Hothead Media

Positively Nerdy iPad Accessories

2011-08-19T06:43:00.001-07:00

Ah Sher it's Friday - something to make you smile!

2010-10-22T07:27:00.000-07:00

Google Advert - Did you mean astronaut?

Google Advert - Did you mean Battleship?

Google Advert - Did you mean Jetlag?

Distance Learning - It's not always easy for the lecturer!

Oh I have a great idea - CAN YOU MAKE THE LOGO BIGGER?

IT JUST DID!

Adverts - Sher they are as good as the programmes!!

2010-10-05T02:43:00.000-07:00

Fig Rolls TV Advert Series 2010

Fig Rolls TV Advert 2010

Fig Rolls part 2 come on the manly fig

Fig Rolls Midnight Cravings!

Opening Sequences that make me Squeamish

2010-09-29T01:39:00.000-07:00

Last night I got to watch the Season 5 premier of Dexter. I have been anxiously waiting all summer for the new series and in the mean time I have been watching True Blood - another fantastic series. When the opening sequence came on screen for Dexter I was reminded of how I just cannot watch this. It makes me sick to my stomach as does the opening sequence of True Blood. Not only do they both make me look away in revolt but I quite enjoy the fact that they invoke such a strong feeling. It reminds me of when I was young and boys would chase me with spiders or worms and I would run away terrified but secretly enjoy being disgusted with them. Yes I know - I am weird!

Open Day 2010 - What a day!!

2010-09-09T04:19:00.001-07:00

Phew! I am still recovering from the Open Day at Tipperary Institute yesterday the 8th of September. It was a great day and a real great buzz around campus.
Here are some photos...

My Poster Design

Brochure - Graphic Design

2010-08-13T07:46:00.001-07:00

Adverts - Sher they are as good as the programmes!!

2010-07-27T04:34:00.000-07:00

Free College Places at Tipperary Institute for Unemployed People

2010-07-23T05:58:00.000-07:00

Labour Market Activation

Tipperary Institute has 80 free College places available for courses starting in September, funded by the Government’s Labour Market Activation Fund, 2010. Free places on these courses are available to applicants who are unemployed and in receipt of unemployment benefit or assistance. Applicants who are under 35 years of age must be at least 3 months unemployed before the course commences. Applicants who are over 35 years of age must be at least 12 months unemployed before the course commences.

To be eligible for free places, applicants must also meet the normal minimum entry requirements for the course they are interested in. The new places created at Tipperary Institute will be in a range of full-time and part-time courses delivered in Thurles or Clonmel, as outlined in the attached brochures.

Application forms and further information may be obtained from Tipperary Institute by phoning (0504) 28072 or downloading from the website at www.tippinst.ie. Completed applications should be returned by 20th August. Late applications may be considered pending availability of places.

If you are a nerd you will LOVE this (I am)

2010-06-25T07:27:00.000-07:00

Lego Printer

A day in the life of your Apple Mac

The Art of Analog Computing from meltmedia on Vimeo.

If Geeks Ruled the World

Just another day at Tipperary Institute

2010-06-03T08:53:00.001-07:00

Everything will be okay in the end.

2010-06-02T08:30:00.000-07:00

I saw this quote from unknown some weeks back and though it might be nice to turn it into an inspirational poster for my office.

Photo taken in the field at the back of my house in Ballyclerihan during last summer - obviously not the photo with the empty chair now that would just be plain weird an empty chair in an empty room in an empty field in Ballyclerihan. Wait that gives me an idea for an art exhibition!

For the craic....

2010-05-20T06:37:00.000-07:00

Everything will be okay...

Albert Einstein said...

Real life Russell from UP

A Progress Bar

you mtgit be taotlly Dsylex

Pictures on bathroom doors can be confusing

Animal Testing

Run.....

Firefox Plugins

Tipperary Institute Information Evenings for Evening & Part-time Courses

2009-08-24T05:01:00.000-07:00

Come along to Clonmel or Thurles to discover a wide variety of courses.

Oi Cheeky! Squirrel Photobomber Example.

2009-08-14T08:30:00.000-07:00

The Story behind the photo by Melissa Brandts
My husband and I were exploring Lake Minnewanka in Banff National Park-Canada when we stopped for a timed picture of the two of us. We had our camera set up on some rocks and were getting ready to take the picture when this curious little ground squirrel appeared, became intriqued with the sound of the focusing camera and popped right into our shot! A once in a lifetime moment! We were laughing about this little guy for days!!

Bulmers Apples go on strike over Bulmers Pears stealing their jobs.

2009-07-10T08:14:00.001-07:00

Bulmers Apples go on strike over Bulmers Pears stealing their jobs - Bulmers Apples on Strike outside Bulmers Plant, Waterford Road, CLonmel.

Bulmers Apples go on strike over Bulmers Pears stealing their jobs - Bulmers Apples on Strike outside Main Guard, CLonmel.

Bulmers Apples go on strike over Bulmers Pears stealing their jobs - Head of the Bulmers Apples union, Artie The Angry Apple speaks out at the unfairness of lay offs at the Clonmel Bulmers Plant for Apples with the popularity of the new Bulmers Pear Cider.

