Posted by maca on October 4, 2006
According to the Belfast Tele shooting has just begun on the first bilingual film to come out of Ireland! [really?? that is a surprise!]
Kings, starring Colm Meaney and Donal O’Kelly, features cast members speaking both in English and Irish and is set to hit the big screen next year.
Although other ventures have included parts spoken in Irish, this is the first full -length movie to be bilingual and to be produced and fully financed from within the island of Ireland.
Interesting. This is the first i’ve heard of it.
Posted by maca on October 3, 2006
Something that looks too good to be true usually is. Smart Broadband looked good, 3Mb for €35 plus I can make calls, excellent thought I. But now the phones are down, I can make calls but not receive them and I wonder how long before the company folds altogether and we lose the Broadband. I really hope I don’t have to go back to Eircom and fork out a connection fee plus €45 per month for a measly 1Mb connection (inc rental) (3Mb would cost close to €70 … robbery).
Posted by maca on October 2, 2006
Two Garda related stories in the news over the weekend.
The first concerns the controversial Garda Reserve, the first batch of 40 Reserves started training last Saturday in Templemore. There has been a huge response to the drive to recruit Reserve Gardaí with over 6.6k applying to join so far.
Personally I am against the Reserve. I think we have enough problems with the Gardaí at the moment without adding to them. Morale is low in the force and the Reserve issue is only making it worse. And considering this is such a hot issue with the Gardaí I am surprised so many people applied to join. Would you apply to join knowing that the Gardaí object to the whole idea of a reserve force?
The second issue is related to arming our Gardaí. The head of the Garda Inspectorate, Kathleen O’Toole, has warned that arming Gardaí may need to be considered if the current levels of crime continue.
I was always divided on this issue, mis-believing that arming our force would lead to criminals arming themselves … which of course they have done anyway. I now believe we definitely should have an armed force. I wouldn’t necessarily arm every officer [although they do in other countries and it may not be a bad idea] but, like in the UK, I would at least create a special armed force who could back up regular Gardaí and could be on call for raids or special security duties etc. Of course we have the ERU but that’s not enough. I think it is shocking that in this day and age that we send our Gardaí into dangerous situations without weapons and even worse without proper protection like stab vests or bullet proof vests. It’s a disgrace! I don’t expect McDowell to do much but hopefully a future Minister for Justice with care enough about our Gardaí to provide them with both the personal protection and arms they need to combat crime that is out of control in many areas.
Posted by maca on October 2, 2006
What’s wrong with these people? Are they deliberately trying to be tossers? I don’t understand why they can’t just report the facts to us straight rather than push their own agenda, whatever that is. When they interviewed Niall Quinn prior to Sunderland naming Keane as manager they kept badgering Quinn asking the same questions over and over even though he said he wouldn’t discuss that issue, but they kept at him like rabid rats. They’re always doing that kind of shit.
Last night they were covering the Bertie loans/gifts issue and they attempted to explain (cause we’re all thick presumably) just what €50k from 1990 is really worth today … apparently, in TV3 land, it is worth half a million Euros! That’s it for me, I refuse to watch TV3 news anymore. Head-wrecking cunts they are. I have a brain, I can think for myself, just give me the facts and let me work from there, ok TV3? Dicks!
Posted by maca on September 29, 2006
Ya know what I just discovered today, condoms ["did he say condoms? lordi, ye can't be talking about such things like that in public. What'll Fr. Michael say?!!"] are very expensive in Ireland. Most shops e.g. Dunnes, seem to only sell Durex which run at over €16 for a 12 pack (Dunnes price checked today), yet €13 will get you a 24 pack of Näkki condoms in Finland [Näkki, or Näcken in Swedish, means hung like a moose (that's moose not mouse)]. Durex are probably expensive in Finland too, but thing is why aren’t there cheaper alternatives in Ireland [excluding Lidl condoms, not really an option] or are there? Do I need to shop elsewhere? And how can Durex charge that much anyway?
