Irresistible!

I found this photo on one of my favourite websites, The Long and the Short of it All, aren't they just irresistible?   You can read the story behind the photo here, some bribery for posing for the photo was involved LOL!

Bono in Africa in Photos

Interesting and balanced analysis of some of the photos taken by Adrian Steirn during Bono's recent trip to Africa can be found here.

The full set of photos taken in Ghana by Adrian Steirn can be found here

Both photos by Adrian Steirn

Wild Thing.....

Came across these amazing underwater photos by Seth Casteel of dogs retrieving a ball.  It shows that the wildness of dogs is still just under the surface, but thank God most choose not to use those fearsome teeth on us!  Here's a short interview with the photographer about this photo shoot that appeared in The Washington Post Style Blog.

Dog show: Seth Casteel’s underwater photos flood the Internet

By May-Ying Lam

The eyes are wild with intent and read nothing but animalistic ferocity. They’re crashing with a chaotic splash on the pristine surface of the water in maniacal pursuit of their prey. They’re chasing squeaky toys.

View Photo Gallery: Seth Casteel’s photos of dogs diving into swimming pools in hot pursuit of neon tennis balls have been a sensation.

Seth Casteel’s photos of dogs diving into swimming pools in hot pursuit of neon tennis balls have spread around the Internet. Just a few days ago, Casteel had a manageable inbox, a working Web site, a phone that rang a normal amount. Now, his inbox is clogged with 1,200 e-mails, his Web site crashed for a brief period, and calls and e-mails have come in from 50 countries and such entities as Jay Leno, Jimmy Kimmel and “Good Morning America.”

“I get amused easily,” Casteel said. “I was just taking pictures because I thought it was fun.”

I caught up with Casteel between e-mails to find out more about his photographs. The pet photographer was in California, where he often shoots.

Why do you think people like these photos?

The dogs are getting back to the wild side. I think dogs have been domesticated over the past thousands of years. Not that long ago, pugs were wolves. I think dogs today enjoy being spoiled. I also think they have wild roots and appreciate the opportunity to explore those.

How did the idea for these photos strike you?

I was working with a dog named Buster. He was more interested in a water photoshoot. My goal is always to embrace what they like to do. He was so excited about the water, passionate about the water. His story had to do with the water. The Sony point-and-shoot was my first underwater setup.

What is your favorite photo and why?

The difficulty of the [photo below] was very high level. What’s interesting about this picture is these two are super good friends, pals. They both dive, love water and love each other. I can work with them together with no aggression toward each other. Some dogs don’t want to share the tennis ball. It is a very terrifying picture but behind the scenes they’re friends. The credit all goes to the dogs. I call it “Sharing is Caring.”
“Sharing is Caring.” A Border Collie and a yellow Labrador Retriever simultaneously pursue a ball underwater. (Photo by Seth Casteel/TandemStock.com)

Do you have any interest in covering the Westminster dog show?

I like dogs in their natural environment. I think a dog in the show ring is the most boring thing in the world. If someone said come coverWestminster, I’d say, “No, but thank you for the opportunity.” Creatively for me, I have no interest.

What’s your camera setup?

My setup now is the Canon 7d with underwater housing. (Casteel declined to reveal his lighting techniques. “I worked really hard to get the recipe for these shots.”) People want to know if I scuba or snorkel. I don’t. I free drive and can hold my breath for 90 seconds. I weight myself down to the bottom of the pool. It’s physically demanding, the work.

Have you ever gotten injured during a shoot?

The camera is only inches away from the dogs. There is no aggression towards me or other dogs but they are very, very excited about retrieving this toy. I have a pretty good strategy. I know exactly my space and know my working distance.

Snow Patrol - Manchester 3rd February 2012

It was a bitterly cold early morning as I stood in the station in Carlisle waiting for the train to Manchester.  The icy wind was whistling down the platform as well wrapped up passengers silently shuffled and craned their necks looking for an approaching train.  A few birds were swooping in and out of the old Victorian building and I wondered how on earth they manage to survive in this kind of weather.

