Ireland - USA News Headlines

There I was just toddling off to bed like the old man I've become and I did one last check of the online news and these three headlines caught my attention - It's late here and my warm milk and cookies awaits, so no time to put a proper post together but penny for your thoughts and kudos and a prize to who can sum it up in one sentence?

Democrats in Ireland to host party of the year - or wake of the decade

Rise in number of Irish deported from US

Ryanair to offer €10 transatlantic flights

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Barrio Chino (Chinatown), Buenos Aires

According to Google, quite a few visitors to this blog come here to discover tips and info about Buenos Aires and travel in Argentina in general and I've not been posting much of that type of content recently so I'm going to try and do a weekly post to introduce different neighbourhoods and events.

We went to Barrio Chino recently which is a small area of just a couple of blocks where there are lots of restaurants (Chinese ones strangely enough!) and supermarkets where you can buy all sorts of oriental produce including spices and soy sauce etc. It's one of the best places to buy fresh fish as they have a great selection and they are very reasonably priced. I decided to buy some merluza (similar to hake) so I bought 2 huge fish for 23 pesos (US$7).

They de-gut them in a quick n' dirty fashion for you but don't de-bone them. I put the fish in the fridge on Friday when we got home. We had family commitments most of the weekend and stayed over at the in-laws Saturday night and didn't get back to the apartment until Sunday evening.

When I opened the fridge there was the most god awful, noxious, abominable smell you could ever imagine. Not to be deterred, I removed the fish and washed them and filleted them. The smell subsided.

I put one in a large pot and cooked it slowly with coconut milk and veg for fish stew which was quite tasty. I stuck the other one in the freezer. Bad Move! Opened the freezer the following day and the same waft of wrank nasty fish hit me in the face. I immediately dumped the fish but the smell won't go away. It's like that Seinfeld episode where he can't get the smell of B.O. out of the car.

Anybody want to buy a fridge - going cheap?

How to get there: Intersection of Juramento and Arribenos in Belgrano.

Subway D to Juramento or there is a bus depot right beside it

Tags: ..Barrio Chino Buenos Aires, Chinatown, Chinese in Buenos Aires, smelly fish, where to buy spices Buenos Aires..

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Halloween just makes me SICK

Halloween at age 5 : I dressed up as a small walking sheet and went round the houses on the street doing "trick or treat" or "help the Halloween party - or else!" as we say in Ireland. I got tons of sweets (black jacks, cola cubes, sherbert lemons, fizz bombs, chewing gum etc) and mushy gone off grapes from that miserable bitch across the road. I wouldn't mind but she had tons of money. Went home and devoured everything way too fast and then puked - it must've been the grapes!

Halloween at age 9 : I dressed up as an Indian because they ran out of scary costumes in the supermarket :-(( and went round the houses on the street doing "trick or treat" or "help the Halloween party - or you'll be bleedin' sorry" as we say in Ireland. Got tons of sweets (black jacks, fizz bombs, chewing gum etc) and more mushy gone off grapes from that same miserable bitch across the road. Threw rotten eggs at her front door. Went home and devoured everything way too fast and then puked - maybe it wasn't the grapes after all!

Halloween at age 13 : I didn't dress up or go collecting sweets/candy. Went to the Bonfire which was great. Burnt lots of stuff. Put a stink bomb and a banger thru the letter box of the miserable bitch across the road and laughed so much as she went nuts I choked and almost puked on a fizz bomb.

Halloween at age 17 : I didn't dress up and if I had gone collecting sweets/candy I would have been beaten up. Discovered vodka and fizzy orange is more potent then beer or cider and should be drunk MUCH MORE slowly or.......... zzzZZZZZZZZZZZ! huh? *vomit* x 10

Halloween at age 21 : Never kiss a girl who hasn't learned the previous lesson - If I wanted diced carrots love, I would've kissed the green grocers daughter - Yeuch! x 100

Halloween ever since then : Don't talk to me about Halloween - *vomit!*

Are you a Halloween fan?

Tags: ..Halloween Buenos Aires, Halloween Argentina, Halloween Expat party, pumpkin getting sick, vomit..

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Oktoberfest Argentina

Oktoberfest in Villa General Belgrano, Córdoba, Argentina

Every year in October the small town of Villa General Belgrano goes a little 'extra krout'. Many of the descendants of the town are of German origin and some still speak German. Argentina is not renowned for it's beer. The national brand of Quilmes is simply quite awful but there are some great micro brewers in the area that are a welcome exception to the rule.

