Models present a creation by Belarusian designer Olga Kiselevich during the Festival of vanguard art “Mammoth-2013″ in Minsk, Belarus today. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits)

HERE ARE THE things we learned, loved and shared today as we round off the day in three easy steps.

THINGS WE LEARNED:

#HEALTH INSURANCE: In the government’s health bill, published yesterday, the charges being introduced for public beds could drive insurance premiums up 30 per cent. The daily charge for a single occupancy room could cost up to €1,122. The Health Bill which included measures to charge all private in-patients in public hospitals and increase charges for services in acute hospitals from €75 to €80.

#PINTS: The Dáil bar and restaurant aren’t doing too badly in the recession. Last year, they racked up profits of over €145,000 and made total sales of over €1 million last year.

#FACEBOOK: It’s been revealed that Facebook received over 9,000 requests for user data from US authorities over a six month period. The requests covered issues from child disappearances to petty crimes and terror threats and targeted between 18,000 and 19,000 accounts. However, Facebook is among nine Internet giants that turned over user data to the secret National Security Agency surveillance program PRISM.

#G8: More than 1,500 people took to the streets in Belfast to protest against the G8 Summit that is taking place next week in Enniskillen. The PSNI have said no arrests were made.

#RIP: The three Bolger brothers who died tragically at sea during the week were laid to rest today. It is believed their boat capsized in Tramore Bay on Wednesday.

Lance Seargant Adam Ross from Durham with tourist nineteen month-old Simon Ludvid from the Czech Republic as the 1st Battalion Scots Guards provide both Castle Guards, and Gunners from the 105th Regimental Royal Artillery (Volunteers) fired a 21 gun Royal Salute at the castle to mark the official Birthday of Her Queen Elizabeth II. (Andrew Milligan /PA Wire)

THINGS WE LOVED:

• Are you one of the people who have completely forgotten that it is Father’s Day tomorrow. Fear not, there is still time to run down to your local newsagents to pick up that card. Here are a selection of some of the best cards out there.
• This time last week we were outside sunbathing and enjoying ice-creams. So, it’s fair to say we are all still pretty mad that the Irish summer was so short-lived. It gives you wrinkles anyway and let’s face it, we’re Irish, we don’t tan – here are 27 reasons why you should never tan.
• Using LED like a pencil, Darren Pearson creates these all action skeletal figures using a long exposure setting on his camera.
• It’s Father’s Day tomorrow, but how do fathers contribute to their kids’ lives?

THINGS WE SHARED:

• Ever wondered what you sounded like when you were a kid trying to negotiate getting that extra biscuit from your mother. Convos with my two-year-old shows how it goes down. Previous episodes can be viewed here.
• Is Edward Snowden, master leaker of National Security Agency surveillance programs a hero or traitor? And what’s the difference between him and Daniel Ellsberg?

It’s like Three Men and a Little Baby – but with dogs.

(YouTube/ bltmic)

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