Monday, April 26, 2010
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Is there a time that we should take sides?
While looking up some international stories for my tutorial this week I came across a few articles about the Pope.
He visited Malta recently to meet with sexual abuse victims. This story was covered by the Sydney Morning Herald, the New York Times and the London Independent. While the story is barely a blurb in the London Independent, the other two gave a more detailed review with the New York Times giving the lengthiest account of the visit.
It is obvious why this story made the news, this issue is one that is extremely important world wide. This abuse has been going on the world over and it is time for the Catholic Church to step up and take the responsibility. Is this a way of doing that?
What I am really interested in is this: should we, as journalists, be putting more pressure on the Catholic Church? Would that be fair? Should we be putting pressure on the government to deal with pedophilia more generally rather than aiming it at the Catholic Church alone? How can an international journalist stay neutral in a topic that causes so much controversy?
Is there ever a time when a journalist should forget about being unbiased and just write?
OW
He visited Malta recently to meet with sexual abuse victims. This story was covered by the Sydney Morning Herald, the New York Times and the London Independent. While the story is barely a blurb in the London Independent, the other two gave a more detailed review with the New York Times giving the lengthiest account of the visit.
It is obvious why this story made the news, this issue is one that is extremely important world wide. This abuse has been going on the world over and it is time for the Catholic Church to step up and take the responsibility. Is this a way of doing that?
What I am really interested in is this: should we, as journalists, be putting more pressure on the Catholic Church? Would that be fair? Should we be putting pressure on the government to deal with pedophilia more generally rather than aiming it at the Catholic Church alone? How can an international journalist stay neutral in a topic that causes so much controversy?
Is there ever a time when a journalist should forget about being unbiased and just write?
OW
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Digital Rights: WTF?
I was going to write about something else for my final post on here, all about the US media and the political agendas which drive it, and how good things like the (now passed) Universal Healthcare bill were being opposed for all the wrong reasons, due in part to the irresponsible, fear-mongering yellow journalism of a certain (won't say who) American news network. But, you don't need me to tell you that Fox News is merely the PR wing of the American Republican party, that much is very evident.
What I am going to talk about is Digital Rights, a much more relevant topic considering the medium. For those who spend a lot of time online (me), one of the major points of contention for young voters in the upcoming English General Election is the proposed Digital Rights Bill. A little background: The Bill, known as the Digital Economy Act 2010, is quite similar to the famous Digital Millennium Copyright Act in the United States, which basically attempts to deal with the problem of illegal downloading and copyright infringement in the UK. And that's fair enough.
But reaction to the bill has been mixed, (to say the least) especially from those who are going to have their broadband disconnected. This is the unorthodox approach which is being taken to deal with copyright infringement, according to this bill. Using a graduated response system (3 strike style), those found to be repeatedly committing copyright infringement will have their internet access disconnected from their particular Internet Service Provider. This would actively require ISP's to basically spy on their customers activities (Right to privacy? It's been nice knowin' ya). And to my utter horror, the Times reported Friday that this same approach is being discussed for adoption here in Ireland.
Now, I don't have a problem with tackling copyright infringement. As journalists, what we create is our own intellectual property, and those are our assets. So there should be protection there for copyright infringement. But frankly, taking this kind of approach, in 2010? It might as well be Orwell's 1984. ISP's spying on your internet activities to make sure you don't misbehave? Sorry, but I'm 21 years old, and I'm a responsible adult. Stop treating me like a child. There's nothing that boils my blood more than a nanny state.
Now don't get me wrong here, I know I sound like I'm against tackling copyright infringement, but I'm not. I'm just against the way in which it is being handled. Having your Civil Liberties violated(God I sound so American, better go have a pint!), and your right to privacy pulled out from under you by your own Government at the behest of a series of multi-national corporations is not the right way to do things! And make no mistake, all that is driving this wave of hysteria are the multinationals who own the record companies which are losing money due to illegal downloading. The Government don't care if Sony or the IRMA are losing money because of copyright infringement, they're still making enough to pay their taxes to the State. But they are faced with increased pressure from the IRMA (Irish Recorded Music Association) to deal with the problem, otherwise the big boys pack up their toys and go home. And for a nation like Ireland, so dependent upon foreign investment, but which is a veritable wellspring of creative talent, record companies bring in a lot of moolah for Johnny Dáil.
The last word on this situation is that there needs to be a different approach taken to dealing with the problem. It seems that the English and Irish Governments are taking the wrong cue from the RIAA and attempting to deal with copyright infringement by individual cases. Not only is this an enormous waste of resources, it also brings up the privacy and consumer rights of the individual as mentioned earlier. As I said I'm all for Digital Rights, just not at the expense of my own.
CT
What I am going to talk about is Digital Rights, a much more relevant topic considering the medium. For those who spend a lot of time online (me), one of the major points of contention for young voters in the upcoming English General Election is the proposed Digital Rights Bill. A little background: The Bill, known as the Digital Economy Act 2010, is quite similar to the famous Digital Millennium Copyright Act in the United States, which basically attempts to deal with the problem of illegal downloading and copyright infringement in the UK. And that's fair enough.
But reaction to the bill has been mixed, (to say the least) especially from those who are going to have their broadband disconnected. This is the unorthodox approach which is being taken to deal with copyright infringement, according to this bill. Using a graduated response system (3 strike style), those found to be repeatedly committing copyright infringement will have their internet access disconnected from their particular Internet Service Provider. This would actively require ISP's to basically spy on their customers activities (Right to privacy? It's been nice knowin' ya). And to my utter horror, the Times reported Friday that this same approach is being discussed for adoption here in Ireland.
Now, I don't have a problem with tackling copyright infringement. As journalists, what we create is our own intellectual property, and those are our assets. So there should be protection there for copyright infringement. But frankly, taking this kind of approach, in 2010? It might as well be Orwell's 1984. ISP's spying on your internet activities to make sure you don't misbehave? Sorry, but I'm 21 years old, and I'm a responsible adult. Stop treating me like a child. There's nothing that boils my blood more than a nanny state.
Now don't get me wrong here, I know I sound like I'm against tackling copyright infringement, but I'm not. I'm just against the way in which it is being handled. Having your Civil Liberties violated(God I sound so American, better go have a pint!), and your right to privacy pulled out from under you by your own Government at the behest of a series of multi-national corporations is not the right way to do things! And make no mistake, all that is driving this wave of hysteria are the multinationals who own the record companies which are losing money due to illegal downloading. The Government don't care if Sony or the IRMA are losing money because of copyright infringement, they're still making enough to pay their taxes to the State. But they are faced with increased pressure from the IRMA (Irish Recorded Music Association) to deal with the problem, otherwise the big boys pack up their toys and go home. And for a nation like Ireland, so dependent upon foreign investment, but which is a veritable wellspring of creative talent, record companies bring in a lot of moolah for Johnny Dáil.
The last word on this situation is that there needs to be a different approach taken to dealing with the problem. It seems that the English and Irish Governments are taking the wrong cue from the RIAA and attempting to deal with copyright infringement by individual cases. Not only is this an enormous waste of resources, it also brings up the privacy and consumer rights of the individual as mentioned earlier. As I said I'm all for Digital Rights, just not at the expense of my own.
CT
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Review: One Republic Live at the Savoy Theatre, Cork
American rockers One Republic gave a blistering performance last night at Cork’s Savoy Theatre to a packed house, with support from Irish rock group The Shoos. The modern American rock group first hit the big time via their collaboration with producer Timbaland on a remix of their song “Apologize”. The band have seen their star rising since, and released a string of popular hits from their debut album Dreaming Out Loud including “Stop & Stare”, “Say (All I Need)” and “All Fall Down”. They released their second album, entitled Waking up in November 2009, and have released two singles from the album, “All The Right Moves” and “Secrets”. The band is currently touring Europe in support of the new album.
The Savoy Theatre is a much larger venue than one would expect from the outside, almost twice the size of Dublin’s Tripod on Harcourt St., and far larger than The Academy on Abbey St. With an upstairs standing balcony and a sizeable ground area flanked by mid level seating, the venue provides an intimate atmosphere but with booming acoustics and resonance for great live sound quality. Between The Savoy, The Marquee, and other famous music venues such as the Half Moon Theatre and Cypress Avenue, Cork is beginning to become an attractive Irish stop for bands on European tours.
