G.O.A.T.

GOAT. It stands for Greatest of All Time.

I havent posted in a while, left a few things hanging, but I have excuses. Week long work trips to Korea are a detriment to consistent blog posting, which it turns out, is more effective than the laziness genes that course through my hemoglobin. Ill talk more about that trip later as well (good stuff, potentially including the topshelf cusine of BBQ golden retriever)... but there are more important things to talk about, right here.... right now...

here is a recent email that just may live up to GOAT for concerts... Biggest band in the world, playing at home, in a sacred Irish venue that they havent played in since the mid 80s. This has absolute blow your pupils potential, and on Saturday, I am going.

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Thursday 23 June 2005


Croke Park, Dublin - 24, 25, 27 June 2005


Ticketmaster would like to take this opportunity to thank you for booking your U2 tickets with us.

If you selected Mail as your delivery method, your tickets should have arrived at their intended destination at this stage. If you have not received your tickets by now please contact Ticketmaster

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Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday 09.30 to 18.00

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Concert information:

Croke Park, Dublin - 24 June 2005
_________________________________

15:00 - Doors
18:15 - Radiators
19:30 - Snow Patrol
20:30 - U2

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Croke Park, Dublin - 25 June 2005
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15:00 - Doors
18:15 - TBC
19:30 - Paddy Casey
20:30 - U2

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Croke Park, Dublin - 27 June 2005
_________________________________

15:00 - Doors
18:15 - The Bravery
19:30 - Ash
20:30 - U2

* Please note that these stage times are correct at time of publishing and may be subject to change.

Entrance To Croke Park

Plan your approach to Croke Park based on the following:
• Ticket holders for the Cusack Stand enter via James Avenue and Foster Terrace
• Ticket holders for the Hogan Stand enter via Jones Road
• Ticket holders for the Canal Stand enter via Jones Road
• Ticket holders for the Pitch enter via James Avenue and Foster Terrace.
• Please note there is no access to the Pitch from Jones Road
• Please note the colour of your entrance route to Croke Park as printed on your ticket. Follow the colour coded signage posted on the approach roads to Croke Park.

Special Need Information
• If you have bought a wheelchair ticket for the U2 shows at Croke Park, it will be for the usual Croke Park designated accessible spaces. However you can choose whether you wish to sit there or on the pitch on a wheelchair platform.
• Special Needs parking will be available in the Clonliffe College carpark and access to Croke Park is via the Red or Green Route, to gate A2 in the Cusack Stand. There will be a booth just inside gate A2 at which you can choose to swap your ticket for a ticket for the pitch, which will give access to the wheelchair platform.
• A personal assistant will be admitted for free but must be in possession of a complimentary ticket issued by Ticketmaster. In order to facilitate as many wheelchair users as possible, we request that, wherever possible, personal assistants stand in the protected area in front of the wheelchair platform. This area can also be used by any ambulant person with special needs, in possession of a standing ticket who would feel more comfortable in a protected area. You may bring one companion in with you and entry will be on a first come first served basis.
• Users of the pitch wheelchair platform will be able to use the accessible portaloos on the ground floor under the Canal End.

Garda Traffic Plan - Pre Event 09:00 to 01:00am
• From 9am each morning a traffic restriction cordon will be set up, similar to match days at Croke Park.
• Clonliffe Road will have restricted access at the junctions of Lower Drumcondra Road and also at Ballybough Road
• The junctions at Fitzroy avenue and Whitworth Place with Lower Drumcondra will also have restricted access
• The following junctions with the North Circular Road will have restricted access - Lower Sherrard Street, Belvedere Avenue, Portland Street North, Russell Street, St. Margarets Avenue, North Richmond Street.
• The following junctions with Ballybough Road will have restricted access - Sackville Avenue, Fosters Avenue, Clonliffe Road, O'Sullivans Avenue.

