Slightly less grumpy today

Three reasons for this and none of them have to do with the Mets. I'm still mad as hell about them and at them.

First reason I feel a little better is that I read a few pages from Bill Bryson's book on his youth in Iowa in the 50s & 60s. I was reading a few pages on his brainy friend Willoughby and Willoughby's equally brainy brothers and the stupid games that they used to play. One day Willoughby made a cannon and using his own home-made gun powder took out a window in a house down the street. A few paragraphs on and I'm reading about how the brothers used to go into the basement, turn off the lights and throw lighted matches at one another. I was laughing so hard I was crying. It was easy to recognize life with my brothers in those few pages.

Then someone sent me this video on Mahmoud Ahmadinejad from Saturday Night Live. (Warning - it's not G Rated, although in today's climate maybe it would be.) It just made me laugh and forget about those pretenders in Queens.

Then there was this article by a guy named Bartle Bull. I don't know who Bartle Bull is, but he is so upbeat about what's going on in Iraq that I decided to not even think critically about his article for a while. Just accept what he's saying like a drug. When it wears off, I'll consider his thesis - that the mission is basically accomplished and the political violence is basically pointless/over - but until then I'm just going to accept this high (to forget, you know what).

Junk journalism

Last Friday the Irish Examiner provided readers with an article headlined "Revealed: Why we want to be like Europe, not the US". That caught my attention, so I clicked to read more and I learned

Irish people want to become more European and are highly critical of the US, its values and culture, a recent study found.

Like the British we see ourselves as an island off the continent of Europe, but have completely different attitudes to it.

The Irish are welcoming and eager to learn about the different European cultures while the British were described as "insular," feeling they have more in common with the US.

Many Irish hold anti-US views and dislike the influence of American culture, despite the strong links to the US and the emigrant communities. They see being part of Europe as a way of fighting American domination. "Anything which helps to stem the flow of American culture is worthwhile," said one Irish person.

Many no longer see western culture as something European, but associate the term with the US and globalisation.

One Irish person quoted in the report said: "I would immediately think of America when I hear of western culture, I think greed, oil, exploitation, colonialism and certain religious values. Americans tend to think the US is the world."

That's some strong stuff. I figured I'd like to read the full study, but the Examiner didn't say who'd conducted the research, how it was conducted nor provide any help in finding the full report.

What kind of reporting is that? I saw a new study that says the Irish Examiner is run by a group of Reavers, but I can't tell you who wrote the report or conducted the research. But, it exists. Trust me.

Again, I told you I'm grumpy.

Is MSNBC a joke?

I don't know all that much about MSNBC, to be honest, but after reading their "contributor's" review of Springsteen's new album, I can't help think it's staffed by half-wits.

The mesmerizing title track is where Springsteen's aforementioned dark side comes to fruition. Whether he was emotionally scarred by a magician as a young boy, or he just has it out for them, Springsteen sees these tricksters as deceitful and reprehensible, their entertainment value be damned.

With lyrics such as "I got a shiny saw blade / All I need's a volunteer / I'll cut you in half / While you're smilin' ear to ear" makes it very clear what Springsteen thinks of these slight-of-hand artists. Of course, he could be a big fan of magicians and is just toying with us.

You'd really have to be nearly brain dead NOT to realize that Springsteen is referring to President Bush in this song. It's a very political album, how does this guy not know this?

I told you I was grumpy.

Yeah, I'm very grumpy today

What's your problem? Just stay clear. It'll take a few days. Okay weeks. All right, all right. I'll probably never get over this one. Satisfied? Is that what you wanted to hear? Now shaddup and getoutofmyface.

Bray this weekend

There is a palpable sadness in Bray this weekend and it will continue until tomorrow when the second fireman is buried. There's not a lot to be said. It's just tragic.

Nice touch by the FDNY to send a delegation to the funeral.

