Author Archives: Nick Kelly

Davos 2019.

Reset hungry Leo Varadkar (WEF Young World Leaders’ Forum class of 2014) passes the Schwab test.

Good times.

Full session here.

Previously: Meanwhile. At Davos

Neil Young (left) and Joe Rogan

This morning.

Via Finn McRedmond The Irish Times:

It is easy to characterise this as a row between Young and Rogan; one enlightened by science and the other clouded by ill-judged vaccine hesitancy; liberal righteousness and reactionary malevolence….

…The tech behemoth is too powerful and perhaps the temptation to give in to exposure and profit simply too great for any normal recording artist to eschew….

…So perhaps there is a lot to thank for the Old Guard like Neil Young – recently joined in boycott by Joni Mitchell – for making a gesture (or perhaps the idea of the principled, political artist is ceding ground to the darlings of the streaming universe – Adele, Swift, Drake).

But Mitchell and Young don’t need Spotify. At the ends of their careers, they hardly require the fame it might bestow upon them; and the pair’s older audiences are much less likely to rely on streaming in the first instance. Young sold about half of his catalogue last year for a non-trivial amount of money too. It’s a lot easier to have principles when there is not that much at stake.

It might not be a lot but, in a world dominated by youth and hyper-fixated on finding the newest, shiniest artist to line the pockets of Spotify, it is at least reassuring to see Young in possession of his protesting instincts that came to characterise his earlier career. It is a dimension largely absent from the contemporary pop music scene and perhaps we are worse off for it…

Finn McRedmond: Spotify has chokehold on music industry

Meanwhile…

“Neil Young on Neil Young: Interviews and Encounters” by Arthur Lizie

Oh.

Neil Young Criticized for Making Homophobic Remarks During the AIDS Crisis — 1980s Interview Resurfaces (Digital Music News)

Getty

Previously: Heart Of Gold

Yesterday.

Seanad Eireann.

Independent Senator Sharon Keogan called for the immediate unmasking of schoolchildren

She told the chamber:

“I want to raise the issue of unmasking schoolchildren. When the National Public Health Emergency Team, NPHET, decided that primary school children should be masked back at the start of December, the National Parents Council was flooded with calls from concerned parents.

“They did not feel that they had been given enough information to understand why their children now needed to wear masks when all through the pandemic mask wearing had not been required. Perhaps since then that information has been given but certainly since then that information has changed.

“It has been over a week since restrictions have been lifted and it has been so good to see so many people around the country. However, children as young as eight years are being told to keep their masks on for hours on end during the school day even as us adults are out enjoying meals and spending time in pubs. I think that it is wrong.

“When the whole population was unvaccinated and hospitals were bursting at the seams, parents were told that it was inappropriate for under-13-year-olds to wear face masks. Now that is where we are but out of it, we still subject children to stricter restrictions than adults.

“Dr. Jeanne Noble directs the Covid response for the University of California, San Francisco emergency department. She is part of a group of physicians and scientists who have announced a national campaign in the US to restore normalcy to children’s lives by putting them first in line for the lifting of mask wearing mandates and other restrictions once the Omicron surge passes.

“I know that the mask mandate is due to be reviewed at the end of February but I strongly believe that we should do this before that date. We can bring a smile back to our children’s faces. They also need a plan for exiting the pandemic and we should allow them to get back to normal life.”

Previously: “I Have Never Seen Such Anger In Mothers”

RollingNews

Meanwhile…

Um.

Megan O’Neill – Wildfire

Doing it for the grandkids.

Irish songsmith Megan O’Neill (top) hits the high notes on her latest single which builds on the momentum generated by her album Getting Comfortable With Uncertainty last year.

The video was directed by Lucas MacDiarmada and stars Leo Falvey as the child and Paul Falvey as the clown.

Megan writes:

“The video for Wildfire tells the story of a grandfather helping his grandson through his first real loss in life. Much like the song itself, the video shares the message that that’s what we are here for – to help each other, to shed layers and grow together.”

Nick says: Send in the clown.

Megan O’Neill

Celtic Woman featuring The Longest Johns – Beeswing

She was a fine thing.

The Celtic Woman ladies have chosen Richard Thompson‘s classic tale of love in a cold climate as their new single.

Megan, Muirgen, Tara and Chloe are joined by British folk troupe The Longest Johns on this song from their album and DVD Postcards From Ireland.

Bonus points for naming the location of Broadsheet regular  Donal Moloney‘s video. (Hint: the answer is in the comments under the video.)

Nick says: This Woman’s work.

Celtic Woman

Dr Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health

This morning.

Via RTÉ News:

The Chief Medical Officer will tell the Oireachtas Health Committee today that the current Covid-19 outlook in Ireland is broadly positive.

However, TDs and Senators will also hear that the global public health risk remains high and the country must be able to respond rapidly to any emerging threat.

Dr Tony Holohan will tell the committee that the overall situation has much improved due to vaccination, adherence to health measures, as well as the reduced virulence of the Omicron variant.

He believes that while the pandemic is not over, it is safe to return to activities, such as socialising, exercise, work and travel.

Pandemic not over but safe to return to activities – Holohan (Independent.ie)

RollingNews

Meanwhile…

Um.

This morning.

RollingNews

This morning.

Happy Birthday, Ulysses.

In the footsteps of giants: the ultimate Ulysses walk around Dublin (The Guardian)

Pic: Irish Embassy, Athens, Greece

Snug.

After a long day’s asymmetric crucifix weaving.

Put your feet up.

You deserve it.

Earlier: Reed It And Weep

Meanwhile…

Yikes.

This afternoon.

Temple Street Hospital Dublin.

Clinical Nurse Manager Suzanne Kernan celebrates St Brigid’s Day in protective manner and garb. Frontline health workers have been approved to receive a recognition payment of €1,000 from the Government for their efforts during covid. In addition, from next year St Brigid’s Day will be designated as an extra bank holiday.

Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews