Is social networking taking over our lives?

What is dragging Ireland down? – Although there is literally over a 100 reasons to choose from in this day and age I think it is because of our online obsession, which raises the question - Are we living vicariously through the internet?

Currently in Ireland the youth culture that has emerged is very dependent on the internet, and hence social networking. Everywhere we look someone is 'tweeting' or 'writing on someone's wall'. Have social networking sites become not just the new media here in Ireland, but the dominant one? Facebook, Myspace, Twitter and Bebo are four sites that have billions of followers. Human contact is no longer the way to go as people converse in a new way which was unheard of in Ireland just a decade ago. 

Kip Drordy - Typical case of internet addiction. The rush of online companionship was intense! But the worst of social networking is the redundant boring statuses about who had what for lunch and who wishes to announce publicly via the internet - all their most innermost thoughts, feelings and reflections. But most of all... I would much rather the opinionated irritating status updater than 'THE LOVEBIRDS'. We all know them, and resent them, but not for their mutual love and special bond - but their inability to keep it private?! It is baffling. If your relationship is all rainbows, unicorns and sunshine why constantly reiterate it publicly every hour. It's like wearing a neon sign saying 'I like the attention and am so immensely witty that my explicit lovey-dovey comments are oh so cryptic.' These individuals shouldn't be allowed have access to social networking sites. Why comment eachother 'Good nite babes love u 4life xxxx' when you're evidently in the same room. Bizarre.

Example of your typical PDA couple. Nice.

Mark Zuckerberg - He owns Facebook and is a billionaire. Oh and as you may have noticed he owns you! Don't fight it!

Typical parent/ child internet addiction scenario. They have rehab for that now I hear.

Social Networking is so dangerous!!!! Every time someone has a night out, or a crisis or an opinion it is publicised. And sometimes when someone is behind a keyboard they fail to realise that their light hearted comments and statements and even pictures might convey them in a not-so-flattering light.

Prospective employers can potentially access your details and what was at the time a fun crazy night with your friends, could be the reason why your job application is tossed aside. Conduct and presentation is very important and you don't just put your best foot forward in person, you should do so online too. Social Networking sites show us things we don't necessarily need to see, they can result directly in break-up's, jealousy, bullying, burglary, arguments and invasion of privacy.

 Having 500 friends on Facebook might make you feel über-loved but you have to take into account that undoubtedly 'popular' and 'special' as you might feel, half a thousand people can access your life in a manner of speaking. Living vicariously through the internet by expressing your innermost feelings is not just naïve, it's dangerous.

Are you practicing social networking etiquette? It’s trickier than you might think… As Facebook, Twitter and 24- hour internet access blur the lines between business and personal lives, employers and employees are struggling to develop social norms to guide them through the ongoing evolution of communications technology … What if your boss adds you on Facebook? That’s a dilemma. How do you not accept them as a friend? What if you really are friends? Also, there is the eternal dilemma of accepting family on Facebook, parents are disinclined to have the same sense of humour as you or your online associates… not altogether that shocking… Granny might not appreciate the joining of group that are a little on the wild side.. 

As predicted Granny is appalled!!!!!! Would you want your granny to see the sexy groups you join? Maybe not. I don’t think we need to take measures to the extremes but I think dependency on social networking and pouring your heart out online is taking a risk and the youth of Ireland need to be made aware of this issue – It isn’t going anywhere.

There is now a website that will delete your social networking site for you… it is called the web 2.0 machine – almost 2 million friends have been ‘unfriended’ and 500,000 tweets have been removed since launching.

If you are feeling courageous click here to avail of the web 2.0 machine and meet your real neighbours again!

What is the world coming to? Now you don’t even have to manually take a step back. Liberating or laziness? Debatable really…

xo L

And the IFTA goes to...

 The 8th Annual Irish Film and Television Awards are a bash worth waiting for. I got all the juicy gossip from our homegrown talent and their Hollywood counterparts. caught up with Pierce Brosnan, Saoirse Ronan, Kim Cattrall, Laura Whitmore, Charlene Mc Kenna and many, many more. The IFTA’s ceremony was a star- studded event and many walked away from the Dublin Convention Centre with statues. It was a learning experience, as I camped on the red carpet it was very interesting to speak to some of the biggest stars in Irish showbiz.

The young Saoirse Ronan picked up the award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her
performance in Peter Weir’s ‘The Way Back’. On speaking to Saoirse Ronan about her intensive martial arts training, she said how tough her strict training regime was -but in a good way : “ the training from ‘Hanna’ will stand to me. It was really tough. For my new film ‘Violet and Daisy’ it was mostly shooting a gun! It is very important to stay grounded in the Film Industry and appreciate every opportunity that comes to you.’’

