Archive for February, 2007

Spot the difference

Grandad February 28th, 2007

Can you tell them apart?

bertie_flood.jpg

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The one on the left is Bertie Ahern. He likes standing around in water looking stupid.

The one on the right is Bertie Aheron. He likes standing around in water and looking regal.

The one on the left tries to abuse his position and then cries when he is caught.

The one on the right tries to steal my goldfish and flies away when he is caught.

The one on the left is arrogant and illiterate and thinks he owns the place.

The one on the right is arrogant and illiterate and thinks he owns the place.

The one on the left has a lot of friends in high places where they can abuse their power.

The one on the right has a lot of friends an high places, mostly in trees.

If the one on the left called to my property, I’d tell him to f*ck off.

If the one on the right calls to my property, I set the dog on him.

The one on the left flies around a lot at great expense to the taxpayer, and damage to the ozone layer.

The one on the right flies around a lot and looks graceful.

Of the two, I much prefer the one on the right.

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A radical new idea for the Electoral System

Grandad February 27th, 2007

Since I started rambling in this blog I have had a surprising number of people writing to me saying they agree with the things I say.

This got me thinking.

Wouldn’t it be much more sensible to vote for people on the Internet? Why not have a country where bloggers are voted to the Dail?

Think of the advantages -

For a start, you don’t know who I am, but I can guarantee you know a hell of a lot more about my philosophies and thought processes than you do about your local TD.

Blogging is Nationwide. No more constituency issues. You would be voting for the Big Picture. At present, you might vote for someone because he has promised to fix your street lights. He then gets elected, becomes a minister and builds a nuclear power station in the field behind you. That isn’t what you wanted.

Because blogging is nationwide, you can vote for anyone in the country. You are not restricted by geography or constituency. You can vote for a candidate in Donegal or Wexford, Louth or Kerry.

Bloggers raise issues on a monthly, weekly or even a daily basis. And you have the power to argue. With the current system, once elected, a TD can go his or her own way and has the power to ignore all your wishes.

Voting would be simple. With modern advances in bio-recognition or electronic signatures, fraud could be eliminated. and you can vote from the comfort of your home or workplace. If you don’t have a computer, you can vote in a neighbours, or your library or Internet cafe.

No more Dail debates. All issues can be debated, not amongst TDs but amongst the public - the people who matter.

In fact, General Elections could be done away with. If a blogger is not doing the job, he or she is knocked out and a new one chosen on a regular basis.

To become a candidate, all you have to do is declare your willingness, and write a blog. Simple.

If they want E-Voting, LET’S GIVE THEM E-VOTING!!!!

So let’s have a debate.

The first debate of the E-Dail.

A moment in history.

The Greeks are credited with being the fathers of Democracy.

In a thousand years, they’ll be talking about “Grandad - the Father of Emocracy”

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New page

Grandad February 27th, 2007

I have no thoughts at the moment.

The brain cells just aren’t functioning.  Neither of them.

So I thought I’d put up a page instead.

I was going to put the content on the bit on the right, over Archives, but it slowed down the site too much.  So I put it on a separate page instead.

The page is dedicated to my good friend George W.  It shows him in a new light.  He shows a remarkable insight into  geography, politics, mathematics, physics and much more.  He speaks coherently and with great authority.  He is obviously not the dimwit I took him to be.

I have called the page “Quote of the day”, and you will find the link at the top, or the side, depending on whether you are right-handed or top-handed.

New dogs are learning old tricks

Grandad February 26th, 2007

I felt like annoying someone this morning.

It’s not that I’m in a bad mood or anything. Just the opposite. I feel good.

However, I feel I am paying quite a lot for some services, so I feel justified in phoning them every now and again for my own amusement, and to annoy them. I have a bit of spare time, and I have free phonecalls, so why not?

I rang my broadband company.

I went through the usual Voice Processing Units [see - I even know what they are called now] and eventually got through to a nice girl. well, she sounded nice anyway. So I explained my situation.

I told her that they had upgraded their system last October but that they had only fixed mine last week. I explained that for the last five months I was paying for a better service, but was still receiving the lower grade, which was cheaper.

“Oh! I definitely think you are due a rebate” says she, and put me through to their accounts department.

I had to hold for about twenty minutes. Their music was bloody awful and a pain in the ear, but it gave me a chance to brush up on my Minesweeper skills [Expert Level, of course]. I failed to beat my all time record but did manage to score 144 which isn’t too bad.

A bloke eventually came on the line. He was foreign, of course, but at least I could understand him. In the begining anyway.

I told him my story, and he said he would have to talk to his supervisor. He put me on hold. I went onto Solitare this time. Boring, but it distracted me from the music.

