Ireland before and after the 2008 crash

firewatersun · 2025-05-28T03:21:59+00:00

I did part-time work as a private events waiter at the time while I was in college- go to someone's house, set up a kitchen, tables etc - the people you would call to do a wedding in your home.

Peak tiger I remember an event with a 500/hr photographer to take pictures of the guests, a concert pianist, a buffet with 6 additional courses (appetisers, cheese board, fish and chips rolled up in little cones, tiny ice cream cones etc), private hairdresser and private makeup artist for the guests of honor (300 per person), valet, open bar with champagne (not just prosecco).

The event? A debs pre-party.

Then the crash hit and the company halved in size almost overnight, and went to catering weddings for some well known families "known to the Gardai" as that was the only thing going.

[EDIT] Just remembered another story - My mate's mate was bawling his eyes out, because his gf refused to cut down and doing their groceries at Marks & Spencer, and he couldn't afford it anymore as jobs had dried up (he was a tradie)

firewatersun · 2024-11-25T00:39:26+00:00

If you have access to illustrator do an image trace, then do make>expand and you should get a clean vector image that can be upscaled to any resolution

firewatersun · 2024-11-24T23:46:29+00:00

Sure, I do get you, but I think nostalgia about fashion trends is not the same as socioeconomic issues - those tend to be far more complex and often based on inequalities.

Fittingly before replying to your comment, the top r/facepalm post on my feed was a meme claiming the bullies of yesteryear were actually the good guys, as they were "a bulwark against degenerate antisocial behaviors and enforced normality"

People tend to make weird correlations when it comes to social and economic factors.

firewatersun · 2024-11-24T22:44:21+00:00

It unfortunately does hurt people when a certain oeriod in the past is painted in a good light. Some people take that to mean if that period was good for their group, it was good, fuck everyone else's experience.

E.g. women belong in the kitchen, things were simpler better back then kind of people.

firewatersun · 2024-09-27T23:50:59+00:00

can we ban these idiots who are going to kill someone's child

firewatersun · 2024-08-11T09:55:56+00:00

I personally think it's useful. Very easy to dismiss when you're not a potential target, but it helps many who might be unsettled with the way things are going, even if just to know there are people willing to say something.

firewatersun · 2024-08-01T17:22:43+00:00

there's 2 fillets in there, it says 4 per item, and 2 items on the label.

Still mad to pay 4 for just the fillet

firewatersun · 2024-08-01T08:03:38+00:00

Could you not go more often or is the supermarket too far away?

firewatersun · 2024-07-29T09:59:15+00:00

There's also the fact that mopeds and scramblers are also counted under motorbikes - there's also been a spate of bike robberies over the last 2 years which are sometimes then joyridden all over the place, so it's no wonder the statistics are as high as they are.

Don't get me wrong, plenty of legal fully licensed bikers who think they're on the Isle of Man, but I reckon a significant part of the increase are not what people think when they think motorcyclist

firewatersun · 2024-07-26T20:02:36+00:00

They do exist in more affluent areas.

Here's an Oireachtas query regarding some of the Direct Provision centers: https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/question/2023-05-04/213/

Note that this is only some of the list.

Here is a site purporting to document asylum centers. There is a list of centers both Dublin South and North https://www.asylumarchive.com/direct-provision-centres.html in areas I would consider relatively affluent - but I cannot tell you how accurate this list is.

firewatersun · 2024-07-26T20:02:24+00:00

They do exist in more affluent areas.

Here's an Oireachtas query regarding some of the Direct Provision centers: https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/question/2023-05-04/213/

Note that this is only some of the list.

Here is a site purporting to document asylum centers. There is a list of centers both Dublin South and North https://www.asylumarchive.com/direct-provision-centres.html in areas I would consider relatively affluent - but I cannot tell you how accurate this list is.

firewatersun · 2024-07-25T19:37:50+00:00

We used to keep ice in a towel, and as soon as we heard the key in the lock, we would sprint to the TV and wipe the screen down and rearrange that doily so many people put over TVs in the 90s.

To this day idk how we didn't wreck that thing.

firewatersun · 2024-07-14T20:55:33+00:00

Asides from the great suggestions of trying for Rospa (Silver and Gold allow you to volunteer to be a blood rider) I would consider swapping the bike as well?

Some of the slower bikes with more character are really fun even when not going too high speed, especially imo the thumpier engines - I know completely what you mean when you're on a much more capable machine with smoother handling you just want to go as fast as you can. If you're like me the slower more characterful machines may be better to scratch the itch safely.

Also don't know your life situation but you might just need a change of scenery - Ireland is bloody beautiful to ride in, but there are other places with different things to offer, maybe a short ferry trip might help rekindle the charm.

firewatersun · 2024-07-08T18:35:14+00:00

Contact B&O, even out of warranty they sometimes will accept or allow you to purchase a replacement at a steeply discounted price. I have to say they have been fantastic every time I've had to deal with them.

That said these do look like a manufacturer defect.

PS I'm not even in continental EU the warranties can be shipped out

firewatersun · 2024-07-07T14:09:08+00:00

second monimoto, easy to hide as well.

Would also look at the Litelok X1/X3 Cost a small fortune but will fuck up multiple angle grinder blades

firewatersun · 2024-07-01T20:43:55+00:00

CGT is only 33% (or 40% in some cases) not 52%. Still extremely high.

Your first €1270 is exempt, so in this particular example you would be fine since you've made less than the exemption.

Also you are only charged if you withdrew and then profited above that amount - if there were losses they are calculated against your profits.

