Tuesday Tune: I can’t get the S.O.B. out of my head

This tune has totally earwigged me and so I’m going to give in and post this live version as my Tuesday Tune this week! It features a trumpet player and here on The Park we are always looking for trumpet inspiration for Nipper 1.0. Actually I have another for next week all ready to go.

I love this track, S.O.B., from Nathaniel Rateliff and The Night Sweats and this live version from Later with Jools last week is kicking. Having heard that name I have decided that Abigail is really going to have to come up with a name for her band 🙂

Busy fingers

My projects on Ravelry

It’s practically impossible to blog and crochet at the same time. Crochet one, blog two. There just aren’t enough hours in the day. Thanks to Ravelry though I do have an online repository for my uber crochet geekery.

Ravelry is a superb resource and a fascinating database. It must be one of the most successful niche community fora in the world. Consumers, suppliers, hobbyists and professionals discuss all manner of yarnie issues and news in a very well developed and developing site. Personally I don’t have a huge amount of time for the discussions but a huge number of my recent creations have begun as (nearly all free!) patterns found on Ravelry.

Apart from finding challenging and beautiful patterns on Ravelry I have also managed to sell some of my recently inherited stash to a fellow yarnie in the US!

Another amazing resource for burgeoning hookers is YouTube where you will find a gazillion videos to explain any stitch.

 

I’ve been planning a post for ages about the yarns I was introduced to at a recent “yarn tasting” at This is Knit. It will come… One of these days 🙂

 

Nå déan olc

This is my column for the May 2010 edition of Beo! In it I write about YouTube which had recently celebrated its fifth anniversary. I write in particular about the issues around copyright, artists’ fees & privacy that YouTube has brought into focus in its short life.

BhĂ­ Ă­onadh orm nuair a chuala mĂ© an tseachtain seo chaite go raibh YouTube ag comĂłradh cĂșig bliana ar an bhfĂłd, fĂłd an idirlĂ­n! BhĂ­ ionadh orm toisc nach cuimhin liom, roimh YouTube,  cĂ©n ĂĄit a bhfuair mĂ© fĂ­seanna de chait ag canadh is cailĂ­nĂ­ beaga ag dĂ©anamh aithris ar BeyoncĂ© nĂł ataispeĂĄint de radharc as Return of the Jedi, frĂĄma ar frĂĄma, dĂ©anta le Lego. Is fĂ­or dĂłibhsean a deir go lĂ­ontar gach folĂșs!

Cheannaigh Google an feidhmchlĂĄr grĂ©asĂĄin Ăłg seo mĂ­ Dheireadh FĂłmhair 2006. D’íoc siad $1.65 billiĂșn ar an gcomhlacht. TĂĄ fĂ­seĂĄn lucht a bhunaithe le feiceĂĄil, Chad Hurley agus Steve Chen, is iad ag fĂłgairt na nuachta seo le comhphobal YouTube. 

D’fhoilsigh Nicolas Carr ‘The Big Switch’ sa bhliain 2008, leabhair a rinne comĂłrtas idir stair na haibhlĂ©ise agus fĂĄs an idirlĂ­n. Mar chuid den phlĂ© ann, dĂ©anann sĂ© cur sĂ­os ar an bhfĂ­seĂĄn seo de Chad is Steve. TĂĄ gangaid i bhfocail Carr nuair a scrĂ­obhann sĂ© faoin mbealach a dtugann Chad “kings” ar YouTube is Google. Dar le Carr, ar nĂłs rĂ­ ar bith, ba chĂłir do Chad is do Steve a bheith nĂ­os umhaile os rud Ă© gurbh iad a “ndaorchlann“ a chur na corĂłnacha ar a gcloigne beannaithe. Murach pobal YouTube, (lena bhfuil siad ag gabhĂĄil buĂ­ochais sa bhfĂ­seĂĄn seo, dĂ©anta na fĂ­rinne), nĂ­ bheadh YouTube ar bith ann. An fhadhb atĂĄ ag Carr leis seo nĂĄ an easpa tuisceana, dar leis, a lĂ©irĂ­onn na rĂ­the Ăłga ar an gcaidreamh seo idir YouTube is a pobal. Is grĂĄin leis go bhfuil an bheirt seo ag gĂĄire faoi $1.65 billiĂșn a fhĂĄil de bharr oibre is cruthaitheachta daoine eile.

