Joe’s Blog

oh yeah - the dramatic pause in blogging Seactain Na Gaeilge events was because we went on a little trip to CeBIT.

CeBIT for those of ye that don’t know is the world’s largest computer and IT trade fair - Centrum der Büro- und Informationstechnik; German for “Centre of Office and Information technology”

Quick run down on events:

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Wed: Daren wakes me from my slumber, train to Dublin, flight to Bremen, drive to Bad Gandersheim, pizza and beer (Gilde Ratskeller) in “Pizzeria Gino II”

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Thu: long breakfast, drive to CeBIT, registration, food in the Münchner Halle - a lovely slab of pork knuckle and a Maß (litre of beer) and then back to the fair. TCD actually had a stand where they were advertising the university and looking for Masters/PhD students. We got back to Bad Gandersheim for dinner that evening in Pizza Napoli and after a regular beer (Einbecker Pils), we were treated to a taste of Einbecker “Bock bier” which is quite tasty

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Fri: Back to CeBIT after breakfast but only 5 of the 10 of us, due to sickness. There was a smell of burning from the car on the way too so we called the rental company later that day and the breakdown service who decided to tow us back to the garage

Luckily, there wasn’t much wrong with the car apart from some oil spilt around the engine bay by the people who had rented it before us. After a good steam-clean, we were ready to go again. Mercedes service was actually quite good. Met up with the rest of the gang back in Hannover city centre, where we went for kebabs.

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Sat: Final Day of CeBIT and almost back to our full compliment of tourists. Quizzed the people in Ericsson for quite some time on WLAN, MIMO, LTE and IMS. The final thing I did was some quad-biking and then said goodbye to CeBIT…

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Sun: Headed back to Bremen, via Dublin and the train back to Limerick

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Some photos from CeBIT

Colm Meaney i ‘Kings’

A chairde,

Liosta thíos dos na himeachtaí atá ar siúl in Ollscoil Luimnigh inniu le haghaidh Seachtain na Gaeilge 2008! Fáilte roimh chách.

Please see list of events below which take place today in UL as part of Seachtain na Gaeilge 2008! Everyone welcome.

Dé Máirt 4 Márta

10.30 Maidin chaife do bhaill foirne / staff coffee morning

Suíomh: Seomra Caidrimh, Áras Clóis Shruth an Mhuilinn

13.00 Ceolchoirm Lóin sa PAC, Foirgneamh na Fondúireachta

(Simon Thoumire ar an gconceirtín agus David Milligan ar an bpianó)

Comhimeacht le Dámh Chruinne Éireann Rince agus Ceol

Á chur i láthair ag Máire Ní Ghráda

Lunchtime Concert in the PAC, Foundation Building

19.00 Oíche Scannánaíochta / Film Night

Comhimeacht le Féile Scannánaíochta Ollscoil Luimnigh agus an Cumann Gaelach

Scannán / Film: ‘Kings’

Suíomh: ERB001

Eolas faoi ‘Kings’:

I lár na seachtóidí, chuaigh grúpa d’fhir óige ó Iarthar na hÉireann go Londain ar thóir saol níos fearr in áit ina bhféadfaidís maireachtáil mar ‘Kings’. Casann siad ar a chéile arís tríocha bliain ina dhiaidh sin. Tá a gcara is óige, Jackie, imithe ar shlí na fírinne. Tá tríocha bliain crua caite ag cuid acu. Tá siad tuirseach traochta anois i ndiaidh a gcuid oibre crua, agus chaill siad a misneach ar na bóithre agus ar láithreáin tógála na Breataine. Gruaim agus mídhílseacht gan dóchas atá anois orthu. Nuair a thagann fírinneachtaí báis Jackie agus sean-rúnda loma chun solais, soiléiríodh do na fir gurb iad do chairde a bhriseann do chroí - agus do chairde a thugann chun suaimhnis é.

