One of these days...

The Rosie View Episode 1

enormous — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 19:10:17 +0000

Welcome to the first ever episode of The Rosie View. This is a television review podcast put together by myself and my cousin, Rosemary Mac Cabe. I’ll edit this post tomorrow to add show notes but in this episode we review The Dollhouse, a documentary entitled 100 Years of Youth Hostelling, Psychoville and House. We also reveal what we are going to review in the next episode.

Please let us know if you would like to contribute. Leave a comment, indicating whether you would like it published or not. Thanks!

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Uhoh! Bacardi Breezer firefighting team will be in overdrive

enormous — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 17:22:44 +0000

I cannot believe this ad and social media campaign. I think a lot of comments to the post on Jezebel – Bacardi Ad Uses Misogyny To Sell Alcohol To Women – Bacardi get an ugly girlfriend are very interesting, especially those which I will categorise as the “beauty is not the be-all and end-all” comments.

The mind boggles! Did the advertising team working for Bacardi think that women would admire the honesty of Bacardi, telling it like it is? Not featuring half naked women on beaches as per usual? Do they really think I am going to buy Bacardi because they understand my motivations for having friends? They bloody well do not! When I think of my female friends (and anyone will tell you that most of my friends are female, it’s just the way I am wired) how they look does not feature among the reasons I am friendly with them. Naturally I am happy for them when they get an outfit/ haircut/ shoes that makes them feel and look great. Naturally I listen to their concerns about their body issues and they listen to my occasional moans. We try to think of things to help each other improve but ultimately it doesn’t matter. If a friend lost or put on weight or other dramatic changes occurred in their body I would be concerned about them because it’s rare that such changes are merely physiological. I would expect my friends to have the same concern for me.

Anyone with half a brain knows that advertising is manipulative. It occurs to me that Bacardi may not care that most women will revile them, and possibly revile them publicly online, for this stunt. Maybe it’s part of the brand awareness raising. Personally I would prefer to be manipulated by a witty campaign* or even by a glamorous, escapist campaign (see above, semi-naked, beaches comment) rather than a flipping alcoholic beverage company saying to me, “You are totally shallow. Have some Bacardi!” I mean what the **** sort of brand is that? Your life is so vacuous, you will need alcohol such as Bacardi to give it meaning? I actually bought some white rum at the weekend to make mojitos and I am very glad I did not but this brand.

Maybe there will be comments here and elsewhere along the lines of “Oh girl where is your sense of humour?” and I always feel perplexed by such comments. No-one can tell me something is funny if I don’t find it so. Even if you explain to me and especially if you have to explain to me why it is funny, the moment has passed. Plainly I am not the only person who thinks this campaign has completely missed the mark. Even if I was, there would still be no point in asking me the whereabouts of my sense of humour.

Is it not bad enough that women are constantly bombarded with unreal, airbrushed images of unattainable beauty but now we are being given a catalogue of what amounts to being ugly according to Bacardi? Cross-eyed? Yuck! Cellulite? You minger! Red hair? God help us!

Okay maybe I am an unwitting pawn in their social media campaign and they intended to rustle up some online notice with this campaign but generally it’s better to try for a positive reaction. This campaign is so, so, deeply wrong and misconceived. I hate to say this in the current economic environment but I hope Bacardi are firing their ad execs asses right now.

I thought a quick poll might help those ad execs understand why their asses are getting fired. Of course I might be wrong and you all might think it’s hilarious!

*Did they or did they not run the series of ads about Jamaicans being really laid back? They were great! They did not – it was Malibu. Hurrah I can continue unabated with my rant!

Is your mother proud of you?

Community spirit

enormous — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 22:02:35 +0000

At the Irish Blog Awards in February I answered a call made by Red Mum. While collecting the award for Best Group Blog for the Dublin Community Blog she invited the audience, especially people from Dublin, to get involved. I volunteered. Note that was in February. I have finally written a post for the blog. It’s about National Bike Week, kinda. Have a read and maybe see you at some of the events next week!

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Reasons to be fruitful

enormous — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 21:31:32 +0000

Just because we are in a recession doesn’t mean you should put your dynasty building plans on hold. Here are my reasons to be fruitful in reverse order.

