Moving on

I'm sure you noticed, but if not; this blog is dead.

My new blog is now operational over at adammonline.blogspot.com, as part of my site (www.cdfemedia.com/students/2005/adamm). Please do check it out.

Thanks

Gmail Is Teh Sex

Some time ago I posted on my new Gmail account, and posted the pro's and con's of it compared to hotmail and yahoo mail.

With recent updates google have basically answered all of my complaints except for one.

I was annoyed at the way the contacts worked, that you couldn't click a button and go straight into a new e-mail on the chosen address. Now the contacts have been improved tenfold. Given their own section you can search through the contacts, and go straight into a new mail to one or multiple addresses with a simple click rather than remembering what letters to type in in the "to" field. Also, when you click on the address you can see all the mails they have sent to you, fabulous stuff!!!

Other nice features are the abilities to forward all mails to other addresses, and most importantly the new Gmail Notifier. I downloaded "pop goes the gmail" a while back and didn't really like it, but this google made tool is brilliant. It stays in your toolbar, and checks your mail every 2 minutes, giving you a little bar with the mail info when one comes in, it also allows you to turn on hotlinked email addresses into gmail links, so when you click you go straight to your gmail account.

The only problem I have now is the Archive section. You still cant view it seperatly from the rest of the mails, so anything put in the Archive can only be seen when you choose "All Mail". A small bit annoying, I suppose!

Debate? I've Seen More Heated Salads

I'm not saying the debate was rubbish because neither side really got into it, I'm saying it wasn't a debate because neither side was allowed to get into it. It was quite interesting, I must say. It was also the first US Presidential Debate I've ever taken the time to sit through and I wasn't at all bored. However, those of you familiar with the Irish style (and UK style) of politics will wonder where the debate actually was. Every week Tony Blair is put through his paces in PMQ's. He has to deal with criticisms from the Tories, The Lib Dems and even his own party members. There are no rules, it's gloves-off stuff here. Bertie Ahern has much the same, although not as entertaining. Once every 4 years the US president and his rival (actually, it's a maximum of 2 occassions ever) get's asked a number of pre-approved questions which are always answered with the same rhetoric as before, excusing minor deviations the script remains in tact.

So what did I get from it? Well I'd vote Kerry if I had the chance, I fall into the ABB category (the one for smart people who understand that a vote for Nader is a vote for Bush). Naturally I was hoping Kerry would win and make ground on Bush, and naturally I approached the debate somewhat bias. Despite my bias, I did my best (with all my journalistic training!) to look at this from the centre. I judged each response on it's own, and not on who was saying it. There were some moments where I smiled at the tactics of Bush because they were clever. Saying that I still think Kerry won.
Now people complain that the presidential debates and even campaigns are about style over substance. Well, they are, but it makes perfect sense when you think about it. Excluding the swing voters (and there aren't very many who are truely completely undecided) people already have their beliefs set. They might think Kerry is great and Bush is a moron, or they might think Bush is a leader and Kerry is a flip-flopper. Whatever their boy says they will support, because its what they believe and its what they want to believe. So what the person says doesn't matter. Republicans will laugh off Kerry and cheer Bush, and Democrats will heckle Bush and clap Kerry. How they say it, and how they look does matter. You can say all the right things but have a face of "help, I'm sinking", and you'd lose out. Why? Well whoever supports you will over look your image the once not so sure will take one look and say "He's sweating.!! Look at the fear in his eyes!". It's hardly democratic but hey, whoever said American politics was?

Kerry won on style because he adapted well. His answers at least seemed to correspond to the question at hand. He looked studious as Bush said his bit. He was confident in what he was saying. Bush lost on style because he relied on his script too much. He often missed the mark in his responces, he got aggitated and aggrivated at Kerry when he spoke and really seemed to lose his cool (for example when he responded to Kerry with "Of course I knew Osama Bin Laden attacked us! I knew that!".) He showed frustration and raised his voice. He also delayed from time to time in his responses as if he had to think about it too much.

Substance is a different matter. I'm going to say Kerry won because I agree with his point of view. Others will say Bush won because they agree with his point of view. I will say that Kerry managed to hit the balance of attacking Bush without looking desperate. He kept at the "Iraq was the wrong target" message, he took a number of digs at the Tora Bora incident, he struck Bush on handling N. Korea, he used facts, figures and quotes very effectively and he even managed to mention Haliburton without slinging mud. Bush went for the flip-flop claims (without using those exact words), and implied that Kerry thought Saddam was not a threat, even though he said before he was. Thankfully Kerry dealt with that fully towards the end.

So what does this mean? Well Kerry hasn't seen the polls turn around just yet, but they still could. Edwards and Cheney go head to head on Tuesday, which should be interesting. Kerry managing to win a debate on foreign policy is quite a gain, given it is Bush's strongest campaign tool. Thursday see's a debate on domestic policy and the economy is certain to be the main focus. Kerry should mop the floor here, but lets not get ahead of ourselves just yet.

I also think we've found Kerry's crux for his campaign... "More of the same". It's not great but he seems to be trying it out on the campaign trail, it will certainly effect people who fear more job losses, more tax cuts for the rich and more wars, lets just hope those people will be enough to swing things.

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

You may have noticed the new look. It's quite different yes, and nowhere near what I'm looking for.
I was hoping to be able to mess around with enough to make it my own, but that doesn't really seem likely, so chances are I'll end up finding something new soon enough.
I'm still hoping to get my original plan working, but it's so far turning out to be a lot of work, and a lot of up-keep, and that's even after getting someone else to design it for me!!

In other news, I've started listening to Pearl Jam's Binaural again, what I would see as their worst so far (but it's a damn good album to have as your worst!). No-where near as bad as I remember it to be, actually damn good.

Update In Progress...

