DjMagra’s stuff ‘n’ stuff

I was somewhat horrified to find myself having to walk up Talbot Street today, which is bad enough at the best of times, but, was I shocked when I saw that Bonavox is currently in the process of being torn apart and all but demolished by builders. The sign is still there, but, that’s about it. I would imaging that it will no longer be Bonovox (a hearing aid store) once it has been renovated, so, a very famous piece of Irish history will be lost.

Of course, for those who can’t put 2 + 2 together, Bonavox is the store from which Bono took his name all those years ago. A quick excerpt from the excellent @U2 website explains it all:

It was also during this time that Paul got his new name. Credit for this goes to his friend, Guggi, a high school cohort who stole it from a hearing aid store on O’Connell Street in Dublin. Fittingly enough, the original moniker meant “good voice” in cockeyed Latin.

I can’t believe that more of a fuss has not been made of this happening, I had heard no mention of it anywhere, and everyone I’ve said it to this-morning is quite suprised. I will be heading back over at lunchtime to take some pictures and will get them up here as soon as possible.

I see that ITV-F1 have had to make a public apology over the timing of their ad breaks at last weekend’s Grand Prix. I know I for one was fuming, especially as this year we don’t have the option to flick over to RTE as in previous years, when they decided to take a break just as the race was reaching it’s climax, and there was the possibility that Schumacher was going to pass Alonso.

Anyways, at least they have said sorry, and have assured fans that the issue was being raised at various levels within ITV sport to try and ensure that such a situation doesn’t arise again.

I had to give my car back today, so, I’m currently car-less, a very wierd feeling, first time pretty much in about 4 years that I have been without my own wheels!

Anyways, hopefully I’ll have something sorted by the far side of the weekend to get me back on the road again!

…ain’t they just the mutts nuts!

In one of the most anticipated moves of the season, Scotland have sacked former Leinster, and now former Scotland coach, Matt Williams, following a very poor run of form of late. I reckon he’s just a victim of circumstance, Scottish rugby has been in serious decline for a few years, and their youth structure is not in place to develop new talent. In fact, the SRU seem to have it all wrong, I read somewhere recently that even the senior team have to pay for their own post-match dinners etc.

More details on the sacking can be found on BBC Sport

Yet another view of Malahide Estuary, cropped slightly differently as suggested by some on Photosig

Don’t people (especially women!) in Dublin walk anywhere any more?!

That has got to be one of the most thrilling and exciting Grand Prix’s that I have seen in a very long time! Michael Schumacher was at his most brilliant best, and despite not winning the race, he absolutely showed the rest of the pack how it’s done. Granted, Fernando Alonso also done an amazing job of holding Schumacher off for the victory, possibly one of the most significant things that may happen this season, the passing of the crown so to speak, but, as always, Michael just cannot be written off! Roll on the rest of the season!

It’s one of the best I’ve had in a while, really looking forward to this weekend, quite a lot going on, including two birthdays, happy birthday to Barry and Anna!

Sending your baby to day care in the first few months of life could protect them against leukaemia, say UK experts.

The Leukaemia Research Fund team believe exposure to common infections in early infancy is good and helps “prime” the immune system.

Conversely, reduced exposure to bugs in the first year of life increases the risk of developing acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), they suggest.

The findings of their 10-year study appear on bmj.com.

More details can be found in this BBC News item