End of the party

Who is Ciaran Cannon? I never heard of him until a couple of days ago when I heard that he'd won the day and become the new leader of the Progressive Democrats. In contrast, I had heard of Fiona O'Malley, who Cannon defeated to become leader of the PD's.

Everyone seems to believe that it's only a matter of time before the PD's simply vanish. I doubt 'everyone' is wrong. The funny thing is, I was actually a little happy when I heard that Cannon had defeated O'Malley. Why? Well, mostly because I'm not a fan of O'Malley as I've written before. I guess I have this fading, vague hope that Cannon will revive the PD's only without the hip social policies and the (sometimes virulent) anti-Catholicism.

So, until I learn otherwise, I'll wish Cannon well, but whether I like what he has to say or not, I think his party's doomed.

Consulting with children

Teenage children want the drinking age lowered. That's according to Teenagers’ views on solutions to alcohol misuse (Report on a National Consultation). The teens believe that the legal age for buying alcohol should be 16.

I didn't know until I saw this report that the Minister for Children had even established Children and Young People's Forum, which is comprised of children aged 12-18 (is 12 the new 'teen'?). The CYPF was formed in 2004 because "[t]here is a growing awareness of the need to involve children and young people directly in researching their lives". Apparently this idea is driven by "international best practice on participation by young people in decision-making".

This sort of thing drives me nuts. "International best practice"? Who decides what's "best practice" and what isn't? And where is this "growing awareness" taking place? I would doubt it's in the homes where most parents do their darndest to raise their children right. No, it comes from busy-body academics who love nothing better than dictating to others how to raise their children, etc. (while drawing their tax-payer funded salaries to engage in tax-payer funded 'research').

Look, I know there's a problem with drinking here and it starts at a young age. However, if instead of wasting tax-payers money on the CYPF and ridiculous research projects the government listened to parents I think they'd hear something along the lines of:

1. Toughen the laws - make it illegal to sell alcohol to anyone without a proper state-issued ID; make it a crime on a par with drug-dealing for a legal drinker to supply alcohol to underage drinkers (excluding the family home)
2. raise the drinking age - for the first time since I moved here I've been hearing this one a lot. 20 seems to be a minimum people think should be adopted.

This kind of consultative drivel is what you get when you create unnecessary government positions like the Minister for Children. That should just be scrapped.

I can't wait for the next gems to come from the Minister's office. I'm sure it'll be something along the lines of ... Consultation with children aged 5-11 indicates that they'd like a strictly enforced regime of three ice creams per day ...

Reporting on the Waterford aid request

It might be a mere oversight or coincidence, but the Irish Independent's coverage of this story has been somewhat scant compared with what can be found in the Irish Times and the (London) Sunday Times.

In today's Irish Times, John McManus points out (sub. reqd.) that the crystal (Irish & other) business is actually profitable and it's their other product lines that are causing most of the trouble: "the real problem with Waterford Wedgwood lies with the ceramics business and not the crystal business".

If the Waterford Wedgwood accounts reveal anything at all it is that the non-Irish brands are dragging down the iconic Irish brand". McManus concludes, "rescuing quoted companies, particularly quoted companies that carry out more than three quarters of their operations outside of the State makes no sense for the Government". Correctamundo! (I'm sticking with the Happy Days theme)

Normally, I would expect to see a similar column in the Sunday Independent, but nothing yesterday.

Yesterday's, Sunday Times noted that the request for government aid "came just minutes before it emerged that Sir Anthony O'Reilly, the Waterford Wedgwood chairman, spent €4 million of his own money on building his stake in Independent News & Media". This is the same Independent News & Media that publishes the somewhat reticent (on this topic) Irish Independent.

Why is the Irish Independent and the Sunday Independent missing on this story? I wonder.

The Democratic prmaries

The Democratic Party is still trying to find a nominee. I can't believe it's another week to the Pennsylvania primary.