I've been a bit lazy with the blog lately, and I'm planning on updating it soon (layout-wise, I mean).
I have a template which I'm trying to get working at the moment, so hopefully I can have it up sooner rather than later, the current style, while original is quite crap so I want it changed one way or the other.

I'm also messing with CSS to see what I can do with it, so we shall see where I get with that.

Sit tight, blogfans.

Blogging With The Stars

I was recently pointed in the direction of this blog, belonging to the one and only Zach Braff... you might better know him as John Dorien, from Scrubs. No? Go watch Scrubs, take some time to realise the time you've been wasting with all other modern comedies, and then come back to me.

Welcome back... now... that guy, it's his blog for his new movie "Garden State" which I am really looking forward to.
This is one of the first proper blog's I've come across that is actually written by the person in question, with most places getting the webmaster to relay facts to the fans. I'm always excited by stuff like this (just like the access section of the Nine Inch Nails website).

I've made it my personal goal to have a friendly chat with Braff at some point in the near future. I know its unlikely, but he seems like a nice guy, and I tend to like nice guys. Wierd.

Just One Of Those Moments

I took my dog for a walk today and rather than bring her on the lazy route of up the road and back, or the slightly less lazy route of around to the local shopping centre and back, I chose a new (and somewhat longer) path.
I headed up to the Ballymun road and planned on walking down it to Santry lane, and home from there. The thing is Ballymun Rd. is currently at the heart of the new Ballymun town/village constructions. There are some impressive new building's already up, from civic offices to housing to a swimming pool; the traffic layout has completely changed as has the paving and road surfaces; and the infamous flat's are slowly getting beaten down into pulp.
Now, I've gotten a bus down this road many times before, but I realised I haven't actually walked down it in years, way before any work began on it. It's a fact I have come to realise that Dublin city is beautiful at night. That's not to say that it's horrible during the day, but something extra appear's at night time. It might be the street-lights or the style of structures or that dirt is less noticable in the dark, but I challenge anyone to walk from O'Connell St. down to Grafton St. at night without being charmed within an inch of their life. The Liffey Boardwalk is a nice stroll too, once you avoid the drunk's who tend to swarm it in places. Anyway, Ballymun is no different than the city centre when it comes to late night beauty.
So I walked along, with Lateralus playing in my ear (inspiring enough, really) and I was amazed by what I saw infront of me. Ballymun is currently this great mix of the old and the new. These slick new apartment blocks and office's, with nice curving architecture next to a testament to the failures of 1970's planning and design; the bulky, blocky and over-bearing flat's. I saw a working orange street light giving off it's odd glow, right next to a more rounded and futuristic white-lighted version which will soon replace it.
The traffic cone's and diversion sign's, the temporary light's, the new paving, the huge crane's, the semi-demolished tower, the semi-constructed office block.
I'm glad to see this happen to Ballymun. For so long so many families have had to do their best there, in the shadow of the scum we all connect the name to. I just hope they won't be given a chance to get a grip on the new Ballymun, but I wonder where they'll go if they don't. What is interesting about the change is that no-one minds, really. Everyone has their own ideas as to what way the new town should look and work, but no-one really want's to stick to what they've got. There is little or no charm to the place as it stands, certainly none that will be lost as a result of new houses.
I can't wait to see it all finished, and I hope it stays as beautiful as its starting to look. I would be optimistic enough to say that if you give people something to be proud of, they'll do everything they can to keep a hold of it.

Adam

The Internet, flogen And Me

I've been "online" now for a few years, and I've noticed that in that time, the way I use and act on the internet has changed dramatically, just like I have as person in real life.
When I first got connected to the internet, I was far from computer illiterate, I knew a decent amount and could use a PC with ease, however I wasn't web literate, and by that time all the horror stories of being online were coming to the fore. People stealing credit card details and personal information, paedophiles and perverts trying to fool and lure the not-so-cautious to their houses; All of that stuff. So naturally I approached this wonderful invention with a fair helping of paranoia on top of my enthusiasm at finally being able to have my own e-mail address.
As time went by, I began to become more realistic about the internet. I had figured it wasn't as great as everyone said (especially not on a dial up connection), and I had worked out how easy it was to be safe. If you don't want spam, try not to give out your e-mail address. Don't open attachments from people you don't know. Don't give personal information to someone in a chat room, and most certainly do not agree to meet them somewhere. All that was left after was enthusiasm, and so I got to work on my first webpage. Some may remember it, and sadly it's now gone from this place, so I can't show you all. I made it in Word, Enough said. It had nothing in it. Nothing.
My next web-venture was slightly more impressive (I was still using word, and to this day I would say it looked pretty good for someone with no decent web publishing software, and no knowledge of HTML, CSS etc.). Here's where my downfall came. I stumbled across a nice community of forums called boards.ie. I found it through Phantom FM, as their web-board is part of that community. I signed up, still all chuffed with myself in regards to my new fancy pants website. And I wanted to tell everyone.
Basically, and making no excuses here, I was a total knob. I posted everywhere about my site, and couldn't understand why people got so annoyed as a result. I ended up getting banned, and soon re-joined, still a little confused as to why I was kicked out. In my defense, I didn't know how these places worked, I didn't realise they were so organised, but in truth I should have read up to find out first. Slowly, I matured as a "contributor" to the site, and I would like to think that at this point I don't come across as a complete tool. I'm sure I have my moments, but generally I do my best to be a nice guy, and hopefully that shows. There are a few users who refuse to let bygones be bygones, and thats their perogative. If they don't want to forget it, then it's no problem with me. I was a fool, I admit that, I apologise. If thats not good enough, I'm not going to waste my time trying to please you. There are others who I just don't get on with, and as is the norm in a community which reflects life, these things happen. However, I cannot stand the personal vendetta's that seem to exist. The people that will do their best to dis-agree with you everywhere just because you don't have the same political outlook, the people who bring up past occourances as proof that you are a spammer in the present. Anyway...

