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  • Irish Blog Awards 2013

    Irish Blog Awards 2013

    Irish-Blog-Awards-Image With over 30 Categories in the list, this years Irish Blog Awards was a great success with numerous Irish Blogs being showcased as the finest in the country on Saturday 12th of October.

    At the awards ceremony in Naas, Kildare, the winners were announced after weeks of judging.

    There is the initial nomination phased followed by a 3 separate judging panels breaking it down from the long list, to the short list to the finalists where five blogs from each category are then chosen.

    According to its organisers, “The Awards will offer businesses an opportunity to increase their visibility and prominence in social media circles. With more people being guided in their buying decisions by bloggers rather than friends opinions, blogging is a considerably influential tool in word of mouth marketing.”

    The blog awards showcase some of Irelands finest writing and blogging talents from music, to food, to politics and general interest. Find the list enclosed below.

    1. Best Great Outdoors Greenside Up
    2. Best Music Blog Dublin Concerts
    3. Best Popculture Blog Brand New Retro
    4. Best Food / Drink Blog One Man’s Meat
    5. Best Health and Wellbeing Blog Journeying Beyond Breast Cancer
    6. Best Technology Blog The Sociable
    7. Best Photography Blog Foxglove Lane Studio
    8. Best Eco/Green Blog Greenside Up
    9. Best Sport/Recreation Blog Sports News Ireland
    10. Best Blog of a SME business One Fab Day
    11. Best Arts and Culture Blog The Irish Aesthete
    12. Best Designed Blog Molly Moo
    13. Best Mobile Compatible Blog Squidgy Moments
    14. Best Blog of a Journalist Bibliocook
    15. Best Podcast Blog The Sodshow
    16. Best News/Current Affair RadioNation
    17. Best Corporate Blog Chill Insurance Blog
    18. Best Video Blog Forkful
    19. Best Political Blog Jason O’Mahony
    20. Best Blog in the Irish Language Aran Songs
    21. Best Newcomer (started after 1st June 2012) French Foodie in Dublin
    22. Best Youth Blog Gourmet Dough
    23. Best Personal Blog French Foodie in Dublin
    24. Best Science/Education Blog Missmernagh.com
    25. Best Humour Blog At the Clothesline
    25. Best Humour Blog With All the Finesse of a Badger
    26. Best Beauty/Fashion Blog Ol’ Green Eyes
    27. Best Lifestyle Blog Greenside Up
    28. Best Craft Blog Molly Moo
    29. Best Group Blog Broadsheet
    30. Best Blog of the Diaspora Irish Fireside
    31. Best Overall Blog Greenside Up
    32. Best Blog Post LolaDee.com – Irish Graduate: The Reality
    33 Glenisk Recipe Contest One Man’s Meat
  • #Budget2014: The story so far

    #Budget2014: The story so far

    https://twitter.com/ArthurGriffin/status/390124810119835649

    https://twitter.com/PadraicPodge/status/390119768943910912

    https://twitter.com/seansherlocktd/status/390119548030312449

    https://twitter.com/Pat_Guiney/status/390074396158619648

    https://twitter.com/PetRabbitte/status/390070670341988353

  • New movie takes quirky look at sex addiction

    New movie takes quirky look at sex addiction

    thanksfors

    Modern society is bombarded by sexually themed marketing but when it comes to getting personal, it often comes with an air of disillusionment.  People with a desire for sex may walk the walk but not talk the talk. Such an attitude seems unbelievable. In his new film Thanks for Sharing, director Stuart Blumberg attempts to remove this stigma.

    Starring Mark Ruffalo and Gwyneth Paltrow, Thanks for Sharing follows the lives of Adam, Mike, and Neil as they battle to overcome an addiction that has taken over their lives.

    Adam (Ruffalo) is a successful environmental consultant living in New York, who after being sober for five years seems to be well on the road to recovery. This is until he falls for attractive cancer survivor Phoebe (Paltrow), who begins to question her feelings upon hearing Adam’s revelation.

    Mike (Tim Robbins) is Adam’s sponsor, and also head co-ordinator of the group sessions. For the past 15  years, Adam has dedicated his life to providing support for recovering addicts. But, in the midst of helping others, Mike has neglected his relationship with his own son Danny (Patrick Fujit), who has returned to the family home after struggling with an addiction of his own.

