Starbusks

Admin at 12:58 pm September 7, 2016

From top: Starbucks, Thomas Street, Limerick; The spat with Steamboat Music

Starbucks on Thomas Street, Limerick seeking a little of the post-pub live music pie, asked for local musicians to come in and play for the casual audience

But were they willing to pay for their slice of said pie?

Apparently not, looking as they were to “showcase their venue”.

This drew a rise from Steamboat Music, local instrument/record shop, who invited Starbuck’s to “showcase” their coffee for free in their own establishment, before telling them where to go.

A truce had subsequently been made between the two parties, with Steamboat offering to help the local Starbuck’s in their musical affairs, ahead of Steamboat’s post-HMV expansion into records, movies and graphic novels in October, until a customer of Steamboat’s came to them bearing bad tidings…

So we thought we had come to a friendly arrangement with (manager of local) Starbuck’s over his attempt to exploit musicians, but like his employer’s coffee, he’s full of… sugar.

Now they’re back to their exploiting ways, a very young, talented customer of ours was offered a gig for the sweet, sweet nothing of “EXPOSURE”, and we can’t allow that. We started this fight for musicians and by god, we’ll end it.

We’ve decided, just out of pig iron, when we open our new superstore in October, we’re putting in a cafe upstairs with the CDs, DVDs, records & comics, and we’re going to have paid gigs for musicians and free coffee on Saturdays until Christmas.

All discussion, conjecture and side-taking to be had with hashtag #StarbucksvsSteamboat.

FIGHT!

Steamboat Music (Facebook)

Knight Rider

Admin at 12:56 pm September 7, 2016

One of six motorcycles featured in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises – currently up for auction by the Prop Store.

The machine has Hoosier racing tyres, a 750cc Honda engine, a metal display stand and a starting price of $60,000 – $80,000.

likecool

‘It’s A Dishonest Charge Levelled Against Us’

Admin at 12:49 pm September 7, 2016

This afternoon.

Labour’s Brendan Howlin in the Dáil during the debate on the Apple tax ruling.

“There seems to be a belief that Ireland, a small nation, should carry the reputational hit for correcting what is an issue – and that we’ve all agreed is an issue – we’re told this is an investigation under state aid rules yet the lion’s share of the commentary seems to be the announcement of the commission’s position has been about taxation levels.

“The same sort of commentary we heard for many, many years about corporation tax policy in Ireland.”

“It’s a dishonest charge levelled against us and all it seeks is to do us harm. And those who would be complicit in it do Ireland harm and the prospect of continuing, to be the success we have in attracting investment into this country.”

“But it is the mud that sticks, the mud that is thrown often enough. The truth is that this State collects higher than average revenue from corporation taxes.

“It implements, at a national level, an effective tax rate higher than other countries with bigger systems of relief that don’t seem to be the focus of the commission’s overview. A point made I think, rather effectively, in the case of France, by Deputy [Michael] Martin.”

“As Dan O’Brien and other commentators have pointed out, there’s a growing trend in the European Commission rulings to find against smaller countries but ignoring potential breaches elsewhere. That should give every member of this house pause for thought before automatically rushing to agree with the commission.”

Right so.

Watch proceedings live here

Previously: The Apple Deal Explained

Halligan’s Ball

Admin at 12:37 pm September 7, 2016

Independent Alliance TD and junior minister John Halligan on Kildare Street, Dublin 2 this afternoon

Further to reports that Independent Alliance TD John Halligan has threatened to leave Government after an independent review didn’t support his calls for a second cathorisation laboratory at University Hospital Waterford…

And reports that the Independent Alliance is to hold an emergency meeting with Fine Gael later today…

Hopeless Surfer tweetz:

John Halligan shoots himself in foot with hospital report, then decides to get tough…

Halligan warns Govt could fall if WUH promise broken (RTE)

Alternatively: Minister John Halligan used “erroneous” figures to overstate level of cardiac services at Waterford Hospital (No Expenses Spared, Ken Foxe)

Pic: Jim O’Callaghan

Old School Swagger

Admin at 11:51 am September 7, 2016

Stephen Manning writes:

Sunday at Electric Picnic. Tucked away in the trailer park, two Irish beat boxers were brilliantly entertaining the crowd when the looked for volunteers. This cravat-wearing gent steps up and throws down some Class- A free styling rap. The subject of which was his cat, Eric.

Meanwhile…

STP writes:

Pink Moon Campsite, Electric Picnic, Saturday. Good times had, rainbows spotted!

‘Harmful Advice Is Reprehensible In The Extreme’

Admin at 11:47 am September 7, 2016

After listening with mounting horror to the details of the “advice” from a so-called crisis pregnancy advice clinic, I was horrified to read that Minister for Children Katherine Zappone was merely “considering” regulation of these clinics and that Minister for Health Simon Harris and the HSE are powerless to regulate or prosecute, and must instead compete with these unsupervised agencies.

I hope it would be agreed by everyone that people in such vulnerable situations deserve accurate and unbiased information, and that the provision of blatantly false and harmful advice is unacceptable and reprehensible in the extreme. The time for acceptance of this inaction is long since passed, and these departments must act now to stop others from suffering.

Dr Mark O’Loughlin,
Clinical Lecturer,
Registrar in Histopathology,
Galway University Hospital.

Pregnancy counselling and regulation (Irish Times letters page)

Previously: Behind The Blue Door

Very Cushy To Be Frank

Admin at 11:21 am September 7, 2016

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0F_ArGMExQ

Last night.

Uploaded In full (above) BBC Northern Ireland’s second Spotlight programme – presented by Mandy McAuley – on Nama’s Northern Ireland property deal, otherwise known as Project Eagle.

The documentary includes a reconstruction (top) of Frank Cushnahan, then a member of Nama’s Northern Ireland Advisory Committee, receiving £40,000 – in bundles of two – from property developer John Miskelly.

Good times.

More as we watch it.

Previously: Spotlight On Noonan

That Nama Vote In Full

The Apple Deal ‘Explained’

Admin at 11:03 am September 7, 2016

The Department of Finance have sent out a briefing document to TDs ahead of today’s debate on the EU’s Apple tax ruling.

In 1991, a basis proposed by Apple for determining Apple Computer Ltd’s Irish branch net profit was agreed by Revenue.

According to that ruling, the net profit attributable to the AOE branch would be calculated as 65% of operating expenses up to an annual amount of $60- 70 million and 20% of operating expenses in excess of $60-70 million.

This was subject to the proviso that if the overall profit from the company was less than the figure resulting from this formula, that lower figure would be used for determining net profits of the branch.

Operating expenses included in the formula were all operating expenses incurred by Apple Computer Ltd.’s Irish branch, including depreciation but excluding materials for resale and cost-share for intangibles charged from Apple-affiliated companies.

In 2007, a revised approach for remunerating the Irish branch of AOE was agreed which was based on:

(a) a 10-20% margin on branch operating costs, excluding costs not attributable to the Irish branch, and

(b) an IP return of 1-9% of branch turnover in respect of the accumulated manufacturing process technology of the Irish branch.