- Details
- Written by: Seán Ó Séaghdha
- Hits: 1211
“Peace” Night in
Melbourne.—
extraordinary scenes.
—
over 120 persons injured.Melbourne, July 20.
Many people, particularly those with cracked heads and beaten and bruised limbs, will long remember the celebration of peace in Melbourne. The law and the strike had conspired to cast the city into the inertia of a Sabbath morning, but the thousands who walked into the city and through it during the day, and moved about till after dark, had naturally become excitable at 9 o’clock. Trouble developed in the early part of the evening. Everything promised well. A huge crowd gathered in Swanston-street before the Town Hall. Soldiers and sailors openly embraced and kissed women, who appeared nothing loth. A band played on the Town Hall balcony for hours, and space was cleared on the paved street on which hundreds danced.
Just after 9 the occasion was reminiscent of Mafeking night. The excitement grew intense. A number of men in naval and military uniforms exceeded the limits that are admissible even on such occasions, and the police deemed it necessary to arrest two offenders. They were lodged at the police depot in the Town Hall, and before long a crowd was hammering at the door. Soldiers demanded the release of their comrades. An attempt was made to force open the door, and for a moment there was high tension. Someone in the crowd discharged a revolver. Into the big crowd rode a body of mounted troopers. Many persons were kicked by the horses. The police tried to induce the crowd to disperse, it is said, but whatever was done there followed a shower of stones and bottles at the troopers. The troopers swung over their horses’ bodies, and cracked left and right with their batons. People rushed in all directions from the horses’ flying feet, and the descending weapons. All was pandemonium now. Shop windows were caved in, and men, women, and children were trampled on and screams went up. About twenty persons were arrested, and as many treated for injuries, mostly minor, at the hospital, and over 100 were treated at the Town Hall.
During the afternoon soldiers entered the few cafes that were open, and demanded holidays for the workers and closed the places. The few trains that were run were uncoupled and pushed off their tracks, consequently no cars entered the city proper.
The official celebration of Peace was more orderly. For an hour 3,000 people were accommodated in front of the Federal Parliament House, where the Deputy Governor-General (Sir. Arthur Stanley) took the salute and watched a procession of 7,300 soldiers and sailors and Turkish war trophies. In other streets these troops passed countless thousands. Overhead live modern aeroplanes hovered against a head wind or swept with abandon through the air. Once for many seconds thousands gasped and looked up in terror as a machine came spinning down 2,000 ft. like a feather. Then it “flattened” and chased its four companions into the distance. It was a spiral dive.
—
FURTHER DISGRACEFUL RIOTING
—
THE PREMIER ATTACKED.
—
FIGHTING IN THE STREETS.(By Telegraph.)
Melbourne, July 21
Since Saturday night, when hundreds were injured in the collision between the police and the crowds in the streets, Melbourne has been in a state of uproar, conflicts between the crowds and the police being frequent. A large meeting of returned soldiers passed a resolution demanding the dismissal of the police, who they stated, batoned unoffending citizens indiscriminately, and the troopers who were charging and riding down men, women, and children. The deputation sought an interview with the Premier (Mr. Lawson) at the Treasury Office. The crowd of several thousand in the street below became impatient, and then followed the breaking of windows, and the building was rushed. The Premier found himself imprisoned in the Treasury room, with an ungovernable mob about him. Soldiers mounted the horseshoe table, tore up books, rifled drawers, and destroyed some papers and pocketed others. They removed everything in the room that was movable, and destroyed everything that was destructable. Somebody brought a heavy ink pot down on the head of the Premier, and left a wound two inches long. He staggered and appealed to some of the men. Mr. Lawson was helped out and escorted to the refuge of the Cabinet room. Plundering proceeded in different parts of the building. Word came of the approach of the troopers, and several soldiers called for revolvers and guns, but there were no arms handy.
Then out to the street went the mob equipped with pokers, fenders, and bits of furniture. To-night the streets were thronged, and "two-up" was being played under the nose of the police force till a late hour.
James O’Connor who was shot at Victoria Barracks last night, died this morning.
At a late hour 5,000 people congregated outside the City Watchhouse in Russell-street, and were addressed by several men from the steps. The speakers advised them to remain calm, because conferences were being held with the authorities. They also warned that if the police interfered with them they should stand their ground and not scuttle away as they had done on Saturday night. Immediately after this a body of troopers appeared riding on the outskirts of the crowd, and at tempted to disperse it. Their interference produced a belligerent effect on the people. Stones were torn, from the road and hurled at the troopers, and Saturday night’s mellee was repeated. Finally, under severe batoning, the assemblage dispersed.