    Neil (Josh Gad) is an emergency room doctor and Adam’s mentor, who in the beginning is unwilling to take his addiction seriously.  However, when inappropriate behavior results in him losing his job, Neil is determined to turn his life around. It is during this time that he encounters fellow addict Dede, played by popstar Pink. Together, they keep each other in check, acting as a motivator each time one of them shows signs of faltering.

    With instances of subtle humour throughout, Thanks for Sharing is an insightful, yet surprisingly enjoyable drama that explores the dark and lonely side of addiction, while illustrating the importance of family and friends in striving for a positive outcome.

    Image top via Facebook

     

  • Find your future path

    Find your future path

    After a visit to yesterday’s Grad Fair in Simmonscourt, The City have made a list of just some of the many opportunities available for soon to be or recent graduates.

    Graduation

    Graduate programmes

    Monaghan Mushrooms

    For an excellent graduate work programme, look at Monaghan mushrooms for two year long work placements in different areas of the business. The second year of placement is spent in one of their overseas offices.

    Monaghan Mushrooms

    Abbott Ireland

    If your area is engineering, quality systems, science or medical technologies, press the link above to visit Abbott Ireland’s website for graduate opportunities.

    Boston Scientific

    If your background is medical and you are interested in the manufacturing of medical equipment visit Boston Scientific for work placements.

    Jameson graduate programme

    Apply to be the Jameson brand ambassador for an amazing opportunity to work abroad. There are 10-15 vacancies for people from areas such as languages, management, business, marketing, sales, events and PR.

    A&L Goodbody

    If your degree is in law visit A&L’s website for graduate and trainee programmes.

    Microsoft

    Microsoft are offering 30 places for several different graduate opportunities and internships in a vast range of areas.

    microsoft

    Deloitte

    There are 200 graduate placements available this year with Deloitte. There are opportunities for people with degrees in accountancy, finance, banking, insurance, law , management and more.

    IBEC Export orientation programme

    IBEC is Ireland’s longest running graduate placement programme. IBEC are offering between 150-200 job placements this year. It doesn’t matter what your degree is in, IBEC are offering a large range of placements for every education background.

    Kerry Group

    Kerry group are offering two yearlong placements for graduates from a large range of areas including food science, food technology, science, chemistry, microbiology and many more.

    Kerry Group

    Aryzta

    The global bakery Aryzta are looking for recent graduates in many areas such as finance, research development, food technology, sales and marketing, human resources and many more.  There are 30 places available for their graduate develoment programme.

    Internships

    Accenture

    Accenture have many internships which range from periods of seven, five and three months.  Accenture recruit people from many areas of education including, engineering, finance, human resources, science, mathematics and more.

    Enterprise rent a car

    Enterprise  provide internships for periods of six to nine months for people with a background in hospitality, sport, tourism, transport, management, business, retail, sales and customer services visit

    Aiesec

    Finding an internship abroad can be difficult but Aiesec aid in this issue by helping people find paid internships or volunteering opportunities abroad.

    Glanbia

    Glanbia provide six to nine month long internships for people with backgrounds in agricultural science, food science, marketing, business, finance, accounting, IT and chemical and mechanical engineering. Glanbia also provide graduate programmes which last two to three years.

    Glanbia

    AOL Global Operations

    Computing, engineering and IT skills are being sought for by AOL for 6 month long internships.

    Education

    Tefl

    Discover the world by teaching English as a foreign language. Follow the link for i-to-i Tefl courses, there are a range to choose from and you can do the courses online, in class or a combination of both.

    The undergraduate awards

    Writing a thesis for your degree? Register your thesis for the undergraduate awards and give your academic work the chance to win a prestigious and international academic award.

    Campus France

    Interested in studying in France? Check out Campus France for third level courses in both English and French.

    Fulbright commission of Ireland

    If you wish to teach or do research in America then apply to the Fulbright commision. Apply soon as the deadline is November 13th.

     Fulbright

    Volunteering

    Taisce

    Taisce are seeking graudates for volunter work regarding environmental issues. All the degree areas are being sought after by Taisce for different volunteering needs.

