Jun
19
Biggot of the month, according to LGBT Noise
LGBT Noise votes a bigot of the month, each month, starting June 2009.
Jun
21
News from the garden
Got rid of slugs, aphids and other pests, but if one more thing comes up, I will no longer use chemicals, and I will stop gardening!
In the meantime the peas and beans are growing: the beans have their firs flowers blooming. Cabbages are starting to recover.
And guess what: my strawberry seeds, taken from a smoothy, have grown one plant… it seems. In your face! (You know who you are)
Jun
09
Votes are counted and distributed
Ireland is still counting its votes.
It has the best system, the most democratic, when it comes to counting votes.
There is only “one round of voting”: you vote for a person as “number 1″, then you give numbers to all other candidates in order of preference.
Each candidate has their “first preferences” counted and if they have enough votes to be elected, they are. Then if there are more seats to fill, we look at the “second preference” for the remaining bulletins.
At each count the worst candidate is eliminated and their votes “redistributed”.
Each count is the same as a second round of voting, except from the start you vote for the candidates you prefer, and then for those you could accept to see in a coalition.
It eliminates the need to hold more than one round of elections, but also the risk of the traditional French “behind door second-round agreements.” And it allows as many “counts” as needed, when in France they usually only have one or two extra rounds.
The downside is that it allows extremes to be represented. But how is it a problem, as you know who transferred votes to them and who they are likely to enter in coalition with anyway.
Jun
02
Pride month in America
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Presidential-Proclamation-LGBT-Pride-Month/
Will he put his hand where his mouth is, and get universal marriage legal across the Union?
It contrasts with the French//Bouygues presidency’s actions for discrimination in his first 2 years: (in French only, click here for an automated English translation)
http://societales.blogs.liberation.fr/alain_piriou/2009/05/lutte-contre-les-discriminations-quel-bilan-pour-la-pr%C3%A9sidence-sarkozy-.html#comments
Jun
01
Gufted: bike helmet
Thanks to Paul et Muriel, who visited this week-end.
I hate to admit it, but himself is right, I need one at some stage.
I am so happy with making it to the DART station in 15 minutes flat between the kitchen and the DART that I now intend to take it most mornings.
I am not worried so much about traffic as I am worried loosing concentration and forgetting I am in the driving seat…
Merci mais ce n'est plus la peine (quelqu'un a déjà réservé ce cadeau, ou je n'en veux plus) >>>>>>>>> No longer needed. (Someone planned to get this gift already, or I no longer want it)
Jun
01
India is better endowed than France
Comment on the article: http://europeennes.blogs.liberation.fr/campagne/2009/05/28-panneaux-13-affiches-15-erreurs.html
The article reads something like: “it is the largest parliament in the world after that of India. With, however, this difference: it is transnational, it brings together the past of 27 nationalities and cultures which are quite different.”
India is also a collection of states that only have a few things in common: a colonial past (as a victim, unlike Europe) and a vague religious community (much more diverse than that of Europe…).
Not so much a difference as a common point.
This is further evidence of Euro-centrism, which prides itself on diversity but does not know about anything outside its borders.
Also a very French way to keep “us” one way or another at the top of the rankings. (You remember our French history/geography classes? France was always 3rd or 1st in the world for some obscure statistic).
Let’s be clear: the Indian parliament is more democratic, more diverse, more complex and more efficient than the European Parliament. And it is better endowed too!
May
30
Gifted: GPS Navigation (Ireland & France/Europe)
Thanks to Paul et Muriel, who visited this week-end.
May
23
Biking to work works
Took the bike to work for the first time, it is so much faster than waiting for the bus that never comes.
The problem will be coming back, as the DART station is at sea level, and the house is… a bit higher up than that.
May
19
Proinsias De Rossa to Strasbourg! (And later in Áras an Uachtaráin?)
He is one of those political men who “smell good”, who inspire confidence. (I did not go sniffing him, now!)
He is also one of the main reasons behind my choice of an Irish name. (He has nothing to do with me changing my name though!)
May
17
Gifted: Red bar Stools
Posted on May 17th, 2009 in DIY, For himself too, For the house, Furniture, Gift, €100-200, €50-100 by Prony | 
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Dec
17
Wishlist: Handel
Handel’s Messiah was first performed in Dublin, Fishamble Street, April 13 1742.
It has since been played annually on the same date and place.
But more importantly, it is also played at the National Concert Hall in Dublin, 3 days in a row in December:
2009: 16, 17, 18 December at 20h00.
I go there every year and the condition for gifting me a ticket, is to join me. Otherwise, a less expensive alternative is to pay for the program.
Quantités dont j'ai encore besoin - Quantity I reckon I still need: 2
May
Next Page »
12
English “contrepèteries”: Angel turns Buffy
How does it work?
Switch the initial consonants (in bold) to turn an innocent sentence into a witty one. (Osée, or with a political commentary)
Angel’s demon made Buffy psych out.
Switch the initial consonants (in bold) to turn an innocent sentence into a witty one. (Osée, or with a political commentary)
Angel’s demon made Buffy psych out.
Read more…
May
08
Star Trek
OVERALL
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0796366/
Very good prequel.
STORY
Not too far fetched, and the kind of humour the original series was made of.
Read more…