To-day David Alexander Perkins (17) who was arrested in connection with the Victoria Barracks disturbance, was remanded on bail on a charge of having attempted to shoot James Bennett with intent to murder.
—The Border Watch, Saturday Tuesday 22 July 1919, page 2 .
NB: The Treaty of Versailles, formally ending World War I, was only signed on 28 June 1919. Caroline, Square Mile and Yahl celebrated the event without rioting.
- Details
- Written by: Seán Ó Séaghdha
- Hits: 1174
—
Up in a Balloon.—A London cable message tells us that on Monday M. Clemenceau, the French Premier, and General Picquart, the French Minister of War, made an ascent in Paris in the new steerable war balloon; La Patrie. While they were over the city a pipe burst, and M. Clemenceau was slightly scalded. His injuries, however, were not sufficient to necessitate a descent. While the ruptured pipe was being repaired the balloon remained stationary and under perfect control. The Premier was much impressed with the sense of security and stability conveyed by the airship, and he describes the whole machine as marvellous.
—The Border Watch, Saturday 27 July 1907, page 2 .
- Details
- Written by: Seán Ó Séaghdha
- Hits: 1131
- Details
- Written by: Seán Ó Séaghdha
- Hits: 1207
Needed a proper chronological list somewhere…
Date | Country | Selection | Language | Artist | Song | Semi-final |
2014-11-03 | Belgium | Internal selection | English | Loïc Nottet | 1.02 | |
2014-11-12 | Macedonia | Skopje Fest | Macedonian | Daniel Kajmakoski | "Lisja esenski" (Лисја есенски) Autumn leaves |
1.06 |
2014-11-22 | Malta | Malta Eurovision Song Contest 2015 | English | Amber | "Warrior" | 2.04 |
2014-12-12 | Netherlands | Internal selection | English | Trijntje Oosterhuis | "Walk Along" | 1.08 |
2014-12-26 | Belarus | Евровидения-2015 Eurovision-2015 |
English | Uzari & Maimuna | "Time" | 1.10 |
2014-12-28 | Albania | Festivali i Këngës | English | Elhaida Dani | "Diell" Sun |
1.09 |
2015-01-14 | Georgia | ევროვიზია 2015-ის შესარჩევი კონკურსი Erovnuli Shesarcevi konkursi 2015 |
English | Nina Sublatti | "Warrior" | 1.12 |
2015-01-23 | France | Internal selection | French | Lisa Angell | "N'oubliez pas" Don’t forget |
Final |
2015-01-31 | Switzerland | ESC 2015 – Die Entscheidungsshow | English | Mélanie René | "Time to Shine" | 2.17 |
2015-01-31 | Czech Republic | Internal selection | English | "Hope Never Dies" | 2.01 | |
2015-02-01 | Cyprus | Eurovision Song Project | English | Giannis Karagiannis | "One Thing I Should Have Done" | 2.10 |
2015-02-07 | Denmark | Dansk Melodi Grand Prix 2015 | English | Anti Social Media | "The Way You Are" | 1.11 |
2015-02-11 | Armenia | Internal selection | English | Genealogy | "Don't Deny" | 1.01 |
2015-02-14 | Iceland | Söngvakeppnin 2015 | English | María Ólafsdóttir | "Unbroken" | 2.11 |
2015-02-15 | Serbia | Odbrojavanje za Beč Одбројаванје за Беч |
Serbian | Bojana Stamenov[54] | "Ceo svet je moj" (Цео свет је мој) The whole world is mine |
1.16 |
2015-02-17 | Israel | הַכּוֹכָב הַבָּא / HaKokhav HaBa / The Next Star |
Nadav Guedj | 2.12 | ||
2015-02-19 | Italy | Festival della Canzone Italiana di Sanremo 2015 | Il Volo | "Grande amore" Great love |
Final | |
2015-02-21 | Estonia | Eesti Laul 2015 | English | Elina Born & Stig Rästa | "Goodbye to Yesterday" | 1.03 |
2015-02-21 | Lithuania | "Eurovizijos" dainų konkurso nacionalinė atranka | English | Monika Linkytė & Vaidas Baumila | "This Time" | 2.03 |
2015-02-22 | Latvia | Supernova 2015 | English | Aminata | "Love Injected" | 2.13 |
2015-02-27 | Ireland | Eurosong 2015 | English | 2.02 | ||
2015-02-28 | Finland | Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu 2015 | 1.04 | |||
2015-02-28 | Moldova | O Melodie Pentru Europa 2015 | 1.07 | |||
2015-02-28 | Hungary | A Dal 2015 | 1.13 | |||
2015-02-28 | Slovenia | Evrovizijska Melodija 2015 (EMA 2015) | 2.15 | |||
2015-03 | Australia | Internal selection | Final | |||
2015-03 | Azerbaijan | Milli Seçim Turu | 2.09 | |||
