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I don't see any right minded player or manager wanting to play three extra matches at that stage of a competition. No benefit to the teams. increased injury risk and fatigue when you least need it.

It's obviously an exaggerated example Seanie but I was making the point that some of the criticism of them is similarly exaggerated. The point I was making was that some people would look at something good they've done and criticise on some side point.

At the end of the day, the GPA are required and do some good things. Do they do some daft things? Yeah, of course but so do the GAA, so does any organisation that is trying things. All groups deserve to be scrutinised and held to account but it should be fair and in the case of the GPA that isn't always the case IMO.

Why are they called Gaelic Players Association ? Should it not be Gaelic County Players Association ?

[Although he handled it woefully what else was he to do?]

I think the point McIlroy was trying to make was that the Olympics is putting him in the position where he had to firmly say I'm Irish or I'm British.  Before he was happy to drape a Tricolour or Ulster flag around him when needed, but in this instance he would be perceived as confirming his allegiance to one or the other, even though he couldn't give two fcuks. 
I'm no golf expert but what other senior competitions do they represent their countries?    Although he handled it woefully what else was he to do?

Maybe he could have said what's he's saying now, at the beginning, "Listen I'm not comfortable representing either team, so won't be going..." (stretching it out to a few paragraphs of course!)  Also I can't see how the Olympics put him in this position.  To participate at the Olympics you must be part of a "national" team, it's not really for individuals.

BTW McIlroy is spot on with his comments on golf in the Olympics and the "growing golf" BS.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1yIob65tYI Rors might beg to differ. Watch to to olympics part.

the mark really is a non event. read comments from a university manager recently saying that they did'nt prepare for it (mark rule) but will have it sorted in a couple of weeks.
more of an issue imho is gang tackling and overcarrying the ball. by addressing these issues we would have a much better spectacle.
1 player should only be allowed to tackle the ball carrier. second player in results in a free to the player in possession. so if a midfielder gains possession from a kickout he only has 1 player to contend with. any tackle from behind (of any kind) free to player in possession.
in return, defender get rewarded for good tackling / defending by ref consistently enforcing 4 step rule.

1. The chance of the building falling straight down without damaging other building because of disproportionate collapse is practically nil.
2. The time it took for full collapse was the same time as if there was no structure underneath providing resistance.
Go figure 😉

Not true, this isnt like a large chimney that is relatively top heavy with a rigid struture that will fall to one side. It an interconnected series of beams that rely on each other for support and consists mostly of air which the building falls into. Its structure resembles a matchstick tower.... see what happens one of those when one connection fails... thats right it all collapses straight down and pretty quickly too, tho not quite as fast as you reckon. I checked this out before with the two main towers, they collapsed fast but they didnt collapse at a free falling rate, the floors gave some resistance but the dynamic loading and weakened structure overcame any resistance very quickly and got faster the further it went down as the dynamic load exponentially increased as the speed of collapse increased.

So you're saying all the beams and columns all failed uniformly 😂 Why do you think lumberjacks deliberately weaken one side of a tree trunk to influence the direction of collapse ?

No I dont think they failed uniformly. As  I mentioned before the steel beam and columns are interconnected, removing one puts extra pressure on another one and if you have a few more in close proximity with their connections and physical structure compromised then pretty soon its vertical dominoes for the whole structure.

The tree analogy would be similar to the chimney scenario I mentioned before.. sorry its irrelevant for a structure like this, think deck of cards or matchbox tower.

Try and picture my explanation in your head happening and it should become more obivious. Im not trying to have a go at you I want you to understand and would be happy to answer any questions on my explanation

I know you're not having a go. But if a demolition company were to attempt to collapse the building straight down it would be done via sequenced , uniform removal of the structure. Matchbox tower and deck of cards don't have fixed connection points and shear studs in the floor construction. By the way only the top 14 stories on tower one had been affected by fire.
I just think there are more questions than answers.
And don't get me started on the Pentagon. 😂😂

1. The chance of the building falling straight down without damaging other building because of disproportionate collapse is practically nil.
2. The time it took for full collapse was the same time as if there was no structure underneath providing resistance.
Go figure 😉

Not true, this isnt like a large chimney that is relatively top heavy with a rigid struture that will fall to one side. It an interconnected series of beams that rely on each other for support and consists mostly of air which the building falls into. Its structure resembles a matchstick tower.... see what happens one of those when one connection fails... thats right it all collapses straight down and pretty quickly too, tho not quite as fast as you reckon. I checked this out before with the two main towers, they collapsed fast but they didnt collapse at a free falling rate, the floors gave some resistance but the dynamic loading and weakened structure overcame any resistance very quickly and got faster the further it went down as the dynamic load exponentially increased as the speed of collapse increased.

So you're saying all the beams and columns all failed uniformly 😂 Why do you think lumberjacks deliberately weaken one side of a tree trunk to influence the direction of collapse ?

1. The chance of the building falling straight down without damaging other building because of disproportionate collapse is practically nil.
2. The time it took for full collapse was the same time as if there was no structure underneath providing resistance.
Go figure 😉

Sources?

What is "practically nil"? Is that "impossible"? "Unlikely"? "Unusual"?

So "no structure underneath"-speed collapse is accomplished how? How fast should it have collapsed?

Very highly unlikely  and Gravity is a constant.

Worked and taught engineering (metal work ) and there are many grades of steel and fire proof materials attached to the twin towers was proved to have been poor and in lots of places non existent !!

The building came down as already stated the floors just crashed down on top of each other and that was that I'd imagine under the towers the foundations sent tremors to other building causing them to collapse also, went up it the year it was first attempted to be blown up, when a bomb went off in the underground car park ... 93? I think plenty security at the building ever since, we were searched on way in, so difficult to bring in enough bombs plant them and get away with it I'd say

Not so, for insurance purposes the building structure and fire resistance is inspected on a regular basis, carried out by specialists.
Also the building would be designed to minimise the effect of partial collapse ie. Every 4th or 5th floor reinforced to resist / arrest collapsing floors from above.
Pilots passport found in the rubble within hours of collapse, how lucky was that. 😉

1. The chance of the building falling straight down without damaging other building because of disproportionate collapse is practically nil.
2. The time it took for full collapse was the same time as if there was no structure underneath providing resistance.
Go figure 😉

Sources?

What is "practically nil"? Is that "impossible"? "Unlikely"? "Unusual"?

So "no structure underneath"-speed collapse is accomplished how? How fast should it have collapsed?

Very highly unlikely  and Gravity is a constant.

1. The chance of the building falling straight down without damaging other building because of disproportionate collapse is practically nil.
2. The time it took for full collapse was the same time as if there was no structure underneath providing resistance.
Go figure 😉

So you're a structural engineer with demolition expertise too?

No demolition experience.... Except for full back lines 😉😉

1. The chance of the building falling straight down without damaging other building because of disproportionate collapse is practically nil.
2. The time it took for full collapse was the same time as if there was no structure underneath providing resistance.
Go figure 😉

Any updates on this topic ? I've been for the examination and been recommended for lens replacement surgery. The only thing scares me is the price. I will have it done, but would consider travelling for the procedure if I could save ££

I have had the same procedure carried out a couple of weeks ago so it's too early yet to say  whether the job has been fully successful or not.
I have a problem driving at night as I see a halo about white lights approaching me and a series of concentric red circles surrounding brake lights and stop traffic control reds.
I've been told that this is a perfectly normal after effect and that it should have cleared up in six to nine months time.
However, Optical Express, the people who carried out the work never advised me of this. I paid € 3,600 for both eyes and was told that the VHI would pay the same amount. 
I think €7,200 is a serious amount for a pair of pretty straightforward operations and I can't say that I feel I got value for money just yet.

I will need to have follow up laser work in a few months time  on my right eye because of severe astigmatism.
The sight in my left eye is very much improved and I'm now able to read newspaper text and the likes- 8 point or even smaller.
Overall, it's too early to say whether the procedures were successful or not but I'm hopeful that everything will come right in the end.

Same outfit that I went to for the examination. They explained those side effects in full to me, though they say the risk is now very much reduced as they use new lenses which are smooth rather than a series of raised circles. At £6990 I think it's a bit much, but benefits would be worth it if successful . Surgery to be carried out in Clane.

Your price was considerably dearer than mine. At today's conversion rate, your bill comes to €8,300 approx. I paid half the cost (€3,600) of my job and the VHI chipped in with the rest so the bill came to €7,200.
My work was done in Clane also so I don't understand why you paid considerably more than I did, especially as most things cost more than they do in Ulster.
After the second eye was treated, the surgeon did tell me that I would need additional, laser, treatment after 3 to 4 months but he followed up by saying that he couldn't guarantee anything other than cataracts would never pose a problem again!
That's a long way off what an optometrist in Wellington Road  told me when he was checking my eyes for the first time.
He said he'd guarantee me 20/20 vision in each eye when the process of healing was complete.
So I'll have to be patient and let time take its course. Probably won't have anything to worry about but things are as straightforward as I had been led to believe.

going to go with another clinic @ £2900 per eye. based in belfast so much handier. really appreciate the feedback though.

Sorted.. Cathederal Eye Clinic belfast are £900 cheaper and no running up and down to Dublin for post op checkups.

Any updates on this topic ? I've been for the examination and been recommended for lens replacement surgery. The only thing scares me is the price. I will have it done, but would consider travelling for the procedure if I could save ££

I have had the same procedure carried out a couple of weeks ago so it's too early yet to say  whether the job has been fully successful or not.
I have a problem driving at night as I see a halo about white lights approaching me and a series of concentric red circles surrounding brake lights and stop traffic control reds.
I've been told that this is a perfectly normal after effect and that it should have cleared up in six to nine months time.
However, Optical Express, the people who carried out the work never advised me of this. I paid € 3,600 for both eyes and was told that the VHI would pay the same amount. 
I think €7,200 is a serious amount for a pair of pretty straightforward operations and I can't say that I feel I got value for money just yet.

I will need to have follow up laser work in a few months time  on my right eye because of severe astigmatism.
The sight in my left eye is very much improved and I'm now able to read newspaper text and the likes- 8 point or even smaller.
Overall, it's too early to say whether the procedures were successful or not but I'm hopeful that everything will come right in the end.

Same outfit that I went to for the examination. They explained those side effects in full to me, though they say the risk is now very much reduced as they use new lenses which are smooth rather than a series of raised circles. At £6990 I think it's a bit much, but benefits would be worth it if successful . Surgery to be carried out in Clane.

Any updates on this topic ? I've been for the examination and been recommended for lens replacement surgery. The only thing scares me is the price. I will have it done, but would consider travelling for the procedure if I could save ££

the sooner a tiered football championship the better. alot of counties will oppose this but thats life. long term they will learn the value of this. hurling counties opposed it at the start but if you look at the reactions and joy of the winners of the ring, rackard and meagher competitions you,ll see what it means.