Happy Birthday!
1772 Samuel Taylor Coleridge, poets (Kubla Khan)
1833 Alfred Nobel, Nobel Prize founder
1917 Dizzy Gillespie, jazz musician
1928 Whitey Ford, baseball player
1956 Carrie Fisher, actress (Princess Leia from Star Wars)
1984 Jonathan Byrne, Computer and Communications Engineer,
Guitarist, podcaster and blogger
Yesterday I turned 24! I didn’t feel instantly older over night but I feel younger this year more than any other. I think its due to transferring from college to work You basically start all over again. Everything you thought you were an expert at turns out you really know nothing. Since starting in work I am at the botom of the “table”. Now I think this is good as it makes me feel young and I’m constantly learning (so much so I have found it very difficult to switch of from work).
Despite feeling young, I am getting older. I must admit I’m doing old guy things. I say “back in my day, we didn’t have…” alot these days. Although this could be down to my hatred for the youth of today with their ugg boots and their super race cars.
I wonder what I will achieve/not achieve in the next year. So far the year looks good I am going to see Metallica in Nottingham with the missus, going to see UFC with Mark in January. That’s two amazing events already. Who knows this trip to America in 2 days could be the making of me and my year. Exciting times!
I’m going to be blogging my American escapades as soon as I get access to a PC/Mac over in the states. I’m really psyched to be going now. It’ll be nice to see and I’ll hopefully have lots of pictures too, I just got to buy a camera first
So until I reach the States on Friday evening (to all in GMT) ye shall have to wait for the next blog and also listen to housekeepin.org its the first time I’m not on the thing so it might be good this week!
The 2009 Irish Budget was announced today and while I think its 100% necessary I’m not sure this will help Ireland down the line and some people are really going to be screwed over this. The majority of kids going to college after secondary school is going to stop if registrations go up and that’s really going to hurt the economy. The engineering sector is very low at the moment for competence (Computer/Communications competence really low) and this budget could kill some business sectors very quickly.
The airport tax is gonna hurt me particularly. I don’t like the idea that every time I fly or my girlfriend flies we have to give a tenner to the government……as if Ryanair is not screwing us enough! I think the car tax in Dublin is a great idea, that should be extended to people who own a car in Dublin not just park a car. There is no need for people having cars in Dublin. Metro, Luas, Dart, Bus, bikes and walking should be the future for Dublin. Still though worrying times.
This is not the only worry on my mind this week. I have been working a horrendous amount in work recently and the auld college work is slowly climbing. Starting tomorrow I’m double jobbing on projects. While I’ll learn alot I’m gonna be stressed and tired and that doesn’t make for a happy Johnny.
Another thing that does not make a happy Johnny is having a new server but not enough time to configure it. Anytime I get to configure it I calamitously forget the power cable, download the wrong version of open suse or have the incorrect cable for a monitor (the latter being the reason why I’m not configuring now instead of blogging). On the plus side did buy the server before the budget increases and it only cost my €200 smackaroos.
8 days until America and Apple announce they have released a new Macbook. Why must they tempt me so much…
I’m off to America in twenty days and I will leave GMT zone for the first time in my life. This is pretty trivial I know but to me its the most exciting part of the journey. I’m not sure what America is like so its going to be a new experience and hopefully a great time will be had. I’m looking forward to all the roller-coasters and the electronic shops, particularly Apple stores. Most people come back from Florida with pictures of themselves with Mickey Mouse, I’m coming back with pictures of me in an Apple Store *re-adjusts nerd glasses*
I had my first Optical Communications Lab this week. Its pretty cool messing around with fibre optics and lasers. What is not cool is the dangers of fibre optics. Its extremely sharp glass that can penetrate your skin and possibly kill you. Safety glasses and gloves are necessary when splicing fibre and to be honest it freaks the hell out of me. My nerves were relaxed a bit when the first experiment we did was checking the power loss when connectors are misaligned. We didn’t need to splice the cable and we got to use the most hi-tech solution to fix broken apparatus, check it out. This is why I love DIT.
High-tech Solution
Staying on the theme of America here is a great song from one of my favourite American bands Eagles of Death Metal, enjoy!
Ireland is in a recession, the United States can’t make up the mind on how much they need to bail out the banks and I still have a bit of a cold. What a Monday. Its surreal seeing the banks go bust, something I never would have thought was possible. I hope non of the Irish banks go, we have like 4 or 5 we can’t afford to loose any banks!
