Anyone visiting Ireland should definitely check out this video on YouTube and then go check out the town of Monaghan!!! (Or don't, whatever.)
Discover Monaghan - The Fun ENDS Here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2H13TtWLZTA
And while you're at it, enjoy my play-by-play facebook chat conversation with the creator of "Discover Monaghan," eviltoaster3 (AKA Stephen). My comments = bold ; His responses = ((italics))
--- Begin Film ---
a duck!
the church!
a dump or truck site or something!
((Ah great, live commentary. This should prove to be amusing.))
it IS the little town on the way to Dublin!
((I think that sentence would be much much better if you had of capitalised the the instead of the is.))
I like the looks of the mental hospital - could be cozy
((And apparently, that should be mental institution...))
ah - in need of some politically correct correction are we?
MY town has a hole in the ground too!
((Yeah but that's probably from a meteor or explosion or something. That one is from someone's wise idea to build an underground carpark and then go bankrupt halfway through it.))
why is the roundabout 'magic'?
((I actually have no idea, hence the inverted commas.))
ah the ole waterless swimming hole
((It's closed because the roof was caving in. No joke.))
--- Brief interruption for trip to Mason's for drinking and debauchery.
Good Times!
End of Interruption!! ---
From Monaghan's gift shop of used bottles to "should you injure yourself" = nice segue!
(( Well you see, there's been controversy here about our hospital continuously losing services for years now and I've been informed that one of the alternative hospitals I mentioned is getting closed as well. ))
Classy is defined by a bar named the "lost and found"
(( Lost and Found closed and moved 5 miles over the border so they could sell drink cheaper. Ironically, it actually was the best pub here and it probably was the classiest too. ))
aaaaand creepy ending - who's that wacko sitting on the church steps anyway?!
(( No one has gotten what the end references. It's a bit of an obscure movie but still...and I suppose I am a bit of a wacko. ))
-- End Film --
P.S. Can't wait till my parents get here for our Ireland road trip - absolutely spending time in Monaghan!!!! I'll let you know when :):)
(( Yes the offer to come here still stands although I'm surprised you would after watching that video. ))
(( P.S. If you really want to show your love then you should post the video to your page or blog or something!! ))
Done and done!
Friday, August 6, 2010
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Internet commenting...
I have to say that, providing I am in good humour, I thoroughly enjoy the comments you find online underneath articles, blogs, and video clips. Generally speaking they are funny and I have more than once laughed aloud in great merriment. This is not because they are meant to be funny. In fact I have noticed that the majority of people who make comments online are incredibly serious about the points that they wish to make. Indeed, I enjoy reading comments (especially on YouTube) because of their absolute stupidity.
This is not a blog about poor grammar, so don't run and hide your poor spelling from the grammar Nazis. Although the online grammar issue is a sore spot with me, I am content to allow the world to fall into a pit of poor punctuation. This way my own works appear similar to that of an elevated scholar, which is fine by me. The humorous comments that I am talking about today are the not-always-obvious 'duh' moments that go unremarked upon out of pity and sometimes concern for the obvious brain fart that has occurred.
Case in point, today I noticed a comment under a subtitled video that asked:
"i would like to know if this epi is from spain"
The up-loader kindly replied:
"This is a Catalan show." (Note the proper use of capitals and punctuation - kudos up-loader!)
To which our stunningly intelligent inquirer responded:
"Catalan? Where is that from?" (Again I note punctuation. At least the kid is learning something!)
Don't take me to be some grammar-obsessed cartographer who takes personal offence at the slightest geographical question, but there is a bit of humour in that one has to admit. Even so, this is not where I find the question most amusing. Granted I think it should be obvious that Catalan programming would be from Catalonia (or "Catalunya" as our ever-so-patient up-loader replied). But if geography is not your strong point and you have never heard of such a place as Catalonia, then I have to wonder why you feel it necessary to ask such questions through the medium that is the YouTube comment channel when there is a Google search engine at your fingertips!
If you can watch a YouTube video and leave a comment, then you can use a search engine. I don't think that I am overstepping my abilities in making that assumption. The best part of these questions is that they are being asked to begin with. The internet is a powerful tool, yet it appears that its myriad of uses are being ignored by many members of the general public. These comment-writers, instead of properly utilizing said tool, appear to be turning it upside down, smelling it, and concluding that it must only exist to provide pretty colours and images rather than have a functional use.
Of course painfully obvious questions and moments of temporary loss of brain function are both funny and forgivable. My friends have learned not to get me started on those individuals who choose to make comments based upon their own particular political, religious, or ethnic worldview. In my opinion these people should keep comments to themselves. However, it would be overly hypocritical of me to challenge the value of free speech in an online blog so I will just leave such a topic alone. It's probably for the best anyway.
This is not a blog about poor grammar, so don't run and hide your poor spelling from the grammar Nazis. Although the online grammar issue is a sore spot with me, I am content to allow the world to fall into a pit of poor punctuation. This way my own works appear similar to that of an elevated scholar, which is fine by me. The humorous comments that I am talking about today are the not-always-obvious 'duh' moments that go unremarked upon out of pity and sometimes concern for the obvious brain fart that has occurred.