After an unintelligible intercom announcement our train arrived and we were relieved to get into the warmth of the carriage.  We sat for quite a while before an announcement by the guard told us that due to a late arrival of another train we wouldn't have a driver for another half hour (there had been a major train incident near London causing chaos to the rail network).  We could, if we wanted, get off and get on the next Virgin train to London and change at Preston for Manchester but I decided to stay on the train as it was a through train anyway.

Eventually, an hour late, we set off.  Being such a cold day meant it was sunshine and blue skies and the countryside looked beautiful as we glided through it.  At Lancaster the guard announced that the train would now terminate at Preston and we would have to then get a train from there to Manchester.  A lot of people, including me, were annoyed at this as the very reason we stayed on the train was because it was a through train.  So it was back to standing on a freezing platform once more for what seemed like a very long fifteen minutes until the train came.

Photo: Serena Sinden

At Chorley there was an interesting sight to behold, a very large group of Mormons (they had badges proclaiming their name and faith).  Many got on our coach, and the males were all dressed the same, pristine black suits, black overcoats, white shirts and black ties, hair short, all in the same style.  One of the few females in the group sat behind me and started talking to the man beside her who was a Scot and an atheist.  A very interesting, always polite, conversation ensued, with the Mormon referring to the Bible and the Scot proof from archaeology, geology etc.  to support their views. The Scot got off at Oxford Road and one of the female's colleagues then sat next to her and and I heard her say. "It's amazing how people believe those lies."  Mmmm say no more.....

Once at Piccadilly I met up with my friend Julie, we went for a snack and then headed towards our hotel via the shops LOL!  The hotel was a new Travelodge literally within a few minutes walk from the MEN Arena.  It's a new hotel and indeed you could still smell the paint.  Our room was fine, a bargain for £15!

Later we walked into the city and went to our favourite Thai restaurant Chaophyraya for our meal.  As usual it was lovely, great atmosphere, good food, perfect service.  We washed the meal down with a lovely bottle of Montepulciano, just what we needed to ward off the cold outside.

Photo: Serena Sinden

Then it was time to head for the MEN and the gig.  The support was a band called Everything Everything, we hadn't heard of them and didn't go in to see them.  When we did get to our seats we were very pleased with them, they were excellent, the lower block to the right of the stage. We'd got them with a pre-sale code we were given when we pre-ordered the latest album, Fallen Empires, via the band's official free website.  That's how it should be done U2, I'll say no more otherwise I'll get all steamed up once again!

We saw our friends Debbi and Keith seated not far from us, and, as usual right on the front barrier our other friends Karen and Serena, I envy their stamina, gone are the days at the front barrier for me even for U2!

Snow Patrol took the stage at 9pm opening with the instrumental Berlin accompanied by a very clever and beautiful video animation. I must find out who does that for the band, it was fabulous the last time we saw them live in Manchester three years ago and it was excellent this time too.  The stage was simple, video on the backdrop and a huge movable snowflake that was suspended above the band sometimes moving to add to the video effect.  The audience too was frequently used in the effects with various lighting on it, I thought that was good, we were very much part of the show.

Photo: Serena Sinden

The songs started with a rousing I'll Never Let Go, after which Gary apologised for having his flies open, spawning lots of "shut your flies" jokes.  I never noticed, and from what I hear others didn't either, so no worries Gary LOL.

The crowd really got warmed up with Take Back the City.  Gary asked people who were sitting to stand up and most did which was great.  He has that effortless Irish charm, warmth and easy banter that is so endearing as he chatters away to the audience - something he does frequently.  This create a wonderful closeness that really adds to the whole experience.  Besides that, his voice live is fantastic and the whole band is a very tight unit.  I noticed they used a lot of different percussion instruments which made for some interesting sounds.

