Forced out of retirement ..

Well received a Mail over why the silence..

Having seen how 2009 following on the mess of 2008  went it is no wonder why I was silent ..

after all we suffered the Recession .. one of the hardest hitting since the 1950s recession and unlike then people had to re-define their methods of living .. what with the Celtic Tiger turning into the Celtic urinal .. with more business’s here in Ireland failing and the majority of Staff currently in work suffering under Shortened weeks and reduced wages.. Some up to 45 % of their 2008 wage..

So what has happened in Ireland .. well we did discover our Government are more interested in Taxing the elderly, children and the infirm.. Prevent Cervical Cancer halting medicines to be rolled out in Schools.  And what of the Ever increasing unemployment queues, well it is in the wisdom and acute insite of our government to decrease payments to all.  Reduce access to health care and why not widen the taxable income to include the underpaid of our society.

I may appear Angry and yes I am, when I see the infirmed surviving over a wooden fire as their pensions can not pay for the electricity, oil and they are forced to live in 2 rooms of their houses due to the extreme weather of 2009/10.  And what of this weather .. well as GW Bush is remembered for his silence over 911 we should not forget the Silence our sun seeking ministers let us have the pleasure of .  While Houses were firstly Flooded and some are still not inhabitable and then the Snow and Ice hit and the ministers preferred to keep mum .. not alone with words but worse still with actions.  In Ireland only under duress from the public and media were the Army called into service to aid people move out of their houses.

So what of Modern Ireland, to be honest after too many years of Self serving ministers from all sides of the house, it can be said that the only success I can honestly attribute to the members of the Dail over the last 20 years is to congradulate them on secularising the country and the demise of the Ireland that many look on in envy from foreign fields.  Some may call me sentimental and yes I am, I enjoy the lack of Urbanism when I am in a country town, I enjoy the fact that because the lights are out, I can rest assured that my wife wont get mugged, I enjoy the fact that My kids can go to school in a safe enviroment.  Sad to say as Urbanism is rife in the small towns of Ireland with people suffering severe lonliness in the Estate Driven nation we have become, Sad to say my wife was mugged in my local town, outside my local shop granted she had the upper hand but it is strange to see this arriving on your own doorstep, Sad to say under the Current regime we are seeing a rising number of suicides, missing persons ..

And so to surmise .. who is Responsible .. is it the Government who have consistently refused to chase down the billions owed by the few, to have a credible inquiry into the banking crises and to offer answers as to why nothing has been implemented to offer a sense of change over what has caused this.  Is it the Government who have lost all credibility and have consistently refused to implement disciplinary actions whether it be a backbencher who has been found drink driving or senior members of the house who have been implicated in questionable actions.  or maybe it is the responsibility of the voting public to force action through constant canvassing and requesting the retirement of house members who have been associated with actions not becoming a minister of state.

Or Should we expect a level of Ethics to be upheld within the corridors of power.

I did say I was angry so forgive the Rant , heres hoping that it will not be another year with out a post, where we can see positive pro-action out of our politicians, instead of Reaction often too late, Where the public do not have to show the government how to deliver relief services to those in need.  If these happen then it will make a change for all, Sad to say I suspect the powerful few will endeavour to guide the will of the nation in their favour and we will see more and more enter the poverty trap that is modern Ireland.

I will be Sitting on the Fence watching waiting for something inspirational to come from our government ….

After all when is the last time that the Irish Government has given more than the people of Ireland to any worthwhile cause.  whether it be Ethiopia or Haiti, or the Flood victims of 09 it is the Irish that do what their elected representatives can not.

and so to my hilight of Dail watching for 09..

 and yes you guess the joke in this .. nowhere is it listed that the “unparliamentary language” used in this clip is prohibited.. but it did hide the fact we had one minister tanning himself while people were wondering why there was no grit on the road, and why the minister for the environment failed to react until the media had to prompt him to.  and yes this member of the Dail is a member of Government, reassuring isnt it!!

US Presidential Election ..

Being Irish .. it is no surprise that I would show an interest in what is probably one of the main news items for 2008

that being the Presidential Election in the US .. so why post up .. well I know if I was stateside I would probably be more Democrat than Republican .. but I have to admit I am a wee bit torn .. Hillary and Barack do impress but I just cant put my finger on it .. but I have to be honest on it .. I am a Tad worried if either succeed in securing majority power along with presidential election .. Maybe it was the Oscar winning performance of Hillary before New Hampshire .. or the Victory Speech of Barack after the Iowa Caucus.. anyway enough opinions ..

heres the links ..

Barack on You tube.. Carefully managed list there.. and probably the real democrat candidate….

Hilary on You Tube … amazing to note the difference in media availability ..