B’fhĂ©idir go bhfuil pointe aige. NĂ­ eisean amhĂĄin a bhĂ­ buartha faoin bpĂłsadh seo agus an sprĂ© a chuaigh leis. BhĂ­ ĂșinĂ©irĂ­ cearta fĂ­se buartha toisc fonn fadseasta Google eolas uile an domhain a chur ar fĂĄil do chĂĄch saor in aisce. Conas a chinnteofaĂ­ go bhfaigheadh siadsan gur leo cearta an ĂĄbhair Ă­ocaĂ­ocht ar na cearta cĂ©anna? Don duine aonair, don bhfĂłgraitheoir nĂł do mhargaitheoir nĂł rĂ©alta Ă©irĂ­theach, b’fhĂ©idir gur chuma, ach do na comhlachtaĂ­ ceoil, scannĂĄin is teilifĂ­se, ba dheacracht mhĂłr Ă©. Maireann ceist cĂłipchirt go dtĂ­ inniu fĂ©in gan aon rĂ©iteach ceart, nĂł i ndĂĄirĂ­re, rĂ©iteach sibhialta. Ar ndĂłigh nĂ­ YouTube amhĂĄin a chruthaigh nĂł a bhuanaigh an fhadhb ach, leis an tosaĂ­ocht a thugann Google do fhĂ­seĂĄin i dtorthaĂ­ cuardacha, is beag brabhsĂĄlaĂ­ idirlĂ­n nĂĄr bhain ĂșsĂĄid as YouTube.

Is Réidh le Cåch Stiall den Duine Eile

Ar bealach sin ceann de na fĂĄthanna a cheapaim go bhfuil pointe ag Nicholas Carr. TĂĄ cultĂșr cruthaithe ag teicneolaĂ­ocht atĂĄ ag dĂ©anamh dochar airgid dĂșinn ar fad dar liom. CultĂșr atĂĄ ag sĂșil le gach rud saor in aisce ach a ghlacann le fĂłgraĂ­ ar chuile rud faoin spĂ©ir. ThĂĄinig an t-idirlĂ­on cĂ©im ar chĂ©im as tograĂ­ taighde ag gabhĂĄil siar go lĂĄr an 20Ăș haois. BhĂ­ paisean, fiosrachas agus mĂłrtas acadĂșil ag baint leis an obair a ghin an t-idirlĂ­on is teicneolaĂ­ochtaĂ­ eile. Sa leabhar ‘Outliers’ le Malcolm Gladwell, cĂ­orann sĂ© an nĂłs go caithfear 10,000 uair a chur isteach in aon cheird chun teacht ar an saineolas, bĂ­odh sĂ© sin ar an ngiotar, an piano nĂł i sampla amhĂĄin atĂĄ aige, ag clĂĄrĂș rĂ­omhaire. Sa sampla aige, dĂ©anann sĂ© cur sĂ­os ar an mĂ©id ama a chaith Bill Gates Ăłg ag obair ar rĂ­omhaire. Mar chaitheamh aimsire, istoĂ­che, nĂł trĂĄthnĂłna DĂ© hAoine. Ar luaigh mĂ© go bhfuil duais don tĂ© a thagann anĂ­os le focal Gaeilge ar “nerd” dom?

Ba thogra ollscoile Google a chruthaigh Larry Page is Sergey Brin mar chuid de chĂ©im dhochtĂșireachta. NĂ­ dĂłigh liom go raibh siad ag smaoineamh ar ghnĂ©ithe cosĂșil le ‘paid search’ nuair a chaith siad snab an choinnill airneĂĄin i Stanford.  BhĂ­ an bheirt acu paiseanta faoina n-ĂĄbhar ach nĂ­ raibh siad ag sĂșil go nginfeadh a gcuid oibre ceann de na comhlachtaĂ­ is tĂĄbhachtaĂ­ sa 20Ăș haois. ÉascaĂ­onn na teicneolaĂ­ochtaĂ­ seo scaipeadh an ĂĄbhair ach nĂ­l sĂ© soilĂ©ir go gcruthaĂ­onn siad saol nĂ­os cĂłire ina bhfuil an saibhreas a thuilltear roinnte ar chĂĄch a chruthaigh an saibhreas cĂ©anna.

