Monday, April 25, 2005
A blog hanger to drape things off.
This is primarily a test entry to ensure that people can comment and to see how that would look for collaborating.
Tuesday, April 19, 2005
I Society
The I is you, the I is me, the I is everyone. The ‘I’ is in all. The ‘I’ sees not Union’s nor individuals. It seeks no illumination, for all can see through the ‘I’. There is no team in the I.
The I is watching. The I is loving. The I is caring.
The I loves you.
The I would like to have a lie down...
One of the stories of origin is that the I Society came about in March of 89 when Dan Levy (Lecturer ECE dept.) gave an open book exam for Electrical Science to the 2nd Electronic Engineering class. This was the last exam prior to going out on co-op, it was on a Friday or perhaps even a Saturday at the end of exam week and the class had missed out on the main carousing events on campus. The open book nature of the exam meant that you would not be searched going in and so the decision was made to come in something unusual. About 20 odd people came in sheets. Hmmm… that is a phrase too open to interpretation, so better to say that somewhat more than 20 members of the class wore sheets to the exam in the toga manner favoured by the Romans and the Saturday night live crew from the move ‘Animal House’. It made for a very relaxed atmosphere and over the following months a number of people took up the challenge to lighten the atmosphere on the then NIHE campus. The I Society was primarily a vehicle for self expression and making the college a bit more eventful and enjoyable during what was a drab old time. Rather than telling people that membership was open it all, it was considered more sensible that everyone on campus was automatically a member unless they explicitly stated they were not. Hence, the mantra when asked what is the I Society, “The I is you, the I is me, the I is everyone. The ‘I’ is in all.”. That has been expanded and now all sentient life is considered to be part of the I.
Others claim that the true origins of the I were much more mysterious. All stories are possible...
The I is watching. The I is loving. The I is caring.
The I loves you.
The I would like to have a lie down...
One of the stories of origin is that the I Society came about in March of 89 when Dan Levy (Lecturer ECE dept.) gave an open book exam for Electrical Science to the 2nd Electronic Engineering class. This was the last exam prior to going out on co-op, it was on a Friday or perhaps even a Saturday at the end of exam week and the class had missed out on the main carousing events on campus. The open book nature of the exam meant that you would not be searched going in and so the decision was made to come in something unusual. About 20 odd people came in sheets. Hmmm… that is a phrase too open to interpretation, so better to say that somewhat more than 20 members of the class wore sheets to the exam in the toga manner favoured by the Romans and the Saturday night live crew from the move ‘Animal House’. It made for a very relaxed atmosphere and over the following months a number of people took up the challenge to lighten the atmosphere on the then NIHE campus. The I Society was primarily a vehicle for self expression and making the college a bit more eventful and enjoyable during what was a drab old time. Rather than telling people that membership was open it all, it was considered more sensible that everyone on campus was automatically a member unless they explicitly stated they were not. Hence, the mantra when asked what is the I Society, “The I is you, the I is me, the I is everyone. The ‘I’ is in all.”. That has been expanded and now all sentient life is considered to be part of the I.
Others claim that the true origins of the I were much more mysterious. All stories are possible...
Thursday, April 14, 2005
Elections everywhere it seems, if my parents had stayed in Croydon, i hope my views would be the same as they are now.
You should vote: Liberal Democrat
Who should I vote for?
Your expected outcome:
Liberal DemocratYour actual outcome:
Labour -6  | |
| Conservative -40 | |
 Liberal Democrat 42 | |
| UK Independence Party -16 | |
| Green 9 |
You should vote: Liberal Democrat
The LibDems take a strong stand against tax cuts and a strong one in favour of public services: they would make long-term residential care for the elderly free across the UK, and scrap university tuition fees. They are in favour of a ban on smoking in public places, but would relax laws on cannabis. They propose to change vehicle taxation to be based on usage rather than ownership.
Take the test at Who Should You Vote For
Let them drink Coke!
The local krustinos are waging (wage, krusty. now there's a concept) a war against the evil empire of Coke.
You can see more here.
The Coke Braintrust
You can see more here.
The Coke Braintrust
Thursday, March 24, 2005
Letters to the Editor
Mgb had a letter published in today's Irish Times (well done, Mike). However, in his comments on it on his blog he appears to imply that my contributions to the Irish Times might be characterised as those of a crank! So, I've included them below to allow you dear reader to be the real judge.
So, crank or not?
Date Published: Feb 16 2002
Sir, - Taking the opportunity that the recent report on Stadium Ireland has given us, and in advance of the election, I have a suggestion: Given the considerable time, effort and simple hard work that the many sports organisations, in particular the GAA, in Ireland have had to go to to offer sport to the citizens and in the absence of any real public policy on funding sports and recreational activities since the foundation of the State, I would suggest that the State buy Croke Park (less the money given already specifically for the current development), Lansdowne Road, Pairc Úi Chaoimh and the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick and develop them to meet the needs of the country.
I am sure that arrangements can be made to ensure that the organisations retain most of the gate money and that the grounds would be available for traditional dates i.e. Croke Park would be made available for the All Ireland ahead of any soccer matches. The money given to the organisations for their grounds would then be used by the organisations to fund full-time coaches and development where a central facility is not required.
Imagine: Dublin Gaelic matches and perhaps some Leinster finals might fit in a remodelled 55,000-seater Lansdowne Road, Munster rugby and hurling into a 20,000 to 35,000 seater Gaelic grounds and a 30,000 to 55,000-seater ground in Cork available for a Cork-Kerry All Ireland!
We do not need three stadiums in Dublin at the cost of developing facilities around the rest of the country. - Yours, etc.,
DANIEL K. SULLIVAN,Collinswood, Dublin 9.
Date Published: Date: June 12 2003
Madam, - While concurring with Vera Hughes' sentiments about Kathy Sheridan's column "A week of rituals and partings", I would like to point out that the column had another insightful aspect that may have been missed. In noting possible future careers for the class of 2003 "artists, businesswomen, musicians, beauticians, scientists, cooks, dentists, doctors, child-carers, pharmacists and teachers", it is interesting that none of these young women were thinking of pursuing a career in engineering.
When trying to understand why the numbers of women at the top level in Irish professions are less than they might be, we often forget that if a few members of any group enter an area that it is likely that equally few will reach the top. It is often noted that young girls tend to play games that involve more role-play and understanding relationships, and that this can help them assist them in certain careers in later life.
Should they not be encouraged to play games that involve more hard-fact-based problem-solving which might allow them to develop the skills required for engineering? And while I personally dislike this gender typing of personality aspects, if we are encouraging boys to explore their "feminine" side, are we not doing a disservice to girls in not encouraging them to explore the "male" approach? Yours, etc.,
DANIEL K. SULLIVAN, Collinswood, Dublin 9.
Date Published: August 6th 2003
Madam, - In your edition of July 28th the Tánaiste is quoted as follows: "Questioned about Fianna Fáil's standing, Ms Harney said Mr Ahern has been 'an outstanding and successful leader for the party. He was the first Taoiseach in over 30 years to be re-elected.' "
It would seem Mary Harney is choosing to forget her part in Charlie Haughey's re-election as Taoiseach in 1989. The Fianna Fáil government may not have been returned to power but Charlie Haughey certainly was. Does this example of selective memory explain how our Government seems to have forgotten so much of what it committed itself to last year? - Yours etc.,
DANIEL K. SULLIVAN, (Fine Gael local area representative), Collinswood, Dublin 9.
Date Published: Sept 16th 2003
Madam, - Finian McGrath TD (September 10th), writing on the rights of disabled people, says: "This important issue should never be used as a political football. The reality is that successive Governments have failed people with disabilities."
