In 2009, I’ll be in Cork for the Irish Blog Awards on the 20th to the 22nd of February, Dublin from the 5th to the 7th of March for Future of Web Apps and London from the 29th of April til the 2nd of May for Future of Web Design.
I’m drafting this blog entry as I plan to make a more concerted effort to meet and talk to new people on my travels. If you’ve been reading goodonpaper or following me on Twitter and know I’m going to be in a room with you over the next four or five months, do come and say hello if I don’t get to you first. If all goes well, I’ll be carrying swag to promote Build as well as stickers and badges for Mucho Danke and goodonpaper, so you’ve really little reason not to come get some freebies.
This year, I’m predominantly resolving to restart my Photo365. Two years ago I got about two months in, this year I got to mid-September, so if the likelihood of my ability to complete an entire year is governed by percentage increases, I shouldn’t have any problem in 2009. I’ve already plenty of trips and projects pencilled in for the New Year that should yield some interesting snaps - and I’ll definitely be making more of an effort to improve my photography along the way and blog the results.
Feeling better physically will also be getting a look in this year - I’ve sworn off pizza for the entirety of 2009 (my own particular vice when it comes to late-night junk food) and will be resolving to exercise more - starting with regular early morning walks and working towards a regular gym schedule. During the year I dabbled in vegetarianism - something I’ve every intention to do again in the New Year - as well as doing what I can to improve my cooking abilities.
Overall, I’ve got big plans for the New Year. I’ve a lot to do to develop my business, get the coworking space on its feet, another goodonpaper redesign to finish (you should have seen that coming), a conference and unconference to organise and a clubnight to run - and that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
Anyway, Happy New Year from me - and thanks for reading goodonpaper in 2008. Hopefully 2009 has a lot of interesting blog entries to inspire.
Yep, it’s obligatory blog-fodder this time of year - top album lists of 2008. Likely nothing you haven’t seen before if you’ve ran into as many as I have by now, but still worth throwing my two cents for legacys’ sake.
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5. Fleet Foxes - Ragged Wood
An album of uniquely crafted individual moments of tight, captivating gems - fusing subtle americana with resounding communal gospel harmonies. Warm, ageless and sublime - by far one of the best of the year.
Fleet Foxes - Ragged Wood
4. Department of Eagles - In Ear Park
One of countless solid records to come out of 4AD this year, Department of Eagles take the usual psychedelic folk aesthetic and tear it a new one, creating an album full of symphonic melodies and overwhelming attention to detail.
Department of Eagles - No One Does It Like You
3. Deerhunter - Microcastle
A lush landscape of styles put together Microcastle, forming an endlessly intriguing melting pot of styles that still somehow all make sense combined. The 2009 tour can’t come soon enough.
Deerhunter - Nothing Ever Happened
2. Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago
Topping the list for many - and deservedly so - but just missing out for the top place with me. A gorgeous album filled with one beautiful, melodic, haunting track after another. Simply stunning.
Bon Iver - Skinny Love
1. Why? - Alopecia
By a country mile the single best record I’ve heard all year, it’s boundless lyrics still stuck in my head from countless listens. Brutally honest and disgustingly vivid lyrics spun over elaborate rhythms and droning psychedelia, a massive jump in cohesion from Elephant Eyelash - if the evolution continues at such a pace to the next record, it can be nothing short of perfection.
Why? - The Hollows
Quite a few didn’t make the cut - including but not limited to Cut Copy, Portishead, M83, The Dodos and TV on the Radio - but those that did have done for many others, and are definitely worth a trip to iTunes for before the end of the year. Any glaring omissions?
After months of seemingly endless viewings and meetings, Coworking Belfast now has a home. We were successful negotiating a contract for the property we identified early last month on Hill St in the Cathedral Quarter and will be moving in as soon as possible.
The Coworking Belfast blog has returned to chronicle the process of opening and running the coworking space - now that we’ll finally have something to report on other than fruitless property viewings. The next step from here will be arranging the lease agreement, getting in for another more extensive look (and taking more “before” photos), getting pricing structures together and getting the ever-potential coworkers signed up. A launch party should also become an overwhelming priority when the dust settles.
I think some frantic cheering and waving of arms is in order.
TwoStep - taken as a typical example of a local live music clubnight - currently opens its doors at 9.30pm, with the first band on at 10.15pm. The times are well publicized in advance and most people who show up know do so much later than the doors, even on the nights we eventually pack out, because they know theres nothing to see until after 10pm anyway. Starting with the January show, I’d like to experiment with setting the doors back to 8.30pm - with the first band on at 9pm or shortly after, and kick it off with some strong openers to get people down substantially earlier. Doing that would also mean the bands would be over around 11.30 - meaning those who work on a Friday likely won’t have to make such a dramatic dent in their usual sleeping patterns and those who do want to stay out and get wrote off still have an hour and a half of legitamite boozing/dancing time left.
Eventually, I’d like to see us on the same Live Music Timezone (LMT) as the rest of the world, with doors opening around 7pm and everything wrapped up by shortly after 10.30pm. It opens the entire week up to the possibility of having gigs that anyone can make without having to miss next-day early morning responsibilities without affecting mid-week club nights that could easily run after. The initial problem would be getting all the venues and promoters to do it at once (or at least agreeing a gradual transition) - but the real crux would be convincing everyone else to head out the door a few hours earlier than they’re used to.
What do you think - would you attend more gigs if they were earlier and you could skulk off home at a reasonable hour? Or do you prefer it the way it is? Do you even think theres the possibility of such a change in the Northern Irish mindset?
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