Garda Traffic Plan - Post Event 22:45 to 01:00am
• From 10.45 an outer traffic cordon will be put in place to deal with the safe exit of patrons from the stadium after the event
• The Following Restrictions will apply to traffic
• All city bound traffic coming from the Marino / Fairview area will use Fairview to North Strand Route, all outbound traffic will use Amiens Street to North Strand Route. Summerhill, Ballybough and Fairview Strand will be closed
• North Circular Road will be closed to the junction with Dorset Street Lower to the junction with Amiens Street. Gardiner Street will be used as an alternative route to and from the city
• Drumcondra Road Lower will be closed from the junction of Whitworth Road to Botanic Avenue. All Inbound and outbound traffic will be diverted via Harts Corner - Botanic Road.

Private Coach - Drop and Park Plan

Two areas have been designated for private buses intending to drop concert goers and park up for the duration of the concert.

Mountjoy Square

The south side of the square will be completely blocked off for private coach parking. The east and north sides will also be used. Parking will be available for approximately 50 coaches.

Popular Row

Both sides of Popular Row will be used to facilitate private coach parking.
These arrangements will be made on a first come first served basis.

Bus and Coach Drop and Go Plan

Both sides of Gardiner Street along Mountjoy Square are designated as the drop and go area for buses and coaches. This will not be used as a collection area after the event. Any operators using this facility must make prior arrangement with their passengers for collection bearing in mind the post event traffic plan.

Admittance Through Garda Cordon
• All concert goers must be in the possesion of a valid concert ticket before they will be allowed to proceed through the ticket checks at the Garda Cordon.
• All areas of the stadium have a designated point of entry and people should be aware of their route of entry.
• Patrons in possesion of alcohol or articles likely to cause harm or annoyance will be seized at the Garda cordon

DO'S AND DON'T

DO
• Use Public Transport
• Note that the concert is an outdoor event and you should dress for the appropriate weather.
• Respect the property and privacy of residents in the vicinty of Croke Park.
• Please co-operate with stewards and Gardai and follow any loud speaker announcements for your safety.
• At the end of the concert please exit the venue the way you came in.
• For your own safety please move slowly and quietly when exiting the venue and co-operate with the stewards directions
• Note that official merchandising will only be available inside the grounds

DO NOT
• Park Illegally
• Buy Tickets from unofficial sources
• Bring umbrellas, flag poles, alcohol bottles or cans into the grounds. These will be confiscated at the ticket barriers
• Rush the exits after the concert
• Bring cameras or recording equipment into the grounds.

Regards.

Ticketmaster Ireland

Please do not reply to this mail. You will not get a response.

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NBA es pantatic.. pare

Caveat... Some of this post may only apply to pinoy readers...

Its 3:30AM Sunday nite/Monday morning and its pretty late, but I have to start taking advantage of my nba.com playoff coverage, its Game 2 of the Finals. Living in Ireland, where Basketball coverage is as popular as Hockey, I had to paid 15 USD to the NBA.com, thinking that I would get live video coverage of the playoffs, like the mlb deal I got last Fall. That wasnt quite the case though, I only get stupid Radio coverage... no live video streaming, which is absolutely ridiculous. NBA sucks... and I suck... for getting suckered.

But something unexpected happened. I discovered that the NBA Finals is broadcast in 10 different languages online. And one of those is Tagalog. And I havent been able to stop laughing since.

To be honest, I cant take these filipino play by play and commentary guys seriously, at all. It just sounds too much like my Dad, Tito Max and Tito Ben talking while watching basketball in the living room, while drinking beer and eating pancit. You know the kind, when adult pinoys talk like they know what they are talking about, when in actuality they have no idea. "Si Jordan... he like ploats in da air, in plight, like a hobering, he jumps longer dan anyone else normal, dats why, grabi siya, da best" [Post Editorial Edit:This is actually something my Uncle once said, when discussing the Bulls back in the day with my other Uncles.. no lie, and it makes absolutely no sense, yet they were all nodding in agreement] Its taglish (half tagalog, half english) that they speak in, so most non flips (even Jill) could understand at least half of it, if you could get past the heavy fob pinner accent.

