The carefully composed near life-sized mashups, composites and staged nature photographs of Simen Johan.
No mere photoshoppery, some take years to complete, involving elaborate sets and multiple images digitally enhanced by marathon post production sessions. Others are simply straight photographs.
‘sup?
This afternoon.
Cormac McCann writes
I don’t even have PokemonGo on my phone but I still spotted one on Pembroke Street …
A new video from Paralympics Ireland, as part of its More Than Sport campaign.
Featuring Phil Eaglesham, who is part of Paralympics Ireland Shooting Team for Rio 2016.
Meanwhile, Paralympics Ireland writes:
Paralympics Ireland is this week calling on members of the public to help them in a bid to find and contact every Irish Paralympic athlete since the first Paralympic Games in Rome, 1960.
The initiative, which is known as the ‘Paralympian Recognition Programme’, will see each Irish Paralympian receive a pin and a unique number in order to recognize their contribution to the Paralympic movement in Ireland.
If you have any information about an athlete, you can contact Paralympics Ireland on ac@paralympics.ie.
The list of Paralympians that has been compiled to date can be viewed here.
A special gala will be held in 2017 in order to acknowledge the athletes.
Previously: More To Do
From top: Director of HSE Tony O’Brien and Fine Gael TD Josepha Madigan, of Dublin Rathdown at the Public Accounts Committee this morning
Director of HSE Tony O’Brien and members of the Department of Health is before the Public Accounts Committee this morning in light of the revelations concerning the former CEO of Console, Paul Kelly.
During this morning’s meeting, Fine Gael TD Josepha Madigan repeatedly asked Mr O’Brien if the HSE took any responsibility for Console’s finances.
She was fairly dogged, in fairness.
From the meeting…
Tony O’Brien: “We were not Console’s regulator, we were not its primary funder. We were purchasing a certain range of services from Console which were being received, which continued until yesterday. Which will now continue in another organisation. We have no powers over their fundraising activities or those other extraneous matters.”
Jospeha Madigan: “Just on that point that you say there, Mr O’Brien, and I heard you on Sean O’Rourke (RTE Radio One show)… you also said that you partially funded Console. To me that’s actually missing the point. The main principle still applies, you’re still giving a significant amount of money to this charity so it doesn’t matter whether its partially funded or not. The same principles still apply, the same oversight should apply in relation to that particular charity and I don’t think that’s a good enough response, in my view.”
Later
Madigan: “When you talk about value for money, it seems, putting the services to one side, it seems extraordinary that you say that you’re satisfied in relation to what’s transpired.”
O’Brien: “Well, can I explain why? And it does go back to an earlier point and I know you don’t necessarily agree with where I’m coming from on this. The services are all we paid for. Our engagement with that organisation was…”
Madigan: “Are you abdicating all responsibility from oversight of Console?”
O’Brien: “What I have said and what I’m saying clearly…”
Madigan: “I’m asking a question…”
O’Brien: “You’re seeking to frame it in a way that I can’t give you a yes or no answer..”
Madigan: “That’s what your implying..”
O’Brien: “What I’m saying..”
Madigan: “That’s what you’re implying…”
O’Brien: “If that was the case why would we have concocted this very extensive internal audit. What I’m saying is we…”
Madigan: “Which should have been done, with respect, many years beforehand, many years beforehand. Do you accept there’s any failings on behalf of the HSE for Console?”
O’Brien: “The failings that are in the report on Console, which you’ve had an opportunity to read, are failings within Console. Clearly, at any point in time, with the benefit…”
Madigan: “Do you accept any…”
O’Brien: “Can I answer the question?”
Madigan: “No, because, no because you’re saying the failings are within Console itself. Do you, Mr O’Brien accept that the HSE had a responsibility towards Console? Do you accept any, any responsibility?”
O’Brien: “We had a responsibility to the provide funding in relation to the services they were providing to satisfy ourselves, the quality of those services, and when significant issues of concern…”
Madigan: “But why didn’t you carry out inspections when you could have done that? You..”
O’Brien: “It’s very difficult for a witness to answer questions if they only get the first 50% of their answer out.”
Madigan: “Go ahead but…”
O’Brien: “If I could answer the question, it may answer the next question that you’re trying to pose to me. When issues of concern arose about financial governance, the audit was initiated. Prior to that, there had not been unresolved issues which led to that decision. Obviously, officers have to make judgements at all times. With the benefit of hindsight yes, maybe the decision could have been made earlier…”
Madigan: “OK, maybe the decision could have been made earlier. Will you accept the failings on behalf of the HSE in relation to the governance of Console?”
O’Brien: “No, I do not accept. We were not responsible for the governance of Console. Console is a separate legal entity. Our only responsibility can be in relation to the oversight..”
Madigan: “So you’re saying the HSE has absolutely, is absolutely blameless thus far?”
O’Brien: “I didn’t say that.”
Madigan: “But that is what you’re saying, Mr O’Brien.”
O’Brien: “If you were to review the transcript, you will find I didn’t say that.”
Madigan: “I have read your transcript at length..”
O’Brien: “No, no, the transcript of our discussion right now. At no point have I said the HSE is blameless.”
Madigan: “You’re not saying, you know what you’re saying, Mr O’Brien, you’re hiding behind words and you’re very good at it.”
O’Brien: “Can I say something? Chairman…If the PAC were an airline, I’d be in the top tier of the frequent fliers programme, right? So I expect to be in here a lot. As I was with the previous committee. The committee members know what I mean. We have provided all the specific documentation the committee asked us to provide. We’ve come as required, now we’re going to do our best to give you all the information that we can. But sometimes it’s very difficult if I only get the first few words of an answer out..”
Watch live here
Previously: Con Sold
What you may need to know:
1. A Cuban drag queen (Héctor Medina) clashes with his estranged father (Jorge Perugorría) over his lifestyle.
2. Paddy Breathnach’s film was shortlisted for this years’ Best Foreign Language Oscar, but missed out on a nomination.
3. Viva was the closing gala film at the Dublin Film Festival back in February, and went on to win the audience award.
4. Trailer Park favourite I Went Down (1997) remains stubbornly difficult to track down.
5. But Shrooms (2007) is available on Blu Ray. It’s a world gone mad.
6. Broadsheet prognosis: Cuban miss crisis.
Release Date: August 19.
(Mark writes about film and TV at ScreenTime.ie)
Nice, France earlier this morning.
Commenting on the circumstances surrounding the attack, which saw a white truck loaded with weapons plow through a crowd after passing through a police barricade, Carol Davis, a witness to the attacks argued that the police could have done much more to stop the attacker.
“How did this truck come over the barricade. No car was supposed to get by that barricade. A police car could have just easily come around and stopped it, it should have stopped it,”
Truck attack death toll rises to 80 (AP)
Security here is non-existent’: Eyewitness says massive security lapse led to Nice tragedy (RT)
Pics: Getty/AP
I Am the Cosmos – new single and launch gig this weekend
01. Ross Turner and Cian Murphy are Dublin electronic duo I Am the Cosmos.
02. 2013’s debut album Monochrome was an impressive statement of intent, and made off with Nialler9’s Album of the Year. They’ve kept appearances scarce since, but have signed a publishing deal with magnates Faber Music.
03. Streaming above is the band’s new single Letting It Go, released earlier this month via Happy Valley Records digitally and on 7″.
04. Launch show goes down tomorrow night at the Bello Bar in Dublin. Support from Padraig Moore and a DJ set from the good folk behind culture blog/collective This Greedy Pig. A tenner in, tickets available here.
Verdict: Minimal, yet spacey electronica with a stern-faced, almost post-punk sensibility.
A new comedy short from Brainy Films.
Caroline writes:
Dating wisdom says “Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there – what’s the worst that can happen?”. Well, this. This is the worst that can happen.
Written and Directed by Brian Cheatle.
Starring Cillian O’Gairbhi and Clare Monnelly.
Shot in Anseo, Camden Street, Dublin 2 (courtesy of Eddie)
Oh.
Keith writes:
Received this letter with an ‘incorrect postal address’ this morning, thought you might be interested.
