Monthly Archives: March 2012

‘Metal evolutionist’ Brian Mock from Portland Oregon makes elegant recycled metal sculptures from discard nails, wingnuts, sheet metal, car rotors and hinges. He sez:

“I am intrigued by the challenge of creating an entirely unique piece from an eclectic collection of discarded objects. Giving these old, common items a new and extraordinary life as one sculpture is an artistically challenging yet gratifying process. This type of work is also designed to be highly interactive and prompt viewers to question the reality of what they see. Audience reactions fuel my motivation.”

More of Brian’s work here.

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Shark expert Michael Rutzen demonstrates the phenomenon of ‘tonic immobility’ in the Bahamas: a natural state of paralysis that animals enter when presented with a threat.

Some sharks can be placed in this state – which generally lasts about fifteen minutes – by turning them upside down.

Glasses, moustaches and cartoon genitals are often drawn on their faces during this time.

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Seriously jarring stuff from NAMA Wine Lake:

Is it time to demand the Minister come to the Dail and make a statement justifying what now seems a bewilderingly stupid action, which has the potential to strand this country without feasible funding sources in 2014 unless this forthcoming referendum is passed? The July 2011 ESM Treaty made access dependent on fiscal discipline, but the Fiscal Compact now being put to the country goes far further in handing over sovereignty and control of our national finances to a Europe which, in recent times, has not shown itself to be particularly sympathetic to the domestic economic problems of this country. Maybe on 2nd February, 2012 Minister Noonan thought a referendum on the Fiscal Compact would not be necessary and that ratification of the Compact was a done deal. That would have shown serious contempt for the deliberations of the Attorney General, and would also have been incompetent. The Minister now has very serious questions to answer.

READ: What did Michael Noonan get in return for an agreement which may leave this country stranded without practical funding options from 2013? (NAMA Wine Lake)

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The Mahon Tribunal has declared that years of video of witnesses giving evidence will never be released.
Officials with the planning corruption probe have said it will release its long-awaited final report soon. 

However, the judges with the inquiry have now announced that evidence at hearings, which were electronically recorded, will never enter the public domain. 

Several taoisigh, dozens of former ministers, TDs, developers and lawyers appeared in the witness box between 1997 and 2008. 

The stored video footage includes several appearances by Bertie Ahern, whose finances were thoroughly probed by tribunal lawyers. 

The inquiry was originally set up in 1997 to deal with allegations of planning corruption in north Dublin and its remit later included payments to politicians and officials.

Thousands of hours of footage from 900 days of recording.

*shudder*

Still.

Mahon Tribunal will never release video evidence (Irish Examiner)

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