Although I’m still on a blog break, I’ve just updated the header image. It was taken along the Dingle Way and is a fun photograph.

Now, back to playing with my iPhone

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Taking a blogging break for a while. Not sure how long I will need to recharge the batteries for, but I will return.

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Isn’t this a bit like the idea two women had on Dragon’s Den some time ago? Wear a pin that marks you out as being single. The idea was that if you’re out on the town and spot someone you like but aren’t sure if they are single, the pin would be the green light to make a move. The multi-millionaire investers on the BBC programme thought the idea was ridiculous, as I did.

The idea has been thought of before though and is available on Talktomepin. Go visit, you’ll love the music, if nothing else :-) I think it would make a very suitable theme tune for a sitcom.

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I knew this all along and the Daily Mail is only discovering it now. Small dogs are thugs – sausage dogs are the worst of all. Who could blame them for their narkiness. If you saw nothing more than ankles all day long, I’ll bet you’d get snappy too!

Seeing the dogs on the list reminded me of a lunch time conversation some years ago in a previous job. The topic of conversation was what dog each of us most resembled. When it came to me, my colleagues were in agreeement that I would be a German shepherd because they are  “mostly a nice, easy going dog but don’t push them too hard or they snap”. I had to agree with the collective judgement.

What type of dog are you? Take the test at gone2thedogs (click on game on the extreme left hand side of the screen). My result?  I’m an Ibizan Hound.

What dog are you?

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It’s official – Nelson Mandela no longer considered a terrorist by the USA. Talk about long fingers.

This is what the earth sounds like to Aliens. No wonder they don’t want to come any closer.

Sir Clive Sinclair predicts personal flying machines. I do hope so, o great baldy one – I think we all harbour an ambition to fly.

Is $795,000 enough compensation for the loss of a penis? I don’t think so.  

Magic mushroom use – 6 out 10 people in one study said it had a positive effect on their life.

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UPDATE Tuesday 8th July

The designer of the ad for the Laptop Shop (Fergus O’Neill) has been in contact by email and in the comments. I am happy to post the clarification by Fergus here and to correct my statement in the original post that implied the Laptop Shop were at fault.

The version of the ad that was used in the Sunday Business Post was sent by me and was not approved by the laptop shop.I apologise to the laptop shop for the error. The correct ad was used in the Ingear section of The Sunday Times.

The images used are manipulated stock and can be viewed here along with a description of the copy - http://www.flickr.com/photos/28355011@N03/

The images used do not represent any person living or dead and if they do I regret any distress caused

Again my apologies to the laptop shop for any embarrassment caused.
Fergus O’Neill

UPDATE Monday 7th July @ 4.15pm : Robert from the Laptop Shop has left a comment on this post. An unfortunate set of circumstances resulted in the ad going to print and Robert apologises for the offence caused. Read down through the comments below for the full detail. Thanks for clarifying the situation Robert.

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Original Post on Sunday 6th July

This ad was in the Computers in Business section of the Business Post today.

I don’t know which is worse. The gobshites at the Laptop Shop who thought that facial disfigurement is a good way to advertise their product, or the Sunday Business Post for allowing the ad to run.

Or maybe it’s just me?

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I took full advantage of my Saturday off yesterday. Having done the Wicklow to Dublin commute 6 days a week for the last while, I was due a well earned rest. Friday evenings take on a whole different colour when you know you don’t have to get up early next day.

After rising at the ridiculously late hour of 10.30 am, I made a determined effort to do as little as possible for the rest of the day. Lunch consisted of Beans on toast, made magnificent thanks to the wonderful Spicendipity Chilli seasoning and a chopped vine tomato. Gordan Ramsay I’m not, but I think I’d make a good chef if I put my mind to it and chilli would definitely be my specialty. AJ’s Spice Shack – that’s what I’d call my restaurant.

Shortly thereafter, my sister arrived in having dropped off my niece to the 1^st Birthday Party of the local bowling alley and amusements. She was heading down to Heatons for something or other. I said I might as well tag along. My plan to sit out the back developing a Brad Pitt-like healthy facial glow in the sun was well and truly scuppered by the rain at this stage. Anyway, I needed to stock up on socks and boxers so the tan can wait.

The socks and boxers buying took all of 60 seconds and I selected €15 worth of product. Ordinarily I’d have gone straight to the tills to pay, but since my sister was in for a good rummage, I knew I had another 1/2 hour (minimum) to kill. So what’s a guy to do, but head for the DVD section followed by the hardware and miscellaneous sections.

Before I knew it, my boxers and socks purchase soon got a little bigger. In the space of that 1/2 hour I managed to add the following items I really never intended buying.

Brita water filter – €11.98
Michael Palin Full Circle Book (specially reduced) – €3
DVD Boxset of the Discovery Channel’s “Deadliest Catch” – €20
Dear God  “Children’s Letters to God From Around the World” Book – €5
5 pack of mini notebooks – €2
Maltesers Share pack – €3

And then I wonder where my money goes at the end of the month? Damn Heatons and their eye catching price stickers - and damn the Irish summer too!

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Spotted on the shelf of Heatons this Saturday. Just dump it in the skip already, wasn’t even worth a Euro when it was first released.

This leads to the question -where did the €14 billion of SSIA money go? Is it all still sitting in the bank? Wasn’t it a ridiculous scheme in the first place?

One thing is for sure – the Eddie cult is definitely over. His followers are all nursing hangovers the size of a Bulgarian apartment.

George Lee has taken his place now. He IS the voice of doom and gloom.

Yes George, your time has come – enjoy the spotlight. I really hope you won’t have too long there. It’s nothing personal you understand. I’d rather have boom boom Eddie back – and that’s not something I thought I’d ever want.

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Joining twitter enabled me to discover a new blog on the block by Katharina Pommerien.

Katharina if from Germany originally and has lived in Ireland since 2006. Her blog, illustration.ie, will focus exclusively on illustration topics, including Illustrator tutorials.

Just take a look at some of her stunning Illustrations here. Beautiful work Katharina. I am looking forward to seeing more!

Images (c) Katharina Pommerien

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I really love the photograph used in this weeks header. It’s even better when you see the full size image.

An absolutely wonderful capture of a beach in Donegal taken within the last couple of days. Looks like a lucky break in the weather too and it’s calling out for a caption

This is but one image from the Ireland set belonging to Dennis Gerbeckx from Germany.

Check out his Ireland flickr stream here and his website here.

Great work Dennis!

Photo owned by Dennis Gerbickx and used under a CC License.

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