In Fact, Ah stop hovering

Wednesday, August 31, 2005 

A little less conversation



The reaction to Hurricane Katrina here in Europe is baffling. During the recent tsunami there were constant appeals for aid on television. A humanitarian effort like it had not been seen since Ethiopia.

The city of New Orleans with a population of 1.3 million inhabitants has been obliterated. 80% of the city is under water. Where are John O'Shea and his ilk?

One could superciliously claim that America's lack of respect for Kyoto and the environment has resulted in bad Karma for them. Even if that were true however, it is no excuse for the lack of response in Ireland and Europe.

Here's my call for the Irish government to pledge money now.


Published by Colm.  

31.8.05 | |  

 

Petty and Dangerous

As per the usual bile from the American 'France' haters, we have seen a backlash from US bloggers towards L'Equipe for blowing a whistle on Lance Armstrong's alleged drug habits. You see, the reason for L'Equipe reporting this story was not to see justice being carried out, rather it was motivated by jealousy. Apparently, the French are jealous of the fact that the Americans can win the Tour de France with one leg caught in the spokes, while the French haven't had a winner in eons.

It reminds me of a conversation I overheard in a bar between two old geezers in Wisconsin a few years back. One says to the other "what's up with all these kids carrying Swiss army knives?". The other guy says "yeah, like who the fuck did the Swiss ever take on?".

These comments indicate that some Americans have a sort of complex in relation to us Europeans. The hatred emanating from the US is completely nonsensical and dangerous. Remember the time Bill O'Reilly tried to get the great American public to boycott French produce?

Here's the bumper sticker he wanted commuters to put on their cars.


Published by Colm.  

31.8.05 | |  

Tuesday, August 30, 2005 

Peruse

"Peruse" means to read something with great care. It does not mean to skim over something. That's all.


Published by Colm.  

30.8.05 | |  

Monday, August 29, 2005 

Life according to carp

Hola,

Made it to Patagonia after a tidy 25 hours travelling. My mild fear of flying wasn't helped by the hangover I started off with on Friday morning, nor the horrid turbulence we had to endure half way over the Atlantic. This place Trelew is rather non-descript but it was as handy as anywhere to meet Claire and it's a great opportunity to see the whales which feed here during the winter.

On Saturday I had a 7-hour wait for a flight at the regional airport in Buenos Aires. Bored out of my tree, I decided to go for a stroll along the promenade close to the airport. I was surprised to see so many locals fishing in the rather murky water so I got out my camera and asked one of them if I could take his photo. He was rather pleased at this and in return gestured if I would like to try my hand at the fishing. Looking round, there didn't appear to be an abundance of fish being caught today but whether through divine intervention or, more likely, complete luck I was almost tugged off the pier on only my second cast. After a few minutes toiling with the line, and with the help of my new friend, I managed to land a decent-sized carp to the bewilderment of all and sundry around me. Despite the insistence of my fellow fishermen, I couldn't take my prize with me. Somehow I'm not sure the Aerleonas Argentinas customs officials would have my fishy story ...

PMc


Published by Colm.  

29.8.05 | |  

 

Eddie to continue government pasting

Don’t forget to tune in to Eddie Hobbs tonight at 9.30pm on RTE1.

His unctuous demeanour is apparently pulling in enough numbers to make Fianna Fáil sit up and take notice that their voter base is being urged to think about where their money goes. Donie Cassidy (he of the dodgy wig from Westmeath) is going to haul Hobbs up before an Oireactas committee if he doesn’t stop bad mouthing the government.

Of course, they’ll try and discredit Hobb’s story about the Trim petition for a second supermarket. The number of signatures quoted by Hobbs did strike me as being particularly high. But this is a minor point. Let’s look at the more important statistics and analyse their validity. One supermarket story cannot overshadow the bigger picture – namely the affect of competition on price.

Let’s look and listen tonight to the figures regarding the gross overspending that this government is guilty of. These figures will not be disputable. The double whammy is that nobody can attest to having received good service and value for money after using our public transport or roads.

It is unfortunate however, that the show has not given an opportunity to the establishment to rebut all of these claims. In my mind, it would give further credence to the claim that a rip-off republic exists were the politicians allowed to give lame excuses on air.

