Niippons – Spice Bag
A munchie fuelled throbbing jam (plus refreshments).
Gabriel Rodriguez writes:
In their first cosmic exploration since 2013’s debut album Shit Demons, Dublin space rock supergroup, Nippons, have released a new track and video called Spice Bag.
Written and recorded in under 24 hours between the 30-31 December[ 2014], Spice Bag explores themes of fast food, the point of human origin, and trans-dimensional omnipresence…
From left: RTÉ weather presenter Nuala Carey, Leo Vardkar and Leinster rugby’s Kevin McLaughlin.
Splutter.
Mmmm.
Health Minister Leo Varadkar launching the On The Dry fundraising campaign at Trinity College, Dublin encouraging “those who abstain from alcohol at this time of year to raise vital donations towards the fight against heart disease and stroke-the number one cause of death in this country”.
The initiative is supported by AIG Insurance and Dublin’s 98FM.
Take a hike Nuala.
Hic.
(Leon Farrell/Photocall Ireland)
In a flagrant copy of Mario Weinerroither’s similar but superior Musicless Music Videos, Dutch ad agency House of Halo recreates the Friends opening sequence with the Rembrandts taken out.
It’s fairly sinister, in fairness.
Immunity
at
(1) #tuambabies Under s19 of the 2004 Act if any witness including member of Religious Order gives evidence of having abused facilitated ..
— Kevin Higgins (@Boglawyer) January 16, 2015
(2) #tuambabies the illegal adoption of hundreds of children or even having caused the death of children their identity is protected … — Kevin Higgins (@Boglawyer) January 16, 2015
(3) #tuambabies and they have immunity from criminal prosecution. Thank you Dr Reilly
— Kevin Higgins (@Boglawyer) January 16, 2015
There you go now.
UPDATE: Not so fast. (See comments).
Section 19 of the Commissions of Investigation Act 2004
Previously: Reputable History
Dublin actor writer Isueult Casey writes:
I recently wrote this sketch in the hopes that it’s not just me that’s been “friend-zoned” in the past.
Sinn Féin TD Jonathan O’Brien and Tánaiste Joan Burton during Leaders’ Questions yesterday
Yup. Burton.
You’ll recall the death of Jonathan Corrie on December 1 last. His body was found less than 50m from the Dáil on Molesworth Street.
His death prompted Taoiseach Enda Kenny to spend three hours on the streets of Dublin, meeting homeless people. Junior Minister Alan Kelly then announced that 260 extra beds would be made available to the homeless before Christmas. Mr Kelly also promised that a bed would be available for every single homeless person in Dublin.
Yesterday, Independent TD Maureen O’Sullivan raised the subject of homelessness, addiction and the provision of beds – in light of the Government’s moves before Christmas.
She said:
“When discussing this before Christmas, I stressed the need to commit to supported drug-free accommodation for those in recovery in order that they would not have to mix with those who are actively using. One such facility not far from here was described by the 18 persons in recovery there as having been a rock of stability, but because of pressure to take homeless persons off the street, which is very important, there has been a reconfiguration and that accommodation is no longer drug free. The changing of the culture to a mixed one has undermined the recovery journey of those in the facility, especially those who are at the early stages of recovery.”
“I take no pleasure in saying that what has happened has been disastrous. As a result of that reconfiguration, there is now widespread heroin use. There is dealing and chaotic behaviour. There are multiple relapses. There has been at least one serious overdose and there are debt issues as well. In spite of all of these warnings being brought to the attention of Ministers, Dublin City Council and the HSE, in spite of findings from a report on homelessness and addiction and in spite of recommendations from the users’ forum, this went ahead. I consider that a serious breach of duty of care to those in recovery.”
Later, as Tánaiste Joan Burton was responding, Sinn Féin TD Jonathan O’Brien told the Dáil his brother, a recovering heroin addict, is currently homeless and being forced to sleep in shelters with other addicts as a cap on his rent allowance is preventing him for accessing accommodation.
