Currently doing the rounds online: the Leia Organa channelling pet tree frog of Indonesian photographer Tanto Yensen.
Category Archives: Misc
This year’s Web Summit in Lisbon, Portugal
…Exsqueeze me?
Never mind. How was Web Summit?
Web Summit is where humanity rushes towards its extinction….
Right so.
This would explain a few things. For instance, what do any of the companies exhibiting at Web Summit actually do?
Much of the conference space is given over to these start-up exhibitors; each of them gets a meter of wall and a plug socket for their laptop, along with a big sign in which they announce their ambitions in terms that make absolutely no sense whatsoever.
Of course, the tech industry has its own specialized discourse, so while one company announces that it “brings the next generation of B2C, B2B, B2E platforms to a high qualified partners network supported by a great business model,” you can make the vague assumption that all this gibberish might actually mean something to someone somewhere.
Similarly, with TrackingDoc, tagline “selling is a game,” which lets you “discover how people engage with your sales documents.” It’s a strange kind of language, all modifiers bleached lifeless by cliché, employing the most grandiose terms (‘discover,’ ‘transformational,’ ‘revolution’) to describe what tends to be a new way of doing paperwork, spinning precariously on the edge of meaninglessness, but it’s still language.
But what about the firm calling itself (for unknown and possibly unpleasant reasons) Kwanko, announcing simply that “data is the new performance?”
Or Lapa, which claims without any other information to be “transforming the way people search and protect all the things they can’t live without?” Or CrowdT, a “crowdfunding platform using apparel to raise funds?”
This isn’t meaning, in any of its usual senses, something that exists to be understood, but the zombie signifier, words building and feeding on each other to form a system terrifyingly self-sustaining and utterly opaque.
Gulp.
Watching the World Rot at Europe’s Largest Tech Conference (Sam Kriss, The Atlantic)
Members of the The Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform From left: Senator Gerry Horkan,Senator Rose Conway-Walsh, Senator Kieran O’Donnell and John McGuinness T.D Chairperson of the on the Plinth, Leinster House in Dublin today.
The report [on the motor insurance industry[ concluded that on average premiums have increased by 37%, but in some cases premium hikes have been in the order of 200%-300%.
“It is apparent that insurance companies in many cases are refusing even to quote insurance. In other instances, insurance companies quote but the amounts sought are so large that the net effect is to prevent people from getting insurance,” the draft report states.
It says it is unacceptable that the insurance industry publicly states that certain variables are behind steep increases in motor insurance, yet fail to publicly furnish the supporting evidence. “The insurance industry cannot have it both ways,” it added.
Want to bet?
FIGHT!
Report concludes drivers have ‘been thrown to the wolves’ over car insurance (Irish Examiner)
Motor insurance industry accused of cartel-like behaviour (Irish Times)
Previously: Unacceptable
‘There Is A Cartel Of Insurance Underwriters’
Rollingnews
Free Sunday?
at
Aindrias de Staic
Fancy watching a musical?
No wait, come back.
Ian writes:
On Sunday, 4th December internationally acclaimed Actor and Showman Aindrias de Staic and his band The Latchikos will perform “The Man from Moogaga” Live at Whelans on Wexford St at 8pm.
Fresh off the back of the Vodafone Comedian of the Year final The Man from Moogaga is a musical- comedy-story-telling hybrid telling the tale of growing up in a remote town in Ireland in the 1980’s, and playing with friends on the local GAA team.
Full of twists and turns with a cast of strong peculiar characters, all infused with de Staic’s impish sense of humour and musical skills, this show will certainly resonate with anybody who grew up in the West.
Straight from Body & Soul Festival and Electric Picnic Andreas’ musical trio group The Latchikos will also perform their wild fiddle playing, gaelic beats and witty comical lyrics.
The Man From Moogaga At Whelan’s (Facebook)
Meanwhile….
Neil Curran writes:
Improv Fest Ireland 2016 wraps up on Sunday with our ‘Celebrity’ Charity Improv Show at the Workman’s Club, 10 Wellington Quay, Dublin 1 at 7.30pm.
What happens when you take a host of faces from the TV, radio and media not normally associated with Improv comedy and give them a crash course in Improvisation before putting them onstage in front of a live audience? Find out in his daring show in aid of our charity partner, Pieta House!Confirmed on the night so far: Jenny Dixon; Conor Behan; Kelly Donegan; Nella; Darragh Doyle Anna Shelswell-White and Órla Ryan..
Paul Williams and Ryan Tubridy
The Late Late Show.
He’s back.
Bringin’ the fear.
Via RTÉ
After taking a well-earned 18-month break from touring, Daniel O’Donnell is back where he belongs, performing in front of adoring crowds across the country. We’ll be hearing about how he got over his nerves as he prepared to take to the stage again, filming his RTÉ Christmas special and travelling around Ireland with wife Majella again for another series of their B&B Road trip.
Comedian John Bishop will join Ryan to chat about how it was Ireland that gave him his first big break in television with appearances on The Panel and The Late Late Show. As he prepares to turn 50, he’ll be telling viewers about life now that his kids have flown the nest. And we’ll be hearing about the excruciating moment when his hero Paul McCartney mistook him for another famous comedian.
TV presenter Angela Scanlon spent the autumn marshalling the Robot Wars and now she’s getting ready to go nightly on the BBC’s The One Show. She’ll be sharing the secret of her UK success.
As gangland warfare continues to leave parts of Dublin in a state of fear, crime correspondent Paul Williams will trace the current feud right back to its origin – the line that was crossed when journalist Veronica Guerin was brutally gunned down in broad daylight.
*kicks telly repeatedly*
Previously: Off Script
Telly’s Jenny Buckley, a patron of Crumlin Children’s Hospital with the ‘Claus-clad Laurels Charity Crew
Don’t rest on your Laurels.
YOU are needed.
Matthew Lysaght writes:
Clondalkin [Dublin 22] based charity Laurels Charity Crew hold their 2nd Santa Cycle for Crumlin Childrens Hospital on December 4.
A bit of background to these guys first.
To date they’ve raised over €600,000 for CMRF by staging charity cycles from Galway to Dublin, 10k fun runs and now in it’s 2nd year, a cycle from the Phoenix Park to Clondalkin village via the city centre, passing by Crumlin Childrens hospital on the way, which is pretty good going for a local charity run by a group of dedicated people who’ve put all their time into this over the last few years.
It’s €30 to enter and that includes your Santa suit and a set of Christmas lights for your bike but feel free to pimp your bike up yourself as there’s a prize for the best decorated bike on the night.
It all starts from the Papal Cross in the Phoenix Park at 4pm and finishes up outside The Laurels pub in Clondalkin village at around 6.
This year, they’re also running a Santa Cycle in Cork if anyone wants to get involved down there.
Laurels Charity Crew Santa Cycle (Facebook)
Pic: Mark Stedman
Earlier this afternoon.
The Dáil was suspended after AAA-BPB Mick Barry raised the selection of Independent Senator Pádraig Ó Céidigh (top) – who was nominated for Seanad by Fianna Fail leader Micheál Martin – as chairman of the new 20-member water charges committee.
Martina Fitzgerald, of RTÉ, reported on News At One:
“Basically, they’re unhappy that Padraig O’Ceadaigh was selected rather than elected as chair of this special water committee that’s going to to examine the findings, the recommendations of the expert commission that’s currently looking at the funding of water and, remember, that’s due back next Wednesday, so obviously tensions are rising.
“But, ultimately, it was decided last week that there would be 20 members on that committee. Obviously, 16 are going to be coming from the Dáil, four from the Senate. But it was decided, I think, most people are suggesting it was a Fianna Fail and Fine Gael deal that Padraig O’Ceadaigh would be the chair. Now he’s from the Senate so already, that’s one element to it so Sinn Fein, People Before Profit, and my understanding from someone in Labour there, are also not happy about it.
“But also, he is a senator, so if you have four senator positions, you’re one down and you have Fianna Fail, Fine Gael are going to have a position on this, from the senators’ point of view and we’re hearing that the Civil Engagement Technical Group are going to have another. So, in the Seanad membership of this committee, 20 members – four senators – Sinn Féin won’t be on it and neither will Labour.”
Anyone?
Listen back here
Related: Senator Ó Céidigh to chair committee on water charges
Two years ago we told you about The Story House, the Irish non-profit writers workshop in Waterford.
So what’s the story?
Well…
‘THS’ writes:
The Story House Ireland is going from strength to strength!
Their next 5 day residential course “Writing for Young People” (Over 18’s) lead by experienced and award winning authors – ER Murray (Nine Lives Trilogy / Dublin Unesco City of Literature City Wide Read) Sheena Wilkinson (Taking Flight – CBI Honour Award, Children’s Choice Award) and Patricia Forde (author and vice-chair of Children’s Books Ireland) – will be held on the grounds of the idyllic Lisnavagh Estate Feb 20th to 25th 2017.
Places for this course are limited to 12 and it’s booking fast. Waterford Council are offering a 50% Bursary for the course (deadline Nov. 30th) to a writer in their area, but all writers and aspiring writers are advised to approach their local Arts Office directly to see if any support is available.
This year, The Story House Ireland announced the first Story House Residency – a very generous gift to TSH by a past participant.
The Story House Residency is on offer to any TSH course attendant, and includes a week in May 2017 in a west of Ireland cottage giving the winner of this writers break a wonderful opportunity to focus on a writing project of their own choice.
You can find out more about the origins of The Story House Ireland in this in depth interview with well known author, Lia Mills (Fallen – Dublin One City One Book).
Co-founders Nollaig Brennan and Margaret O’Brien would like to thank Broadsheet for posting details of this and previous courses. The Story House operates as a not for profit and both Nollaig and Margaret work on TSH in a voluntary capacity.
In fairness.
Irish-made stocking fillers to broadsheet@broadsheet.ie marked ‘Irish-made Stocking Fillers’. No fee.
Tonight.
At 7pm on RTÉ One.
The Local Eye – which goes behind the scenes at three new newspapers – The Northside People, The Nenagh Guardian and The Donegal Post.
Gareth Naughton writes:
It’s the battle of the hacks on The Local Eye tonight as Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall visit Donegal.
Donegal Post editor Michael McHugh has an official pass but finds that this does not necessarily translate into access to the Royals. Will Donegal Post social diarist Gabrielle McMonagle be more successful with her guerrilla tactics?
Elsewhere on tonight’s episode: Doubting Thomas, Peter Gleeson investigates the healing powers of a holy well for the Nenagh Guardian while in Dublin Northside People reporter Neil Fetherstonhaugh visits pensioner pool champs banned from their own pool room!