The Irish lower to middle classes are the slaves of European elites.
It is not an economic war of nations but a war of classes, again and again and again.
Please note, in my opinion, German, French, British lower to middle classes are *not* to blame. They are as much under threat from this vast scale corruption and manipulation of governmental powers as the Irish.
The difference being, they would not let themselves be predated upon as much as the Irish do.
We are being *crucified* for a debt we did not incur. The regular Irish workers are currently bailing out *PRIVATE* European and International banking institutions *failed gambles*.
Thus, as far as the cost to bail out unscrupulous gambling bankers, the Irish top the list with every man, woman and child owing 15,000 Euros.
In 2nd place, every German man, woman and German child owing 800 Euros approx.
The other European nation states "owing" significantly less.
And true to what Jim says above here, our complicit politicians are now imposing new tax after new tax, and cutting essential front-line services to pay for all this illicit gambling of which we had no part.
- With the recent months of very cold weather many of our elderly have been admitted to hospital for hypothermia due to insufficient funds to heat their homes.
- 60% of the population now have less than 50 euros left over at the end of every month after all major bills have been paid.
- 2 people a week are now committing suicide.
- Government are now trying to *illegally* remove protective legislation as laid down by our constitution to protect citizens from losing their homes by repossession in such dire economic circumstances. Circumstances engineered by those who are now profiting from it.
- School kids are being asked to go door-to-door to fund their local schools essential expenses. They regularly have to wear their coats in class now as their local schools can't afford adequate heating while our politicians sit in a nicely heated parliament building, have grossly inflated salaries, expense accounts, and millionaire's salaries whether they do a good job or not!
- Michael Noonan our "Minister for Finance" attended the last Bilderberg conference - at the expense of the Irish tax payer! He now won't recount what was discussed, and the implications to those who elected him and pay his lavish salary!!
The monkey's in charge of the bananas as far as control of our hard-earned money is concerned!
Any Irish reading this, support your local march. For God's sake, and your children's sake, get out on the streets and protest against this blatantly obvious predation. Tell your friends, give hell to your local FG/Labour & FF politician for broken election promises which were merely uttered for election and personal gain, and do all you can to raise the awareness to the world, and the Irish people who NEED TO WAKE UP BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.
A Leaf From The Tree of Songs
When harpers once in wooden hall
A shining chord would strike
Their songs like arrows pierced the soul
Of great and low alike
Aglow by hearth and candleflame
From burning branch to ember
The mist of all their music sang
As if to ask in wonder
Is there a moment quite as keen
Or memory as bright
As light and fire and music (sweet)
To warm the winter's night?
--Adam Christianson
Very moving...even the very words "pierce the soul"...
Some of the finest aspects of life in the days of yore, before electricity and "advancement".
Beautiful.
Just recently, I came across a poll / thread where the Dutch gentleman Rogerzoekt asked
“Can you really fall in love with someone on the internet?”
Looking at the results of the poll just at the time of drafting this blog, it seemed obvious that most people were hopeful AND/OR absolutely sure that they really could find love online.
I thought about this, and my own situation with my beautiful girlfriend Nessa. As I explained on that thread, I have been on and off this and other dating sites for the last 6/7 years. I have met a number of girls online in this time, some of whom I have developed very close attachments with. I feel this would be ‘normal’ enough, even in a “real-life” situation for a single guy over a 7 year period. I am a close observer of people, and take stock of what works, what doesn’t, and the reasons behind these.
As internet dating is relatively only a very recent phenomenon, I would consider myself to be a “seasoned campaigner” at this stage. I have learned much from one relationship to the next, no matter how long or short the relationship would have been. I sincerely don't meant this to sound like so much bragging, but still I would regard myself as one of the more experienced on the matter, shall we say. I am sure there are others like me, male and female who could say the same...and you probably know were I am coming from.
Thus, and whilst I’m not going to divulge any more details on *Our* personal relationship than I choose, I will say that I am no fool, and I know in my heart and soul I have found me the BEST woman ever in my whole life, and I really could not wish for better with her. And I found her HERE on CS.
Pardon me now, all the naysayers, but give me a break. I am letting you all into something which is still extremely private to me and Nessa, something I/we don’t have to share with the outside world. But we would *genuinely* like to give hope to other people, even if it means letting all and sundry into our personal affairs. We all have busy lives. Even writing this blog with a will to help others, takes time.
Coming to the crux of the matter...
Many thanks to those who have wished us heartfelt luck and happiness together. I/we *really* appreciate it, especially, without any form of qualification.
Many thanks to those who wished us luck, even with their misgivings. We realize that it may have been hard for those people to wish us ‘any’ luck as they are obviously fearful themselves, and don’t have enough trust in online dating as others. Even Nessa was fearful and actually not looking when we met first.
I respect everybody’s point of view, even if I don’t agree with them. But I have to say it is disheartening to have people impress *their* fears and bad experiences onto *Our* experience and *Our* chances of happiness together. I still say this tentatively, as I'm sure quite a few of those who conditionally wished us luck, really do mean the best, and would probably take responsibility for the fact that their misgivings are *their* misgivings.
(contd.)
I write this in genuine goodwill and regard for those people who have left or been banned recently. *All* of them.
I think 'most' people just want a break from grief and hassle. A break will be a good thing...both for those taking the break, and those still engaging on CS.
Bit of perspective goes a long way. We can see what was good about each other as
"Absence makes the heart grow fonder"
It is my ardent wish though, that these good people, will come back and engage fairly and equally with all. *Hopefully* some lessons will have been learned by those "on leave" for their own betterment and enjoyment of this site, and for those of us here. I do not say that judgementally towards any of them. Some people may feel that they need to turn their sensitivity levels down a little for their own protection. Though we all do it (nearly) from time to time, others may reflect on harsh words they would have spoken, and that was equally spoken to them....both wrong....
"An eye for an eye, makes the whole world blind".
And I HONESTLY hope that if and when they come back, it will be with hands of friendship, as we should offer to them. Some of them who have left....though they were on the "other side" of friends of mine here....I still regret that they're gone...I hate to see anyone down....or "conquered". It is a failing on a good person's part if they have "conquered" their enemy.
I must say I've enjoyed watching my son's Disney films, esp. the current crop of them. Though initially when I had to accompany him, or sit down and watch them at home with him I groaned.
But then there seems to be a new trend in Disney children's films (in particular) where the "wrong-doers" in the end have a very satisfying reconciliation with those who meant no harm all along.
Films like, (I think) it was the last "Shrek" clearly evidenced that....and the film "Cars" actually drew tears to my eyes when at the end the show of integrity by the "hero" car is very heart warming. "He" had previously been very self-centred and heartless towards others, but in his travels and experiences he is changed (for the better) from them, and shows the most wonderful display of candour and honourable behaviour at the end.
In my opinion, it is one of the GREAT moments in "movie history", in a child's film....even if it *was* highly commercial.
It is wonderful to see such influential people like "Disney" giving such great moral guidance to our youngest.
I guess I'm saying this in the spirit of hoping that if and when those who left under duress or were banned, that they will try to find respectful middle ground without malice with those who they were in conflict with. And *sincerely* I hope those here, will be as "slate wiped clean" about it too.....and mistakes of the past are *not* repeated again by all us "adults" here!!
Goddamnit.....we're better together.
OKay....fcuk it....though I'm being "unofficially" banned
from quoting who*I* think is the most wonderful man in history, just because I'm "not Indian"....I'm going to do it again ANYWAY!!
And sod you dear Lady, I wish you would try to understand the *sentiment* and NOT take issue with me because I'm not Indian. We are *not* enemies. We SHOULD NOT be enemies.
It's one of my favourite quotes...I know I've said it before, but it's more than good enough to be said a THOUSAND times more...
"
What kind of victory is it when someone is left defeated?"
Mr. Gandhi.....
I played a gig tonight, with a five-piece band. There was a big crowd...big for this economic climate. The crowd seemed happy with the music we were playing, laughing & jumping, and swinging around the dance floor. The crowd were happy, *we* were happy.