This beerfest has been going since 1964 and now the town has a dedicated park to house the beerfest each year. The official party starts with a parade and gets going at noon each day making its way to the park enclosure. They have traditional bands and German food and of course beer and this continues until midnight. The after party includes salsa / cumbia music and of course more beer until the wee hours! Highly recommended - Enjoy the pics!

Tags: ..Oktoberfest Buenos Aires, Oktoberfest Argentina,Villa General Belgrano in Córdoba, beer, party..

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Anna Kournikovas Panties

I decided last week it was time to address the on going battle of the bulge where my midriff has been getting somewhat out of hand of late. I've always had a bit of a beer gut. Well just after I was born it was more of a milk gut but as I grew up I discovered with a clever disguise of loose shirts and being an expert at sucking in the gut at the appropriate moment e.g. photos or any time I pass a mirror, I could get by. Alas these tactics don't work anymore.

I have tried various exercise routines over the years but they rarely last more than a week. I have joined a gym on two separate occasions. In both instances, I went for a week and then never returned to the gym but kept paying the monthly fee for at least six months before I finally admitted defeat.

I bought a mountain bike once and cycled a few times at weekends but was nearly run off the road several times so that was the end of that adventure. The bike never came within 100kms of a mountain so perhaps I should have bought a city bike?

I have tried jogging but I suffered from third degree nipple chaffing and even lubing up my man tits didn't solve the problem. There's also something that just doesn't seem right about putting Vaseline on my nipples.

My latest attempt is walking. Not just your average walking mind you, but a serious 2.5 hour brisk walk around the ecological park near here. It's starting to get hot here as we approach summer, so I end up lathered in sweat like a pair of Anna Kournikovas panties after a 3 set marathon with a tie breaker finale thrown in for good measure.

Speaking of panties, with all this walking, I am now developing a serious case of crotch chaffing. Perhaps I shouldn't have bought Anna's panties on eBay after all.

Why is it exercise seems to be actually bad for your health?

Tags: ..anna kournikova panties, tennis, nipple chaffing, crotch chaffing, exercise,..

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For a good cause....

Head over to K8 the GR8 - Click here and help if you can please

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Paddy Declares WAR

A military spokesman for 'Paddy in Buenos Aires' confirmed today that the long running border dispute between 'Paddy in Buenos Aires' versus 'The Gut Province' will likely escalate into WAR.  The satellite image above proves 'The Gut Province' has been advancing rapidly and has captured significant strategic territory. 

It has long been suspected 'The Gut Province' is using W.M.A. (Weapons of Mass Accumulation) such as M.E.A.T. and chemical weapons comprised of dangerous elements such as malt, hops, barley and yeast.  'The Gut' has also developed advanced mind control techniques a.k.a. brain washing via the airwaves to incapacitate its enemy for hours, hypnotised in a state of near coma a.k.a. 'couch potato' in front of the TV, where upon subliminal messages further encourage the victim to ingest more poison.

 

Other subversive tactics include SAS style commandos who break into peoples homes, replacing loose fitting trousers and shirts with identical but unsightly tight fitting ones.  A U.N. spokesman said they were monitoring the situation closely but it was too soon to "weigh in" with a decision.

Be on the lookout for suspicious substances such as this:

Tags: Beer Belly, Beer Gut, fat belly, Irish beer belly, Argentina fat belly

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Bono Stole My Tent

I have many fond childhood memories of when my family went camping in the UK and Ireland for summer holidays in a large 6 man tent. Before he retired, my dad worked in the post office.  One of his co-workers and good friends was a man called Bobby Hewson a.k.a - Bono's dad (of U2 fame).

Back in the late 70's, U2 were still up and coming and playing small gigs around Dublin.  They wanted to go camping and Bobby, knowing that my dad had a large tent, asked if the lads could borrow it for a long weekend. I'm not sure, but I think they may have gone to a national park called Lough Key which is a beautiful spot. It's hard to imagine the fab four slummin' it in a tent but we are all nobodies until we're a somebody.

After the long weekend, weeks and then months went by and still the tent hadn't been returned.  My dad being overly polite as always, never asked his friend when it would be returned.  There was no sense of urgency as we (the kids) were now more grown up and unlikely to be going camping with the old blue rinse crew parents. In the end, the tent was never returned.

