#Dublin city driving schools

[nextleveldriving]

Learn to Drive in Dublin: The Roadmap to Becoming a Confident Driver

Understanding the Basics of Driving in Dublin

Driving in a bustling city like Dublin can be both exciting and challenging. To become a confident driver in Dublin, it is essential to start with a strong foundation. In this article, we will guide you through the process of learning to drive in Dublin, covering everything from legal requirements and documentation to mastering vehicle operations and safety.

A. Getting Started: Preparing for Your Driving Journey

1. Understanding the Legal Requirements for Driving in Dublin

Before starting your driving journey in Dublin, it is vital to understand the legal requirements. In Ireland, a valid learner's permit is necessary to learn to drive on public roads. The permit can be obtained from the National Driver Licence Service (NDLS). Additionally, you must have valid car insurance and be a minimum of 17 years old to legally drive in Dublin.

2. Gathering the Necessary Documentation and Permits

To obtain a learner's permit, you will need to provide certain documents such as proof of identity (e.g., passport or Irish birth certificate), proof of address, a completed application form, and a fee payment. It is crucial to gather all the required documents beforehand to ensure a smooth application process.

3. Choosing the Right Vehicle to Learn and Practice With

Selecting the right vehicle is essential while learning to drive in Dublin. Opt for a car that is easy to handle and has excellent visibility. Consider factors such as fuel efficiency, safety features, and maneuverability. If you are learning with a driving school, they might provide the vehicle for your lessons.

B. Navigating Dublin's Road Infrastructure

1. Familiarizing Yourself with Dublin's Road Network

Getting acquainted with Dublin's road network is vital to build confidence as a driver. Take the time to study the city's major roads, highways, and key interchanges. Familiarize yourself with commonly used routes, such as those leading to popular landmarks or busy city center areas.

Callout: Dublin's road network is constantly evolving, so it's crucial to stay updated with any road changes or diversions that may affect your route.

2. Understanding Traffic Rules and Regulations in the City

To navigate Dublin's roads safely, it is essential to understand the traffic rules and regulations. Observe speed limits, traffic signals, and lane markings while driving in the city. Keep in mind that there are specific rules regarding bus lanes, pedestrian crossings, and cyclist priority areas.

3. Identifying Common Road Signs and Markings in Dublin

Road signs and markings play a crucial role in guiding drivers on Dublin's roads. Take the time to familiarize yourself with common road signs, such as speed limits, no entry signs, and roundabout rules. Understand the meanings of various road markings, including pedestrian crossings, bus lanes, and parking restrictions.

Tip: Consider creating flashcards or using online resources to help you memorize and understand the different road signs and markings in Dublin.

C. Mastering Vehicle Operations and Safety

1. Getting to Know Your Vehicle's Controls and Instruments

Before hitting the road, take the time to familiarize yourself with your vehicle's controls and instruments. Understand functions such as the accelerator, brake, clutch, gears, and steering. Practice adjusting mirrors, using turn signals, and operating lights, as these are essential for safe driving.

2. Developing Essential Driving Skills: Acceleration, Braking, and Steering

Mastering essential driving skills is crucial to becoming a confident driver in Dublin. Practice smooth acceleration, gentle braking, and precise steering. Pay attention to clutch control, gear shifting, and maintaining a steady speed, especially during stops and turns.

3. Emphasizing the Importance of Defensive Driving and Road Safety

In a busy city like Dublin, defensive driving is a vital skill. Always be aware of your surroundings, anticipate potential hazards, and maintain a safe distance from other vehicles. Adhere to road safety guidelines, including wearing seatbelts, avoiding distractions, and never driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Quote: "Defensive driving is about proactive decision-making to protect yourself and others on the road." - Experienced Driving Instructor

D. Gaining Confidence in Handling Various Driving Conditions

1. Navigating Heavy Traffic and Congested Areas

Learning to navigate heavy traffic and congested areas is crucial for driving in Dublin. Practice patience and maintain a safe following distance. Keep an eye out for pedestrians, cyclists, and other motorists, as they may behave unpredictably in congested areas.

2. Driving in Different Weather Conditions: Rain, Fog, and Snow

Dublin's weather can be unpredictable, so it is essential to be prepared for various conditions. Practice driving in rain, fog, and even snow if possible. Learn techniques for maintaining traction, adjusting speed, and ensuring clear visibility during adverse weather.

3. Adapting to Challenging Road Situations: Roundabouts and Busy Intersections

Challenging road situations, such as roundabouts and busy intersections, require confidence and skill. Familiarize yourself with the rules and techniques for navigating roundabouts, yielding to other vehicles, and signaling appropriately. Practice approaching and maneuvering through busy intersections with caution and precision.

E. Practicing Your Skills: Finding the Right Driving School in Dublin

1. Researching and Choosing Reputable Driving Schools

Finding the right driving school is crucial for a comprehensive learning experience. Research different driving schools in Dublin, read reviews, and ask for recommendations. Look for schools with qualified instructors, good track records, and tailored programs to meet your specific needs.

2. Assessing the Programs, Instructors, and Facilities

When selecting a driving school, evaluate their driving programs, the qualifications of their instructors, and the quality of their facilities. Look for schools that offer a good balance of practical lessons, theory classes, and mock tests. Ensure that the instructors are patient, experienced, and knowledgeable.

3. Making the Most of Your Driving Lessons and Mock Tests

Make the most of your driving lessons and mock tests to sharpen your skills. Pay attention to your instructor's guidance, ask questions, and actively participate in each session. Treat mock tests like the real driving test to familiarize yourself with the test format and identify areas that require improvement.

Tip: Consider practicing outside of your lessons to reinforce what you've learned. Practice with a licensed driver in a variety of scenarios, such as different traffic conditions and road types.

Conclusion:

Mastering the art of driving in Dublin involves a combination of understanding legal requirements, navigating the city's road infrastructure, mastering vehicle operations, and gaining confidence in handling diverse driving conditions. By following a structured approach, aspiring drivers can build the necessary skills and knowledge to navigate Dublin's bustling streets safely.

As you embark on your driving journey in Dublin, remember that continuous learning and adaptation are key. Stay informed about changes in the road network, traffic rules, and any updates to driving regulations. Defensive driving, emphasizing safety, and being prepared for various road situations contribute to becoming a confident and responsible driver.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the legal age to drive in Dublin?

The minimum legal age to drive in Dublin is 17 years old. However, it's important to obtain a valid learner's permit from the National Driver Licence Service (NDLS) before learning to drive on public roads.

What documents are required to obtain a learner's permit?

To obtain a learner's permit, you typically need proof of identity (e.g., passport or Irish birth certificate), proof of address, a completed application form, and payment of the required fee.

How can I familiarize myself with Dublin's road network?

Familiarize yourself with Dublin's road network by studying major roads, highways, and key interchanges. Stay updated on any road changes or diversions that may affect your route, as Dublin's road network is constantly evolving.

What are the essential driving skills to master in Dublin?

Essential driving skills in Dublin include smooth acceleration, gentle braking, precise steering, clutch control, gear shifting, and maintaining a safe speed. Defensive driving skills, such as anticipating hazards and following road safety guidelines, are also crucial.

How do I choose the right driving school in Dublin?

When selecting a driving school, research reputable options, read reviews, and ask for recommendations. Evaluate driving programs, instructor qualifications, and facilities. Look for schools that offer a balanced mix of practical lessons, theory classes, and mock tests.

What should I do to practice driving skills outside of lessons?

Reinforce what you've learned by practicing with a licensed driver in various scenarios, such as different traffic conditions and road types. Treat mock tests seriously to familiarize yourself with the test format and identify areas for improvement.

Remember that becoming a confident driver in Dublin is a gradual process that requires dedication, practice, and a commitment to ongoing learning. Stay patient, be proactive in your learning journey, and prioritize safety on the road.

[cantcompetewhereudontcompare]

DECONSTRUCTING FANDOM MYTHS: "Harry Styles got to where he is because he was pushed by the label"

In light of Liam Payne's passing, certain middle-aged bloggers who have come back with a vengeance to spew lies all over the fandom (lies that get repeated and permeate the opinion of every chronically online fan that's adjacent to any degree to the 1D fandom or its solo artists), so I decided to deconstruct those lies. One by one.

This will be a series of separate posts analyzing it in detail.

"Harry Styles got to where he is because he was pushed by the label"

Absolutely not, not even CLOSE to the truth. I know people are aware, tangentially, of what Liam said in Logan Paul's podcast. Impaulsive, a couple of years ago. Clips of that went viral and he got a lot of hate for it. But actually go and watch it. I cued the relevant bit in the link, so you won't have to watch any unnecessary part.

In the podcast Liam says that he went from 180,000 people who auditioned down to the last 24. For the uninitiated, The X Factor was the most popular show on TV around that time and SO many people auditioned. I'll explain the process of the show briefly because it'll also be relevant later in this post.

You first send a tape in, and then you get a callback to audition in front of producers (this was in March-April). If you go through, you go to the live auditions which in 2010 happened in six cities (Glasgow, Birmingham, London, Dublin, Cardiff, and Manchester). Liam did Birmingham, Niall did Dublin, Harry, Louis, and Zayn did Manchester. 211 acts made it through after live auditions in 2010, to the next stage which was bootcamp.

Bootcamp lasted 5 days. On the second day, about half the acts were dismissed, leaving 108 standing, which were divided in four categories. Boys, Girls (these two were ages 16-27), Groups, and over 28s. There were four judges and each judge "mentored" a different category. Because of the format of the show, each category has to have an even amount of contestants (in 2010 it was 8 acts per category). The "Boys" category was very full, so they dismissed the 1D guys unless they agreed to form a group. They did, so they then went to the next stage, which was Judges' Houses. Simon was mentoring Groups that year, so 1D went to "his" house in Spain alongside the 7 other Groups. The goal of this stage is cutting the acts to 4. Only 12 acts make it to the Live Shows.

1D passed Judges' Houses and went on to the Live Shows, there were 10 Live Shows in total, with the last one being the Final. 1D made it to the Final and came in third (the winner was Matt Cardle, runner-up Rebecca Ferguson).

Anyway, as I was saying, in 2008 Liam made it to Judges' Houses, and since Simon was mentoring Boys that year, he was his mentor. He didn't make it to the final 4 acts, and was instead cut off. In the podcast, Liam says that after being cut off, Simon had dinner with him, his mom, and one of the X Factor producers, who would later become a 1D manager, and told him that he wanted to put him through but that he was too young and needed to get his education in.

Another small tangent, education in the UK goes Primary School (until age 11), secondary school (until age 16), and then two years of what's called Sixth Form (also known as college, also known as A Levels). These last two years weren't mandatory if you weren't going to university back then. Liam was 14 in 2008, so if he waited two years, he would finish secondary school. The X Factor actually lifted the age limit to 16 after this. Harry has said that he always wanted to audition to the X Factor but he was always too young (remember, he's 6 months younger than Liam so he didn't make the age cut-off in 2008, and then they lifted it even higher). And I'm adding this here because it drives me nuts, Harry DID FINISH HIGH SCHOOL. He took his GCSEs which are the exam you take to finish high school. He just didn't do those extra two years of college (none of them did, btw, Louis did first year twice because he failed it the first time, but he didn't finish either).

Anyway, so Liam has dinner with Simon, where Simon essentially tells him "you have what it takes but I'm not taking you out of school. Come back when you finish." And Liam does just that. Not only that, but he (and I'm quoting here) "sings everywhere he can." He sings for money, he takes vocal lessons. He sings at old people's homes, at his local soccer stadium in Wolverhampton (which is not a small deal, btw), he sings in pubs. He literally talks about being paid a lot for performing at times "more money than I'd ever seen."

I think a lot of people don't know this. A lot of people have no idea that Liam WAS actually a professional singer BEFORE 1D. And he's not lying, he's not exaggerating, he's not gloating in this part of the interview. It's 100% true.

Then Liam says that because of the promise Simon had made him, he worked around Liam's face to create a group. I know we've all seen the footage of Nicole Scherzinger putting 1D together through their headshots. I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but the X Factor is highly staged. They didn't decide to put the band together in front of the cameras on the fly. Simon has been trying to recreate that ever since, and he's put several groups together in similar circumstances since then (Little Mix and Fifth Harmony are successful tries at it).

These boys had been auditioning since March, as I said. In fact, Liam says in the podcast that "it's pretty obvious who's gonna make it through because cameras start following them around." Remember, Zayn had the whole "where is Zayn" saga, and Harry had that segment "playing" all the female contestants. (Don't get me started on how disgusting that was, considering he was 16, but oh well). Both of these things happened in bootcamp. Why? Because the producers saw something in Harry and Zayn and knew it'd probably pay off to have footage focused solely on them. I'm not claiming it's all a big conspiracy, but clearly they saw value in them.

Liam didn't claim that he was the only reason the group got put together, but he was one of the reasons, and I think he's 100% correct.

With the fact that he was auditioning for a second time, once the show started airing, he created his own little niche fanbase.

He had a website where he sold signed wristbands.

And even had a name for his fanbase:

He'd gone to talk shows YEARS before 1D was formed. This is him on Lorraine in 2008. The video itself was uploaded BEFORE he first even auditioned for the X Factor for the second time.

Here's the actual video:

And now I'm going to show you, factually, how Liam was who the producers of the show thought would be the main guy and who was ACTUALLY pushed to the front.

