Topics

Just thought I'd start a thread for anyone looking for travel tips as I'm sure there are plenty of well traveled folks on here.

I'll be heading off on a 3 month break in January. Starting in San Francisco and heading down Mexico way, then on to Fiji, New Zealand, Australia and on to South East Asia.

On a fairly austere budget of GB£50/US$77/€58 a day for two people. All our flights are paid for. Will be bringing a tent and sleeping on overnight buses to cut down hotel costs.



So I'm looking for tips for Fiji at the minute. Anyone been?

What are the absolute must see places, islands and any recommended routes?

Any info is greatly appreciated.

Sorry if there is already one of these threads on the go. I couldn't find it.

http://www.tv3.ie/3player/show/41/49609/1/Tonight-with-Vincent-Browne

So we've had George Lee and also the panel on Vincent Brown talking about Ireland leaving the Euro. It's unmistakably obvious that this is now a real possibility. Ireland needs to be ready. That seems to be the message.   

Meanwhile on Kremlin Today* the former PM of Italy suggests europe "has to" federalise or fall apart. That was the message on VB as well. That has been the issue for years now but the politicians seem to be very unwilling to grasp that. Perhaps they fear it being electoral suicide. It would seem to be in Germany anyway.

* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIT4q2hnF8k&list=UUpwvZwUam-URkxB7g4USKpg&index=9&feature=plcp

But I think its now down to a straight choice for Europe, federalise and go the whole hog in terms of integration or we have a managed break up of the eurozone or we let it fall around us while we keep our heads in the sand.

And perhaps the idea all along was that the politicians needed to back the people into a corner with austerity and they will vote for Federalism. How else other than under duress would we go for it. And it is not like no one was suggesting that was the case for a few years now. The problem being that some of those are tinfoil hat lunatics.

So what will it be?





And remember, much like the fiscal treaty, it guarantees nothing in terms of solving the financial crisis. The debt tsunami of the world is huge and still hasn't hit the shore.

Yes, the game is not in Carlow. The last on was. But anyway.

If we are to get to Croker we'll need to go through 15 traffic lights. No matter whether they'll be red, yella or green Banty's not a man for stoppin.

Bull on there Banty, ye boya.

Lets see how this goes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hY5cWJPWuE&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=edheEcsxgOg&feature=relmfu

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KgGUoaX3dk&feature=relmfu

Fo' real Dawgs.


(or not, taking the piss surely)

Aidan O'Mahony

any others?

With Easter rolling around once again, (as it tends to do this time of year ) we look back 96 years to the Rising. In my time growing up (and still a bit to do, she says) we hardly did anything to commemorate it. St. Patricks day was and still is a far bigger event. Easter celebrations tend to be more sober events with little more than wreath layer, miltary marching and the very occasional wearing of a lily.

With not long to go before we have its 100 year aniversary I'd like to know what peoples attitudes are to Easter Lily's and rising commemorations. Is it still seen as belonging to one party or politcal persuasion.

Would you wear a lily and if not what do you think when you see people wearing one?

How would you like 1916 to be commemorated on its 100 year anniversary?


Could it be changed to celebrate in such a way as a day when we (particularly those in power) re-read the declaration of the Republic, revisit Constitution and make a vow to uphold its principals and renew our commitment to our country and to each other? A day for civic and national pride as opposed to the drunken abandonment of St Paddy's day.

Perhaps we award those, from the ordinary people to those in power, who act upon these principals, who give much to their community or serve their countries best interests. Those who represent whats best about us. I think it could become much more meaningful and benficial to the nation than it currently is and better than what St. Patricks day has come to be.

If things on the field weren't bad enough the rot off the field continues

http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-football/boylan-quits-royal-role-3068619.html

Sean Boylan has stepped down from the director of football role he was appointed to in Meath last September.

Boylan has confirmed he is no longer in the position to which he was appointed on the same night as Seamus McEnaney got the green light to see out the second year of his three-year term as Meath manager.

Boylan admitted yesterday that "it hadn't worked out" but was diplomatic about the reasons behind the decision.

"I informed the county board of my decision some weeks ago," he said.

Boylan's appointment was announced to some fanfare, but the former manager is understood to be frustrated at the slow progress in implementing any of the ideas he had.

"For whatever reasons we just didn't get sitting down and talking about matters relevant to it," said Boylan.

The four time All-Ireland winning manager admitted he never saw himself as a director of football in the strictest sense of the term in the first place, but stressed that he would always be willing to give advice and help to any coach or official in the county who wanted it.

"That has always been the way with me and it always will be. People know where I am. I would like to think that I have never let my county down in any way and never will," he said.

On the night of his appointment, a five-point plan was unveiled around which he was to work, which included participating in and making recommendations to the Meath County Board on the appointment of managers to all inter-county teams in the county and carrying out reviews on the performances of managers to ensure goals were being met.

If Joe Sheridans departure or Nigel Crawfords retirement wasn't a sign of the state of things, not to mention our selectors walking away last year, this is a real sign of how bad things are. If Sean Boylan isn't even being heeded in a role he was given by the same county board then what does that say about us.

We might not even have a stadium to play in with PT no longer meeting H&S regulations. We've a terrible record at under-age, having gone 5 years without 1 win at U-21 level, U-18 being a mixed bag. While under-age success doesn't guarantee senior success the absolute lack of it doesn't hold any promise what so ever.

While the county board may leave a lot to be desired the men who probably could make a big difference have seemed always reluctant to put their heads above the parapet. If we are going to see change in the way things are going we need those who can make a difference to put themselves forward and those who want change need to demand they be put in place to take action.

Anyone else signed up?

Fair play to Bernard.

I was thinking that something along these lines would be a good idea.It's not going to turn us all into gaelgeoirs but its a good to use it.

Been trying to organise a Gaelige night in the local Irish club. Its a bit more motivation.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/exploration-company-strikes-oil-off-county-cork-7573038.html

An exploration company has struck oil and discovered the first commercial well off the Irish coast.

Providence Resources said flows in Barryroe, 50km from Co Cork, is almost double the 1,800 barrels of oil per day (bopd) barrier set by the firm as being commercial.

Tests are also being carried out on gas flow rates in the area.

Tony O'Reilly, chief executive of Providence, said flow rates of 3,514 bopd have been discovered at 100-metre depth in the North Celtic Sea Basin.

"The well has also confirmed that the basal sands are laterally continuous, highly productive and that the oils are of a very high quality," he said.

The test area covered 300 sq km - equivalent to a medium to large North Sea oil field - and was bigger than expected with much better flow rates than first hoped for. Providence Resources made the announcement on the Dublin and London stock exchanges.

Yer boy O'Reilly said on the radio today that they expect to pay 40% tax on it. Any truth? What does this mean financially in real terms.

Can/will this be used to placate our banks taxpayers debt problem?

Dare we feel a wee bit optimistic about our future??

All we need now is to re-elect Fianna Fail to carefully manage our new found wealth!! 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDr8YyNQksA


and Seb Bach too
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yU7BHvag-bk

So 4 years have almost rolled around and the drawn out process of voting for a US president is beginning in earnest today in Iowa with the 1st of the primaries for the Republican nomination. We have Obama hoping to raise $1bn dollars this time around and we have yet to see his campaign even really kick into gear. The halo he walked around with the last time around has lost its shine and for much of his reign it has been down around his ankles.

He hasn't managed to achieve much in terms of what he promised back in 2008, especially with a Republican house that had at times held the country to ransom over what action to take over the economy, spending cuts vs stimulus packages. The old argument of do you cut or spend in a recession has yet to be really definitively answered in the US.

What he did achieve was much in continuing where George Bush left off with the economy and foreign policy. His signing of the NDAA act which former Bush and Neo-con acolytes Cheney and McCain had largely penned being a recent example. He has been a good friend to Wall St throughout the economic crisis while has been almost mute in regards Occupy Wall St protests.



All the while his opponents in the Republican party have already torn strips of each other with many would be candidates campaigns taking off like rockets before falling to earth with a bump like Bachmann, Perry and Cain.  The leaders for the Republican nomination as of today seem to be Mitt Romney, Dr. Ron Paul and Rick Santorum.

Rick Santorum's profile has inexplicably risen recently after months in the doldrums but may go the way of the other aforementioned rockets. He doesn't seem to be peddling a line much different to Romney, in regards making spending cuts and bombing Iran into the dust.