In the mid 1970s a group of young men left the west of Ireland, bound for London, filled with ambition for a better life in a place where they could be kings. Thirty years have passed when they meet again. Their youngest friend, Jackie has died. For some of them those thirty years have been hard. Their muscle has been spent, their hopes dashed on the roads and building sites of Britain, to be replaced with a sense of hopeless disaffection. As the truth about Jackies death is uncovered, and long-held secrets are laid bare, the men discover that ultimately it is your friends who break your heart - and your friends who can save it.

Bike Week (wk6)

Tuesday: 1pm - bike sale in students’ union courtyard

The Students’ Union’s bike scheme for buying and selling bikes

Mountain Bike UL will also give a display of their funky hip-hop in the Students Union Courtyard

Wednesday: all day - walk in / cycle in / bus in to college

Make an effort and leave the car at home (if you have one) and either walk, cycle or take the bus into college. Something that can be repeated also on other days…

2pm - bike repair workshop

Bring your bike if it needs fixing and any tools that might be useful. Just watching and learning is welcome as well.

There will also be a display of designs for proposed bike sheds for the campus, with SofA (Society of Architecture) – come along and have a look!

3.30pm - cycle around campus

The smaller version of the critical mass. The cycle around campus is about highlighting how cars take up a lot of space, pollute the environment, and often transport no more than one person!

4.30pm - critical mass in city centre

critical mass is a world wide movement that is about taking to the streets with your bike to show that there are alternative means of transport that make a difference in the fight against global warming and for a sustainable lifestyle. It is about claiming back the city and the streets from the cars to promote cycling rights and people-friendly living spaces for all of us!

Thursday: 6pm - screening “We Are Traffic!” and “Return of the Scorcher”

Two films about the critical mass movement and the history of the bike.

Hope to see you there

Pierre
UL Environmental Society

A chairde,

Liosta thíos dos na himeachtaí atá ar siúl in Ollscoil Luimnigh inniu le haghaidh Seachtain na Gaeilge 2008! Fáilte roimh chách.

Please see list of events below which take place today in UL as part of Seachtain na Gaeilge 2008! Everyone welcome.

Dé Luain 3 Márta 2008

12.00 Ceolchoirm le ceoltóirí agus rinceoirí na chéad bhliana den BA sa Cheol agus sa Rince inGaelscoil Chaladh an Treoigh.

Concert with first year BA Irish music and dance students in Gaelscoil Chaladh an Treoigh

13.00 Comórtas ‘Twister’ trí Ghaeilge (Comhimeacht leis an ‘G-Soc’)

Ceol agus Craic i gClós na Mac Léinn

‘Twister’ Tournament through the medium of Irish (Co-event with the ‘G-Soc’)

Music and Craic in the Student Courtyard

19.00 Aoiléacht

Máirtín Ó Direáin: Árainn, Oileánachas agus an Ghealchathair
le Mairéad Conneely

Suíomh: B1005

20.00 Tráth na gCeist/Table Quiz
Suíomh: Seomra Caidrimh / Common Room, Aontas na Mac Léinn.

The Interaction Design Centre

and

The Centre for Computational Musicology and Computer Music

cordially invites you to the launch of

“ Two Places “

the catalogue accompanying the exhibition in the University of Limerick and the Ormeau Baths Gallery, Belfast.

Tuesday, February 26, 2008 at 5.00pm , Plassey House.

This project is also supported by

Sonic Arts Research Centre, Queen’s University, Belfast

Arts Council of Northern Ireland

 The Arts Council of Ireland

Belfast City Council

and

UL Arts Office

www.twoplaces.ul.ie

Wintopia - Series 2 Trailer

Via Wintopia Facebook Group

717 Productions secure services of Daniel Smith, Kieran Stack and Jamie O’Brien for Season 2 of hit uber-drama.
Undisclosed fee quoted as “ridiculous” was used to reclaim the actors.

Donnie Walshberg will relinquish his role as “main attraction”. The 6 time Oscar nominated, 1 time winner, will take on a more supporting role and has signed up for guest-star appearances on what has been stated as an “unknown” number of episodes. The actor says filming in other projects and spending time with his baby daughter are also high on his priorities.

Emily Moon, unknown actress, and guest star in “the edge of forever” will make a return in season 2, but 717 productions declined to say to what extent.

