http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2013/apr/09/russell-brand-margaret-thatcher
A quite brilliant piece from Russell Brand; Margaret Thatcher in two thousand words.
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Saturday, February 16, 2013
Public Service Broadcasting
So the sky fell in the other day out in RTE when the Pope resigned. It was decided that of all the big breaking news we have had recently this was the biggest and most deserving of the mobilization of the big breaking news machinery of Montrose.
So we had Ronan Collins cut short to allow Sean O’ Rourke on the News at One to do his thang for half an hour longer than usual. We had an emergency convening of the Prime Time team to knock out a suitably solemn analysis of the erstwhile pontiff and his possible successors. We had every religious affairs journalist this side of the Mississippi and their spiritual leader Patsy Mc Garry loitering in the halls of Montrose waiting for their chance, which inevitably came. We had theologians and academics of all shapes and sizes to decode the complex information for us, to make sense of this landmark moment. A landmark moment in the mind of some RTE executive.
A moment of utter insignificance to the rest of us.
We have had actual moments of significance recently, a couple of them. We have had tragic events which triggered the re emergence of abortion onto the national and international stage, we have had a debt deal done with the European Central Bank.
Ronan got to play his full hour of easy listening on those days and the sub standard midweek movies, The Break Up and Dinner with Schmucks went out as scheduled.
RTE; It's comfy behind the curve.
So we had Ronan Collins cut short to allow Sean O’ Rourke on the News at One to do his thang for half an hour longer than usual. We had an emergency convening of the Prime Time team to knock out a suitably solemn analysis of the erstwhile pontiff and his possible successors. We had every religious affairs journalist this side of the Mississippi and their spiritual leader Patsy Mc Garry loitering in the halls of Montrose waiting for their chance, which inevitably came. We had theologians and academics of all shapes and sizes to decode the complex information for us, to make sense of this landmark moment. A landmark moment in the mind of some RTE executive.
A moment of utter insignificance to the rest of us.
We have had actual moments of significance recently, a couple of them. We have had tragic events which triggered the re emergence of abortion onto the national and international stage, we have had a debt deal done with the European Central Bank.
Ronan got to play his full hour of easy listening on those days and the sub standard midweek movies, The Break Up and Dinner with Schmucks went out as scheduled.
RTE; It's comfy behind the curve.
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
The Little Engine That Could
The largest Nu Luk (I know; gas) store in the world is in the Jervis Centre in Dublin. I heard this on the radio and as long as I live I will never forget the flood of pride that instantly assailed me. What a great day to be Irish I thought; the largest imposed per capita national debt AND Nu Luk store in the world.
There’s just no stopping Paddy right now.
There’s just no stopping Paddy right now.
Top Of The Sliabh
My ten year old came to me proudly the other night and proclaimed “Chuaigh Siobhán agus Seán go dtí an baile mór ag siopadóireacht”. “Great stuff” I said, “have a seat; there’s something you need to know.”
So I poured him a glass of Sprite, let him at the last handful of Quality Street and explained that that’s as good as it gets as far as the ‘aul Gaeilge is concerned. That the standard of his conversational capabilities will not improve one shred in the remaining seven years of his formal education.
That yes, he can contemplate having conversations in Irish when he leaves school but to make sure that they revolve around shopping excursions to the big town or if that is not appropriate he could perhaps look into the possibility of steering the dialogue in the direction of a description of a particularly appetising piece of sweet cake he has recently consumed. Meaningful conversation as Gaelige beyond these two core areas does not exist.
I told him he could relax, that it was one of our great traditions to reach the zenith of Irish at the age of ten. But I will be in the system for a long time yet he protested, surely I could learn more. Under no circumstances I replied. You can do no more; you have reached the Promised Land. Put your feet up, you’ve earned a rest.
“No slí” he says. “Slí” says I.
So I poured him a glass of Sprite, let him at the last handful of Quality Street and explained that that’s as good as it gets as far as the ‘aul Gaeilge is concerned. That the standard of his conversational capabilities will not improve one shred in the remaining seven years of his formal education.
That yes, he can contemplate having conversations in Irish when he leaves school but to make sure that they revolve around shopping excursions to the big town or if that is not appropriate he could perhaps look into the possibility of steering the dialogue in the direction of a description of a particularly appetising piece of sweet cake he has recently consumed. Meaningful conversation as Gaelige beyond these two core areas does not exist.
I told him he could relax, that it was one of our great traditions to reach the zenith of Irish at the age of ten. But I will be in the system for a long time yet he protested, surely I could learn more. Under no circumstances I replied. You can do no more; you have reached the Promised Land. Put your feet up, you’ve earned a rest.
“No slí” he says. “Slí” says I.
Sunday, January 20, 2013
Thursday, December 27, 2012
Saturday, December 8, 2012
Another Loose End Tied Up
The upshot of a heated discussion this morning on Twitter is that there appears to be no collective noun for snowmen. May I propose allardyce to fill the void?
As in " Oh Maura you should get yourself into town, the Christmas decorations look fantastic. I turned onto Grafton Street and my senses were assailed by an allardyce of giant, glowing snowmen. It was beautiful."
You're welcome.
As in " Oh Maura you should get yourself into town, the Christmas decorations look fantastic. I turned onto Grafton Street and my senses were assailed by an allardyce of giant, glowing snowmen. It was beautiful."
You're welcome.
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