You could save 2c on your electricity bill by not tuning in tonight, but you could also find out where your money gets recklessly spent.


Published by Colm.  

29.8.05 | |  

Friday, August 26, 2005 

Horrible meme thing ...

You should really know how much I hate these Internet meme things. But since Gerry O'Sullivan asked ...

Seven things I plan to do before I die:
1. Record a critically acclaimed album
2. Save a life (mine hopefully)
3. Get on the 9 o'Clock News
4. Live abroad for at least a year
5. Learn to swim
6. Act in something or other
7. Become a celebrity columnist

Seven things I can do: (this will be difficult)
1. Roll my tongue
2. Crack my ankle and make a strange sound
3. Pull a pint of Guinness
4. Put up with bullshit talk and nod politely
5. Tell when someone's lying
6. Sing (allegedly)
7. Lie through my teeth

Seven things I can not do: (easy)
1. Live forever
2. Drink more than 10 pints of Guinness
3. Understand how people in Ireland bend over and take it from the rich/powerful
4. Swim
5. Ice skate - my balance is crap
6. Art and crafts
7. Read a book over a short period of time

Seven things I say the most:
1. In Fact, Ah
2. "Can I have it to go please?"
3. 90 cent
4. "sure"
5. "not a bother"
6. "absolutely"
7. "obviously"

Seven books I love:
1. Nineteen Eighty-Four - George Orwell
2. Magician - Raymond E. Feist
3. The Giver - Lois Lowry
4. To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee (old school classic)
5. The Fall of the House of Usher - Edgar Allen Poe (more a story than a book)
6. Dubliners - James Joyce
7. Brave New World - Aldous Huxley

Seven people I would like to see take this quiz:

Alive in Limerick
Dub Tom
Red Mum
Markham Nolan
Monasette
Neither indifferent nor Sceptical
JL Pagano


Published by Colm.  

26.8.05 | |  

Thursday, August 25, 2005 

Latin American Irish Pub Tour 2005

Time for the age-old travel blog to take hold on infactah. Tomorrow I depart for South America via Madrid, with my final destination Trelew in Patagonia, Argentina. After meeting up with Claire, who is currently travelling in the region, we will make our way back towards bustling Buenos Aires, on to the spectacular Iguaçu falls, into the wild Pantonal of Brazil, with revelling Rio being the final destination.

It was a tough decision having to leave the country at such a critical stage of the GAA season, but sometimes sacrifices must be made. Armed with my Lonely Planet, (the Koran of travel guides) and 20 gigs of MP3s (all downloaded legally from iTunes of course) I shouldn’t find it too difficult to occupy myself over the next four weeks and hopefully I will find time for the odd post to enlighten readers on the putrid nature of Guinness in the many Irish pubs I hope to visit on the trip.

I might even get too see some GAA action!

Slán Leat

Pmc


Published by Colm.  

25.8.05 | |  

 

Peter Mandelson forces the EU to go naked

Don't throw out that holey stained underwear you were thinking of giving to the homeless for the rough seasons ahead. It may be needed after all.

EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson and his textile-protectionist policy of limiting the amount of clothing coming into the EU from China will likely leave some of us wearing last year's catalogue.

From the Irish Times ...

The situation, described as "a major problem" by the Irish Clothing and
Textile Alliance (ICTA), could see scarcity in many shops including Arnotts,
Clerys, H&M, Zara, Debenhams, House of Fraser, and Marks and Spencer.


Published by Colm.  

25.8.05 | |  

Tuesday, August 23, 2005 

Lance Armstrong facing new allegations

Lance Armstrong today faces fresh charges from L'Equipe that he tested positive for EPO in 1999. At the time there were no tests for such substance abuse. But urine samples taken back then were kept and retested by a doping lab in Paris recently.

To be honest, I couldn't really care less about Le Tour de France. It makes no sense to be entertained by a sporting event where the playing field (and I'm not talking about the mountains) is so lopsided in favour of cheats. Who cares if some guy wins the race seven times when every man, woman and David Walsh on this planet knows that a glycoprotein hormone or some other performance-enhancing drug has entirely influenced the result?