Before he sadly passed away back in 2001, Bobby (a man of humble origins) recounted a story to my dad of being flown out, first class to some exotic location to meet up with Bono and staying in the executive suite of some 5 star hotel where a boiled egg and cup of tea was billed at US$50. Clearly the lads had climbed the ranks from tent borrowing muppets to 5 star - Rock Star status and fair fucks to them I say!

But Bono, if by some 'mysterious ways' you happen to be reading this, I just want to remind  you - YOU OWE ME A TENT! (ok - with 20 years rental on a tent - I'll settle for a house) and if you 'Walk away, walk away, walk away, walk away, I will follow!' 

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Tags: U2, Bono, Post Office An post, Bonos dad, Bobby Hewson

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Blog Awards

I'm delighted to have received the above award from iWalk

Rather than follow the MeMe rules, I'm just going to say my blog roll (right margin) has been updated with the stuff I'm checking out lately. It's still  a work in progress and I probably shouldn't be tweaking code in the wee hours so if you're not there and want to be let me know.

Tags: blog awards

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Puerto Madero, Buenos Aires

I went on one of my now famous walkathons today.  I need to motivate myself to get going but once I get going, I'm like Forrest Gump or the Energizer Bunny - I just keep going and going.  15 minutes walk from our new place in San Telmo is the barrio of Puerto Madero.

It's probably one of the most expensive places to stay in a hotel or rent an apartment in Buenos Aires.  It's a tacky tourist area and restaurant prices are on a par with accommodation i.e. bling bling! although there are some good buffet deals.

Despite the credit crunch elsewhere in the world, construction is booming here (see photos above and below) and great monstrosities of tower blocks with luxury apartments are selling and renting for up to 10 times the going rates elsewhere in the city.

There is a huge ecological park behind Puerto Madero that is a welcome respite from the concrete jungle.  It's a bird watchers haven and although I am a city slicker at heart, it's so refreshing coming here to escape...everything and anything! (check the photos below). 

I did the 8km circuit around the park at high (extra sunny) noon and now look very similar to  this...

Tags: Puerto Madero, ecological park, The Parque Natural y Reserva Ecológica Costanera Sur Natural Park and Ecological Reserve,apartments 

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Virtual Kidnapping and Extortion in Argentina

True story - We were having dinner at my in-laws yesterday who had just returned from vacation in Brazil.

In the middle of dinner the phone rang.

My father-in-law (Osvaldo) picked up the phone, but the line was scratchy and almost inaudible.

Osvaldo: - Unable to hear properly thinks it might be his son who lives in Paraguay - "Is that you Pablo?"

Caller: - "Something bad has happened - Someone close to you"

Osvaldo: - "What?"

Caller: - "They're hurt bad"

Osvaldo: - "Who?"

Caller: - "It's uh.....Pablo - he's hurt"

Osvaldo: - "Adios - hincha pelotta" as he hangs up the phone, realising this is a scam.

We just experienced first hand a fairly common occurrence here - virtual extortion

Pablo was fine and enjoying his dinner in Paraguay.  Osvaldo had unwittingly revealed the name 'Pablo' and now the caller could use that to invent any story he liked.  Had the call continued, most likely he would have been asked to deliver money at a drop off point if he wanted to see his son again.

There other scam is from a caller who wants the victim to buy phone cards and read off the numbers if they want to see their loved one again. An unusual ransom one might think. The caller is in prison and exploits uncertainty, fear and panic in people. They have practiced and honed their skills overt time and can get the victim to volunteer names. They have recordings of people screaming to add authenticity. A surprisingly large number of people are duped. The scam is said to have originated in Mexico where real kidnappings are common place but is now widespread. So before you part with your cash - try calling the 'missing' person. Chances are they're oblivious to their supposed plight.  We live in a virtual world.

Tags: Virtual Kidnapping, virtual reality, Extortion, Buenos Aires, Argentina, scams, dangers, annoyances, crime, tips, beware,

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TV or not TV

We finally got connected to cable TV a few days ago which took 6 weeks, 23 phone calls, 3 emails and 1 fax. An almost comical series of events, too frustrating to bother mentioning here.  We now have 80 channels but in reality, very, very little of interest. I am seriously tempted to cancel it but that would probably take another 6 weeks and god knows how many other forms of communication and I'm just not sure I have it in me just now. 