RĂ© Mheath an PhrĂ­obhĂĄideachais

Tharraing YouTube solas ar ceisteanna i leith prĂ­obhĂĄideachais freisin mar, cosĂșil le teicneolaĂ­ocht uile GreasĂĄn 2.0, tĂĄ gnĂ©ithe sĂłisialta ag baint le YouTube. Is fĂ©idir lĂ­onra a chruthĂș air, trĂĄcht a scrĂ­obh faoi fhĂ­seĂĄin agus sĂ­ntiĂșs a ghlacadh le hĂșsĂĄideoirĂ­ ar leith. BĂ­ cinnte go bhfuil Google ag bailiĂș an eolais seo ar fad. An buntĂĄiste nĂĄ go bhfeicfidh tĂș fĂ­seĂĄin nua atĂĄ cosĂșil leis an ĂĄbhar a thaitin leat cheana. An mĂ­bhuntĂĄiste nĂĄ nĂ­ fios duit an bhfanfaidh na tĂ©armaĂ­ is na coinnĂ­ollacha mar a gcĂ©anna i gcĂłnaĂ­. Ach do na dĂșchasaigh digiteacha, is rĂ©idh a roinnfidh siad mianta agus sainroghanna pearsanta leo chun greim a fhĂĄil ar an tairiscint is nuĂĄlaĂ­.

Ach le fĂ­seĂĄin, tĂĄ priobhĂĄideachas de shaghas eile i gceist. Nuair a tharraingĂ­tear fĂ­s cĂ© leis an fhĂ­seĂĄn sin? An leis an tĂ© atĂĄ ann nĂł an leis an tĂ© a tharraing Ă© an fĂ­seĂĄn? CĂĄs amhĂĄin atĂĄ an-chĂĄiliĂșil ar YouTube agus a luaigh an t-Ășdar Daniel J Solove ina leabhar ‘The Future of Reputation: gossip,rumor & privacy on the internet’ (ar fĂĄil ar lĂ­ne) nĂĄ cĂĄs an ‘Star Wars Kid’. Rinne dĂ©agĂłir fĂ­s de fĂ©in ag troid le “light saber” mar dhea. NĂ­ raibh sĂ© rĂł-scafĂĄnta ar a chosa, bhĂ­ sĂ© ramhar, rinne sĂ© gleo aisteach. ThĂĄinig gasĂșir eile sa scoil ar an tĂ©ip is chuir siad ar lĂ­ne Ă©. Is Ă© ceann de na fĂ­seanna is mĂł splĂ©achadh ar YouTube Ă©, ach nĂ­or chuardaigh sĂ© an clĂș seo. D’fhĂĄg sĂ© scoil de dheasca na maistĂ­neachta a tharla chuile lĂĄ ann agus tĂĄ sĂ© faoi chĂșram sĂ­ciatrach. Shocraigh a thuismitheoirĂ­ cĂĄs dlĂ­ a troid le tuismitheoirĂ­ na ndĂ©agĂłirĂ­ a chur an fĂ­seĂĄn ar lĂ­ne. CĂ© go raibh mĂ© ĂĄbalta teacht ar an uafĂĄs ĂĄbhair ina leith, nĂ­ raibh mĂ© ĂĄbalta teacht ar oiread is focal amhĂĄin Ăł Google fĂ©in i leith an scĂ©il seo. BhĂ­ siad sĂĄsta an t-ardĂĄn a thabhairt dĂłibh siĂșd a bhĂ­ ag magadh faoin gceatĂĄn bocht seo, ach an dĂłigh leat go gcreideann seisean, nĂł a mhuintir atĂĄ ag tacĂș leis, mana Google, “Do no evil.”

