Dé Sathairn (Sat), Feabhra (Feb) 26th

IRA expels members
In an interesting move the Provisional IRA has expelled three members from its ranks over their involvement in the death of Robert McCarthy last month. Could it be that the IRA realise murder is actually wrong? Nah, hardly!
Related: The BBC ask 'Why are young people still joining the IRA?' more..
maca @ 01:22.

Dé hAoine (Fri), Feabhra (Feb) 25th

Pope has operation
Looks like the Pope isn't doing too well. Back in hospital again he needed a tracheotomy to help his breathing. He could well be on the way out... more..
maca @ 12:29.

Dé Céadaoin (Wed), Feabhra (Feb) 23rd

Oceans 13
Well, I joked about it but it might actually come true. The Northern Bank raid might just be made into a movie. Author Charles Goodwin, who is currently writing a book on the robbery, is in talks with producers interested in turning the crime into a movie. It's hardly worth sneering at, is it? more..
maca @ 11:52.

Titanic killer coming to Belfast?
It has been proposed to drag an iceberg [registration cheat] from Norway to the the Belfast shipyard where the Titanic was built to help put Belfast's redeveloped Titanic Quarter on the tourist map by 2008. I kid you not. "The iceberg could become a symbol of hope as it melts." Glad it's not my tax money paying for it. more..
maca @ 04:13.

Dé Máirt (Tue), Feabhra (Feb) 22nd

Another Luas crash!
Yes indeedy, the tenth Luas crash since it opened in September. 5 injured in this latest accident. They should seriously consider switching from chimpanzee drivers to humans drivers. more..
maca @ 11:20.

Dé Luain (Mon), Feabhra (Feb) 21st

Cá bhfuil Lá??
The Lá web site has been offline 9 times out of the 10 that i've visited it in the past month. Is it man-power? Funding? Should we blame Hermon and Laird? ;-)

Speaking of irish language sites. I haven't visited Blas in a while. I'd recommend (for Irish learners) checking out Giota Beag agus Giota Beag Eile, two short Irish courses by Fearghal Mag Uiginn. Don't forget to tune in every Tuesday at 19.30. more..
maca @ 12:11.

McAleese cancelled trip North
Mary McAleese has cancelled her plans to visit loyalist Shankill Road this week. Unsurprising really considering the reaction to her comments at the Auschwitz commemoration in Poland. Some Unionists may have accepted her apology but her comments cut pretty deep and the wound may never fully heal. In the case of people such as Paisley Óg (who was rather outspoken about her remarks) they'd always be bitter anyway no matter what she said or did!. more..
maca @ 11:41.

Attitudes need to change...
...in Catholic Ireland. The body of newborn baby was discovered in a shallow grave in Ballina yesterday afternoon. Hardly the first time such a thing has happened but completely unacceptable that it should happen in this day and age. Why is it that drives young mothers to such lengths? Outdated narrow-minded Catholic attitudes? more..
maca @ 11:32.

Dé hAoine (Fri), Feabhra (Feb) 18th

Longford Town get licence
My own Longford Town got their licence after they had initially been refused. Another cup this year lads? Why not. more..
maca @ 10:49.

Cork & Dublin Raids & The Northern
Been following the news of the money laundering raids in Dublin & Cork? I decided to let the dust settle before posting on it and have been spending most of my time over on Slugger who have been posting updates on the subject as the story develops. Anyway, with seven arrested, two 'with republican connections' released without charge, one charged with Real IRA membership, a Sinn Féin member, a businessman who had €3.3m in his back garden, as one does, a trusted associate of Bertie under investigation, €253,000 handed in to a Garda station in Cork, a man with money to burn and a Gerry Adams in denial, it should make a feckin great movie ... Oceans 13 maybe?

Update: Eight person arrested [registration cheat]. more..
maca @ 10:29.

Dé hAoine (Fri), Feabhra (Feb) 11th

Nuclear weapons: Who has what?
Lots of talk recently about nuclear weapons especially wrt Iran who are suspected of running a nuclear arms program. Here the BBC takes a quick look at who has what when it comes to nuclear weapons. The US, with all their talk of stopping Iran from developing weapons, is said to have about 6000 strategic warheads with some some 3,000 warheads in reserve, according to the Arms Control Association. more..
maca @ 11:21.

McCullough loses on points
Since the days when The Clones Cyclone had the country glued to the tv i've been keeping an eye on Irelands best fighters. One of our best in recent years has been Ulsterman Wayne McCullough who, at 34 and with only 2 competitive rounds fought within the last two years, was taking on champion Oscar Larios in his bid to land the WBC super-bantamweight title this morning in California. Sadly, despite a brilliant effort over 12 rounds, McCullough lost on points to the champ. All credit though to McCullough for coming back and giving it another go after his beating at the hands of WBO featherweight champion Scott Harrison two years ago. I hope this is not his last attempt but at 34 this may just be the end for Wayne.
Update: McCullough to fight on. more..
maca @ 12:40.

Déardaoin (Thu), Feabhra (Feb) 10th

State to impose fines for visible undies
The state of Virginia has proposed a bill which means people showing too much of their underwear could be fined as much as $50! The bill is designed to stamp out the problem of people wearing their trousers so low that their boxers or g-strings are showing ala rapper-style. I think these old fogies in the state house need a reality check! more..
maca @ 01:44.

Dé Luain (Mon), Feabhra (Feb) 7th

Cuba begins smoking ban
Cuba? I mean CUBA?? How can Cuba have a smoking ban? I saw a documentary not so long ago on Cuba and everyone was smoking. It's like a national pastime!!
Ok, a tad unfair, only about 2,047,714 [32% 2001, 37% - 1995] adults smoke. But with about 25,000 new cases of lung cancer every month you can certainly understand why they would bring in a ban. more..
maca @ 05:41.

GMail giveaway!
Jaypers. I now have 50 Gmail invites to give away. Anyone interested just mail me! more..
maca @ 12:35.

Situation with Iran hotting up
Been slow blogging recently, apologies, lack of time is my excuse.

Tensions are building up between the US and Iran, it's beginning to look likely that there will be some sort of strike against Iran in the not too distant future. The US may not have the balls to do it but might persuade Israel to have a go. If they had brains they'd back off. Iran is not a country to be fucked with and they have already stated that they "will retaliate and accelerate its efforts to develop nuclear technology if attacked by the US or Israel". Out of curiousity I did a search for Iran defence information and found a site with a number of links, very interesting is this report from the 8th December 2004, Iran's Military Power - CSIS [pdf format], worth reading. more..
maca @ 11:38.

Dé Máirt (Tue), Feabhra (Feb) 1st

Snowball killer
It's amazing just how crazy some people are. A guy was jailed in Holland today for 15 years after shooting dead a teenage boy who threw a snowball at his car! "The victim, 13-year-old Sedar Soares, was in a group of children throwing snowballs at passers-by in a Rotterdam car park. When they hit a car, its driver stepped out and opened fire at them". It's a crazy world. more..
maca @ 02:47.