What happens when you gather all the information available in the World in one place?

How many times has it happened to you?

You see a reference to something on the internet and then remember, "Hey, I was just thinking about that last night?" (or yesterday or last week...)

I'm not talking about trending news stories or commonly discussed items -- but something out of the blue, that you probably haven't thought about in ages, popping up coincidentally in two or more places in an unrelated manner.

Is it a coincidence? Or just logic?

Example One:

A.) Drew Barrymore has directed a movie "Whip It" -- the ads for it make it look really good to me. Anyway, I heard a radio review and it noted that it was about roller derby.

B.) Now I haven't heard about roller derby in ages. It made me think about one of my favourite movies as a kid - Kansas City Bomber. That movie starred Raquel Welch as a roller derby star. Jodie Foster is her daughter. It's fantastic 70's movies stuff.

C.) So I was thinking about Raquel Welch and how well she's aged and wondered if she was still acting and what she was up to -- but I didn't have time to look into this and that was that -- BUT...

D.) This morning I checked my daily email from Oprah. Please note I normally trash these WITHOUT reading them because I don't have time, but I noticed this one was about Oprah's favourite books, so I took a peak. At the bottom of the newsletter there's a heading "Celebrity Page Turners" and listed three books by celebs, the third "Bombshell Raquel Welch takes you Beyond the Cleavage"

SPOOKY! Isn't it?! Or is it?

Is it just that there is so much information on the internet and in traditional media that it's all bound to converge at certain points?

Is it because I am a media hound constantly on Twitter, listening to radio talk shows, reading Oprah newsletters, etc. that all this information is going to meet up all over the place?

Is it natural feminine intuition that leads me to follow information to these connections? (or a bit of noisiness and know-it-all-ness?)

Am I just so in tune with the psyches of the universe that I draw this information to come together?

I'd kinda like to think one of the latter two is the case, but as I am such a media hound and constantly juggling work, family and other interests; it is unlikely that I am that in tune with anything!

In the past these coincidences would happen from time to time, but lately it's happening more and more -- and very often related to information I pick up on Twitter.

Is it just that the people and media channels -- and the items posted that capture my interests -- are spot on with my tastes, past history, etc.?

That it's just inevitable that these connections occur?

Example Two:

A. Yesterday, I noticed a tweet from one of my 'friends' on Twitter - someone I've never actually met but chat with online occasionally, as is the case for most of my friends. She notes that she is waiting in the Driver's License office to renew her license. Now this is the kind of information that Twitter haters use to berate Twitter lovers with - inane daily occurrences; but this is what I think makes Twitter great:

Occurrences and activities in life that are common to most of us, interpreted in interesting or meaningful ways. Through sharing this information it brings us together, makes us feel normal and special at the same time.

B. OK, so we're back with my Twitter 'friend' waiting at the Driving License office and I'm thinking, "Poor girl, having to wait in a horrible place like that, for who knows how long. Can't you do that online? Why aren't they good for life? Wonder when my license is due for renewal?"

C. That same day when I return home from the office, the post is waiting inside my door and there's one envelope addressed to me, which is fairly rare - apart from bills and bank statements. Have you guessed it? It was a letter notifying me that my driving license is due for renewal!

Now THAT is spooky!!!

So is it just pure logic?

The internet has gathered data from billions of sources together in one place.

Now with all the social media networks online, it is also gathering all of our personal thoughts together in this one vast space, easy to access from your favourite browser!

Filter that information down to those people and things that you are most interested in and are most like you.

It appears to be a psychic phenomena, but in reality it is just life as it happens.

So join me in line at the Drivers License office via Twitter in the next couple of weeks - cos I don't want to do it all alone!

Weekend TV Review Part 1 - Saturday 28 November

RTE1

For early risers a US TV drama overload:
7.55 Kojak
8.50 Falcon's Crest
1.55 Irish Eyes are Smiling http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0036961/ - movie from 1944 about the life of the man who wrote song the film takes it's title from; with some vaguely familiar names in the case AND Anthony Quinn (maybe worth a watch to see what role he plays)
3.40 Welcome to Mooseport http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0361925/ - "A US president (Gene Hackman) who has retired after two terms in office returns to his hometown of Mooseport, Maine and decides to run for Mayor against another local candidate (Ray Romano)." Ahhhh, I usually like Gene Hackman in all his movies and I like Ray Romano's sitcom, but I wonder what it will be like with the two of them together!