When I started on the internet, I came up with flogen, my net-ego. In my paranoia, I didn't want anyone to know what my real name was. Just in-case. I used to frequent blast.ie too, and kept up my net persona at all times. It soon dawned on me that everyone I knew there knew me in real life, so it was kind of pointless. boards.ie, on the other hand, I probably know 2 people in real life that go there (maybe more, but I just haven't made the connection yet!). It has now gotten to the point, though, were I don't mind if people know my name, or know what I look like for that matter. So what? Big deal! I still use flogen in forums and so on, but just for the sake of tradition more than anything (and because its never taken... Adam usually is).
I would go so far to say that this is me reaching some kind of maturity on the internet. I am no longer a young foolish spammer/troll, I am no longer afraid of people knowing my name, I am sensible enough to know what to keep private and what's ok to let out. As part of being a teenager, it seems to be common to look back on things you did years ago and cringe. Sometimes I look back on things I did a year, or 6 months ago and cringe. I do the same with my beginnings on boards.ie, but there's no use in regrets. Without getting too clichéd, what is the point? Can you change it? No. Can you learn from it? Yes. It's all part of growing up I guess, and I'm not embarressed for being an ignorant 14 year old, or being a 15 year old nervous wreck, or being a geeky 16 year old, or a 19 year old wannabe-philosopher. I'm just enjoying it when it happens, and I'll make my decision on its worth later on in life.
For anyone from boards.ie who may be reading this, I hope that I wasn't that much of a pain in my early days (I'm certain I was, I see people just like me all the time there now). I'll know to read the charter in future!
It's getting to the point now where I think I may attend the next boards beers (basically a regular get together for the boards.ie population). It's something I wasn't interested in before, partly because I figured I'd get a bad reception once they knew who I was, partly because it didn't appeal to me. Now I don't worry about that, and I'd like to go along even once, just to see what it's like. It's just that I don't know anyone there, and I'm not sure if I could rope my girlfriend into keeping me company just in-case!

Adam

Rantings From A Tired Man, A Heavy Heart And A Broken Spirit

Do excuse my somewhat dramatic title, but thats how I'm feeling at the moment; tired, heavy and broken.

My job gets ever more painful as the minutes tick by, and to be fair thats about all that is dragging me down (to be fair and thankful, I must say). I must also point out that I have less than a week left at that hole of a job. Once my pay slip is passed onto me, and my bank account gets the dust blown from it, I shall depart it with much fervor and haste.

I have a job interview this monday, so do wish me luck.

In other news, it has come to my attention that "The Great British Soap", something that we in Ireland have done our best to mimic, is infact nothing more than piss. Not much of a revelation, some may mumble and grumble, but don't mis-understand me. I never believed them to be the cornerstone of great entertainment, but they seem to be hitting an ever worsening decline into trash.

Ireland and the UK has long sniggered at the farsical goings on with US daytime television. Evil twins, amnesia, wedding after wedding after wedding... "how silly" we said, "Utterly insane" we scoffed, "Are those real?" we pondered. In reality, I would much prefer the completely off the wall nature of these shows over the more grounded attempts at soap in the UK.

The stories are repetetive, the settings are cheap and temporary and the characters are weaker than mormon coffee. At least with American soap (and I spent many an unemployed day laughing at the happenings in Sunset Beach), you know you're going to get something that couldn't possibly happen in real life, all acted out by visually appealing women in constantly sunny surroundings. Sure, its unrealistic, but if I wanted real life, I'd speak to my family.

Soaps in the UK are almost vouyerism. It's like watching what your neighbours get up to without the risk of them seeing you (and minus the swearing). I believe that most Americans know what they watch is trash, but like it for the same reasons.

Anyway, just something that came into this tired brain of mine. As a counter balance to the neurally numbing job I do, and the intellectually void people that generally accompany me in it, I have decided to up my ventures into literature. After reading Stephen Fry's magnificent 'Moab Is My Washpot', I have now moved onto Ulysses, probably the ultimate challenge (at least within the confines of Irish literature) to any self assured reader. So far, so good. Some paragraphs are to me what diplomacy is to George W. Bush, but mostly, I understand it perfectly. I'm over 120 in, which is not brilliant for the time I've spent (about 2 hours a day, for the last 5 days), but for such an accomplished work, I think I'm doing OK. I only suspect it to get much much harder, but we shall see, I suppose. On the plus side, it seems to be encouraging me to think more eloquently, and thus speak as such. I probably sound like a prat, mind you. What the worry, though?

Some excellent lines in it... off the top of my head... things like "God said 'Lazerus, come forth', and he came fifth and lost the job", or "I caught a cold in the park the other day, the gate was left open". Snigger worthy one liners are more than present, and I am often forced to 'pfffth!' with laughter on the LUAS or bus home. How rude of me.

Just to let you all know, the site is coming close to a well needed face lift, and all with thanks to Sam_Hain, my friend, fellow blogger and partner in job related vandalism. It is pretty close to being finished now, or so it looks, but when it's done, it's done... so no rush Mark!

Shave a Bulluck,

Adam

Group Hug?

Last night, I bid a good friend of mine adieu as he heads off to the US of A for a few months as part of his college course. He'll be back in December, and I know that when he is, we're sure to have a 'welcome home' drink, but it just got me thinking about friendship, friends and everything related.

I have many friends. I'm not trying to brag here, I don't have hundreds (infact some might think I don't have all that many), but I have plenty for me. Some friends I know since I was very young. Some I only know a year. Some I can sit and talk about my deepest feelings with, some I would generally only joke and chat with. I realised, and remembered, that I have had many friends in the past whom I no longer speak to, and it hit me that as a child, you don't often make real friends, you just make friends to suit the situation.