This isn't the first time Armstrong has been linked with drug taking. Emma O'Reilly, a former masseur used by Armstrong, has claimed that in 1998 he asked her to dispose of used syringes and asked her for makeup to cover the needle marks on his arms.

A former Motorola teammate of his has also claimed that Armstrong inappropriately took drugs. Kiwi Steven Swart said that many of his teammates, including Armstrong, took EPO in order to keep up with the European members of the peleton. Interestingly, Armstrong has been spending time with George W. Bush recently, even taking time out to go cycling with him. Would it be inconceivable that Armstrong is looking for some sort of entry to the political realm via the grace and backing of George W?

They say that power corrupts, but what would happen if you already had a flagitious past?


Published by Colm.  

23.8.05 | |  

 

Ladies of the Rings: Fellowship of Machu Picchu

As the sun sets on the lofty slopes of Cusco, the four lovely Limerick lassies ponder their impending faith. It's four on two with the fellowship being pitted against the mighty peaks of Salkantay and Macchu Picchu. On the eve of this daunting challenge, the Fellowship have decided to congregate in the lonesome lobby of Samay Wasi.

Well, as it turns out "Murph" ( the honorary limerick lass ) is in bed - alone! "Fitzy" is curled up on the couch, so it is left to the two stalwarts "The Bomber Liston" and "Costello" to finalise the battleplan. A night of trepedation and apprehension awaits.

The small luxuries afforded by modern living will be savoured tonight; a cuppa Barrys and a Twix. Five cold, lonely, flea-infested nights lie ahead, with the man above providing the only showers .Who knows, by the end of this trek we may have developed our own personal, B.O. fuelled insect detterent... The long johns are being dusted down at this very moment. The tickly cotton fabric has acquired a whole new significance.

As one faces a warm bed on a cold night, this farewell will hopefully be the first of many for the Fellowship as we each face our own personal "Mount Doom".
Claire & Co.


Published by Colm.  

23.8.05 | |  

Monday, August 22, 2005 

Aha!!!

"Forgive me, but I'm forced to take unusual precautions."

That’s what Dr. Frankenstein said, albeit after he created the monster. It is therefore a pity that Steve Coogan, aka Alan Partridge, too did not utter these words before he wooed Courtney Love with his charm.


Published by Colm.  

22.8.05 | |  

 

Viva La GAA

I think is it's time for another contributor to take the infactah stage. As an original co-founder, along with future editor of the Daily Mirror Mr Colm Bracken, I had grand notions for infactah. To date however, hosting the site is where my involvement began and ended.

Anyway, here goes my first entry and it is something very close to my heart....The GAA, or in this case the All-Ireland Hurling semi-final which I had the privilege of attending on Sunday afternoon. For about 80 minutes on a grey afternoon in Croker a little under 40,000 people were treated to a sporting spectacle likely unmatched anywhere in the world this weekend. "It was like being in the GPO getting phone credit when 1916 happened." Tom Humphries remarked in the Irish Times today. Well, it's probably as close as I'll ever get to rebellion anyway.

From the off, passion, skill, strength, speed and grace were abound, the game ebbed and flowed as the players' endeavours on the pitch toyed with the emotions of the crowd. Even in the premium level from where I watched the game, the passion of the fans was no less intense among what some in the GAA might consider the 'prawn cracker brigade'. Scores rained down like a wet week and the intensity hardly dropped for a second. Remarkable considering these men are amateurs back at work this morning.

Right until the dying minutes, as Galway hung on by their knuckles, the tension was palpable but in an epic battle the Tribesmen desire overcame the mighty Cats from Kilkenny. When the final whistle blew and I looked at my watch I could hardly believe and hour and a half had passed. And as I left the great stadium, exhilarated and inspired, like the rest of the fans, I couldn't help feel that this is what Irish culture is about.

Viva Hurling!
Viva la GAA!

P Mc


Published by Colm.  

22.8.05 | |  

Saturday, August 20, 2005 

Irish donkey trader story retraction

Retraction for this story. It is understood that there were no incidents with Philippino police. Unreserved retraction from In Fact, Ah for this story as we have been informed that it was a vicious rumour.


Published by Colm.  