2015-03 | Montenegro | Internal selection | Knez | 2.05 | ||
2015-03-01 | Spain | Internal selection | Spanish | Edurne | "Amanecer" | Final |
2015-03-04 | Greece | Eurosong 2015 – a MAD Show | 1.05 | |||
2015-03-05 | Germany | Unser Song für Österreich | Final | |||
2015-03-07 | Portugal | Festival da Canção 2015 | Portuguese | 2.07 | ||
2015-03-08 | Romania | Selecția Națională 2015 | 1.14 | |||
2015-03-09 | Poland | Internal selection | 2.14 | |||
2015-03-13 | Austria | Wer singt für Österreich? | Final | |||
2015-03-13 | San Marino | Internal selection | Michele Perniola & Anita Simoncini | 2.08 | ||
2015-03-14 | Norway | Melodi Grand Prix 2015 | 2.06 | |||
2015-03-14 | Sweden | Melodifestivalen 2015 | 2.16 | |||
Russia | Internal selection | 1.15 | ||||
? | United Kingdom | Internal selection | Final |
- Details
- Written by: Seán Ó Séaghdha
- Hits: 1276
Ireland’s Eurosong 2015 decision is coming up this Friday and it’s not all pain. I just hope they don’t go with Charlie McGettigan’s dirge on the basis of his 1994 win with that piece of sentimental reflux Rock ‘n’ Roll Kids.
Artist | Song | Video | Notes | Composers |
---|---|---|---|---|
Alex Saint |
“She's So Fine” |
Not revolutionary but not the most clichéd choice either |
Tony Adams-Rosa |
|
Kat Mahon |
“Anybody Got a Shoulder” |
I have many objections to this song, but one I feel I have to mention is the English. This sounds like one of those Eastern European entries where you forgive them their weird phrasing. I’m sorry Charlie, but you do not “cry a shoulder”. That’s not English. |
||
“Break Me Up” |
Unfresh from her failure to win Swedish Idol 2009, and Melodifestivalen 2010 (or at least the failure of her song-she didn’t sing it), Erika launches a highly-calculated melodic missile packed with all the current Euroclichés at an unsuspecting Irish public. It even contains a GKC (gratuitous key change) for tradition’s sake. |
Gustav Eurén, Niclas Arn, Dan Attlerud |
||
Nikki Kavanagh |
“Memories” |
Starts with a yodel, which should be crime enough, but goes on to just sound shouty. This isn’t Nikki’s first offence. She also sang with the 1993 winner Niamh Kavanagh (relation?) in her entry at Oslo in 2010. |
Lee Anna James, Elena Moroșanu, Simon Gribbe, Johnny Sanchez, Dimitri Stassos |
|
Molly Sterling |
“Playing with Numbers” |
I don’t hate it |
Molly Sterling, Greg French |
- Details
- Written by: Seán Ó Séaghdha
- Hits: 1704
This news item is from Saturday 14 February, i.e. before the ceasefire ‘success’. I’m not saying this is untrue exactly, but you can’t help feeling there’s a touch of propaganda at work behind this story of the brave opera-loving citizens of Donetsk, brimming over with culture unlike some we won’t mention.
After watching this I had to find out which opera got bums on seats (lovey) in warring Donetsk. The France 2 news people call it Monsieur X by Imre Kálmán but I couldn’t find anything with that name by Kálmán. Eventually I discovered that Mister X was one of the lead roles in Kálmán’s operetta Die Zirkusprincessin (The Circus Princess). Set in Russia, it involves a romantic deception—a disappointed suitor hires circus daredevil Mr. X to pose as a nobleman to woo and marry Princess Fedora Palinska, presumably as revenge. But it turns out Mr. X is in fact a nobleman himself, though disinherited.
A hugely popular Russian movie was made in 1958 under the name Мистер Икс (Mister X) starring the Estonian baritone Georg Ots. The only Wikipedia pages about this movie are in Russian, Ukrainian and Esperanto, which I suppose is a measure of its popularity in Russia, Ukraine and…Esperantonia. Lines from the movie have apparently become part of Russian folklore—memes I suppose. So, the only remaining question is whether this is Die Zirkusprincessin renamed with the name of the better-known movie or an operetta based on the movie based on the operetta. Either way, it looks like the ‘safe’ choice for this season in Donetsk…at least artistically.
