BRITS 2012

Who could forget the BRITS last year with the powerful and moving performance from Adele that left everyone spellbound?
The BRITS live performances this year were, but honestly a bit weak tbh, with beautiful Bruno Mars singing a rather boring and cruise ship-y version of Just The Way You Are; Rihanna doing the usual (frankly worn out) raunchy routine; Ed Sheeran singing the delightful little Lego House; Florence singing her shouty song; Adele belting out the good ol’ Rolling In The Deep; Olly Murs not dancing as much as we’d like to Heart Skips A Beat; quite a nice wee song from Noel Gallagher; Coldplay opening the whole thing with the colourful Charlie Brown and then…Blur.
Well, what can we say. Blur was a disgrace and a disaster, making a shambles of the end of it! God how could the comittee think of even allowing them to storm the stage, outdated and clearly loaded* eughhhhh?
Anyways, back to the awards. Adele and our favourite ginger Ed Sheeran scooped 2 awards each, Bruno Mars, Rihanna, our little boys One Direction, Foo Fighters, Lana del Ray (gosh that girl is depressing, js) all winning one.
A huge controversy is how our jolly host James Corden (who was fab) had to cut off Adele’s SECOND speech of the night as Blur had to come on. Everyone has been slating the poor man, who was just doing what he was told- not his fault you narrow-minded people! I’m especially shocked at silly Lily Allen’s comment on how it showed the music industry’s attitude to women, oh yes Lily, not like the women haven’t one any awards, or how we didnt sit through moments dedicated to two women singers who have died. Oh no, not the case at all clearly..
Oh, also, what was up with the theme this year? Just a wee bit all over the show like, random hearts n’all for the craic dotted with Union Jack.
Can the BRITS 2013 be any better? Hopefully they’ll learn from their mistakes..

What makes THIS beautiful.

Well, the highly anticipated song from One Direction, What Makes You Beautiful, had its first airplay today, and I can honestly say that without being an obsessive fangirl, I love it.

The opening “Grease” riff is a nice spin and starts with the lyrics “You’re insecure.” clearly the boys talking about a particular girl and how she should have confidence because “you light up my world like nobody else, the way that you flip your hair it gets me overwhelmed” coming from the boys.

The music is quite original and catchy, with bouncy electric guitars and a steady drum beat. And of course the deep bass drum and hand claps and the na-na-na arpeggios in the bridge are clearly intended for arena tours etc.

I also ADORE the up-and-down (arpeggios for us musical folk) ah-ah-ah’s randomly dotted about the show, and it works very well.
Unfortunately I am not such a fan that I can completely tell their voices apart, so if anyone would be kind enough to tell me who is the main vocalist here, thanks! But no matter whose voice it is, the vocals are smooth and sweet, and NORMAL. Not a hint of electronic synthesized voices here, oh no.

Now after basically raping the replay button, I have to say I’m now a bigger fan of One Direction than I was, for every reason. I hope this song goes to No.1 as it does deserve it, and is certainly proper music, with real instruments instead of stupid synthesizers and auto tuned voices.

Now, its available for downloading on 11th September, and will it be on my list? I can most definitely say it will.

*I dont own this image*

London’s Burning

This is absolutely crazy what’s happening in London, Birmgham and Liverpool. People (mainly young ones) have taken the once peaceful protest and taken it down several levels. They saw it as a chance to get a bit of thrill and excitement and make a few quid with all the lootings.

IT’S WRONG. Completely, categorically wrong. Innocent people are losing their homes, businesses and livelihoods, all for the sake of some crappy idiots trying to terrorize the population who wouldn’t last two seconds if they were shipped out to a real warzone.

Assumptions that BBM is being used to communicate are probably correct. Most young people these days have a BlackBerry or a phone of that sort, and BBM has a unique pin which means that rioters everywhere can know where to hit next. Thankfully BlackBerry is cooperating with the Met police in tapping into all BBMs.

Another problem is parents. I mean, a kid as young as 11 was arrested. ELEVEN! And where were his parents? Sitting at home probably, not knowing where their little angel was, or more importantly, what he was doing.

For some reason, fires and stealing seem to give great joy to young people, and to be honest, mostly boys. Is it the chase by the police that’s the fun part, or is it burning peoples HOMES. What would they think, I wonder, if a fellow rioter set fire to their gran’s house without knowing, or even their own house. I wonder would they stop and would it finally dawn on them what pain and angst it is causing the people of THEIR communities. No, not yours or mine or anyone else’s. Theirs. The idiots are setting fire to badically their own homes, schools and businesses, places that would’ve supported their income as they got older but clearly they don’t understand that.

Probably the worst part is, is that they are not rioting for at least a reason, like university fees etc., but just for the sake of it, making up woolly reasons if they are questioned.
What on earth would the world be like if people all over the place just randomly started riots because “they felt like it”? I can tell you this, if they did, we wouldn’t be here by Christmas.

This rioting must stop before it turns into a complete warzone, and quickly, as London is looking more and more like it did in its Blitz days. If a Blitz happened again, Britain wouldn’t stand a chance if this is how its people treats their own country. It’s disgusting.

*I dont own this image*

American Dream? Sounds like it.

I’m sorry to blog about school in the middle of summer, but this is such a discovery I’ve made today.

American schools are far better than Irish schools. No joke.

I was talking to my friend from San Francisco today and she was telling me and my other friend about her school. They have 300 Apple Mac computers, then 20 Apple laptops for each classroom. Seriously. We have battered old block computers from the 90s.

And they have a GYM. A real, proper gym for their “gym class” (me and my friend bust ourselves laughing at this fancy name for PE hehe) We use our assembly hall.

And as for school trips, they have it all. They have Spirit Days (another laughable moment, but they’re real) where the 8thGraders (Year 10s) decided whether to have Character Days where you come in dressed as a cartoon, or theme days or whatever. Sounds UNREAL. We’re not allowed non-uniform days, not even for charity, in school.
On their last day, instead of going on a trip (we went for the second year running to a OE Centre..fun.) they hire a bouncy castle, candyfloss machines and game stalls and put them in the gym. No way would our school even DREAM of that. “No, no,” they’d say. “Too dangerous.” Too dangerous my arse. What they really mean is, “Sorry, we can’t be bothered to fill out the necessary paperwork for you to have a good time for once.”

Also, all 8th Graders have the chance to wander around Washington DC for a week, just to dander around the city having the craic. Again, UNREAL! Imagine use being let loose in Dublin for a week?

But there is one downside to all of this. The fees are high; below 80% is considered a fail; and 9 ‘slips’ (like bad notes) results in suspension. Three suspensions equals expulsion.

Still, which would you rather have? A crumbling old school with fungus on the ceiling and trips to the local shopping centre, or a modern school that likes to pitch bouncy-castles up in their hall? I know which one I’d pick.

I spy with my little eye…a photo op! Grab it!

I have recently become unexplainably obsessed with photography. For our holiday this year, dad bought an Olypus camera and it’s like amazing.
^Wow, I sound ditzy. No bother. Anyways, and over that holiday we took 1103 photos. And I took about 800 of them. I dont know what it is that draws me to it, but I just love changing angles of everyday photos so they look incredible and breathtaking.

^Oh look, I just explained and contradicted myself in one sentence. Nice work. But anyways, anytime now there’s even the smallest event in our house, like Ceala baking cookies, I’m out with the camera taking photos from every concievable angle like some crazy lady with a glint in her eye.

Mind you, I HATE having pictures taken of just me. I dont mind with others, but there’s something about standing there smiling all on your lonesome while someone records that loner moment. Thinking on that, it’s probably a good job that I have the camera most of the time, or I would have a lot more of those loner pictures than usual.

*For once, I DO own this image*

The Bug is Back

It’s here. It’s back for another year, to fulfill our worst nightmares.
Yes, the Back to School Bug has arrived. With August starting, quite, miserably to be honest, with drizzly weather and barely a peek of blue sky in sight; Autumn is definitely in the air.
This is the month where we have to start thinking about buying, eugh, school supplies and a school bag, ready to start the new school year ready. Hmmph.
I mean, already I have my backpack. How depressing. Trust me, it’s lovely and all (cream with red, blue, green and yellow polka dots) but just looking at it and I can sense the feeling of boredom and despair one usually gets from say, sitting in a classroom on a Monday morning. And that makes me want to break down in tears and vow never to return to school again.
I don’t HATE school, in fact I quite like it with all the craic that goes on, but the problem is this is GCSE year, and alreadt our teachers have started our courses. I mean give us a break, pleeeeease!