Photo owned by IMAGINE!NATION (cc)

I’ve been thinking about this for some time and my recent reading of Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell made me realise I’m probably not the only one. It’s an easy read; you’d probably get through it in a weekend. His thesis is that success is not so much a result of genius and/ or hard work but a result of circumstance; being in the right place at the right time. One of the stories he recounts to illustrate is how a father and son, even though they went into similar businesses, the Great Depression got the better of the father. The son on the other hand being only one of a relative handful of babies born during the Depression enjoyed more attention in school and easier access to public services because there was less competition for those resources due to the fallen birth rate.

And that is the first reason that you shouldn’t put your progeny plans on hold just because of a recession. The theory goes that this bust comes after a boom when money was spent on creating fabulous educational establishments that nurture and develop our children to their best potential. Maybe in other countries. However at least the (temporary) classrooms of your little twinkle may not be quite so overcrowded. They’ll still be sioctha fuar sa gheimhridh and rósta te sa samhradh but spacious.

But that’s the very least of them and may not come to fruition if you all take my other points to heart and go forth and multiply. It is a scary time at the moment as people are losing their jobs and having their hours cut and generally having to keep your head down and not rock the boat. For women in particular this throws into even starker contrast, the eternal question of whether she should ahem “take time off” to have children. (Like it’s a bleeding holiday or summat!) Regardless of the conditions your employer finds themselves in you will still receive your maternity payments. If your employer had a policy of topping up maternity leave and they suddenly changed this policy and no other staff were forced to take a pay cut you might even consider discussing this with the Equality Authority because it is a change in the contract that you have with your employer. But I’m no employment expert so check your facts before you raise your blood pressure.

Anyone who reads this blog regularly knows that I have two nippers. So when I say that children in their first five years are not a huge drain on your resources, I know what I’m talking about. True there is some specialised equipment involved but there are some great deals online (I got our Phil&Teds stroller for EUR100.00 cheaper online than it was being sold in Dublin baby shops and delivered to the door.) Why do children save you money? Firstly there’s the 40 week detox which saves you a fortune on your social life. Mind you Himself went with the attitude when we did go out that he was drinking for three (Only kidding!) Now I’m not saying, “Say bye bye to your social life.” but you will find that your priorities change and as your ankles swell standing in a crowded pub stone cold sober becomes less glamorous as the minutes tick by. Once the pregnancy is over, of course, you can reclaim your party animal mantle, if you can afford to pay a babysitter between EUR7.00 and EUR12.00 an hour. Yes it does take the shine off going out a bit doesn’t it? We’re very luck that we have lots of generous family members nearby who are often happy to babysit for us. However I frequently remember a bit of advice from an acquaintance when I was expecting Nipper 1.0, “Don’t rely on your parents to babysit because then your social life revolves around theirs.” I cannot complain at all but a good stash of unrelated babysitters is a must. So apart from the added cost of a babysitter, you tend to splash out on a babysitter for special occasions only. Okay that’s not probably selling the kid thing to you but I swear I really enjoy going out so much more now than I did when I did it every week, every Friday and Saturday. You don’t see the same crowd over and over again so when you do go out it’s all new and there’s loads to catch up on. It works for me.

They also save you money because your priorities change. I’m not saying I don’t hanker after fancy shoes and bags or the latest gadget. I’m not even saying that I don’t occasionally indulge those hankerings (see soon hopefully my upcoming post about my iPhone.) but I put a little more thought into those indulgences. This means that I tend to have less cognitive dissonance about my purchases and I get more out of them. Well that’s my theory and I’m sticking to it.

But I’m saving the best til last. Having the two boys from the moment I knew they were definitely on their way to right now as I listen to their little sleepy shnuffles on the monitor is the most life-affirming experience I have ever had. Being a parent and having that responsibility adds meaning to the most meaninglesss, menial and even meaningful tasks. Money doesn’t come into it. I would do any job to provide for them and I believe if times get tougher it will be character forming for us all. I know that might sound naive but I will always be their mum; I will always have them to brighten up the horizon and to keep me going.

My main point is, in five years time or even further down the line, will you look back at this recession and think “Wow, I saved a few quids by not having kids!” If you do and you never wanted kids, good for you. If you do and you did want kids I hope you still have time.

Go on, go for it. It’s great craic.

Lots of fun with all the family

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Just watch this

enormous — Thu, 28 May 2009 21:23:54 +0000

It’s on lots of blogs, Facebook profiles, tweets all over Ireland this week but I think it’s very important that everyone sees it.

How is something so senseless made right? Heartbreaking.