Relations between 717 Productions and A-Block Design were renewed after the two companies parted, after the pilot episode. There have been talks, concerning characters and cameos but nothing has been decided as of yet.

Brendan Moroney…the “voice” of Wintopia, has also signed a new contract keeping him with the show for another season. Moroney, narrator, says that narrating has always been his dream and now with Wintopia and Planet Earth under his belt he feels he is a “big-deal”

The direction of Wintopia may be under threat. Colm “flash you” Bambury, has issued a statement saying he wants “nothing to do with the show or the actors”. This is believed to be the case as bambury, a highly sought after cameraman and director was becoming “run-down” spending so much time on the set of Wintopia. Bambury is also reported to have a fast-food addiction and has battled this disease for many years now.
…
Also Prime time television with Reginald Wheatsheaf 3rd filmed a behind the scenes interview evening with the actors that is also due for release shortly.

Wintopia - Series 1 outtakes

Official Wintopia Youtube Page
Wintopia Facebook Group
Wintopia Bebo Page
See all the posts on Wintopia: www.grizi.net/blog2/category/wintopia/

The An Ríocht Region of Engineers Ireland is delighted to present the following field trip

Field Trip - Limerick Tunnel Presentation and Site Visit

Time: 9am

Date: Friday 22nd February 2008

Venue: Meet at the Institute of Technology Tralee, South Campus

For further details please contact:
Claire Horan
Engineers Ireland An Riocht Regional Co-Ordinator
School of Engineering
Institute of Technology Tralee
Tel 066-7145612
Fax 066-7145650

or

Noel O Murchu
Tel:066 7127235

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Landscapes and gardens in eighteenth-century Munster

The Limerick Chapter, Irish Georgian Society will host the following series of lectures on Landscapes and gardens in eighteenth-century Munster.

‘Responding to the landscape in eighteenth-century Munster’
Dr Toby Barnard, University of Oxford
Limerick City Library, 19th February, 8pm

‘The Western Baroque: Dromoland, Ardfert, Lixnaw and Killarney’
Dr Finola O’Kane, University College Dublin
Limerick City Library, 1 April, 8pm

‘The eighteenth-century urban garden and its regeneration’
Belinda Jupp, Garden conservationist
The Georgian House and Garden, 2 Pery Square, Limerick, 8pm (Admission: 5 euro) 22 April

Further information; Phone 01-676-7053 or email info @ igs dot ie

Via Random Reflective Rantings
“A German Navy Boat doing a risky maneuver, missing one and hitting another one”

Reported by Stern on 22nd June 2007 Schnellboot-Crash vor Libanon and here is a rough summary in English

Two German boats crashed into each other off the coast of Lebanon four weeks ago. A video of the crash that has turned up on the Internet shows that the captain apparently wanted to allow a bit of fun, that blew up in his face.

The video video could be shown in “Ooops - the Boopers” in a special episode “crazy military accidents or: how one can waste tax money professionally”. The German fast attack craft “Frettchen” can be seen bombing across the wash caused by the other warship off the Lebanese coast. One of the observers said “that looks cool” but shortly later one of the others shouts “shit, shit.” Because after riding over the wash, the “Frettchen” can’t avoid the “Gepard”, a second Fast Attack Craft travelling parallel to the warship, any more. And so there was a crash

In the second scene, the accident is seen from the perspective of the “Frettchen.” Firstly, a fun powertrip over the waves, den someone says “look out!” but it’s too late. The boats bang off each other. In the final seconds, the camera catches a glimpse of the German flag - as if it must be made clear to whom this embarrassing incident has happened.

“No good explanation”
Götz Meiert, spokesman for the German fleet command in Glücksburg confirmed to stern.de that the video is real. The incident occurred almost a month ago and no-one was injured. But the boats suffered heavy damage because they are built from wood. Photos of the wrecked ships can be seen in an Austrian Internet forum. They show that the “Frettchen” ripped a large hole in the side of the “Gepard.” Both ships are being repaired in Cyprus according to Meiert.