In primary school I had 3 good friends. We hung around with each other all day, swapped music, and went to each others houses from time to time. Once we finished primary school, we lost touch completely. I was going to one secondary school, and they were going to another. We never fell out, we stayed good friends all the way. We had each others phone numbers, knew where we all lived, but we just didn't get in touch.

The 3 lived very near each other, and went to the same secondary, so I'm sure they stayed in touch, but I lived further away (not that far, 15 minutes walk), and was going somewhere else. I rang one of them about a year later, and it was like speaking to a complete stranger. We had nothing to say to each other. By coincidence, one of the three is in the same college as me. He looks exactly the same as he did (something I can't claim of myself), I spoke to him once on a night out, he didn't realise who I was, and it wouldn't have mattered, for it was the most awkward conversation I've ever had. Again, we had nothing to talk about, nothing to say. I see him now, and we don't even give each other a nod of recognition. The point is, these people were my friends from primary school, but once we went our seperate ways, there was no need to stay in touch. It was convenience, really.

I don't feel like they stopped talking to me just because I was going somewhere else, I had just as much of a chance to try and organise something with them, but didn't, and had it been anyone else of the 4 who was in my position, I don't doubt the same would have happened.

After secondary school, similar happened. About half of the people I hung around with there, I only speak to when I see them. I don't go looking for them, and they don't go looking for me. We still joke and laugh when we meet up, but we don't go out our way to do so. Others, I still ring or e-mail or see when I can, and when they can. This is because they're real friends. I don't mean that in the Hollywood sense of them always being there for me and all that sentimental arse, but that I did my best, and they did there best to keep in touch, just because we wanted to. It wasn't a matter of speaking because we were sitting next to each other any more, or because we both walked the same way home. It's because we get on well with each other, have plenty to say and hear, and always have a laugh with each other.

Back we go to last night, and there I was with an old co-worker, sharing drinks and wishing luck left, right and centre. I haven't worked with him for nearly a year, and due to my financial situation, I haven't even gone out with him in that time. I still kept in touch though, I'd head into the job and chat to him, text him from time to time, that kind of stuff. He happens to be doing the same sort of course as me, so he's been helping me out with getting my foot in the door. The same goes for my other friend, who was there for some of the night. I still keep in touch with him where I can. In fact, it is none other than sam_hain, fellow blogger (if he got off his arse and did some), of whom I speak.

Hopefully, as I drag my ass out of debt, and get my finances sorted, along with my timetable into which I have to fit college, work, work experience and socialising, I will be able to go out more often with these people, and others. I feel like I've missed out on a lot of that over the last year, which by rights was the year I should have been doing it as much as possible.

As any reader of my blog will notice, I tend to blog long, meandering blogs. Something I will surely sort out over time. I just dont want to be mis-understood in my views, and in the process I get muddled. Basically, my point here is that real friendship, real, real friendship is the kind that lasts after the initial 'common ground' has been lost. A friend from work is a friend as long as you work together, a real friend is one who you stay in touch with when things have changed.

Adam

I Was Looking For A Job, And Then I Found A Job...(and heaven knows I'm miserable now)

So after my months of job hunting and moaning about being poor (while simultaniously dragging myself further into debt by getting broadband and a limited edition Pearl Jam vinyl), I managed to get myself a job. Great stuff!! No.

This job, out in Sandyford, is my real experience of office work, its also my first job in which I am using any of my college education, and the first time I have ever been asked about salary expectations in an interview (it's usually "starting wage is €8".. and thats it, no negotiations). This is also the first job that I really and truely hate and dispise.
I am up every weekday morning at 6:30 or so, I have to be out of the house no later than 7:20, and I then get a bus to O Connell St., followed by a trek to the top of Grafton St, topped off by a journey from one end of the LUAS line to the other. I then sit at my computer (here's the only perk... its a lovely iMac, you know, the one with the flat screen that you can swivel and direct?) and get increasingly pissed off as Quark 4.1 crashes every 2 minutes or so. I might be finished at 5:30, but thats not for sure. I was in 'til 9:30 last friday, which meant I didn't get home until after 11 at night. The work is easy, but its boring and bland. No real skill or style is needed, just a knowledge of what sequence of buttons to press, and what to do when Quark hits you with your 75th error message of the day.
I have been keeping myself sane in the knowledge that this is short term, infact I start college in late September, so I have to finish up by then. Still, this isn't quite enough. I have instantaniously begun to look for another job, in the hope of getting the hell out of there very, very soon. My aim is to be gone by next monday, and I'll let you know how I get on. I would have to get another job anyway, but I wasn't intending on looking this soon, but when one must...

I certainly do hope that this is not what I have to expect from the publishing industry (Its a magazine, by the way, a car magazine). I know that this is not a real 'journal of opinion', and I know I'm doing the production rather than any actual journalism, but still, its worrying. I think I'll stick to my interest in radio, and maybe do a column in some sunday newspaper, as well as write numerous culture defining novels and adapt them all into even more defining movies which are scored by Trent Reznor and star all the actors that I have respected over the years. Not to mention the countless award ceremonies I will be forced to attend. Yes, that should be enough for me.

Anyway, I have plenty to say on my co-workers (there are about 2 nice ones), and on the sister publications of the magazine I work for, but I'll save that for another time (and hopefully when I wont be working there anymore).

Adam
(p.s. Its always a bad sign when you hear a 'Smiths' song and think "thats so true...", especially when that song is apparantly Morrissey's sarcastic jab at critics who deemed their music too drab and depressing...)

Announcing The Latest Addition To The Family

In a follow up to my "Goodbye My Puppy" blog from some weeks ago, I would like to introduce you all to Gandhi Maguire, our new dog.
She's 2 years old, or there-abouts, and is a Labrador/Something cross. She's very affectionate, super hyper and a good laugh all round. Perfect for the job, really!

