Saturday, November 21, 2009 Previous editions
Columnists
Life on the dole is the lack of a lot more than just cash
She went off to Australia. Back then, emigration was just fun. Now, as part-owner of a house worth nothing, a massive mortgage, three children and parents whose health deteriorates by the day, emigration not only doesn’t look like fun, it doesn’t look possible.
Public sector pay cuts unfair and counter-productive on the tax front
I THINK if I were a public servant today, I’d be mad as hell.
As we exit boom-to-bust noughties, the next decade is anyone’s guess
SO how was it for you? Good, bad or indifferent? It can’t have been that bad, I guess: you’re reading this so that means you got through to the end. What am I banging on about? The first decade of the 21st century, of course. It’s hard to believe it’s in its dying days: I can still remember the hangover from what we learned to call “millennium night”. But time speeds up as we get older, I’m finding.
Short-term gombeen politics could cost opposition the next election
THE Dáil this week has a pre-budget debate. Eamon Gilmore and Enda Kenny need to watch out for the offside rule. In soccer, no forward can be in front of the last defender other than the goalie, while ahead of the ball. The best defences move up the pitch and suddenly players are ruled offside. The Government’s political defenders are perceptibly shifting ground.
Fair play, my foot. FIFA is happy to have a con artist like Henry in finals
RUGBY fans should well remember what Neil Back did to Munster in 2002. It was the closing minutes of the Heineken Cup final between the Irish team and his side, Leicester. The English side is winning by 15 points to 9, but Munster have a scrum in front of the Leicester posts, in a perfect position to launch a final assault on the Leicester line, to score a try that would have left Munster with a conversion to win the cup.
Tubridy gets his chance to match the man who changed Ireland
RYAN Tubridy’s selection as next host of the Late Late Show did not come as a great surprise. He was always on the shortlist.
Democrats won’t give Europe an easy ride in Doha negotiations
ANY thoughts that having the Democrats in control in the US would favour Europe in the Doha WTO negotiations have been quickly shattered.
Why red admiral likes to take in the sun
I WAS working down at the bottom of the garden the other day, converting a fallen tree into logs for the fire. It was one of those pet November days, hardly a breath of wind, and enough sun to make me take my jacket off.
Cloud ‘seeding’ not an option for us
Donal Hickey on manipulating cloud to produce rain.
The secret whistle of the redwing
Richard Collins investigates the ‘see-ip’ call of this visiting songbird.
A taste of Eastern promise
IN RECENT years I have become increasingly fascinated by the Muslim culture and am eager to learn more about the way of life and of course the food. I have enjoyed delicious Syrian and Lebanese food in several London restaurants, most notably Le Mignon in Delancey Street and Yalla Yalla Restaurant just off Brewer Street in Soho.
Bahrain storms home in Hurdle
A massive gamble on Deutschland, in the Arthur Guinness Galway Hurdle at Ballybrit yesterday, went astray when he proved no match for the Pat Flynn-trained 20-1 shot Bahrain Storm.
Better promotion clearly the key to increasing popularity of hurdle racing
This year’s Vetsearch Irish Grand National has provided a marvellous fillip for hurdle racing in this country and has proved yet again that hurdling could become popular here if given the proper promotion by the authorities.
Talking bull on a Power trip
WHAT do you ask the man who has won everything? Phil Taylor, a middle-aged darts player from the middle of England might not look it — and he doesn’t — but after 13 world titles, he walks with sporting giants.