Through the crowd I saw a shock of salt n pepper/blonde hair. A pretty girl in her late mid/late twenties, bouncing up and down, having fun. She was pretty, pretty attractive. I watched as she moved with the music. She had natural rhythm, and her dancing personified the efforts of our craft, in a beautiful visual representation of class & flair.
I am quite visual, and couldn't help but watch, admiring her vitality & soulful melding with the music. Her obviously vivacious spirit just seemed to bring the music to life. Every step, every sensual shake of the hips, in perfect time. We could *see* what we were playing mirrored in her perfect & sensual groove. It can be quite spell binding to watch somebody with such obvious rhythm, to see how the beat, the melody, how the essence of the music just comes to life in the dancer.
"How can we separate the dancer from the dance" eh?!
As I gazed on, I was rewarded with a brilliant flash of white pearlies, and a smile so bright, wild & full of *energy*, I was slightly bemused. I smiled back.
We played on, and the crowd danced on. The girl danced with more greater zest & enthusiasm. I was rewarded with more flashes of that fantastic smile.
The break came, and the band stood around by the bar, close to the stage though...ever watchful for some inebriated soul taking a magpie-like fancy to one of the instruments.
She obviously wanted to talk, and hovered close-by. So, I hovered at the edge of my group, and we started chatting.
A very easy, nice girl to talk to. Hungarian. A chemical engineer working in Cork the last four years. Though full of youth-like playfulness while dancing and having fun, she was pleasant, interesting & sweet. My eye liked her, that was for sure. She had beautiful chiseled features, a beautiful face and smile. She could have been a 'perfect' size 10, but was still nicely curvy despite her slightness. We spoke easily for a while, about her colleagues at work, her boss, and her excitement to go see her parents for Christmas.
Time flew and I had to get back on stage.
We finished the event on a very high note. The crowd roared for an encore, and we played Sweet Home Alabama. They were loved it, and the management knew it and acknowledged it with some winks and smiles.
We finished, and began packing up. The girl and her friend hovered again near the front of the stage. I could see all the signs. I knew it. And my friends were watching me closely. They obviously fancied her too, but were delighted for me in their own joking ways.
As I took down my gear, we spoke easily again. And yet, as we spoke, I just knew....I had not the fire in me to pursue her.
My brain constantly ran through all the facts.
"She's gorgeous, she's intelligent, she seems like somebody with a decent soul. She's got class. She's obviously 'into' you. Hey, she's even got a job! A girl earning more than you for once lad! Ha! She looks so lovely but elegant in her smart formal blouse and black tie."
Her makeup was done very nicely, tasteful though, not overdone. Her eyes shone as she smiled, and I wondered how soft that gorgeous hair would be to the touch.
"She smiles easily," I thought to myself, "naturally with happiness, but not unnecessarily so."
My eye kept jumping up, hoping the other parts of my being would join the chase.
The hunt is on guys!! There's your quarry!!"
I asked her for her number. She gave it, and liked that I somehow knew how to spell her Hungarian name without being told.
But my eye was alone in its eagerness. The rest of me, with all the knowledge of one who knows they are about to turn their back on some precious chance happening, but doesn't know why, just let out sighs.
(contd.)
(Contd. from Part 1)
Daily beatings with iron bars are, well, JUST commonplace…Mutilation, torture, sadistic torture for the satisfaction of bored and insane workers, UNBELIEVABLE neglect and conditions are all part of the horrific life for these lovely gentle animals. 40% of deaths occur from respiratory diseases. This is hardly surprising when you see the filth that they’re kept in all the time. Most places seem to be 80% concrete and 20% steel, and that’s it, no straw or bedding. The stench of excrement and decay is supposed to be unbearable for most workers. Added to this the fact that many bodies are just left to bloat and rot among living animals for days and weeks. The pig’s sense of smell is even more developed than a bloodhounds, by how much I can’t remember, but we all have heard stories of how they’re able to ‘root’ and dig up truffles 3 or 4 feet below the earth. NOW, consider having this extremely keen sense of smell and having a corpse lying next to you for a fortnight. AND, the fact that there’s excrement ALL OVER YOU, UNDER YOU AND ABOVE YOU. ALL THE TIME.
