Its Halloween........Apparently

So the bangers are going off & the fireworks are lighting up the skies of UCD, must signal that Oíche Samhain is around tonight....though funnily enough & while I love Halloween, it feels this year like it has just dragged & the whole wkd has been halloween! which is why I was out for most of it. :-D

Anyway if any of you are going out tonight, please be careful. Get home safe & Have a good night.

Myspace : My Age?

We've all been around long enough to know that we all want to conceal our age as much as possible. Well sometimes white lies gets out of control. Most of us, it doesnt really matter, the problem is though, when you have people who are involved in youth lying about their age when problems arise. "tom" from Myspace fame, should have known better. Perhaps he wasnt to know how it was going to pan out, however Myspace has been online now since before 2004, when it ballooned in the states and in 2005 in Europe, It is now Oct 2007, and nearly 4 years later it arises he lied about his age, not even by his own admission, rather by creative investigative journalism . Well i'm sorry, its just not good enough.
--------------------------------------------------
MySpace co-founder busted for faking age
By ASHER MOSES and STEPHEN HUTCHEON - SMH | Wednesday, 31 October 2007

The thirtysomething millionaire who co-founded the popular social networking site MySpace has been outed as an age-faker.

Newsweek magazine reports that Tom Anderson was lying about his age since launching the site in 2003.

Anderson's MySpace profile lists his age as 32. But according to Newsweek, he will in fact turn 37 next week.

And that would have made him a 32-year-old when the site launched, not a 27-year-old wunderkind.

The magazine obtained driving licence information, voter registration and telephone service applications which showed Anderson's birthday as November 8, 1970.

Anderson and co-founder Chris Dewolfe sold MySpace to Rupert Murdoch for $US580 million ($630 million) in 2005 and the pair continue to work for News Corporation. Earlier this month they were reported to have signed a new two-year deal that would see them each earn $US15 million.

[contd: http://www.stuff.co.nz/4256702a28.html]

POST-GRADUATE R&D SKILLS PROGRAMME

TECHNOLOGICAL SECTOR RESEARCH: STRAND I
POST-GRADUATE R&D SKILLS PROGRAMME

Engineering Education For Sustainable Development(RDS07/116)

The focus of this project is the knowledge and understanding of the concept of Sustainable Development (SD) among engineering students. It will examine influences on students� knowledge and understanding by exploring provision for education for SD in engineering and the understanding of the concept among engineering academics, including those involved in the programme accreditation processes of Engineers Ireland, the professional body representing engineers in Ireland. The key question is the extent to which the mission of Engineers Ireland in promoting SD is facilitated through higher education in engineering. The main research tool will be a survey of engineering students and academics. The provision for education in SD will also be examined. The research will produce a comprehensive picture of the understanding of SD among key stakeholders in engineering education and also provide a picture of the provision for education in SD in Ireland. Models of good practice and barriers to their implementation will be identified. This work will identify key issues in implementing education for SD for engineers.

The graduate recruited to this project should have an honours degree (minimum two one) in planning, geography, economics, sociology, politics, engineering or environmental management.

Scholarship includes �16,000 per annum maintenance grant, research project expenses and all tuition fees. This scholarship is being offered initially as an MPhil with the possibility of progressing to PhD.

For further information contact:
Eddie Conlon at 01 4024059 or e-mail: Edward.conlon@dit.ie

or
Office of Graduate Studies and Research
Dublin Institute of Technology
143-149 Rathmines Road
Rathmines
Dublin 6
Ireland
Tel: +353-1-402 3434
Fax: +353-1-402 3431
E-mail: postgraduate@dit.ie
Web: www.dit.ie/DIT/study/graduate/research/index.html

An application form can be found at: www.dit.ie/DIT/study/graduate/research/funform.doc

via Equal-L

EQUAL-L: Disability and Development Co-operation

Event: "Disability and Development Co-operation", Centre for Global
Health, TCD/Dochas Seminar
********

The Centre for Global Health (TCD) and Dochas are jointly hosting a
seminar on Disability and Development Co-operation:

DATE: Thursday, November 8th 2007
TIME: 9am - 3.30pm
LOCATION: Royal Irish Academy, Dawson Street, Dublin.

For further details, please contact

Michael O'Toole
E: mgotoole@tcd.ie
T: +353 1 896 2918

More details are also available here:
www.globalhealth.ie/upcoming-events/article/60

via equal-l

Symposium: Full and Equal Rights: Lesbian and Gay Marriage & Partnership Rights in Ireland

The National Lesbian and Gay Federation is delighted to invite you to a full day symposium: FULL AND EQUAL RIGHTS: LESBIAN AND GAY MARRIAGE & PARTNERSHIP RIGHTS IN IRELAND

Date: Friday 30th November 2007 (Time: 10.00 to 4pm)

Venue: The Royal College of Physicians, Kildare St, Dublin 2.

Who should attend: The symposium will be of particular interest to lesbian and gay equality advocates and activists; politicians; policy makers; legal practitioners; community and social work professionals; trade unionists; and those involved in the field of equality and human rights.

The aim of the symposium:To provide a forum for the exchange of information and for dialogue between interested LG national organisations, community groups and individuals, as well as legal, equality and human rights professionals, and all those advocating for change on the issue of lesbian and gay marriage and partnerships. The aim is that such a dialogue, combined with insights from best practice elsewhere, will contribute to creating a strong platform for change within the Irish LGB NGO sector. Speakers will include representatives of major advocacy initiatives and campaigns on LG marriage and partnership rights in Ireland. Keynote international speaker: John Fisher ( former director of EGALE CANADA, and co-founder and co-director of ARC International, a canadian-based NGO focussing on the implementation of an international strategic vision regarding LGBT human rights).
While the symposium is free of charge and open to all those interested, space is strictly
limited so places will be allocated on a 'first come, first served' basis.

RSVP Rachel Mullen rmullen@equality.ie

German motorways

Well there goes Topgear's last refuge of driving at top speeds on Motorways and not getting done by the Cops! or perhaps not...

(2nd story of the day about Germany, god they are on a roll today! Tune in tomorrow, when we choose another European country at random directly)
------------------------------------
German motorways may get speed limit

Germany's speed limit-free motorways may fall victim to fears of global warming after the Social Democrats unexpectedly voted in favour of introducing a top speed of 130kmh.

Studies showing Germany's CO2 output from cars could be cut sharply with a speed limit helped convince a majority of SPD delegates to ignore their leaders at a party congress.

The autobahns were built without speed limits by the Nazis and, after World War 2, Germany's influential car industry pressured lawmakers against introducing any national limit.

During the Cold War, West German carmakers used the slogan "Freie Fahrt fuer freie Buerger" (Free travel for free citizens) and they argue high speeds help them sell Porsches, Mercedes and BMWs worldwide - and protect German jobs.

Opinion polls show about 60 per cent of Germans are in favour of a speed limit. Environmental groups have said a speed limit would cut vehicle CO2 output by 5 percent overnight and 15 percent long-term once more fuel-efficient cars were used.

Nobel laureate Al Gore last week criticised Germany in a Berlin speech for not having motorway speed limits.

The SPD is in coalition with Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats (CDU). Saturday's non-binding measure has little chance of becoming law any time soon because Merkel is firmly against a speed limit despite her efforts to persuade other countries to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

"It's an important symbolic issue," said Environmental Minister Sigmar Gabriel. "But it will probably be hard to pass into law because we won't find a majority for that with (Merkel's) Christian Democrats."

CDU general secretary Ronald Pofalla said the measure had no chance of becoming law.

"There won't be any such patronising from the CDU," he said. "It's another scary proposal from the SPD."

Source: http://www.stuff.co.nz/4253388a4560.html

Revenge of the Living D(r)ead?

OK I can see why this sort of situation might happen, oh maybe in August or September, or perhaps any other time of the year APART FROM 2 DAYS BEFORE HALLOWEEN!!!!! I mean for goodness sake ppl! WTF!Surely you would have the cop on to know that a person lyin unconscious in makeup on a train at Halloween, you would not call the cops! Not so in Germany. Very Conscientious are our German neighbours that they did just that.

--------------------------------------
Halloween zombie mistaken for murder victim

Passengers on a German train mistook a Halloween reveller dressed up as a gore-covered zombie for a murder victim and called the police.

The 24-year-old man fell into a drunken slumber on his way home from a Halloween party in Hamburg, police in the northern town of Bad Segeberg said on Monday.

Believing his hands and face were smeared with blood, passengers alerted police after getting no response from him.

A first aid team called to the scene soon cleared up the confusion. Police told the man to remove his make-up after which he was allowed to continue his journey.

"Bad Segeberg is in a rural area and Halloween isn't very well known there," police spokeswoman Silke Tobies said. "So people weren't expecting anyone to be dressed up in the train."