    For more information on internships, graduate programmes and postgraduate courses visit Grad Fair

    Social media note-

    Twitter

    Fulbright

    Deloitte

    Accenture

    Enterprise

    Aiesec

    Aol

    Tefl

    Undergraduateawards

    CampusFrance

    Facebook

    Fulbright

    Boston scientific

    Jameson

    A&L Goodbody

    Microsoft

     Deloitte

    Kerry group

    aryzta

    accenture

    Enterprise

    Aiesec

    Glanbia

    Aol

    TEFL

    Undergraduateawards

    Campusfrance

    Taisce

    Abbott Ireland

  • It’s Pumpkin Time

    It’s Pumpkin Time

    As Halloween quickly approaches, pumpkins are once again popping up around the city. This versatile winter vegetable can be used in endless sweet or savoury dishes from pumpkin pie to pumpkin risotto. In order to celebrate the return of this orange squash, here is a guide on how to use every part of the mighty pumpkin.

     pumpkins

    Pumpkin soup

    1 Pumpkin or butternut squash

    1 onion

    2 carrots

    1 sweet pepper

    Half a red chilli

    1 garlic glove

    1 tbls Olive oil

    Vegetable stock

    Fresh parley

    Freshly ground black pepper

    Pinch salt

     

    1.      Halve or quarter the squash or pumpkin, remove the seeds and skin, then cut the flesh into chunks.

    2.      Heat the oil in a large saucepan and fry the onion, garlic and chilli for 3-4 minutes, stirring frequently.

    3.      Add the squash or pumpkin, and stir-fry for a few minutes.   Add the carrots, sweet pepper and seasoning.

    4.      Pour in the stock and stir well, cover, and simmer gently for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

    Croutons

    1 tbls butter

    Selection finely shops fresh herbs

    Bread of any type

    Combine butter and herbs together, spread over the bread on one side. Instead of cutting the bread and frying it, try placing the slice of bread into the oven at 200C for 5 minutes or until golden brown. One cooled cut into small cubes.

    If looking to impress or having a Halloween dinner party, the best way to serve pumpkin soup is inside small cleaned out pumpkin or the bottom of a cleaned out butternut squash.

     

     Pumpkin seed pesto

    Pumpkin seed and spinach pesto

    ·         A large bunch of spinach

    ·         100g pumpkin seeds

    ·         1 garlic clove

    ·         150ml extra virgin olive oil

    ·         50g parmesan or any hard cheese

    ·         Juice of ½ a lemon

    ·         Pinch of sea salt

    ·         Freshly ground pepper

    Preparing the pumpkin seeds

    1.      After removing the seeds from the pumpkin, pick off any stringy bits, place in a colander and rinse with cold water.

    2.      Spread seeds onto a baking sheet and drizzle with extra virgin olive oil.

    3.      Roast seeds at 150° for 10 minutes.  They are ready when the shell is slightly golden, crispy and easy to bite through.

     

    Making the pesto

    1.      Place the spinach, pumpkin seeds and garlic into a food processor or blender and pulse into coarse grains.

    2.      Gradually add the extra virgin olive oil in a steady stream until a thick grainy paste has been created.

    3.      Scrape the mixture into a bowl.  Add the cheese and lemon and adjust the seasoning to taste.

     

    Social Media note

    Pumpkin season is back again and to celebrate The City had put together some recipes.

     

  • New thriller ‘Prisoners’ captures audiences

    New thriller ‘Prisoners’ captures audiences

    This taut, suspense filled psychological thriller starring Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal is, without a doubt, one of the best films of the year so far.

    Taking place over seven days, Prisoners follows the search for Anna Dover and Joy Birch; two six-year old girls abducted from outside their homes on Thanks Giving, as well as the mental and emotional toll this takes on their families.

    Jackman excels as a man struggling to come to terms with his daughters disappearance
    Jackman excels as a man struggling to come to terms with his daughters disappearance  [credit:cinemablend.com]
    The film begins at a break-neck pace, the opening credits barely finished rolling before the girls go missing. However, this is by no means another fast-paced action flick, the next two hours slowly building suspense and gathering pace to culminate in a breathless final sequence.

