Planet Money: Anatomy Of A Scam

NPR: Planet Money

You've seen these ads before: "Work from home. Make thousands of dollars a week. Call this number!" Today on the show, we find out what happens when you respond. It's the story of a scam that will not die. We have secret documents laying out how it all works. And recordings of actual phone calls. Read on

The Biggest Risk Is Not Taking Any Risk

The biggest risk is not taking any risk... In a world that changing really quickly, the only strategy that is guaranteed to fail is not taking risks.

Mark Zuckerberg

Tibetan Meditation Music with Harp

Central Bank Issues €2 Coin Commemorating 1916 (For General Circulation)

The following information was taken from a Press Release issued by The Central Bank, dated 20 January 2016.

Central Bank issues €2 Coin 
Commemorating 1916

• 4.5 million commemorative €2 coins issuing into general circulation
• First time Ireland is releasing its own commemorative €2 coin marking an event in Irish history
• Range of collectable commemorative products available

The Irish Central Bank is releasing 4.5 million commemorative €2 coins into general circulation from January 20th to mark the centenary of the 1916 Easter Rising and the Proclamation of the Irish Republic. 

These coins will also be available in a number of collectable products for sale, including

• €2 Uncirculated Coin Card 
• €2 Uncirculated Coin Bookmark
• 2016 Annual Mint Set containing the 9 2016 dated coins and a commemorative booklet
• 2016 €2 Proof Quality Cased Coin
• 2016 Proof Quality 9 Coin Set 

This will be the first time that Ireland has issued its own commemorative €2 coin into circulation. It is intended that the new coin will go into circulation as soon as possible with the help of the banks, An Post and the cash in transit companies.
Read full Press Release > Here

An audio clip on the features of the coin is available HERE

Above information taken from The Irish Central Bank website

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André Rieu - "My African Dream"

André Rieu is a Dutch violinist and conductor best known for creating the waltz-playing Johann Strauss Orchestra. He has outsold Beyoncé and played to bigger crowds than Take That. He also lives in D’Artagnan’s castle and has his very own orchestra. Andre Rieu has been entertaining his audiences since the 1980s having been born in 1949.

Below is a performance from South Africa introducing Kimi Scota who had the audience under her spell. This Andre Rieu concert in South Africa was a watershed in the lives of many who attended this wonderful event.

Liam O'Maonlai Gaeilge Lesson 1 Introducing Yourself

Let's join Liam O'Maonlai agus tosnaigh ag Labhair Gaeilge

Dutch research body advises rerouting the Rhine

Has Ireland anything to learn from the contents of the following article, following on the recent spate of flooding at the end of 2015? Unfortunately the flooding has not as yet subsided.

Dutch research body advises rerouting the Rhine:

The Dutch Environmental Assessment Agency (MNP) said that the Netherlands, which has a quarter of its land below the sea level, does not have to worry a lot about flooding at the coast, because the current coastal system can deal with a sea level increase of 1-1.5 meter in the coming century.

But the rise in the level of the North Sea will make it increasingly difficult for the Rhine and other rivers to dispose of their water, which is bound to grow due to a greater amount of glacial-melt-water coming down from the Alps.

As the Rhine passes through some of the most densely-populated and economically important regions of the Netherlands, including Rotterdam, flooding could cause great problems, the agency said. More Information ...

Thanks to the :The website of China Corporation English edition 2007-04-06 for this article.

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Update to above post:

Excerpt from: Shannon Catchment-based Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Study Technical Assessment: River Shannon Level Operation Review 

(which should be studied carefully by all those affected or may, 

in the future, anticipate being affected by possible flooding)

Could recent summer floods have been managed differently? 
The summers of 2008 and 2009 were particularly wet. In the absence of any reliable long term forecasting and to avoid potentially exacerbating flooding in the callows downstream of Athlone Weir, ESB exercised its discretion under the 
Regulations and Guidelines for the control of the River Shannon, taking account of water levels, flows, recent rainfall, Met Eireann weather forecasts and ESB’s forecasting model, not to open the sluices at Athlone Weir.