20.8.05 | |  

Friday, August 19, 2005 

Market Bar, Dublin


Ever have one of those life-changing experiences that restores your faith in Irish cuisine and in particular what gets passed off as fine food in our eating houses? No, me neither.

But I did come close and all it took was some nicely cooked mussels, potato bravas, salmon croquettes, Spanish tortilla, calamari, tuna salad, meatballs and satay chicken. The other evening I ate in the Market Bar on Fade Street in Dublin. Even Eddie Hobbs would have had no complaints. Too often, I've been disappointed on my gastronomic adventures in Ireland. Usually too, I've had to part with mucho Eurodollars for the displeasure. But this outing was different on both counts; it was free and it was mouth watering. Facking ace, it was.


Published by Colm.  

19.8.05 | |  

Thursday, August 18, 2005 

I love this country

Some words come to mind when reading the Irish broadsheets this morning. Namely, “couldn’t”, “brewery”, “pissup”, “organise”. Why? Read on.



Courtesy of the fantastic Monasette ...


Galway City Council recently laid down Chinese paving slabs on Eglington Street. Since then, dozens of old people have lost their footing and sustained nasty injuries. Did they polish them with Mr Sheen to make sure? This news comes as no surprise considering the shambolic effort to rejuvenate Eyre Square.

Just when you thought O’Connell Street was starting to take shape, it has returned to looking like its bombsite twin in Galway. And why is there nobody working on these sites after 6pm? I didn’t think office hours applied here. Surely it’s in everybody's interest to get these projects completed as quickly as possible.

To round off this spate of incomprehensible mismanagement, the Luas stop at St. Stephen’s Green is to be ripped up, just one year after the service commenced, in order to widen the platform. GUBU.


photo by Tom cosgrave


Published by Colm.  

18.8.05 | |  

Wednesday, August 17, 2005 

Knowing a thing or two about a thing or two million

"I know a thing or two about a thing or two. You shut your goddamn piehole ..."

You've got to love Robert De Niro. This is a quote from "This Boy's Life".

Some people seem to know a thing or two about everything. But you can't help feeling that they spread themselves too thin. Jack of all trades, master of none etc. While others are experts in just a few subject areas.

Envy is a terrible thing.


Published by Colm.  

17.8.05 | |  

Monday, August 15, 2005 

Of abused mice and lazy men

By grace of assiduous reporting on the part of the Daily Mirror, we now know that computer mice travel 3 miles a week. That amounts to 422 miles in an average lifetime of 33 months. Human beings can only muster up half a mile on the clock every week in the workplace.

The Daily Mirror claims that a mouse is "expected to complete 16 marathons and often suffer neglect along the way".

Seriously, between these sort of stories and the 3am girls, how could you buy any other paper?


Published by Colm.  

15.8.05 | |  

 

Ivana the Terrible

Photo courtesy of/taken from Bacik's Web Site

Saturday's Irish Times contains a terrifically cogent argument (login needed) explaining how Ivana Bacik and the Irish Family Planning Association (IFPA) have gone astray in their bid to make abortion "safe and legal" in Ireland. Partially copying Bill Clinton's slogan "safe, legal and rare", the IFPA's message sounds particularly hackneyed.

As a one-time supporter of Bacik, I am extremely disappointed to see how easy she is with la cause du jour. If somebody is being persecuted unjustly, if their rights are being impinged upon, who you gonna call? Ivana Bacik, of course.

It is interesting to note that two previous holders of the Reid Professorship of Law in Trinners have been Mary Robinson and Mary McAleese. Ivana's two predecessors actively championed the rights of the downtrodden and the marginalised. The both went on to become President and it seems Ivana is attempting to go down that same path.

However, Bacik has taken a wrong turn. While Robinson fought for women's rights (notably the abolition of the ban on married women working in the civil service) and McAleese battled for the decriminalisation of homosexuality, Bacik has done the opposite. She has sought the deny the unborn their rights, not by asking the Irish public their opinion, but via the European Court of Human Rights route.

I voted #1 for Ivana Bacik last time round. She'll more than likely run for the Dáil in 2007. You can be sure that if she comes to canvass, I'll tell her where she's going wrong, and what genuine causes she should keep an eye out for. And then I'll tell her that I'm voting for the Greens (desperation stakes here).