Irish rockers The Shoos took the stage at around 9p.m. providing a very tight, solid and energetic performance of modern day rock infused with a spirit of mid-90s Punk rock, almost reminiscent of Belfast punk rockers Therapy?, but with a less edgy sound. Drummer Scott Maher provided a very tight and powerful foundation to the band’s sound, beating his drums like they owed him money. Lead singer Texas displayed some very impressive vocals and engaged and captivated the audience to sing along to the melodies of their latest single “Yeah”. The Shoos set lasted approximately 40 minutes, providing ample warm- up for the main event of the night. And with the true mark of any indie rock band paying their dues on the road, the band broke down their own gear and cleared the stage for headliners One Republic.
With the stage bathed in deep purple and red lighting, and smoke gently billowing from smoke machines to the sides, One Republic take to the stage one by one ,the audience cheering and clapping, until lead singer/brains of the operation Ryan Tedder emerges to a rapturous ovation of screaming females. I couldn’t help but wonder at that moment how the rest of the band must have felt hearing him get that reaction, as there was a marked difference between the receptions they got! The band opened with “Everybody Loves Me” from their new album. A blistering rocker of a tune, with a driving drum beat and blues-infused acoustic guitar riffing, it is a perfect opener to pump the crowd (and perhaps Mr. Tedder’s ego!)
The band went on to play all of their big radio hits, including “All The Right Moves”,” Secrets”, “Stop & Stare”, “Apologize”,” Say (All I Need)”, along with additional songs from their new and previous album, and even one new untitled song, another melodic slow burner that builds to a rocking crescendo, a trademark of Ryan Tedder’s writing style for the band. Tedder is an accomplished career musician, writing music for, amongst others, Beyonce, Kelly Clarkson, even former Soundgarden front man Chris Cornell, and Leona Lewis’ smash hit “Bleeding Love”. Tedder’s main instrument is a large, two stack electric piano/organ, flanked by an Irish flag thrown on stage by a fan (along with two packs of Tayto’s Bistro crisps, which was a bit weird, but the band seemed to like them.)
The band offer a unique array of musical skills on multiple instruments, and positions are regularly changed throughout the night. Bassist Brent Kutzle alternates between a cello and an electric bass guitar for most of the set, even picking up an acoustic guitar for a stripped down version of “Last Goodbye“with just him and Tedder’s vocals. Guitarist Drew Brown alternated between lead guitar and a glockenspiel which came through surprisingly clear in the live mix. Lead Guitarist Zach Filkins also picked up the viola for a brief 3 song stint. Tedder also picked up the lead acoustic for “Stop & Stare”, but undoubtedly his best performance of the night was with his vocals. It’ one thing to be a good singer on an album, but the true test of any singer is the live environment. Especially today in the world where auto-tune and pro-tools are used to pitch correct any vocal imperfections, (a studio trick which means anyone can sound pitch perfect on a recording, and is the reason why the Jonas Brothers and Miley Cyrus have music careers.) Tedder’s vocals are absolutely pitch perfect, not a bad note to be found. The high notes and vocal range he displays are truly impressive, and the power in Tedder’s voice cuts easily through the bass heavy live mix of the band’s rhythm section of cello and drums. However there were minor sound issues regarding the levels of the vocals in some songs, when Tedder’s main vocal mic appeared to be turned down for rest between songs (to prevent feedback), their sound mixer wasn’t turning it back up in time for the first verses of some songs.
One Republic’s set lasted about 75 minutes, taking the stage at 10p.m. and ending at 11.15. The big highlight of the night was a blistering rendition of the immensely popular tune “All The Right Moves” which left me nearly deaf, and the big surprise of the night was a bang on rendition of The Beastie Boys’ famous hit “Sabotage”. The band excelled on this one, and Tedder impressed with his rapping on the verses. But being a vocal style he wouldn’t normally utilise, he didn’t seem to be able to project himself as loudly as he could while singing, as he tried to keep up the frantic vocal pace. But overall, a very tight, solid performance from a very talented group of musicians, they kept the audience captivated and energised right through to the end and delivered a high quality live performance which has been honed to perfection from constant touring. And a bargain too for €28!
Also spotted in attendance were Peter Stringer and his lady.
One Republic, 12/4/2010, The Savoy Theatre Cork:
*partial setlist*
Say (All I Need)
Stop & Stare
Apologize
Goodbye Apathy
Won’t Stop
Come Home
Marching On
Made For You
All The Right Moves
Secrets
Everybody Loves Me
Dreaming Out Loud
Sabotage (Beastie Boys cover)
Something’s Not Right Here
Good Life
Last Goodbye
Waking Up
CT
Monday, April 12, 2010
Our own lost generation
FIND a safe house, stay away from the market place and above all, don’t get kidnapped by Hezbollah.
The advice from my noble peers and family couldn’t have come at a more ardent time. A trainee journalist leaving Laois for the streets of Lebanon, a ludicrous move in their eyes.
The death of a Japanese journalist caught up in a riot did little to disperse their argument. Six months work experience with SABIS, a leading educational publishing company based in Beirut awaits me. An act of escapism, opportunism and down right cheek will, I hope, sort me out.
The Middle Eastern stereotype of the suicide bomber sends alarm bells ringing in my family’s ears. I’m trading a toothless tyrant for a vibrant city and culture I know nothing about. But that’s the only way to approach the unknown, learn all you can when you can.
After all, there are terrorists and suicide bombers on my very doorstep. They have dropped bombshell after bombshell on any chances and ideals of prosperity I had. My family has been hit by every possible blast.
The shrapnel has pierced every bone in my body. My father, a garda in Rathdowney, County Laois, has seen his pension reduced by the levy of 7.5%, yet he admirably says we must put our shoulder to the wheel and build a better future for our children.
A rise in interest rates means a double whammy, never mind the fact that he raises my four siblings, one of which is in WIT. Coupled with being injured on the job and a looming hip replacement, things have gone from bad to worse.
The next generation will be paying for the mistakes of others for their lifetime. While the working classes slaved away to build this republic, our politicians, bankers and statesmen dazzled away on yachts, golden handshakes and multi-million euro pensions. The family provision in the constitution should be scrapped. Protecting us, protecting our children-are you having a laugh?
Not everyone was part of the Celtic Tiger era. Moyross, the regeneration areas, addressing child poverty and education all missed out. Hospital areas lay in ruin, primary school classes were the largest in the EU. Forget knowledge economy, Bord Failte should replace it with blah, blah, boom. The government didn’t create the boom, sheer luck and good fortune combined to perch them on the highest pedestal they could find.
Come 2012 I have to envisage myself working. I will be footing the bill for my siblings. My father has done everything to get me this far, I owe it to him and my brothers and sisters to pay off our mortgage, loans, and pay for their third level education.
If there is any justice in this country then the likes of Michael Fingleton and Sean Fitzpatrick will literally have got their comeuppance while I’m away.
Bertie Ahern once remarked: “I don’t know how people who engage in that don’t commit suicide”, in response to UCD Professor Morgan Kelly’s economic prediction of the looming bust.
Just don’t hit my family on the way out. I’m indebted to hard labour in the gulags of urban Ireland. I’ll enjoy my time in Lebanon at your expense.
D.K.
An Opinion - Rugby's moral highground
In the heat of the Azteca stadium, Mexico City, June 1986, a stocky Argentinian named Diego Maradona created football's moral dilemma.
After a goalless first half of the World Cup semi fanal between England and Argentina, a mis hit clearance by Steve Hodge saw the football sit up in like a lonesome cloud in the clear, blue sky. Between Diego Maradona and the waiting net stood the giant presence of Peter Shilton. Having already lost the battle of height, the diminutive forward leapt as high as he could, and in his own words, the result was: "A little bit the head of Maradonna, a little bit the hand of God." Within five minutes, Maradona turned the ridiculous to the sublime, scoring what is still regarded as the greatest goal of all time.
Those who believe in karma probably weren't surprised when the Irish, who took great pleasure from seeing the old enemy get beaten so dramatically, were dumped out of the World Cup by the hand of Thierry Henry in Paris last November. But I am not writing to debate the place of cheating in modern sport, as any arguement only has one outcome. What I would like to do though, is look at the way cheating is perceived by the masses who follow both football and rugby; two sports which have contrasting traditions when it comes to cheating, or so it may seem.