Tipperary V Waterford

2009-07-10T06:34:00.000-07:00

Tipperary V Waterford

In Semple Stadium on Sunday, July 12th at 4:00pm

Team Announcement

Liam Sheedy has named the same 15 that started against Clare in the semi-final to play Waterford in the Munster Senior Hurling final on Sunday next. There are a number of positional switches in the forwards which see John O’Brien named at left half forward, Eoin Kelly at full forward and Noel McGrath and Lar Corbett in the corners.

1. Brendan Cummins (Ballybacon-Grange)
2. Paddy Stapleton (Borris-Ileigh)
3. Paul Curran (Mullinahone)
4. Conor O’Brien (Éire Óg Annacarty)
5. Declan Fanning (Killenaule)
6. Conor O’Mahony (Newport) (Captain)
7. Padraic Maher (Thurles Sarsfields)
8. James Woodlock (Drom & Inch)
9. Shane McGrath (Ballinahinch)
10. Pat Kerwick (Killenaule)
11. Seamus Callanan (Drom & Inch)
12. John O’Brien (Toomevara)
13. Noel McGrath (Loughmore Castleiney)
14. Eoin Kelly (Mullinahone)
15. Lar Corbett (Thurles Sarsfields)

Player Profiles

A full list of player profiles can be found on the Tipperary GAA web site – click on the following link to view this information - http://tipperary.gaa.ie/seniorhurlingplayerprofiles.html.

Follow Tipperary Institute on Facebook

2009-07-09T02:14:00.001-07:00

Tipperary Institute on Facebook

Bringing Learning to Life

2009-06-24T04:25:00.000-07:00

Download the 2009 - 2010 Tipperary Institute Part Time Prospectus: Click Here or visit us at www.tippinst.ie

South Tipperary Light Car and Motorcycle Club 50th Anniversary Run

2009-06-22T04:31:00.000-07:00

South Tipperary Light Car and Motorcycle Club are this year celebrating the 50th anniversary of their first vintage run.

Fifty years ago on 13th June 1959, 26 cars and 7 motor cycles headed off from Clonmel to Waterford. The oldest cars were a 1900 Renault, entered by W.H. Collough of Dublin, and a 1900 De Dion entered by K. Stokes of Cork. Another car on that day in 1959 was a 1930 Citroen owned and driven by Sean Ward of Fethard. Remarkably, Sean and his Citroen have participated in all 49 runs to date.

The 50th anniversary run took place last Saturday the 20th of June with over 200 participants. The cars ranged from 100 year old antiquated Model T Ford to a newly vintage Porsche. A two hour static viewing period period prior to the run at the Clonmel Park Hotel ensured the competitors and spectators got a chance to view every entry.

The run returned to the Clonmel Park Hotel on Saturday night for a gala dinner.
The club has a long tradition of raising money for local charities and a number of fun runs will be held throughout the year with this in mind, details to be announced in due course.

Band Poster

2009-05-26T04:20:00.001-07:00

This is a poster I did for my husbands band. Visit http://paddyomahony.weebly.com/

Buy My Dress for the Down Syndrome Centre

2009-05-21T05:50:00.000-07:00

Buy My Dress is a sale of ‘lightly used’ high street and designer dresses which will be donated by Irish women of all ages, shapes and sizes in aid of Down Syndrome Centre. And right now they are very much at the dress collection phase and need your help! They want those dresses you wore once to a wedding that have been rotting away in your wardrobe ever since! Or the one you bought that you thought you might grow/shrink in to! You’re never going to wear it so hand it over!!! All dress donations can be dropped off at your local PETER MARK if you live in Dublin, Wicklow, Meath or Kildare or alternatively FREEPOST your donated dress to:

Down Syndrome Centre, 62/63 Lwr Mounttown Rd, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin

Here’s the details of the event itself at which you may very well pick up some replacement gunas at a bargain as well as supporting a good cause!

Date: Thursday 11th June
Venue: Royal College of Physicians , Kildare St , Dublin 2
Time: 10am- 9pm
Admission: €10

For more info visit :
www.buymydress.ie
or
www.downsyndromecentre.ie

Information from www.thestylebitches.com

Creative advertising from Pembrokeshire College

2009-05-12T04:31:00.001-07:00

I came accross these selection of advert while looking for inspiration on www.adsoftheworlds.com. Many companies are now taking a more personal approach to their advertising. This is just one example of that. Superquinn have also run a personal "Your the business" campaign recently, thanking individual costumers for their business. I personally loved these adverts as it was a different approach from the norm. I am still not sure wheather John Murry from Waterford actually exists, I am not sure it really matters.

Superquinn - Your the business advert for John Murray from Waterford.

Pembrokeshire College Advert: Neil

Pembrokeshire College Advert: Carolyn

Pembrokeshire College Advert: Phil

Badly Drawn Roy Captured My Heart and My Imagination

2009-04-29T07:07:00.000-07:00

In the last few months in the ten minute slot between the RTE News on Two and entourage RTE has screened some great short films and animations.Badly Drawn Roy was one of these shorts.

The film is set in a working class suburb of Dublin. Roy, Ireland's only animated character was born into an ordinary 'live action' family. This fly on the wall documentary film allows exclusive access into Roy's life where we learn of the prejudices he must overcome on a daily basis.

Badly Drawn Roy - Part 1

Badly Drawn Roy is the best short film/animation that I have ever seen. It was so well put together that I had to remind myself that he was an animation and not an actual real person.