Published by Colm.  

15.8.05 | |  

Thursday, August 11, 2005 

One in the eye for fat makers

The NY Times today reports on efforts to make fat food healthier by means of chemical wizardry. Producers are taking junk food and including essential elements of a healthy diet. Some examples include adding high levels of fibre to salty corn snacks and coating battered chicken with a liquid that prevents the chicken from soaking up the fat in which it is being fried. Low-fat chicken, who'd have thunk it? It's almost as unbelievable as social-conscious stocks and shares.

One idea springs to my mind on how healthy food should be marketed. Instead of food being marketed as healthy, market it as something that is unhealthy and appealing. The fat food producers do this in reverse. They take a product and market it as a "healthy option" or give it a "low" something or other name when in fact every other aspect of the product has negative implications for your diet.

So I propose that healthy food such as tofu gets its freak on with some dirty batter. Or how about slicing and changing the colour of vegetables in such a way that they could easily be confused with French fries?

It's all in the mind. Have your fruit juice the colour of Guinness and tuna fish made to look like fillet of steak.


Published by Colm.  

11.8.05 | |  

Wednesday, August 10, 2005 

Majorly Contrite

I'm not usually one for any of this "hat-tipping" lark but this ranks as my all-time favourite Irish blog entry. Here's to a campaign to remove Paul Howard's Ross O'Carroll Kelly from the back of the Tribune and replace him with Twenty Major? ROCK's irreverence would pale in significance with what Twenty Major has to say.

How's about a top 10 list of Irish blog entries?


Published by Colm.  

10.8.05 | |  

Tuesday, August 09, 2005 

Negative Nordies

Since the IRA said they were going to disarm, there has been lots of talk of a united Ireland recently. I didn’t think that this was a good argument for thinking a united island is going to happen in the near future. Disband, then maybe I’ll come round.

However, I could foresee a union in the future, but not one that allowed moany-holes from the North raining down on our parade here in the South. Of all the races of people I’ve met (huge generalisation coming up here), they have to be the most negative. And with good reason I hear you say. Yes, the old Catholics haven’t had the best of times in the North since partition. The Protestants have had their fair share of grief too.

But their cynicism has gone beyond what it should be. A few incidents have compounded this notion in my head recently. I happened to be attending a hurling match this summer between Offaly and Antrim and some of the decisions were not going Antrim’s way. One supporter duly shouted from the top of his lungs, “Wake up referee, you Free State cunt”. This abuse rang out in a relatively empty Croke Park for all to hear.

A few months prior to that, a “Negative Nordie” was complaining to his friend about being fired from his job while walking down Henry Street. He kept coming out with Nordie classics like, “there was a conspiracy”, “I am innocent”, etc. But he did concede that he had been late 7 times for work. Go figure.

I also blame BBC Northern Ireland. They pump negativity into sitting rooms up and down this island. John Daly does his best to rouse the Negatives from their mood, but goes too far. He’s annoying.

And the tone of the accent doesn’t help either. I’d imagine that it’s a Nordie accent in a high frequency that is transmitted in those devices for driving away domestic rats and mice.

Before you lock me up for inciting hatred, hear this. I’ve known plenty of upbeat and pleasant Nordies. But it’s the ones that get on TV and show their mugs down here that are giving the Six Counties a bad name.


Published by Colm.  

9.8.05 | |  

Monday, August 08, 2005 

In Fact, Ah spotted in The Irish Times


It was probably one of the best games of football in Croker in a long time. Cork and Galway served up a classic, with both teams contributing to a plethora of quality scores. No niggly fouls, no negative tactics. Just football as football should be played. Armagh and Tyrone not being present probably had something to do with this.



The second game between Kerry and Mayo wasn't half bad either and were it not for a giveaway goal early in the second half, Mayo may well have been competing at the end of the 70 minutes. As it turned out, Kerry had it sewn up with 15 minutes remaining with an 8-point lead.

In Fact, Ah secured three pitchside tickets and were spotted in today's Irish Times' picture of Billy Morgan jumping for joy. It's probably the only way we'll make it into a national publication, but hey ...


Published by Colm.  

