Sayings of Moshe Dayan

Yes I know he looks like the villain from a cheesy 1960's James Bond movie, but he's not, he was an all round Zionist hero as well as being Israel's Defence and Foreign minister at various times.

All quotes and their sources can be seen at: www.palistineremembered.com

Here goes...

"[houses were destroyed] not in battle, but as punishment . . . and in order to CHASE AWAY the inhabitants . . . contrary to government policy."

"we must understand the motives and causes of the continued emigration of the [Palestinian] Arabs, from both the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, and not to undermine these causes after all, we want to create a new map."

"We want [Palestinian] emigration, we want a normal standard of living, we want to encourage emigration according to a selective program."

"The proposed policy [of raising the level of public service in the occupied territories] may clash with our intention to encourage emigration from both [Gaza] Strip and Judea and Samaria. Anyone who has practical ideas or proposal to encourage emigration----let him speak up. No idea or proposal is to be dismissed out of hand."

"Our American friends offer us money, arms, and advice. We take the money, we take the arms, and we decline the advice."

"There is no more Palestine. Finished . . ."

"a new State of Israel with broad frontiers, strong and solid, with the authority of the Israel Government extending from the Jordan [river] to the Suez Canal."

One thing I like about Dayan is that he told the truth, very unusual for a politician, but I think he was a soldier first.

Merry Christmas

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL IN THE SPIRIT IT IS MEANT!

Fugitive From Justice!

After escaping from an arrest warrant granted by a London court for being accused of committing war crimes, Tzipi Livni, the Israeli former Foreign Minister, held a press conference to declare that she is "proud" of all her decisions in the Israeli war against Palestinians during Christmas last year!

It's important to record that the Israeli war was condemned by several states and international organizations. Nothing was out of the attack; hospitals, infrastructure, roads, water stations, schools, mosques and UN centers were all attacked under the claim that leaders of Palestinian resistance exist there! The result was killing 1330 victims including; 418 child killed, 108 woman killed, 88 elderly killed and 14 of medical crews killed, plus 5450 wounded with a percent of 50% children and women, and 90% of the wounds are caused by the internationally banned White Phosphorus. The reasonable description for what happened in 22 days is "Genocide".

The encouraging act of the British court that resurrected a glimmer of hope in achieving international justice is threatened now by the shameful declarations of UK's Prime Minister G. Brown of welcoming Livni in England, and the declarations of British Ministers of looking urgently at reforming the law to avoid future warrant against Israeli officials!

It's a serious threat against human rights and international justice. When policy interferes the work of justice, then all war criminals will escape the just penalty.

British government is put now in an embarrassing situation. It's required to choose one of two choices; the political relations with a government accused of committing war crimes, or chasing war criminals giving them the penalty they deserve. Which will win; Policy or Justice?

Men vs. Women

It's amazing what the differences between men and

women would reveal of our natures!

Subh Milis by Séamus Ó Neill

Bhí subh milis ar bháscrann an doras
ach mhúch mé an corraí
ionaim a d'éirigh
mar smaoinigh mé ar an lá
a bheadh an bháscrann glan
agus an lámh beag - ar iarraidh

There was sweet Jam on the doorhandle,
but I suppressed the anger that rose up inside me,
for I thought about the day when the doorhandle would be clean,
and the little hand gone.

Translated by Rory.

The only Irish Language Poem I know off by Heart, it still makes me cry after 30 years.

Decaffeinated Coffee

OK so if Moonlitewine can be posting about smoking homemade pipes and drinking fruity drinks, here my newest (non)stimulant. Yep, after years of over-stimulation, I bought de-caff.

What's next? you may well ask, herbal tea? tofu? hummus!!!???

Hmm, I doubt it. But I must say my new clear-headed approach to life is paying dividends.

Meanwhile, an associate of mine told me that a certain fascist, convicted drug dealer and known police informer told him that my neighbors were getting together a petition to get me thrown off the street.

Who??? I wonder, I get on well with all of the neighbors I know and am quite good friends with several people on our little street.

Anyway, as luck would have it not two hours after hearing this little nugget of information, I meet the aforementioned fascist/drug dealer/police informer while out walking Yogi. I confronted him and asked "what's this you are saying about a petition to get me thrown off my street?"

He said, "well that's what I heard". So I told him to send whoever told him that around to my place so we could discuss it. I won't hold my breath.

Now it is not beyond the realms of possibility that Sir Antony O'Reilly's henchmen in That Big Theater down the other end of the street don't like me flying red flags out my upstairs window on special occasions (my Lithuanian friends seem to think this must be a crime), but, last I heard, Ireland is still a free country.

I await further developments.

MUSLIMS & NON-MUSLIMS | What Did Prophet Muhammad Tell Muslims To Do?

How should Muslims treat non-Muslims? Are they required to deal kindly and justly, or hate them? Are Muslims required to smile in their faces, or stab them in the back?