Those pigs that aren’t growing ‘quick enough’ are picked up by the rear legs by a big strong man - alive and lucid, and belted off the ground repeatedly ‘til their skulls eventually just crack. This is in an effort to save the pellets used in the bolt guns which are supposed to be used. The poor pig is alive and screaming with terror and agony the whole time until he’s dead, with blood and his brains seeping out of the many cracks to his head.
You can see for yourself, young little piglets being castrated by just crudely cutting and ripping and tearing until the testicles rip off. The worker looks like he’s just methodically trying to open a can. The poor little thing is wriggling & SCREAMING in agony the whole time, TOTALLY aware of what’s being done to him. I know pigs seem to ‘scream’ a lot, but this little thing was just SCREAMING WITH PAIN.
More images follow of some pigs which had been incorrectly ‘stunned’, and are thrown alive and terrified into the bath of scalding hot water which is used to remove the hair. It’s just heart rippingly cruel watching. You can’t hold back the tears that come to your eyes seeing them writhing in agony, just so I could have a jumbo breakfast roll instead of a plain old bowl of cereal. Awww poor me if I didn’t have it though.
(contd. in Part 3of3)
What was once an infinitely grand flourish, a fountain rising high into the morning air, sparkling gloriously in the full of the sun, an unconditional altruistic idealism which went way beyond romance, to the tiniest little quintessences of gentle, aching, poignant, passionate, sensitivity....is now...tired...stopped...nearly independent of conscious control. I just want peace. And quiet.
Though I think rarely of my last 'real' love, six months ago, it felt like the last door just shut in resignation. There's a difference between 'not being able to get back on' and 'not WANTING to get back on'...and I have somehow, ended up with the latter.
I've just got my son back legally 5 days a week, after the most heartbreaking absolute fight of my life...and I don't...we don't, need intrusions. Or upset. We don't need our routines disturbed for somebody who would ordinarily be given the keys to the palace, but will ultimately be just transient.
My son doesn't need his Dad ignoring him, chatting some shite on the phone to some temporary, when he has been patiently, and quietly waiting to have his bed time story read to him.
His needs matter most. Just like Max in "Where the wild things are"
He's not going to be just put aside and his gentle little wonderful needs ignored for a temporary nothing.
He matters WAY too much. He does. Kids do. It's our charge. It's our charge FROM LIFE. We're the adults. And we can't just abandon our kids. We can't walk out on them. We're the only ones able to stand up and fight for them, when they are too young to do it for themselves.
No Tim matters too much. And our own equilibrium matters way more than some passing moment of false, deluded passion anyway.
I can't exactly explain all that to the lovely Hungarian chemical engineer tomorrow though can I, before she goes home for the holidays?!
Where would I start and end...
(Contd. from Part 2)
Sounds of the morning radio come to me through the doorway while I am having my toast, and James Blunt comes on with a song about some guy worrying about some relationship. After the song, there’s some heated debate about how hospital patients needs aren’t being properly met.
Differing images flash through my mind, of the ‘importance’ of Flor Griffin Expert Stores sales, and dolphins throats being casually and methodically slit open while alive, because we want tuna, and world markets ‘force’ tuna fishers to treat dolphins as competition. The value of B&Q’s 20% off power tools, and Hotpoint washing machines with bigger drums at Sound Store, seem to pale away with images of young boys in Sierra Leone getting their arms cut off, and more young boys being forced to murder and torture people in the film ‘Blood Diamond’. Daft Dave (an Irish fictitious commercial character) is on now, people have to have their marble and porcelain tiles - as cheap as possible, which is vital, and my tea is going cold so I have to put it in the microwave to re-heat it. Poor me.
And then I think back to a shot of one poor horribly disfigured sow, who was just left so terribly deformed by abuse, neglect and illness lying in filth upon a concrete floor. Open lesions, scars, cuts bruised tissue showed years of abuse all over her poor old body, left to die in that spot of some ordinary disease. Typically, a pig in her condition is just left to die, without food or water. Shur why bother. Her ribs bones and joints were showing through her cruelly marked skin. Nobody on the radio thought of this poor sow. Like me, they were all too worried about their relationships, and the health service. The only thing of beauty left about her were her lovely eyes, gently blinking, not being able to understand the cruelty vented on her since she came into this world. She was a long time there dying.