6.30 Spiderman Returns http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0348150/ - from 2006, another take on the big man's story. May be worth just to see Kevin Spacey as Lex Luthor

10.50 Punch Drunk Love http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0272338/ - 2002, Adam Sandler and Emily Watson in a quirky love story with Sandler imploading as usual, but also fun to watch as usual. Not as classic as some of writer/director Paul Thomas Anderson's other work: Magnolia and There Will Be Blood

1.30 In My Country (aka Country of My Skull) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0349260/ - a 2004 film directed by John Boorman, which completely escaped my radar at the time, about a Washington Post report sent to South Africa to cover the Truth and Reconcilliation Trials with Samuel L. Jackson, Juliette Binoche and 'our' Brendan Gleeson as a notorious torturer.

3.10 D-Day http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0412617/ - Drama Documentary

RTE 2

5pm The Sting http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0070735/ - Classic! In case you don't know clever drama (and a good bit of humour) with Newman and Redford and excellent supporting cast.

12.10 Nurse Jackie - a second chance to catch one of my favourite current TV shows if you missed it earlier in the week (which I did)

1.40 Magicians http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0841027/ - 2007 movie with UK comedy duo Mitchell & Webb about rival magicians

TV3

The usual reality TV fix:

8pm XFactor

9.45 I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here

10.45 Xtra Factor

11.45 The Graham Norton Show with Shirley Bassey, Michael Sheen and Rhod Gilber (who?)

3.45 The Chronicles of Riddick http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0296572/ - 2004 Vin Diesel film that carries on from Pitch Black "All the power in the universe can't change destiny "

TG4

9.45pm Mercury Rising http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120749/ - from 1998 with Bruce Willis and Alec Baldwin, and autistic boy and an unbreakable code.

11.45 Neelo - challenges the public to eat healthy. Neelo usually gives and interesting and amusing outlook into small pockets of life

12.34 True Blood - replay of this week's episode, which I also missed. Just hope I can stay awake this time!

BBC1

6.05pm Merlin - our family's favourite show

Channel4

1am Beyond the Sea http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0363473/ - 2004 movie with Kevin Spacey as singer Bobby Darrin and Kate Bosworth as Sandra Dee. I wish I could get Channel 4 so I could watch this.

Once again, all information based on the RTE Guide and any error are not my responsibility.

Weekend TV Review Part 2 - Sunday 22 November

RTE1
- 09.50 The Scarecrow & Mrs. King - if you need a fix of 80's US TV, this is for you.

- 14.30 A Grandpa for Christmas http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0950740/ - a US TV movie from 2007 with Ernest Borgnine (he's still around?) and a number of US sitcom greats which will probably be watchable if you are ready to get into the Christmas spirit.

- 21.30 Battle of the Sexes http://www.rte.ie/tv/programmes/battle_of_the_sexes.html - new RTE Factual show with Miriam O'Callaghan hosting a group of women discussing relationships between men and women in Ireland today. Next week Ray D'Arcy works the other angle with a group of men. I easily dismiss some of these home made shows and this topic seems very old fashioned, but it may turn out to be interesting, especially with Miriam involved. I just wonder if it will cover less traditional relationships, particularly gay relationships.

- 22.30 Would You Believe http://www.rte.ie/tv/wouldyoubelieve/ - RTE series that looks at the spiritual side of news, current events and human interest stories and often gets down to the bottom of the issues involved. This week show is about businessman Jerry Shanahan, from Cork, who was accused of corporate fraud in the US.

- 23.50 Tempo http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0307553/ - "direct to DVD (and Irish TV) thriller" from 2003 with Melanie Griffith and Rachel Leigh Cooke about art and jewelery theft and a love triangle in Paris.

- 01.20 Sweet Liberty http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092035/ - 1986 movie written, directed and starring Alan Alda with good back up from Michael Caine, Bob Hoskins and Michelle Pfeiffer. "Hollywood comes to town" to make a movie of a book about the American Revolution that was written by the main character. It's a funny look at the movie industry.

RTE2

- 21.00 Cliffhanger http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0106582/ - 1993 movie with Sly Stallone which I've never watched thinking that Stallone would be not be convincing as a mountain climber (though I love the first Rocky movie and he was very good in "Cop Land"). With director Renny Harlin, who has made some watchable action films, this may be worth taking in if you aren't interested in what's going on in the jungle on TV3 tonight.

