Cricket season starts again on Sunday 4th May. Last year was the highlight of my cricket career, my team won the "Plate" ( came second) in the family fun day in Leinster. I will always treasure my trophy ( a spiral bound bratz notebook) . Click below to see me in action.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/irishcricket/1252059491/
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Dublin Underground
As the first budding independent politician to mention the phrase Dublin Underground in election literature I was very interested in Frank McDonald's piece in The Irish Times on 26th April. Very informative, and despite the strong peppering of bias I was able to complete the read. But sorry Frank 100k of Luas line is not a practical proposition. Reading stuff like this I always wonder at the author's credentials, looked up wiki, degree in in history and politics from UCD. Pity he didn't go to Trinity and take the geography freshman course on the history of Dublin, there he would have learnt about the evolution of parks in Dublin and that they are in a continous state of change. Saint Stephens Green had a ridgid formal layout in Gerogean times. Forty years ago local kids from York Street used to play football there. It is only recently that is has taken its parkland type layout. After the initial works, the subway footprint will be no bigger than the Tone instalation.
There is no real benefit in preserving everything exactly as it was 50, 100 or 150 years ago, things have to be adapted so we can live with them. New things can also have a certain beauty or attraction otherwise Frank wouldn't be living in Temple Bar ( wiki again). I love how beautiful old buildings in Italy contain shops and eateries and are incorporated into daily lives, the Irish tendancy to keep monuments aloof and separate is regretable.
There is no real benefit in preserving everything exactly as it was 50, 100 or 150 years ago, things have to be adapted so we can live with them. New things can also have a certain beauty or attraction otherwise Frank wouldn't be living in Temple Bar ( wiki again). I love how beautiful old buildings in Italy contain shops and eateries and are incorporated into daily lives, the Irish tendancy to keep monuments aloof and separate is regretable.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Economic advisors and commentators - who should you listen to
Dan, David, Brian, Shane, Eddie.
Well you have to look at a few criteria before you can bestow celeb status. No one said it would be pretty so they are all in with a chance on that level. Next thing you have to look at is how much they are exposed to market forces themselves, Brian a full time public servant, Shane is a part time public servant, David's and Eddie's RTE money comes from the public purse, Dan is alone here works full time in a real job. They all worked in financial institutions, Dan still does, all the rest have minor or no role in financial institutions. They all like publicity but Eddie, David and Shane need publicity to stay afloat. Dan and Brian don't. They all have at least some basic training in economics.
The crucial thing is who has access to the most up to date data ? Who can make an informed comment ? Hint: 40% of financial transactions are recorded in The Bank of Ireland. If you have access on day to day data on 40% of all business and professional lodgements and loans in Ireland, my bet is that Dan is fully informed. Brian is worth listening to on employment issues. The rest have entertainment value.
Well you have to look at a few criteria before you can bestow celeb status. No one said it would be pretty so they are all in with a chance on that level. Next thing you have to look at is how much they are exposed to market forces themselves, Brian a full time public servant, Shane is a part time public servant, David's and Eddie's RTE money comes from the public purse, Dan is alone here works full time in a real job. They all worked in financial institutions, Dan still does, all the rest have minor or no role in financial institutions. They all like publicity but Eddie, David and Shane need publicity to stay afloat. Dan and Brian don't. They all have at least some basic training in economics.
The crucial thing is who has access to the most up to date data ? Who can make an informed comment ? Hint: 40% of financial transactions are recorded in The Bank of Ireland. If you have access on day to day data on 40% of all business and professional lodgements and loans in Ireland, my bet is that Dan is fully informed. Brian is worth listening to on employment issues. The rest have entertainment value.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