But, looking forward, there is still a full month of summer to suck the joy from until it turns to September 1st (where I would much rather be boarding the Hogwarts Express. Hehe.) and our dull demeanors return.
And to all you worriers, there’s still plenty of time to cram in camp-outs, sleepovers, the cinema, discos, days at the beach (also for me personally, the trip down to Dublin) and more.
Summer’s still here, so we might as well grab it while we can.

*I dont own this image*

Congrats Jenson!

Jenson Button stormed Hungary yesterday, delightedly winning his 200th grand prix. The conditions at the Hunagaoring were perfect for Jenson, completely changeable.
Sebastian Vettel appeared slightly more back on form this week, taking 2nd on the podium, still leaving the current World Champion with a 100point lead.
Lewis Hamilton looked set to take top spot on sunday after leading the race, about midway he spun in the wet part of the track, nearly hitting Paul di Resta. Then he made the crucial decision to come in for intermediates, and just as he pulled out of the pit lane, the track started to dry off. To make the matter more frustrating he was given a drive-through penalty for the incident with Paul.

Yesterday also saw the explosion of Nick Heidfeild’s Renault, which pulled in for a stop, let off volumes of smoke and as Nick drove out of the pit lane he pulled in alongside the grass, and his car set on fire. Luckily he got out in time, as the left side of the car exploaded seconds after, with the debris on the pit lane exit and the car a foot away. For some reason the stewards decided not to put out the safety car, and let the drivers drive around the debris with the smouldering car mere feet away.

An unfortunate incident also saw Michael Schumacher retired from the race after spinning of the track. He later stated this was to avoid hitting Felipe Massa, his former teammate. Going a bit soft, are we Schumi?

When Jenson was on his parade lap he said down the radio “A nice way to start summer break. Let’s come back and win them all!” before getting out and running over to embrace his team, dad and girlfriend Jessica. Not even mum was forgotten as he waved into a BBC camera and said “Hi mum.” with a cheeky grin. The first race he won, and the place he won his 200th grand prix, I wonder if Hungary now holds a place in Jenson’s heart? 🙂

*I dont own this image*

R.I.P Amy <3

Amy Winehouse, the celebrated young singer, unfortunately died on Friday in her home. And I am angry.

Amy had a long battle with drugs and drink, but a part of me always foolishly hoped that one of these days she pick herself up again and carry on making music.
She has left us with a meagre memory; only 2 albums. Yet there were rumours that she was recorded new material, but sadly none of it has been released, if it ever will be released. I hope the answer is yes.

With great hits like Rehab, Back to Black and Valerie, Amy really knew how to pour her sorrow into her lyrics, and ironically, if she had never taken drugs or ended up addicted, would those songs still be here? I think not, and its strange that something so bad and awful for her ended up as something catchy and inspiring for us.

An iconic character with beehive black hair, thick eyeliner and a short dress, Amy’s music will live on in the lives of everyone she’s touched through music. ❤

*I dont own this image*

Healthy food…NOM.

It has just occured to me HOW nice and yummy healthy food can be. For a snack there, I just had stale (yes, stale) crusty bread with darilea spread and tomatoes. Delicious. And low on fat.

Also, a simple pasta sauce made with crushed tomatoes, basil, a dash of ketchup and a sprinkling of sugar makes for a lovely add to some plain penne. Again healthy!

It just goes to show you how good food can be when thought about and healthy. Happy eating!

Is seb sick?

I dont know what’s going on, but in the midst of the 2011 Grand Prix, the reigning champion and apparently unbeatable leader of this season is floundering.
Qualified 3rd behind teammate Mark Webber and McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton, the race was off to a strange start as everyone expected Sebastian Vettel to fly into pole as usual, but no. It was Alonso who jumped in here and strangely, Sebastian has been quite slow and floundering around the lower end of the top 10. He has also made at least 2 mistake which is completely out of character. He’s not even doing the fastest laps!
Maybe this is a good thing though, as he is so far ahead in the points anyways, he could’ve given this one a miss, but watching him flail round his home track is just as unsettling for the viewer as it is for Christian Horner and co.
Will Sebastian finally wise up, pick up the pace and take a podium? Well, there’s 15 laps to go; can he make it? Let’s sit back and watch to see if the famous #1 sign will shine here in Germany.

As for Jenson Button and the hydraulics failure, don’t even talk.

*Er, he didn’t and I dont own this image*