I don't know about you, but I've lost interest. In fact, when I read the other day about some new problem for Obama and how this might be Hillary's opportunity I thought how this process is like a t.v. show I watched when it was new and interesting but is now trudging on with nothing new to offer to hold the viewer's attention.

If the Democrats were ABC they'd be having a crisis meeting about falling ratings and be looking at how they could spice up the storylines with something new. Maybe a new character. Like Chachi on Happy Days. That's a good idea. The Democrats should be appealing to Al Gore to throw his hat in the ring (his candidacy will be forever known as the Chachi campaign). They just need something to freshen things up.

Looking into the crystal ball

Waterford Crystal wants the government to provide it with "State guarantees for €39m of new bank debt over a three-year period". Why is Waterford Crystal asking for the government to "guarantee" new bank debt? It's not a trick question, you know the answer. Yup, because no bank will go near them without the taxpayer as back-up.

The company has too much debt already. It's certainly sad, true, but at least there a few laughs reading CEO John Foley's arguments (sorry, but Irish Times and sub. reqd.) why the Irish government should back Waterford with taxpayer money:

• They're only asking for a guarantee, not a loan or a grant (surely somebody out there would recognize that there's no risk in a guarantee and come to their aid. Surely. No?)
• They want to stay in Ireland (aren't they great)
• Government aid would be no different than public bail-outs of Northern Rock and Bear Stearns (yes, possible collapse of financial system or loss of luxury glass manufacturer - same thing)
• The company "has a heritage from the mid-18th century, has been manufacturing in the city for more than 60 years. It has been a good corporate citizen throughout this time". (Possibly my favorite)
• The company has been substantially supported by its shareholders in recent years (Duh. Maybe they should have realized earlier that the business was in trouble?)
• They believe it's desirable for Ireland to maintain Waterford Crystal in Ireland (I agree - each shareholder should pledge to double, triple his investment with zero expectation of any return)
• The "award-winning visitor centre", which attracts 350,000 people annually, could stay open. (I wonder if there are any other attractions that might be able to attract 350,000 people per year with €39m to spend?)

I hope the government has the sense to bid Waterford adieu. At the same time, it might not be a bad idea to just put out feelers in EU circles to see if "Waterford" must come from Waterford. You know, like Champagne has to come from the Champagne region? I'd love to see Mr. Foley's face when the government makes that announcement.

Taxing the internet to fund t.v.

This is just outrageous. The British government's telecoms watchdog proposes imposing a tax on internet service providers in order to fund television programs nobody watches. This is so stunningly unnecessary and unjust that I'm nearly speechless (or the blog equivalent). In fact, I was so sure that the Daily Telegraph was mistaken that I went to Ofcom's web site where I saw that the report was accurate.

Fourthly, industry funding for public service content could be introduced through levies. President Sarkozy has proposed this as a possible approach for France. It might be possible to introduce levies on providers not currently part of the formal public service broadcasting model, such as broadcasters, equipment sales, internet service subscriptions or UK online content providers.

I didn't read this whole report, but even with a quick breeze through it you see lots of words like "plurality". Plurality is used to mean "competition", but not the kind of competition with winners and losers. No, winning and losing is out because plurality means the average Joe Schmoe has to pay for all sorts of fringe or unwatchable programming that the viewing numbers can't justify.

What makes all this piffle more interesting is that for reasons that are insufficiently explained, internet service providers or television manufacturers should be punished because all this undoubtedly worthwhile, but unwatched, programming needs funding. Why not tax newspapers or video rental shops?

Television is under threat from the internet and that's the problem. The governments are finding it hard to collect money and control the thoughts of people who use the internet. The report mentions frequently how young people use the internet more than t.v.. We can't have that now, can we?

This is so typical of a government quango or civil service response. They can't hold back the flood waters of change, but they're sure going to punish those who insist on it.

Torched

I wonder who might end up regretting the Beijing Olympics more - the IOC or the Chinese government?

The IOC is in "crisis" over the torch relay. They're issuing threats against the athletes, who are the backbone of the Games. And now, belatedly, they're demanding that China respect human rights.

Despite all that, I think the Chinese government is probably even more rueful today. The Summer Games were supposed to be a great success, something of an announcemnt of China's 'arrival'. Well, right now it looks like this summer might be the hottest for them since 1989.

The Tibetans have obviously perceived that the Olympic Games provide them with an opportunity to gain world attention for their plight. The Chinese government has not reacted well. They've shot themselves in the foot and the fate of Tibet is now a hotter item than Iraq. Soccer commentators would describe that as an 'own goal', which it is surely is. The Chinese authorities must be scratching their heads at how they managed to accomplish that feat. Their dreams are going up in smoke.

And, today I read that Chinese government claims to have thwarted a Muslim terror plot aimed at causing mayhem during the Games. Nice try there. Two years ago they claimed that they had no Muslim problm in Xinjiang, but now that they could really use a little global sympathy (especially from the West) they uncover a big plot involving 45 people who intended to "blow themselves up in Urumqi and to attack hotels, government buildings, and military buildings in Shanghai and Beijing". The Los Angeles Times reports that the "authorities offered little evidence to support the claim". The timing couldn't be more convenient.

The Great Carrier Reef

I remember first reading about this a few years ago and it just seemed like a good idea. New York City's Subway Cars were dumped in the sea off the Delaware cost to create a reef that would allow all sorts of sea life to flourish in what was bascially an underwater desert.

Now 6 years later it's looking like a great idea. More states want the retired cars and Delaware may soon find it a struggle to find new trains for their reef.

There are good pictures, videos and charts from a similar reef off New Jersey's coast here.

Casablanca II?

I heard about this on the radio on April 1 and I was sure it was an obvious April Fool's joke. But, apparently not? Madonna really wants to remake Casablanca with her in Igrid Bergman's role? And it's going to be in Iraq? (Does Madonna realize that Casablanca isn't in Iraq? And that Bergman was 26 when she made Casablanca?) This could be one of the dumbest ideas I've heard in a long time.

Shea farewell

Today is the first home game for the Mets, their Home Opener. They have 80 more home games this season, but the Opener's always a special occasion. Back in the 1980s I made it a ritual to skip class and head to Shea Stadium for Opening Day. During the early 80s they practically gave away tickets to Opening Day, but by 1986 it was a tough ticket.

Today is Shea's last Opener. April 2009 will see the grand opening of the contemptibly named CitiField, which promises to be a more pleasant (and expensive) experience. I'm sure I'll get to like it.

Met fans have mixed emotions about this because the Shea is not lovable other than it's ours. It's our home. We all have our own memories of our times in the ball park watching the Mets (I also saw the Jets there & the Beatles played there too). And, of course, we all remember the great and sometimes strange things happened there. A miracle occurred there in 1969.

The long good-bye starts this afternoon.

"Yeah, Hi. I'm calling from the plane"

I have yet to speak to anyone who's happy about this decision. I don't have any problem with the idea that people will be able to use their mobile phones on a plane so long as they're texting, but listening to people's inane phone conversations might do more for ending the demand with cheap flights than anything John Gormley & the Greens could have dreamed of.

Talk about air rage. I can just imagine how tempers might shorten if some loud-mouth idiot never shuts up. It's already a nightmare on trains, but somehow it seems it'll be even worse on board an airplane.

Szeklerland

There are times when I just shake my head at the hodge podge of nationalities and enclaves that make up Europe. It seems that Kosovo's recent independences has inspired the Hungarians who live inside Romania.

The Hungarian region, comprising part of Mures County and all of Harghita and Covasna, where Sfantu Gheorghe is the capital, was once a border area of the Hungarian kingdom defended by the Szeklers. After World War I, the Szeklers found themselves smack in the middle of Romania, a few hours drive north through the Carpathian Mountains from Bucharest.