McCain on You Tube did note that one on Iraq and being fine with spending a 100 years there.. Brilliant Political Acumen in a state that is leaning towards bringing back the troops..

Giuliani on you tube Too many Questions need answering .. so I doubt in the long run this candidate will survive

and the outsider vote goes to your favorite Movie Fbi agent/Law Enforcement (and who said hollywood typecasts..) and mine Fred Thompson also known as Fred Dalton Thompson as seen on Imdb

Excellent Article from Wiki ..

although the Atorney General of New Hampshire has declared there was not voter Fraud recently but on reading a few articles around the net it is questionable .. here is an excellent thread on this from Texan Republican candidate Ron Paul, do read all the comments on this .

Finally how should G Bush jr be remembered ..

I suspect his Fairwell will be nothing like Bills.. always a classic

Gadgets for your computer

I use Multiple monitor and Find it a dream .. then again my card can support it .. not to mention my 50″ tv.. makes a Great monitor..

but for those with only one video connection what to do .. well here is a handy article on how to get around this issue.. Displaylink blogtalk ..and Displaylink.com link… does make for some interesting reading..

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so you like Linux and you like Gadgets then this is for you .. Bug from Bug-Labs .. basically a linux base with addons .. like gps camera etc that you can build together .. does sound limitless for what can be done with this

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I have been using Flock as a browser alternative to firefox (my alternative to IE) for some time .. and have to admit .. having seen it grow from the early betas to its current incarnation I have to admit I was rarely disappointed in having it as one of my utils

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Mac Airbook .. well is this the real deal .. you decide .. but no firewire .. no optical .. no ram expansion .. no gb network .. but on the plus side .. weight .. heres the video of the launch … nice blog on this..and from the horses mouth Apple Store

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CIA – FBI traced to Wiki posts

To sum this article up .. Wiki have traced edits on several posts there are on Wiki direct to terminals that are used by CIA and FBI employees..

These articles involved topics like Iraq war and the Guantanamo

but best to leave to the article in question

it may be best to leave the last word to Wiki on the clear definition of Free speech .. or will this too be edited!!

Endeavour – Safe landing ..

but it nearly was not .. as this picture from Nasa shows

larger picture is available here

On a lighter note.. it was 30 years ago that Voyager set forth

here is a podcast to commerate this

following on to this it will only be 164 year of a wait for voyagers return in the form of VGER

Music Companies at it again – Watermarking

well it looks like the dreaded attack on personal rights in regards to music is back in the news.. with watermarking making an upsurgence. Added to this the version that sony released back in 05, it is a wonder that people still feel free to backup their music and save the cd/dvd

With this comming in and a possible tracking of music through hash codes, is this the start of the end of sites like itune and other legal sites for downloading music .. or is this just kept for joe bloggs in the streets pleasure ..

A Cry for help, GaelScoil Cluain Meala

Clonmel 19th May – Suppressed news of what happened – I was there

I doubt I will vote Fine Gael but this video sums up how I feel.

Some past news – Feb 07 the reaction .. smiling councillors with hollow promises

This weekend I witnessed Fianna Fail faithful and future hopefulls in my area of what Fianna Fail think of us the Electorate.

So why was I out there .. well that is simple after successive Ministers of Education failing to uphold their agreements to provide a Gaelscoil (Irish speaking school) for my children .. at present they are located in a victorian building previously used by South Tipperary County Council Engineering deptartment and deemed by them to be unsuitable for employees to work in so they rent it to the Gaelscoil .. after 13 years of Fighting, 13 years of promises and Politicians more interested in getting praise than looking after their remit in government, a public meeting was held and local politicians were invited where a majority (well all but 3 if memory serves) stood and gave their “Word” to support a nomination for locating a school premises.. of all only 4 voted in favour and the rest were witnessed to play with their mobiles or doze off in chambers.. One of our parents grew up in Communist Hungary and is shocked by the condition of the schools in Ireland.

but I digress … Why am I posting up a Fine Gael Advert .. simple .. it tells the truth .. Fianna Fail Words and Actions .. nothing else needed..