The actors in this film are fantastic and I think that's what makes this film work. There is an element of realness to Roy and I felt compassionate twords his character. I cant wait for Roy's next adventure. Alan and Frank Shannon are ones to watch.

Badly Drawn Roy - Part 2

Badly Drawn Roy
Director: Alan Shannon
Writen by: Alan and Frank Shannon

Cast
Roy: Frank Shannon
Roy's Mother: Maura Shannon
Roy's Father: Dermot Shannon
Roy's Brother: Alan Shannon
Roy's Best Friend: Ray Cooling
Roy's Ex Girlfriend: Ruth Kavanagh

Heineken follow up walk in fridge advert

2009-04-27T07:19:00.000-07:00

Follow up advert:

You have no doubt, in the last few months received the email with the first Heineken walk in fridge advert and you laughed until you cried. Well Heineken are piggybacking on the success of the previous advert and have created an equally funny second advert. There is some confusion about what type of fridge the guy wants built and the results are hilarious. Let's hope there is a third in the series. I want to see that....

A bit of fun for a Thursday

2009-04-02T06:44:00.001-07:00

How to be Successful in Business by Passion for Creative

2009-03-19T08:27:00.000-07:00

Click here to open the publication

This little gem of a book offers advice on building a strong brand, creating your marketing strategy, creating a multi channelled approach to marketing and taking an innovative approach to your marketing and all in this lovely designed book. I would expect nothing less from the brilliant Passion for Creative.

Open publication - Free publishing - More website

I want it to be Pancake Tuesday everyday

2009-02-23T09:23:00.000-08:00

Last night, after much debate, I gave in and cooked my Odlums Quick Pancakes and I have to say they were not only quick but delicious. My favourite pancakes are of the lemon and half a bag of sugar variety but I am thinking of making some with Butterscotch Sauce tomorrow.

Also please remember Odlums Pancake Parties taking place all over the country in aid of The National Children's Hospital, Tallagh.
For more infomation visit: http://www.odlumspancakeparty.ie/

Odlums Pancake Recipe

1. Sieve flour and salt into a bowl.
2. Make a well in the centre of the flour, break in the egg and add about a third of the milk. Beat well, gradually pouring in the rest of the milk and drawing in the flour to make a smooth batter.
3. Pour batter into a jug and allow to stand for about 30 minutes.
4. Brush a pancake pan or frying pan with oil. When the pan is hot, give the batter a stir before pouring a thin layer onto the pan.
5. Fry until golden brown. Turn and fry the other side until brown also.
6. Stack pancakes on a large plate, as they are cooked.

Alternatively:

* 150g / 5oz Odlums Pancake Mix
* 1 Egg
* 12 fl.oz Cold Water

1. Follow instructions on packet to make 8 delicious Pancakes

Serving Suggestion: with Butterscotch Sauce

1. Put 75g/3oz of butter and 3 tablespoons of golden syrup in a pan over a low heat.
2. As soon as the butter melts, bring to the boil and boil for 3-4 minutes until slightly thickened.
3. Fold pancakes into quarters and arrange two on each plate.
4. While still warm, top with a spoonful of whipped cream, then drizzle over the sauce.

Traditional Filling Suggestions:

Pancakes or crepes may be filled and served in rolls, envelopes or used as wraps for various fillings.

* Dust with caster sugar, add a squeeze of lemon juice, roll up pancake and serve.
* Fresh fruit in season and whipped cream.
* Thin spreading of chocolate spread and slices of bananas.
* Stewed apples, flavoured with cinnamon and a dollop of fresh cream.
* Drizzled with maple syrup, golden syrup or honey.
* Diced chicken with a salsa sauce.
* Cottage cheese and diced pineapple.
* Ice cream and fresh berries.

Tipperary Institute Opens Microsoft Sponsored Games Development Laboratory

2009-02-16T08:05:00.001-08:00

Thurles, 12th February 2009 - Tipperary Institute officially opened its Games Development Laboratory today. The Microsoft sponsored laboratory is equipped with the very latest technology to give students access to a state of the art learning environment. The laboratory is designed to help students start to build their software and games portfolio, assisting them to develop the skills which are sought by the growing game development and entertainment technology industry in Ireland and abroad.

Kevin Marshall (Head of Education Microsoft Ireland)Edward Hannon, Kevin Marshal & Philip Bourke (ICT Specialist)

To mark the opening, which took place during Engineers Ireland Week of Wonder, seventy students from Tipperary, Limerick and Dublin took part in workshops at the laboratory. The students used the latest Microsoft games development technology XNA to create their version of the classic Atari computer game Asteroids.

James Greenslade, Director of ICT at Tipperary said, "Tipperary Institute views investment in technology as crucial to our students’ learning experience and for the future development of the knowledge driven economy. We aim to develop students who are innovative and dynamic - something which is vital for our economy. To achieve this we must have access to technology and to networks, something Microsoft is providing for us through its sponsorship.”

Kevin Marshall (Head of Education Microsoft Ireland)
Edward Hannon & Mickey Kelly students from CBS High School Clonmel.

“Innovation has never been as important as it is in today’s economic climate. We need to embrace innovation in business, in technology and in society at large if we are to position Ireland a true knowledge economy. There is a demand for skills in games technology both from established global players and also from smaller companies based here and abroad. The growth of online technology means that the skills students will learn on the course will be relevant and in demand,” commented Dr. Kevin Marshall, Academic Programme Manager, Microsoft Ireland, who officially opened the laboratory.