Ron Paul is offering change on a massive scale that would have huge ramifications* around the world, cutting out four government agencies, removing all US military bases outside the United States and returning the dollar to a gold based currency. While on one hand he might cut existing deficits, the US economy would shrink in size and the harm it would cause is hard to grasp.

Likewise, the removal of a US military  presence around the world which may seem preferable to most people but other powers may look to fill the vacuums surrounding them. Would it really lead to a more peaceful world as many suggest or just leave the USA in peace? That said the pernicious influence of the arms, banking and oil industry on democracy in the USA may be curtailed.


*if they pass through Congress, which is extremely unlikely unless a load of Libertarians come out of the woodwork.

[1. End of the €uro]

Who's up for a bit of crystal ball gazing, Nostrodamus type carry-on?

I was wondering what will be the big talking points/trends for 2012. Can we narrow it down to 3 topics each and see what we come up with (and of course how wrong will we all be).



1. End of the €uro
Yes, pretty obvious one but I don't think it live to see 2013. It's already like that parrot in Monty Python.


2. Fracking
Shale gas exploration that is being proposed in parts of northern Europe and much of the west of Ireland. It has split opinions over in the USA and its about to hit our shores in a big way too.

Much like war, the truth seems to be the first thing to go the way of the Dodo when it comes to environmental concerns and fossil fuel exploration. And that can be said for both sides of the argument.


3. Methane calthrate
This is a bit of a wild card but it could have very serious consequences. It's nothing to do with cows farting by the way.

Large fields of frozen Methane in the Siberian Artic perma-frost is starting to melt and is being released into the atmosphere. In an area of 10,000 square miles of sea off the East Siberian coast there have been hundreds of methane plumes being detected. This has  increased methane levels in the air by 100 times. 



But I asked my English "mate" Ted who reads the Sun, eats pork pies and drives a white transit about what he thinks about it all. He said; "ah 'ere, that climate stuff is all a load a bladdy non sense. And the Euro, no bladdy frog or kraut is gunner tell me what te do. fracking? yew can do whatever yew fracking want to as far as i'm concerned".

[From Slugger O'Toole:]

From Slugger O'Toole:
Mick Fealty

The News Letter today has a big splash on the Smithwick Tribunal (that's the one the Irish government previously threatened to wind up just about now)... As Philip Bradfield notes, the taoiseach, Enda Kenny has been a hard man for Unionist representatives to pin down on any matter regarding alleged collusion between the IRA and Irish state forces:

Until Mr Kennedy was able to approach the Taoiseach in person at the North-South Ministerial Council in Armagh on Friday, the UUP minister had been trying for months to get the Irish leader to engage.

He goes on to quote Danny Kennedy on the matter:

Apologies have been made by the British government for numerous cases but the Irish government cannot escape their responsibility, specifically when they are making noises about other [collusion] cases [in Northern Ireland]."

Then Bradfield remarks:

The unionists are saying that with every UK statutory investigation into Troubles related deaths, the history of the Troubles is being rewritten to portray British forces as the primary cause of bloodshed. But they point out that the IRA claimed significantly more lives than any other organisation during the Troubles — 1,778 in total — and that a much more balanced historical examination is critical to properly make peace with the past.

Solicitor John McBurney, the solicitor acting on behalf of RUC relatives at Smithwick:

...said that two issues that had to be brought out into the open were the Irish state's frequent refusal to extradite IRA members for "the most heinous crimes" in Northern Ireland and the failure of the Garda to supply intelligence on the IRA to the RUC.

"I suspect there was much intelligence never shared in a timely fashion with the RUC," he said. "Those who carried out the Kingsmills massacre went to ground in the Republic." He said the Garda knew "quite a lot" about the individuals involved and "quite a lot was discovered" about their links to Kingsmills.

"But the PSNI's Historical Enquiries Team report on Kingsmills never once mentions any Garda intelligence on those responsible. Why is that?"

The most coveted and second most coveted prizes in the world of sport are up for grabs again.

Who won last time any one remember?