    Jackman is again hugely impressive, this time as devout survivalist Keller Dover, father of the missing Anna. Keller’s desperation to find his daughter and the strain this puts on his faith is a central theme to the story.

    Following Dover’s descent into violence is Detective Loki, the intriguing police-officer who has never failed to solve a case up till now. Gyllenhaal’s range is apparent here, his restrained performance as the tattooed loner-cop with the facial tick at odds with his last role in the light-hearted End of Watch.

    Troubled cop Detective Loki
    Gyllenhaal as troubled police-officer Detective Loki         [credit: popmatters.com]
    The film’s subdued sound-track helps cultivate the sense of tension through-out the film, while the prevalence of trees and other wooden objects is a subtle nod to Dover’s inability to see ‘the wood for the trees’ in his manic attempts to locate the missing girls.

    ‘Skeletons in closets’ (or under floors) are another key theme; histories of characters becoming increasingly relevant as the film progresses. Indeed, the consistent mentions of both Dover and Loki’s pasts are invaluable in developing a three-dimensional sense of the protagonists.

    At its heart though, Prisoners is an impressively told story, one that reels you in and keeps you on the edge of your seat right up to the final second.

  • Is sport inherently homophobic?

    Is sport inherently homophobic?

    The question of homophobia in sports is something that will always be hard to prove or disprove. Image by: David Michael Morris
    The question of homophobia in sports is something that will always be hard to prove or disprove. Image by: David Michael Morris

    The recent crackdown on the LGBT community in Russia, along with the recent ban imposed on the planned gay rights parade in Serbia has brought angry finger-pointing from the vast majority of western society.

    But when one of the biggest social norms (sport) in western society is examined for homophobia, should the finger really be pointing towards a mirror?

    The four most popular professional sports in the US are Football (NFL), Baseball (MBA), Basketball (NBA) and Ice Hockey (NHL). These four sports have a combined annual attendance of 130 million people.

    The four most popular leagues – Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A – from the most popular sport in the world, football, generate an annual attendance of 45.5 million people.

    That is a combined figure of 175.5 million people visiting stadiums yearly to watch these sports – yet alone the billions of people that view them across the world.

    The most recent Super Bowl had a television audience of 164.1 million viewers. That puts the sheer volume of people who consume these sports on a yearly basis into perspective.

    But how pro-homosexual are these sports?

    Jason Collins became the first openly gay sportsman of the four major US sports when he announced his sexual persuasion earlier this year. And despite big-name NBA stars such as Kobe Bryant congratulating Collins on his decision, the NBA centre is finding a new team hard to come by.

    Collins was a free agent after the 2012-13 season, but was expected to be picked-up in free agency, though he has yet to find a suitor for his skills.

    Ironically, Bryant was fined $100,000 by the NBA in 2011 for a gay slur that commissioner David Stern called “offensive and inexcusable.”

    The highest grossing, and most popular US sport – NFL – has an extremely poor history when it comes to homophobic behavior from its stars.

    Prior to the 2013 Super Bowl, San Francisco 49ers cornerback Chris Culliver said, “I don’t do the gay guys, man. I don’t do that, Ain’t got no gay people on the team. They gotta get up outta here if they do. Can’t be with that sweet stuff.”

    As idiotic as these comments were, they seem even more so when you consider that Culliver just so happens to play for a team based in the gay capital of America.

    Culliver later apologized, but his statements summed up what seems to be the unspoken consensus in sport.

    Former 49ers running back Garrison Hearst said, “I don’t want any faggots on my team. I know this might not be what people want to hear, but that’s a punk. I don’t want any faggots in this locker room,” when asked on his opinion of former NFL defensive tackle Esera Tuaolo publicly outing his sexuality.

    Baseball has also seen vile hate-statements from players. Pitcher Julian Tavarez called the San Francisco fans, “a bunch of assholes and faggots,” while pitcher John Rocker infamously painted the terrible picture of the New York transport system saying, “imagine having to take the 7 Train to the ballpark…next to some queer with AIDS”.

    Homophobic statements are not just specific to the professional sports. The college Ole Miss is currently investigating some of its football players after allegations that they made gay slurs during a play in which one of the characters comes out as gay.