I believe, many non-Muslims are eager to hear an answer to such questions from the mouth of Islamic resources. Particularly under the big wave of Islamophobia in the Western world, and the number of violent incidents made allegedly in the name of Islam. So, it's important to talk about the basis of Islamic perspective about non-Muslims. Hatred or Love? Marginalizing or Merging? Fighting or Cooperation? Separation or Coexistence?

The best way to understand Islamic perspective about the relation between Muslims and non-Muslims is to follow what Prophet Muhammad said and practiced. This way we can focus on the theoretical principles set for Muslims to treat non-Muslims, and in the same way see a practical application of these principles.

It's important at first to clarify that everything that Prophet Muhammad say or do, is considered to be a legislation for all Muslims. If Qur'an is the first source of Shari'a (Islamic legislation), then sayings and deeds of the Prophet are the second source. Qur'an says; "Ye have indeed in the Messenger of Allah a beautiful pattern (of conduct) for any one whose hope is in Allah and the Final Day, and who engages much in the Praise of Allah." 33th chapter: 21th verse. Subsequently, when the Prophet do something or say anything, all Muslims are required to do the same as he did and apply what he said. All Muslims consider Prophet Muhammad as the best example for them..

When the message of Islam started to spread in its early beginning, the people of Mecca started to murder new Muslims, torture them, besiege and boycott them, and expropriate their properties. This sufferance lasted for 13 years. The atmosphere in Mecca has not become suitable for Muslims to live, so they had to immigrate to another place away from the reach of Meccans. The choice was Medina, 450 KM away from Mecca. Medina was a place where Jews settled long time before. The first thing Prophet Muhammad did after he migrated to Medina was to sign a treaty, including all tribes of Medina beside Jewish tribes. The main clauses of that treaty were;

*The Jews will profess their religion, and the Muslims theirs.

*If attacked by a third party, each shall come to the assistance of the other.

*Neither shall commit sins to the prejudice of the other.

*The wronged party shall be aided.

*Each shall contribute to defending Madinah, in case of a foreign attack, in its respective area.

*This treaty shall not hinder either party from seeking lawful revenge.

There are major values seen in these clauses such as; Freedom of religion, Merging Jews in community instead of marginalizing them, Setting the basics of justice and equity, Supporting the right regardless of faith. Prophet Muhammad practiced these values 14 centuries ago!

In Qur'an, 60th Chapter, 7th & 8th verse say;"It may be that Allah will grant love (and friendship) between you and those whom ye (now) hold as enemies. For Allah has power (over all things); And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. * Allah forbids you not, with regard to those who fight you not for (your) Faith nor drive you out of your homes, from dealing kindly and justly with them: for Allah loveth those who are just." In addition, Prophet Muhammad -God bless him- said about Dhimmis (non-Muslims living under Islamic protection); "He who hurts a Dhimmi hurts me, and he who hurts me annoys Allah." Reported by Al-Tabarani. The two verses and the Hadith (Saying of the Prophet) show very clearly the main frame of how a Muslim should treat non-Muslims.

If we started by the Hadith we can realize that it's a big sin and a forbidden thing to hurt non-Muslims. What is a "hurt"? This include everything that would annoy any human; mistreat, transgression and oppression. We aren't talking here about bombing civilian places and random shooting. If Prophet Muhammad considered hurting, just the hurt at any level, as hurting for himself and subsequently to God (Which devout Muslim would dare to do something that hurt the Prophet and annoy Allah?), then, higher levels of hurt like attacking and killing them is an unforgivable crime.

The two verses maintain the peace that must be achieved between Muslims and non-Muslims who don't aim at fighting and driving Muslims out of their homes. Peace for peace, that's it. These verses include all non-Muslims; Christians, Jews, and even the infidels. "Kindly and Justly", a very clear order. Smiling, Giving a present, Exchanging friendly visits, Sharing the food, Volunteering in social projects, Selling & Buying, Medical treatment, Sharing in social occasions, Helping the needy, Giving the poor, .. there is so much other to say, it's simply; "Dealing Kindly and Justly"!

Another short incident that Prophet Muhammad did, but, I believe, it has much to tell Muslims about treating non-Muslims. One day a funeral procession passed by and the Prophet (PBUH) stoop up. The people objected. "But it is the funeral of a Jews." and he responded, "Is he not a human being?"

I asked myself "What is the message out of that?", "What did Prophet Muhammad want to tell his companions?". I think the message is clear. Prophet Muhammad, the Prophet of Islam is telling Muslims that when we treat non-Muslims kindly, it's not about cheating them, but it's all about respecting them .. just because they are human beings. It's about respecting their souls and their dignity, whatever they believe in.

In another occasion, a delegation of Christian Yemenis arrived to Medina to meet Prophet Muhammad. The Prophet welcomed them in the mosque of Medina. When the time of their prayer came, they prayed at the mosque, and the Prophet allowed them! Prophet Muhammad is not just telling Muslims that we should give non-Muslims the freedom of practicing their faith, but in addition, we might share them our worshiping places, our mosques, to practice their worshiping. So open-minded, so civilized!

When the Prophet was migrating from Mecca to Medina secretly, the people of Mecca was chasing him to assassinate him, they even sent 10 strong young men with sharp swords to his house to kill him, but God saved him (PBUH). The situation was so risky, any mistake would lead to the death of the Prophet, the messenger of God, and the receiver of the revelation. When the Prophet needed a guide to show him the way to Medina through the desert without being seen by the Meccans, he choose Abdullah Ibn Urayket, one of the Meccans, a good guide, and .. a non-Muslim!

Thinking of it, the Prophet of Islam trusted a non-Muslim in that critical situation. He would easily reveal the secret to the Meccans, and win the 100 camels prize that Meccans made for anyone who tell them about the place of the Prophet. But the Prophet didn't looked at him that way, instead he looked at how good he was as a guide who knows the secret roads to Medina and how honest and trusted he was so not to reveal his secret. The Prophet trusted him i.e. trusted a non-Muslim! This tell all Muslims very clearly that working with a non-Muslim, is no thing bad.

One of the most important Hadith (Sayings of the Prophet) about the security of the non-Muslims' lives is the following. The Prophet of Islam said; "Whoever kills a person whom we have a treaty will not even come close enough to Paradise to smell its scent, and its scent can be found at a distance of forty years travel." Reported by Bukhari

No thing would be more clear. All those who bomb themselves in civil places thinking that they are dying as "martyrs" who will go to paradise, all those who kill randomly by the name of Islam thinking that they are practicing the noble Jihad, and all those who terrorize the safe non-Muslims, all of them must hear that saying of the Prophet. The Prophet is telling them that they will not even approach to paradise after their death.

An application of that Hadith was made in the life of the Prophet. It has been recorded in more than one source that one of the Muslims killed a man from the People of the Covenant, and the case was brought before the Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him), who said; "I am the one most obliged to fulfill his covenant" and ordered the murderer to be executed. A Muslim was executed because he killed one non-Muslim! That's Shari'a!

These were few examples of how Prophet Muhammad, the Prophet of Islam, treated non-Muslims. In fact, that's what are we, Muslims, required to be with non-Muslims, those who live with us in the same place, and share us the same planet. We're required to love them not to hate them, to make peace with them not to terrorize them, to coexist with them not to kill them. That's what my religion, Islam, tell me to do.

Welcome Mohamed

Thank you, Mohamed for being willing to contribute to Blog of Blogs.
May our widson improve.
May our art be met with challenges.
May our theories be met.
May our honesty wipe the edge of all we envision.


moonlitetwine

Welcome Mohamed

I would like to welcome our newest contributor on board, Mohamed Fadly from Egypt. It makes me proud that we have contributors from three different continents, Europe, America and Africa.

Moonlitewine and I are long time followers and commentators on Mohamed's excellent Understanding Islam blog.

I look forward to Mohamed's first post I think on the subject of The relationship between Musims and non-Muslims.

Rory

A fight that must be won

A fight that must be won:
A national stoppage to drive this government out of office
From S.W.P Ireland Website



The Fianna Fail-Green government are planning a new round of attacks on working people to pay for the bail out of the banks.

These will include attacks on child benefit, pay reductions, slashing of public services and the introduction of water charges.

Yet they have already spent €11 billion on bailing out banks and plan to put another €54 billion into NAMA.

They have no mandate for any of these policies and have little public support. Tens of thousands of trade unionists have come out on the streets on November 6th and many have voted for strike action to oppose these policies.

No Sell-Outs

But this mood is not matched by a determination at the top of the ICTU. How could you expect the former FAS chief, Peter McLoone, to lead a real battle!

The ICTU leaders have walked straight into a trap by agreeing to talk about a programme of cuts. The government’s aim is to divide workers by presenting a false choice: you can either have pay cuts – or huge jobs losses.

Far from advising the government on how to cut €1.3 billion from the public sector, the union leaders should be shouting: WE are not the problem – NAMA and the Bank- Bail outs are.

If the government wants to raise more money it should look to the super-rich who gained an extra €75 billion during the Celtic Tiger years. They created the economic mess – and THEY should pay for it.

A National Stoppage

After the huge protest on November 6th and November 11th, the movement MUST escalate or face defeat.

This means that the national stoppage on November 24th should go ahead and strike committees should be formed at grassroots level to organise rotas for picket duty.

Remember: If we show any sign of retreat again, the government will only stick the boot in further

Do It The French Way

A strategy for victory should be based on the great French strike of 1995. When the Juppé government attacked social welfare and public sector pay, the unions engaged in a series of co-ordinated national stoppages. These stoppages were initially led by public sector workers but eventually they drew in private sector workers who had their own grievances.

The one day strikes in November and December 1995 defeated the French government – and we can do exactly the same here, provided there is the will to fight.

Join The Socialists

We need a real alternative to the political establishment. Replacing an Fianna Fail-Green government with Fine Gael-Labour will not bring the change we need.

We need a new politics that is determined to make the wealthy pay for their crisis. If you agree, then join the socialists. Text JOIN to 086 3074060.

Tom Hogan ICTU Rally speech in Waterford nov '09

Thanks to Cllr. Joe Ryan for uploading this video.

ICTU Protest March

I attended the Irish Congress of Trades Unions march in Waterford today along with an estimated 9,000 other people. Joe Ryan of Cllr Joe Ryan's Blog was also in attendance so check his blog for more photos and a full report written from a trade union perspective.

There were marches in various towns and cities all over Ireland and they were all well attended, but somehow I think it will take more sustained action to scare the fat cats in our government.

Anyway, some photos (click on any image to enlarge)...





Teachers with placards in Irish, fair play!

Wexford Community Development Project protesters, (looking good Pauline)! You can see a little movie, with sound of them protesting on Joe's blog.



Young people from Ballybeg, Waterford waiting to join the march.

Anyway, again we were blessed with good weather and an enjoyable day was had by all.

No Matter How Much you are Tempted, don't Google Yourself.

Three months in jail suspended
ABUSIVE BEHAVIOUR


Wednesday September 09 2009

A MAN who suffers from bi-polar disorder was given a suspended sentence of three months in prison at Wexford District Court for a public order offence.

Rory Stafford, 4, High Street, Wexford pleaded guilty to engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with intent to provoke a breach of the peace at Rowe Street on May 24.

Inspector Pat McDonald said Garda Gerard Guinan found the defendant causing a disturbance outside a pub. When he approached him, he became very abusive. He said the accused had a number of previous convictions, the most recent being in April when he was placed on Probation for two years.

Aoife Pettitt, solicitor handed in a letter from her client's GP and a local councillor. She said the defendant suffered from bi-polar disorder for which he was taking medication.

Unfortunately, the medication did not mix well with alcohol, she said, adding that he had an appointment with the Cornmarket Project to talk to a counsellor about his alcohol problem.

Judge O Buachalla sentenced him to three months in prison, the warrant not to issue on him entering a bond to be of good behaviour for two years.

He also fined him €300 for a public order offence in December 2008 when he was intoxicated in a public place.

Recognizances were fixed in the event of an appeal.

My Favourite Song - The Beatles Let it Be

Happy Halloween - A Song for a Dead Man

The Ballad of King Boz

Words, Music and images by Alan, Rory,Yogi

Thanks to Blue Moose, Mary, Ady, St. Senan's, the Cornmarket Project and Dermot F for support.
Copyright Fire Horses (A.Butler, R.Stafford) October 2009

Book Review of World Made By Hand A Novel By James Howard Kunstler, written as an open e-mail to the author.

Greetings Mr. Kunstler,

I finally got to read 'World Made by Hand', I had to wait for my library to stock it (I asked them to buy a copy several months ago, I can't afford to buy novels, it's been several years since I've read a novel, (I read a lot of non-fiction).
Getting the library to buy it was good for you, good for me, good for the library and good for the rest of the underclass who can't afford to buy novels).

The long-awaited book finally came and a nice little potboiler it is too. I read it in a day, so it was engaging, entertaining. Not what I'd expected, less 'Little House on the Prairie', more action-adventure. But what a lot of eating and drinking goes on during the book! I kept getting hungry and thirsty, going for snacks and craving glasses of cider! I did not expect 'food pornography' (A term myself and a few colleagues invented to describe the utterances of a talk radio jock over here who's a bit of a gourmet, around Christmas time he starts salivating through the radio over entrees such as'Turkeys stuffed with ducks, stuffed with quail').

I was glad you weren't too hard on Wayne Karp and his tattooed underclass. I was afraid I would find myself throwing the book across the room in disgust before the end. But Mr Earle and Brother Jobe showed some restraint, even a little empathy perhaps?

Anyway I look forward to the sequel and the challenge of persuading my local library to buy it, for the benefit of me, you and the knowledge hungry Wexford Underclass.

B.T.W, I still enjoy your blog but don't bother to comment. The comments section is just too off subject, too many trolls.

Rory Stafford (Urban_Underclass), Wexford, Ireland

Check out our blog :)
Blog of Blogs

Check out Mr.Kunstlers blog:
Clusterfuck nation

Lisbon Treaty - Local Results

Waterford	YES							68.5	NO	31.5
Wexford	YES							65.2	NO	34.8
Wicklow	YES							70.7	NO	29.3

Results for all constituencies from The Irish Times.

SIPTU Community Sector March - Dublin - 30 September 2009

I attended the SIPTU Community Sector March against the Governments cutbacks today...



...I was not the only Wexford person there, above is a lovely group of Wexford Town Women proudly wearing the purple and gold.


This is the stage from which a variety of community groups made short speeches.



Sinn Fein were there, so were the Socialist Worker's Party.

This man dressed up in a suit for the event!


This lady had a wonderful homemade placard!


Cork People!


Here is Socialist Party Member of the European Parliament Joe Higgins talking to the media. I was proud to shake his hand.

It was a good day, excellent weather, people were in good humour. Between 12,000 and 15,000 marched, which was good for a Wednesday afternoon.

