Sunday, September 12, 2010
How to beat your Muslim wife
When I came across this video on Youtube I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. At first I thought it was a joke - but it's not, the man is deadly serious!
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Citi Bar and Venue, Dame Street
Today I finally managed to get back to Citi Bar in Dame Street. On my last visit (see my last blog on Feb 8,2010) I was shocked at how five young American girls were refused a drink. Here is what happened.
I often heard the Citi Bar and Venue being advertised on radio and I also saw it being promoted in Airlines Inflight magazines. It is a pub/retaurant/night club and hotel, centrally located in Dublin city centre on Dame Street, which is on the southern edge of Temple Bar - the main nightlife area for tourists. It was late on a Sunday night when I went there and I was surprised to find only 3 other customers, all male in the bar area. I ordered a pint of Heiniken and was served by a pleasant barman. I sat at the bar and was enjoying my pint when five young ladies walked in. They went to the bar counter and discussed among themselves what drinks they would order. Then they asked a barmaid who was washing glasses behind the bar for their drinks. She looked at them in a very unfriendly manner and said "Have you got ID?" The girls looked a bit surprised but proceeded to look for ID in their handbags, which they produced. The "friendly" barmaid glanced at their passports and informed them that she couldn't serve them because the bar had an over 23 policy. The American girls seemed bewildered. They pointed out that they were in this same bar all night last night, but still she refused and actually walked away. The barman who had served me was standing nearby and the girls asked him if he could intervene on their behalf, saying they had come back here because they had enjoyed it the previous night, but mainly to watch the super Bowl on the television. He was apologetic but said there was nothing he could do if the barmaid had refused them. At this stage I tried to intervene on the girls behalf, telling the barman " Ah go on, give the girls a drink - they're on holidays for God's sake". "They just want to watch the Super Bowl!" The barmaid was still loitering behind the bar but was not going to budge on the issue, so the five young American visitors shrugged their shoulders and headed for the door. I was so disgusted that I picked up my nearly full pint and proceeded to pour it down the sink which was just behind the counter. I accept that it's a slightly unorthodox method of protesting, but I think it was legitimate under the circumstances. I told the bar staff that it was disgraceful to treat tourists in this manner and that I was also leaving in protest.
What also annoyed me was that the other customers in the bar made no attempt to intervene on the girls behalf.
Today I went back to Citi Bar, I had soup and brown bread which was delicious and the service was good and friendly. Afterwards I asked to speak to the manager and I outlined the story of what had happened on that night to him. I asked him what was the age policy in Citi Bar and he told me it was "over 21". He said he only worked here for five weeks and that this incident happened before his time and was unfortunate. I don't know if the "friendly" barmaid still works there, but if she does I hope the owners provide her with some basic training in common sense and good manners.
I hope Citi Bar will never again treat customers like this, especially visitors to our city.
I hope the girls got to see the Super Bowl in some friendly bar - AND that their team won.
I often heard the Citi Bar and Venue being advertised on radio and I also saw it being promoted in Airlines Inflight magazines. It is a pub/retaurant/night club and hotel, centrally located in Dublin city centre on Dame Street, which is on the southern edge of Temple Bar - the main nightlife area for tourists. It was late on a Sunday night when I went there and I was surprised to find only 3 other customers, all male in the bar area. I ordered a pint of Heiniken and was served by a pleasant barman. I sat at the bar and was enjoying my pint when five young ladies walked in. They went to the bar counter and discussed among themselves what drinks they would order. Then they asked a barmaid who was washing glasses behind the bar for their drinks. She looked at them in a very unfriendly manner and said "Have you got ID?" The girls looked a bit surprised but proceeded to look for ID in their handbags, which they produced. The "friendly" barmaid glanced at their passports and informed them that she couldn't serve them because the bar had an over 23 policy. The American girls seemed bewildered. They pointed out that they were in this same bar all night last night, but still she refused and actually walked away. The barman who had served me was standing nearby and the girls asked him if he could intervene on their behalf, saying they had come back here because they had enjoyed it the previous night, but mainly to watch the super Bowl on the television. He was apologetic but said there was nothing he could do if the barmaid had refused them. At this stage I tried to intervene on the girls behalf, telling the barman " Ah go on, give the girls a drink - they're on holidays for God's sake". "They just want to watch the Super Bowl!" The barmaid was still loitering behind the bar but was not going to budge on the issue, so the five young American visitors shrugged their shoulders and headed for the door. I was so disgusted that I picked up my nearly full pint and proceeded to pour it down the sink which was just behind the counter. I accept that it's a slightly unorthodox method of protesting, but I think it was legitimate under the circumstances. I told the bar staff that it was disgraceful to treat tourists in this manner and that I was also leaving in protest.
