I’ve been constantly watching and cheering for the San Francisco Giants for about ten years now, maybe more. Sleepless nights and only being able to read so many books in a week, led me to look for something else to do when the rest of the world was asleep. Ok, the world where I was, a GMT time zone.

4 am can be a lonely place, this was before a constant Facebook or Twitter stream. MySpace was a place cluttered with rock bands claiming to be the next big thing, not an environment to unwind in, as wannabe web designers took leaves out of geocities’ book, splattering profiles with neon flashing signs. Watching this slow paced game, on a free TV channel, that looked a bit like rounders, was perfect for your insomniac friend. I didn’t think I’d fall in love with the game though.

San Francisco has always tugged at my heart strings so there was no question as to what team to support. I didn’t know if they were winners, losers the good guys or the bad guys. I had someone to root for.

Over the following years, the season always marked the return of better weather, heading towards the Summer. Since I went back to college, it became a flag, a marker, a guide that the end of one college year was approaching and by the end of the regular season, you’d be heading back to college. Just as a baseball team wanted to be at the top of their division to reach the playoffs and go further, this acted like a benchmark of how I spend my Summer, what I did, if I had achieved goals I had set for myself. They mightn’t be huge goals, learn how a new computer programme worked or something but it was a guideline for me.

So here I am, final year, writing my thesis which is due in nine weeks, yes, nine weeks. By that stage the baseball season proper, will be four weeks old. This year, the goals are slightly different. Between now and the end of the regular season, a lot of decisions need to be made. Hard decisions.

As a mature student, going back to college was a bit daunting to start with. What if I was a bit thick? Some of the guys in my class were young enough to be my kids, would I fit in ? Once I started though, they faded away. Now, it’s will I get a job, is my experience enough ? Am I still going to be told I’m ‘over experienced for the position’?.

You only get one shot at this life thing, you’ve got to grab it, shake it and fling it around a bit. I’ve had enough of playing it safe. I’ve had enough of listening to the news every day and hearing more bad news, I don’t watch the news any more. If there was ever a time, to be a daredevil, try something out, now is it. That may mean leaving Ireland, to go where? That would be down to Green Cards, job prospects (you still have to pay the rent) and language barriers. That might rule out China so but leaves a lot of French speaking territories up for discussion.

The World Series should be decided the same week as my graduation. It takes 162 games to figure out who goes to the postseason. You can’t always leave fate in the hands of others, ‘Oh maybe someone will offer me a job’, maybe they will. Maybe I get offered the dream job I’ve always wanted, right here on my door step. There are no fairytales though. I don’t want to get caught up in negativity and be surrounded by it. I went back to college, funded totally by myself (and my lovely partner) to better myself. I never did a degree, I wanted one. But its up to each and every one of us. You make your own luck, you get out, get noticed, maybe here, maybe somewhere else. Who knows? There’s time left, I have some tough decisions ahead but it’s up to me to build my Field of Dreams.

1. DJ Flip & Freezemaster Slick: Crossroads
2. Kind Charles: Loveblood
3. Chat with Rob from Orphancode
4. Orphancode: My Meaning Your Feeling
5. The Walls: Stop The Lights
6. Chat with Andy Knightley, about the sound engineering course being run in STC
7. Charli XCX : I’ll Never Know
8. Niki and The Dove: DJ Ease My Mind
9. Feist: How Come You Never Go There (Beck Remix)
10. Chat with Valentine Black
11. Valentine Black: The State We’re In
12. The Drums: Days
13. Spector: Chevy Thunder

Here’s the blurb:

On Friday 17th February RTÉ Television launched its call for people everywhere, in Ireland and worldwide, to tell us #HowToBeIrish and possibly feature in this unique television programme. The call-out is also being led by RTÉ 2fm’s Rick O’Shea on his Rick in the Afternoon programme.