8.8.05 | |  

 

Whale'ens Gig Review


Having a distinctly indefinable sound makes them a refreshing distraction. The Dead Birds 11 don’t sound like any instantly recognisable band. And it’s great that they don’t peddle some of the trash that seems to be dominating the Irish music scene, especially the kitsch guff you sometimes hear when passing Whelans. Saturday night saw them supporting the well-oiled, if not inspiring, machine that is Penfold DM. They do what they do very well, but they’re unlikely to make Dave Fanning’s top 100 songs. (2FM DJ Rick O'Shea was also at the gig)

One undeniable asset for the deceased feathered kind is the operatic and sometimes near hysteric (in a Jeff Buckley kind of way) vocal of lead singer Eoghan Broderick. Their songs could easily drift along unconsciously, but Broderick delivers some timely reassurances that they don’t.

They also have two very able guitarists and a fantastic drummer in their ranks. Musical competence and song writing abilities are what they have in abundance.

But it’s difficult to know how far Dead Birds 11 will fly. Playing as often as Haley’s Comet appears is doing them no favours. But both recent gigs took place in Whelans, so they must be doing something right?

P.S. One of the highlights of the night was the anticipation among the male audience that a certain female fan was going to strip naked. Sadly, she stopped short.


Published by Colm.  

8.8.05 | |  

Thursday, August 04, 2005 

Quarter-Life Crisis?

We're overweight, unfit, drink too much and the weather is lousy. But what exactly can make Ireland such a depressing place to live in at the moment for some young people? Unrivalled monetary wealth in the history of the state and still unhappiness prevails. Is it just nostalgic to think that the leaner times presented much more opportunity for cultural and spiritual growth?

For many people around the world Ireland is an idyllic place. It has its green landscape, the craic and a good naturedness inherent in its natives. But the average man in Ireland until the mid 90s had nothing in monetary comparison to the rich neighbours in the UK and the even richer cousins in the US. And still they were an upbeat lot back then, singing in the pubs and creating more literary works than one had time to read. It made for a great holiday destination for the wealthier peoples around the globe. And so it proved, with the Yanks more than willing to part with dollars on long touring holidays of Eire.

However, this fair land has changed. We "touch base" with clients and fellow managers, we drink skinny lattés at 11 and keep track of our portfolios online. Work hours now extend to late evening. Goals and targets must be met to satisfy the imperialists in the US, otherwise they move operations to India. Stress and stress-related illness are commonplace but you daren't take a sick day for fear a colleague gains the upper hand in the race to the top. And the result? Depression, unhappiness, tiredness and a tendency to reach for the remote control instead of getting physically active. Ireland is an educated and a clever nation being burdened and misshaped by a foreign corporate culture. And all in the space of 20 years. But it's paying off, right? Sure, we're loaded. The bank balance says so. Ireland has gone from the thatched cottage in the 40s to the £1,000,000-plus three-bedroomed semis of the Noughties.

But what about the cultural and spiritual side effect? The Catholic Church is dying. The raping of young people's trust and faith in the institution has turned many away. Church attendance by twenty-somethings on Sunday mornings is virtually non-existent. In its place is the ritual of nursing a hangover from the previous night's over indulgence. Be they good or bad, at least the Catholic Church gave meaning and a tangible tap-in to spirituality. The iconoclastic inclinations of Ireland’s youth are understandable, but there's no plan B. The only thing that seems to get the majority of young people excited is reality TV and sugarcoated music from Kylie Minogue. Most free time is used up in the plastic and trendy bars that are sprouting ubiquitously. Nobody's expecting them to be pouring over Joyce's Ulysses on a Saturday night, but there must be something better to do than down seven pints of beer and five shots of gin, and to later go on and kick somebody's head in when you've been turfed out of Annabel's at 3am.

A huge trend to emerge in the last ten years is that of young people travelling to faraway places. Work for a year or two after college and save enough money to go abroad. Some call it the quarter-life crisis. And where is the number one destination for Irish travellers? Is it somewhere one can learn about cultural diversity and the dynamics of a different country? You would've thought so. However, instead of trying to experience the delights of Eastern Europe, India or Cuba, they opt for yet more beer in County Bondi. The opportunity to share a room with 10 others, work in low-skilled jobs and drink your face off while you're at it seems too much of a temptation for the majority of Irish travellers. I recently met a girl who told me she'd just been in Oz for a year. I asked her about her experience and whether she enjoyed it or not. She said "t'was great" but couldn't list very many things that she did over there that she couldn't have done at home in Ireland. Asking her why she had chosen Australia, she replied that that was where everyone else was going. As it turned out, she had spent three months sleeping under a stairs.

The Celtic Tiger has been financially good for most. The catalysts for investment from the States were low corporation taxes and low wages. Young people have availed of the free third-level education system and are primed for working in the American corporate model. Many companies such as Intel and HP set up manufacturing units here. Low-skilled workers found work easily in the mid-nineties and money was plentiful. However, the IT crash in 2001 hit Ireland hard. Inflation was running at unprecedented levels as a result of all this cash flying about. Our competitiveness was being eroded and many of the big corporations looked towards the East for cheaper wages.

The Irish government did not help the situation by underemphasising and underfunding R & D initiatives. As a result of this inflation, prices have spiralled and few people under thirty years of age can afford to buy a house without enlisting the help of their parents. Wealth has shifted to the older generations in the form of property. Car insurance premiums have become too expensive for males under 30. Public transport is of third world standard. Corruption amongst politicians is rife, as exposed by the countless ongoing tribunals. The health system is a mess; forcing old women to wait for up to 10 hours on trolleys in overcrowded A&E departments. Suicide rates, cancer rates and heart disease rates are among the highest in the world. There seems to be no end to the debasing of the quality of life. Most, if not all, of these problems have been caused by hunger for money.

Nobody is saying, "let's go back to the old days", when unemployment stood at 20%. However, let's take some time out from the gold rush and see how we can improve on the more important things in life.


Published by Colm.  

4.8.05 | |  

Wednesday, August 03, 2005 

Zizou Returns - This is not good

Zinedine Zidane has decided to come out of retirement. Ireland's chances of reaching the World Cup have just taken a turn for the worse. More here ...

POSTSCRIPT: It seems Makelele has decided to lend a hand to the national team also. Crap.


Published by Colm.  

3.8.05 | |  

 

The Bawdy Incident of the Wine Bottle in the Garden (on TV)

Yes, I'm not ashamed to say it. I sometimes turn over to see what is happening in the Big Brother house.

Last night, there was a special moment in UK television history. Such lascivious extremes have probably not been seen on prime time television before. It was one of those instances where you felt proud of your modesty, your decorum and your values and that there are other plebs out there willing to discard theirs for your entertainment.

Everyone laughs innocently at the dog that's trying to fornicate with the leg of a chair. Some remember (me, because I saw it on an outtake show) that time when two rabbits got it on to the bemusement of the Live at Three audience all those years ago.

But last night, we witnessed a human being forgo any modicum of respect that she might once have had. And how? By doing something that she shouldn't with a wine bottle. In the middle of the garden, on camera and in full view of two others.


Published by Colm.  

3.8.05 | |  

Tuesday, August 02, 2005 

If this boy's so unclean, just bring the water

Not to be outstaged by their own debut, the Dead Birds 11 are rising from the ashes and playing to the masses once again in Whelan's of Wexford Street. This Saturday night, the five-piece will be supporting Penfold DM, who happen to have Rick O'Shea's brother in their ranks.

If their last performance was anything to go by, their support to the main act might be more to the taste of a discerning ear. Here's an MP3 should anybody wish to hear a sample of their work.


Published by Colm.  

2.8.05 | |  

The Biscuit Tin Series

Biscuit Tin 1 - Fig Rolls
Biscuit Tin 2 - Fox's Classic
Biscuit Tin 3 - ToffyPops
Biscuit Tin 4 - Custard Creams
Biscuit Tin 5 - Cadbury's Chocolate Shortcakes
Biscuit Tin 6 - Fox's Millionaire's Caramel
Biscuit Tin 7 - Biscuit Maintenance
Biscuit Tin 8 - McVitie's Chocolate Hobnobs
Biscuit Tin 9 - Oat Crumbles
Biscuit Tin 10 - Jammie Dodgers
Biscuit Tin 11 - Xmas Special


Best Group Blog 2007

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