Yesterday's news and net was dominated with Brian Cowen's performance - or lack thereof - on Morning Ireland just before 9am. Critics said he was under the influence, defendants said it's a medical condition. Either way, people missed the point.
If (a) he was drunk, he did quite a good job answering questions as he does when sober. Reeling of never ending sentences which covered all bland aspects of all bland answers, Cowen committed to nothing other than vocalising what none of us were thinking. If (b) it's a medical condition, then, again, he did a grand job.
This is highlighting the lack of substance in a man who leads this country, of that I am happy, but it is taking a while for people to realise this. The public can't wash their hands of this at all.
FF are doomed we are told, they haven't a chance in the next elections. They will be wiped out as someone, anyone, else takes the hot-seat. But we've been here before...and people have voted in FF in worrying times before.
Bertie Ahern was on the receiving end of a spanking in a much covered tribunal during the last General Election, yet FF support held out well. Imminently there were critics of the government, of the man, of the party.
Then, along with the global recession, came Bertie's resignation, corporate and state funded scandals, and doom and misery for the public. Michael Foley spoke on Newstalk today about how ridiculous the jargon from politicians is, FF in particular, as they say nothing and expect respect for that. So people should rise up, things should change, yea?
'Immediate General Election'? No.
Why do people deserve another chance to make a mistake. I am not a FF voter, not one bit, but I fully respect the rules. If they are voted in, they stay in. We can't just boot them because we listen to a different news source, or even listen to any news source. Their reign serves as an example of the ridiculous voting in Ireland.
Idiots run this country because idiots voted them in. And vote them in. The scandals that have followed FF, at the highest levels, have all added to their charm amongst the public. Charlie Haughey, what a man, helping out the resistance. Bertie, sure he's a nice guy who was going through tough times, Cowen, sure who can't enjoy a drink.
People are missing the point. It's not Fianna Fail's fault, it's the electorate's.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Book Burnin' Boyos
Alot has been written this week about 'dem der christians burning the sacred, holy, beautiful, fantastic, hallowed....infamous Qur'an.
It seems to be a general consensus that these Americanised Christians are making a mistake. One might argue, 'they are not allowed to do something so aggressive, disgusting, morbid and - excuse the pun - inflammatory'.
The general consensus is both right and wrong. It's right in that this is an inflamed atmosphere...and that's just talking about the non-event. But also, and importantly, it is wrong because these Americans can burn the books if they want.
There is no logic behind banning the burning of materials, assuming the correct license and permission is granted by whoever the local authority is and assuming the actual burning of the books doesn't cause direct harm on the community. (I mean 'harm' as in direct fire, fumes, gasses etc)
To stop them doing this, pandering to the worries and fear of a united Islamic world rising up aghast at Americas sinning, is stupid. It is a book, made of man-made materials, written by man, recounted by man and dreamt up by man. Burn it, it doesn't matter.
The only problem I have with this though, is it gives the idiotic Christians in question a 'victory' in their 'struggle' against Islam. Of that I almost can't bear. They are idiots. I would champion their right to do this, but their intentions are so ridiculous that I can't bring myself to type the words just yet.
Why on earth they'd spend their evening burning books is beyond me - they are obviously mental. Why they are seeking fame in this activity is also beyond me. If this is righteous and in Gods will, then shut the fuck up and do it on the quiet. He's still watching, isn't he?
Personally I'm a football fan. I love the game, the rules, the players, everything. I support a team in one area of the world, elsewhere the rules are adhered to mildly differently and fans like that way just as much as I mine. I watch enough football, or even sport for that matter, to fill many a session in mass.
But, if a bunch of sheep listened to a dick in a black robe say burn the basic rules to football, or the olympic games registration rulebook, I wouldn't give a shit. I'd think they're mental, sure, but I wouldn't give a shit. It wouldn't change the rules...
Leave them too it, while they spend their time doing this for the greater good, I know deep down that I am furthering my species through basic socialising and activities while they regress and listen to all the answers to all the hard questions come from a convenient, idiotic, boring and very haphazard series of accounts from two millenia ago.
The argument on the radio waves over here in Ireland boils down to 'texters' complaining about pundits lack of knowledge of the Qur-an when treating this topic. While occassionally relevant, this point is mute right now. The knowledge of that book is irrelevant in this situation. For those who think it's a blood curdling account of Arabian butchery of Christians, you are wrong. For anyone saying it is the most beautiful thing ever written, you are also wrong. (Paul McGrath's autobiography wins that contest hands down). It. Is. A. Book.
Ugh, I'm going to say it. The American Christians are right. They are muppets for even considering this, but once they got the fame they were never going to back down now were they.
It seems to be a general consensus that these Americanised Christians are making a mistake. One might argue, 'they are not allowed to do something so aggressive, disgusting, morbid and - excuse the pun - inflammatory'.
The general consensus is both right and wrong. It's right in that this is an inflamed atmosphere...and that's just talking about the non-event. But also, and importantly, it is wrong because these Americans can burn the books if they want.
There is no logic behind banning the burning of materials, assuming the correct license and permission is granted by whoever the local authority is and assuming the actual burning of the books doesn't cause direct harm on the community. (I mean 'harm' as in direct fire, fumes, gasses etc)
To stop them doing this, pandering to the worries and fear of a united Islamic world rising up aghast at Americas sinning, is stupid. It is a book, made of man-made materials, written by man, recounted by man and dreamt up by man. Burn it, it doesn't matter.
The only problem I have with this though, is it gives the idiotic Christians in question a 'victory' in their 'struggle' against Islam. Of that I almost can't bear. They are idiots. I would champion their right to do this, but their intentions are so ridiculous that I can't bring myself to type the words just yet.
Why on earth they'd spend their evening burning books is beyond me - they are obviously mental. Why they are seeking fame in this activity is also beyond me. If this is righteous and in Gods will, then shut the fuck up and do it on the quiet. He's still watching, isn't he?
Personally I'm a football fan. I love the game, the rules, the players, everything. I support a team in one area of the world, elsewhere the rules are adhered to mildly differently and fans like that way just as much as I mine. I watch enough football, or even sport for that matter, to fill many a session in mass.
But, if a bunch of sheep listened to a dick in a black robe say burn the basic rules to football, or the olympic games registration rulebook, I wouldn't give a shit. I'd think they're mental, sure, but I wouldn't give a shit. It wouldn't change the rules...
Leave them too it, while they spend their time doing this for the greater good, I know deep down that I am furthering my species through basic socialising and activities while they regress and listen to all the answers to all the hard questions come from a convenient, idiotic, boring and very haphazard series of accounts from two millenia ago.
The argument on the radio waves over here in Ireland boils down to 'texters' complaining about pundits lack of knowledge of the Qur-an when treating this topic. While occassionally relevant, this point is mute right now. The knowledge of that book is irrelevant in this situation. For those who think it's a blood curdling account of Arabian butchery of Christians, you are wrong. For anyone saying it is the most beautiful thing ever written, you are also wrong. (Paul McGrath's autobiography wins that contest hands down). It. Is. A. Book.
Ugh, I'm going to say it. The American Christians are right. They are muppets for even considering this, but once they got the fame they were never going to back down now were they.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Boys out of Green
Ireland are all set to kick-off their European Championship 2012 campaign on Friday against Armenia, before bringing Andorra to the Aviva for the first competitive home game at the new stadium this Tuesday.
Here, I look at some of the higher-profile players who have not been included in the squad for one reason or another.
Jon Walters (Stoke City)
Walters has been generally excellent in the Championship for Ipswich over the past few years, winning Player of the Year once at the club during his spell there. Since his move to Stoke, Walters name has been whispered quite a lot in the build up to the latest squad selection, but the tough striker was left out.
Having played for the Ireland ‘B’ squad already he is certainly on the radar, with the Irish assistant coach Marco Tardelli noting that they had considered Walters for the double header.
“We will take another look at him when he plays for Stoke but now is not the time to bring him in,” said Tardelli recently, citing the winter friendlies as a better time to introduce new blood.
