Is Richie Bennis into the Kings Of Leon?

This is class. From Michael Leister's online column from 5th July.

I doubt if Limerick hurling manager Richie Bennis is a Kings of Leon fan (though let's not jump to conclusions). However, he would certainly identify with some of the lyrics on their excellent current album 'Because Of The Times'.

On 'My Party' they sing: 'So now we're on our way / It's taking us on journeys where we wipe away the frowns amongst a crowded place', adding later: 'My cocky look emerges when you question my moves / Because you ain't got no taste / You're talking about my baby / I could flip you upside down and I could mop this place.' Now that I come to think of it, their sound is infinitely better than their lyrics .. but anyway.

Shannon

Aer Lingus are moving their Heathrow slot from Shannon to Belfast. (It's a wonder they didn't say the move was a protest against the US troops using the airport. We all rememeber how they used 9/11 to make some well needed staff cuts.) This is a blow to the west because this will mean that Shannon will have no link to Heathrow, which is a major international air transport hub.

I don't blame Aer Lingus for doing what they did; business is business. I blame the government for privatising Aer Lingus in the first place. Aer Lingus no longer serves the citizens of the state but the stockholders of the company. Profit before people; business is business. I also blame the government for failing to provide proper infrastructure for the west. This has resulted in the airport never reaching it's full potential and will now make it hard for the airport authorities to attract another airline with a Heathrow slot to spare.

This is good news for Belfast. Seeing the Unionist reaction, I think they're starting to realise that Northern Ireland's fortunes best lie in an All Ireland economy; business is business. (If and when the UK converts to the Euro, the state of Northern Ireland will exist in name only.) Access to Heathrow from Belfast is good news for all of Ulster and North Connacht - Sligo to Belfast is quicker than Sligo to Shannon.

However, with a continuation of bad regional development like this, we will end up with two black-holes of urban sprawl, with neighbouring counties sucked into Dublin or Belfast. (Kildare is now referred to as 'Dublin's doorstep' on the Bord Fáilte website. Dublin's doormat, more like.) The only reason Belfast hasn't exploded (bad use of language, maybe) like Dublin is because the troubles held it back for so long.

But with peace taking a strong hold, the climate is perfect for business to rise and claim all.

Evolution is a fact

Say it once, now say it again.

A lot of people think that evolution is just a theory. They're right. The only problem in that sentence is the word 'just'. You see there's a growing misconception, especially in the US, as to the meaning of the word 'theory'. Here's handy link that I found.

Theory of ir-relativity, or the old in-out

Here's a taste of my thoughts of late. I'm sure there's nothing here that hasn't been considered before by some philosopher way smarter than me. And I'm sure that this has been all figured out and written down somewhere that I can find it and answer these questions I'm just starting to ask. But for now, I want to figure this out myself. Here's what I wrote earlier.

--

I figured it out.

It's not faith, it's not choice. It's the theory of ir-relativity.

Let's say there are only two possible realities – Inside or Outside. (If reality is Inside, then outside still exists, only it's an illusion. If reality is Outside, then inside still exists as the mind.)

It is impossible to prove which is the true reality – there's no way to show to myself that I am awake. Two days ago, I decided that my willingness to believe that Outside is real can only be based on faith. This faith is the only one instance of blind faith we all need to get by.

However, let's reconsider. Up until recently, I believed in Outside, without even knowing that I believed because, I never once thought that life could be any other way. Then, ten years ago or more, I discovered "I think therefore I am" and I started to consider Inside. But I still believed in Outside.

However, what if I don't bother believing in either? Since I can't prove if I'm awake or dreaming, the question of In or Out becomes irrelevant. Since neither can be disproved, then let them both be right.

Reality is inside and outside simultaneously. Faith is not required.

"What if you're wrong?"

I love this.

By the way, this video explains some of what I'm up to right now.

Been a while

I've been busy - NYC, play in Galway, studying - so I've kinda abandoned the blog somewhat.

I'll be back though... watch this space!

Well pissed off

Well, I'm supposed to be in NYC right now but instead I'm in a hotel room in Claremorris. Our flight has been delayed indefinitely. Lots of funny things happened yesterday at the airport that I was dying to write about here but right now, I'm too fed up.

I just want to say that if you're considering flying with Flyglobespan from Knock to New York, don't. They're a joke.

When will RTÉ have enough money?

RTÉ show the news live on their website along with other shows, like The Sunday Game. Recently, they've added an ad that you have to watch before the streaming starts. My version of Firefox can't handle this ad so anyone using Linux can't watch the news online any more. Instead of improving this useful service, RTÉ have limited it's access just so they can play another damn ad.

I ask you, what use is RTÉ? Or, at least, what point is the TV license?

Will we ever learn?

Galway are being tipped for All Ireland glory this year. Now, their performance against Mayo might have been a bit flattering but there's no doubt about it, they are a fine football team. On any given day, they have the beating of anyone in the country. Tomorrow, they take Leitrim on in newly refurbished Páirc Seán MacDiarmada.

Cork hurlers thing the GAA has an anti-Cork bias (what is it about Corkmen that they think the whole country is out to get them? Is it because they're so damn irritating). They don't know how easy they have it. The whole system is skewed in favour of the bigger counties.

Leitrim is a county with only ten senior football clubs... ten clubs. We haven't much hope in winning tomorrow but we do have some. And that's because we simply don't stop fighting. Always punching above our weight and possessing inordinate pride in doing so. And let me tell you, our defence is a fine one and if they play to their full potential and our forwards take their chances and we play with our usual fighting spirit, well... we'll see.

Will we ever learn? I bloody hell hope not.

'Homo, homo, GAA'...

... is the name of a song that Drohan is writing. All about the boys in the shower after the match and hairy-legged camogie girls down the back of the bus.

But yesterday, I learned that being into d'acting doesn't mean you have to be a total sport-o-phobe. I met with Niall Cleary who's directing me again, this time in Autobahn for the Galway Youth Theatre. I also met with the Director of Galway Youth Theatre and we had a good manly chat about hurling. Now, Drohan and Colleary, you can feck off with the slagging! Do ya hear me lads?! Go on! Fuck off....

--

On Sunday, Leitrim take on Galway in the newly refurbished Páirc Seán MacDiarmada in Carrick. As usual, I expect the lads to give it hell for 70 minutes and sure we'll see what happens after that.

Monday mornings

Monday started off well wrong; I slept-in in the morning. But things soon turned around. By that evening, I had two acting parts and a investment in a mango plantation in Cambodia. Cool, ha?

Betrayal

Some thoughts for the Green Party supporters and voters who are calling "betrayal."

I was very disappointed that the Green deal did not include the end of US flights through Shannon, the re-routing of the M3 away from Tara and the end to hospital co-location.

However, we now have two Green Party senior ministers. And look at their portfolios; John Gormley - Minister for the Environment, Heritage and local Government and Eamon Ryan - Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. Just think about this. We have a Green department of the environment and a Green department of energy; the areas concerned with the core principles of the party.

As for Shannon, the M3 and co-location, if the Green Party had turned down the deal, these things would've happened anyway. Everybody wake up, grow up and shut up complaining. The biggest part of every deal is compromise.

Let's just look at the first three principles by consensus adopted by the Green Party at its foundation:

1. The impact of society on the environment should not be ecologically disruptive.
2. Conservation of resources is vital to a sustainable society.
3. All political, social and economic decisions should be taken at the lowest effective level.

Impact of society on the environment - Department of the Environment, Heritage and local Government; conservation of resources - Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources; all political... decisions should be taken at the lowest effective level - Department of ... local Government.

This is big business.

--

An aside on Shannon - stopping the US troops from using Shannon doesn't bring an end to the war in Iraq, it just washes our hands of it.

--

Hospital co-location is the hardest pill to swallow for me. Seeing a party that was decimated as the PDs end up back in power is nothing short of a sickener but it's the price we pay for the system we have. It's bizarre that the two parties with most in common - FF & FG - will not share power but it's not unprecedented. It reminds me of the DUP and the UUP in Northern Ireland. However, it does result in crappy little parties like the Progressive Democrats getting into power.

--

So, this is a good thing for the party and the country and if you're one of these people crying into your breakfast this morning because of the Judas Greens, ask yourself, what would it take for you to accept the Green Party going into power? Or is it the thought of your party of protest becoming a party of power that makes you weep?

Government is the only place to be if you want to make the changes necessary for the good of the country.

