Old Sneezes

Archive for the 'Economy' Category

Cartoon Industry Undergoes Dramatic Changes

Sunday, November 8th, 2009

I recently interviewed D. Chip Monke, Children’s Cartoon Industry analyst with Gartner.  Monke’s research confirms what many have suspected for some time now – dramatic changes are taking place and more is to come.
Given the current state of the global economy this is not unexpected.  The cartoon industry is not exempt. Indeed, nor are it’s [...]

Earwigged(ish) gems #7

Wednesday, March 11th, 2009

In the shop
Me wallet’s as empty as me grandfather’s grave.
Good fek! Don’t say grave robbers!
No. He’s not dead.
In a neighbour’s kitchen
I wrote on it with an indisputable marker by accident.
You mean indelible marker.
Yeah. But if you can’t rub it out it’s indisputable too. Right?
When the starter at Cheltenham calls another totally unnecessary false-start
Would ya look [...]

An 72ú Fianna Fáil Ard Fheis

Sunday, March 1st, 2009

I watched live streams from the 72nd Fianna Fáil Ard Fheis yesterday. I read the speeches this morning.
They gave me little in the way of joy or hope. They bored me much of the time. They did anger me in parts.
When I laughed, it was in amazement at how the delegates are totally disconnected with [...]

Commission for Energy Regulation … regulate nothing!

Tuesday, December 2nd, 2008

In early November Bord Gáis had proposed a price increase of on average 3.9%, with ESB proposing an increase of 5.6%. Remember gas and electricity prices have already risen by 20% and 17.5% respectively this year.
The Commission for Energy Regulation yesterday announced that the proposed gas and electricity price rises are to be scrapped and [...]

SMEs and the banks

Monday, November 24th, 2008

It is no wonder that when the Irish pound spilt from sterling in 1979 it was renamed the Punt – it rhymes with bank manager.
The currency may have changed but the managers are the same – a shower of punts and bankers. In fact, they are worse now than they ever were.
All commentators (not you [...]

Paddy is on the move again

Thursday, November 6th, 2008

While no official figures are yet available, the anecdotal evidence is that Paddy is on the move again. Not emigrating in the numbers we were in the 80s, but nonetheless a small wave of emigration is ebbing from our shores.
The wave will likely remain small because, unlike in the 80s, there are few places to [...]

Switch to our mobile site