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The Boxer can’t knit

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I mentioned in a previous post that if Sinn Fein was to enter politics that it would be like a boxer entering a knitting contest. Well due to the riots it surely looks like the boxer can’t knit.

By allowing the scumbag thugs of the more violent factions of Sinn Fein to riot, destroy property assault Garda, reporters and anyone else who happened to be in the wrong place. They have shown that they are not motivated to extend the same liberties that allow them to speak, to others of the opposing voice. Demonstrating that their most potent arguments are those of the common bully.

And while the Unionist are laughing it up, their motivations are clear also, confrontation and incitement. Celebrating the victims of the IRA, while not honoring the victims of Unionist violence is equally one sided.

No one is honoring the Flag of the Irish Republic. And even I, as a ‘blow-in’ Irishman, know what they stand for. And anyone who crosses that white line between the the Green and Orange deservers to be instructed in the definition of Peace.

Sinn Fein, Hamas and George Washington

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Someone ask me what I thought about Sinn Fein being elected as part of the government of the Republic of Ireland. And I flipped off an answer

If the people vote Sinn Fein into government, that is their will. If Sinn Fein are voted in on a platform that they will not fulfill. Then they are no different than any other politician that they replaced, untrustworthy, and they too, should, and will be replaced.

And then I hear that many people in Ireland fear terrible things will happen if Sinn Fein, “the Murdering IRA Thugs”, win more seats in the government.

And sure, I know that there are concerns there, but what would you say to George Washington. To the the British, he was a “Murdering rebel Traitor” but he became President of the United States. Some Americans wanted to make him King, but he declined. It seemed to work out fine for them, being a good man that he was.

I’ll quote you something normally attributed to Ben Franklin

Revolution is always illegal in the third person, such as ‘Their’ Revolution
it’s only legal in the first person, as Our revolution

So if Sinn Fein are, in their own minds, Revolutionary Patriots, then what would make them different from George Washington. The fact that they do not hold office yet, or that what they stand for is not what you stand for?

And if that’s the only difference, being that their platform distinguishes them from any other party, it only makes them politicians, like any other. And you wouldn’t be voting for something you don’t believe in as no amount of thuggery will get the average Irishman to change his mind, only kindly persuasion. (or maybe the parish priest)

Do you think maybe, that Hamas may believe they are patriots for their own people too?

It is really only a matter of perspective.

It’s much like a boxer entering a knitting contest, he wins only if he can knit.

Ballincollig Castle

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With all the rampant housing projects here in Ballincollig, we got wind of a project to build houses right up against the Moat at Ballincollig Castle. This Castle has been a neglected asset at the edge of town for ages, and now that the new bypass has exposed it to passing traffic it’s time to clean it up and make it accessible to the public. To that end we have set up a blogspace (as opposed to a regular webpage) at Ballincollig Heritage and there is an Article in the Echo as well.

There has been a plan in the works for this in the Co. Cork commissions office since 2003, but in typical fashion nothing has been done.

Traffic Lights in a Democratic Republic

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Having read again that the U.S. isn’t really a true democracy, but a republic. A republic that has at it roots, protections of the rights of the minority. It brings to light more of the ‘Republican’ goals, to replace the Republic with a democracy, where the majority requires the conformance of the minority. To reflect in everything they profess, no Gay rights, no Evolution, no Abortion, NO PERSONAL CHOICE only the majority chooses what it right, and correct for everyone. And only what is commercially correct. Everyone must believe in Christmas, Christmas is good for business.

I prefer the protection of the Republic for the rights of the individual and minority groups. Like freedom of speech, and religion.

I have often often wonder how ‘founded’ this ideal is, in the real world. And it came to me, traffic lights. (I know very strange)

Have you ever sat a traffic light, where no cars were crossing. Or where you are in a main traffic way, and the lights stop you, and hundreds of other car to allow only one car to cross or enter your traffic? That is the republic in action, protecting the single car from the majority of others from entering or crossing the lane.

In Ireland and other European countries, the ’roundabout’ is common, a truly democratic traffic condition, a single car cannot enter or cross until there is a break in the majority lane. I can not count the times when I have heard ’roundabouts’ equated with ‘chaos’ and they are. The term ‘Fate favors the Foolish’ can be attributed to roundabouts. But here in Ireland, and I’m sure in other places as well, traffic lights have been instituted at roundabouts, because in high traffic periods, roundabouts (ie. democracies) cannot cope. The republic rules, to correct the inadequacy of the democratic chaos created by the roundabout.

Here’s hoping.

Irish Pensions, A loosing proposition

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Seems like you can’t go a day without a corrupt politician shooting off their mouths.

Certain Irish minsters are now suggesting that all Irish workers should be forced to invest in private pension funds.

These are the same private pension funds, that over the last three years have LOST money. And the Irish know that, why would you invest in a bank that looses your money, you wouldn’t.

But the government wants to FORCE people to invest their money in pension funds that loose money. That can only be due to some brown envelopes being passed under the table by the pension fund managers. Managers who rewarded themselves last year for the pension fund that lost the least. What kind of business is this.

ID and Science, Religion and politics

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In Ireland, as much as I can see, the Irish are viewing the ID (Intelligent design) arguments with aghast. And I personally am ashamed to have been born and raised in Kansas. Here the question isn’t that God exists, ask any Catholic here, it’s not even a question. Watch a funeral procession, everyone crosses themselves. Their devotion is not subject to questioning.

However, from their perspective, and mine, any argument about ID is not that there was one, but that what science reveals is how complex and how truly Omniscient and omnipresent God is. If someone pointed to a piece of the puzzle and said, I see God putting these two things together, and see, a mousetrap. Their response would be, why have you made God so small, and weak. Or better yet, why do you make yourself as great as God as to assume you can detect his/her/it’s hand.

