Noted Archives
Noted – Thursday, June 5, 2008 9:10 PM CT
Irish Dance Wallpaper, June 2008
Download: 1920×1200px, 1280×1024px, 1024×768px
Noted – Wednesday, June 4, 2008 2:15 PM CT
Volunteer opportunities
Just a quick note to say I’m starting to list some cool volunteer opportunities in the sidebar to your right. →
If you’re looking to volunteer, visit VolunteerMatch!
Noted – Thursday, April 10, 2008 10:15 PM CT
“Make an Irish Dancer” Flash game
Introducing my first foray into making Flash games: Make an Irish Dancer! It’s very simple right now—in fact, you might get bored pretty quickly—but I’m rather proud of it. Eventually I want skin color options, more hair options (colors and styles), dress color options, and doodle-your-own-design. Baby steps, though!
And one for the boys, of course. This project is for a class final. (Yes, this is a part of my Bachelor’s degree, and why yes, I do love being a Graphic Design student.) It was accused of being “so…girly” this morning by my friend Ryan. I assured him I would be making one for the boys.
(Also, I readily admit to the World Wide Web that Ryan’s game, which starts out with a dead forest that begins to grow as you take care of it, is way cooler than mine.)
Noted – Thursday, March 13, 2008 9:50 PM CT
I can haz solo dress??
icanhascheezburger.com is my relaxer, my brain-emptier. I just click through and laugh! Happy Irish Season, everyone!
CMC $1,000 college scholarship ends in 4 days
The Cosa Meara Company of Irish Dance is proud to offer a $1,000 scholarship to a graduating high school senior pursuing a college degree along with continued involvement in Irish dance. The award is applicable for any university in the United States. Applications are on the official Cosa Meara website and must be postmarked by March 17, 2008.
Want to do more? You can join the Cosa Meara Scholarship Facebook Event, and the CMC Facebook Fan page.
Noted – Friday, March 7, 2008 7:50 AM CT
President Bush declares March Irish-American Heritage Month
Call it one good thing he’s done. Read the entire proclamation here.
Noted – Thursday, December 26, 2007 3:24 PM
“Profanity is the one language all programmers know best.”
The only new Web thing I have wanted to do for the past four days is install Wordpress locally, on my computer. It’d be great—I could write blog posts about Irish dancing, and the new things I’m working on for the site; you could comment back and help me improve.
It’d be fine if PHP were working on my computer. (I wish you could beat the crap out of a computer programming language. And Windows software. It’s making me feel like I’m in the copy machine scene in Office Space [some language].)
On the bright side, photos of my “Irish Dance Tree” will be here soon!
Noted – Friday, November 30, 2007 9:42 AM
The return of…Webfeis? Could it be?
I know it’s been a long time when I stop accidentally typing “webfeis” when I mean “website”. It’s been even longer when I accidentally type “website” when I mean “webfeis”.
Here’s a genius idea: make my “social network” idea into a new Webfeis platform. (Is anyone else as sick of the term “social network” as I am?) I want my application to have a purpose, not just chatting, because you can do that anywhere.
Don’t get too excited—this thing is going to take me a long time. I am not a programmer, I’m a designer. This will help me learn programming. Baby steps.
Noted – Wednesday, November 7, 2007 9:10 PM
I need to set this up so I can crack my head open and spill it out, into perfectly-explained ideas
I need help.
I have so much going on in my head it’s ridiculous. Here’s a bullet-point list of ideas that have not yet come into fruition:
- Dance basics videos — Short, sweet, and simple. Nothing super fancy (at least, not by me—if you want to volunteer, that would rock). Careful and for study help. Lots of big flashy warnings related to “don’t try this without the accompaniment of a trained professional and maybe a paramedic on standby”. This idea makes me nervous, but it’s ultimately the most useful of the bunch.
- The return of Webfeis in some community-driven format. (I have not checked that e-mail in forever and a day.)