Meath v Wexford
Louth v Kilkenny

Wicklow v College
Longford v College

Kildare v College
Offaly v Westmeath

Carlow v Dublin
Laois v College

All games to be played on the 8th of January 2012.

Nice game to start of with for us against de Yella-Bellys and then the Cats unless Louth can cause an upset.

[It reads: "With the exception of a trial venture with Croke Park for the 2011 Dublin Spring Series. Dublin, like all counties, has not traditionally benefited in any meaningful respect in gate receipts from senior inter-county games despite attracting large attendances."This clearly fails to align responsibility for promoting the games with the resultant increased income streams."]

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2011/1115/1224307581839.html


http://www.hill16.ie/uploads/The_Blue_Wave.pdf

THE DUBLIN County Board are to seek "provincial status" for both funding and administration purposes as part of their new six-year strategic plan, the full details of which were announced in Croke Park last night.

In a broad and somewhat bold plan – entitled Unleashing "The Blue Wave": A Strategy for Dublin GAA 2011-2017 – the central theme is Dublin's ever-changing demographics, which is actually described as a "time bomb", and thus presents several unique challenges to the county board.

According to Dublin's Strategic Committee, who produced the document, "the financial resources that are currently available to the Dublin County Committee are inadequate to enable Dublin GAA to give effect to the initiatives identified as appropriate in the strategic review".

The plan, which runs to 86 pages, also claims that there should be a mutual recognition of the interdependent relationship between Dublin's ambitions for the GAA in the capital city and the overall wellbeing of the Association.

"It will require Dublin County Board to step up to its responsibility to implement the strategic initiatives recommended in this review. It will also require Central Council to embrace a different funding model, one which addresses the strategic significance of Dublin. One way of addressing this issue is for the GAA to extend provincial status to Dublin for certain purposes."

Among those attending last night's launch was GAA president Christy Cooney and the director general Páraic Duffy, who gave their broad support for the aims of the plan.

Dublin County Board chairman Andy Kettle also outlined in more basic terms the exact priorities of the next six years.

"From a financial point of view we do need to be pushing for provincial status," said Kettle.

"Right now we have about 20 per cent of the country's population in the Dublin County Board area. So it doesn't make sense that we should still be considered one -32th of the country, rather than one-fifth.

"I think it's a realistic plan, but also something I know will need goodwill, and the backing of Croke Park to get it through, because something like this will need to go to Congress. So it's up to us to campaign for it in the right way, and explain it to the other delegates.

"But coupled with that we would see that Dublin should have constant representation on Coisti Banaistí (Management Committee), and also on Leinster Council. That's not happening at the moment, but we would feel Dublin should have that representation by right, rather than by election.

"There's been a lot of work and thought gone into this over the last two years. But we have the plan down on paper now, and the implementing of it is now our priority. It's going to stretch us to the limit, both at county level, and at the implementation committee level."

It remains to be seen what level of support Dublin will get from the other provincial counties, but in the meantime there appears to be a clear awareness of the issues among the top brass of the Association.

"The facts and figures speak for themselves," said the GAA president, "and if we are not well organised, ambitious and competitive in our main urban bases, and in Dublin in particular, there is a gaping hole in our Association.

"As a city and county Dublin has always held a special place in the Association that extends far beyond the numbers game that goes hand in hand with capital city demographics.

"The playing and administrative centre of the Association is located here and we all have happy memories of Croke Park and Dublin, no matter where it is we call home. The superb network of clubs in Dublin has provided a sporting infrastructure to behold that otherwise would not exist."

Duffy was a little more hesitant in singling Dublin out for special attention, but agreed there were unique challenges and opportunities within the Dublin area.

"Croke Park does not accord a favoured status to any unit," said Duffy, "but it would be denying demographic facts not to recognise that Dublin is a region of vital importance to the GAA.

"According to preliminary figures from Census 2011, almost 1.3 million people live in Dublin city and county, which represents 20 per cent of the entire population of Ireland. It is a simple statistical fact that Dublin constitutes, in terms of population catchment area, the single largest county unit in the Association, and is, therefore, a region in which the health of the GAA has a profound impact on the wider health of the Association."

The strategic plan also claims that Dublin has no material surplus assets which could be monetised for reinvestment, although consideration could be given to the possible sale of O'Toole Park.