Navel gazing

I am so self absorbed these days. Much as I was back in June 2006 as I counted the days until Nipper 2.0’s arrival or not as the case was then. You would think I would make the most of this time blogging and casting over on The Rosie View but I managed to completely banjax my back last Monday and couldn’t sit or lie down comfortably for about 5 days. I don’t generally have a bad back so this was my first experience of the excruciating pain that can be experienced and I readily admit I was blubbing like a baby. All I could take for the pain was Panadol! Thankfully by Friday it seemed to have eased off and I started thinking “Hey I could do this whole birth thing!”. Then the next thing you know Nipper 1.0 spends all Saturday night puking on the half hour so by the time 6am came around on Sunday the two of us got up (Himself having done the lion’s share of pajama and bed changing during the night.) So yesterday I was exhasusted again and hopeful not to go into labour as much for my own energy levels as for Himself’s.

So time is hanging heavy on my hands and my feet and my belly. I found a photo of myself at 40 weeks on Nipper 2.0 and created the collage below because as mentioned I’m very self absorbed these days. The silhouette on the left is me in 2006 and the silhouette on the right is me yesterday. I reckon I looked bigger in 2006!

I know many of you are waiting for our news so here’s a song to keep you amused in the meantime 🙂 A great iconic female singer for International Women’s Day.

Ag Ithe Úll Aithne na Teicneolaíochta

This is my February article for Beo! the Irish online language magazine where I write about Apple’s continuing success and the launch of the iPad. I have my iPiggyBank on the shelf to start saving for one!

Is dĂłcha go mbĂ­onn meangadh ar aghaidh Steve Jobs minic go leor. TĂĄim nĂ­os cinnte fĂłs faoi seo Ăł thrĂĄthnĂłna DĂ©ardaoin nuair a chuala mĂ© go bhfuil $15.6 billiĂșn d’ioncam reatha ag a chomhlacht Apple. DĂ©arfainn go bhfuil a chuntasĂłir ag gĂĄire minic go leor freisin. TĂĄ 250 milliĂșn iPod dĂ­olta; tĂĄ 284 siopaĂ­ Mac oscailte anois agus buail 50 milliĂșn cuairteoirĂ­ thar an tairsĂ­ acu sa cheathrĂș deiridh de 2010.

NĂ­or luaigh siad cĂ© mhĂ©ad a chaith siad ann ach bhĂ­ sĂ© an-bhrĂłdĂșil de go raibh siad ansin i gcomharsanacht a gcustaimĂ©irĂ­; dĂ©arfainn go bhfuil cheana leis an mĂ©id sin iPod amuigh sa saol mĂłr! TĂĄ 140,000 feidhmchlĂĄr ar fĂĄil san Appstore agus Ă­osluchtaĂ­odh 3 billiĂșn dĂ­obh le hocht mĂ­ dhĂ©ag anuas Ăł osclaĂ­odh an AppStore. Chuir Jobs na huimhreacha seo i lĂĄthair ina chaint ag Macworld 2010 ar an DĂ©ardaoin deiridh de mhĂ­ EanĂĄir. SpĂ©isiĂșil cinnte ach nĂ­orbh iad na huimhreacha rĂĄthĂșla seo in am an ghĂĄtair a bhĂ­ ag corraĂ­ na sluaite.

“Last time there was this much excitement about a tablet, it had some commandments on it” a scrĂ­obhadh sa Wall Street Journal roimh cur i lĂĄthair bliantĂșil phrĂ­omhfheidhmeannach an chomhlachta theicneolaĂ­ochta.