"Rip Ahmeelton, shoot, wala, air bull, Na obos na ang shot clock... nako!... yong San Antonyo, all busniss si la, Parker bringing op da boll bery past, stop siya, kecking it out to Bohwin... MACdice, grabi ang position nya.. pass nya to Ohrry, oh Roburt Ohrry por tree! Galing! Inabot nya. Galit si Larry Brown..."

"DanCAN, magandang ang ball pake nya, shoot... op da glass, dats es automatic por him... he es too good, scoring at any giben moment. And he got Pouled too. Grabi, itong DanCAN. Sakit yan sa Rasheed Walluce"

HAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHA... you have no idea how funny this is. I cant even pay attention to the game, because I just fractured another rib from laughing... I have no idea what the scores...

Faro, Portugal

We arrived in Faro at night. Always first. Nutrition and sustenance.




Eric goes in...

And takes a pic looking out.

Pot of Gold

Some friends were looking through some of my pictures on my iBook today... and this picture came up.



Jamelia (the French one) Then said " Noleee... whatss zis? Lepp-reh-shaun?"

I spit up my Sprite and I howled my ass off... omygosh I was keeled over on the ground... (and she got mad at me for laughing).

Long story going way back, an inside joke...she didnt get it, and if you dont get it, Im sorry I cant explain it here... but suffice to say, when the french say Leprachaun... I think its freakin body convulsing hilarious...

[Oh yeah, Portugal.. its coming... my excuse is twofold; Playing golf alll day and going out all night is not conducive to time consuming photoblogs. These are rare occurences so I have to take advantage.]

Faro?

2.5 weeks later, I finally get to the Portugal portion of the trip. Got Erics CD of pics in the mail too, now, so I have more choice for posting.

Later on Ill do it, I said. Ill post them tonight after the Champions League Final, I said...

and then the Champions League final happened, Liverpool vs AC Milan... and it ends up being the craziest and quite possibly the best championship game Ive ever seen in any sport... and I am just too freakin wasted now ... totally spent...

Milan scores right away within the first minute, dominates the first half and eventually goes up 3-nil at halftime, capitalizing on the brilliant play of the best name in sports today, Kaka. 3-nil, a score in soccer which is equivalent to a 40 point lead at the half for basketball, or a 10 mile headstart in a marathon, or consistantly getting lobbed "Sam I am" vocabulary words during the National Spelling Bee. ("HAM" "AYCHH, AYE, EMM" "HAM". "Well done Noli, correct. Now our other semi-finalist is Jessica Simpson. Your Word is 'DIMETHYLAMIDOPHENYLDIMETHYLPYRAZOLONE') Seriously, most Liverpool fans looked as if their Mom discovered and took away their Paris Hilton video.

Liverpool scored quickly though in the second half. And then again. And then again, somehow channelling the Boston Red Sox, and squaring the match with 3 goals in 6 minutes... Liverpool fans go nuts, and Milan fans start "mama-mia"-ing... Then Liverpool proceeded to make crazy saves to keep it tied, while AC continued to press for the go ahead. To no avail.

It goes to extra time and then penalty kicks, the most obsurd yet most exciting deciding event in all sports. Liverpool goalie, Jerzy Dudeck, who was a sieve in the first half, but Jackie Chan in the second half, then does the coolest things Ive ever seen in soccer; in order to distract every Milan penalty kicker, he first stares them down with dagger eyes while he hands them the ball, then he shaked about in goal, doing what looked like a cross between the electric shock, jumping jacks and samba dancing, waving his hands and hips about while every Milan penalty kicker addressed and kicked the ball... which proves shit like that has got to work... cuz he made 3 of 5 saves... Liverpool wins.

And like I said, Im spent. Tomorrow Ill give it another try...

