Badgers, we don't need no stinkin' badgers!

At least thats what a lot of the people who were caught in a 'Badger Baiting' sting think. "The Ulster Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said its [secret]blog proved crucial in uncovering the secrets of badger baiting"(BBC, 2009).In other words the USPCA has been badgering the baiters, and they took the bait. It goes to show how much of an eejit you would have to be, not only to set dogs on small animals, but also to post pictures of the event on a web-site. I will not add to the cruelty by posting a picture of the 'baiting'; instead I provided a picture link of the badges scene from Blazing Saddles, enjoy!

p.s. I see Sammy is trying to get his credibility back by jumping on the badger bandwagon.

Falls Park

Its been a long time since I was in the Falls Park.I remember going to the 'Cooler' and there was a burnt out car at the bottom of an empty pool. I remember playing football on one of the, I think, three pitches in the park. I remember traversing the river(sewer) that ran up the side of the park with my mates.

I remember people playing bowls in the fanciest part of the park: the green by the clubhouse. Its funny to think in the middle of all that was going on during my childhood,people were playing bowls on a perfectly cut,luscious green,bowling pavilion. Hmmmm! Reminds me of a WWII war movie, where Brits keep that stiff upper lip, as the Luftwaffe bombs are dropping all around. I remember good times in the Falls park.

Anyway this reminiscence was brought to you by Sean McLaughlin's photo published today on the BBC news site.

Some days are better than others

So I was elated yesterday with the Obama/Spiderman comic,and about to forget how cruel cartoonists can be, consider the english tabloid depictions of Irish people throughout the centuries, and then I saw this New York Post cartoon. Spiderman needs to swing by the post and show the cartoonist what happens to friends of superheroes.

With great power comes great responsibility

I was so disgusted by yesterday's blog entry, I thought we all needed a pick-me-up to show the world is not all bigots and union jacks. I picked up a copy of the latest edition of "The Amazing Spiderman" comic from Marvel comics. Comic number 583 is a special edition covering the inaugaration of the United States first black President, Barack Obama. I will not give away the plot, but I love the scene where Barack calls Spidey "Partner".

According to Marvel's Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada,President Obama is a comic book collector.
"When we heard that [President] Obama is a collector of Spider-Man comics, we knew that these two historic figures had to meet in our comics' Marvel Universe."
(Marvel, 2009)

Its refreshing to see a world leader with hobbies that extend beyond the usual activities of some leaders we have come to accept as the norm: Warmongering, invasion, thievery, torture, internment, summary injustice, kangaroo courts, shoot-to-kill, atom bombing; the list could go on forever, and include many different leaders from every corner of the world. But just for now we can delight in the partnership of your friendly neighbourhood Spiderman, and the United States President Barack Obama.

True Colors

Once again fans, of that other team in Scotland, have shown their true colors, by chanting the so-called 'Famine song', at the game against Celtic on Sunday.

"The song, which includes the line "The famine's over, why don't you go home," was heard during Sunday's 0-0 draw. It refers to events that killed an estimated one million people in the 1840s and led to a mass migration from Ireland and has drawn condemnation from the chairmen of both clubs, Sir David Murray of Rangers, and Celtic's Dr John Reid"(BBC, 2009).

In some countries, singing this type of song would lead to mass demonstrations, fatwas, and denouncements from governments about the 'Nazi-like' nature of these amadans. So are the SPL going to keep their word,fine the team, or deduct points?

Milk Snatcher

Whilst looking for some Christy Moore videos, I came across this interesting snippet of Christy speaking about the Anti-Christ. I think the sound bite speaks volumes about the reign of terror and the subsequent fallout of greed that has had ripple effects to this day. The current worldwide economic crisis, job losses, and growing divide between rich and poor has a lot of causes, many of which can be found rooted in the policies of the english Conservative Government of the 80's.

Hail, Hail.

