So, Patrick James Blog…. Where’s the Fast Cars, Words, The Poetry, Food & Health and all other Links?

In response to a very interesting email I have received it has become oh too apparent that I mush put out my hand for a slap and take my reprimand for wandering off the path.

One reader of my Blog emailed me with these simple words:

“So, Patrick James Blog – what the heck is up?… OK there’s still music, but what happened to the Fast Cars, The Words, The Writing, Food & Health, the tech talk and all the other interesting stuff you used to post about?”.

The bitter pill is that I have been neglecting my blog… apart from all the other excuses I might offer I have been more engrossed in the micro-blogging world of Facebook & Twitter. But no excuse is really ever a good excuse.

So I have decided to get back to writing more in this blogg and building up little by little until we have a blog that people will want to ready again.

If anyone has any suggestions on what they might like to see please let me know? I am counting on you guys!

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Featured Video – “Real Thing” Jamie Lawson

“Real Thing” by Jamie Lawson makes it into the “Featured Video” Catergory with this fantastic piece of video film. This is one single to watch out and will hopefully be in stores in October (Date to be confirmed).

The back story? Jamie was born and raised in Plymouth in what was he says a resolutely non-musical household. “No-one sang or played anything. We didn’t have any records. My dad would listen to Radio 2 a bit but that was the extent of it. Then the elder of his two brothers got me into The Smiths, The Housemartins, the Jackson 5, a disparate trio of early influences, you might think, but Jamie says not really. “They’re all very big on melody. And Morrissey and the young Michael Jackson both have a real passion to the way they sing.”

Jamie’s voice proved to be something very special indeed. No one who has heard him sing live would disagree, he has played with artists including The Frames, Martha Wainwright and Damien Rice, as well as having been chosen as opening act for outdoor gigs by both Van Morrison and Katie Melua. Even-keeled, even undemonstrative offstage, he comes alive in front of an audience and in the service of his songs. Jamie is not just a singer but also an exceptionally blessed and affecting one, whether with his regular band or in a solo and acoustic setting. His voice and songs have proven to work equally beautifully and well whether in a tiny indoor venue like London’s 12 Bar Club or outdoors before 10,000 people..”

Read more:http://www.myspace.com/jamielawson#ixzz10IFAp3sb

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Health & Happiness – Maybe Now More Than Ever!

In a time when recession occupies most of our radio and newspaper space with talk of financial struggle and impending doom it’s hard to find the silver lining. It seems everyone is living with the constant peril posed by the current political and economical environment – More and more people are left feeling powerless and it’s everyday people that are suffering the most. Stress, sleeplessness, worry, fear anxiety, tiredness and even physical and emotinal ill-health are becoming more common place - it sometimes seems like we are living in times that has forgotten that it is the “Person” that counts most. The ultimate result is that peoples Health and Well-Being are suffering.

There is no easy cure for the current situation and I certainly have no clever answers but I have found something that has made things a little easier for me and might be of help to others.

I recently decided I need to take some time for “Me” and decided on trying something new…I started a course one evening a week to help me to unwind and it really did work -  I started sleeping better but quite unexpectedly started to feel more in controll of things that were happening in my life… it reintroduced a light  at the end of the tunnel. At my own pace and through simple, common sense and above all very enjoyable techniques I was able to make use of that one hour a week to make a change in how I was feeling and reduce some of the symptoms if fatigue that I was feeling.

Holistic Health

Excercise for energy

Achieving a Life/Work balance

Living with ease

Time and stress management

Healthy eating

This is by no means an advert (of any sort) but because I have  found something that has helped me, I want to pay it forward, anf if anyone else feels they need a little extra help they will at least have  the option. Next Thursday evening there is a “HEALTH & HAPPINESS” Course starting in the Carneige Hotel in Swords, Co.Dublin 7.30pm-8.45pm. The theme of over the 8 Weeks is well-being and having a more fulfilled life based on a simple principle of H.E.A.L.T.H.

The truth is people may find the course very helpful and if anyone is interested and mentions my name they are very kindly being given a €25 Discount (normally €135 down to €110) by Louise who runs the course. If you are interested or would like to find out more about how this course can help make things that bit better for you please give Louise Fagan of the Wellbeing Institute a call on Mob: 087 9910747 and she will be happy to have a chat with you.

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Featured Video – “Takin The Train” The Saw Doctors

“Taking The Train” is a great Feautured Video by The Saw Doctors truly inspirational Irish Rock band. Taken off the eagerly awaited new album “The Further Adventures Of…” this track shows why The Saw Doctors have managed to be one of Ireland’s iconic band for over twenty years, in an industry that sees modern bands appear and vanish in an instant.

If you like this music video The Saw Doctors have just confirmed a live concert in Waterford City at The Forum venue on Friday October 8. Tickets for this Waterford show by The Saw Doctors on October 8 are currently on sale from Ticketmaster outlets and online from http://www.ticketmaster.ie

Other Tour Dates:

THE SAW DOCTORS – IRISH SHOWS 2010
Sunday September 12
Co. SLIGO, BALLYMOTE

Temple House Festival
http://www.templehousefestival.com
http://www.tickets.ie
Friday September 17
MEATH, NAVAN LIVE

Teach na Teamhrach (formerly Balreask Arms)
Info: 087 940 0710
http://www.navanlive.com
Friday September 24
CORK, SAVOY

http://www.ticketmaster.ie
Saturday September 25
DUBLIN, OLYMPIA

Box Office: 0818 719 300
http://www.ticketmaster.ie
Friday October 8
WATERFORD, FORUM

http://www.ticketmaster.ie
Friday November 5
BELFAST – MANDELA HALL (Belfast BT7 1NN)

http://www.ticketmaster.ie
http://www.ticketmaster.co.uk

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Eleanor McEvoy – The Astounding “I’d Rather Go Blonde” Album Reviewed

Eleanor McEvoy is back to her absolute song-writing best with her stunning new album. Her eigth album “I’d Rather Go Blonde” which is set for release 20th September is soulful and honest reflecting Eleanor’s perfect culmination of twenty years of beautiful songwriting. One listen to this album shows why Eleanor McEvoy has become one of Ireland’s most accomplished singer/songwriters.

