hotpress.com members update: "The Leaving Cert: An awful thing to do to a 17 year old."
6 June 2007
Well hello there friends! Welcome to le ezine du Hot Press, as our Gallic cousins might say. You've caught us in the middle of our birthday preparations, so sorry if we seem a bit distracted, we're just planning what to wear to our party. But excited as we are about it all, there's still business to attend to. So let's get to it:
"She was a really cool kisser
And she wasn't all that strict of a Christian.
She was a damn good dancer
But she wasn't all that great of a girlfriend."
...was last week's teaser, which was probably not as hard as we thought. But that's not to belittle the talents of joeclav, who recognised these lines from the summer pop wonder of 'Stuck Between Stations' by The Hold Steady. Now then, this week, an actual challenge perhaps? Or are you too clever for us?
"Loose talk in the classroom
To hurt they try and try
Strong words in the staffroom
The accusations fly"
...that's the lyric, what's the song? Go on, it's actually pretty easy. Reply with the answer to win our love and respect (it's as great as it sounds).
***********************************
NEW ISSUE: OUT NOW!
It's the one with Jack White on the cover! Inside, he tells us all about his Catholic upbringing and love of the blues. We also talk to Dolores O'Riordan, Director and Freddie Starr.
Not only that but its got the Ian Paisley Jnr interview that's caused about a million & one hits on google this week.
Plus your exclusive preview to everything the summer has to offer by way of festivals, including a special Live at the Marquee supplement on the much-anticipated Cork "Live At The Marquee" gigs.
As for films, we get a sneak peek at Scott Walker: 30 Century Man, The Hitcher and Paradise Lost.
All this, and looooaaads more, yours forever for just 3.50!
************************************
ASK BELL X1 A QUESTION
Have you submitted your question for Bell X1 yet?
It's your chance set the agenda for a Bell X1 interview, as readers wear their best journalist's hat. Plus a SIGNED copy of their new live album for the best questions!
http://www.hotpress.com/mailback/
************************************
Songs That We've Been Listening To This Week!
Biffy Clyro - 'Love Has A Diameter' (from Puzzle, 2007)
The Knife - 'Heartbeats' (from Deep Cuts, 2003)
Ryan Adams - 'Life Is Beautiful' (from Cold Roses II, 2005)
Sufjan Stevens - 'For The Widows In Paradise, For The Fatherless In Ypsilanti' (from Michigan, 2003)
************************************
CORPORATE SUBSCRIPTIONS
Hot Press has introduced a unique corporate subscription offer.
If you would like to sign up your company just email eugene@hotpress.ie, and you and your work colleagues can avail of bulk discounts off a yearly subscription to Hot Press.
************************************
Essential Reading On hotpress.com Department
1. Win tickets to Roskilde Festival!
We've got THREE pairs of tickets to very possibly the best festival in Europe - and definitely the most open to international visitors.
http://www.hotpress.com/competition/roskilde.html
2. Who are the Irish acts playing Glastonbury?
There's plenty of them, but which acts are making a trip across the Irish sea? And which of those are headlining? Find out here.
http://www.hotpress.com/news/2928195.html
3. Keeping It Surreal
Animation doesn't have to be all green ogres and yellow gluttons, as surrealist animator Jan Svankmajer proves.
http://www.hotpress.com/features/reports/2928022.html
4. Damien Dempsey - To Hell Or Barbados
Still standing by his roots, Damien Dempsey embarks on his fourth album - and according to Olaf Tyaransen, it's a cracker.
http://www.hotpress.com/music/reviews/albums/2927997.html
5. Irish teens talk back
One of our government's failings is the lack of provisions made for the development of youth facilities. The result is that many teens face the prospect of a prolonged holiday with little to do and nowhere to go. Mary O'Keefe reports.
http://www.hotpress.com/politics/frontlines/2928211.html
************************************
WALTON'S GUITAR FESTIVAL
The Waltons Guitar Festival of Ireland, now in its fourth year, sees world renowned musicians from around the world congregate in Dublin for a series of concerts, workshops and masterclasses, a number of which are free of charge. These will take place in various venues around the city, from Temple Bar to the National Concert Hall. The festival covers all genres of music so there is something for everyone, you can buy a festival pass for e95 which gives you access to all of the concerts.
The masterclasses, workshops and seminars provide a unique opportunity for guitar fans. It will be promises to be an exhilarating programme of events fans are likely to experience this year. Tickets can be bought through the box office: National 059 9146287 or by email info@gfi.ie or drop into Walton's Music Shops (North Frederick St and South Great George's St).
************************************
FIRST CUTS: BANDS WANTED!
Hot Press is joining forces with the Wexford Arts Centre and Beat 102-103 to present a series of monthly gigs for new bands and solo artists starting in midsummer.
Called the First Cuts Sessions, the first four gigs will be headlined by Chaplin, currently putting the finishing touches to their first album.
Bands from the South East can submit CD demos from which the support slots will be picked by Jackie Hayden (writer of our regular First Cuts column), Elizabeth Whyte, who runs the Wexford Arts Centre, and Ian Doyle from Chaplin.
To be considered for these support slots, please fill in the application form in the current Hot Press and send it with your CD to First Cuts Sessions, Hot Press, 13 Trinity Street, Dublin 2.
Bands must be based in the south-east and photocopied application forms will not be accepted.
Participating acts will have access to mentoring and promotion advice from Hot Press, and will receive airplay and publicity from Beat 102-103. For more information see the current issue of Hot Press or email firstcuts@hotpress.ie.
************************************
Old News Is Good News Department
With the White Stripes on the cover and their fans dreaming up mirages of their new album, so anticipated it is, we decided to take a trip down a white striped memory lane to help tide us over...
Single review, 2003
Now seen as the White Stripes' defining moment, John Walshe had foresight enough to deem it single of the fortnight. Good man!
http://www.hotpress.com/archive/2649156.html
Interview, 2002
Eamon Sweeney reports on how the White Stripes are coping with their newfound fame.
http://www.hotpress.com/archive/1637801.html
Readers' poll results 2004
It's 2004, and The White Stripes sweep up YOUR votes in the readers' poll. See what else we were into here...
http://www.hotpress.com/archive/2707862.html
Album review, 2005
My personal fave of theirs, and rated quite highly by Mr. Ed Power too - he awarded it 8/10, noting that "it flaunts its weirdness gleefully and capriciously." Way to go!
http://www.hotpress.com/music/reviews/albums/2807319.html
************************************
Our Favourite Postings From The Dank Bathroom Wall / Personal Advert Column / Huge Throbbing Collective Brain That Is The World Famous hotpress.com Messageboard...
LEAVING CERT
**berny:
My wee brother (obviously not so wee anymore) has just started his exams. If you've family/friends who are in the same boat, I'm throwing out vibes of luck, jamminess and calm. It'd almost be WORTH it redoing the leaving just to get hammered afterwards.
Or in my case six months later when I got my recheck results and I'd actually turned 18.
**************post of the week: hear hear!****************
**evil_giraffe:
The Leaving Cert: An awful thing to do to a 17 year old.
**************end post of the week****************
**cyberbuli:
I was 18 but I didn't start drinking until I went to Carlow RTC. I made up for lost time there in as far as I could afford to.
**sibhanio:
I get shivers everytime i hear about those damn exams, worst experience of my life. Dunnno how anyone repeats it.
**shmu:
I found the leaving cert a breeze compared to college! Third level was a shock to the system
**sibhanio:
The points system is such a load of bollix! I mean, yeah great if you get a million points and are studying medicine or whatever but half the lurks studying medicine may have the intelligence to study medicine but don't have the manners to be a bloody doctor.
**vinnie:
Or the personal hygiene in some cases
**fanny:
Yeah, I'd much rather be treated by a well-mannered, unqualified idiot any day of the week. Sure you don't have to be a brain surgeon to be a brain surgeon.
**vinnie:
Well it's not exactly brain surgery
**igor:
Does anybody else have that horrible recurring dream where it's the night before you start the Leaving Cert and you realise you've absolutely no revision done?
It still freaks me out.
**muzzlemusic:
I think the thing to do is - live your life to the fullest until you are 23 then you can apply to college as a mature student. But if you want to get good results don't leave the study until the hour before your exam...doesnt work!
**fanny:
The Leaving Cert biology paper should include a practical involving a game of Operation. That would be a pretty good indicator of aptitude, I think.
**vinnie:
The absence of continuous loud buzzing noises was one of the reasons why I did so badly in my Leaving
**bigtom:
My shaky hands disqualify me from ever being anything other than a nurse. I can't even clip my own toenails.
**vinnie:
I think you're confusing nurse with disco dancer
**bigtom:
Don't ever question my disco capabilities.
