Vladimir Putin’s On Terrorism

“If you want to become an Islamic fundamentalist and be circumcised, come to Moscow. We are multi-confessional. We have very good specialists. I can recommend one for the operation. He'll make sure nothing grows back.”

“Russia does not negotiate with terrorists, we destroy them.”

In response to media why he does not want to enter talks with Chechen separatists after the Besian school hostage crisis of Sept 2004: “Putin rejects child killer talks.”

“Why don't you meet Osama Bin Laden, invite him to Brussels or to the White House and engage in talks, ask him what he wants and give it to him so he leaves you in peace? You find it possible to set some limitations in your dealings with these bastards, so why should we talk to people who are child-killers? No one has a moral right to tell us to talk to child killers.”

“Yes, life in Chechnya so far looks more like life after a natural disaster.”

Said in reply to George W Bush, who said he hopes Russia will follow Iraq in turning to democracy:

“We certainly would not want to have the same kind of democracy that they have in Iraq, quite honestly.”

 “We will follow them to the toilets, to the ends of the earth, and  without mercy or negotiation, kill them all.”

Kindness Boomerang - "One Day"

Photo minute: Mick 'one eye' Jaguar getting his caiman sandwich.

Barry Clifford: The Businessman

On today’s Irish Independent, a story splashed across its front pages that one would hope does not define what good journalism is about.  Written in a way  more suited to The National Enquirer in style and substance that a reasonably respected national newspaper that claims to out sell the rest, it begs credibility.

Its banner headline read: Gang boss burns out garda sergeant’s car while he plays football. It continued that Gardai launched a major investigation after a car, a Toyota Corolla, belonging to a ‘popular sergeant' was burnt- out in a grudge attack linked to gangland thugs. I suspect it was more about the football game than anything else if one was to dismiss without prejudice the ground breaking journalism that Ken Foy attempts here. Ken must be in love with this anonymous Sergeant/ victim for he then describes him as a highly –respected officer. Not so for the anonymous/ fictitious/businessman/men/perpetrators.

The gang leader apparently is called ‘The businessman’ except perhaps when he is not doing business. He was easily irritated, according to Ken, when detectives were putting their nose where they shouldn’t into what that was, as in drugs of the illegal kind. You see the gang have being doing it for years, burning cars that is, and it is their modus operandi if they do not like you, and being innocent has nothing to do with it. They must not have heard about third party, fire and theft insurance yet.

The businessman is also ‘suspected’ of murder, the theft of 29 firearms and that his crime domain stretches from the east to the south of the country. How does the Gardai and Ken know all this? ‘A source’ whispered in their ears, or his newspaper by mitigating circumstances should this story blow up over the lot of them. The source also told them about that football game that happens with mind numbing and boring regularity every Monday evening.

Aside from the burnt out car, only wounded pride was lost in the match, but like any feisty team, the Gardai have considered this attack as ‘just not cricket’ and have declared it not as a criminal act but a “declaration of war.” (Now there is no need to get personal) ‘Sources’ also say that the Gardai, as team players of course, intend to clamp down heavier on the anonymous gang/businessmen as well.

What I write here can be construed as an open letter to the Businessman: I suspect that either the Gardai are all on the drugs you are selling, or there is a fit-up on the way. Proceed with caution. The business suit you are wearing today  may well be replaced by one with stripes tomorrow. In the meantime, watch out for your own car at football matches, make sure it has fire and theft insurance, and you are not in it when it goes up in flames. Second thoughts, get a bicycle.

Barry Clifford

Photo Minute: Foxton Rock Canal from 200 years ago to now in England

Match Them UP......

Photo Minute: Just Regal

Barry Clifford: Want To Stay Green And Clean?

The domestic and indeed the commercial kitchen does more damage to the environment collectively than almost any other. What trickles from the home and into our sewers on it’s way to the ocean is a pollution tsunami on a daily basics, and almost all of it coming from toxic domestic cleaning agents. But if one is serious about doing their bit in trying to help within the confines of their home and surroundings, doing it differently is being aware of the alternatives.

The bananas skin inside layer is good for cleaning leather, and Cola, that contains acid, is great for cleaning toilets. Like any detergent, just let it sit for about 60 minutes and it will do your dirty work.

Mayonnaise is great for removing marks off wood. Leave it on the marks for a little while then remove with a clean cloth. Tomato ketchup works very well on brass and silver, and like any cleaning agent, rub it in and leave awhile then clean it off.

Brazil nuts is a good scratch remover by cutting it in half and sanding over the affected area. Soon, it will smooth down and the scratches will be gone.

Grapefruit a limescale remover: using the same method of cutting it in half and then sprinkling it with salt. Scrub the affected area and rinse with water and it will vanish.

For odour remover in the fridge: Place ground coffee into a small plastic tub with holes in the lid.  After a short while the odour will be gone.

A cautionary note: One time I was given an old penny found on a building site in Dublin. The markings looked faded and I could not even make out the date. So I got the penny and put it into a bowl that had a mixture of coca cola and red sauce in it. I stirred it around in there for about ten to fifteen minutes. When I took out the old penny it looked almost new and I could clearly see the date: 1668. It also had the shape of a harp with a crown on top stamped on it’s face, clearly symbolizing British rule over Ireland.

Afterwards, I thought then and now, that if these two popular items made for human consumption can do that to an old penny, what is it doing to our internal organs over time. These two items for cleaning agents, yes, but for internal consumption for me is a resounding NO.

Barry Clifford