House for sale

The Canadian Government is selling their Ambassador's residence in Dublin. The reason for the sale is, apparently, simply to cash in on the rise in the value of the property. It would seem that the Canadian Government hasn't been reading the property news here lately. Prices are falling. They should have sold the house 18 months ago. It's a great location and a nice-looking house, but still I doubt they'll get their €17m.

Slice of bacon, please

Following the Mets the past week all I've been able to think about is a quote from Mick McCarty back when he was managing the Irish national team.

Everyone has a good time watching it, but you want to try sitting in that dug-out with your backside in the bacon slicer!

Mets manager Willie Randolph may well wish it was only a slice of bacon that was on the line. I imagine many Met fans will want him skinned - dead or alive, it won't matter - if things don't turn around this weekend. The Mets are standing on the edge of history, only it's the kind of history no team ever want to be part of.

Yanks in Athenry

Great little story about an American plane that crash landed in Athenry during World War II.

Magic

If you want to hear the whole of Bruce's new album, you can here (and probably in loads of other places too).

Well, I'm not that thrilled to be honest. The music's very Bruce, which is a good thing (if you like Bruce, obviously). The lyrics are ... well, let's just say Bruce has Iraq on his mind these days. There are a number of songs that refer to the Iraq war. One of them, Devil's Arcade, is my favorite on the album.

The other over-riding theme is that Bruce is a cranky old so and so. And, the lightest song on the album, Girls In Their Summer Clothes, had me thinking, "Gee, Bruce. Aren't you a little old to be ogling young girls on the boardwalk these days"? Maybe I'm just getting old.

And, then there's I'll Work For Your Love, which has some pretty odd religious imagery:

• And I'll watch the bones in your back like the Stations of the Cross …
• The pages of Revelation lie open in your empty eyes of blue …
• Well tears, they fill the rosary at your feet, my temple of bones …

Maybe I misheard those lines, but I don't think so. That first one still has me scratching my head.

Maybe Magic will grow on me; I've only had one listen (other than I'll Work For Your Love). I can't picture myself listening to this in the car singing along. Right now I'm not even sure I'll buy it, which is saying something.

Belgium's troubles

I have no insight other than what I read in the paper, but boy it does seem odd that people are openly discussing the demise of Belgium. On the one hand, it's a big "So what?", but you do have to wonder what's going on in the EU if one of the member states is possibly coming apart.

A report in today's New York Times makes it seem like the end of Belgium is still a ways off, which is good if true. I can't see anything good coming from such a separation. Maybe this is just a mood and it will pass?

I used to pay a lot of attention to the Quebec issue, which is similar, of course. I always believed that the French Canadians were less separatist than was often thought, even less separatist than how they voted. They just liked to push the English speaking part of Canada to see how far they could go, what sort of perks could get they get for themselves. They were simply the squeaky wheel.

If Quebec had actually withdrawn from Canada it would have led to all sorts of uncertainty, including whether the western provinces would want to stay in Canada and whether Ontario would want to have to deal with the isolated maritime Provinces. Canada would probably cease to exist if Quebec did leave.

This Belgium situation seems different. More vitriolic, but perhaps less consequential for the two factions. The Flemish people seem to assume (probably correctly) that an independent Flanders would be admitted to the EU. A rump Belgium and Flanders would simply be two regional governments under the EU's umbrella where before there was only one. Maybe the cost of separation is not great enough to prevent it from happening?

Every reporter and columnist rightly points out that if Flanders separates from Belgium, other regions may also demand that they be independent states inside the EU. Yet, I'm not sure the EU can do much to stop this.

Not only will this 'divorce' lead to further trouble in other member states, but it's an embarrassment for the whole EU. It might even represent a threat to the EU itself. How can this great experiment in a multinational super-state accept that a small member state could not endure as a multinational state? What if in the future a large ethnic bloc decides it wants out of the EU?

The EU has to find a way to prevent this from coming to pass.

Thanks all the way from Gilbert

The Mayor of Gilbert, AZ just had to come.