The conclusion of the war is best remembered for the harsh terms imposed on Germany. But the peace agreement signed by Hungary in 1920, the Treaty of Trianon, was arguably even tougher. Hungary lost roughly two-thirds of its territory and population, including one-third of its Hungarian speakers, in the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, a loss that to this day is known as the Trianon trauma. (Hungary regained most of its lost territories temporarily during World War II.)

The Szeklers are looking for an autonomous region inside Romania and not full independence. Still, understandably, the Romanians are not best pleased.

Flame tour

Why is the Olympic flame on tour? Why are police forces in Greece, Britain & France (elsewhere?) protecting this flame? Why do governments go to such lengths to help perpetuate the myths of the IOC?

I like sports and I like watching the Olympics, but it's high time that we stop pretending that it's any different than any other sporting body. All this flame nonsense is a joke.

I can understand why the Tibet supporters want to protest against the Chinese government, but the rest of us should be asking why any taxpayers' money is wasted on this charade. I heard on Newstalk that the flame was extinguished by protesters this afternoon in Paris. That's good because the Olympic ideals were extinguished long ago.

Okay, you can have Charlton's gun now

Charlton Heston is dead. I hope someone was there to take his gun from his "cold, dead hands".

Bishop Gormley and CFL bulbs

This article is 6 weeks old, but I'd misplaced it after originally intending to mention it in February. Emmanuel Kehoe of the Sunday Business Post is none too keen on Minister John Gormley's light bulb decision.

I enjoyed Kehoe's column for what he had to say about the Greens generally even though I'm probably less negative about the CFL bulbs than he is. I suspect that, like me, he'd be happy to be won over to CFL bulbs rather than being forced to adhere to what feels like a new state religion.

Think of a Green’s anguish when forced to fly to a UN climate change conference in Bali, as John Gormley did last December. Happily, the poor man was provided with a bicycle to use and be photographed with when he got there. Nothing makes a Green happier than a bicycle - and nothing makes a Green minister happier than being photographed with one.

… The Green lobby, like any evangelical faith, is one that demands conformity and outward proof of goodness. It also requires daily strictures and practices that make it a kind of secular Opus Dei.

It’s the religion of the ecologically sound versus the unsound, of the composter versus the dumper, of the righteous versus the ungodly, in which the planet is treated almost as a worshipful deity. To be Green, one has to measure up, to bear witness and, with most other countries phasing in the introduction of CFLs over a number of years, it looks as though Ireland’s Green party is just a little too eager to bask among its peers in the glow of an ecological and moral first.

By the way, I've built a small stock of 20W CFL bulbs recently. Whenever I'm in Tesco and I see that they're selling 2 for the price of 1 I grab a couple. I've also noticed that neither Tesco's or Woodie's is now carrying the very inexpensive multi-packs of 100W and 60W bulbs that I used to like.

Avoiding the "bang wallop"

I don't know what else to say other than I thought Brendan Keenan's column on the economy was excellent. Keenan says that we're at the beginning of the third economic cycle since the Great Crash of 1929. We need to avoid making the problems worse, which has happened in the past by applying the wrong solutions to the economic problems that arise at these turning points.

Thanks to a remarkable contribution from Peter Sutherland, the World Trade Organisation replaced the more limited GATT system. Trade expanded mightily, although it has never been liberalised to the degree that was hoped.

Instead, it was global capital flows which were freed on a scale not seen since the 19th century. This is not only a revolution, but a recent one.

… There will certainly be more banking and stock market regulation – much of it replacing 1930s regulation which had gone out of fashion and been abolished. If that is as far as it goes, it will probably be all to the good. But if the pessimists are right about a long, grinding correction of US imbalances and excesses, it might go a lot further than that.

The danger is exactly the one which infected the 1930s and became part of the organised international system after the war – protectionism. It is certainly a concern that cheap Mexican workers seem to be getting more stick in the US presidential campaign than the mega-rich bankers of Wall Street. The impact of low cost labour is easier to understand (and misrepresent), but it is not where the problems lie.