In the shower this morning, I thought about what a horribly greedy & cruel race we can be at times, and the damage we are doing all around us to just about everything. We seem to be totally concerned with our own little greedy selfish concerns, and use apathy and ignorance and ‘progress’ as an excuse.
I realised that my head just hung down, and my shoulders were slumped forward, and I was ashamed to be a human.
Please just try to be a kinder & nicer person to everyone & everything.
Hugh.
Hi everyone,
This is Hugh.
For those of you who don’t know me long, “Hello, and apologies for this. Please bear with me”.
For those of you who I really need to get back to, “Sorry for not keeping in touch more. I can be a bit of a disaster. Please write if you would like.”
And for those of you who know me best, the relationship I have with you is still right where it’s always been - good, bad or so-so. Hopefully though, it’s good and intact.
I’m just sending this out now, because it’s far better than keeping a private rebellion.
I’m actually sending this here email to all my friends and family. I, for one, have been opting out of moral responsibilities long enough, and I think it‘s high time to make some stand. I may fall out with one or more, or all of you over what I’m writing here. If I do, then so be it. I do not intend to cause offense, or seem expectant or judgemental to anybody in any way, so if I do insult or offend you, it’s TOTALLY UNINTENDED.
For everyone, hope you’re all well.
I met a good friend of mine called Shirley in a restaurant in Dublin a month ago. She was ordering vegetarian, I was my usual carnivorous, blood-lusting self. I still possibly had an all too jaundiced view of vegetarians, ironically, seeing them as lacking in real ‘strength’ and being silly. I asked her why she was vegetarian. The one line which stuck with me was when, referring to the incredibly cruel treatment of animals raised for food, “….even in Ireland…”, she said she “…won’t be a part of any of it…”
Her selfless stance just really amazed me, something I wasn’t prepared to do, and I respected her greatly for it. I couldn’t just drift off into apathy this time, the way most human beings do, and it really left a mark on me.
Since that day I actually stopped eating any pig derived products, going on her solitary stance against it, and my own innate feeling that they are such intelligent, social & gentle animals. Something inside was telling me that they were meant for anything other than food.
I had come across pig-loving websites in the last year, before this conversation with Shirley, and pigs struck me as really intelligent, inquisitive, clean & caring souls. One site told the story of ‘Banjo’, a huge boar, who was both gentle as he was defensive of his owners. He was just some ‘ordinary’ breed of pig, big whitish / pink fellow, who could pick any lock supposedly (!), and was a tremendous source of comedy and affection and love to his owners.
Another one of hundreds of stories, shows the pig’s surprising intelligence. A young boy who lived in the country happened to make a pet out of a pig. In the summer when the weather was warm enough, he was able to swim in a local pond. But the family dog used to get very hyper with excitement, and jump on the boy in the water, clawing his back, making it impossible for him to enjoy or even continue swimming. Then one day seeing another repeat of the same dumb situation, his pet sow plopped into the water, and started swimming around between him and the fool of a dog, preventing him from happily jumping all over the boy. She kept a steady vigil of this, until she passed on. She became his life-guard, or life-pig!
And then last night, something again, made me google “Stop eating pigs”, and what I found was absolutely so stunningly horrific & heart-wrenching, that it’s just left me in tears again half the morning.
Due to the nobility of undercover animal rights activists, who no doubt endanger their own personal and social safety, there is a plethora of unbelievably shocking video evidence, of cruelty in factory farms and slaughter houses. They are, in the year 2007, modern day Auschwitz’s. The words ‘cruel‘, ‘sadistic’ and abominable just have no meaning until you actually see , with your own two peepers, the horror for yourself on video footage.
(contd. in Part 2)
This is a list of Vulpine's Blogs. Click here for Vulpine's Blog List
Vulpine Blog (10)
