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Sunday, December 30, 2018

Inida Vs Australia at MCG Border-Gavaskar Trophy- Virat Kohli on 7 Test wins joins Sourav Ganguly as India Captain with most away Test wins STATS from http://www.espncricinfo.com Scorecard

SCORECARD
3rd Test, India tour of Australia at Melbourne, Dec 26-30 2018 
443/7d & 106/8d Australia 151 & 261 (89.3 ov)
India won by 137 runs
 
Man of the Match: Jasprit Bumrah
Test Debut: MA Agarwal
Umpires: Ian Gould (England), Marais Erasmus (South Africa)
TV Umpires: Richard Kettleborough (England)
Reserve Umpire: Paul Wilson (Australia)
Match Referee: Andy Pycroft (Zimbabwe)
     
Virat Kohli, the best batsman in the world today, doesn't want to face Jasprit Bumrah. That's a scary message for the batsmen world over. After India took an unassailable 2-1 series lead, checking the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in for a return journey to India, the best batsman in the world spoke glowingly of the best bowler in the world, at least across formats put together if there are people yet to be convinced of Bumrah's status in each individual format.
"It is very important to understand what the bowlers are thinking," Kohli went on to add. "And then in that process you think of Plan B, and you communicate that to the bowlers. That's how we operate. But the fact that the bowlers are all the time dictating those meetings is how you win Test matches away from home. At the end of the day they are running in with the ball so they need to be confident with their fields are, where they are pitching, the pace of the wicket, how they can bowl dot balls, and how they can get wickets.
"That fact that they have taken total ownership of their skill and taken responsibility for the team is what has set them apart this calendar year. Results are there for everyone to see. It is not just talk, you know, they have put the numbers on the board."

In the shadows of a defeat that left the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Indian hands, Australia's captain Tim Paine made his bluntest admission that the national team is in dire need of Steven Smith and David Warner to return from their Newlands-scandal bans to fill the gaping hole they have left in the batting order.
 
"I think that's pretty clear. I think if you took Pujara and Virat out of India's side I think you'd have the same conversation," Paine said in Melbourne. "If you've got world-class players that aren't in your team, are they going to add to our team? I think they will. So while at the moment it's challenging and everyone's frustrated, it is what it is.
Australia have added allrounder Marnus Labuschagne to their squad for the final Test against India in Sydney which they need to win to level the series, with captain Tim Paine admitting "a lot of things are on table" following the batting slump at the MCG.
Labuschagne made his debut in the UAE earlier this year and played both Tests against Pakistan where he showed some promise with bat and ball, making a top score of 43 alongside claiming seven wickets with his legspin.



STATS from http://www.espncricinfo.com
7 Test wins for India in Australia. With this win, the MCG becomes their most successful venue in Australia, where they have won three Tests. This is also the second time India have won more than one Test in a series in Australia. They won two in 1977-78, but lost the five match series 3-2. This is the first time since 1986 that India have won more than one Test in the SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand and Australia) countries.

11 Test wins away from home for Virat Kohli as captain. He has now equalled Sourav Ganguly at the top of the list for India captains. Kohli has reached this mark in 24 matches while Ganguly did it in 28. Kohli now has four wins in SENA countries, the most by any India captain, going past MS Dhoni and MAK Pataudi's three.
0 Test losses for Kohli when he has won the toss. India, under Kohli, have won 18 games and drawn three, and have never lost a match when he has won the toss. India lost all five of their tosses in England, and won one toss out of three in South Africa.
20 Dismissals for Rishabh Pant in this series - the most by an India wicketkeeper in a series, going past the 19 dismissals by Naren Tamhane in 1954-55 and Syed Kirmani in 1979-80, both those series coming against Pakistan. All 20 of Pant's dismissals have been catches - the most by a keeper from India.
47 Wickets taken by the India's fast bowlers in this series - their second-biggest haul in a series in Australia. India's quicks took 57 wickets in a five-match series in 1991-92. India's fast bowlers have ended 2018 with 179 wickets at an average of 23.70.
8 Five-wicket hauls from India's fast bowlers this year - the joint most with South Africa and West Indies, and the most for India in any year, going past the six five-wicket hauls they took in 1981.
9 for 86 Jasprit Bumrah's match figures - the best by an India fast bowler in Australia, and a personal best for Bumrah. Kapil Dev and Ajit Agarkar are the only other India quick bowlers to take eight in a Test in Australia. Australia's Pat Cummins also achieved his best innings and match figures in a Test in this game, ending with match figures of 9 for 99.
4 Centuries for Australia in 10 Tests in 2018 - the fewest for them since 1996 when they had just two centuries but played only five Tests. Incidentally, three of the four centuries came in their first Test of the year, against England in Sydney, which they won




38 year old Former UAE Cricket Captain Seam bowling Allrounder Amjad Javed, has retired from international cricket- Man of the Match in the 2014 World Cup qualifier Super Six match against Kenya in New Zealand 26 December 2018

"It is never easy when you have to call it a day," Amjad told Sport 360. "You have to decide at what time you need to retire. At the moment, the team is doing better than two years back. I can't find a place in the team. Nothing motivates me to push myself and fight for that position."
Amjad Javed, the former UAE captain, has retired from international cricket. The 38-year-old seam-bowling allrounder hasn't found a place in the UAE line-up since December 2017, when he played against Nepal in the ICC WCL Championship.
Amjad played 15 ODIs and 22 T20Is for UAE, featuring in the 2014 World T20 in Bangladesh and the 2015 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. His all-round efforts against Ireland - 42 and 3 for 60 - nearly gained UAE their only victory of the latter tournament, but he chose a performance in the World Cup qualifier the previous year as his personal favourite. In that match, in Christchurch, he smashed 63 off 31 balls and followed it up with 2 for 29 from his 10 overs to consign Kenya to a 13-run defeat.
"The main highlight of my career was the 2014 World Cup qualifier [Super Six match] we played against Kenya in New Zealand where I was the man of the match," Amjad said. "We qualified for the World Cup and achieved ODI status. Everything started rolling after that."

Brexit fear Irish Ferries to axe its popular Rosslare to France sailings next summer, announces the arrival of the WB Yeats - the very ship that had been planned to operate out of Rosslare - into Dublin

At the terminal coffee dock, Vivienne Naessens admits she is worried.
She doesn't know how Irish Ferries arrived at their decision but claims they did not do it by asking their customers.
"A lot of people are regulars at this stage - bikers from Germany and people from France who love the Irish countryside and they want to go to rural Ireland and to the West," she said.
Only last summer, she opened a second coffee hut in the car park and it was going well.
Now she has no idea how things will go next summer.
"There'll be nothing sailing from Rosslare from 8.45am until 6.10pm, except for Saturday morning when the Stena sailing goes to France," she said.
In Culletons Bar in Kilrane, Derval Dunne is similarly concerned. Her best business is from French visitors who spend good money on food.
"They love our seafood, our fish - they have all the courses. They drink the wine," she said.
But Glenn Carr, general manager of Rosslare Europort, is more stoutly optimistic.
Though "disappointed" by Irish Ferries' decision, he believes far better times lie ahead for the port.
"It won't take away from our future plans for the port," he said, adding they hope to grow it by 20pc over the next few years and they have advertised for a business, recruiting and sales manager to attract new shipping lines.
He says the market is taking stock of Brexit and what impact it will have. New facilities will be critical - and Rosslare may become a border inspection post.
"We're hoping for a gap in the market," he admitted.
But local man Billy Roche, who owns the Tuskar House Hotel and the Ferryport House Hotel in Rosslare Harbour, believes it is not enough.
He blames Rosslare's decline in recent years on a bewildering lack of political appreciation for all the port and local area had to offer: "What's going on here is criminal. We're the gateway to Europe."
He claimed people are talking about "putting on yellow vests" to vent their frustrations and to get the authorities to finally do something to help.
"If people aren't getting something done the political way, they'll try something else," he said.
In terms of company public relations - not to mention community good relationships - it all but verged on the callous.
Just a day after Irish Ferries announced it was to axe its popular Rosslare to France sailings next summer, the company sent out another press release.
With great fanfare, it announced the arrival of the WB Yeats - the very ship that had been planned to operate out of Rosslare - into Dublin today.
It advised a number of vantage points along Dublin Bay from which people could view this "magnificent ship".
In the meantime, the WB Yeats itself sat loftily in Rosslare Europort, performing berthing trials.
The tossing waves and deserted ferry terminal cut a sharp contrast to the bustle of the summer, with its endless lines of cars, motorhomes and motorbikes. Amid the glittering seas and the unaccustomed heatwave, it had been hard to know where France stopped and Rosslare began.
Up the town, in the quaint Breeches Buoy Apparatus house, the local environment group are having their last meeting of the year.
They talk about the sad decline of Rosslare, where so many fine old hotels are now shuttered.
Of the dockside jobs certain to be lost, of the lack of appreciation for Rosslare as a non-tidal port when Brexit could be such a game-changer.
"It's frustrating. There are opportunities not being availed of here," said Vincent Kennedy. "We could become a duty-free port but there is no political goodwill."