What also annoyed me was that the other customers in the bar made no attempt to intervene on the girls behalf.
Today I went back to Citi Bar, I had soup and brown bread which was delicious and the service was good and friendly. Afterwards I asked to speak to the manager and I outlined the story of what had happened on that night to him. I asked him what was the age policy in Citi Bar and he told me it was "over 21". He said he only worked here for five weeks and that this incident happened before his time and was unfortunate. I don't know if the "friendly" barmaid still works there, but if she does I hope the owners provide her with some basic training in common sense and good manners.
I hope Citi Bar will never again treat customers like this, especially visitors to our city.
I hope the girls got to see the Super Bowl in some friendly bar - AND that their team won.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Citi Bar & Venue, Dame Street - fantastic pub ...
Unless you are -
(1) American
(b) Female
(c) Under 23
More later, after some research.
I went to the much advertised Citi Bar in Dame Street tonight for the first time.
What happened next?
Suffice to say that my GRUMPY blog is going to be revived....
(1) American
(b) Female
(c) Under 23
More later, after some research.
I went to the much advertised Citi Bar in Dame Street tonight for the first time.
What happened next?
Suffice to say that my GRUMPY blog is going to be revived....
Monday, September 14, 2009
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Leonard Peltier - Latest news
I wrote a blog on January 29, 2009 about Leonard Peltier. Here is a message from Leonard which I am copying from Máirtín Ó Muilleoir's "From the Balcony - A Publishers Blog"
Friday, July 24, 2009
Charter Medical Group - A Health Warning
I am a very infrequent visitor to Doctor's surgeries and can probably count on the fingers of one hand the number of times I've been in the last 10 years. So as the deafness in my left ear got worse and the 3rd trip to the Chemists brought no improvement I decided to look for a Medical Practitioner in my area. A neighbour told me that there was a new walk-in Medical Centre in Smithfield so I decided to go there. It's a posh new building in Smithfield Square and the friendly security lady on the ground level directed me to the Charter Medical Group on the 1st floor. There, the Receptionist told me I could see a Doctor, but they were busy and I would have to wait possibly up to an hour, or maybe longer. "Well OK then, I suppose I have to wait, How much is it to see a Doctor?" "Do you have medical insurance?" "No". "Well, it's €105 (One hundred and five Euro)".
I had been warned to expect to be charged fifty or sixty Euro - but €105 (one hundred and five)? They should publish a health warning on front of the fancy brochure extolling the virtues of Charter Medical Group!
Let's see - 4 patients per hour = €420. Let's say 6 hours per day. = €2,520. Let's say 5 days per week. = €12,600. Let's say Mr G.P. works 40 weeks per year (and takes a well earned break for the other three months). = €504,000. That's Half a Million to you and me! Nice money if you can get in these times of recession.
I said "no, thank you" and left.
Within 15 minutes I found another walk-in Medical Centre which charged €55. Moral of the story - SHOP AROUND ( or don't get sick too often).
I had been warned to expect to be charged fifty or sixty Euro - but €105 (one hundred and five)? They should publish a health warning on front of the fancy brochure extolling the virtues of Charter Medical Group!
Let's see - 4 patients per hour = €420. Let's say 6 hours per day. = €2,520. Let's say 5 days per week. = €12,600. Let's say Mr G.P. works 40 weeks per year (and takes a well earned break for the other three months). = €504,000. That's Half a Million to you and me! Nice money if you can get in these times of recession.