Kevin Marshall (Head of Education Microsoft Ireland)Jamie Draver & Edward O'Neill from CBS High School Clonmel

Kevin Marshall (Head of Education Microsoft Ireland)Edward Hannon & Mickey Kelly from CBS High School.

The new laboratory has been completed in time to host the annual Games Fleadh which brings the games industry and secondary and higher education students from across the island of Ireland together.

For more information about Games Fleadh events can be found at http://www.tippinst.ie/games/

Award Winning Cartoon Saloon give Guest Lecture Series at Tipperary Institute

2009-02-09T04:27:00.000-08:00

Top animators from Cartoon Saloon, Paul Young, Nora Toomey and Ross Murray will give a lecture series to the first years on the New Degree in Creative Multimedia started last Friday 30th January on the Clonmel Campus.

Cartoon Saloon is famous for the IFTA award winning animation series SKUNKFU which has sold to 128 countries worldwide and can be viewed on TG4 & BBC. Their animated feature film ‘Brendan and the Secret of Kells’ is due out this March 2009 and will be shown as the closing feature of the Dublin Film Festival on the 22nd February. On the lecture series students will get an introduction to 2d animation including character development & perspective drawing from the most successful Irish professionals in the Animation business.

http://www.skunkfu.tv/

Last year Cartoon Saloon judged an animation competition at Tipperary Institute and awarded a prize for best animation to a team of student animators, Shola Adeleke, James Hogan & Yoann Leguaye. Shola, James & Yoann will graduate with Degrees in Multimedia from Tipperary Institute this September.

http://www.cartoonsaloon.ie/

The adverts of 2009 that make me smile

2009-02-06T06:35:00.000-08:00

Kit-Kat Advert
This makes me laugh every time I see it. Im not talking about the odd giggle full rolling around on the floor laughing. Well that's a slight exaggeration but you get the point.

T- Mobile - Lifes for sharing
First aired during Celeb Big Brother. This advert makes me smile every time it comes on. I love the idea of this - I want to be there doing those moves.

Barclay's Water Slide Advert
I would love one of those from my where I work to my home. Imagine!

Cadburys Eyebrow dance - Love it or hate it everybody is talking about it!
My two year old niece is fascinated with this advert every time it comes on the tv.

Rogers a CYCLOPS and so are his family!

2009-02-05T04:38:00.000-08:00

This is Roger and he is a cyclops.
Why did the Cyclops have to close his school? Because he only had one pupil!

This is Rogers Family.

This is Marty. He likes long walks on the beach and the cinema. People always get annoyed when he sits on front on them at the cinema. He doesn't understand why.

This is Marty's family. People get really annoyed when they all go to the cinema together.

This is Tony Twelve Eyes his family are "The Family" we have no images of the family as yet.

These all came from my imagination on Saturday. More to follow once I get a chance to animate them.

How do your Press Releases score?

2009-01-30T06:52:00.000-08:00

http://pressrelease.grader.com/

HubSpot's Press Release Grader evaluates your press release and provides a marketing effectiveness score. This score is based upon basic factors from public relations experts including the language and content of the release, plus advanced factors from Internet marketing experts such as links and search engine optimization characteristics.

This is an overview of HubSpot's Press Release Grader Internet Marketing tool which evaluates news releases and produces a report to help improve your PR program.

Press Releases Grader provides you with the following:

General Statistics including word count, sentence count, link count and readability (minimum education needed)

Content Suggestions including contact information, about company, company link, end of content marker and gobbledygook words.

Link Analysis

Gobbledygook Analysis

Additional Resources

Word Cloud (size of word indicates frequency, words are clickable)

Want to optimise your Press Releases?
Try Hubspots Free Press Release Marketing Kit

HubSpot's free Press Release Marketing Kit gives you the tips and tricks you need to get the most value out of your press releases to improve the visibility of your company.

Learn how to help your press releases get found by more people in search engines and social media with some simple and actionable tips.

Download the Press Release Marketing Kit here
http://www.hubspot.com/press-release-marketing-kit/

My Twitter Followers

2009-01-23T03:41:00.001-08:00

Thanks to http://walterhiggins.net/projects/follower_mosaic.pl and also to http://twitter.com/webireland

Where have you been all my life? Grader.com

2009-01-19T08:35:00.000-08:00

While fishing through Slideshare for marketing slideshows, I came accross a really interesting company called Hubspot. HubSpot is an inbound marketing system that helps your small or medium sized business get found on the Internet by the right prospects and convert more of them into leads and customers. HubSpot inbound marketing helps your company get found by your best qualified prospects in search engines, blogs and the blogosphere, and social media. Once these qualified visitors are on your website, HubSpot helps you convert more of them into leads and paying customers through landing pages, lead intelligence and marketing analytics.

HubSpot invented Website Grader, Twitter Grader and Press Release Grader. These are free marketing tools which rates businesses' websites, press releases and twitter accounts.

http://website.grader.com/
Website Grader is a free seo tool that measures the marketing effectiveness of a website. It provides a score that incorporates things like website traffic, SEO, social popularity and other technical factors. It also provides some basic advice on how the website can be improved from a marketing perspective.

http://pressrelease.grader.com/
HubSpot's Press Release Grader evaluates your press release and provides a marketing effectiveness score. This score is based upon basic factors from public relations experts including the language and content of the release, plus advanced factors from Internet marketing experts such as links and search engine optimization characteristics.

http://twitter.grader.com/
Twitter Grader measures the power of your Twitter profile.