BhĂ­ iomrĂĄ sa nua- agus sna seanmheĂĄin go raibh Apple chun tĂĄiblĂ©ad a sheoladh: uirlis rĂ­omhaireachta gan mhĂ©archlĂĄr nĂł lĂșchĂłg a ligfeadh don ĂșsĂĄideoir an mĂ©id cĂ©anna a dhĂ©anamh is a fĂ©idir leo a dhĂ©anamh ar rĂ­omhaire glĂșine nĂł pearsanta. Mar ĂșinĂ©ir rĂ­omhaire glĂșine agus iPhone tuigim dĂłibh an plean seo. TĂĄ an-chuid gur fĂ©idir liom a dhĂ©anamh ar an iPhone, ach nĂ­ fhĂ©adfainn an colĂșin seo a scrĂ­obh, cuir i gcĂĄs, ar an iPhone. Cinnte, d’fhĂ©adfainn an taighde a dhĂ©anamh, d’fhĂ©adfainn nĂłta scrĂ­ofa a dhĂ©anamh nĂł fiĂș nĂłtaĂ­ labhartha a thaifeadadh ach nuair atĂĄ an t-alt le scrĂ­obh tĂĄ cathaoir, deasc agus rĂ­omhaire glĂșine uaim. BĂ­onn cĂșpĂĄn tae uaim de ghnĂĄth freisin, ach nĂ­ dĂłigh liom go bhfuil gĂĄ le Barrys aon eagla a bheith orthu go foill roimh Apple! Sin rĂĄite thug Jobs comhlacht uirlisĂ­ soghluaiste ar Apple agus dĂșirt sĂ© go bhfuil barr rugtha acu ar Sony, Samsung agus Nokia mar chomhlacht uirlisĂ­ soghluaiste. TĂĄ a rĂ­omhairĂ­ glĂșine, na Macbook, san ĂĄireamh sa chuntas seo.

Jobs, Mac na hOibre SlĂĄn!

DĂșirt Jobs gur chuir an rĂĄiteas thuas sa New York Times, faoi dhĂĄ leic Mhaois anuas den sliabh, meangadh ar a bhĂ©al. NĂ­ raibh mĂłrĂĄn dĂĄ chaint curtha isteach ar Jobs nuair a thosaigh mionghĂĄire fud fad na cruinne. DĂșirt fear amhĂĄin gur chuir sĂ© Dom Joly ar Trigger Happy TV i gcuimhne dĂł lena fĂłin ollmhĂłr; dĂșirt fear eile go raibh an chuma air go raibh Jobs millteanach beag agus gnĂĄth iPhone ina lĂĄmh aige.

Ach an ceann a chur ag gĂĄire os ard mĂ© nĂĄ an bhean a chuir an cheist, “Nach raibh bean ar bith ar an bhfoireann margaĂ­ochta iPad nuair a roghnaĂ­odh an t-ainm sin!?” Ach nĂ­os ceistniĂșla arĂ­s faoin bhfoireann mhargaĂ­ochta, is lĂ©ir gur le dream eile an ainm fearainn www.ipad.com! Dochreidte uilig. Nach diabhalta Ă© sin!

TĂĄ mionsonraĂ­ na huirlise seo, an iPad, gan locht Ăłn mĂ©id a chonaic mĂ© sa fhiseĂĄn den eocharchaint ach nĂĄ bĂ­gĂ­ ag ceapadh gur rĂ­omhaire glĂșine nĂł uirlis cumarsĂĄide ar nĂłs an iPhone atĂĄ ann. An plean a bhĂ­ acu nĂĄ uirlis a chruthĂș a bheadh nĂ­os fearr fĂĄ choinne bhrabhsĂĄil an idirlĂ­n, lĂ©amh r-phost, breathnĂș is eagrĂș griangraf, fĂ­seanna, is ceol agus fĂĄ choinne cluichĂ­ a imirt agus eLeabhair a lĂ©amh. De rĂ©ir an mĂ©ad a chonaic mĂ© de na bogearraĂ­ a thaispeĂĄin siad, tĂĄ Ă©irithe leo na haidhmeanna sin a bhaint amach. Is dĂłcha go maireann an gaol grĂĄmhar idir Apple agus na tionscadail cheoil, scannĂĄin is foilsitheoireachta Ăł maireann an bainistiĂș cearta digiteacha go lĂĄidir trĂ­d iTunes agus an iTunes Store agus Ăł d’fhĂłgair Jobs go bhfuil cĂșig cinn de na comhlachtaĂ­ mĂłra foilsitheoireachta mar phĂĄirtnĂ©irĂ­ acu sa siopa nua iBookStore.

