Photo owned by crackers93(Not away just very busy) (cc)

A further 53 rare birds are to be released in Co Down and Co Wicklow this week as part of the phased reintroduction of the Red Kite in Ireland.

• More Red Kites to be released into the wild. John Gormley’s red kite army. It grows.
• Seriously. There is nothing happening in Ireland. Sure, We may have just found out that Coldplay will be the first gig at the new O2 but that’s not really that exciting.
• I enjoyed this story about Anarchy at Off the meatrack.
• You are now entering the northside. Christ.
• Anyone need to release some doves? There’s a company that doves it: www.heavenlydoves.ie. Doves it! I’m a genius!
• Didn’t take on board what Ricky Gervais said at the end of the Extras Christmas Special when he was in the Big Brother house? Well then, Movieextras.ie are doing the whole get your mug shot taken and pay some cash and we might call you annual routine.
• Dublin wants to be the EU city of science 2012.
• Castleblayney dressed up as smurfs and broke a Guinness World Record:
  
  More.

Smurfs? Red kites? Jesus. Sarkozy’s visit went off too well. RTE news are reduced to carrying news reports about bees. It’s too quiet.

What the hell, it’s U2 day on Jazz Biscuit. They held a concert on the 29th in Second Life Dublin. Set your avatars to dance.

Christ. This happened before in 2006:

Although that time it wasn’t really U2. Just like it wasn’t really U2 this time. I’m lost.

Set avatar to confused.

We’ve talked about Second life (and penises) before.

Live Nation, a concert promotion company that has already inked a so-called 360 deal with Madonna, announced Monday that it will oversee the Irish music group’s touring, merchandise, and Web site.

“We’ve been dating for over 20 years now, it’s about time we tied the knot,” lead singer Bono said in a statement. “With regards to U2.com, we feel we’ve got a great Web site, but we want to make it a lot better.”

Even though there’s lots of planning involved for a global tour like u2’s 12 years still seems like a long time - Bono will be 59 when the deal finishes.

That’s taken from the news.com news blog.

There’s a big article on Live Nation and what they’re all about over on money.cnn.com. Or just check out the wikipedia entry.

“U2 Funny live moments”:

Colm and JimJim, princes of mankind (for their frequent use of the word jazz, if nothing else) speak to Bono. Or do they? MP3 file click.

Via the king of mankind, Rick O’Shea.

U2 were in town last night for the premiere of U2 3D. Here’s the director with the band introducing the film:

Some screaming fans outside:

Official web site for U23D. The trailer:

Cinema listings at entertainment.ie.