Before opinion swings too far against the excesses of the 1990s and 2000s, we should remember that the period saw the fastest growth in global incomes – more even than during the Industrial Revolution. Around 500 million people have been removed from subsistence poverty – five times as many as in the 19th century.

I was a little unsure what he meant by the "cheap Mexican workers", but I don't think he means the illegal immigrants debate. Maybe he does, but that's only infinitesimal in economic terms compared with the effects of NAFTA and Chinese imports, etc. I suspect that's really what he's getting at there.

Regardless, I thought it was a good summation of how we got where we are and what mistakes have been made at other times - especially in the 1930s - that we should aim to avoid this time.

Holodomor - "Loony fable"

Alexander Solzhenitsyn claims President Bush has fallen for a "loony fable". The "loony fable" has to do with the Ukrainian famine of 1932-33.

Without mentioning Bush by name, Solzhenitsyn said the famine had "mown down" not only Ukrainians but millions of ordinary citizens across the Soviet Union. Many of the communists who orchestrated it were in fact Ukrainian, he added.

"This provocative outcry about genocide ... has been elevated to the top government level in contemporary Ukraine. Does this mean that they have even outdone the Bolshevik propaganda mongers with their rakish juggling?" Solzhenitsyn asked.

I don't care what you call it, Stalin orchestrated the famine to punish the Ukrainians for believing that Ukraine should be separate from the USSR. According to the CBC:

Ukraine officially became part of the U.S.S.R. in 1922. When Stalin assumed power in Moscow in 1927, he decided to make an example of Ukraine's "harmful nationalism." Stalin engineered a famine in 1932-33 that killed an estimated seven million people. Executions and the deportation of intellectuals further depopulated the country. Stalin also went after Ukraine's churches and cathedrals.

A 1988 American Commission found that "Joseph Stalin and those around him committed genocide against Ukrainians".

Walter Duranty has a new spiritual ally among the Nobel prize winners. I can only hope that Solzhenitsyn, who is over 90, is slipping mentally because he's the loony tune here.

ATA goes under

ATA has filed for bankruptcy and is simply discontinuing all operations. There was a time when ATA (then American Trans Air) was the only option other than Aer Lingus for traveling from New York to Ireland. They used to operate charter flights during the summer. I flew on them a few times.

I think it's quite a few years since they flew to Ireland so no travelers to or from here will be affected by the airline's decision to simply close up shop. Anyone with a fully paid ticket is out of luck.

NATO expansion

I don't understand why President Bush feels the need to provoke Russia. The other NATO allies don't seem too enamored of the idea as seven current members are opposed to extending NATO to Ukraine and Georgia. I can see no good reason for annoying France & Germany when relations with both seemed to be recovering form the (also unnecessary) tensions that arose in 2002/2003.

Is the United States really going to go to war if Russia decides that South Ossetia and Abkhazia are so important that they warrant military action against Georgia? What was it George Washington said about no entangling alliances? Might be a bit dated in 2008, but I suspect that most Americans would not be too keen on the idea that we might end up at war with Russia over a border dispute in the Caucasus.

It's almost enough to make me take another look at Ron Paul.

Bye bye Bertie

You know, I could have sworn that I'd written a post predicting that Bertie would go after he speaks to the houses of Congress in Washington later this month. I was sure I'd written that, but if I did I can't find it now.

Bertie's leaving, but not until May 6. He'll get the speech in, but not be Taoiseach when we have the referendum on the Lisbon Treaty. I wonder if his decision to go now is because he fears that the referendum might fail. I thought he should have gone in September '06, but I'm still not happy to see him go. I'm not overly unhappy either.

I don't give Bertie or Fianna Fail the credit for the economy they want to take for themselves and I hold them responsible for the out of control spending, but overall I think Bertie did a decent job.

A lot done, but a lot left undone.