Her name was originally Kim (or Kimmy), but because she was in a rescue centre for alot of her life, it didn't seem to be something she responded to. My brother and I chose Gandhi as a kind of tribute to our lovely dog Buffy, and have managed to get it to stick. Basically, when Buffy didn't want to go out of the house (if there were bangers going off, for example), she would go dead weight and not move an inch. In order to get her out of the house, we would have to life her up, put her out the back, and run to the door before she could run back in herself, which was far from easy. We would refer to it as her 'Gandhi' (you know, peaceful protest...), and as it was a famous trait of hers, we thought it would be a nice way to remember her.

I am still working at getting a second dog, as company for Gandhi when we can't play with her and so on. Groucho is that dogs proposed name.

Adam

Expect Minor Delays

Just thought I'd drop in and give you all an update on how things are, given my lack of blogging lately.

I started a new job out in Sandyford Industrial Estate, which explains my lack of time on the home PC. Its around 1 1/2 to 2 hours travel each way, and the hours are a bit unpredicable so far, so I get home every day wrecked. I hope to be out of it as soon as possible. The work is OK, the location sucks, and the hours are far too unpredicable for my liking. I dont mind overtime, but adding 2 hours on top to get home means I have to be careful not to plan too much after work, and I also don't know if we even get paid for the hours, which sucks. Even if I dont get anything else soon (and I have one job in mind) I know I don't have long there, as its full time and the 2nd year of college is on its way.

Anyway. Otherwise, we have a new dog, Gandhi, a lovely black labrador cross, extremely hyper etc etc. I will devote a blog to her soon, and stick up a picture for you all to see too.
I am also after getting in touch with Dublin radio presenter (and RTE Rugby pundit) George Hook in relation to work experience on his show. I was shocked that he even got back to me. Even a bit of advice would be brilliant, and any more than that a bonus, so fingers crossed for me, please!

Thats the main stories so far, and basically my reasons for not being around the computer so much lately (the job is the main one, though).
My usual rants will return, there is plenty to talk about, as always... such as my thoughts on what RTE could do with itself, and what the government should do with themselves...

Talk to you all soon, anyway.

Adam

Extra! Extra! Publicans Realise The Workings Of Economics!

It would be folly for you or I to consider the Irish publican to be a moron, however, it would be a forgivable mistake to make. The recent introduction of the smoking ban in Ireland has been a general success. There has been a reported 98% compliance rate within the first month of its introduction, and despite the VFI (Vinters Federation of Ireland) and their sensationalist predicitions of the apocolypse that we were to face once the law was enacted, people are still going to pubs.
"There has been a huge drop in trade", say some publicans. "I had to lay off 3 staff members" say others. "How on earth am I supposed to get an '04 Merc at this rate?", plurged one disgruntaled landlord. Arse. There is currently no evidence to show a direct drop in trade since the introduction of the smoking ban. There is evidence, however, to show that there has been a steady decline in sales over a 7 year period, with punters favouring a night in with friends over a night out, and with this fact we begin to see the lie behind the publicans dying swan routine.

(for anyone interested, I'm going to avoid debating the pros and cons of the ban, and if it should or should not be implemented. It is law, this is about how to deal with it)

Let me first say this; the argument made by some that Irish pubs would suffer from the ban due to the loss of atmosphere is an insult. We all need ciggarettes to have a laugh? Only the smokers can have craíc, while us non-smokers sit in awe at these painfully funny long-term suicide bombers?
I heard Christy Dignam, singer of Dublin band Aslan (some of you may say "who?". Frankly, you'd be right to, and I envy your ignorance.) on Newstalk 106 today saying that their gigs in Ireland have lost a lot of their atmosphere, because people keep going out for a smoke. He said (and I para-phrase him) "They stay for 'Crazy World' and then they go for a smoke, then they come back, and stay 'til 'This Is', and then go for a smoke". How terrible. Well, Christy, here's an idea. How about writing more than 2 songs on which you base your fame, that way they might stay for longer. May I also make the point that if you're gigging for 22 years, and you can still notice people coming into and leaving your gigs, you should pack it in.

Now, onto the real issues. Why have publicans been complaining from a drop in trade? Are they lying? Maybe, but not certainly. The constant drop in trade has been, in my humble opinion, for one reason. Price Hikes. Year in, year out, prices in Irish pubs has risen, and risen. Sometimes its taxes, and fair enough, thats out of John Publicans hands. That doesn't mean they are totally out of control of prices though. Why can I buy a naggin of Vodka in an off-licence for the price of 2 shots in a pub (or there abouts)? Pub's have to pay for glasses, and taps... right? Well, taps are a once off expense, and not a constant one. Also, taps are often paid for by drinks companies, just like the glasses. More staff? Well, not really, off licences can be just as heavily staffed as pubs. And here's the kicker, what about soft drinks? Why does it cost me just as much for a pint of Coke as it does for a pint of Guinness? There is no soft drink tax, so you can't blame that. It's greed, folks, plain and simple, and increasingly over the last 7 years, the Irish consumer has slowly realised the waste a night out is. With high drink prices, transport costs and often enterance fee's, a night out in Dublin (and other Irish cities/towns) is a painful and unrewarding experience. Why has it taken this long for the publicans to notice? Well, it hasn't, but it would look terrible for them to come out and say "There has been a huge drop in trade, and its all our fault... we're greedy bastards, and hopefully we'll get ours in hell". They instead waited for a new law that some were suspicious of, and pinned their angst to that. And what are they doing about it, now that they face a problem? As a good friend of mine (and one with quite a strong economical mind) pointed out, any business that faces a drop in trade would improve its service and drop its prices. The publicans, being the entraupanural type that they are, broke the law instead. Galway's Fibbers Magee was first to break rank. One night, they dealt out the ash trays once more, and announced an indoor smoking area. Trade was at an all time low. Figures such as 63% drop were thrown around, staff cut backs were mentioned, and public support was theeming. Mr. Lawless (ironic, no?), owner of Fibbers, forgot to mention that his pub was a student getaway, and always faces trade drops in summer, it was a kip, he owned 3 other Galway pubs (and so his poor little publican was made redundant in favour of more realistic fat-cat image), and his pub was situation on Eyre Square, which was going through extensive maintenance which included digging up the road infront of the pub. From my own experience, construction work is enough to cripple any pub. The Isaac Butt of Dublin, a pub I dealt with for some time, was almost completely shut down due to the Luas works which went on infront of it.
Thankfully the law breaking pubs were dealt with accordingly, and the Health Boards have since gotten tougher on anyone showing signs of illegal activites as regards the pubs.