James McCarthy (Wigan Athletic)
The diminutive midfielder has had a pretty impressive career to date. Attracting rumoured interest from all over Britain when playing for Hamilton Academical, McCarthy made the rather sensible move to Wigan back in 2009.
After initially struggling to break into the team, McCarthy emerged as a central figure for the Latics – notably playing Steven Gerrard off the park when Wigan beat a travelling Liverpool side late last season.
McCarthy made his debut for Ireland against Brazil earlier this year. However, he missed out on the May friendlies, citing exhaustion as the reason, and has since been absent from the first-team set-up. Currently strutting his stuff for the Under-21s
Stephen Ireland (Aston Villa)
Ireland is considered as one of the most talented Irish around at the moment. His ability to create headlines has attracted the derision and bile of the Irish public, sold thousands of newspapers and isolated him from perhaps 75% of Irish fans.
With six caps and four goals, it is disappointing that such a talent is unavailable.
Yet not once called into question is the consistent, tiring, and generally demeaningly-excessive questioning on a subject which he rightly and perhaps reasonably considers as ‘closed’.
Ireland enjoyed a fine start to his career at Manchester City, notably winning the Senior Player of the Year Award in 2009. However, following the extravagant spending at Eastlands, Ireland saw his chances at the club disappear and has recently moved to Aston Villa.
Andy Reid (Sunderland)
Reid is another creative midfielder currently unavailable to the Irish selectors. A combination of injury and reputation has unfortunately put paid to his Irish career.
Reid has 27 caps for Ireland and has seen his career rise and fall on several occasions. After emerging, starring and being overpriced at Nottingham Forest, Reid eventually made the move to Tottenham Hotspur in 2005. From there he went to nearby Charlton Athletic before being signed by Sunderland.
Highly regarded in the Irish press – for close to a year heralded as the Great Irish Hope for reasons best explained as ‘selling papers’ – Reid’s career has certainly improved at Sunderland, even if his injuries have not.
Seamus Coleman (Everton)
A product of the League of Ireland, Coleman began his career with Sligo Rovers in 2006. Making the move to Everton, Coleman’s home debut saw him start on the bench yet finish as Man of the Match following his excellent performance – and his hand in both Toffees’ goals against Spurs.
Coleman spent a spell at Championship side Blackpool in the second half of last season, helping them to a promotion to the Premier League. Having signed a contract extension with Everton, and staying with the Merseyside club for this season, great things are expected of this full-back – and Ireland are lacking in that position. Along with McCarthy, Coleman is in the Under-21s
Here, I look at some of the higher-profile players who have not been included in the squad for one reason or another.
Jon Walters (Stoke City)
Walters has been generally excellent in the Championship for Ipswich over the past few years, winning Player of the Year once at the club during his spell there. Since his move to Stoke, Walters name has been whispered quite a lot in the build up to the latest squad selection, but the tough striker was left out.
Having played for the Ireland ‘B’ squad already he is certainly on the radar, with the Irish assistant coach Marco Tardelli noting that they had considered Walters for the double header.
“We will take another look at him when he plays for Stoke but now is not the time to bring him in,” said Tardelli recently, citing the winter friendlies as a better time to introduce new blood.
James McCarthy (Wigan Athletic)
The diminutive midfielder has had a pretty impressive career to date. Attracting rumoured interest from all over Britain when playing for Hamilton Academical, McCarthy made the rather sensible move to Wigan back in 2009.
After initially struggling to break into the team, McCarthy emerged as a central figure for the Latics – notably playing Steven Gerrard off the park when Wigan beat a travelling Liverpool side late last season.
McCarthy made his debut for Ireland against Brazil earlier this year. However, he missed out on the May friendlies, citing exhaustion as the reason, and has since been absent from the first-team set-up. Currently strutting his stuff for the Under-21s
Stephen Ireland (Aston Villa)
Ireland is considered as one of the most talented Irish around at the moment. His ability to create headlines has attracted the derision and bile of the Irish public, sold thousands of newspapers and isolated him from perhaps 75% of Irish fans.
