The US Naval Academy Chapel

Colorido Springs, USA

architect Walter Netsch stacked the spaces on two main levels.^[The Protestant nave is located on the upper level, while the Catholic and Jewish chapels and a Buddhist room are located beneath it. Beneath this level is a larger room used for Islamic services and two meeting rooms. Each chapel has its own entrance, and services may be held simultaneously without interfering with one another.

Built in the 1960s, way ahead of its time with space for "all religions".

Boycott Amazon

Boycott Amazon.com 

Before you buy goods with a click on Amazons web site just read below and remember the Workers.

British Amazon 

Only  2265 full time employees in U.K.

They are taking on 15,000 for holiday season.

warehouse pickers :

 the daily rate of £6.50 per hour to night rate £8.25 per hour.

( The National Minimum Wage rate per hour for 21Y/O is £6.19 in 2012 )

In Peterborough, Cambridgeshire rates are

 £6.30phr+ overtime paid at time and a half

40 hours per week over 5 days to then move to 48 hours per week over 6 days (mandatory)

Shifts 7am to 3pm 3am to 11pm 11pm to 7 am

They work in massive warehouses.

The scanner tracks the  picking rate and sends the performance to managers. If it is too low, he could face disciplinary action.

night shift work a four-day week with an hour's break per shift. Picker scan walk 11 miles on shift. 

In 2012 it received £2.5 million in grants the Scottish Government, to help fund a massive new distribution depot in Dunfermline.

It got grants for its other warehouses in England & Wales.

High street shops are closing at a record rate in the last three years.

In United States of America

Amazon pays its 20,000 warehouse workers an average hourly wage of about $12, which is below the national average.

Its employees get full benefits and stock awards on top of their salaries. In the past five years, this has added an average of 9% to workers' base pay annually, 

The average warehouse worker at Wal-Mart makes just under $40,000 annually, while at Amazon would take home about $24,300 a year. That's less than $1,000 above the official federal poverty line for a family of four.

Don't mention the Tax they pay, it a long story but just let say they don't pay much.

Hidden History : The Ancient Near East.

     Empires dominate the known world while they rule but they come & go. Some are famous and seem to be of interest ( Egyptians ) and others completely forgotten ( The Hittites ).

The ancient Near East was the home of early civilizations within a region roughly corresponding to the modern Middle East.

The ancient Near East is considered the cradle of civilization. It was the first to practice intensive year-round agriculture, it gave the rest of the world the first writing system, invented the potter's wheel and then the vehicular- and mill wheel, created the first centralized governments, law codes and empires, as well as introducing social stratification, slavery and organized warfare, and it laid the foundation for the fields of astronomy and mathematics.

There were 4 great empires in ancient history that have some recorded histories in the "near East".

They were the  Egyptians, ( Ancient Egypt sees a succession of thirty dynasties spanning three millennia, 2920 - 525 )

The Assyrians ( Assyrians trace their ancestry back to the Sumero-Akkadian civilisation that emerged in Mesopotamia circa 4000–3500 BC, )

The Babylonians (  Babylonia was an empire of ancient Akkadian-speaking Semitic nation state and cultural region based in central-southern Mesopotamia (present-day Iraq) 1894 - 1664 )

The Hittites  The Hittites were an ancient Anatolian people who established an empire at Hattusa in north-central Anatolia around 1600 BC - 1174. They were not re-discovered until the early 20th century.

Hidden History : Texas

Forgotten History

The Republic of Texas was an independent sovereign nation in North America that existed from March 2, 1836, to February 19, 1846. 

Republic of Texas

 It had 5 Presidents. Burnet( intrim), Sam Houston (twice), Lamar, Jones.

In 1839 it moved its capital to Austin. After gaining their independence, the Texas voters had elected a Congress of 14 senators and 29 representatives in September 1836.

 It was approx 1 million kmsq, with a population of approx 70,000. It printed it own currency the Texas Dollar.

Formed as a separate nation after gaining independence from Mexico in 1836, the republic claimed borders that included all of the present US state of Texas as well as parts of present-day Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, Wyoming, and New Mexico based upon the Treaties of Velasco between the newly created Texas Republic and Mexico.

The first flag of the republic was the "Burnet Flag" (a gold star on an azure field), followed in 1839 by official adoption of the Lone Star Flag.

The United States recognized the new independent nation of Texas and commissioned its first representative, Alcee La Branche as the chargé d'affaires in 1837. It received diplomatic recognition from France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and the Republic of Yucatán. The United Kingdom never granted official recognition to Texas.

Where is the best place to buy an ipad air

Apple iPad Air 

basic price wifi 16GB

Apple in Ireland        €489 $659

Apple in USA.          $499 €370

Apple in Germany    €479 $645

Apple in Spain.         €479 $645

Apple in France.       €489 $659

Apple in UK              £399 €471 $635

Apple in Australia.    A$598 €418 $564

Apple in Japan.        ¥51800 €388 $524

Currency converted by XE.com mid term rate 1st Nov 2014 16.00 gmt.

Cellulitis

Cellulitis is a bacterial infection of the skin and the tissues beneath it.

symptoms can include fever, chills, and a general feeling of ill health.

Cellulitis is not contagious because it is an infection of the tissues underneath the skin.

(Use anti-bacterial soap)

If medically treated, most cases of cellulitis clear up within 10 days.

National Minimum Wage rates 2013. Ireland v USA

Minimum wage Ireland & USA. As of summer of 2013.

Federal U.S.

$7.25 = €5.46 per hour

Ireland 

€8.65 = $11.47 per hour

Walmart pay its workers a minimum of $12.50 per hour €9.42

Tesco Ireland pays* €11.74 per hour. $15.57

McDonalds Ireland pays.   €8.97 per hour $11.91

McDonalds USA. Pays ave * $7.68 per hour €5.72

* Employer: Tesco PLC

Median Hourly Rate by Job

Retail sales assistance

*Employer: McDonald's Restaurants Ltd.

Median Hourly Rate by Years Experience

Ireland 1-4 years

USA crew member

Smoking in Movies coming Back !

Smoking cigarette's is being banned world wide. The tobacco companies are finding it hard to get new customers (addicts) especially the youth. They are going back to there old tricks, the Cinema. In the 1940's 50's & 60's they had film stars smoking in nearly scene. It was cool, the top stars looked cool smoking and as night follows day, the youth of this generation took up smoking. Humphrey Bogart one of the greatest actors of his generation uses cigarette's as part of his image. ( see below). Audrey Hepburn the icon of her generation was smoking in nearly scene in Breakfast at Tiffneys. Marlon 

Monroe was a great help to the tobacco companies. In the 1990's and early 21th century the cigarettes went missing from the films but they are creeping back.

The American National Security Agency (NSA). 🇺🇸

The National Security Agency (NSA) is a cryptologic intelligence agency.

NSA's intelligence gathering is limited to foreign communications by laws.

Headquarters for the National Security Agency is set apart from but is technically inside Fort George G. Meade, Maryland, on 350 acres.

The NSA, which has about 42,000 1⃣government and contract workers.

NSA's mission, is set forth in Executive Order 12333, it is to collect information that constitutes "foreign intelligence or counterintelligence".

NSA/CSS provides intelligence products and services to the White House, executive agencies (such as CIA and the State Department), the Chairman and Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), military combatant commanders and component commands, military departments, multinational forces, and U.S. allies. In addition, we provide Information Assurance products and services to users of national security information systems and to government contractors, as required.

As of 2012, NSA collected intelligence from four geostationary satellites.

 Satellite receivers were at Roaring Creek station in Catawissa, Pennsylvania and Salt Creek in Arbuckle, California.[37] It operated ten to twenty taps on U.S. telecom switches. NSA had installations in several U.S. states and from them observed intercepts from Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, Latin America, and Asia.2⃣

The NSA has an electronic monitoring station in RAF Menwith Hill in North Yorkshire, United Kingdom.  The base covered 562 acres.

They are building at FORT MEADE, Md.  a new High Performance Computing Center-2, an NSA-run facility .The 600,000-square-foot center will include 70,000 square feet of computer space.

It has a $8-10 billion annual budget.

1⃣ Bloomberg June 2013 .

2⃣ Wikipedia 

When an American President retires how can he spend his time ?

When an American President retires how can he spend his time ? Well one went on Safari in Africa.

Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt, Jr. (October 27, 1858 – January 6, 1919) was the 26th President of the United States (1901–1909).