Oireachtas Education Committee Report recommends new plans for the State’s sex education programme where Primary and secondary school children will be taught about gay, lesbian and transgender relationships 17 December 2018

The document, which has been seen by Independent.ie, calls for the current curriculum to be updated to take into account the significant changes in change Irish society.

Primary and secondary school children will be taught about gay, lesbian and transgender relationships under radical new plans for the State’s sex education programme.
A draft report from the Oireachtas Education Committee recommends a major overhaul of sex education taught in both primary and secondary schools.
Its says the sex education programme should be “fully inclusive of LGBTQ+ relationships and experiences including sexual orientation, gender identity and the spectrums thereof”.
“Consideration should be given to the inclusion within curriculums of LGBTQ+ specific sexual health issues and the presentation of LGBT relationships without distinction as to their heterosexual counterparts,” it adds.
The draft says the updated curriculum should be taught in primary schools in an “age and developmentally appropriate manner”.
It adds that the programme should give consideration to the “significant and welcome changes that have taken place in Ireland in order to produce a gender equality-based, inclusive, holistic, creative, empowering and protective curriculum”.
It also calls for the introduction of a system for monitoring and recording incidences of homophobic or transphobic bullying which would be overseen by the Department of Education.
Primary and secondary school teachers would also have to provide classes on sexual consent under the reforms. 
A specific curriculum on sex education for people with intellectual disabilities, which would classes on sexuality and contraception, is also proposed.
The document also recommends changing legislation to ensure schools, such as those owned by the Catholic Church, are required to teach the new sex education programme even if it is against their ethos.
It says “clarity and direction” should be given by the Department of Education on how schools and colleges, under religious patronage, should implement the new programme so that “all children and young people are treated equally”.
The committee notes there was a consensus from witness around the need for more education on pornography and abortion in schools. However, the draft report does not make recommendation on either issue.
More training and resources would be given to schools and teachers as part of the overhaul of the sex education curriculum.
In her forward to the document, Education Committee chair Fiona O’Loughlin says: “the curriculum needs to be inclusive of all students and to give a voice to LGBTQ+ students and those with special intellectual needs who are often overlooked in this area.”
“To achieve this, the curriculum must be reviewed, to reflect today’s society and must be delivered in a consistent manner to all students and from an earlier age so that it becomes embedded in our children’s social development,” she adds.
The Committee is due to discuss the draft report today before signing off on a final version which will be sent to Education Minister Joe McHugh.




Dublin City Council has confirmed new regulations will not allow Street Traders to pass Street Trading Licences to their family members- End of era 15 December 2018

Once the licence is gone - if the holder dies for instance - it will then be open for tender to anyone. The new directive comes into place on January 1.
The days of passing street trading licences down the generations are gone, with new EU directives marking an end to a long-standing tradition.
Dublin City Council has confirmed new regulations will mean licences going from the holder to a family member will not be possible.
Some stallholders in areas such as Moore Street, Meath Street, Camden Street and Grafton Street have had their trading licence passed down through five generations.
The EU casual trading regulations state licences should be "only for an appropriate limited period".
It said it was not open to automatic renewal and there should be no advantage to the previous holder or anyone connected to that holder. Family members can still apply for the licence.
A fishmonger on Moore Street for 50 years, Margaret Buckley (73) said stallholders would "fight tooth and nail" against these changes. She said the stall had been in her family for around 150 years.
"I'm here 50 years, we were helping the mother and when she died, we took over," she said. "If anything happens to me it should be passed onto the daughter and keep the tradition going - this is what we've been fighting for."
Fruit and veg trader Bernie Darcy said stallholders would struggle to pass them on anyway, with little interest coming from families.
Independent councillor Mannix Flynn said it was "the end of an era" but it was something that was needed.


Is Ms Sarah Bélanger Demaneuf telling 'rude' customer that she wont sell the 50 cent ornament for 25 cent as "we weren't at a yard sale", clever, 'anti-grinch' or lowest level arrogance?

Ms Bélanger Demaneuf told her that it wasn't possible to sell it for her requested price of 25 cent as "we weren't at a yard sale".

This woman from Alabama shared her delightfully petty revenge in a now viral Facebook post. Let's cast our minds back to 2001 when Sarah Bélanger Demaneuf was working in retail for an unnamed company and a customer wanted a further reduction on an item already for sale - for 50 cent. 

Her Facebook post reads:

"I just can’t get into the holiday spirit until I post this. Have a vengeful Christmas y’all!!
The Star of Vengeance
This is my favorite Christmas ornament, but rather than symbolize peace and goodwill, as it should, it symbolizes vengeance and spite.
I was working at a local retail store after Christmas and all of our ornaments were reduced to 75% off. This little star was .50 cents. A terrible woman (dressed to the nines and driving a high-end Lexus, so pretty well off) came into the store and wanted 4 star ornaments, but wanted to only pay .25 cents a piece. As we weren't at a yard sale I said no and she started arguing with me, becoming increasingly rude and belligerent. After not bullying me into caving she said "Fine! My friend works at the other store in Huntsville and she told me that all the ornaments will be 90% off tomorrow, so I'll just come back in the morning. "I can't guarantee they'll still be here," I said. And the jerk said, "There are 12 in the store. No one is going to buy all 12. I'll get what I want, prepare to feel stupid tomorrow."
So in an anti grinch moment my heart shrank 3 sizes and I bought all 12 star ornaments. I then called the other Huntsville store and bought ALL their ornaments. And just to be extra spiteful I bought all the star ornaments in Decatur and Florence. It was the most vengeful $30 I ever spent.
The next morning she was at the store as soon as we had opened. I had the pleasure of telling her that ALL of the star ornaments in North Alabama had been sold to one customer. The look on her face was worth every penny spent.
For years I gave the ornaments to friends and family, but I saved just one for myself.
17 years later, I still smile when I hang it on my tree."

So is she clever, or 'anti-grinch' or lowest level arrogant lady who just didnt deserve to face customers as she was never good at managing customers... just my opinion on her public post...