Wexford's own little Sarah Palin.

This is South East Radio DJ Alan Corcoran posing with Wexford's greatest soccer player, Kevin Doyle...



...and this is Fianna Fail senator Lisa MacDonald. I was at a 'rally' in White's Hotel, Wexford tonight, in 'opposition' to proposed cuts in services in Wexford General Hospital. It was, to be honest more of a xenophobic love-in between Fainna Fail and the so-called opposition, Fine Geal and Labour.



When a Dublin trade unionist spoke up, he was shouted down viciously by the chairman of the rally, the suave Alan Corcoran from South East radio. Alan seemed very keen to let the poor man know in no uncertain terms that Alan is from WEXFORD and 'we' don't like Dublin smart aleks coming down to our cozy little town where everyone, especially the government and the main opposition parties really loves each other.

Senator MacDonald told us how much she LOVED the maternity unit in Wexford General Hospital where she's been a patient THREE TIMES! Big brave girl. She went on to say how she wouldn't mind if the smaller maternity units in Kilkenny and Tipperary were closed down. I mean fuck them. Who cares about mothers from Kilkenny or Tipperary?

Aw shucks! Go hug a Wexford person today. WE'RE REALLY LOVELY!

Lisbon Treaty - Campaign Against the EU Constitution

The follow is a list of affiliates of the Campaign Against the EU Constitution (Where a party or organisation has a specially designed website for the No to Lisbon campaign, the links below point to those sites rather than to their main website).

Communist Party of Ireland
Community & Workers Action Group
Éirígí
Irish Anti-War Movement
Irish Friends of Palestine Against Lisbon
Irish Republican Socialist Party
Irish Socialist Network
Peace & Neutrality Alliance
People Before Profit Alliance
People's Movement
Sinn Féin
Socialist Party
Socialist Workers Party
Workers Party

Affiliates from other EU countries:

ATTAC Austria
ATTAC France

Campaign contact details:

Campaign Against the EU Constitution,
c/o UNITE, 55-56 Middle Abbey Street, Dublin 1.
Web: www.sayno.ie
Email: info@sayno.ie
Tel: 01-8727912

With the Lisbon Treaty vote coming soon to Ireland, I think it's a good time to congratulate the Irish. What better way, than to go up and kiss an Irishman or Irishwoman?

Do it today!

Lisbon Treaty - People Before Profit

The back of this leaflet gives ten reasons to vote NO, listed below:

1. We voted NO before and not a single word of the Treaty has changed. Make the political establishment RESPECT the will of the people.

2. The Irish are the only people who are allowed to vote. Let's use it on behalf of millions of Europeans denied a vote. EU Commissioner, Charlie McCreevy admitted 95 percent of other countries would vote NO if they had a chance.

3. This referendum is NOT about membership of the EU. If we vote NO, we cannot be thrown out of the EU. So don't be blackmailed.

4. Lisbon gives the EU more powers to control how governments manage their budgets and run their public services (Art 16 and 115). Competition and price stability are the only priorities of the European Central Bank (Art 254a) - not jobs.

5. The Lisbon Treaty copper-fastens the removal of restrictions on the movement of capital between member states and third countries. This allows speculators to move money around at will, wrecking economies and lives in the process.

6. The Lisbon Treaty allows for the privatisation of health and education by giving the EU Commission more power to do deals at the World Trade Organisation. (Art 188c)

7. Lisbon offers no protection for workers rights and offers nothing to millions of unemployed across Europe. In the Laval and Viking cases, the European Court of Justice has undermined the right of trade unionists to take effective action against contractors who import cheap labour to undercut registered agreements.

8. Spend money on welfare on warfare. The Lisbon Treaty demands increases in military spending but the is no such requirement for healthcare or education. (Art 28)

9. Stay out of EU battle groups and EU wars. The Lisbon Treaty demands we supply troops for 'tasks of combat forces in crisis management'. It forces us to come to the aid of other countries who are subject to a terrorist attack. (Art 28)

10. Stop the building of an undemocratic EU super state. Lisbon gives the EU a "legal personality", a president and a foreign minister and changes the voting balance in the EU in favour of larger countries like Germany and France.

The policies enshrined in Lisbon are the very politics that created this crisis. Across Europe governments are robbing people to pay for bank bail-outs. This is our chance to hit back. Use it so that they get the message that NO means NO.

Duffy's Circus Comes to Town

Out walking this afternoon I noticed that Duffy's Circus had arrived. This is one of the old Irish circuses that I would have gone to as a kid. Yogi and I went for a snoop around...


...we saw ponies and stuff...



...and Yogi imagined what it would be like to be a bear who had escaped from the circus.

Happy Birthday Yogi!

So the big day has finally arrived, Yogi is two years old, that is 14 doggy years, and he surely is a rowdy teenager. As to can see to celebrate the day he is wearing his festive green bandanna. He got various presents, an old electric toothbrush (if you want to entertain your dog, give him one of these), a bone, a cows ear and an inoculation shot. Also, as a special birthday privilege he is allowed look out the upstairs front window and bark at passers by.