With six caps and four goals, it is disappointing that such a talent is unavailable.
Yet not once called into question is the consistent, tiring, and generally demeaningly-excessive questioning on a subject which he rightly and perhaps reasonably considers as ‘closed’.
Ireland enjoyed a fine start to his career at Manchester City, notably winning the Senior Player of the Year Award in 2009. However, following the extravagant spending at Eastlands, Ireland saw his chances at the club disappear and has recently moved to Aston Villa.
Andy Reid (Sunderland)
Reid is another creative midfielder currently unavailable to the Irish selectors. A combination of injury and reputation has unfortunately put paid to his Irish career.
Reid has 27 caps for Ireland and has seen his career rise and fall on several occasions. After emerging, starring and being overpriced at Nottingham Forest, Reid eventually made the move to Tottenham Hotspur in 2005. From there he went to nearby Charlton Athletic before being signed by Sunderland.
Highly regarded in the Irish press – for close to a year heralded as the Great Irish Hope for reasons best explained as ‘selling papers’ – Reid’s career has certainly improved at Sunderland, even if his injuries have not.
Seamus Coleman (Everton)
A product of the League of Ireland, Coleman began his career with Sligo Rovers in 2006. Making the move to Everton, Coleman’s home debut saw him start on the bench yet finish as Man of the Match following his excellent performance – and his hand in both Toffees’ goals against Spurs.
Coleman spent a spell at Championship side Blackpool in the second half of last season, helping them to a promotion to the Premier League. Having signed a contract extension with Everton, and staying with the Merseyside club for this season, great things are expected of this full-back – and Ireland are lacking in that position. Along with McCarthy, Coleman is in the Under-21s
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Futility of the 'News'
Today the Stig was unveiled on newswires due to a courtcase between BBC and a publishing company, in connection with Ben Collins revealing himself as the Stig.
There is something all too depressing about the all too depressing need for all too depressing news. There is zero value in revealing this to the world. Zero.
It is merely everyone being bad sports. But this is nothing new.
Look at the coverage of the Most Evil Irishman Ever, Stephen Ireland. Every week there are reports of his current stance on the Ireland squad. Usually 2/3 pages per paper, per week, are dedicated to this lad and why it's a moral sin that he doesn't want to wear a green t-shirt and boot a ball around with players he probably doesn't like.
People on the street complain about why he's always banging on about not playing, he should 'just shut up', the public are 'sick of it'.
Wrong, the public are not sick of Stephen Ireland, they are merely mis-informed. What they are, or should be, sick of, is the relentless coverage this gets. This is not 'just reporting the news' as Editors no doubt claim, this is 'making' news, needlessly, with zero public gain. Again, zero. The lad is asked questions, dozens a day, if he answers one in a hundred, it is printed, reprinted, re-edited and re-analysed so much so that it almost looks like he rings up newspapers for a lil chat.
Doubtful.
Take a step back, and realise who you should really be sick of...
There is something all too depressing about the all too depressing need for all too depressing news. There is zero value in revealing this to the world. Zero.
It is merely everyone being bad sports. But this is nothing new.
Look at the coverage of the Most Evil Irishman Ever, Stephen Ireland. Every week there are reports of his current stance on the Ireland squad. Usually 2/3 pages per paper, per week, are dedicated to this lad and why it's a moral sin that he doesn't want to wear a green t-shirt and boot a ball around with players he probably doesn't like.
People on the street complain about why he's always banging on about not playing, he should 'just shut up', the public are 'sick of it'.
Wrong, the public are not sick of Stephen Ireland, they are merely mis-informed. What they are, or should be, sick of, is the relentless coverage this gets. This is not 'just reporting the news' as Editors no doubt claim, this is 'making' news, needlessly, with zero public gain. Again, zero. The lad is asked questions, dozens a day, if he answers one in a hundred, it is printed, reprinted, re-edited and re-analysed so much so that it almost looks like he rings up newspapers for a lil chat.
Doubtful.
Take a step back, and realise who you should really be sick of...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)