[John Fitzgerald of the ESRI]
The ESRI predicted gross national product (GNP), which strips out the effects of multinational profit flows, would grow by 3.5 per cent this year, and by 3.7 per cent in 2015, rates of growth not seen since 2006.“After a long period of attrition, we are approaching the end of the very painful period of fiscal adjustment,” it said.
Yay.
[Sunday Tribune, March 15, 2009]
Oh.
Ireland is now back on a growth path, says ESRI (irish Times)
Thanks Conor McCabe
[From top: Tom Finegan appearing before the Justice Committee on Wednesday and above Senator Ronan Mullen]
David McMahon writes:
“I thought I’d assemble the following just to show how small Dublin/Ireland is in terms of the people who occupy the civil society strata. It is pure coincidence of course that the example below relates to the personages involved, and no judgment is being made on the value of the individuals contributions. Undoubtedly a similar close relationship/cross population/dynamic applies to other areas and sectors. It’s just interesting.
1. The Children and Family Relationships Bill was before the Oireachtas Justice Committee on Wednesday; and in the main was acknowledged as a long overdue and progressive step in recognising the reality of Irish family and reproductive life. The Bill is by no way perfect.
2. In the afternoon session, the witnesses included Family and Life; and were represented by Dr Tom Finegan. Family and Life are based at 26 Mountjoy Square, and per their website:
‘Family & Life is not affiliated to any other organisation, it does not receive nor seek state, organizational or corporate funding; it does not engage in street collections, lotteries or the for-profit sale of goods. Family & Life is not a political lobby group’.3. Dr Finegan is, a founding member of Catholic Comment; working alongside Ronan Mullen (Director) and David Quinn (Expert/Consultant). Other personages noted on Catholic Comment website include Breda O’Brien, Maria Steen and Lorcan Price.
4. Dr Tom Finegan, was Ronan Mullen’s previous Parliamentary Assistant, as evidenced at this Facebook acknowledgement: “Sen. Ronan Mullen has had to cancel, a last minute-cancellation. He is sending his Parliamentary Assistant Tom Finegan. He’s a PHD candidate in the area of medicine in Trinity College Dublin and will give a robust proposal of the Pro-Life Argument.”
5. Senator Ronan Mullen is a member of the Justice committee and directed his first line of questioning to Dr Finegan, after opening statements by all witnesses. There is no requirement on the part of Committee members to disclose previous professional relationships with witnesses, or is there?
Anyone?
This morning we must bid adieu,
To the brilliant and glorious Sue,
And take time to extol,
The great Adrian Mole,
So well written, and funny, and true.
John Moynes
(Rex)
Inventor, technologist, former head of research and development for Disney’s Imagineering department Bran Ferren became a father for the first time in his fifties.
Since the birth of his daughter, he’s been constructing an ‘adventure vehicle’ in which he and four year-old Kira intend to travel the world.
It’s called the KiraVan and Ferren – who’s already designed a series of location trucks for ABC – has spent ‘millions’ developing the 10m long, 3m high, six-Kevlar-wheeled mobile fortress with its dozen interlinked communication systems, bathroom, full kitchen, penthouse and impressive all-terrain chops, including the ability to negotiate 45 degree slopes and travel 2000 miles on a single tank of diesel.
Due for completion later this year, it is thought to be the most elaborate all terrain vehicle ever built.
Giant zoomable cutaway here.
MORE: The Most Insane Truck Ever Built and the 4-Year-Old Who Commands It (Wired)
(H/T: Noel)
JD writes:
Waiting to board the bus to Derry [at Europa bus station, Belfast] yesterday.
The Bradley Timepiece designed by Hyungsoo Kim is a simple, effective tactile watch featuring two metal balls rotating in circular grooves on the face (indicating minutes) and at the side (hours).
Initially pitched on Kickstarter, the pledge goal of $40,000 has been superceded by huge demand and now stands at nearly $600,000.
Unsurprisingly, the watch will go on sale this summer in the US with a European launch expected shortly thereafter.
[University College Cork magazine Motley, out today]Continue reading →
Written by novelist and screenwriter Dave Eggers for the US radio show This American Life, directed by Richard Hickey and brought to life by a team of 40 animators at Not To Scale, Francis is the story of a teenager on a family camping trip who rows out to the middle of a lake by night to write in her journal.
Bad idea.
Great storytelling. Sumptuous animation.
Clew Bay, Co Mayo
Louise Byrne (RTE) tweetz:
“Unbelievable storm damage at Clew Bay. Five feet of rocks deposited on beach. Spot the no swimming sign…”
