Thanksgiving November 26, 2009
Posted by crimenotebook in Thanksgiving.1 comment so far
So as millions sit down to give thanks for what they have and for their country I say thanks for the fact that I have a roof over my head, food and am still here. Simple and basic but the basic blocks on which to build everything else on.
Irelands Call. November 24, 2009
Posted by crimenotebook in Civil Service, Ireland, Private Sector.Tags: Ireland
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So the Civil and Public service took to the streets today in protest at a budget we have not had and will do so again next week. They have said that they have the support of the public, I wonder. While people in west and the south are faced with having homes business and lives ruined by floods, union leaders see fit to take the civil and public service out. Right now I think the union leaders have lead their members down the wrong path, of course people have the right to strike and I for one would defend that right. However the timing of any protest is as important as the action itself. The public sector needs to realise that people in the private sector have taken huge hits aswell and all of the people who have ended up on unemployment benefit this year are from the private sector not from the public sector. While the media betrayal of the public sector has been to say the least shameful the public sector unions have done a really bad PR job (perhaps they need to contact SimpyZesty). The fact is the ordinary workers in the private sector can very easily lose their jobs, do not have the guarantees that the public sector have and another strike next week will further distance you from those you serve. The blame for the mess Ireland is in can not be laid at the door of the public service nor can it be laid at the door of ordinary private sector workers. It’s time we all answer Ireland’s Call and we are not going to do so by dividing workers.
The Liberal Lion & The Passing of Irish America September 14, 2009
Posted by crimenotebook in Irish American, Kennedy.add a comment
With the passing of the Senior Senator from Mass has come the end of the Kennedy influence on Capitol Hill and thus by his influence on the legistivate process on American life. Millions of words have been written about the Kennedy’s past and present, however the passing ot the brother who had simply by living into his seventies had more influance on the US Congress and the process of law making leaves both the Kennedy family and Irish America in a new place. For the Kennedy’s they now have a lone voice on Capitol Hill in the form of Rep Patrick Kennedy from Rhode Island. Sure the Kennedy name will always have a certain influence. Also they will also hold a certain fascination for the American people and the Media. The days when the Kennedys went quite a way to making a President or to holding Americas future in their hands are gone. With Teddy’s passing that influance first dreamed up in the Boston suburb of Brookline by Joe Kennedy Sr is now all but gone.
Also with the demise of Kennedy comes the end of Irish American influence, which has been on the wain for quite a while. The days of Tip O’ Neill, John P. O’ Brien ( Mayor of New York), Barret O’ Hara ( US Congressman) Ray Flynn (Mayor of Boston) and many more who saw themselves and their voters as Irish Americans. Sure there are thousands of Americans who call themselves Irish Americans, but in the America of 2009 they are neither as many or as vocal. This is purely because as the generations who made the trip across the Atlantic become older, their grandchildren do not tend to look to Ireland for their identity, as that first wave of immigrants did. After all these grandchildren ect have only know one home America. In the old Irish of Southie or Hells Kitchen the Irish have moved from the projects and new immigrants have taken their place. Sure you can still buy the Irish Echo or Voice at the newstand or find an Irish pub but with passing of Ted Kennedy comes another voice gone from the dwindling Irish America.
Ciaran Whelan – Thank You September 1, 2009
Posted by crimenotebook in Sport.add a comment
Ciaran Whelan thanks for the memories.
Thinking outside the box July 28, 2009
Posted by crimenotebook in Irish Companies.add a comment
So today I had some changes to make to a couple of plans. It involved changing dates and flights and asking people by mail and phone if they could do it. And I found that in this era of economic chaos some people where able to think outside the box and go that extra mile to provide me with extra options well on this side of the ocean anyway… the other side was not so good…. Come on Irish companies try a little harder and you might gain a loyal customer.
