TEN THINGS occurred to me after reading today's Sunday papers.
1. The current coalition won't survive a general election because the Progressive Democrats will not have the strength in numbers to generate an effective coalition now that Fianna Fail's support has waned as well. People are tired of smug government ministers and although some of them will be returned to office, their political parties will suffer losses in weak constituencies.
2. Many of the current discussions about biofuels in Ireland fail to mention that ethanol-fueled vehicles actually exacerbate smog problems in congested cities such as Los Angeles.
3. The Irish general election can be called for 24 May because the Taoiseach knows his team Manchester United have just about won the Barclay's Premiership title at this point and their fixture on that day won't attract as many punters as once expected. If unable to vote, you can leave a comment about the state of public service by sending your thoughts to [email protected] before the first of June.
4. The best wide-screen show of the summer is "Roving Mars" opening 4 May in BFI Imax, London.
5. Parents who name their daughters "Isabella" will probably discover the young girl will be less likely to study maths or physics.
6. The 20-page supplement on "Conferencing" by the Sunday Business Post goes out of its way to avoid citing Irish conference venues that do not offer free wi-fi.
7. Got a secret you've never told? Share it anonymously and become part of a group art project. Put it on a 4in x 6in postcard and send it to PostSecret, 13356 Copper Ridge Road, Germantown, MD 20874-3454 USA. Don't make anything up.
8. Charities are currently competing to produce this year's proudest, most factually woeful and darly comical T-shirt. Diabetic charities are hot on "Divabetic" and "Death by Chocolate (Seriously)". Sufferers of strokes and brain tumours like "I have a brain tumour...what's your excuse?"
9. The fastest-growing carbon footprint in Ireland comes from outside heaters in the smoking areas of pubs.
10. The Sunday Tribune's review of Skype phones ignores the Dualphone 3088, even though it's top-rated in Skype's online shop. I think it's the most powerful cordless phone I've ever owned.
1. Stephen O'Brien -- "May 24 to be named as the day of reckoning" on the front page of the Sunday Times, 29 April 2007. The Sunday Business Post gives the best political analysis concerning the upcoming general election in Ireland.
2. Roisin Finlay -- "Biofuels debate rages on, and on" in The Sunday Business Post Environment section, 29 April 2007.
3. See BBC sport for more athletic analysis.
4. BFI IMAX is near the Waterloo Station, South Bank, London SE1.
5. Anashka Asthana -- "Names really do make a difference" in The Observer News, 29 April 2007.
6. "Conferencing" in The Sunday Business Post was edited by Ruth Wildgust.
7. "Postsecrets: Cards from the Edge"
8. John Hind -- "This Modern Life" in The Observer Magazine, 29 April
2007.
9. Lucy Siegle -- "Are outside heaters too hot to handle?" in The Observer Magazine, 29 April 2007.
10. Damien Mulley -- "Skyping: a few
good deals" in the Sunday Tribune Business section, 29 April 2007.