Despite all this recession depression, I feel its my duty to part with some nice happy links so we can all forget that we are in for a really crap 3/4 years.
Billy Corgan is a depressing singer??? Well open your eyes sonny jim and take a look at the Smashing Pumpkins singer playing AC/DC in the street in Italy (Sweet)
Only powerful countries can go to space…….WRONG, look at SpaceX schooling NASA on how to reach Orbit.
I started my Masters yesterday and one of the courses I’m taking is called Innovation and Technology. It focuses on change to a process that affect a business in a positive way e.g. Secretaries now use MS Word instead of typewriters, that’s changed that profession completely and its better for it.
This brings me nicely onto a recent innovation to the ticketing system at Dublin Bus. Those clever chaps appear to be using RFIDs in the new cards which allow you to take 5 or 30 days of travel when ever you want and not consecutively like before. The RFID in the ticket remembers how many days you have left as well. I’d love to know the technology and programming behind all this but that will require more time and research. Until then however I do have these fancy pictures to look at and wonder if it is RFID or something else behind this innovation.
I was in Dublin city center last Friday and while I was waiting for Gaff to get into the city so we could go watch Tropic Thunder (Robert Downey Jr is amazing in it) I decided to waltz up and down Grafton street. Anyone that knows me well, will understand my routine on Grafton street; HMV, Tower Records, O2 experience and repeat. Always repeat.
However I had exhausted my GSR (Grafton street routine) to the last waiting for Gaff and hence I decided to go to Starbucks and get a Caramel Machiatto. I was recently introduced to this drink by my lady and I must say its a great drink and Starbucks is a nice place (at 6pm) to sit down and relax after work.
This caffeine burst from the Machiatto had terrible hallucinogenic effects on me….or so I believe. My Starbucks cup was half full and I was looking out onto Grafton street wondering why everyone was in such a rush when I noticed Boyzone in the middle of the street, but their heads looked different.
Things got worse once I left Starbucks I came across a guy on a massive trolley trying to fish for people. I was convinced it was one of the signs of the Apocalypse when I saw U2 walking towards me but Bono’s head was smaller than usual.
I eventually met with Gaff and as he was not big headed (more so than usual) I realized that it was Dublin’s Cultural city night. It was a welcome change to the hustle and bustle of the usual Grafon street trip. Its a shame Dublin can’t be like this more often, it really did make for an enjoyable day.
I’m struck down with mans worst enemy “the Flu” not to be associated with Man Flu. I went to work despite having breathing problems every time I lay down, I guess I’m more committed to my work than I thought cause this flu is killing me. I reckon I’ve had to blow my nose over 40 times today, my nose is raw from wiping!!!
Despite this I have had a great week, number 1 on that list is Metallica’s new album Death Magnetic. Its just genius. This is the first Metallica album I listened to and thought wow Metallica have really stepped it up a gear. Some very wise people have compared this album to And Justice For All… with bass and I totally agree. The guitars are so unforgivably heavy. I’m still waiting on the special edition Coffin Box to arrive from Mission Metallica but the missus was over at the weekend and was nice enough to buy me the CD when she saw it on sale in England. Best!
My cousin’s wedding was last weekend. I hate weddings too much pressure and dancing and all that but I was able to just drink most of the night which was nice whilst the missus traversed across the dance floor in her new dress which I must say was very nice indeed. Highlight of the night was the barman at the reception in Enniskerry, people were ordering rounds of 25 drinks and he was unable to keep up with the order and ended up asking for €40 instead. He also gave away a triple vodka and red bull for 4 euro. Living in the sticks clearly has its advantages. It was a great wedding.
I’m updating Housekeepin at the moment. Aesthetically the site was never a looker so I’ve cleaned up the RSS feeds and now I’m attacking the site aesthetically. For anyone looking to learn more about RSS feeds and making sure you have a valid RSS feed check out Feed Validator.
All these changes have been spured on for the competition. Go on and vote for us in the best Comedy section, sympathy votes are accepted
My favourite past time is listening to music. Whilst most of this consists of time when I am traveling I do get the chance to sit down and relax the odd time to listen to music. I thought I’d do a playlist which represents me as of today.
