Dublin Sunrise

Walking to work this morning I was listening to the radio on my walkman (old school) and the yammering DJs mentioned this morning's sunrise. Walking across O'Connell bridge at 8am I was needless to say pretty sleepy and oblivious to the proceedings. I looked left, and sure enough, there it was.

CLICK TO SEE LARGER IMAGE

HANDS DOWN #21 - Expectations

It returns! I absolutely love doing this comic and I did miss it during the break. I think we've got a fun story for this season and I'm looking forward to seeing how you guys react to the big storyline we've got coming up.

But before we get into that expanding drama, check out our first episode of Season 2!

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I Heart Graffiti: Watch Us Wreck The Mic

More shenanigans from The Bernard Shaw pub grounds. I pass this guy every day as I walk home, it has been painted over already but I guess thats the point of me taking these pictures, isn't it?

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Word-A-Week Vocabulary Vlog #21: Obloquy

As a kind of bookend to last week's video concerning letters of praise, this week we have some letters of abuse. I did request them though so it's my own fault. Watch the video and laugh at my misfortune. You jackals.



Don't forget, if you want to subscribe to my Word-a-Week series, here's that feed link or you can find iTunes here. You can also get a downloadable iPod version here

TDMTLTUT: Cheers

Cheers is the first real grown-up show I'm featuring here but I don't think any list of TV show theme tunes could be complete without this belter.

Cheers ran for 11 seasons and started off slowly (it had terrible ratings for the first year) but gained such moment that it really became a regular staple of television schedules. Decades after it's end, Cheers is still very watchable and barely aged at all apart from the fashion and the odd sports reference. The theme tune also has the same staying power with lyrics that still resonate now.

I Heart Graffiti: Pink Piece

I have to admit, I've never been very good at reading some of the odder fonts people use in graffiti pieces. I'm pretty sure this spells out something but I haven't the foggiest what. I reckon there is a "y" in there somewhere. Despite that, I still think it looks great. Cool colours and just a great looking piece. Click the sucker to see it in tyranovison!

Please Thor, don't hurt 'em!

Can you tell I'm excited for the new Thor film? Only 3 months to go! Also, can you tell it's quiet in work today? I'm just happy I have MSpaint to play with.

Word-A-Week Vocabulary Vlog #20: Panegyric

This week's word is dedicated to the blogger Chris Sims who has made me giggle many times in the office while reading his articles. Somehow, I think he'd approve of this one.



Don't forget, if you want to subscribe to my Word-a-Week series, here's that feed link or you can find iTunes here.

TDMTLTUT: The Greatest American Hero

I have to admit, I have never seen an episode of this show. Ever. I could argue that it was never shown on television this side of the water, but I think it was. Considering, however, that the show was cancelled the year I was born (1983) I don't think it was shown during the years I could understand concepts such as comedy television.

What I do know is the show's theme tune because... damn, it's a good one. In fact, it was so good, for a long time I didn't even know it was associated with a TV show. I thought it was just another cheesy 80s hit from Hall & Oates  or someone. On a side note, I also thought it was Paul & Oates for a while too, a side effect of not really listening to what people are saying.

Mars Needs Podcasts Episode 91 - Civility

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This week I make a guest appearance on Mars Needs Podcasts with not only the perennial host JJ Hawkins but his lovely partner Elizabeth.

I'll let JJ describe the episode as I think he does a better job of it than I ever would.

The triad ponder what it means to be a polite person both on and offline. This terrific trio also tell the tale of the path that first led them down the many paths and degrees of participation that the internet offers. Ideas are floated, politics is discussed and long words are dropped. Join the party, but please wipe your feet before you tread upon the new rugs. Thank you.

Weekend Justice #97: Cautionary Tales of Pop Rocks Abuse

This week myself, Jon, Rox, Widge, Leigh and Rob get together to discuss such madness as The Cape, porn forts, Skype, The Green Hornet and Pop-Rocks. Because Pop-Rocks rock!

Click the daring face of Krull to the left in order to listen to the podcast via streaming on the sexy NeedCoffee.com.

To download this episode directly, Your Weekend Justice #97: Cautionary Tales of Pop Rocks Abuse.

I Heart Graffiti: Three Of A Kind

I took a wander down to The Bernard Shaw today to have a look around their car-park as they have a lot of graffiti in around the premises. I saw some good stuff, although a lot of it was obviously obstructed by all the parked cars.

I took a bunch of photos. When I got back home and uploaded these photos I realised that I took three from pretty much exactly the same angle and I thought it might be neat to display them together.

So, after the winter break, here are my first graffiti finds of 2011...

I thought it was a shame that some eejit decided to spray a squiggle across the last one but I guess that's the nature of the art form, some kid will always decide to ruin it.

As always, just click the pictures to see larger versions.