For years I have listened to the die hard rugby faithful slam footballers for the cheating and conning of referees which is becoming a cancer of the beauiful game. Diving is the most prevalent type of cheating in football, and is slowly becoming commonplace in deciding the outcome of many important matches. But within the wiley old heads that play and coach rugby are levels of dishonesty which remain masked, somewhat, by the sheer force and physicality of the competitors on show.
There is a key difference between the levels of honesty in football and rugby. Football coaches are not known for telling their players to deceive the referee, and in many cases have been found to take internal measures against those who continue to cheat. But in rugby, coaches and experts alike, teach kids the art of dishonesty from a young age. Young prop forwards, and I was one of them, are being taught how to pull their opposing player to the ground during the scrum, resulting in a penalty being given by the referee, unaware of the tricks of the trade that experienced front rows pass down over the years. Diving, the trait most derided by the average rugby fan, is footballs nearest equivilent; conning the referee into thinking your opponent has fouled you.
Rugby and football fans view cheating in their respective sports with a complete oppositte approach. In football, pundits plead for hours on end to have divers retrospectively punished by FIFA and EUEFA, and fans boo and hurl abuse at those who show disrespect to their game. Among the rugby crowd, cheating receives a much different reaction though. Pundits on RTÉ, BBC and Sky, highlight the somewhat morally questionable decisions of many rugby players, and instead of looking for change, they look for others to do the same. One perfectly appropriate example to choose is the media attention dedicated Munster cult hero Alan Quinlan. The tipperary man has made a career, and achieved legend status amongst Irish rugby fans, for his ability to illegally steal the ball from opponents without the referee noticing. But instead of being harrassed by referees, hounded by the press and heckled by the fans, Quinlan has captured the imagination of rugby fans everywhere, being heralded by Sky Sports pundit, Stuart Barnes as the "Master of the Dark Arts." In August, Bloodgate opened many narrow rugby minds to the underhand tactics going on in their game, and a lengthy suspension handed to Dean Richards, signalled what was meant to be rugby's attempt to clean up the dirt that has developed on their sport. Instead, they have swept things under the rug. Moinsour Henry would be a fan of that.
Both Rugby and soccer should take led from the honesty shown by snooker playersand golfers, who have been known to call themselves up on fouls, even when they have been missed by match officials. In an ideal world, footballers and rugby players would have an epiphany, becoming morally responsible, and would stop at nothing to ensure their games are played to with fair play a forefront of their thoughts.
Being realistic though, a painful fall from their high horse is needed for rugby's snobbish die hards. Football knows it's faults, and doesn't need to be reminded.
"Sports do not build character. They reveal it" (Haywood Hale Broun)
NT
After a goalless first half of the World Cup semi fanal between England and Argentina, a mis hit clearance by Steve Hodge saw the football sit up in like a lonesome cloud in the clear, blue sky. Between Diego Maradona and the waiting net stood the giant presence of Peter Shilton. Having already lost the battle of height, the diminutive forward leapt as high as he could, and in his own words, the result was: "A little bit the head of Maradonna, a little bit the hand of God." Within five minutes, Maradona turned the ridiculous to the sublime, scoring what is still regarded as the greatest goal of all time.
Those who believe in karma probably weren't surprised when the Irish, who took great pleasure from seeing the old enemy get beaten so dramatically, were dumped out of the World Cup by the hand of Thierry Henry in Paris last November. But I am not writing to debate the place of cheating in modern sport, as any arguement only has one outcome. What I would like to do though, is look at the way cheating is perceived by the masses who follow both football and rugby; two sports which have contrasting traditions when it comes to cheating, or so it may seem.
For years I have listened to the die hard rugby faithful slam footballers for the cheating and conning of referees which is becoming a cancer of the beauiful game. Diving is the most prevalent type of cheating in football, and is slowly becoming commonplace in deciding the outcome of many important matches. But within the wiley old heads that play and coach rugby are levels of dishonesty which remain masked, somewhat, by the sheer force and physicality of the competitors on show.
There is a key difference between the levels of honesty in football and rugby. Football coaches are not known for telling their players to deceive the referee, and in many cases have been found to take internal measures against those who continue to cheat. But in rugby, coaches and experts alike, teach kids the art of dishonesty from a young age. Young prop forwards, and I was one of them, are being taught how to pull their opposing player to the ground during the scrum, resulting in a penalty being given by the referee, unaware of the tricks of the trade that experienced front rows pass down over the years. Diving, the trait most derided by the average rugby fan, is footballs nearest equivilent; conning the referee into thinking your opponent has fouled you.
Rugby and football fans view cheating in their respective sports with a complete oppositte approach. In football, pundits plead for hours on end to have divers retrospectively punished by FIFA and EUEFA, and fans boo and hurl abuse at those who show disrespect to their game. Among the rugby crowd, cheating receives a much different reaction though. Pundits on RTÉ, BBC and Sky, highlight the somewhat morally questionable decisions of many rugby players, and instead of looking for change, they look for others to do the same. One perfectly appropriate example to choose is the media attention dedicated Munster cult hero Alan Quinlan. The tipperary man has made a career, and achieved legend status amongst Irish rugby fans, for his ability to illegally steal the ball from opponents without the referee noticing. But instead of being harrassed by referees, hounded by the press and heckled by the fans, Quinlan has captured the imagination of rugby fans everywhere, being heralded by Sky Sports pundit, Stuart Barnes as the "Master of the Dark Arts." In August, Bloodgate opened many narrow rugby minds to the underhand tactics going on in their game, and a lengthy suspension handed to Dean Richards, signalled what was meant to be rugby's attempt to clean up the dirt that has developed on their sport. Instead, they have swept things under the rug. Moinsour Henry would be a fan of that.
Both Rugby and soccer should take led from the honesty shown by snooker playersand golfers, who have been known to call themselves up on fouls, even when they have been missed by match officials. In an ideal world, footballers and rugby players would have an epiphany, becoming morally responsible, and would stop at nothing to ensure their games are played to with fair play a forefront of their thoughts.
Being realistic though, a painful fall from their high horse is needed for rugby's snobbish die hards. Football knows it's faults, and doesn't need to be reminded.
"Sports do not build character. They reveal it" (Haywood Hale Broun)
NT
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Weekend Roundup
With NAMA all the rage lately, it’s unsurprising that a big chunk of the weekend’s news is business related. The Sunday Business post reported on how the Anglo-Quinn merger deal is under pressure to be finalised hopefully within the week. Financial Regulator Mathew Elderfield was quoted by the Post as being “concerned about the distractions which managing Quinn Insurance would create for Anglo,..on top of the €2.8bn already owed by the Quinn family to the bank.” The Post declares that the deal is ongoing, hoping to be resolved within the week.
Keeping on the business theme, a story featured prominently on the Sunday Independent front page is that of Seanie Fitzpatrick’s son David being lent USD$50,000 (€37,048) to purchase an apartment in New York, 7 months AFTER the bailout of Anglo Irish by the State. David Fitzpatrick is an employee of Anglo-Irish’s US operation, and secured the loan against his $1.265 million apartment in New York’s upscale Greenwich Village. The Independent went on to say that there was no evidence that the initial acquisition of the property was secured by a mortgage, suggesting that he had been counting on the money to purchase his new home. Apparently, being the bosses son gets you a credit limit of €1.257 million to charge to Anglo Irish! At this stage in the game, how much more shocked can we the people be? ANOTHER embezzlement of taxpayer’s money? Just another day in Ireland then.
Elsewhere on the Independent’s front page, Brendan O’ Connor, noted Cork man and (former) Chat show host sounds off on NAMA. Taking a firm stance against it, he likens the taxpayer’s acceptance of NAMA to an abusive relationship:
“You see, this is what happens when you let people get away with murder. Let someone walk all over you once, and then it becomes the norm. You are then in what is known as an abusive relationship. We are now in an abusive relationship with the banks. And naturally, like everyone in an abusive relationship, we are tending to blame ourselves in some way.”
This article is a great read, and O’ Connor doesn’t waste an inch of his precious column space in making very clear how the banks and developers have in no uncertain terms “destroyed this country”. All delivered with an acerbic wit and urgency that O’ Connor is famous for. Read more here.
The public sector pay dispute rages on also. With the teaching unions of the country split over their current offer on the table, the Independent covers the passport workers dispute, revealing that staff in the passport office in Cork City were offered double pay for time off as an incentive to clear backlogged applications in the system. Ray Devine of the Cork passport office is quoted by the Independent “Ah, jaysus! That’s in internal email, you shouldn’t have it!” Had to chuckle to myself when I saw that. Apparently, staff in the Cork office were much more courteous during the recent industrial action than their Dublin counterparts, and the incentive was defended by a source in the Dept of Foreign Affairs.
Healthcare has been making the news this week also, not just in the US but also here at home. The Sunday Business Post writes on it’s front page that “High costs prohibit cancer patient’s access to treatment.” Professor John Armstrong is quoted that “only a fraction of public patients had access to the most up-to-date radiotherapy treatments.” This combines nicely with another story in the Independent about how Doctors are facing accusations of giving preferential treatment to private health insurance holders over those on the public healthcare system, with the headline “How long must we wait?” It seems the same issues plaguing the American healthcare system are happening here, with the Public/Private divide being a source of contention regarding preferential treatment of patients with cash, versus those without.
Finally, to move away from the boring ‘ol business side of things, the Sunday Independent ran a very interesting story regarding Phoebe Prince. For those unaware, Phoebe was a 15 year old girl from Clare, who had moved to Boston with her family. Upon her entrance to high school over there, she quickly became the subject of verbal and physical abuse by a clique at the top of the social ladder at South Hadley High school. Apparently, she stepped on some of the “popular” girl’s toes when she became involved with a couple of guys who were the top football stars of the school. What followed were weeks of verbal and physical abuse which ultimately drove Phoebe to suicide. The Governor of Massachusetts, Deval Patrick came out this week criticising the teachers and school administrators who ignored Phoebe’s repeated cries for help and completely ignored the situation. I won’t reprint the gory details here, but I suggest reading further into this story, it’s nothing short of shocking and depressing and makes you wonder how people can be so cruel for no good reason.
I hate to end on such a down note, but this is getting a bit long.
That’s the roundup of the weekend’s news; I’ll be back again soon to talk about the Healthcare situation in the US and the media’s treatment of that issue. It's shocking to me how ANYONE can be against free healthcare. It's not a privilege based on how much money you have, it's a right. The Welfare State has been working wonders in Europe since the end of WWII, America can learn from this Why would so many people be against a bill guaranteeing basic healthcare provisions to their fellow citizens ? Does the agenda of the media have enough power to sway the voting populace?
But before, an exclusive review of OneRepublic live from the Savoy in Cork.
(There’s an excuse to go to a concert!)
CT
Keeping on the business theme, a story featured prominently on the Sunday Independent front page is that of Seanie Fitzpatrick’s son David being lent USD$50,000 (€37,048) to purchase an apartment in New York, 7 months AFTER the bailout of Anglo Irish by the State. David Fitzpatrick is an employee of Anglo-Irish’s US operation, and secured the loan against his $1.265 million apartment in New York’s upscale Greenwich Village. The Independent went on to say that there was no evidence that the initial acquisition of the property was secured by a mortgage, suggesting that he had been counting on the money to purchase his new home. Apparently, being the bosses son gets you a credit limit of €1.257 million to charge to Anglo Irish! At this stage in the game, how much more shocked can we the people be? ANOTHER embezzlement of taxpayer’s money? Just another day in Ireland then.
Elsewhere on the Independent’s front page, Brendan O’ Connor, noted Cork man and (former) Chat show host sounds off on NAMA. Taking a firm stance against it, he likens the taxpayer’s acceptance of NAMA to an abusive relationship:
“You see, this is what happens when you let people get away with murder. Let someone walk all over you once, and then it becomes the norm. You are then in what is known as an abusive relationship. We are now in an abusive relationship with the banks. And naturally, like everyone in an abusive relationship, we are tending to blame ourselves in some way.”
This article is a great read, and O’ Connor doesn’t waste an inch of his precious column space in making very clear how the banks and developers have in no uncertain terms “destroyed this country”. All delivered with an acerbic wit and urgency that O’ Connor is famous for. Read more here.
The public sector pay dispute rages on also. With the teaching unions of the country split over their current offer on the table, the Independent covers the passport workers dispute, revealing that staff in the passport office in Cork City were offered double pay for time off as an incentive to clear backlogged applications in the system. Ray Devine of the Cork passport office is quoted by the Independent “Ah, jaysus! That’s in internal email, you shouldn’t have it!” Had to chuckle to myself when I saw that. Apparently, staff in the Cork office were much more courteous during the recent industrial action than their Dublin counterparts, and the incentive was defended by a source in the Dept of Foreign Affairs.
Healthcare has been making the news this week also, not just in the US but also here at home. The Sunday Business Post writes on it’s front page that “High costs prohibit cancer patient’s access to treatment.” Professor John Armstrong is quoted that “only a fraction of public patients had access to the most up-to-date radiotherapy treatments.” This combines nicely with another story in the Independent about how Doctors are facing accusations of giving preferential treatment to private health insurance holders over those on the public healthcare system, with the headline “How long must we wait?” It seems the same issues plaguing the American healthcare system are happening here, with the Public/Private divide being a source of contention regarding preferential treatment of patients with cash, versus those without.
Finally, to move away from the boring ‘ol business side of things, the Sunday Independent ran a very interesting story regarding Phoebe Prince. For those unaware, Phoebe was a 15 year old girl from Clare, who had moved to Boston with her family. Upon her entrance to high school over there, she quickly became the subject of verbal and physical abuse by a clique at the top of the social ladder at South Hadley High school. Apparently, she stepped on some of the “popular” girl’s toes when she became involved with a couple of guys who were the top football stars of the school. What followed were weeks of verbal and physical abuse which ultimately drove Phoebe to suicide. The Governor of Massachusetts, Deval Patrick came out this week criticising the teachers and school administrators who ignored Phoebe’s repeated cries for help and completely ignored the situation. I won’t reprint the gory details here, but I suggest reading further into this story, it’s nothing short of shocking and depressing and makes you wonder how people can be so cruel for no good reason.
I hate to end on such a down note, but this is getting a bit long.
That’s the roundup of the weekend’s news; I’ll be back again soon to talk about the Healthcare situation in the US and the media’s treatment of that issue. It's shocking to me how ANYONE can be against free healthcare. It's not a privilege based on how much money you have, it's a right. The Welfare State has been working wonders in Europe since the end of WWII, America can learn from this Why would so many people be against a bill guaranteeing basic healthcare provisions to their fellow citizens ? Does the agenda of the media have enough power to sway the voting populace?
But before, an exclusive review of OneRepublic live from the Savoy in Cork.
(There’s an excuse to go to a concert!)
CT
Friday, April 9, 2010
A New Generation Has to Lead This Country
ON FRIDAY night four of the country’s most prominent polemicists appeared on the Late Late Show with Ryan Tubridy to discuss the NAMA controversy and the spiralling demise of the economy.
The four - Kevin Myers, Matt Cooper, Sarah Carey and Gerard Colleran - were apoplectic with rage, at the bankers, the Government and developers. Each had their own particular opinion, but all agreed that the country is in dire straits, and us, our children and grandchildren will end up paying for the reckless way in which Fianna Fail ran the country, and the way in which bankers lent money to profligate developers.
Some weeks previously on Pat Kenny’s Frontline programme on RTE, the entrepreneur and Apprentice supremo Bill Cullen told the gathered audience of 20- and early 30-something-year-olds they were all “whingers” when they complained about the catastrophic collapse of the Irish economy, brought about at least in part by the current government’s incompetence, and woeful decisions of the previous Ahern era administrations.
Those on the show complained about their lack of well-paid jobs, the lack of any chance to get professional experience and the fact that most were facing emigration. Those a little older were in the main saddled with massive mortgage debt, and faced a generation of negative equity on homes that were worth less than half their owners paid for them, and would in all likelihood never again regain the enormous prices their owners paid for them.
Cullen was booed for airing his comments. But what if he was right?
On a daily basis on the Joe Duffy Show is inundated with tales of woe from ordinary people who took out mortgages and are now facing repossession, or young graduates who cannot find work and are emigrating.
This week the Star ran an emotive headline “They Should Be Shot” with accompanying picture of bankers including former Anglo chairman Sean Fitzpatrick following the announcement by the Finance Minster Brian Lenihan in the Dail that billions more are going to have to be injected into Anglo, along with the other Irish banks, to save the banking sector, and the country, from collapse.