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Soitheach Naofa Gnó an Cheoil

enormous — Mon, 25 May 2009 20:32:37 +0000

This is my third article for the monthly online Irish Language magazine, Beo! In this article I write about how getting my iPhone brought music back into my life (although I don’t drone on about the iPhone too much). I talk about the ways the online music services help me find music and the clever ways in which internet entrepreneurs are handling the massive issue of digital rights managment. I describe Downloadmusic.ie, the brainchild of two Leitrim-based entrepreneurs, in particular as this service really locks into how those who buy music can actually pay for it. I didn’t have space to mention in my article that I also pick up a lot of my favourite new music from The Best of MySpace Podcast. Only other lispers will understand the attraction of Gill Mills and her fluffy tongue trying to rattle out Zero Machine by Le Castle Vania for example

Handknit iPhone from daddytypes.com. Click image to find out how to make your own!

Ó fhoilsiú m’alt deireanach tá iPhone faighte agam. Ní gá duit bheith buartha: nílim chun alt a scríobh ag gabháil ar aghaidh is ar aghaidh faoi mo bhreagán nua. Ní scríobhfaidh mé oireadh is focal eile faoin mbealach a ligean an bosca beag slim seo dom coinneáil i dteagmháil, mo thascanna a eagrú, ceol a dhéanamh is a aithint, cluichí a imirt srl. srl. ad infinitum. Seo alt de shaghas éigin eile. Seo alt faoi teicneolaíocht an cheoil agus gnó an cheoil.

Tá an ceol ar ais i mo shaol. Sin ceann de na hathraithe is mó a tharla ó bhfuair mé m’iPhone dílis. Theip ar iPod s’againne le déanaí agus tar éis roinnt áitiú ar m’fhear chéile d’éirigh liom cás m’iPhone maoineach a dhéanamh. Sin ráite rinne eisean pointe maith i gcoinne an iPhone: toisc gur fóin agus uirlis teagmhála pearsanta atá ann ní féidir leis féin, mar shampla, gabháil amach ag siúl leis an iPod ina phóca a thuilleadh. Gan amhras smaoinigh Apple ar an rud céanna agus táthar ag súil sar i bhfad go mbeidh iPhone i bpóca gach mac agus iníon máthar beo. Sin mar a casann rothaí mór an tsaoil!

Maith nó olc tá an ceol ar ais i mo shaol toisc an uirlis nua seo agus leis an gné nua seo de mo shaoil tá ocras nua ann leis (cúl eile d’fhoireann na hÚlla!) Cé go bhainim taitneamh ar leith ó na seanfhoinn tá mé de shíor ar thóir ceoil nua.

Is cabhair an-mhór an idirlíon agus mé ag tabhairt faoin dtóraíocht seo. Tugadh faoi deara luath go leor i stair an phopcheoil go dtaitníonn saghasanna ceoil ar leith le daoine a éisteann le bannaí ar leith agus dá bharr ní aon léim mór a dhéanamh ón tuiscint seo go dtí feidhmchlár cliste a mholann ceoil nua duit ar an mbunús sin.

Sin seard atá ar siúl ag Last.fm ó dheireadh an 20ú aois mar a deireann siad féin. An rud cliste faoin suíomh seo ná gur féidir an ceol atá seinnte agat ar d’iPod (nó má tá an t-ádh leat cosúil liomsa, ar d’iPhone!) a “scrobbláil” chuig an suíomh. Ciallaíonn seo ná trí fheidhmchlár beag ar do ríomhaire féin atá nasctha le iTunes is féidir eolas faoin gceoil atá cloister agat a chur chuig do phroifíl ar Last.fm. Molann an suíomh ceol duit bunaithe ar an gceol atá agat cheana mar sin agus is féidir sruth de na moltaí seo a sheinnt ar an suíomh nó ar d’fheidhmchlár féin cosúil le stáisiún raidió gan na fógraí. Chomh maith leis an gceol féin faigheann tú nasc chuig siopa ar line chun an píosa ceoil a cheannach agus tuilleadh eolais faoin gceoltóir nó an mbanna. Is pobal Last.fm féin a scríobhann agus a chuireann leis an eolas seo. Is líonra soisialta é Last.fm freisin agus is féidir cairde a chothú agus éisteacht le ceol iad siúd atá i do chomharsanacht ceolmhara leis. Tiocfaidh tú ormsa ann leis an leasainm crumlin. Is féidir liom mo rogha féin cheoil a roinnt leo siúd a léann mo bhlag trí ghiuirléid atá leabaithe agam ann. (Féach ar dheas: Low brow trash guaranteed!)