With songwriters of Eleanor’s calibre, especially when the artist has written so much great music, I am always apprehensive of hearing their next offering… will it be as good as the last?  And so far Eleanor McEvoy’s music has never disappointed – and this forthcoming album is no exception, rather the opposite. This is Eleanor at her best, with a freshness that makes the bold statement that the past is exactly that, the past –  Eleanor McEvoy has found a new level in her songwriting. Eleanor continues to write in an uncompromising fashion about topics such as alienation, hypocrisy, recent Irish history and romance… but  never compromises the “feel good” undertones and humorous outlook. The album moves through a series of sounds that will have listeners singing along.

Recorded at Westland Studios, the team of Eleanor McEvoy, Mick O’Gorman, Peter Beckett (co-producers of LOVE MUST BE TOUGH) and Ciaran Byrne (engineer), has expanded with the addition of Gavin Fox (ex Idlewild), Ross Turner (Cathy Davey, Jape) and the Mixing skills of Ruadhri Cushnan (Mumford and Son) - this is the sort of album that will inspire other musicians, as it works on so many levels. This is a stunning album.

The album will be released in the UK and Ireland on Sept. 20, 2010  It is available for pre-order on Amazon UK.

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Facebook Poker Versus Online Poker – Is It Social?

Recently I posted a blog regarding some research I had done about Online Casino but as with all research there is always an element of clinical separation from the subject. However, one of the things that struck me was the number of online gamers there seemed to be online at anyone point – my question back then was “Does the gaming experience of online casino games have the same allure for players?”… However,  recent experiences have left me wondering if that was the right question after all.

Ok… so I had delved into the world of online gaming and it didn’t draw me – the gambling element didn’t have that lure that I needed for it to become a regular thing -  but nonetheless there was something there just beneath the surface that I couldn’t quite put my finger on!

A few weeks passed and I hadn’t been anywhere nears an online Casino nor had I any intention to play but then the strangest coincidence occurred! Facebook! I am someone who uses Facebook (FB) quite allot and enjoy the whole interaction element of social media. I have always been aware of the games on Facebook such as Farmville, etc, etc – but I didn’t know there was a FB Poker game. One morning I noticed a friend’s request to join them on Facebook Poker and after a bit of convincing on “Chat” I decided to give it a go!

In the first few moments I realised what it was that I really enjoyed. In almost every regard the FB Poker was alike the other online Casionos I had visited but only on FB did I fully realise that it was that same social interaction that I enjoyed about the other Casinos. This has left me thinking differently About Online Casino… Maybe, just maybe it’s not about gambling alone so much as it is about the chance to socially interact online while enjoying the challenge and the chance in chasing the odds! It it a similar desire to be social on facebook that motovates gamers in online casinos?

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Featured Video – “Star” (Official music video) Carosel

Featured Video brings you EXCLUSIVE Video footage: The extremely enjoyable CAROSEL‘s brand new music video for STAR: new EP set to be released in OCT.

Michelle Phelan & Pete McGrane, make up the duo and being honest this is group that doesn’t need me to write any clever reviews – their music speaks for itself.

Carosel’s uplifting pop-folk sound music is a compact blend of infectious, upbeat pop folk. STAR is the brand new EP that boasts a refreshing and vibrant sound and also some reworked songs taken from their debut ( Kaleidoscope ), which is telling of their capability to write music for the mainstream. They are currently residing in Paris, France and are focusing on writing and recording their follow up second album.

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fakebook friends or sociopath training ground?

Facebook lately has received a great deal of criticism over Privacy Settings and it’s ability to keep FB Users safe… not to mention the ongoing debate as to whether social networking is a Positive thing. This week even saw a “Quit Facebook Day” taking place and it result 34,424 users leaving facebook but it has pretty much been deemed a failure. Despite all the furore around Facebook quitting and privacy concerns, it appears that people are just not ready to part with their profiles, as they have become too big a part of their lives.

I am one of those who enjoys facebook and sees the potential of social networking – I believe it has the potential to be a really positive influence in the world if it used well. Like all things though Facebook has a very dark and sinister side which I have recently fallen pray to myself.

Like most, when I first started using facebook I was very naive to the dangers and didn’t really know much about using FB. In recent weeks my eyes have been opened by what I can only call “fakebook friends”.  Somone, started sending me hateful messages, distasteful photographs in what what can only be described as a “Hate campaign”. This person was blocked but it turned out they had other fake profiles which they used to cause me distress. The strangest part was, that once one person began being abusive a few others rallied around and formed a mallicious circle. I spent a number of days dealing with growing sociopathic behaviour. These were people who I had never done any wrong to except for maybe having my own facebook profile which seemed to be the only excuse needed to try and cause me harm.

Inspite of all this I can honestly say I AM LUCKY with the many wonderful people I have gotten to know thanks to facebook… I have had the good fortune to meet numerous good and intersting people I would not have encountered otherwise.

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