Well I’m finally getting around to dusting off the cobwebs which the blog has gathered over the past few weeks. I’m working over the course of the next week or so on getting this blog preforming as best as I can. Firstly is a much needed updates (will be going up in the next 10 minutes!), I haven’t updated since Wordpress 2.3.1, which was quite a while ago - so with the release of Wordpress 2.5, I thought it was the perfect time to update, and while I’m at it update the plugins and possible locate a new theme while I’m at it!

Excuse any interruptions over the next few days.

Update: All went smoothly, the update from 2.3, to 2.5 went faultlessly - some amazing features, I’ve played with 2.5 RC1 whilst in development and was astounded by the better AdminCP layout and publishing interface!

Sudden Cardiac Arrest, or SCA, occurs when the lower chambers of the heart, called ventricles, stop beating normally and start quivering very quickly and chaotic. This is called ventricular fibrillation or VF. When the ventricles fibrillate, they do not contract normally, making it difficult to pump blood or oxygen to the body. Often, VF can become so erratic that it can result in SCA. If SCA is not corrected immediately via a shock from an external defibrillator or an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), there is little chance of survival.

According to the European Society of Cardiology, SCA is the single most important cause of death among adults of the industrialized world. The American Heart Association states that everyday in the U.S., almost 900 people experience Sudden Cardiac Arrest – that’s more than 325,000 people a year. If an individual is not treated within four to six minutes from the onset of SCA, the results can be fatal.

SCA usually occurs without any warning. However, symptoms include sudden collapse, loss of consciousness, abnormal breathing, an inability to find a pulse and loss of blood pressure.

Source: Inside Cardiac Arrest - Heart Attack 

I’m finally back to civilisation at last, after over a week of ‘Cork Fest‘ - which is basically a marathon of doing constant mechanical work, and getting old buses shifted for no pay (it’s already been established that I’m clinically insane…). It’s great craic (for the most part), especially when we got our hands on some heavy machinery - you haven’t tried stress relief until you smash carefully park a coach into smitherines!

I got back on Sunday night, in under 3 hours in a 5.3l Vauxhaul Omega! The main reason why I haven’t been posting since, is I’ve been bed ridden, with appendicitis - nothing acute, I’m on antibiotics and should be back to normal in a few days. I’m using it as an excuse to stay in bed on the laptop :smile: .

I’ve got so much work to siphon through, I’ve the launch of a number of websites looming,  I’ve got bills to pay, oh and I’ve the minor task of painting a coach :???: . Of which is due to attend a show in Belfast on Saturday 26th of April, more info here if you want it . There are also some issues with this blog that need to be addressed, such as the header, Wordpress version update, and the fact my new emoticons aren’t working .

No point getting worked up over it, I’m going to enjoy my time off - everything else can take a backseat *phone switched off*.

Happy Saint Patrick’s Day!

Just a quick well wishes post, I’m sure everyone, wherever they are is celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in their own way - I know I’ll be celebrating it in true Irish fashion…getting drunk/pissed/bladdered. 

The streets of Dublin are coarsely filled with green wigs, Irish flags, whistles, and people generally having a good time. I suppose, you cannot beat St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland can you?

It’s my Dad’s birthday on Paddy’s Day (have a guess what his name is ), so it’s usually a big day in the family - meal, presents, and the odd uncle or two up for a visit. 41 today, which I suppose isn’t old if you’re a tree…or maybe a tortoise! 

I was supposed to go to Bray today with some friends, but having caught that blasted stomach flu that’s been doing the rounds I’ve duly grounded myself to the confines of the homestead. Although I’m over it, I don’t want to push myself, I’m off to Cork for a week tomorrow and don’t want to be sick/relapsed for that!

Yes it’s true, Google likes bloggers again! Like many others, I’ve been granted my PageRank back, although it is considerably lower than the PageRank that we were boasting about prior to being deranked.

I had worked hard to get my PR4 status, submitting to directories, promoting on forums/other blogs and even paying for linkbacks - why? Because at the time PPP programs loved you if you had a higher PR, higher PR, higher payout .

I was quite surprised that I got my PageRank back, considering this blog is lying idle alot nowadays - due to me being tied up elsewhere most evenings and weekends. There is no time to research, plan nor write anymore, although I probably could make a better effort at posting - I now have more motivation, now that my PageRank has been reinstated!

It appears other bloggers have been given the same treatment from Google, Smemon has gotten his PageRank back around the same time as myself :smile: .

Since I moved into the new house three years ago, I’ve never given my bedroom a ‘clean out’, I don’t mean I never swept or mopped the place out or emptied the bin - that’s done daily. But I mean clear out the junk harvesting under the bed, behind the computer desk, in the closet, on top of the wardrobe and just bin the stuff you don’t need/want.

So yesterday, after meeting the president of Ireland Mary McAleese, who celebrated our schools 30th anniversary with us, when I got home I was in a productive mood. I got to work, firstly syphoning through the junk in the closet (we don’t usually have them in Ireland, but for some reason my house has them…), I sorted the crap, boxed the stuff I wanted to keep and put it into the attic. Did the same with the shite under my bed - boxes mainly; for christmas I usually get something in a big huge obnoxious box - this year a PC… So flattened them and into the green bin they went.

I filled two large bags full of junk, and one full of recycling; paper, old school books, phone boxes etc…

Needless to say, it was enjoyable for the first hour…but got really irritating thereafter :???: