Timewaster Of The Day: Wolfenstein 3D

We somehow missed this one last week, but there’s now a fully functional version of the grandaddy of all FPS games Wolfenstein 3D available to play in your browser.

We’re refusing to acknowledge though that it was released to celebrate the game’s 20th anniversary.

1992. If you want us, we’ll be locked in our room, hating everyone.

Play Wolfenstein 3D

(Thanks Cian)

Siri: Repeat The Question

Remember how, just the other day, Apple’s Siri iPhone PA was suggesting that the Nokia Lumia 900 was the world’s best smartphone?

Alas, the joke is over. If you ask the same question now, you’ll be met with a response like “You’re kidding, right?” or “The one you’re holding.” The Gearburn editor tried it out — Siri refused to name a phone or brand, preferring instead to mock our question, even when we varied the words slightly. The change in Siri’s tune has made Nokia quite upset — they’ve accused Apple of tampering with the results to cover up the fact that their own phone ‘preferred’ a Lumia.

Siri changes its mind on ‘the best smartphone ever’, Nokia isn’t impressed (memeburn)

(Hat tip: John Gallen)

The Pathetic Insularity of Michael Noonan

They’re our EU neighbours.

Sinking into poverty and destitution.

But…

Finance Minister Michael Noonan has insisted that Ireland is unlikely to be affected by the Greek crisis because the two countries have no economic connections. Speaking at a Bloomberg event in Dublin, the Minister said Ireland is not on the frontline for contagion from Greece.
Apart from holidaying in the Greek islands, I think most Irish people don’t have a lot (of connections with Greece),” he said.
“If you go into the shops here, apart from feta cheese, how many Greek items do you put in your basket?”

That’s alright then.

Noonan: Greek Crisis Will Not Directly Affect Ireland (Irish Examiner)

(Sasko Lazarov/Photocall Ireland)

Paddy Power ‘Saddened’

They literally had no idea this would be offensive.

None.

The TV ad, screened in February ahead of the annual racing event [Cheltenham], stated “…we’re going to make Ladies’ Day even more exciting by sending in some beautiful transgendered ladies. Spot the stallions from the mares”.

The bookmaker said it was never the intention to cause harm or offence and it was “saddened” to learn that some viewers were offended by the ad.

 

Paddy Power Advert ‘Offensive’ (Eoin Burke Kennedy, Irish Times)

What Do You Mean You ‘Weren’t Invited’?

Relax, it was for charidee.

At the Copper House Gallery (off Synge Street, Dublin) last night for the launch of photographer Barry McCall’s exhibition of portraits (in aid of the ISPCC) were, top from left: Liam Cunningham, Glenda Gilson, Barry McCall, Keith Barry and Louis Walsh; middle pic: Saoirse Ronan and Louis Walsh, and bottom pic: Brian Kennedy and Sharon Corr.

The exhibition runs until June 11.

(Leon Farrell/Photocall Ireland)

You Didn’t Really Think Sean Quinn Was Broke, Did You?

Well now we know he’s not.

Thanks to the BBC (again).

An investigation by BBC NI’s Spotlight [last night] into Sean Quinn’s empire has tracked down the headquarters of a company that controls more than $100m-worth of assets belonging to Irish taxpayers.

[Reporter] Jim Fitzpatrick travelled to Belize on the hunt for a company that has laid claim to the millions.

Mr Quinn went bankrupt in January owing 2.8bn euros to the Anglo Irish Bank.

It hoped to recover around 500m euros through sales of Quinn Group’s international property portfolio

However, the bank, now nationalised and called Irish Bank Resolution Corporation, soon discovered that it had lost control of these valuable assets.

The programme uncovers documentary evidence in Sweden which demonstrates that Sean Quinn was part of a secret boardroom coup which put him back in charge of the property empire weeks after he had been dismissed from the Quinn Group.


Watch Sean Quinn’s Missing Millions here (you may need this)

Sean Quinn Spotlight Tracks Down Company (BBC)

(Laura Hutton/Photocall Ireland)

Hail To The Chief

“You’ve got Robbie Keane. All-time scorer of the Irish international team…a cousin of mine… Robbie arrived [at LA Galaxy] halfway through last season scored his first goal in the first 21 minutes of his first game. His team mates were so happy to have him they filled his locker with what they call the ‘Pleasures of Ireland’. Guinness, Bailey’s and Irish Spring [a soap brand]. Hopefully Robbie’s broadened their horizons since then.”

Obama gives a shout-out (go to 1.29) to Robbie Keane during a visit by LA Galaxy to The White House yesterday.

 

 

Meanwhile, In The Irish Times

Gavan Titley writes:

The Irish Times has an op-ed piece today by the Danish MEP Morten Messerschmidt (above), arguing for a No vote in the upcoming fiscal treaty referendum. Who is he?

Well, The Irish Times gives his byline as: ‘Morten Messerschmidt is a Danish MEP and a member of the Europe of Freedom and Democracy group in the European Parliament. He won his seat in the 2009 European election with 284,500 votes.’

This is very similar to his Wikipedia entry in English: ‘Morten Messerschmidt (born 13 November 1980) LL.M., is member of the European Parliament for the Danish People’s Party. He won his seat in a landslide in the 2009 elections with 284,500 personal votes.’

The crucial difference, of course, is that the IT byline omits his membership of the Danish People’s Party. Morten, of course, is not as bashful. Here he is expressing his affinity with Geert Wilders in a news clip concerning the ‘fear and anxiety’ that the DPP stokes among ‘Danish immigrants’. Starts at 1.40.

The Irish Times publishes Morten Messerschmidt (Gavan Titley, Storify)

Being Yes Men Of Europe Has Got Ireland Nowhere (Morten Messerschmidt, irish Times)