Highlights, for me personally, firstly was This Isn't Everything You Are from the latest album Fallen Empires.  A beautiful song, deep, moving lyrics, the crowd joined in I felt a lump in my throat as the voices echoed around the arena. It's just one of those special songs that touches your soul:

"Then in one little moment

Photo: Serena Sinden

It all implodes

This isn't everything you are

Breathe deeply in the silence

No sudden moves

This isn't everything you are

Just take the hand that’s offered

And hold on tight

This isn't everything you are

There's joy not far from here

I know there is

This isn't everything you are."

Beautiful.

Next highlight was Run.  The opening notes rang out Gary came to the mic to sing and the audience took over, he stood back, a big smile on his face and let us sing.  He eventually joined in with us and once more I knew that this song was my favourite song ever, even moreso than any U2 song (well, maybe equal with Bad).  This is a real classic song that will never lose its magic.

Chasing Cars was initially performed quite low key, again it was a communal singalong, with the full band coming in for the last part which was very powerful.  Good to see favourite older songs Chocolate and You're All I Have in there too.  Fallen Empires is one of the new songs I really like.  It is has great percussion and reminds me a bit of Arcade Fire which isn't a bad thing. The set finished with Just Say Yes, which was good, but I preferred the ending they did last time with The Lightning Strike.

All in all I thought the gig was a good balance of old and new songs.  I thought the concert flew by then Debbi told me that it had only lasted one hour forty minutes,(I never wear a watch), so that was the only disappointment, it was a short gig. The show was about the band, the music and the audience, with minimal special effects and it was fabulous, good music speaks for itself, it doesn't need anything else.

Below is a video from the Manchester gig, followed by the setlist.

1. 
   

   Setlist

   Berlin (Remix) @Tape

   I'll Never Let Go
   Take Back The City
   Hands Open
   This Isn't Everything You Are
   Run
   

   In The End

   Crack the Shutters
   New York
   Set the Fire to the Third Bar
   Make This Go On Forever
   Shut Your Eyes
   Chasing Cars
   Chocolate
   Called Out in the Dark
   Fallen Empires
   You're All I Have
   Encore
   Lifening
   Open Your Eyes
   Just Say Yes

Sad Legacy of Fukushima

Photo from The Irish Times

It may not be in the news much now, but almost a year after the earthquake, tsunami and the nuclear meltdown Japan is still struggling to recover. One problem is that hundreds of hastily abandoned pets are fighting to survive in the harsh winter in the exclusion zone around the Fukushima nuclear reactor. 


Of course the country has concentrated on containing the nuclear accident and protecting people from radiation,  but Yasunori Hoso, representative director of United Kennel Club Japan, has been trying to save as many dogs and cats from the no-go zone as possible.  He also keeps pets for those who are living in shelters where pets are not allowed. He runs a shelter for about 350 dogs and cats rescued from the 20-km evacuation zone around the crippled nuclear plant.  


He says, " ......when it comes to dogs, all of them, without exception, become really ecstatic when they get reunited with their owners. That is what keeps me going, what makes me determined that I have to push ahead until the last one goes back to its owner."

It's great that there are people like Hoso, working hard to reunite pets with their families.

Full article below.

Fukushima pets in no-go area face harsh winter

It really was a storm.... !

It really was a storm.... !,
originally uploaded by ツ Kj Photography ツ.

This was taken in Iceland last night, now that's what I call an aurora! We are in Iceland in two months, I hope we get a Northern Lights show like this!  Click on the photo to enlarge.

U22 Tracklist

U2.com has announced the track listing for U22, the gift for re-subscribers of U2.com.  For once it is actually an excellent gift, but not enough to make me shelve out $50!  Below is the announcement as it appears on U2.com.


After tens of thousands of votes, U2.com Subscribers have decided which tracks will appear on 'U22'.

We asked you to choose your top 22 live tracks after listening to 46 the band played on U2360°. Three months later, the result is the first crowd-sourced U2 live collection.

You didn't just cast your votes. You also engaged in impassioned argument on our boards about which tracks should appear, which should not - and why.

