2005 July

Jul 25

Paying Heed

A friend of mine commented on this weekend’s repost to write about my disregard for detail concerning a comment I made in relation to the Terror attacks on the world in the past week.

I’d like to at this point share with you my view on this. I had intended for my personal opinions on such political problems to remain closeted, however, I need to clarify my position.

I have nothing but symapthy for those who perish in any attacks on the freedom of people in any country or continent. I abhorr all such acts of terrorism and do not condone in any way the acts of those who seek to destroy the Western world for fear of religious or other beliefs.

On the other hand, being a natural pessimist, I do like to be frank. In the past and indeed the present, much focus has been placed on the ‘War on Terror’ and ‘Holy Wars’. I believe, while not in ignorance of them, that the media harbour an innate ability to sensationalise the atrocities of modern warfare. While we must not turn a blind eye to acts of abuse of freedom, I believe that there is enough negative energy bein channelled through out precious airways that we need to look at the good of our world at times. I do not in any way condone acts of terrorism. But I feel we have little enough positivity in the world at the minute without dwelling too much on the negative.

diarmy

Jul 25

Meteor Dies at the hands of Eircom

1 Comment »

Well, it’s happened. What I’ve feared for over 6 months, Meteor will now it seems be bought by Ireland’s most incredibly stubborn comany, Eircom - the former State-owned telecommunications company.

This is doomsday for people who loved the fun company meteor and its excellent offers and deals, such as the Free Texts for Life offer held up to September of last year.

Eircom are notorious for overcharging and for their unco-operative nature in the roll-out of broadband and Local Loop Unbundling (LLU). Eircom are the most expensive fixed-line operator in Ireland and their products including their Broadband services are among the most expensive and poorly serviced.

So what does this mean for Meteor customers? RTE News here in the Republic of Ireland claim that it will force prices down with Eircom using their fixed-line customer base to target new customers. The chairman of Eircom PLC, Sir Anthony O’Reilly, claims that Eircom will be able to improve the services. To be quite honest, given their track record here already, I will be terminating my use of the operator as soon as possible.

We will be watching you Eircom. Obviously O2 is the only refuge now. British Telecom operate in Ireland as BT Ireland and O2. For over 6 years I have experienced the company and could never go back to Eircom.

diarmy

Jul 25

Weekend Report

2 Comments »

Bed blog. That is to say, I’m blogging from the comforts of my bed. On a BlackBerry of course… Hmmmm, lots of B’s!

Well this week saw more ‘terror’ in London, Egypt and Iraq. But on a positive note, Lance Armstrong, the best thing to come out of Texas since Dallas (think about that!) won the Tour de France for the 7th time in a row. Congratulations Lance (I know you’re an avid reader of diarmydotnet).

This weekend also saw something I never did, the Red Bull Air Race stage in Ireland at the Rock of Cashel. Having lived in Cashel (-ish) for 2 years I have a certain respect for the place and it’s great to see old planes fly by it.

Just finished watching a Michael J. Fox film on RTE Two. Being RTE it failed (they’re great at failing) to display the name of the film at any of its FIVE ad breaks so I cannot share with you the title. Needless to say, the little guy won the day. And rightly so. Great actor!

Pretty much nothing else that affected me greatly springs to mind as I twiddle my thumbs on the tiny ‘thumb-pad’ of my BlackBerry so I shall have to call it a night.

Y’all come back now, ya hear?!

diarmy

Jul 19

A Letter to Minister �amon � Cu�v

, 1 Comment »

As a member of the Irish Speaking areas in Ireland, the Gaeltacht, I’m passionate about the new found reality of our language and it’s world-wide recognition.

The body charged with responsibility for the language in Ireland, Foras na Gaeilge, went into partnership with Microsoft to develop the GUI of Windows XP Home and Professional editions in Irish. See: Windows XP As Gaeilge
Windows As Gaeilge

Not a huge advocate of the worldwide company, I have to admire them for making the effort. Indeed, many programs can be found in the Irish language online.

So, with that in mind, I put it to the Minister in charge of the Gaeltacht areas in Ireland, to recommend that the Irish Government conduct it’s business now through the medium of the Irish language. Why should the European Union make the effort to translate documents to Irish when the government here persists in conducting almost it’s entire business schedule in the English language.

