Facebook Timeline, Mad Men style

When Don Draper sets his mind to it, he can construct a sincere and effective pitch to sell most anything. With Facebook’s launch of it’s latest innovation to cater for those who like to stalk, Facebook Timeline, you can now compile a collage of details, characteristics, favourites, social apps and of course countless pictures to portray the full life you lead. Someone very smart has taken a clip from Mad Men, where Don Draper is making a pitch and as it happens, the dialogue is suited perfectly to creating a nostalgic, aspirational tone about the new launch. The clip has some smart and funny comments inserted into Draper’s presentation and is a knowing treat for Mad Men fans.

Comedy Gig: Eric Lalor. Live. The Sugar Club. Oct 28th

I have a funny feeling this show is going to be a sell out. And quite a fast one. Not only is the funny man from Ballymun just back from the big bad world of The Edinburgh Festival but his all new brand spanking show Here! No Evil will be set in the beautiful and intimate venue that is Dublin’s Sugar Club. Book it now ! More than highly recommended. Not to be missed. Title: Eric Lalor Live at The Sugar Club Oct 28th When: Fri, October 28, 2011 Doors: 20:00 h Where: Sugar Club - Dublin Act: Eric Lalor Tickets: Find Tickets Aiken Promotions presents Eric Lalor with his brand new comedy show Here! No Evil. October 28th The Sugar Club Doors 8.00pm/Show start 8.30pm Eric Lalor has returned from the Edinburgh Fringe a new man. A man inspired. An inspired man. A man from the town with the … There’s more

Watch: 180NHM with MMA Fighter Roger Gracie

Launched on the 15th of August is 180NHM, a short film fuelled by Relentless Energy Drink and starring MMA fighter Roger Gracie. 180 seconds long, the film is an energetic yet thought provoking portrait of an athlete who personifies the Relentless Energy Drink “No Half Measures” ethos. MMA warrior and Brazilian jiu-jitsu champion Roger Gracie is a man who knows a thing or two about not accepting compromise. Shot in Gracie’s Gym in New York, his film is a startling look at the vigorous psychical torment that Gracie puts himself through in order to be one of the world’s number one grapplers in both MMA and Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. Roger comes from a long line of Brazilian Jiu-jitsu masters, and in the field he is seen as a modern- day hero. He talks about the pressure this puts on him as a fighter and the weight his name carries with opponents … There’s more

X Blather: Top 6 Auditions

If I’ve missed a few X Blathers it’s because Gary Barlow’s scripted barbs are sending me to sleep. Rather than the usual dose of sarcasm and negativity, this week’s X Blather will actually list my favourite six auditions so far. Something positive? Yay! P.S. the people at X Factor won’t let you embed videos, so you’ll have to click through! My Top 6 are after the jump…

Interviews: Carl Barat and Bressie - Arthur’s Day 2011

Wednesday the 21st September, Arthur’s Day eve, I met with Carl Barat and Bressie who were both on their way to Cork to kick off the Guinness birthday celebrations. There was a short stop taken in the Morrison Hotel where with thanks to the really nice people of WHPR, Guinness and the Arthur’s Day team the call came to ask if I’d like to stop by for a chat. My thanks to Bressie and Carl who were both sincerely absolute gentlemen. Indiviual notes of thanks also to Julie and Ruth of WHPR and to Culch.ie’s very own Sinead for looking after me pre/ during and after. Thank you.

Talks: Howth Peninsula Heritage Society - Autumn 2011 Lecture Series

Not all of the lectures will be everyones cup of tea - but there ye are. That said, this is just the Autumn Series and this is Culch.ie Howth Peninsula Heritage Society - Cumann Oidhreachta Leithinis Bhinn Eadair AUTUMN 2011 LECTURE SERIES Tuesday September 27 50 Years of Amnesty International Speaker: Colm O’Gorman Tuesday October 25 A Unique Place in Irish Golf: 125 years of Sutton Golf Club Speaker: Roddy Guiney Tuesday November 22 - Howth Botany and Botanists Speaker: Prof. Declan Dooge Preceded by the Annual General Meeting at 7.15 p.m. All Lectures take place at 8.00 p.m. Howth Angling Centre, West Pier, Howth All are welcome Non-members of the Society: €4

Jazz Gig: Colette Cassidy

Looking for somewhere romantic and different to take a first date? Or an old flame? Or just to appreciate some old fashioned session music? To be whisked back in time? If you like jazz or want to check out some passionate talented musicians, a Colette Cassidy gig may be just the ticket. A few girlfriends and I caught them in JJ Smyth’s earlier this month and we all loved it. The atmosphere was as close to a smokey New Orleans jazz joint as you get without the smoke. The stage seemed insanely small but somehow they’d managed to cram on a piano, full drum kit and a double bass and left just enough space for the singer. Colette had the audience enthralled with her note-perfect, crooning covers of jazz standards from the late 30s and 40s including You Go To My Head and Satin Doll, tales of loves lost, loves … There’s more