"It was extremely important for me to thank them for support of the war on terror," Berman said of his visit with First Minister Ian Paisley.

I love small towns (okay, cities) like this. The Mayor had to come all the way from Arizona to offer his thanks for support in the war on terror. Obviously a simple 'thank you' card wouldn't suffice. And, aren't thanks for support in wars something usually conveyed by someone a little closer to the role of Commander-in-Chief than the Mayor of Gilbert, Arizona?

And, one more thing, you ever notice that these ever-so-vital trips never seem to occur in January?

{By the way, can anyone shed any light on Ian Paisley's or the DUP's stance on the war on terror? I'm not sure I've ever heard anyone in the party speak out one way or the other.}

Rubbish!

Not for one minute do I believe that limiting the number of competitors seeking my custom will be to my benefit (or any consumer's), but the so-called Competition Authority (is it supposed to to attempt to prevent competition?) prefers that solution to local garbage collection.

The Competition Authority

said it is in favour of single operators if the arrangement was more economical in an area.
It said competition should take place at the tendering stage when operators would offer their services at competitive rates, before an operator was chosen.

In other words, every consumer should be treated as identical. Well, you know what? We aren't. I've worked hard to reduce the amount of garbage produced in my house. And, I shopped around to find the best deal among the waste collectors operating in my area.

My annual bill is probably less than a third of most people who live near me. I know it would cost me big to go back to the situation we had when we had only one waste collection company, whose only concern was catching the eye of some local councillors. No thank you. Keep the competition.

To all Met fans and Met fans only

Is everybody okay in here? Anyone need any help?

No, that wasn't a bomb. It was just the sky falling on us. What? Cut on my head? I must have blacked out. I didn't know I was hurt.

I don't remember much, just the sound of an explosion. What was that? That was Raphael Belliard crushing the ball? Isn't he on Washington? Aren't they in last place? Okay, fourth place. WHATEVER! - they're a long way back.

How long do you think the lights will be out? Sheesh. My head really hurts.

Free again

The New York Times has - for the second time - abandoned an online subscription model. All their columns and opinion pieces are free again as is the archive going back to 1987.

Another victory for the cheap at heart.

The "Ambassador is a humorous man"

That's how the German embassy replied when questioned about their Ambassador's recent remarks to a gathering of German industrialists in Dublin. I have trouble imagining any Ambassador as humorous, but for some reason the idea that the German ambassador is humorous is itself somewhat amusing.

Anyway, today it seems that not only was he joking, but his jokes were mistranslated.Or at least, his speech was mistranslated, which might help explain why fellow speaker and Irishman Gay Mitchell was offended. Mitchell thought the Ambassador "did a number on Ireland and the Irish".

I can't see that describing Irish history as even sadder than Poland's is all that offensive. Maybe he was offended by the remark that Irish people seem pretty keen on new cars? I don't know. I haven't been able to find a copy of the actual speech.

One Irish Independent columnist (Kevin Myers, I'm guessing) is not offended, but is professing his admiration for the Ambassador in a funny open letter to German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Petraeus & Newstalk

I like Karen Coleman, as I've said before. I don't get the chance to listen to her program as often as I used to when it was on Saturday mornings, but I doubt it's changed much.

On Sunday Coleman was discussing General Petraeus's testimony before Congress last week. She had a guest - just one - to provide the meat of the discussion. I missed the first couple of minutes of her interview with her guest Ray McGovern (a name I didn't know). I don't know how she introduced him, but within a couple of minutes I knew we were not going to get anything like a balanced report on what Petraeus had to say or how it was received.

What we got instead was that Petraeus lied to Congress and is willing to sacrifice the lives of his men in pursuit of his Presidential ambitions. That's pretty strong stuff and it occurred to me that it might even be libelous under Irish law (much stricter than US law). Coleman never even tried to say, "Oh come on. That's a pretty strong accusation. You don't really believe that, do you?"

