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17 May 2011 10:54

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World: Queen Elizabeth finally visits Ireland, because really, why not?

It’s the first visit by a reigning British monarch since Ireland first went independent in 1922. There have been two bomb threats already. She’s 85 — might as well get this visit in now. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

30 Mar 2011 00:10

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About: On Dublin, or why the blog’s overall quality will improve this week

  • ShortFormBlog’s European Adventure: Hey all, Ernie of SFB here. You might know me as the guy who screws with the design of the site every weekend. Just wanted to give you an update on the next few days … I’m headed to Dublin to pretend to be a busker for a week. I plan to listen to a lot of U2 and sit in my hotel room and watch “Once” multiple times in an attempt to get the true Irish experience. But seriously, the blog will continue over the next week with our intrepid staffers Chris Tognotti and Seth Millstein taking the helm, and everyone’s favorite breaking news dude, ProducerMatthew, playing utility infielder. I’ll be back on Tuesday, but keep in mind that if you bug us, there might be a slight delay in getting back to you. It’s nothing personal. Oh, what am I kidding, it totally is! Either way, I’ll pound a Guinness in your honor, kids. All 5,600 of you! source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

06 Mar 2011 22:05

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World: Opposing Irish parties decide to share the burden of leading

Coalition government ahoy! Fine Gael’s Enda Kenny and Labour’s Eamon Gilmore will share leadership duties as Ireland tries to shake off all that economic drama they’ve had lately. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

10 Feb 2011 12:16

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World: Tragedy strikes at south Ireland’s Cork Airport

  • three number of attempts a small Irish airplane made at landing at Cork Airport; it was having trouble touching down due to low visibility
  • six number of people killed on the third attempt, which sent 6 other people to the hospital for wounds of varying severity source
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink

23 Jan 2011 11:34

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World: Green no more: Ireland’s ruling coalition completely falls apart

  • We have decided that we can no longer continue in government.
  • Irish Green Party leader John Gormley • Revealing their plans to exit the coalition with Prime Minister Brian Cowen’s government, likely forcing a much quicker election than Cowen anticipated. (One was planned for March 11th already, but might be needed sooner.) Despite washing their hands of Gormley’s government, they plan on supporting a key piece of legislation regarding the country’s austerity plan. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

27 Nov 2010 13:10

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Biz, World: Angry Irish people take to streets to protest tough austerity plan

  • We’ve seen this song and dance before. First in Greece, then Belgium, then France, then in Britain, but it’s still not any more frustrating to watch – especially in Ireland’s case. The Irish had a solid decade of economic growth, only to see the economy go into freefall and be forced to take upon tons of bailout money in the span of about two years. So that’s why these people are protesting in Dublin today. They’re angry because of the insane cuts they’ll be forced to swallow – the worst of any European nation so far. (Photo by Marcus Swan) source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

21 Nov 2010 11:27

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Biz, World: Ireland willing to take bailout money … VERY begrudgingly

  • Hey, yo, Ireland. ShortFormBlog here. We just wanted to commend you for coming to your senses and deciding to take a loan from the European Union. But there’s still a problem – you’re remaining way too timid about accepting help. You guys don’t want to end up like Greece or Iceland, do you? While we don’t know how much you’ll be willing to take (all you’re on the record for is saying €100 billion would be “too much”), but with that crappy housing market and contracting economy of yours, you might be wise to work on improving your economic stability with a bailout, not trying to figure out how little you can get. Again, if you don’t want the bailout money, we’ll take if off your hands. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 

17 Nov 2010 10:23

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World: A modest proposal: Give ShortFormBlog Ireland’s bailout money

  • Hey, if Ireland doesn’t want any of this bailout money, give it to us. For days now, the European Union – and now Britain proper – have been pushing to give Ireland lots of money to ensure its solvency. However, Ireland doesn’t seem to have any interest in taking it, at least right now. So, we’d like to offer a proposal to the European Union. Give us the bailout money. We’d use the money to build our own country (tentatively titled ShortLandia) where we’d build an army of coffee shops and have dozens of bloggers working away, producing short content for the masses of other countries throughout the world. It’d be communism. Except in content farm form. And instead of eating soviet bread, we’d be drinking ShortLandia lattes. With an extra kick. So you don’t fall asleep and prevent another piece of content from hitting the Intersphere. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

14 Nov 2010 20:40

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World: Northern Ireland political icon Gerry Adams: Ireland needs my help

  • We need more voices that will stand up against the consensus for cuts – more voices that will stand up for ordinary people. We need new politics. We need a political realignment. A change of government without a change in policies will be worthless.
  • Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams • Revealing his plans to leave Northern Ireland politics to run for parliament in Ireland’s mainland. It’s ironic that he says “voices” so many times in this quote. Adams’ voice was famously banned from British television in the ’80s due to his party’s ties to the Irish Republican Army. Adams has long been an advocate of making Northern Ireland a part of Ireland proper, but his reasons for running for Irish parliament are largely economic – he plans to run largely in opposition to the deep cuts current leadership is making in the country. We covered some of the country’s problems earlier today. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

14 Nov 2010 11:11

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Biz, World: Ireland getting peer pressure to take bailouts to ease debt

  • Anyone know where Ireland can find 15 billion euros by Tuesday? The country of potato bread and U2 (to grossly oversimplify) needs some extra money to allay fears of other, fiscally stronger European countries, such as Germany, as well as to calm local markets, which went haywire on Friday on debt concerns. Ireland denies the need for an immediate bailout (despite a banking system in tatters), but outside sources, such as Barclay’s Capital, suggest that the country could need €80 billion (or $110 billion) in bailouts between 2011 and 2013. German Chancellor Angela Merkel says that political needs (including her own) may be in play. “There may be a conflict here between the interests of the financial world and the interests of politicians,” she said. One source suggests the possibility of an Irish default could hurt her crisis-resolution plans. Meanwhile, Ireland plans to release a budget next month it hopes will ease debt concerns. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
 
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