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Man calls 999 in fast food emergency 



A hungry man called the emergency services because staff at his local Chinese restaurant were not answering their phone, police have said.

The man, from County Down in Northern Ireland, dialled the 999 emergency number to complain that his calls were not being answered.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said he was reminded the 999 number was strictly for emergencies.

However, they said he replied it was an emergency as he wanted to order a meal.

A local police inspector said he had "arranged for the local neighbourhood officer to call with this man and give him some advice".

The PSNI in Newtownards revealed details of the unusual call on their local Facebook page.

Marty's got the cigars and all ready Hilary.

How many of us would hand in the cash ?


A BUS driver who found a bag containing €390,000 handed the money over to police, who tracked down the elderly woman who had left her fortune behind.

The Austrian driver, identified by the Vienna transport authority only as Wolfgang R, was inspecting his vehicle at the end of the line when he found the bag in a seat behind the driver's.


"At first I thought it was shopping or medicine," he said. However, when he opened the bag he found a collection of €500 notes staring back at him.


Police in the Austrian capital used a bank deposit slip inside the bag to trace the owner. There was no word on whether the woman had given the honest driver a reward.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-19989037


Michael Palin has seen most of the world.

I always would have fancied doing his job - envied him at times almost.

This looks like another fascinating and enlightening series. This wee intro clip has me really looking forward to this.

[German Catholics lose church rights for unpaid tax]

I don't we've reached this stage yet. But who knows ?. The Germans are looking for their money from everybody. So instead of going to mass, just make sure and send the envelope or fill in the direct debit to ensure a Catholic funeral mass.


German Catholics lose church rights for unpaid tax

Germany's Roman Catholics are to be denied the right to Holy Communion or religious burial if they stop paying a special church tax.

A German bishops' decree which has just come into force says anyone failing to pay the tax - an extra 8% of their income tax bill - will no longer be considered a Catholic.

The bishops have been alarmed by the number of Catholics leaving the Church.

They say such a step should be seen as a serious act against the community.

All Germans who are officially registered as Catholics, Protestants or Jews pay a religious tax of 8-9% on their annual income tax bill. The levy was introduced in the 19th Century in compensation for the nationalisation of religious property.

"If your tax bill is for 10,000 euros, then 800 euros will go on top of that and your total tax combined will be 10,800 euros," Munich tax accountant Thomas Zitzelsberger told the BBC news website.

Catholics make up around 30% of Germany's population but the number of congregants leaving the church swelled to 181,000 in 2010, with the increase blamed on revelations of sexual abuse by German priests.

Alarmed by their declining congregations, the bishops were also pushed into action by a case involving a retired professor of church law, Hartmut Zapp, who announced in 2007 that he would no longer pay the tax but intended to remain within the Catholic faith.



Tax on Germany's Christians

25 million Catholics
Tax worth 5bn euros (2010)


24 million Protestants
Tax worth 4.3bn eurosGerman population 82 million



The Freiburg University academic said he wanted to continue praying and receiving Holy Communion and a lengthy legal case between Prof Zapp and the church will reach the Leipzig Federal Administrative Court on Wednesday.

"This decree makes clear that one cannot partly leave the Church," Germany's bishops' conference said last week, in a decision endorsed by the Vatican.


Unless they pay the religious tax, Catholics will no longer be allowed receive sacraments, except before death, or work in the church and its schools or hospitals.

Without a "sign of repentance before death, a religious burial can be refused," the decree states. Opting out of the tax would also bar people from acting as godparents to Catholic children.

"This decree at this moment of time is really the wrong signal by the German bishops who know that the Catholic church is in a deep crisis," Christian Weisner from the grassroots Catholic campaign group We are Church told the BBC.

But a priest from Mannheim in south-western Germany, Father Lukas Glocker, said the tax was used to do essential good works.

"With kindergarten, with homes for elderly or unemployed, we've got really good things so I know we need the tax to help the German country to do good things."

While the decree severely limits active participation in the German Catholic Church, it does hold out some hope for anyone considering a return to the fold.

Until now, any German Catholic who stopped payment faced eventual excommunication. Although the measures laid out in the decree are similar to excommunication from the church, German observers say the word is carefully avoided in the decree.