I rated my website http://hotheadmedia.weebly.com and recieved a mere 43/100. I think this is a sign that I must invest more on the site, even if it is only a hobby.

The 25 Basic Styles of Blogging

2009-01-16T09:47:00.001-08:00

The 25 Basic Styles of Blogging ... And When To Use Each One

From: rohitbhargava,
2 years ago

The 25 Basic Styles of Blogging ... And When To Use Each One

View SlideShare presentation or Upload your own. (tags: howto rohitbhargava)

A compilation of 25 basic styles of blogging from award winning blogger and author of Personality Not Included, Rohit Bhargava. This presentation includes tips on how often to use each and potential to create buzz and blog traffic by using each. NOW AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD!

SlideShare Link

20 Clichés to avoid when writing a news story

2009-01-13T07:00:00.000-08:00

A cliché is a trite or overused expression or idea. Clichés can make any news story sound lethargic and weighty. To avoid using Clichés you should try to express your thoughts in your own words. For example rather than using the expresion "Daylight Robbery" try using a phrase like "The item was exceedingly overpriced". It will make your news story sound much more professional.

1. At the end of the day
2. The young people of today
3. Backs to the wall
4. Bee in her bonnet
5. Can't place a finger on it
6. Beggars description
7. Daylight Robbery
8. Going forward
9. Hook, line and sinker
10. Forgone conclusion
11. Leave no stone unturned
12. Leaps and bounds
13. This day and age
14. Nipped in the bud
15. Ongoing basis
16. Selling like hot cakes
17. my better half
18. That which does not kill us makes us stronger
19. good as gold
20. follow in the footsteps of

Mr. Tweet on Twitter

2009-01-12T04:23:00.000-08:00

Mr. Tweet helps you easily build meaningful relationships on Twitter by looking through your network and tweets. He then:

1. Shows you the followers & influencers you should follow
2. Recommend you to enthusiastic users relevant to you!

After you start following Mr. Tweet , He will then send you a Direct Message with what he has found for you :)
Your results will be updated biweekly as your network evolves!

This is a great way to find people for new Twitters.

Click here to visit Mr. Tweets Twitter page

Trendspotting

2009-01-06T03:28:00.001-08:00

Influencers On Online Marketing 2009 Predictions By Trendsspotting

From: TrendsSpotting,
4 days ago

Influencers On Online Marketing 2009 Predictions By Trendsspotting

View SlideShare presentation or Upload your own. (tags: video 2009)

Trendsspotting presents 2009 predictions on marketing influencers.

SlideShare Link

My Motto- BE HAPPY TO BE BACK TO WORK AFTER CHRISTMAS.

2009-01-05T02:08:00.001-08:00

Can anyone believe how quickly the holidays have gone? I can't believe Christmas is nearly over! Well officially it's not over until little Christmas on the 6th of January but to be honest I'm just as glad it's almost over.

I think every year they are tearing the hole out of it. It starts straight after Halloween, the shops full with Christmas decorations and gift sets that will never be used! Apparently every year we spend millions of euro on unwanted gifts. I think we should start to purchase something that might make a difference like a gift of goats from Bohar destined for an African family?

I was actually back to work on Friday which made coming back to work this morning a lot easier. I got out of bed no hassle even though the heating had just come on and I was snugly. It was still dark out and the ground was covered in frost. Normally I would complain about how unjust it is that I have to get up at an ungodly hour while my husband gets to lie in for an extra hour but I am just glad to have a job to go to if truth be told. I know a lot of families will be struggling over the next couple of months and it will be a really hard time for a lot of people so my motto to all Irish people with secure job to go to is - BE HAPPY TO BE BACK TO WORK AFTER CHRISTMAS.

A Prendergast Family Christmas

2008-12-22T07:03:00.000-08:00

1. Forgetfulness

I will always forget to buy a Christmas present for somebody! Always! Every year I make out a Christmas list and think I have all bases covered but inevitable I always forget somebody. Then on Christmas day as I am handed a beautifully wrapped present I can feel the FEAR rising inside me as I think shit I never got a present for Gemma or whoever it happens to be that year. So I smile and say :”Oh no, I totally forgot to bring your present with me this morning” or I blame my husband :”Pa you never brought Gemmas present this morning – go check the car just to be sure”, knowing perfectly well that I don’t have a present for Gemma in the car and poor pa is sent to look for a nonexistent present.

So two weeks later I traipse into the shops on my lunch and pick the first half descent looking present (on sale as its January) and go home that night and wrap it. But I don’t just wrap it. I have to make it look like this present has been in the boot of my car for two weeks so I crinkle the paper a little, then I crinkle it a little more, then I realise I went a bit over the top with the crinkling of the paper and I start all over again. I cut the paper, and crinkle it but just enough to look like it has spent two week in my boot not so much that the dog attacked it. At this point I also write their Christmas card.