Queens-based Popular Irish bar and restaurant in New York, Sidetracks, owned by Meath native, Bernard Reilly,one of six businesses destroyed by devastating fire 15 December 2018

Owned by Meath native, Bernard Reilly, the bar and restaurant first opened in 1986 and, according to The New York Times, was the unofficial anchor of the community.
A popular Irish bar in New York was destroyed by a devastating blaze in the early hours of Thursday.
Queens-based Sidetracks was one of six establishments incinerated by the fire, in the business community of mainly immigrant-owned small businesses, which was built in 1931.
Over 200 firefighters across 44 separate units responded to the inferno which occurred between 45th and 46th Street on Queens Boulevard in Sunnyside.
The fire reportedly started in a nearby diner when oxygen met extreme heat in the loft space, known by local firefighters as a "cockloft" which was shared by several of the businesses.
Twelve people were injured in the blaze, including seven firefighters, but the fact that no one was killed was considered miraculous.
A huge backdraught, which is when flames retreat dramatically as an oxygen starved fire is exposed the air causing a huge explosion, left the on-site firefighters enshrouded in a cloud of smoke and flames.
Heartbreakingly for Mr Reilly, who acquired the property in 2012, renovations of the bar had only been completed in the months previous to the blaze. "I’m in shock right now," he told the New York Times.
A local Irish person, who lives and works in the area, said the bar had been a mainstay for the Irish American community in the area.
It was popular when her parents lived in Queens over 20 years ago and remains so.
While it was heart-breaking for the local community to see their hub go up in flames, she mirrored New York Fire Department Commissioner Daniel A. Nigro's gratitude that there were no serious injuries.
"They had just spent five months renovating the bar, she said.
"It was lucky that no firefighters died but the whole neighbourhood burned down, it's really sad."
Just three weeks ago in the same locality, 21-year-old John "Danny" McGee, from Drumlish, Co. Longford tragically died, having been punched in the head outside a bar.
Gaslight pub, where the incident occurred, is just 100m away - across the No. 7 subway tracks - from which Sidetracks gets its name.
A local community group have set up a GoFundMe page and have already reached almost $52,000 (€46,000) of their $100,000 (€88,500) target.
The page has called for donations to aid the businesses involved in the "devastating fire".
"On the morning of December 13th, a devastating fire ripped through the heart of our neighbourhood," they said.
"The fire destroyed six businesses and left dozens of employees out of work in the middle of the holidays. 
"While we are grateful that there was no loss of life, the toll on our business community is unimaginable, and for residents of our neighbourhood, many precious memories of good times at these businesses are also up in smoke."



A combination of factors including challenging trading conditions have forced Jo'Burger Group into liquidation, closing some of Dublin's best-known restaurants Crackbird, Hey Donna, Bar Giuseppe 15 December 2018

"A combination of factors including challenging trading conditions have forced this move," the company said in a statement posted on social media.
It added: "We would like to thank our many customers for their years of support, but mostly thank you and sorry to all our crew and suppliers for their dedication and trust." Owned by businessman Joe Macken, the group operated outlets in the city centre, Rathmines and Smithfield. Its Crackbird, Hey Donna, Bar Giuseppe and Jo'Burger restaurants have closed.
Jo'Burger Group has confirmed that it has gone into liquidation, closing some of Dublin's best-known restaurants.

Research from location services IT provider Gamma insights group finds that Supervalu is the most convenient supermarket in Ireland 14 December 2018

Its findings are based on an analysis of where people in each county live relative to the road network and the locations of supermarkets.
Supervalu has been highlighted as the most convenient supermarket in Ireland, according to a location services IT provider.
Recent research from Gamma insights group has found that this store is the closest for almost one third (32pc) of the population here.
Its findings are based on an analysis of where people in each county live relative to the road network and the locations of supermarkets.
Unsurprisingly, Dublin residents are best covered with almost everyone in the county - 98pc - within a five minute drive from a store.
Leitrim, meanwhile, fares the worst as less than one third can get to a local store within the same timeframe.
Gamma CEO Feargal O’Neill said that, along with value for money, store location in grocery shopping is the most important factor in determining its success.
"For supermarkets, the shopper will travel further but will most likely go to one of their four or five closest supermarkets, with choice being determined by the trade-off between the pain of travel and the rewards of store attractiveness such as value, quality, environment and parking," he said.
"Convenience is of utmost importance for retailers because customers are time-poor. They want easy access, fast transactions and simple delivery options. As well as meeting these demands, supermarkets in Ireland need to stay ahead of the competition. This means choosing the right location to engage the target market – based on factors like travel time, parking facilities, collection points and delivery zones."
Lidl ranks second in Ireland for location convenience, as the study showed that it is the closest for 17pc of the population.
Joint third place is taken by Aldi, Dunnes Stores and Tesco, who are all closest for 10pc of consumers respectively.
However, on a county breakdown, Lidl is actually the most convenient in Kildare and Louth, and Dunnes Stores is closest for Offaly residents.
Gamma found that supermarket coverage within Ireland is generally good with 71pc of the population within five minutes of their nearest supermarket.


www.irishindependent.ie reports Taj Mahal entry fee hiked by 400 percent in bid to deter visitors 12 December 2018

"We want people to pay more to limit the footfall," said an official from the Archaeological Survey of India, the government body responsible for its maintenance.

Entry to the Taj Mahal - one of the world's most exquisite landmarks, and also among the most visited - has soared in price for Indian residents as part of an ongoing government initiative to bring visitor numbers down.
As of Monday, an all-inclusive ticket to access the 365-year-old main mausoleum in Agra will rise from 50 rupees (61c) to 250 rupees (€3.05) for Indian nationals, and from around €14.50 to €16.50 for foreigners.
Domestic tourists make up the vast majority of visitors to the Taj Mahal, and the decision by authorities to increase the entry fee will likely have a significant impact in a country where the average daily wage is just 270 rupees (€3.30).
The price for international visitors only rose by 15 per cent.
"This will cut down the number of visitors to the mausoleum by at least 15-20 percent and generate revenue for its conservation."
Earlier this year, in another crowd-control move, the government capped domestic visitor numbers to 40,000 a day. Before this, up to 70,000 tourists would flood the Unesco-listed site on weekends and holidays.
The cap was partly sparked by a small stampede at the east entry gate last December that saw five people sustain injuries as late-comers tried to force their way into the complex just before closing time. 
In July, India's Supreme Court threatened to either shut or even tear down the monument over the failure of the authorities to protect it from degradation, according to AFP.
Preservation. The Taj Mahal has been suffering for some time under the weight of eight million annual visitors. The pale marble from which it was so carefully crafted is being yellowed by air pollution.
The River Yamuna which runs alongside it is dank and contaminated, and the whole site is assaulted by monkeys, who clamber up its facade in great numbers.
To protect it from further pollution, motor vehicles are not allowed within 500 metres of the complex, and there are plans to clean the facade and dome, possibly from April 2019.
It's certainly controversial. Imagine the fury if a similar policy was adopted at Stonehenge or Westminster Abbey. Then again, if it's the only way to significantly lower visitor numbers, it could be a necessary evil.
"We need to preserve the Taj Mahal for the generations to come," insists India's culture minister Mahesh Sharma, by any means necessary.
But will this really make enough of a difference?
Possibly not, according to travel writer Chris Leadbeater, who argues:
"Even the most rudimentary mathematical calculations show why. Forty thousand domestic tourists a day equates to 14.6 million people over the course of a year - and that is before you add in international visitors.
"This suggests that the current official annual head-count of eight million is a massive under-estimate. The Taj Mahal is enormously over-subscribed, and a tinkering with tickets is not going to change this."
India expert Gill Charlton advises:
"To see the Taj Mahal with the fewest people, it is best to arrive at the West or East Gates at 6.30am in winter – around half an hour before it opens (the South Gate doesn’t open until 8am). On reaching the East Gate, you will find four lanes leading to security: foreign women, foreign men, local women and local men.
"Joining the queue at 7am can mean a wait of 30 minutes to reach security as a foreigner. If you don’t want to get up that early - or it is a really foggy morning - the queue is often shorter around 8.30am after the first rush to get in."




