Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.
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Buying poppies from Afghanis
Interesting to see that the idea is not being entirely discounted. I posted on it a few months back. Vague said analysts had suggested that the United States buy Afghanistan’s illicit drug crops as a way of easing tensions. He says that’s no crazier than the way the United States paid tens of thousands of…
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Biffo, Brian and Coughlan
Watching these three fumble around brought to mind a certain image. They remind of three drunken louts, staggering their way through Templebar, bumping into each other, into walls, into rubbish bins, and the further they walk the more likely it is that all three will, at varying times, collapse face first in a pool of…
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Deepthroat in Ireland
Back in October, someone calling themselves Deepthroat posted on the property forum thepropertypin.com. Some called him (or her) a crank, but others had their curiosity piqued. I for one welcome our own deepthroat, but wonder if the language could be a little more transparent. The earlier posts in October seem to indicate the Fitzpatrick debacle…
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Irish bank bailout, part 3
The Government will pump €5.5 billion into three of its largest banks after the collapse of the country’s property market and the impact of the global financial crisis eroded their capital. The government will inject €2bn into Allied Irish Banks, the biggest lender by market value, and €2bn in Bank of Ireland, the Department of…
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Drumm resigns
The resignations at Anglo Irish Bank continue, as chief executive David Drumm resigns. The bank may need recapitalisation or nationalisation before next Monday.
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Fitzpatrick resigns
I really am absolutely puzzled by the Irish Times headline: FitzPatrick is first high-profile Irish casualty of global crisis How, exactly, is he a casualty of a global crisis? What have toxic US CDOs got to do with the transfering €87 million in loans with Anglo to another bank before the group’s September 30th year…
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Conor Cruise O'Brien
O’Brien was born on November 3, 1917 and died today, December 18, 2008. When I first started reading the Sindo I always found him engaging but never really agreed with him. I could never understand how he moved so easily from one end of the political spectrum to the other. Of course I know him…
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Anglo Irish Bank – a lesson in an Irish solution…
Chairman of Anglo Irish Bank Sean Fitzpatrick has resigned. The €87m figure could lead to serious problems for the bank, with the bank now only worth €250m in total. The Financial Regulator has known for months, so the Government has known for months, and still they went ahead and guaranteed Anglo Irish Bank. We could…
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Morning papers
Irish Times Pressure on to speed up funds injection for banks Ireland is on rebound from consumerism, says President Failure of €37m e-government Reach project criticised by Labour Memoirs of a Ganley rapporteur, albeit confidential Elaine Byrne, on the contradictions in Government dealings with Ganley Guardian ‘I was still holding my grandson’s hand – the…
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The iPhone Nano
Rumours abound again about a smaller version of the very popular iPhone. Engadget report on leaked pictures of specs for the protective covers for the anticipated iPhone – which could be launched at MacWorld next month. I would argue that it is inevitable, whether next month or not, that Apple will release a scaled down…
Got any book recommendations?