Monthly Archives: May 2013
About right.
Lucinda Creighton and Enda Kenny in Croke Park, Dublin, earlier for a “national handshake’ of GAA players whose families originated from other EU member states to mark Europe Day.
The youngsters are wearing a specially-designed EU/GAA strip. The adults are wearing the look of the very spoilt.
Sam Boal/Photocall Ireland
Images from ‘master disassembler’ Todd McLellan‘s book Things Come Apart, in which he reflects on the inner gubbins of 50 objects broken down into 21,959 component parts.
It’s a commentry on the permanence of repairable vintage tech versus the disposable functionality and rapid obsolescence of modern devices.
So now.
McLellan is currently exhibiting at The Chicago Museum of Science and Industry until May 19th, if you’re in the neighbourhood.
He just squints like that in the sun.
We’ve been asked to print the fairly strange clarification made on today’s ‘Morning Ireland’ by Cathal MacCoille at the behest of the Iona Institute.
It regarded on-air speculation about New Zealand Professor David Fergusson’s state of mind when he discovered his research was being used by the Iona Institute
As the institute are usually such sticklers for this type of thing we are happy to oblige.
‘On Tuesday, May 7th, we broadcast interviews with Professor David Fergusson of Otago University, Christchurch, New Zealand and with Professor Patricia Casey, Consultant Psychiatrist in UCD and the Mater. The subject was the reported unhappiness by Professor Fergusson at the way his research was being interpreted by pro-life parties to the abortion debate here. In the course of the interview with Professor Casey, I said that Professor Fergusson had said he was unhappy at the way the Iona Institute had been citing his research. In fact, Professor Fergusson did not say he was unhappy with how the Iona Institute quoted his research and we’re happy to clarify that.’
Listen To Professor Fergusson’s interview here and YOU decide
Previously: Messy Fergusson Detractor
Pic: University of Otago
News like this can make me swear,
When delivering free GP care,
Runs into some flaw,
To do with the law,
And the plan takes the shape of a pear.
John Moynes
(Sasko Lazarov/Photocall Ireland)
Artisan/engineer Jon Jones’ WheelHarp is a full-scale chromatic instrument inspired by the hurdy-gurdy.
Pressing on the keys moves one of 61 strings toward a rosined wheel. The right pedal controls the speed of the motor turning the wheel. The left is a damper. There are electromagnetic and a piezoelectric pickups to control amplification.
It’s quite the orchestral thing of beauty. It makes lovely sounds.
And for ten grand, you can have the entry-level version.
Mathew Elderfield is leaving the Central Bank for Lloyds, where he will be the bank’s director of conduct and compliance in October.
He spoke at the European Insurance Forum in Dublin earlier today.
RTÉ reports:
“Mr Elderfield said the €64 billion recapitalisation of the banks is a “staggering 1,409 times” the current annual costs of banking supervision.
“He added the current €1.65 billion projected cost of the insurance guarantee for Quinn Insurance is “80 times” the current annual costs of supervision of the insurance industry.
“Mr Elderfield also referred to remarks by former Anglo Irish Bank chairman Sean FitzPatrick who said prior to the banking crash in 2007 that “the tide of regulation had gone far enough.”
“Mr Elderfield referred to Mr Fitzpatrick as a “banker” without naming him in his speech today.
“I would hope that debates on regulation and supervision are done transparently and that they are given short shrift if they take place as a vaguely articulated concern about burden and competitiveness without being grounded in specifics to ensure an informed debate on policy,” he told the conference.
“He also stressed the importance of ensuring independence of regulation is preserved.
“This does not mean immunity from feed back or accountability. But it does involve being truly independent in its supervisory decision making from industry or political intervention,” he added.”
Elderfield warns against diluting regulation (RTÉ)
Laura Hutton/Photocall Ireland
Dear Lucinda
at
In an open letter to pro-life, Fine Gael Minister Lucinda Creighton.
Angela Coraccio (above) writes:
Dear Ms. Creighton,
As a non-national resident of Ireland, I do, as you recommend, reflect on the privilege I enjoy every day in this country, particularly as an educated caucasian woman with a loving husband. But when you use that collective “we,” you assume that every woman in Ireland is like you. A short walk around Dublin will prove otherwise. Women in poverty, migrant women, asylum seekers, women in abusive relationships being controlled by their partners, and women too ill to travel live here too. Is it not the duty of us privileged people to ensure that they have the same access to their rights as we do?
You mention that we live in a “free” society here in Ireland while simultaneously trying to argue that women shouldn’t be allowed to have bodily autonomy, which in my opinion is the most basic human right there is.
Furthermore, I am disappointed that you felt the need to claim you have “no respect” for the “hysterical” opinions of Olivia O’Leary in such a public manner, claiming her arguments are not rational.
These are the exact ways in which patriarchy has been characterising women’s opinions as invalid for centuries. To accuse another woman of hysteria rings of self-hatred and serves to give the world permission to dismiss vocal women, including yourself. How can you “respect the right of everyone to speak freely and honestly” immediately after you’ve just said you have no respect for someone else’s honest opinion?
I myself have been trying to conceive a child for nearly two years. However, I would never allow my experiences with infertility colour my views on how other women view their pregnancies. Your implication that because some women can’t become pregnant, women who are pregnant need to carry those pregnancies to term is slightly outrageous, particularly since adoption laws in Ireland are so restrictive. If a disabled person can’t run, she doesn’t demand that all able people should take up running.
But perhaps the most alarming statements in your blog are about late term abortions. You and I both know that the overwhelming number abortions happen in very early stages. I believe your misleading comment comparing late term abortions to premature births was meant to whip up people’s emotions. I suppose that’s what politicians do. But it doesn’t reflect the rationality you claim to own.
Gulp.
More here: An Open Letter To Lucinda Creighton (Angela Coraccio)
Previously: Lucinda To Olivia: Get A Grip
Thanks Mark Malone
George Best featuring on a new set of stamps which go on sale today – almost 50 years after he first pulled on a Manchester United jersey.