Meiert was not able to say why the captain of the “Frettchen” risked his vehicle for a bit of fun. “I cannot think of a good explanation.” The navy have set up a committee to enquire into the incident. All parties concerned will be questioned. The only thing that is certain, is that the ship was on the way back from a sending-home ceremony for the “Brandenburg” frigate. At these ceremonies, it is common to sail by and salute again on the way home. A crash doesn’t belong to the normal bye-bye of course.

The filmmakers are also on the line.
Not only must the chief of the “Frettchen” prepare to be disciplined. The filmmakers that were on board face adversity too. “The film damages the reputation of the German Armed Forces; there is the possibility that the soldiers are guilty of misconduct” Meiert said. On the other hand, the have unintentionally done a good deed: the film and the photos in the Internet help the investigation.”There is hardly a loss, that is so well documented” said Meiert.

The fast attack crafts belong to an international naval unit under German command. It patrols off the Lebanese coast and ought to prevent weapons smuggling. In total, the Germans have two frigages, four fast attack crafts and two supply ships in operation. The fast attack crafts’ home dock is Rostock-Warnemünde.

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Also reported in The Guardian German navy finds new enemy - itself on Wednesday January 30 2008.
They report that the captain lost his job

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For ship/military fans; the “S-76 Frettchen” is a Fast Attack Craft (FAC) (German: Schnellboot) - Type 143A Gepard class. “Frettchen” translates as “ferret”
Crymod has some more detail and specifications on the ship . And here is the official page from the German Navy on Gepard-class ships (143A) (in german)

Contrasting offers for Love…

Love for the animals

Love from the garden

Happy Valentine’s Day

As flagged by the angry hedgehog and now there is a facebook event

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OUT IN UL-The University of Limerick’s Lesbian, Gay & Bisexual Society presents ‘QUEERBASH V’

Out In UL, the Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Society in the University of Limerick, will be hosting the 5th Annual Queerbash event on Friday 22nd February 2008 in Baker’s Place & Underground, Limerick. ‘Queerbash’ is a fundraising and social event for the LGBT community in Limerick and the Mid-West.

Queerbash 5 is geared up to be another success, as it has been for the previous 4 years. It will build on these achievements by continuing to use the event as a means for Outreach within the Lesbian, Gay & Bi-Sexual Community in the Mid-West, but also to those who are straight who just want to come along for a fantastic evening of fun in a safe and controlled environment. There will be 2 DJ’s downstairs battling it out, whilst a Charity Auction will take place, with all proceeds going to Rainbow Support Services-an LGBT resource Centre in Limerick City.

Out In UL, provides support for the LGB students on the campus of UL, as well as an active awareness program of LGB issues, chief among which lies the concept of Violence towards the Gay community. The title of the event, “Queerbash”, represents a recognition of this violence, which is still ongoing within our society-Some 41% of people in a 2006 survey on Hate Crimes claimed to be a victim. Of that group, nearly 50% suffered a Physical Attack. (Source: Johnny, Hate Crimes Report 2006, Dublin: 2006). Queerbash is about raising the profile of such attacks and reneging the victim status which becomes attached to a person who has been attacked because of their sexual orientation.

The Society is also involved with other LGBT’s across the country, many of whom will be in attendance at this event which is one of the longest run & premier student-run LGBT events in the country.

The Event will be run this year in conjunction with “Baby Blue Training” Conference, which is another LGBT event being hosted by Out In UL, with support from NUI Maynooth and Kildare LGBT this year. This Conference will feature workshops, discussions on various LGBT issues arising in Ireland including city vs country life, Civil Marriage Rights and Health Issues.

Tickets cost 5EUR before 11pm and 8EUR after. For further information contact outinul@yahoo.ie or see http://heaven.skynet.ie

Key Facts:

* Date: 22nd February 2008.
* Venue: Baker Place/Underground, Limerick.
* 5th Anniversary of ‘Queerbash’ which grows more successful and bigger every year.
* Event is for all persons, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transsexual or Straight, of an open mindset.
* Being run as part of ‘Baby Blue Training’, an LGBT Conference with NUIM & Kildare LGBT.