This was their entrance for their first ever performance at the X Factor live shows

This is how they were standing while waiting for feedback from the judges. Liam tended to be in the middle or in the front in most photos and interviews. None of this is accidental, btw, blocking in TV is a serious matter, whoever is at the center is who your eyes will be drawn to.

It doesn't matter how many times The Hags try to rewrite history and claim that Harry was "pushed to the front," nothing they say, no matter how many times they repeat it, can change history and what we can see with our own eyes.

That doesn't mean that they would blindly push Liam no matter what. They would course-correct if someone else started to give signs of testing better. They, in fact, did just that.

Keep in mind, back in 2010, social media was in its infancy. Instagram had just been created (and it only became a thing since 2012), Facebook was huge but it was very personal and none of the guys really used it much.

Twitter had started to become relevant in 2009, and most young people were flocking there. Justin Bieber and One Direction fans were the backbone of what's today known as "stan Twitter."

What I'll do is analyze Liam and Harry's popularity on Twitter going by the air date of their X Factor episodes, which you can find in the picture below.

Liam's audition aired September 4 (auditions 3) and Harry's audition aired September 18 (auditions 5)

I'd love to do a proper breakdown of their follower counts but that's not really possible because there isn't an archive that can tell you that accurately. We'll have to rely on their own tweets and tweets from fans.

I'll also analyze their performances, the solos they got, how blocking was handled, etc. There was extra content where 1D was featured, and I'll address that as well, but keep in mind the extra content was only seen by a handful of people relative to the amount that watched the live shows - you can see the ratings above. We're talking 13 million viewers on average.

Neither Harry nor Liam would be featured on the X Factor again after their auditions until bootcamp aired. As you can see above that was September 25/26. There were glimpses of them the 25th (like the ones I mentioned before about Zayn dancing and Harry dating), but the main thing was the 26th when they were cut from the show only to be brought back and put in the band.

Liam had nearly 7,000 followers on September 15 2010 (10 before bootcamp).

Meanwhile Harry had 2,800 September 26, right before the episode aired:

The next day, after the episode aired, Harry nearly doubled his followers.

And so did Liam by September 30, with 14,000

Judge's Houses was when 1D was first introduced as such and they performed Torn. This aired October 2/3. I don't have data for these days.

Something must've happened October 6 (I'm thinking maybe a Twitcam?) because we have the first archived version of their accounts and we can actually see their followers.

Liam had almost 24,000 and Harry had almost 19,000

Liam still had an edge but Harry was rapidly approaching. Liam went from tripling Harry's followers, to doubling them, to only being a few thousand above.

Here we have the airing schedule for the next couple of shows.

1- First live show, October 9/10: They performed Viva La Vida.

Liam opened and closed the song, Zayn and Niall had short-ish solos. Harry and Louis had none. I posted pics of how they were standing above, but Liam was blocked in the middle the whole time.

2- Second live show, October 16/17: They performed My Life Would Suck Without You.

Liam opened the song and had a second solo in the second verse. Other than a single adlib by Zayn of two words mid-song, only Liam had solos. Liam was also blocked in the middle and close up for most of the song. (You can fact-check, just watch the video). At this point it's pretty clear Liam is the one being pushed. The others are barely singing. In both performances so far Liam has giant close ups that last a very long (for TV) time.

3- Third live show, October 23/24: They performed Nobody Knows

Liam opens the song and sings for quite a bit, Harry gets his first solo, performing the bridge. They're static the entire performance, with Liam blocked in the middle.

Before every performances they showed a short interview about their week, and this week they showed footage of and talked about going to the mall and how that caused hysteria with fans. After the performances was over, Dermot O'Leary, the host of the show, asked them who had to sign the most autographs. They all said Harry. Keep in mind, at this point (when the whole autograph thing happened), this boy has had NO SOLOS in the live shows. Just that one performance of Torn and his audition.

I'll now address the part about the other bits of footage they showed aside from the main performances. They had bits and pieces in a show called XTra Factor, Megamind, Question time, etc. You can find a full playlist of 1D's appearances in these videos here. That, and the video diaries, of course were the only pieces of content the X Factor made about them. These were fluff pieces that either aired during the week or after the live shows, or were internet exclusive, so like I said, the audience that consumed this was pretty small in comparison to the live shows and as such it doesn't really warrant an analysis. That said, all the members were featured pretty evenly on these, with Louis perhaps being the main one because he was very loud and energetic.

I think these videos were fundamental to establish a fandom, but I wouldn't say it really affected who was popular. Louis was by far the least popular member while they were in X Factor (this is a fact, not me being shady, and this would of course change while they were in the band), even though he was the one who was probably featured the most in this content (he was also pretty much always front and center in the video diaries, for example).

Aside from that, there was social media, where all five did Twitcams and tweeted fans and stuff. Liam was the most active on Twitter and it was an inside joke both in the fandom and with the guys that Liam was always doing a Twitcam.

We're in late October and so far, Harry has not been pushed at all. I think we can all agree on that. And yet, by the 26th, he was the most followed member, juuuust edging Liam

You can see how Niall and Zayn have about half the followers Harry and Liam have and how Louis is trailing all five.

4- Fourth live show, October 30/31: They performed Total Eclipse of the Heart

Niall and Liam did a call and response bit where Niall would say "Turn around" and Liam respond with the rest of the verse. Louis and Zayn had small solos. Harry had no solos, being the only one not to have any. Just saying. No solos. They start the performance sitting down. When they stand up Harry is blocked in the middle, but they switch when the song ends with Niall ending up in the middle.

5- Fifth live show, November 6/7: They performed Kids In America

Liam started the song, again. Niall had a small solo and so did Louis. Harry and Zayn did a bit where they harmonized together. Harry had one (1) solo adlib. He was blocked in the middle the whole performance, to be fair, first time this has happened so far. I can sense the air shifting but still very short solo time.

6- Sixth live show, November 13/14: They performed Something About The Way You Look Tonight

Liam starts again, Zayn has a few small adlibs. Harry has an actual big solo (and he knocks it out of the park). He's also blocked in the middle again. We're 2/3 of the way through the season and more than halfway through the live shows, btw. The X Factor started airing August 21st and finished almost exactly a month after this performance on December 12. It's clear the producers are starting to notice just how popular Harry has become and they're shifting the focus in front of our eyes. When Harry starts singing the audience SCREAMS (jump to 0:40 seconds in the video).

7- Seventh live show, November 20/21: They performed All You Need Is Love

Liam starts once again. Harry is now permanently blocked in the middle, it seems, and he has a solo following Liam. Niall has a solo after the chorus, Harry takes the solo after Niall as well, he also closes out the song with a call and response, where he sings "Love is all you need" and the rest chorus "love, love, love." The shift is in full swing. Liam is still opening, but only because he sets the tone now, and seemingly not because he's the de facto leader anymore.

8- Eighth live show, November 27/28: They performed Summer of 69 and You Are So Beautiful (other contestants were being eliminated so now the ones remaining are singing two songs).

Summer of 69: Liam starts, and he's the only one to have a full solo, the rest of the song is mostly all five with Harry doing a couple of adlibs. Zayn is blocked in the middle at first, but Harry ends up in that position when the song ends.

You Are So Beautiful: Liam starts. Harry takes the solo after. He's blocked in the middle again. Zayn has a solo after, then it goes back to Harry (complete with a high note), and he ends the song. I don't think Niall and Louis opened their mouths.

We can now update on followers, because I can finally find some more data.

December 2, Harry has 118,000 followers

December 3, Liam has 101,000

The shift has shifted, fully. Sorry, Liam, you had a good run.

Jokes aside, Harry forced their hand. He became the most popular one with little to no solos, while someone else was supposed to be the focus. He wasn't the focus of the extra content (that would be Louis) and he wasn't the most active one on social media (that would be Liam). It just HAPPENED. 100% organically.

Yes, of fucking COURSE once they saw the raw attraction this boy generated in hordes of girls they switched gears. DUH. Wouldn't you??? They don't make these decisions based on nothing. If the audience wants Harry Styles they'll give them Harry Styles. That is how it works.

9- Ninth live show, December 4/5: They performed Only Girl in the World and Chasing Cars

Only Girl: Liam started, Zayn had a small adlib, the rest of the song is all five. They moved around the stage a lot, so the formation doesn't really matter all that much.

Chasing Cars: Liam starts and he's blocked in the middle at first. They switch after the first chorus and Harry blocks in the middle as he takes his solo in the second verse. He's also doing high harmonies so you hear his voice the most throughout the entire second chorus very very loud while the others blend together. This is the first time that happens so clearly. He also closes the song. This is their last performance before the final, and it'll echo the way most One Direction songs will go for their entire discography.

I have to say, the audience gets loud before and after every performance, and every time they switch solos too. The audience adores all of them. But they get SO loud when Harry starts a solo. I'd watched all of these years and years ago but had forgotten that detail.

Also, the myth that Harry wasn't as good as Liam and Zayn at this point is just preposterous watching these performances. His voice is so solid when he has to sing. Liam is obviously more steady (literal years of experience vs a couple of weeks), but he's not better than Harry by any means, just better equipped, I'd say. Zayn's voice is very thin and way more off pitch than I remembered (Harry can get flat as well, but he belts with a lot of power while Zayn at this point cannot, probably nerves tho).

Anyway, the X Factor final would air December 11/12. Obviously it aired at night, so the next two tweets are right before the final.

Liam gained 3,000 in about a week.

Harry had gained 20,000.

And if you've watched all the videos I linked, you'll know exactly why.

I don't really have more insight on their followers in 2010. I can't find any other tweets that mention numbers. But for the sake of completion, let's analyze the final two performances.

10- Final, December 11/12: They performed Your Song and She's The One.

Your Song: Liam started. They were blocked with separate spotlights but when they formed in line, Harry was blocked in the middle, and immediately started his solo. The bit about Harry doing high harmonies for the second chorus happens again. This time Liam closes the song.

She's The One: Liam starts. Harry is blocked in the middle yet again (it's so funny lol). He takes the second solo. Louis introduces Robbie Williams after Harry's solo, who stands right next to Harry and takes the next solo (and all the solos after this). Robbie hugs Harry for most of the performance, then Louis who's on his other side. The camera is solely focused on Robbie with a little bit of Harry, which I find fucking HILARIOUS. What incredible foreshadowing.

*

Anyway, was Harry PUSHED by "The Powers That Be"? I mean, sure, but only after they realized how insanely popular he was. They stubbornly tried to push someone else to the forefront for two thirds of the competition and only clued in towards the end.

More so, when they gave in and started to push Harry, it actually worked. 1D became massively popular with hordes of fans, and most of them latched onto Harry. It's not like they switched gears, pushed Harry after Liam, it also flopped and someone else was more popular, but they stubbornly decided to continue pushing Harry. If it happened with Liam, it could've easily happened with Harry. But it didn't.

What you need to understand is that you can push whatever you want to an audience, but just because you push it doesn't mean it's gonna work out. Some things and some people click and others do not. Marketing can only help so far. And these decisions aren't made lightly. There's a ton of market research, of analyzing data, and checking reactions. If Harry hadn't tested well once they shifted, they wouldn't have kept pushing just for the sake of it. Just like they didn't with Liam.

Things don't happen in a vacuum. Harry didn't have any industry connections to warrant a push from the start (that would be Louis, who's mom knew James Corden). He hadn't been on TV or taken vocal lessons (that would be Liam). He also had never taken musical lessons for any instrument (that would be Niall). His family was working class. His mom has recently talked about how many jobs she had when he was growing up and how exhausted she was. Gemma talked about her and Harry being latchkey kids, having to fend for themselves. We know Harry worked multiple jobs since he was a child and until he was put in the band (since he was like, 10). He'd never gone to London before X Factor.

When The Hags claim that he was "chosen" and "pushed" they never explain the why in detail. Because THEY CAN'T. Not without admitting that Harry is talented and charismatic. I've seen some say "people like him because he's attractive." I mean, of course, he is. He's very attractive. So are the others, though? Different levels of attractiveness, of course, but they all got put in that band because of their looks. If they could sing but looked fugly they wouldn't have been put in a BOYBAND. In fact, I think being cute was more important than being able to sing at the time. Not naming names, but...

There's also been claims of "well, he was probably easy to manipulat." Brother ALL OF THEM were easy to manipulate. They were working class kids with a dream. I know part of being The Hags is having a bitch eating crackers attitude to him breathing, so of course they're never going to admit that he's not just good looking, but he's also charismatic, and has a great stage presence, and has a beautiful tone of voice, and an incredible work ethic.

But most importantly he had that Thing that people just latch onto. It's not something tangible you can describe. He just has it. It's the reason The Hags have been foaming at the mouth for a decade. There was nothing extraordinary about him that would producers want to push him above the others nefariously. The reasons you want to push an artist are typically very benign because that's the nature of the beast.

He didn't get an unfair advantage among his band mates.

Someone was ALWAYS gonna be in the forefront. Every single band in the history of bands has had at least one front-person. The producers initially thought it'd be Liam, put him in that position, but Harry took that from him organically, as much as it pains The Hags.

Fast forward to right before 1D released their first single (What Makes You Beautiful, which came out August 19 2011), and Harry now has 120,000 more followers than Liam (25% more). Louis Niall and Zayn are all pretty close together in followers, about 30,000 behind Liam and 150,000 behind Harry.