Pierce Brosnan and Amy Huberman were also among the winners at the IFTA’s. The lovable Frank Kelly who plays the infamous ‘Father Jack’ in Irish comedy ‘Father Ted was notably in attendance with his wife by his side. I guess it is no surprise that the RTÉ Guide Best TV Moment award went to the Rubberbandits, 'Horse Outside'. Over Christmas you could not grace the inside of an establishment without that tune blaring through the airwaves.Colin Farrell collected the Best Actor award for his performance in Neil Jordan's 'Ondine'. 'The Clinic' claimed the award for Best Drama Series/Soap, with 'Five Minutes of Heaven' picking up the award for Best Single Drama. Aidan Quinn was presented with the award for Best Supporting Actor for 'The Eclipse'. Newcomer the stunning Dervla Kirwan snatched up the award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in 'Ondine'.The enigmatic actor Stephen Rea was named Best Actor in a Supporting Role for 'Father & Son' and Sarah Bolger claimed the award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for 'The Tudors'.

Producer Morgan O'Sullivan received the outstanding contribution to the Industry award. and rightly so! Credit where it is seriously due, seeing as he produced the likes of ‘Braveheart’ and ‘Angelas Ashes’ the man should get two of those statues!'Rewind' actress Amy Huberman received the Lead Actress award. She looked stunning in a peach floor- length gown that complemented her glowing complexion. Most definitely a star on the rise.

 Martin McCann was named ‘Lead Actor’ for his performance in 'Swansong - Story of Occi Byrne'.
Brendan Gleeson and his sons Domhnall and Brian were together nominated for numerous IFTA awards, so obviously serious talent runs in the family! There were many TV stars parading the red carpet in style, such as ruthless business man Bill Cullen and his wife Jackie. The advice Bill Cullen gave was : ''To do well in your field - you have to be original, committed, inventive and ultimately work hard - because it is a tough world out there.'' I don’t know about anyone else - but that most certainly is great advice I will try and follow.

Raw actress Charlene Mc Kenna won an IFTA for Best Actress in 2009 and was nominated for the same category this year. The stunning starlet was wearing a slinky high necked black number. The dresses at the ceremony were very interesting .. Anna Daly looked stunning, gorgeous dress, always elegantly dressed, she never gets it wrong, Elaine Crowley looked fabulous.
Charlene Mckenna is the stand out star of all these women, she has the most pretty face I have seen in a long time. Like an Irish Audrey Hepburn, she epitomises pure class. She expressed her excitement to be at the IFTA’s and how it was strange to be nominated this year in the same category as her co-stars on ‘Raw’: “I am very excited about tonights events. The venue is so modern and beautiful. My shoes will definitely be kicked off at the after party! Myself and Ruth and Amy are all nominated in the same category but they are great friends of mine. We are all texting and joking and having serious banter about who could scoop the award. But I have to say, they are both so talented and the media are making out that we are very competitive with each other but that is not the case.” MTV presenter Laura Whitmore flew over from her post in London for the ceremony and gushed that “the Irish media are some of the most welcoming in the world. It is such an honour to be at such an amazing ceremony. I hadn’t realised how much I missed it.”

When I questioned Kim Cattrall about her Valentines Day plans she disclosed her Valentine's plans: “I’m spending Valentine’s with my cat!”
Also the ‘Sex and the City’ beauty dished out about her relationship with her ‘Sex and The City’ co-stars in saying: “We don’t see each other that much but we send eachother texts like How are you? I’m moving! I’m having a baby! Happy Thanksgiving... that sort
of thing.”

Daithí O Sé was on a serious love buzz at the IFTA’s projecting the air of a man seriously in love with his girlfriend from America - a former Rose of Tralee. It made him all the more charming. He exclaimed : “Anyone who knows me knows I have met that very special lady. I have loads of special plans for Valentines Day. But I can’t tell you them! I think romance is a very important. It’s a big part of my life, If you love someone you cannot be afraid to tell them. Romance is a very positive thing.”
Any red-blooded female will admit that loved- up Daithí is very endearing and proves that love is really out there. All in all, it was a night of epic proportions. The Dublin Convention Centre was a phenomenal venue for such a special event. And I must say, all I am left wondering is how in God’s name Kim Cattrall is spending Valentine’s Day alone with her cat! Well, after all this excitement I think I shall hibernate until next year!

xo L

Entourage - What a series.