Source: http://www.stuff.co.nz/4255432a4560.html

Mary in NZ? Who knew?

So Mary's in NZ this week, who knew? I didnt. Not that the President is obligated to send a press release to me every time she leaves the country (thats the Government's role ;-p). However it would have been nice to know where Her Excellency is every now and then. Considering she was deemed elected without an election in 2004 & thus without a mandate, regardless of what she might say, I think that is the least her electorate deserves!

---------------

New Zealand and Ireland have signed an agreement to encourage joint film productions.

Prime Minister Helen Clark, who is also arts minister, and Irish Education and Science Minister Mary Hanafin signed the agreement at Parliament today.

The New Zealand Ireland Film Co-Production Treaty would allow official co-productions to access cultural funding and incentives in each country.

Miss Clark said under such agreements, the government of each country facilitated temporary immigration and importation of equipment for the reciprocal producer.

[....some content removed....]

"I hope it won't be too long before we see the first Kiwi-Irish movie," Miss Clark said.

The signing of the agreement came during the visit to New Zealand by Irish President Mary McAleese.

[.....some content removed......]

Dr McAleese flew into Auckland last night for a week long visit.

At Government House in Wellington this morning, members of the New Zealand Defence Force's Maori Cultural Group performed a traditional Maori welcome. She then placed a wreath at the National War Memorial and at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior.

Dr McAleese last visited New Zealand in 1998.

Source: http://www.stuff.co.nz/4254551a10.html
Image Source: http://www.stuff.co.nz/images/337163.jpg

It's Charleville!

So how many of us have driven through Charleville Co. Cork & recognised how much of a nightmare they're main street is, with some potholes that are so large you could actually loose a car in them. Well despite the fact that Cork Co.Co. has resurfaced the main street in the last number of months, and done a good job on the main street by all accounts, the problem is, I will always think of Charleville as having insane potholes, and also for having about 7 pedestrian crossings within the main street which is less than a 0.03km stretch! ug!

Conscription at its best

Conscription at its best.


Soucre: http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/cartoonamerica/images/ca014-07893v.jpg

The Road Safety Authority's new Safety Measures:

So the RSA finally has grabbed the Government's balls and forced them to act even moreso than the paying of lip service to the issue, which has been the norm hitherto, on the Road Safety Issue. The measures which they have announced on Learner drivers are pretty standard run of the mill measures, which could have been introduced a long time ago, given the political will necessary for example After failing a Driving test, applicants were able to drive away from the test centre! I should know I did it twice myself.
Did I feel guilty about that, maybe. Did it stop me driving my car. No. Because why? It was not an offense to do it & I was not breaking the law (I was also on my second provisional license as well, which meant I could do it legally without a fully licensed driver!). However One thing I am glad about all this, is that I am no longer a Learner driver anymore so this does not affect me majorly in any way!
HOWEVER in saying that, complacency is a driver's worst enemy & just because you have had your license for some 50years, 25 years, 2 years, 2 minutes, is no reason for the flouting of legislation & road safety advice.


------------------------------------------
Government announces crackdown on learner drivers
25/10/2007 - 19:17:28

Learner drivers who flout laws on travelling unsupervised were today warned they face hefty fines in a major road safety crackdown.

Provisional licence holders must have a fully qualified driver of at least two years experience in the car with them from next Tuesday, under the new provisions.

There are presently around 420,000 provisional licence holders in country.

The measures form part of the Government's latest road safety strategy which it vows will prevent 400 deaths over the next five years.

While 126 specific actions were outlined in the plan - all with built in timeframes between now and 2012 - an expected imminent reduction in the drink driving limit has yet to be decided.
[.................]

Gay Byrne, RSA chairman, said the new measures were necessary as inexperience was one of the major causes of road accidents in Ireland.

"It's absolutely statistically true that the 17 to 26-year-old male - and it's a male problem, not a female problem - are among the most dangerous drivers on the road," he said.

"Because young men suffer from a disease which can only be described as '17 to 26' - that is the disease in itself."

Contd: http://www.breakingnews.ie/archives/?c=IRELAND&jp=mhmhmhqlaukf&d=2007-10-25


-------------------------------------------

Also


Learner drivers' cars to have speed restricted
25/10/2007 - 20:30:23

Technology will be installed in every car used by a leaner driver that will cap its power, under plans unveiled today.

