Isn't DCU bleedin' deadly!?

I'm there, what, four days, and I'll liking it, surely. The college that has it all, the campus with all your need, under the tree at Spar, yes, there's a Spar on campus.

Although at this present moment, I don't know my timetable yet, it's all good and that is because DCU is deadly. I'll have to check my student portal page for it tomorrow. It's an Electronic University shall we say? They advise students to check their DCU e-mail at least daily! How more frequently do they want, hourly? Oh well, it's all part of student life! Ha.

DCU is full of deadly places to go. The Nu-bar is pretty cool, I was in it last night for the "Dis-Orientation Ball." It got real packed after a while. Unfortunately the bar had no Guinness. If you know me, you'll know that I drink Guinness. The bastards. There was two taps, but no sweet Guinness! This is the second time this has happened to me in a week, a bar with no Guinness! What's the world coming to!? Anyway, I had a pint o' Smithwick's first, then some Heineken. Smithwick's is Ireland best selling ale, apparently. It's got a rich taste, maybe a bit too rich for me. Heineken is nicer after the Killkenny ale, but in the end, it's still Heino.

Sorry, this is meant to be about Dublin City University, not about different booze. I haven't been in yet, but the Inter-Faith Centre sounds cool too. You can go in and make yourself some tea/coffee and relax or chat to anybody. There's a piano there too if you want to lay down some tinkling jazz, or whatever, ya know the way. Good meeting place so they say.

There's about 40million clubs and societies in DCU too. Or maybe there only 90, but that's enough, I think. Every student will be shot at from every angle with flyers and people trying ot recruit new members for their respective club/soc next week or some time in week two of semester. I'll probably join a few societies. There's a Home & Away club, not that I like it, just thought it's interesting to note. I think everyone how has talked to us has said to join something. So, it seems that it's mildly important to do so. They STRONGLY advise it. Good way to meet folks and make mates and the like.

So, roll on week one and another as being a student. I might even get one of those hoodies with DCU on them.

The Second Contract

During the moment of magic, half the pint , at least, must be consumed by the undersigned.

Liam ÓMhaoldomhnaigh

Clark Griffin

8/9/'07

Glendalough

Long Dubai Weekend

Running Jokes
-The Safety Deposit
-Tom & Margaret (puke)

Misc. Stuff

-Vulgarity
-Guinness Glasses
-Clark's Bed
-Soon Fatt (Bray)
-Michelle's Favourite Graveyard
-Dublinese X-Men
-English Stain
-Harry Nilsson
-Cow Pissing
-Sheep
-Biscuits
-The Moment(s) of Magic
-Gar Drinking the Fly
-Clark Drinking the Dregs
-Senakot
-Photos
-Headless Joe
-Fat Bottomed Woman
-Throwing Stones At Flowers
-The Lads Falling Down the Mountain
-Nice Soup
-Clarkey Boy's Cooking
-Euh, Don't Rub My Back!
-Clark Falling in the River
-The Contract
-Stained Beds
-Gar switching beds
-Sleeping During the Day
-"Angel" the Waitress
-Kicking the Walls
-Powerwanking
-Gar & Clark walking 28km
-Cheese&Onion VS. Salt&Vinegar
-Hostel staff woman-scowl
-Going Graveyard Late
-The Bus
-Walking in the Dark
-The Bar

Decree of Goodliness

We, the undersigned, declare that Glendalough is legend. The craic was had by all.
L. Maloney D. O' Shea
Lorna Christie Garreth Quinn
Clark Griffin

The Contract

LEGAL CONTRACT
If one of the undersigned pukes, the other(s) must also puke.
L. Maloney Clark Griffin
D. O'Shea Garreth Quinn
Lorna Christie III

"...So fuck you!"

I've recently uncovered a remarkable artist. Unfortunately, I was a bit late, since he's been dead since 1995. But, he left a wealth of recording behind him for me to enjoy. He went by the name of Harry Nilsson. The first time a heard Nilsson was in an old friend's house. His Da had the "Resevoir Dogs" soundtrack. As you may know, his song "Coconut," a novelty calypso, is played during the end credits. It's a funny song and I liked it.

Years later, I purchased that same sountrack and had the song myself. I thought nothing of it for another few years. But a few weeks, Lorna and I were talking and she reminded me of the song and I played it. That night I had a look on YouTube to see if I could find a video for the song and possibly more Harry. I found what I was looking for, and more. There's a video for "Coconut" and when I first watched a solo acoustic BBC performance of "1941," I knew I had to look for more Harry.


~

"Well the years were passing quickly
But not fast enough for him
So he close his eyes through '55
And he opened them up again."

Unfortunately, HMV only had one Harry CD "The best of Harry Nilsson." But, it doesn't have "1941," so, when buying R. Wainwright CDs for a certain person, I got "Nilsson Greatest Hits" for myself.

Asked the name their favo(u)rite American musician at a Beatles press conference, John Lennon and Paul McCartney answered "Nilsson." It is easy to see why they were so impressed. Nilsson's three-and-a-half octave voice, catchy melodies, witty lyrics, and baroque arrangements, branded him as one of the most exciting new talents of the late 60s. Nilsson was equally well-versed as a songwriter and a sensitive interpreter of the other people's material.

That's the blurb on the back of "Nilsson Greatest Hits." Sounds great doesn't it? Surely promising anyway. To my delight, "1941" was the first track. It's the studio version with string arrangments and the like. It's also faster paced than the solo version I heard first, but it's still absolutely wonderful. Pianist/guitarist and talented singer, Harry's music spans over as many genres as you care to think of. As far as I know, most is put under general pop. But, "Jump Into the Fire" dived among rock anthems, for example. Another song, "Joy," sounds very country. The vocals are quite J. Cash, and the slide guitar finishes the yee-hah sort of tone.

The people that knew and loved him describe Harry as "reclusive," "gregarious," "shy and diffident," "wild," "endlessly fun," "innocent," "a complete lunatic," and "a pussycat."

At first, I could kinda divide the songs on the greatest hits album into two categories. One being depressing ("1941," "Without Her," "One," "Without You," "Don't Forget Me") and the other being not depressing sounding, but still depressing ("Cuddly Toy," "The Puppy Song," "Good Old Desk").

Two Nilsson songs played a big part in our recent trip to Glendalough, and also featured in another night down the Cock Tavern. These song are "The Puppy Song" and "You're Breakin' My Heart." The latter is the best example of Nilsson's tendancy to use scatological lyrics in the most genius places.

"You're breakin' my heart, you're tearing it apart, so fuck you!"

"The Puppy Song," which fits into the not depressing sounding, but still depressing category, displays the singers wish to have a puppy as a companion. Sounds harmless enough.

"Dreams are nothing more than wishes,
And a wish is just a dream, you wish to come true"

But the above line makes you realise that the desire is really for a friend and not just for a cuddly dog. "Good Old Desk" has the same connotations. His best friend, his favourite guest, his desk, seems to be his only riend. Harry once answered that the acronym GOD showed the true meaning of the song. But, he later declared that he was bullshitting. But just going on the words, it seems a recluse has lost sight of reality and has found comfort in seemingly happy words and cheerfully-toned music, and of course, the reliability of his "Good Old Desk."

The blurb talks about Nilsson's "catchy melodies." I must say that this is true. Examples of this: "Daybreak," "Spaceman," "1941," "The Puppy Song," (explains why we sang it so much) "You're Breakin' My Heart" etc. etc.

Harry was good friends with the Beatles, and as I've already said, they liked his music. It is possible that he was better friends with John Lennon because of their lost weekend of shananigans. Lennon also produced Nilsson's album "Pussy Cats." But Ringo Starr was also a mate, and together, they starred in a 1974 musical comedy, "Son of Dracula."



So, if you wish you could call this my review of Mr. H. Nilsson. I have surely enjoyed listening to all the songs that I have at present. I'm not sure if I have a favourite song yet. Could be "Good Old Desk." I love all his yadda-di-di yadda-da-da-dum stuff, especially in "Good Old Desk" and "1941." If you'd like to hear some good music, pick up a Nilsson CD. Smile now! CLICK. There y'are now. Enjoy.

The Cats Turn Out Trumps Again At Croke Park

The first Sunday of September, the day hurling fans and two panels of hurlers wait for, came today. The venue was Croke Park and the weather was dismal, misty, then sunny, and then rainy. All the excitement of All-Ireland day and all the weather of all the seasons.

So, I'm sure you know at this stage, the Liam McCarthy cup is going back to Killkenny for the thirtieth time and for the second year running. I was recently in Killkenny town and I am now imagining those narrow streets absolutley exploding with people wanting to catch a glimpse of Henry Shefflin or Eddie Brennan.

The Cats overcame the poor Shannonsiders. Awh! What can a Dub like me do? Well, we can wait and watch the football.