Not only that...

... but we have Eamon Ryan for Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources.

--

The two new Green Party Ministers cycled to work yesterday, followed by their obligatory Ministerial Mercedes. The first thing they should do is get their security details on bikes.

A Green Party Environment Minister

I can hardly believe it. This is a great day.

We're in but Sargent has to step down

History made!

The Green Party has voted to go into Government in Ireland for the first time. 86% of the members present at today's conference voted Yes.

However, and this pains me, our leader Trevor Sargent seems to be on the brink of resignation. All this for a stupid statement on not willing to bring his party in with Fianna Fáil.

But that's for another day. We are in.

500 members...

... decide if we go into Government for the first time.

Greens out. For now

So, the talks between the Green Party and Fianna Fáil on the formation of a new government have broken down. Trevor Sergeant said insurmountable differences on climate change, education, health and Government reform were responsible for the breakdown.

This doesn't rule them out of going in with Fianna Fáil but it does show that they weren't willing to compromise on core policy for the sake of entering government. That's a good thing.

Watch the skies

Last night, around eleven o' clock, the old man rang me to tell me to look up.

He saw on the news that the International Space Station was due to pass over Ireland. He was laughing because the astronomer on RTÉ said that the space station would go from left to right.

So, out I went into the garden and kept an eye out because though I knew the time, I'd no idea where it would be coming from. Then, just on cue, she flew across the sky at an amazing speed, travelling west to east (by the way, since I was facing south, that's right to left). Half way across the transit, Daddy called me from where he's standing on the flat roof at home and we watched it disappear together.

--

NASA sent up a shuttle last night to the station, liftoff 00:30 our time. It too was expected to fly over Ireland. Daddy said that we would see the booster falling twenty minutes into the launch - 00:50. I, being all-knowing re the Space Shuttle, corrected him - the booster would disengage well before 00:50.

So back out into the garden and I stood watching the heavens again from about 00:30. A couple of minutes later, I saw a shooting star. Around, 00:43, I saw something moving against the stars, very faint, heading almost directly south. I thought that was it but the direction was confusing. So I kept watching and lo and behold, bang on 00:50, there it was, not as bright but travelling in the same direction as the station. I laughed out loud, don't know why.

--

An hour later, Daddy rings me again. He asked me if I saw the shuttle just now. I said I saw it at exactly 00:50. He said that he gave up looking for it and went to bed. He just looked out his bedroom window before turning in and he saw it, travelling in the same direction as the station. But this was an hour later.

I don't know which of us saw the shuttle. The other things were satellites or secret military shuttles or aliens, I don't know but there sure was a lot going on in the skies last night.

An Táin Bó Cúailgne

In Galway, last week, I bought a comic book... sorry... graphic novel version of the Táin Bó Cúailgne. It's entirely in Irish (including the pictures!) and I've been translating it to English with my limited Irish speaking skills, a Irish-English/English-Irish dictionary and this website. It's just like Kinsella translating the first recension, just like it.

It's not very difficult Irish and I'm making ok progress but I have come across a few words and phrases that I can't translate. For instance (from my notes):

Is eagal liom = unknown
Carbaid = unknown. The line is, capaill agus carbaid, I used "horses and cattle"
Leogo = unknown
Aidhe = unknown. Could be a name

But my favourite is this:

Dar fia! = unknown. The line is, Dar fia! Is fial flaithiúil an bhean í do mháistreas, leogo! Now, fia is a dear... so I translated it, "Dear me! It's a generous and hospitable woman, your mistress, leogo!" I don't know what leogo is either

I didn't do well at this at the Leaving,

--

Funny thing though, I'm enjoying this exercise a lot. Yet if a teacher had handed me this to do in school, I'd have gone, -that's stoooopid.

--

I have to say, the comic isn't that well written. I said so to herself and she said, -two days ago, you hadn't a word of Irish in your head but now you're a critic.

Well, she didn't say it in words... she kinda said it by rolling her eyes.

Idioot

Not wanting to fall to easy national stereotyping but some French people are so arrogant.

This French guy comes up to pay for a call at work. It's four euro. I try to say 'four' in French.

-Four, he says.
-Aye, but what's that in french?
-Noooo, he laughs, -the Fench is too difficult. It's four, ok?