Oibríonn Last.fm mar tá tuiscint maith ag na cruthaitheoirí ar úsáid teicneolaíochta a spriocmhargaidh agus ar spéiseanna a spriocmhargaidh. Dream eile atá tuiscint an-mhaith acu ar na húsáid agus spéiseanna seo ná comhlacht atá lonnaithe i gCo. Liatroma, Downloadmusic.ie. Thuig Johnny Beirne, comhbhunaitheoir an chomhlachta seo, nach mbíonn cártaí creidmheasa ag daoine óga. Thuig sé freisin go b’é an dream céanna seo a ceannaíonn an ceoil is nuaí is minicí. Mar sin bhí gá bealach éigin a chrúthú dóibh chun an ceol nua seo a cheannach. Is annamh anois a mbuailfí le duine óg gan fóin póca. Ligeann Downloadmusic.ie do leannáin an cheoil é a cheannach trí théacs a chosnaíonn 99c. Simplí. Is féidir éisteacht le sruth cheoil ar Downloadmusic.ie freisin a gcabhródh leat do rogha a dhéanamh. Chomh maith leis sin tá seirbhís chun ticéid cheolchoirmeacha a ndíol. Don chuid is mó is ceoltóirí neamhspleacha atá le fail agus is cabhair mhór an tseirbhís seo dóibh. Má tá ceolchoirm acu is féidir leo na códanna gearra a bhaineann le amhrán ar leith a thaispeáint ar scáileán nó a dáileadh ar bileog rud a ligeann dóibh airgead a dhéanamh láithreach ar an gceol atá á sheinnt: “An maith leat an t-amhrán seo? Seol music 3076 go 57501 chun é a cheannach anois!” Agus muna leor sin tugtar aon díol ar an suíomh seo san áireamh i gcrúthú na gcairteanna ceoil Éireannacha.

Is é bun agus barr na seirbhísí seo agu ceist síoraí gnó an cheoil faoi láthair ná conas saolré gnó an cheoil a chothú. Bhí ceoil ann i gcónaí agus ag pointe éigin thosnaigh daoine ag déanamh airgead as agus rinneadh airgead as mar ní raibh sé ar fail do chách i ngach áit, i gcónaí. Chomh luath is a rinne ábhar digiteach de cheoil d’fhéadfaí fíor-chóipeanna a dhéanamh asdóibh. Tá luach ag baint le haon acmhainn a fhad is gur acmhainn gann atá ann. Chomh luath is gur féidir cóipeanna a dhéanamh den acmhainn go tapaidh is ar praghas iséal tá an luach tráchtála bainte de. Tuigeann an saol mór go bhfuil ré órga an cheoil taifeadta ag druidim. Tuigeann a leitheid Last.fm agus Downloadmusic.ie go bhfuil gá le múnla ghnó difriúl a chruthú agus a chothú. Sin an Soitheach Naofa anois: freagra an cheist faoi conas airgead a dheanamh ó acmhainní cultúrtha digiteacha. Agus sin bealach eile a chasann rothaí céanna mór an tsaoil!

Faigh bainne ldt. GRMA

Parenting Teens, Inspiring Ideas to Help Your Child Prosper

enormous — Mon, 25 May 2009 12:46:19 +0000

Some mornings I stand back and look at my eldest and think, “We’ve skipped childhood altogether and gone straight for the teens.” The word “whatever” has been banned in our house, it caused me so much annoyance when it was used in reply to the most reasonable request. Probably not the best parenting technique but it was that word or me at one point last week.

My eldest is not yet six and we are hoping against hope that all his teenager-ly antagonism will be vented by the time he reaches his teens. Mind you with Mr. Destructo coming up close behind him I’d say we are damned either way.

So while it’s not for me (yet) I was interested in an upcoming event aimed at parents who are helping their teens make some career & study choices. Whatever about negotiating coats and bags in the morning and the longer term goals of reading and responsibility that one has with a six year old, helping a teenager with their choices for the future must be a minefield. So if you are facing into that period and living in or near Dublin, it might well be in your interested to check out the following post about an event to that effect from Irish Blogger, Krishna De. Parenting Teens, Inspiring Ideas to Help Your Child Prosper

(Disclosure: Krishna sometimes presents for the organisation I work for and I am on the IIA Social Media Working Group with her.)

