11.29.06
Newspapers
First, for Conor, who gets me.
Cycle: Day 4 which is strange because I really should only be due today. I think that would also explain my over-involvement in the Denis posts. I got really wound up about that. I think my cycle has speeded up so that I ovulate more. This body of mine wants to be pregnant again. I find myself feeling jealous of pregnant women on the street and looking at babies too much. The mind will resist though. Being pregnant is fine. And I adore the babies when they are little, but I have proved singularly incapable of coping with rampaging toddlers. I would love another child but only when I can cope again. I need to get a job, get out of the house and rejoin the human race for a while to restore my mental balance. If I ever had that.
Mood: Calm and optimistic. I hope to achieve many household tasks today
Children: both in creche. Hurrah!
Wearing: a favourite top. Black and white horizontal stripes (think Gondolier). Soft and warm. Easily washed. Years old. Looks respectable. The too big jeans are still on, but belt holding things up. Shoes are a triumph. The flat soft leather Nine West casuals that are as comfortable as runners but aren’t runners. HE HATES runners. He’s probably right.
Hair: Not bad. Got it cut and coloured last week so we are still at the shiny and manageable stage. I am wearing a hair band so its off my face which I know can be a little infantile, but also fresh looking.
Legs: Despite my earlier optimism that taking the anti-histamine would relieve post-wax allergy, I am SO DEPRESSED because in the end it didn’t work. I have only one remaining theory. For the past few months I always seem to end up getting the wax when I am in full throes of PMT so perhaps there is a hormonal explanation. I will give the wax ONE more go when I not endocronicologically (alright, I made up the that word, I am sure it must exist) challenged. If it doesn’t work that’s it, its Gillette Lady shave for me.
Now, to business. I cleaned the sitting room over-mantelpiece mirror earlier. This task used to be performed, in my childhood anyway, using newspapers because it didn’t leave fluff or streaks and left the glass really shiny. But this morning it just streaked so badly, I had to use a cloth. I wonder have the ingredients of newspaper paper changed?
I listened to Dermot Ahern on Morning Ireland today saying that HE had conducted enquiries with American officials which satisfied him that planes in Shannon were not involved in rendition. Riiiiiiiiiiiiight. This is the same Dermot Ahern who was sent to London to interview who was it? Gilmartin? The Murphy guy? And said there was no evidence that Ray Burke had been bribed. Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight. He hardly has credibility on the enquiry front, does he?
P O'Neill said,
November 29, 2006 at 5:24 pm
On your last point in these Joycean musings, it’s clear that there’s a set of FF talking points and media strategy on the renditions — note the combination of ridicule, the use of a surrogate (Eoin Ryan) and the blustering yet carefully worded denials (“there is no evidence”). All very familiar from US consultant political strategy — is Shrum still on the payroll?
Ronan said,
November 29, 2006 at 7:27 pm
Yes and Bertie looked the “great George Bush” in the eye and told him he needed to “be sure to be sure” . What a statesman!
Daniel Sullivan said,
November 29, 2006 at 10:28 pm
And Bertie then asked us with eyes to camera, what more could he do?
Jeez, Bertie, old buddy, old pal, I’m not sure at all. How about we do some random inspections of these planes that are after all on Irish soil. Hell, what am I thinking, we can’t even organise real random inspections of nursing homes and they have our old people which paid us taxes down the years in them and everything!
gerry said,
November 30, 2006 at 10:55 am
To be fair Daniel – how would you conduct a random inspection to determine rendition.
1) very few of the flights would be involved anyway so you would need to check an awful lot
2) What, precisely, are you looking for? OK, they might have a guy in an orange jumpsuit, kneeling over in chains. Fine. but how do I prove the guy is going to a third party state for extrajudicial interrogation? I don’t know.
The only way to prevent these guys being transported through Irish soil is to ban the planes using Shannon. That’s what Bertie can do but as we all know this is unlikelyl to happen. Talk of inspections is hogwash.
Sarah said,
November 30, 2006 at 11:15 am
I don’t agree Gerry. The flights referred to aren’t the big troop transport planes.They are the privately chartered planes and I believe a figure of 140 was referred to for their trips through Shannon.
Surely the flight plan would confirm the origin and destination of the prisoner?
John of Dublin said,
November 30, 2006 at 12:17 pm
Yea, it’s one of those hot potatoes the Gov would like to ignore. Can’t upset the yanks. McDowell was amusing in the Dail – he believes Ms. Rice’s word is good. If we were to mistrust her and carry out investigation – it’s curtains for the St. Patrick’s Day invitation to White House!
Anyway – BABIES – we also mused over having a 3rd baby at the time. My wife wanted a 3rd and I used to joke I’d be happy with 2.5 babies but the number had to be an integer! We decided to have the 3rd. Only advise I can offer is that the kids are at maximum fun within about 5-12 age group. Old enough to be past too much physical maintenance and young enough to contol where they are at night! But 2 kids is also a nice sized family today.
gerry said,
November 30, 2006 at 12:19 pm
really? fair enough – it does sound possible so. Just goes to show you can’t know everything. I withdraw my comment.
