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The Pilgrim.

The Pilgrim.

Lyrics and Vocals: American country music singer, songwriter and actor; sadly the recently deceased Kris Kristofferson (1936-2024).

The Pilgrim.

See him wasted on the side walk in his jacket and his jeans,
Wearing yesterday’s misfortunes like a smile.
Once he had a future full of money love and dreams,
Which he spent like they was going out of style.
And he keeps right on a changing for the better or the worse,
Searching for a shrine he’s never found,
Never knowing if believing is a blessing or a curse,
Or if the going up is worth to coming down.
He’s a poet he’s a picker he’s a prophet he’s a pusher,
He’s a pilgrim and a preacher and a problem when he’s stoned.
He’s a walking contradiction, partly truth and partly fiction,
Taking every wrong direction on his lonely way back home.
He has tasted good and evil in your bedrooms and your bars,
And he’s traded in tomorrow for today.
Running from his devils Lord and reaching for the stars,
And losing all he loved along the way.
But if this world keeps right on turning for the better or the worse,
All he ever gets is older and around.
From the rocking of the cradle to the rolling of the hearse,
The going up was worth the coming down.
He’s a poet he’s a picker he’s a prophet he’s a pusher,
He’s a pilgrim and a preacher and a problem when he’s stoned.
He’s a walking contradiction partly truth and partly fiction,
Taking every wrong direction on his lonely way back home.
There’s lotta wrong directions on that lonely way back home.

END

Are Thurles Supermarket Retailing Inevitable Death?

Breast cancer awareness month 2024 began on Tuesday, October 1st and will continue until Thursday October 31st next.

All Irish Supermarkets, over the past two years, have significantly increased their retail prices on many items and yes, to my thinking, both breast cancer and Supermarket products are both inextricably linked, presently leaving both impossible to disentangle or separate.

My focus here in Thurles today was attracted to a product offered in plastic wrapping, containing 5 Bockwurst Sausages, (asking price €4.29). The product is manufactured by the German firm Dulano, latter who claim ‘Farm to fork” traceability.

Bockwurst is a German sausage traditionally made from ground pork or veal, but tending more towards veal. Bockwurst is flavoured with salt, white pepper and paprika. Other herbs, such as marjoram, chives and parsley, are also often added and in Germany, Bockwurst is often smoked as well.

Nowadays, it can be purchased all year round almost everywhere in Germany, in butcher’s shops, cheaper restaurants, snack bars, food booths, some bakeries and even gas stations.
Here in Thurles Co. Tipperary it can be purchased from the German International discount retailer chain Lidl, same which operate over 12,000 stores within the European Union.

Yuka Application: View HERE
Using the 100% independent, free ‘Yuka App’, which it is now imperative for everyone shopping in supermarkets to download to their smart phones, (because of its welcome ability to decipher product labels, while analysing the health impact of most food products and cosmetics, via their barcode,) we are disappointed and alarmed to learn the following information:-

On the ‘Yuka App’, the Bockwurst Sausages product is declared ‘BAD’, and is rated at 0 out of 100, because of two hazardous additives, plus containing two much fat, and two much sodium.

The two hazardous preservatives are identified as being (1) Sodium Nitrite, (2) Diphosphates,

(1) Sodium Nitrite: Sodium nitration is hazardous and when combined with certain foods, nitrites may contribute to the development of nitrosamines, compounds classified by the international agency for research on cancer (IARC) as “probably carcinogenic to humans”.
In 2022 the French agency for food environmental and occupational health and safety (ANSES) confirmed the carcinogenic and genotoxic effects of these compounds and recommended limiting the use of nitrate/nitrite additions in food products.

(2) Diphosphates: (Texturizing agent). Phosphate contains phosphorus a chemical element that is essential to the body. However excess phosphorus can disrupt bone mineralization; damage the kidneys, and increased the risk of cardiovascular disease and breast cancer the (EFSA) European food safety has indicated that phosphorus consumption exceeds the safe level of intake for part of the population.

This is just one of many products to be found in each of our Thurles supermarkets, placed there with no regard for consumers health; and retailed solely to generate massive profits.

We wonder why cancer is rapidly increasing and why our Irish hospitals are continuously overcrowded! The answer is most likely to be found in the food products located on our supermarket shelves, ignored by a VAT greedy government.