I would contend that it is the people of Ireland who failed the disabled down through the years. It has been the immense work of parents, other family, friends and a select minority that has prevented the disabled from being completely marginalised. What the majority of people contributed was a few bob here and there and a smile for "the poor cratur".
This is why the Special Olympics were so important. They served to break down the idea that people with disabilities were somehow apart from everyone else.
I agree we need strong, rights-based legislation to protect and advance the lives of the disabled. However, it is the people we need to take this argument to, not the Government. Change people's minds and have them say loudly enough that it this a priority, and the Government will follow.
We, the people, need to start to take responsibility for our actions and stop voting for governments and then claiming we bear no responsibility for what they do. In the last election one in three didn't see fit to vote at all. Almost another one in three of the people voted for this Government, yet if you stop anyone in the street, almost no one will admit to doing either. - Yours, etc.,
DANIEL K. SULLIVAN (Fine Gael Area Representative), Collinswood, Dublin 9.
Date Published: Dec 21 2004
Madam, - Last year, many of us were aghast at the attacks on the entitlements of widows as part of the "savage 16" cuts introduced by the then Minister for Social Welfare, Mary Coughlan. This year it has come to light that the State has been systematically robbing pensioners in State care - a matter that appears to have come to light during the tenure of the last Minister for Health, Micheál Martin.
This Christmas we will need to be watchful that Santa Claus is not followed down the chimney by an agent of the State seeking to take the presents intended for the smallest members of the household - perhaps to be resold to cover the costs of Mr Martin Cullen's PR successes, such as electronic voting, Farmleigh House, Carrickmines, the hill of Tara and the Waterford Bypass. - Yours, etc.,
DANIEL SULLIVAN, (Fine Gael), Beaumont, Dublin 9.
This last one was referred to in the Daily Mirror of Dec 23rd as putting Minister Cullen in the hospital!
So, crank or not?
Date Published: Feb 16 2002
Sir, - Taking the opportunity that the recent report on Stadium Ireland has given us, and in advance of the election, I have a suggestion: Given the considerable time, effort and simple hard work that the many sports organisations, in particular the GAA, in Ireland have had to go to to offer sport to the citizens and in the absence of any real public policy on funding sports and recreational activities since the foundation of the State, I would suggest that the State buy Croke Park (less the money given already specifically for the current development), Lansdowne Road, Pairc Úi Chaoimh and the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick and develop them to meet the needs of the country.
I am sure that arrangements can be made to ensure that the organisations retain most of the gate money and that the grounds would be available for traditional dates i.e. Croke Park would be made available for the All Ireland ahead of any soccer matches. The money given to the organisations for their grounds would then be used by the organisations to fund full-time coaches and development where a central facility is not required.
Imagine: Dublin Gaelic matches and perhaps some Leinster finals might fit in a remodelled 55,000-seater Lansdowne Road, Munster rugby and hurling into a 20,000 to 35,000 seater Gaelic grounds and a 30,000 to 55,000-seater ground in Cork available for a Cork-Kerry All Ireland!
We do not need three stadiums in Dublin at the cost of developing facilities around the rest of the country. - Yours, etc.,
DANIEL K. SULLIVAN,Collinswood, Dublin 9.
Date Published: Date: June 12 2003
Madam, - While concurring with Vera Hughes' sentiments about Kathy Sheridan's column "A week of rituals and partings", I would like to point out that the column had another insightful aspect that may have been missed. In noting possible future careers for the class of 2003 "artists, businesswomen, musicians, beauticians, scientists, cooks, dentists, doctors, child-carers, pharmacists and teachers", it is interesting that none of these young women were thinking of pursuing a career in engineering.
When trying to understand why the numbers of women at the top level in Irish professions are less than they might be, we often forget that if a few members of any group enter an area that it is likely that equally few will reach the top. It is often noted that young girls tend to play games that involve more role-play and understanding relationships, and that this can help them assist them in certain careers in later life.