Now fast forward to around the time of their debut album release (mid November 2011)

The difference has now stretched to >200,000 (cannot get this tweet to embed but it says Liam is almost at 800,000).

This distance will grow bigger and bigger until the end of 1D and the start of their solo careers. By the end, Niall had solidified himself as the second most popular 1D member. These were the numbers on January 2016 (after 1D ended but before Zayn started his solo career):

Yes, once Harry became the frontman, he became THE FRONT MAN. In their first single, he sings the bridge and sings directly to the girl in the music video.

We also know Harry was BY FAR the most prominent voice in the group.

I haven't independently verified these screenshots, but I've been seeing them make the rounds on Twitter for ages with no one fact checking them, plus they... well, they sound about right. If there's anything that's wrong about them, please let me know, but counting these numbers sounds like an absolute nightmare that I'm simply not willing to put myself through.

This is counting ALL the albums, of course, but we know Harry consistently had the most amount of solos throughout their discography.

He also lead most choruses by far

And while for the first two albums Liam would start basically every song, Harry would quickly catch up with the latter three

And I was actually able to independently verify this (because it's not that hard), and the numbers aren't exactly the same but they're very similar. Somehow I have more songs? Maybe whoever did this only used the standard versions of the albums.

These are the totals: Liam 36, Harry 31, Niall 11, Zayn 9, Louis 4.

When they did interviews Harry was almost always sitting right next to the host (this would depend on what was the best spot for blocking in terms of the cameras and lights the show would use, but typically it's next to the host)

He was typically in the middle or in whatever place gave him more attention in photo shoots and he was, for instance in the thumbnail of most music videos, a lot of the times alone

Anyway, what's the point of this? The point of this is that my mama didn't raise a liar. Harry WAS pushed to the front once he became the most popular one... in the middle of the X Factor. And because he was pushed to the front a vicious circle (I'd describe it as virtuous, to be perfectly honest) was created, where more people heard his name, and he became even more popular, so he was pushed more. And so forth.

The media picked up on this, of course. It very quickly became "Harry Styles and his Directions."

Harry was very gracious about it, and we'll touch on his attitude towards that and his potential solo career in a post soon, but rumors of him going solo started almost as soon as they became huge.

1D released their first single in August 2011 and their first album in November. Neither of these would be released in America until 2012 (January for WMYB and March for UAN), once they did, 1D became massive worldwide. Harry started dating Taylor Swift towards the end of 2012, and that gave him a surplus of name recognition. He was already the most popular one by far, as we've established, but dating America's Sweetheart only created more distance between his celebrity ant he other four.

Thing is, he didn't date Taylor Swift for this reason. I know The Hags tend to be conspiracy theorists (or former conspiracy theorists that never lost their ways), so they will absolutely tell you it was PR to further his career, but I PROMISE you, it wasn't. This is something that can be very easily verified by virtue of just... paying attention to Harry and Taylor's relationship a little closer than the average tinhat tends to.

I'll clarify that I'm not fond of Taylor Swift. I flat out don't like her. I don't like her and Harry together either. But I don't just believe in things I personally enjoy. I believe in REALITY. One day I'll make a breakdown post of their relationship (which has been overly romanticized and minimized in very similar amounts). But the point I'm making right now is: yes, she raised his celebrity, but no it wasn't PR. In fact, the audience was aware of them being a couple for like, two months, when they had something going on, on and off, for several years (mostly off, let's be real).

After Harry was linked to Taylor, the talk about him going solo hit mainstream media. I mean, even before he was linked to Taylor the media discussed it.

May 2012

These reports come from The Daily Star, which is National Enquirer levels of BS, of course. Harry once sued them for alleging on their cover that he had leaked nudes and posting a manipulated picture of his "naked" body (it was photoshop). But still, why did they make this rumor in particular up? Well, because he was the most high profile member, even in May 2012.

The reports kept coming, April 2013.

Harry Styles Going Solo?! One Direction Rep Says There's "No Truth" to False Album Reports. Source

The source for this one is The Mirror, which is slightly less terrible than Daily Star, but still quite terrible. The Sun would've been their go-to publication if this was something that had any type of substance (The Sun is also quite terrible, but they did have a lot of ties to 1D's team, particularly their publicist). Of course, 1D's team shut the rumor down immediately. They did this over and over. I'm not going to show you every instance. There were even leaked emails where it was asked that Harry did events on his own and Sony politely informed them that, no, Harry didn't do events on his own without the rest of the band.

The song Don't Let Me Go leaked in June 2013, and of course people jumped.

Truth is they all recorded versions of the songs individually. This is something Louis touched on, I think in his documentary? Harry wrote Don't Let Me go, and he recorded a demo of it, because they all did that. The song was for the band, not for himself.

In terms of writing, that's another topic I'll expand on later, but while they were all slowly dipping their toes into songwriting, Harry seemed to want to branch out. 1D had been assigned a team of writers and producers spearheaded by the super talented and successful Savan Kotecha, who was their coach in the X Factor (he's an Oscar shortlisted and Golden Globe and Grammy nominated songwriter behind a huge amount of enormous hits (Can't Feel My Face, God Is A Woman, Love Me Like You Do, DJ Got Us Falling In Love, etc).

He quit after 1D's second album, after being harassed by Louis (I will absolutely expand on this some day), but he maintained a good relationship with the others. When he left, he recommended a set of songwriters and producers to take over his place for the three following albums, this time spearheaded by Julian Bunetta (also very accomplished, but, yeah, slightly less so than Savan).

While Harry did write a few songs with both of those teams (he actually wrote Happily with Savan for 1D's third album, the last song Savan wrote for 1D before leaving). He also sought out other songwriters.

You can find a complete breakdown here, but while still in 1D Harry wrote with the likes of John Legend, Gary Lightbody and Johnny McDaid (Snow Patrol), Dan Layus (Agustana), Jake Gosling and Chris Leonard, Gavin DeGraw, Ryan Tedder, Johan Carlsson, the band Kodaline, Taylor Swift, Bruno Mars, Max Martin, et al.

Harry started writing songs he kept for himself in 2014 (he mentioned this about his song Two Ghosts, which he later released in his debut album, for instance). And he also wrote songs for other artists, such as Ariana Grande, Alex & Sierra, and Michael Bublé.

Of course, this branching out got him a ton of connections and a ton of grace from members of the industry (who have always spoken wonders about him). He mentioned meeting his current manager and longtime friend Jeff Azoff in Toronto in 2012. Obviously The Hags get bent out of shape about this, because Jeff is son of legendary music manager Irving Azoff.

But Harry's connection to Irving is completely irrelevant in terms of his popularity. As I established here pretty plainly, he became the most popular member in 2010. Their team had to visibly pivot from promoting Liam Payne as the de facto leader to promoting Harry. People latched onto him organically.

Yes, when you have that once in a lifetime reaction from the audience to an artist, different types of music people with high positions of power will take notice and want an in for themselves. We'll get more in depth about this in the next post, so I don't want to continue to waffle on a lot longer, I think this whole "Harry was only popular because he was pushed" thing has been thoroughly debunked.

He was pushed because people CHOSE HIM.

And it was a good decision to do that because he was a huge part of 1D being successful. People try to humble him so often, "he wouldn't be famous if it wasn't for 1D."

You don't know that. Justin Bieber was discovered on YouTube in 2009. Harry was in a band in high school. He did musicals in school. He loved doing karaoke and was an avid music enjoyer. He was very much musically inclined and could have very well become famous without 1D. He could've auditioned for the X Factor again at a later date. He was SIXTEEN when he was put in the band.

It is not a fact that Harry wouldn't have become famous without 1D. He could've. But we also know that the minute Harry said he wouldn't sign his contract again, the band disbanded (and that's the subject of the new post).

Harry could and has thrived without 1D. But One Direction has never thrived without Harry. So.

[ghostofbambifanfiction]

Irish Wish Recap - Part 1

Remember when I did commentary on Midnight Sun? I felt like doing something similar with Irish Wish, in part because I had a great time laughing at that movie when I watched it with Bee, but also because @ali2cann asked me to share my thoughts on it. So I've decided to recap the entire film, but in parts, because that way the fun lasts longer for everyone. Please note that this is all good natured. This movie was ridiculous but I still had a lot of fun watching it.

Anywhere, here's Part 1!

The film opens with a dictionary definition of the word "wish," which is: to want something that cannot or probably will not happen, or alternatively: the website that we ordered this movie from. There is a shot of some Tourism Ireland approved scenery before we cut to stock footage of New York.

A glamorous New York book launch party is in full swing, and has absolutely been filmed at the Clarence Hotel in Dublin. I know this for a fact because Dublin is the place of my birth, the origin of my being, the city that shaped my childhood, and because the filmmakers made absolutely no effort to change the exterior, particularly the massive lintel above the entrance that bears the name "The Clarence Hotel" in great big letters. The only indication that we are actually in New York is the brief flash of a yellow cab and a cunningly placed hotdog vendor, because outside of a swanky New York book launch party is exactly where a hotdog vendor would be.

You know what? Forget what I just said. This doesn't seem to be a book launch at all. The signage near the entrance reads "A NIGHT WITH PAUL KENNEDY." So I guess it's some sort of fancy meet and greet? The book itself is already a best seller. What is this meant to be????

Anyway. Paul Kennedy. Get used to that name, because this movie is about to ram it down your fucking throat. Paul Kennedy, ladies and gentlemen. Paul Kennedy.

Maddie Kelly, played by Lindsay Lohan, arrives at the party and exits her cab. She is wearing a dress that says "fancy book party" and a scarf that says "brunch with mom."

At the same time, Paul Kennedy arrives at the event. Paul Kennedy is wearing a plaid patterned suit to subtly indicate that he, Paul Kennedy, is Irish, rather than the O'Neills GAA jersey that actually forms part of the traditional Irishman's uniform. Paul Kennedy, you see, is a stylish Irish man, a stylish Irish man named Paul Kennedy, and he wears stylish Irish clothes. Maddie is so transfixed by Paul Kennedy's rakish good looks and stylish Irish attire that she doesn't notice that her scarf has gotten caught in the cab door and is nearly garrotted when the cab drives away.

You know, I'm really glad that this mishap occurred. I was so worried that Maddie would not be a relatable character, so it came as such a relief to see that she is Clumsy, which is the most relatable trait that you can give to a female character without detracting from her hotness in some way.

Paul Kennedy greets Maddie and we hear his terrible fake Irish accent for the first time. The press goes wild upon seeing Paul Kennedy. Paul Kennedy is, as previously mentioned, a best selling author, and Maddie is his editor. Paul Kennedy pulls Maddie in front of the press and announces that he owes everything to her and her brilliant writing and editing skills, which tbh I wasn't expecting because he's clearly not the endgame love interest in this movie and that would normally qualify him as a dick from minute one. What a nice guy that Paul Kennedy is!

Just then, Maddie gets a call from her mom, who is the principal of a high school in Iowa and is inexplicably being played by Jane Seymour. Maddie asks her how she's doing and her mom launches into a story about toilet paper, so Maddie tells her to shut up because she's attending this event for work purposes and she's only just arrived. Maddie's mom, clearly aware that this event was taking place, scolds her for her bad time management. Why did she fucking call her then??!

Maddie's mom asks her if she's told Paul Kennedy how she feels about him yet, which is an absurd question to call your daughter about when she is attending a work event. Maddie tells her mom that she hasn't even told her closest friends about her romantic feelings for Paul Kennedy, and asks her to keep her secret. Maddie's mom, her accent veering wildly between possibly English and possibly American, is all, "nobody in Des Moines gives a shit about your feelings, bitch," but Maddie doesn't care about the people of Des Moines because Paul Kennedy wants to speak to her later and she's sure that he's about to make a love confession of his own. She ends the call and immediately runs into her friends, Emma Who Works in Fashion and Heather Who Did the Cover Art for Paul Kennedy's Book. Emma Who Works in Fashion gets all hot and bothered at the sight of Paul Kennedy's smouldering Irish face on the back cover of his novel while Heather Who Did the Cover Art for Paul Kennedy's Book reminds everyone that Maddie basically wrote the book for him, which I guess makes Maddie a ghostwriter/editor hybrid. Either way, Paul Kennedy didn't do shit.

Maddie meets Paul Kennedy in the hotel bar and they talk about how they make such a great team, what with her doing all of the work and him wearing the shit out of plaid suits. Paul Kennedy takes her by the hand to ask if she wants to take their relationship to the next level and Maddie practically starts foaming at the mouth in her haste to say yes. But alas! Paul Kennedy wants her to work with him on his next novel, and by "work with him," I mean conceptualise and write the thing for him so that he can devote his time to shopping for even more plaid suits. Paul Kennedy knows that Maddie wants to write her own book, but his book is far more important so he wants her to put her own ambitions to one side for now. What a shitty guy that Paul Kennedy is!

Maddie agrees to Paul Kennedy's insane request because I guess she has no self-respect and he leaves her to drown her sorrows. Meanwhile, Emma Who Works in Fashion is racing to the bathroom because one of her false eyelashes has become displaced and Heather Who Did the Cover Art for Paul Kennedy's Book is unable to help her fix it. They run into Paul Kennedy, who immediately pushes the eyelash back into place with his finger because apparently that didn't occur to either of them to do themselves.

Emma Who Works in Fashion tells Paul Kennedy that she works in fashion and they immediately fall in love at first sight.

