Just wanting to see how this works
Eurovision Song Contest - Moscow 2009 Preview Player
Meh, was expecting something fancy... oh well.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Friday, March 27, 2009
Oh Shut up Waters, and get a haircut!
John Waters, former Sinead O'Connor lover and writer of the worst Eurovision Song in Irish History, which fair dues to him is an achievement in itself, whines in the Irish Times with regard to what has become known as #picturegate, the unauthorised hanging of nude portraits of Taoiseach, Brian Cowen in two prestegious Irish art galleries.
He writes of the artist, Conor Casby:
What a gobshite. Casby made no such statements, he said he would let the piece of art speak for itself. and it has a different message for everyone, whether it be that the emperor has no clothes, or that politicians in this country have gotten fat off the boom while the rest of us struggled. It is up to the observer what message the works have had.
This unshaven gobshite failed to recognise that this was floating around in the print media long before it hit the internet. It wasn't so much an issue until a member of the Gardai in Dublin marched into a radio station demanding e-mails without a warrant.
On the same day, Gardai in St. Mary's Park stood gormlessly by, oblivious that associates of criminal Philip Collopy were holding a twelve-gun salute as his coffin passed through the estate.
Waters has had a bee up his arse for a while about the Internet, and in particular bloggers. In an interview with NewsTalk last year he stated that if he ever met a blogger he would ask them to leave the room. A few weeks later he shared a panel on Questions and Answers with a blogger and there wasn't a peep out of him.
Wrong! it was in the Sunday papers the previous day. It would have been forgotten about had certain individuals had not abused their authority and put the screws on both RTE and later, Today FM.
Its a public gallery, which was open, and he didn't take anything., hardly a breach of security Were it me, I would be considering my legal position and exploring defamation proceedings against John Waters for this statement.
Both are public figures and should expect to be exposed to, or victims of satire. If you find this upsetting, then fuck off back into obscurity. The only place where I know of where it is a crime to mock the head of state is Thailand. If you insult or satirise the king, God help you. Taking the piss out of people like Kim Jong Il, or Robert Mugabe may be frowned upon in their respective countries too. Is that the type of press freedom Waters wants us to have?
Ah long gone are the days where our grannies humbly ate their statues in churches while our clergy molested our children without being questioned, Oh, happy times. No one should be immune from satire. Satire is as old as politics itself. Even older than the copy book scrawls of schoolchildren which Waters compared Casby's work to.
Not much different to the Irish Times by the look of it.
He writes of the artist, Conor Casby:
He did not intimate what he thinks they might be saying. That the artist has an infantile obsession with toilet humour? That he nurtures some deep animus towards politicians?
What a gobshite. Casby made no such statements, he said he would let the piece of art speak for itself. and it has a different message for everyone, whether it be that the emperor has no clothes, or that politicians in this country have gotten fat off the boom while the rest of us struggled. It is up to the observer what message the works have had.
The only amusing thing here is Casby’s deluded belief that he has something to say. His response is typical of a public discourse almost fatally degraded by internet auto-eroticism and an obsession with what is called “comedy”. His works are crude, unfunny, vindictive, without intrinsic content and wholly lacking in artistic merit.
This unshaven gobshite failed to recognise that this was floating around in the print media long before it hit the internet. It wasn't so much an issue until a member of the Gardai in Dublin marched into a radio station demanding e-mails without a warrant.
On the same day, Gardai in St. Mary's Park stood gormlessly by, oblivious that associates of criminal Philip Collopy were holding a twelve-gun salute as his coffin passed through the estate.
Waters has had a bee up his arse for a while about the Internet, and in particular bloggers. In an interview with NewsTalk last year he stated that if he ever met a blogger he would ask them to leave the room. A few weeks later he shared a panel on Questions and Answers with a blogger and there wasn't a peep out of him.
They would never have been heard of had the national broadcaster not misplaced its editorial instincts and, faced with an alternative between soberly reporting a minor crime and engaging in a snide attack on the Taoiseach, chose the latter.
Wrong! it was in the Sunday papers the previous day. It would have been forgotten about had certain individuals had not abused their authority and put the screws on both RTE and later, Today FM.
The second phase involved a breach of security at a national institution.
Its a public gallery, which was open, and he didn't take anything., hardly a breach of security Were it me, I would be considering my legal position and exploring defamation proceedings against John Waters for this statement.
Well, no. One difference is that Brian Cowen is Taoiseach and Pat Kenny is not. A second is that these paintings were not hung in the toilet of a private house, but placed in two prestigious galleries, without permission.
Both are public figures and should expect to be exposed to, or victims of satire. If you find this upsetting, then fuck off back into obscurity. The only place where I know of where it is a crime to mock the head of state is Thailand. If you insult or satirise the king, God help you. Taking the piss out of people like Kim Jong Il, or Robert Mugabe may be frowned upon in their respective countries too. Is that the type of press freedom Waters wants us to have?
The idea that everything exists to be laughed at is now almost unchallengeable.
Points and laughs at John Waters' stupidity
The internet has reduced public debate to the level of a drunken argument, in which no holds are barred
Ah long gone are the days where our grannies humbly ate their statues in churches while our clergy molested our children without being questioned, Oh, happy times. No one should be immune from satire. Satire is as old as politics itself. Even older than the copy book scrawls of schoolchildren which Waters compared Casby's work to.
in which deeply unpleasant people get to voice their ignorant opinions in the ugliest terms, in the name of “free speech”.
Not much different to the Irish Times by the look of it.
Intrinsically devoid of intellectual content, they nevertheless cumulatively contribute to a climate in which public discourse is cheapened and debased, rendering it less likely that people of intelligence and sensitivity will participate. What kind of society do we expect such a culture to conceive?
Oh shut up Waters, and get a fucking haircut!
Ways to contact me
Just added a dedicated email address for this blog. squidlimerick AT gmail DOT com.
Am also availible on twitter. just include @squidlimerick in your message.
Am also availible on twitter. just include @squidlimerick in your message.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Freedom of Expression must be protected ... or else
There is much hubbub around Irish blogs and twitter about RTE's decision to pull a report about a mysterious artist's depiction of a naked Taoiseach which appeared in two art galleries last week.
On Monday, RTE News carried a news report concerning the piece of art. The following day, it pulled the story from it's website and apologised to the Taoiseach for reporting it.
So, someone made an artistic point, and the supposedly independent state broadcaster reported it, but after objections from the Government Press Office, caved in and apologised.
So how independent is RTE.
March has been a month where how RTE treats the government has come under the microscope.
First there was the Prime Time interview with Maire Hoctor. We were never told it was pre-recorded, and had it not been for an editorial cockup we might have never known. During the piece which went out over the airwaves, Maire Hoctor was unable to coherently answer a question from the host Miriam O'Callighan. After a second failed attempt, and an interruption in the programme we were given the interview again without hiccups.
Prime Time is not supposed to be a "Happy Happy" programme. It is, or should be, a show that analyses the serious issues of the day. Which is why such a "positive" story about the Ideas Campaign raised eyebrows.
Questions were asked, and the person who asked them was invited to go on a number of RTE programmes and suddenly, uninvited.
And now we have this. what is being called picturegate.
Aparantly, the Gardai are now involved, but where is the crime. The artist didn't steal anything, they didn't cause any damage to any of the gallaries. It would be something if they graffitied the image on the wall of the galleries but they didn't.
And RTE are worse for not fighting Government attempts to dictate what they can and cannot broadcast. If this is allowed we will head down a slippery slope to only hearing what the Government wants us to hear.
After the Lisbon Referrendum, the Government were looking into ways of removing rules stipulating that RTE must give equal time to both the Yes and No sides in referrenda, which would have been to their advantage.
The freedom of expression is a right which should not be surrendered. If you want to know what it is like without that right then take a look at this.