Tomorrow Celtic take on their Glasgow rivals, and once more along with millions of other displaced Tims, I'll be up at 5AM to try catch the game. I hope the game will be available and Ii wont be stuck reading the scroll on the Sporting life site.

Pigeon droppings

Re-capping on the pipe-bomb story from Belfast, heres a picture of the bomb squad from the Irish News.


McCann, M.(2009). Pigeon and pipe bombs photograph. Retrieved online from the Irish News

Téigh i bhfeabhas scoileanna dátheangach

Chuaigh me do dti an Scoil Mhuire i mBeal Feirste, agus feiceann thu mo Gaelige briste. Ach dar liomsa is fearr Gaeilge bhriste ná Béarla cliste. Is mian liom go dti na bunscoil. Ceart go leor,sin e. I won't brutalise the language anymore in this bloganna. I will however point you to a story on the BBC that makes me sasta, and that is the nuachtann about Gaelige becoming a force to be reckoned in the Náisiúnna Saor Nua. I wonder if the language will take hold and grow to become once more Teanga don Daoine Eire, agus glactar leis an Sacs-Bhéarla mar theanga oifigiúil eile.(Brutal, I couldn't help mise)

Balls

What is it with englishmen and their love of handballs?
First it was the 'hand of God' Maradona incident (which we will never hear the end of), and now (considering England got beat by Spain)Ireland were awarded a 'bizzare penalty'(BBC,2009), over a handball. When are the english ever going to admit defeat graciously, and show the world that famous british gentlemanly demeanor, so often heard about in society circles? what what!

Somebody drop something?

Three suspected pipe bombs were found what I used to call,"round our way". My da used to goto the bookies in Dairy Street that ran off Shields Street, where the bombs were found. I used to walk up Shields Street to my local, "The Beehive", or as a kid bring "ali cans" to the scrap half-way up Shields Street. I remember lots of people used the street to leave Beechmount to get a taxi on the Falls Road via Shields Street, and probably a lot of people still do. Luckily none were hurt by the bombs left today.



Che mural: Shields Street. Photo by Gerry Ward. Retrieved February 10 2009 from http://flickr.com/photos/gerryward/919227319/

Wise Up, Sammy!

Fact: The Antarctic Ice Shelf is breaking up at a rate never before seen
Fact: CO2 emissions are causing the quickened build up of greenhouse gases
Fact: Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere cause the climate to heat up
Fact: The Earth's climate is heating up
Fact: Too much heat will melt your braincells and cause hallucinations
Fact: Sammy Wilson sunbathes naked

Sammy Wilson's sun-worshiping has finally gone to his head. The Environment minister believes CO2 is not responsible for heating up the atmosphere, despite scientific data to the contrary from leading scientists including the US EPA.

"If greenhouse gases continue to increase, climate models predict that the average temperature at the Earth's surface could increase from 3.2 to 7.2ºF above 1990 levels by the end of this century. Scientists are certain that human activities are changing the composition of the atmosphere, and that increasing the concentration of greenhouse gases will change the planet's climate. But they are not sure by how much it will change, at what rate it will change, or what the exact effects will be"(EPA, para. 5, 2009).

Wilson also believes that the DUP are solely responsible for change in the Political and Civil climate that is present in the North of Ireland, despite the facts the DUP opposed change at every turn down through the years. "Belfast says no" ring any bells, Sammy? Belfast says Snow seems more appropriate in this climate.



EPA. (2009). Basic information on climate change. Retrieved February 9, 2009 from http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/basicinfo.html

Wilson, S. (2009). Sammy Wilson slams climate change deniers. Retrieved February 9, 2009 from http://sammywilson.org/press_releases/PR_06-02-09.html

Breithla Shona Bob

Happy Birthday!