    The most famous case involving sport in Europe was that of former Brighton player Justin Fashanu. Fashanu revealed in an interview with The Sun that he was a homosexual. His brother, John Fashanu did an interview later with The Gay Times and claimed that his brother “was offered even more by others who wanted him to stay in the closet. No club has offered him a full-time contract since the story first appeared.”

    Most professional athletes come out when they are finished their career, or when it is coming to the end. Those are the few who  must be credited for their bravery, but as of now it would seem that the stimga attached to gays is still rampant in sport.

  • Are females exploited by the music industry?

    Are females exploited by the music industry?

    Robin Thicke and Miley Cyrus performing at the 2013 VMA's.

    Robin Thicke and Miley Cyrus performing at the 2013 VMA’s.

    It is a well-known fact that the music industry’s sole purpose is to generate one thing and one thing only, and it is not music.

    Music is merely the by-product of the industry’s ravaging thirst to generate money. An industry whereby female sexuality – and sexuality in general – is one of the tools that the industry uses to increase potential profits. However, to say that females are exploited by the industry is a step to far.

    Exploitation is the unruly use of a person or a group of people in a cruel and unjust manner

    The vast majority of females who are “exploited” by the music industry receive (quite handsome remunerations for their services.

    Just like in advertising, the music industry employs the idea that “sex sells”. Miley Cyrus is not the first, nor will she be the last female artist to use her sexuality, her figure or her desirability in an attempt to increase her profile within celebrity culture.

    Cyrus is merely just the newest recruit to enlist into the sexuality culture to which the music industry has adopted – not created.

    Men find women desirable, women find other women desirable. These human elements are used to help generate profit in whatever manner possible.

    In 1981, Duran Duran hired female actresses to wrestle one another in mud, topless, in the video for ‘Girls on Film’.

    Madonna has been infamous for her use of sexuality throughout her music career – be it in her music videos or during her stage performances.

    The use of sexuality is not confined to just female artists.

    The gesture of crotch-grabbing is synonymous which Michael Jackson, while R’n’B artist D’Angelo starred completely naked, and oiled, in his video “Untitled (How Does It Feel)”.

    Females are not portrayed favourably in some sections of the music industry – especially in hip-hop or rap –  there is a strong case to claim that there is a high levels of misogyny in the aforementioned genres of music, but the females are not exploited. They are paid. If they are comfortable with flaunting what god gave them for the world to see in music videos, or gyrate in a sexual manner, that is their prerogative as professional female adults earning a living.

  • A Russian’s perspective on the Russian LGBT issue

    A Russian’s perspective on the Russian LGBT issue

    Vladimir Putin has arguably strived for peace outside the borders of Russia, while destroying in within the borders. Image by: IoSonoUnaFotoCamera
    Vladimir Putin has arguably strived for peace outside the borders of Russia, while destroying in within the borders. Image by: IoSonoUnaFotoCamera

    In light of the new anti-gay laws in Russia, Craig Farrell talk to a young Russian woman living in Ireland about what life is like on the ground.

    Vladimir Putin‘s recent nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize has shone an unpleasant light on the disgracefull treatment of the gay community in Russia.

    The media have covered the story extensively, highlighting the outrage felt towards the vile treatment endured by the LGBT community. Many opinions have been voiced, but very few of which have had the benefit of stemming from the country in question.

    ‘To each their own’ was the main ideal denoted by Russian-born Oxana Martynova when asked her views on how homosexuality should be treated.

    “Live and let live,” declared Oxana, who moved to Ireland when she was six-years-old.

    “I have always had zero problems with gay people and I really can’t see why anyone would or should.”

    Oxana, who studied English and Geography in UCD, stated further that she felt “gay people are born this way so I wouldn’t hold anything against them for who they are and I don’t believe it should be an issue to anybody.”

    She continued, “I didn’t grow up in an intolerant society, I grew up in Ireland where you are taught to be accepted,but I’d hate to think that maybe if I was still in Russia my opinion would be different.”

    Oxana said she “obviously did not agree with” the current stance that Russia has taken on homosexuality. “It’s a vile situation and I wish any member of the gay, lesbian or transgender community didn’t have to endure it.

    “It’s a huge step backwards.”

    Oxana shed some light on the situation in Russia claiming that the ill treatment of the gay community is not something new. “Crimes against homosexual people were always committed, such as ‘correctional rapes’, beatings or ‘Gay Bashings’.

    “I’m not sure why the government thought this would be a great idea, maybe because, since they can’t now publically show who they are it could hide them and then these people wouldn’t be targeted with hate crimes? Or maybe just simply because people in government there are so narrow minded.

    “I want to think it’s the first option – That the government have the best interests of the gay community at heart and they are trying to protect the vulnerable – but I doubt it is unfortunately.

    The UCD and AMI college graduate had stern words for the house of government in Russia saying, “sadly the Duma is run by intolerant people and intolerance is not progression.”

    Speaking on Russia as a whole Oxana vehemently agreed that “Russia has a superiority complex. It’s all very macho there, just look at Putin and his annual holiday photos!”

    “I have to say though, I am not surprised by what went on. Since the Soviet times people were taught to always behave one way, you couldn’t be different.”

    “You will rarely see a disabled person in Russia as mothers of disabled children were convinced by doctors to give them up.”

    Her final thought echoed closely to one not to far from that of a county’s leader circa 1933.

    “It’s as if maybe a perfect society was trying to be formed.”

  • Asylum seekers left out in the cold

    Asylum seekers left out in the cold

    immigrationThis nation’s ability to ignore longstanding and continuous violations of human rights has once again made headlines this week. Our Direct Provision system for accommodating asylum seekers has come under serious criticism after recent inspection reports have showed evidence of over-crowding, poor hygiene standards and poor fire safety standards across multiple asylum centres.

    Under our current system, asylum seekers are provided with full board (food and accommodation), and a weekly allowance of €19.10 per adult and €9.60 per child. Asylum seekers are not entitled to work in this country or to apply for rent allowance to live outside of a Direct Provision centre. This system was designed to meet the basic needs of people for a temporary period while their application for refugee status is being processed.

    However current inspection reports have revealed that the average time spent by asylum seekers in these hostel-style centres is three years and eight months. A backlog of thousands of applications has resulted in, in some centres, families of six being forced to share one bedroom.  Parallels are being drawn between these conditions and those found in the Magdalene laundries.

    Despite making headlines this week, this is not news. The  Direct Provision system has been attracting harsh criticisms almost since its inception. Within the first year of the establishment of the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA), which was set up to provide Direct Provision, a report was published which addressed the extreme poverty and exclusion experienced by children in the system. ‘Beyond the Pale’, published in 2001, addresses the fact that Ireland was failing to conform to its obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.Image

    The report stated, “Asylum seekers in direct provision may experience extreme deprivation as a result of inadequate diet and inability to afford the purchase of sufficient and appropriate food from their incomes.” It also highlighted problems such as overcrowding, stress, depression, social exclusion, racism and malnutrition.

    Not only does it seem that little has been done to change our system, Ireland is actively choosing not to improve its system by opting out of the laws which will form the Common European Asylum System (CEAS). This new system includes the Reception Conditions Directive, which requires a common standard for living conditions in asylum centres and requires member states to grant asylum seekers faster access to employment (or in our case, to grant them access in the first place). This decision puts Ireland even further out of line with the standards employed by EU member states.

    So, the question remains; why is Ireland so unwilling to provide asylum seekers with basic human rights? The uncomfortable truth may well be that we as a nation continue to harbor closeted racist attitudes towards asylum seekers, and simply don’t care enough to campaign for better immigration policies.

    556px-Alan_Shatter
    Minister for Justice Alan Shatter

    Dr. Liam Thornton of UCD addressed this on humanrights.ie, claiming that TDs who had campaigned for an end to Direct Provision had actually lost support, “not just a few votes here and there, but very noticeable support.”

    The Minister for Justice and Equality, Alan Shatter (despite previously opposing the Direct Provisions system) has said that the system is the best we can provide given our current economic conditions. Most Irish citizens would probably agree with him. But like it or not, Ireland has an obligation under international law to ensure the basic human rights of asylum seekers are being met, and until Direct Provision is axed, we won’t be meeting that obligation.