Spirit of Folk 2011 - Festival Programme & Map

And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it ~ Roald Dahl I haven’t used a printer in yonks and if you’re a grown up, now short hair cutted but still a bit of a hippy at heart like myself and don’t want to print off the PDF of the map and programme…. I’m putting it here so I can have it on my iPhone ready to look at as is necessary. The link to the PDF is at the end of the post. Also it’s Year 1. You’ve never been. Recommended you read The Culchie Guide To The spirit of folk. Festival map SPIRIT OF FOLK FESTIVAL PROGRAMME PDF version More info: www.spiritoffolk.com www.facebook.com/spiritoffolkfestival.com

The Podcast Sessions #5: Stuff You Missed In History Class

Podcast name: Stuff You Missed In History Class In Short: Didn’t pay attention in history class? HowStuffWorks.com has you covered. Host: Deblina Chakraborty & Sarah Dowdey Their Description: Whether they’re discussing the Freedom Riders or the adventures of bushrangers, you can count on Sarah and Deblina to keep you up to date on the Stuff You Missed In History Class in this podcast by HowStuffWorks.com. Culch.ie Says: There seems to be a format to the more successful podcasts that are out there, the most of which seem to hail from the USA. All seem to follow a sort of [for want of a better description] Westlife/ Jeffrey Archer format to another successful song/ novel in the sense that that this also has a sort of Freakonomics type of set up to it. But. Whilst I say that, content is king and the content to every one of the Stuff You … There’s more

Album Review: Wanted, by Moo.

We found ourselves tucked into a corner of The Crane Lane Theatre a few weeks back, during the decades festival in Cork, surrounded by girls in full skirts and pop socks, and boys wearing braces and snazzy hats. The decade celebrated was the 1950s, the jinks were high and the music was pure shoulder-shimmying compulsion, and it occurred to me, somewhere between my seventh bourbon and the floor, that music isn’t something that has to keep swelling towards the future to be fresh and fun. The sound was smokey, rockabilly and Americana, and my compadres were thrilled as canaries. MOAR ROCK N’ ROLL, they bellowed, as the doors were closing. And just in time, Moo rode into town. Moo are three lads with impressive musical pedigrees and no fear of hard work; as well as touring regularly, they have residencies in The Village on Wexford St, The Globe on Georges … There’s more

Charity Event: Abseil 1000 at the Aviva Stadium

This is definitely one of the more unusual charity events that we’ve posted on Culch. Abseil 1000 is an event organised to raise funds for Chernobyl Children International in the year of the 25th anniversary of the Meltdown of Reactor 4. The aim is to facilitate the development of “Homes of Hope” for the children still affected generations later. The event is a 130ft abseil from the roof of the Aviva Stadium on the 1st & 2nd of October 2011. 100% of all funds raised are going to the charity with the event being organised by a group of enthusiastic volunteers under the guidance of Mike O’ Shea of Work at Height Training. Mike says, “I am so proud that in this special 25th Anniversary year, that I can put my skills and expertise to good use for the children of Chernobyl. Despite the economic downturn, we can all do … There’s more

Movie Review: Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy

So a spy movie eh? And adapted from a highly successful series of novels no less? So far, so very familiar. Expect action, car chases, hand-to-hand, life-or-death combat and a very fetching femme fatale. Except don’t, because this is no ordinary spy movie, and it’s adapted from no ordinary spy novel. This is a British thespian spy movie, and it’s from the pen of the most celebrated of spy authors, John Le Carré. For those unfamiliar with his oeuvre you would do well to check his novels out, or, for a more casual glance at the difference between his work and the rest of the pack, recent film adaptations have included the Geoffrey Rush/Pierce Brosnan romp The Tailor of Panama (a less-than faithful but enjoyable reworking) and the Ralph Fiennes/Rachel Weisz Oscar-winner The Constant Gardener (which is both faithful and brilliant). There is no room in Le Carré’s world for … There’s more

Events: Whole Lotta Zepp Perform Led Zeppelin’s ‘Led Zeppelin IV’ - All of It!

Fan of Led Zeppelin? Big enough fan to know that this year marks the 40th anniversary of their album Led Zeppelin IV? Then this is probably the gig for you. Whole Lotta Zepp are performing the album in its entirety to celebrate it’s birthday and they have an 11 piece band including 4 drummers on 3 drumkits (yep, we don’t know how that works either…) to pull it off. Their drummers have performed with Marianne Faithful (Johnny Boyle), The Frames (Binzer Brennan), Therapy? (Graham Hopkins) and HAL (Simon Freedman) and for these performances they’re hitting The Sugar Club on Leeson Street on October 1st with an all ages show at 3pm and an over 18′s event at 8pm. This is just how loud the Moby Dick event got last year… If your ears can take it, tickets are €10 here and there are prize giveaways on the day including Hard Rock … There’s more

Movie Review: 30: Minutes or Less

At the risk of asking a larger question than this review intends to tackle – ask yourself, why (other than the impeccable writing) you are reading this review, or indeed any review? With some confidence this reviewer will offer that you are doing so to figure out the best form bit of cinematic entertainment to spend your cash on. The review will be a part of the fuller selection process which includes and is informed by publicity, trailers, feelings towards the cast and word-of-mouth. The outcome can be to steer well clear, make it your business to get to a screening as soon as possible or in a world where cinema and DVD release times edge closer to each other and people construct sophisticated home entertainment systems, a movie can be relegated to a list of movies to seek out on DVD. With ’30: Minutes or Less’ there is a … There’s more