Here’s Georg Ots singing the hit aria Zwei Märchenaugen (Two fairy-tale eyes). I don’t understand Russian, but the Russian lyrics sound like they might be quite different to the English translation (of the original German) that I’ve added. Oh well, our cross-cultural understanding is always limited.
- Details
- Written by: Seán Ó Séaghdha
- Hits: 1711
What I’ve learned from Albania’s Festivali i Këngës:
- a tinkly piano intro apparently establishes that your ditty has heart even if it goes off somewhere else after that
- why have one piano when you can have two played by a geriatric and a child?
- being in tune is for wimps
- if you use the work ‘rock’ often enough in your song, you must be rockin’
- narrative voice-overs are a thing
Masochists can go straight to the YouTube playlist—ordered from losingest to the dull winner.
Not part of the competition, but who is this Aurela person?
Place | Points | Artist | Song | Video | Notes | Music/Lyrics |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
82 |
"Diell" |
the usual emotional warble, though often flat…Celine Dion has much to answer for. gratuitous key change! |
Aldo Shllaku (m) |
||
2 |
62 |
Bojken Lako Band |
"Të ndjej" |
possibly a rocker neutered by an arranger? |
Bojken Lako Band (m&l) |
|
3 |
45 |
"S'të fal" |
Not sure I forgive her vocal gymnastics either. Did she forget part of her costume? |
Zzap & Lindita Halimi (m) |
||
4 |
31 |
Besiana Mehmeti & Shkodran Tolaj |
"Kështjella" |
slightly, but only slightly kooky. possibly better when in tune. |
Adrian Hila (m) |
|
5 |
28 |
Marsela Çibukaj |
"S'muj" |
ambiguous hat |
Olsa Toqi (m&l) |
|
6 |
24 |
Gjergj Leka |
"Himn" |
old-style ballad, old singer, child pianist, mobile cellist |
Gjergj Leka (m) |
|
7 |
23 |
"Më rrëmbe" |
kaval player & flounce-powered dress but otherwise dull |
Klodian Qafoku (m) |
||
8 |
22 |
Mjellma Berisha |
"Sot jetoj" |
‘rock’ & ‘dress’ |
Enis Mullaj (m&l) |
|
9 |
20 |
"Dua të jetoj" |
piano intro. apparently living is important. gratuitous backing singer micro-operatic interludes. back of her top puts the ‘vent’ in conventional |
Endrit Shani (m) |
||
10 |
18 |
Emi Bogdo |
"Një femër" |
piano intro’d power ballad…yawn. impressive sleeve awnings |
Lambert Jorganxhi (m) |
|
11 |
15 |
Erga Halilaj |
"Ti s'më njeh" |
pianist |
Kristi Popa (m) |
|
12 |
12 |
Jozefina Simoni |
"Mendje trazi" |
fluff dress |
Bledar Sejko & Markeljan Kapedani (m) |
|
12 |
12 |
"Të vranë bukuri" |
faux tramp chic? this man is a respected actor apparently |
Enver Petrovci (m&l) |
||
14 |
9 |
Altin Goci |
"Rock për gjithë jetën" |
Rock, but not as we know it Jim |
Altin Goci (m) |
|
15 |
3 |
Saimir Braho |
"Kristal" |
rockin’…not! coming to an Albanian wedding reception near you! |
Saimir Braho (m&l) |
|
18 |
0 |
Klajdi Musabelliu |
"Vetëm te ti besoj" |
yet another heartfelt piano intro leading into a copy of every Euroballad ever |
Klajdi Musabelliu (m) |
|
18 |
0 |
Estela Brahimllari |
"Kjo natë" |
almost sophisticated and yet dull |
Edmond Veizaj (m&l) |
|
18 |
0 |
Agim Poshka |
"Në rrugën tonë" |
piano, narration that’s poignant out the wazoo, modestly draped table, waistcoats & cap…a class act |
Agim Poshka (m) |
|
Eliminated in the semi-finals | ||||||
|
0 |
Enxhi & Xhejn Kumrija |
"Njeri" |
Not inhuman. Not that interesting either despite contrasting hair(&clothing)styles. |
Enxhi & Xhejn Kumrija (m) |
|
|
0 |
Ana Gramo |
"Në koma" |
a coma would be better than this…quieter at least |
Genti Lako (m) |
|
|
0 |
Grupi Aurora |
"Maria" |
this must be some new kind of torture technique |
Gr. Aurora (m&l) |
|
|
0 |
Kelly |
"Nëse ti do" |
look out Bruce Springsteen! |
Kelly (m&l) |
|
|
0 |
Grupi Offchestra |
"Bajram" |
slightly off, hip Balkan |
Faruk Banjska (m) |
|
|
0 |
Florent Abrashi & Sigi Bastri |
"Eklips mbi oqean" |
slightly awkward duet, not always in tune |
Sokol Marsi (m) |
|
|
0 |
Julian Gjojdeshi |
"Himn jetës" |
horrible in a fairly unique way, gratuitous key changes worthy of Lloyd Weber |
Vasil S. Tole (m) |
