 from the country’s constitution — a move that could allow the repealing for Ireland’s long-controversial crime for speech deemed offensive to religious sensibilities. Ireland has held the ignoble distinction as one of the few non-Muslim countries still criminalizing blasphemy. I have previously criticized the law (here and here and here). Some 65% of the voters supported the removal of the blasphemy reference in the Constitution.
The problem, as I discussed recently, is that many nations have shifted their efforts to impose blasphemy crimes in favor of broader hate speech and discrimination laws. Thus, I would be more excited about this move if Ireland seemed prepared to buck the overwhelming trend against free speech. The painful reality is the Ireland does not need blasphemy to kill free speech. Hate crime and discrimination laws have been far more successful in that effort as Western nation plunge headlong into speech criminalization and regulation.
It would be one sided in the USA. The left doesn’t allow religion.
In the past, I did not believe anti-blasphemy laws were a good thing, but I am evolving. A country needs a central religion, whether you think it is a delusion or not. It is a “broken windows” sort of thing.
The sad truth is, the crazy preachers who said that Elvis Presley was the Anti-Christ, were probably not as nutty as we thought. 
Even sadder, the old slaveholders and segregationists are probably not as nutty either. Because the old slavers said that the colored folks were the white man’s burden, and if they didn’t have white masters to watch over them and guide them, they would degenerate into a pack of savage spear chuckers, the one who didn’t starve to death first. The segregationists were not quite so grim in their predictions, but they mostly believed that most blacks could not compete in a white world. And darned if we don’t have a 77% illegitimate black birth rate, about half of them with criminal records, and an average net worth(assets minus liabilities) for the black females of between a whole $5 to $8.
Try living in Russia.
Russian Orthodoxy is a fine religion in my opinion.
They say, Russia bad! David you are always marching in tune with such UN & NGO social engineerings.
“Cat O Licks” Ireland is full of them.
Perhaps the US could be encouraged, by Ireland’s revelation(s), to make some major changes to its holy system(s).
JT, you are really getting to be a glass half-empty kind of guy. I am beginning to think you would complain if they hung you with a fresh rope.
I approve of what Ireland did and I approve of this ad.
Again, an equivalent of a blasphemy statute will be maintained (and, unlike the old one, actively enforced). What’s immune to derision or even criticism won’t be what Cdl. Daly holds dear, but what Fintan O’Toole holds dear.
Ireland was once a decent place. Now it’s a sinkhole of Eurotrash decadence.
yes it is a stinkhole! oh he said sinkhole. that too!
The EU Human Rights Court recent ruling abandons Free Speech for all of Europe unless someone has the courage to reverse it. This becomes the most ominous causality in the fall of Western Civilization in Europe.
oh a lot worse things have happened to western civ than this. this is just one week’s outrage. it takes a long time to hammer a mountain into sand.
Garden Design for Dogs
The familiar saying claims, "A dog is a man's best friend," but a dog can be a garden’s worst enemy. Exuberant dogs race through planting beds and wear paths through the lawn. Bored dogs entertain themselves by digging or tearing up flowers. Dog urine burns brown spots in the lawn, and droppings create potential landmines across the grass. If you love gardening and love dogs, keep them both healthy and safe by incorporating dog-friendly designs into your yard.
Paths and Fences
An energetic or young dog needs room for exercise. Left to his own devices, Fido is likely to race through the garden, destroying plants and eventually wearing ruts into the lawn or soil. Solve the problem by giving your pet his own path. Most dogs will follow a pathway, especially if it runs along an already established route. Use gravel or shredded bark for a casual path, concrete if you want something permanent. A garden path adds character to the yard, so instead of hiding it entirely along the edges of the property, let the path meander a bit near the lawn and planting beds. Surround the entire yard with a sturdy fence high enough to keep your dog secured. If he is a persistent digger, sink the fence at least 12 inches into the ground.
Raised or Fenced Beds
Large shrubs and trees are generally sturdy enough to stand up to canine abuse. Smaller greenery, such as annuals, perennials, small shrubs or vegetables, need protection if your dog is energetic or likes to sleep or dig in the planters. Using raised beds is one option. Many dogs will not hop into a raised bed, even though the sides are low enough for access. Another option is installing a decorative, low fence around your planting beds, or areas you don't want your pet roaming. A white picket fence adds classic garden charm. A low, decorative metal fence is attractive, but more subtle than picket fencing.
Dog-Specific Areas
If your canine friend spends significant time in the yard, his needs need to be incorporated into the space. Access to clean water is a must. Keeping a filled water bowl is one option, but a hot day may dry the bowl, or your dog may turn it over. Attach a dog faucet waterer to your hose outlet, and Fido can lick himself a drink whenever he needs one. Your dog also needs protection from hot sun, wind, rain and cold weather. Depending on your climate and how much time your pet spends in the garden, his protection may be as little as a few shady trees or as extensive as a sturdy doghouse with a flap door. Dogs also need a canine bathroom. Unless you want burn marks on the grass and time spent hunting dog droppings, create a bathroom area in a far corner of the yard. Build your pet a small raised bed filled with gravel, and install an upright board, log or decorative hydrant for his urination needs. If you don't have space or desire to build a raised bed, substitute a small, plastic wading pool filled with gravel.
Poison Safety
Many dogs will nibble on plants or even tear a small plant out of the ground. Eating grass is another common canine habit. A dog-friendly garden is no place for plants that are toxic or irritating to canines. The ASPCA has an extensive list of poisonous and nonpoisonous plants to help make your garden planning easier. Avoid spiny plants, as well. A yard filled with cactus or thorny bushes isn't a safe place for Rover to frisk and play. When mulching your plants, avoid cocoa mulch, which is toxic to dogs. Stick with compost, shredded bark or pine needles. Another hazard is snail bait. Dispose of snails by hand, or look for nontoxic products. Don't let your dog outside after spraying garden chemicals, and look for pet-safe fertilizers for your lawn and planting beds.
References
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Stay InspiredEAA is your guide to getting the most out of the world of flight and giving your passion room to grow.
ADS-B Out for Canada, DC-3 Stories
By Ian Brown, EAA 657159
April 2019 - If you've been following the proposals for ADS-B Out in Canada, you will know that it's probably time to start looking around for the best solution for your aircraft. "Best" in most cases includes price assuming the functionality, simplicity, and quality are there. Right now, it looks like the wingtip-mounted nav light replacement might be a good option. If anyone in our readership has done this on an amateur-built aircraft, we'd love to hear from you. If you never fly above 12,500 feet, the ADS-B Out mandate will not occur before 2023 at the earliest, but one fly in the ointment is that Nav Canada is also proposing antenna diversity or antennas mounted above and below the aircraft. One wonders if the wingtip-mounted approach would satisfy both requirements.
We have an excellent article this month submitted by Mike Davenport regarding his experience travelling to Vanderhoof, British Columbia, on a DC-3. Coincidentally we announce that Mikey McBryan of Ice Pilots NWT fame is hoping to restore a DC-3 to flying condition and bring it to EAA AirVenture Oshkosh this year. Do you have a favourite DC-3 story or a story about your experience with an unusual aircraft? Let us know. We'd love to publish your story in a future issue.
Mike Davenport's article about his business flight experiences reminded me of a unique story of my own. While waiting at the gate for the short 737 flight from Montreal to Toronto, I heard my name called out and presented myself. They said "Ian Brown?" and I replied, "Yes, that’s me." They said "You’ve been upgraded!" They took my boarding pass