TV3

- 20.00 XFactor - Results show with performances by Susan Boyle and Mariah Carey. I've got money riding on the results now, so even more interested in the outcome.

- 21.00 I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here

Weekend TV Review Part 1 - Saturday 21 November

With all of this bad weather many people will be turning to the telly for entertainment. Here's the first part of my review of what's on this weekend on Irish television (and some UK channels, but I don't have SKY so won't be going there).

Saturday 21 November:

RTE1
- 12.25 The Cosby Show - one of my all time favourites, always good for a laugh and suitable for all the family

- 13.55 The Black Shield of Falworth http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0046789/ - I've not seen this, but a 1954 medieval drama with Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh has got to be worth checking out. Could it be that Jamie Leigh was conceived on this set ;-)

- 18.39 Santa Clause 2 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0304669/ - Why are they showing 2 before the original? I like to watch things in sequence. Think this is the one where he is at the North Pole and has to sort out his bold son back in the real world as well as find a Mrs. Claus. Good for the kids, but I thought the third one with Martin Short as Jack Front and Anne Margaret as sexy mother-in-law was much funnier.

- 22.05 Spanglish http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0371246/ - I avoided this when it was first out, but with director James L Brooks (Terms of Endearment and As Good as it Gets - two of my favs ) it's bound to be engaging and with Adam Sandler it's bound to be funny on some level

- 01.25 The Verdit http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096061/ - classic drama directed by master Sidney Lumet with Paul Newman and gorgeous Charlotte Rampling - one of my favourites worth taping or put on SKY+

- 03.40 Scrooged http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096061/ - I don't remember if this is really good, but I am a big Bill Murray fan so think this would be worth showing at a more reasonable hour closer to Christmas. What are RTE progarammers thinking?

RTE2
- Unstoppable http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0349889/ - action movie with Wesley Snipes. "The deranged military and former CIA agent Dean Cage is in a rehab program, trying to forget the traumatic loss of his best friend Scott in Bosnia" I've not seen this, but it might be good if you are into this sort of movie.

TV3

- 20.00 XFactor http://www.tv3.ie/shows.php?request=thexfactor -I know it's not for everyone, but we will be glued to this. Find out how to vote from Ireland at http://www.irishvotes.com/ (doesn't work for me via SKYPE)

- 21.20 I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here http://www.tv3.ie/shows.php?request=imacelebritygetmeoutofhere . You can also vote from Ireland via http://www.irishvotes.com/ Looking forward to seeing Katie and Kim downing kangaroo testicle, crocodille willy, etc. and what other rubbish will be coming out of Kim and Joe's mouths.

- 23.20 Graham Norton Show - when the Irish, who don't have BBC, get to see the previous week's show. Rod Stewart and Dawn French are the guests.

- 03.35 Constantine http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0360486/ - with Keanu Reeves as a supernatural detective. You either love him or hate him. I can't help myself, but actually I've not seen this one and if it was on at a reasonable time and there was nothing else to watch, I'd check it out.

TG4

- 13.30 The Dukes of Hazzard - enough said

- 22.30 Rumour Has It http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0398375/ - surprised to see this on TG4 - Kevin Costner and Jennifer Aniston and another great director - Rob Reiner (Spinal Tap, Misery & First Wives Club? - though I loved him first as Meathead on All in the Family) and I love Shirley McLaine (but won't be watching this if the kids are still up).

- 00.50 True Blood - what I have been waiting for since I missed the regular showing on Monday night. My new favourite TV drama (esp. since I finished our box set of Weeds Season 1)

BBC1

- 18.05 Merlin - a must see in our household (we catch in on RTEPlayer)

(We don't get the UK channels in on our TV, so only catch a few things we really like online.)

Please comment if you have any other suggestions on this weekend's TV.

Schedule based on http://www.rteguide.ie and may not be accurate, as is sometimes the case.

Keep Rick O'Shea and Nikki Hayes Talking

Cut backs at RTE have resulted in the bosses cutting down on the number of producers on their radio shows and this has hit the 2FM afternoon shows of Rick O'Shea and Nikki Hayes. This means that these shows will no longer have any non-music features (interviews with celebs, movie reviews, etc.) that set these shows apart from just listening to your iPods.

There is a new Group on Facebook put together to show support for these two radio shows and keep them talking like they should be. Join the If It's Not Broken Don't Fix It Keep Rick O'Shea and Nikki Hayes Talking group.

It's time to fight these semi-state bodies that make such drastic changes without considering what we, the people, the consumer, really want.