20/12/07
Dear Gemma,
I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and a very happy new year. Looking forward to seeing you on Christmas day over the bridge in Nanny Penders.
Lots of love,
Laura & Pa

At this point I am in too deep. I am committed to the lie. I have convinced my sister in law that I absolutely did not forgot to buy her a present and she has believed me. So I call in that evening and hand over the present and I feel a little smug that I have gotten away with it. Then on the drive home a thought pops into my head and I feel sick! I LEFT THE RECIEPT IN THE BAG! Oh well I will just have to buy her an extra big present to compensate next year.

2. Last Minute

Even though on many Christmases in the past I have had weeks off before Christmas I still manage to end up doing my Christmas shopping last minute. This is down to a combination of laziness and stupidity on my behalf.

I wake up Christmas Eve at around 11am and think I’ll just go back to sleep for another half hour, but a half hour turns into two hours and I wearily get out of the bed at 1.01pm knowing that I still have ALL my Christmas shopping to do. I consider jumping back into the warmth of bed and sleeping through to St. Stephens’s day and not buying a single present for anyone. Well it would be easier wouldn’t it? So I get up shower, dry my hair, straighten my hair, put on my tan, put on make-up, iron my dress because it’s a little wrinkly, search for my tights, wash my tights, put them in the tumble dryer, wait for them to dry, kiss my husband goodbye and leg it out the door.

I arrive into town at around 3.45 and think OK I have 2 hours and 15 Minutes to get presents. So frenziedly go from shop to shop buying presents for people I have already bought presents for and forgot about and forgot to buy presents for people I have got nothing for. I get distracted then and end up buying another Christmas Day outfit that will almost certainly be reduced to half price or more two days later. That’s the price a girl has to pay for lastminute.com shopping.

3. Nanny Prenders

My grandmother is known by everyone as “Nanny Prender”. When she goes to our local Chinese restaurant all the Chinese staff call her “Nanny Prender” not Mrs. Prendergast not Aileen but “Nanny Prender” – it is like nanny ambassador to all nations.
Anyway, Nanny Prender had ten boys and two girls. God love her. I don’t know how she did it. There’s Artie, Kevin, Bernard, Paddy, Ray, Dermot, Brian, Eddie, Liamy, Sean (My Dad), Louie and Margaret. Phew I am tired from just trying to remember all their names never mind how one woman gave birth to all of these people.
All of the boys are like “The Sopranos” the mafia family not the singers. That might make for an interesting family get-together. They are all short, fat and balding. Actually they are not all fat but that’s just splitting hairs – none of which have any.
After Mass on Christmas Day we all roll over to Nanny Prenders (not Oompa Loompa style but roll as in rollin with my hoomies). All my cousins, their partners, children and their parents my uncles and aunts are there. I am not going to name them all but Artie has four kids, Bernard has two boys (Raz and Deckie) and Raz has a little girl called Emily. So apparently I am going to name them – Ok I better do this in some sort of style that you can easily comprehend.

Artie married Bree and they have four kids. Una, Sinead, Artie and I can’t remember the other girls name.
Kevin never married, lives in UK has no Kids.
Bernard married Maureen and they have two children. Raz (Cathal) and Declan. Raz has one little girl called Emily and he is married to Niamh.
Paddy married Mary and they have three children, Rory, Roisin and Padraic.
Ray married Senator Phil and they have two boys, Luke and Alan.
Dermot married Jackie and they have one boy and one girl, Conor and Áine. Both are great entertainment on Christmas day.
Brian married Geraldine and they have two boys Aaron and Jack and another one on the way.
Eddie married Margo and they have four kids Claire, Emmett, Niall of the nine sausages (me and Niamh christened him that) and Aofia.
Liamy is married to Ger and they have four girls Michelle, Eimear, Elaine and Denise. Denise is married to Mark and they have one girl – Mary.
Now can you see where it’s getting complicated?
Sean My dad is married to Babs and has me (lucky him) Siona, Fiona and Ian. Ian has a baby girl Anna with his girlfriend Gemma. Siona has also a baby girl Lola with her fella Fred (Sid is his actually name but we all call him fred)
Louie is married to Gerry and they have three kids. Niamh my most favourite cousin, Eoin and Ciaran. They have a cool dog Ozzie too but that’s a story for another day.
Margaret has three kids Orlaith, Cillian and Kevin.

Now imagine all of those people in the one house at the same time on Christmas day. Then the drinking starts and the slagging match follows. The big cousins slag off the smaller cousins, the big cousins slag off the uncles, the aunts give out to the uncles for drinking too much, somebody falls asleep amid the commotion, the younger cousins compare presents or swap their toys and we all stare out the window at whoever happens to be passing at that time. It is usually one of the kids from up the road showing off their new bike, scooter, dolly and pram etc. And for one special hour every Christmas we laugh, we cry, we sleep, we eat, we hatch (warm our bums by the fire), we slag off, we drink and be merry and that is when I truly know its Christmas.

4. Niamh

For as long as I can remember on Christmas day I work up and the first thing I would do after unwrapping my presents from Santa is to ring my cousin Niamh to compare what Santa had brought us. This has been a long standing tradition that never changes no matter what. I may talk to Niamh a handful of times during the year but there is one thing I am guaranteed is that on Christmas Day I will get the call or text to ask what time are we descending on Nanny Prenders at.

