Outbreak of Zombies in the US and UK.

image source

Bryant H. McGill said “Creativity is the greatest expression of liberty.” But when are adults truly creative? When was the last time we played? I mean really played, played dress up, chased each other  ran for the pure joy of running? 

Grown-ups are starting to read more children's and YA books and now, now we are starting to play again. 

It started in America, most cool thing usually do. There was a Zombie Apocalypse, and there was a fun run. Yeap, zombies chased humans. you are given a life belts, like in tag rugby, zombies chase you and try to take all your belts. If you reach the evacuation zone, finish line, then you have won your life...or a dog tag. If all your lives are gone, then you have become infected.


I think it's brilliant. 

Adults can get creative and raise money for charity if they wish.

Begone bag packers!
Vamoose  chuggers (charity muggers)!
So long raffles sellers!
Out with you badge sellers!

                                   Hello play-time and charity zombie runs.

Here is a good site with more info.

Below is a really scary video about Zombie runs. Seriously, it is super scary. I think (hope) it is a much exaggerated video of what a zombie run would be like.




We had a zombie run in Ireland last September for Concern, and I look forward to the next one, as I will be there. Not as a zombie, far too scary, but as a runner.
Here is a video by Concern -




On a side note, I found this on The Irish Times, sounds cool, not the same, but still cool.

You can do as much as you think you can...

'You can do as much as you think you can,

image taken from google -  Albert Einstein 

But you'll never accomplish more;

If you're afraid of yourself, young man,

There's little for you in store.

For failure comes from the inside first.

It's there if we only knew it,

And you can win, though you face the worst,

If you feel that you're going to do it.'

by Edgar A. Guest

Pretty cool, right? I Googled the above and found this site (Sacred Texts), which is interesting also.

Heartbreak - Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros

Do you know what true heartbreak is? It is believing in someone or something and they not living up to your (somewhat unrealistic and perhaps naive) expectations.


My first experienced was as a child, Tipp had won some big GAA match and we packed into the car to great them in Thurles. My parents are pioneers; I had never seen the effects of too much booze...until I met a few of the Tipp players. One particular chap was so far gone he couldn't sign a poster for me. He just drooled and slurred while my dad (dress in a suit, he nearly always wore a suit) shook his head in shame. Another time Ireland was playing really well in soccer, but we lost; just when I believed in them. I was gutted; needless to say I don't really do sports anymore.

Now all my hopeless expectations are thrown onto books and music.


I love Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, but their studio CD...well it has left me bereft. While it is technically brilliant, they just don't seem to have the same heart that they show in their Youtube videos. I will still buy their CD's, I want to support them but, I’ll be sticking to their YT vids.





And please don’t get me started on all the books I’ve read that are technically great but are heartless; not one speck of blood on the page.

Where’s the heart y’all?

The Art of Living

Socrates believed in the power of questions. Too often we just question others and not the most important person; ourselves.

To quote Stanford:

'Who am I really? What can I know about myself and about the world? Without love, are we incomplete beings? Can the prescription for a fulfilling life be found in religion, reason, art, or nature? If you’ve asked yourself any of these questions, you’re not alone: throughout the ages and across the globe people have considered the very same questions of human existence.'



The Art of Living - Web Site - Team taught, Stanford

Open Culture and Learning

I am sure you have heard the old credo, your brain is healthier and you live longer if you learn at least one new thing a day. Well you can indulge your brain in new (and free) courses from Open Culture. We are treated to courses from the world’s leading universities. You can download these audio and video courses straight to your computer or smart devices.

An example of some of the course are listed below:

A Romp through Ethics for Complete Beginners - iTunes Video - Web Video - Marianne Talbot, Oxford University

Aesthetics & Philosophy of Art - iTunes - Web - James Grant, Oxford University

Ancient and Medieval Philosophy - iTunes Video - Web Video - David O’Connor, Notre Dame

Ancient Philosophy - iTunes - David Ebrey, UC Berkeley

Ancient Wisdom and Modern Love - iTunes Video - Web Video - Professor David O’Connor, Notre Dame

Aristotle: Ethics - Web Site - Leo Strauss, U Chicago

Aristotle: Rhetoric - Web Site - Leo Strauss, U Chicago

Aristotle: Politics - Web Site - Leo Strauss, U Chicago

Authority & the Individual: Six BBC Lectures - Web Site - Bertrand Russell, Cambridge

Critical Reasoning for Beginners - iTunes Video - iTunes Audio - Web Video & Audio - Marianne Talbot, Oxford

Death - YouTube - iTunes Audio - iTunes Video - Download Course - Shelly Kagan, Yale

There are so many more courses available, do go and check them out.