Came across this today - it's amazing what we'll do to perform better.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-19325756


Has anyone ever tried any of this stuff ?

["That's why walking away was easy for me, I have done it all. It's time to move on."]

I love the bit in bold - how many people playing football, hurling or any sport for that matter can say that it was easy walking away from the game ?? He was a hell of a corner back. Always did his job with minimum of fuss.

FORMER Kerry defender Tom O'Sullivan has revealed that not even a plea from Kingdom manager Jack O'Connor was able to change his mind about retiring.

"I was talking to Jack late last week. He was asking if there was any way that he could twist my arm," said the 33-year-old.

"But I said it was the finish, there would be no twisting the arm this year. He probably twisted my arm for the last three years.

"Jack felt it would only take me three weeks to get fit if I put my mind to it. I agreed. But the hunger just wasn't there. I told him it was time to call it a day. I have enough given, and it's time to let the young lads step up now."

Regarded as one of the finest corner-backs of the last decade, O'Sullivan -- who played in nine All-Ireland finals, having made his Kerry senior debut back in 2000 -- says that he always knew that last season would be his final campaign in the green and gold.

"I always said last year was going to be my last. It would have been nice to go out on a high but it wasn't meant to be," he said.

"I found it difficult last year to get back into training. I went back later than in most years -- the older you get the harder it gets.

"The older you get, you should be going back to training even earlier, not later.

"It (retiring) wasn't a difficult decision. To be honest, it was an easy one to make. I just felt I have enough of it played.

"I couldn't look back on my career and say that I have any regrets because I don't. I probably won everything that the game has to offer. I was very lucky in the sense.

"That's why walking away was easy for me, I have done it all. It's time to move on."

Fantastic pictures - any indication if it will return tonight ?.


http://www.rte.ie/news/2012/0424/aurora-borealis.html

[mark record annual increases]

Why in these straitened times are prices for goods and services seemingly going through the roof ?

We're going to have petrol and diesel at crazyy prices shortly and now the price of a stamp is jumping from 46p to 60p.

A first-class stamp will rise in price from 46p to 60p from 30 April after the regulator lifted some price controls on Royal Mail.

A second-class stamp will go up from 36p to 50p - some 5p below the top price allowed by Ofcom.

The regulator has allowed Royal Mail to set the price of first-class and business mail.

It claimed the future of the universal service was at "severe risk" without relaxing controls.

The 30% price rise in first-class stamps, and 39% rise for second-class, mark record annual increases.

[Eastwood firms in administration]

Hard times affecting everybody.

Eastwood firms in administration


Five property firms owned by the businessman Barney Eastwood have been placed into administration.

Mr Eastwood is best known for his bookmaking chain Eastwoods. He sold the chain, comprising of 54 shops, to Ladbrokes for a reported £135m in 2008.

He had also built up a significant property portfolio using borrowings from Anglo Irish Bank.

The most recent accounts from the firms suggest that they owed the bank more that £100m.

Anglo is now called the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation (IBRC) and most of its property loans have been moved into the Irish's governments "bad bank", the National Asset Management Agency (NAMA).

It is not clear whether NAMA or IBRC appointed the administrators.

The five companies involved are: Wildrose Properties, Wildrose Magheraleve, Wildrose Properties (3), Wildrose Properties (7) and Wildrose Properties (16).

Those companies are understood to own the Tower Centre in Ballymena, a large green field site near Lisburn and prominent commercial properties in Belfast city centre as well as assets in England.

Barney Eastwood was also a successful boxing promoter who worked with Barry McGuigan.

I watched this last night - it's a programme on the late Nuala Ó'Faoláin. http://www.rte.ie/player/#!v=1141215

Marion Finucane who made the programme was a close friend of hers and it charts Nuala's troubled life from birth to death.

The content is very revealing and the honesty shown in the programme is shocking.

It's a very, very sad story of a woman who lived a very full life but who seemed never to find happiness for long enough to appreciate it.

I'd recommend it and whilst watching I couldn't help but think of the turmoil the poor woman was going through and was at the same time wondering what I myself would do in the same situation and was Jim Stynes who died yesterday any or much different ?.

Sligo Rovers have described as "disgusting" an incident in which a visiting bus was broken into during a match at the Showgrounds on Monday and human excrement left inside it.

The incident happened during the Setanta Sports Cup game between Sligo and Glentoran and a club spokesman said the club was 'absolutely appalled and disgusted' and offered a "massive apology" to Glentoran.

The Sligo spokesman confirmed that the club would do its best to make up for the incident and they have offered to pay for the cleaning of the bus make a donation to charity.

Gardaí and the club are investigating the incident in which a handbag containing cash and keys was also stolen.

A statement on the Sligo Rovers website said: Sligo Rovers are appalled and disgusted by the alleged incidents and we wish to offer our deepest apologies to Glentoran Football Club and their supporters.

"The occasion, being enjoyed by both sets of fans, was ruined by the action of a very small minority that clearly have no respect for visitors to Sligo or the football clubs.

"We pride ourselves on welcoming all clubs to Sligo and believe the matter last night is not the actions of those associated with Sligo Rovers.

"However, we take responsibility as it occurred in our ground and it is extremely disappointing to us.

"We are currently investigating the matter with the match nights stewards and security to develop a full report on what happened and we await the result of the Gardai investigation.

"Sligo Rovers have offered to pay for the cleaning of the Glentoran Supporters Bus, the cost of the items stolen from the bus and will make a donation to a charity tied with Glentoran FC.

"We will endeavour to show our regret at what must have been a hugely upsetting night for all associated with Glentoran and hope to repair relations betweens the clubs."

[US tribe sues beer makers for $500m over alcohol abuse]

US tribe sues beer makers for $500m over alcohol abuse


The Oglala Sioux Tribe are asking for $500m (£316m) for healthcare, social services and child rehabilitation.

Tribal elders say the lawsuit is a last resort after efforts to curb abuse through protests and policy failed.

On the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation one in four children suffers foetal disorders caused by alcohol abuse.

The lawsuit, filed in the district court of Nebraska, targets Anheuser-Busch InBev Worldwide, SAB Miller, Molson Coors Brewing Company, MillerCoors LLC, and Pabst Brewing Company.

There was no immediate response from those firms.

The lawsuit also names the nearby town of Whiteclay, Nebraska, which has four beer shops that sold nearly five million beer cans in 2010 despite having only about a dozen residents.

Alcohol is outlawed on the reservation and the nearest town which allows alcohol is 20 miles (32km) away, Mark Vasina, president of Nebraskans for Peace, told the Associated Press news agency.

The lawsuit alleges that beer makers and the shop owners knew the alcohol would be smuggled into the reservation for consumption or resale.

The legal documents allege: "The illegal sale and trade in alcohol in Whiteclay is open, notorious and well documented by news reports, legislative hearings, movies, public protests and law enforcement activities."

Meanwhile, Tom White, the lawyer representing the tribe, told the Associated Press news agency: "You cannot sell 4.9 million 12oz [356ml] cans of beer and wash your hands like Pontius Pilate, and say we've got nothing to do with it being smuggled."


The town of Whiteclay, Nebraska, has four beer shops The reservation has grappled with alcohol problems and poverty for generations, and the tribal council has said it hopes the case will help protect the community's youth.

"Like American parents everywhere, we will do everything lawful we can to protect the health, welfare and future of our children," Tribal President John Yellow Bird Steele told the Associated Press news agency.

The reservation, which is about the size of the state of Connecticut, includes Shannon County, the third poorest county in the US.

The median income in the area is $27,300 and almost half of the population is considered to be living below federal poverty standards.

The life expectancy in the community is between 45 and 52 years - the lowest in North America except Haiti - and far below the national average of 77.5 years.

Nebraska State Senator LeRoy Louden has said that after struggling with the problem for years, the state has introduced legislation that would impose restrictions - on the types of alcohol that can be sold and business hours.

Love him or loathe him, he has had an enormous influence ( the nature of it depends on your own perspective ) on life in Northern Ireland. He came in with a blast and is going out with hardly a sound.