Case in point, today I noticed a comment under a subtitled video that asked:
"i would like to know if this epi is from spain"
The up-loader kindly replied:
"This is a Catalan show." (Note the proper use of capitals and punctuation - kudos up-loader!)
To which our stunningly intelligent inquirer responded:
"Catalan? Where is that from?" (Again I note punctuation. At least the kid is learning something!)
Don't take me to be some grammar-obsessed cartographer who takes personal offence at the slightest geographical question, but there is a bit of humour in that one has to admit. Even so, this is not where I find the question most amusing. Granted I think it should be obvious that Catalan programming would be from Catalonia (or "Catalunya" as our ever-so-patient up-loader replied). But if geography is not your strong point and you have never heard of such a place as Catalonia, then I have to wonder why you feel it necessary to ask such questions through the medium that is the YouTube comment channel when there is a Google search engine at your fingertips!
If you can watch a YouTube video and leave a comment, then you can use a search engine. I don't think that I am overstepping my abilities in making that assumption. The best part of these questions is that they are being asked to begin with. The internet is a powerful tool, yet it appears that its myriad of uses are being ignored by many members of the general public. These comment-writers, instead of properly utilizing said tool, appear to be turning it upside down, smelling it, and concluding that it must only exist to provide pretty colours and images rather than have a functional use.
Of course painfully obvious questions and moments of temporary loss of brain function are both funny and forgivable. My friends have learned not to get me started on those individuals who choose to make comments based upon their own particular political, religious, or ethnic worldview. In my opinion these people should keep comments to themselves. However, it would be overly hypocritical of me to challenge the value of free speech in an online blog so I will just leave such a topic alone. It's probably for the best anyway.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Al-Shabaab vs. Somaliland
With the recent pressure placed on Somalia's Transitional Federal Government (TFG) by terrorist organization Al-Shabaab, interest has been sparked on the effects this may have for the self-declared state of Somaliland and other regional actors. (Somaliland Times "Somalia: Conflict Will Spread Unless International Community Acts - U.S. Policymaker")
Leading up to the elections this summer in Somaliland, Al-Shabaab offered threats to the break-away region to discontinue their failed attempts at international democratic recognition and embrace Al-Shabaab's interpretation of Islamic governance in the whole of Somalia. (Somaliland Press "Al-Shabaab Warns Somaliland Voters")
Despite the ongoing threats, Somaliland successfully held democratic elections and on July 27th the new President of the as-yet-unrecognized country was sworn in amidst a flurry of congratulatory support from various members of the local and international community. (Somaliland Press "Somaliand Election Free And Fair: Observers")
Still, the threat from the rising powers of Al-Shabaab is present despite Somaliland's determination. Speculative writings from various internet sources invoke feelings of unavoidability for a final confrontation between the terrorist group and the people of the northern region. While this is largely personal opinion and slightly negative in outlook, it has basis for argument. It is hard to deny, for example, that Al-Shabaab takes an extremely anti-western-democratic stance while Somaliland continues to struggle for a successful democratic model in the eyes of the west. Meanwhile, the international community's reluctance to recognize Somaliland damages the base upon which the region stands and creates an internal instability that could prove dangerous under the wrong conditions. (Long War Journal "Shabaab Looks to the Somali North" ; Mareeg Online (commentary) "The Ultimate Fight: Somaliland vs. Al-Shabaab")
These might be valuable issues to keep an eye on for the future as the region surrounding Somalia continues to grow in importance as far as international concern for stability and security is concerned. There is no doubt that increasing international interest in the future of Somalia and the TFG under Sheikh Sharif Ahmed is going to have serious effects on Somaliland. Whether these are negative or positive effects remains to be seen.
Leading up to the elections this summer in Somaliland, Al-Shabaab offered threats to the break-away region to discontinue their failed attempts at international democratic recognition and embrace Al-Shabaab's interpretation of Islamic governance in the whole of Somalia. (Somaliland Press "Al-Shabaab Warns Somaliland Voters")
Despite the ongoing threats, Somaliland successfully held democratic elections and on July 27th the new President of the as-yet-unrecognized country was sworn in amidst a flurry of congratulatory support from various members of the local and international community. (Somaliland Press "Somaliand Election Free And Fair: Observers")
Still, the threat from the rising powers of Al-Shabaab is present despite Somaliland's determination. Speculative writings from various internet sources invoke feelings of unavoidability for a final confrontation between the terrorist group and the people of the northern region. While this is largely personal opinion and slightly negative in outlook, it has basis for argument. It is hard to deny, for example, that Al-Shabaab takes an extremely anti-western-democratic stance while Somaliland continues to struggle for a successful democratic model in the eyes of the west. Meanwhile, the international community's reluctance to recognize Somaliland damages the base upon which the region stands and creates an internal instability that could prove dangerous under the wrong conditions. (Long War Journal "Shabaab Looks to the Somali North" ; Mareeg Online (commentary) "The Ultimate Fight: Somaliland vs. Al-Shabaab")
These might be valuable issues to keep an eye on for the future as the region surrounding Somalia continues to grow in importance as far as international concern for stability and security is concerned. There is no doubt that increasing international interest in the future of Somalia and the TFG under Sheikh Sharif Ahmed is going to have serious effects on Somaliland. Whether these are negative or positive effects remains to be seen.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)