- Wiki in an organized, easy-to-use, pretty format. I intensely dislike the format of 99.9% of wikis today.
- Podcasts, including interviews with teachers, dancers, performers, musicians and more.
- Some sort of social network that provides a valuable connection and learning experience within an online and offline community (as opposed to just being a random collection of people without much driving them).
Actually, everything (but Webfeis?) will turn into what’s below:
- The University of Irish Dancing Online — Someday, Diochra.com will cease to exist in its current form, and will likely split between Reely Clever, Webfeis and UID. Set up as a supplement to the dance studio, offering insights from teachers and performers around the globe. Networking, learning, sharing. Book clubs. Teaching-degree study groups. Fitness/CPR certification study groups. Parent support groups. Dressmaking tutorials. History, music. So much more. Free and subscription membership options.
Frustrating thing is, I’m really not sure when these will come to fruition. Someday. If I have some kind of sponsors, so I could legitimately take time away from other things to work on these projects, it’d help out big time.
Does anyone have any ideas? E-mail me! Please help me. I’m drowning in ideas and to-do lists! (Full-time college student + two businesses = I must be insane.)
If I could fly to England and beg have a chat with Antonio Pacelli and Irish Dancing Magazine, I would. Tonight.
I’m tired of holding onto these, making lists, keeping them in notebooks. Let’s move.
Noted – Saturday, September 22, 2007 8:27 AM
I just dreamt I taught the dance class from hell
It’s probably the three pieces of Texas Sheetcake I ate before bed (I’d link to a recipe, but everyone’s seems to be different than mine), but I had the most annoying dream. Here’s the run-down:
- First things first, when I got there everyone was four inches tall. I kid you not. Twenty kids, four inches tall. It was adorable. They later magically grew to various sizes and ages, don’t ask me how.
- A floor that was more of a gel-filled party jumper floor than anything. It only got worse as time went on; I believe we had started on gymnastics mats.
- One little blonde girl whose name I can’t remember kept trying to lead the class, explaining to them that you go up on your toes by doing softshoe toestands. I kept having to yell over her, physically put her back in line, and then I had to physically remove her! I was actually warned about her prior to class, so when I gave her to the studio owner, her reaction was “What did she do now? We’re going to have to kick her out.”
- What I got back to class, someone else had been teaching a little bit – it was either a student or my brother. I will have to find the photo at Indianpolis Feis where I’m in costume and my brother is “pointing his toe”, and you’ll see how funny that is. However during the dream, he knew his stuff!
- I had to deal with a few other “helpful” students who kept trying to teach their classmates very bad habits.
- Not a bad thing, Stephen Colbert from The Colbert Report was in my class! He wore a t-shirt over his suit and was campaigning for something by hitting on the females in class (by this time they were college-age and older).
That’s all I remember at the moment. Weird.
Sunday, August 5, 2007 Noon
Irish dancing in Taiwan
I love YouTube. That’s how I found out about the Taipei Irish Dance Academy this morning (visit their YouTube page here), and then the Taipei Irish Dance Dissemination Website.
Yi-han Hsiao is now one of my most favorite dancers!
For those of you who visit this site from non-English-speaking countries, have you tried translating any pages using online services? I want to set Diochra.com into various languages, and I’m curious as to how many people would use it, and how well it translates with the various autotranslators on the Web. Please let me know via e-mail.
Saturday, July 28, 2007 5:15 PM
Buying dance shoes just got a little less daunting
There’s a brand-new article in Scoil, International Shoe Size Conversion Charts.
One chart each covers girls, boys, women and men. The following measurement systems are covered: United States and Canada, United Kingdom, Japan, and Europe for everyone, and additionally Australia, Inches and Centimeters for women and men.
Sunday, July 22, 2007 10:00 AM
A careful scrubbing
You’ll note that the site’s look has changed a bit within the past week. Well, it’s not all superficial – I’m scrubbing up.