Yogi has had an eventful life, he was born in Clonroche, Co. Wexford, to a patterdale terrier, his father is unknown. His mother had the mange and canker which she passed on to her pups. Yogi was the only one of his litter to survive.

At eight weeks of age he was acquired by a man called Spud. He was on the run from the law at the time and his partner had a new baby so poor Yogi was left on his own in a greyhound trailer for a few weeks. Spud has since gone to prison and is now serving a two year stretch, but I'll always love Spud because he found and rescued Yogi. I think this period in the trailer traumatized Yogi. To this day he hates trailers.

Anyway, my friend Sarah saw Yogi in his sorry state, in a trailer on his own suffering from mange and canker and she took him over and nursed him back to health. She gave him his name. Around this time I first met Yogi. I have seen a few puppies in my time but must say none were as bedraggled or as friendly as Yogi.

So time passed and Sarah taught Yogi the basics, like sit, stay and lie down and she looked after him. But he was very rowdy indeed. So when he was six months old he was neutered. Sarah thought this would quieten him down but it didn't. I realized that a lot of the problem was that he wasn't getting out for many walks. Like me Sarah lives in a house in town with only a very small garden.

I started taking Yogi for walks and minding him when Sarah was away. Eventually on 18th May 2008 Sarah asked me if I wanted to take Yogi. I said I would as long as she never asked for him back. So joy of joys, I got my first ever dog!





I used to spoil him rotten, walking him miles, the best of food. He was still rowdy. In a moment of madness I thought getting another dog would quiet him down. Oh dear, that was a mistake, I got Viola who was a lovely bitch puppy. Thing was instead of one rowdy dog I now had two. My house was getting destroyed and my neighbors complained about their barking (even though Viola was relatively quiet). Viola had to go, but I found her a good home.

Anyway, since then Yogi has calmed down a lot, I read a lot about how to care for and train dogs. I take the responsibility of dog ownership very seriously. Yogi is my best friend and I want him to be happy and healthy.

Happy birthday Yogi.

The Stickiest Situation Since Sticky the Stick Insect Got Stuck on Sticky Bun

This bitch is called Condoleezza Rice...



...and this is Sean Garland, back in the '60s when he was almost good looking...


...anyway, as one of her last acts as Secretary of State, Ms. Rice signed an extradition warrant against Sean. It seems that Mr. Garland was trying to bring down the US economy by distributing forged $100 bills that come out of North Korea.

Only thing is there is no hard evidence against Sean. Sean is 75 years old and suffers from diabetes and cancer. Sean is ex-president of the Worker's Party of Ireland. He is a true patriot who served several jail sentences for (official) IRA activities when it was neither profitable or popular. He has also been shot and seriously injured twice in the course of his eventful life.

This situation makes my blood boil. It brings out the inner sticky in me. Ms. Rice is a vindictive bitch and only signed the warrant to make life awkward for president Obama in his dealings with both Ireland and North Korea.

There is an on-line petition to the Irish government calling for the withdrawal of the extradition warrant that can be signed here.

Your support would be much appreciated.

(Thanks to Rowan Atkinson and the Black Adder crew for inspiration for the headline).

Ted Kennedy - An email from President Obama

Rory -- Michelle and I were heartbroken to learn this morning of the death of our dear friend, Senator Ted Kennedy. For nearly five decades, virtually every major piece of legislation to advance the civil rights, health and economic well-being of the American people bore his name and resulted from his efforts. His ideas and ideals are stamped on scores of laws and reflected in millions of lives -- in seniors who know new dignity; in families that know new opportunity; in children who know education's promise; and in all who can pursue their dream in an America that is more equal and more just, including me. In the United States Senate, I can think of no one who engendered greater respect or affection from members of both sides of the aisle. His seriousness of purpose was perpetually matched by humility, warmth and good cheer. He battled passionately on the Senate floor for the causes that he held dear, and yet still maintained warm friendships across party lines. And that's one reason he became not only one of the greatest senators of our time, but one of the most accomplished Americans ever to serve our democracy. I personally valued his wise counsel in the Senate, where, regardless of the swirl of events, he always had time for a new colleague. I cherished his confidence and momentous support in my race for the Presidency. And even as he waged a valiant struggle with a mortal illness, I've benefited as President from his encouragement and wisdom. His fight gave us the opportunity we were denied when his brothers John and Robert were taken from us: the blessing of time to say thank you and goodbye. The outpouring of love, gratitude and fond memories to which we've all borne witness is a testament to the way this singular figure in American history touched so many lives. For America, he was a defender of a dream. For his family, he was a guardian. Our hearts and prayers go out to them today -- to his wonderful wife, Vicki, his children Ted Jr., Patrick and Kara, his grandchildren and his extended family. Today, our country mourns. We say goodbye to a friend and a true leader who challenged us all to live out our noblest values. And we give thanks for his memory, which inspires us still. Sincerely, President Barack Obama

Is this the mysterious Amillennialist?