Baltinglass Town Christmas Tree Lighting up with Santa and Christmas Party, Stalls Face painting, Balloons, Hollys at Fatima Hall

Baltinglass Town Christmas Tree Lighting up with Santa and Christmas Party, Stalls Face painting, Balloons, Hollys at Fatima Hall

Singing Happy Birthday song and music

Singing Happy Birthday song and music

Happy Birthday song and music for Daniel

Happy Birthday song and music for Daniel

Dublin startup company, Flipdish an online ordering and loyalty platform for takeaways and restaurants started in 2015, food-ordering giant JustEat, raises almost €5m in funding Euro 5 million

“It has become imperative for restaurants and takeaways to receive orders online,” said Flipdish CEO Conor McCarthy. “While the largest food chains have the resources to build software to handle this, it is prohibitively expensive for small and medium sized businesses. Flipdish is now democratising technology for these players.”
An Irish startup that aims to take on food-ordering giants such as JustEat has raised almost €5m in funding.
Flipdish classes itself as an online ordering and loyalty platform for takeaways and restaurants. It lets individual restaurants directly accept online orders without having to list on aggregator platforms like JustEat.
The €4.8m funding round was led by Global Founders Capital with participation by existing investor Elkstone. Earlier this year Flipdish raised €2.7 million from Elkstone, Enterprise Ireland and Growing Capital.
The Dublin company, started in 2015, says that it has seen a 300pc increase in revenue this compared to 2017.
The round will help accelerate Flipdish’s growth by building out its product line and delivering greater service to its expanding worldwide customer base, McCarthy said.
Flipdish is currently used by over a thousand restaurants across Europe and has seen more than €25 million in online orders to date, according to McCarthy
“This round allows us to significantly accelerate the development of our product which plays an essential part in the daily businesses of over a thousand restaurants, takeaways and delis across Europe,” he said.

People Before Profit TD Bríd Smith has said on the Floating Voter podcast on independent.ie that the Government needs to target Big Oil and tax profits on fossil fuel companies before hiking carbon tax 6 December 2018

Speaking on the Floating Voter podcast on independent.ie, she also said hikes in public transport fares – she claimed cash fares have risen by 87pc since 2011 – was forcing people to remain in their cars, resulting in higher transport emissions.
THE Government needs to target Big Oil and tax profits on fossil fuel companies before any attempt is made to hike the carbon tax, People Before Profit TD Bríd Smith has said.
“That’s not serious about dealing with climate change. That’s taking people out of public transport, into their cars or onto their motorbikes,” she said.
The Dublin South Central TD also said that hiking the carbon tax on motoring and home heating fuels from €20 per tonne at present would not achieve the deep emission cuts required to avoid catastrophic climate change.
She said “massive” intervention was needed at a “systemic” level including investment in renewable energy, expanding the public transport system and reducing fares, and retrofitting homes.
Imposing a carbon tax hike was “putting the cart before the horse”.
“I’m absolutely for a carbon tax on the profits of the oil and gas industry, not on the ordinary average worker and consumer,” she said.
“The economists will tell you we can’t tax the oil and gas industry at the rate which it needs to be done, it has to be done at a Europe-wide level. Europe might be willing to discuss it, but we’re not willing to discuss it in this country.
“We don’t want to tax profits. We have created a tax haven. The oil and gas industry make an absolute fortune, and if we tax them we will reduce their addiction to carbon.
“I do think you put the cart before the horse if you say carbon tax but don’t talk about retrofitting homes.”

Link to Floating Voter podcast on independent.ie

Paris College English language teacher Irishman John Dowling, aged 66, attacked and died at the Pôle Universitaire Léonard de Vinci 6 December 2018

John Dowling had worked in the Paris college since 1999, while also lecturing at the Emerald Cultural Institute in Rathgar, Dublin during the summer. He also had strong links to Donegal.
French police investigating the murder of Irish lecturer John Dowling are continuing to quiz a 37-year-old former student over the killing.
The English language teacher was attacked and stabbed several times at the Pôle Universitaire Léonard de Vinci on Wednesday.
He had taught at the Parisian campus for almost 20 years and was due to retire in the coming months.
Mr Dowling (66) was killed after allegedly being attacked by a former student at the college who was expelled last year.
A 37-year-old Pakistani national was arrested in relation to the murder on Wednesday, and was being questioned by local police in relation to the killing.
A former student of the victim in Dublin described him as an “enthusiastic and captivating” teacher and “difficult to forget”.
While on a three week English course in Dublin last summer, Italian student Carmen Colantuono was taught by Mr Dowling.
"Last summer I had the lucky chance to know John as my English teacher in Emerald Cultural Institute,” she said.
"He was such a great storyteller, whose amount of funny or bizarre anecdotes about every aspect of life was so huge and impressive.
"I was really shocked by the tragic and so futile circumstances that caused his death, so contrarily small for a big man like he was”.
In a Facebook post, the Dublin-based language school said: “It is with deep sadness that we have learned of the death of our beloved friend and colleague John Dowling. We will all miss him more than words can say.”
Students and staff at the Pôle Universitaire Léonard de Vinci yesterday held a minutes silence in memory of John Dowling while several locations around the campus- including the scene of the attack- had boards with messages of condolences displayed.
Police blocked the access on December 5, 2018 at the main entrance of the private Leonard-de-Vinci university in Courbevoie, northwest of Paris, where the 66-year-old teacher was repeatedly stabbed to death.
In a statement the college said that the suspect had been  a student there for a number of months last year, but had been expelled in August 2017.
"John was a very friendly man, respected and loved by all students and colleagues. He was also known for his great availability and kindness.
"The community of the Pole Leonard de Vinci is deeply shocked and saddened by this tragedy of extreme violence. We express our most sincere condolences to the family and friends of John Dowling,” a spokesman said.
Ann Bertrand, a former student of John Dowling’s, said that the Irish lecturer was “loved by everyone” who knew him.
"He was someone who was simply pleasant to be around. He had an enormous sense of humour. You could say he was a role model,” she told Sean O’Rourke on RTÉ Radio 1
Ms Bertrand said that he was modest, successful and was loved by everyone both professionally and personally.
The Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed that it was aware of the tragedy and that it is providing consular assistance .
Sébastien Tran, a director at the university, said he believed the student was “dissatisfied” at his exclusion from the university in 2017, but added that he had not been seen as a particular threat.
"We are very surprised and upset,” Mr Tran added.
The university director general, Pascal Brouaye, spoke to reporters after the incident.
"It’s an incident which has stricken our entire community,” Mr Brouaye said.
"This is a language teacher who gave 20 years’ service here and who was well-liked by everyone.”

Bog Hotel owner Patrick James Brogan death in Donegal Community Hospital aged 82, seemed to close a chapter in the illustrious history of one of Ireland's most celebrated shebeens 2 December 2018

In terms of luxury, Patsy Brogan's shed in the Bluestack Mountains of Donegal would probably not give the Shelbourne Hotel or Adare Manor a run for their money.
There were clapped out cars in the garden, alongside an old caravan, the entrails of a lorry - and a redundant bathtub sat in the yard.
In truth, it was not the sort of place where one would want to stay the night - but 10 years ago, the building that became known as the "Bog Hotel" created international headlines.
Its unconventional owner, the seventysomething Patsy Brogan and his much younger Polish partner Daria Weiske became overnight celebrities, when it appeared that he was running an illicit pub in the middle of the countryside.
Inside the shed there were shelves of drinks and glasses, and beer pumps, and stools next to a bar, but Patsy maintained until his dying day that it was all for his personal use and that of his friends.
When Patrick James Brogan died in recent days in Donegal Community Hospital at the age of 82, it seemed to close a chapter in the illustrious history of one of Ireland's most celebrated shebeens.
Patsy had recently expressed a rather forlorn hope that his Bog Hotel, famed the world over, would be accorded five-star status and have its own helicopter pad, but he never lived to see his wish fulfilled.
A local priest, Fr Morty O'Shea, told Review that there was a healthy attendance of family and friends at the Requiem Mass at the Church of the Blessed Virgin in Frosses.
Fr O'Shea, who is new to the parish, said: "I didn't know the greater narrative of his life until the very end."
The priest said during the funeral Mass: "Some people have asked whether we are going to see a book or a movie at some stage."
One of Patsy's friends, Laurence McManus from Pettigo, told Review: "I saw him recently in Aldi and he was in good spirits. He was always a good laugh. He was his own man, but in Ireland you can't be your own man."
McManus said amenities such as the Bog Hotel were sorely needed in the countryside. Even though he does not drink himself, he had brought a group of visiting Americans there and they had enjoyed themselves immensely.
The unlicensed establishment had been a closely guarded secret among the cognoscenti of the Bluestack Mountains until 2008 when gardaí launched an investigation into the death of a local man who had visited the establishment a few hours before after a night out in Mountcharles.
Detectives talked to Brogan about the young man's visit to the Bog Hotel. And they were reported at the time to be satisfied the establishment was not directly linked to his death.
But the tragedy catapulted the unlicenced bar into the limelight.
When gardaí sought out Patsy Brogan, they came across the building that to all intents and purposes seemed liked a pub. Patsy appeared to be running the bar with Weiske, who was 28 at the time.
Images of the unlikely pair featured in newspapers across the world along with photos of the Bog Hotel, which included the beer pumps, spirit bottles, a stage and a dancefloor.
Despite the unwelcome attention of An Garda Síochána, Brogan fervently rejected claims he was running a pub.
He said he had converted the shed purely for the amusement of his friends and acquaintances. "If people want to leave money, that's fine - if they don't, that's fine as well. My house is a ceili house, not a shebeen," he told news agencies.
Brogan was certainly a controversial figure in the area, and activities in the Bog Hotel were not always welcomed locally.
Thomas Pringle, who was a county councillor when the bar came to national attention a ­decade ago, claimed at the time that alcohol was being served to underage teenagers, but Brogan denied that young people ever drank there. He also denied that people were charged for drink and he challenged Pringle to name names.