This morning’s project included making the sub-navigation more clear, going through all of the Performance pages, and fiddling with the Links page.
In Performances, I’ve updated a few links and photos, added Nicholas Yenson to Individual Dancers, and added a page for Sean-Nós Irish Dancers. I also changed the structure slightly, moving from “Touring Shows & Professional Companies” and “Smaller Performance Companies” to “Storyline Shows” and “Professional Irish Dance Companies”, which is a bit more fair.
Monday, June 11, 2007 9:40 PM
Irish dancing in the strangest places
- Arby’s chimps get their technique on
- Award-winning Irish dancing sea lion
- Armstrong genuine hardwood floors: tested to withstand the unexpected.
I’m still skeptical about those floors…but intrigued. (Does anyone else immediately feel like throwing on a pair of hardshoes and really testing it?)
Love to the DDNers, who find the silliest things!
Wednesday, June 6, 2007—12:40 PM
HBO’s The Music in Me
I just saw a commercial on HBO for their newest half-hour special The Music in Me: A Family Special. The June 16 premiere includes an Irish dancing, fiddling family!
- HBO Schedule
- HBO Family Schedule (Do a search for The Music in Me: A Family Special)
Wednesday, May 23, 2007—3:40 PM
New dance camp link
In Links, under Irish Dance Camps:
- Irish Dance Workshop – South of France — Run by ex-Riverdance cast members, this workshop is open to children and adults of all levels.
Tuesday, May 22, 2007—5:00 PM
Additional company
Friday, May 11, 2007—1:30 PM
Updates – good craic, good company
- Two new YMBaIDIs by Queen of the Ceili
- The Rhythm of Ireland Dance Company added to Student Companies
- IDentity added to Collegiate Companies
Friday, May 11, 2007—1:30 PM
I hope the whole summer isn’t like this
The past seven days have been crazy. And this is not my typical, just-really-busy kind of crazy.
Last Friday was our Portfolio Review at UIC’s School of Art and Design. Instructors reviewed each first-year student’s portfolio; if approved, we then declare a major and continue with our studies. I’ve been approved for Industrial Design, and I’m waiting on Graphic Design, which is what I really want to do.
Saturday, I packed up half of my dorm room and moved halfway out. I also continued (okay, okay, began) to study for my finals.
Sunday, my dad started having chest pains. Despite having a long history of heart problems, he’s a man. He thinks it’s no big deal.
Monday afternoon, I moved the rest of my stuff out of my room. Monday night, Dad called an ambulance and landed in the hospital.
Tuesday, he was feeling a bit better, but was bummed that they have to keep him overnight.
Wednesday morning, I presented my final project for Industrial Design. I received an Honorable Mention (top 5). I think it was Wednesday afternoon that I found out my dad needed open-heart surgery. I became the spoke in the wheel of family communication. Wednesday evening, he transferred hospitals, and I attended the JJC Web Design Competition dinner and awards ceremony.
Thursday morning, I had my Finite Mathematics final – it wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be. I also turned in my Information Technology final, and had my RA check over my room and help me officially leave my college dwelling. Dad was getting prepped for surgery, and went in around 11:30 AM – I was on the train home.
I don’t drive and the far southwest suburbs aren’t exactly the utopia of public transportation, but I figured out how I could get to the hospital and sit with my aunt, who’d been there all day. I took the train and bus to the hospital, where I sat for a few hours until Dad was out of surgery and I could see him.
Apparently he went through very well, but it was a bit nerve-wracking as his mother died of heart failure at 56, and he’s 59. I take after him, but hopefully not too much! And I eat very heathily already, don’t drink and don’t smoke. And this is one more Big Reason to Just Say No, my little chickens. Be healthy and take care of yourself!
Thursday, May 03, 2007—2:11 PM
“Facebook me!”
Ah, Facebook. Friend me if you’d like — make sure to tell me you’re involved in Irish dance in some way.
Now for your time-killing pleasure, I present Facebook Irish Dance Groups.