Later, Paul Kennedy reads an excerpt from his best selling novel, Two Irish Hearts, while Maddie and Emma Who Works in Fashion watch him from the bar, their bosoms heaving lustily in unison. They all have a drink together afterwards, and the upshot is that Emma Who Works in Fashion leaves the event in raptures over her and Paul Kennedy's instant connection while Maddie gnashes her teeth with barely-concealed jealousy. They barely avoid a fatal traffic collision and suddenly it's three months and one Aer Lingus advertisement later.

Maddie arrives in Ireland, specifically Knock Airport, for the wedding of Paul Kennedy and Emma Who Works in Fashion. Paul Kennedy is dressed in a ridiculous outfit that would absolutely earn him a savage bollocking from the locals were he to wear it anywhere in his purported home country. Don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about. We've all seen that viral Twitter thread.

Maddie is waiting for her luggage to come through baggage claim and her friends, unwilling to wait the extra twenty seconds it would have taken for her to grab her suitcase, immediately leave her to her own devices. She chases her suitcase along the luggage carousel and runs into Ed Speleers, who is also making a play for the suitcase. A tug of war ensues and the suitcase bursts open. Maddie triumphantly waves Ed Speleers' plaid boxers in the air before realising that she's not holding her favourite plaid skirt. There's so much plaid in this fucking movie. Lindsay Lohan is wearing a plaid jacket and I'm pretty sure Ed Speleers is wearing a plaid shirt with a matching colour scheme beneath his jacket and cardigan.

Anyway, Ed Speleers is all "you clumsy oaf" and gets outta there without bothering to close his case properly. I wonder if we'll see him again.

Alas, Maddie's bag has been lost by the airline, which kind of undercuts the earlier Aer Lingus advertisement. She tells Paul Kennedy to take her friends and leave, and that she'll follow them in a taxi. No taxis are available, however, so Maddie is forced to get on a rickety old bus that looks like it was found by a bunch of Irish stereotype-hungry scouts who came upon it and collectively jizzed in their pants.

Maddie hops on without paying and asks the driver to take her to a specific address, which he happily agrees to do because fuck bus routes, and fuck the other passengers who also have places to be. Just as the bus is about to leave, Ed Speleers jumps on, greets the bus driver by his first name and sits down, also without paying. Why is this bus driver so willing to take people wherever they need to go without collecting a fare? How is the bus company running with no profits?! Ed Speleers and Maddie have a brief exchange wherein Ed Speleers cheekily mentions his boxers and Maddie anxiously adjusts her jacket to hide her lustily heaving bosom, and the bus moves off, possibly in search of a passenger who is willing to pay for the privilege of riding it.

It doesn't take long before Maddie and Ed Speleers get to talking. Maddie learns that Ed Speleers is a nature photographer who smiles a lot in a disarmingly handsome way that I am not ashamed to admit I found very stirring. It also helps that he speaks in his native accent, which the majority of the characters in this movie seem completely unable to do. Maddie's copy of Two Irish Hearts falls out of her purse and Ed Speleers sees it and laughs about how shit of an author Paul Kennedy is whilst making it clear that he hasn't read the specific book that Maddie wrote for him. There is a short exchange about the UK that absolutely backs up my theory that the makers of this movie mistakenly believe that Ireland is part of the UK, which I'm disappointed about, but not remotely surprised.

Anyway, the magically altruistic bus drops Maddie directly off at Paul Kennedy's house in County Wicklow. I know it's in Wicklow because Paul Kennedy lives near Lough Tay. Which is in Wicklow. Thus marks the first of many times that a character in this movie travels from one side of the country to the other in roughly fifteen minutes.

Anyway, Maddie enters the grounds of Kennedy House and immediately happens upon a man who is carrying wood and who I could immediately tell was played by an Irish actor because all Irish men have one of roughly ten generic faces. That's a very true observation and not a joke at all. The fact that people think Niall Horan and Paul Mescal are in any way unique looking is hilarious. You'll find at least a dozen of either in Copper Face Jacks on any given night. A dozen at least. Cillian Murphy is the only outlier.

The genuine Irish man introduces himself as Paul's brother, Kory, which is a name that no Irish person would ever give to their child, and thus, Maddie is welcomed into Kennedy House.

Aaaaaaand that's it for Part 1! What on earth will happen next?!

[tellthemeerkatsitsfine]

I think the movie It's A Wonderful Life probably makes my top five favourite pieces of socialist propaganda. And that is a competitive field; I have a lot of favourite pieces of socialist propaganda. I quite enjoy A Christmas Carol, but that hardly cracks my top 50, probably.

Anyway, I spent a lovely Boxing Day watching some of my favourite socialist propaganda, with my mother and a fire in the fireplace and a tree and it was great.

And guess what else I did! Guess what else I did on this day, the 26th of December, 2024! I booked some flights! I booked two flights!!!

One is for August 2 - really August 2-3, since it runs overnight. From Halifax to London. Because I have the entire summer off, now that I'm working in a school. So I'm going to go visit my grandparents' house in Nova Scotia for the last couple of weeks of July, and then fly to London from there. And then I booked a flight from London to Montreal on August 25, because flights between London and the city where I actually live were convoluted or expensive (you could get easy ones if you want to pay $2,000 one-way, and you could get cheap ones if you want the entire experience to take 55 hours with transfers in Bristol and Lisbon and Toronto), and the city where I actually live is only a couple of hours from Montreal. I can probably get a drive home from there, and if I can't, it's a cheap plane ride.

What am I going to do in between? Well, I've got a lot of it planned out. I've got an Edinburgh Air B&B booked from August 15-24. On the 24, I'll get a train back to London, and fly home the next day. From August 2-14, I have many plans. A while in London again, of course. Then some trains through Wales. Then a ferry to Dublin, a train to Galway, a couple nights in Galway, a plane to Edinburgh, trains through Northern Scotland, before going back to Edinburgh for the festival. I've already booked most of the accommodation for that. And I've booked the Ireland-Scotland plane.

Last summer - 2024 - I went for two weeks. Five nights in London (four days in London, and one day when I took trains to Cambridge and back), then a couple of days taking trains through Western Scotland, then five nights in Edinburgh for the festival. That's because two weeks was the most I could possibly get off work (I really only got four days of work - and was told this was the most I could possibly get for the whole year - because I planned it around the place I worked shutting down for the last week of July, and the following Monday was a statutory holiday). But now, I have the whole summer! So I'm planning a trip accordingly. I'm going to see more stuff.

I've never been to Wales. My family, on both/all sides, has been in Canada for so many generations that I can't legitimately claim any heritage from outside Canada. But the closest I can come to claiming that is that my mother's father's father grew up in Wales, and moved to Canada shortly before having children. He came from a town called Abergavenny, which my grandfather visited as an adult, and my grandfather talks about it all the time, wanting to go back there to honour his father's heritage. My grandfather will never go back again now, as he's too advanced into Alzheimer's. But I'd love to go.

I wanted to go to Wales in 2024, but I couldn't fit it into my schedule. I'm doing it this time, though. I'm working in a stop in Abergavenny. A short stop, because while it has great sentimental value to me because of my family, I've looked up the town and there appears to be nothing interesting in it. But it's on the way to lots of other cool places. I want to spend a couple of nights in Wales.

I first planned a UK trip in early 2021, when I was still relatively early in my Britcom obsession (I mean, I've been into lots of British comedy since I was a kid, but it was March 2020 that made me decide to dedicate my whole life to it), when this blog was only a few months old, when COVID restrictions meant the trip was far more of a fantasy than a plan. I planned this huge route, seeing all these different places, looking at them all on Google Earth to find the coolest spots. It was a lovely fantasy.

In 2024, when going to the UK became an actual possibility, I prioritized the two main things I wanted to see: London, and the Edinburgh Festival. For my 2025 trip, I'll have more days to play with because of the whole summer off, so I've gone into those old documents to find some favourites of my fantasy trip. I've booked two nights in Galway, which was a major part of that original fantasy. Mainly for the music. My dad visited Galway 15 years ago and hasn't stopped raving about it since. My dad and I share a love of Celtic folk music. My dad is always telling me how he could just wander into Galway bars and hear the music everywhere. I got an Air B&B that's right near one of their most famous folk music bars.

And here's one thing that was a major part of the original fantasy trip. The Gladstone's Library in North Wales. Basically, I romanticize old buildings, I romanticize cool libraries, I romanticize anything that looks like it could have existed in a British fantasy novel (I have been told off, probably justifiably, for being reductive about British architecture by excitedly referring to "Harry Potter buildings" - but look, excitedly enjoying majestic old buildings that look like they could have been in Harry Potter is a nice way to indulge my childhood Potter obsession without giving profit to its awful author, though it would be less problematic but equally exciting to call it a His Dark Materials building); while planning my fantasy trip in 2021, I Googled where the cool old libraries in Britain are, and I found the Gladstone's Library.

Fuck, man. You can't ask for better than that, if you're looking to fulfill a deep childhood love of British fantasy novels. I'm pretty sure that's where Lyra Belacqua used to do her research.

So when I first read about this place, I immediately Googled where's there nearest place to stay. Since it appeared to be rural, so I didn't know if it would be accessible, traveling without a car. But it turns out that 1) it's right near a train line, and 2) you can sleep in the library. They have rooms. Rooms where you can stay overnight, like a Harry Potter character. There was no way I could fit this into my 2024 trip, but I've booked a night there in 2025, on August 10. I have the confirmation and everything. For most of this trip, I'm getting the cheapest Air B&Bs possible (and I'm very lucky to be able to stay with people I know in London, avoiding paying for accommodation there). But I have splurged on one night, at the fancy library.

I haven't booked everything yet. I've been booking a little at a time, over the last few months (I booked the Edinburgh accommodation just a few weeks after I got home from my Edinburgh 2024 trip). And I still have lots more to book. But I've booked the two major flights today, and that's what makes it feel real. This is happening.

Happy Boxing Day!

[hannahssimblr]

Chapter Six

We leave for Dublin early on Saturday. It’s the only morning of the whole summer so far that I haven’t gone into the sea for a swim, but I don’t mind. I am vibrating with excitement as I dash down the steps of the mobile home and through the gates of the holiday park where Jude and Jen are waiting for me in the car. Claire and Kelly will be asleep for hours yet, and I am glad that they aren’t up to see me leaving, because I don’t want to have to explain why I’m so thrilled about going to a gallery. I know they just wouldn’t understand. 

“Looking very chipper for half seven in the morning.” Jen says as I hop into the back. I buckle my seatbelt eagerly. “I don’t know, I’m just excited!”

“You morning people are all the same.” She is half asleep in the passenger seat and it’s the first time I’ve seen her without makeup on. She looks a lot younger. 

“I’m a morning person and it pisses her off.” Jude smirks. “Sorry that I want to get up to Dublin early so that you can have a nice day.”

“Okay. Yeah. You said that already.”

“Just focus on the pancake breakfast we’ll have.”

“Yes, it will be delicious. Now shut your stupid smirky little mouth and drive us, taxi man.” She curls up and shuts her eyes, he starts the car and then we’re gone. 

The streets are bustling already by the time we arrive. We park up in an underground car park near Trinity College and make our way onto the leafy Georgian streets, and I stare up at the buildings in appreciation as we pass them. There’s something about this city that I just love, it’s got an atmosphere like nowhere else, lively and young and bursting at the seams with excitement and opportunity. I don’t get to come here very often and I want to take it all in slowly, but Jude and Jen are on a mission. They weave through the crowds, hopping off footpaths onto roads and dashing across, as they are veterans of Dublin. They grew up here, went to school here, spent their weekends in these parks and shops and for them it is nothing special, it’s just another town. I try to follow their path but I keep bumping into people, tripping on cracks in the pavements, clumsily stumbling between parked cars. I’m glad that they never look around and notice me doing everything the wrong way.

They stop suddenly groaning in frustration, and when I catch up to them I realise we’re trapped behind a huge group of tourists dismounting a fifty two seater bus. They block the path entirely and we’re forced to stop and wait. The tour leader at the front of the group holds up a huge American flag and Jen cackles joyfully. “Jude! Oh my god! We’ve found your people!”

“Yeah! Wow! All of my Irish-American friends in their homeland, back to discover their roots.”

Jen puts on a silly American accent. “I’m four percent Irish, and I’ve come to kiss the Blarney Stone.”

Jude joins in and his accent is obviously better: “Where’s all the fields and the sheep? Is that Big Ben?” I giggle with them as we run across the road to get away from the crowd and Jude continues. “Hey! Somebody call the cops! Those young people are jaywalking!” I think that it’s novel that he pokes fun at himself like that, as I feel I’d be a bit defensive of myself if I were him. 

When we go into a sweet little cafe off Grafton street and order pancakes for breakfast, Jen does her makeup at the table. She’s very good at it, the way that she draws her eyeliner in one smooth stroke is fascinating to me. I feel like mine always turns out uneven and wobbly and I end up just wiping it off. 

As we eat, I decide to ask Jude a little bit more about his background. “So everyone was saying that your dad is from the States?”

“Yeah.” He says. “I was born there – down in New Mexico.”

“Wow, that sounds amazing.”

“It was alright” He says with a shrug. “It always sounds kind of exotic to people, but it was a really normal town with nothing much to do, I mean, ever since Breaking Bad has come out, everyone seems to think that my life was somehow like that.” He laughs. “But really, there were, like, just big highways and malls.”

