still it's not a bad track. Thought I'd send it on.

Seriously?

If there's one thing that annoys me in this world it's unproven lies that are spread through ignorance to cause doubt and give rise to conspiracy. What really surprises me is that it seems like well renowned artists such as MIA are jumping on the band wagon.
"Google and Facebook were developed by the CIA, and when you're on there, you have to know that."
Seriously what is the world coming to when we have to be barraged with unfounded accusations?Is there evidence to suggest that the CIA are taking an interest into Google and Facebook? Doubtless there is. But I'm pretty sure that the CIA have plenty of interests in other search providers and social networks - and no more than other intelligence agencies.
Conspiracy and controversy are the themes of MIA's recent album with her responses to critics, her videos and now her rash statements. Still, it sells. I'm well aware of her past, and have little doubt that her music and her actions are to raise awareness for the situation in Sri Lanka. However when I listen to her music, watch her videos or follow her statements, her history isn't the first thing I think about. It comes across somewhat ill-informed, conspiracy rable serving only to show how controversial she can be.
Who knows, maybe my phone number will be tweeted next: especially seeing as I'm clearly working for The Man because I need proof before I make statement.

Songs remain the same

Been trawling through my music collection lately to try and find something a little different and obviously something worth listening to. There's a lot to go through and a lot I've either overlooked or done the quick test (first three tracks for 20secs). Still I can't seem to find anything more interesting than what I'd been listening to before.
I'm one of a generation that started listening to this "independent" genre as it as been termed. Basically anything outside of the mainstream would do, or some artists with mainstream appeal but are musically adept and are therefore accepted into the genre. And I guess it's not surprising when I play some of it to my parents they remind me that it's almost carbon copy of music that's way before my time. Not that I mind it's just that I think I'm beginning to understand more and more why I'm finding something different to be so hard to come across.
The problem is it all seems to sound the same. Cross artists cross genres, it's like I was born into time without a huge amount of originality. It's not like I don't accept that there's plenty outside this genre: metal, classical and so forth. Thing is although I enjoy classical music, there's only a certain style that works for me and the problem is that modern composers seem to avoid duets for violin and cello that serve early 19th century musicians well. Metal is a genre that seems to be as broad as independent, but suffers the same fate it would seem.
It seems like a long time since I've picked an album up and been wowed by it. The suggestions of friends yields ponds I've overfished. Perhaps there is change out there and I've just missed the trend but for now the songs remain the same.

A good moan

Who doesn't love a good moan? Being from Ireland it's all to easy with plenty to complain about: the weather, Brian Cowen or even that volcano that, let's be honest, no one can pronounce. Still my nerves have been tested lately by this recession business. Quite frankly I think it's time we did a little less groaning and giving out.
Everyone is finding it tough, not just the little people this time. However it seems to be the Celtic-Tiger-created middle class that have jumped on the bandwagon that complain about the recession more than the average man on the street. Let's be honest here, if people are getting paid to complain about having no money it seems a little hypocritical. It seems even worse when faced with pay cuts so more people can take jobs, there are demonstrations and strikes country-wide. It can hardly be the media's job to indoctrinate the young people of Ireland that things have hit the fan and the only possibility is to emigrate.
Things will pick up Ireland just hang in there.

Power Play

The US administration has a lot to answer for. I've just read Obama's status update on Facebook: "We have seized this opportunity to make the American people and the world more secure." Does anything here strike you as particularly odd? Perhaps not, but allow me to explain: The quote is in relation to the signing of a Treaty by 47 countries against the proliferation of nuclear arms. It is interesting to note how positive this quote seems when the reality is not a safer world, but one that is being aggravated into a corner by US foreign policy.

The problem is not the treaty in itself, which can definitely be seen to serve this purpose, rather it is in the countries, conspicuous only by their absence. Two countries which the US failed to bring to the table also happen to be the two countries with which nuclear-relations have always been problematic. Despite the fact that there is little evidence to suggest that Iran has been developing nuclear arms since its initial halt in 2003, there still seems to be some anti-Iranian play being made by the Obama administration the ends of which we cannot be certain of. However it is widely known that the National Intelligence Estimate conducted by the National Intelligence Council in the US deemed that Iran had ceased trying to develop nuclear weapons in 2003. These two pieces of information are seemingly at odds with one another: if the US believes their own intelligence then why omit Iran from the treaty negotiations?

