A Little Music

I picked up a new CD the other day that I haven't stopped listening to. "Music in Mouth" is Bell X1's latest album and features superb tracks like "Eve, The Apple of my Eye". Check them out if you get a chance.

Theres a Book Bringing Down the House

I went a bit mad in Easons the other day and bought myself a couple of books. May as well do something worthwhile with all this spare time I have. I bought Bringing Down the House by Ben Mezrich and Reefer Madness by Eric Schlosser

I've started reading Bringing Down the House. It's one of those page turners that you just cannot put down. Its an incredible story of how six MIT students took Vegas for millions of dollars and I'd highly recommend it anyone. Its so good in fact I was late for work this morning and missed a meeting at 9.00 A.M. because I didn't go asleep until after 3.00 A.M. due in no small part to the book. Its been quite some time since I've read a book that has kept me awake at night wondering what was going to happen next.

Can't wait to get home to read more.....

Coals to Newcastle

I'm off to Newcastle in North East England this weekend. Looking forward to the trip the purpose of which is to lament the passing of one of my good friends from single life into marriage. There are 21 of us going so it should be some fun.

The only thing I'm not sure I can face into is the copious amounts of drink that Stag (Bachelor) parties inevitably bring and the battering my poor wallet will take with the exchnage rate on Euro to Sterling.

You probably won't hear anything of what happens this weekend because, "What goes on tour, stays on tour!"

Irish Motor Insurance

A press release form the Motor Insurance Justice Action Group (MIJAG) this morning claims that Motor Insurance in Ireland is 100 times more profitable than in the UK.

In 2002 Motor Insurance earned €201m and last year €385m an increase of more than 10 fold making it more than 100 times more profitable to sell motor insurance here than in the UK

"While most people have had small decreases in their premium in reality this
is the crumbs off the table" said Mick Murphy the National Organiser of
MIJAG (Motor Insurance Justice Action Group - mijag.com). "The Department
of Enterprise 'Blue Book' shows a huge increase in both Profit and Reserves.
In other words the premium increase after 9/11 were never justified and the
insurance companies are laughing all the way to the Bank" Mr Murphy said.

Just goes to show being part of Europe has not really helped on this front. Unfortunately the Motor Insurance Industry remains one of the areas of industry and commerce that has not benefitted from the common market provided for as part of membership of the E.U.

Considering an MBA

Yesterday in a fit of madness I began looking into the possibility of beginning a Masters in Business. I took a look at the Financial Times List of the Top 100 schools in which to do this, and was disappointed to learn that UCC is not featured on the list. So I got in touch with the Faculty of Commerce in UCC and asked them to send out a brochure. I also enquired about the cost. The cost of tuition etc. for an MBA in UCC is a whopping €9,250 per year. The course takes two years to complete. Now for that kind of money you’d expect at least a top 100 Masters! I await the information.

Fahrenheit 9/11

I went to the cinema yesterday evening to see the much talked about, much anticipated new Michael Moore film, Fahrenheit 9/11. Strangely, the only place showing the film in Cork City is the Capitol Cinema on Grand Parade. Why I can’t understand? The film has broken all box office records for a documentary in the U.S, yet only one cinema in Cork City could be bothered showing it. Anyway, the film is as I thought it would be, controversial.

The film begins with scenes of Al Gores victory celebration in Florida, the network announcement confusion that ensued and the whole debacle that unfolded thereafter. Moore then goes on to show the manner in which the Bush administration at the time of the elections systematically worked to disenfranchise a nation and rob its ethnic minorities of their right to vote. The way that this film presents Bush’s election victory leaves you with a sour taste in your mouth. The GOP really duped Gore et al in Florida, and one can’t help but think that they must be sniggering up their sleeves at the Democrats.

Moore documents the connections that the Bush family has with Saudi Arabia, and tells how Saudi money owns a sizeable portion of America. In documenting these connections to Saudi money and resources, Moore tries to establish links between the Bush family and the Bin Ladens. Some of the connections that Moore tries to make are a stretch at best, however, there are undoubtedly some truths in what Moore tries to establish. What’s this they say, “Where there’s smoke?”

Fahrenheit 9/11 shows the reaction of a President upon hearing that his country is being attacked. Seven minutes later, President Bush is still sitting in that Elementary School listening to kids reading, while in New York City, terrified human beings are jumping to their deaths. Bush describes himself in the film as a “War President”. But that’s what war Presidents do right? They sit in Elementary Schools listening to kids read while their country is being attacked.

Moore moves on from the attacks of Sept. 11th and shows how the attacks on Afghanistan were a smoke screen for what was about to follow. The resources thrown at capturing Bin Laden were minute by comparison to the resources being thrown at Iraq at present. So was Bush really out to get Bin Laden or was this all a smokescreen for the real goal, Sadam? Of course, Afghanistan isn’t that oil rich is it?

This film shocked me in a way I haven’t been shocked for quite some time and if anything is to be taken from this it is that Bush has to go. So if you’re reading this and you’re a U.S. citizen, then take Derek Powazeks advice, See the movie, register to vote, and help elect a saner America.

DaBerries BBS

On a much happier note than my impending financial doom. I received the preliminary results of my finals on Tuesday. I got my exams. Not just that but I got a second class honours degree. How do you like them apples? I'll receive my degree in November at the conferring ceremony!

Henceforth, I will be known as DaBerries (BBS)!

Debt

I've just been sitting down going through my finances. I am in debt to the tune of €8,000! I don't know how I'm gonna clear it. You know that sinking feeling, when you suddenly realise, "Sh*t, how do I owe that much?" Then you go through your Visa bill and realise that maybe, just maybe you shouldn't have run up €5,000 worth of debt on a little piece of plastic. Then you look at your bank balance and think maybe I shouldn't have borrowed that much from the bank. Any ideas?

Just Back From Holidays

I'm just back from a week off work. A week richly deserved after some wicked long hours in the run up to my break. I spent the week in Cork just laying around the house not doing a whole lot which was nice. I think sometimes I'm so busy doing that I don't spend enough time just doing nothing.

We went to see "Beyond The Barricades" in the Opera House over the few days off. It's a great show featuring music performed by four singers from some of the best known musicals in the West End in London. If you get a chance you should check it out.

I also took some time out to do something I haven't done since I was a kid. I went fishing. Now to some that may seem boring. But there's nothing more peaceful than sitting in Ballycotton on a warm and windy Friday evening casting and reeling, casting and reeling. It's so relaxing.

The rest of the time was spent sipping beer and enjoying food with friends. In between playing the XBox of course.

Unfortunately, like all good things, holidays have to come to an end. So here I am back in work.