So what should pubs do? A drop in price would be nice, but there is so much more possible. Let me give you an example of contrasing service and style. Redz and O Reilly's, both situated on the Quays in Dublin, within 3 minutes stroll of each other. Redz is a popular club-ish kind of place. It's a few euro in, and the music is quite dancy, although nothing 'hardcore', not my type of music, but it could be worse. It is stuff (as its main section is downstairs), smelly and sweety. The clientel are moronic and drunk, and if you want a pint you better be prepared to queue for some time, just to get a warmey pint which the barperson spent 2 seconds pulling (not a huge deal, unless you drink Guinness). You then push your way through the sweaty people, and find a leaning spot at a nearby wall. You could put your drink down on the crowded table close to you, but don't expect to get it back. O Reilly's is a much more relaxed affair. It is in one of the more dingy spots of the city, but nothing terrible. There is an outdoor area, with canope and outdoor heaters incase of bad weather. This way you can get some fresh air, relax and chat. The outdoor area has music playing lowly. Chart stuff. Not my type, but there is the odd song you might hum or sing along to if you felt like it. Inside is much louder, and better for anyone interested in a dance. If you are sitting outside, and you want a pint, don't worry. Just stop a waiter/waitress on their next round, and make an order. It'll be back to you in a short period of time, and you would'nt have moved an inch for it. From what I know the prices are the same in both pubs (high), although I think Redz charges more. However, for the sake of argument, lets say they are exactly the same. Which would you go to for a drink, a chat or even a dance? All it takes is some service to make it worthwhile. Bouncers who hold the door open for you rather than growl at you as you enter. Polite staff who actually make drinks properly. Simple stuff.

Hypothetical situation. Lets say that figures come out to show that the ban has caused a 30% drop in trade, and some pubs are facing closure. Will the law be repealed? My left man-tit it will. Micheal Martin stook his neck out on this, and he wont back down. So did Fianna Fail, and god knows they hate back tracking (E-Voting, anyone?). Apart from that, they know that closure of some pubs is not a bad thing, its business. Ireland has a problem with binge drinking, and extra policing and tougher laws can only do so much. Less opportunities to drink will certainly play its part too. In my area, there are 5 pubs within walking distance of each other. In nearby Finglas, the village sports (off the top of my head) 7 pubs all within minutes of each other. Infact, in Finglas there is a short row of buildings which has 3 pubs on it. What other enterprise would be able to survive under such high levels of competition? can you imagine 5 large toy shops all working next to each other? Or even 7 resturaunts with half rate food and bad service? Competition grows and grows, but in some kind of economic shambles, prices still rise, and service still drops. It is fair to say that Irish business tends to work like this (Eircon still have a grip on the telecoms market despite being the dearest of all main players. This is due to the ignorance of the customer, the inability of the government to deal with their abuse of monopolies, and their underhand tactics in keeping customers, such as mis-information on charges). The pubs are now a victim of their own greed. I would be sad to see any person lose their job, or company, but if there is no demand for the service, it will end. This is a fact of all economies, and a failure in business comes down to the owner for their lack of enterprise, planning, and know-how.

Once again, kudos to Fianna Fail for this. Finally it is the smoker who must go out of their way to enjoy their vice, and not the non-smoker who must go out of their way to avoid it.

Adam

Why Men Don't Ask For Directions...

...Because morons tend to tell them the wrong one's.

So I make my way out to Sandyford Industrial Estate today, and realise that I don't know where I'm going. Luckily I have a half hour to spare before my interview, and I know the name of the section the place I'm looking for is in. I go to the nearby AIB Bank, where the receptionist directs me down the road, left, straight, through the lights, straight, and across the road to some place or other. I get there (after 10 minutes walk) and spend about 10 minutes pacing around the place trying to find my destination. As it nears 12, I head into the nearest offices and ask them for more directions.
"Erm, I don't think thats in this place... just go across the road, straight, through the lights, straight, and it should be on your right.".
"Thank you".
I got there 10 minutes late, but the guy didn't seem too pissed off about it, infact he didn't seem to care at all. I, on the other hand, was a fuming ball of stress, frizzy hair and sweat... I'm sure I looked like the perfect candidate.

What was the funniest thing was, on my way back to my destination a polite couple stopped me, and asked me if there were any resturants nearby (in a tone of shock that they hadn't yet found one). I instantly thought to myself "Resturants..?? OK, you do realise that you are in an industrial estate... don't you? Generally, these places are more known for their offices are warehouses, rather than fine cuisine, you morons.", but I'm more polite than that, so I pointed out that there was a hotel somewhere in that (/me points) direction, and they might find something in or around there.

Naturally I was cursing that silly cow in AIB. I mean, as a kid, I used to enjoy mis-directing cars down cul de sac's in my local area, but when you work for a bank that's a big player nationally and internationally, you might think twice about those fun 5-8 year old pranks. It makes sense, though, that she was a receptionist rather than a teller, God knows what might happen if they put her in charge of any money.

Adam

And The Lord Say 'He Shall Be Without Beard' And So It Was Done

It seems to me that the God's are conspiring to keep me without facial hair for some wierd reason.
I recently decided to shave after a few months of having a fancy and stylish beard (ok... it wasn't that fancy or stylish, but it was a beard). I decided that I looked better with it (and also the hair seemed to hide the weight I've slowly been putting onto my face), and so made a one man agreement that it was better to grow it back.

Then, a few days into the re-growth I had to shave it because I had to look my best for something, and the stage in between clean shaven and beard is always scruffy looking. So once that event was over, I started to let it grow again. Then the next week, the same thing happened, and I was forced to shave again. I have now gone just over a week withouth a shave, and things were looking good, I was getting close to being able to tidy it up, then I get an e-mail inviting me to an interview for a job... FUCKERS! I go for over half a year hunting for jobs, and now, when I need to look scruffy for a few days, I get an interview!!! Its ok, though, I'm glad, I'd rather shave and get a job than continue to go without. I can wait until September to shave again (chances are I wont be able to go scruffy if I get the job... touch wood and all).

I also need to embelish slightly for a chance at this job, or at least I think I do... so wish me luck.

Adam

The Way Things Are, The Way Things Will Be

As anyone with half a brain and an understanding of the world will know, the US Presidential elections are fast approaching. At the moment, things seem pretty tied between Bush and Kerry, and the mud slinging from both sides has gotten well under-way, but what are we to expect from the coming months, and most importantly, the four years following??

Well, you can be sure that this election will be much more polar than the last. While Independent Nadar was did serious damage to Gore last time (but no more than Gore did himself), I don't expect the same to happen this year. In 2000, left wingers and fence sitters didn't mind putting in a vote to a 3rd Party candidate. It wouldn't be a big deal, its just one vote. This time, (and I hate to use this childish generalisation) You're either with him (Bush) or against him. Those opposed to Bush know that Nadar will not get in, and will know that, while they may not like Kerry that much, to them he is the lesser of two evils. Bush supporters will know that they have to get Bush in no matter what, and will be sure to vote. The small amount of Conservatives who voted Nadar last time, will also be sure to go for Bush this time. While I am sure Nadar will get plenty of votes, I doubt he will impact this years election nearly as much as he did last time.
So what else does this polarisation mean? Well I would expect a very high voter turn out. There are many on both sides of the fence who see this election as decisive in the future of America, and I suppose it is to some degree. The Bushies will say that if Kerry gets in, terrorists will be given greater freedom to enter America and destroy each and every city. Kerryites will say that if Bush gets in he will go further down an unreturnable path of isolation and warfare, which will lead to America being left alone with many, many enemies and virtually no economy. I would be surprised if we dont see record turn-outs for this November.
I am certainly looking forward to the televised debates. I want to see what each man is worth when they step up to the mic and have to defend themselves against the one person that wants to beat them down more than anyone else in the world.
One thing to certainly look for, and beware of, is spin. This campaign has seen more propoganda and spin than any other to my memory. Both sides know the effect of the media, and are doing their best to pump out the best ad's and counter-ad's in order to grab the swing-states. On top of that many media outlets are becoming more and more extreme in an attempt to sway voters subtely. Channels and papers that were once moderately left or right are now doing whatever they can to sully the image of their opposite sides. Also, activists and activist groups are going into over-drive to encourage people to vote. Bands like Pearl Jam are set to play the swing states in the coming months. Michael Moore has his new film out. Moveon.org had a highly successful campaign to find the best anti-Bush 30 second clip. In response Right wingers Move America Forward are trying to stop theatres in the US from showing Moores film, pro-Bush shows and gatherings are being organised in the swing states and websites like electionprojection.com have been countering left wing spin.
It is important that we all watch and listen to the news given to us with an open mind. Do not take anything as fact until its backed up with plenty of evidence. Do not shrug off information just because it doesn't suit you're opinion on one side or the other. This is only way for you all to make an educated decision on who you support, and is especially important for any American readers here, as they are the ones making the difference.

What can we expect after the elections? Well, that all depends on who wins. There will be differences depending on a Dem or Rep president, but they will both face the same challenges. Don't be fooled into thinking that Kerry will instantly pull troops out of Iraq and Afghanistan, and will instantly patch things up with certain countries across the world. While I believe that Kerry will be more moderate and has a better chance of easing the riff (lets not forget that Bush has given his opinion on things, and it will be hard for him to backtrack, at least Kerry can come in with a fresh opinion), I dont bank on it happening. Perhaps its gone to far now, and the US and EU will drift apart more and more until there are no real political links anymore. Maybe this is just a short term division. I do believe that the EU/US relationship will never be the same again, and the UN will have one more chance to save itself in the next 5 years, which if not taken may see it become another League of Nations. As the EU slowly becomes more of a unified state, it may become a contender as a superpower. I dont perticularly want that, but the US does need a counter-power to keep it check, and vice versa. I can't see the EU becoming so unified that that happens, at least not for some time, but its possible. Whether it will lead to another Cold War-esque show off will have to be seen, I do hope that there will not be another battle for superiority, and that any notion of Empirism on either side of the Atlantic is dropped in favour of peace, realism and bringing things forward.

Adam

Bertie, Not Just A Silly Name

So after a very successful 6 months as EU President, Bertie Ahern admitted to RTE Radio that he had the support of 21 EU members out of 24 for the job of EU commissioner (Romano Prodi is just finishing his term).

It would have been a bit of a promotion, thats for sure. Taoiseach of Ireland, an admittedly small part of the EU (although it does have one of the fastest growing economies of the 25...) becoming the man pretty much at the top of it all. He certainly earned it. In his 6 months as EU president, Bertie oversaw the entry of 10 new countries to the EU, the signing of the contentious EU constitution as well as the negotiation of Prodi's successor. Pretty nifty work. Now, the 10 new members was going to happen no matter who was in control, but he did a good job of it.