In March 1909, shortly after the end of his presidency, Roosevelt left New York for a safari in east and central Africa. Roosevelt's party landed in Mombasa, Kenya. It was partly   Financed by Andrew Carnegie. 

Expedition Costs

$50,000 from Smithsonian Museum appeal

$25,000 from Theodore Roosevelt

$25,000 from Andrew Carnegie

In 2005 equivalent $ 1.8 million dollars.

Roosevelt and his companions killed or trapped approximately 11,400 animals, from insects and moles to hippopotamuses and elephants. The 1000 large animals included 512 big game animals, including 

• Lion = 9

• Hyena = 5

• Elephant = 8

• Rhinoceros = 13

• Hippopotamus = 7 

• Warthog = 8 

• Zebra (common) = 15

• Zebra (big) = 5

• Giraffe = 7

• Buffalo = 6

• Eland (giant) = 1

• Eland (common) = 5

• Bushbuck = 6

Etc, etc, etc.....

The expedition consumed 262 of the animals. Tons of salted animals and their skins were shipped to Washington. Roosevelt's party hunted for specimens for the Smithsonian Institution and for the American Museum of Natural History in New York. 

Roosevelt wrote a detailed account of the adventure in the book African Game Trails, where he describes the excitement of the chase, the people he met, and the flora and fauna he collected in the name of science.

Do you know Syria.

How many American & British    Politicians calling for Intervention in Syria know the modern History. Here's my " idiots" simple history. Actually it's very complicated. 

Quick history of Syria & who & how the country was ruled.

In 1516, the Ottoman Empire invaded the Mamluk Sultanate of Egypt, conquering Syria.

Ottoman administration followed a unique system that lead to a peaceful coexistence for centuries. Each religious minority — Shia Muslim, Greek Orthodox, Maronite, Armenian, and Jewish—constituted a millet. The religious heads of each community administered all personal status law and performed certain civil functions as well.

In the midst of World War I, two Allied diplomats secretly agreed on the post-war division of the Ottoman Empire into respective zones of influence in the Sykes-Picot Agreement of 1916. Giving the area of Syria to the UK. The " Syrians" had fought for the British, thinking that they would get independence after the war.

The present border was established when Syria became a League of Nations mandate in 1920 under French rule.

During the Second World War the French were forced ( by the British & Nationalists ) to evacuate their troops in April 1946. This led to Independence. 

TSince independence there has been  many COUP'S with the Military involved. Leading to two periods : Syrian Republic (1930–1958), United Arab Republic, and 1963 Syrian coup d'état. The country signed an agreement with the Soviet Union in 1956.

In  November 1970 the Corrective Movement, a bloodless military overthrow  installed Hafez al-Assad as the strongman of the government. He ruled until his death 10 June 2000. His son, Bashar al-Assad, was elected President in an election in which he ran unopposed.

The ongoing Syrian civil war was inspired by the Arab Spring Revolutions. It began in 2011.

The Religious breakdown. Very important in the cause and outcome of Coups & civil war.

Sunni account for 74% of the population, while 13% are Shia (Alawite, Twelvers, and Ismailis combined), 10% Christian  (the majority Antiochian Orthodox, the rest include Greek Catholic, Assyrian Church of the East, Armenian Orthodox, Protestants and other denominations), and 3% Druze.

Very Important !

President Bashar al-Assad's family is Alawite and Alawites dominate the government of Syria and hold key military positions.

Quick Numbers

Population 2013 22 million approx.

Christians (2.5 million), Druze ( 500,000)

The Syrian armed forces, comprising some 400,000 troops upon mobilization. The military is a conscripted force.

The oil sector provides about 40% of export earnings. The agriculture sector contributes to about 20% of GDP and 20% of employment.

In 2008 Unemployment was just above 10%. Poverty rates in 2004 were   12.3%.

As of 2012, due to the ongoing Syrian civil war, the value of Syria's overall exports has been slashed by two thirds, from the figure of $12 billion USD in 2010 to only $4 billion USD in 2012.

In 2010 The literacy rate of Syrians aged 15 and older was 90.7% for males and 82.2% for females.

In August 2012, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported that the number of registered Syrian refugees had reached over 200,000. Also according to the United Nations, 6 million people inside Syria needed help and about 4 million Syrians were internally displaced because of the Syrian civil war.