All these so called christian ID folk are the hight of arrogance as to assume they know all the ways of God, and in the same breath, diminish him at the same time. They make God, human, and therefor subject to their own designs.

As an IT person, more or less a Computer scientist, I can appreciate complexity, but I don’t have to invoke Deus Ex Machina to explain the universe around me. I marvel at it, and I seek to understand it in all of it’s complexity.

This scares me that the President of the United States is of this ID belief. If he thinks that Deus Ex Machina will get him out of the mess in Iraq, he has another thing coming.

Globalization and Irish Culture

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My last rant spoke of the tourist trade in Ireland and the rip off label that Ireland has acquired. And it really speaks a great deal more about why tourism happens in Ireland. I always though of Ireland as a ‘quaint’ rural culture. Small villages, friendly local pubs laid back friendly people. And that’s what draws in the tourist. They are reminded of simpler times, less hectic, and frankly less Mad.

And now here is the rub, the Irish government long ago established laws to help prevent the local shops and farmers from being put out of business by large food chains, fast food shops and multi-national corporations. But the outcome of this, is that while some of the small shop owners are protected the large chains are using the protection to increase profits generated by their bulk purchase power to expand into every little town. There was even a law to prevent large furniture stores like Ikea by preventing the construction of the giant buildings Ikea is so fond of.

This all gets back to the globalization issue, the Irish public want cheaper prices, it needs tourist, wants the vast choices that the Multi’s offer. But are also interested in preserving the Irish way of life, the one the tourist want to remember.

Thus hangs the dilemma. To get a less ‘rip off’ Ireland, Ireland will have to give up Irish culture, and the Tourist trade.

Frankly when I came here more than three years ago, I missed the American choices and prices, and I wasn’t an anti-globalization person. But I am now, why travel to other countries, and see new places if they all look alike? None! Where’s the Crack in that? I’d rather live in the Old Ireland, the one shown in ‘The Quiet Man’, ‘Waking Ned Devine’ and the ‘Matchmaker’

Did I mention, I’m an Irish citizen now? And more proud of that, than I can say.

Tourism and Rip Off Ireland

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I’m watching a Sky News program about the lack of tourist in Ireland this year. And I’m amazed, during tourist season, all hotels and B&B in the country raise their prices. And then they look in wonder why no-one is showing up. Mind you some business depend on the tourist arriving every year. But Ireland has a well established reputation for being the most expensive place in Europe to visit. Even the Irish go else where during the holidays.

When Ireland clears it’s name of being a Rip-off, it will cure the tourist problem as well

Politics the Press and the brown envelope

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In Ireland there is a tradition, not a good tradition, and a saying of sorts about the ‘Brown Envelope”. This has very little to do with the postal services, but about public officials taking bribes. Bribes mostly from Lobbyist, land developers, private business and Large Corporations.

Most Irish EXPECT their politicians to be corrupt, hence their natural distrust of the government, and the Gardai which are very politically influenced as well. This is in stark contrast to the U.S. who believe that politicians are working for the benefit of the general population.

Politicians are the same there, as they are here, why would you think otherwise?

Mostly due to the press. There is an outstanding LACK of investigative research being done by the press in the U.S.. As an example, the lack of WMD’s in Iraq and the reasons for going to war. This is not surprising as most of the press is controlled by, guess what, Big Business. The same people who bribe the government are the same ones who publish the news.

The press here in Ireland, while somewhat controlled, are usually pretty vocal. This is as much Irish as you can get. The Irish will talk about everything, and anything. And nothing gets them going like a good scandal. They spend years in tribunals talking about it.

If the reasons for going to war in Iraq consist of George Bush’s desire to be seen as a “Great” president. Perhaps he will be remembered as the President that becomes famous for a second ‘Viet Nam’. And the respect his Father won for the U.S. internationally fighting Iraq will be LOST by his son in a fit of ego for fighting Iraq. How Ironic.

But it will be the loss of respect, for the truth of the press. That will be one of the greatest failures the U.S. will ever suffer.

The ICS and Crayons

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I just received a bulletin from Irish Computer Society and it made me feel like it was addressed to first year students. I felt like I should get out my crayons and color in the pictures. It had to do with Software Licensing, and the protection of Intellectual Property issues

(You can read it here. )

The analogy is flawed and the knowledge of the legal mind behind it is indicative of the problem with the Pro vs Anti copyright arguments now going on in the EU. I’m afraid that if this is the kind of discussion going on in the EU Counsel chambers we are doom to repeat all the problems now plaguing the U.S. software industry.

(Update)
I forwarded the ICS bulletin To Richard M. Stallman and he replied. (He must have thought I was trying to subscribe him to this lame article.)

Please remove me from your list. It is not useful for me
to receive notice about speeches that will confuse the public
by speaking of “intellectual property”

Irish Retirement Nursing Centers

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The Irish government is hot on the subject of Retirement Centers. This is good, except that it’s not due to the years of filed complaints setting in it’s files. It’s due to the news program on RTE that has made it impossible for the government to turn a blind eye to it any more.

It’s scary that the retirement/nursing home at the center of the program attempted to prevent the airing of the program. And almost won.

More amazing is the fact that RTE is a government run broadcasting system. You could just imagine what a truly independent broadcasting news media could bring to light here.

Then again the current government has been attempting to muzzle the media here with threats of creating government oversight committees to review published content. (read censorship)

That coupled with the extension of the waiting period for release of ‘freedom of information’ requests from 5 years to 10 years does not bode well for truth in government.

And then there is the issue of the brown envelopes.