One of these days

Friiiiidaaaaay Going to hang out in Dinners' gaff this evening. It's 3.40 and I haven't really done anything terribly constructive yet today. But it's not my fault entirely as I am having problems with our stupid content management system. It has become a truism in this technological age that even good workers can blame their tools.

Play on My friend Phamie has just launched her new site. She is an amazing harpist who I met last year when she took part in a tour my organisation organises every year.

Lightweight? After an evening spent in our local with my cousin Jo, 2 beers later and a nights' sleep and I don't feel so hot. I really can't wait til they bring in this smoking ban. I have often drunk more than 2 beers at home of an evening and lept out of bed in the morning and not a bother on me.
And think of the benefits to the environment as people don't have to put every stitch in the wash just to get the foul smell off their clothes. So many benefits, so much time to wait...

Not in her name Interesting opinion piece by Ruth Dudley Edwards in the Irish Times today. However I have two questions about it: she says in one paragraph that the marchers were marching because of a hatred of the greatest democracy on earth. (Not my reason for marching but I certainly can't speak for the other 99,999 people present) Then she says that "the case for invading Iraq has been badly made" How could the "greatest democracy in the world" not make a good case for anything? That is totally illogical. She goes on to recount a speech given by Dr. Barham Salih, Prime Minister of Iraqi Kurdistan, who tells of his people's joy at liberation at the hands of the US and Brits after the previous Gulf War. Apparently he said so what if the US were just after the oil and the Iraqis were liberated as a result. It would be "a good irony". As a Gaelic poet once wrote, "Co choimead an ola?" Who will keep the oil?

In like a lion If you didn't get enough of marching last weekend, you can now participate in a "virtual march" with MoveOn.org.

In conversation with Ruth in Oz We went along to the antiwar protests ourselves on Saturday. No doubt you heard there was a turnout of 100,000. It was a great day. The weather was tops and the atmosphere was so pleasant. I think partly because usually when there are that many people on the streets in Dublin, a lot of the fun is drink fuelled (St. Patrick's Day, football etc.) and although I did see one or two people with cans, it wasn't the thing. Also it was so nice to have the streets of Dublin to ourselves - it's how the "Reclaim the Streets" day should have been actually.

Aren't they all? Uglyfootballers.com - what a weird idea.

And also... How could I possibly forget my cousin's godmother and godfather, Irene and Fintan?

Happy Birthday to Mary Bailey, Jeff Plant, Declan Bolger, Benicio del Toro, Thomas Edison's phonograph, Kellogs Corn Flakes, Stan Winton, Emergency Ward 10, Eastenders, Gwen Taylor, Smokey Robinson, Jeff Daniels, Holly Johnson, The Duke of York, Seal and ME!!! What illustrious company they are all in.

We rule Well in Scotland anyway.

B�arlachas Uaf�sach N� chreidfinn � ach go bhfuil s� feicthe agam le mo dh� sh�il f�inig ach t� leabhar scr�ofa agus le f�il ar l�ne anois darbh �bhar de an Bh�arlachas Uaf�sach. That'll sort out the likes of me anyway.

May the Foras be with you T� Foras na Gaeilge ag tabhairt amach faoin laghd� ar an maoini� at� siad ag f�il �n Rialtas. Ina phreas r�iteas t� siad ag r� go gcialla�onn an laghd� de 11% nach mbeidh siad inann maoini� a dh�anamh ar tionscnaimh ar bith i mbliana. Tionscnaimh ar bith? N� tionscnaimh nua ar bith? That seems kinda weird to me...?

It's a small world after all Well whaddaya know! Google have bought Pyra Labs who developed the blogging technology that powers this site. I was also very happy to hear recently that Google are thinking of opening offices in Ireland. If I didn't love m job already I would be first in line, c.v. clutched in my sweaty palm, begging for a job. Especially now that they have incorporated Pyra Labs. How much cooler could work be?

Out with the old I have the archives looking and feeling nearly right at last. We'll say better. Yer pure wee assthetics must have been aching looking at them until now. Mine were. Must go and remove contacts...very tired. Night now.

Fairy Godmother Got my first birthday present today. My ever generous godmother, Phil, gave me not one but two photo albums. I was about to say I can't believe she remembered that I wanted one but it is just like her to remember. Now whether I will remember to phone her or write to her and thank her is another question entirely. I will not forget.

Sl� na f�rinne Sad news today. My good friend Gr�inne's grandmother died. N�l sa saol ach gaoth agus toit.

It's been a while Real life took over there again for a while. To save time, I will list the major events of the last week:

• Thursday evening: Went to visit my grandmother, Gladys, with photographs of her great-granchildren, my nieces. She gets a lotta value from photographs!


• Wednesday winner: Won a scratchcard in the Lotto - itchy palms tell the truth


• Thursday evening: After visiting Gladdie, narrowly avoided getting ensnared in the singles night in Tesco in Merrion near where she lives!


• Friday, Valentine's Day - what a pile of pants although I did get a lovely bunch of tulips from me fella but just because it's Friday


• Saturday: Marched for peace. A glorious day in all senses of the word.


• Saturday evening: Took far too long to get to Rosemary's 18th birthday party. Got horribly lost between Abigail's place in Maynooth and MacCabe's near Rathcoole. The party was a great laugh. I did catch myself saying, "That music is appalling!" as I sipped my tea in the kitchen with my aunt and uncle. But it was terrible music. When we decided to leave, we discovered upon rolling the unconscious girl off the pile of coats in my cousin's bedroom that aforementioned girl had pissed herself. Abigail's coat and jumper were sopping. I had a good mind to tell everyone at the party as I figured if the hangover the next day didn't put her off drinking that much crap ever again maybe the slagging in school would. As it is their mid-term break I realised it was pointless and refrained. Rosemary never did get the courage up to invite the 5th year who looks like Justin Timberlake. I was sorely disappointed...


• Sunday: Bought ski-pants. Went to visit Gladys. Vinnie came along too so I didn't get a look in! Checked my lotto numbers and this time i , sorry we had one 24 yoyos. Hurrah! Hail to the itchy palms. Had roast beef for dinner and watched Donnie Darko - I recommend it