Sting operation

Weiske backed him up: "I have served drink there and have not asked anybody to pay."
Donegal County Council brought an action against Brogan in 2010 under planning regulations, on the grounds of change of use.
But Donegal District Court Judge Kevin Kilrane acquitted him and said there was no evidence anybody was being charged money at the bar.
The judge said the shed had been converted to look like a bar and lounge, and added: "He just might like the idea of looking at it as a bar and lounge, many people have bars with bar stools in the basements of their homes.
"What law is there that he can't drink with his family in the shed?" he added.
In the following year, the Bog Hotel became the target for a sting operation.
An undercover garda bought five drinks on the premises before posing for pictures with Patsy, and he again faced prosecution.
Patsy Brogan served the drinks to Garda Patrick Battles, and the undercover officer drank white wine and a bottle of beer.
As he left the premises, the garda officer said he left €25 on the counter and asked if that covered his bill. "Patsy said 'that's fine'," the garda said. Patsy was fined just €50.
Outside the court, he said: "I have a traditional ceili house, that's all. It's somewhere for friends and strangers to call in for a chat and a wee drink.''
After all the wee drinks at the Bog Hotel, and Patsy Brogan in his grave, it now seems to be closing time.

A radio station says it has stopped playing Baby It’s Cold Outside, the song being popularised in the 1949 film Neptune’s Daughter starring Esther Williams and Ricardo Montalban, after some listeners said the song heard on Christmas playlists is inappropriate 2 December 2018

The song became well known after being used in the 1949 film Neptune’s Daughter starring Esther Williams and Ricardo Montalban.
The lyrics include lines such as “What’s in this drink?” and “Baby, don’t hold out”.
Tom Jones and Cerys Matthews took a cover of the song to 17 in the UK singles charts in 1999, and it has also been covered by Michael Buble, Lady Gaga and Dolly Parton.
A radio station says it has stopped playing Baby, It’s Cold Outside after some listeners said the song heard on Christmas playlists is inappropriate.
Cleveland's Star 102 station host Glenn Anderson said he recognised society was different when the song was written in 1944, but he did not think it has a place today, especially in the era of the #MeToo movement against sexual harassment.
The duet includes alternate lines between a man and a woman where he tries to convince his female guest not to risk a journey home in bad weather.
Instead he offers her more drink and tries to convince her to spend the night with him.


The 41st president of the United States, George HW Bush, has died at the age of 94. His wife of more than 70 years, Barbara Bush, died in April. Bush served from 1989 to 1993, later watched his son George W became the 43rd president - only the second father-and-son chief executives, following John Adams and John Quincy Adams 1st December 2018

The World War II hero, who also presided during the collapse of the Soviet Union and the final months of the Cold War, died shortly after 10pm on Friday, family spokesman Jim McGrath said.
The 41st president of the United States, George HW Bush, has died at the age of 94.
His wife of more than 70 years, Barbara Bush, died in April.
Mr Bush's son, George W Bush, described his father as a "man of the highest character and the best dad a son or daughter could ask for".
In a statement, he added: "The entire Bush family is deeply grateful for 41's life and love, for the compassion of those who have cared and prayed for Dad, and for the condolences of our friends and fellow citizens."
The former president served from 1989 to 1993, and eight years later watched his son George W became the 43rd president - only the second father-and-son chief executives, following John Adams and John Quincy Adams.
The elder Mr Bush, the son of a senator, rose through the political ranks: from congressman to UN ambassador, Republican Party chairman to envoy to China, CIA director to two-term vice president under the hugely popular Ronald Reagan.
He entered the White House in 1989 with a reputation as a man of indecision and indeterminate views.
After winning United Nations support and a green light from a reluctant Congress, he unleashed a punishing air war against Iraq and a five-day ground juggernaut that sent Iraqi forces reeling in disarray back to Baghdad.
He basked in the biggest outpouring of patriotism and pride in America's military since World War II, and his approval ratings soared to nearly 90%.
He rode into office pledging to make the United States a "kinder, gentler" nation and calling on Americans to volunteer for good causes, to create "a thousand points of light".
Mr Bush lost his bid for re-election to Bill Clinton in a campaign in which businessman H Ross Perot took almost 19% of the vote as an independent candidate.
Paying tribute to Mr Bush, current US president Donald Trump praised his "sound judgment, common sense and unflappable leadership".
In a joint statement with wife Melania, he added: "Through his essential authenticity, disarming wit, and unwavering commitment to faith, family and country, President Bush inspired generations of his fellow Americans to public service - to be, in his words, "a thousand points of light" illuminating the greatness, hope and opportunity of America to the world.
"President Bush always found a way to set the bar higher."
He said: "Along with his full life of service to country, we will remember President Bush for his devotion to family - especially the love of his life, Barbara.
"His example lives on, and will continue to stir future Americans to pursue a greater cause."
Barack Obama, the 44th president of the US, said America had "lost a patriot and humble servant".
He said: "While our hearts are heavy today, they are also filled with gratitude.
"George HW Bush's life is a testament to the notion that public service is a noble, joyous calling. And he did tremendous good along the journey... It's a legacy of service that may never be matched, even though he'd want all of us to try."
Meanwhile, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar extended his sympathies to the Bush family.
He said George HW Bush was "a notable President who left his mark on US politics".
President Michael D Higgins said: "People in Ireland will have learned with sadness of the death of former President of the United States of America, George H.W. Bush.
He said Mr Bush will be remembered "for his long life of public service to the people of the United States and as a President who led his country at a period of significant change at national and global level."
Mr Higgins noted that the 1980s to the mid-1990s was a period of deep challenges to the multilateral institutions.
He also said; "To his Presidency of the United States he brought all of the energy and the values he cherished, drawn from his Texas and Massachusetts roots."
Mr Higgins said he will also be remembered "for the directness with which he expressed his policy principles and his efforts to achieve bipartisanship".
He added: "On behalf of the Irish people I offer our deepest sympathies to his family and to the people of the United States." 
And, in the UK, John Major has paid tribute to President George HW Bush following his death.
He said: "George HW Bush was above all else a family man and, for him, the American people were part of that family.
"In public office he served as he lived, with compassion, courage, dignity and grace. As president, he saw America's obligation to the world and honoured it - and he remained committed to public service until the day he died.
"I feel privileged to have worked with him, and even more privileged that he became a lifelong friend. He was, quite simply, one of the most deep down decent people I have ever known.
"Our hearts go out to his family, but they will take great comfort in the knowledge that their brother, father, grandfather and great-grandfather is now reunited with his beloved wife Barbara, and their daughter Robin."
UK Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt tweeted: "Deeply sorry to hear of death of President George HW Bush. A true friend of the UK and a deeply wise man whose leadership made the world more safe and more free. Sincerest condolences to the Bush family and the American people from your friends in Britain."
He visited the Kingdom of Bahrain a long time ago and met with the employees of the American Embassy at Zinj.