There for the Grace of God.. July 23, 2009
Posted by crimenotebook in Life.7 comments
I was on my way home from work last week upon reaching the station I stopped at a news stand to buy something, as I walked away from the stand a homeless lady asked me if she could get some money for a coffee. I said sure and pulled out some money which I handed to her. She took the bills from me and as she counted the ones she thanked me and walked away. I headed for my platform and was surprised when I got a tap on my shoulder and the lady who I had given what I thought was five single bills was handing me back a twenty. She said “Lady I think you game me this by mistake”. I was very surprised and thanked her. I said it was very honest of her and that she could keep it and perhaps buy some food or use it for a hostel bed. She told me it would get her a hostel place for 3 nights, but that in summer it was not as important as in Winter. I then said if she would like I would hold on to the Twenty bucks for her and give her 5 bucks per day over the next four days. I told her I would be at the station at this time every weekday and would give her the money. I did this and today she thanked me and told me a little of her life on the streets. I told her if I could help in anyway I would, she asked me if I would buy her a metro card for the day. I told her I would get her one for the week. I did and she said I had done enough for her and thanked me again. She said perhaps she would see me round. And headed off in to the cloudy humid evening with all her diginty, all her honesty and all her pride. I found myself thinking there for the grace of God go any of us.
Cult Status July 8, 2009
Posted by crimenotebook in Michael Jackon.add a comment
The death of Micheal Jackson has no doubt filled up millions of colum inches and has given the media a story which is sure to run and run in parallel with the applications to the courts in relation to same for quite awhile yet. I should say I wish the children, family, friends or fans of Michael Jackson no ill, but I have found the whole series of events surrounding his death false, unnecessary and totally over the top for someone who was after all just a pop star. And at that a pop star who left many questions hanging in the air. Would we still find ourselves being offered round the clock coverage of the death of an eminentsurgeon? I doubt it. However when we find ourselves in real trouble like being very ill pop stars, footballers or the cast of Big Brother won’t be in the battle to say us. The point I am trying to make in my roundabout way is I think we need to take a long hard look at who we evaluate to cult status.
Comments on the Ryan Report July 2, 2009
Posted by crimenotebook in The Ryan Report.2 comments
I should really state that I would like to thank those who commented on the post on the Ryan Report. I should state a couple of things, I wrote the post because I was so angry about the report, the continued treatment of the survivors, the State’s response and the response of the Catholic Church. I at no point can imagine what any of those survivors went through in any of those Schools. Or indeed anyone that has been abused. I had a very happy childhood and for that I have a new sense of thankfulness. I am off work this week laid low with a kidney infection but I have been reading, listening to the radio and pod casts and anything else I can lay my hands on regarding the Ryan Report and what should happen now. What can not be allowed happen is that it just fades into the background.
Running Out Of Luck June 30, 2009
Posted by crimenotebook in Denny Chin, Luck, Madoff.add a comment
So as I said in the last post it was all going so well. My luck ran out yesterday at around the same time as Bernie Madoffs ran out. Well Bernies ran out quite awhile ago but Judge Denny Chin finally finally put paid to it yesterday by ensuring he is guest of the Federal Bureau of Prisons for the rest of his natural. In his directions Justice Chin on behalf of the Southern District of New York said he would be ensuring that Bernie did not get sent to a nice easy Fed ran holiday camp. So some real time is on the cards for Bernie in either medium or maximum security. Having been in lock down in MCC and having only one hour out of cell time per day, a new home will perhaps give him more time out of cell. However being who he is he may not be too safe in general population, where the shanks will be out for him, the gangs rule and only the toughest of the tough survive. He will have to get his head around breakfast at dawn, lunch at 10.30 and dinner by lunchtime, being cuffed each time he leaves a cell and being shackled for visits. I wonder how will he cope but there again I wonder how he has managed to cope with the knowledge of what he did while bedding down each night in his penthouse.
As for me, well my luck is not quite as bad as Bernies I just find myself laied low with a kidney infection. Kidney infection or life in the Federal Pen? Know which one I would choose.
Too Much Fun June 27, 2009
Posted by crimenotebook in Fun, Life.2 comments
Have you ever got the feeling that your having just too much fun, too much of a good time and that it will all blow up in your face any moment now. I have got that feeling today, it’s all going too well, it’s all been great for the last few weeks. The sun is shining, the future is bright and the past is firmly in the past. Of course you can never totally leave the past behind you. It forms part of the person you are today. It forms part of your thinking, your fears and how you live or can live your life. Lately I have given very little thought to my past and very little to my future. I just seem to be going along very merrily and enjoying myself a great deal. As I say I am having to much fun, just too much of a good time. It can’t last can it??
