... playing
Crysis 2, a thrilling science- fiction combat game set in a crumbling New York City. It’s similar to, but superior to, the film Battle: Los Angeles.
. . . curious about
The launch of Fundit.ie, a website set up to attract funding for creative projects in everything from theatre to TV and even food. You give money, projects get off the ground, and you get rewards. For the meagre sum of €10, for example, you can see your name listed in the show programme for Neil Watkin's The Year of Magical Wanking, along with "a magical hug from Watkins redeemable at any performance". The show was a hit at Queer Notions last year; this year Watkins and Thisispopbaby need €6,000 to perform it at the Dublin fringe festival.
. . . going to
Paul Mercier’s Saturday double bills at the Abbey. Although unconnected in their narratives, these two short plays, The Passing and The East Pier, are interesting companion pieces about relationships and memory.
... looking forward to
Elbow at the O2 in Dublin on Thursday. Their album Build a Rocket Boys! is on repeat.
. . . congratulating
Jim Carroll for being named the best journalist blogger at the Irish Blog Awards – his second win in a row. Three Irish Timesbloggers were nominated. See irishtimes.com/blogs. The winner in arts and culture was Vulgo.ie; the best pop-culture blog was the Movie Blog; and the best music blogger was Nialler9.
. . . reading
Stuart Evers's narcotic Ten Stories About Smoking, which explores lives whose small disappointments are achingly portrayed. Sad, shrewd and brilliantly sparse – and that's without the cigarette-box packaging.
... laughing
The transcripts from Tonight with Vincent Browne, as published on the addictive Broadsheet.ie (which was named best news and current-affairs blog last weekend). The conversation between Browne and Terry "I'm a recluse" Prone is a particular treat.
... listening to
Hotel Shampoo by Gruff Rhys. The man can’t write a bad tune, and this stands shoulder to shoulder with the best work of Super Furry Animals.
. . . mourning Elizabeth Taylor
"The surrounding chatter sometimes obscured the fact that she was a terrific actor..."
DONALD CLARKEin Thursday's Life & Culture
. . . seeing
Paul Seawright’s Volunteer series of almost monochromatic photographs (left) at the Kerlin Gallery in Dublin; their American urban wastelands unite themes of war, recession and absence.