I used to have a PVR (TIVO) called Replay TV but alas no more. I have resorted to automatically downloading the TV programs I like. Sure, I know it's not totally legit but I now wake up to the latest episodes of Saturday Night Live, The Daily Show, Family Guy and even Eastenders.

If you fancy trying it out yourself click the +/- below for instructions as seen on CNET

+/-

Step 1: Download and install the Miro media player, which is available for Linux, Mac and Windows.

Step 2: Locate an RSS feed for a TV show you want to watch. One fantastic source of these is the website tvRSS.net

or another UK based one is UKNova

Navigate through the list of TV shows on the tvRSS website, and find a desired show.

Screenshot of tvRSS website

(Credit: tvRSS.net)

On the web-page for the show, right click on the link to the RSS feed of that show, and copy the URL location.

Screenshot of tvRSS website

(Credit: tvRSS.net)

Step 3: Open up Miro, and go to the Channels menu, and select Add Channel. The RSS address that was copied previously should already be displayed. If it's not, paste it.

Screenshot of Miro media player

(Credit: Miro)

Miro should now automatically download the latest episode of that show, which it will continue to do every time a new episode appears online.

Screenshot of Miro media player

(Credit: Miro)

For ease of use, a user will probably want to rename the channel to something recognizable. This can be done by going to the Channels menu and selecting Rename.

Screenshot of Miro media player

(Credit: Miro)

By following these three steps, its possible for a user to wake up to their favorite TV shows already downloaded to their computer, waiting to be watched

Update - Instead of Miro which is a little memory intensive I now recommend TED

Update to the update - You don't even need Torrent Episode Downloader if you use uTorrent - see instructions here.

Tags: Multicanal, Fibertel, download tv, cable tv, miro. tvRSS, uknova, torrent, pirate, illegal download

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What did we do before the internet?

My DSL internet died on Thursday for no apparent reason. It's not unusual to have an outage here but after 12 hours there still wasn't a single bit or a byte coming down the pipe.  A call to the tech support helpless desk was as fruitful as watermelon patch in the Sahara.

Did you reset the modem?

 - Yep

Did you reset the computer?

 - Yep

Did you jiggle the cables?

 - Yep

Did you go to confession?

 - Yep

Well it all looks good at our end. Are you using the DSL modem we supplied?

 - Nope - it doesn't have WIFI

Ah well we're not responsible then so you need to call the manufacturer of the wireless router.

- * SIGH! *

6 hours later after taking everything apart, disconnecting, unplugging, setting everything back to factory defaults and installing a spare replacement router, upgrading firmware, hacking, reconnecting and reconfiguring I was finally back online. The worst part is I'm still not sure what the hell was wrong. Not having internet did make me realise just how completely dependent I am on the internet - Sad but true!

Tags: speedy DSL, fibertel, argentina, telefonica, cable modem, wireless router, netgear, linksys

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LOTTERY STRATEGY

I used to bet on the horses while I was in high school but I lost interest by the time I went to college.  I suppose I found other vices to better occupy my time.  After I started working I would buy those scratch cards with “Instant Winnings” and never won more than the price of the scratch card back.  I’ve been playing the UK lottery for a few years now.  I’m part of a syndicate of 13 (unlucky for some) people who have yet to scoop the big one.

 

I also have my own subscription with 6 numbers that I can manage online. It’s now been over a year with these same numbers and I have yet to get more than 2 numbers. You only win a paltry 10 quid if you get three numbers but these numbers have been entered twice a week (Wednesday and Saturday) for 15 months. That works out at 128 times some air ball machine spat out numbered ping pong balls and I couldn’t even get a lousy 3 of those numbers. I started to think there must be some hefty odds against this run of bad luck. What happened the ‘Luck of the Irish’ for shucks sake! You know leprechauns, pots of gold, 4 leaf clovers, blarney stones, Celtic tigers!!

 

Can lottery machines be prejudiced toward me?

Is there a global conspiracy against me fulfilling my dream as a millionaire?

 

Then I found this odds calculator and I ran the numbers to reveal

 the Odds of drawing:

3 numbers is 1 in 57

4 numbers is 1 in 1032

5 numbers is 1 in 54,201

6 numbers is 1 in 13,983,186

 

Any other mugs like me out there playing this or similar nonsense?

What’s the most you won?

