Tuesday, January 31, 2006

To blog or not to blog...

To blog or not to blog? - that is the question..
But the answer is rather, i haven't time to blog!!

Apologies readers, will try and make time shortly..

Monday, January 23, 2006

Understanding.. (+Munster!)

Bernard Lonergan (philosopher and theologian) is recognised as one of the most significant philosophic thinkers of this century. He spent most of his adult life working on a theory of knowledge that covers every area of human understanding and to discover the nature and quality of the process of insight.
In his writings Lonergan aimed to clarify what occurs in any discipline - science, maths, art, literature, philosophy, theology, and ethics. Older philosophers such as Aristotle and Galileo, sought to understand unchanging essentials and logic and law were the rule. However, with changing society, philosophies have turned to understanding the innate methods of mind by which scientists and scholars discover what they do not yet know and create what does not yet exist. Central to Lonergan’s understanding of human knowing was the human ability to ask questions and the sense of reverence and awe in the present of that power recognised as a gift.
For many years he explored the question of how the mind operated as it follows its own dynamic process towards understanding, asking ‘What do we do when we come to know?’ In answering this question, Lonergan published Insight: A Study of Human Understanding (1957).
There are four questions, as it were, that are proposed for anyone seeking to ground the methods of any discipline/ i.e develop an understanding or insight
1. What do I do when I know?
2. Why is doing that knowing?
3. What do I know when I do it?
4. What therefore should we do?
Today’s food for thought! And well done to Munster ona terrific win on Saturday - great match, (and what an atmosphere, would have been great to have been there!)

Thursday, January 19, 2006

Singleton

Ok, just thought I’d blog this.. The time has come for the single person within to take notice of all the couples.. Everywhere one goes there they are holding hands, laughing together, and sharing intimacy. And the awareness of all these couples generally intensifies this time of year, and only to get worse next month!
I don’t mind being single. Really, I don’t.. It provides a certain freedom, independence, ample time to concentrate on personal growth, phd, work, and hmm, did I mention independence?
But what’s the downsides of being single? – apart from the obvious!... hmmm.. couples never have to live through the room-silencing experience of hearing a waiter announce “Table for one?!”, they never have to travel alone, or be the gooseberry at a party or social gathering.. Don’t have to constantly make excuses as to why your single when your elderly Aunt asks if there’s anyone special, or any ‘big day out’ planned!
Hmmm.. and with that I end for now… just some food for thought… ;)

Wednesday, January 18, 2006

Pluto

Went to see Breakfast on Pluto last night.. based on a book by Pat McCabe, the latest Neil Jordan film.. and well its definitely ‘different’ – both the story and the way the film was presented.. Great soundtrack to it and tells the story of a Patrick ‘Kitten’ Braden in his search to find his mother (and probably himself along the way!) Its set in a border town in 1970’s Ireland and then the character moves to London.
Cillan Murphy is excellent, and there’s a host of Irish actors in it – Liam Neeson, Brendan Gleeson, Pat McCabe himself, Charlene McKenna and Gavin Friday to name but a few. Gavin Friday was very good also..

Thursday, January 12, 2006

The trip...

Have left Limerick once again (and have to say rather enjoy being down, hate leaving)... but anyway, headed back up to Monaghan last night.. and just for your information and in case you ever fancy a trip (btw, you are welcome to come!) – the following are detail/directions of the 170mile journey to Monaghan..
Limerick - Nenagh - Borrisokane – Ferbane - Athlone - Ballymahon – Edgeworthstown – Granard – Cavan - MONAGHAN!!
Journey never gets any sorter, even though i am now doing it 10 years (as was pointed out during the week, 96 id gives it away!)

Wednesday, January 11, 2006

Grammy

Grammy - a comic strip (loosely/originally based on John's grandmother, though much augmentation and exaggeration has been added).. www.grammycomics.com
(Crazy Stacey and Dr. A.Lune are also worth checking out! ;)



Tuesday, January 10, 2006

Psychology + The Simpsons..

FYI – the book entitled “The Psychology of the Simpsons: D’Oh” by Dr. Alan Brown analyses the functions and disfunctions of the famous family..

Monday, January 09, 2006

Weekend antics..

Went to Michelle’s party in Holycross Saturday night.. Happy Birthday to Miss Duggan .. party was good fun.. good food and a good crowd appeared also, hadn't met up with the Holycross boys in a long time, so was good to meet up.. the night just flew and before long, 4.30am and the guitar came out and sing-along started!
Made it over to Limerick Sunday morning.. the fog was real bad on the approach to the city but soon found myself sitting comfortably on the couch watching the Celtic match (and Roy Keane’s debut.) Good match from a Clyde point-of-view! ;)

Fog .. which brings one on to the conversation about high visibility jackets.. pedestrians who are not wearing a high visibility jacket/vest while out for their evening stroll are only asking for trouble!! Wear your high viz jacket – or else!!!

Thursday, January 05, 2006

Christmas and New Year..

Well did a 12 mile run December 23rd, felt fine after it and my time was ok .. Did a few runs over the break, but need to keep at the running business, but is time consuming..

Christmas was great and of course Santa came – was a good girl all year, so why not! ;)
Met up with lots of old school friends, ate loads and relaxed – it was a good Christmas!

Happy 2006 to everyone, hope your dreams and wishes for the year ahead come true...