I read today that an Iranian blogger died in prison where he was serving time for supposedly offending religeous leaders and insulting Islam. It is a little extreme, I know, but it is an example of how important free expression is.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Eurovision Entries 2009
So on the off chance you are wanting to know who Black Daisy and Sinead Mulvey are up against this year, the nice people at eurovision.tv are putting all the entries for this year's contest into a handy YouTube playlist.
Click to see the video
Country by Country verdict of the songs:
Montenegro: Repetative bilge. "get out of my, out of my out of my out of my life. That was a waste of three minutes.
Czech Republic: There was an act either last year or the year before which had a web address as it's title. some some forgettable opera singers with .lv in their name. Looks like the Czech's are trying it now with Gypsy.cz. Crazy polka type song, crap though
Belgium: Interesting Elvis pisstake. Copycat is an homage to the King of Rock'n'Roll by the look of it.
Belarus: Ever wanted to know what happened to He-Man. Click here to find out.
Sweden: Opera singer doing the chorus is good, camp male vocalist singing the verses is crap.
Armenia: It isn't Eurovision without at least one song with roaring and shouting acompanied by drums.
Andorra: Someone going after the Hanna Montana vote. Wish some of these people would pick a language for their song and stick to it though.
Switzerland: Here's an interesting one, sort of Pet Shop Boys or Lighning Seeds thing going on there. Click to Watch
Turkey: Wasn't this song entered before? If not is sounds alot like one that was.
Israel: Trovia Singer won't like this one. Arabic in an Israeli song! How dare thay! Personally it is one of Israel's better entrants in my opinion. Worth another listen. Click.
Bulgaria: Camp garbage. High pitched male voice has so been done before.
Iceland: Another interesting song. A little Gloria Estefan feel to it me thinks. Lets hope they can gather the few bob to send her to Moscow though. Click.
Former Yougoslav Republic of Macedonia: Lasted about one minute and twenty seconds before turning this muck off.
Romania: Well the official video features a collection of men in wigs and skirts, The song is muck, can't imagine the onstage presentation in May being eye popping if this is a sampler.
Finland: Waldo's People need to feck off and find Waldo before I do, especially if he is responsible for this muck.
Portugal: Boring. Will have my coffee break when this comes on.
Malta: Chiara's last entry, "Angel" was a great Eurovision entry. This one, however, is not that great. A case of Good Singer, Bad Song. click.
Bosnia Hertzegovina: Zzzzzzzzzz. Second cup of coffee before the results.
Croatia: Well if I am late for the second semi final, I won't have missed much.
Ireland: This will wake them up! Ireland for the Win.
Latvia: I haven't a clue what they're saying, but it's loud and I like it. click.
Serbia: A smiley little git with a melodeon means a crap sone can't be far away.
Poland: I don't like it, it may grow on me though it is that type of a song. click.
Norway: Would be surprised if this didn't do well. click.
Cyprus: The jury's out on this one. Most of the times cyprus sends an interesting entry. This entry is interesting. click.
Slovakia: Thank you, Next!
Denmark: Ronan Keating wannabe click.
Slovenia: Singing starts 1:06 into song, you don't see the singer until 2:20. a bit crap for a three minute song.
Hungary: Boring.
Azerbaijan: Probably one of the ones to beat in the semi-final. click.
Creece: It's okay I suppose.
Lithuania: Boring
Moldova: She can sing, but her excessive yowling like a drowning cat is irritating. click.
Albania: If your a betting person, you might want to put money on this one, aparantly, this is where the Eastern Europeans want Eurovision to go in 2010. click.
Ukraine: crap.
Estonia: Finally, something that isn't crap click.
Netherlands: Our Crap Free moment was shortlived click.
France: First of the five countries guaranteed a place in the final. boring, last year's entry was better.
Russia: Best sang after a few vodkas by the sound of it. click.
Germany: They usually have an interesting entry each year. This is not one of them.
United Kingdom: Jade thinks it's her time. It might be too. At least it's is better than that Ryanair shite they sent in 2007. click.
Spain: Bringing the tedium to an end with a mediocre entry.
