Record sales of violent video games very worrying – Mitchell O’ Connor

Fine Gael TD for Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown, Mary Mitchell O’Connor, has today described reports of records sales of the new ‘Call of Duty’ video game in the lead up to Christmas as very worrying.

“In a week that saw needless bloodshed, both at home and abroad, the high sales figures of this violent video game are very concerning. Sales are estimated to have generated €1 billion in just 16 days. It is being lauded as the fastest selling entertainment product of all time, ahead of films such as the Harry Potter movies and Avatar.

“I really fear we are entering an age where such violence will be commonplace. Undoubtedly, society has become desensitized to acts of violence. There are a number of reasons for this, but violent video games certainly play a part. Life is precious and such games present people as obstacles and violent acts as having no consequence. Over exposure to such violence, be it in video games or otherwise, can distort reality.”

“Having worked as a teacher and as a principal, I am aware of how impressionable some young adults can be and I think it is really important that rules governing the sale of such games are enforced. I also think it is important that parents are mindful of buying adult games in situations where younger children might gain access to them.
“These video games provide no educational or social benefits. For me, the gift of a book will always provide real and lasting benefit. In Ireland, we are very fortunate to have exceptional authors both for children and adults and we need to support them more. It is also hugely important that literacy levels in this country dramatically improve. The Programme for International Student Achievement (PISA) shows our literacy levels have fallen from 5th in the developed world to 15th.”

ENDS

Of course if we use the more general Labour and Greens searches, this changes the table but that brings in everything from child birth searches to labour court type searches:

Leader searches:
Enda Kenny, then Gerry Adams, John Gormley and Eamon Gilmore at same level, then Micheal Martin.

What about Jedward? They kinda own searches:

Here Jim Hacker leaks a story to the press in the usual way:

Jim Hacker: Where will they run it?

Journo: High up on the home news page.

Jim Hacker: – Not on page one?
Journo: Can I attribute it?

Journo: “Minister speaks out”?
Jim Hacker: – No, no, no.
Journo: Then, where did I get the story? I can’t say, “Officially announced.”
Jim Hacker: “Government spokesman”?

Journo: “Sources close to Minister”?
Jim Hacker: Hold on, I don’t want everybody to know I told you! Couldn’t you do, “Speculation is growing in Westminster”?

Journo: A bit weak.
Jim Hacker: “Unofficial spokesman”?
Journo: Used that twice this week already!
Jim Hacker: The Cabinet’s leaking like a sieve, isn’t it?
Journo: Couldn’t we attribute it to a leading member of the sieve… Cabinet?
Jim Hacker: No…
Journo: How would you like to be “an informed source”?

Jim Hacker: OK. “Informed source.”
Journo: Quite a joke, isn’t it, describing someone as “informed”when his Permanent Secretaryis Sir Humphrey Appleby?

There are two million people in Ireland on Facebook.

Fine Gael has 2776 fans on Facebook.
Fianna Fail has 1770 fans on Facebook.
Labour has 1421 fans on Facebook. It also has 1960 “Friends” on a personal profile which is against the Facebook terms and conditions and is still interacting with people as of today.

0.13% are fans of Fine Gael
0.0885% are fans of Fianna Fail
0.07105% are fans of Labour

17,000 Irish people are fans of Barcardi. Why like? That’s 0.85% of Irish Facebook users.

Spin SouthWest meanwhile has 58,000 fans. That’s 2.9% of Facebook, for a regional station?

If the excuse is Facebook has the wrong demographics then it shows the total ignorance involved in this. Every demographic are on Facebook and in very large numbers. The election in March is still going to be done the old way by the old faces with a few appointed kids fake tweeting and Facebooking for the parties. And they’ll pat themselves on the back for it afterwards too in their special advisor or quango roles.

More five second analysis of everything the parties are doing wrong will probably follow. Love Damien, who apparently consults for a political party.

Facebook Page calling for a General Election. If you support the idea why not blog it, Tweet it and share it with friends on Facebook?

See ya Willie.

Don’t forget to get your commemorative Willie tache. Willie O’Dea, tache.

This is meant to be the Dáil stream:

The bell sounding really makes you think “Rounnnnnnd 2″. Commentary and whatnot on IrishElection.com

Update: Some people on Facebook are reporting that the Green Party have reported this video inside in Facebook as abuse.

Joyless Irish Greens have reported the amazing Gogarty-goes-postal video to Facebook as ‘abusive’. Do yourself a favour and search for “Green TD turns Dail air blue” on YouTube. It is absolutely hilarious.

In case you missed it, you can now search what people are saying (even those not connected to you) in their status updates.

Update: An email from YouTube:

Dear damienmulley,

Your video Paul Gogarty TD says “Fuck You” to Emmet Stagg has become popular on YouTube, and you’re eligible to apply for the YouTube Partnership Program, which allows you to make money from playbacks of your video.

Once you’re approved, making money from your video is easy. Here’s how it works: First sign into your YouTube account. Then, complete the steps outlined here: http://////. Once you’re finished, we’ll start placing ads next to your video and pay you a share of the revenue as long as you meet the program requirements.

We look forward to adding your video to the YouTube Partnership Program. Thanks and good luck!