E*N*T*O*U*R*A*G*E

season 8 trailer :

Entourage is the most down to earth comedy drama that anyone could imagine! It is both compelling and addictive. It is all about Vincent Chase (Adrian Grenier) and his four loyal friends who piggyback along on his road to stardom as he becomes an A- list actor is the Hollywood hills. They experience the rise and falls that follow big money and gorgeous women everywhere. His brother 'Drama' is trying and failing at TV acting, his best friend 'Eric' is his manager and his friend 'Turtle' is well... a supportive if not slightly stingy friend!! It is all well and truly kept in the family!

7 seasons later and we have one concluding season to go.... and our hero 'Chase' has hit rock bottom. Due to the celebrity influence resulting in substance abuse and his relationship with an adult film star.... It is scary to watch as realistically its the way a lot of young film stars go but fingers crossed Vince gets his act together. Tune in to season 8 to see how it all turns out...

Click here to see a great interview from Adrian Grenier

As season 8 is here... a lot of characters have come full circle. But a huge attraction to Entourage is inevitable our favourite sarcastic innapropriate hotshot agent - Ari Gold played by Jeremy Piven. 

Ari Gold's Best moments : 

''We are gonna get drunk with Russell Crowe and we're gonna head-butt some goddamn kangaroos. ''

- Ari Gold

The Cast of the Emmy Award winning TV show

The Rise & Fall of Cheryl Cole

Cheryl truly blossomed throughout the years.... but 2011 hasn't been a good one for our golden girl.




What a difference a year makes.. In 2010 Cheryl was the It- girl... She was bombarded with big brand campaign offers, recovered from malaria that she had contracted and took X factor UK by storm in stunning outfits every week. She was the girl every girl wanted to look like and be and every boy wanted to date but it has to be said - since her sensational exit from the panel of X Factor USA it seems crystal clear that Cheryl Cole has lost a little of her sparkle, and her friend Simon Cowell's support.

On her trip to Cannes Cheryl looked pretty but didn't exude confidence as she used to. Her dress seemed a bad fit and the plunging cleavage detail just wasn't flattering. At the time of the festival Cheryl was still on the USA X Factor panel but she wasn't a walking advertisement for the show - She just didn't stand out.


It isn't a huge surprise that Nicole Scherzinger replaced her, as even though Cheryl was successful as a UK judge for X Factor - Nicole has serious confidence and va va voom! 

Nicole Scherzinger 

Cheryl Cole USA X Factor Interview :

''Cheryl Cole and Katy Perry are two of the hottest girls in the world - and so normal and funny with it. If I was a few years older they are the kind of girls I'd like to date. I want a younger version of Cheryl and Katy - a mixture of the two would be hot.''  Justin Bieber quotes

''Now everyday ain't gonna be no picnic. Love ain't no walk in the park. All you can do is make the best of it now. Can't be afraid of the dark.''  - Cheryl Cole quotes

'Perriers Bounty' - The new style of Irish film.

Perriers Bounty

Click here to see a great clip from the movie 

Perriers Bounty is comical genius. Its the new style of Irish film that could be depicted 'gangster hilarity'. Narrated by Gabriel Byrne. The blue- eyed Cillian Murphy plays our lead man 'Michael Mc Crea', a likeable but general waster with a chip on his shoulder, and whom of which owes gang leader Perrier (Brendan Gleeson) a hefty amount of cash.There is drama, retaliation and a series of events that send our leading man racing around Dublin trying to even the score alongside his dad  (Jim Broadbent) and his friend Brenda (Joe Whittaker) who help him fight his cause yet accidentally cause unrivaled hassle. Filming was completed in late January 2009 and following a very successful stint in cinemas nationwide after its opening at the Toronto International film festival the film gained serious popularity for its 'urban western' style of film as director Ian Fitzgibbon labels his masterpiece. Films like this are exactly what Ireland needs! It shows that the Irish have a sense of self - depricating humour and a flair for comedy- thrillers.

Jim Broadbent is witty and plays his role in an amusing yet clever way as he reverently expresses his concern that the reaper is after him.

See below a Q & A session from YouTube : 

It has to be said - Perriers Bounty is defintely one to watch - It has a fantastic cast and a unique plot, It is definitely worth renting!

Geordie Shore - Reality Tv in the extreme.

It's Geordie Time....