Tags: lottery, lotto, strategy, winning, win, how to, Ireland, UK lottery

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Buenos Aires Photographer

Unfortunately the best photo I can usually take looks like the one above but there are some great photo blogs down here like

Living in Patagonia

and

Buenos Aires Daily

and

Buenos Aires Thru My Eyes

and many more, but this new one

Buenos Aires Photographer

which I surfed on recently is one of my favs.

Make sure you check out the archives at the bottom of the above site for some amazing photos.

Tags: Buenos Aires Photographer, Photos, Argentina photos, Thomas Locke Hobbs

Update - Also check this one

Buenos Aires City of Faded Elegance

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I'm a Sinner!

I had the weight of the world on me (or in me) yesterday after a few days of WAY too much food and even after a dose of Andrews Liver Salts, I was not one with the universe so I did something radical- I went to confession. Yes I know it was a bit drastic but desperate times call for desperate measures.

Drink, Arse, Feck, Girls

The priest asked asked me "¿Cuánto tiempo desde su última confesión mi hijo"(How long since your last confession my son?)" I thought to myself -"He thinks I'm his son? - Jaezuz, come to think of it, there is a bit of a resemblance mind you!"
- I said in English - "It's been 27 years since me last confession Dad ....I mean ...father"

He replied - "No Habla Ingles! - pero vos habla Castellano- no?" (I don't speak English - but you speak Spanish - no?)

I thought for a minute as to how this could work to my advantage and replied - "Jaezuz - I don't speak a word of that ol' gibberish, but I need to spill, so listen up Pops - I've 27 years of desperate, awful, deprave sins to confess so lets get down to business pronto!"

45 minutes later, after offloading all the terrible deeds of the past, I walked out of the confessional a lighter, better, purer, happier soul. It was like doing the laundry, taking a shower, shave, shite and getting a facial with the blackheads squeezed out, all at the same time (not that I've ever had a facial cos that's just for girdles!)

To top the lot, I didn't get even one prayer to say as penance - In fact I got the equivalent of a life long 'Get out of Jail/Church' card free. I'm officially banned from confession, communion, and all the Holy sacraments. - May the Lord have mercy on all your souls - yiz feckin' sinners and I'm auctioning off my 'Get of of church' card on eBay so let the bids begin!

Tags: Sinner, Irish, Andrews Liver Salts, Ireland, Buenos Aires Expat,I'm a Sinner!,Father Ted,Fr Ted,Father Jack Hackett,

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TOTAL WIPEOUT - BBC GAMESHOW - HOW TO BE A CONTESTANT!

Join the Total Wipeout Facebook 'page' click here -> and view photos from actual contestants and video from the show

Want to be a contestant? - Well now is your chance!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/showsandtours/beonashow/total_wipeout.shtml

To apply go click here

Applicants must be 18

Join the Total Wipeout Facebook 'page' click here -> and view photos from actual contestants and video from the show

The BBC is also looking for Buenos Aires-based contestants for its extreme obstacle course gameshow TOTAL WIPEOUT for UK Television

If you hold a British Passport and fancy winning £10000 we want to hear from you!

To request an application form email

mariano.vacas@endemoluk.com

Tags: Total Wipeout, how do I to take part apply in total wipeout, ,Australia, facebook, BBC Gameshow, Argentina, Australia, RTE, rte.ie, Richard Hammond, contestants for total wipeout,TOTAL WIPEOUT - BBC gameshow ,where is total wipeout filmed?, Buenos Aires

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TOTAL WIPEOUT - BBC GAMESHOW

!!!!  - NEW SERIES 4 - STARTS JANUARY 8th 2011 - !!!!

Viewers are in for a treat this January as TV’s craziest game show is back and this series sees 160 courageous, some would say foolhardy, Brits take on the infamous Total Wipeout obstacle course, in an attempt to bag themselves the big cash prize and the coveted, shiny trophy.

Series 4 sees the return of some of the audience’s favourite obstacles – the eternally funny and unmissable “Big Red Balls”, “Rake in the Face”, “Cradles of Doom” and “Crash Mountain”, as well as the iconic “Sucker Punch” and the “Wipeout Zone”. Expect wipeouts galore, as these battered and bruised folk test their stamina, bravery and skill against the almighty Total Wipeout course.

Want to be a contestant? - Well now is your chance!

To apply click here

For more photos join the Total Wipeout Facebook 'page' click here ->

The BBC is also looking for Buenos Aires-based contestants for its extreme obstacle course gameshow TOTAL WIPEOUT for UK Television

If you hold a British Passport and fancy winning £10000 we want to hear from you!