Now, let get this out the way: the bankers are to blame for the economic tsunami that hit the country, and so is Fianna Fail. Brian Cowen and most of the current cabinet have been in government for 13 years. Economic policies they pursued lead directly to he property boom and the economic and deserved to be hounded out of office at the next election. There have been five French republics and a couple ended with the beheading of its leaders. It is time to do the same here.
But it struck me that not one of the young contributors to the Frontline show took any responsibility for the current state of the country. Are we not all citizens? Did we not elect the Government? The public, especially ‘Low GI Jane’ and ‘Breakfast Roll Man’ (to use the phrases coined by economist David McWilliams) voted en masse for Bertie Ahern and the continuation of the Fianna Fail lead government in the 2007 elections – all of the commuter belt constituencies returned a strong representation of Fianna Fail candidates. We all bought into the credit driven consumerism bonanza. So is it not just as much our fault?
But to start blaming the 20 and 30-somethings of ‘Generation Now’ as Carl O’Brien in the Irish Times has labeled our generation is not going to get us anywhere. What we need is action and leadership to start to build a new economy, and a new republic.
A new generation of leaders needs to emerge. Trust in politicians of all parties is completely lost and we are in danger of losing a generation of highly educated and motivated young Irish graduates unless that new republic is born soon.
Michael Collins was 31 when he was shot in Beal na mBlath in August 1922. Robert Emmett was 26 when he was hanged, drawn and quartered on Thomas St for treason. They dreamed, perhaps naively and idealistically, of a new Ireland.
We all need to do the same, and take responsibility for coming up with solutions to the economic and political paralysis that has firmly taken hold in the country. We have to conceive and give birth to this new republic. If we don’t, then this generation is lost.
-TF
Do the ends justify the means?
After I tell this story, I need to ask a question.
Sports stars and scandal have walked hand in hand lately. Tiger found himself out-of-bounds, while Ashley Cole's away form was the subject of a media frenzy not long ago. Fans of all ages are waiting in the wings, wondering who will be the next big name to fall from grace, ruining, in a matter of hours, the careers that they have been working on since they were young kids with nothing but dreams.
Joe Calzaghe was the next to fall. A Welshman with an Italian father, Joe retired from professional boxing with a record of 46 wins from 46 professional bouts, one of four Europeans to finish their career as an undefeated World Champion. The "Italian Dragon" left a legacy as one of modern boxing's lingest serving world champions, wearing the Super Middleweight title for ten years, before he decided to relinquish it in favour of a move to light heavyweight. Heralded as British boxing's greatest ever fighter, Calzaghe retired in 2009 as a champion and a role model. Popular amongst everyone in British sport, he was honoured by his peers and the British public alike when he claimed the BBC Sports Personality of the Year for 2007. His star was high in the sky, but little did I know that it would only be a matter of time before it would all crash and burn.
Fast forward to 28 March 2010, a day which came as a knock-out blow to Calzaghe, something he was never faced with. The News of the World reported how the iconic boxing promoter, and Welsh role model has turned to cocaine since his retirement. He was exposed to the British public after their undercover reporter caught Calzaghe on camera snorting cocaine. All his own fault, some may say.
I am not here to debate whether it is right or wrong to take cocaine, as I know the answers will be pretty predictable. But the question I want to ask the collective, is: Do you think undercover reporting has a place in journalism? Is it morally acceptable to lie and deceive in order to get the big scoop?
This is'nt the first time the News of the World have used undercover reporters to expose sports people. In 2006, England football manager, Sven Goran Erikksson was the victim of a fake sheikh, offering him a new job and exposing Sven's greed. Sven announced his resignation as manager of England days later, a shodow hanging over the team only months before a World Cup.
So, tell me... Do the ends justify the means?
NT
Sports stars and scandal have walked hand in hand lately. Tiger found himself out-of-bounds, while Ashley Cole's away form was the subject of a media frenzy not long ago. Fans of all ages are waiting in the wings, wondering who will be the next big name to fall from grace, ruining, in a matter of hours, the careers that they have been working on since they were young kids with nothing but dreams.
Joe Calzaghe was the next to fall. A Welshman with an Italian father, Joe retired from professional boxing with a record of 46 wins from 46 professional bouts, one of four Europeans to finish their career as an undefeated World Champion. The "Italian Dragon" left a legacy as one of modern boxing's lingest serving world champions, wearing the Super Middleweight title for ten years, before he decided to relinquish it in favour of a move to light heavyweight. Heralded as British boxing's greatest ever fighter, Calzaghe retired in 2009 as a champion and a role model. Popular amongst everyone in British sport, he was honoured by his peers and the British public alike when he claimed the BBC Sports Personality of the Year for 2007. His star was high in the sky, but little did I know that it would only be a matter of time before it would all crash and burn.
Fast forward to 28 March 2010, a day which came as a knock-out blow to Calzaghe, something he was never faced with. The News of the World reported how the iconic boxing promoter, and Welsh role model has turned to cocaine since his retirement. He was exposed to the British public after their undercover reporter caught Calzaghe on camera snorting cocaine. All his own fault, some may say.
I am not here to debate whether it is right or wrong to take cocaine, as I know the answers will be pretty predictable. But the question I want to ask the collective, is: Do you think undercover reporting has a place in journalism? Is it morally acceptable to lie and deceive in order to get the big scoop?
This is'nt the first time the News of the World have used undercover reporters to expose sports people. In 2006, England football manager, Sven Goran Erikksson was the victim of a fake sheikh, offering him a new job and exposing Sven's greed. Sven announced his resignation as manager of England days later, a shodow hanging over the team only months before a World Cup.
So, tell me... Do the ends justify the means?
NT
Restaraunt Review - Gauchos
I'm reviewing Gauchos restaraunt in London. The restaraunt is situated in the Bell Yard, which incidently was once the Bank of England's gold holding vaults. It's a perfectly apt place, because the food and service is pure gold.
Gauchos is laid out over three floors, with low lighted ambience and very friendly staff. You can tell immediately that it's a very classy place - apparently it's mainly used by business people as a venue, with the upstairs being reserved only for those who have a few more pennies in their pocket than the average Joe.
With all round leather, chrome, marble and a sense of the western in the cowhide cover walls, the restaraunt exudes a sense of comfort and chic and puts you at ease immediately. There's also an in house DJ, providing the chilled out electronica sound track to your meal.
Gauchos is famous for its steaks, and I couldn't wait to sink my teeth into one. Much to my pleasure I discovered we would be eating off of a set menu which included not only one but four steaks - rib eye, fillet, sirloin and rump. Heaven.
For my starter I had king scallop with coconut, red onion, chilli and mango. It was beautifully creamy and warm, the hints of mango and especially the coconut complementing the dish nicely.
My main course was the star of the show. We were presented with the steaks periodically, along with a plate full of veg, spinach and pureéd sweetcorn in a dried spaghetti wrap. The steaks did not disappoint. All cooked to perfection, perfectly tender and juicy, I could definately see why Gauchos is famous for it's steaks.
The service was first class, the staff were all very friendly without being over the top, and we recieved a bottle of free champagne because there was a slight delay with the table.
All in all, I would definately reccomend this restaraunt to anyone who's ever in London. It's top class service with delicious food and also very good value for money.
RP
Gauchos is laid out over three floors, with low lighted ambience and very friendly staff. You can tell immediately that it's a very classy place - apparently it's mainly used by business people as a venue, with the upstairs being reserved only for those who have a few more pennies in their pocket than the average Joe.With all round leather, chrome, marble and a sense of the western in the cowhide cover walls, the restaraunt exudes a sense of comfort and chic and puts you at ease immediately. There's also an in house DJ, providing the chilled out electronica sound track to your meal.
Gauchos is famous for its steaks, and I couldn't wait to sink my teeth into one. Much to my pleasure I discovered we would be eating off of a set menu which included not only one but four steaks - rib eye, fillet, sirloin and rump. Heaven.
For my starter I had king scallop with coconut, red onion, chilli and mango. It was beautifully creamy and warm, the hints of mango and especially the coconut complementing the dish nicely.
My main course was the star of the show. We were presented with the steaks periodically, along with a plate full of veg, spinach and pureéd sweetcorn in a dried spaghetti wrap. The steaks did not disappoint. All cooked to perfection, perfectly tender and juicy, I could definately see why Gauchos is famous for it's steaks.
The service was first class, the staff were all very friendly without being over the top, and we recieved a bottle of free champagne because there was a slight delay with the table.