The Hunger - The Distillers
One of the very few punk bands I ever appreciated. I love the rawness of the vocals in this song. Main reason I choose this song is because it reminded me of a time where I would drink Blue Wkd and Smirnoff Black Ice and go to house parties and make an ass of myself. I can’t stress how important it is to make an idiot of yourself or be prepared to make an idiot of yourself at all parties.
Dog House Boogie - Seasick Steve
I’m loving the blues recently and this guy is really bringing some life back into the genre.
South Side - Thin Lizzy
Its a crowd song and I love singing this in my head. Especially going south *shock*
Drown - Smashing Pumpkins
I think of this song and I think of women. I don’t now why but its just a sweet song. I dont pay much attention to they lyrics but the guitar is so nice in this song.
Limo Wreck - Soundgarden
Reminds me of a former band I had and the people in the band. Don’t talk to any of them anymore but still great times and still a regret I harbor.
Say it Ain’t So - Weezer
Great song when your pissed off and I’m a guy who gets pissed alot.
Freedom - Jimi Hendrix
The title describes it all and easily the best song to walk around Dublin to.
Wicked Game - Stone Sour
Horrifically sad and beautiul song, Corey Taylor singing this song does it immense justice.
All the Young Dudes - Mott the Hoople
Sentimental song. Reminds everyone of everything they have ever done. An instant mode changing song.
Something in the Air - Thunderclap Newman
Watch Almost Famous.
During a recent Housekeepin’ podcast I mentioned to the lads “I’m not going to Electric Picnic this year but I feel like I’m gonna miss out on something amazing”. Although its only Saturday and the Festival is still on I fear I may have been right.
Saturday morning I woke up and cleaned up the flat and got ready to head into the city to get a haircut. According to Anita, I’m the ‘haircut bomb’ as I get more haircuts than anyone. I was already a bit down that I was missing EP but I struggled on and headed to the hairdressers. I got there and to my surprise the normally quiet hairdressers was busy. I sat down and grabbed a paper that was on the table. Had to be The Sun, I hate that piece of trash. Anyway I was flicking through the pages when I started reading an article on Electric Picnic and how Johnny Rotten has a huge entourage to keep him happy including a masseuse and a yoga instructor. How punk of him… There were a few pictures of Johnny Rotten and some EP goers but one picture took me by surprise…
Those cunts are having a great time getting locked and they don’t even realize they have managed to somehow get themselves into the bloody Sun!!! I wonder where Gaff was when this was taken? This will be part of Housekeepin’ 35 for sure..
I met up with Anita today in Arklow. I hadn’t seen her or spoken to her properly in a while (Metallica doesn’t count I was focused on one thing only) but we had a good time scooting around Arklow. She was complaining about the pictures I took of her at Metallica being bad, so I picked a good picture to post below.
The reason I bring up Anita is to talk about the scum of Arklow again (not Anita). Let me set the scene…
While I was on the bus down from Arklow another asshole scumbag from Arklow was drunk and bugging people for “some spare change” on the bus just like this previous blog posting. So I was talking to Anita about this on the way to Christies when an old man bumped into Anita. I say bumped but I really mean crashed into her. Anita grabbed her shoulder and was wincing from the pain. It really did look sore, the guy was power walking up the street. Anita looked around looking for the apology any decent man with manners would offer to a girl but the following unfolded.
Old Man - “Did you not see me!”
Anita - “Did you not see me!”
Old Man - “You don’t need the whole path for fuck sake”
Anita - “Fuck off”
Old Man (Hands inviting Anita to come near him) - “Say it again fattie!!!”
I got a virus on my computer this evening and I’ve spent the last 2 hours purging it from my system. Who came up with the idea to make spy ware and viruses? What a waste of time and what a spa you gotta be to do that. Thinking about the virus I decided to throw in the last few episodes of the Sarah Connor Chronicles. Amazing series and made better by the references to today’s technology.
For example, John Conor mentions that Moores Law was one of the biggest advances in making the Machines self aware. Moores law states a CPs processing power increases exponentially, roughly doubled every 2 years. This started off just as a statement but now is a law. Eventually there will be a computer that can beat anyone in chess “the Turk” and this machine will eventually be bettered according to Moores Law and then the next thing you know, you have T-800s roaming all over O’Connell street.
What I’m trying to say is Mr Moore and Mr “the guy who created the virus that infected my PC” have left me annoyed and terrified.