Don't forget to put a side bet on Albania if Ireland doesn't win.
Click to see the video
Country by Country verdict of the songs:
Montenegro: Repetative bilge. "get out of my, out of my out of my out of my life. That was a waste of three minutes.
Czech Republic: There was an act either last year or the year before which had a web address as it's title. some some forgettable opera singers with .lv in their name. Looks like the Czech's are trying it now with Gypsy.cz. Crazy polka type song, crap though
Belgium: Interesting Elvis pisstake. Copycat is an homage to the King of Rock'n'Roll by the look of it.
Belarus: Ever wanted to know what happened to He-Man. Click here to find out.
Sweden: Opera singer doing the chorus is good, camp male vocalist singing the verses is crap.
Armenia: It isn't Eurovision without at least one song with roaring and shouting acompanied by drums.
Andorra: Someone going after the Hanna Montana vote. Wish some of these people would pick a language for their song and stick to it though.
Switzerland: Here's an interesting one, sort of Pet Shop Boys or Lighning Seeds thing going on there. Click to Watch
Turkey: Wasn't this song entered before? If not is sounds alot like one that was.
Israel: Trovia Singer won't like this one. Arabic in an Israeli song! How dare thay! Personally it is one of Israel's better entrants in my opinion. Worth another listen. Click.
Bulgaria: Camp garbage. High pitched male voice has so been done before.
Iceland: Another interesting song. A little Gloria Estefan feel to it me thinks. Lets hope they can gather the few bob to send her to Moscow though. Click.
Former Yougoslav Republic of Macedonia: Lasted about one minute and twenty seconds before turning this muck off.
Romania: Well the official video features a collection of men in wigs and skirts, The song is muck, can't imagine the onstage presentation in May being eye popping if this is a sampler.
Finland: Waldo's People need to feck off and find Waldo before I do, especially if he is responsible for this muck.
Portugal: Boring. Will have my coffee break when this comes on.
Malta: Chiara's last entry, "Angel" was a great Eurovision entry. This one, however, is not that great. A case of Good Singer, Bad Song. click.
Bosnia Hertzegovina: Zzzzzzzzzz. Second cup of coffee before the results.
Croatia: Well if I am late for the second semi final, I won't have missed much.
Ireland: This will wake them up! Ireland for the Win.
Latvia: I haven't a clue what they're saying, but it's loud and I like it. click.
Serbia: A smiley little git with a melodeon means a crap sone can't be far away.
Poland: I don't like it, it may grow on me though it is that type of a song. click.
Norway: Would be surprised if this didn't do well. click.
Cyprus: The jury's out on this one. Most of the times cyprus sends an interesting entry. This entry is interesting. click.
Slovakia: Thank you, Next!
Denmark: Ronan Keating wannabe click.
Slovenia: Singing starts 1:06 into song, you don't see the singer until 2:20. a bit crap for a three minute song.
Hungary: Boring.
Azerbaijan: Probably one of the ones to beat in the semi-final. click.
Creece: It's okay I suppose.
Lithuania: Boring
Moldova: She can sing, but her excessive yowling like a drowning cat is irritating. click.
Albania: If your a betting person, you might want to put money on this one, aparantly, this is where the Eastern Europeans want Eurovision to go in 2010. click.
Ukraine: crap.
Estonia: Finally, something that isn't crap click.
Netherlands: Our Crap Free moment was shortlived click.
France: First of the five countries guaranteed a place in the final. boring, last year's entry was better.
Russia: Best sang after a few vodkas by the sound of it. click.
Germany: They usually have an interesting entry each year. This is not one of them.
United Kingdom: Jade thinks it's her time. It might be too. At least it's is better than that Ryanair shite they sent in 2007. click.
Spain: Bringing the tedium to an end with a mediocre entry.
Don't forget to put a side bet on Albania if Ireland doesn't win.
IMPACT suffers from Nice Treaty syndrome
Today, the largest public sector union in the country failed to reach a sufficient vote in support of it's participation in next Monday's Day of Action.