“So nobody cooking meth?”

He smirks. “I mean, probably. I guess they just didn’t invite me to help for some reason. No six year olds in the lab, or some bullshit.”

I smile “You’ve lived here in Ireland a while?”

“Well,” He leans back in his chair. “Since I was ten. My parents tried out American life for a few years, I did elementary school and all that, but I think it was just too hard. My mom missed her family and the easier lifestyle back in Ireland, so we moved back.”

“And you like it here?”

“Sure!”

“That’s because he has the best friends in the world.” Jen says as she applies her lipstick. “And we all love him to bits.”

“Aw, so sentimental.” He says.

“…and let’s not forget about the women! If I had as many girls knocking on my door as he does I’d be pretty happy too.”

He laughs in surprise and pushes her playfully. “Don’t say that to her!”

“It’s true!” She cackles. “Evie, they love him. Can’t keep their grubby hands away, and I don’t know what it is, because he’s obviously rotten. Right?”

I laugh along and say “Yeah, so ugly.” 

He turns to me eyes wide, pretending to be shocked. “Hey! I expected better from you.”

“Sorry” I giggle. “I don’t mean it! You’re not ugly.”

“Ugh, He knows he’s not.” Jen says “Let’s not inflate his ego any more, if he gets any more powerful he’ll end up sleeping with the rest of the women who don’t already fancy him and there’ll be nobody left for the rest of us poor peasants.”

He surrenders his knife and fork and throws his hands up. “That’s enough of that. Poor girl doesn’t want to know these things about me, she’ll think I’m some sort of… floozy.” He looks straight into my eyes and my stomach erupts with butterflies – he really is so beautiful. “I haven’t slept with everyone in Dublin. She’s telling lies.” 

Then he pushes his chair back suddenly and it gives me a fright. “Let’s go to the gallery now please, if we’ve all finished picking on me.”

“I don’t know if we’re all the way done with you yet,” says Jen. “But yeah, you’re right. Let’s head on.” She packs up the rest of her makeup, and then we pay for our pancakes and leave. 

Prev // Next

[claudz-vision]

Ireland is Committing Genocide Against Itself

The obsession of the Irish government with falsely accusing Israel of genocide is only equaled by its determination to commit an actual genocide against the Irish people.

In its latest move, the Irish government has called for watering down the definition of genocide to be able to apply it to the Jewish State, but there is no need to water down the formal definition, the “intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group”, to charge Ireland’s government with ‘self-genocide’ or ‘autogenocide’ against its own people.

In the last 20 years, Ireland, a small nation of millions, has been overwhelmed by a mass migration of 1.6 million people. In 2023, there were 54,678 births in the Republic of Ireland and 141,600 immigrants. Birth rates dropped 5% in 2023 (hovering at 1.5 births per woman well below replacement rate) but the number of immigrants grew by 31%. And will grow further.

The most popular name for boys was Jack, among Irish parents, while the most popular name among non-European immigrant parents was ‘Mohammed’.

Churches are closing across Ireland and mosques are opening in their place. There were only 400 Muslims in all of Ireland in 1991. That shot up to 19,000 in 2002 and 83,000 in 2023. 3% of Ireland’s children are Muslim now and the numbers are increasing every year.

Some Muslims are impatient with those numbers and have been trying to hurry them along.

In November, an Algerian Arab began stabbing children outside a Catholic school in Dublin. A five and six-year-old girl suffered severe injuries. When a crowd gathered to protest the latest act of Muslim violence, a ruthless police and media crackdown quickly ensued.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, the son of an Indian father, scolded that the Irish protesters had “brought shame on Dublin, brought shame on Ireland and brought shame on their families and themselves.” No shame was brought on those who had allowed Riad Bouchaker and a legion of foreign invaders like him to occupy Ireland, slaughter and displace the native population.

Media accounts emphasized that the Algerian Muslim stabber, Bouchaker, who needed an Arabic translator in court, was really an “Irish citizen” and condemned bigotry against him.

No mention was made in the media that Gaelscoil Choláiste Mhuire, the Catholic school attended by the children, was four blocks away from the ‘Dublin Mosque’ and the headquarters of the ‘Islamic Foundation of Ireland’ which had formerly been the Donore Presbyterian Church.

And no questions were asked about what this proximity to the largest mosque in the city might have had to the attack. Such questions, according to the government, are “disinformation”.

Bouchaker was only doing to Ireland’s children what the Dublin Mosque had done to a church.

One cannot fault the current Irish government for its Jihad over Israel. It’s really treating the Jews no worse than it treats the Irish. And if it expects Israel to lie down and die rather than stand up to Islamic terrorists that is the exact expectation that it (and not just it) has for Ireland.

And perhaps the Irish government is jealous that the Israelis refuse to follow in its footsteps.

The modern rebirths of Israel and Ireland were linked by common rebellions against British rule. Isaac Herzog, the president of Israel is the grandson of the Chief Rabbi of Ireland. His father, Chaim Herzog, Israel’s sixth president, was born in Belfast. His grandfather, Yitzhak HaLevi Herzog, was both an enthusiastic Irish nationalist and Zionist. Rabbi Herzog became known as the ‘Sinn Fein Rabbi’ despite Sinn Fein being founded by Arthur Griffith who hated the fairly small Jewish community in Ireland so much that he had cheered on the Limerick pogrom.

The ideological heirs of those who prided themselves on driving the Jews out of Limerick have welcomed in Limerick’s multiple mosques. Muslims are now the second largest religion in Limerick. And history shows it will only be a matter of time until the second will become the first.

Israel and Ireland as modern states arose from 19th century nationalist movements seeking to restore the glorious past of diaspora peoples. Animated by writers, artists, linguists and poets determined to revive what many saw as dead languages and the dead past, Zionism and Celtic nationalism seemed to have much in common. But the outcomes have been very different.

Half the Jewish diaspora lives in Israel while the vast majority of the Irish diaspora still lives abroad. Israel is a technological pioneer while Ireland serves as a Big Tech tax shelter. Israel has fought and won wars against Muslim invaders while Ireland shamefully kneels to them.

The revival of Israel is an object of pride to Jews around the world, but Ireland remains little more than a tourist stop with little about its state to take pride in as a modern day nation.

And most damningly, Israel’s birth rate is double that of the Irish birth rate.

Israel could very easily have ended up like Ireland: a kleptocracy run by crooked club socialists doling out just enough social welfare to keep the population voting for them, a cafe cultural establishment whose literary and linguistic experiments had soured into a club of worthless worthies, and plenty of history for scholars to look back on but no future to look forward to.

And if the Israelis hadn’t spent the last century fighting for their lives, maybe it would have.

If Israel had been living next door to some dying socialist republics with nothing to aspire to beyond wrangling about their share of EU subsidies, maybe it would have also become a failed experiment with Labor and Likud as its Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, Amos Oz as its Joyce, and people who don’t bother with the national language, but just want to move to Europe.

Unfortunately (or fortunately) the Jews were cursed or blessed with their enemies.

Mediocre decline was never an option for Israel. More than the Jews, it is their enemies who will not allow Zionism to die out. And so Israel is in yet another war for the Irish government to deplore. The Irish were allowed to stop fighting while the Jews can never have any respite.

And so paradoxically they can also never die out.

The Jews and the Irish are both a little mad, self-destructive and prone to endless infighting. We ought to understand each other better, but true to form we do not when we most need to.

Israel is what the Irish nationalists once dreamed of before they became small petty men.

The poet warriors who go off to die for their homeland are not historical figures in Israel, they are friends and neighbors. Everyday life is a struggle for survival against enemies out to kill you. Each child born is a triumph. Keeping a shop going while serving in the war is heroic. And so everyone takes a break from the infighting and pulls together because life means something.

Ireland once had that. It no longer does. And by the time it does again, it may be too late.

Where the Irish government allows Arab Muslim invaders to murder their children, the Israelis refuse. The Irish government calls this genocide: the Israelis call it survival. The Irish nationalists have sold out their homeland and their people, and resent those who won’t.

A generation hence the Israelis will have sons in their homeland while the sons of Ireland will be everywhere but in Dublin, mourning a homeland lost once again to foreign invaders and traitors.

Ireland is facing its own genocide. And few dare to talk about it. In Ireland, hating the Jews is safe, but opposing Muslims is a crime. Israel is not Ireland’s problem: instead it ought to be Ireland’s model. And yet accuse Israel of genocide and you’re a national treasure, but accuse the Irish government of genocide and you’ll face smear campaigns and criminal charges.

There’s a genocide problem in Ireland. The blood of Irish children stains a nation. Israel’s worst enemies are outside it, but Ireland’s worst enemies are inside its own government.

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[ortajo]

Don’t be a stranger (erenxreader)

Words: 3.5k

Summary: one-shot, you come back to the city where you spent your gap year in high school and decide that meeting up with an old friend with a big crush on you is a good idea (Eren drives a motorcycle hot af ngl)

cw: explicit and mature content MDI, cowgirl position, oral s*x and a little strip show, there’s a small use of alcohol

Notes: hope you enjoy, it took me quite some time to figure out how I wanted to write this but I think that in the end it came out pretty good, it’s my first one shot so as usual constructive criticism are accepted! Reblogs,notes ad comments are always deeply appreciated!!💕

———

It had been years since she breathed this air.

Landing in this place again after all of this time felt like coming back home after a long trip, all the memories of her first days came back like a river and her heart only grew fonder of this place.

You didn’t forget an instant of her gap-year here, all the memories, the photos, the friendships, all of it was still with you.

And now, landing in the city once again as an adult, gave her a sense of nostalgia she didn’t even thought she would have been able to feel.

The trip was for work but you were so thrilled when your boss told you that you would have been able to spend two days in Dublin again, you immediately told to all of your gap-year friends and they were as thrilled as you, they asked for all sorts of photos of all the places they went to ages ago.

Or at least it felt ages ago in her heart but as soon as she saw the city again it felt like nothing had changed, it was all the same as she remembered.

You snap a first photo and post it on your story “welcome home” that’s what you wrote on it.

After the morning you spent in the office to do the work you came here to do, you decided to walk around a bit. The city welcomed you with a warm day, as unusual as it could seem, and you took the chance to hang out around the city center again, for old time sake.

She saw again all the bars, all the benches and all the places she had memories of.

While walking a notification makes your phone thrill in her pocket, someone replied to your story.

eren.yeager_: you’re in the city again? Wanna hang tonight?, it was him.

She didn’t forget, how could she.

When one of her closest friend told her, after the gap-year, that one of the kids she had history with had a massive crush on her.

At first it felt unbelievable, you two barely talked and he never let out anything for an entire year but then the time passed and it all became an inside joke in her group.

So when you saw the message you froze, could it be that even after all this time he still wanted to shoot his shot?

He wasn’t bad looking at all, that definitely wasn’t the problem, tall, fair-skinned with short brown hair, his eyes were a gorgeous emerald green.

It never occurred to you how one like him could even like you, most of all how he could have liked you during that time of your life, you were still a teenager and the school uniform surely wasn’t the most flattering thing.

But during the years, you thought, the spark never died, we both talked and replied to each other stories, bonding over common interests that never came up during your time there.

So maybe this isn’t so bad after all, you reply soon to his message with a simple “yeah let’s hang tonight, tell me where and when”

---

The hours passed and she spent all of her time after dinner to get ready, she had an “everything” shower just in case and she tried to play with a bit of makeup she had brought.

You never bothered putting on makeup so the task asked for a bit more time than normal, so you ended up running late.

The outfit you choose was simple, a short and bit tight black skirt with a small slit on your right thigh and a casual cropped shirt with the graphic of a band you both liked, a black denim jacket to tie it all together.

She swiftly took a bus towards the center to head towards the pub he suggested, she knew the place it was a usual hanging out spot she had with her friends.

When you arrived he was already there but at first you didn’t recognize him.

A tall guy with broad shoulders and only a white shirt was talking with someone while leaning on a motorbike right in front of the entrance.

“sorry” you quietly say, he doesn’t even flinch, he kept on talking animatedly with the guy “excuse me” your tone a bit louder, but still nothing.

The guy notices you and white shirt dude turns around, it is him.

Your face goes from a frown to a wide smile in the span of seconds, you couldn’t believe her eyes.

He let his hair grew a bit and now they were just past his jawline, just enough to put them in a small bun, he was even taller and bigger than you remembered, it all felt doubled.

You had to take a step back to look at him completely, he was checking you out while leaning on the bike, another thing you both bonded over during the years, “when did you get this one?” you looked at the bike and it was gorgeous, it fitted his personality perfectly, “we can go for a ride after” he teased, he knew how much you liked them.

The spark was definitely still there you both could feel it, lingering in the air.

The night was smooth, after a couple of beers you felt a bit light headed but nothing major, he obviously teased you about being already drunk and you denied.

The beer tasted like memories in her mouth, it went down smoothly and it left a familiar taste on her tongue each sip.

He asked you all about your gap-year friends and how are they now, you told him about Armin and Annie that ended up engaged and what all of the others are up to now, working and studying abroad in different places.

---

The conversation went on and it felt like hours passed in mere seconds.

The night eventually came to an end, the cold of the night hit her face making her suddenly sober up.

