Claire Mark is working on a programme for RTE ‘How Long will you live’ which is currently on its fourth series. This programme looks at individuals who want to change their lives and become fitter and healthier. They are looking for contributors of 18 years and older to take part in their most recent series which will be filmed this summer and they are keen to find contributors from the Dundalk area.

I have attached a poster below with more information about the programme and further information can be found on RTE website http://www.rte.ie/tv/howlongwillyoulive/

Contact details can be found on the poster below and Claire can send anyone who is interested an application, alternatively application forms can be obtained from the above link on RTE’s website.

DO YOU WANT TO LIVE LONGER?

DO YOU WANT TO BE HEALTHIER?

DO YOU WANT TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE?

DO YOU WANT TO BE ON TV?

IF THE ANSWER TO THE ABOVE IS YES, THEN WE WANT YOU!

The hit health series ‘How Long Will You Live’ is returning for a new series and we want to help you live longer!

You’ll be given a rigorous health & fitness assessment. You’ll find out how healthy you really are and what health problems you may be storing up. However, most importantly, you will learn what you need to do to tackle your health concerns as you set off on the path to a longer life.

If you, or anyone you know, are interested in applying for the programme, then please send an Email to the following address:

seand {at} waddellmedia(.)com or

clairem {at} waddellmedia(.)com

Alternately, you can call the following numbers for an application form:

04 890 427646 or

0044 2890 427646

Who cares about looking 10 years younger when you could live 10 years longer?

Lately, the “green” issue has been playing a lot on my mind - to be honest, I don’t subscribe to the misconception of being “environmental” equating to the over-played stereotype of the the hemp-smoking, sandal-wearing ‘typecast’ - in general I can’t abide the ignorance of placing these convenient little “tags” on people… most of the eco-aware people I know are very normal everyday people. Over the past few days I’ve been taking a look at my own life and trying to see if there were any ways in which I could contribute further in doing my part - and what has struck me most (carbon footprints etc. aside) is just how wasteful we are as a society. Even without delving too deep into the the environmental issues and the numerous ways we can and are harming the planet, it’s become particularly obvious, that simply by being that little bit kinder to the planet by being less wasteful in our own lives, we could save on our own personal finances as well as on a bigger scale!

We all have to eat!

Abligurition              spending lavishly on food and drink

Accubation               lying down at meals

Ambigu                     dinner in which the various courses are served together

Antepast                   anything taken before a meal in order to whet the

                                   appetite

Aristology                 luncheon talk

Coenaculous             one who enjoys a midnight snack

Comessation             riotous feasting

Epulation                   a banquet, feast

Gaudy                        a feast, a day of plenty

Groaking                    staring at someone eating with the hope that he/

                                    she’ll give you something

Jentacular                  relating to breakfast

Lickerish                    squeamish in the choice of food

Pingle                          to eat with little or no appetite

Puddingtime              dinnertime (time when pudding – the first course –

                                     was served)

Simpsonize                 to dilute milk with water

Smellfeast                   an uninvited dinner guest (one who smells a feast)

Trenchermate            a table companion

The space telescope Hubble is about to celebrate 18 years in orbit. But it will only have one more service before it’s gigantic successor takes over. In 2013, the James Webb Space Telescope, using infrared, will allow us to look far more deeply into the past.

Prophecy of Celtic Ancients Revisited

Clarions sound out aloud
in the Hibernian far-off hills
calm brass voices melodiously sound
of a reborn past’s future will;
when tides turning around—
their crested pearls still
and steady wash back
onto the forgotten beach
of time’s gone-by sands—
the reign of women’s femininity.
Water-flow harmonies of harps
awaken ancient Celtic ideas;
Nature’s blood of Breton culture
flows and fills up every vein,
as musical flutes return
our beliefs to the ways
of woman’s empathy with nature—
a religion again feminine based.
Acclaiming once more her wise-soul
and gentle creativity of birth;
her Nature-imbued feminine soul
and its constant gift to the Earth.

Published in, The Green Dragon No 7, Summer 1998

Ireland’s 12th Taoiseach has revealed his first Cabinet, with several changes being made, but when it’s all said and done can we expect any real changes from the man critics have promised to be in for “a tough time in the top job”?

Mary Coughlan becomes Tánaiste, while also taking the portfolio of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.

Brian Lenihan is the new Minister for Finance, while Batt O’Keefe becomes Minister for Education, taking Mary Hanafin’s portfolio. She moves to Social and Family Affairs.

Pat Carey becomes Chief Whip, a move which sees Tom Kitt return to the back benches.

The new Minister for Justice is Dermot Ahern, while his position in Foreign Affairs is taken by Micheál Martin.

Martin Cullen is Minister for Arts Sport and Tourism and Brendan Smith takes Mary Coughlan’s position in Agriculture and Food.

Mary Harney retains her position as Minister for Health as does Willie O’Dea, who stays with Defence. John Gormley and Eamon Ryan see no change, remaining in Environment, and Communications Energy and Natural Resources, respectively.

Noel Dempsey, in Transport, and Eamon Ó Cuív, in Community Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, also stay put.

Source: RTÉ.ie

I just love this… Based on the classic 23rd century design, the electronic Tricorder features silver highlights over a black finish, as well as light and sound effects taken from the classic Star Trek series. Also included is the removable scanner accessory - perfect for your next “away mission”! A real collector’s piece coming soon to Entertainment Earth!

Source: GeekAlerts

Picked these three great paintings up on Irish KC. Eolaí gan Fhéile is doing a sale on his truly terrific work, so check him out before all the paintings are gone!

Emerging Writer with good news on upcoming events in the Irish Writer’s Centre.

Check out Grannymar’s for The Best Chocolate Truffles… You know you want to!

On the green scene there is an interesting post over on the greener one blog.

May 6th is World Asthma Day so check out Asthma Mom for a breath of fresh air!

Bertie Ahern has been asked to re-route the M3 motorway away from the Hill of Tara as one of his last acts in office.

A petition containing almost 40,000 names was handed into the Department of the Taoiseach which urged him to reconsider the route of the Co Meath motorway which, it is claimed, could destroy heritage.

Source: TaraWatch

For this ‘Intriguing words’ I would like to look at manias… in particular “word manias”:

Coprolalomania             the use of foul language

Graphomania                morbid desire for writing

Hellenomania                using cumbersome Greek or Latin terms instead of

                                        readily understandable English words

Klazomania                    compulsory shouting

Lalomania                      abnormal interest in speech

Logamania                     overtalkativeness

(or logomonomania)

Metromania                  mania for writing verses

Onomatomania             mental derangement with regard to words

                                        (inability to recall a certain word,

                                        attaching special significance to a word,

                                        and so forth)

Scribblemania               mania for scribbling

(or scribbleomania)

Scribomania                  writing a long succession of unconnected words

Verbomania                  morbid talkativeness