I Love, I Love (Travelling II)

Dar Williams from her first album The Honesty Room which, frighteningly, is twenty years old this month.

The Disappeared

We watched and soaked up the brilliance of The Disappeared on RTE 1 last Monday night. And upon its conclusion as we sat there silently within the sacred space that exists when something exceptional reaches its end we couldn’t help but wonder why the fuck they can't do this more often? Programmes which engross, illuminate and provoke like this. The talent and the wherewithal clearly exists, evidently it comes down to finding space in the schedule alongside Vogue Williams meeting the cast of Home and Away and Don’t Tell the Bride. Come to think of it, it’s a wonder it wasn’t on TG4 where they could be guaranteed nobody would be watching.

Brand New Statesman

Russell Brand on our dysfunctional political systems.

Cape Canaveral

Conor Oberst with a very cool version of Cape Canaveral for KCRW

Damo & Ivor

RTE probably field a lot of pitches for comedy shows some of which might, with a bit of development, become decent shows. But RTE don’t bother with any of that, instead they run with Damo and Ivor.

Because it’s an opportunity not to be missed to take two of the most tired characters in the history of the State and put them together in the one show. They couldn’t pass that chance up. Shite squared.

Don't Stop

There’s a reporter and camera at the scene of an incident or accident and the “crew” on site is inevitably said to be “working around the clock” at whatever restorative work is necessary. It’s always a crew and they’re never merely doing their best, doing all they can or working hard; they are always working around the clock. This is a strict rule.

Bookburning

A pamphlet all about kids’ safety came home from the school the other day. They’re all over the safety now.  They’ll do anything for safety except break the cartel that puts four stone of books into the back pack of every kid from first class upwards every year. Evidently it’s in the interests of the safety and well being of kids from the age of six to be hauling around a bag that an adult would struggle with. Character building, don’t you know.

The well being of the teachers would seemingly be unduly compromised by asking them to dispense with the books and spend a bit of time preparing their lessons like they do everywhere else.

Keep your teachers’ down time safe kids, throw that up on your back till next June. You’re young, you’re well able for it and they're so worth it.