It reads: "With the exception of a trial venture with Croke Park for the 2011 Dublin Spring Series. Dublin, like all counties, has not traditionally benefited in any meaningful respect in gate receipts from senior inter-county games despite attracting large attendances.

"This clearly fails to align responsibility for promoting the games with the resultant increased income streams."

The Dublin county committee has traditionally operated a balanced budget with all revenues (which have been running at €5.2 million per year) being fully reinvested in current organisational and development initiatives. However, Dublin's main source of revenue is from its principle commercial sponsor, Vodafone.

In conclusion the strategic plan claims that Central Council will achieve a strong return on its investment in Dublin GAA.

"In planning for the longer term the investment from Central Council will help Dublin achieve an increased market share over and above the increase in the population.

"This increase in market share and the greater interest in Gaelic games will in turn continue to generate much-needed income for other units of the Association from increased attendances at games."

Nine key strategic objectives & themes

(as outlined in the Dublin Strategic Plan)

1) Develop local area regional plans and appropriate club structures for the 10 regional areas.

2) Maximise participation in Gaelic games in Dublin.

3) Supporting the club.

4) Resourcing the volunteer.

5) Creating the bridge from participation to inter-county success.

6) Ensuring the provision of appropriate facilities.

7) Investing in the commercial potential of the Dublin GAA brand.

Procuring the financial resources necessary to develop Dublin GAA.

9) Providing a first-class management and governance structure for Dublin GAA.

This may put serious strain on other counties, and what if say Meath or Kildare want their funding increased to reflect demographics too? Two counties with big populations but stadiums that are decrepit.

Obviously Dublin does need more investment but at the detriment of others?

I'll be honest I haven't had time to read the document cover to cover so if I am missing something, please point it out.

[As London invites dictators to the world's biggest weapons expo, Tom Peck finds out how easy it is to assemble a hi-tech arsenal]

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/in-the-line-of-fire-a-date-with-despots-at-britains-arms-fair-2354314.html

As London invites dictators to the world's biggest weapons expo, Tom Peck finds out how easy it is to assemble a hi-tech arsenal

As a Peruvian army captain in full uniform looks on, I am squinting down the viewfinder of the "Serpent", the first shoulder-launched multipurpose assault weapon I have ever handled, its crosshair fixed on a tank 291 metres in the far distance, my thumb poised on the fire button.

"Just send that right down and give someone a bad day," says Brian Gaume, the man selling Serpents to those with a few millions to spare and an itchy trigger finger. I duly do, and on the simulator plasma screen in front of me a little green pixellated tank is duly obliterated.

At the Defence Security and Equipment International arms fair in London's Excel Centre, there is no shortage of options for dishing out bad days, weeks, months and whole lifetimes.


The 65 national delegations asked to buy weapons in London include 14 regimes defined as "authoritarian" by human rights groups, who have highlighted the use of British arms in suppressing opposition movements in the Middle East. Dr Fox said the fair had brought together more than 1,300 defence and security suppliers – "everything from traditional defence platforms to cyber-security and counter-terrorism to commercial security, fire protection and safety". But it doesn't feel that safe. And for the thousands of military and trade delegates who will visit the exhibition this week, this is clearly a fun day out.

The halls are packed, the lunch queues terrifyingly long. Only the ladies toilets are mysteriously deserted. Next year, the same hall will host the Olympic tae kwon do and boxing contests. But this week it is not the place to be for those interested in hand-to-hand combat.

Next to the Serpent, one of many developments from Raytheon UK, the British arm of the US defence giant, is the Paveway IV, a 500lb laser-guided bomb. "It can be programmed to explode underground, to explode over a particular car or tank, or to take out a particular floor of a building," says Nick West, the company's communications director. Over the past few months, the Paveway IV's lasers have been set to guide its missiles from allied jets into strategic targets all over Libya.

On the canals outside, huge battleships are moored, and lucky delegates race around in interceptor boats, complete with anti-tank guns and surface-to-air missile defence systems. A little like the Venice Biennale, arms companies are grouped nation by nation in their own "pavilions". The Israel Pavilion looms large, but the USA Pavilion is something to behold. Men in full SWAT uniforms stand between rack after rack of machine-guns.

"Securing Nations Around The World" is the slogan of AeroVironment Inc, a company which produces "unmanned aircraft systems". To the layman, they look a lot like drones, although, as more than one "unmanned aircraft system" manufacturer said, "we don't use that word". They can be used to target "ships, tanks, or terrorists", yet the promotional poster shows an unmanned aircraft flying above Wembley Stadium – perhaps an extreme solution to the England football team's recent difficulties.

It is not hard to spot the VIPs. They mostly wear military uniform, with big red badges saying "delegate", and wander in packs. Those from Ukraine seem particularly intimidating. The officials hold purse strings for some of the world's biggest budgets.

The UK defence industry's section is vast and sophisticated. BAe Systems is exhibiting Adaptiv, a kind of invisibility cloak that can make a giant tank look like a simple car on enemy detection systems. "There are economies of scale at work," said a spokesman for UK Defence. "If the Government can help a UK company to sell big numbers of its products abroad, that company can sell them to the Government for cheaper."

Yet it seems hard to strike a deal. Not one stand will countenance any discussion of price. "I'm forbidden to talk about that," is a familiar refrain.

It is not the only instance of caginess. The Israeli weapons industry's stand is lined with Tavor automatic and semi-automatic rifles. "They are used in Israel and 60 other countries," a spokesman says, but refuses to say which ones. "We cannot discuss clients but go on YouTube and you will see some interesting stuff."

The man from Glock sits behind a desk littered with revolvers. Nearby, two Portuguese delegates are aiming pistols at one another, yet my notepad seems to be the most terrifying thing the salesman has ever clapped eyes on. "I cannot say anything, I cannot say anything," he repeats.

Next door, the Swiss munitions firm RUAG is similarly elusive, but its display boasts that it makes "the UK MOD's preferred hand grenade".

The new Scout tank from General Dynamics is also here, one of four new models that will become standard British Army equipment by 2020. Even in these austere times, the 500 to 600-tank contract will cost up to £2bn. After a couple of hours here, that feels like a drop in the ocean.

A booming industry

* The UK has the world's second- largest defence and security sector; only the US sells more weapons and military hardware worldwide. The British share of the global market increased from 18 to 20 per cent in the past year, according to the government body UK Trade and Investments.

* The industry was worth £22bn to the British economy in 2010, the defence trade group ADS (Aerospace, Defence and Security) claims – £9.5bn of which was in exports.

* Saudi Arabia is by far the biggest buyer of British weapons and also the largest importer of arms globally. Saudi contracts earned the UK about £300m last year, according to arms trade analysts the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.

* Behind the Saudis, the US has the most defence contracts with British firms. India, which imports 70 per cent of its military equipment, represents the UK's third-largest arms market.

* Bahrain, which was controversially invited to this week's DSEi exhibition after its regime crushed an uprising in February, signed contracts with British firms worth £2.4m this year, according to figures obtained by the Campaign Against the Arms Trade.

[Put a nice flower bed in.]

Our beautifully manicured lawns at either end of Pairc Tailteann have been deemed no longer safe for the public to watch games on.

After being perfectly fine since the early days of the GAA, hosting crowds of upwards of 25,000 only 5 years ago.


http://www.hoganstand.com/Meath/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=153167


And we're told the capacity is capped at 10,000 till we cover them in concrete. The County board said today they simply do not have the money as many clubs are barely getting by.

With this in mind I think it's an opportune moment to do something I think we should have done a long time ago.


Put a nice flower bed in.

We could maybe spell the scoreboard out in some nice Salvias or Primulas. Might slow the game down a bit as it takes a while for them to establish and a fair bit of watering too. Perhaps best not to grow them  from seed then.

Failing that, maybe a few drills of spuds. I'd say its fairly free draining.

Apologies to those who might not appreciate the mighty Zep but I've been updating the laptop with the whole back catalogue tonight and its always worth the while to remember how great they were.

I don't know many bands with the raw talent and the gall it takes to place bucolic folk next to rock music and not flich for a beat.

Unfortunately I'm a few too many years too young to have caught them live but c'est la vie.


For those who dig that heavy metal (underneath your hood)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yO_EgW1zxWQ