I remember my shock and amazement one year after ringing Niamh to discover that Santa had left us the exact same present – a red crayola brief case full with colouring pencils, markers (the magic kind), paints, crayons, a little red ruler and toper. We played together with those Crayola set all over Christmas until the inevitable row infused. Niamh claimed that she owned the red ruler that didn’t have the paint on it and I claimed otherwise. We still also have that competitive streak over who got the best presents and we are both in our mid twenties. Sad isn’t it!

5. Christmas Dinner

Most years for Christmas dinner Pa and me go to my parents for dinner and are usually joined by my brother Ian and his family, my sister Fiona, my uncle Wille (not a soprano type Prendergast) and some other relations depending on what year it is.

My mother sweats away in the kitchen cooking woolite spuds. It’s a whole other story but I think it worthy of telling. One year whilst cooking the Christmas dinner my mother grabbed a roasting tin from the cupboard and placed the par boiled spuds into it and fecked it into the oven. She didn’t rinse the tin! Later when eating my much anticipated Christmas dinner I got a funny taste off the spuds. I told my mother they tasted funny – kinda soapy! She told me to shut up as my Nanny Prender was at the table. Anyway we later discovered that a bottle of Woolite (washing liquid for clothes) had spilt in the press and my mother had cooked the roasties in Woolite! Ugh I still piss myself laughing thinking about it.

Every year at Christmas dinner my father will lose his cool (nothing unusual about that – whilst looking like Tony Soprano he also has the same temper as him) over some minute silly thing. Last year it was because my high hells were scraping off the tiles and he lost the rag completely. He then will fall asleep on the couch after dinner and snore so loud he could wake sleeping babies in Fermoy. My mother will usher him up to bed then so we can get a bit of peace. We can still hear him loud and clear coming through the ceiling from the upstairs bedroom. He is that loud. We will then sit down and watch whatever movie is on TV for a couple of hours before laying into a mass of roses, milk tray and crisps. Chocolate and turkey is not a good combination!

6. Christmas Night

Christmas night is always the same thing in our household. All of the fore mentioned uncles, aunts and cousins – well not all of them but quite a few – will call to our house for a drink.

The hot toddys (hot whiskeys) flow and there is a crate or two of Bulmers consumed. We all sit around the fire and laugh and joke and remember the olden days.
I love that part of Christmas as I get to hear all the mischief my father got up to and I can defend myself for being so bold when I was younger and jeer to him: “Sher I didn’t lick it up off the ground! “

These are the things that I can guarantee this year in year out and I hope that they never change. For me that is one great Christmas. There will probably be more additions the Prendergast family tree by next year and the family will grow and grow. Don’t ask me how nanny remembers all of our names. She usually calls my father: “Artie, Brian, Dermot, Bernard……I mean Sean will you throw a block on the fire…..” She gets it right in the end and that’s all that matters. Here’s to a Merry Prendergast Christmas and a happy new year.

The Power of You Tube

2008-12-16T06:56:00.000-08:00

You Tube, it seems has become a very powerful tool in criminal investigation. It has to power to give an accurate and unbiased version of an event, as proved in the New York “Critical Mass” incident.

Critical Mass is an event that is held on the last Friday of every month in over 300 cities across the world. The idea was originally founded to reveal how hostile a city can be to a bicyclist. The group aim to show an alternative form of transport to motor vehicles. Bicyclists join together for a cross-city cycle moving as one unit and often they happen to disobey traffic laws and the rules of the road.

The incident in New York shows how we can harness the power of You Tube to implicate the criminal and prove the innocence of the accused party. Cyclist Christopher Long was arrested in July during a “Critical Mass” ride through Times Square in New York.
The police office allegedly falsified records and claimed that the bicyclist had shoved him before he tackled him to the ground and off his bicycle. He also said that the bicyclist steered his bicycle towards the officer. The footage reveals the bicyclist innocence and show that the police office tackled the man for no apparent reason. The police office may now face charges of misdemeanour assault. Charges against Long have been dropped. The video has now received over 1.6 Million hits on You Tube.

The question I am now pondering is are there other videos on You Tube that may hold the key to innocent people’s exoneration and what approach can You Tube and the authorities take to ensure that these videos get reported.

Click here to watch the video

BEBO LAUNCHES 'SOCIAL INBOX'

2008-12-10T09:44:00.000-08:00

As I logged into my Bebo or 'the Bebo' as I call it this morning, I found some very interesting changes. I am not normally the kind of person who likes change but I have to say I love change like this. Bebo has taken an innovative approach in providing its users with a one-stop “Social Inbox” . This “Social Inbox” will combine not only my usual stats, changes and notifications but will also allow access to my Gmail, twitter and Flickr. This is what I call Bliss. Santy has come early!

The “ Social Inbox” allows Bebo users to organise the online lives but in one place. Essentially, the new system will aggregate feeds from Twitter, Flickr, Del.icio.us, You Tube, AIM etc. so users can see at a glance what is happening in each of these without the hassle of opening a browser and logging into each one individually. This new system will not only save Bebo users time but it will save their sanity.I recently complained about not utilising my different accounts enough because of the hassle of logging into each account individually but this new system solves all my problems.

The main reason for the new aggregation and update features delivered by Bebo was to solve the problem facing online users namely, a cluttered social networking experience with friends’ activity online scattered across the web. I find it hard enough to keep up with all of my own variety of mediums; to keep up with my friends is impossible, but not anymore.