Government Appoints Deputy Garda Commissioner.

  • Mr Justin Kelly, Assistant Commissioner, (Organised & Serious Crime), appointed new Deputy Garda Commissioner.

The Government yesterday approved the appointment of a new Deputy Commissioner to An Garda Síochána, with immediate effect.

Following a recent open competition, run by Public Jobs on behalf of the Policing Authority, the appointment of Assistant Commissioner Justin Kelly was announced.

Mr Kelly has previously led the fight against organised and serious crime, as Assistant Commissioner.
In this role, he has led the further development of An Garda Síochána’s capabilities and international partnerships in tackling drugs and organised crime, cyber and economic crime, as well as prioritising and combatting crimes against vulnerable people and responding to the needs of victims.

His career is marked by achievement and results and he is expected to bring his vast experience, skill and huge personal commitment to this new important senior role.
This skill is crucial in the effective day to day management and strategic direction of An Garda Síochána; as well as supporting the current Garda Commissioner, in leading the implementation of the organisation’s ongoing programme of reform.

Garda Commissioner Mr Drew Harris and the Chairperson of the Policing Authority, Dr Elaine Byrne, have both publically welcomed the appointment.

Recall Of Organic Quinoa Flakes Due To Larva Infestation.

Recall of specific batches of True Natural Goodness Organic Quinoa Flakes due to the possible presence of a larva infestation.

Alert Summary datedTuesday, October 15th 2024.

Category 1: For Action.
Alert Notification: 2024.46.
Product Identification: True Natural Goodness Organic Quinoa Flakes; pack size: 500g.
Batch Code: Please see table below.

Best before dates.Batches.
20/08/2025,20/08/2024,
21/08/2025,21/08/2024,
26/08/2024,26/08/2024,
27/08/2025,27/08/2025,
28/08/2025,28/08/2025,
10/09/2025, 10/09/2025,
11/09/2025,11/09/2025,

Message:
The above batches of True Natural Goodness Organic Quinoa Flakes are being recalled due to the possible presence of a larva infestation.
Recall notices will be displayed at point-of-sale.

Nature Of Danger:
Consumers are advised not to eat the implicated batches.

Eat No Raw Onions If Kissing Is Your Intended Aspiration.

Having had only limited experience myself, I base the above headline on the advice handed out by Anglo-Irish satirist, author, essayist, political pamphleteer poet and Anglican cleric, the late Dean Jonathan Swift (1667-1745), who once wrote:-. 

“There is in every cook’s opinion, 
No savoury dish without an onion; 
But less you’re kissing should be spoiled,
The onion must be thoroughly boiled.”
 

A recipe for boiled onions gathered from the era of Dean Jonathan Swift.
These onions should be cooked ‘country style’, as they were when large ovens where kept on the go all day and night.  Same are very good when eaten with chops or steaks or with potato oaten cakes; known in the Irish countryside as  ‘pratie oaten’.  

Method.

One large onion per person with a little water. Place the onions in a baking tin, unpeeled, with about 1 inch of water, no more. Bake in a slow to moderate oven to 250° f. – 275° f. Electric;  gas regulo 1 – 2 for 1 and 1⁄2 to 2 hours or until they are soft when squeezed. 

To eat, the brown skin is then pulled back and cut off as the root and the onion is eaten with pepper, salt and a pat of butter. Latter cooking method is one of the most delicious ways of serving onions.

Pratie Oaten.

2 cups warm mashed potatoes. 1 cup fine oatmeal½ cup melted butter. Salt.

Work enough fine oatmeal, butter and a little salt into the mashed potato to form a dough until fairly soft.  Scatter plenty of oatmeal on a board and roll out the dough substance. Cut into small shapes and either cook on both sides on a hot greased griddle in the oven, or fry in a little bacon fat, on top of the stove. Serve hot. 

These are very good for breakfast, with bacon, eggs and sausages. The above completed shapes should serve approximately 12 persons.

Kissing.

As for this kissing lark, passionate kisses have known health benefits; releasing calming brain chemicals (neurotransmitters) that reduce stress levels and soothe the mind. Exposure to germs that inhabit your partner’s mouth helps strengthens your immune system, so just get on with it.