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Brian Finnegan, editor of GCN [Gay Community News]

Further to Leo’s coming out.

Brian Finnegan writes:

…For a member of the cabinet to come out as gay  sends a huge message to the public. The message is that our leaders, the people who make decisions that affect our lives, are a more diverse group of people than we might imagine. Gay people are elected and appointed to positions of power too, and it has no effect on whether they can do their jobs properly or not.

For someone like High Court judge, Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly, who has acknowledged her female partner since her elevation to the High Court last July, and had her partner acknowledged by the powers that be, I think it’s about being true to yourself while doing the job you have been entrusted to do by society.

Such honesty can only be applauded, and celebrated. Such honesty shows how far we have come as a society in understanding diversity, how far we have travelled in learning to have compassion and respect for our fellow citizens.

I heard this morning about a 62 year-old man who came out to his family after listening to Minister Varadkar’s interview yesterday. I hope that such inspiration spreads. At this time in the history of our country, when the public are being given the serious responsibility to vote on whether certain people deserve to be treated equally under our laws or not, we need more and more gay and lesbian people to be visible, showing they are just like everyone else, that they have the same hopes and dreams, that they take the same social responsibilities, and hold the same commitment to a good, fair and working society, as heterosexual people. They just happen to be gay.

People In The Highest Echelons Of Ireland Are Out At Work (Brian Finnegan, Outmost.com)

(GCN)

werner-herzog-bear
1. Always take the initiative.
2. There is nothing wrong with spending a night in jail if it means getting the shot you need.
3. Send out all your dogs and one might return with prey.
4. Never wallow in your troubles; despair must be kept private and brief.
5. Learn to live with your mistakes.
6. Expand your knowledge and understanding of music and literature, old and modern.
7. That roll of unexposed celluloid you have in your hand might be the last in existence, so do something impressive with it.
8. There is never an excuse not to finish a film.
9. Carry bolt cutters everywhere.
10. Thwart institutional cowardice.
11. Ask for forgiveness, not permission.
12. Take your fate into your own hands.
13. Learn to read the inner essence of a landscape.
14. Ignite the fire within and explore unknown territory.
15. Walk straight ahead, never detour.
16. Manoeuvre and mislead, but always deliver.
17. Don’t be fearful of rejection.
18. Develop your own voice.
19. Day one is the point of no return.
20. A badge of honor is to fail a film theory class.
21. Chance is the lifeblood of cinema.
22. Guerrilla tactics are best.
23. Take revenge if need be.
24. Get used to the bear behind you.

Advice for filmmakers (and people in general) from the back cover of Paul Cronin’s collection of conversations with the director Werner Herzog, entitled Werner Herzog – A Guide For The Perplexed.

Previously: Werner Herzog Really hates Chickens

kottke

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Screen Shot 2015-01-19 at 10.57.53

Yesterday’s Sunday Times.

Derek B writes:

It is striking that the Charlie Hebdo shootings was against freedom of speech but those that question aspects of the events of that day, not least the suicide of one of the leading investigators, are ridiculed. I don’t agree with Jim Corr about everything (The Corrs’ cover of Fleetwood Mac’s Dreams remains a sore point) but I would urge people to have a look at some of the eveidence that is coming out about what happened in Paris and examine the official narrative….

FIGHT!

Jim Corr (Facebook)

B7t-2s0CEAA9T2C

This afternoon.

Justice for Magdalenes Research (JFMR), the National Women’s Council of Ireland, the Irish Council for Civil Liberties and Amnesty International (Ireland) today called on the government to honour the promise it made to Magdalene survivors in June 2013, to
implement all of Mr Justice John Quirke’s recommendations for a Magdalene restorative justice scheme.

Criticising the Redress for Women Resident in Certain Institutions Bill 2014, Maeve O’Rourke of JFMR said: “This draft legislation does not meet Judge Quirke’s recommendation on healthcare for Magdalene women. It is an obvious and unacceptable paring back of what the government promised as part of the women’s redress package. Judge Quirke could not have been clearer in recommending that each woman should receive a card entitling her to the full range of health s ervices provided to state infected Hepatitis C survivors under the HAA card scheme.

Instead, the Bill promises little more than the regular medical card, which most of the women already have.” Ms O’Rourke’s criticism comes exactly 23 months after Enda Kenny’s emotional apology to Magdalene survivors on 19th February 2013.

Pic via Claire McGettrick

Previously: Magdalene Laundries on broadsheet

90367833 90367835 90367838 90367842Yesterday.

Participants in the ‘Enterprise Zone‘ at Showcase in the RDS, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 which runs until January 21, co-ordinated by the Local Enterprise Offices.

There are 105 designers and makers will be hoping to secure lucrative orders for their work at Showcase, which promotes and celebrates Irish design to buyers from Ireland and all over the world.

From top: Shirley Copperwhite of Shirley Copperwhite Designs; Birgit Buschmann of ‘Made 4 U‘; Emma Manley of ‘Manley’ and Ger Collins of ‘Pippablue’.

(Mark Stedman/Photocall Ireland)

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