A shiver down your spine, even after the year you passed here you still can’t remember how strong and cold the wind can feel at night, “if we go for a ride you can put on the jacket” his hand resting at the base of your spine guiding you towards the bike, you felt a bit hesitant “I can bring you to your hotel, really no pressure” his eyes piercing yours “I really don’t want to let you take the bus this late”.

Only now she noticed a detail, he was wearing black pencil in his waterline, he had always been this edgy kid, he likes metal music, rides a motorcycle and who knows what else. The pencil really made his eyes greener even if she thought that it couldn’t be possible.

“yeah ok only because you insist” finally you gave in, at the end of the day you would have been able to go back to the hotel faster.

He gave her a spare helmet and his jacket, she suddenly felt warmer and safer, a smile lingering on her mouth.

“I won’t go too fast” you looked at him with a face that had “really?” written all over it, then the helmet was on your head “pinky promise” he flashed you with a smile, “after you, princess” a small gesture towards the seat of the bike, you climbed with a bit of difficulties but managed to get on top without making a fool of yourself at his eyes.

The ride was peaceful, he warned her that clinging to his waist would have been the safest option but it felt too personal so her hands were on his shoulders.

A sudden abrupt stop makes you nearly fall but his hands were already on your bare tights, “told you” she swore she could feel him grinning under his black helmet, your hands travelled down to his waist and during the ride he toyed with your fingers making you forget that Dublin isn’t that big after all and that the ride was near to the end.

He helped her climb down the bike to prevent her skirt from rising too much.

“and that will be 20 euros miss” he teased you while removing your helmet, a soft chuckle came out of you.

“I had a great night really” you suddenly felt sad, like a small part of your younger self was inside of him and you were just leaving it behind “before ending it I wanted to ask you something” she got his full attention with just this sentence alone.

“it is just something Armin said to me after the gap-year nothing much really” you tried your best to play it off as something lighthearted even if inside you knew how much this response would affect you “did you really had a crush on me? It just seemed surreal at the time and we never had the-” she started ranting to fill up the embarrassing silence that fell between them until he spoke.

“I still do” his eyes were on you checking every single movement, your cheeks pink and then immediately red.

“you what” you felt startled by his blunt response unable to understand why and how it was possible.

“I like you” his hands still holding your helmet firmly, the way he said it brought her back to her high school years, that weird tension you feel in your belly when you declare your love to your long lasting crush, that uncertainty that floods your brain right before the response bracing yourself for an inevitable heartbreak.

She could sympathize with him in this moment because she knew the feeling he was experiencing; she knew them really well.

His eyes glued on the floor like the response he was looking for could have been written on the sidewalk.

“wanna come up?” this was definitely the beer talking, you thought, but fuck it really, he is good looking and if his feeling for you lingered this much it must mean something.

You stop to push the button of the lift and your hands brush one against the other, a faint smile on his lips, you interlock your pinky with his and look up him.

The light of the lobby was faint because of the time, 1a.m., you felt just like a teenager sneaking out for the first time.

The elevator dings and the doors open slowly.

As soon as the doors close, you’re both one on the other.

The kiss doesn’t even have the time to start softly because of the heat you both feel deep inside, he feels like a fool for not letting her know before about his crush, he wasted all of this time for fear of rejection.

Her hands on his chest, she was throwing herself on him, she wanted this, she needed this.

Just as her lips part to let him in the lift dings again, they arrived at her floor.

They both recollect themselves like nothing happened, she peeks out of the lift to see if someone might have seen them but no one is around, swiftly they shuffle to her room. In front of the door she quickly whips out her card, another sound followed by a red light, she tries again but it declines “fuck me” you mutter under your breath, he comes closer to your neck placing small kisses along the length of it, his hand around yours slowly passing the card through the door, “you have to do it slowly see?” another small kiss “no need to rush it”, finally the door opens.

You close the door and take his hand guiding him towards the bed.

The room was definitely smaller than you expected when you first checked in but it would have been ok for just one night, the bed was big and soft, soft pillows of different colors gave the room a cozier vibe than the usual boring white-sheet bed.

It felt surreal to have him sat on the bed, admiring you while you awkwardly tried to give him a show, his words from earlier echoing in your head “no need to rush it”, you both wanted to enjoy this knowing that an opportunity like this could never happen again.

After getting out of you shoes and skirt you started removing your shirt, “keep it on” he whispers while man spreading on the bed, enjoying the little show, you start walking towards him not breaking the eye contact “like the shirt?” you slowly crawl on his lap, your ass near his erection, that was definitely noticeable even through his jeans, straddling him.

“I like you with this shirt” a small grin and again your lips were one against the other, your ass keeps rocking back and forth while you feel his erection growing bigger, he whimpers between the kisses unable to contain “fuck” his hands sliding slowly up your shirt “I’ve waited so long” his fingers were just right below your breast before he looked at you for some sort of consent to go on “touch them already” your breath is starting to get heavier with each stroke, his hands were busy exploring your body, his thumbs gradually start forming circles on your nipples and you’re unable to hold back a whimper.

It had been some time since someone touched you this way, you could feel the eagerness in every single touch, he was hungry for you but wanted to savor each bite carefully.

His head is under your shirt and his mouth is latched on your breast, his tongue toying with your nipple flicking it until it becomes hard making you flinch each time he comes near it, a small bite makes you moan loudly, your hands on your mouth “someone likes this a lot” his head peeks from your shirt making you blush so slightly.

She looked so cute, that what he was thinking the whole time, he was unable to comprehend how no one still got their hands on her, she felt so perfect in his arms, soft and weightless.

He could cum only from this, her ass felt perfect grinding on his hard erection, he wanted to enjoy this for as long as possible but this felt unbearable.

Suddenly, like she weighted nothing, he moved her from his lap placing her on the bed, she got up on her elbows looking at him.

His head between your tights looking at you like the most beautiful thing he ever touched, his hand caressed you under your shirt, down your stomach stopping just on the hem of your panties, half a finger under the elastic running around the edge.

You squirm under his touch and you place one of your hands on his to guide him to your sensitive spot to just satisfy your needs, “I know where it is, princess” a small peck on your inner tight “I’m taking my time” you suddenly felt embarrassed but the feeling of eagerness was definitely stronger.

His mouth was tracing small kisses all around your legs, looking at all of your moles even the most little one just near your panties.

Finally, a small kiss lands on your sensitive cunt, your panties by now soaked left a bit of your wetness on his lips making them glisten, a small grin appears as he licks his lips.

“someone got really wet from just a few kisses” he was suddenly near you again, his mouth on your ear “right, princess?” you shudder as he places a kiss on your neck.

His hand at last touches your wet cunt, his middle finger plays with your clit making you move your hips to create even more friction, “you want a finger in?” his words a filthy whisper in your ear, you nod eagerly “I need to hear it” his tone firmer “yes” that’s all you could say, your voice came out strained.

A finger slips inside you and it fills you up immediately making you jolt at first, “ups two slipped in” he chuckles, he is having fun toying with you, soon your cunt gets used to the width of his fingers making the feeling full with pleasure, you could come just from this and he knows it.

“do you wanna come?” his kisses slowly work their way towards your stomach, only a small whimper comes out of you while you move your hips at his pace making his fingers go in and out of you, precipitously his mouth latches to your clit, his tongue swirls between your wet folds and your vison goes blurry.

His fingers are rough and he eats you out sloppily like this is the last meal he will consume in his entire life, his lips are plump and livid, your wetness all over his face, you try your best to not squeeze his head between your tights when you feel close, “I’m coming” your voice is high pitched and after this phrase his hands grip your legs bringing them closer to his head.

You cum violently, the pleasure arrives in waves but he doesn’t stop until you grip his hair removing his head from between your legs “I’m too sensitive please” you cry out as he licks your cum from off his fingers.

You look at him unable to catch your breath “you taste too good sorry” a small laugh comes out of you “you don’t look sorry” he smiles, a small kiss on your lips.

Your eyes curiously look for his groin trying to get a glimpse of his erection, your hands start to unbutton his jeans and he already groans in pleasure on top of you.

He is unable to stay on top so he lays down, you get on top of him as your hands free his erection from his boxers.

The tip is already covered in precum so you simply start by licking it off, the sounds he makes feel like he is getting already the best head he has ever had “it’s really sensitive” another small groan “plus you look so beautiful” his hand cup your cheek tracing the bulge of his cock, you innocently look up to him while licking up all along his length and he is unable to control.

“stop this I want to come inside of you” his hand on your forehead stopping you from licking his shaft again.

So you get up again and get ready to ride him, your cunt is still dripping wet from before, you sit up to let his cock ease into you, he suddenly feels bigger and just from the tip alone you already feel overwhelmed, his hands placed at your waist slowly caressing you “take your time” his words immediately comfort her and she guides his hand to her core, slowly with his thumb he draws circles on her clit making her able to take all of his length inside of her.

Your eyes are closed and your head is slightly rolled back while he moves your hips by your waist, both of you have no rush to end this.

When you got used to the feeling you started to thrust more violently his cock in and out of you, with each thrust you could feel his orgasm growing, the eagerness in his eyes, the grip he had on you becoming more and more strong.

“you were so innocent back then what happened huh?”

His words feel like honey in your mouth, just from this shivers go down your spine making you twitch around his cock, “fuck, you liked that?” your body was unable to respond verbally to his words and you didn’t want to contain anymore, slowly you lower your upper body until your head rests on his chest, your hips still unable to stop “such a little slut right?” he touches your chin making you tilt your head towards him, you share a deep kiss while he takes control of the rhythm making you bounce on his shaft while he fulfilled his orgasm.

You could feel you were close too and inevitably you start twitching around his length forcing the orgasm out of him.

He gets up bracing you while he fucks you faster “fuck, I’m coming” he groans “I’m fucking coming” his mouth near your ear and his hot breath on your neck drive you crazy.

You feel the warm load inside of you while he holds you tighter like he is afraid you could shatter in his arms.

You feel his breath heavy and you bury your head in his neck, when he is calmed down he takes you to the bathroom and helps you clean.

After you both finished cleaning up it was really late so you both cuddled up under the blanket.

His breathing and the sound of his heart felt like a lullaby to her, falling asleep had never been that easy.

When morning arrived she tried to get up as quietly as she could, her flight was in the late morning she had to be quick and get out soon.

Just before heading out she gives a last small glimpse at him peacefully sleeping in her bed, a note on her side of the bed.

“don’t be a stranger”

The door closes behind her.

[marwahstudios]

Dr. Sandeep Marwah Honored with the Title of “Global Media Scientist” at IFFI Dublin

Dublin, October 2024: In a momentous event at the India Film Festival of Ireland (IFFI), Dr. Sandeep Marwah, a towering figure in the global film, television, and media industry, was honored with the prestigious title of “Global Media Scientist.” This recognition, awarded by the Board of the India Film Festival of Ireland, acknowledges Dr. Marwah’s extraordinary contributions and trailblazing initiatives in the field of media under the leadership of Festival Director Siraj Zaidi.

Dr. Sandeep Marwah, a man of many firsts, has left an indelible mark on the global media landscape. He is the visionary behind Noida Film City—the first-ever film city in North India—and the founder of Marwah Studios, the region’s first professional film studio. His achievements continue with the founding of the Asian Academy of Film & TV (AAFT), India’s first private film school, and AAFT University, the country’s first film-focused university.

Among his numerous pioneering initiatives, Dr. Marwah established the International Film and Television Club, the first film club of its kind, and the International Film and Television Research Centre, India’s first private film research center. His vision also brought to life the first Cinema Degree College and the first radio station in Noida—Radio Noida 107.4 FM. The list of his achievements extends far beyond, and his work continues to set new benchmarks in the world of media.

The title of “Global Media Scientist” is a fitting recognition for Dr. Marwah, who chairs 127 cultural organizations spanning 156 countries and has a direct outreach to over ten million people worldwide. As a cultural ambassador for 77 countries, he has fostered international cultural cooperation and produced over 3,600 short films, influencing the global narrative of film and media.

Dr. Marwah has been a mentor to over 30,000 students from 145 countries and continues to shape the future of the media industry with his innovative ideas. As a recipient of more than 1,200 international awards, his work and legacy have been celebrated across the globe.

In an emotional address at the ceremony, organizer Siraj Zaidi praised Dr. Marwah’s dedication to the growth of film, television, and media, highlighting his role as a driving force in the creative arts. “We are incredibly proud of Dr. Sandeep Marwah and his relentless efforts to bring innovation and inspiration to the global media industry. His visionary leadership has left an everlasting impact on the world, and today, we honor him as a true global icon.”

The India Film Festival of Ireland continues to celebrate the cultural exchange between Indian and Irish cinema, and this recognition of Dr. Sandeep Marwah further cements his legacy as a leading light in global media. He is also Chair for Indo Ireland Film and Cultural Forum. The event was attended by who’s who of Dublin.

[skin-slave]

Gaza is just under 140 sq miles (360 sq km), and has 2.2 million ppl.

Nashville, TN, is about 500 sq miles (805 sq km) and has a population of 690k. Dublin is around 318 sq km (198 sq miles), with a population of 1.2 million.

This is a space the size of 2 Disney Worlds with the entire population of Chicago smooshed into it.

While Israel avgs 400 ppl per sq km (under half of a sq mile), Gaza has 5,500 ppl per sq km. The population density is comparable to that of London, significantly more than Paris, and twice that of LA.

And they dropped 6k bombs in 6 days. That's more than 40 bombs an hr if it were spread evenly.