Animals in Ireland

We love animals in Ireland but did you know how many we have. Going back to pre history the Cow was mentioned. It was the cause of wars between Chieftans. The high kings or Ireland wealth was counted in cattle numbers.
Our love of horses is world famous, we exported thousands for the First World War. We breed thorough breds for the billionaire. The studs are International owned.
We feed kids in European throughMcDonalds burgers. Lamb is exported to France as quality cuts. Live cattle are back been exported to Libya and Egypt. China can't get enough of our dry milk baby food and the skins off the cattle. So how mand aninals have we here in Ireland. Well be amazed when you read the numbers that follow.
The total numbers for spring of 2013 for the Republic of Ireland.


Cattle 6,754,000
Sheep 5,170,000
Pigs           1,570,600
Horse & ponies 111,100

The numbers are up slightly but with a fodder shortage this spring with the unusual weather they could be down next year

Global Warming

Everyone agrees there is global,warming. But who do you blame & what is the cause ?
Well I have an opinion ! I'm not an expert but have looked at the data, read the articles ! So here goes, my opinion.
The Magnetic North has moved south. The tilt of the earth has shifted. It effect the atmospheric pressure on Earth. This has shifted the pattern of wind around the world causing unusual weathers patterns, causing storms, droughts et al.
"Wind is caused by differences in atmospheric pressure. When a difference in atmospheric pressure exists, air moves from the higher to the lower pressure area, resulting in winds of various speeds. On a rotating planet, air will also be deflected by the Coriolis effect, except exactly on the equator. Globally, the two major driving factors of large-scale winds (theatmospheric circulation) are the differential heating between the equator and the poles (difference in absorption of solar energy leading to buoyancy forces) and the rotation of the planet" *1

Is this a permently shifted or its a cycle over millions of years we do not know. There is little we can do. Except trying to control man made carbon going into the athomasphere but there is so much going into the air thought the seas and other natural ways. Deforestation must be reduced.

These are my rumblings but it my option !


1. Wikipedia

Disability Equality

People with disabilities are going to loose grants for Mobility in 4 months. In a country where all citizens should be treated equal please read the Facts below.


Mobility allowance ( 5000 individuals claim ) €208.5 monthly
Motorised Transport Grant (350 claiments approx) €5020.50 (0nly 3 year cycle )
You cannot claim both.
Total for both €10.3 million a year.


If TDs live less than 25km from the Oireachtas, TDs are allowed €12,000 and Senators €7,000 for Transport. There are 12 bands, paying different rates, the maximum being for distances of 360km or more – in those cases TDs can claim €37,850 and Senators €32,850.
166 TDs 80 senators received

Old people Rule !

What a week for octogenarian's world wide.


FRENCH actress Emmanuelle Riva age 85 year old ( Bafta winner )

British David Attenborough 86 year old world ( tempeture remarks )

German Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger 85 years old ( resigns as The Pope )

Australian Rupert Murdoch 81 years old ( ditches page 3 girls )

American Hugh Marston Hefner 86 years old ( publicity with 26yo new wife )

American Warren Edward Buffett 82 years old ( hand over to son Howard )

Apps taking over

Apple are making Hugh money from Apps. There are about 49.5 million apps downloaded every day. The price of tablets will fall but Apple will make more money from the Apps. It is starting to turn. The vprice of apps are starting to rise. Here are a few prices to show the days of cheap (€0.79) are numbered.

The book of Kells €11.99
The orchestra €12.99
Omnifocus €35.99
Things for ipad €17.99
Nigella €5.99
Football manager €8.99


30 billion apps downloaded to date (excluding updates)
$5 billion paid to app developers
400 million iTunes accounts

Iraq today

What a mess the Americans made of Iraq. After Mr Bush finished his fathers work of getting rid of Sadam Hussan as President they lost control of the country by getting rid of his Army and Civil service. A lot of the Arms went missing. The country is now an ethnic mess. Iraq is a country with a Shia majority and a large Sunni minority.the Kurds dominate the north of the Country.
The rights group Iraq Body Count said


"IBC said it has now recorded between 110,937 and 121,227 civilian deaths in violent incidents since the 2003 invasion."

"A total of 4,471 civilians died in Iraq's festering "low-level war" with insurgents in 2012, the first annual climb in the death toll in three years, campaigners said today."

"2012 marks the first year since 2009 where the death toll for the year has increased," IBC said in a statement.