General
- Addicted to Irish Dancing
- College Irish Dancer’s Support Group
- For all those Irish dancers who wish to make a come back
- Former Irish Dance Child Prodigies v. 2.0
- friends dont let friends do frontclicks
- I’d Rather Be Irish Stepdancing…
- Irish Dancers are the Smartest, Funniest & Best People You Will Ever Know
- Irish dancers now, then and forever
- I wear poodle socks to school/work!
- You Know You’re an Irish Dancer When...
Regional
Organizations
- Cosa Meara Company of Irish Dance
- There are a ton of schools listed – see group search link below.
Competition
Related
Okay, that’s enough for me. I did a search for Irish dance, and Facebook came back with 310 group results!
Wednesday, May 02, 2007—9:45 PM
First place — Diochra.com!
Should’ve mentioned this awhile ago: Bust out the glitter and the tiaras!
Diochra.com has won First Place in the Joliet Junior College Web Design Contest!
Also, Kelso Custom Covers has won “Best Use of Cascading Style Sheets”. See my process here.
Hip hip, huzzah!
Wednesday, May 02, 2007—9:35 PM
Nearing the end
Final projects this week, final exams next week. I’m tired. I have updates in the works, though!
Tuesday, April 10, 2007—12:05 PM
Site updates
- Salzburg Summercamp & Feis in the College & Camp section of Library’s Links.
- Bajillion more bits to You Might Be a Male Irish Dancer If…. Thanks, Austin and Colin!
- More bits to You Might Be an Irish Dancer If… list, via Colin. (Watch your back, Z&B.)
I really need to reformat the YMBAIDIs.
Tuesday, April 10, 2007—10:55 AM
Cosa Meara College Clinic
Hello! CMC’s College Clinic is quickly approaching. This clinic is an opportunity for high school-age dancers to meet and work with the Company to experience our blend of styles and talent. The day’s events include:
- Learning a fusion CMC choreography
- Exhibition/audition by participants for CMC members
- Discussion and networking regarding the college dance experience
- When: Saturday, April 28, 10:30 AM–3:30 PM
- Where: Irish-American Heritage Center at 4626 North Knox Avenue in Chicago
- Who: All high school-age dancers with representatives from 3 of CMC’s 6 branches
- Cost: $20 to cover lunch and additional supplies—only $4/hour!
Please email the Company with questions or to reserve your spot by April 19. We ask that you share this information with any of prospective college students as we are avidly seeking more dancers to join our talented company.
Cheers,
Kelly Kohnen
President & Founder of CMC of Irish Dance
www.cosameara.com
Wednesday, April 1, 2007—9:00 PM
If not an April Fool’s, at least some good Craic
Timothy has given us eight glorious new reasons You Might Be a Male Irish Dancer.
- You can kick higher than the entire cheerleading squad.
- You are 6 feet 6 inches tall when you do a toe stand.
- It was a dark day when Jean Butler got married.
- You try to persuade your school to let you letter in Irish dance. (If cheerleading is a sport, so is Irish dancing!)
- You have absolutely no qualms about regularly putting on shoes with heels.
- You went to prom in your dance uniform.
- You play basketball, and your buddies always comment on how your feet are turned out.
- You have posted a sign on your locker saying “Call me Michael Flatley one more time and I will set you on fire.”
- Pat Roddy is the man you want to grow up to be.
Thanks, Timothy!
Wednesday, March 14, 2007—8:30 PM
This is what happens when you don’t research
Jeremy Keith, one of my new favorite Web developers (and now favorite people in general, frankly), plays the bouzouki. He is also the creator of The Session.
I did not know this until ten minutes ago.
His panel with Derek Featherstone at SXSW was my favorite, and I sat near him at two another panels. (I didn’t say hello because in most new situations, I am an absolute sissy.)
I left Austin eight and a half hours ago.
Blast. Note to self: e-mail Jeremy and say hello.