There are no civilian bomb shelters. The UN has ppl sheltering in schools, bc there's nowhere else to go. And then the schools are targeted.

1/3 of fatalities are children. Kids make up half the population, and half of them report suicidal urges. PTSD runs rampant. Who can blame them? They have to learn how to recognize missiles. They watch their friends die. Every goodbye is far too likely to be the last.

These aren't numbers. They're human beings, shoved together, clinging to one another, while an invading force explicitly intends to drive them into the desert wilderness to live in tent cities.

Source

Source

[drivingschoolswords]

Invest in Safe Driving With Driving Lessons in Finglas

llied Driving Instructors has been in the market for a long time. The institution has branches in diverse neighborhoods like Finglass, Dunshaughlin, Lucan, Dublin City, etc. The Driving lessons in Finglas have been vital in helping students learn driving skills from scratch and improve and brush up their driving skills.

[reaganmurphy]

[cisfemale, she/her] Welcome to Aurora Bay, [REAGAN MURPHY]! I couldn’t help but notice you look an awful lot like [KIERNAN SHIPKA]. You must be the [TWENTY-FOUR] year old [MUSICIAN]. Word is you’re [DETERMINED] but can also be a bit [SELFISH] and your favorite song is [VANILLA TWILIGHT BY OWL CITY]. I also heard you’ll be staying in [AURORA BAY DRIVE]. I’m sure you’ll love it! (rei, they/them, 25+, EST) @aurorabayaesthetic

Basic Information ♡

Full Name: Reagan Murphy Nickname(s): Pronouns: she/her Age: Twenty-Four Date of Birth: May 17th Sexual Preference: Bisexual Status: Single Zodiac Sign: Taurus

Appearance ♡

Faceclaim & Voice Claim: Kiernan Shipka Hair Colour: Blonde Eye Colour: Blue Height: 5'4 Tattoos: Butterfly tattoo on her right side Piercings: Has both her ear lobes pierced Distinguishing Features: Has very light freckles that go across her nose and cheek bones Style: Old fashioned outfits like dresses that are styled from the 60s, Various jewelry, Likes dressing to impress

Personality ♡

Positive Traits: Hardworking, Sensual, Intelligent, Dependable, Understanding, Organized, Kind, Reliable, Independent, Loyal, Patient, Observant, Artistic Negative Traits: Selfish, Stubborn, Jealous, Over-possessive, Perfectionist, Can be a bit rebellious, Self-absorbed, Materialistic Fears: Rejection, Failure, Losing a loved one, Leaving a bad impression, Being forgotten

Likes: Painting/Drawing, Listening to music, Reading, Going out, Collecting stuffed animals and albums, Photography, Hiking, Swimming, Fantasy, Supernatural, Crocheting, Board Games Dislikes: Being late, Being interrupted, Insects, Messes, Dropping anything in front of others, Certain smells, Being rushed Habits: Pouting, Crossing her arms, People in her personal space that she doesn't know,

Family ♡

Father: Edgar Murphy Mother: Laoise Murphy Sibling(s): None Children: None Pet(s): None at the moment

Favorites ♡

Ice cream flavor: Cookies and Cream Food: Chicken Alfredo Time of the day / night: Night Season: Spring Holiday: Halloween and Christmas Animal: Cats Color: Purple Scent: Cherry Blossom and Lavender Musician/band: Owl City, Blink 182, Twenty One Pilots, etc

Other Information

Education: Did her high school education back home in Ireland but went to university for a couple of years while living in Florida

Bio ♡

Reagan was born and raise in Dublin, Ireland to Edgar and Laoise Murphy. There she spent most of her life and was spoiled a ton being the only child. Her father is a big name actor while her mother was a model turned head of a fashion empire. This allowed Reagan to not have to worry about money at all since her parents were always giving her anything she wanted. She used this to her advantage more to help fuel her pushing into making music plus her parents had connections that she could use.

Once she was old enough, she moved to Florida to pursue a college that specialized in the arts while promoting her music on sites like YouTube. There she'd post music videos she'd create whenever she had the chance. She did it all on her own which she felt great about but knew she'd need a team to make everything bigger and better.

After becoming apart of a company that helps fuel her music career even more, she decided to move to Aurora Bay and hasn't regretted it since. She leaves from time to time to film music videos or due performances for different festivals. She's more than ready to go on a tour at some point whenever she has the chance.

Wanted Connections ✰

♡ Exes ♡ Flings ♡ Friends ♡ Best Friends ♡ Flirtationship ♡ Fwb ♡ Drinking buddies ♡ Neighbors ♡ Will they/won't they ♡ Hookups

[howleysouhan]

Maximise Your Property’s Value: Expert Sales Strategies from one of Dublin’s Leading Estate Agents

In the dynamic and competitive real estate landscape of Dublin, property sales can be a mix of challenge and opportunity. For homeowners, investors, and sellers with ambitions to maximise their property’s value, the right strategy can mean the difference between a satisfactory sale and an outstanding one. How can you ensure that your property stands out in a market that is as fluid as it is attractive? The answer lies in the expertise and proficiency of Dublin’s top estate agents.

Navigating Dublin’s real estate market requires a keen understanding of local trends, buyer preferences, and effective sales methodologies. Whether you’re a first-time seller or a seasoned investor, this comprehensive guide will provide you with actionable insights, insider tips, and expert strategies to orchestrate a successful property sale in Dublin.

Understanding the Dublin Property Market

Dublin’s property market is known for its dynamism, with variances experienced across the city’s premier postcodes. Understanding current trends is paramount for sellers looking to capitalise. For instance, in recent years Dublin has seen a shift towards more sustainable living spaces, with open-concept layouts and energy-efficient features enjoying a premium. Additionally, the market is heavily influenced by factors such as proximity to public transportation, the quality of local schools, and burgeoning commercial developments. Stay in tune with these dynamics to adapt your sales approach accordingly.

Market trends also point to particular hotspots where demand consistently outstrips supply, leading to a competitive seller’s market. In such areas, skilled estate agents can leverage this advantage to secure lucrative sales for their clients. Conversely, understanding areas with softer demand allows for a more strategic approach to pricing and marketing.

The Current Housing Crisis adds a new Dimension to Property Sales

Given the current scarcity of property for sale in Dublin, due to an ongoing housing crisis, this competitive landscape has only intensified. The demand far exceeds the supply, leading to a market that is both challenging and opportune for sellers. With fewer properties available, those on the market can command higher prices, particularly if they meet the growing demand for modern, energy-efficient homes in well-serviced locations.

Navigating the Housing Crisis as a Seller

In this constrained market, sellers have a unique opportunity to stand out by emphasising the features that are most sought after. Highlighting the energy efficiency of your property, its proximity to desirable amenities, and any sustainable living elements can significantly increase its attractiveness to potential buyers. Moreover, with the current focus on space and comfort, demonstrating how a property can offer a sanctuary in the bustling city can be a key selling point.

Strategic Pricing in a Seller’s Market

The scarcity of available properties also means that strategic pricing is more critical than ever. While the temptation might be to price high due to the demand, understanding the specific dynamics of your local market remains essential. An expertly appraised price that reflects both the desirability and realistic expectations of the market can lead to quicker sales and potentially multiple offers, driving the price up naturally through competition rather than initial overpricing.

Pre-Sale Preparation

Before your property hits the market, thorough preparation is essential. This may involve staging, making necessary repairs, or investing in renovations to increase your home’s desirability. The goal is to present potential buyers with a clean, well-maintained space that they can envision as their own.

Opt for a comprehensive property inspection to identify and address any structural or cosmetic issues. Next, focus on staging—the art of presenting a property to appeal to a wide audience. This can be as simple as decluttering, reorganising, and depersonalising your home, or as involved as hiring a professional stager to curate an inviting atmosphere. Remember, a good first impression is your strongest asset.

Pricing Strategies to determine the best price for your Property Sale.

Determining the perfect price for your property is a strategic balance between attracting buyers and satisfying your financial expectations. This is where thorough market analysis and a keen eye for valuation come into play. Comparative market analysis (CMA) allows you to benchmark your property against similar listings that have recently sold or are currently on the market.

A competitive price encourages more viewings and bids, leading to potential for a quick and lucrative sale. Pricing higher than market value can lead to stale listings, while pricing too low may leave money on the table. Engage with experienced estate agents who can guide you in this crucial decision. They’ll have their finger on the pulse and can offer valuable insights that automated valuation tools cannot.

Marketing Techniques for Selling your Home.

A successful property sale is often the result of an effective marketing campaign that reaches the right audience at the right time. Digital marketing has revolutionised how properties are promoted, via social media, dedicated property websites, and online listings. Professional photography and, increasingly, immersive technologies like virtual tours can captivate the online buyer, driving more engagement and enquiries.

Offline strategies remain relevant, particularly in Dublin’s communities where local reputation and word-of-mouth can be strong influencers. Consider a mix of online and offline methods, and be sure to highlight your property’s unique selling points (USPs). Whether it’s a Victorian terrace in the suburbs or a modern loft in the city centre, focus on what makes your property exceptional.

Negotiation Tactics

Receiving an offer on your property is only the beginning. Skilled negotiation can result in a higher sale price, favourable terms, and a smooth transaction. Understanding how to counteroffer and when to stand firm, while also being open to compromise, is an art form that professional estate agents excel in.

Common mistakes to avoid include reacting too emotionally to an offer, which can cloud judgment, or revealing your bottom line too quickly. A good negotiator knows the value of information and uses it strategically to achieve the best outcome for their client.

The Role of Estate Agents

An estate agent is often the linchpin in the property sales process. A skilled agent brings experience, negotiation prowess, and a network of resources to the table. They handle the complexities of marketing, legalities, and negotiations, allowing you to approach the sale with confidence.

But not all agents are created equal. When choosing an estate agent, look for a proven track record, knowledge of your local market, and a commitment to transparency. A good agent will put your interests first and work diligently to achieve your sales goals.

Legal and Regulatory Considerations

Selling a property involves adhering to legal and regulatory frameworks. In Dublin, this includes obtaining a Building Energy Rating (BER) certificate, providing a Home Bond warranty (for new builds), and the conveyancing process, among other requirements. Failure to comply can delay or derail your sale, leading to lost time and money.

Transparency and ethical practices are not only legal obligations but also contribute to a reputation of integrity and trustworthiness. Disclose all pertinent information about your property upfront, address buyer concerns honestly, and work with reputable professionals such as surveyors, architects, and legal counsel to ensure a smooth sale.

Conclusion

The Dublin property market is rife with opportunities for those who approach the sales process strategically and with knowledge. By understanding market trends, preparing your property meticulously, employing savvy marketing, and enlisting the support of expert estate agents, you can ensure a successful and rewarding property sale.

For the premier standard in Dublin estate agency services, contact Howley Souhan Estate Agents today. Our team of dedicated professionals is on hand to offer personalised guidance and to maximise the value of your property. Trust in our experience and commitment to excellence and take the first step towards a successful property sale in Dublin.

Remember, the decisions you make before and during the selling process can have a lasting impact on the sale of your property. Take the time to understand the market, prep your home, set a competitive price, market effectively, and negotiate wisely—your sale will thank you for it.

[umichenginabroad]

Week 10: Sun ☀️ & St. Patrick's Day

This week, we finally got the much-missed sun I’ve been hoping for! To kick off the week, I went walking around Palacio Real and then to Retiro Park. I had been to Retiro twice before, but this time when I went, I discovered a whole new part of the park I had never seen before! That just goes to show how big the park really is. Retiro’s a really interesting park to go to because it’s simultaneously bustling with people while also being someplace you can go just to be by yourself. Around the main lake, there’s always people around, but the second you go deeper into the park, it’s quiet and still. I like that I can both people-watch and relax with just myself and some trees.

The part of Retiro I stumbled upon was a gorgeous garden with fountains and statues. At the entrance, there were some super cool trees pruned in a unique bubbly shape. There was also a guy playing some beautiful violin, and looking around, I could see parents playing with their children and people just relaxing on the benches. It was really nice to see and just be out to enjoy the sun.

Also, during my regular stop at the Crystal Palace in Retiro, I saw all these turtles just chilling on the grass. They were all so still I actually thought they were fake at first!

Walking back home from Retiro, I started craving some ice cream. Now back home, if I wanted ice cream, I would look up an ice cream place and walk to it, but here, I found myself just walking home and trusting that I’ll probably find an ice cream place on my way back. 

This made me realize that that’s one of my favorite things about living in Madrid. Just walking around, you’re bound to cross multiple bakeries, ice cream shops, or little restaurants or snack shops. And many of them are small, family owned places instead of chains. Thinking back, on my daily walk home from school, I often stop at different supermarkets for fruit or ingredients for dinner, sometimes also grabbing a little after school snack. I also always take different routes on my way home, exploring different streets and discovering new stores along the way. That’s how I found an Asian supermarket with the best dumplings, and a fruitería with cherimoya and some of the best mangoes I’ve ever had. It’s nice how integrated these things are within the rest of the city, and the variety of options scattered throughout. 

This weekend, I took another much anticipated trip to Dublin for St. Patrick’s day. Funnily enough, I had actually booked these tickets before even getting my tickets to Madrid to study abroad. Going to Dublin for St. Patrick’s day was definitely a bucket list item for me, and I’m so happy it worked out and I was able to take advantage of being in Spain in March to visit Dublin! 