Responding to Starbucks porn ban, adult website YouPorn bans its staff from consuming Starbucks products on site 30 November 2018

The free pornographic video sharing service issued a seemingly tongue-in-cheek memo to employees about the group's updated company policy.
"In light of the news that Starbucks has blocked customers from searching and viewing adult content within their establishments, Starbucks products will officially be banned from the YouPorn offices," the memo read.
It is understood that the policy change comes into effect on January 1 next.
Internet safety advocacy groups hailed Starbuck's recent decision to enforce a ban on customers accessing porn through their free WiFi - but not everyone is happy with the decision.
The global coffee chain is following through on a promise it made two years ago, announcing plans to implement a tool that will block explicit content.
It had reportedly had issued a ban on WiFi users at its shops from using porn, but had not added content blockers to ensure no access to related content.
Not one to take things lying down, adult website YouPorn has now "officially banned" its staff from consuming Starbucks products on site.

Pope Francis is hurt that 1000S of Catholic Churches worldwide are turning into restaurants, cafes, pizzerias, pubs, party venues and strip bars instead of servicing the poor

Falling congregations, a lack of clergy and crippling maintenance costs have meant that thousands of Catholic churches around the world are being decommissioned and turned into restaurants, pubs, cafes and even skateboarding venues.
They have been repurposed for everything from strip joints to nightclubs and pizzerias, but now the Vatican is urging Catholic countries not to allow deconsecrated churches to be used for profane purposes, in the first conference dedicated to the issue. 
More than 500 Catholic churches have closed in Germany since 2000, while in Canada one fifth of churches were deconsecrated in the same period.
In Holland, an estimated 500 churches are due to fall out of religious use in the next decade, and there is a danger they will end up being used for "inappropriate activities", as one delegate put it at the 'Doesn't God Live Here Any more?' conference in Rome.
Paul-Andre Durocher, the Archbishop of Gatineau in Canada, said: "I know of a little church in northern Ontario that was turned into a strip club. It went up in flames, thank God. That's one of the worst examples."
In Prague, a church was turned into an ice cream parlour, while in Arnhem in Holland, a former church -became a skateboarding hall.
In Asti in northern Italy, a church has been turned into a bar called 'Il-Diavolo Rosso' - The Red Devil.
Earlier this month, a scandal erupted in Naples when a former church was used for a Hallowe'en party, with young women dressed in sexy witch outfits and leather mini-skirts sitting on the altar.
In 2005, a late 18th-century Catholic church in Liverpool was sold and converted into a nightclub, which was "still very much regretted by the Catholic community", according to the Catholic Bishops' Conference in the UK.
Pope Francis acknowledged a decline in the number of faithful and a dearth of priests, but said that deconsecrated churches could be given "a new life", preferably in service of the poor. 
The Pope laments old churches being turned into strip clubs and bars

Archaeologist and Surveyor at Rubicon Heritage in Cork, Enda O'Flaherty has photographed around 240 abandoned school buildings 30 November 2018

O'Flaherty is as an archaeologist and surveyor at Rubicon Heritage in Cork. During a work project four years ago, one of these empty schoolhouses caught his eye. He soon found himself spending weekends capturing images of old schoolhouses and posting them on his blog, where they especially resonated with the Irish diaspora and caught the attention of publishers Collins Press.
Sadly not all traditional schoolhouses were so fortunate. Abandoned school buildings, once so pivotal to generations of families, pockmark the Irish landscape. Some 240 of these hauntingly beautiful time capsules have been photographed by Enda O'Flaherty and feature in his new book, The Deserted Schoolhouses of Ireland.
"I literally went from Malin Head to Mizen Head during this pet project," he says.
"Every weekend, I'd pull out a map of, say, Monaghan, set up the satnav and search for these deserted schoolhouses. I did that for three years and there isn't a corner of the countryside I haven't been in."
Most are situated in isolated spots on the Atlantic coastline, on offshore islands, and in border counties.
They were abandoned thanks to a combination of depopulation, emigration abroad and centralisation in towns from the 1950s to the 1990s thanks to the arrival of public transport. Many originated from the relaxation of the Penal Laws which prohibited Catholics from formal education between 1695 and 1782. The First Report of the Commissioners of Irish Education Inquiry of 1825 concluded that separate education caused sectarianism and recommended public money for schools only when Catholic and Protestant pupils were taught together. Between 1833 and 1849, the number of new national schools surged to 4,300 and by 1900, there were almost 8,700.
"They are built with quite high ceilings, generally one-and-a-half storeys single leaf, with rubble and mortar construction used until the 1930s." The number of one and two-teacher schools had fallen by 1,100 by 1973, and the disused buildings began to fall into despair. The archaeologist is now calling for national coordinated efforts to document the exact number of schoolhouses across the country with a view to repurpose as many as possible before they are lost forever. An obvious solution is to offer them for conversion to private homes.
In the last two decades, house-hunters with a penchant for an unusual property have given dozens of abandoned schoolhouses a new lease of life as family homes, often by hiring architects to add a contemporary extension.
In O'Flaherty's experience, those residential conversions typically take place in regions with thriving tourism industries where owners can rent them out as holiday lets.
"All abandoned schoolhouses are rescuable to some degree, apart from those on offshore islands where the weather from the Atlantic can reduce them to a shell," he says. "About 50pc are recorded in the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. If they are afforded protection, the new owners are supposed to use materials that were originally used in the building and they can be very expensive, deterring a repurpose.
"I'd like to see an assessment of what could be done with all these buildings and a comprehensive record of the number of them out there.
"These buildings are not just bricks and mortar. People contact me through my blog to talk about a grandfather who attended a school until they emigrated at the age of 13 or 14. Those emigrants never came home again, and the school could be the last memory they ever had of Ireland."  
Enda O'Flaherty visited 240 abandoned Irish schools on camera with striking results. 

Deserted Schoolhouses of Ireland is published by Collins Press (€24.99)

Wrestling Legend Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart, former champion member of Hart Foundation with Bret The Hitman Hart, passes away 13 August 2018 WWF WWE Wrestler

At Newport Harbor High School, Neidhart first gained athletic acclaim for his success in strength-oriented track and field events. He held the California high school record in shot put from 1973 until 1985. After graduating from high school,[7] Neidhart pursued a career in the National Football League (NFL), where he played for the Oakland Raiders and Dallas Cowboys in practices and preseason games.[

James Henry Neidhart (February 8, 1955 – August 13, 2018)[6] was an American professional wrestler known for his appearances in the 1980s and 1990s in the World Wrestling Federation as Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart, where he was a two-time WWF Tag Team Champion with Bret Hart in The Hart Foundation. He also won titles in Stampede Wrestling, Championship Wrestling from Florida, Mid-South, Memphis and the Mid-Eastern Wrestling Federation. He is part of the Hart wrestling family through marriage, teaming with various members throughout his career, and appearing with his daughter Natalya Neidhart on the reality television show Total Divas.

When Stu Hart sold Stampede Wrestling to Vince McMahon, owner of the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), Neidhart and Bret Hart were included in the deal. Initially a singles wrestler, managed by Mr. Fuji, Neidhart debuted on January 21, 1985, in Madison Square Garden, defeating Tony Garea.[14] He wrestled Hart, who had a cowboy gimmick, to a draw twice. Bret, upset with his gimmick, suggested to McMahon that he form a tag team with Neidhart.