Road safety chiefs want to limit the acceleration or capacity of engines being used by inexperienced motorists as part of a crackdown on road deaths.

Noel Brett, chief executive of the Road Safety Authority (RSA), said that once the right device or technology is found new laws will be brought in to make it mandatory.

“We are searching to find the most appropriate way of limiting the power of a car – that already happens for motorcycles,” he said.

The road safety chief said bringing in restrictions on car engine size for learner drivers alone was too simplistic.

“That wouldn’t work and that would have all sorts of issues for our community,” he insisted, at the launch of the Government’s five-year road safety strategy.

“What we have to find is the mechanism to limit vehicles, mechanically or otherwise, that keeps people as safe as possible without denying them access to [safety] features that are on bigger cars.”

Mr Brett said research is already under way to find the most appropriate way of stopping inexperienced drivers getting behind the wheel of powerful cars.

The technology is also likely to limit anyone else using the same car.

contd: http://www.breakingnews.ie/archives/?c=IRELAND&jp=mhmhmhqlauey&d=2007-10-25

WERRC: 'Understanding Concealed Pregnancy: A Standpoint Approach'

UCD Women's Studies Centre (WERRC)

UCD School of Social Justice

Catherine Conlon, Ad Astra Scholar,

Women's Studies, UCD

'Understanding Concealed Pregnancy: A Standpoint Approach.'

Ph.D / M.Litt Seminars

Thursday 1^st November

3.00pm-4.15pm
Resource Rm. (A201),

Hannah Sheehy-Skeffington Building, UCD

ALL WELCOME

Please contact mary.mcauliff@ucd.ie with any queries.

Equal-L: Illegal in Ireland, Irish Illegals: Diaspora Nation as Racial State

Public Lectures on Equality

Monday 12^th November 2007 at 7:30 pm
Room C214, Arts Block, UCD

Followed by a reception in the Staff Common Room

Dr. Ronit Lentin,

Trinity College Dublin

Illegal in Ireland, Irish Illegals: Diaspora Nation as Racial State

All Welcome
Please notify us in advance if you wih to avail of ISL interpretation
Please contact marie.moran@ucd.ie with any

EQUAL-L: Sociology as a Listener's Art

MPHIL IN ETHNIC AND RACIAL STUDIES 10TH ANNIVERSARY LECTURE

Prof Les Back
Department of Sociology
Goldsmith College, University of London

Sociology as a Listener's Art


MPHIL IN ETHNIC AND RACIAL STUDIES

DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY
SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AND PHILOSOPHY
TRINITY COLLEGE DUBLIN

Thursday 8 November 2007, 7-9 pm
Robert Emmet Theatre, Arts Building, TCD


Les Back is professor of sociology at Goldsmiths College, University of
London. His numerous publications on the sociology of racism and
ethnicity, popular culture and music, urban life, and social divisions
and class include Out of Whiteness: Color, Politics and Culture (2002).
His latest book is The Art of Listening, (Berg 2007). Copies of the book
will be available.

More Information: Dr Ronit Lentin, rlentin@tcd.ie

Health Service Executive Humour

Away with the Birds

EQUAL-L: Inclusion Ireland Parents Seminar 2007

New developments have emerged in the area of Decision Making Capacity both in Ireland and internationally. Inclusion Ireland is fortunate to have secured the services of Dr. Michael Bach, Vice-President of the Canadian Association for Community Living (CACL), who will travel from Canada to provide a keynote address on the current debate in Legal & Decision Making Capacity comparing supported decision making with that of guardianship and substitute decision making - laws presently being considered here in Ireland.

The other topic for debate will be the Long Stay Health Charges that are causing much confusion and concern to service users, families and service providers

Inclusion Ireland Parents� Seminar 2007

Radisson SAS Hotel, Athlone, Co Westmeath

Saturday 3rd November 2007

_______________________________________________

Programme

09.30am - Registration

10.15am - Welcome: Kevin Doyle - Chair, Inclusion Ireland Parents� Committee

10.20am - Official Opening

Session 1: �Supported Decision Making�

10.30am - International Perspective: Prof. Michael Bach, CACL

11.30am - Irish Perspective: M�ir�n McCartney, Solicitor

12.00pm - Open Forum & Questions & Answers: Chaired by Teresa Blake � Barrister at Law

12.45pm - Lunch

Session 2: �Long Stay Health Charges�

2.00pm - Service Provider Perspective: Wally Freyne, Director of Services, Daughters of Charity Services, Dublin & National Federation of Voluntary Bodies Rep

2.25pm � HSE Perspective: Seamus Mc Nulty Assistant National Director, Responsibility for Mental Health and Disabilities.

