Tophe Adventures

Ten movies I think of, frequently, those images fill my mind. Chung King Express (Wong Kar Wai - 1994) No point of telling the stories of that movie, you just have to let the images drawn you. I prefer the second story with Faye , how can a man not fall in love with her ? Even if she's a little bit crazy. Bringing up baby (Howard Hawks - 1938 ) Another strong woman (this time its Katharine Hepburn ) storming into the life of a nice old chap, with some devastating effects ( and love not being the least). Moonfleet (Fritz Lang - 1955) Another classic movie from Hollywood ( I should probably thanks Eddy Mitchell and his TV show "La dernière séance" to have me discovered those movies ), the photography is absolutely fantastic, in a very gothic atmosphere, all the scene with the young Mohune deeply impressed me (and still today). La Jetee (Chris Marker - 1962) A short movie, all created with still images and a voice over. The story is trong and is at the origin of a remake b...

Here the ten TV series who influenced my childhood, for bad or good. Litllest Hobo (French Title "Le Vagabond") There was some sadness, about the story of this dog , which kept leaving at the end of each episode... I wonder if he ever found his family, if he ever settle down. And a great lesson for life: every stop i make, i'll make a new friend . Punky Brewster Another seemingly sad story (a child abandoned by her mother in a mall), but it ends happily. I whish my parent would have let me paint my bedroom like she did, or even let me have the doghouse in my bedroom... Magnum PI Aaaah ... magnum... when i was 7, this is the way i imagined my life when i would be older, hawaian shirt, moustache, and sea kayak (not much facination for the car though, i'd prefer the 2 dogs zeus and appollo). Today I am almost there... Not. Mac Gyver One of the rare TV series, I watched with my father, the game was to see if MacGyver tricks were plausible, most of them are theori...

The Time is publishing it's top 10 of evrything for 2008: Time Special Top 10 2008 , so here's my personal top 10 for 2008 ASM 9th french rugby union championship final. Against Toulouse, even if it was not the result expected, Auvergne is still lookking to win the Brennus . Actually if Clermont win against Munster next saturday, this might replace that entry. Radiohead "In Rainbows" in Dublin An excellent new album, distributed freely through the web (i know it's actually 2007). And on the top of that, i've seen them in a fabulous concert in Dublin, dreamy from the start with a double rainbow welcoming the group in Marlay Park. Wall-ee The last pixar marvel, absolutely enchanting, in particular the silent 1st part of the movie. US presidential campaign From Hilary raise, to Obama victory... it has been a quite exciting and over-publicized campaign. Change could not come at a best time ( or at a worst ? ). Bertie Ahern stepping down. Fascinating, a great pol...

Les 10 dessins animés qui m'ont le plus marqué dans mon enfance: Rémi sans Famille Je reste encore aujourd'hui traumatisé par la série d'épisode ou les animaux meurent un par un. Galaxy Express 999 De nouveau une série trés sombre, qui débute par l'assassinat de la mère du héros lors d'une partie de chasse, peuplé d'humains en quête d'immotralité et de perfection via la robotisation de leur corps. Réalisée par le même créateur de la série Albator, un autre dessin animé marquant de ma jeunesse, c'est le même univers désespéré. J'ai depuis abandonné l'idée de devenir un pirate, et d'avoir une cicatrice sur la joue ( un peu a la Joffrey d' Angélique ) Les Mystèrieuses cités d'or Une fantastique série ( depuis des années, ils annoncent une suite, peut-être sur grand écrans ) de Jean Chalopin (créateur de l'Inspecteur Gadget entre autres). J'adore l'ambiguité de certains personnages (en particulier Mendoza_, et je restais fac...

I am stealing an idea from some French blogs ( Fabienne and Olivier who started the thing ). The idea is very simple and based on a simple question: Where was i 5 years ago, 10, 15 ...etc ? So let's go back in time by 5 years leap... 1978 I am 2 years old, living with my parents and my grandad in a small village in Auvergne, France near the river Allier. According to the pictures taken by my dad, i've got a brilliant future in construction or maybe woodworking. May be i should have gone this road... because the shed we were building is still there. 1983 Still living in Auvergne, we move to a different house in the same village ( i've calculated that my father moved at least 6 times in his life without actually leaving the village ). The familly got bigger, with th addition of my brother. I am also starting going to school in Hauterive. This is also the year, my first computer began to be sold: Alice (8kb RAM, no hard drive...) , first contact with info...

un documentaire francais sur la nourriture, les dangers de l'agriculture industrielle reposant sur les produits chimiques. Le website du film: http://www.nosenfantsnousaccuseront-lefilm.com/ A ecouter en particulier, le podacst de Serge Orru a l'univeriste de la terre 2008: http://www.actus-durables.fr/2008/11/podcast-de-serge-orru-a-luniversite-de-la-terre-2008/

Last saturday, I was in Glór (Ennis, Co Clare) for Neil Delamere performance. It was excellent, as i almost piss on myself, learn a new word ( Ghee , butter in all Indian food restaurant), and finally become highly suspicious towards AnPost. Neil Delamere is an Irish comedian, one of the regular panelist of the RTE show : The Panel . I've put some videos of the show previously here . So here's another one:

On devient adulte lorsqu'on a accepté ces 5 i Irreversibilité du passé Imprévisibilité du futur Imperfection du présent Irrémédiabilité de la mort Insensé du tout. Carlo Moïso Which you can translate by: "You're becoming an adult when you accept thes 5 I:past is Irreversible future is Imprevisible present is Imperfet death is irremediable everything is Irrational ( the word insensé has actually a more powerful meaning)." I was listening to the brilliant BBC program: Thinking Allowed (available in podcast ), and they were talking about Male immaturity. Basically men today are no longer the manly men of the past, gone are the manly figures of John Wayne and Gary Grant from the movies, replaced by some eternal teenagers. TV, and movies seems to be all about teenage year not anymore about growned up. Men seeking eternal youthness, and playing video-games. An interesting thought by the guest, was that games enable men to play with power until the day the have real p...

In a replay of the famous 1978 victory over the All-Blacks (12-0), last night Munster played New Zealand in the newly renovated stadium... and what a game.... The 1978 victory is the beginning of the Munster legend, as Munster is the only irish side to have ever beaten the All-Blacks, the game also inspired a play : Alone it stands . And the game last night was fabulous, even with a second string team ( most of Munster player were taken by international duty, O'Gara, O'Connell, Flannerys... were playing for Ireland last Saturday), Munster put all his heart into the game, pushed by its fantastic public. One of the best game of rugby I've ever seen. So the song of the week is.... STAN' UP AN' FIGHT (TOREADOR SONG) Thanks a lot! I'm sure glad to be, To be where I c'n see So many friends o' mine. How've I been doin'? How've I been doin'? If you really wanta know de truth, I'm doin' fine! Seventeen decisions in a row, An' only fiv...

So I went to Dublin, this Saturday, leaving the west for a tour in the big city... drop my car at the infamous red cow roundabout and took the luas for the town ( the best way to spend a day in Dublin, and not being bothered by your car). As soon as i went through Temple Bar a strange feeling took control... Yep french-attitude, the street were full of french tourist, students, I probably headed to the wrong part of the city between the Temple Bar Food Market to pay my homage to sir rory and the Irish film Institute who is organizing this month a French Film Festival. Did not have time to go to Howth as planned (next time). As a result, during the all afternoon, I heard principally french followed by Italian and finally some english. But where there the Irish ? Actually they were all in the pubs, in great expectation of the: Ireland vs New-Zealand rugby game in Croke Park. It did not turn out to be a success, as Ireland failed to beat the All-Blacks, again in 22 games, Ireland onl...

Noir Désir is back with some new music, you can see it there: Site Officiel http://www.noirdez.com/ .

Please....

In those doom and gloom times, while Limerick was preparing itself for the replay of the big game , there is one word I wished would not appear: feud. Last Sunday an innocent man died in a usually quiet area of Limerick , not very far from where I used to live. After a 6 months break, a 14th life has been claimed by the feud between rivals drug gangs of the city. This time, the victim is not even remotely related to the gang activities, but it was also the case for the burn children . Seems Saint Liam is replacing the saint patron of the city. Limerick has a drug problem, actually Ireland too ( Cork and Dublin are no better ), with a very exposed coast ( 8 vessels to protect a 1,970.5 miles coast ), which means it's a gateway for drug coming from seas (this month another yacht full of drugs has been catch on the cork coast of Ireland ), and a sadly growing population of consumers. The Limerick Blogger has more on this issue, with reactions of people of Limerick. Note: There w...

In those depressing time, where everybody's talking about recession, something to look forward in 2009, the next Pixar movie Up : (From Trailer Addict )

Recently Alison Curtis on her Today FM show , listed with the help of the listeners the top 10 things to do in Ireland, and this is what they came up with: Top 10 things to do in Ireland before You Die 10. Wake Up Beside a Galway Girl 9. Visit Newgrange 8. Road Bowling 7. Pint in the Grave Diggers Glasnevin 6. Climb Carrintool 5. See a gig in De Barras Clonakilty 4. Paddys day in Doolin 3. Go to the Ploughing Championships 2. Attend the Culchie Festival 1. Watch an All Ireland Hurling Final in Croke Park I personally only manage to do only one of those ( number 9, and it was worth it ) in the list. So here's my personal top ten: 11. Listen ghost stories in Kinsale . 10. Watch the sunset over Rock of Cashel . 9. Circumnavigate Ireland in a sea kayak. 8. A night out in a Doolin or Brandon pub. 7. Spend a night on one of the Aran Island , after a day of cycling, you'll enjoy the best guinness in the world. 6. Watch a hurling game in Croke Park ( an all Ireland final would be a b...

English: Photo of Tom Crean taken aboard the Endurance, 1914. I went to the theater last night to see a wonderful performance about Tom Crean , at the Belltable . I've already talked about him in a previous post . He went three times to the South Pole with Scott and Shackleton , and survive all of them. Terrific story, remarkably brought to life with some humor by the comedian Aidan Dooley. The piece is called : "Tom Crean - Antarctic Explorer" (Written and Performed by Aidan Dooley). There is a highly recommended book by Smith, Michael: Tom Crean: Unsung Hero ( Mountaineers Books ). And if you're on your way to Dingle , don't forget to stop in Anascaul, and have a pint in the blue pub after the bridge: the South Pole Inn.

I've seen an interesting comparison between the land of the "Bisounours" ( Care Bears, Bisounours is the French translation ie kiss bears ) and Ireland, in another expat blog (Estelle) , since I have in my head pictures of Bisounours drinking in Pubs, getting drunk..... When doing this, I actually discover that in the care-bears there is an Irish connection through "good Luck Bear" ("Grosveinard" in French), who is green and bears a hearted shamrock. And you actually can see its influence in that ad: Have a Great day.

Last Sunday, I was in Kilkee ( trying to dive as usual), absolutely gorgeous day, blue sky.. absolutely perfect, and despite the gale warning in operatiosn on all coast, the sea was nice to us. But the main attraction was on the beach, as a horse races were organized there. It's an annual event and a very enjoyable one. Preparing the racing Field: The Track: Reconnaissance: And here we go: From the pier: ....

I've been looking for a while a blog called Grenoble Daily Photo , it shows a picture a Grenoble everyday. I used to live in Grenoble before coming to Ireland, so it's interesting to rediscover part of this city ( and even some parts I did not know). So it kinda of inspirate me to do the same with the town I am currently living in : Limerick. So here we go: Limerick Daily Photo

Eventful week, i started it by missing my plane to France, sinking rock-bottom a planned week-end of diving in Marseille. Anyway, i use the time to move house, I am now living in the city center of limerick... we'll see how it turns out. On the bright side, I went last wednesday to the Univeristy of Limerick see Lisa Hannigan in concert, you probably heard her already on Damien Rice album ( 9 crimes for example ), she had a wonderful new solo album: Sea Sew. This is taken from the RTE show Other Voices . Songs of the week: I don't know - Lisa Hannigan Lille - Lisa Hannigan The Steady Song - Republic of Loose

Dailymotion a signé un accord de diffusion sur les sketchs de Desproges. Sachons cacher notre joie Uploaded by pierredesproges Etonnant non ?

May be I've spend too much time in Ireland. Let me explain, last night i find myself watching the " Rose of Tralee ", laughing at Ray D'Arcy silly dancing, wondering about Dubliner, at the end Aoife won the tiara. The Rose is so different from, let's say "miss France", there is for example no swimsuit walk ( which is a bit hypocritical, when one of the requirement is not to have posed partially or completely stripped), somewhat refreshing in term of innocence, at the same time the women competing seems more outspoken than there french counterpart (or is it due to Genevieve overall control ). In 3 years, I've seen a "brilliant" Taoiseach disappear. Bertie Ahern has been pure candy for any Irish Comic, how can they survive without him ? Just an example: as a finance minister in the 80's he did not have a bank account .... Talking about watching stuff on TV, a series of excellent documentary can be seen at the moment on the BCC, it...

And yes even underwater, you can see some starlet and other paparazzi... See the starlet in all her splendor:

As the oil crisis worsen, and the price of petrol continue to raise, more and more Americans are reconsidering their use of their cars, more and more decide to commute using bicycles with some unexpected results. As more and more people take their bike in the streets of New York , more and more agressive behaviour can be seen between the different users of the roads: car driver versus bicycle user, and biker versus pedestrians. Car driver are not used to share their space with bicycle, unlike what is happening in Netherlands (where more than 15% of the population is using bicycles ), American car driver does not seem to know how to behave nor the cyclists as most of them are newbies in the bike commuter comunity. And this highlight the weakest link of the car based transportation system: the human factor. As explained in the book Traffic by Tom Vanderbilt , it seems we are behaving like total nonsensical idiots when we sit down behind the wheel of a car. An interesting fact to think ...

Back diving (seriously) after a couple of week-end were i was not very actively diving (interrupted by work travel, and my previous dive was only in 10 meters with a trainee). Dive Site: Pinnacle in Kilkee. I had a lovely siren/buddy to accompagn me :

For the first week of august 2008, I had my first trip to the USA, work related, no tourism, so no pictures. Results: USA - checked. Portland (Oregon) - checked A very long trip ( Shannon - Atlanta - Portland ), for a very busy and interesting working week. Portland seems an interesting place, one hour from the sea, one hour from the moutain. Just checked for the moment.... Off course even that far away from the rainy emerald Island, we found comforting ourselves with a pint of guinness .

A moving lecture: So what have you done with your childhood dreams ?

Contradicting the title, it will be a short post. I've just read two interesting articles about reading online: the first one form the New York Times about the generation gap existing in the way people read , and a more disturbing one called " Is Google Making Us Stupid ? " by N.Carr. I have not realized it before, but online reading, fundamentally change the way you read, instead of immersing yourself in a lengthy article or a book, you mainly skim the surface of online article, jumping from one information to another. The online way is a fast, accumulation of data, and we don't really spend time to digest, re-think internally what we read, unlike the way you progress through a book. And it seems that favoring the online reading, limits our concentration capabilities, because it's so easy to get distracted and jump to another subject.

Last week end, I went down to county Waterford to do two full days of sea-kayaking. We paddle around broadstand pier, near Tranore. I did the level 2 course with seapaddling.com . Now I am seriously thinking investing in a kayak... and a surf. Monday night I also went to see Wall-ee, brilliant, as every Pixar, but i probably need to see it again later when the hype will have disappeared. Tonight I went snorkelling near Spanish Point:

Oh I've actually been busier than initially expressed, setting up at work a regular game of Petanque during lunch time Great fun... but seems the Irish are beating the French at their own games... Sacrebleu.

No real news, still a cracked rib since the mountain biking event, did only one dive Sunday, spent a couple of hours for Bastille Day on Doughmore Beach before finishing the night in the Wicked Chicken (as Friday ). And we finally had our beach barbecue yesterday ( "healthy" irish sausages and chocolate banana ) in spanish point (Co Clare) . Five more days before Wall-ee..... Big Ideas (don't get any) from James Houston on Vimeo . Other Radiohed remixes here . Animated videos of Radiohead songs on Aniboom . Songs of the week-end: MGMT - Kids Blondie - Atomic CSS - Cannon Ball Fourtet - Unspoken

Seen Damien Depmpsey in Dolans this saturday, absolutely fantastic Quote of the day: "Yesterday is history, Tomorrow is a mistery, Today is a gift, that's why it's called the Present!" Oogway in Kung Fu Panda ( though the original quote is much older) Kung Fu Panda, very pleasant movie, the combat scenes are really funny.

Et de neuf... et merde.... Félicitations Toulouse. Bravo les jaunards pour cette belle saison... a l'année prochaine en H-Cup et championat.

Let's worship the sun

I went moutain biking in Ballyhoura moutain , a very moutain bike trail. I had not done moutain biking in a long long time ( first time since i moved to Ireland ), very good and off course i've fallen ( and will fall again ). A video which shows part of the track: A good website for outdoors activities in Ireland: http://www.coillteoutdoors.ie

Friday Night (6th June 2008), near Dublin, in Malahide Castle park. I went to see Radiohead in concert in Dublin, again. The atmosphere was quite different. Probably due to the tone of the last album, or the fact that i've been travelling the country up and down over the week end. We had a bit of rain, but a good sign appeared in the form of a double rainbow , just as Radiohead went on stage: And we were started by a lovely evening on the east coast of Ireland Songs Played: 01 All I Need (In Rainbows) 02 There There (Hail to the Thief ) 03 Lucky (Ok Computer) 04 Bangers & Mash (In Rainbows - bonus) 05 15 Step (In Rainbows) 06 Nude (In Rainbows) 07 Pyramid Song (Amnesiac) 08 Optimistic (Kid A) 09 Arpeggi (In Rainbows) 10 The National Anthem (Kid A) 11 Idioteque (kid A) 12 Reckoner (In Rainbows) 13 House Of Cards (House of cards) 14 Everything In Its Right Place (Kid A) 15 Faust Arp (In Rainbows) 16 Bodysnatchers (In Rainbows) 17 Videotape (In Rainbows) Encore 1: 18 The Gl...