Raiméis

Crap, is it June 1st already?? Was it not just last week that I complained it was May 1st!?! Shite.
So what’s big in the news today on June 1st 0000 AT? The Japanese are dressing down, the Dutch are at the polls, the Swedes are going non-nunclear, us Irish are finally finishing the M50 only 2 years behind schedule, in Brazil they’re taking role playing games to a new [fatal] level. In the US Deep Throat is coming out of the closet, so to speak, while Bush is dismissing Amnesty’s claim that the US is setting back the cause of human rights. In the entertainment world Paris Hilton is getting hitched, Brian Harvey of East 17 ran himself over with his own car, the trial of Wacko Jacko is nearing an end with closing arguments about to start, while Christian Slater is getting a tad too touchy feely.
Nothing very exciting so far on June 1st. Lets see what delevops in the afternoon.

What do you think of this picture … grenade? [opens new window] Would you describe it as “photorealistic”? I just did it this morning, it’s a very simple model but my best render yet, imho. I could probably use a bump map, especially on the wood for extra effect, might just do that tonight.

The Irish Defence Forces finished their United Nations peacekeeping mission in Cyprus yesterday after 41-years on the island. “The Irish flag was lowered in a sunset ceremony in the United Nations protected area, Nicosia in Cyprus, to commemorate the 9,540 Irish Defence Force troops who served on the island over the years.” Well done to all the lads who did Ireland proud over the years.

There was yet another armed raid in Ireland today, on a post office in Lusk, N.Dublin. But this time the Gardaí were lying in wait. One of the 5 raiders was killed and another injured. It’s good to see the Gardaí hitting back, there has been far too many raids in recent times, it almost seems like there is one a week. At least this is one armed gang off the streets.
Update: The raider who was injured in the raid has died in Beaumont.

Shocking crash this afternoon in Meath. 5 teenage girls killed and a further 46 injured (6 critically) when their school bus overturned following a crash involving two other cars. Great response from the emergency services though who had plenty of fire brigades, ambulances and even 3 Air Corps helicopters on site. Sincerest condolances to the families of the deceased.

This new postcode system they are planning for Ireland, to be implemented by 2008, is it really needed? How much is it going to cost? I don’t see any problem with the current system though perhaps from An Posts point of view it might make mail management a tad easier, from the mailers point of view it’s a pain in the ass trying to remember someones postcode. Even though they are needed in Finland you can still reach me by mail without one, just mail me at Maca c/o No.1 Finland Street, Finland.

There were riots in North Belfast today following the Rangers & Celtic games [Rangers won the Scottish title, or rather Celtic threw it away conceding two goals in the last 2 minutes against Motherwell]. These sort of people [the rioters] are thick on so many levels. A couple of points for you uneducated fools: 1. Rangers & Celtic are Scottish teams; 2. It’s only football. Sad gits.

Here’s a related article I just happened across … “Soldiers, sashes and shamrocks: Football and social identity in Scotland and Northern Ireland”

Back from my trip out forrin’. Well I was back on Thursday night last but between been busy helping a friend move house, tiredness from the trip, a wee head cold and normal laziness I didn’t feel like blogging until now. ‘Twas a good trip, we visited a wee town in Hungary, in the north west of the country about an hour from Budapest. [no more specific details available, no doubt you've heard some of the "sacked for blogging" stories, blogsecution I believe they call it, and in the business I work in I wouldn't like to risk someone finding out any link between me and the real me ... am I being over cautions?]
Anyway, there’s one place with a shit load of potential … Hungary. They can do so much with that place, although prices are already rising there and in some areas are as expensive as Finland. I picked up some fine wines there, I wouldn’t be a big wine drinker but I like a wee red once in a while, and at around €2 for a pretty decent bottle i’d have been mad not to buy a few. The women are stunners, the people in general are friendly, the food and drink is excellent, the only drawbacks are the lack of Euro and a reluctance to take credit cards, even in the hotel we stayed in.
We also crossed a few times into Slovakia, a cheaper version of Hungary. Dirt cheap actually, some friends were telling us they go to Slovakia every weekend as they only pay around €0.25 for a beer. The trip back involved a quick spin into Austria, we were flying via Vienna, unfortunately due to time limits we didn’t get to spend any time in the city, pity. Anyway, that’s a further three countries to mark off my ‘to visit’ list.

Shock of the day for me. Kylie Minogue (36) has been diagnosed with breast cancer … sad news, I like Kylie, hope she pulls through ok. According to ‘Action Breast Cancer’ around 250 women under 45 years of age are diagnosed with breat cancer each year in Ireland. Awful all together.

I’m off on my travels shortly, katchya layher.

Yes, it’s the first day of the year 0000 AT – Anno-Teabags. I ran out of teabags yesterday. The may not seem like a big deal to you, lives-close-to-shop-which-sells-teabags-er, but the closest source of Irish teabags for me is about 1600 miles in a west-south westerly direction. Nasty. I need my teabags.