Bye Bye Bushisms

The 43rd President of the United States has given his final press conference to the White House Press Corps acknowledging that 'not finding weapons of mass destruction was a significant disappointment'. Expired President George W Bush has just eight days left in his ever so memorable and tumultuous presidency. Like many US Presidents before him, there appears to be many people just waiting to push him out the door. Here's hoping the shining light that is Obama can lift us all from the financial and spirtual mess we're in.


I have to admit never liking the man and I certainly wouldn't have left him in charge of a vegetable plot, never mind a country. BUT he was a reliable source of entertainment over the last eight years providing us with a constant flow of laughable quotes, never mind the pretzel incident. So in recognition of all that here's what I think are some of the 43rd President's best 'Bushisms':


1. "Too many good docs are getting out of the business. Too many OB-GYNs aren't able to practice their love with women all across this country." —Poplar Bluff, Missouri., Sept. 6, 2004

2. "Rarely is the questioned asked: Is our children learning?" —Florence, South Carolina., Jan. 11, 2000

3. "Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we." —Washington, D.C., Aug. 5, 2004

4. "There's an old saying in Tennessee — I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee — that says, fool me once, shame on — shame on you. Fool me — you can't get fooled again." —Nashville, Tennesse, Sept. 17, 2002

5. "First, let me make it very clear, poor people aren't necessarily killers. Just because you happen to be not rich doesn't mean you're willing to kill." Washington DC, 19 May, 2003

6. "This thaw -- took a while to thaw, it's going to take a while to unthaw." --George W. Bush, on liquidity in the markets, Alexandria, Louisiana, Oct. 20, 2008

7. "I didn't grow up in the ocean -- as a matter of fact -- near the ocean -- I grew up in the desert. Therefore, it was a pleasant contrast to see the ocean. And I particularly like it when I'm fishing." --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., Sept. 26, 2008

8. ''I think it was in the Rose Garden where I issued this brilliant statement: If I had a magic wand -- but the president doesn't have a magic wand. You just can't say, 'low gas.'" --George W. Bush, Washington D.C., July 15, 2008

9. "I remember meeting a mother of a child who was abducted by the North Koreans right here in the Oval Office." --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., June 26, 2008

10. "We've got a lot of relations with countries in our neighborhood." --George W. Bush, Kranj, Slovenia, June 10, 2008

11."I understand small business growth. I was one." New York Daily News, 19 February, 2000

12. "We want people owning their home -- we want people owning a businesses." --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., April 18, 2008

13. "I thank the diplomatic corps, who is here as well." --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., March 12, 2008

14. "Removing Saddam Hussein was the right decision early in my presidency, it is the right decision now, and it will be the right decision ever." --George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., March 12, 2008

15. "You teach a child to read, and he or her will be able to pass a literacy test.'' Townsend, Tennessee, 21 February, 2001

And what's the quote that best describes his exit from the Presidency??? ..... "I'll be long gone before some smart person ever figures out what happened inside this Oval Office." Washington DC, 12 May, 2008

I certainly look forward to listening to a President who is a bit more skillful with words....
(photo from independent.co.uk)

2009- The Year for Taking Responsibility On Our Roads

picture from http://www.oss237.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/RSA-3.jpg

Two hundred and seventy six people died on the country's roads in the year just ended. I use the word 'died' rather than 'were killed' because in reality people aren't killed by roads, but instead their actions on the roads results in death. Over the last few years the media appear to have changed the way road deaths are reported, and have reduced the use of phrases such as 'another life claimed on our roads'.

This change in phraseology is important in changing the way we think about road deaths. Saying the victim was killed by hitting the tree, lamppost or other object implies the road somehow killed the victim, but the tree did not suddenly move into the middle of the road. So how can we say the road killed the person? Similarly is it correct to call the deceased a 'victim', because that too implies a person died at the hands of someone or something (themselves often the cause). The change implies a new level of taking responsibility for our own lives, whether that is as driver, passenger, pedestrian or cyclist. Perhaps the message is finally getting through, road deaths are declining, for exactly what reason is yet to be deciphered, but any sort of progress is to be welcomed.

Look at the picture above.... how does it happen? 276 people died by the roadside or in hospitals around the country after being pulled from wrecks similar to that in the image. Deaths on our roads are falling and are down on last year, but, nonetheless 276 families are facing into 2009 without a loved one. Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey attributed the reduction in road deaths to 'road-users right around the country have stepped up to the challenge and... changing their driving behaviours every day'. While I believe there's a lot of merit in that assessment, one glaringly obvious point is being skipped over by politicians who are quick to sympathise (as they should) but slow to act to change the situation...