Friday, March 9, 2007—12:30 PM
Updated Wednesday, March 14, 2007—9:20 PM
Show-off!
I just launched the new site redevelopment for Kelso Custom Covers.
Wondering how I did it, or why it’s still a little buggy? Read my quick once-over for this year’s JJC Web Design Contest at Submission 1—Kelso Custom Covers.
Friday, March 9, 2007—9:05 AM
Updated Wednesday, March 14, 2007—9:20 PM
“High-tech, low-key”
Hello, Austin, Texas! I flew in yesterday morning after, as ‘Chicagoan’ as I am now, riding to O’Hare Airport on the El. (Heh.) I’m here for SXSW, Austin’s annual electronic interactive design/web development conference/festival/general celebration of techgeekdom/what-have-you.
So being in Austin, I’d like to wave hello to the general Austin Irish scene, the Irish Dance Center and Lone Star Irish Dance, who hold it down in Austin year-round, and to Hearts & Hooves (mini horses!), a great group of Austin-area folks whose site I have the opportunity to redevelop.
Thursday, March 1, 2007—2:52 PM
Celtic scrapbooking
A few weeks back, I received an e-mail from Joseph Flahiff of the newly-minted Celtic Scrapbooking.
Joseph wrote: “My wife, Jeanne, is a scrapbooker and my daughter, JoHanna, is an Irish Dancer. She has been dancing for just over a year. Awhile back, my wife sent me to find Irish dance scrapbooking stuff on the Internet … I was not able to find much. …
“So after a bit of time and frustration at not finding anything, I decided to make some myself. I designed a line of die cuts and papers that I am very excited about.
“This past weekend I went live with my website [Celtic Scrapbooking] and had a vendor table at the Emerald City Feis in Seattle and had tremendous response. People were so happy to see the products it was really excited to be helping people keep their memories alive!”
Tuesday, February 20, 2007—9:55 PM
Only hard thing is keeping up
My nose is going to melt off of my face. I’m not exaggerating. What’s the deal, cold? I have work to do, but I would really prefer sleeping.
That said, I’m slowly becoming re-obsessed with Irish dancing. What a good thing. I have a new dance studio in my building. A dance studio I can walk to from my room without ever going outside. Rock on, UIC.
I think the best thing for Webfeis would be to make it a big community-driven site, where everyone can make up their own competitions, and we can have a point system to move dancers from level to level. Then you barely have to rely on me ever again! What say you?
And I have a goodie! Here is a Video of Ashley Smith and Sarah Matthews dancing and having a chat about dance (via).
Saturday, February 3, 2007—Noon
Webfeis help needed; Cosa Meara taking over U.S.
With my school workload, I’m not going to be able to keep coming up with Webfeis competitions, so I need help. If you can develop some webfeiseanna, please e-mail your competitions to webfeis@gmail.com. We don’t have a February competition yet! Bless you, and big thanks from the many Webfeisers.
Also, Cosa Meara–a growing network of post-high school Irish dancers–is now at Florida State University. Find it on the College Companies page.
Monday, February 5, 2007—9:00 PM
Tradition and progression
- Kieran Jordan at BCMFest 2007
- Now, this is a new way to sell a dress! What a steal.
- Cosa Meara: First stop, UIUC; next stop, the world’s stage. (Link fixed.)
Wednesday, January 30, 2007—9:00 PM
Last ones for tonight, I swear
International edition: Italy and Japan!
You finger-dance, too. No lying. Ever seen such madness?
Oh, and by the way? Tokyo rocks.
Wednesday, January 30, 2007—8:45 PM
The best part of waking up
The Folger’s commercial with Cara Butler and company has appeared on YouTube. Hurrah!
Baby, Irish dancing
“video made by my girl’s brother, i thought it was pretty darn funny :)”
Saturday, January 20, 2007—Noon
Useless Dog: a short film
Director: Ken Wardrop, Ireland. 5:08 minutes.