Word-A-Week Vocabulary Vlog #19: Fissure

I had a shower before recording this week's video. And I dried my hair in a way that I never do... I used a blow dryer.

I did not realise the effects it would have. You will see these effects below.



Don't forget, if you want to subscribe to my Word-a-Week series, here's that feed link or you can find iTunes here.

Poole's Polls: Clash Of The 'Tache

Macho macho man. I want to be a macho man. Alas, however, I never will. My attempts to grow facial hair, while successful, have looked terrible. I either look like a paedophile or a child. It's a strange mix, I know.

However, there are plenty of sexy, hairy faced people in the world and I'm trying to find out who is your favourite from the list I've lovingly compiled over at The Website Of Doom.

So click Rufus' face here on the left and cast your vote!

From The Vaults: Aaron's American Taste Tests

I've made quite a few trips to America over the last few years and it brings my American friends nothing but joy to stare at me while I try something new. It's a weird level of perverse voyeurism that we share together.

Last year, during the preparation for Red Nose Net we started to film the following videos, not knowing what we were really unleashing unto the world.

So if you'd like to see me munch on your culture, have a gander at the videos below!

An Evening With Me And Music Videos

As stated a dozen time before, I want to be a music video director for a living. It would make me endlessly happy. I might some day get frustrated with it all and convince myself that comedy was always my true calling. And hell, it may be, but right now I want to direct music videos. Funny ones, just in case.

As a result of this, I get very excited by good music videos that are made by current bands. Most bands don't care about music videos anymore. Since MTV stopped playing the M in their name, most bands(understandably) feel that music videos won't give them much return on the money they cost.

Miley Cyrus does not appear in this article. Sorry guys.

The '90s caused a lot of this backlash. Videos became lavish and over the top as a good economy gave way to a culture of financial bravado while hip-hop "bling" was impressive rather than crude. Hype Williams is the leader of this school of video. Just look at his portfolio to see some of the things I'm talking about.

However, technology is making the video important again. YouTube is now arguably more important than MySpace in getting music to the masses. If you can make a video interesting enough for people to show their friends then you can reap a possible cash windfall through iTunes downloads.

However the idea is not to make something flashy, but something artistically creative. People don't care how much "cheese" you've got. We've got rims of our own. Show me something that makes me go "ooh" is the current attitude. Welcome to the 21st century.

Here are some of my favourite "ooh" videos of the past year or two. Lets enjoy them together.

Word-A-Week Vocabulary Vlog #18: Abstruse

I had a different word planned for this week but a last minute find of this one mad me change my mind. I may do more effects like this with the W-A-W series in the future. It's a good excuse to try a bunch out.



If you want to subscribe to my Word-a-Week series, here's that feed link or you can find iTunes here.

TDMTLTUT: Spider-Man

At Dragon*Con last year my good friend JJ Hawkins (of Mars Needs Podcasts) surprised me. I opened up my laptop and he saw my desktop at the time which was a rather eye pleasing rendition of our friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man. He uttered a sentence which shook me at the time "I didn't know you liked Spider-Man".

Really? Had I kept this such a secret from the internet world? I have spoken at length with him before about comics and comic book movies, but did I not convey my deepest love for Peter Parker himself? I knew I had to correct this and maybe today is my time to do so.

I fucking love Spider-Man. He was my gateway into super heroes. I can't remember a time when I didn't love him. I still vividly remember being up at an ungodly hour of the morning watching Spider-man and friends on TV. He is both at once a kid-friendly super hero and completely depressing tragic figure.

I could get into the life story of Peter Parker and discuss how the character is the Shakespearean tragedy that never was. How he is a role model for anyone who has suffered loss in their life. Or anyone, ever, for that matter. But these "They Don't Make Them Like They Used To" posts are about theme tunes. And I'll be damned if the Spider-man one isn't worth talking about all by itself.

Mars Needs Podcasts #89: Welcome To Your Doom

This weekend The Website Of Doom got updated on a few levels. We gave it a complete make-over and also added the wonderful Mars Needs Podcasts.

While sorting this out, JJ Hawkins mentioned that his host this week had to back out last minute. So at 4am I rather insanely suggested "Hey, I'll do it!".

Give it a listen. I think it's pretty darn fun. And give the rest of the site a browse while you're at it. I lost a lot of sleep trying to get it shiny just for you!

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Weekend Justice: The 2010 Year-End Edition

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This is a year-end out-take sort of episode that NeedCoffee does every year. It bascially featured all the things that hit the cutting room floor instead of the podcasts themselves over the course of 2010. Considering the Weekend Justice episodes are usually around 3 hours long, there isn't a lot left out. But as Widge explains you'll still find some madness considered too mad to leave in. Including some ramblings from myself.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

BTW, you iTunes subscriber types can nab this feed here.
To download this episode directly click this: Your Weekend Justice: The 2010 Year-End Edition