https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtxdrN260kg
An awkward encounter, starring Aidan and Luan of comedy channel A.L.
Previously: The First Cut Is The Deepest
Author Archives: Admin
Singapore based photographer Nicky Bay’s ongoing documentation of the Mirror Spider, whose abdomen is covered in bright panels that the spider can readjust in stressful situations to create larger reflective surfaces.
MORE: Transformation of the Mirror Spider (Macro Photography in Singapore)
MORE to folly
A sugar tax to ‘tackle obesity’ is among proposals being considered by the government
Further to renewed calls today for a tax on ‘sugar sweetened’ drinks.
Eamon Delaney, at the Hibernia Forum writes:
The Sugar tax proposal is yet another nanny state measure which benefits politicians and the tax collector but doesn’t address the problem it says it does. This ineffective measure uses a sledgehammer inflationary approach and focuses on the wrong area.
We absolutely need to address the growing problem of obesity but this should be done through education, more exercise, less car dependency etc and not just by singling out one product for a punitive financial penalty..
The reality is that sugar taxes don’t reduce obesity and are regressive…
…The obesity problem requires a multi-faceted approach
Soft drinks companies have been active on this issue. In Ireland they say they have increased their marketing spend on no and low sugar options by 80% over the last five years, are not marketing and advertising any beverages to children under 12s, and say they are committed to reformulation
The beverage industry is leading on addressing obesity through a mix of effective measures. Reformulation of sugar sweetened beverages in Ireland has already resulted in a 10% reduction in energy – 15% when the shift towards low and no calorie drinks is included.
They are also reviewing their marketing practices to ensure advertising in a responsible manner, including increasing public awareness on consumption and nutrition.
In fairness, they are committed to doing more, including continuing to accelerate their low calories beverages; aggressive reformulation of their products; and introducing new products with reduced calories.
While obesity rates are rising in Ireland, between 2000 and 2012 the sales of sugar sweetened beverages fell by 21% (sparkling sugar sweetened beverages fell by 28% in the same period).
So what is this about? Why would a sugar tax change this?
Sugared per caps have dropped by 28% since 2003, while lights/waters have grown from 25.7% to 31.9%
With sparkling soft drinks contributing just 3% of total calorie intake in the Irish diet, a tax would be both ineffective in helping to combat obesity and unfair to consumers who would face additional costs.
Lastly we should remember two things:
1. That there’s already a tax on sugary drinks, vat at 23%, and
2. Vat was increased from 21% to 23% and it had no effect on demand for those sugary drinks.
Fight!
*wobble*
Fight Obesity Through Education And Exercise, Not With Another Tax (Eamon Delaney, Hibernia Forum)
The Evening Telegraph, April 8. 1902
Meet Paddy.
Dublin’s can-carrying Kerry Blue.
Sibling of Daedalus writes:
Kerry Blue Terriers were the favourite dog of General Michael Collins and perhaps he was influenced in his choice by Paddy, the famous Edwardian Dublin terrier, whose defiance of British-imposed licensing laws featured in a number of national and international papers in the Spring of 1902.
The previous year the Child Messenger Act 1901 – following on earlier legislation of 1872 and 1886 which prohibited the consumption of spirits and other alcoholic drinks by persons under 16 and 13 respectively – had prohibited the well-established – and often financially lucrative – practice of children collecting drink for adults from public houses.
Paddy’s young owner – not wanting to lose his profitable delivery service – decided to take advantage of the absence of any similar prohibition on dogs and train his ‘remarkably intelligent’ pet to carry out the work for him instead.
The method, as outlined by the Northants Evening Telegraph, which carried the above sketch of dog and master, was as follows:
“When twopence is put into a can off runs Paddy to the nearest licensed house, enters it, and shakes the can so that the vintner may hear the jingle of the money. The twopence is taken out, the can filled with porter, and off starts Paddy to his home, carrying the can in his mouth.”
With Chompsky on the staff, perhaps this scheme might also prove useful for the Broadsheet morning
pintscoffee?
Hic.
Arquicostura – by Spanish designer Raquel Rodrigo – a combination of architetura (architecture) and costura (needlework) – floral cross stitch (toughened and scaled up using wire mesh and thick coloured string) pleasingly deployed on the streets of Madrid
Óh
at
Ah now.
This afternoon.
Ógra Fianna Fáil stand at the National Ploughing Championships.
Thanks Rob Gale
President Michael D Higgins
Squeee!
Gareth Naughton writes:
President Higgins will join Ryan to chat about life as the State’s first citizen, his plans for the future, and, as the 1916 centenary year winds down, he will share his vision for a new Ireland.