All in all, I would definately reccomend this restaraunt to anyone who's ever in London. It's top class service with delicious food and also very good value for money.
RP
Human Error
A 53 year old mother died whilst her abnormal test results lay around in a "typing pool" in Mayo General Hospital for two weeks.
Thousands of x-rays are backlogged at Tallaght hospital still, with 7,000 x - rays that have not been properly checked by radiologists needing to be rechecked.
I could go on listing health stories of this calibre, as they are sadly numerous in the HSE of late. But I don't think there is any need. It's pretty obvious something's wrong, and there are pointers at where this problem lies.
I had the unfortunate pleasure of sampling the Italian healthcare system a couple of years ago while on holidays. I was whisked through A&E, saw a doctor, filled a single form in containing all my details and was treated. In a similar scenario in Ireland, I wasn't so much whisked as sat in a corner and piled with so much paperwork, I thought they presumed I was there for a job interview.
The Irish system lacks efficient organisation, on an administration level and on a ward level. I'm certainly no expert, but it's plain the one that's there at the moment doesn't work. How can a radiologist "not properly check" a number of x-rays? How can they leave the test results of somebody who is very ill on a desk for two weeks?!
What I want to know is why isn't some sort of action being taken to stop careless mistakes resulting in people's lives - a husband, a mother, a daughter - being taken away so needlessly? A simple reshuffling of how they handle administration could stop errors like this from happening.
But of course, I forgot. That costs money. And we all know Ms Harney needs another holiday.
RP
Thousands of x-rays are backlogged at Tallaght hospital still, with 7,000 x - rays that have not been properly checked by radiologists needing to be rechecked.
I could go on listing health stories of this calibre, as they are sadly numerous in the HSE of late. But I don't think there is any need. It's pretty obvious something's wrong, and there are pointers at where this problem lies.
I had the unfortunate pleasure of sampling the Italian healthcare system a couple of years ago while on holidays. I was whisked through A&E, saw a doctor, filled a single form in containing all my details and was treated. In a similar scenario in Ireland, I wasn't so much whisked as sat in a corner and piled with so much paperwork, I thought they presumed I was there for a job interview.
The Irish system lacks efficient organisation, on an administration level and on a ward level. I'm certainly no expert, but it's plain the one that's there at the moment doesn't work. How can a radiologist "not properly check" a number of x-rays? How can they leave the test results of somebody who is very ill on a desk for two weeks?!
What I want to know is why isn't some sort of action being taken to stop careless mistakes resulting in people's lives - a husband, a mother, a daughter - being taken away so needlessly? A simple reshuffling of how they handle administration could stop errors like this from happening.
But of course, I forgot. That costs money. And we all know Ms Harney needs another holiday.
RP
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Lost in the Woods
It seems Tiger is back out of the woodwork. Tiger Woods has apparently appeared in his first ad since the news got out of his extramarital wanderings. Predictable.
A couple of months ago, people were "shocked" and "outraged" at the news that he hadn't been exactly faithful to his wife. His career was over, the media claimed. He was ruined. He'd never putt again.
Now he seems to be getting his career back on track, does it not all seem a bit orchestrated? I remember talking in class around the time the story came out about Ashley and Cheryl Cole about how this kind of PR can be organised and work in the celebrities favour.
As predicted, girly mags are now reporting the latest about Cheryl's new found confidence and string of hunky dates, Ashley's career doesn't seem too hurt, and now Tiger's back on the scene. Coincidence...?
I'll never truly know if it was the work of crafty PR or simply a case of getting caught out, but I do know that there are people who are employed to hide cases like this from the media, and they usually do their job well. So why did these specific cases come to light?
Interestingly, the news of Tiger's return made the headlines on RTE. In the past, stories like this were confined usually only to red tops and magazines.
It just made me think how what is considered important news has changed, and how even established media organisations have changed to facilitate the "sensationalist" news stories.
RP
A couple of months ago, people were "shocked" and "outraged" at the news that he hadn't been exactly faithful to his wife. His career was over, the media claimed. He was ruined. He'd never putt again.
Now he seems to be getting his career back on track, does it not all seem a bit orchestrated? I remember talking in class around the time the story came out about Ashley and Cheryl Cole about how this kind of PR can be organised and work in the celebrities favour. As predicted, girly mags are now reporting the latest about Cheryl's new found confidence and string of hunky dates, Ashley's career doesn't seem too hurt, and now Tiger's back on the scene. Coincidence...?
I'll never truly know if it was the work of crafty PR or simply a case of getting caught out, but I do know that there are people who are employed to hide cases like this from the media, and they usually do their job well. So why did these specific cases come to light?
Interestingly, the news of Tiger's return made the headlines on RTE. In the past, stories like this were confined usually only to red tops and magazines.
It just made me think how what is considered important news has changed, and how even established media organisations have changed to facilitate the "sensationalist" news stories.
RP
The Future
As the economy slides further into a recession, what hope is there for the present and future generations of university students? The UL Collective share their hopes and views of the future ahead.
A procession of black gowns proceed to walk to the front stage. Parents watch from the wings, they watch their children finally complete their official education.
Certificates are given out, caps are thrown in the air. The day of graduation is over.
Once a day of prosperity, a day of hope and a day of looking to a certain future, the day of graduation has changed for many.
The majority of the Irish population in fact.
On my day of graduation, I will collect my certificate, I will throw my cap in the air and I will walk outside onto the green grass of the university, not looking forward to a stable career, a bright and hopeful future, but rather wondering how to survive the next few years financially, how to pay off my student loans and what I will do to get a job to support myself and a possible future family.
With not even enough money to catch a flight to escape to Australia, today’s youthful, educated offspring are waiting in the dole queues outside the local Post Office.
Ireland is known worldwide for its standards in education, people travel from far and wide to assign their children into an Irish school, to achieve the desired education that we are privileged to have.
However, a Leaving Certificate or a First-class Honours degree means little when you are standing on a barren road, facing an uncertain future that promises little to anybody, even the dedicated students who collected their honours degree with satisfaction and pride.
With a failing economy, a dwindling workforce, growing dole queues and quickly closing opportunities, I know I will not be as confident and certain on my day of graduation as my predecessors were ten, fifteen years ago.
People wandered the streets in the recession of the eighties, days were spent watching the new break-dancing crazes or playing with the enticingly difficult Rubix cube, there were no jobs. People in Ireland felt they had failed.
The Celtic Tiger arrived with a roar of achievement, a feeling of success and a stride of confidence. We thought we had it sorted, only to throw it all away in foolish acts of greed, selfishness, stupidity and idiocracy.
We are now faced with a situation twenty times worse than that of the eighties.
My cap will be thrown and certificate will be collected, only to gather my college books, pack them in the attic and make my way down to the local dole queue.
DC.
I am a sports nut. I love every sport. It can be indoor, outdoor, individual or team. If there is competition, I will be drawn to it.
Growing up, I always knew I had a passion for sports, and during my teens, I started to read sports pages, cover to cover during never ending days of rain in a mobile home in Kerry. It was here that I knew I wanted to be a sports “hack”. Things haven’t changed in the last few years. I know now, more than ever that want sports to be my career.
So far, I have enjoyed writing, but I haven’t shut the door on other forms of sports journalism. Being from Limerick, it is clear that rugby is the sport I will find most of my stories in, although controversy is commonplace in Limerick GAA also. I see myself as being knowledgeable enough to write in many different sports, some major sports, while others are far more obscure. As I grew into the idea of doing journalism from reading the likes of Tom Humphries, James Lawton or Hugh Farrelly, I think I would strive to gain the respect among my peers just as they did.
I am not a cocky “know it all” though, and am well aware of my limits, things like horse racing springing to mind instsntly.
For many people, sports don’t matter. But for me, nothing else matters.
NT.
GROWING up as a kid in the eighties, in a family with one parent working and the other staying at home trying to keep the seams from coming apart, it was a meagre existence, but a happy one.
We got by on what came through the letterbox once a month and we kept ourselves entertained without needing money to do so.
These days, everything is about money. Fun is money, life is money, and success is money. Where do the simple pleasures come into it? When did we all become so obsessed with “having”?
I have never had a lot of money. I have never felt the need to have a lot of money. Fair enough, I was a young mother and balancing life was difficult to say the least. I had school, work and a child to support, but I managed.