While it would seem the majority of drivers, young and old, are taking more care on the road by perhaps driving at more appropriate speeds and not drink driving, a small segment of our society is destroying itself on an increasingly regular basis. That segment is young boy racers. Over the Christmas period several incidents have occurred where young males have been involved in devastating and tragic 'accidents'. The most notable was on New Years Eve when five youngsters under eighteen travelling in a car, crashed into a tree in Nenagh, killing three and seriously injuring the remaining two. How can we condone seventeen year olds being given car keys to drive four (younger) passengers anywhere? This incident occurred relatively early also, at 7.30pm. In the preceding days several other families lost their sons, another incident occurring in Leitrim on the 23rd, when a seventeen year old male drove into a parked lorry. A female passenger was not seriously injured.

Rarely are other vehicles or mitigating circumstances involved. And it's not a problem that reaches into young female drivers. But for young female passengers it's a different story. Statistics released in July showed that more than two-thirds of females who died in car crashes from 1997-2006 were passengers in cars driven by men.

Whilst I'm not trying to say that deaths of young males should be in any way regarded as less tragic than other deaths on our roads, we are facing into a quite serious situation whereby young males are routinely killing themselves, in vehicles, at night on rural roads. Those dying are getting younger; while it used to be deaths of young males in their twenties we heard about, it's now 17 and 18 year olds. Worse still, there have been several incidents where the driver killed was not even old enough to be on the road. The Irish Independent yesterday reported that the driver in the Nenagh crash, who survived, was only sixteen years old. Therefore it is illegal for him to on the road at all. They reported that Gardai said the car 'was not stolen...and are investigating the possibility that it may have been bought for a few hundred euro'.

Where do parents and communities stand in all of this? While local communities rally around the families of those deceased, no-one seems prepared to tackle this growing problem whatsoever. Rural communities appear to see it as a fact of life, never acknowledging that these types of accidents rarely happen in urban areas. Driving at high speed, without a license or insurance, without experience, down dark winding roads may seem exotic- but it kills. Whilst speed and alcohol checkpoints occur regularly in urban areas, rarely are they seen in rural areas. Anecdotally, I've heard that in rural areas neighbours tip each other off as to the location of Garda checkpoints so a different route can be taken. How does that kind of attitude help anyone? It just leads to more deaths by people who should be off the road for dangerous driving. 'Thou shalt love thy neighbour' does not include helping the evasion of drink driving checks. People have to accept they are partially responsible if that neighbour ploughs into a tree six months later.

I'm not sure there is a solution to this problem, but parents of young males should seriously think about how giving their seventeen year old sons car keys could literally bring their world crashing down one morning at 3am. Failing that, perhaps the Gardai need to consider an all out curfew for male drivers from evening to morning. Of course there are lots of very capable young male drivers out there, but do we just let this pattern continue on and place it in the 'inevitable' box in the corner?

Comments and thoughts welcomed....

The Less and More of 2009

http://colorcubic.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/2009-print-preview-blog.png

Another year huh...

As the final year of the noughties nears, it's hard not to think about what's being left in 2008 and what might happen in 2009. So I've been thinking about things I'd rather see left behind in 08, and things I'd like to see more of in 09.

Bad news first of course....

Less:

1. Celebs drink driving- clearly a) we know what they look like and b) the cops would like to use them as an example to everyone else - so why do they do it? It's either because they reckon they won't be caught or they don't like paying for a taxi or a driver..... So celebs- stop doing it because it's just plain annoying, never mind dangerous...

2. 'R' word whining by people who can change things- Cowen, the government, shop owners, builders.... stop whining about people not spending money on overpriced things. People won't feel the need to go to Newry if you lower prices and lower the VAT rate. As for the builders trying to sell overpriced houses for €1.8/2 million- be realistic, you're not going to get the €1.5m profit you were planning on, so just sell those empty houses for a reasonable price and start repaying those bank loans.

3. Spencer Pratt still in our lives- of The Hills fame - the Speidi union is bad enough and Heidi isn't that bad, but her keeping Spencer as a boyfriend when he behaves worse than a small child is criminal. The world has never seen such an immature young man. Having created trouble by the bucketload with Heidi's best mate Lauren Conrad, Spencer now can't sit still unless he's making people pick 'a ship' to be on, and ranting about how much he hates the lovely Lauren. Go away Spencer!!!

4. High level people getting bonuses for not much/bad work- I'm looking at the banking sector here- getting a salary is generous enough for the mess that's been created and overseen by some of these people- but bonuses and lavish Christmas parties are just plain ridiculous.

5. Recession talk- it probably wouldn't be this bad if we didn't keep talking about it. Enough already, lets get the confidence going again.

In better news I could do well from seeing MORE...

1. Price reductions and better value- possibly the only benefit of the downturn is that we're seeing more reasonable prices, prices that we should have been paying all along. With the Sterling at rock bottom its good to see retailers finally having to reduce prices to more reasonable levels.

2. Cheap(er) oil- today a barrel of oil cost US$39, pretty good when compared to 2007's closing price of $96 a barrel. But while it's all good news as we enter 2009, and we can continue to drive the gas guzzling SUV's that certain sectors of Irish society seem to love, we have to face the fact that in the not too distant future our oil supply may dry up. Soon enough it could be back on your bicycles, so enjoy the comfort of the car until then!

3. Sunshine- We've been shivering for weeks now but at least there's been less rain than usual. So for 2009 can we please request more sun, less rain and higher temperatures.

4. Decent leadership from people like Obama- the year 2008 will probably be best remembered for the US Presidential election that brought us Barack Obama. A complete breath of fresh air Obama turned everything we thought we knew about US Presidents on it's head. Already admired by people and leaders around the world, his leadership and vision is something leaders at home and abroad should emulate. 2009 will be the year this man gets to show off his real flair.

5. Peace- some of the prosperity we enjoyed over the last decade may be gone, but at least we appear to be living in a peaceful Ireland. A time where people freely crossed the border simply to buy things cheaper is an amazing achievement given the situation just ten years ago.

I'm sure there's millions of more less and more's to think of, those above are just a few that I've been thinking of... feel free to add more ideas in the comments.....

Happy New Year!

Alexandra wins X-Factor 2008 with Hallelujah

Twenty year old Alexandra Burke has won X-factor 2008. In a moving performance of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah, the studio audience, television audience and judge's were left in no doubt that Alexandra had the X factor. Alexandra, from North London, was one of 182,000 people who applied to be on the X factor 2008. A clearly shocked and emotional Alexandra told host Dermot O'Leary 'this is for everyone'. Simon Cowell said 'congratulations Alexandra, you deserve it' and praised Cheryl Cole for her role as mentor.

Twelve finalists made it into the live televised finals which began on October 11th 2008. Diana Vickers was eliminated last week, leaving Eoghan Quigg, boyband JLS and Alexandra Burke to battle for the title of winner 2008. Eight million votes were cast by television viewers.

Sixteen year old Eoghan Quigg, from Derry, sang 'I Wish It Could Be Christmas', 'Flying Without Wings' and 'We're All In This Together (from High School Musical) before being eliminated with the fewest votes. That left Alexandra and JLS to vie for the top spot. To prove their worth, both acts sang a version of Leonard Cohen's 1984 track 'Hallelujah'. The prize of X-factor is a £1 million recording contract.

Copies of Alexandra's 'Hallelujah' will be available for download tonight and will be in shops on Wednesday. The X-factor winner is typically a strong contender for the coveted Christmas No1. The 2008 final also featured performances from Westlife, Boyzone and Beyonce. Applications are now open for the 2009 series of X-factor on itv.com/xfactor.

(pik from BBC)

Designated Drivers drink for free

Soft drinks of course. As I've tended to fall into the role of designated driver lately, I was appalled at how much it costs to NOT drink on a night out. I was in the pub for about 6 hours and in that time had about 7 Cokes which set me back €2.50 a bottle. But the bottle was a mere 200ml.

But thankfully, Coca Cola have launched this year's designated driver campaign. It means that at participating pubs, the designated driver can obtain free soft drinks at the bar. Nice one. The campaign runs for the month of December and aims to 'reward drivers for socialising safely'.

Designated Driver was launched for the first time in 2004 and since then it has gone from strength to strength. The campaign also has the vital support of key organisations including Mature Enjoyment of Alcohol in Society (MEAS) and An Garda Siochana.

Pork withdrawl- contamination

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland tonight recalled all pork products produced since September 1st.

In a statement released today, the FSAI announced 'laboratory results of animal feed and pork fat samples obtained this afternoon by the FSAI confirmed the presence of dioxins. Consequently, the FSAI is requiring the food industry to recall from the market all Irish pork products produced from pigs slaughtered in Ireland'.

The FSAI revealed pork products on a number of farms were found to have up to 200 times more dioxins in them than the safe limits set down. Dioxins are environmental contaminants that may be formed during combustion processes and may be present in industrial wastes. It is illegal for dioxins above set levels to be in food products.

Speaking on RTE's Nine News this evening, Irish Farmers Assocation President Padraig Walshe said the problem was 'very isolated' as the contaminated feed was made by one small processor. He added that the safe pork products would likely be back on supermarket shelves by the middle of the week.

The public have been advised to discard any pork products in their fridge and to refrain from eating pork products at eateries for the time being. Pork products include pork chops, bacon, ham (fresh and packaged) and sausages.

Irishtimes.com this evening reported 'Rod Evans, a spokesman for the FSAI, told irishtimes.com that the health risks were likely to be “very small” and said a short period “of higher level exposure to the dioxins is unlikely to have any health consequences'.

Discovery: Youthful posher accents operate at lower frequencies

Whilst doing work with the free software Audacity, we discovered that music and voices at 41khz sound distinctly different at 48khz. It would appear that when you adjust the khz frequency voices sound a) younger and b) more towards a posher postcode. We discovered this playing U2's 'Stuck in A Moment'- when played at 44khz Bono's voice resembles a 14 year old, and a very well spoken one at that!

If we transpose this into real life one *could* say that some of Dublin's more posh accents are simply the norm, at a lower frequency. Other hypotheses welcomed.

It's quite hilarious really so try it out for giggles.