John Connors returns to the Late Late to discuss his major new documentary series on the history of the Traveller community, as told by the community itself.
Writer Stefanie Preissner will tell viewers what inspired her hit new TV drama Can’t Cope, Won’t Cope and what it feels like to be labelled the ‘voice of a generation’.
We’ll celebrate Ireland’s Paralympics heroes with Ellen Keane and Niamh McCarthy in studio to talk about their Rio success and RTÉ’s Paralympics anchor Daráine Mulvihill discussing how the Irish team smashed it at this year’s Games.
The very funny Jessica Thom will talk about taking the challenge of her Tourette Syndrome and using it as part of her comedy.
All that and music from The Blizzards, Cathy Davey and Ralph McTell & John Sheahan…
Fight!
The Late Late Show, Friday, RTÉ One at 9.35pm.
Previously: Worth The Licence Fee
Rollingnews
Or, alternatively, ‘when pigs fly’ – corresponding adynatons from around the world by James Chapman.
A ‘flotel’ in Norway
Further to reports this morning, that Labour Dublin City Councillor Mary Freehill has put forward a motion that the council look at the possibility of using “floating hotels” in Dublin to increase the availability of accommodation.
Readers may recall the same concept being mooted in response to the increase in asylum seekers arriving in Ireland in early 2000 – around the time the system of direct provision was established.
The then Waterford Minister of State for Public Works, Martin Cullen, even travelled to Norway to inspect so-called flotels while the Department of Justice looked at leasing up to six flotels in the ports in Dublin, Waterford, Galway, Limerick and Cork.
At the time the idea was proposed, the then taoiseach Bertie Ahern, on a trip to Australia, had just visited the Migrant Resource Centre at Campsie, outside Sydney and had caused controversy over comments he had made.
At that point, it was reported that some 3,600 to 4,000 “illegal immigrants” were being held in six detention facilities throughout Australia.
On March 14, 2000, Nuala Haughey, in The Irish Times, reported:
The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, was at the centre of a political row last night over comments he made in Sydney suggesting Ireland might learn from Australia’s stringent immigration rules, where illegal immigrants are held in detention centres.
There is mandatory detention for “unlawful non-citizens” under the Migration Act in Australia. Any such person found must go to a detention facility until granted a visa or removed from the country.
Refugee and human rights groups reacted with concern and anger to Mr Ahern’s suggestion.
…Speaking after his visit to the resource and language centre, Mr Ahern said he was anxious to see how the immigration policy was working there since it was said that “this is the best integrated system in the world“.
On March 27, Miriam Donohoe and Nuala Haughey reported:
Tension has arisen within the Government over the controversial proposal to accommodate asylum-seekers in “flotels” in ports around the State.
The plan is due to come before the Cabinet tomorrow following intensive discussions in recent days involving the Taoiseach, ministers and officials. However, clear differences have emerged, with the Minister for Justice, Mr O’Donoghue, facing stiff opposition from the Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works, Mr Martin Cullen.
It is understood that Mr Cullen believes Irish ports – particularly his home port of Waterford – are not suitable for the berthing of “flotels”. He is seeking a meeting with Mr O’Donoghue.
The differences of opinion on “flotels” emerged after the Taoiseach intervened at the weekend to ensure that the radical set of measures to deal with asylum-seekers coming into the State would be ready to go before the Cabinet tomorrow.
The Department of Justice said on Friday that the asylum package, which includes proposals for dispersal of asylum-seekers as well as the “flotel” plan, would not go to Cabinet until Tuesday of next week. However, The Irish Times has learned that, on his return to Dublin from Lisbon on Friday evening, Mr Ahern let it be known that he wanted the plan ready for Cabinet tomorrow. Officials in the Department of Justice and the OPW have been working over the weekend preparing a Cabinet memorandum.
However, the idea never took off.
Meanwhile, up to 1,000 new bed spaces are due to become available for asylum-seekers in hostels, hotels and guest houses around the State next month. The OPW has been inspecting various accommodation sites on behalf of the Directorate for Asylum-Seeker Services set up by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform.
The new accommodation stock includes the Parnell West Hotel in Parnell Square, Dublin, which was bought by the Department of Justice for €2.5 million. It is understood that the Department is completing deals to lease about 500 beds in two hotels in Co Cork, one in Rosslare, Co Wexford, and hostels in Tralee and in Co Carlow. The minimum lease on such properties is 12 months, but this is open to negotiation.
As part of the Government’s “direct provision” programme, asylum-seekers living in this type of accommodation will be on full board, which includes three daily meals. They will receive €15 per week per adult to purchase “extra comforts”.
Good times.
Floating hotels at docks could ease homeless crisis’ – councillor (Herald)