He came back. I then realised I was beaten. He was worse than myself. He tied the conversation into knots which is supposed to be my trick. I tried confusing him, but it was no good. He was a master at the art. Im sorry now I didn’t record the conversation, because I could have learned from this kid.

I knew I was totally lost when he started talking about Tescos and the way they do promotional items. This lad was a genius!! I had to concede defeat.

To console myself, I rang my waste disposal company. But the girl there was too nice. She laughed a lot and was very chatty, so I hadn’t the heart to be a bastard. I just paid my yearly bill and quit.

Now I am depressed. I suppose it serves me right. I am depressed because sales people are begining to learn my tricks. I am going to have to learn new ones.

There is a friend of Ron’s that I phone from time to time. He has a habit of talking to his computer while he is talking to me, so in the middle of a conversation he will suddenly shout “Oh! you f*cking idiot. Why are you doing that?” and I realise he is talking to the computer and not me.

It is very confusing. But it’s great. I must practice it..

Now, what’s the number of the local Social Welfare Office………?

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How words can damage

Grandad February 25th, 2007

I used to be a blood donor.

I started on my eighteenth birthday and gave regularly. I felt I was doing some good.

They were always pleased to see me because I have a rare blood group. So they felt good when I donated. I felt good when I donated.

My highlight came one day about fifteen years ago.

The mobile donor unit had arrived at my workplace, and I was going to drop in during the day. But I got an urgent call - could I please run up and donate immediately. So I ran.

When I got there, I was rushed past all the waiting colleagues and given a quick preliminary check and was then immediately plumbed up. There was a motor cycle courier waiting by the bedside looking nervous. As soon as they had tied off the knots, the courier was given the pouch and off he went at a run to his bike.

“What was all that about?” says I to the nurse.

Apparently there was a baby in the nearby hospital who was on the operating table, and they were desperate for my blood group. She said I more than likely saved that baby’s life. I felt good. And I hope the baby made it.

About six months later, the unit was back again, so I strolled up.

I went through the usual prechecks and was found to be all healthy. One of the questions you are asked is if you are on any medication. I was, at the time. I had been taking a tablet for the previous couple of weeks for a minor complaint.

The doctor came around to examine me, and glanced at my notes. He then announced in a voice loud enough to be heard throughout the room [which was full with my friends and colleagues] -

“He’s a regular drug user. Rejected.”

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Now what he said was technically correct. But by implication, he had branded me as a potential herion addict in front of the people I worked with every day. I should have demanded an apology. I should have told that doctor [in a loud voice] that he had the tact of a fart in a lift. I should have told that doctor that he was a jumped up little prick. I should have told that doctor he had the bedside manner of a warthog. But I was too stunned. I left without donating.

I have never donated since.

So, to all the people who might have benefitted since from my donations, I am sorry. Blame that little shit of a doctor.

And to that little shit of a doctor I say “Think first before you open your mouth. Words have the power to brand people. Words have the power to hurt unintentionally. Words can cut deeper than any scalpel. A word once spoken cannot be unspoken, and can do irreparable damage.”

I often wonder about that baby. Did he or she grow up to be a happy teenager? I hope so. I’m sure he or she never gives me a thought. I don’t care. I still get a little warm glow from time to time.

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Early morning phonecalls

Grandad February 24th, 2007

“Hey, Tony?”

“Good morning Mr. President”

“You know that account I opened for you in the Cayman Islands to make it easier on you to join us in our war on terror? Well how would like another ten mil in there?”

“What do you want this time?”

“Hey! Nothing much. Just a few more radars and to stick missile bases all over your fine country”

“I don’t know Mr. President. Remember the trouble we had with the cruise missile bases a while back?”

“OK, then. Twenty mil. And just go on about the terror threat. That’ll scare your people.”

“But if you start shooting down nuclear missiles over our country, we’ll suffer from apalling radiation fallout.”

“Naw. My guys tell me that with the speed of the missiles, the shit will travel a bit before it hits the ground. It’ll land in that country beside you.”

“You mean Ireland?”

“Yeah. That’s the place. I knew it started with IR. Any country who’s name starts with IR is a terrorist treat. Iraq. Iran. Ireland. They’re all the same. Serve the bastards right for bitching about our rendition flights through Shannon. And that leader of theirs is a right motherf*cker. He thinks that by giving me a bowl full of weed on Paddy’s Day that we’ll all be pals. F*ck him.”

“I don’t know, Mr. President. The people here are getting a bit upset about the war. We are even having to send a prince over there because we are running out of troops. The Queen is not happy, and she is giving me a lot of grief.”

“Thirty mil and a photo of you on the steps of Air Force One?”

“It’s a deal. Mr President.”

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