Instead, she let him go on in that vein for the rest of the interview. Only he and his colleagues at Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity (can't find a web site) really know what's going on. He even damned Petraeus by claiming his 1974 marriage was merely a way of promoting himself to a military superior.

She didn't even react when McGovern referred to President Bush as the "self-proclaimed Commander in Chief". Hardly "self-proclaimed" seeing as the Constitution says:

The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States …

Even that bit of nonsense went unchallenged.

This is how I remember Coleman's shows. Well researched, well produced, but far too often completely lacking in any semblance of balance.

Plumbing the depths of despair

My arms are aching after spending a lot of time this past weekend and last night trying to resolve a not-so-major plumbing issue. Uggh. It wasn't hard to see what the problem was, but finding the right pieces to fix it and then making them fit - aaaaahhhhh.

My arms and back are killing me after spending so much time trying to twist myself beneath and around the tub, toilet and various pipes. And, to top it off, I'm not so sure my repair is going to last all that long.

English lessons for immigrants

The Immigrant Council of Ireland believes immigrants need English lessons otherwise immigrants will face "social isolation and marginalisation"; immigrants will have trouble getting access to "basic services such as the health system, education and housing". That sounds reasonable to me. Immigrants should learn English and a few hours a week in a classroom will help them on their way. Good idea.

However, it's wrong for the government to fund (or even worse, provide) such classes. Anyone who has come here to work has come of their own free will and if they feel they need English classes to enhance the quality of their life here, then they should pay for such classes themselves.

The taxpayer should not be expected to pay for such classes, otherwise why shouldn't all adult education be funded by the taxpayer. What makes an English class for an immigrant engineer more important than an engineering class for a native? There are all sorts of benefits with regards to health, housing and education available to those who have studied various subjects, not just English.

Also, the immigrant will benefit because he will be in class with others equally determined to learn and he will have the leverage to demand an excellent service. Such leverage is non-existent when the state gets involved. When the state provides, you takes what you gets.

And, what about this little twist? I came to this country already knowing English, but maybe now I feel a need learn the native tongue. I can't help my kids with their homework, can't avail of the state-funded television and radio services in Irish, etc. I can't join the Guards, be a teacher or become a barrister. Why shouldn't the state provide for me to learn the Irish language? What would be the constitutional position of funding only lessons in the second language of the nation? Just a thought.

Anniversary

I doubt September 11 will ever be just another day on the calendar. Still, it doesn't mean I have anything to say about it, as I've realized today. Again, I'm surprised at how many programs on the t.v. are about the attacks six years ago. And, yes, I'm watching them, but I don't think I've heard anything that I didn't already know.

Osama's video

Other than those in the news media, is anyone taking this thing seriously? Oh, I'm sure it'll hit MTV's top 20, but really, when are they going to do an episode of Cribs with him?

If I were to offer Osama any advice at all, it would be to cut it back to about 3 minutes. It's always hard to get airplay for a 25 minute video. And, talking about the housing market is a big mistake.

Sure everyone's interested in the value of their property, but eyes glaze over when you don't keep it local or make it exotic. I would suggest he show a few choice properties that might interest the viewer. You know, a large villa with a thousand acres for less than $750 somewhere northeast of Khandahar. It should have a nice view of the Arghandab River.

Another idea might be to release a series of text messages. Imagine the fun trying to decipher the meaning when he's using Arabic txtspk.

Some of the highlights for me were:

• bin Laden talks about how America has been "bled dry" economically. Now, maybe there have been a few economic issues, but there is no single town in the US that is as bad off as any town in Afghanistan under Taliban rule. "Bled dry" means different things to different people, I suppose.
• He cites his pro-Jewish credentials, but then stirs the pot of anti-semitism by noting how the Koran portrays Mary favorably, "in contrast to the fabrications of the Jews against her"
• Osama hates America because America won't sign the Kyoto Protocols
• Osama believes in low taxes, as is appropriate given his millionaire status

I have to admit, I thought this was pretty funny.