June 2006 – Page 3 – Gavinsblog.com

Loach on Newsnight tonight

There should be an interesting discussion on Newsnight tonight when their culture correspondent Stephen Smith interviews Ken Loach, the Palm D’Or winner for the Wind that Shakes the Barley. He hits back at the “headbangers” who’ve accused him of hating his country and tells Newsnight he is proud to be British.

McCain and Soros

Steve Clemons has a very interesting take on these two guys, having a attended a dinner with both in New York last week. Most notably McCain, who will be running in the primaries. And an equally interesting insight into Soros, with this remark:

But then George Soros discussed a bit of his background and tutelage under the famed Karl Popper — and his thinking about where Popper’s views on “open society” were limited and no longer useful. Soros suggested that simply undermining totalitarianism did not automatically lead to open societies and that such implosion of power and control could lead to ongoing collapses within the respective country.

Is Popper still relevant?

Twenty disagrees

Following his classic ‘let’s burn him on a pyre outside the Central Bank‘, Twenty suggests we throw eggs at the hearse.

But he disagrees with me about the odds, arguing that everyone will forget his ~~corrupt~~ political donation legacy.

I am sympathetic to his anger.

Should we wait?

Richard calls the event a human one before a political one. He wonders if the week can pass off with some level of respect before the war over his legacy rages.

The war has already begun on the TV and radio, and on this blog. I don’t think it is a human event before a political one. It’s the biggest political story this year, and the reaction of politicians to his death is a story in itself. I don’t see how it’s disrespectful to argue over the man’s legacy today, or tomorrow, or every day until his funeral. He was afterall a politician, a former Taoiseach, and by far the most controversial figure in Irish politics since the foundation of the State.

I say: Have at it.

I could go further and say that I had no respect for the man when he was alive, why should I show him respect now he is dead?

But I won’t.

RTE/IT obituary

You have the love the conclusion:

In his last Dáil address Haughey said: ‘I have always sought to act solely and exclusively in the best interests of the Irish people.’ Even allowing for his public ignominy in the interim, Charles Haughey remained unflinching and, in his own terms, undefeated.

What?

The Irish Times obituary meanwhile:

While he was heavily criticised for his lavish lifestyle and his acceptance of massive payments from business people such as Ben Dunne, Mr Haughey was also credited with many innovative political ideas. He is most often noted for extending free travel on public transport to older people and for the creation of generous tax breaks for artists.

It’s as if they balance out. He may have taken millions in ~~bribes~~ payments, but he did give tax break for artists. What a legend.

Haughey is dead

Let the revisionism begin…

Odds on everyone saying Charlie was a great leader, wonderful man, rogue character, we are all like Charlie etc etc – 10-1 on

How many people will bring up his attempt to bring down McCracken, decades of corruption, endemic cronyism…. 50-1

According to the Indo, Charlie had a personal say in how his State funeral would be handled, but RTE reports:

A spokesperson for the Taoiseach has said that the Government has offered a state funeral and that the offer has been accepted by the family.

The Indo article suggests that:

The Irish Independent has also learned that arrangements have been made for a State funeral for the former Taoiseach.

Mr Haughey approved the arrangements last year.

It is understood he asked for a Requiem Mass to be held in Our Lady of Consolation Church in Donnycarney, in the heart of the Dublin North Central constituency he served rather than in the Pro-Cathedral, as might have been expected for holding a State funeral.

Mr Haughey has chosen St Fintan’s churchyard overlooking the sea in Sutton, Co Dublin – just a couple of miles from his Abbeville home – as his final resting place.

Speakers for the Requiem Mass were being contacted yesterday.

Staffords, a company with close ties to Mr Haughey and which has links with Fianna Fail dating back to the foundation of the party, are to be the undertakers.

Mr Haughey approved the arrangements after he recovered from another bout of his recurring illness last year. Preparations for his State funeral are already at an advanced stage, with the same officials from the Department of the Taoiseach and senior Army officers who planned the recent Easter 1916 commemorations.

Mr Haughey and his family decided he would have a State funeral, a privilege automatically available to all former Taoisigh.

It is understood Mr Haughey wanted to have his Requiem Mass in his former constituency rather than the Pro-Cathedral in central Dublin because of his family ties to the area for three generations. Mr Haughey has recovered from a number of health scares over the past five years.

Radio kills the Internet star?

Engadget links to a story about WiMax transmitters in Sweden:

According to Sweden’s SVT, which reported on the incident, the local hospital emergency room was flooded with calls regarding various symptoms such as headaches, difficulty breathing, blurry vision and even two cases of heart arrhythmia. All of this was mere hours after the base station was activated, and the symptoms went away once the station was deactivated, or if the sufferer moved away from that radio tower of death.

It sounds quite bad, but will it mean an end to the technology or is it merely a blip?

Caption

Write your own caption.

Haughey 'should not be given State funeral': Cruiser

Conor Cruise O’Brien believes Charlie Haughey should not be given a State funeral.

Dr Cruise O’Brien, who turns 90 next year, dismissed suggestions that Mr Haughey had contributed to the State, and said any of the reforms he had introduced “were dictated to him”.

“They were not his idea”.

Is the country split on this or does everyone think Haughey should be given a State funeral?

I agree with O’Brien, Haughey should not get a State funeral.

Month: June 2006