Off Topic Thread 4.0

prawnsambo · 06-03-2018 08:57PM

CatFromHue wrote: »

IIRC that vote in 2011 allowed commitees to come to a conclusion of fact, or something very close to it.

I just can't trust politicians to do that and that's not incl the far left and Shinners.

Yeah. Dail committees are just grandstanding exercises. They've become pointless.

06-03-2018 11:20PM

CatFromHue wrote: »

IIRC that vote in 2011 allowed commitees to come to a conclusion of fact, or something very close to it.

I just can't trust politicians to do that and that's not incl the far left and Shinners.

I'm far from an expert but part of the text was:

" 2° Each House shall have the power to conduct an inquiry, or an inquiry with the other House, in a manner provided for by law, into any matter stated by the House or Houses concerned to be of general public importance."

Considering the House makes the laws then I assume they could have made it so lying to them would have been punishable.

Zzippy · 06-03-2018 11:26PM

prawnsambo wrote: »

Yeah. Dail committees are just grandstanding exercises. They've become pointless.

My experience in the public sector (non senior management level TF) is that senior management are terrified of being called before Dail committees. Particularly the PAC. But in terms of inquiry into wrongdoing like the above, yes, pointless.

prawnsambo · 06-03-2018 11:35PM

Zzippy wrote: »

My experience in the public sector (non senior management level TF) is that senior management are terrified of being called before Dail committees. Particularly the PAC. But in terms of inquiry into wrongdoing like the above, yes, pointless.

They're rightly terrified because it's about self aggrandisement and not public inquiry. So even the smallest molehill can be made into a mountain for a politician to build their career on.

swiwi_ · 07-03-2018 09:05AM

If anyone is into design, this video about the Canterbury Earthquake memorial is interesting IMO. Of the 6 shortlisted finalists, only 1 was a Kiwi. I'm hopeless at design myself, but always appreciate other's talent in the area.

Canterbury Earthquake memorial

dregin · 07-03-2018 06:17PM

Was always into heavier music than most of what they covered, but this is ****: https://www.theguardian.com/media/2018/mar/07/nme-ceases-print-edition-weekly-music-magazine

stephen_n · 07-03-2018 08:08PM

dregin wrote: »

Was always into heavier music than most of what they covered, but this is ****: https://www.theguardian.com/media/2018/mar/07/nme-ceases-print-edition-weekly-music-magazine

Print media is dead, it's a surprise they have lasted this long. Used to buy the NME every week in the late 80's and early 90's. But it's always had a certain demographic that you move out of as you get older. The current generation of indie kids would have no interest in print.

prawnsambo · 08-03-2018 09:53AM

I see that they have identified the nerve agent used in the attempted murder of Skripal and his daughter. They aren't naming it, but they say they know what it is. The police officer who came in contact with it when he went to their aid is now considered out of danger. Crazy stuff.

Zzippy · 08-03-2018 11:11AM

prawnsambo wrote: »

I see that they have identified the nerve agent used in the attempted murder of Skripal and his daughter. They aren't naming it, but they say they know what it is. The police officer who came in contact with it when he went to their aid is now considered out of danger. Crazy stuff.

And the Russians will still deny it. Yeah, like any old criminal can get their hands on a nerve agent... :rolleyes:

08-03-2018 11:27AM

Zzippy wrote: »

And the Russians will still deny it. Yeah, like any old criminal can get their hands on a nerve agent... :rolleyes:

To be fair nerve agents were discovered by accident whilst trying to make stronger insecticides. The science behind it isn't extravagant, the science behind weaponising and delivering it is a different kettle of fish, but producing a fatal sample in an direct contact environment isn't the same as the WMD type stuff from movies like the Rock.

I'm not suggesting this wasn't the Russian's, but whilst nerve agents are heavily prohibited, the manufacturing process wouldn't be limited to state or military institutions unfortunately.

The Russians must be breathing a sigh of relief that the police office has pulled through all the same.

molloyjh · 08-03-2018 11:29AM

Wasn’t he in prison in Russia for years? Why not kill him there? I’m not sure I understand what’s going on here at all or why. I’m fairly sure it is the Russians, but I don’t get why. Or more to the point, why now.

b.gud · 08-03-2018 11:29AM

Deleted User wrote: »

but producing a fatal sample in an direct contact environment isn't the same as the WMD type stuff from movies like the Rock..

prawnsambo · 08-03-2018 11:31AM

Deleted User wrote: »

To be fair nerve agents were discovered by accident whilst trying to make stronger insecticides. The science behind it isn't extravagant, the science behind weaponising and delivering it is a different kettle of fish, but producing a fatal sample in an direct contact environment isn't the same as the WMD type stuff from movies like the Rock.

I'm not suggesting this wasn't the Russian's, but whilst nerve agents are heavily prohibited, the manufacturing process wouldn't be limited to state or military institutions unfortunately.

You'd still need experienced people and top quality labs to make it safely. Definitely not something you could cook up in your kitchen. And that's just making the stuff. Getting it into a delivery mechanism that won't kill the operator is a whole other level of sticking your head between your knees...

prawnsambo · 08-03-2018 11:35AM

molloyjh wrote: »

Wasn’t he in prison in Russia for years? Why not kill him there? I’m not sure I understand what’s going on here at all or why. I’m fairly sure it is the Russians, but I don’t get why. Or more to the point, why now.

Russia's president at the time was Medvedev afaik. Our pal Vlad wasn't at all happy with the prisoner exchange that got Skripal released.

Zzippy · 08-03-2018 11:49AM

prawnsambo wrote: »

Russia's president at the time was Medvedev afaik. Our pal Vlad wasn't at all happy with the prisoner exchange that got Skripal released.

Medvedev was Putin's puppet while he played prime minister for a couple of years til they could change the law and remove term limits for presidents. No one in their right mind thinks Putin wasn't 100% in charge at all times.
This is just Putin sending a message, Skripal was a convenient example to make, that's all. Perhaps an easy example due to not having security.

prawnsambo · 08-03-2018 12:42PM

Zzippy wrote: »

Medvedev was Putin's puppet while he played prime minister for a couple of years til they could change the law and remove term limits for presidents. No one in their right mind thinks Putin wasn't 100% in charge at all times.
This is just Putin sending a message, Skripal was a convenient example to make, that's all. Perhaps an easy example due to not having security.

Well maybe he was willing to accept the prisoner exchange to get the Russian guys back, but he said this in a televised interview at the time:

"Traitors will kick the bucket. Trust me. These people betrayed their friends, their brothers in arms. Whatever they got in exchange for it, those 30 pieces of silver they were given, they will choke on them." :eek:

In the interim, Skripal's wife (natural causes), his son and his brother have all died. Very unlucky family. :rolleyes:

Zzippy · 08-03-2018 01:36PM

prawnsambo wrote: »

Well maybe he was willing to accept the prisoner exchange to get the Russian guys back, but he said this in a televised interview at the time:

"Traitors will kick the bucket. Trust me. These people betrayed their friends, their brothers in arms. Whatever they got in exchange for it, those 30 pieces of silver they were given, they will choke on them." :eek:

In the interim, Skripal's wife (natural causes), his son and his brother have all died. Very unlucky family. :rolleyes:

Putin is happy to play the long game. Unlike Western politicians, he is not worried about an electoral cycle and keeping citizens happy. A prisoner exchange suits him if he gets some of his people back, but it doesn't mean he will just let the Russian traitors live out their lives. Taking his "vengeance" years later will boost his image as a hard man in Russia - his supporters love that.

prawnsambo · 08-03-2018 01:39PM

Zzippy wrote: »

Putin is happy to play the long game. Unlike Western politicians, he is not worried about an electoral cycle and keeping citizens happy. A prisoner exchange suits him if he gets some of his people back, but it doesn't mean he will just let the Russian traitors live out their lives. Taking his "vengeance" years later will boost his image as a hard man in Russia - his supporters love that.

Oh yeah. Absolutely. It's reminiscent of how the Mafia operate. Unsurprisingly.

Zzippy · 08-03-2018 01:41PM

prawnsambo wrote: »

Oh yeah. Absolutely. It's reminiscent of how the Mafia operate. Unsurprisingly.

Speaking of the Mafia, there's a joke going around Brussels recently relating to Brexit:

The Mafia, they offer you a deal you can't refuse.
The British, well, they offer you a deal you can't understand.

Neil3030 · 08-03-2018 11:38PM

Was caught driving while on the phone over the Xmas period. The Gard said I'd have 90 days to pay the ensuing fine, or else it ramps up, both in terms of points and size of fine. Fair enough.

However nothing has apparently arrived at my folks' place (address I still use on my Irish license).

Is there anyone I can contact to see what the story is? I've heard of a fair few people who have been called to appear in court because they didn't pay an on-the-spot fine that they genuinely never received. I live on the other side of the planet, so a court appearance would be most inconvenient!

prawnsambo · 08-03-2018 11:42PM

Neil3030 wrote: »

Was caught driving while on the phone over the Xmas period. The Gard said I'd have 90 days to pay the ensuing fine, or else it ramps up, both in terms of points and size of fine. Fair enough.

However nothing has apparently arrived at my folks' place (address I still use on my Irish license).

Is there anyone I can contact to see what the story is? I've heard of a fair few people who have been called to appear in court because they didn't pay an on-the-spot fine that they genuinely never received. I live on the other side of the planet, so a court appearance would be most inconvenient!

If it hasn't come yet, it mightn't be coming at all.

Zzippy · 09-03-2018 12:01AM

Neil3030 wrote: »

Was caught driving while on the phone over the Xmas period. The Gard said I'd have 90 days to pay the ensuing fine, or else it ramps up, both in terms of points and size of fine. Fair enough.

However nothing has apparently arrived at my folks' place (address I still use on my Irish license).

Is there anyone I can contact to see what the story is? I've heard of a fair few people who have been called to appear in court because they didn't pay an on-the-spot fine that they genuinely never received. I live on the other side of the planet, so a court appearance would be most inconvenient!

I had to go to court last year for a speeding fine that never arrived either. It's a pain in the hole alright. You can call the office that issues the fines (https://www.goldenpages.ie/garda-fixed-charge-processing-office-thurles/) and they can tell you if one was issued and the date. You might be lucky and the garda never got around to processing it.

Neil3030 · 09-03-2018 12:39AM

Zzippy wrote: »

I had to go to court last year for a speeding fine that never arrived either. It's a pain in the hole alright. You can call the office that issues the fines (https://www.goldenpages.ie/garda-fixed-charge-processing-office-thurles/) and they can tell you if one was issued and the date. You might be lucky and the garda never got around to processing it.

Perfect, yeah I'll give them a buzz tomorrow, cheers!

errlloyd · 09-03-2018 09:11AM

Neil3030 wrote: »

Was caught driving while on the phone over the Xmas period. The Gard said I'd have 90 days to pay the ensuing fine, or else it ramps up, both in terms of points and size of fine. Fair enough.

They have like a year to issue the fine. It seems a lot of Gardai tend to let them build up, do all the paperwork in one go, and give themselves only one day in court. I used to sit in on the district court a fair bit because I was studying law, and one Gardai would be summoning an absolute ton of offenders.

prawnsambo · 09-03-2018 10:08AM

I'm just so disappointed in Neil for driving whilst on the phone. And what makes it worse is his brazen admission of doing it on here. :pac:

Zzippy · 09-03-2018 10:50AM

errlloyd wrote: »

They have like a year to issue the fine. It seems a lot of Gardai tend to let them build up, do all the paperwork in one go, and give themselves only one day in court. I used to sit in on the district court a fair bit because I was studying law, and one Gardai would be summoning an absolute ton of offenders.

I thought it was 6 months, no? The agency I work in has a law enforcement role as well and we have 6 months after an incident to issue a summons. I was under the impression that for summary offences the Gardai were the same.

Stheno · 09-03-2018 11:40AM

Zzippy wrote: »

I thought it was 6 months, no? The agency I work in has a law enforcement role as well and we have 6 months after an incident to issue a summons. I was under the impression that for summary offences the Gardai were the same.

I think it is six months

errlloyd · 09-03-2018 12:02PM

Zzippy wrote: »

I thought it was 6 months, no? The agency I work in has a law enforcement role as well and we have 6 months after an incident to issue a summons. I was under the impression that for summary offences the Gardai were the same.

Stheno wrote: »

I think it is six months

Could very well be tbh. A year is way too long.

prawnsambo · 09-03-2018 12:36PM

Apparently 21 people have now been treated after the attack on Sergei Skripal. Frightening to think that innocent passers-by could be poisoned by a nerve agent like that. Also they are saying that it was a 'very rare' nerve agent which to me means that the perpetrators want it to be attributed to them.

Podge_irl · 09-03-2018 01:02PM

It's frightening to think the intended targets could be poisoned by a nerve agent like that!

Off Topic Thread 4.0

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