A Scientist Talks of the Truth of Nirvana

Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor's Sroke of Insight TED video has been watched over NINE MILLION times, and for good reason too; she is inspirational.



'I am the life-force power of the universe. I am the life-force power of the 50 trillion beautiful molecular geniuses that make up my form, at one with all that is.' (Jill Bolte Taylor)


To play just click the image -

Learning to be Less Stupid...Together

You've heard of John Green, right? John, born 1977, studied English and Religious Studies in college, writes book reviews and dabbles in other aspects of the bookish world. On New Year’s Day 2007, John and his brother, Hank, decided to cease all text-based ("textual") communication for the year and instead converse by video blogs, as ya do!

This virtual project was only suppose to last until December 31, 07 but after getting more hits than a clay pigeon at a gun party they still share their witty, whimsical vlogs with us.

Oh, did I mention he is now a New York Times Best selling author of: Looking for Alaska (2005), An Abundance of Katherines (2006), collabetated in  Let It Snow (2008), Paper Towns (2008),  collaberated in Will Grayson, Will Grayson (2010), The Fault in Our Stars  (2012).......this King of The Nerd Figthers and his books are A.W.E.S.O.M.E!

And, (isn't there always another and) John and Hank set up a YouTube site teaching world history and biology; Crash Course, my favourite being - The Renaissance: Was it a Thing?

The below video is one for the teachers, teenagers and parents. Sure, don't we all have to learn to be less stupid together!

Blog Awards Ireland 2012 – Long-listed for Four Nominations!

taken from Blog Awards Ireland

I would just like to say thank you to everyone who pops by this blog, comments, reads, follows and who nominated my blog.

I am just a teacher who loves technology, books, writing, random interesting info and who loves having a bit of an audience.


Seriously…..thanks!

The Categories in which I am nominated:

1.   Best Blog Of An SME – Long List - sponsored by Sage. We are using Sage One Accounts which is an online accounting software to manage our accounts for the blog awards, keep track of income and costs and produce invoices.

2.     Best Personal Blog – Long List - sponsored by Red Oak Tax Refunds.

3.     Best Science / Education Blog – Long List

4.     Best Mobile Compatible Blog – Long List

The below information is taken from http://www.blogawardsireland.com

taken from Pinterest

‘With 1400 nominations in so far for hundreds of blogs and with Grafton Media as the headline sponsor, the organisers of Blog Awards Ireland are delighted that so many share their enthusiasm and passion for good blogging. The Blog Awards will become an important event in the social media and awards calendars playing its part in celebrating the best in Irish blogging and bringing online communities together in its gala event on 13th October 2012 at the Osprey in Naas.

The headline sponsors, Grafton Media, are an award-winning, full-service, creative digital agency, ranked 24/100 in the recommended agencies register. With offices in Dublin, Manchester and London, they are proving to be a dynamic and growing company with their finger on the pulse for all things web and digital related.

Judging Criteria

This is the judging criteria that will be used by the judging panel when assessing each blog:

·        Is it knowledgeable about the subject area?

taken from Pinterest

·        Is it written in a compelling, engaging, entertaining and/or informative style?

·        Does it have good spelling, punctuation and grammar?

·        Is the content unique?

·        Are the photographs/images of good quality? Are they attributed to their source?

·        Are blog posts written consistently/updated regularly?

·        Does the style of writing stay constant and is it appropriate to the subject?

·        Are the call to actions appropriate?

·        Links, when appropriate, to other blogs and websites.

·        Interaction on the blog in the form of responding to comments and engaging in conversations.

·        Attractive design and ease of navigating.

·        Standard of the ’About Us’ and ‘Contact’ details/pages.’

CV Makeovers and Free Career Resource Pack - Sli Nua

My creative writing teacher, Caren Kennedy , has been appointed by a leading Mayo based career training company to establish its first Dublin city office.

This has been takes from Sli Nua:  “Demand for our CV preparation and interviewing training services is such that opening a Dublin-based office was the logical next step to meet the needs of our clients nationwide,” says Sli Nua Careers proprietor Liam Horan, who runs the company’s Ballinrobe, Co. Mayo, office.

Apart from being a careers advisor, writing under the name of Caren Kennedy, Elizabeth is also the creator of a television series currently in development with Warner Bros TV, co-author of Fake Alibis (BenBella Books, 2009), a screenwriting tutor with The Inkwell Group, and guest blogger for Ireland’s leading writing resources website, writing.ie.  “Understanding and anticipating our clients’ needs is our key success factor. Elizabeth has a solid track record of distilling information into brief, accurate and engaging written statements. This skill, combined with a history of successful career advancement in property management, financial services, retail, and the legal profession, puts in her unique position to advise, mentor, and interview train job seekers with a wide variety of needs,” said Liam.