The new team was dubbed The Hart Foundation and was managed by Jimmy Hart (no relation to Bret). They made their pay-per-view debut at WrestleMania 2, where they were the last two eliminated from a 20-man battle royal by André the Giant.[1] The Hart Foundation won their first WWF World Tag Team Championship on the February 7, 1987 episode of WWF Superstars (taped January 26) from The British Bulldogs (Davey Boy Smith and The Dynamite Kid), with the help of referee Danny Davis, who was continually "distracted" by checking on Dynamite (laid out of the match early by a megaphone shot from Jimmy), allowing the challengers to double-team Smith.[1] Davis was subsequently fired as referee and began wrestling, aligned with The Hart Foundation. They lost the titles on the November 7 episode of Prime Time Wrestling (taped October 27), to Strike Force (Rick Martel and Tito Santana).[1]
The Hart Foundation wrestled in another 20-man battle royal at WrestleMania IV. Bad News Brown attacked and eliminated Hart to win. Neidhart eventually joined Bret's side in the feud with Brown causing a rift between the team and manager Jimmy Hart. This led them to fire him and before starting a feud with The Fabulous Rougeau Brothers. In the fall of 1988, Jimmy Hart began managing the Rougeaus. The Hart Foundation unsuccessfully challenged Demolition (Ax and Smash) for the tag title at the 1988 SummerSlam, when Ax hit Hart with Jimmy Hart's megaphone for the pin (Hart accompanied Demolition's manager, Mr. Fuji, solely to further his feud with the challengers).[1] The Hart Foundation continued feuding with Jimmy Hart's wrestlers for the next year, teaming with Jim Duggan to defeat Dino Bravo and The Rougeaus in a 2/3 falls match at the 1989 Royal Rumble, then defeating The Honky Tonk Man and Greg Valentine at WrestleMania V.[1]
In April 1989, both Hart Foundation members began wrestling singles matches at house shows. Neidhart also had a few shots at Ravishing Rick Rude's Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship in August.[14]
The Hart Foundation reformed full-time on March 24 in Las Vegas.[14] At WrestleMania VI in Toronto, they defeated The Bolsheviks (Nikolai Volkoff and Boris Zhukov) in 19 seconds. They started a second feud with champions Demolition, who at this point added Crush.[1] At SummerSlam 90 on August 27, The Hart Foundation won the title for a second time in a 2/3 falls match.[1]
On October 30, 1990, The Rockers (Shawn Michaels and Marty Jannetty) defeated The Hart Foundation in a two out of three falls match in Fort Wayne, Indiana, to seemingly win the title. During the match, the top rope broke by accident, and the match did not air on television.[16] The Rockers defended the WWF Tag Team title against Power and Glory (Paul Roma and Hercules) on November 3, 1990.[17] Shortly after November 3, the WWF decided to not air the title change and that the title would revert to the Hart Foundation. In his book, Shawn Michaels claims that the Hart Foundation had politicked to keep the title.[18] The WWF has never officially recognized The Rockers' reign.[19]
The Hart Foundation reigniting their feud with Jimmy Hart via his team, Rhythm and Blues (Honky Tonk and Valentine). Jimmy Hart once again cost The Hart Foundation the tag titles at WrestleMania VII, in a match with his new team, The Nasty Boys (Brian Knobs and Jerry Sags), when he distracted the referee, allowing Sags to knock out Neidhart with his motorcycle helmet.[1] Hart and Neidhart again split up, though they reunited for a title rematch with The Nasty Boys on the July 29 Prime Time Wrestling, losing by disqualification when Bret hit both champions with a helmet, again introduced by Jimmy Hart. Neidhart also commentated on Wrestling Challenge alongside Gorilla Monsoon and Bobby Heenan from March until August 1991.

Neidhart returned to the WWF on the April 28, 1997 episode of Raw is War, and attacking Stone Cold Steve Austin and reuniting with Bret and Owen Hart as part of the new Hart Foundation, a stable of Canadian sympathizers, also including Davey Boy Smith and Brian Pillman. On July 6 at In Your House 16: Canadian Stampede in Bret's hometown Calgary, The Hart Foundation defeated the American team of Stone Cold Steve Austin, Ken Shamrock, Goldust and The Legion of Doom.[1] Neidhart was part of Team Canada at Survivor Series in Montreal, teaming with The British Bulldog, Doug Furnas and Philip Lafon defeated Team USA Vader, Goldust, "Marvelous" Marc Mero and the debut of "The Lethal Weapon" Steve Blackman (Bulldog was the sole survivor, Neidhart was pinned by Vader).[1]
After Bret and Davey Boy Smith left the WWF on bad terms because of the Montreal Screwjob at Survivor Series. D-Generation X leader and WWF Champion Shawn Michaels offered Neidhart a spot in the group on the November 24 episode of Raw Is War. Neidhart accepted, only for it to be revealed as a setup as the group assaulted Neidhart at the end of the show. The following week on the December 1 episode of Raw is War, DX member Triple H defeated Neidhart. After the match, DX attacked Neidhart once again and spray-painted "WCW" on his back, and signifying him following Bret Hart to World Championship Wrestling. Sgt. Slaughter and Ken Shamrock saved him, before Slaughter and Shamrock attacked D-Generation X at the end of the show. After Raw is War, WWF announced that Neidhart was released from his WWF contract on December 2, 1997.
In January 1998, Neidhart returned to World Championship Wrestling, where he formed a short-lived tag team with The British Bulldog, who also departed from the WWF following the infamous Montreal Screwjob. Although this was his first true big-money deal, they were rarely utilized by WCW. They achieved little in-ring success, and he was eventually released and returned to the independent circuit. His final match for WCW was on the September 26 episode of WCW Saturday Night where Neidhart and The British Bulldog lost to Stevie Ray and Vincent.
On Raw XV, the 15th-anniversary WWE Raw special on December 10, 2007, Neidhart returned to WWE for the first time since 1997, and participated in the 15th Anniversary Battle Royal, eventually making it to the final five before being eliminated by Skinner.[27]
Neidhart made appearances on the WWE and E! reality show Total Divas, on which his daughter Natalie is a main cast member.
Neidhart appeared in TNA on the November 12, 2009, edition of Impact! winning against Jay Lethal in his initial open challenge thrown out to the legends of professional wrestling.[28]Neidhart usually wrestled in pink attire and the Hart Foundation tag team was nicknamed "The Pink and Black Attack".[29][30] It popularized the Hart Attack finisher maneuverOn April 6, 2010, WWE released Hart & Soul: The Hart Family Anthology on DVD, which is a three-disc set featuring a documentary on the Hart wrestling family (including Neidhart) as well as twelve matches. Neidhart's daughter Natalie is featured as a main cast member on the reality show Total Divas, and he made appearances on the show along with his wife.Neidhart and wife Ellie have three daughters, one of whom, Natalie, is a professional wrestler under the ring name Natalya, currently signed to WWE.[11]
Neidhart was arrested on September 6, 2010, and charged with two counts of possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute, two counts of trafficking illegal drugs, one count of burglary of an unoccupied dwelling, and one count of third degree grand theft for property stolen between $300 and $5,000. He was arrested after becoming aggressive with police after ingesting multiple pills outside a gas station.[33] In March 2012, he was sentenced to five months and 29 days in jail. During his sentencing, he was arrested and held in contempt of court.[34] Neidhart completed two stints in rehabilitation paid for by WWE.
According to TMZ, Neidhart's wife Ellie told investigators that on August 13, 2018, he was having problems sleeping and got out of bed to adjust the thermostat.[35] As he went to touch it, he "turned weirdly as if he were about to dance", then fell against the wall and ground.[35] She immediately dialed 911, believing he was having a seizure, something for which he took medication. He had a four-inch long gash on his face when EMTs arrived.[35] He died at the scene at the age of 63.[36] According to the Pasco County Sheriff's Office, the fall killed him.[2][37] At the time, he had early-onset Alzheimer's disease.
  • Ranked No. 61 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 1994[45]
  • Ranked No. 189 of the top 500 singles wrestlers of the PWI Years in 2003[46]
  • Ranked No. 37 of the top 100 tag teams of the PWI Years with Bret Hart in 2003