My child is now 11, and in the last 2 years I have started to worry more and more about my own future and my child’s future. Where do we go from here?
Job prospects are bleak, I am at the stage of my life where I finally want to settle down and build a career for myself, but the chances of that happening here are slim.
The prospect of having to leave Ireland makes me very sad. I love Ireland; I love Limerick and want to stay and build my life and career here where I grew up, to give something positive back to the community.
I am watching my son growing older every day, getting bigger and stronger and smarter and more clued in and it upsets me that he will have to worry about these things in the near future.
As much as any parent wants to keep their child close to them forever, I will be encouraging him, and have already started to do so, to leave this god forsaken island, travel the world and find a place that he can call home, because the way things are now, this is no place to call home.
Will the last one leaving please switch off the lights.
EOB
A procession of black gowns proceed to walk to the front stage. Parents watch from the wings, they watch their children finally complete their official education.
Certificates are given out, caps are thrown in the air. The day of graduation is over.
Once a day of prosperity, a day of hope and a day of looking to a certain future, the day of graduation has changed for many.
The majority of the Irish population in fact.
On my day of graduation, I will collect my certificate, I will throw my cap in the air and I will walk outside onto the green grass of the university, not looking forward to a stable career, a bright and hopeful future, but rather wondering how to survive the next few years financially, how to pay off my student loans and what I will do to get a job to support myself and a possible future family.
With not even enough money to catch a flight to escape to Australia, today’s youthful, educated offspring are waiting in the dole queues outside the local Post Office.
Ireland is known worldwide for its standards in education, people travel from far and wide to assign their children into an Irish school, to achieve the desired education that we are privileged to have.
However, a Leaving Certificate or a First-class Honours degree means little when you are standing on a barren road, facing an uncertain future that promises little to anybody, even the dedicated students who collected their honours degree with satisfaction and pride.
With a failing economy, a dwindling workforce, growing dole queues and quickly closing opportunities, I know I will not be as confident and certain on my day of graduation as my predecessors were ten, fifteen years ago.
People wandered the streets in the recession of the eighties, days were spent watching the new break-dancing crazes or playing with the enticingly difficult Rubix cube, there were no jobs. People in Ireland felt they had failed.
The Celtic Tiger arrived with a roar of achievement, a feeling of success and a stride of confidence. We thought we had it sorted, only to throw it all away in foolish acts of greed, selfishness, stupidity and idiocracy.
We are now faced with a situation twenty times worse than that of the eighties.
My cap will be thrown and certificate will be collected, only to gather my college books, pack them in the attic and make my way down to the local dole queue.
DC.
I am a sports nut. I love every sport. It can be indoor, outdoor, individual or team. If there is competition, I will be drawn to it.
Growing up, I always knew I had a passion for sports, and during my teens, I started to read sports pages, cover to cover during never ending days of rain in a mobile home in Kerry. It was here that I knew I wanted to be a sports “hack”. Things haven’t changed in the last few years. I know now, more than ever that want sports to be my career.
So far, I have enjoyed writing, but I haven’t shut the door on other forms of sports journalism. Being from Limerick, it is clear that rugby is the sport I will find most of my stories in, although controversy is commonplace in Limerick GAA also. I see myself as being knowledgeable enough to write in many different sports, some major sports, while others are far more obscure. As I grew into the idea of doing journalism from reading the likes of Tom Humphries, James Lawton or Hugh Farrelly, I think I would strive to gain the respect among my peers just as they did.
I am not a cocky “know it all” though, and am well aware of my limits, things like horse racing springing to mind instsntly.
For many people, sports don’t matter. But for me, nothing else matters.
NT.
GROWING up as a kid in the eighties, in a family with one parent working and the other staying at home trying to keep the seams from coming apart, it was a meagre existence, but a happy one.
We got by on what came through the letterbox once a month and we kept ourselves entertained without needing money to do so.
These days, everything is about money. Fun is money, life is money, and success is money. Where do the simple pleasures come into it? When did we all become so obsessed with “having”?
I have never had a lot of money. I have never felt the need to have a lot of money. Fair enough, I was a young mother and balancing life was difficult to say the least. I had school, work and a child to support, but I managed.
My child is now 11, and in the last 2 years I have started to worry more and more about my own future and my child’s future. Where do we go from here?
Job prospects are bleak, I am at the stage of my life where I finally want to settle down and build a career for myself, but the chances of that happening here are slim.
The prospect of having to leave Ireland makes me very sad. I love Ireland; I love Limerick and want to stay and build my life and career here where I grew up, to give something positive back to the community.
I am watching my son growing older every day, getting bigger and stronger and smarter and more clued in and it upsets me that he will have to worry about these things in the near future.
As much as any parent wants to keep their child close to them forever, I will be encouraging him, and have already started to do so, to leave this god forsaken island, travel the world and find a place that he can call home, because the way things are now, this is no place to call home.
Will the last one leaving please switch off the lights.
EOB
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Crash and burn
After watching the TV3 show Kerry Katona: Crash and Burn at 8 o’clock tonight, it almost makes you feel guilty about the profession we are embarking in. It’s hard to see the destructive effect the media can have on a person and still be excited and optimistic about being a journalist.
The TV3 show followed Kerry Katona’s life from her early days as a lap dancer and page three model to her eventual demise in the media eye. Comparing interviews she did when she was in Atomic Kitten to the infamous This Morning interview she is barely recognisable. I think the various pressures and struggles she went through in her life obviously had an effect on her and her mental instability but going through that in the public eye had a catastrophic effect. I mean the title “crash and burn” says it all really.
I think the interview on This Morning where she was seen to be disorientated and slurring her words really shows where the media can tar a person. Whether it was intentional or not, I think that after that interview there were very few people who thought she was sober. I know that it was Philip Schofield’s job to ask the tough questions and to point out that she was slurring her words but it was so hard to watch and I just felt so sorry for her. Where do you draw the line? This is a woman who is clearly sick, do you ask if she’s okay on national television or do you go to a break and ask then? Phillip and Fern seemed so genuinely concerned for her well-being but was exposing her on national television really the best thing for someone so fragile?
I know it’s hypocritical because who knows what you’d do if you were in that position and it did get publicity for the show but it just seems wrong. It’s sad that an industry that can do so much good like exposing crime and corruption can also be responsible for so much wrongdoing. I know that exposing Kerry Katona as a drug addict or alcoholic doesn’t exactly have a bad effect on society but it has a devastating effect on her. I suppose at the end of the day it’s the presenters’ job and worrying about what effect something has on Kerry Katona won’t get them far.
It all comes down to your own personal ethics and how far you will go to do well in the industry. I hope that it is something you learn along the way because right now I do not feel capable of making those decisions and having what could ultimately be someone’s future in your hands. Hopefully I will be able to find some balance between revealing the truth and destroying people’s lives.
JOD
UCC graduation fee
The students of the University College Cork are outraged at the prospects of a €65 fee for graduation. Seriously how could they not be? A €65 charge just to graduate from the college and that’s after registration fees, books, printing charges etc. It’s a bit too far this time. Students who choose not to pay the fee will be conferred “in absentia” and their parchments will be posted to their home address.
It’s completely unfair, graduating is an important time in a person’s life and I think most people want to go to the college, wear the gown (which you also have to pay for), shake the president’s hand and get their parchment. I know that €65 may not seem like a massive sum of money but if you are already paying for gowns, pictures and everything else before the graduation I can see why UCC students are getting upset. I think it is especially annoying for students already in the college for example the students graduating this year, it is unfair to just spring this on them.
With approximately 3,000 students graduating each year it is estimated that it will raise €200,000 for the college. According to the Irish Examiner (http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/students-vent-fury-over-65-fee-for-conferring-ceremony-452470.html), UCC college authorities have stated that the fee will cover the cost of hosting the graduation ceremonies which include catering and printing costs for the ten days of conferring. The Student’s Union President Eoin Hayes said that he would be very surprised if the college was not making a profit from the fee. I also would be very, very surprised if they weren’t making a little profit from this.
A Facebook page has been set up called Abolish the UCC conferring fee. (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Abolish-the-UCC-Conferring-Fee/105497372820124?ref=ts&v=wall) It already has 1, 943 fans and growing. UCC students are posting comments displaying their anger and annoyance about the fee. One student said that he is the first male in his family to have gotten higher than a primary school education and his father had really been looking forward to the graduation. He then said that he believed his father would be much more proud of him for boycotting the fee. I think it is so unfair to take the ceremony away from students and parents who have been looking forward to it. Even if not having the €65 to pay doesn’t stop some people attending the ceremony, I think that their pride will and that is such a shame for them to miss out on the day.
