Mikael Fernstrom

>This evening I had a lovely experience. I went to the Soundings concert at Daghda in Limerick. First, we had Slavek’s piece, including some live stuff, then the three winners of Diffusion 2006, and finally the finale with Stockhausen’s “Gesang der Jünglinge”.

>I’m just back after a week’s holiday in West Clare. Ahhhh! Every time I go out there, I find it increasingly difficult to go back. One day, I’m sure, I won’t. After a week out there, normal semi-urban reality seems unreal and irrelevant. I’ve read three books while out there, and as many newspapers as I could find. Out there, time is not focussed on the Clock. It’s the tide and the weather that controls Life, the Universe and Everything.
Some good news: Sealyons a.k.a. Lyon’s Seafood have started a delivery service of fresh fish to Limerick!

>John Kelly is back on air, now on RTE Lyric FM. The first week, he was on the verge of referring to trains and train drivers, but this week he seems to have settled in. Still, I wonder, why can’t he play Jimi Hendrix on Lyric?
I sent him an email yesterday, recommedning Armenian Navy Band. Today, wich was lucky, I managed to listen to half of the program over the web in real-time. I think he should choose themes (odd and awkward themes). Perhaps, for Women’s Day (I think it’s the 8th of March), do female punk rock artists? I’d love a programe with, for example, Nina Hagen.

>The web is fantastic. Broadband (although only 3 Mb/s) is great. This evening I rediscovered a Swedish radio program that I really love – Eldorado – by Kjell Alinge. It’s pure art, pure sonic experience. Great stuff.

>Today, Sunday, I was at UL for a few hours, trying to help Colm to finish building the new lab for the B.Sc. in Digital Media Design and BSc in Music, Media & Performance Technology. It’s great to see 36 Imacs (dual core, Intel chip) in a room. As I a read an article in Sound on Sound magazine over breakfast, I realised that we now have the most powerful and excellent studio in Ireland, perhaps Europe, if we use our studio with this lab as Protools Nodes ;-). What sounds will we make…?

>It’s been a very intense day. The MetaMusic project is finishing. Handing over a full software system in just a day or so is unreal. But, let’s hope for the best. Justin and I had a few sentimental moments while everybody else were hacking. It’s about four years since this started. Thanks to Andrea Deverell and Paul Dillon, we got it started. Now, it’s finished, thanks to Eoin, Ian, Tony and Brian. I need a holiday.

>So, last week week we examined all I-media and MusicTech stundets. Exciting and exhausting. When I got home Friday night I felt like “I need to get another job”, but today having met the new students I think I’ll give it another year. Our postgrad programmes are, from faculty’s point of view, insane. We don’t get ANY time off. Just when we finish, we start again. Still, I love what the stundents produce – new interesting work and ideas.

>Thanks to Digiweb, www.digiweb.ie we have watched the Swedish Election TV coverage on-line this evening, This is just the start of a new media trend (even in bally-go-backwards contries like Ireland). I want my video iPod – iTV, thingy for Xmas!

>After 2 weeks research, discussions and writing, I’m finally finished with writing a new research grant proposal to Enterprise Ireland. The project RE-NABLE aims to enhance and improve post-stroke rehabilitation, using inertial sensors motes and novel multiplatform software systems. Now, it’s finally bed time.

>I went through a serious dental surgery experince yesterday. The valium didn’t work. Unfortunately, I have a microfracture at the floor of the tooth, hence a full root canal job will not provide a long-term solution. So, I’ve started to research how and what to get for an implant.

This is a titanium screw that they drive into ones jaw, and put a nice and well-working crown on top. As they say, “It’ll last you for life”…