I said "no, thank you" and left.
Within 15 minutes I found another walk-in Medical Centre which charged €55. Moral of the story - SHOP AROUND ( or don't get sick too often).
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Shell in $15.5m Nigeria deaths settlement
This item is in the news today. So Shell is finally offering some restitution for it's disgraceful behavior in Nigeria! Perhaps it's not too late for the multinational to start admitting to it's wrongdoing in Mayo also where it is similarly trampling on the local population in it's quest for profit - aided and abetted unfortunately by our corrupt government which has signed over our natural resources to Shell.
"Royal Dutch Shell has agreed to a $15.5m payout to settle a lawsuit alleging complicity in murder, torture and other abuses by Nigeria's former military government.
The settlement brings to an end a decade-long battle by relatives of Nigerian writer and activist Ken Saro-Wiwa and others executed in 1995 in what plaintiffs said was a campaign of repression backed by Shell.
Mr Saro-Wiwa led a non-violent protest against environmental destruction and abuses against the Ogoni people in the Niger Delta. He was hanged along with other activists after trial in a military court.
Human rights lawyers hailed the agreement in New York as a precedent for holding Shell and other oil giants responsible for activities in countries with repressive governments.
Shell denies all accusations, but the settlement will spare the oil giant from the potential embarrassment of having to defend itself in court."
For more information visit:
Shell to Sea at www.corribsos.com and Wikipedia on the Corrib gas controversy
"Royal Dutch Shell has agreed to a $15.5m payout to settle a lawsuit alleging complicity in murder, torture and other abuses by Nigeria's former military government.
The settlement brings to an end a decade-long battle by relatives of Nigerian writer and activist Ken Saro-Wiwa and others executed in 1995 in what plaintiffs said was a campaign of repression backed by Shell.
Mr Saro-Wiwa led a non-violent protest against environmental destruction and abuses against the Ogoni people in the Niger Delta. He was hanged along with other activists after trial in a military court.
Human rights lawyers hailed the agreement in New York as a precedent for holding Shell and other oil giants responsible for activities in countries with repressive governments.
Shell denies all accusations, but the settlement will spare the oil giant from the potential embarrassment of having to defend itself in court."
For more information visit:
Shell to Sea at www.corribsos.com and Wikipedia on the Corrib gas controversy
Sunday, June 7, 2009
If It Sounds Too Good To Be True...
It probably is!
I got this message from a young lady via a dating website:
"I think, that I the nice, young girl. I search for the man for fine attitudes, but for me the age has no what value. think, that older men are more serious, experienced and family-oriented!!! They can give me some advices, because sometimes I really need them a lot!!! Older men are ready to create serious relations and not just play the games!!! I love a life and I like to enjoy a life. As I like to listen to music. I have no harmful habits. I do not smoke, I do not drink alcoholic drinks. I go in for sports, I go on discos, I love the work. I very careful girl. I like to prepare for a meal. I very much am pleasant to be introduced order at home. I think, that with my qualities I shall find the man the man of my dream. I shall hope, that the man of my dream is here. I very much would like to get acquainted with the man of the dream. I hope, that using this site I shall find the dream. I very much would like to become the happy girl, but now I am absolutely unfortunate.
My ideal date would be:
I love a life and I like to enjoy a life. As I like to listen to music. I have no harmful habits. I do not smoke, I do not drink alcoholic drinks. I go in for sports, I go on discos, I love the work. I very careful girl. I like"
I got this message from a young lady via a dating website:
"I think, that I the nice, young girl. I search for the man for fine attitudes, but for me the age has no what value. think, that older men are more serious, experienced and family-oriented!!! They can give me some advices, because sometimes I really need them a lot!!! Older men are ready to create serious relations and not just play the games!!! I love a life and I like to enjoy a life. As I like to listen to music. I have no harmful habits. I do not smoke, I do not drink alcoholic drinks. I go in for sports, I go on discos, I love the work. I very careful girl. I like to prepare for a meal. I very much am pleasant to be introduced order at home. I think, that with my qualities I shall find the man the man of my dream. I shall hope, that the man of my dream is here. I very much would like to get acquainted with the man of the dream. I hope, that using this site I shall find the dream. I very much would like to become the happy girl, but now I am absolutely unfortunate.