Vulgarity on television is taken to a whole different level nowadays - it cannot be disputed. But it has to be said, shows such as 'Geordie Shore' are hilarious if not a little cringeworthy. These housemates have no shame! From engaging in very inappropriate physical activity and behaviour in front of cameras to stumbling out of clubs vomiting and shrieking - It is proof that we all love car crash television! Maybe it makes us feel orderly and with the program. Regardless of the level of entertainment value of watching these shows it probably sets a bad example for young MTV viewers who could start to think that such erratic behaviour is normal such as boys and girls fighting physically and spitting on eachother. 

Meet the cast and see for yourself :

And below, in fine, upstanding reality TV fashion - one of the housemates - Sophie - vomiting into a toilet bowl. Nice.

 The american equivalent 'Jersey Shore' is very popular stateside, so much there was serious expectation that 'Geordie Shore' would just be crap in comparison. But it gained popularity as the target audience of 15-25 years old became enthralled by the antics of the housemates. The boys named themselves 'players' from the get- go, with a very meticulous almost metrosexual approach to their appearance they used tanning beds, tanning creams, steroids to increase their muscle mass and even waxed their eyebrows... I don't know about anyone else but I couldn't be with a guy that wore more make- up than I do! They are self- proclaimed lady- magnets, especially Gary and Greg. Girls were pretty much disposable to them it seemed. They didn't have much respect for the women on the show, because, truth be told - the women didn't have much respect for themselves. The girls behaved in an equally promiscuous manner and had similar vain habits as their male equivalents so there was a lot of ego aswell as hormones flying around which naturally meant drama, drama and more drama.

Stay tuned and watch the Geordie Shore crew hit Magaluf late this Summer on MTV.

(The resort will be lucky to be left standing...)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 2 - The end of an era.

It must be said, I feel like I have officially reached the end of my childhood this evening as I watched the last instalment of the Harry Potter Saga. As an avid reader from the age of eleven - I looked forward to the book and film releases with barely concealed eager anticipation. And unfortunately for me Harry, Hermione and Ron are all grown up too. The writings of JK Rowling are enhanced visually in the cinematic portrayal of Harrys lifelong defiance and fight against Voldemort and his followers. This movie will go down in the annals of history as a tour de force in storytelling.

Harrys final journey was action packed, as he fights to defeat Voldemort in their final showdown. There is even a touch of romance as Ron and Hermione finally share more than awkward glances and finally embrace. Long overdue!

''Harry Potter, the boy who lived... come to die. Avada Kedavra!''

                                           - Lord Voldemort

The film was directed by David Yates who's innovative vision suited the climax of the series perfectly. From robbing a bank, fighting dragons and elves to facing up to a terrifying realisation - This was an hour and a half of edge-of-your-seat entertainment and a stellar cast to boot.






I would advise all to go and see it! As Lord Voldemort exclaims to Harry : ''Join me, and confront your fate. ''


★★★★☆

Ultimate Chick Flicks - My personal favourites : 'The Notebook' and 'Letters to Juliet'

1. The Notebook 

The Notebook is a 2004 film directed by Nick Cassavetes and based on the Romantic Novel by Nicholas Sparks. It stars Rachel Mc Adams and Ryan Gosling who depict how a Summer romance shapes the rest of their lives. It is, in my opinion the Ultimate  Chick Flick that even your boyfriend would find heart wrenching. 

Young Noah : ''So it's not gonna be easy. It's gonna be really hard. We're gonna have to work at this every day, but I want to do that because I want you. I want all of you, for ever, you and me, every day. Will you do something for me, please? Just picture your life for me? 30 years from now, 40 years from now? What's it look like? If it's with him, go. Go! I lost you once, I think I can do it again. If I thought that's what you really wanted. But don't you take the easy way out.''

★★★★★

____________________________________________________________

2. Letters to Juliet - 

Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) is a young Journalist who is taking an early honeymoon with her fiancee in the stunning Verona. While wandering through the cobbled streets she finds a wall of Letters - Letters to the infamous Shakespearean Heroine - Juliet asking for advice on matters of the heart. Her discovery of a letter dated 50 years previously sends her on a journey with an elderly English lady, and her handsome yet stubborn grandson which makes her realise what true love is all about...

'' I didn't go to him, Juliet. I didn't go to Lorenzo. His eyes were so full of trust I promised I'd meet him and run away together because my parents don't approve. But, instead, I left him waiting for me below our tree - waiting and wondering where I was. I'm in Verona now. I return to London in the morning and I am so afraid. Please, Juliet tell me what I should do. My heart is breaking and I have no one else to turn to. 

Love, Claire ''

★★★★