eBay University
John Naughton comments on the 'eBay university'. I got an email to say that 'eBay university 2006 comes to Dublin and Limerick'. Interesting. This may be in contravention of the Universities Act, 1997 section 52.
'Except in relation to an educational institution or facility established and described as such before the 30th day of July, 1996, (in which case it may continue to be so described), a person shall not, without the approval of the Minister, use the word "university" to describe an educational establishment or facility.'
Hope they have the Minister's OK here in Ireland.
Now We'll Know
Gambling is seen as an 'investment' for certain quarters, and the impending deregulation of the gambling industry in the U.K. next year has sent thousands of gamblers scampering to purchase a £1,000 device that helps them win roulette games. This predictive device consists of a time recorder, a hidden computer, and an earpiece. When operated by a 'skilled' roulette player, this device could tip the game towards the player's favor as he/she learns to make a much better and calculated call. Tests have shown that potential gains of up to 100% can be achieved when using this device. Don't expect to import one over across the Atlantic for use in Vegas as you might end up with a couple of limbs missing.
Ubergizmo
David Copperfield
He was right for me
video here.
Text Annoyance
I heard the mobile phone ring to tell me that there was a text message. Only a few people have that number so the message must be urgent.
The traffic was heavy and at the first opportunity off the motorway and into a car park to read the message. It was a promotional advertisement for the mobile company O2. In all it wasted fifteen or twenty minutes, by the time I had got back in the moving traffic on the motorway.
As you cannot use a hand held mobile and drive a car at the same time (the law was changed recently) these selfish promotional messages should be banned.
A quick annoyed email to O2. Let's see if this has any impact.
Update: An email from O2 and they say they wont send any more. A result.
Inisheer
I had the good fortune to spend two months on the smallest of the Aran Islands,
Inisheer (Inis Oirr), in 1962. This was the year before I sat the Leaving Certificate examination, the final school examination in Ireland. At that time if you didn't pass Irish you failed the examination and couldn't go to University. So the idea was that I would improve my Irish. This worked and was a fantastic experience. One that has left me with a deep affection for the islanders, their way of life and the Irish language along with a small collection of photographs.
At that time I only had a basic 35mm camera and a few rolls of film. You couldn't get more film on the island at that time and anyway I couldn't afford it. When I came home after spending a month longer than originally agreed all I could do was develop the film but no prints! The negatives were kept among my personal stuff, put in a press and forgotten about.
Last year I was using my son's scanner, remembered these negatives and discovered that they could be scanned. He then introduced me to
Flickr and suggested
I should put them up there which I did. I moved on to other things and forgot about them until recently.
An email arrived from the 'Crashed' music group asking if some of them could be used
on the cover of a new CD. The result was that one was used as the outer cover of a CD and two more were used on the inlay.
They were of the wreck of the MV Plassey which went aground on an offshore rock during a severe storm on the night of 8th March 1960. The 11 crew were rescued by the local onshore rescue crew using a Breeches Buoy. It was later driven onto the island during another storm. It is on the rocks in the opening scene of the Channel 4 comedy series 'Father Ted'.