Saturday Night Movie

I feel like quickly commenting on a film, for filler. 3 friends were over last night, Miriam and Jamelia who are from France, and Renata who is from Brazil, and we watched Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. I learned in Brazil it was called "Brilho Eterno De Uma Mente Sem Lembracas", and in France its was called, "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind". LOL Anyways normally I mention movies that are notable for some reason, and this one gets that box checked because it came up to me as a mild suprise, wholely unexpected. I was startled by how much I enjoyed it. It shouldnt be a surprise really, the movie is over a year old and critics and public have praised it repeatedly. I just paid no mind. It flew under my radar, and wasnt on the list of movies I was making a point to eventually watch. To be honest, Im dubious of movies that mess and distort with reality and conscience. They are always wildly inventive, and no doubt even better when high, but sometimes they kinda give me a headache, even though I end up appreciating them in the end (eg other Charlie Kaufman creations Adaptation and Being John Malkovich). This one somehow played better than those others though. I expected a chill night watching some random movie (Meet the Fockers was all out), and instead enjoyed myself quite contently on a movie I didnt expect much from, so kudos. Plus the best part of the movie, we see Kirsten Dunst in tight tee and panties, jumping and dancing on a bed. So Awesome. [Noli pumps his fist]

This came on the same day that I watched Episode III. Yeah, that was good too.

One night in Belfast

Queens University, Belfast


To some there maybe some misconception to Belfast, a place to maybe avoid; in truth it is an absolute blast of a city, crazy fun. Unfortunately it still has a stigma to those who dont know any better of being troubled and aggressive with random bombings; a divided city with deep rooted conflicted. And it still maybe a little, because wounds so severe take extended time to heal, but Belfast as a city is regentrifying. And its now one of those best-kept secrets in Europe. Too many are influenced by movies with IRA and war torn neighborhoods, and avoid it like Israel. Bahhhh... those same neighborhoods now have tour buses going through them, like a Disney ride attraction, which honestly has got to be the biggest victory in forward progress, considering the peace process is fairly new, only started some 6 years ago. And like I mentioned in past, I think it has really good shopping.

We partied it up at the Botanic Inn Pub, a University pub, kiddy corner to Queens University.


There we, by fate, got included in a quiz nite competition, and proceded to get very drunk. We started off strong in the quiz, getting most questions right in the first few rounds, but lost steam and got anhilated when the Irish and UK knowledge reared around. Homeside bias was evident, and there were way too many brainy teams from the university with obvious ringers, our '604' team didnt have a chance. But this night was absolutely awesome, definitely one of our best nights of the whole trip. And we made new friends. I have no idea what their names are anymore though...

Belfast Dude: "Hey why do you guys call your team 604?"
Us: "Oh Six Oh Four.. its cause it represents Vancouver. Its our area code... ya know for our phone number.."
Belfast Dude: "AHHHH! [starts singing] I got Hos! I got Hos.. in different area codes.. area codes!"
Marty, Eric, Noli: "Yeah yeah yeah!! hahahaha.."
Suddenly a bunch of people we were wtih start group singing Ludacris Area codes, in a Belfast accent.... Good times, good times...




Okay now check out the girl in front the short one. Marty liked her. But I was sitting beside her, at the table; she came to sit beside me. Marty asked why I wasnt hitting on her, obviously cuz he wanted to hit on her. So I conceded and switched spots with marty, and hilarity ensues. 5 minutes after Marty gets his game on, FIVE MINUTES max I say, she is getting her coat and leaving! Hahahahahahaha... she left before all her friends, by herself, which like, almost never happens for girls. Girls cant go to the bathroom themselves, let alone leave a pub by themselves, with all her girlfriends still there. Marty has mad game.



I like these pics... they have a funky effect to em. Sherry I think is her name? Shirley? I forget. Anyways, the important thing is that Eric and I got the Euro style double cheek kiss at the end of the night. Marty SAYS he got it too, but we dont believe em, we definitely didnt see it. Belfast rocks.