2.45pm - Parent Perspective: Frank Hyland, Chairperson St Raphael�s P & F

3.10pm - Health Charges Repayment Scheme: Pat Marron, General Manager

3.15pm - Open Forum & Questions & Answers: Chaired by Mary O�Rourke TD for Longford-Westmeath

4.20pm - Closing Remarks: Finula Garrahy, Inclusion Ireland Chairperson

To Book: http://www.inclusionireland.ie/parent_seminar_07_application.asp


Source: EQUAL-L List

Quit while You're ahead?

If quiters never win, and winners never cheat, then who is the
fool who said "Quit while you're ahead"?

Just Coz its funny.

The Foy Case: Ruling issued by Courts

Evening Echo:
Landmark ruling in transgender privacy case

19/10/2007 - 3:57:34 PM

In a landmark ruling Judge Liam McKechnie has found that Dr Lydia Foy, a transgendered person, has had her privacy breached by the lack of legislation allowing her to change her identity on her birth certificate.

Judge McKechnie pointed to legislation provisions in other EU countries that allow for a change of identity on official documents and that the lack of such provisions in Ireland was counter to Article 8 of the European Convention of Human Rights.

Judge McKechnie also ruled that an order stating that Dr Foy's privacy has been breached must be placed before the Houses of the Oireachtas within 21 days of the wording of that statement being finalised.

It is anticipated that this will lead to debate and possible legislation change concerning the privacy of transgendered people.

Source: http://www.eveningecho.ie/news/bstory.asp?j=234970214&p=z3497x9zx&n=234970974


---------------------------
Breakingnews.ie:
Landmark ruling in transgender privacy case:

In a landmark ruling Judge Liam McKechnie has found that Dr Lydia Foy, a transgendered person, has had her privacy breached by the lack of legislation allowing her to change her identity on her birth certificate.

Judge McKechnie pointed to legislation provisions in other EU countries that allow for a change of identity on official documents and that the lack of such provisions in Ireland was counter to Article 8 of the European Convention of Human Rights.

Judge McKechnie also ruled that an order stating that Dr Foy's privacy has been breached must be placed before the Houses of the Oireachtas within 21 days of the wording of that statement being finalised.

It is anticipated that this will lead to debate and possible legislation change concerning the privacy of transgendered people.

Source: http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/mhmhcwidkfsn/

The HSE & My Woes!

This effin country is deplorable some times!
CHRIST ABOVE! because im not 23 on the first of January I cant be access on my own income or LACK THEREOF for any type of Local authority grant AND NOW they tell me that I cannot get a MEDICAL CARD because I was not 23 on the first of January & I will have to use my parents income which will put me over the Fricken threshhold. Honestly this system is not fair! I have been earning my own way & paying my own way since I was 17 and I can't be assessed on my own income! and now when I look for a little bit of help from this god forsaken country, they say no, you have to be 23 on the first of January! Am I right to be annoyed, I think so! I am really really pissed off about this, and the annoying thing is there is sweet eff all I can do about the whole f*cken process!


ARGGGGGGGGGGHRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHH


/rant!

People & Lunch Time

Why is it people on Lunch go slowly on the street! I mean seriously surely if you are on your lunch, you are in a hurry to get your lunch and get back to work on time! I think the time has come for Grafton St. to be divided into 4 lanes of traffic, 2 slow lanes in the middle & 2 fast lanes on the outside! then at least you can go at the pace you wanna go & it means you dont get in my way or anybody elses!

/rant.

Coronation Street Sketch : Vera & Mavis

Gay Dating-Base System

That dating base system in full (gay male version):

Sex-chat on gaydar = First Base

Bareback sex, fisting, rimming = Second Base

Saying 'hi' in local bar then turning and bitching about him to your friends = Third Base

Source: http://cache.viewimages.com/xc/72457257.jpg?v=1&c=ViewImages&k=2&d=A9504A94882E0E921F08CA9FBE4FA1B8284831B75F48EF45

Random Story of the Day

Matters of size slows hoons across Tasman By IAN STEWARD - The Press Tuesday, 16 October 2007