|
|
0 |
Revolt Klan |
"Më mungon" |
boy-band rap intro by two grown men in suits leads to (disappointing obvs) ballad |
Bruno Pollogati (m) |
More info about this than anyone needs @ Wikipedia: Albania in the Eurovision Song Contest 2015
- Details
- Written by: Seán Ó Séaghdha
- Hits: 1132
I’ve been doing some transcription of Irish folklore as part of a crowd-sourced project at Dúchas.ie. A lot of it is fragmentary, some of it predictably sexist, but some of it is downright odd. This for example…
At one time there was a long oak stick - or what the people believed to be an oak stick running from Cloontabret to Cloonfinish (a distance of about half a mile). The people used this as a path for years. One fine day to the astonishment of the people the oak stick turned out to be an animal and it fled down to Killala leaving a track after it. Before the animal started on its journey it gave a tremendous whistle. The animal had twelve eyes.
—Collected from Mrs. Anthony Gavagan, 62 of Cluain Finnis (Cloonfinish) Source
- Details
- Written by: Seán Ó Séaghdha
- Hits: 988
Milgram obedience experiments more art than science 10/02/2015 abc.net.au/worldtoday |
|
WMA audio and transcript can be found at the link above. |
Here’s another person casting doubt on Professor Stanley Milgram’s famous “I vass only following orders” experiment conducted in the early 1960s. Rather than Milgram’s 65% of participants being prepared to inflict pain on others when ordered, Kathryn Millard finds that his own records (of 25 versions of the experiment) show that 58% of participants resisted the orders.
See also: Gina Perry: Milgram’s Obedience Experiments & her book Behind the Shock Machine.
- Details
- Written by: Seán Ó Séaghdha
- Hits: 4254
Gay-Play
A fascinating game of family shopping
- Details
- Written by: Seán Ó Séaghdha
- Hits: 1265
- Details
- Written by: Seán Ó Séaghdha
- Hits: 3649
Modern Irish is not a language that is overly blessed with words for the sounds animals make. Some of them have just been borrowed from English, or at least coined in imitation, e.g. dogs might say bhuf (woof) or uf (oof) depending on who you ask. On the other hand it has a few special words for calling to animals such as tiuc! tiuc! (hens), suc! suc! (calves), huít! huít! (ducks) or toch! toch! (pigs). So I found this story about what a rooster says (when it’s not saying cac-a-dúdal-dú) quite interesting.
When the Saviour had been crucified and buried, a guard was placed on his tomb and teams of soldiers were taking turns at it. On the second night, after a new team had arrived at the tomb, the soldiers who were being relieved went into a house at the bottom of the hill. An old man inside it had a rooster cooking.
The old man asked the soldiers, “Any chance He will rise?”
The soldiers answered: “There is more chance that the rooster you’re cooking will rise than Jesus.” At that moment, the rooster rose up from the pot and called out: “Mac na hÓighe Slán, Mac na hÓighe Slán!” [makna hoy slawn] (The Virgin’s Son Lives!*) The soldiers returned to the tomb. It was open and the other soldiers were asleep.
From that time, the rooster was highly esteeemed and his call—‘Mac na hÓighe Slán’—would drive away evil spirits and malicious fairies.
—Cáit “Bab” Feiritéar (Coiglímis an Tine)
Source: gasuirlegaeilge—Glaoch an choiligh
There are probably quite a few versions of this story and at least one more rhythmic interpretation: “Mac na Maighdine Muire slán” [makna maydinna mwirra slawn] (The Son of the Virgin Mary Lives).
*Slán, of course, actually means “sound, healthy” or “safe”, but “lives” is a better translation.
- Rhythmbox plugins
- Dog steps
- Je n’suis pas PAS Charlie...
- Not an insect on my washing
- The PM’s Xmas Massage
- SpongeBob MangerSquarePants
- Homos, la haîne
- St. Peter was a Communist!
- Macedonia: Skopje Fest
- And so it begins...
- Shaming Kenya
- So rong, but so right
- Woodlands Park
- Unofficially officious
- Is it just me?
- Not Safe at Home