Arah, that's not fair

I suppose it's what you make of it and yesterday I had a lovely day in Mayo with "herself." Unfortunately, the rugby pissed me all the way off and after that I could only see the rain and the pissheads. Why are we such messy drinkers in this country?

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I'm at work now and I have a few jigs and reels on the stereo and it's the business. I love being Irish but I hate the smugness - "we're Irish and we're horrid funny and sure doesn't the whole world love us and want to be us and we TRICKED THE DEVIL!" - that's taking over. Ray D'Arcy does a great show on the radio but he's the worst culprit for this bollix.

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When I think of IRELAND and, to be honest, I rarely do, I think of home. I think of Sundays in Mohill and the kitchen steamed up with the dinner and Michael O Muircheartaigh on the radio and if that sounds twee, it ain't because that's exactly what's happening right now.

Paddy's Day gone to shite

Or was it ever any other way?

2 points

Fuck it to fuck fuck fucking fuckers.

Websites

I've got two new websites: John M Rogers - www.johnmrogers.co.nr & John The Bad - www.johnthebad.co.nr.

Lent is what you do

From Trócaire's website:

“The role of women in our global society has changed dramatically over the past century. In many countries, women have the right to vote, to own property in their own name, to work in every profession, to join the army or to do any number of other things that were forbidden to them in the past because of their gender. Because they were women they had to adopt a particular role in society.

“While great strides have been made towards gender equality in the developed world, in large parts of the world women have still not achieved full equality. In order for this to happen, men and women must work together to ensure that both have equal opportunities and rights.

“Women suffer sustained violations of their human rights, particularly in societies torn by conflict. Domestic violence and other forms of violence against women, such as trafficking, forced prostitution and rape – including marital rape – is a common experience for women. Violation of women’s human rights increases their vulnerability in many ways. In this context, achieving gender equality is both a matter of human rights and of great urgency.

“Trócaire’s 2007 Lenten campaign promotes gender equality – looking at the social roles that men and women have been assigned and how the two genders are often valued differently, as men have more rights and opportunities in many societies.
“If we had true gender equality, women and men would have equal rights under the law and equal participation in decision-making. They would also have equal access to and control of resources such as food, water and land and benefits granted by states.

“In our world today:
• 70 per cent of people living in poverty and 66 per cent of those who can’t read or write are women.
• Worldwide, women earn 69 per cent of male wages. There is no country where women earn the same as men.
• A total of 70 per cent of refugees and displaced people are women.
• Women are more vulnerable than men in conflict and are more often victims of violence
• Women produce nearly 80 per cent of the food on the planet, but receive less than 10 per cent of agricultural assistance
• In 2006, more than twice as many young women were living with HIV as young men
• Women, not planes, trains or trucks, still carry two thirds of Africa’s goods

“Yet women have enormous power to make positive change happen in their communities. Trócaire works in countries where women are often the main providers for their families and have the primary responsibility for their health and welfare. But women in these countries do not have equal access to the resources and services that are vital to them and this makes and keeps them poor.

“As a result women’s experience of poverty is different to that of men; it is more severe and more prevalent. The quality of life for society as a whole is adversely affected by gender inequality, hindering development and poverty reduction.
“There are a number of international agreements such as The Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). At the Fourth World Congress on Women in Beijing, China, in 1995 it was agreed: “The advancement of women and the achievement of equality between women and men are a matter of human rights and a condition for social justice and should not be seen in isolation as a women’s issue.”

“The United Nations passed resolution number 1325 in the year 2000 that called on countries to:
• Protect women and children in conflict
• Prevent violence against women
• Ensure women can participate in peace processes

“But world governments have not fully implemented this resolution, so Trócaire is urging Irish and British politicians to put it into practice.

“International Women's Day (8 March) is an occasion marked by women's groups around the world. This date is also commemorated at the United Nations and is designated in many countries as a national holiday. When women on all continents, often divided by language and by ethnic, cultural, economic and political differences, come together to celebrate their day, they are celebrating at least nine decades of work towards equality, justice, peace and development.
“International Women’s Day is a celebration of the story of ordinary women who have changed history through the ages through their work for gender equality. It has been observed since the early 1900s. This year, a number of events will take place to mark International Women’s Day, including a meeting at the UN of the Commission on the Status of Women to review progress towards global gender equality”.

When is politics not political

Stella mentioned on Thursday that the ads for the Trócaire Lenten campaign on gender inequality was ordered off the air because the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland "prohibits advertising directed towards a political end."

I was pissed off. Think on it - here is Trócaire's mission statement:

Trócaire envisages a just world where people’s dignity is ensured, rights are respected and basic needs are met; where there is equity in the sharing of resources and people are free to be the authors of their own development.

How is any of the above not political?

I said to Bob that I'd love to meet the idiot who made the complaint and ask them why? But Bob said that idiots make complaints like this all the time yet why was it upheld this time? He reminded me that this was an election year and we should try and figure out how Trócaire's campaign hurts the government.

On Thursday, Vincent Brown wrote in Village.ie -

The decision of the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland (BCI) to instruct all commercial broadcasters, including Today FM and TV3, to cease broadcasting the Trócaire advertisement on gender equality is incomprehensible.

The television and radio advertisement campaign draws attention to the reality that female babies, irrespective of their origin, their ethnicity, their state of health or otherwise, all share a common disadvantage by reason of their gender. The advertisement also includes a section encouraging members of the public to access the charity's website to donate online or order a Trócaire box.

The website in turn asks individuals to participate in the campaign for gender equality by signing a petition lobbying the Irish Government to enact a specific UN resolution on the issue.

The BCI said in defense of its decision: "Following detailed consideration...it is the commission's initial view that the advertisement is contrary to Section 10(3) of the Radio and Television Act, 1988, which prohibits advertising directed towards a political end."

I contrast RTÉ has decided to broadcast the advertisement. Peter Feeney, head of public affairs with RTÉ, said "RTÉ's view is that we define political ends quite tightly....We would feel this Trócaire advertisement is much more general in nature….. we also try to draw a distinction between national campaigns and international campaigns."

The part I put in bold could well be the key to all this.

Trócaire Director Justin Kilcullen said on Newstalk radio on Sunday morning that it was Today FM who brought the issue of the ad to the BCI.

All very interesting.

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RTÉ have ignored the BCI's ruling. How can they do this?

Also, someone made the point in the same radio show on Newstalk that the BCI have to come down hard on any ad campaign that pursues a political agenda. Otherwise, we could end up with a situation like in the US where powerful vested interests get all the airwaves.

It's complicated.

The best of my generation

The Crucible was inspiring. I loved all of it and it was a timely reminder of how much theatre means to me. It's the only thing I know how to do right. Even so, I'm nowhere near the actor I could be or want to be.

I have the ability but I'm only starting to wake up to how easy it is to be crap. There were times last weekend in The Factory when I was onstage with no lines and no movement. I needed to just hold my place onstage and give my focus to the action. It takes concentration (all acting demands complete concentration all of the time) and if you switch off, well the scene loses your input and is weakened. So I gave it everything... and then gave it too much. I started overacting; drawing the attention back to me. Why? I don't want to answer that to you yet.

Lesson learned. Impetus regained. I wanna be the best I can be. I want to be onstage. I have two months to finish my degree in engineering and then I can get on with getting what I want.

I've sent my profile to the Sligo Arts Office, I'll soon have an Actor blog and I am looking into what opportunities Galway provides in drama (training or doing).

>>> WATCH THIS SPACE >>>

The next six weeks...

... are everything. I have until May 1st to complete my Virtual Lighting Desk. Is this the only way I know to work?

The Crucible

Sligo County Youth Theatre present

The Crucible

by Arthur Miller
The Factory Performance Space, Quay St., Sligo
Thursday 1st, Friday 2nd and Saturday 3rd March at 8pm
€15/12

Valentines for my woman

Florists have it in for me.

Last week, I ordered some flowers to be delivered this morning. They never came. So I went to the shop and asked, very politely - where the hell are the roses?!

The owner and his partner (they're both French) try to tear me a new one - we couldn't find anyone at ze address!

The fucking nerve. So I stood up to the two, gay, French florists and demanded they deliver the flowers! And they did.

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Reminds me of another run-in I had with flower arrangers (they hate me!) a few years ago in Sligo. I was in FAS at the time and it was a Friday and I had to go home to Mohill for some mass and I had to bring the flowers. So I called in the order from FAS that morning. But when I went in to collect them that evening, they'd only gone and lost the order. There were three men in the shop, the guy who took the order, the guy who lost the order and the boss, who said they never got the order. I was with Pat - this fellow in FAS from Castlebar. Pat rarely said much but when he did, it was always a classic.

So the boss flower arranger got annoyed with me when I told him what I thought. He started going on about the pressure on him in the flower trade and I should cut him some slack and I couldn't believe what I was hearing until Pat said to him -I don't know what you're so annoyed about - pointed to me -he's the one who ordered a bunch of flowers but ended up with a bunch of wankers.

I didn't get the flowers but I laughed all the way home.

Bigger than rugby

From today's Irish Independent. (I'd use the report from the Times if they were to bother doing one!)

Leitrim score historic victory over Offaly

Leitrim 0-11

Offaly 0-10

LEITRIM caused the shock of the day when they deservedly defeated hot favourites Offaly in their Div 2A clash at Cloone yesterday.

The return of Fintan McBrien to the Leitrim attack aided by Ciarán Duignan and Michael Foley proved a handful for the Offaly defence and Leitrim raced into an early lead.

Offaly stayed in touch through the impressive Niall McNamee but Leitrim deservedly led 0-8 to 0-5 at half-time.

Immediately on the resumption, Ciarán Duignan point from play put Leitrim further ahead but it proved to be a wake-up call for the Offaly men as they rallied strongly to save the game.

The game was level until Leitrim hero Shane Foley grabbed the winning point two minutes into extra time.

SCORERS - Leitrim: C Duignan 0-5 (3f), M Foley (1f), C Kennedy, F McBrien 0-2 each, S Foley 0-1. Offaly: N McNamee 0-8 (2f), C McManus, PJ Ward (1f), S Ryan 0-1 each.

