Maman Poulet

It would seem a contributor to the Irish Examiner is most anxious to take over from David Quinn as expert commentator (and know nothing at all) on lesbian and gay relationships. Legal threats are being issued to Irish lgbt forums and blogs which discuss his work. It’s interesting to know that the finer reaches of queer Ireland are such essential reading to this gentleman. David Quinn watch may be no more – we might have a successor…. Watch this space!

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hee hee….

All da techno blogging lads (I love you all dearly!) were busy posting welcoming back Karlin Lillington to blogging earlier on in the week. I was very happy too as I know Karlin of old and really value her work but also I was chuffed because it’s good to see another woman back blogging. We lost a few in the past year, and not just any few. A few of the best Irish bloggers in terms of content, profile and presence had decided to hang up their keyboards and that saddened me.

And today I hear that That Girl too has those moments thinking ‘I must blog about that’ and has decided to blog again. Welcome back TG – the other blog didn’t do it for me at all but that’s just me, it’s good to see TOL back with us!

*And I don’t really want a comment war on gender on blogging please – I’m happy about it, I’ve said why I’m happy about it, I know some people couldn’t care less.

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17.26 John Inverdale apologises to BBC viewers on the ‘Mainland’ for overuse of term historic

This is after a video package attempting to explain why England playing at Croker is so historic, complete with newspaper clippings and son’s of players who played in that match 87 years ago.

So John when will you be apologising to Irish viewers for the use of the term ‘Mainland’. All that being nice and making sure everyone knows why it’s a bit sensitive and you go put your foot in it again.

Anyway the anthems  passed off peacefully – although I’m sure I saw some tears on Irish players faces during Amhran na Bhfiann…

It’s quiet outside finally for a while – well the next 80 minutes plus halftime…

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One week into independent living in Dublin City Centre Maman Poulet gets a chance at some citizen journalism

It’s all kicking off outside the apartments this afternoon as England on tour visit the alien land of the northside on their way to Croker. I’m not brave enough to venture up to the Hill 16 establishment to see if they have opened their arms to the visiting brethern. However I’ve just been up Talbot street to get in my own pre match supplies (ciabatta and chicken fillets – very southside really!)

There are Gardai everywhere, helicoptered and on foot and in vans. Two English lads have just been arrested for scrapping, nice bit of blood on show. And it’s only 3 o’clock!

Later tonight I’m venturing out to review the Sunday Papers on Taste on Newstalk. Wish me luck as I brave the streets (Come on Ireland!)

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The BBC Disability Blog Ouch regularly features stories on disabled pets. Inspired by their attention to duty I’ve only gone and found my own story about a two legged dog whom an Airline managed to lose and then find again.

So for your ‘and finally’ moment of the week meet Faith the bi-ped (yes she has her own website), most photographed dog in the world and the story of her return to her owner and how she overcomes adversity in all aspects of her life – cue violins, award ceremonies and access campaigns for the disabled animal in your life…sigh. (You can watch a video report if you have the stomach for it.)

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God it’s like an episode of Blue Peter. Rock the Vote have now pushed their launch date back a further week to April 8th. That’s further away from April Fools day! And get your washing up liquid bottles and sticky back plastic ready. They want the yoof to design t-shirts and ‘giant outdoor artworks’.

Eh how about the odd youtube pitch or bebo profile – get with the programme lads….

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Robert Scoble and others interview the nun who’s in charge of the Vatican website. I don’t know whether to be scared or supportive of the work of Sister Judith Zoebelein. It’s a very interesting interview – Church goes second life and then back to first life and then to the next life probably.

She does not see any fly on the wall expose of how the Vatican works – so no change there on transparency and the church. Whats all this warp speed stuff? A trekie nun? Oh go watch it and see what Benny 16 thinks of the web.

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Some advice possibly for Fiona O’Malley PD TD. and other T.D.’s who were told by political gurus that blogging is not worth the effort from Harriet Harman, UK government minister and deputy primeministerial hopeful. Blogging is worth the effort.

A feature on political blogging in the UK on yesterday’s BBC1 Sunday AM programme discusses all things web 2.0 and political blogs. Click here to watch and it’s about 29 minutes in. Yasmin Alibi Brown didn’t think much of blogging – down with that sort of thing (watch out for the verbal vomit comment!)

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I’ve been nominated for two categories in the Irish Blog Awards – Best Political Blog (eh thanks, not sure why but maybe for the blogging last year of the same sex partnership issues but how about a vote for somewhere I also blog Irishelection.com) and Best Blog Post for this post.

Many thanks for the nominations, it’s good to be included in the long lists. Since the first awards blogging has exploded in Ireland and the nominations and categories reflect the growth of blogs in all spheres of Irish life.
The full nomination list is here - please vote (and please vote for me if you see fit).

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You know the way they say the Irish are late for everything, even their own funerals? Well so it seems is any major campaign aimed at mobilising the youth vote in Ireland.

Maman Poulet would usually have no problem in supporting anything that mobilises young people to stick their number 1 (and other votes) on the ballot paper. However Rockthevote.ie with lots of money and no sense it seems are launching in April 07 – that’s one month before the general election folks. Whilst young people are being turned off voting in their droves by crap debates and crapper posters, this crowd aim to break through all the noise in 43 constituencies complete with a Constituency and Community Director and get young people out to vote. Oh yes and when the electoral register is closed and supplemental registration is extremely difficult to do.

You’d think they might have been at colleges throughout the country last September, or at the Oxygen festival last summer or at the GAA finals in September, rocking the vote… Just an idea like…

It would seem that they have money to burn and lots of fancy job titles and descriptions. Would the American who wears a cheap watch and travels economy have anything too do with backing it? Honestly I thought AP had more sense on what they got involved with since the other problems in the past 18 months. In fact wouldn’t any funder of this non partisan initiative have said ‘nice idea but you should have launched last year’?

One wonders if this is aimed at giving a group of mates a cushy job for a few months. Where else other than the website are the jobs being advertised? And if those behind it are trying to keep it hush hush until they launch (that’s right in April!) who’ll get to know about how to apply for a job?

Well now you have read Maman Poulet you might get your CV ready for the easiest money you might ever make. It’s a shame as it could have been such a good idea if executed in a timely manner. Actually thinking about some other private philanthropist funded projects I know about this is probably how they like to organise – ie. tell no-one, give the jobs to your mates and launch late and effect no change.

Or maybe with it’s April Launch date this whole thing is an April Fool’s joke????

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