Anyone who wants to take part – wherever and whoever they are – should think about the feelings, images, thoughts, songs, jokes or special moments which they feel best sum up being Irish and use their cameras, camcorders, webcams or mobile phones to capture their version of #HowToBeIrish.

RTÉ will select the funniest, most touching, awe-inspiring and strange responses for the television programme, #HowToBeIrish, which will be broadcast on RTÉ One and on RTÉ.ie on St Patrick’s Day 2012. And we’ll share the best of the rest with our RTÉ.ie visitors.

There are many ways of being Irish and the conversation is open to anyone anywhere who would like to send us their thoughts on being Irish. Whatever #HowToBeIrish means to you, we want you to show us on camera.

Details of how to submit:

1] Record up to 3 minutes of material, maybe even 5, showing us How To Be Irish.
2] If you film in public, make sure you have permission to film anyone you interview or feature. If you film in private, make sure you have permission from everyone.
3] It is not necessary to edit your material, although you can do so if you wish.
4] Don’t use any music unless you’ve got permission from the rights-holders.
5] Email a file of your footage, preferably a Quicktime, or send us a link of it on YouTube to HowToBeIrish@rte.ie by 6pm on March 5th (you can even post us in your tapes if you like).
6]Any questions? Email HowToBeIrish@rte.ie now.

#HowToBeIrish will be hosted by Twitterato extraordinaire Rick O’Shea of RTÉ 2fm, helped by model and Facebook maven Faye Dinsmore and RTÉ Television presenter and You Tube star Stephen Byrne.

For more information on how to send us your material go to www.rte.ie/howtobeirish. If you still have any questions, e-mail us at howtobeirish@rte.ie.

Closing date for submission of material is 6pm on Monday 5th March.

‘Red Dog’ is directed by Kriv Stenders and based on a true story. While the story may be a little predictable and although tinged with sadness, there are also lots of laughs. The script is clever, the story is told to a trucker by the village locals as they explain how a hitchhiking dog has touched all their lives.

Josh Lucas plays the lead role of ‘John Grant’ while the gorgeous Rachael Taylor, who is currently staring in the TV remake of Charlie’s Angels, plays his love interest, Nancy. They are brilliantly supported by a motley cast who portray the mining community. And, we can’t forget Koko the dog,who recently won ‘Best Dog in A Foreign Film’at the Golden Collar Awards in Los Angeles.

I really like this film, it’s a simple story but it beautifully shows animal/human relationships. We get to see a part of Oz that we wouldn’t normally see and the sheer nothingness of what’s there. I really like the cinematography and the grading and loved the titles, both the main film titles and when introducing the locals. Will definitely watch this again, hopefully this time I won’t want to ball my eyes out.

Bring everyone you know to see Red Dog.

The album ‘Blunderbuss’ is due out in April. Enjoy!

Friday night, February 10th 2012: This review was originally published on Goldenplec.

The Twisted Pepper was the venue for Mud/!Kaboogie 6th birthday party. With a plethora of acts performing and Ms Dynamite headlining, it was sure to be a good night. Upon entering the venue, you could feel the buzz and the ‘up for it’ vibe.

Entering the main venue, Tableek, a American rapper was onstage. He was good, really good. He was backed up by his DJ G Frequency his guy knew how to get the audience involved and rhymed like there was no tomorrow. He easily had the crowd singing along with a ‘doing the wrong thing for the right reason’ refrain.

By chance I bumped into Adam Breakonomics and he told me that he had DJed earlier. It also seemed that Irish hiphop guys, The Animators had also played earlier. Somewhere along the way, the door time seems to have changed to earlier than the advertised 10 pm. which was a little disappointing as I had wanted to see both of these guys.

The night was held throughout the entire venue, not just the main room. DJ sets were mixed with emcees throughout the venue. Finglas native, Temper-Mental MissElayneous treated the audience to her brand of hiphop rhyming, using the occassion as an launch for her Proletarian Restitution E.P.

It was then trying to figure out who was playing where and and what time, I realized this was like a mini festival. I needed a map or at least a schedule of what time everyone was playing at. If you’re a regular to the venue, you’ll know where all the rooms are and where to go, if you’re a newbie, you mightn’t be so lucky.

That’s not to take away from the standard of bass driven music echoing from every corner. Back in the main venue an audio visual show was taking place. The crowd loving the innard ripping bass sounds. Visuals were projected on two walls, directly behind the VJ and to the right of him on stage. I believe this guy’s name was Redmonk, I asked at the sound desk, I was told to check the Facebook page. Either way, he had an interesting collage of images and sounds.

Formula Records’ DJ, Champion was up next. His musical set was a lot more varied than his VJ predecessor. There was and ebb and tide of punters entering and leaving the main venue all night but once Champion took to the stage, they stayed put. Excellent melodic set, got the crowd completely revved up.

It’s nearing 2 a.m. and Ms Dynamite is about to take the stage. Standing room has become a valued commodity. The crowd is already is the palm of her hand as she starts her trademark ‘Dy-na-mit-ee‘, crowd in full voice. It’s a good job we’re on the ground floor, the entire audience are jumping, not sure many floors would cope.

Backed by DJ Free, Ms Dynamite is a master of knowing her audience, calling for the women to let themselves be heard. In a short set, we’re treated to ‘Lion’s Den‘, and recent Labrinth produced single ‘Neva Soft‘.

Over the past year or two, Ms Dynamite has worked her way back to ‘Dy-na-mit-ee‘ heights and collaborations have been a big part of that. The Twisted Pepper crowd get a taste with the Katy B track ‘Lights On’. Crowd interaction is important here and the audience are encouraged to try saying ‘What you talking about?’ in a Cockney accent. Ms D lends the microphone to one lady in the front row for a try. The angry attempt makes her remark that she’s scared. Don’t worry so is Phil Mitchell after that.

It’s the use of a sample of the Prodigy’s ‘Firestarter’ mixed with ‘Fire’, originally with Magnetic Man, that sends the audience to a higher plane. Huge. It’s a short set, Ms Dynamite does as her name suggests. Blows the place to pieces, great performer.

The lights come on as the main venue empties, I decide to do one last sweep of the building, there’s music still coming somewhere. DJs are still going, the crowd still loving it. In another room, MC’s are freestyling over beats. Upstairs, a DJ is still playing hip hop as someone backflips across the floor. Great night, a monster birthday party.I just wish there was a timetable of when everything was on.

So yesterday I had hair that covered my ears. I had to go and get ‘prepped’ so the hair was chopped. Today I went into the Style Club to get dyed. I was number 004 on the list. I’m absolutely wrecked so I’ll write a little tomorrow.. Here’s a shot of my head just after it was done. Thanks to Damien, our colourist who is attempting the World Record for most heads dyed in 24 hours. An absolute gent. Thanks to Gill and all the Today FM gang who were so good to us also.

Thanks to everyone who has donated, much appreciated. Don’t forget you can still donate to the Shave or Dye campaign for The Irish Cancer Society at mycharity.ie

[Edit: Thanks also to the girl on the 39 bus this morning who gave me a donation on the way in!]

1. DJ Flip & Freezemaster Slick
2. Wonder Villians: Ferrari
3. Chat with Sean Hillen about his current exhibition ReViewed
4. Michael Kiwanuka: I Need Your Company
5. Chat with Benjamin Murray, co-Director of Unfinished Spaces showing at the Jameson Dublin International Film Festival
6. Django Django: Default
7. Chat with Mark Foster, CEO Deezer UK & Ireland, a new music streaming service
8. The Cast of Cheers: Family (Jape Remix)
9. Chat with Eddi Reader (Part 1)
10. Fairground Attraction: Perfect
11. Chat with Eddi Reader (Part 2)
12 Eddi Reader: Patience of Angels