Outta Here

Bodger at 11:17 am January 3, 2020

Iraqi forces surround The US Embassy compound in Baghdad on January 1

This morning.

Further to the deaths of Iranian Quds Force leader Qassem Soleimani and Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis in a US air strike….

#Iraq: Due to heightened tensions in Iraq and the region, we urge U.S. citizens to depart Iraq immediately. Due to Iranian-backed militia attacks at the U.S. Embassy compound, all consular operations are suspended. U.S. citizens should not approach the Embassy. pic.twitter.com/rdRce3Qr4a

— Travel – State Dept (@TravelGov) January 3, 2020

Gulp.

U.S. embassy urges citizens to depart Iraq immediately: statement (Reuters)

Earlier: A Limerick A Day

Stop That

Bodger at 11:03 am January 3, 2020

Splutter!

This week’s The Limerick Leader

Meanwhile….

Hey lads, I didn't cop that this was a promo for a comedy gig. But if this made you laugh too, please get out and support the comic responsible, @normasheahan @BelltableLimk on Jan17th pic.twitter.com/pJrN8UaGRv

— Sam Windrim (@samwindrim) January 2, 2020

Lend Me Your Ears

Bodger at 10:52 am January 3, 2020

From top: ‘Hero’ by Richard Mann; Heber Rowan

Heber Rowan writes:

Last year, I set myself a few goals, one of them was to get started making audiobooks after falling in love with them.

After long evenings recording this random story mixing vampires, aliens and demons and correcting it while in the back of the bus commuting home, I’m happy to say, I’ve done it!

It’s not perfect as a performance or perhaps also not the greatest piece of literature in the world but like as they say in academia ‘a finished thesis is a good thesis’.

The following ten codes allow those who use them to listen for free if they use it with the ACX.com link here

GLYYESLRZ62EK
H8JCZTKLG2GKE
MF2EMSP7T4K7C
RBPXQETBTA5J7
SFA3XASLPLPDU
SLR7D4Z5BWNE6
T43H99FJPZJHL
TSXMXN77WXLF5
W6CK2LUQPCG8R
XUB5WQU45BM6J
YCRXNTREXEBSK

Hero by Richard Mann, narrated by Heber Rowan (audible)

Ask A Broadsheet Reader

Bodger at 9:41 am January 3, 2020

Last night.

Louis Le Fronde writes:

Dropped into my letterbox [Dublin 4]…Is he running [for the Dáil] again?

The leftist whiners won’t like it, but it l’m looking forward to his return…

Anyone?

A Limerick A Day

John Moynes at 9:29 am January 3, 2020

US President Donald Trump (left) and General Qassim Soleimani, head of Iran’s elite Quds Force, who was killed during an airstrike at Baghdad International Airport

Well Donald finds his job a chore
And impeachment’s a terrible bore
So he’s blown up a man
Who comes from Iran
As he thinks what he heeds is a war

John Moynes

Friday’s Papers

Admin at 10:36 pm January 2, 2020

MORE to follow.

Marian Finucane Dies At 69

Bodger at 6:26 pm January 2, 2020

From top: Marian Finucane on air In 1996; with the 2008 ‘Outstanding Achievement’ PPI radio Award; with husband John Clarke during a DIT Honorary Degree ceremony at The Royal Hospital, Kilmainham, Dublin in 2002; at Bewley’s Cafe, Grafton Street, Dublin 2, during Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning in aid of hospice care in 2005; at the same event in 1999; attending the removal of Nuala O’Faolain at the Church of the Visitation, Fairview, Dublin in 2008; RTÉ Radio One publicity photo

This evening.

RTÉ has announced the sudden death of broadcaster Marian Finucane at the age of 69.

RTÉ reports:

RTÉ Director General Dee Forbes said: “We learned today of the sudden passing of Marian Finucane with profound shock and sadness.

“Marian was a broadcaster of immense capability; a household name, she was first and foremost a tenacious journalist with a zeal for breaking new ground.

“From Women Today to Liveline to her weekday radio show on Radio 1 and, latterly, her enormously popular Saturday and Sunday radio programme, she tackled the big social issues of the day with command and insight.

“Multi-skilled, she forged a distinguished career on television, as well as undertaking significant charity work in Africa. Ireland has lost a unique voice. RTÉ has lost a beloved colleague. My sincere and heartfelt sympathies to her husband John and son Jack.”

RIP.

Death announced of RTÉ broadcaster Marian Finucane (RTÉ)

RTÉ broadcaster Marian Finucane dies aged 69 (The Irish Times)

Pics; Rollingnews

Unauthorised Third Party Time

Bodger at 4:50 pm January 2, 2020

This afternoon.

Via Singapore’s The New Paper:

Victims would first receive a WhatsApp message from one of their contacts, whose account may have already been compromised.

The message will request for their WhatsApp account verification code, which is sent via SMS.

Once the code has been sent to the scammers, the user will lose access to his WhatsApp account.

WhatsApp users receive a verification code when they try to log in for the first time on a new device.

If a WhatsApp user receives this code while already logged in, then it might be that someone else is trying to access his account by inputting the user’s mobile number.

Police said in overseas cases, scammers used the compromised accounts to deceive the victim’s contacts into buying online gift cards, then sending over the password for the cards.

These cards would then be resold by the scammers for a profit.

WhatsApp scam could leave you locked out of account (TNP)

John Wiles writes: