So there I was having some time with my son, both of us sprawled on my bed reading, ( each with our own books, tis cool he gets the companionable quiet ) and he asks me what a double date is.

So I ask him what a date is and he answers it is two people, sometimes a boy and a girl or a boy an a boy or a girl and a girl who sort of like [i]like[/i] each other and they go out and do things like going ot the cinema and they might do kisses.

Grand I think so I then I explain that a double date is two couples who go to the picture together both on dates but doing the same things.
He asked would all do kisses and I explain usually not.

Then cos he is a bright enough kid starts figuring out that a triple date is 6 people, 3 couples, a quadruple date is 8 people and 4 couples and then a quintuple date is 10 people and 5 couples.
Then he asks, ‘is that like an orgy ?’

I look at him and raise an eyebrow coolly ask him what an orgy is.

The reply I get back is that an orgy is a type of party the Romans would have and they would get drunk and kiss everyone.

I told him that dates were usually about two people getting to know each other and even if it was a group date that did not mean people were going to kiss everyone.

‘ah ok’ he replied and then said that orgies didn’t seem very hygienic and that they all must have gotten colds and sick and that is why the roman empire ended and promptly went back to reading his book.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/

Is it just me or is the current Dr awful careless with the T.A.R.D.I.S. ?

This evening I am going to experience the ‘expression of Joy’ in a performance by Dulsori.
Dulsori apparently means „heartbeat of the land“ or also „wild beat“. http://www.dulsori.com/
Won’t be that far to travel as it is on out in Dún Laoghaire.
It is meant to be a very stimulating event where your blood will pound along with the rhythms.

And in the morning it will be up early to go to the Showing of Sernity as part of
http://www.cantstoptheserenity.com/ at the hour of 10 am. I wonder If I can bring the duvet with me.

The screening is a fundraiser for http://www.equalitynow.org

Equality Now works to end violence and discrimination against women and girls around the world through the mobilization of public pressure. Issues of concern to Equality Now include:

RAPE
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS
TRAFFICKING
FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION
POLITICAL PARTICIPATION
GENDER DISCRIMINATION

So really it should be a really good weekend if I keep myself topped up with enough paracetamol….

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6697329.stm

Japanese minister ‘kills himself’
Toshikatsu Matsuoka
Toshikatsu Matsuoka was embroiled in a financial scandal
Japan’s Agriculture Minister Toshikatsu Matsuoka has died in hospital after reportedly committing suicide.

The 62-year-old was found hanged in his Tokyo apartment hours before he was to face questions in parliament over his links to a political funding scandal.

Efforts to resuscitate him at hospital failed. Officials said police were still investigating the cause of death.

Opposition MPs had been calling for his resignation over unexplained expenses claimed for a rent-free office.

Scandals and gaffes

“We’ve confirmed that Agriculture Minister Toshikatsu Matsuoka is dead. We are greatly saddened,” said government spokesman Yasuhisa Shiozaki.

Mr Matsuoka had allegedly claimed more than 28m yen ($236,600; £118,300) in utility fees at his parliamentary office, where utility costs are free. He denied any wrong-doing.

He had previously refused to explain the expenses to a parliamentary committee but the Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, defended him, saying he had fulfilled his legal responsibilities.

Mr Abe’s eight-month premiership has been rocked by a series of scandals and gaffes.

Support for Japan’s government has fallen to its lowest level since he took office, a new poll suggests.

28m yes = 118,300 British Pound = 174,716 Euro.

And hurrah for another tribunal section starting up.
http://breakingnews.ie/ireland/mhkfcwgbsney

The Taoiseach’s finances are among the main issues under investigation at the latest phase of the Mahon Tribunal into alleged political corruption.

The long-awaited Quarryvale Two module, which got underway this morning, is examining the development of the Liffey Valley shopping centre in west Dublin in the 1990s.

Property developer Tom Gilmartin claims Bertie Ahern received €80,000 from businessman Owen O’Callaghan to pave the way for the project.

However, both Mr Ahern and Mr O’Callaghan have vehemently denied the accusation.

In the opening statement of the latest module today, the tribunal said it would be examining five substantial lodgements to bank accounts in the name of Mr Ahern and his daughter between 1993 and 1995.

The lodgements total more than €116,000.

Mr Ahern is expected to be called to give evidence in the coming weeks.

Meanwhile, tribunal chairman Alan Mahon used the resumption of public hearings today to condemn the leaking of confidential information from the inquiry about Mr Ahern’s finances.

He said he was carrying out an investigation to try to identify the source of the leaks.

ok it is not 28m yen but surely it should be enough for person with any honour or integrity to consider saving some face. Not necessarily by cutting his own off by certainly by getting it out of politics.

TRUE SLACK / FALSE SLACK by mitchell@interserv.com (Popess Lilith von Fraumench).

False Slack is what people use to cope with “minor aggravations of modern
living” which are in actuality the tentacles of the Conspiracy digging out
one’s brains through the belly button.

True Slack is what SubGeniuses would do in any ordinary situation, witout
prompting, were it not for the Conspiracy tentacles and its encouragement of
False Slack.

False Slack keeps one “sane” long enough to remain profitable; it always costs
money to obtain, and fades away shortly after the money’s gone.

True Slack keeps one INSANE, but in a way which makes good sense and from
which only the slackful can benefit from; yet True Slack propagates and even
increases as more people partake in it.

False Slack is like exchanging the fishhooks in your stomach with bent paper
clips—you’re left with the impression that that’s an improvement on the
situation, even if you are still in a universe of utter despair-ridden agony.

True Slack is like farting out those same fishhooks in a sudden blast of
pyroflatulence, leaving one cleansed and joyous that the buggers are now and
forever GONE.

Following on the fainna failures entry yesterday I find this in my morning newsround up.

http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/?jp=MHKFAUAUSNID
“Sewage treatment blamed for water quality failures
11/05/2007 – 07:23:53

The inadequate treatment of sewage has been blamed for Irish waters failing to meet EU standards, a new report revealed today.

Four swimming areas in north Dublin, Galway and Waterford have been blacklisted in the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) survey.

The bathing water quality report revealed Balbriggan, Malahide, and Clifden did not meet the mandatory standard for both total and faecal coliforms, while Dunmore East Main Strand failed to meet the standard for faecal coliforms.

Of these beaches, only Clifden was named the previous year when five beaches failed.
The EPA report also called for the number of designated swimming areas to be increased from 131 to 160.

“The primary reason for sites failing the EU standards was due to inadequately treated sewage,” said Gerard O’Leary, EPA programme manager.

“Local Authorities should continually update the public on the quality of bathing waters during the upcoming bathing water season. Where problems with water quality are showing up they must take the necessary actions to ensure that water quality complies with the bathing water standards.

“While the overall level of bathing water quality remains high, the EPA remains concerned that a small number of bathing areas do not conform to the minimum mandatory standards.””

Right,
now to see how many phone called it takes to find out where the nearest blue flag beaches are to me
along the dublin coast before I plan the weekend with the kids; ‘cos really as nice as a stroll along the strand
is all kids want to at least get thier feet wet and yes that would include this kid too.

http://www.ireland.com/focus/electio…fmanifesto.pdf

That is theFianna Fáil election Manifesto from 2002, thier slogan at the time was, “A Lot doen more to do” .

So seeing the people of this country in thier wisdom while excerising thier franchise gave them the additional 5 years to make good on this lets see how they did.

… An end to hospital waiting lists within two years!

….reform the system of planning and funding our hospitals to ensure that the needs of people in all parts of the country are addressed, and that public funding is producing the highest possible level and quality of care.

…ensure that every school attains modern standards within the next five years !

…Ensure that group water schemes meet the quality standards of the Drinking Water Directive by end 2003.
…investment in water and sewerage schemes, ensuring that sewage discharges from all our major urban centres are treated in line with EU Directives

…Expand the Garda Síochána by a further 2,000.

….New services will be introduced both to some new housing developments but also
to existing poorly served communities

…We will start work on the construction at Abbotstown of a world-class national stadium that meets the needs of the three main sporting organizations.

…We will roll-out broadband to make it accessible to as many rural communities as possible.

…high quality dual carriageway or motorway links between Dublin and the Border, Cork, Limerick and Galway by 2006 and Dublin to Waterford by 2007.

..In July 2000, the Government approved the development of a metro system for Dublin. Particular priority will be given to the development of an early link to Dublin Airport.

…..We will ensure that the comprehensive Homelessness Strategies now in place are implemented in full, taking pre-emptive steps to ensure that high risk groups do not become homeless in the first place and that for those who do find themselves
homeless, that we have a full range of services – emergency accommodation, health, welfare, education and training – available to assist them.

….More than double the number of Civic Amenity Sites where items can be brought for recycling and more than treble the number of bring banks.

…..Extend the power to the DPP to appeal against lenient sentences in serious cases before the District Court

…..Introduce night courts and weekend courts.

and it goes on and on and on and these are the ones that just jump out at me as I scrolled through it.
How anyone can after reading through that and looking around them can vote for that shower and the pds is beyond me.