   

Elizabeth will operate the company’s Dublin office in Ringsend, Dublin 4. Sli Nua Careers also have an office in Galway city. “Despite current job loss announcements, companies are still recruiting,” said Elizabeth. “Yes, applications often run into the hundreds but companies still face the same problem they’ve always faced – finding the right candidate. My job is to help Sli Nua’s clients be the solution that stands out from the crowd.”

More details on Sli Nua Careers’ services – including CV preparation, mock interviews, interview training and career guidance – can be obtained on our site, or by contacting Elizabeth directly on (01) 667 3189, elizabeth @ slinuacareers dot com

To mark the opening of their Dublin office, Sli Nua Careers is offering free Career Resource Packs to all who email getthatjob@slinuacareers.com with Career Resource Pack in the subject line.   Sli Nua Careers’ have provide a free Career Resource Pack. The Pack includes:

1.      15 Steps to a Winning CV

2.      CV Checklist:  helps you polish your own CV.

3.      Key Issues Form: a guide to preparing for any forthcoming interviews.

4.      Our slideshow: How to Make Job Interviews Work for You.

5.      Audio & video files to assist in your job search.

6.      An e-book Get That Job!

To download this free Career Resource Pack, simply go here

Elizabeth will provide the full range of Sli Nua Careers' services in Dublin:

•       CV Preparation

•       Mock Interviews

•       Interview Training

Full details of why we believe Elizabeth to be such an excellent appointment for Sli Nua Careers are contained here.  

FOR MORE DETAILS, or to arrange an interview, contact:   Elizabeth Hutcheson, Sli Nua Careers, Tel: 01 667 3189 Mobile: 086 723 8858, Email: elizabeth@slinuacareers.com   LIAM HORAN, Sli Nua Careers, Tel: 094 95 42965 Mobile: 087 9185 867, Email: liam.horan@slinuacareers.com  

Irish Song and History

Was anyone watching the RTÉ "Men of Arlington" last week? Well if you missed it, make sure you watch it on the RTÉ player. I loved the song by
Cathy Jordan at the end of the show. The lyrics are below. Read, reflect, remember....

Last night as I lay on my pillow
A vision appeared in my view
Of a ship sailing over the ocean
And The wind it tremendously blew
On the deck stood a handsome young lady
Whose features I'd ne'er seen before

And she sighed for the wrongs of her country
Saying "I'm banished from Erin's green shore"
In thought I approached this young lady
And asked her the cause of her woe
she said I'm only an exile from Eirn
The land where the green shamrock grows

For the want of employment in Ireland
I was forced as an exile to stray
Far away from my home in Killarney
Where in childhood I longed for to play
Far away from each mountain and valley
From Punch Bowl to Gap of Dunloe
All around by the shores of sweet Muckross
And that beautiful spot Aghadoe

My name is Eileen McMahon
My age it is scarcely eighteen
And I thank you, kind sir, for your kindness
For you don't know how lonely I've been
It was then I awoke from my slumber
To look for my Eileen to see
It was only the face of my mother
With a fond smile she gazing upon me
The ship on the ocean had vanished
But in fancy I see her once more
My beautiful Eileen McMahon
The pride of old Erin's green shore

Let Me In

Derek Flynn is an Irish writer and musician. He has an Honours Degree in English Literature and Philosophy. He’s been published in a number of publications, including The Irish Times, and was First Runner-Up in the 2011 J. G. Farrell Award for Best Novel-In-Progress. His writing/music blog – ‘Rant, with Occasional Music’ – check out his guest blog on Ireland premium writing website writing.ie - SongBook

Those of you lucky enough to read/listen to his blog will know of his "New Music Mondays". Well here is my favorite; "Let Me In"

Let Me In
When it’s over and you alight
Close the door turn out the light
Wear your poker face with pride
Like you were shown now
It’s not a case of giving in
It’s their world you’ll never win
And if you did what would you gain?
You’d be cold now
Chorus
See their eyes (Blank and wide)
In another life (Another time)
You’d turn the tables and you’d be right
And they’d say they’re sorry (3)
Let me in (4)
They’d say ignorance suits you fine
And everything you believe are lies
And in a way maybe they’re right
But you’re not cold now
Chorus


To listen to the song click here.









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