Should they not be encouraged to play games that involve more hard-fact-based problem-solving which might allow them to develop the skills required for engineering? And while I personally dislike this gender typing of personality aspects, if we are encouraging boys to explore their "feminine" side, are we not doing a disservice to girls in not encouraging them to explore the "male" approach? Yours, etc.,
DANIEL K. SULLIVAN, Collinswood, Dublin 9.
Date Published: August 6th 2003
Madam, - In your edition of July 28th the Tánaiste is quoted as follows: "Questioned about Fianna Fáil's standing, Ms Harney said Mr Ahern has been 'an outstanding and successful leader for the party. He was the first Taoiseach in over 30 years to be re-elected.' "
It would seem Mary Harney is choosing to forget her part in Charlie Haughey's re-election as Taoiseach in 1989. The Fianna Fáil government may not have been returned to power but Charlie Haughey certainly was. Does this example of selective memory explain how our Government seems to have forgotten so much of what it committed itself to last year? - Yours etc.,
DANIEL K. SULLIVAN, (Fine Gael local area representative), Collinswood, Dublin 9.
Date Published: Sept 16th 2003
Madam, - Finian McGrath TD (September 10th), writing on the rights of disabled people, says: "This important issue should never be used as a political football. The reality is that successive Governments have failed people with disabilities."
I would contend that it is the people of Ireland who failed the disabled down through the years. It has been the immense work of parents, other family, friends and a select minority that has prevented the disabled from being completely marginalised. What the majority of people contributed was a few bob here and there and a smile for "the poor cratur".
This is why the Special Olympics were so important. They served to break down the idea that people with disabilities were somehow apart from everyone else.
I agree we need strong, rights-based legislation to protect and advance the lives of the disabled. However, it is the people we need to take this argument to, not the Government. Change people's minds and have them say loudly enough that it this a priority, and the Government will follow.
We, the people, need to start to take responsibility for our actions and stop voting for governments and then claiming we bear no responsibility for what they do. In the last election one in three didn't see fit to vote at all. Almost another one in three of the people voted for this Government, yet if you stop anyone in the street, almost no one will admit to doing either. - Yours, etc.,
DANIEL K. SULLIVAN (Fine Gael Area Representative), Collinswood, Dublin 9.
Date Published: Dec 21 2004
Madam, - Last year, many of us were aghast at the attacks on the entitlements of widows as part of the "savage 16" cuts introduced by the then Minister for Social Welfare, Mary Coughlan. This year it has come to light that the State has been systematically robbing pensioners in State care - a matter that appears to have come to light during the tenure of the last Minister for Health, Micheál Martin.
This Christmas we will need to be watchful that Santa Claus is not followed down the chimney by an agent of the State seeking to take the presents intended for the smallest members of the household - perhaps to be resold to cover the costs of Mr Martin Cullen's PR successes, such as electronic voting, Farmleigh House, Carrickmines, the hill of Tara and the Waterford Bypass. - Yours, etc.,
DANIEL SULLIVAN, (Fine Gael), Beaumont, Dublin 9.
This last one was referred to in the Daily Mirror of Dec 23rd as putting Minister Cullen in the hospital!
Tuesday, March 08, 2005
You know the gaps are getting longer and longer. I'd blame the tv only, mine is gone all quiet. Apparentrly, John (Stiffler) in the house went up the stairs Saturday night and the tv was on and when he come down it was off. We've been having strange power surges, tripping the switches and brown outs.
Apparently, in medieval times I would be this!
Apparently, in medieval times I would be this!
Thursday, March 03, 2005
Ok, to recap quickly.
On Friday I went up to Dublin for a seminar in the CITO in UCD, it was interesting and I'll be trying to stay in touch with the person who gave it. But 4-6pm on a Friday is a bloody awkward time for anyone to go to such as thing from outside of Dublin. I was lucky that it finished pretty promptly after 5.30pm and I got to talk to a number of people there and then I did my not very good impression of a student heading down the country to get his washing done by Mammy.