The rules of the union require a 66 percent vote in order to partake in strike action. Today's vote received a 65 percent vote.
Not satisfied with the result, the head bottlewashers in IMPACT are exploring the possibility of going ahead with the planned action if the rules allow for discretionary approval by the higher ups in the union.
It seems that since the Nice Treaty was rejected, and subsequently approved in this country, there has been blatant disregard for democracy.
The taking of industrial action is a serious decision to make. The 66 percent rule is designed to prevent strike action being taken at the drop of a hat.
35 percent of those who voted in the ballot think that bringing the country to a halt is a bad idea. There are not enough people willing to support this "day of action" and union bosses should accept this democratic vote and move on.
What is the point of having rules if you are going to twist them and bend them if they don't suit.
The rules of the union require a 66 percent vote in order to partake in strike action. Today's vote received a 65 percent vote.
Not satisfied with the result, the head bottlewashers in IMPACT are exploring the possibility of going ahead with the planned action if the rules allow for discretionary approval by the higher ups in the union.
It seems that since the Nice Treaty was rejected, and subsequently approved in this country, there has been blatant disregard for democracy.
The taking of industrial action is a serious decision to make. The 66 percent rule is designed to prevent strike action being taken at the drop of a hat.
35 percent of those who voted in the ballot think that bringing the country to a halt is a bad idea. There are not enough people willing to support this "day of action" and union bosses should accept this democratic vote and move on.
What is the point of having rules if you are going to twist them and bend them if they don't suit.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Jaded
So, The short and eventful life of Jade Goody has come to an end.
After exiting the Big Brother house in 2002 as a runner up, she became the most successful reality TV star in in the UK. It would have been inconceivable back then that her death would be reported on news bulletins from the US to Asia.
Indeed the somewhat slow witted former dental nurse received saturation coverage in the weeks leading up to yesterday morning's death. Barely a day in February went by without her on the front page of the red-tops, and after UK Living TV ran a series on the build up to her wedding, they ran it again, and showed the wedding episode for a third time tonight.
It's all a bit much. And it's not over yet. Expect to see the funeral broadcast live on the news channels in the coming days.
As much as I liked Jade, I have gotten quite sick of the coverage. This time two years ago the media were tearing lumps out of her, accusing her of "institutional racism" as that repulsive Channel 4 racing hairball put it, and now it's "brave Jade this," and "brave Jade that." Give me a break.
The tabloid media exploited her throughout her public life. She went from being the naive but lovable ignoramus, to being the vile racist bitch, and then to being the much loved and malligned brave cancer sufferer.
If there is one thing that came from all this media interest, it is that she was able to use the same media that attacked her in 2007 to make a few bob for her kids. However, the question needs to be asked, is she deserving of such a large amount of coverage?
After exiting the Big Brother house in 2002 as a runner up, she became the most successful reality TV star in in the UK. It would have been inconceivable back then that her death would be reported on news bulletins from the US to Asia.
Indeed the somewhat slow witted former dental nurse received saturation coverage in the weeks leading up to yesterday morning's death. Barely a day in February went by without her on the front page of the red-tops, and after UK Living TV ran a series on the build up to her wedding, they ran it again, and showed the wedding episode for a third time tonight.
It's all a bit much. And it's not over yet. Expect to see the funeral broadcast live on the news channels in the coming days.
As much as I liked Jade, I have gotten quite sick of the coverage. This time two years ago the media were tearing lumps out of her, accusing her of "institutional racism" as that repulsive Channel 4 racing hairball put it, and now it's "brave Jade this," and "brave Jade that." Give me a break.
The tabloid media exploited her throughout her public life. She went from being the naive but lovable ignoramus, to being the vile racist bitch, and then to being the much loved and malligned brave cancer sufferer.
If there is one thing that came from all this media interest, it is that she was able to use the same media that attacked her in 2007 to make a few bob for her kids. However, the question needs to be asked, is she deserving of such a large amount of coverage?
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