It has long been observed, that on Sunday the mass does different things.
Some go to church, some return from clubs and sleep, some read a book, some do the gardening, some catch up with their kids, some eat a lot, some practise yoga, some Vote.
It has long been valued that on their non-banking days people are pretty much the same as when they work, graft, toil and sweat. Except they have less money making opportunities. This facilitates their increased participation in their society as citizens and nationals of the Civilised World.
It has long been observed that the mass on their non banking days readily absorb shite.
This is why coups are most successful on the weekend, and elections as well.
It is on your non-banking days that you are presented with the most filagree woven tissues of spirit and lie, ghost and truth. It is through weekend that you allow others to have considerable space in your head. As a global and local movement truthfully based on ethical principles - we can indulge ourselves on Sunday every once in a while. And wonder why some of us are excommunicated. I do not wish to enter the theologically or anthropromorpholigically unknown. Big words scare me.

Less than a week ago, an insecure worker on temporary contract exceeded the speed limit of the metro train he was driving by exactly twice as entered the "Jesus" station of Valencia city. The tunnel was widest at that point, the subsequent derailing killed over 40 people - I may not ask what was he thinking??? nor where he is now.
In today's edition :- ... read full story / add a comment

Yesterday, Radio Free Éireann highlighted the ongoing POW Protest in Maghaberry. Geraldine Taylor of Republican Sinn Féin phoned in, fresh from the RPAG White Line Picket in Belfast to describe the situation and to be interviewed, plus Patrick Williams of Cumann na Saoirse Náisiúnta/ National Irish Freedom Committee. ... read full story / add a comment

Who cares anyway?
It's just a missile made by brown people
targeting brown people....

[do not expect cries of 'No Nukes' heard from the 'West' - either from the halls of power or from the streets] ... read full story / add a comment

July-September issue of West 47 now online at
http://www.galwayartscentre.ie/west47/index.html ... read full story / add a comment

Daily Ireland Friday columnist Robin Livingstone decides to highlight some lesser-known predilections of the Orange brethren. All in the name of mutual tolerance an understanding.

Shed loads of cash bring wondrous joy to brethren
... read full story / add a comment

A considered and balanced view of the media event presently saturating the airwaves, the “North Korean Missile Crisis”, would reveal an hysterical, farcical over-reaction! The Korean so-called long range ICBM explodes on launch – good one, Kim! But notice how quick the coalition of willing criminals are to utilise anything to distract the public attention away from the criminality of Guantanamo Bay, Iraq, Camp Bond Steel (occupation base in the Balkans which utilises the services of East European child sex slaves to service American troops). THIS IS AMERICA, policeman of the world, welcome to ‘freedom’, exploitation and the pollution that is American culture. [The world needs the USA like it needs a hole in the head!] ... read full story / add a comment

Today saw a historic joint venture into cyberspace by the president of Russia, Vladimir Putin who spent the day answering questions which had been put to him on the internet in a surprising joint project between the BBC and the Russian Government.

Amongst the questions put to Vlad, were the reason why he lifted the t-shirt of a 6 year old boy during a walkabout earlier this week & kissed his stomach. Putin replied ""He seemed very independent and serious... I wanted to cuddle him like a kitten and it came out in this gesture. He seemed so nice,".

Other human interest questions included one put by a 17 year old Russian girl who wondered at what age Mr Putin had lost his virginity. & of course some telly adicts had to ask about Korean missiles.
Vlad outlined his worries for Russia and his pride. The project comes amidst a concerted focus by the BBC on russian affairs in the lead up to this year's G8 conference which will be held in St. Petersburgh shortly.
... read full story / add a comment

"North America's getting soft, patron, and the rest of the world is getting tough. Very, very tough. We're entering savage new times, and we're going to have to be pure and direct and strong, if we're going to survive them." - Videodrome

The Pentagon is co-parenting Pandemic with its unlikely - or possibly inevitable - same sex sugar daddy: U2's Bono. His Elevation Partners spent $300 million last November to bring the Studio together with Bioware "to create the world's best funded and largest independent game development house." Now there's a cause. ... read full story / add a comment

Legislation that would allow Ireland's DEFENCE forces to take part in "EU battlegroups" has been railroaded through the Dail according to an article in the Irish Independent, May 5th 2006 by Geraldine Collins and Michael Brennan. (As there's a login requirement at the Indo I repost the full story below this summary): ... read full story / add a comment

In an even more serious reflection of the experiences of the Pitstop Ploughshares in Ireland, Flight Lieutenant Malcolm Kendall-Smith has been put through the ringer for his conscientious objection to the Iraq War. ... read full story / add a comment

It’s called distraction, shifting focus, drawing attention away from the real issues that beset the majority of humans on the planet. We are all anticipating another round of distracting emotive images on our televisions; things are not going well for the powers, it’s time for another ‘circuit’ of abuse awareness commercials, always topical and a guaranteed mind-shifter. The public consciousness is a well-managed resource – never doubt it! ... read full story / add a comment

Finally! Something that unites Muslims, Jews and Christians: Homophobia! Yes the great religions of the world have united to keep the Queers out of Jerusalem.

Read the full story at the link.

pat c ... read full story / add a comment

A provisional Councillors says that the Brit forces should be killed - but the paper that highlights this does not allow a response ... read full story / add a comment

Last night the Dail passed the Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill thereby giving the go-ahead to allow applications to go through a new Strategic Infrastructure Board within An Board Pleanala rather than the normal Local Authority planning applications. ... read full story / add a comment

Strange way to fight poverty. ... read full story / add a comment

A 41 year old woman began a case in the High Court of Ireland yesterday, represented by Gerard Hogan SC to have 3 of her embryos released from the freezer of a fertility clinic in Rathgar Dublin. Or.... 3 embryos made for her by a clinic out of her eggs and her estranged husband's sperm.

Her case hinges on her belief and the Irish Courts interpretation of the Irish Constitution's relevant clauses and amendments - that each of the 3 frozen embryos has a "right to life".
... read full story / add a comment

KAI on these marchers' drums doesn't mean 'Kill All Irish', says Orange Order. It's a tribute to Kai Johansen (you know, the 1960s Rangers defender) ... read full story / add a comment

Michael Parenti has written today of the Stolen Election of 2004. Confirming what many already suspected and has been reported elsewhere, Parenti's account of what happened to ballot papers, at voting centres and to US voters overseas makes stomach-churning reading. ... read full story / add a comment

A national monument damaged by vandals is being repaired by Limerick Republican Graves because the Limerick City Council refuse to fund the work ... read full story / add a comment

For almost 2 decades I have been aware of the awesome extent of Ivana Bacik's ambition.
Ivana Bacik has found the cash to put up a banner advertisement on the online version of the Irish Times, alledging that only 1 in 3 of TCD graduates voted in the last Senate elections.

It appears to me, that Ivana moving on from her failure to win a seat in the European Parliament is now setting her sights on the Senate. Oh dear - whose seat is she after?
Will it be David's or Shane's? For as a TCD graduate she can only seat on the education panel unless she wants to go on the rubber chicken circuit and find voters all over the country. ... read full story / add a comment