Sarah said,
November 30, 2006 at 12:50 pm
how graceful gerry
good heavens, civilisation hits the comments section!
John of Dublin said,
November 30, 2006 at 12:51 pm
“This is the same Dermot Ahern who was sent to London to interview who was it? Gilmartin? The Murphy guy? And said there was no evidence that Ray Burke had been bribed. Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight. He hardly has credibility on the enquiry front, does he? ”
We’ll you would hope that the top leaders in USA would have more clarity and credibility when they tell you something. They would never lie blatently without a good escape clause, would they?!! Mmmh. Well, Nixon lied I suppose but that was ages ago when it was still cool…Clinton too, but that was just about a confused view on what sexual relations are, heh, heh.
John of Dublin said,
November 30, 2006 at 12:53 pm
Well not We’ll, jeez!
Leon said,
November 30, 2006 at 1:25 pm
What are we supposed to do? The fact of the matter is we all know who butters our bread and it isn’t Moslem terrorists or unlucky Pakistani villagers.
Leon said,
November 30, 2006 at 1:26 pm
By the way am I supposed to believe the Blueshirts would do anything differentky except maybe send Irish lads off to die for Esso and Texaco in Iraq?
Leon said,
November 30, 2006 at 3:23 pm
If John Deasy was in government there would be torture centres in Waterford.
Mars said,
November 30, 2006 at 4:07 pm
As much as it saddens me, annoys me and makes a mock of Ireland commitment, actually not even commitment just basic acknowledgement of Human Rights, I have to agree with Leon comments. What realistically will Ireland do about rendition flights. What check all the flights, find prisioner on the flight, take them under the wing of the Irish judicary, ask difficult questions and challenge the US? Legally challenging, politically embarressing and potentially economically disasterous. What would happen if Ireland really tackled the issue of rendition flights in Ireland. Would the US pull the plug on their investments in Shannon, would there be job losses, would families would lose their livelyhood. I would really like to hear this side of the argument teased out. Its all well and good to make fun of the mooawnn like approach of the Irish government……….off course its a joke and we all know that to rely on the “word of Miss Rice” or to “Trust our US friends” on this thorny issue is an insult to our intelligence. But seriously………..lets tease out what would happen if Ireland chose to stop rendition flights?
faolain said,
December 2, 2006 at 12:43 am
Sarah,
been away, so before I even read comments: newspaper needs to be doused in white (malt or spirit) i.e. white vinegar.
faolain said,
December 2, 2006 at 12:48 am
what would happen if Ireland chose to stop rendition flights?
How much money would we lose? How many jobs?
vs
How much better would we feel about ourselves as the guardians of righteousness?
Daniel Sullivan said,
December 2, 2006 at 10:09 pm
Folks, american companies are not going to pull out of Ireland if we stop rendition flights. They are commerical organisations for crying out loud.
Darren Mac an PhrÃora said,
December 3, 2006 at 12:30 am
Not all capitalists are unbridled capitalists though. Some of them are cultured.
David McWilliams made this argument in Galway last March:
Why are foreign mulitinationals investing in Galway more than Waterford? Waterford has better roads and is nearer to Dublin… Its because- albeit argubably- that Galway has that whole culutural connection with the US a hell of a lot more than Waterford.
The Rick tycoon Denis O’ Brien seems to be a nice guy. Bill Gates seems to be a nice guy. A lot of the rich people in the world got to where they are precisely because they are nice guys and are cultured.
Sorry, Dan- and I know you are in FG- your super-rational argument is precisely the thing that turns a lot of people of Fine Gael.
Daniel Sullivan said,
December 3, 2006 at 5:23 pm
You would prefer if people made irrational arguments? Or that they based their views on something they had overheard in a pub?
Darren Mac an PhrÃora said,
December 3, 2006 at 7:22 pm
Sorry, I went on a bit of a tangent there.
Darren Mac an PhrÃora said,
December 4, 2006 at 12:49 am
Meant to say that I have never heard FG being strongly against the use of Shannon Airport. I was at the Dáil debate a couple of years ago about it and and Enda Kenny was, well, quiet on it. Joe Higgins stole the show shouting at Séamus Brennan about selling beer to Saddam Hussein in the ’80′s.
Darren Mac an PhrÃora said,
December 4, 2006 at 12:51 am
“selling beer”
He might has well have sold beer to the murdering ba*sards!!!
Daniel K. said,
December 5, 2006 at 12:12 pm
FG had a consistent policy that without a UN mandate for military action the use of shannon was not appropriate. Of course, more moderate tones always get lost in shouting matches which is what the discussion on Iraq became in the end.