My ideal date would be:
I love a life and I like to enjoy a life. As I like to listen to music. I have no harmful habits. I do not smoke, I do not drink alcoholic drinks. I go in for sports, I go on discos, I love the work. I very careful girl. I like"
Friday, June 5, 2009
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
BBC NEWS - still fighting the war for old England
Seems the BBC knows more than the rest of us! So the FARC rebels in Columbia are being trained by the IRA? Can we see the evidence please!
This kind of sloppy news-reporting is typical BBC propaganda that originated from shadowy figures in the British secret service - or possibly from the British government itself. Shameful - if you can't tell the truth BBC, don't tell lies!
BBC NEWS | Americas | Oldest insurgent force marches on: "Farc have stepped up their campaign, with more attacks so far this year than any year since 2003.
And the rebels are trying to move away from their peasant roots and project themselves into Colombia's cities, aided by training from international groups like the Provisional IRA and the Basque separatist group Eta."
This kind of sloppy news-reporting is typical BBC propaganda that originated from shadowy figures in the British secret service - or possibly from the British government itself. Shameful - if you can't tell the truth BBC, don't tell lies!
BBC NEWS | Americas | Oldest insurgent force marches on: "Farc have stepped up their campaign, with more attacks so far this year than any year since 2003.
And the rebels are trying to move away from their peasant roots and project themselves into Colombia's cities, aided by training from international groups like the Provisional IRA and the Basque separatist group Eta."
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Conway's Pub
Today in Dublin Frank Dunlop, the former political lobbyist was jailed for 18 months for bribing politicians on behalf of property developers. Over a number of years vast sums of money passed through bank accounts controlled by Dunlop and he admitted charges before the courts of giving money to Councillors so that they would vote for rezoning lands which then became immensely valuable overnight. The corruption went on for years and went all the way from lowly City Councillors to the top echelons of the Irish political establishment, including TD's and government Ministers. The result of this corruption is that thousands of young families paid vastly inflated prices for their homes because Developers and Builders were able to control the market. These young people will be paying the price of this scandal for most of their working lives. It was a cosy cartel - operated by Builders, Bankers, Estate Agents and corrupt Politicians ( mainly, but not exclusively members of fianna Fáil). I just hope justice will also catch up with these criminals!
In my photo - Conway's Pub on the corner of Parnell Street and Moore Lane, now closed down and ironically awaiting redevelopment. Conway's was where the bribes were mostly handed over in brown envelopes because it was just around the corner from the Council offices.
In my photo - Conway's Pub on the corner of Parnell Street and Moore Lane, now closed down and ironically awaiting redevelopment. Conway's was where the bribes were mostly handed over in brown envelopes because it was just around the corner from the Council offices.
Monday, May 25, 2009
Why?
I took this photo on Con Colbert Road in Inchicore today at around 4pm. I was stopped at the traffic lights when I noticed this man, aged about 30 walking along with his can of beer and a shopping bag( containing perhaps more alcohol). HIS life - he can do whatever he wants! EXCEPT...
Not in the blurred photo (which I took out of my car window) was his little daughter, aged about 4 years walking behind him. This man was concerned only with himself and his alcohol and was oblivious to the safety of his little girl near a busy road.
Con Colbert was one of the revolutionary leaders of the 1916 Rising against British occupation which led to an Irish Republic. He was shot by firing squad. Is this what he died for?
Not in the blurred photo (which I took out of my car window) was his little daughter, aged about 4 years walking behind him. This man was concerned only with himself and his alcohol and was oblivious to the safety of his little girl near a busy road.
Con Colbert was one of the revolutionary leaders of the 1916 Rising against British occupation which led to an Irish Republic. He was shot by firing squad. Is this what he died for?
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