I got to the Heuston in reasonable time for the train which I thought erroneously was due to leave at 7pm; however it was really leaving at 7.15pm. In actual fact it didn't leave until almost 7.30pm. It was one of the old style CIE trains that I’ve experienced from Mallow to Kerry a good few things. It ran on time which was good. There was lot noise from the undercarriage as if it was getting pelted with stones which is normal enough but from time to time it would sounds as if the wheels were running over crowbars that were bouncing up to hit the undercarriage. It must have done some damage to the electrics because 20 minutes out from Limerick the carriages were plunged into darkness. It was a nervy moment for most people, which I didn’t assist with by ringing Mgb and leaving a voicemail asking if he knew if the electrics and the brakes on trains were connected. I also mentioned during the call that we should be in the station in 10/15 minutes and potentially in the back of Tom Collins 20 secs later. I donned my black gloves and pulled my warm thinsulate hat down almost to my eyes and I think at that point some people began to shuffle in their seats. Probably wondering if I wasn’t about to start stealing jewellery at gunpoint. “Oh, I’m the dandy highwayman”
Happy to say, the train did actually slow down as we entered the station. Oddly, there was no clapping of the type you sometimes get on planes when they touchdown safely. I headed to IRI HQ is it sometimes known. From there we went to Mike M 29+1 drinks in Nancy’s, I had 3 pints and that was it for the night! Saturday involved me traveling home to Kerry and Sunday saw me return again to Limerick very much in the nature of a flying visit, only I used the bus.
On Friday I went up to Dublin for a seminar in the CITO in UCD, it was interesting and I'll be trying to stay in touch with the person who gave it. But 4-6pm on a Friday is a bloody awkward time for anyone to go to such as thing from outside of Dublin. I was lucky that it finished pretty promptly after 5.30pm and I got to talk to a number of people there and then I did my not very good impression of a student heading down the country to get his washing done by Mammy.
I got to the Heuston in reasonable time for the train which I thought erroneously was due to leave at 7pm; however it was really leaving at 7.15pm. In actual fact it didn't leave until almost 7.30pm. It was one of the old style CIE trains that I’ve experienced from Mallow to Kerry a good few things. It ran on time which was good. There was lot noise from the undercarriage as if it was getting pelted with stones which is normal enough but from time to time it would sounds as if the wheels were running over crowbars that were bouncing up to hit the undercarriage. It must have done some damage to the electrics because 20 minutes out from Limerick the carriages were plunged into darkness. It was a nervy moment for most people, which I didn’t assist with by ringing Mgb and leaving a voicemail asking if he knew if the electrics and the brakes on trains were connected. I also mentioned during the call that we should be in the station in 10/15 minutes and potentially in the back of Tom Collins 20 secs later. I donned my black gloves and pulled my warm thinsulate hat down almost to my eyes and I think at that point some people began to shuffle in their seats. Probably wondering if I wasn’t about to start stealing jewellery at gunpoint. “Oh, I’m the dandy highwayman”
Happy to say, the train did actually slow down as we entered the station. Oddly, there was no clapping of the type you sometimes get on planes when they touchdown safely. I headed to IRI HQ is it sometimes known. From there we went to Mike M 29+1 drinks in Nancy’s, I had 3 pints and that was it for the night! Saturday involved me traveling home to Kerry and Sunday saw me return again to Limerick very much in the nature of a flying visit, only I used the bus.
Monday, February 21, 2005
You wait all this time and then 2 come along at once.
I had been thinking of starting a blog for quite a while and then the move to the new Engineering Research building prompted me to get off my behind just do it, do it. As someone of a corporate inclination might say.
And then someone else kindly sets another one up. Not for me you understand as I have no contact with this person. But I believe the words from this wise soul to be completely worth referencing. See here.
The great King of Wisdom
And then someone else kindly sets another one up. Not for me you understand as I have no contact with this person. But I believe the words from this wise soul to be completely worth referencing. See here.
The great King of Wisdom
Friday, February 11, 2005
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