In the end the great divide was between those of you who wanted 'U22' to become  a collection of the band's 'greatest' live tracks and those who wanted it to capture songs the band rarely perform, tracks hardly ever released live.

The results are fascinating - spanning nine albums and thirty years, excluding some of the most familiar songs and featuring some total surprises.

'This is really going to be a special CD.' said Adam, when we caught up with him this week. 'I wasn't expecting some of these tunes, it's a really fresh collection and it's going to make very interesting listening.'

So here's the 22 tracks. Scroll to the bottom of the page to see what happens next. And then get into the comments to give us your reactions.

1. Bad  
2. Where The Streets Have No  Name
3. Magnificent 
4. One
5. Ultraviolet 
6. Even Better than The Real Thing
7. With or Without You 
8. Beautiful Day 
9. City of Blinding Lights 
10. The Unforgettable Fire 
11. I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For 
12. All I Want is You/Love Rescue Me   
13. Moment of Surrender  
14. Until The End of the World  
15. The Fly 
16. One Tree Hill  
17. Stay (Faraway, So Close) 
18. Walk On 
19. Zooropa 
20. Elevation
21. Out of Control
22. Mysterious Ways 

The tracks are now being mixed and sequenced while the editorial and design of the accompanying 24-page large format book (see above) is finalised. 

More details soon on when 'U22' will be arriving with you... if you've resubscribed to U2.com for 2012. 

Bono and Grace

At the moment Bono is on a seemingly unpublicised tour of Africa.  He recently visited the Mend project in Uganda - more information on this on their Facebook page here .

There's a nice little story about Bono meeting Grace, one of the workers there, and of course he just had to sing Amazing Grace to her!  On Facebook it says someone videoed this, if it turns up anywhere I'll put it on my blog.  But there's a lovely photo  of Bono with Grace (who has obviously been charmed by Bono judging by the big smile on her face) which I've added below.

Photo from Mend's Facebook page

'Stephen Lawrence' by Carol Ann Duffy

Wonderful poem by the poet laureate, sometimes less is more and says so much.  

'Stephen Lawrence' by Carol Ann Duffy

Written by the poet laureate after the conviction of two men for the teenager's murder in 1993

Cold pavement indeed
the night you died,
murdered;
but the airborne drop of blood
from your wound
was a seed
your mother sewed
into hard ground –
your life's length doubled,
unlived, stilled,
till one flower, thorned,
bloomed
in her hand, 
love's just blade.

Words To Take Note Of U2 .....

YES, YES, YES!  I agree with pretty much all of this article and I hope U2 read it and that it gives them food for thought.


From Rolling Stone:


Our 10 Greatest Hopes and Fears for 2012
2012 is going to be a big year for music.  We hope these people don't screw it up.


U2 Plot Their Future
Hope: U2's 2009 album No Line On The Horizon was an extremely ambitious record that sold millions of copies all over the world. Songs like "Moment of Surrender" and "Magnificent" rank with the band's best work, but the singles failed to connect with a mass audience and by U2's standards it was a disappointment. We hope that they realize that radio is unlikely to put any song they ever write into heavy rotation; instead, they should just focus on making another great record, and then hit the road on an arena tour that drops some of the old warhorses in favor of great songs from the past. How about "Acrobat," "Drowning Man" and "Numb"? "Pride (In The Name of Love)" is a great song, but enough's enough. 

Fear: U2 tends to end each decade with a commercial disappointment, and then begin the new decade with an album that's the exact opposite of their last work. The failure of Rattle and Hum gave the world Achtung Baby and the failure of the (criminally underrated) Pop led to the back-to-basics approach on All That You Can't Leave Behind. They have spent much of the last two years working with a rotating cast of producers, including Danger Mouse and RedOne. We fear their primary focus is competing with Lady Gaga on the radio. It's a fight they're going to lose. Hey Bono, don't overthink this next record. Just make it great. It'll serve you better in the long run. Remember that awful charity single "Stranded" you cut with Jay-Z and Rihanna? Never do anything like that again. 

Happy 2012!

Just a few words as 2011 is drifting away.  I hope that 2012 will be a great year for you, I hope it will be happy and healthy and that you will have lots of whatever makes you content.  I have trips to Stoke, Manchester, Iceland, Dublin and Nice lined up so I'm pretty happy with that as travelling is one of my big loves and I appreciate that I am lucky in that I am able to travel that much.

As I get older I appreciate my health more and more, without good health life can be pretty difficult no matter how blessed you are in other ways, and I hope for continued health for all in 2012.  My diet/gym has been sidelined these last few weeks but I am getting back onto the wagon from tomorrow, I am determined to keep the healthier lifestyle doing!  Hopefully I'll be a shadow of myself this time next year.

Thanks for taking the time to read my blog, I'm chuffed that I get so many people popping in to read my various musings and hope that you will continue to do so next year.  My very best wishes for 2012, and a couple of woofs from the longdog rascals below too!

Max and Pepsi

Earthflight

Looking forward to this new series starting on BBC One tonight.

Bono at Leopardstown Races 2011

Bono Pouring Champagne for the Photographers

Bono, Ali and their daughters went on their annual St Stephen's day out at the Leopardstown races yesterday. Bono was in a generous mood and handed out champagne to the waiting photographers.  Story and more photos here. Bono's daughters have grown into beautiful young women, but there is a big error in the article, the journalists have got Jordan and Eve mixed up in the photo captions. (PS they have now corrected the errors).

More photos here .

Update - Video of Bono Busking on Grafton Street

Lovely video of Silent Night from the busking on Grafton street earlier this evening.  Another song that was sung was Baby Please Come Home.

Bono Busking on Grafton Street - Again

Bono,  in what now seems be a Christmas Eve tradition, once more joined Glen Hansard, Mundy, Liam O'Maonlai,  Declan O'Rourke and others to busk on Grafton street this evening. The event was in aid of the Simon Community and Peter McVerry Trust, both charities working to help the homeless.  I've not heard what songs were sung but lots of other photos can be found here.

Siku the Polar Bear Cub - Major Cuteness!

If you want something to put a smile on your face watch the video below.  The cub is Siku (meaning ice in Greenlandic), just one month old, who lives at the Scandinavian Wildlife Park in Denmark.  He had to be taken away from his mother as she could not produce enough milk for him.  He is being cared for 24 hours a day by three keepers, what a wonderful job!  And what a sweetheart little Siku is.

U2 Christmas Party

U2 threw the Christmas party for their staff at Principle management on Wednesday 21st December at Harry's Cafe Bar on Hanover Quay.  As well as the staff, The Rubberbandits and Gavin Friday were there.  Apparently also attending were Gavin's dogs Ralph and Stan wearing Santa hats!  I'm sure a good time was had by all!

Photo:  Irish Independent     

The Jean Genie, David Bowie 1973

This performance by David Bowie of The Jean Genie was first broadcast on Top of the Pops in 1973 and has never been seen since, the tapes having been wiped by the BBC. The footage belongs to John Henshall a cameraman who worked on the programme who kept copies for himself.  He didn't know the BBC had not kept a copy and also was unaware of how important the footage was, and it was only when he mentioned it on Johnnie Walker's Radio 2 show that it all came to light.

Mark Cooper, executive producer of Top of the Pops 2 said: "Bowie singing The Jean Genie is electric and the kind of piece of archive that not only brings back how brilliant Top of the Pops could be, but also How a piece of archive can speak to us down the years."

I loved Bowie in the 70's, he was so pushing the boundaries, mixing theatre with music and he was so different to anything else at the time. He was androgynous, almost alien, sexy, charismatic, unique. This performance is him at his best, it is indeed  "electric," every now and then an artist will do something special and this is an prime example, lost for 38 years (yikes!) and thankfully found again.  As Mark Cooper said, some performances are so amazing they can still captivate people decades later.

Apparently Henshall has hundreds of other tapes, what other delights could he have for us?