Rev Ian Paisley ends 60 years of full-time ministry
By Mark Simpson

BBC Ireland Correspondent


Rev Ian Paisley, his wife Baroness Paisley and their five children on Friday night There was standing-room only at Martyrs' Memorial Church in Belfast at a farewell service for the Rev Ian Paisley.

More than 3,000 people gathered to hear him preach.

Now aged 85, the service marked the official end of his six decades of full-time ministry.

The former DUP leader and Stormont First Minister stepped down from elected politics last year, and intends concentrating on writing his memoirs.

Now known as Lord Bannside, speaking before the service, he said: "I am exceedingly happy that I've had the privilege of being the preacher here for 65 years, and that's a long time.

"We have seen a miraculous work done, and we have seen a great change in our city in many ways. We've seen a change spiritually by people having respect for the bible."

Among those at the service was the Stormont Health Minister Edwin Poots and DUP MP William McCrea, who sang a solo.

One of those who spoke was the Rev Paisley's son, Kyle, who is also an ordained minister. He described his father as "a doer, an achiever and a great dad".

The Rev Paisley preached his first sermon at the age of 16.

He was ordained at the age of 20, just after the Second World War. Even when his political career took off, he kept preaching - three times a week, including twice on a Sunday.

He formed his own fundamentalist Protestant denomination, the Free Presbyterian Church.

Loved by some, loathed by others, he was accused of blatant sectarianism when he interrupted the Pope's speech to the European parliament in 1988.

Although he is leaving full-time ministry, Friday night's sermon was not expected to be his final time in a pulpit.

He is likely to accept occasional invitations to preach in Northern Ireland and abroad.

Pan unionist party coming up ?

The Ulster Unionist leader Tom Elliott has written to party members to reassure them about the nature of talks with the DUP.

In the letter, seen by the BBC, he said the brief was nothing more than to "explore areas of cooperation for the benefit of unionism in general".

He added that the talks were "without prejudice to the interests or integrity of the Ulster Unionist Party".

There has been speculation about talks between the parties in recent days.

Mr Elliot also said he had always questioned whether a single unionist party "would deliver the required electoral success for unionism."

However, he had wished to "do justice to that section of the pro-Union electorate who urged our candidates last May to work more closely with other unionist parties".

Mr Elliott reassured members that should there be a need for decisions to be taken as a result of the discussions he will bring them before the party executive.

He said he had written the letter in light of recent media stories adding that in his role as party leader he had held meetings with other parties as well.

Have a nice day buddy - sick bastards.



http://www.rte.ie/news/2012/0112/afghanistan.html

[but the Passage East player has been told by management that he is not part of the panel for the forthcoming season.]

Any views ? He was taken off in Croker as past couple of years and wasn't a happy camper but I'm surprised he hasn't made the panel -

RTE -

Eoin Kelly has been dropped from the Waterford senior hurling squad for the 2012 season.

The former captain has played championship hurling with Waterford for the past ten years, but the Passage East player has been told by management that he is not part of the panel for the forthcoming season.A spokesman for the Waterford management said earlier that they would not be making a statement, but said that if players perform in club games, they may be reconsidered.

Two-time All Star Kelly remains eager to be included on the panel and has insisted that he is not retiring.

There are some fantastic GAA journalists out there - and most of them run their eye over these boards on occasion.


So who do you reckon deserves journalist of the year ?

There can be a regional winner and a national winner.


So who would you go for ?.

Personally I find Vincent Hogan's articles in the main very good.

[We had Seamie Moynihan retiring a few weeks back at 38 - but Maurice Fitz keeps going winning another medal at 42 years of age in the South Kerry final today.]

We had Seamie Moynihan retiring a few weeks back at 38 - but Maurice Fitz keeps going winning another medal at 42 years of age in the South Kerry final today.

FORMER Kerry great Maurice Fitzgerald will line out for his club St Mary's in the South Kerry senior football final this afternoon, intent on ending his comeback year in memorable style.

The 42-year-old former All-Ireland-winning Kerry star is expected to start in midfield in the district final against Declan O'Sullivan's Dromid Pearses at Waterville (1.30), alongside Kerry All Star footballer Bryan Sheehan.

