…actually they’re worse…
Irish Examiner: The scale of unemployment is far worse than official figures show because another 38,000 people are stuck in a backlog waiting for their dole claims to be processed, the Irish Examiner has learned.
Times are tough so we can’t be completely screwed to the wall these days, only partially. Traditionally in Ireland we go over budget by multiples, but I don’t think IBM would get away with that with this one.
However, going over budget by less an 100% in Ireland would probably result in IBM being bullied in the playground, so I’m betting on 100% over budget, plus or minus 10%. What’s your estimate?
ENN: IBM is to develop and implement an infrastructure for an Integrated Ticketing System ITS across all public transport in the greater Dublin area. The tech heavyweight was chosen by the Railway Procurement Agency RPA to develop and roll out an e-payment system to enable commuters to use a single pre-paid smart card for travel on all buses, trains, trams and coaches in the city. The integrated IBM back-office system will provide ticket and smart card management, central reconciliation and settlement services to all public transport providers. The system is part of Ireland’s “Transport 21” project. Work on the project will begin immediately and a phased deployment of the system will start in late 2009. Financial details of the contract were not revealed.
Italians welcome army on streets as anti-gipsy sentiment sweeps country – Telegraph: When soldiers arrived with submachine guns to fight crime last week outside Rome’s Saxa Rubra metro station, residents of the quiet commuter suburb applauded and shouted “bravo”.
Obviously the Italians have never heard of Posse Comitatus. Or done any research at all about Berlusconi.
People can be pig ignorant.
Damien reminds us about the Oireactas Website Survey. You may not use the (truly awful) website much, but if it was in any way usable, that might change. Please do take a look around and fill in the short, one page survey.
Thanks Donncha.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnMtc_QJ4-E
Think I found this on Damien’s blog, but I’m not sure. Anyway, it’s a flash-based visual representation of CO2 emissions by country, plus births and deaths. Have a look.
Obama’s Name Misspelled On 2,000 Ballots
As Florida’s primary approaches, there are already reported problems concerning ballots in Central FloridaSome 2,000 absentee ballots in Volusia County have been mailed with Barack Obama’s first name misspelled.
On the ballot, the candidate’s name is spelled B-A-R-A-K, Local 6 News reported Sunday.
Supervisor of Elections Ann McFall assured people that the voting equipment will be able to read the ballots despite the error and all votes for the misspelled name will count for Obama.
Yeah right Ann. We believe you because your state has such a trustworthy electoral history.
Unfortunately the Guardian hasn’t seen fit to include an embed feature on their videos, so you’ll have to click through to view this video, sorry.
TBH, although Obama is ultimately the boss of his own campaign, the paranoia of his staff won’t turn me off supporting him. Clinton is a dirty player that could take on the Republicans on their own turf, you’d be paranoid too if you had to go up against her and her staff. But the video does give us an insight to how threatened the Obama team feels, despite the fact that when it was filmed, they must have been feeling fairly upbeat about their chances.
My worry now is that Americans will view NH as the final quarter, rather than the opening bell; that they’ll take NH as a given rather than an indicator, and switch allegiances in the misguided notion that the only way to get a Dem in the house is to go with Clinton. It isn’t, because Clinton can’t win it. Not just because America isn’t ready for a female president, but because it’s quite likely she’ll be up against McCain.
Seriously, next time Clinton’s on the telly, turn off the sound and think of her as the POTUS. It just doesn’t work, right? And next time you see dual head shots of her and McCain, ask yourself which one you’d vote for. See what I mean? She can’t do it.
Now, next time you see Obama on the telly, think of him as the POTUS. Sound off or on, it fits, right? You don’t even need to do the dual head shots with Obama and McCain, it’s a done deal.
(Via Daithà and Damien.)
Copyright © 2020 Adam Beecher. All Rights Reserved.