Kiwi car hoons will not be insulted about the size of their "gearsticks" despite the tactic proving a huge success across the Tasman.
The New South Wales campaign implies young men who speed do so to compensate for having small penises.
A recent survey shows the campaign is one of the state's most successful anti-speeding efforts.
Land Transport advertising manager Paul Graham said New Zealand would not be following suit, however, with testing of the concept "not going down well here".
The "Speeding – No-one thinks big of you" ads show boy racers peeling off from traffic lights and other dangerous behaviour while pretty girls raise crooked pinkie fingers and exchange knowing looks.
A survey commissioned on the campaign showed 76 per cent of people thought the ads increased awareness about the problem and 61 per cent of young males believed the campaign had made them think about their driving behaviour.
The Australian Advertising Standards Bureau has received complaints that the ads demean men with small penises, but NSW Roads Minister Eric Roozendaal said the campaign was "about saving lives – not pride".
"If it dents a few egos but helps save a life, then it's worth it. Wiggling your pinkie has cut through to that crucial age group of young drivers. They're using it as a way to slow their mates down and stop them acting recklessly on our roads."
Roozendaal said the ads were a "calculated break from the tradition of crash and shock images", to which research indicated young people were becoming desensitised.
Auckland University psychologist Dr Niki Harre, who has researched road safety campaigns, said: "Making dangerous driving completely unglamorous is what we need to do. When the concept becomes embedded in the culture – that's when something takes off."
Graham said New Zealand had tested similar concepts, including trying to find a "symbol" that youth might take up to prevent speeding, but the ideas were not received well.
"We're not quite where they are in Sydney. Give us another few years."
New Zealand was screening three speeding ads that targeted different sectors of society.
Source: http://www.stuff.co.nz/4238841a4560.html

Anubis on Tour

Who Said the Ancient Egytpians never came to London?

Source: http://www.stuff.co.nz/318706a14457.html

The side to Gay Life we don't see: Aging

We never think about it. We go out most weekends; We glam up; We meet our mates; We score some hot young guy; We become the older stalwarts of the community by 25 & jaded by the process and after a couple of months/years out of it, we go back and do it all over again, all in the name of maintaining our view that we are young & continue to be attractive & did I mention young?
The NYTimes this week ran a fantastic article on the concept of growing old as an out gay man and the stigma & prejudice which is attached to this, with regards the provision of care. The article is very well put together, and does in many ways highlight a number of issues in our Society as a whole, the issue of care and whose role is care perceived to be for? It provides a very rude awakening for a culture of young gay men in this country and in most of the Western world where boundaries are broken down, almost on what seems like a daily basis these days. Thought provoking, but will it provide the incentive to do something about it.
------------------------------------------

Aging and Gay, and Facing Prejudice in Twilight

Even now, at 81 and with her memory beginning to fade, Gloria Donadello recalls her painful brush with bigotry at an assisted-living center in Santa Fe, N.M. Sitting with those she considered friends, “people were laughing and making certain kinds of comments, and I told them, ‘Please don’t do that, because I’m gay.’”

The result of her outspokenness, Ms. Donadello said, was swift and merciless. “Everyone looked horrified,” she said. No longer included in conversation or welcome at meals, she plunged into depression. Medication did not help. With her emotional health deteriorating, Ms. Donadello moved into an adult community nearby that caters to gay men and lesbians.

“I felt like I was a pariah,” she said, settled in her new home. “For me, it was a choice between life and death.”

Elderly gay people like Ms. Donadello, living in nursing homes or assisted-living centers or receiving home care, increasingly report that they have been disrespected, shunned or mistreated in ways that range from hurtful to deadly, even leading some to commit suicide.

Some have seen their partners and friends insulted or isolated. Others live in fear of the day when they are dependent on strangers for the most personal care. That dread alone can be damaging, physically and emotionally, say geriatric doctors, psychiatrists and social workers.

The plight of the gay elderly has been taken up by a generation of gay men and lesbians, concerned about their own futures, who have begun a national drive to educate care providers about the social isolation, even outright discrimination, that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender clients face.

Source & contd: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/09/us/09aged.html?em&ex=1192161600&en=252f4521b8e5d635&ei=5087%0A

To Mix or not to Mix

We all know what cognac is. We also know how expensive the bleeding stuff is. and as it is so expensive, we are quiet unlikely to mix the stuff because to do so as it just ruins the consistency of the liquor. Well according to Mr.Henessey, of the makers of the World's best Cognac, they don't mind if "the young and affluent to dilute his luxury eau-de-vie.". Well naturally they don't mind, sales are sales I guess, but surely principle should count for something! *sigh*

---------------------------------

Cut your cognac with Coke, mix it with juice or water: the spirit long regarded as a gentlemen's club drink is reinventing itself as a cocktail.

Expert sommeliers may pale at the idea of mixing such a rich, expensive spirit with anything but ice, but Maurice Hennessy, 8th generation descendant of the renowned cognac house, is happy for the young and affluent to dilute his luxury eau-de-vie.

"Truffles are expensive but they are rarely consumed on their own," Hennessy told Reuters during a recent visit to Singapore to promote the brand in Asia.

"And drinks have fashions too. Hennessy and Coke were consumed in Cuba in the Second World War era and in the 17th century, cognac was consumed as a long drink, mixed with water," he said.

The distiller is part of LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton, the world's largest luxury goods group.
The cognac is popular in Asia, and especially China which the firm said was poised to overtake the United States as its biggest market by year-end.
Hennessy said the distiller was promoting cognac to young, affluent Asians who were keen on all things luxury.
"We want people who like designer clothes, beautiful cars, go to the best clubs and drink the best drinks," he added.Hennessy markets a rare, $400 a glass cognac called Ellipse and is planning to launch another limited edition blend soon.
And if you're wondering what food goes best with your cognac, try chocolate, Hennessy said.
Source: http://www.stuff.co.nz/4232642a7773.html

Did ya see what she just did

So you are working at a show. You see people posing on the red carpet for pictures for the press for the big event. There are hundreds of other people running around backstage, front house, catering etc etc but you have one job and one job only to check and make sure that those on the red carpet have a wrist band because that is the only way that anybody is getting past you. Right? Well unless your Kylie Minogue, who is a law unto herself & rightly so. *bows down to her ladyship*



--------------------------------------------

Kylie embarrassed over awards show blunder

Kylie Minogue was left red-faced at the Q Awards after she was refused entry because staff didn't recognise her.

The superstar singer, who scooped The Q Idol award at the prestigious ceremony, happily posed for photographs with Kaiser Chiefs singer Ricky Wilson as she entered London's Grosvenor House Hotel before attempting to make her way inside.

However, organisers called Kylie back to the front desk telling her she couldn't enter without a wristband.

The bemused star began to make her way back to the desk, asking: "Sorry, do I need a wristband?"

However, Ricky quickly came to the star's aid telling the fussy staff: "She' s Kylie Minogue, she doesn't need a wristband!"

Source; www.stuff.co.nz

Right to Read Campaign (Equal-L)

Right to Read Campaign

Seminar

‘Literacy is the Entitlement of Every Child’

Mansion House, Dublin 2

Saturday, October 20^th 2007

10.30am: Welcome and Opening

Speaker: Cllr. Paddy Bourke, Lord Mayor of Dublin

10.45am: The Problem

Chair: Cllr. Mick Rafferty (Dublin City Council)

Speakers: Mark Candon (Principal, Sheriff Street, Dublin 1)

Brendan O’Sullivan (INTO)

11.30am: Question and Answer Session

11.45am: The Solution

Chair: Cllr. Liam Kelly (Dublin City Council)

Speakers: Norah Gibbons, Director of Advocacy Barnardos

Anne Marie Kelly, Divisional Librarian, Dublin City Council

12.15pm: Question and Answer Session

12.30pm: Tea and Coffee

12.45pm: The Right to Read Campaign

Chair: Marian Guibney (School Completion Programme)

Speaker: Cllr. Aodhán Ó Ríordáin,

North Inner City Councillor and Teacher

1.00pm: Question and Answer Session

1.20pm: Keynote Address

Speaker Niamh Bhreatnach

Minister for Education 1992-1997 and current member of Dún Laoghaire / Rathdown County Council

www.righttoread.ie
(via the EQUAL-L list)

Equality Studies Public Lecture Series (EQUAL-L)

Monday 15^th October 2007 at 7:30 pm
Room C214, Arts Block, UCD

Professor Eileen Kane
EWI Marie Curie Fellow 2006-07

The Real Differences Between the Sexes: What Do They Mean for Teaching and Learning?

ALL WELCOME

Please notify us in advance if you wish to avail of ISL interpretation.

Please contact marie.moran@ucd.ie with any queries.