Gorillas in the Snow

As snow fell over Belfast, the inmates at Belfast Zoo were busy completing work on a snow Gorilla. The West lowland gorilla 'Kukuma' is seen here putting the final touches to his snow sculpture, he likes to call, 'Joker'. Kukuma is known around the world as the Michaelangelo of the Gorilla world,for his innovative artwork. Another of Kukuma's pieces can be found here: Ice Monkey

Homecoming Scottish Cup

Scottish Champions, Glasgow Celtic, face Division 3 team Queens Park, in the fifth round of the Scottish Cup, aka the Homecoming Scottish Cup. Celtic midfielders, Shaun Maloney, and Massimo Donati, are back in the first team after time out from injuries. Out on International leave is Shunsuke Nakamura, who is in Japan to rest up before his country's World Cup game against Australia, which will pit the midfielder against fellow Celt Scott McDonald. Todays game kicks off at 3pm GMT, 10 am EST, and 7 am PST.

Celtic (from): Boruc, Caldwell, McManus, Hinkel, Naylor, S Brown, Robson, McGeady, Samaras, McDonald, Vennegoor of Hesselink, Loovens, Hartley, Crosas, Maloney, M Brown.

Queen's Park (from): Crawford, Sinclair, Ure, Brough, Douglas, Holms, Quinn, Cairney, Harkins, Nicholas, Ronald, Coakley, McGrady, Reilly, Boslem, Neill, Harty, Dunlop, McGrogan, Montgomerie, Waters, Watt, Dunn, Murray, Hepburn, Cowie, Agostini, Little, Henry.

Marú

Maru is an Irish language murder mystery drama. "Tony Devlin is the 'demonic stranger' who provides commentary on events unfolding behind him"(TnaG, 2009). The third season in the maru series kicked off 1/15/09 with an investigation into the murder mystery surrounding Jimmy Ennis.

The series is available for live or repeat viewing on the T na G site

http://www.tnag.ie/bearla/scei/beo.asp

Click on the link titled "Beo" and then look for Faisneis Cartlann, Maru is a mystery to find in itself.

Adh Mhor!

Siofra Supernova

Here's a photo of our cat Siofra going SuperNova!

The Acolytes

Thought I'd give a shout out to my oul mucker Seamy G's' latest band, The Acolytes. The band is comprised of Seamy Garland(vocals and keyboards); Steve Wright (lead guitar); Stephen Skinner(drums); and Maurice Kelly (bass).

The four member pop/rock band are making waves in the Belfast music scene producing beats reminiscent of New Order, overlapped with Nine Inch Nails style guitar licks, and the strained Franz Ferdinand balladeer tones, of lead vocal Seamy G.

The four sample tracks on the band's MySpace account have a running theme of the ageless search for love lost. The latest track "Why should I wait?" is redolent of many frustrated vinyl anthems laid down by lovers fed up 'waiting in vain'.

Garland's technique has evolved since his early days with the cover band, "Three Men and a Wee Lad". The wiry vocals combined with the vigorous vibrations of Wright's lead guitar, produce a sound worthy of challenging the North of Ireland music scene.

The band's next gig is March 24, 2009 at Aunt Annies, in downtown Belfast, with a $3 cover. That's English pounds, not Dollars. My computer is American, what can I say?

Hughes to receive award

Geraldine Hughes from West Belfast is to be awarded an honorary doctorate for her services to the performing arts by Queens University. Hughes was recently cast alongside Sylvester Stallone in the movie Rocky Balboa, and has just completed filming the Clint Eastwood movie Gran Torino.

Shock Signing for Bhoys, Yeah Mon!

Champions of Scotland, Glasgow Celtic, closed the transfer window by signing Jamaican striker Bob Marley, for a staggering $400m. Marley said he always wanted to play for the hoops, and hopes his rub-a-dub stylee will be an added boost to to the Scottish club.

Year of the Ox

Sorry folks, I missed the Chinese New Year. Ive been sick with a bout of the suds.Anyway Bhlian shona na Bho daoibh! Happy Year of the Ox! (I think).