Transformers.

Went to see this Friday night at the Omniplex Crescent shopping centre, didn’t know what to expect but found out in short order. This film fell flat in no time especially with the opening set in King Arthur’s England, not very original to say the least. The “Transformers” are once again involved giving “Merlin” a powerful staff with which to defeat Arthur’s enemies the saxons. This is then hidden away to prevent the evil decepticons from using it. The film goes on and on and its a real mess with the actors look like they are only doing it for the paycheck. Its really a recycled story and Anthony Hopkins part is just the stereotypical Brit.

Its a big budget feature with lots of sights and no originality. Maybe it is just for the kids. The cinema seems to have emptied out since the summer began. This film won’t bring them back.

Tourism Expert says Dublin/Ireland a “Rip off”.

Tourism expert Michael Hall speaking at a conference in Sligo, says that he wouldn’t dream of coming to Ireland if it wasn’t for business or for conferencing. He found the country very overpriced, emphasising that he spent over €400/night for a hotel room in Dublin (pricey even for Dublin) and didn’t enjoy the stag/hen groups which frequent the city. Ireland admittedly is not the cheapest country to visit with only Denmark being more expensive (in the EU). Mr Hall is originally from England but now resides in Australia, had other gripes as well – delays at the airport, garda taking a case against Stephen Fry for blasphemy and so on. Guess it is a matter of personal taste what someone might like may not be to the liking of someone else, but he doesn’t sound like someone that knows Ireland a great deal and has quite pricey taste. Looking at Trivago and Booking.com you can get a reasonable hotel room for €100 a night in Dublin which is still pricey but along way from his €400/night sojourns. Maybe Mr Hall is not the expert he thinks he is.

 

National Maternity Hospital II.

Just a quick note on the national maternity hospital and its situation of the government “gifting” a €300 million facility to the sisters of charity  as “sole owners”. The religious order in question has relented and has decided to quit their role as owners and setup a charity to run the facility instead. Its a improvement on the situation where we would have the nuns as sole owners but who owns the charity ? This charity which will now control the hospital. Its still receiving quite alot of taxpayers money and it (the hospital) can still be sold without the taxpayer having any say. More will still have to be done.

 

U.S.A pulls the plug on Climate Accord.

Making the news of late is the fact that Donald Trump U.S President has withdrawn the U.S.A from the Paris Climate Accord. It comes as little surprise with Trump’s pre-election pledges to big business and after his trip to Saudi Arabia with $480 billion in arms deals. The move I gather is done to largely protect the oil industry from alternative forms of energy being developed to met emissions targets and other anti-pollution measures. People will continue to breathe fumes in the larger cities and pollution will continue with industry refusing to clean up after it self. Clean water, clean air will be increasing difficult to manage. The move by the U.S has largely wrecked the accord with many countries now unlikely to meet targets. The impact on the world climates is unknown with more storms, droughts and floods likely. Its a very greedy action and everyone is likely to pick up the tab.

Donegal Hotelier flies the Union Jack.

In the news recently is the flying of the union jack by a Donegal hotelier Brendan Rohan who owns Dunfanaghy Holiday Village in Co Donegal. Apparently he gets a lot of business from English people and flies their flag as a form of welcome, he seemingly has forgotten our history and the disrespect shown by loyalists for the Irish flag and hatred shown on their eleventh night bonfires. Don’t believe the flying of the union jack is a good idea and the making guests feel welcome isn’t sufficient reason for it to be flown in the republic. The hotelier in question doesn’t fit the profile for being a anglophile formerly being a officer in the Irish army and all. The hotelier is contactable on facebook if one wants to get his side of the story. One wonders how it will end. Incidentally I rate below as being incitement to hatred at the very minimum.

Were Computers more fun.

Here is a topic i feel like discussing, computers don’t seem to the fun they used to be or maybe I am just a lot older. Things are not as interesting as they once were. Does anyone feel the same i wonder ? Nowadays I check the email, read the papers, play some music videos on youtube and of course a small bit of blogging and that’s about it. I miss the addictive games that used to be around and the chats I used have on Icq with people from around the world, used to do that alot very addictive actually (makes the world a small place). Computers seem to lack the “sense” of adventure that was once with them, maybe it is because so much of they used to do is being done by mobiles and other smaller devices. My gut tells me put it down to age.

on pc

National Maternity Hospital.

In the news recently is the proposed new maternity hospital which is to be built in Dublin. It has raised hackles due to the fact that the ownership is in question, despite the taxpayer forking out some three hundred million to construct the hospital. it is to be owned by the nuns-sole owners (the sisters of charity to be exact) for supplying the site on which the hospital is to be build. This doesn’t sound like much of a deal for the taxpayer who is supplying all the funds and has nothing to show for the all that is to be spent. One wonders who would make a deal like this in this day and age. Our government seemingly does these sort of things i.e completely reckless with public funds and with the whiff of a scam as well. The religious have not got good press of late with the scandals of the Magdalene laundry’s and the mother and baby homes particularly Tuam. The nuns have no right to a public asset or public funds for that matter. The taxpayer should not be ripped off in this matter.

Here is a link of interest:

Block Sisters of Charity as ‘sole owners’ of National Maternity Hospital

 

Stakeknife Investigation & Cover up.

The man responsible for the new “stakeknife” investigation chief constable Jon Boutcher has appealed for witnesses to come forward to his inquiry. According to Boutcher potential witnesses will be treated sympathetically. However no mention is made of “stakeknife” role as British intelligence informer and it is not clear if British army intelligence section or MI5 will be called to give evidence. The case is already in the public arena with the book “stakeknife” published for many years and the fact that the British police are actually providing  Freddie Scappaticci with refuge. Will British security services end up with a murder rap or will the entire matter be thrown at the door of the IRA. A cover-up of “stakeknife” is highly likely.