Is é Deireadh an tSoiscéil an tAirgead!

TĂĄ bogearra cruthaithe freisin a ligeann dĂłibh siĂșd a bhfuil jab acu fĂłs a jabanna a dhĂ©anamh ar an iPad. Tugtar iWorks ar an seit seo agus is fĂ©idir cĂĄipĂ©isĂ­, cur i lĂĄthair agus scarbhileoga a chrĂșthĂș leis. Is le taispeĂĄint agus fĂłgairt iWorks a tugadh an chĂ©ad nod i leith luachĂĄla an iPad dĂșinn: nĂ­ chosnĂłidh bogearraĂ­ iWorks ach €9.99 an ceann. Chuir sin i gcomparĂĄid leis an bpraghas ar chĂłip de Office Ăł Microsoft!
Faoi dheireadh d’fhĂłgair Jobs an praghas. DĂșirt sĂ© go raibh praghas Ă­seal san ĂĄireamh i sainiĂș na huirlise chomh maith leis an liosta mianta eile.

TĂĄ rogha ann ar ndĂłigh ach don iPad is mĂł, .i. 64GB, cuimhne le WiFi agus 3G, ba chĂłir nach gcosnĂłdh iPad nĂ­os mĂł nĂĄ €600.00 san Eoraip bunaithe ar an bpraghas dollair a d’fhĂłgair Jobs ar an DĂ©ardaoin deiridh d’EanĂĄir. Ar ndĂłigh, nĂ­ haon gheallĂșint Ă© sin sa tĂ­r seo, ach fĂĄg agam an aisling seal gairid eile. NĂ­ bheidh an uirlis faoi ghlas agus mar sin is fĂ©idir micrea-SIM Ăł aon chomhlacht fĂłin a ĂșsĂĄid fĂĄ choinne pacĂĄiste eolais. Ach mar shampla, tĂĄ pacĂĄiste beartaithe acu le AT+T de 250MB ar $14.99 in aghaidh na mĂ­osa agus mĂĄ Ă©irĂ­onn leo a leithĂ©id a shocrĂș in Éirinn, ba choir go mbeadh an praghas iomaĂ­och go leor. Ar ndĂłigh beidh ort do phacĂĄiste eolais don fĂłn agus don rĂ­omhaire glĂșine a choimeĂĄd: coinneoidh sin na comhlachtaĂ­ fĂłin sĂĄsta!

Ach bhĂ­ cĂșpla rud faoin iPad a chur ionadh orm (seachas an t-ainm!) agus ba lĂ©ir nach raibh mĂ© liom fĂ©in. Easpa ceamara an rud is mĂł a chuir ionadh ar dhaoine: nĂ­ ar mhaithe le griangraif ach fĂĄ choinne scairteanna fĂ­se trĂ­ Skype, cuir i gcĂĄs, nĂł ar lĂ­onra sĂłisialta Facebook, YouTube agus Seesmic. Cuireann easpa ceamara chun tosaigh srian ar na feidhmchlĂĄir rĂ©altachta breisithe atĂĄ ag teacht ar an margadh Ăł seoladh an iPhone 3Gs le compas iontu. Chomh maith leis sin, caithfear an uirlis a shioncrĂłnĂș le rĂ­omhaire dĂ­reach cosĂșil le iPod nĂł iPhone. Ach ba lĂ©ir gur Ă©ist siad lena n-ĂșsĂĄideoirĂ­ nuair a d’fhĂłgair siad go bhfuil 10 n-uaire saoil ceallraĂ­. Sin ceann de na dĂ­omua is mĂł a chuireann daoine i leith an iPhone.

BĂ­odh nach mbeadh an iPad riachtanach i mo shaol, tĂĄ mo iPiggyBank ar an tseilf agam. MĂĄ chuirim cĂșpla pingin ar leataobh chuile lĂĄ feasta, ba choir go mbeidh mo €600.00 curtha ar leataobh agam roimh deireadh na bliana!