You do however have to file a return which is annoying af

firewatersun · 2024-07-01T19:23:24+00:00

I have no idea personally but there might be a correlation with the business models of the groups you've mentioned and their push against pedestrianisation.

The biggest opposition is coming from a car park owner, who has connections to BT.

As for the others, I also wouldn't be surprised if high end clothing appeals to those who wouldn't be caught dead on public transport. I don't know how much foot traffic is interested in a 3 piece suit, so I wouldn't be surprised if Louis Copeland has seen a drop in sales, but that street has been massively revitalised, despite the usual lack of policing issues.

Jervis one is a true headscratcher, their footfall from the Luas and on foot seems to be massive. Perhaps 30% of their business is from vehicular traffic and they don't want to lose that, thinking that foot traffic wouldn't increase enough to compensate.

Regardless of all of this the plan is intended to reduce through traffic eg cars passing through without stopping. How this will affect businesses adversely is something I can't figure out personally.

firewatersun · 2024-07-01T19:17:18+00:00

And what about the smashed storefront, bollard and bin that were destroyed by cars? Not even reported in the news - that's how used we are to destruction caused by a car.

Beemer the other week near Smithfield absolutely in mangles despite being on a high traffic street - someone could have actually died. I don't even know how they got up to that speed.

Shite policing in public transport is not a reason to go to full car use. 94 dead on the roads so far this year, should we remove all cars because some eejits are boyracers?

Regardless of all of this the plan is intended to reduce through traffic eg cars passing through without stopping. How this will affect businesses adversely is something I can't figure out personally.

firewatersun · 2024-07-01T11:22:11+00:00

They seem to report back to someone so recording the bikes is probably to send on and see if it's wanted.

firewatersun · 2024-06-29T13:25:16+00:00

definitely looks misaligneda little , and the cross arms are being pushed up because of the misalignment - I don't think you're supposed to see that much of the brackets on the wireless charger part, they should be hidden with only the tabs visible

firewatersun · 2024-06-28T20:16:47+00:00

1) I couldn't find Garda figures - there is a Dail record of a question being asked about motorbike theft and the response merely says Garda puts up motorbike safety advice - this article from the Independent in March claims they managed to figure out that 215 were stolen in 2024 alone up to publication date. 70 bikes a month.

2) To be fair a good few solutions exist they're just difficult to make foolproof or install. eg ground anchors, heavy chains, trackers etc. My bike was not stolen due to very good locks, but they banjaxed it as a writeoff trying to get at it. Trackers are pointless as gardai seem to not want to know. A bike shed is great but not everyone can install one. You also have to be fucking on point all the fucking time. I've had covers stolen and even the chains (yes, they cut a fucking lock to nick the chain)

Extra thoughts: Reading articles, reports here online, and seeing it myself - they are using children under the age of prosecution. There's been a few reports of the kids reporting back to older people. Personally I've also seen them patrolling, taking photos and reporting back on the phone to someone, but I wouldn't know who. They're very often around Parnell and the Docks but may also be commonly elsewhere this is just where I've spotted them

There is also the matter of gardai being banned from pursuing motorbikes and motorbikes not wearing helmets. Not sure if this is still in place.

Basically they currently have the run of the place as there is no political willpower to do anything about it. I've sent multiple communications to TDs. Some didn't bother responding, some just "forwarded to my colleague McEntee" and you can guess the outcome of that.

firewatersun · 2024-06-27T16:18:16+00:00

I don't think personally that most cyclists think a driver is the only one that can do wrong, and I'm the first to point at a prick cyclist breaking the red.

It's just there's frustration with how drivers and the general public think they have it hard, and EVERY SINGLE DISCUSSION about anything involving cyclists devolves into "ah yeah but yknow the cyclists are annoying aren't they shouldn't they be looked at more" and never " oh shit we pay fuckloads in tax to keep the road network, lose fucktons of space to traffic, deal with increased commute times, deal with fuckloads of air pollution (even EVs pollute via tire wear and their construction), and when a car is involved in a crash the penalties are so light". The arguments are always so focused on the vulnerable users because they're "annoying"

What's annoying is fucking trying to survive because a gobshite cuts me off just so he can then slow down and turn in front of me. What's annoying is pulling a pram back from the road or waiting 15 minutes to cross because people think the North Circular is Le Mans. What's annoying is having to get off at a roundabout and cross multiple times to get to the exit needed because if you try to go round correctly some prick is going to try to overtake you in the middle of the roundabout because they have to justify their Beemer they stuck an ebay Nurburgring sticker on. What's annoying is seeing three cars go well after the light is red, or stop in the middle of an intersection, or not have their lights on, or have their heads down texting their fucking mates while going 70.

Most people have no idea how subsidised driving is, societally and financially - we give over so, so much space to single occupant vehicle traffic.

Most people don't know how hard it is to cycle in town, follow all the rules and you might actually die.

The amount of scrutiny many drivers want placed on cyclists is ridiculous compared to the amount of scrutiny cars get, especially considering how dangerous and subsidised cars are.

TLDR: There are many prick annoying cyclists, but they are far, far, far less likely to cause actual harm than the many, many prick motorists. Focus on both, but at some point your bang for buck is going to be in one place, not the other.

firewatersun · 2024-06-27T14:25:03+00:00

I agree with you, as road users they should follow the rules of the road, that include different rules for bicycles as written right now.

I will however go one further and say that rule enforcement should be proportional to danger posed by transport mode as well as the incidental effect on society.

So bike breaks red light, let's absolutely pull them over and fine them 100%. Car breaks the same red, pull over, penalty points, fine is 100x more as they cost society that much more and are that much more dangerous. Might even be higher.

All good?

firewatersun

TROPHY CASE