Businesswoman Rebecca Biswell set up Becca's Bakery in Westport, Co Mayo after leaving recession-hit Wolverhampton England- Former pastry chef 30 November 2018

"I left Wolverhampton because the town centre had been hit hard. There's no doubt there was a huge effect from online shopping too. But Westport is thriving and a lot of the businesses here are really innovative.
"We don't see the web as a bad thing, we embrace it and use it to build our businesses even more.
"And as for me, I am a bakery, so I don't feel any threat from the internet. My classes are proving really popular too. Moving here was the best thing I did to succeed."
Planning has been well utilised in the town, Rebecca believes, because the shopping area is a hub for the community.
Schools and housing are nearby and it makes sense for people to shop locally.
"Our road network is being improved more too but next year parking charges are likely to be introduced. That is a real shame but for now we are benefiting from no charges.
"I fell in love with Westport many years ago and I'm happy to say it's great to have a business here."
Former pastry chef Rebecca Biswell ditched recession-hit Wolverhampton to build a thriving bakery in Westport, Co Mayo, where her company has increased its profit by around 15pc in the past two years.
Rebecca set up Becca's Bakery, in Peter Street and witnessed many businesses in the town succeeding, along with her own.
The businesswoman puts this success down to "being innovative and having strong community support, a good road network and strong tourism."
The businesswoman moved from Wolverhampton in the English midlands four years ago and - showed her adoration for Westport by opening up on St Patrick's Day.
Rebecca says that she hasn't looked back ever since, increasing trade each year and setting up baking and craft classes to run in tandem with her shop business. "We're operating seven days a week," said Rebecca, who first visited the town as a student.
Though she has no connection to Westport through family, Rebecca said the community had made it "easy" to become a success in business.
"We get a lot of people visiting the town for holidays, then we have hen and stag dos, the road system is very good and we have a train service from Dublin, which makes getting here easy," she said.
"But more than that, the people of Westport still really want to come into town to shop locally, to support local businesses and to socialise in town.
"Some bigger businesses that weren't local didn't survive here.
"There's just a real emphasis on shopping local and supporting business here.

Everybody's favourite coffee hangout Starbucks keeps it promise made 2 years earlier and bans accessing porn websites through its free wi-fi in store 29 November 2018

The popular coffee hang out reportedly had issued a ban on WiFi users at its shops from using porn, but had not added content blockers to ensure no access to related content.
But, Enough is Enough's statement appears to have made Starbucks execs jump to action as the group told Business Insider that next year it plans to implement a tool, which is currently being tested, to block explicit content.
Starbucks looks like it's staying true to its word by blocking porn accessed through its free in-store WiFi.
According to Business Insider, the global coffee chain is following through on a promise it made two years ago, initially prompted by pressure from Enough is Enough.
Following no action from Starbucks since 2016, the internet safety advocacy group gathered close to 30,000 signatures on a petition, and CEO Donna Rice Hughes released it alongside a statement.
"By breaking its commitment, Starbucks is keeping the doors wide open for convicted sex offenders and others to fly under the radar from law enforcement and use free, public WiFi services to access illegal child porn and hard-core pornography," the statement read.

Irish sports Hurling and camogie have been recognised by UNESCO as protected cultural activities, Uileann Piping being the other Irish activity 29 November 2018

UNESCO defines 'intangible cultural heritage' as the practices, representations, expressions, knowledge, skills that communities, groups and individuals recognise as part of their cultural heritage.
A delegation from the GAA travelled to Paris in October to lobby for hurling and camogie's inclusion on the list.
UNESCO described hurling as "a field game played by two teams which dates back 2,000 years and features strongly in Irish mythology, most notably in the epic saga of Cú Chulainn."
"Hurling is considered as an intrinsic part of Irish culture and plays a central role in promoting health and wellbeing, inclusiveness and team spirit. Today, the skills are promoted and transmitted through coaching and games in schools and clubs. As the custodians of Hurling, the Gaelic Athletic Association and the Camogie Association, both volunteer-led organizations, play a central role in transmitting the skills and values associated with Hurling."
GAA president John Horan said: “The decision of UNESCO to award the prestigious Intangible Cultural Heritage status to the game of hurling is yet another high point in what has been a quite exceptional 2018 for the game.
"Coming on the back of what was yet another exceptional summer of Championship hurling, this UNESCO award is international recognition for our native game and an acknowledgement of its cultural, social and sporting importance to the People of Ireland.
Hurling and camogie have been recognised by UNESCO as protected cultural activities.
The ancient Irish pastimes were inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity today.
Uileann Piping is the only other activity on the list of protected cultural activities from Ireland.
Kathleen Woods, President of the Camogie Association said: “It is a great honour for Camogie to receive this prestigious international recognition which illustrates the integral role which Hurling and Camogie play in Irish life and the great history associated with our games.
"I am delighted for all of our wonderful volunteers and players that our unique games have been recognised as they are the lifeblood of our games. I wish to thank Minister Josepha Madigan and her colleagues within the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht as well as our colleagues in the GAA for their hard work and support with this submission.”


Irish workers may get access to thousands of US visas after the 'E-3 Bill' was passed by the House of Representatives 29 November 2018

The US House of Representatives passed a bill yesterday that may see thousands of new visas issued to Irish citizens every year- if it passes through the Senate.
The E-3 work visa, a 2-year renewable visa that is currently reserved for Australian nationals only, would be issued to Irish citizens from the remainder of unused visas offered to Australians.
Here's everything you need to know about the E-3 visa, and what requirements are needed to apply for one.
The E-3 visa, or the “Australian Specialty Occupation Professional” visa, is a visa that currently allows Australian nationals to work and live in America.
According to Australian immigration, the visa was first introduced in 2005 to allow professionals “to capitalise on the opportunities offered under the Australia-United States Free Trade Agreement”.
There is no definite list of “special occupations” eligible for the visa, but it is defined as “theoretical and practical application of a body of specialized knowledge”.
At the moment, only Australian citizens are eligible for the visa, but that could be all set to change. The US House of Representatives passed a bill yesterday that could make thousands of Irish people eligible for the visa, if it passes a final vote from the Senate.
To apply for the E-3 visa, a legitimate offer of employment in the US is needed. You also must have necessary academic or other qualifying credentials, and be able to show that you have the “necessary license or other official permission” to practice in the specialty occupation.
There is no age limit on the visa, but a minimum of a bachelor’s degree or at least 12 years experience in the specialty occupation is necessary.
The first step for Australians interested in obtaining the E-3 visa is to find a suitable job in the US. Once someone has accepted a job offer, they can begin the application with their employer.
The application includes paperwork and a pre-organised interview with a consular officer. There is not yet any details on whether the Irish citizen application will be the same.
The E-3 visa is a two-year visa, but it can be “indefinitely renewed”. It also allows spouses of recipients to work in America during this time, but not their children.
There is currently a total of 10,500 visas available for Australian citizens, but if the bill is passed, the remainder of the visas each year may be issued to Irish applicants.
A maximum of 5,000 will be allocated to Irish citizens if the bill passes in the US Senate.
The application fee for Australians currently costs $205 USD (€180).Democrat Richard Neal and Republican Jim Sensenbrenner introduced new legislation to the Congress earlier this year, and it was passed in the House of Representatives during a Congress debate last night.
It is expected to go through the Senate in the coming weeks.
According to Mr Sensenbrenner, passing of the bill would add to the "great legacy" between Ireland and the States.
"The United States was built on hard work and the determination of immigrants - many of them who hail from Ireland. Through their perseverance, they have enabled this country to grow and prosper," he said yesterday.
"I believe in the value and opportunity that comes with legal immigration. I am pleased to have authored this legislation to make the process more efficient for one of our oldest allies, and add to the great legacy of cultural diversity celebrated our country."