Correction: Krishna is not directly involved in this programme but managed to obtain 10 free tickets for bloggers who would be interested in writing about the presentation.

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Infinity Reef

enormous — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 12:49:51 +0000

I’ve written before about my infinity blanket which has now reached five rows of 20 granny squares I think. So it’s about as slow growing as coral reef. Turns out that my blanket has more in common with coral reef than the slowness of its growth. The hyperbolic growth structure of coral reefs can only be mapped in crochet. Watch this brilliant presentation by Margaret Wertheim from TED.com – it speaks to so many nerdy aspects of my life. I’m going to make myself some of that gorgeous coral reef. I have just the wool at home too.

Check out Wertheim’s Flickr Photostream as well. Some amazing stuff including a Business Card Sponge.

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Faigh bainne ldt. GRMA

enormous — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 16:24:00 +0000

This is my April article for Beo.ie. I write about how crowd sourcing helped me get organised. There has even been developments since but more anon in another blog post. Take a peek at the original on Beo for help with the more difficult phrases. I’ve left all the grammar and spelling mistakes in below for authenticity don’t you know Enjoy!

Ní nochtadh mór é seo ach is breá liom an t-idirlíon. Cabhraíonn sé go mór liom i mo chuid oibre. Sin ráite táim ag obair don Irish Internet Association (IIA) – bheifí ag súil lena leithéid! Ach is cumann gnó neamh-brabach é an IIA agus dá bharr caithfimid ar fad bheith cliste lenar n-acmhainní; ár gcuid ama ní ach go háirithe. Sin ráite tá acmhainn den chéad scoth againn agus cloistear plé ar go minic ó thaobh cúrsaí idirlíne de agus sin an slua.

Ní cleachtú nua atá ann bailiúcháin ríomhairí cianda a úsáid chun jab mór a dhéanamh agus ar bealach is an cleachtú céanna seo atá taobh thiar de neal-ríomhaireacht. I ndáiríre b’shin túspointe an idirlín, siar sna seascaidí nuair a chruthaíodh ARPANET. Sa tslí chéanna go stairiúl is é an 7 Aibreán 1969 breithlá an idirlín nuair a foilsíodh an chéad “Request for Comments“, cáipéis a scríobh Steve Crocker ag lorg moltaí i leith protocáil agus córais idirlíne ón slua. Ní hamháin go b’é seo bunús “rialacha” an idirlín ach go pointe b’é seo bunús modh oibre an idirlín. Is gluaiseacht daonlathach agus cuimsitheach a bhí ann; gan cliarlathas traidisiúnta.

Go pearsanta nílim ró-chinnte ar éirigh leis nó ar mhair an easpa cliarlathachais seo agus nílim ró-chinnte faoi cé chomh cuimsitheach is atá sé. Don chuid is mó den domhain is ollmhaitheas na mbrionglóidí atá san idirlíon, nach bhfaighfidh siad rochtain air go deo na ndeor. Nach mór an scannal é ach nílim ag caint faoi mhuintir iargúlta an Mhongóil nó tóin an domhain. Tá daoine in Éireann nach dtuigeann an t-idirlíon mar níl sé feicthe acu. Níl aon ní cuimsitheach faoi rud nach bhfuil ann sa chéad áit.

Ach ní féidir an milléan a chur ar aithreacha an idirlín (agus b’aithreacha iad don chuid is mó ach sin alt eile in iomlán!) Bhí fís acu agus go pointe maireann an nós cúnta a thosnaigh leis an gcéad “Request for Comments”. Thuig mé seo i gceart le déanaí nuair a bhain mé úsáid as an slua nó rinne mé ”slua foinsiú” (crowdsourcing an Bhéarla) chun freagra a fháil ar cheist a bhí agam.

Bhain an cheist seo le úsáid cliste acmhainní freisin. Bhí sé de nós agam liosta fada “nithe le déanamh” a scríobh i leabhar nóta agus lán fhios agam gur droch nós a bhí ann. Samhlaigh dá gcaillfinn an leabhar nóta nó mar a tharla go minic bheinn ag obair áit amhain agus bheadh an leabhar nóta in áit eile. Agus do bhean atá ag obair i réimse na teicneolaíochta! An náire! Go háirithe nuair a bhí lán fhios agam go raibh réimse leathan cláir feidhme greasáin ann a ligeadh dom an jab seo a dhéanamh i mbealach i bhfad níos éifeachtaí. Ach asaibh siúd cérbh é an ceann is fearr? Chas mé le slua ar leith agus chuir mé ceist orthu: conas a eagraíonn tusa do liosta le déanamh? Dírim isteach ar an dá ceann is mó a luadh liom ag an am; ceann amháin do Apple Mac agus ceann amháin do RP le Windows air.

Things: is feidhmclár é Things don Mac agus dá mbeadh Mac agam úsáidfinn é seo. Is dócha an gné is cumhachtaí faoin bhfeidmhchlár seo ná an bealach gur féidir, trí aicearra méarchláir, fuinneog tasc a oscailt cuma cén bogearra atá in úsáid agat chun tasc a chrúthú láithreach bonn roimh a dhéanann tú dearmad air. Gné eile tarraingteach ná an bealach gur féidir comhaid, seoltaí idirlíne nó r-phostanna a tharraingt agus ligint titim isteach sa bhfeidhmchlár freisin chun tasc nó meabhracháin a chruthú futhú freisin. Is féidir an feidhmchlár seo a fháil don iTouch nó iPhone leis. Laghdaíonn an pointe deireanach seo an t-aon mí-bhuntáiste atá ann, dar liom, agus sin an rud nach feidhmchlár greasáin atá ann agus dá bharr nach féidir rochtain a fháil ar do liosta muna bhfuil do Mhac leat. Ach cosúil le an-chuid eile, dá mbeach Mac agam, déarfainn go gcodlóinn leis! Cosnaíonn Things rud beag níos lú ná $50.00 don bhfeidhmchlár riomhaire agus €7.99 don bhfeidhmchlár iPhone/iTouch. Bronntanas Nollag na ndeartháireacha socraithe agamsa!

RememberTheMilk: Seo an ceann a úsáidim féin agus mholfainn é do éinne a úsáideann Gmail agus Firefox ní ach go háirithe. Is féidir forlíontán a fháil do Firefox, brabhsálaí idirlíne, a ligeann duit é a úsáid láithreach ó do chuntas Gmail. Is gné cliste é seo mar is minic tríd an r-phost a thagann tascanna. Is féidir leagan de a fháil don Apple iPhone agus iTouch ar ndóigh freisin ach domsa ar an Nokia E51 tá suíomh so-ghluaiste m.rememberthemilk.com acu atá glan agus éasca le n-úsáid. B’fhearr i bhfad liom feidhmchlár beag don Nokia ach tuigim b’fhéidir nach fiú an margadh dóibh. Tá na bungnéithe is úsáidí den bhfeidhmchlár seo saor in aisce agus ar $25 in aghaidh na bliana is féidir tuilleadh feidhmeannas agus tacaíocht a fháil. Tuigfidh tú, a léitheoir, agus aithne á chur orm thar saolré na nalt seo go bhfuilim craiceáilte faoin na meáin sóisialta agus is é Twitter an greasán is giorra dem chroí i láthair na huaire. Rud álainn faoi RTM (mar a thugann cara leis air J ) ná gur féidir tascanna a sheoladh chuige trí theachtaireacht díreach (priobháideach) a chruthú ar Twitter chuig RTM. Ó tá Twitter mar fheidhmchlár ar mo fóin agam i bhfoirm Twibble ní dhéanfaidh mé dearmad ar an mbainne riamh arís. Ach ná scaip sin mar gheallúint uaim!

Soitheach Naofa Gnó an Cheoil

He works for you

enormous — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 21:36:44 +0000

You should be very grateful.

John Handelaar and some of his friends have created something very special for the people of Ireland. He has created KildareStreet.com, a site where you can read and search all of the business of the Houses of the Oireachtas. Not only can you do that you can get email alerts or a RSS Feed for your search terms. This is exciting. So say you really care about the Irish Language, for example, you can get an alert every single time the heads in the Dáil mention the Irish Language. You can even see that Ó Cuív is busting a gut ar son na cúise with nearly ten times as many mentions of the language compared to Mary Hanafin in second place. Maith thú, a Éamon!

So that’s pretty cool.

But even cooler and better still a lot of the time in the Dáil is taken up with Question Time. So a TD asks a question and generally the minister or tánaiste or taoiseach or whoever answer them. Or do they? Now you can vote whether you think the question was answered or not.

Democracy: welcome to Ireland!

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