Walking around the city, I quickly noticed how nice people were. In fact, it felt a lot like the midwestern nice, and it was comforting to be around that familiar feeling. The landscape was also very similar to the Midwest, and in some places, if it weren’t for the cars driving on the left side of the road, I would’ve thought I was back in Michigan. 

At first, it was funny to see the cars with the driver’s seat on the right side, because every time I would look into a car, it would look like it was driving itself with an empty seat on the left. I can imagine that’s not too far in the future…

Also, it was my first time since coming to Madrid that I was in an English-speaking country, which was pretty comforting as well. Conversation came easier, and I missed that extra level of friendliness and small talk.

For the St. Patrick's Day parade, I was surprised to see all the hand-made costumes and floats, and how well done all the themes were!

Being in Dublin was a nice reset, and it also made me appreciate the culture and big city feel that Madrid has a little more. While I enjoyed my weekend here, I’m definitely glad I picked studying in Madrid to experience living in a place much different from back home, and I’ve definitely grown as a result. Overall, this trip was an amazing time, and next time, I want to explore the beautiful green countryside!

Cheers,

Isha Venkatesh

Mechanical Engineering

Comillas — Madrid, Spain

[newstfionline]

Wednesday, January 17, 2024

Biting Cold Sweeping U.S. Hits the South With an Unfamiliar Freeze (NYT) Extreme weather gripped large parts of the Southern United States on Monday, with ice and snow hampering plans to commemorate the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday, and several governors declaring states of emergency. Communities generally unaccustomed to major winter storms, from Tennessee to Texas, canceled or postponed events honoring Dr. King. Officials in Texas were especially wary about the storm, hoping to avoid a reprise of the catastrophe that unfolded in the state in 2021, when a winter storm killed 246 people and knocked out electricity for millions. At Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, which marked its 50th anniversary over the weekend, delays and cancellations piled up as temperatures plummeted to the low teens and blasts of wind whipped snow across the runways.

Fake 911 report of fire at the White House triggers emergency response (AP) A fake 911 call that the White House was on fire sent emergency vehicles to the complex Monday morning, when President Joe Biden and his family were at Camp David. Fire engines and other emergency vehicles responded to a report just after 7 a.m. that the White House was ablaze and a person was trapped inside, according to a person familiar with the matter. Within minutes, District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Services and U.S. Secret Service personnel determined that it was a false report and called off the response.

Bernardo Arévalo faces huge challenges after finally being sworn in as Guatemala’s president (AP) Guatemala’s new president, Bernardo Arévalo, was left with huge challenges Monday after he was finally sworn into office, including his party’s lack of recognition in a Congress where he would not have a majority anyway. After months of efforts to derail his inauguration, old guard legislators delayed Arévalo’s swearing-in by 10 hours on Sunday. The foot-dragging lasted right up to the ceremony that took place just after midnight. Arévalo won an August election by a comfortable margin, but nothing has been straightforward since. He has said that he will request the resignation of Attorney General Consuelo Porras, who oversaw months of legal maneuvers to prevent his presidency, but it is unclear if he can get rid of her. A progressive academic-turned-politician and son of a Guatemalan president credited with implementing key social reforms in the mid-20th century, Arévalo made confronting Guatemala’s entrenched corruption his main campaign pledge.

Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro state confronts flood damage after heavy rain kills at least 12 (AP) Neighborhoods in Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro state remained flooded Monday more than a day after torrential rains that killed at least 12 people. The heavy downpour wreaked havoc over the weekend, flooding peoples’ homes, a hospital, the metro line in the city of Rio and a main freeway section, Avenida Brasil. Some people drowned and were killed in landslides, while at least three died after being electrocuted. Eighteen towns across the state remained at “high” risk of landslides, according to civil defense officials. The floods were particularly devastating in Rio’s northern peripheries, some of the metropolitan’s poorest areas.

Ireland’s Housing Crisis (NYT) Before sunrise each day, Aoife Diver, a teacher in Dublin, gets into her car and drives for up to 90 minutes from her uncle’s house to the opposite side of the Irish capital. After school, it is back in the car for the reverse commute. It was not always like this. Ms. Diver, 25, used to share a house with five friends close to the school where she works in South Dublin. But when her rent and bills reached almost half of her monthly salary last year, she knew she had to move back in with family. The skyrocketing cost of private rentals has left many people struggling to afford housing in Dublin and other Irish cities, pushing some to move abroad and others to commute long distances. The crunch has left teachers and social workers priced out of the communities they serve, professional couples unable to buy homes and people on lower incomes fearing homelessness. The recent riots in Dublin capitalized on the grievances of people struggling to cover their housing costs and exposed to the world the deep fractures that the crisis has created. But the issue is decades in the making, experts say.

Oxfam Inequality Report Highlights Wealth Divide As Davos WEF Begins (Forbes) The world’s five richest men have seen their fortunes more than double since 2020, while over the same period five billion people have become poorer, according to new research published by Oxfam. The report, released on the first day of the annual World Economic Forum summit in Davos, Switzerland—a prominent gathering of billionaires—stipulates that the net worth of the world’s five richest individuals, all men, has shot up from $405 billion to $869 billion since 2020. That is a rate equivalent to about $14 million per hour. “We’re witnessing the beginnings of a decade of division, with billions of people shouldering the economic shockwaves of pandemic, inflation and war, while billionaires’ fortunes boom,” Oxfam International interim executive director, Amitabh Behar, wrote in the report.

Russian air passengers face peril as planes show strain of sanctions (Washington Post) Over the first eight days of December, civilian Russian airplanes experienced at least eight serious mechanical failures, terrifying many passengers as pilots were forced to make emergency landings in cities across the country. The incidents did not kill anyone, but they illustrate the rising peril of air travel in Russia. Nearly two years of sanctions over the war in Ukraine have left airlines struggling to obtain vital spare parts and, as a result, shortcutting safety standards—in some cases with government approval. On Dec. 8, S7 Airlines passengers heard loud bangs when their Boeing 737 took off from Novosibirsk for Moscow, as both of the plane’s engines surged and spat flames, Russian media reported. The same day, a Rossiya Airlines Airbus A319 flying to St. Petersburg lost cabin pressure and began to fall from the sky shortly after takeoff from Mineralnye Vody. The pilots made an emergency landing, Russian Telegram channels reported, and video from inside the cabin showed passengers screaming and crying as oxygen masks deployed from the ceiling.

Secretive surveillance flights keep close watch on Russia and Ukraine (AP) As the second anniversary of Russia’s Feb. 24, 2022, invasion of Ukraine nears, The Associated Press obtained rare and exclusive access aboard the giant Airborne Warning and Control System, or AWACS, aircraft. With 26 military personnel and an AP journalist aboard, it flew a 10-hour reconnaissance mission from central France to Romanian airspace and back, peering with electronic eyes across southern Ukraine and the Black Sea to Russian-occupied Crimea and beyond. Circling on auto-pilot at 34,000 feet (10 kilometers), the plane fed intelligence in real time to ground-based commanders. Its mission for NATO on the eastern flank of the 31-nation military alliance also, in effect, drew a do-not-cross line in European skies. The plane’s sustained presence high above eastern Romania—seeing and also being seen by Russian forces—signaled how intensely NATO is watching its borders and Russia, ready if necessary to act should Russian aggression threaten to extend beyond Ukraine.

The War Has Reined In Ukraine’s Oligarchs, at Least for Now (NYT) For weeks, they fended off Russian assaults, holed up in a vast steel mill under barrages of missiles and mortars. And when the Ukrainian troops defending the Azovstal plant finally surrendered in May 2022, the mill had been reduced to rubble and twisted metal. The fighting at Azovstal, in the besieged city of Mariupol, was a signature moment in the early months of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. It was also a major setback for Ukraine’s richest man, the plant’s owner. With the destruction of Azovstal, the owner, Rinat Akhmetov, lost an industrial jewel accounting for one-fifth of Ukraine’s steel output—a multibillion dollar loss that dealt a severe blow to his longtime grip on the Ukrainian economy. Mr. Akhmetov’s case underlines how the war, by ravaging Ukrainian industry, has curbed the power of the country’s so-called oligarchs, tycoons who have long reigned over the economy and used their wealth to buy political influence, experts say. In the war’s first year, the total wealth of the 20 richest Ukrainians shrank by more than $20 billion, according to Forbes magazine.

North Korea will no longer pursue reconciliation with South because of hostility, Kim Jong Un says (AP) North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said his country would no longer pursue reconciliation with South Korea and called for rewriting the North’s constitution to eliminate the idea of shared statehood between the war-divided countries, state media said Tuesday. The historic step to discard a decades-long pursuit of a peaceful unification, which was based on a sense of national homogeneity shared by both Koreas, comes amid heightened tensions where the pace of both Kim’s weapons development and the South’s military exercises with the United States have intensified in a tit-for-tat.

Israel Unearths More of a Subterranean Fortress Under Gaza (NYT) One tunnel in Gaza was wide enough for a top Hamas official to drive a car inside. Another stretched nearly three football fields long and was hidden beneath a hospital. Under the house of a senior Hamas commander, the Israeli military found a spiral staircase leading to a tunnel approximately seven stories deep. These details and new information about the tunnels, some made public by the Israeli military and documented by video and photographs, underscore why the tunnels were considered a major threat to the Israeli military in Gaza even before the war started. But Israeli officials and soldiers who have since been in the tunnels—as well as current and former American officials with experience in the region—say the scope, depth and quality of the tunnels built by Hamas have astonished them. Even some of the machinery that Hamas used to build the tunnels, observed in captured videos, has surprised the Israeli military. In December, the network was assessed to be an estimated 250 miles. Senior Israeli defense officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence matters, are currently estimating the network is between 350 and 450 miles—extraordinary figures for a territory that at its longest point is only 25 miles. Two of the officials also assessed there are close to 5,700 separate shafts leading down to the tunnels.

[allieddriving]

Benefits of Enrolling in Driving Institutions in Newcastle Dublin

Looking for a driving school that can help you to become a best driver on the road? If you are a beginner and learning to drive, driving lessons in Newcastle Dublin can get you through the twelve compulsory essential driver training lessons.

Newcastle is a village situated in South-west of Dublin, Ireland. The area is generally rural, but lies close to many larger urban areas. There is a variety of road-types and junctions ideal for driving vehicles of your choice. Certainly, it is a great place to practice and develop your driving skills under best trainer guidance.

Driving Lessons Dublin 11 is simply the best for those who have been practicing for a while or need a full license quickly. The professional trainers will teach you a skill for life and their driving lessons will get you ready for your driving test in Dublin.

Professional driving lessons in Dublin have a modern and fresh way of teaching you to drive. We want you to relish your driving lessons in a safe and comfortable environment. If you relish your driving lessons means it is so much easier to learn.

Allied Driving Instructors like to ensure that our learners get the tuition they need to become safe and confident drivers for the rest of their driving lives. This driving school is based in Dublin and dedicated to provide driving lessons to city and surrounding country.

Benefits

Systematized Driving Lessons

Allied Driving Instructors organize essential driving lessons for you to learn to clear your driving test. Learning such driving lessons truly ease in helping you practice it on the roads of Dublin. Along with the instructor, they as well provide you with the sponsor who will work to polish your skills and motivate you to grow and progress further.

Capable Driving Instructors

Driving Institutions in Newcastle Dublin have capable certified driving instructors who are friendly and reliable. Also, they best understand the progress of their pupils with their keen observation and customize their teaching pattern according to that. They know to provide great comfort to the new learners who do not have any experience and need basic training.

Initially, the best driving instructors keep you at ease and then gradually increase the level to enhance your skills on routes of Dublin. Generally, they are trained to teach you the basic lessons, making you confident and then enhancing your skills with each lesson so that you become an expert.

Special Services

Whether you’re a transition year student or a transition year coordinator, Allied Driving Instructors are involved in transition year driving and proper road safety courses in many schools. Though, we can help even if you have a full license from another country. Learners can easily enroll in our quick two-hour course and we as well offer on road driving assessments for the older drivers. So, never stop learning until you become an expert driver.

View Source: https://medium.com/@allieddrivinginstructors59/benefits-of-enrolling-in-driving-institutions-in-newcastle-dublin-e2597b5daff0

[aroundtheworldmary]

Visited December 1st to December 4th, 2023

This was one of my final trips and it was Dublin! Dublin is a city that has elements that date back to the Viking ages. In the early 16th century it was a particularly turbulent time in Dublin’s history. After King Henry VIII’s split with the church, monasteries closed and religious institutions with papal ties were destroyed. This also brought about a revolution in landholding in the city. Ireland’s first university remains in place in Dublin and is a very prestigious school to attend. It was also home to part of the filming of Normal People by Sally Rooney. The city has tons of food, shopping, and pubs and is known for its Claddagh rings. Walking through the more suburban parts you will observe Georgian townhouses, Edwardian facades, and Victorian parks. While there we saw all the landmarks including Trinity, Temple Bar, and some of the older houses.  A day trip to Galway was also taken as it is only about a 2-and-a-half-hour drive. While there we attended a Christmas market and saw the cathedral. We also walked around the town and made it to the coast and ocean which was beautiful. Galway was more quiet and less bustling but still full of beautiful wildlife and culture. Being from an Irish family this trip was special to me and I am glad I was able to see where some of the land my ancestors grew up on. All the photos were taken by me or Laura Josler from December 1st to December 4th, 2023.