Joan Burton: “I very much share Deputy O’Sullivan’s view that the best resolution for an individual who has serious addiction problems is to try to get himself or herself completely clean. Given my experience down the years and knowing many who have made that journey as well as many now working in the sector, I agree that such is the best model. On the organisations which are involved in delivering the services and the decisions they make around how they approach that, something I would like to see developing more strongly is that when addicts are clean, aside from being in hostel accommodation, which should be a transitional phase…”
Róisín Shortall: “It is not, and that is the point.”
Burton: “…the hostel accommodation should recognise the stage that they are at. What should happen then is that we should seek to find homes for such persons. Not only have I been in many centres throughout the country…”
(Interruptions).
Burton: “I was in Cork before Christmas…”
Peter Mathews: “The Tánaiste is talking herself into eternity.”
Burton: “…at the invitation of Simon. Simon in Cork, if I may say so, has an excellent approach to providing long-term homes…”
A Deputy: “Does the Tánaiste want to attach it to a vow of silence?”
Burton: “…for those who have come through a certain treatment situation.”
O’Brien: “The Tánaiste does not have a clue.”
Mathews: “The Tánaiste should stop talking.”
Michael Kitt: “Quiet.”
Ray Butler: “What does Deputy Mathews mean, “Stop talking”?”
Mathews: “It is meaningless.”
Burton: “I spent last Monday talking to 15 or 16 very fine persons, as good any day as the Deputy or any of his colleagues who sit beside him…”
Bernard Durkan: “Hear, hear.”
Burton: “….who have substance problems which they are battling to overcome.”
O’Brien: “I have a brother who is homeless. He is a recovering heroin addict…”
Burton: “The Deputy should not dare lecture me.”
O’Brien: “…who cannot get accommodation because of the cap on rent allowance.”
Michael Kitt: “The Tánaiste should be allowed to continue without interruption.”
Burton: “Deputy O’Brien should not dare lecture me.”
O’Brien: ‘That is exactly what is happening.’
Kitt: “Order please.”
Burton: “Deputy O’Brien should not dare lecture me.”
O’Brien: “He has been forced to go back into a hostel where drug taking happens in front of him.”
Kitt: “The time is almost up.”
Burton: “I have just said that the approach of getting a home for people and getting people substance free is the correct approach.”
Kitt: “I thank the Tánaiste. That concludes Leaders’ Questions. We will now move on to the Order of Business.”
Eric J. Byrne: “Why does his good family not take him home?”
O’Brien: “Shut your mouth.”
Derek Keating: “A Leas-Cheann Comhairle, that is completely out of order.”
Pádraig MacLochlainn: “Deputies should have a bit of common decency.”
Keating: “It is completely out of order for Deputy O’Brien to tell another Deputy to shut his mouth.”
Byrne: “What would one expect from Sinn Féin?”
Keating: “He should withdraw the remark and apologise.”
MacLochlainn: “In the circumstances, Members should have a bit of common decency and cop themselves on. The Deputy is the first one to run to the television. He should cop himself on.”
Transcript via Oireachtas.ie
Previously: The Best We Can Do
Video via Merrion Street, go to 29.27 for Maureen O’Sullivan and 39.00 for Jonathan O’Brien
UPDATE:
FG TD Derek Keating says he didn't hear what @JOBrien_SF said – but decided to jump in anyway, apparently. #liveline
— Colette Browne (@colettebrowne) January 16, 2015
Beware of Greeks.
Bearing NOTHING.
Two Greek systemic banks submitted the first requests to the Bank of Greece for cash via the emergency liquidity assistance (ELA) system , sources told Kathimerini.
It is thought that requests from the remaining Greek banks will follow in the next few days.
The move came in response to the pressing liquidity conditions resulting from the growing outflow of deposits as well as the acquisition of treasury bills forced onto them by the state.
Banks usually resort to ELA when they face a cash crunch and do not have adequate collateral to draw liquidity from the European Central Bank, their main funding tool. ELA is particularly costly as it carries an interest rate of 1.55 percent, against just 0.05 percent for ECB funding.
RUN! Swim!
Greek banks make requests for ELA funding (Ekathimerini)
(Dailywhat)