David Cameron

Poor David Cameron. What a Guy. I mean God loves a tryer doesn't he but my god but he does try very hard. So David just finished his 'much hailed conference speech' and as the Guardian reports today, Cameron is climbing back up along the polls, slowly after PM Brown's fantastic solo(emn) run since he has taken up office in Sept. However I have come to realise one thing in the last couple of years, perception is everything in life and importantly Politics. See not many people gave Mr. Brown a very good chance of being a "good Prime-minister". Well Lets face it,
he has had a huge baptism of fire, floods, FMD, Blue Tounge, Cobra Meetings, Darfur, UN, Burma and he's only been in office since June! So the illusions that Mr. Brown would not make a good PM because of his solemness & straight-braced approach has proven wrong and he has gone down well with the British electorate. So the clencher is this. Can Cameron really convince the electorate that he really is 1)PM material & 2) move beyond the joke that the Tory party is, to become a credible alternative to the New (New) Labour approach. Cameron's first move is perhaps the second point in question & if the polls are anything to go by, then maybe he too can take that leap of PR magic that Brown took in June and become PM material.

source of image: http://image.guardian.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/steve_bell/2007/10/04/bell512x377.jpg

Your Inner Voice!

Just remembered this little guy from Jeff & I's trip around Dublin last week. Its the National Irish Bank's new little catchphrase of your annoying niggling little voice that tells you to do something. What an effective marketing tool the Advertising people in NIB have created.........however Imagine if NIB went the way that Northern Rock went for a while, (Which it won't but hypotethetically speaking of course, coz its fun), and you were one of there customers & you see this outside the window. Your little inner Voice would be telling ya 'Screw what you are being told, I want my money!'.

Vladamir Putin.............here we go again

So Mr. Putin has given his strongest indication yet that he has every intention of remaining in power for the foreseeable future. (Source: http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/frontpage/2007/1002/1191223002341.html) . Now perhaps it is just me, but it is not Safe to have that level of power concentrated in the same person for that length of time. As the old saying goes, 'Power Corrupts, Absolute Power Corrupts absolutely' . Putin has been in power since 2000 and re-elected in 2004 which means next year when he is due to step down he will be 8 years in office. The plan, based on the source would be that Vlad would step down as President of Russia, but take up the post of Primeminister but upon the ending of his term as PM, he would be legally allowed to contest the 2012 Presidential elections. That in my view, is not good for democracy & not good for the seeds of democracy in Russia.

However something struck me as I was thinking about this post, Bertie Ahern has been in power since 1997. Now I am not saying that he is by anyway comparable in a shape or form to Mr. Putin, however the old saying stands.

Just coz its funny :-D

Heads Abound and the Mystery thickens

So I am going through my Stargate phase at the moment, what with watching all of season 1 with 5 days & now I have started season 2 - God bless the Internet :-D . However upon reading this article below, I am quiet intrigued, perhaps we are about to be visited by some far off alien race. Then again Stargate was fiction...........It was fiction wasn't it? :-p -------------------------------------------------------------------
Heads Turn Over Mystery Sculptures

Updated: 14:36, Monday October 01, 2007

Mystery stone sculptures have turned up outside a number of properties in Yorkshire - but no-one knows why or where they have come from. The sculptures all feature the same carved symbol and come with a riddle attached.

Who dumped this - and why?

So far, 12 stone heads have appeared in Goathland and Kilburn, in North Yorkshire; four have been found in Arthington, near Leeds, West Yorkshire; and three in Braithwell, near Rotherham, South Yorkshire.

Each of the heads looks different but all feature the same carving - which appears to spell out the word "paradox" - and a note bearing the riddle: "Twinkle twinkle like a star does love blaze less from afar?"

Mike and Valerie Hoyes, who run a post office in Braithwell, found three heads outside their business on the morning of August 23.

Checking their CCTV footage, they discovered a man they did not know dropping off the stones in a small car at around 4am.

George Griffiths, an artist from Arthington, near Leeds, also received one of the heads on August 23 and then found another outside his house two weeks later.

Mr Griffiths said: "I think it's a publicity stunt - I can't see anything else.

"They're not sinister or anything like that, it's just a puzzle. We're all just waiting and wondering to find out more."

Fiona Gould, the owner of the Forrester Arms Hotel in Kilburn, received her head last month and it has pride of place in the pub.

She said: "He turned up a week last Monday between 1.30am and 7.30am. I opened the door and there he was, as large as life, sat on the patio."

A North Yorkshire Police spokeswoman confirmed they had received reports of stone heads being left in various places around the village of Kilburn.

Source: http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,91059-1286508,00.html