Joe’s Blog

Congratulations to ellybabes and the cartoon is funny too

The IEEE now wants YOU to review patents - Peer to Peer Patent, Community Patent Review

Why linux isn’t as user-friendly as some people make it out to be, even Ubuntu - Media support in Ubuntu 7.04 Feisty Fawn (ZDNet)

The test is simple. Take a few test files and see if they’ll play. For the test I chose the following files: * An MP3 test file, A WMA test file (a DRM-free file of course), A QuickTime 7 movie

Printing from Nokia E65 on Windows based Printer

Oh look - Irish YouTube and EU Tube (YouTube account)

I just want this for the Berlin accent -

As yesterday was the longest day of the year: an animation explaining the solstices and equinoxes
Unless you count the small nutation or the 41,000 year cycle of change, the earth doesn’t wobble, right Ronan?

VideoJug: How To Fold A T-Shirt In 2 Seconds - Explained

Via Engadget Microsoft’s big-ass table

Stephen has a collection of choirs on youtube - I never heard of a complaints choir before

Via RTE.ie

Workers at Eircom are to vote on industrial action in a dispute over a 2% pay increase…..The unions say they are entitled to the 2% increase without pre-conditions.

A stark comparison with Deutsche Telekom:

Under the agreement reached Wednesday, weekly working hours will be extended from 34 to 38 hours without a salary increase. Measures taken to make working hours more flexible to improve service include making Saturday a regular working day.

Salaries are also being cut by 6.5 per cent to a more competitive level, although the reduction is being cushioned “step by step in a socially conscious manner” over a period of 42 months. Deutsche Telekom initially moved for cuts of 9 per cent.

I was listening to Tonight with Vincent Browne and they raised the question, is there really a need for 20 (just raised from 17) Ministers of State? Why on earth do we have a Minister of State dedicated to forestry? There is even a state body to look after it already - Coillte

According to Vincent, these “ministers” have no budget, no power, don’t sit at the cabinet (except Children) but do get an increased salary of €147,284 and a nice title. The first 3 do have some power, hence the separation.

Chief Whip - Tom Kitt, T.D.
European Affairs - Dick Roche, T.D.
Children - Brendan Smith, T.D.

Health Promotion and Food Safety - Pat the Cope Gallagher, T.D.
Fisheries - John Browne, T.D.
Innovation Policy - Michael Ahern, T.D.
Office of Public Works - Noel Ahern, T.D.
Equality Issues - Seán Power, T.D.
Housing, Urban Renewal and Developing Areas - Batt O’Keeffe, T.D.
Environment and Energy - Tony Killeen, T.D.
Integration Policy - Conor Lenihan, T.D.
Forestry - Mary Wallace, T.D.
Lifelong Learning, Youth Work and School Transport - Seán Haughey, T.D.
Overseas Development - Micheal Kitt, T.D.
Food and Horticulture - Trevor Sargent, T.D.
Drugs Strategy and Community Affairs - Pat Carey, T.D.
Labour Affairs - Billy Kelleher, T.D.
NEW: Trade and Commerce - John McGuinness, T.D.
NEW: Disability Issues and Mental Health (excluding discrimination) - Dr. Jimmy Devins, T.D.
NEW: Older People - Máire Hoctor, T.D.

And another example of how money is mis-spent while vulnerable people suffer:
HSE cancels “thank you” bash for staff who worked through strike
No more dialysis patients accepted in Limerick hospital.
(both from limerick blogger that I meant to post a while ago)

The best bit is they didn’t realise their IP was traceable

read more | digg story

Tis the time for weddings! I was at one myself this past weekend and a friend of mine is giving a best man’s speech in the not too distant future. So it’s time to stop slagging and start giving some tips:

about.com has a step-by-step guide to writing it - Tips for the best man on writing a wedding toast, do’s and don’ts as well as some cheesy samples

boards.ie has a speech where you just insert the appropriate names Rate my Speech? and if you don’t change it at all, the groom’s reaction should be priceless.

IrishWeddings.ie has some advice - The best man’s speech

A real wedding video from www.thebestmanweddingspeech.com plus the advice given:

and let’s not forget:

Propping up FF and being lined up for the fall in the next election - the Green Party. I’m disappointed and sorry for them.

Now that the dust has settled, it appears that they have bought the FF manifesto, (copied and pasted!) and a few reviews. Already, they are being walked over. The order for the M3 was signed in the final days of negotiation and this announcement of 3 more junior ministers flies in the face of Green policy to reduce the number of cabinet posts from 15 to 12 as well as junior ministries.

Via Politics.ie

Labour’s Eamon Gilmore has branded it “a ploy to increase cronyism”. Fine Gael’s Billy Timmins says says it will “[cost] the taxpayer millions of euro” and “confirms the political impotence of the Greens and PDs in this Government”.

Via Damien - Yes Minister seems to be very appropriate for the Greens so far

Sandbach rugby players on a night out losing the run of themselves (über masculinity) in ITV 2’s Generation Xcess- NOT SAFE FOR WORK (bumped up because people are searching for it)
UPDATE: YouTube video has been pulled:

This is the bad-humour/taste post

Some of ye know my opinion of that “documentary” on the Irish Rugby Squad so I thought this was quite funny

via Ellybabes

from Heise Online (english): Flickr filter raises eyebrows

users from Germany, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Korea cannot view photos labeled as “moderate” or “restricted” via the search function

leading to the creation of this graphic: