Strange times across the world

So here we are in the middle of a global pandemic. About 105,000 people have died so far across the world. Ireland is not unscathed by this terrible tragedy. The shops are closed, schools shut, sporting events cancelled, outdoor events are banned. This is a very strange time in Irish history. There is a sort of feeling that world has stood still. A lot of people feel lonely at home and quite bored. The lockdown is expected to last at least another three weeks.

Watching the news these can be quite depressing so I try to limit how much I read about that. Going outside feels alien, especially when you see people with face masks and latex gloves. This is certainly a situation that hasn't any similarity to any recent events. When standing in a queue, people are encouraged to stand at least 2m apart from each other to prevent the further transmission of the virus. The virus is thought to be spread by droplets so its suggested people stay at this distance in the case of droplets spreading by a cough or sneeze.

It seemed when the virus first reached Europe, people did not take it seriously. People carried on like life was normal.  They still flocked to popular destinations, ignoring warnings about social distancing. It wasn't until the government placed a lockdown on the country that people began to get the message that this was something serious. Emergency legislation was passed by the Dáil to give the Gardaí new powers to arrest and fine people for violating the lockdown. There were some people who criticised the measures as being too draconian  but I think most people saw them as necessary to enforce compliance.

Its been a long time since Ireland experienced a global pandemic like this, not at least since the Spanish flu from 1918-1920. As history unfolds, It can be difficult to predict how events will turn out. There is a palpable nervousness throughout the nation and across the world. People are concerned for their elderly relatives and relatives with existing medical issues - the people who are at most risk from this virus.

Voting and stuff

I resume writing on this virtual diary. I will graduate soon with a degree in social science. It's nice to be finished but it was fun studying.

I've been reading a lot lately. Mostly poltics, history, and some philosophy. I guess that's what I find interesting. The weather has been getting quite cold as we reach the end of October. It's very chilly. Hoping the winter isn't anything like the crazy winter we had earlier in the year with the "Beast from the East". It was scary seeing that much snow. My mandolin has been out of use for a while, one of the stings is snapped so that'll have to be replaced. I was learning a couple of folk tunes on it earlier during the summer.

Nothing really interesting happened over the summer unfortunately. I was hoping to do something fun but I guess I didn't bother at all. I think i should plan something for next summer. Maybe another solo trip somewhere. I went to Stockholm last time and it was really fun to be honest.  I was hoping to go to somewhere like Croatia, or Italy. Somewhere near the Adriatic sea. There's a lot of options I suppose. 

As I'm 23 now I feel life moving forward very fast. Its hard to keep track of everything. Suppose that's just a part of aging and being an adult. I think its very important to stop and reflect on your actions. It's very easy to be caught up and be busy and not really understand where you're going in you're life. Some sort of introspection is required for me at least. I sometimes do things very impetuously without considering the implications of my actions .

Today is the 26/10/2018. I voted for Michael D Higgins to be reelected as President of Ireland. I also voted to remove the blasphemy clause from our constitution. This was the second time the Irish people went to the polling booths this year- the first was the referendum to repeal the eight ammendment of the constitution. I think its imperative to get out there and exercise your democratic right to vote.

Updating a rather defunct blog.

I had totally forgotten about this blog. It must have been 5 years since I started it? think it was sometime after Christmas 2013. I am nowhere near as consistent at maintaining this blog like I use to. When you get older some things just go to the back of your mind and seem to just remain there forever - almost.

Most of the stuff I've written about over the last five years or so have been little things that just stuck out to me or things that seemed important to me at the time I was writing. I can't help to reflect on how the world has changed so much since I started this blog. Donald Trump winning the US presidency, Britain leaving the UK, countless numbers of internet fads, the rise of terrorist attacks in Europe, a new Taoiseach in Ireland - its been busy. From September 2015- to May 2018 I was studying a BA (hons)in Social Science at Waterford Institute of Technology. I really enjoyed my time studying, made some great friends and learned a lot. It was a great learning curve for me.

As one chapter of your life closes another one begins,, new opportunities and challenges arise. Adopting the right attitude is crucial I think. I think my outlook helped get me through college anyway. If you think of the end goal of something you really want it can be a great incentive to endure hardship.

My mandolin lays idle mostly, but I have tried practicing more. I'm quite pleased but I really want to get better, and learn some more skills. I bought it around Christmas time 2015 and I really love it. It would be nice if I could find some similar thinking musicians who enjoy the same music as me. Not entirely sure if there are many people my age who enjoy folk music though. I think some people find it cringey, but I like to be honest.

With much sadness, I must admit that I sold my camera. Bought it a Christmas time and used it for a video project in College. Found myself needing money sometime at the start of the year so I sold it. Really regretting that decision because I really enjoyed taking photos with the camera, It was a Canon E0S 1300D. I'm certain I will buy a new one sometime.

So I guess not much has really happened since I last posted on this blog. This blog is mostly the incoherent ramblings of madman. I doubt people read this. I just use as a reminder of things that happened in the past. So hopefully in the future I can look back this blog and remember some of the stuff that I did some time ago. If I wrote these things down I would surely lose them. I have tendency to lose a lot of important things.

Its great just write things I suppose.

I am here again

How things are in my world 

I am back. It has been a while since I have been here. A lot of things have happened in the World since by last post which was over 9 months ago. I'll write a bit about that later. This blog has always been some sort of personal memoir for me. Its a repository of the things in my life. I remember making this blog a few days after Christmas in 2013. I was completely bored and things felt so monotonous and dreary. The minutes felt like hours, and the days felt like weeks.

So here I am on sunny April day, (April fools day actually!) looking for something productive to do. I've applied for some voluntary work with a new project called the "European Solidarity Corps". It offers some occupational and volunteering opportunities for young people aged 18-30 in the European Union. Given my own experience as a volunteer I thought I would give it a go. I guess it could be interpreted as opportunity for me to learn new skills, and do some beneficial for society. Maybe I could learn a new language?.

With Donald Trump becoming president of the United States, the world seems to be in complete disarray. He denies Climate Change and is leader of the most powerful country in the world. Its quite a surreal situation to be in, and a very ominous one too. We can only watch and wait to see what will be the implications of his presidency. That's if he is not impeached!. Britain has began to formally enter the process of leaving the European union. This comes after Theresa May triggered article 50 on the 30th of March. 

Here's a video explaining the whole situation quite succinctly.

The New Europe?

With recent terrorist attacks in Germany and France and Britain's decision to leave the European Union it seems Europe is at an important crossroads.The far right is gaining momentum across European Union, with dissatisfaction with the European union rising. The European Union is in a very critical stage of development, after the United Kingdom decided to leave on June 23rd, the future of Union looks shaky. The exponential rise in terrorist attacks in France, Germany and Belgium have lead many people to reconsider immigration policy in Europe. On July 24th, A Syrian Refugee hacked a mother to death with a machete. This incident will surely exacerbate already simmering anti-refugee sentiment in the European Union. After such a tumultuous year in Europe it can be inferred that nature of European politics will change quite drastically. Countries will now likely seek to have their own referendums on European Union membership, and immigration policies will likely become tighter.

The Schengen agreement which was established in 1995, allowed for the free movement of European citizens and abolished passport controls in 26 European countries. (Ireland and the United Kingdom opted out. In 2016 many Schengen area countries imposed stricter immigration policies in response to the refugee crisis. This has undermined the whole purpose of the Schengen agreement.The Europe that we will leave is set to change. Does this mean further European Union integration? or does it mean less European integration? Its difficult to tell.I am a proud European Union citizen and I strongly support my countries membership of the European Union.However I can't help but notice  that some its weakness's are being exploited by those on the right to further their own anti-Eu rhetoric.

Brexit and European Unity?

Knowledge is power

We all know the old adage 'knowledge is power' - but why is knowledge is power ?. In an increasingly secular world  people seem to be putting their faith into academics and intellectuals rather than men of the cloth. Dogma is becoming sidelined to the proverbial dustbin of history. Ever since I was a child I have always looked up to intellectual and erudite people. It still makes me wonder in awe when I encounter these  people. Growing up I was never really athletic or even academic, I was a particularly energetic child and quite frenetic. I did find solace reading however, and quickly grew a small library of books.It was a form of escapism, or way of sublimating all my energy.

To understand why I value intellectuals, its fitting I examine the sort of anti-intellectual environment I grew up in - particularly the sort of atmosphere of my secondary school. It was a Catholic all-boys secondary school and was quite economically disadvantaged.I think they took our cognitive faculties away from us in there because we were never expected to question anything. They just taught us by rote learning - Which seemed anachronistic for the time. We had no art or music as subjects in that school any mode of creative self expression was neatly omitted in a way that seemed almost intentional in that nondescript prison-like building. With this sort of environment, it is no wonder I began to admire people who liked to question and scrutinize the world around - people who helped expose the world as it really is. You see I was convinced I didn't have a successful life ahead of me. I was quite troublesome at times in class and quite reckless. I wasn't indifferent to learning, but I was indifferent to the education system that suffocated me.

So why is knowledge power ? Well in my answer the pursuit of knowledge is evolutionary. We learn so we can survive, and when we are in hostile environments we will think of ways to get them for the betterment of our lives. I think its wise to set the goal of ones live for the acquisition of knowledge. That was can expand our boundaries and even go beyond them.