Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Picture the scene, a small gallery in the centre of Dublin city, your humble scribe Seoman standing outside. It is a fine day and Seoman is attired in a t-shirt, jeans and imitation converse all stars runners. He has an interest in art and one of the creations on display have captured his attention and clearly warrant further inspection. So your humble scribe enters said gallery. An attendant in same gallery rises from chair on seeing Seoman enter. Seoman is about to enquire as to the origin and possibility (But realistically impossibility) of purchase of named piece. When aforementioned attendant regards Seomans’ deportment it is with an air of contempt making it quite clear that he is persona non grata in said unnamed gallery. Reading said attendant’s visage and knowing where he’s not wanted Seoman exits stage left and leaves sour faced attendant to his inhospitable gallery.
A week later and Seoman once more outside said gallery. On this occasion he has just come from a meeting of the good and the great in the institution where he receives remuneration for eight hours a day spent in employment. He wears the following; a blue shirt, a black tie, a black three piece suit, and stands in shoes colour black of the leather variety. He is, in a few words, dressed to the highest standard. Recalling the previous occasion he entered same gallery and regarding his current sartorial circumstances he decides to enter and engage in a spot of mischief. He is greeted by the same attendant who regarded him in such a contemptuous manner only a week previously. The attendant obsequiously enquires “Does sir require assistance” and generally radiates an air of cordiality. Much amused by this, and by the fact that the attendant cannot seem to recollect the occasion of his last visit to the gallery Seoman exploits the situation for all its worth.
Whereupon after a good fifteen minuets spent in erudite conversation on the faults and merits of the various pieces on display Seoman declares that he is unable to make up his mind as to which piece he desires to purchase. He decides to vacate the premises and while doing so is entreated by above named attendant to make good a swift return. Our man Seoman retorts that his by now life long friend can be sure that he will hasten to return to said gallery within an approximately stated time span. At which point both parties bid the other adieu.
Moral of the tale: Dress well if ya wanna get on.
A week later and Seoman once more outside said gallery. On this occasion he has just come from a meeting of the good and the great in the institution where he receives remuneration for eight hours a day spent in employment. He wears the following; a blue shirt, a black tie, a black three piece suit, and stands in shoes colour black of the leather variety. He is, in a few words, dressed to the highest standard. Recalling the previous occasion he entered same gallery and regarding his current sartorial circumstances he decides to enter and engage in a spot of mischief. He is greeted by the same attendant who regarded him in such a contemptuous manner only a week previously. The attendant obsequiously enquires “Does sir require assistance” and generally radiates an air of cordiality. Much amused by this, and by the fact that the attendant cannot seem to recollect the occasion of his last visit to the gallery Seoman exploits the situation for all its worth.
Whereupon after a good fifteen minuets spent in erudite conversation on the faults and merits of the various pieces on display Seoman declares that he is unable to make up his mind as to which piece he desires to purchase. He decides to vacate the premises and while doing so is entreated by above named attendant to make good a swift return. Our man Seoman retorts that his by now life long friend can be sure that he will hasten to return to said gallery within an approximately stated time span. At which point both parties bid the other adieu.
Moral of the tale: Dress well if ya wanna get on.
Monday, August 28, 2006
Saint Pats go marching on in the FAI Cup, beating Dundalk 2-0 on Saturday night. A result which proves that there’s still plenty of reasons for the aficionados to keep faith with the Saints.
Morientes scores for Valencia against Real Betis in the opening game of the Spanish League. So far unfashionable Getefe top the league, though Barcelona play their opening match of the campaign against Celta Vigo tonight.
And as for Dublin. Me Jewel and darlin Dublin? Well the battle for supremacy of the Hill ended in a draw, but the battle on the pitch ended in a one point victory for the men from Mayo. Now the Kingdom of Kerry awaits the Western representatives in the Final.
Morientes scores for Valencia against Real Betis in the opening game of the Spanish League. So far unfashionable Getefe top the league, though Barcelona play their opening match of the campaign against Celta Vigo tonight.
And as for Dublin. Me Jewel and darlin Dublin? Well the battle for supremacy of the Hill ended in a draw, but the battle on the pitch ended in a one point victory for the men from Mayo. Now the Kingdom of Kerry awaits the Western representatives in the Final.
Friday, August 25, 2006
A wonderful weekend of sport is in prospect. Saint Pats play Dundalk in the FAI Cup on Saturday. The good and the great in Spain tie up their boots and commence battle in La Liga. And finally we have Dublin playing Mayo in the All-Ireland semi final. Let the games begin.
Finally, went to see A Scanner Darkly the other night. In terms of fidelity to the book for the most part yes it remains faithful, though there are certain parts of the novel which are just disregarded. The animation process (interpolated rotoscoping) which allows the animators to paint over the actors digitally recorded performances, is at first disconcerting if not annoying, but after a while taken for granted. Indeed interpolated rotoscoping incorporates itself well in a storyline which deals with reality, identity and perception.
Finally, went to see A Scanner Darkly the other night. In terms of fidelity to the book for the most part yes it remains faithful, though there are certain parts of the novel which are just disregarded. The animation process (interpolated rotoscoping) which allows the animators to paint over the actors digitally recorded performances, is at first disconcerting if not annoying, but after a while taken for granted. Indeed interpolated rotoscoping incorporates itself well in a storyline which deals with reality, identity and perception.
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
I got this from the Complete Review, 683 good reasons to learn French. Heaven or hell?
Rentrée Littéraire 2006
Rentrée season is almost upon the French -- the time when they flood the market with books in the hopes of attracting consumer and prize recognition.
683 novels this year, 475 in French and 208 in translation (out of some twenty languages) -- and 97 first novels. Early coverage includes 683 romans à découvrir immédiatement by Dominique Guiou and Astrid de Larminat in Le Figaro, as well as Les 683 romans de la Rentrée Littéraire 2006 at Evene.
Also had to put up my selection up on Library Thing. Thanks to Sined on the Sigla Blog for this one.
Rentrée Littéraire 2006
Rentrée season is almost upon the French -- the time when they flood the market with books in the hopes of attracting consumer and prize recognition.
683 novels this year, 475 in French and 208 in translation (out of some twenty languages) -- and 97 first novels. Early coverage includes 683 romans à découvrir immédiatement by Dominique Guiou and Astrid de Larminat in Le Figaro, as well as Les 683 romans de la Rentrée Littéraire 2006 at Evene.
Also had to put up my selection up on Library Thing. Thanks to Sined on the Sigla Blog for this one.
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
This is a poem I wrote six years ago and only re-discovered recently. I'll dedicate it to GD. My back still glistens with your knives.
You always gave the same lecture when we’d meet.
Head thrown back
Mouth open
Peering out from behind slightly tinted spectacles
“I know her father
He’s one of our customers.
If he says no
She didn’t do drugs
That’s good enough for me”
You were quite trenchant in your opinion.
A year and a half and a guilty verdict later
We’d meet again.
“I know her father” you began
Head thrown back,
Mouth open
Peering out from behind slightly tinted spectacles
“He’s one of our customers,
And even though he said
She didn’t do drugs,
Well I always had my suspicions”
And you looked at us with a self satisfied air.
Quite trenchant in your opinion.
A year and a half later
You’ve got your suspicions…..
And I’ve got mine.
You always gave the same lecture when we’d meet.
Head thrown back
Mouth open
Peering out from behind slightly tinted spectacles
“I know her father
He’s one of our customers.
If he says no
She didn’t do drugs
That’s good enough for me”
You were quite trenchant in your opinion.
A year and a half and a guilty verdict later
We’d meet again.
“I know her father” you began
Head thrown back,
Mouth open
Peering out from behind slightly tinted spectacles
“He’s one of our customers,
And even though he said
She didn’t do drugs,
Well I always had my suspicions”
And you looked at us with a self satisfied air.
Quite trenchant in your opinion.
A year and a half later
You’ve got your suspicions…..
And I’ve got mine.
Friday, August 18, 2006
It's here, today's the day!
Thursday, August 17, 2006
Could The Winding Stair Bookshop and Café be about to re-open? We were passing over the Halpenny Bridge on Friday night and noticed the lights on and the not too subtle changes in décor therein. We wait in expectation.
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Found myself back in my old home town Inchicore recently. Once I got back home I dug out “Inchicore Haiku” written in 1985 by Limerick poet Michael Hartnett. “Inchicore Haiku” is a collection of 87 haiku written in 1985. The haiku deal with the breakup of the poets marriage, his exile from Limerick, social injustice and finally acceptance of his lot. In 1975 Michael Hartnett’s collection “A Farewell to English” was published, after which he claimed he would no longer write in the English language. From then on Irish would be the language in which he would compose verse. “Inchicore Haiku” was his first work in ten years written in English. Below is a selection from “Inchicore Haiku”.
1
Now, in Inchicore
My cigarette-smoke rises –
Like lonesome pub talk
16
In the sad canal
My face and a broken wheel –
Debris of dead tribes
25
From St. Michael’s Church
The electric Angelus –
Another job gone.
38
I learnt the hard way
Acts of love can break a heart.
Seven white seagulls
64
Blackbird, robin, thrush?
I cannot place the singer.
Exile blunts the ear.
82
Dying in exile.
To die without a people
Is the real death.
1
Now, in Inchicore
My cigarette-smoke rises –
Like lonesome pub talk
16
In the sad canal
My face and a broken wheel –
Debris of dead tribes
25
From St. Michael’s Church
The electric Angelus –
Another job gone.
38
I learnt the hard way
Acts of love can break a heart.
Seven white seagulls
64
Blackbird, robin, thrush?
I cannot place the singer.
Exile blunts the ear.
82
Dying in exile.
To die without a people
Is the real death.
Monday, August 14, 2006
Can you recall the first time you fell in love? Whether you can or can’t then read “Blankets” by Chris Thompson a warts and all graphic novel memoir recalling the author/artist’s seminal teenage love.
Thursday, August 03, 2006
Currently listening to ...... something old and something new
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
No Cinema Paradiso
On the streets of Palermo.
No campaign of freedom
From the tyranny of memory.
No shelter from
Past scorching.
We were,
Two ships that passed in the night,
Two strangers on a footpath,
Two gulls in flight.
On the streets of Palermo.
No campaign of freedom
From the tyranny of memory.
No shelter from
Past scorching.
We were,
Two ships that passed in the night,
Two strangers on a footpath,
Two gulls in flight.