To request an application form email


mariano.vacas@endemoluk.com

Tags:Total Wipeout, how do I to take part apply in total wipeout, ,Australia, facebook, BBC Gameshow, Argentina, Australia, RTE, rte.ie, Richard Hammond, contestants for total wipeout,how do I apply total wipeout, how do I enter total wipeout,TOTAL WIPEOUT - BBC gameshow ,where is total wipeout filmed?, wipe out,total wipeout application USA, France, Buenos Aires,

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Inscrutable Intention (Ray B, RIP!)

We did a day trip out to San Antonio de Areco today, which is gaucho country and it was nice to get out of the concrete jungle for a while. It was an early start and we're back home now but still no TV as it takes an age to get connected here.  I've got one of my favs - 'Fist Full of Dollars' playing on the DVD.

With gauchos and cowboys, my mind wandered to my old friend Ray who I met in Australia. A group of us would head out on the plains of western Sydney at weekends.  The ranch owner would ask Ray which horse he wanted and he would casually reply, "What do you recommend?" - "How about Bishop?" said the ranch owner.  Bishop was a wild feisty horse that required a very experienced handler. "Sure, why not!" Ray would respond and somehow he would control the horse like it was a dead beat donkey.

Because Ray knew the owner, we got to take the horses out by ourselves (no strict supervision like the others) and it wouldn't be long before a trot became canter which became a gallop and the adrenalin was pumping as every nerve in your body was focused on controlling the beast beneath.  All thoughts of work, stress, troubles faded away.  For a few fleeting moments you were one with the horse.  I can honestly say I never felt more alive.  Probably sounds like complete bollocks but it was true.  It was true escapism without the typical vices.  I absolutely loved it!!!

Afterwards, we'd head back to Rays house where his wife Marls (a character in her own right) would prepare a spread of cheese and wine and we would chat and laugh as the sun went down.  Often, after a few too many, Ray would direct us to the garage for an impromptu music video where we were the stars. It was like karaoke with video evidence to be replayed again and again.  Sometimes we stayed over with a sore head and ended up horse riding the next day aswell where upon the vicious but brilliant circle continued.  Other evenings we'd just sit and chat in the garage.  It had bails of hay to park your arse on and lots of interesting props and paintings.

Ray was very well read and had a "fuck the establishment" attitude that was intriguing and refreshing.  He just didn't like to play by societies laid down rules.  He was a genuine rebel if ever there was one.

One night after a bottle of wine and a quiet chat between the two of us, Ray played an audio tape of Joseph Conrads - The Heart of Darkness.  There is a line that goes - "It was the stillness of an implacable force brooding over an inscrutable intention." He rewound it and replayed it 6 times.  "That's a fucking amazingly descriptive sentence - hard to beat that!" - said Ray. I'd never really been blown away by music or writing but this line really struck a chord with me too. So much detail and emotion described in one sentence.

I was back in Ireland about 6 months later when I got a phone call on Christmas morning. 

"He passed away this morning" -  said the tearfull voice the other end of the phone.

I knew he'd had stomach cancer for a year and didn't have long left.  It was inevitable, but even though I was expecting the bad news, I was devastated. It was the shitiest Christmas / new years after that.

"It was the stillness of an implacable force brooding over an inscrutable intention."

To: Ray - Gone but not forgotten

Tags: San Antonio de Areco, Fist Full of Dollars, Joseph Conrads The Heart of Darkness, Inscrutable bIntention

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Corruption Perceptions Index - Ireland ranks #16

The annual Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) ranks 180 countries by their perceived levels of corruption, as determined by expert assessments and opinion surveys.

According to the latest CPI, Ireland and UK rank #16 (lower numbers are better)

Denmark had the best score #1 with Argentina coming in at an abysmal #109 and worst of the bunch was Somalia at #180

I'm actually pretty surprised at the how well Ireland ranks considering the crooks that run the country and the Godfather of them all (Bertie) who had to step aside recently amid numerous scandals. 

I realise it's not just corruption in politics that's measured but how many backhanders go to county council officials for helping planning permission to go thru etc. 

If Ireland is #16 how bad must it be in the other places?

Argentina #109 ranks worse than Rwanda #102?

Link to the data is here

Thanks to the Argentine Post for the heads up

Tags: Corruption Perceptions Index, Argentina, Ireland,Trancparency International

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