Here’s the body of the letter I’ve sent to the Minister. (Yes, it’s in Irish!)

A Aire, a Chara

T�im ag scr�obh chughat ar son �bhar na dTeanga �ireannach, an Ghaelige, agus an m�-�s�id at� bainteach leis tar�is do Rialtais na h�ireann agus an Aontas Eorpach, aitheantais na dteanga a chur chun cinn le linn an bhlian at� caite.

T� cuid mhaith f�s le d�anamh, glacaim, le buan� an Ghaeilge a chinnti�, ach braithim go bhf�adfadh cuid mhaith den obair seo a bheith curtha i bhfeidhm anois d�reach.

Ar an gc�ad dul s�os, t� an-chuid m�r-le-r� d�anta �sna me�in cumars�ide faoi chostas an aistri� at� curtha i bhfeidhm le linn an Bille Teangan. �S� an fhadhb at� bainteach leis an aistri� n� go bhfuil s� chomh deacair aistri� t�acsanna �n mB�arla go dt� an Ghaolainn toisc an gramadach agus str�ct�r difir�la i ngach raon den Rialtas. Ach, f� mar is eol duit fh�in, agus Gaeilgeoir� na tire chomh maith, is teanga bre� s�mpl� � an Ghaeilge. Mar sinn, n� beadh s� i bhfad n�os fusa aistri� �n nGaolainn go dt� an Bh�arla?

Tuigim gur athraint m�r � seo � r�imse an ghn�th oibreachas at� bunaithe �sna Tithe Oireachtais �n l� a buna�odh an St�it. Ach, sin � an fadhb cinnte d�reach. Toisc go nd�anfar gach p�osa gn� den Rialtais tr� me�n an Bh�arla, conas go bhfuil b�im ar �inne an Ghaolainn a labhairt n� a fhoghlaim? Seachas na ndaoine at� inti chun airgead � aistri� a dh�anamh.

Mar sin, t�im ag cuardach do thaca�ocht, beag�in�n br� a chuir ar Rialtas na h�ireann, m�dhanna oibreachais an D�il agus Seanad �ireann a athr� go teanga na ndaoine. M� chasann t� ar chain�al teilif�se na bhFraince n� an Ghearm�in fi�, b�onn gn� na Rialtais d�anta tr� me�n a dteanga dh�chais. Fi� amh�in Rialtais na Breataine Bige, �s�idtear an teanga d�chais.

M� athra�onn D�il �ireann agus Seanad �ireann a dteanga cainte agus gn�, gan dabhat beidh ar na me�in cumars�ide, at� ag pl� gn� an Rialtais le gn�th dhaoine na t�re gach o�che ar an dteilif�s agus an raidi�, athr� chomh maith.

Ba cheart go mbeadh Gaeilge ag gach Teachta D�la sa Rialtas, agus mura bhfuil, t� fu�lleach ranganna Gaeilge timpeall na t�re chun iad a thraen�il. N� dheanfadh s� aon d�obh�il d�ibh an teanga a fhoghlaim.

Chuaigh Foras na Gaeilge ag obair le d�ant�ir bog-earra� Microsoft le d�ana� agus anois is f�idir r�omhair� a bheith �s�idte tr� Ghaeilge. Cad �na thaobh n�r f�idir �r Rialtais? Bheadh s� deacair ar dt�is gan amharas, ach i nd�ir�re, c�n mhaitheas � Aontas na hEorpa a bheith ag athr� t�acsanna an gCoimisi�in n� an Ph�irlimint Eorpach go Ghaeilge fad is at� Rialtas na h�ireann ag obair as B�arla gan aon b�im n� taca�ocht don dteanga inti.

T� s� in am athr� a dh�anamh i Rialtas na h�ireann, agus �s rud � gur tusa an duine at� i bhfeidhle ar an dTeanga i ngn� na Rialtais, lorga�m uaitse dul in aghaidh an Rialtas agus br� a chur ortha cabhr� leat.

Go raibh maith agat as do chuid ama. Beir bua, agus Rath D� ar an Obair.

I’ll be back with the reply as soon as I recieve it. (Be prepared to wait!)

diarmy

Jul 19