I witnessed and thankfully was part of a family and School protest with the arrival of Bertie Ahern to Clonmel. The Protest was peaceful and well mannered with Children singing and participating wellwith good humour .. when a party faithful accosted a 5 year old child .. yes I said “5″ and reduced her to tears with calling her a “stupid little child you have no right to be here and where is your mother why is she not looking after you maybe she is in capable”

Needless to say this local business woman succeeded in making a situation that was friendly into one that was far from friendly and as luck would have it, The Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) arrived .. with the sway of Irate Supportors and parents trying to gain attention to the scoil, He was forced to concede and meet with the parents council and the principle of the school, for the next fifteen minutes they spoke where he was informed of the actions of his ministers of education over the years .. and the current position of play which was contrary to his information that the school was “Attended to “

the Result was an agreement that he would looking to this personally .. so why am I writing this .. well after all this had been agreed I then met some of the Young Fianna Fail candidates in the area .. past and proposed for future elections .. and both were of the attitude “Your one of them .. Disgraceful what you did “, A past candidate for local elections then started to be agressive, not alone shouting at me but also wagging his finger at my wife who asked him to listen .. well his reaction was to run .. such is local politics .. such is the standard of candidates Fianna Fail regard as prospectful characters, Such is the Level of Support they command ..

The Campaign of Disinfomation from local Senior Fianna Fail party members is nothing short of Stalinite in the methods used to stamp the School, parents and children into submission.

It should be noted that my family were a staunch fianna fail family as was my wifes, and on watching the deplorable actions of known fianna fail supportors some considered by my father as friends of the family. and some ole school mates I must admit disapointment and a certain amount of extreme outrage at the actions, verbal attacks, and to put it mildly bully boy actions that the party in government use to suppress those that wish to be heard.

It would be best for Fianna Fail to remember the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as ratified in the UN

Article 20.

(1) Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.(2) No one may be compelled to belong to an association.

Article 26.

(1) Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit.(2) Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace.(3) Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children.

None of the Above articles appear to apply to Fianna Fail today .. this article was probably drawn up by the league of nations and enacted in the newly formed UN of the day.

it would be best to remember the Taoiseachs own words from 2000 “work harder and listen better.” source

I do not have to say any more .. but to say I am an Irate Parent is an understatement .

Election Fever in Ireland

You know I could start a tirade of personal opinions about our present government what with senior ministers found driving drunk up the wrong way of a motorway, Questions over the party leader and his personal funding, Former Senior party officials both in ireland and abroad being investigated and some being found guilty of abuse of positions of power, government legislation mishaps allowing Paedophiles, Rapists, intoxicated drivers off with out a court date .. I could go on but instead I have a few links below that tell the story in much more detail than I will go into here.. and what of his partners in government .. Michael McDowell who is a former State Solicitor you know the one that is meant to guide and protect the government of the day from entering into situations that may be detremental to the state such is the case that this is reported in one of the leading irish newspapers. but what is this when with election time looming we have a situation when one of the leading opposition partys offers a “financial benefit” if they get into power then he attacks it and calls it a bribe then offers a larger “Benefit” .. this is the same former State Atthorney who has repeatedly allowed amendments to be rushed through the dail with flaws .. but enough of the incumbants and what of the opposition

unfortunately many peoples vote is still out on this .. even though they have less elected representatives under investigation for abuse of power .. there are still many questions to answer and I know for one I will be asking when my door bell is rung. After all our current govt is not solely to blame for what has happened in Ireland over the last 20 years. The eroding freedom of civil liberties, home laws proposed to govern how we act in our own homes cars and out side of work situations .. although the imposition of taxes on shopping bags has worked for the enviroment.. but what of looking after its consituents .. Taxes due back to workers ??? –(lack of provision of knowledge of over 9bn euro in unclaimed taxes due to workers) -

TEFLON TAOISEACH

Arrest of Journalist

Order of Business March 1st (in light of a Paedophile ring being investigated )

Irish Blogs on Fianna Fail Irish Blogs on Fine Gael

you know I could go on but apathy prevails and we allow our govts to run riot with our civil liberties and the passive introduction of a police controlled state..

Encyclopedia for us comic lovers

for all of us who grew up with our comic book heroes well here is the encyclopedia for you ..

still in its infancy but growing ComicVine does show great potential ..

so heres hopeing Dread, Dare, Asterix, Tin Tin and many more grace the pages and bring this into a truly global database of comic stars..

Just an example of some of the info there

Wolverine:

James Howlett was born in the late 19th century. He grew up weak and frail. James’ mutation of claws first appeared when the groundskeeper, Thomas Logan, drunkenly entered the house to claim his former lover, James’ mother. James attacked and killed Thomas and scarred Logan’s son, Dog. James fled the scene and later went under the name of Logan.What occurred between then and the late 40s is suspect due to Wolverine being taken into the Weapon X program.

You Tube Sued for Copyright Infringement

Remember 1992 riots in Los Angeles.. and those Pictures that went around the world

apparently one of those videos has made its way onto you tube and the now a case is in place

Earlier this year, a skit from “Saturday Night Live,” called “Lazy Sunday” drew large audiences to YouTube’s site and generated lots of media attention before the company pulled the clip at the request of NBC.

so here is the full article