Is this mysterious Amillennialist? Mr. Hugh Fitzgerald of Chino Hills, Califorinia.



Yes, he who posted such loving, Christian, tolerant comments on my post, Show and Tell #2 Home town. He who threatened to set the FBI on my ass? (Well that WAS funny).

I think so. Hmm, he sure looks mean enough. Then again, he looks old, I expected him to be about 12 years old to be honest.

Futility by Wilfred Owen

Move him into the sun -
Gently its touch awoke him once,
At home, whispering of fields unsown.
Always it woke him, even in France,
Until this morning and this snow.
If anything might rouse him now
The kind old sun will know.

Think how it wakes the seeds, -
Woke, once, the clays of a cold star.
Are limbs, so dear-achieved, are sides,
Full-nerved -still warm -too hard to stir?
Was it for this the clay grew tall?
- O what made fatuous sunbeams toil
To break earth's sleep at all?

This is my favorite anti-war poem. Wilfred Owen was killed in action on 4 November 1918, a week before the signing of the Armistice. Futile is the word.

Gratuitous Photograph of Yogi

We'll say it's to celebrate his upcoming second birthday. (I am already planning the festivities, expect a bumper special edition post).

The Clash - Complete Control and Safe European Home

To end my 1970's music trip, the greatest rock band that ever existed, sorry if it's a bit rough and the language is not so proper, but it is punk rock after all.

Show and Tell #3 - A Wexford Pikeman

This is the Pikeman in the Bullring in Wexford Town, it commemorates the 1798 rebellion. For the story of this rebellion, listen to the last post!

Luke Kelly - Kelly The Boy From Killane

Old Graycrow Stuff

Old Graycrow stuff for the curious.

What is happening to the great Liberal Democracy that was the USA?

The New Colossus by Emma Lazerus

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
"Keep ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she
With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless,tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

Thanks Moonlitewine for the inspiration!

Show and Tell #2 - Home Town

These are some pictures of my town, Wexford taken on this sunny August afternoon. Click on any image to enlarge it.



Above is the town from across the harbour. As you can see there are a lot of churches. The two tall ones that kind of book mark the town center are the twin catholic churches, in Rowe Street and Bride Street. They were built in the 1850's in a neo -gothic style. The large dark block in the center is the new Wexford Opera House, completed last year. I live very near this, which is pretty much the middle of the town, which is nice, I can walk everywhere, so I don't own a car.

The other three photos were taken from the balcony of the cafe high up in the Opera House, it gives a nice view of the town and the surrounding countryside.

Above, looking southeast from the opera house, out to sea.


Looking northeast from the opera house, the elegant spire is that of St. Iberius (Church of Ireland). It is the oldest church being used in Wexford and the only one situated on the main street. On the horizon you can see the estuary of the Slaney River which flows to the sea at Wexford.
Looking north from the opera house, my neighborhood. You can see the east gable of Rowe Street church. On the horizon you can see the Blackstairs mountains on the border of County Wexford and County Carlow.

I am not a mad churchgoer to be honest but they are interesting buildings and serve as good landmarks.

So that's our town, I like it.

Dog Days Full Moon 2

In Irish legend King Sweeney was so enraged by the sound of Saint Ronan's bell that he threw it into a river. Ronan took his revenge on Sweeney by cursing him and driving him mad, Sweeney went to live in a tree like a bird.

Yogi hates bells and today on the dog day full moon the neighborhood church campanologists are putting on a show, driving poor Yogi mad.




That weird moaning sound at the end of the video is Yogi.

To conclude:
1. Yogi is a pagan.
2. He better not touch them bells, because he can't climb trees.
3. Even saints can overreact sometimes.

Dog Days Full Moon

My dog is acting the gonk for the last 24 hours, I wondered why, then I saw the moon.



The entire blog-o-sphere has been acting the gonk recently too...I think whitey is getting to feel oppressed, some day in the non-existent future that white cop who bravely stood up to that arrogant college professor is going to be feted by the NAAWP (The National Association for the Advancement of White People) much the same way as that woman who sat in the front of the bus is celebrated by the NAACP.

Personally all I can think is that we are DOOMED, DOOMED!!!

Here come the Dog Days!

Here they come, those sultry, hot, dog days of summer. I write this wearing a wooly sweater and just took yogi out in the drizzle in the back yard to take this picture.

Journalist refer to the dog days as the Silly Season as our poor hard working politicians head off on their long summer holidays and there is little real news. Not much silly about the news in Ireland this morning, apart from another gangster killing the main news was how one property developer has managed to run up debts of €1.2 billion to a group of Irish banks and building societies, and now the poor man can't pay it back. He's not the only one, not by a long shot.

So what? You might ask. Well these same banks and building societies are also close to ruin due to their greedy, reckless lending to greedy, reckless property developers and our hard working Taoiseach (Prime Minister), Brian Cowen has kindly agreed to "write whatever cheques are needed" to keep these financial institutions going. Which was nice, considering it's OUR FUCKING MONEY FATSO!!!