The problems with North Korea's development of nuclear arms is the inability to bring them to bear over it. Who will tell them to stop? Would it not have been seen as less aggressive to invite North Korea to the table? Discuss the possibility of disarming or even down-scaling?

The US is playing a dangerous game here, one which could do far more harm than good. By singling out these two countries the US has done nothing but implicate them both as radical countries with nuclear arms. The thing is it doesn't even seem like a rational move? It doesn't seem plausible to suggest that even realists could explain this move. Is it some attempt to lash out at Iran which by the US account have done nothing wrong? Even if this is so is it still seems an irrational move. What power basis is to be gained by making the situation worse with these countries? Surely the rational move is not to isolate your enemies but bring them closer so that their dealing are more transparent.

It seems as though Obama, far from being a saviour of American foreign policy, is adding to the problem much like his predessor. Also this treaty far from being an "opportunity to make the American people and the world more secure" is more a sign of the dangers to come.

Judge not lest ye be judged

There are few topics of note that have generated as much controversy as the child abuse scandal in in Ireland. The simple hypocrisy of the whole story has changed the way Irish people view their priests and to an extent, the Catholic Church itself. These revelations have done nothing to stop the numbers flocking to have their kids confirmed or baptised as Catholics all the same.

We can talk around the Rome situation in Ireland all day. The reality is the Catholic Church had far too much influence and power in the origins of the state for the humble people of our nation to make any kind of choice. So instead of hating the church for its abuses, not just against children but also the mistreatment of young pregnant women, we enshrine it as something to be proud of, something to make us different from those Protestant Queen loving Brits. There seems to be something inherently wrong with the idea of hating a people whose ancestors committed crimes doubtless, but we have more time for an institution that has committed heinous crimes in the here and now. No surprises.

Furthermore is the decision not to prosecute the guilty but rather let the Church deal with them in their own manner. If these crimes had been committed by any other member of society we would be quick to throw them in jail and keep them on file as committed sex offenders. If these were church leaders from any denomination we would have no problem condemning them and the religion they served under. It's a disgrace that the Irish government has taken this cowardly decision to let be. And what has become of the men accused? They have been moved to another parish, not treated, not kept in isolation. They have served no time for their crimes. There is no justice for their victims.

And what answer to the sinners bring forward? The Catholic Church have stopped short of issuing a full apology to the people it has terrorised. Instead it has labelled the incidents as related to homosexuality which the Church currently condemns as a sin. So instead of taking the blame, perhaps realising that it's antiquated laws forbiding members of the clergy to marry, the Church has blamed its abuses on sexuality. Considering there is no link between the paedophilia and homosexuality it seems as though the Church is doing all it can to place the blame anywhere but on itself.

It is the book of the Church that will hold them accountable for their actions as it seems the government cannot. On the last day they will be judged for the crimes they have committed and the abuses they have hidden.

More of the Same

It recently came to my attention that US involvement in Afganistan is using Rock music with a view to forcing the Taliban from hiding. Actions such as these are not new: as former inmates of Guantanamo Detention Camp have been eager to tell us. But what we can garner from this is that there is still a disrespect for the music and the writers inherent in the US armed forces.

Will playing this music help end the war on terror? If so should it be allowed?

There is evidence to suggest that playing music, particularly of the metal variety, at loud volumes does have an impact on people. However as this is used as a form of torture in certain detention camps worldwide should there not be a limitation to which it should be used? The Guardian refer to civilians being in the direct vacinity of the din: is the US winning the war on terror here or just creating more sympathy for the Taliban movement. A country that will resort to any means to deal with a terrorist cell surely only aids the cause - this can be seen in the rise in support for the IRA in post 1916 Ireland. The fact that this method is currently being used as a form of torture too only adds to its negative connotations as we can assume if producer, method and means are the same, then the expected result must correlate.

The use of music with subliminal messaging during the various wars the US has waged has created a divide in the industry. Now, music with pro-war leanings is reserved to Governments and pseudo-facist conservatives while the rest remains independent, critical and free-thinking. The use of Metallica, Thin Lizzy and at worst Rage Against the Machine not only undermines this, but undermines the ability of individuals everywhere to have their music expressed in a fashion that is not contradictory to the purpose intended. As there is a violation of freedom of speech in some respects, perhaps our American friends, so fond of this freedom, can cease this torturous habit.

Despite the assurances of some army officials that this policy will stop, there seems to be little hope on the horizon that this form of abuse will end. More of the same.