It is a complete disgrace for UCC to ask students to pay a fee to graduate. This is something that should be covered in the registration fee, after all is this not the reason you go to college in the first place, to graduate? All I can say is that I hope the University of Limerick does not follow in their penny-pinching footsteps.
JOD
It’s completely unfair, graduating is an important time in a person’s life and I think most people want to go to the college, wear the gown (which you also have to pay for), shake the president’s hand and get their parchment. I know that €65 may not seem like a massive sum of money but if you are already paying for gowns, pictures and everything else before the graduation I can see why UCC students are getting upset. I think it is especially annoying for students already in the college for example the students graduating this year, it is unfair to just spring this on them.
With approximately 3,000 students graduating each year it is estimated that it will raise €200,000 for the college. According to the Irish Examiner (http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/students-vent-fury-over-65-fee-for-conferring-ceremony-452470.html), UCC college authorities have stated that the fee will cover the cost of hosting the graduation ceremonies which include catering and printing costs for the ten days of conferring. The Student’s Union President Eoin Hayes said that he would be very surprised if the college was not making a profit from the fee. I also would be very, very surprised if they weren’t making a little profit from this.
A Facebook page has been set up called Abolish the UCC conferring fee. (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Abolish-the-UCC-Conferring-Fee/105497372820124?ref=ts&v=wall) It already has 1, 943 fans and growing. UCC students are posting comments displaying their anger and annoyance about the fee. One student said that he is the first male in his family to have gotten higher than a primary school education and his father had really been looking forward to the graduation. He then said that he believed his father would be much more proud of him for boycotting the fee. I think it is so unfair to take the ceremony away from students and parents who have been looking forward to it. Even if not having the €65 to pay doesn’t stop some people attending the ceremony, I think that their pride will and that is such a shame for them to miss out on the day.
It is a complete disgrace for UCC to ask students to pay a fee to graduate. This is something that should be covered in the registration fee, after all is this not the reason you go to college in the first place, to graduate? All I can say is that I hope the University of Limerick does not follow in their penny-pinching footsteps.
JOD
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
The tragic reality of bullying
On the 14th of January 2010, 15-year-old Phoebe Prince took her own life after being subjecting to months of bullying at South Hadley High School in Massachusetts. Phoebe had moved to the state the previous September from Co Clare. Initially her beauty and accent won over class mates and the attention of a popular senior boy on the football team but the jealously of girls at the school took over. After Phoebe briefly dated the popular boy objects were continuously thrown at her along with chants of “Irish whore”. There were hoards vicious comments on her Facebook page and threatening texts sent to her mobile phone. On January 14, Phoebe was walking home while bullies shouted at her from their car and through a can of red bull at her. This proved to be too much for the 15-year-old and she continued to walk back to her house where she took her own life.
As shocking as this is, the weeks after the suicide revealed more disturbing information. It seemed that most students and a lot of staff at the school were aware of the bullying that was going on. It was common knowledge at the school. You have to wonder how it all ended so horrifically if staff knew about the bullying.
After her death, her Facebook page was swarmed with memorials but one girl who would later be named as one of her bullies wrote “accomplished”. It is absolutely disgusting how this kind of bullying and hatred between teenage girls can take such a drastic end and for the bullies to be glad. We have to remember this all started over things like popularity and boys, how can someone think these are more important than a person’s life?
It emerged that there is a long standing history of bullying in South Hadley High. Students said that it was common for students to be thrown against lockers, beat up and verbally attacked. It was one particular group of girls, now called the “mean girls”, who bullied Phoebe. I just don’t understand how girls can treat other girls like that. Of course arguments and fights are understandable, these things happen but to drive some to the point of not wanting to live anymore and then say “accomplished”, I find it so hard to believe.
Superintendent of South Hadley High School Gus Sayer said that a number of the students involved in the bullying would not be returning to the school but he refused to state whether it was their choice or if they were expelled.
Following this a number of the teenage girls have been charged with violation of civil rights, stalking, criminal harassment and disturbing a school assembly. Also two boys were charged with statutory rape. Although it has been reported that staff at the school were aware of the bullying, no charges have been made against them. I find this ridiculous; after all they were the adults in all this. A week prior to Phoebe’s suicide the school stated that they disciplined two girls for calling Phoebe names in class but on the day of her death students said she was being bullied in class and the teachers present turned a blind eye. I understand they cannot be criminally charged for not doing enough but I do not think they should be still working at the school.
In the end no matter who is charged or who is fired it does not change what happened to Phoebe Prince. It’s tragic for her family to have lost her so young, it’s tragic that she is now used as an example for the horrors of bullying but hopefully bullies will think twice about the consequences their actions may have and hopefully school staff will think twice about turning a blind eye.
JOD
As shocking as this is, the weeks after the suicide revealed more disturbing information. It seemed that most students and a lot of staff at the school were aware of the bullying that was going on. It was common knowledge at the school. You have to wonder how it all ended so horrifically if staff knew about the bullying.
After her death, her Facebook page was swarmed with memorials but one girl who would later be named as one of her bullies wrote “accomplished”. It is absolutely disgusting how this kind of bullying and hatred between teenage girls can take such a drastic end and for the bullies to be glad. We have to remember this all started over things like popularity and boys, how can someone think these are more important than a person’s life?
It emerged that there is a long standing history of bullying in South Hadley High. Students said that it was common for students to be thrown against lockers, beat up and verbally attacked. It was one particular group of girls, now called the “mean girls”, who bullied Phoebe. I just don’t understand how girls can treat other girls like that. Of course arguments and fights are understandable, these things happen but to drive some to the point of not wanting to live anymore and then say “accomplished”, I find it so hard to believe.
Superintendent of South Hadley High School Gus Sayer said that a number of the students involved in the bullying would not be returning to the school but he refused to state whether it was their choice or if they were expelled.
Following this a number of the teenage girls have been charged with violation of civil rights, stalking, criminal harassment and disturbing a school assembly. Also two boys were charged with statutory rape. Although it has been reported that staff at the school were aware of the bullying, no charges have been made against them. I find this ridiculous; after all they were the adults in all this. A week prior to Phoebe’s suicide the school stated that they disciplined two girls for calling Phoebe names in class but on the day of her death students said she was being bullied in class and the teachers present turned a blind eye. I understand they cannot be criminally charged for not doing enough but I do not think they should be still working at the school.
In the end no matter who is charged or who is fired it does not change what happened to Phoebe Prince. It’s tragic for her family to have lost her so young, it’s tragic that she is now used as an example for the horrors of bullying but hopefully bullies will think twice about the consequences their actions may have and hopefully school staff will think twice about turning a blind eye.
JOD
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Is Brian Cowen guilty of economic treason?
Reposted from tomfelle.com
Taoiseach Brian Cowen has reacted angrily to charges that he is guilty of "economic treason" by Labour leader Eamon Gilmore.
Gilmore charged that Cowen's alleged mishandling of the economy, and the current government's attempts to refinance the banking sector and introduce NAMA to sort out toxic property loans, equated to an act of economic treason on the State.
Cowen was visibly upset at the charge, and perhaps with good reason. The offence, in legal parlance, is an unlawful act that threatens to undermine (or actually does undermine) the State, and those found guilty are traitors. No specific offence of economic treason exists.
The charge was made in the Dail and as such Gilmore enjoys absolute privilege. The law on treason though, were Cowen to ever be actually charged, is quite interesting. The Treason Act 1939 says a person is guilty of the offence if he or she levies war against the State, attempting by force of arms of other violent means to overthrow the organs of the State, or conspiring to do either of those. The offence is punishable, according to Section 1(1) of the Act, by death. However the 2002 21st amendment to the Constitution removes the death penalty, so it is unclear, at least at first glance, how such an act would be punished, as the law has not been updated.
However Section 3 of the Treason Act equates the indictment, arraignment and conviction and sentencing of treason with that of murder so it is reasonable that anyone who was ever convicted, however unlikely, would face a life prison sentence.
Does an act of gross mishandling of the State's economy constitute treason? It is unlikely any Supreme Court would convict. Although with a jury of 12 angry citizens, who knows?
TF
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