Yearly Archives: 2014

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Reckless Rainbow is a collective of “designers, artists, engineers, DIY philosophers and visionaries” founded by Shane Sugrue, Art Scheunert and Amy Learmonth.

Art writes:

“A few weeks ago you guys covered the art piece (above) we made on Sandymount strand [Dublin] and how it set sail around our coast. This (top) is the making of video. We have a number of projects lined up for the people of Ireland to enjoy in the coming months.

We have just came back from Burning Man in the [Nevada] Desert where we built a 20ft climbable version of it….

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…our Irish representative art piece in amongt the beautiful madness. As one was in water I thought you guys may want to see it’s journey into fire, as that’s what traditionally happened to the Brigid’s crosses….”

Crikey.

Reckless Rainbow (Facebook)

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Ah.

MikeyFex writes:

“I got this letter from the Dept of Social Protection last night seeking payment of an outstanding debt. After initial confusion it dawned on me that I had remained on the dole for a week into my job that I started back in 2007, for, you know, food.  A phone call to the Dept this morning confirmed that this was indeed the case and recent legislation passed means that many more can expect letters like this. It’s fair enough that I pay it back. It’s a little unfair that I’m charged for 2 weeks when they have me down for 8 days of overpayment. It’s also a little unfair that you’re to drop off the dole the day you start your job, in my case six weeks before I’d get my first payslip. Still, I always knew I was a big fish and in this small pond I would be caught eventually….”

Thanks Original Cynic (for header)

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Taxi driver Kishan Lalka knew his career would never be the same when he heard his passengers sniggering, the sound of pants being hastily buttoned, and a particularly pungent stench filling his ­nostrils.

The boys had asked to be dropped off at Bayview St in Fannie Bay. He said they were drunk, caucasian, and appeared to be Australian and aged in their early 20s.

“There was a smell in the car and one of the guys sitting behind me did a poo,” he said. Mr Lalka, a driver for two years, said the $8 fare was unpaid. “I had a real bad headache because of the smell,” he said. “When I sleep, I feel the smell. I didn’t have dinner last night.”

Hailo?

Is it me you’re pooing for?

Darwin cabbie’s crappy fare as passenger leaves huge poo (Conor Byrne, NT News)

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Starts with your ham.

But how do YOU make yours?

Aislinn writes:

“Brady Family celebrates the ever-growing success of its finest quality traditional ham, with an engaging and informative short film (above) that goes behind the scenes at the Brady Family home in Timahoe, Co. Kildare, where the family favourite has been produced since 1978. This video tells the story of Real ham, and how the traditional process sets Brady Family ham apart from the rest; through flavour, texture and shape….

“We have a Brady Family Hamper and a €150 Blue Book Voucher to give away to a broadsheet reader who can complete this sentence: ”My perfect ham sandwich would consist of______________________”

Lines MUST close at 2.30pm 3.15pm

(Entrants may include an accompanying beverage)

Brady Family

Brady Family Ham (Facebook)

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Former Environment Minister Phil Hogan

On foot of Phil Hogan being confirmed as the European Union’s Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, he spoke to Seán O’Rourke earlier.

During the interview he addressed the matter of Independent MEP Nessa Childers writing to all the members of the Social Democrats group – 191 members – of the European Parliament, in which she said she had “serious reservations” about Mr Hogan getting the EU Commissioner post.

Ms Childers specifically wrote about how Mr Hogan, as Environment Minister, had written to some of his constituents in Kilkenny, telling them a Traveller family – Patrick and Brigid Carthy and their seven children – would not be moved to a house near them.

Phil Hogan: “Can I say that the assertions made by Nessa Childers are absolute rubbish and they will be dealt with at the European Parliament, if they arise, and they will be dealt with in the courts, in due course.”

Seán O’Rourke: “And then, more recently, there was the story on Sunday last, to the effect you knew far more than you were admitting about the detailed costs being run up by Irish Water in their establishment, particularly in regard to consultants, and you didn’t tell the full story.”

Hogan: “And that’s absolute rubbish as well, Seán. And I know that there has to be bit of a silly season but this is a silly season story where I’ve done, where I’ve actually, on regular occasions to the Dáil, and indeed the Irish Water company told the European, told the environment committee and the public accounts committee, I’ve explained all of the headings that the company have to work with, in order to give indicative allocations of money, for, to set up a new company. I don’t expect that anyone, or didn’t expect that anyone would set up a new company without it costing some money. Irish Water, by its establishment, is saving considerable amount of money already in various schemes right around Ireland and it shows the importance of water quality and the investment that’s required in water and sewage treatment plants if we want a competitive Ireland and, indeed a competitive Europe.”

O’Rourke: “I know that’s, and I suppose that’s the big principle of this thing and that’s why it was set up but in regard to your own knowledge of the detail, did you effectively hide the extent of that detailed knowledge?”

Hogan: “No, I certainly indicated that there was a overall figure required to establish a new company and, in due course, the, all of the tendering procedures have to go through one of the various headings and under the various systems that have been put in place to set up a new commercial, semi-State company. And it will be seen, in time, Seán, that it was worthwhile and that Irish Water got on with the job of implementing a very important program for the country, to create jobs and sustain jobs for the year ahead. If we don’t have good water quality, we won’t have jobs in Ireland and we won’t have good public health.”

Listen back in full here

Previously: The Negative Noise Around Phil Hogan

Anything Good In ‘The Parliament’?

Dear EU Commission

Big Phil’s Fat Gypsy Prejudice

Turning The Story On Its Head

Why Did Phil Hogan Stop Six Separate Planning Inquiries?

Photocall Ireland