Victory in the decider would cap a fantastic comeback for Fitzgerald, who had taken a year out last season -- a campaign that saw St Mary's win the Kerry, Munster and All-Ireland junior club titles.

But returning to club action in the South Kerry junior championship this season, the former Kingdom ace soon stepped back into the senior set-up, rolling back the years with a power-packed performance in St Mary's semi-final win over St Michaels/Foilmore.

Best remembered for his 1997 All-Ireland final performance against Mayo and his legendary sideline point against Dublin in Thurles back in 2001, Fitzgerald can add yet another medal to a glittering collection today, with St Mary's favourites to complete the three-in-a-row.

The last time Fitzgerald played in a South Kerry final, he produced a man-of-the-match display against Skellig Rangers in 2009.

Highlighting Fitzgerald's longevity is the fact that fellow Kerry football great Seamus Moynihan played his last club game for Glenflesk last Sunday, aged 38.

Fitzpatrick is Murtagh fan

LOUTH football manager Peter Fitzpatrick says ace forward John Murtagh would be "an asset" to the Wee County if he decides to transfer from Armagh.

Fitzpatrick was commenting on reports linking the former Crossmaglen stalwart with a move from the Orchard County.

Murtagh, who joined Dublin club Parnells from Crossmaglen earlier this year, was born in Louth and so he would be eligible to line out with Fitzpatrick's team.

The move would almost certainly be an attractive proposition for Murtagh as Armagh boss Paddy O'Rourke has told the player he could not guarantee him a starting place.

"He's a very fine footballer who would be an asset to any inter-county side, and we certainly would welcome him to our set-up," Fitzpatrick said.

- Kieran McCarthy

[Ulster GAA has launched the perfect Christmas Gift for GAA enthusiasts – The Power NI Dr McKenna Cup Season Ticket.Keenly priced at £20/€25 the Season Ticket is sure to find its way under the tree in many GAA homes and in Christmas Stockings of Gaels across Ulster. The Season Ticket will admit the holder to round 1, round 2, and round 3 games involving your team, as well as access to all semi finals and the 2012 Power NI Dr McKenna Cup Final.Speaking at the launch of the first-ever Power NI Dr McKenna Cup Season Ticket, Ulster GAA President Aogán Ó Fearghail said, "We are delighted to launch our first ever Season Ticket for the Power NI Dr McKenna Cup. And have no doubt that it will be a good seller across all nine counties in Ulster. Launching it now means it's just in time for that special gift for the GAA enthusiast this Christmas."We decided to launch a season ticket in response to the hard economic climate that our members are facing. The Season Ticket will provide a potential saving per person of over 60% for the Power NI Dr McKenna Cup competition. That's a significant saving and one we hope will be attractive to many Gaels."]

We're all good at being critical of county boards and provincial councils but credit where it's due on this occasion. The Ulster council have clearly seen that in these straitened times, an initiative like this would be a most welcome development. So as well as doing their best to promote gaelic games, the Ulster council have given gaels a great way of seeing a lot of games at a reasonable cost.

Fair play.

Ulster GAA has launched the perfect Christmas Gift for GAA enthusiasts – The Power NI Dr McKenna Cup Season Ticket.

Keenly priced at £20/€25 the Season Ticket is sure to find its way under the tree in many GAA homes and in Christmas Stockings of Gaels across Ulster. The Season Ticket will admit the holder to round 1, round 2, and round 3 games involving your team, as well as access to all semi finals and the 2012 Power NI Dr McKenna Cup Final.

Speaking at the launch of the first-ever Power NI Dr McKenna Cup Season Ticket, Ulster GAA President Aogán Ó Fearghail said, "We are delighted to launch our first ever Season Ticket for the Power NI Dr McKenna Cup. And have no doubt that it will be a good seller across all nine counties in Ulster. Launching it now means it's just in time for that special gift for the GAA enthusiast this Christmas.

"We decided to launch a season ticket in response to the hard economic climate that our members are facing. The Season Ticket will provide a potential saving per person of over 60% for the Power NI Dr McKenna Cup competition. That's a significant saving and one we hope will be attractive to many Gaels."