Here's a picture of Cowen that recently and mysteriously ended up hanging in the national gallery...



Yes, he really is that good looking!

Anyway, we have all suffered pay cuts, welfare cuts, tax increases and loss of services and according to a report commissioned by the government there is much worse to come.

Ireland has gone inside a year from being one of the richest happiest countries in the world to being stone broke and miserable. Of course those of us old enough to remember the 1980's have seen it all before and can live with it, but pity the latte sucking, BMW driving children of the 'Celtic Tiger Economy' who have known nothing but good times. There will be much weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth!

Silly season my arse!

I am back

After months of computer and ISP issues I have returned, like lazerus from the dead. Looking forward to blogging some more.

ISAIAH 10.1-4

Woe to those to enact unjust laws and issue oppressive decrees!
Woe to those who rob the poor of their rights and deprive the helpless of justice!
They prey on widows and plunder the orphans.
What will you do on the day of punishment?
Where will you flee for help when disaster suddenly comes?
Where will you save your wealth?
You can do nothing but cringe among the captives and exiles or fall down among he slain.
Yet for all this Yahweh's anger does not subside his hand is poised to strike.

Víve el Muerto! (a paradox)

Here's a picture I just drew:



This is my new friend, Death. I was commenting on another blog ( Pourquoi Pas? ), when I realised we are all going to die, and I think sooner rather than later. So we should all get to like death.

How come only Mexicans seem to like him now?

Except these guys!



I saw them live in the early eighties, blew me away!!!

Anyway, it's not like I want to die yet, but surely it's good to get to like death, since he is on his way.

Tee-Shirt Competition

To celebrate the arrival of our band's first batch of tee-shirts, I am running a competition! The first person to give the name of our bass guitar player in the comments section wins a tee-shirt. (The answer is in the blog).

Anyway, the back of the tee-shirt has the name of the band on it and a picture of a horse.




On the front it says Fire Horse in chinese. The band is called Fire Horses because two of us are Fire Horses (it's a terrible sign in Chinese Astrology).




Anyway, good luck!

Carnival

Shrove Tuesday, A.K.A Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday), A.K.A Carnival, in exotic places men dress up as women and everyone has a big street party. In Ireland we eat pancakes, some carnival.

Anyway, I decided this year to celebrate Fat Tuesday properly, so I dressed my dog up in his festive green bandana, slicked back my hair with some Dax Short and Neat and we hit the streets.

At this point aliens seem to have hijacked my brain. Next thing I know is I wake up in bed, it's 1:30A.M on Ash Wednesday, I've got a tube of Winsor & Newton Ultramarine Blue oil paint in my pocket and fifteen missed calls on my phone.

Anyway, Ash Wednesday sucks. All the old people go around looking pious with big black crosses on their foreheads like so many elderly, long haired skinheads. They look at you as if your the anti-christ if you so much as smoke a cigarette.

What's with the oil paint? I gave up painting a year ago and gave all my paints and brushes away.

I do like ultramarine blue though...hmm...think I'll get stoned again today, lent or no lent, fuck the begrudgers.

My Long Emergency Starts Today

Re-reading James Howard Kunstler's book The Long Emergency in the light of the current economic meltdown has inspried me to blog on current events. I have been trying to inform people of the dangers of the Global Oil Production Peak for about a year now. When I talk to friends and colleges about it I usually get blank stares.

For those unfamiliar with Kunstler's work, you can check his Weblog at the link below:
http://www.kunstler.com/blog/

I am really let down my how my government in Ireland is dealing with the economic problem. Limited cuts public spending and then splashing out much more taxpayers money than will be saved by the cuts bailing out a few banks(re-capitalising), and nationalizing a complete basket case of a financial institution called Anglo-Irish Bank.

Then there is a lot of waffle about creating a smart, green economy.

There is no effort being made to prepare us for life after the inevitable collapse of our economy. They have actually made cutbacks in public transport to save a few lousy million euro, while throwing billions at the banks.

The Irish economic situation pretty much mirrors the US economy, no credit, banks becoming insolvent, industry hemorrhaging jobs at an alarming rate. Everyone is blaming someone else and scapegoats are being vilified in the media. Nothing imaginative or creative is being tried and the country is borrowing at a rate that is not sustainable for even a few years.

Yogi, The Winter Look

Here Yogi in his winter coat.

Least we forget...

Youtube kindly recommended this to me...good old Dubya

Gaza

I just had a long and interesting conversion on the telephone with a gentleman from The Consul at the Embassy of Israel in Dublin.
Please engage in dialogue anyway you can, it is important to try to bring peace to the world.

Is this the second worst blog in the world?

This rotten pink blog Woman Honour Thyself really is horrible. So if you are sensitive, suffer from nervous disorders, a bad heart or epilepsy don't go there! Really, DO NOT GO THERE. You have been warned.


Here's the bitch that runs it:



Of course SNAKEHUNTERS is by far the worst blog I've seen so far!