So why didn't he take the job? It was certainly a step up for him. Well, I'd say he knows just how bad it would look for him to leave Fianna Fail now. They've just suffered an embarressing defeat in the european and local elections, and to bail now would look like the captain jumping ship... infact it would be the captain jumping ship.
Its also a finite job, and after the 4 year term, Bertie would almost certainly have to return to Irish politics. At this point (and one can only dream) Fianna Fail may be out of power. Its unlikely, but you never know. You can almost be sure that Bertie wouldn't get his old job back. Brian Cowen is the most likely successor to Bertie whenever he goes, and the man is a good politician, and a great public speaker. Bertie is a good politician behind the scenes, but a god awful public speaker. If he left for 4 years, it would be tough work to get to the top again, he'd get a minister job, I'm sure, but thats it. He could always hope for the Presidency job when it comes around again, but he's a bit too young to be an ex-Taoiseach who takes the retirement job of President.

So I imagine he see's a long future for himself in Ireland, and in power. I understand that Prodi is returning to Italy to take on Berlusconi, and if Fianna Fail were out of power it would be easy for Bertie to do the same, but thats unlikely, because, quite frankly, the opposition sucks.

Adam

America Brand Freedom

John Gibson, that guy from Fox so busy being right wing he keeps forgetting to think (a common disease in the US, it seems), seems to be picking and choosing the terms of what America Brand Freedom^TM really is.

Saddam Hussein's defense lawyer says the former dictator will not get a fair trial, and that his captors have already decided his fate.

The statement presumes Saddam should get a fair trial in which it is possible to be acquitted.

Why would anyone presume that in this 'free world' Bush is kindly creating for Iraq, a trial would be anything but fair?

Of course, Saddam is going to be found guilty. Who could think otherwise?

For once, I agree with you, John. It would take a pretty terrible prosecution to allow Saddam to walk free. He is guilty of many, many crimes, no question. Given that some of the crimes he is being charged with include his attack on Iran, and his gassing of Kurds with chemical weapons, I wonder if America can be found guilty of being an accomplice... especially Rumsfeld, he was the one that struck all those deals with the man to deal with those darned Red's in Iran...was he not?

So a couple of dopey, French-trained lawyers in Amman, Jordan think they could get him off.

You see, there you go, slinging mud again. Someone has to defend the man, even if they dont have a toe-nail to stand on, you have to go marching along with your 'France = Poopey Heads' banner, just because they wouldn't play ball for legitimate reasons.

Saddam has been guilty since 1958 when he was arrested for killing his brother-in-law. He's been at it ever since.

Now the Iraqis have a chance to do justice by giving him as fair a trial as the obviously guilty can get, and then executing him in accordance to whatever Iraqi law they have just changed to make sure they can execute him.

Anybody who thinks anything else is going to happen is a dope or dangerously naive.

You've just proven the guys point. Whatever you have seen on the news, or gotten over the wires over the years, and whatever the rest of the world has gathered over the last few decades, this man must go into the court 'innocent until proven guilty', thats a staple of freedom, and of a just law. You may know deep down he's guilty of every sin and crime under the sun, but until the evidence is put to a judge and jury, and they agree with your view, you cannot tell them what he is or isn't.
This trial is obviously going to be influenced from what the world knows about Saddam, but here's the interesting point, how many of the crimes we know he committed would you say he has told his own people about?? And is the jury made up of regular citizens of Iraq, or others? I mean, if its just citizens, theres a chance you'd get some hardcore Saddam-ers in there. While you or I have the advantage of viewing from a far, many people living in Iraq still think Saddam is a God, and will be hard pushed to be told otherwise by what they see as a puppet government of the US.

I'm sure, in all your journalistic training (sorry, I laughed so much there I think I'm bleeding from somewhere) you know about 'contempt of court'. Now, I don't know if it works the same in America, and I doubt it will hold in Iraq, but under Irish law, they'd have a good case to say the jury has been influenced so much by exterior forces (rumours and myths and half truths), that they could not possibly be un-bias. You would be held in contempt of court for commenting on a trial before a verdict is met. That is what the defence team are hoping to achieve, a situation where an un-bias hearing is impossible, and so the case must be thrown out of court, and all charges dropped. Its not likely to happen, but its probably their best chance at getting him out of it.

Adam

We All Walk The Long Road

In the last week, I have been forced to contemplate death on two seperate occassions (I'm not counting my dog here, by the way, I'm talking about the passing on of two people). Up until recently, death has always been a result of old age to me, and while I knew inside that wasn't really the case, there were never any instances close to me to make me truely realise otherwise. While neither of the people involved were related to me, I certainly knew a decent amount about them or those close to them, enough to make me stop and think.
Both instances had their similarities, and were both very tragic. I won't go into detail, out of respect for those passed on and their families, and because there is no real need to. However, it has become all the more apparent to me that life itself is the most unpredictable thing in this world. It may last for more than a century, or it may only last an hour, and no matter what you do, you do not know what will happen to you. You could live the healthiest of lives, and die of a heart attack at 30. You could eat rubbish all day long, and live to see 100. My point is, though, its not worth thinking about the many ways you might leave this place, what is important is that when you do go, those you leave behind will be able to say you had done everything you could to make life good. Obviously its a good idea to stay healthy and be as safe as you can, but don't waste you're time keeping yourself covered in bubble-wrap; go out and do something worthwhile. My worst fear about death, is that I will have nothing to show for it, and that I'll be forgotten. What I've seen in the last week has made me realise, that for the most part, I can ensure that fear doesn't become a reality, but only if I take advantage of whatever comes my way in life, and do whatever I can to be the person I want to be remembered as.

Death is only senseless when there was no life beforehand.

Adam