"People want the ability to stay in-touch with their contacts in real-time wherever their friends may be across the Web. The current fragmented social networking environment makes keeping up-to-date with others increasingly difficult. Bebo's new Social Inbox is our first step in solving this problem," said Joanna Shields, President, AOL People Networks. "By opening up our network to the most popular sites and allowing our users to pull in the best of the Internet, we are creating an environment where everyone can easily and effectively manage their online lives, no matter where the individual pieces reside."

"By leveraging key resources and technologies from AOL and Bebo as well as from open APIs from leading social properties, we've been able to create a more relevant and open social experience," said David Liu, Senior Vice President, AOL People Networks. "The Social Inbox aggregates the most relevant communications, community and content under one roof in an intuitive and easy-to-use interface. Our users can keep in touch with friends and family across the Web and around the world from one single destination while at the same time continuing to explore the vast Bebo community."

Bebo has announced that it plans many other releases for early 2009. These are to include social feed aggregation, email aggregation (one click access to your external email) and media favourites. We have to applaud all at bebo for their innovative approach to social networking. Keep up the good work!

105+ Logo Design Tuts And Resources :: Elite By Design

2008-12-05T06:51:00.000-08:00

105+ Logo Design Tuts And Resources :: Elite By Design

40km section of M8 finished seven months early

2008-12-05T06:26:00.000-08:00

TIM O'BRIEN

ONE OF the longest sections of road in the State's motorway development programme, the 40km Cullahill to Cashel section of the M8, has been completed seven months early, the NRA is to announce today.

The new €435 million road, which is expected to take at least 20 minutes off the journey time between Dublin and Cork, bypasses the towns of Johnstown and Urlingford in Co Kilkenny, and Littleton and Horse and Jockey in Co Tipperary.

It was built by SRB Ltd, a joint venture between Sisk and Roadbridge and the commissioning local authority was Kilkenny County Council.

The new road, which is expected to open to traffic as soon as Monday next, will remove up to 16,000 vehicles a day from towns along the route, separating national from local traffic.

There is to be a temporary tie-in at the northern end, with the existing N8, south of Cullahill.

By 2010 it will tie in to the M7/M8 Portlaoise to Cullahill motorway, providing dual carriageway access all the way to Dublin.

At the southern end, the new road ties in with the Cashel bypass which was opened in 2004. The new motorway will have four level-separated junctions and 46 bridges.

This scheme was a pilot "tendered target cost scheme" under which the contractor is paid their actual costs based on an open book accounting system.

A bonus is paid if the scheme costs less than the target cost and penalties are levied if the cost exceeds the target.

In 2010, when the entire Dublin-Cork route is upgraded to motorway or high grade dual carriageway standard, the route will have two tolls, the existing one on the Fermoy bypass and a second one on the Portlaoise to Cullahill section.

This week Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey told the Oireachtas Committee for Transport that the new major inter-urban routes were still on target for completion by 2010.

This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2008/1205/1228337449492.html

Comment from Laura O' MahonyThis is great news for me as I travel everyday from Clonmel to Thurles - hopefully this will shave some time off my journey.I have been waiting for this road to open for so long, it has been like giving a child a bike and telling them not to ride it. Everyday, as I come to work I think feck it anway that could be me on that road as I watch enviously as construction workers boot it up to motorway. This will be a welcome development for all of us Tipperary Institute staff travelling from Clonmel to Thurles or from Thurles to Clonmel or even as far as Cork. Congrats guys its great to see someone has gotten the finger out!

23 Signs That You're Becoming a Design Geek

2008-12-05T06:12:00.000-08:00

Learn to spot the warning signs in time – you know you're becoming a design geek when:

You giggle whenever you use the colors F0CCED, EFF0FF and 44DDDD

You’re in the sun and you look around for a Drop Shadow to sit under.

You give your relatives a lecture about color spaces and profiles when you email them your vacation photos.

Seing someone use Lens Flare or Comic Sans adversely affects your blood-pressure

You maintain a grid system for your refrigerator magnets.

You organise your CD collection according to the Pantone chart.

You sit at work for eight hours straight just looking at your monitor, waiting for a spark of inspiration that doesn't come.

You're up 'til 5am because you came up with the best idea ever while brushing your teeth.

The hottest dream you ever had was "Trace contour... Find Edges... Pinch... Extrude... Smudge Stick... Motion Blur.... Sprayed Strokes..."

You know Lorem Ipsum by heart.

Your kid knows Lorem Ipsum by heart.

The preschool teacher complains your child won't color inside or outside the lines – only indicate colors on a separate sheet.

Activating your entire font collection makes your computer crash – and you're running OSX.

You deliberately butcher your perfectly cross browser compatible site in IE by placing a “Too Cool for IE” banner on it.

You prefer a Layer Style of 50% Opacity (or less) on your wife’s Satin.

You spend $200 on a font for your personal website because "it's the only one where the lower-case g is just right..."

Looking at a menu makes you go "hmmm, ITC Baskerville italic" rather than "mmmm, lunch!"

And when you finally order, you go for Layer Based Slices with Grain Texture...

You use words about fonts you dislike that ~~other~~ normal people reserve for fascist dictators and serial killers.

Apple+Z is the first thing that goes through your mind if you drop and break something.

You refer to colleagues as Strict, Transitional, Loose and the Future Unemployed.

You refer to your privates as "the Magic Wand".

You actually understand this post and pass it on to your friends.

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