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I read today that two men, aged 20 and 18, from England were jailed for the manslaughter of a man they attacked, all in the name of ‘happy slapping‘. To top it off, they only got 13 and 12 months. respectively. Something has gone horribly wrong when this happens. The question is, will it happen again, or how many times?
This is no “fad” or “craze” as the media seems to enjoy labelling it. Kids beatin’ the shit outta other kids and adults is no game. I have seen one or two of these videos from the phones of some friends, and I don’t find it funny - but im not a 14-17 year old.
How do you stay ahead of the latest trend now?
The write up as promised, to myself, by myself…
Firstly, I wanna thank damien, yes, again. I have completely changed my opinion on blogs, bloggers, podcasts, the south of ireland, and blogging in general. Why, well ‘cos I didnt realise before that there was a community of such great people blogging in not such a far away land.
As im not the most talkative of people when it comes to meeting strangers, I didnt talk to as many people as I would have liked to. But those I did talk to I thoroughly enjoyed conversing with. Im thinking about getting wildly dunk next time so as to get some attention. I will also win the best photoblog category next time too.
Yes, I didn’t win the category I was very pleased to be nominated for. Though at the same time, strangely enough, I was quite relived not to have won. I don’t ‘do’ public speaking. It would have been a lot of stumpling and ‘umm’s and ‘ahhh’s. I may even have tripped on my size 12’s on my way up.
As for blogging as it is percieved by most people who know what blogging is, i.e. using words to form sentences and paragraphs and such, i aim to become much more involved in the ’scene.’ Not to be a wannabe of any sort, but rather because I had such a great night, and discovered that these people who enjoy the internet like I do, are really nice people.
I guess having put names to many faces helps to put a perspective on things, and realising that there are so many people under 30 is also cool. A few even younger than me. I know it happens, but in such a small community I wasnt sure what to expect. The fact that everyone wasnt standing around talking about binary, unix, linux, C++, etc was also quite a relief ‘cos I know nothing about each; a definition maybe, if you’re lucky. Instead, everyone was generally being merry and drinking. For those who are not aware, though unlikely at this stage, there are lots of pictures here, and a movie here.
I wanna use this time to say ‘hi’ to those wonderful people I met on the night and hope to meet again further down the line: Robin, Caitriona and Aonghus, Rymus, Elana, Connor, Max, Antoin, Michael, Kevin, Jon and others. To those I did not meet, theres always next year!
I think this next year of blogging in Ireland will be even better than the last, even if it is just because I have joined the ranks of the writters of words.
I arrived at o’connell at 4pm, canon 350d in hand, feeling a little lost. I have been seeing the city in such a different way than ever before. Noticing everything. Constantly looking around. The last few times I have been here I had been for gigs and such, and didnt take the time to just l look and take everything in. There is so much more culture, people, and wonderful things to look at, architecture and such, than I ever remember. This is owe primarily to photography, which has opened my eyes, quite literally, to the world around me.
I eventually found the hostel after following a map I printed out at a great internet café I may well go back to. First impressions are that its a nice place and has very friendly staff, unfortunately there are only two pcs, but internet cafés seem to be everywhere. Well, its getting late, I gotta get off this internet thingy, buy the irish times and have a coffee/pint. Ah, infact I think I will have a pint of Guinness!
I got my Lynx Click today. I put my details in a few weeks ago to get this - but completely forgot about it. Obviously its pretty useless really, yes the next number in sequence appears when you press the ‘clicker,’ but it kept me entertained for a few mins. I cant even find the website I got it from now.
Today is no smoking day, a charity setup in London to “help people who want to stop smoking”. Personally I think this is a great idea. As someone who has just recently quit smoking I’m all for it.
I have tried to quit before in the last couple of years, but found it really hard. I have always said that I will quit eventually and not leave it too late. I’ve had my ‘fun’. I am pretty proud of my progress at quitting. I had my ‘last’ cigarette on sunday 29th jan 2006. 38 days ago. In that time I have had no more than 6 or 7 cigarettes, oh and a cigar. These have also only been smoked whilst I have been in a bar, none during my normally working day.
It definately helped that I started a new job 6 weeks ago. I decided that with a new routine, new environment and no smoking room that I would try my best to give up. The first week didnt go to well, but in my second week I brought a book to work or buy a newspaper every couple of days. I now read, drink coffee, and if im feeling creative, take some photographs outside. I have been to bars plenty and managed not to smoke, though it is hard. But its well worth it, and my wallet is beginng to notice the difference as well as my health!
I am really looking forward to the day that smoking in public places is banned. I’m not going to be one of those ‘ex-smokers’ who looks down on those who chose to smoke. Not at all. I’m doing it for myself and what anyone else does is definately their choice, its how I thought about my own habit, although I have really noticed how bad it is in bars with the smoke in the air. So many other countries have the right idea - the sooner we follow this lead the better.
This evening I finally met Gavin from HeadphoneLand, and let me tell you, it’s really weird talking in so much depth about the internet, blogging and digital photography to someone face to face. I say weird, it is also wonderful. I’m sure there are others out there who agree, that the few friends they have who speak ‘internet’ are a godsend.
Unfortunately, we have yet to get our accommodation sorted for our trip to Dublin for the Irish Blog Awards, which are being held at the Alexander Hotel, this saturday (11th march). For some reason, completely unknown to me, I decided to leave it far too late. Now most places are booked out, and those that aren’t are charging a lot more than I had every hoped to pay.
I’m not one to ask for help from stranger’s too often, so I wont do it again and I’ll make it quick. If anyone can offer any suggestions as to how we can get two beds in dublin next saturday, preferably as close to the Alexander Hotel as possible please don’t hessitate to let me know!
Edit - its all worked out well in the end. Managed to find get vacancies at Avalon House
I am really looking forward to the day when talking about the internet and blogs becomes part of the norm; when those who use the internet rather than whatever else people do, can be ‘outted’ and the internet becomes socially acceptable.
I say this because I still find that I come across as the biggest nerd when I speak about computers and the internet with my non-internet folk (i.e. most of my friends), so I try not to do it too often. Yet in certain circles I would probably even be considered a ‘n00b‘.
Yet one more reason (or a major reason) why I am looking forward to the blog awards is the chance to meet the people behind the computer screens, the ‘virtual friend’ to us all; the writer of words and creator photographs, the provider of information and giver of hope: that I am not the only one who would much rather spend their time doing something that it seems the majority of the population does not.
Although it was really just down to my own stupidity that I didn’t start this sooner, I am glad to be starting it now, as I am much better prepared, mentally. Maybe stupidity is a slight exaggeration, rather lack of time and initiative to explore the preinstalled scripts provided by my host and go so far as to actually install wordpress. I would then have discovered how easy it it was to setup.
Its been just over a year since I first discovered blogs, well in the way that I know them now. I guess I had seen plenty around before, especially news related blogs such as slashdot. It was my discovery of photoblogs that led me to realise the huge volume of blogs and photoblogs worldwide. I have on many occasions followed link after link, leading to many tabs open in firefox. I began to see plenty of blogs that I wanted to read again, and a few I actually did, though photoblogs took a higher priority as my obsession for photography grew.
Lately though I have begun reading a lot more text blogs, whenever I have time. Now I feel I am ready to hop on the virtual bandwagon and join the wonderful, again very virtual, blogosphere.
I am not going to allow this to become a place to vent all my anger and rants of daily comings and goings. Believe it or not, I feel I have much better things to say than what I had for dinner and how much I drank last weekend.