vespa

A beloved Italian companion.

Pinched.

Louise Hendricks writes:

Beloved Vespa lifted from a (supposedly) secured car park in Temple Bar Dublin 2 at 2:30am on Tuesday. They have a guy on CCTV but aren’t holding out much hope of retrieving it.
It’s a Vespa LXV 125, grey with missing side-mirrors and a few scratches on both sides of the body. Sorely missed…a loyal companion for the past 5 years! Just trying to do anything/my best to get it back.

Anyone?

trade1Trade

Citizens.

Yes YOU.

Don’t let them ‘trade away our sovereignty’.

Sez Kate who writes:

For any broadsheet readers who mightn’t have heard about TTIP  [Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership] – its a trade agreement between EU and US – there are big concerns about its effect on lots of things but in particular, a clause within it that allows corporate entities to sue state governments for loss of earnings.

Example’s of this clause already occurring in America include Monsanto suing the state of Vermont for requiring GM foods to be labelled or to bring it closer to home – the threat by big tobacco to sue Ireland for loss of earnings due to blank packaging.

The doc [link below] does state the EU negotiations give an ‘opportunity’ to address concerns raised by citizens. There have been eight rounds of negotiations to date. The 9th round is scheduled for 20th – 24th April 2015.

I thought maybe your readers would like to know a bit more about it. There are lots of people taking action to try and stop some of the worst parts of this agreement slipping through the net if anyone out there wants to get active.

TTIP Briefing Note (Department of Jobs)

Previously: Trojan Defiance

Screen Shot 2015-02-27 at 11.03.16

David Petraeus, former Director of the CIA and retired four-star general in the US Military, spoke at The Phil in Trinity yesterday and it’s been claimed that the media were barred from the event.

Anyone?

David Petraeus, Former Director of the CIA, Speaks to The Phil (Facebook)

UPDATE:

Screen Shot 2015-02-27 at 11.16.12

Thanks Catherine Healy

UPDATE:

Screen Shot 2015-02-27 at 12.25.11

Greg McInerney writes:

“So I tried to have a chat with former Director of the CIA and retired four-star General of the US Army David Petraeus today in Trinity College. Dave was there to pick up an award from the University Philosphical Society (presumably Petraeus has some deep philosophical insights to share about killing millions of people).

“I had hoped to gain entry to the event but as fate would have it, I bumped into him before the event as he was being given a tour of the campus. I managed to garble out a few poorly phrased points/questions (Afghans not Afghanis duh) in defence of the people of the Middle East and beyond, in memory of the people whose deaths this man is responsible for. I didn’t get to say much at all really before I was dragged away (literally) by security who should be thankful I was in an agreeable mood.”

“After being detained for an hour or so, and having pointed out to security and Gardaí that I was merely trying to ask the man some questions, that I maintained a distance from him, and that if I was to be charged with trespassing, surely every tourist there taking a video or photo should be subject to the same charge, they let me go.”

“I was allowed to go without charge on the condition that I delete the video. I did. However, mysteriously, here it is.”

Greg McInerney (Facebook)

Thanks Donie O’Sullivan

Galway City Tribune Feb 27

Job applicants and people who have been offered a post at the university have also been asked: “Do you suffer any breast problems? Have you ever been treated for gynaecological problems? Have you ever suffered prostate problems?”

NUIG, according to the questionnaire, says that the questions are necessary to establish if the appointee is “fit for the job”.

If he or she can, “carry out the job without any undue risk to the health and safety of themselves or others at work”.

And that NUIG “will have reasonable expectation that the appointee will provide regular attendance at work until retirement”.

NUIG staff up in arms over ‘invasive’ health quiz (Connacht Tribune)
Irish Examiner: NUI Galway form asks job applicants about their menstrual cycles

Broadsheet.ie