Of course this probably doesn’t affect many of you, 90% of you are catholics and therefore are:
1. single and abstaining from sex until marriage
2. married and not getting any anyway
But for the rest of us (not practicing catholics, prods and other sinners) this is a serious financial concern!
On the subject of condoms, I was in a chemist many years ago, I was only a wee gosson then. A fella came into the chemist and asked for a pack of Durex, the assistant went off out the back then came back into the front of the shop and searched the shelves for about 10 minutes before coming back to the guy waiting and asked “wasn’t it batteries you wanted?”. Ok, it was funny at the time right!
Posted by maca on September 28, 2006
Haven’t had a Gaeilge post in yonks, I must attempt to string a few words together one of these days. The only related news I have is that the next generation of Maca [maca óg we'll call him] who has just started school has already developed a wee grá for the language. Everyday he comes home from school with another word in Irish, today it was mála scoile, and he’s always demanding to know what x, y or z is in Irish. That’s a good sign. Wait till he gets to secondary school, they’ll knock that out of him quick enough. Hopefully not though.
Posted by maca on September 27, 2006
I just switched to Smart recently and discovered that I can no longer send emails (using my own email account thro. Thunderbird). I checked the Smart website and found that I need to switch my outgoing mail server to smtp.mysmart.ie.
I did so and tested it but no-go. So I called Smart who said “change your outgoing mail server to smtp.mysmart.ie”. “Yeah yeah I did that but it’s not working” says I, and she, customer service representative, replied “It works for everyone else!” “Well it’s NOT working for me” said I in a slightly put-off tone! I then asked was the port ok, port 25 being the default port. “No, port 25 is blocked for residential customers” says she. So, I queried, “if I can’t use port 25 then what should I use?” “Just change the outgoing mail server to smtp.mysmart.ie” she repeated. I fucking know you fuck, thought I. “I know”, says I, “but I need to specify a port, if not 25 then what can I specify?” “We can’t give you any other port” she said. “So what can I do?” I asked. “Here’s a website link…” Urgh.
Thankfully my mail host uses alternative ports so I got my mail working anyway. But as it turns out there was no real problem at all because when using Smarts smtp server port 25 is NOT actually blocked, it is only blocked outside of the Smart network so I didn’t need to stress about alternative ports at all! If yer one on telephone had of thought to mention that it would have saved me a lot of stress, arguing and site registration time.
Just one of those days, problems arising out of nothing.
Posted by maca on September 27, 2006
I don’t know, i’m just not convinced despite the sob story. Cynical Maca has a mistrust of politicians and finds it hard to believe there are any decent politicians in this country. Politician + money gifts/loans = yer average corrupt Irish politician? I dunno. What do you think? Lines are open!
Posted by maca on September 22, 2006
Just spotted over on /. the US Navy is due to retire their remaining F-14 Tomcat fighters this week. It’s interesting news for those of you with an interest in military hardware. The F-14 was one of the more interesting fighters in the US arsenal with its twin engines & sweeping wings but was apparently a dog to maintain and has been gradually replaced over the years by the F/A-18 Hornet. The F-14′s will probably sit for a while in a military graveyard before being scrapped. Must keep an eye on E-bay just in case one turns up there.
For those of you not familiar with the F-14 it’s the fighter Tom Cruise flew in Top Gun. And on the subject of Top Gun can we now also retire the song “Danger Zone” and finally outlaw Top Gun quotes? Let this be the last one…
I feel the need … the need for speed
Alright, one more …
He’s going vertical!
Ok, that’s it! The end of Top Gun quotes!
Posted by maca on September 21, 2006
As you’ve probably read already, Richard Hammond, presenter on Top Gear & Brainiac was involved in a serious crash yesterday when he attempted to break the British land speed record. They were filming for Top Gear on an airfield near York (UK) when Richard’s car veered off course and crashed at approx. 300 mph. He’s in hospital in Leeds where his conditions is said to be serious but improving. Get well soon Rich!