LEITRIM - N Gill; B McWeeney, J McKeon (capt), D Reynolds; C Kennedy, B Prior, S Foley; M Duignan, G McCloskey, C Regan; M Foley, B Brennan; F McBrien, C Duignan, J Glancy. Subs: D Beck for B Brennan, D Brennan for F McBrien, S Canning for G McCloskey.

OFFALY - K Meehan; G Rafferty, J Quinn, N Grennan; K Slattery, S Sullivan, E Byrne; C McManus, K Hogan; S Brady, PJ Ward, A McNamee (capt), T Deehan, N Coughlan, N McNamee. Subs: S Ryan for K Hogan, P McConway for E Byrne, K Casey for T Deehan, J Coughlan for PJ Ward, J Reynolds for S Brady.

REF - M Sludden (Tyrone)

AAAAAAAAAADRRRRRRIAAAAAAANNNNN!!!

I went to see Rocky Balboa a couple of weeks ago. An awful stupid film; way too sentimental. Also, it's nothing new - just a rehash of the original.

I loved it. From the very start, when that music played, I was just grinning. Why did I love it? It's got great heart, that's why. Well done Sylvester Stallone, you deserve the Oscar again!

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Saturday morning, before I saw Rocky, myself and herself are just getting up. We're listening the movie show on Lyric. They'd said that they'd be discussing Rocky soon. After a bit, they played an iconic piece of music from the eighties. I hopped out of bed, grabbed my gown (with a hood and all) and started shadow boxing on the bed. Trish came out of the en suite, looks at me for a second and says - you know that's the music to Magnum PI, right?

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Walking into town, I told Bob this story in front of Trish and she says - I never said that!

Me - doesn't matter; it's funny.
Trish - but I wouldn't know the music to Magnum.
Me - look, you don't let the truth in the way of a good story.
Trish - it's not even that funny-
Me - well, of course it isn't now after you ruining it!
Trish - you're an eejit.
Bob - oh, I forgot something in the house, I'll catch up with you.

Heart

She's amazing. She makes me laugh whenever I think of her. She's mad, crazier than me even. She's beautiful. She's smart, a scientist, don't ya know. She eats lots. She's decent, thinks about everyone else. She's cool. She's odd, her laugh makes me laugh. She's hot. She's mine, I still don't believe it at times. She's from Mayo!

Spielberg

How did these geeks give us Indy?






When I saw this shot on the website, I actually felt a shiver down my spine.

German engineering

Here's a photo of a fine specimen of a man from the Lidl website. I showed it to Bob who wondered how he got his hands down there....

Paris Report #2

Well, the rest of the visit to Paris was just what we wanted. It was chilled out and the city just looked stunning. One beautiful memory is walking arm-in-arm around the winding streets of Saint Severin at night, looking for a jazz club. The Christmas lights, the crisp cold night, the Mayo woman on my arm, the tiny streets, the peace and quiet... I knew at the time that I would cherish this forever.

On our last night, Cormac drove us through the city and we were blown away by the lights.

Thanks Cormac for putting us up and putting up with us. Next stop... Lyon!

Paris report #1

Trish and I arrived in Paris today. The bauld Crossan picked us up at Beauvais and we've had a lovely, chilled-out Sunday. We've had dinner, cooked by Cormac and Yoshimi and I've left pastries behind in a bakery. In fact, we weren't in Paris five minutes and I was wandering around the streets with a baguette.

We've caught mass in Notre Dame! (The old man would be impressed.) Had coffee and a cigar in a cafe and now we're digging into more grub.

Paris at Christmas is a sight to see.

Trish says hi.

They tried to string me up... FOUR times

But I survived, almost.

Plus ca Change was my first play since Frank Pig Says Hello. This is the best bunch of Drama Society heads that I've ever worked with. The first time under Bob and also a good chance for Niall to strangle me - something he's wanted to do since he became my project supervisor, twenty odd years ago.




























































































Bob - Lucky, very lucky not to get cut....

Ghost horses?

I sent Tom Dunne an email.

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Tom,

I'm a bit of a Radiohead fan and one song that always brings a smile to my face (not often you can say that about a Radiohead song) is "You And Whose Army?" from Amnesiac .

It's a great singalong number if you're odd and it's one I love listening to on my headphones as I walk around Sligo town, singing out loud.

There was one line in the song I was unsure off and since I'm thinking of blasting out "Whose Army" at Open Mic soon, I thought I'd look up the lyrics online. Imagine my shock to find out that I've been singing the end of the song all wrong?!

Instead of repeating "you and whose army?" like I thought, it goes:

You forget so easily
We ride tonight
We ride tonight
Ghost horses
Ghost horses
Ghost horses
We ride tonight
We ride tonight
Ghost horses
Ghost horses
Ghost horses..

Who? What? Where? Whole different song now. In fact, it's even better.

Anyways, just thought I'd let you know what's been happening with me.

Your listener,
John The Bad.

Burn

New piece on 269 called Burn.